Chapter 1
Life had been difficult growing up without parents, on the move constantly, nowhere to call home. I'm not even sure what happened to my parents. Once society collapsed and the supernaturals took over, most of the human population dwindled. There were small groups of us spread across the country, usually trying to stay in hiding from the other creatures. The wolves had spread very quickly across the country and were in charge as they were the strongest of the beasts.
I had been traveling with this group that I considered my family for as long as I could remember. I was told that I was found in an abandoned building alone and injured when I was about 10 years old. I have no memory before being with this group, and that was about nine years ago.
Our group has dwindled in size. They're used to be nearly twenty of us traveling together and now we were down to eight. We lost many to starvation, illness, and attacks by beasts. We traveled through the old ruins of towns searching for food and shelter, Trying to avoid crossing borders into wolf territory. They did not welcome humans but for the most part, left us alone. Unless we ventured onto their land.
"It's time to move" I heard Jason yell
I helped the kids to their feet, and we moved towards the group.
We had found a set of twins who were around 6 years old a few months ago. We all cared for them. We were a family, no one in the group had any family left besides the twin brothers. Everyone watched over them especially close. Jason was like a big brother he was unofficially in charge as he was the oldest. We all look to him for guidance.
Our group moved through the woods until we came to what was left of a paved road. Following the road, we noticed buildings as we got closer.
" You know we need to go and see if we can find any supplies," I said to Jason.
" You saw the markers on the tree! We are close to wolf territory and I don't want to cross their borders." He replied.
" Maybe we should just send a recon group" I replied.
" Okay, Steph is going to take a look. Does anybody wanna go with her?" Jason asked.
"I will," said Maria and Jackson simultaneously.
Maria was 13. She had been with her group for a few years. Jackson was fifteen and he had been with our group since he was three. I trusted these two even though they were very young.
We moved quietly in between buildings until we came to a small apartment building. We knew not to check the stores as they were usually picked through. But we did have some good luck going through people's homes and apartments. After about an hour we had made it through ramsacked apartments and were headed back to where the group was waiting. We managed to find a few cans of food and a kitchen knife. Nothing substantial but everything helped.
I held my hand up for Maria and Jackson to stop, something seemed off. It was too quiet. The birds were not chirping. I looked around cautiously for any sign of wolves. Before I knew what happened, I heard Maria scream. Then, a large hand grabbed me by the back of the neck, we were pushed down the street.
I kept my head down, trying not to make eye contact. As I knew, this was a sign of defiance.
I was more concerned with Maria and Jackson's safety. "Stay quiet," I whispered.
"You do realize that you are in wolf territory, don't you? Do you know what we do to trespassers?" That voice rippled through my body.
"I should kill you all," he growled. "
"No, please let them go," I said as I stood up. He looked at me in shock when we were standing nearly eye to eye. I was quite tall for a woman, but there was something else that he saw that surprised him. He was strong with a chiseled jaw and had bright green eyes. He stared into my eyes until one of his men said
"We found the rest of the group alpha" I looked in shock to see the rest of my group, my family being shoved to the center of the street.
"Please let them go, "I yelled.
"We don't take kindly to trespassing." the Alpha said.
" We didn't know we crossed your borders we were just searching for food." Jason replied.
"Anything on this land belongs to me and my pack" he growled in response. Jason struggled to get free, and one of the wolves slammed him on the ground face-first. The alpha turned to head towards Jason, and I grabbed his arm.
" Please don't." I pleaded.
He froze in his spot and turned to look at me. His eye shifted from green to black, and I knew I made a mistake. I dropped my hand from his arm quickly and began to back away. He moved faster than my eyes could process, grabbing my arms, and pulling me close to his face.
"You are not going anywhere," he growled As he drew in a long breath through his nose.
His eyes were pitch black, and his breath was hot on my face. A strange warmth spread where his hands touched me, and I felt a blush warming my cheeks. He snapped out of whatever trance he was in.
"Get them all back to the pack headquarters. " he ordereded. Looking my direction and then quickly storing off.
"What the hell was that?" Jason questioned. I shrugged and grabbed the twin's hands as the wolves pushed us forward.
