Prologue
A warm and calming breeze glides between the tall trees and lush foliage, entering the clearing to our home as it breathes life into the late autumn day. It’s an unusually warm day for the season, it’s left me exhilarated by the bright summer-like day. “Don’t go far, Theia! It won’t be too much longer before it’s dinner,” my mother’s melodic voice stops me. I glance back at her figure once more awed by her beauty. I want to be as pretty as Mama is one day.
From her long white blonde hair and soft pale gray eyes. Her smile is my favorite. It always washed away my tears and warmed my soul in the best ways possible. “I just wanted to go to the pond Mama, is that alright? Please?” I bounce in place, hands clasped to my chest, wanting nothing more than to go play by the calm pond. I love the tranquil water, it’s so clear and fresh.
“Alright honey, but be careful and don’t stay too long!” She calls after me in her twinkling voice, I wave exuberantly over my shoulder watching as she smiles at Papa who chuckles shaking his head. The scent of fresh grilled food, steak and veggies, it makes my tummy growl at the delicious smells. But the pond is so much more enticing. The thought of the cool water makes Charise my wolf yip in excitement, unable to help herself we shift, making the distance with ease.
The pack we live in is large compared to our last one, especially the grounds it rests on. I’ve never seen pack land this nice. My parents and I live towards the outer edges of the pack, away from the majority of the pack. I love my friends. We’ve only lived here for a few months short of a year. I haven’t been able to meet many friends, but I hope to meet more soon. I think Papa mentioned a meeting to welcome us?
I’m still getting used to everything and everyone here. The few people I have met seem nice, it’s different to our last home. Our last home wasn’t very nice. Charise stops and crouches before a fallen tree, eyes locked on a spicebush swallowtail butterfly, its muted colors captivating. It’s so pretty. Leaping over the log Charise nips at the butterfly in an aimless attempt to play with the pretty creature.
The butterfly always flutters upwards at the last second, escaping the playful game with ease each time. Charise’s paws hit the rocky shore, the rocks shifted, almost sending me into the still sun-warmed water. Our eyes follow the butterfly’s movements as it flutters over the water without a care in the world. Charise huffs with a soft playful growl as she drops to her haunches with a pout. I’ll get it next time, I swear.
Our gaze drops to the clear deep blue water, the rocks disappear into the freshwater pond. The smooth surface glitters in the sun, a breeze creates a glossy mirror-like surface. The longer I stare into the reflective surface the more my mind narrows and stares back into the pale ice blue orbs of my wolf. My muscles tighten, turning my body into a statue as my breathing slows. The quaint sounds of the forest start to dull before they disappear completely, the water becomes a screen playing a set future.
Snarls and vicious growls shatter the quaint calm that I had been listening to, my body locks further with terror as terrified screams resound in my head. A small pack of rabid wolves with beady red hazed eyes, saliva froths at the mouth, mixed with blood. They come crashing through the wolves on a rampage, screams emit from shadowed figures, their faces hidden as the wolves attack, fighting one another.
Their snarls clash in angst, horrified feminine screams are combined with soft pleas of mercy. My heart contracts, racing painfully in my frozen chest, I can’t get enough air into my panicked mind as I watch the wolves, rip both human and wolf bodies apart, massacring people. Houses come into view, women run to collect children as their mates run to defend their homes and family units.
Some women choose to fight alongside their mates, making a stand while others run towards the safety of the pack house bunker. Alpha Hudson’s large form breaks into the battle, his auburn coat shining in the sun as he fights alongside the Alpha family. Screams of agony sound in a cacophony of misery as the growls and snarls shake the pack ground and it’s moral. A cloaked figure emerges as an ethereal and omniscient being from the densely packed woods, a chill stabs down my spine at the darkness.
The figure stands in the shadows watching the attack. The Alpha family shifts, snarling in rage as they enter the fight battling the vicious wolves. The small invading pack holds their own, slaughtering innocent people with brutal efficiency. Alpha Hudson’s jaws latch onto the rabid wolf leading the rogues, snapping his neck before he drops his body with a growl that shakes the earth. For a brief moment Alpha Hudson’s eyes meet the cloaked figure and a stillness settles over him.
Their eyes remain locked as Alpha Hudson’s body locks down, a low growl continues to grow in his chest as he stares at the figure. I watch confused as Alpha Hudson’s eyes glaze over with a subtle haze. A deep snarl rips through his chest that shakes my chest even through the vision. “Theia! Haven’t you heard me calling for-” Dad’s hand on my head makes me whine, yelping as I come out of the trance, frantic I fall into the water shocking him. “Easy sweetheart-”
Whimpering I jerk away only to come back to him, wanting to hide in his large frame. ‘Daddy- it’s bad- bad things,’ I fret, praying he understands me. Dad frowns as his eyes quickly scan over my features, his hands smoothing my fur with a concerned frown.
“Theia? What’s wrong? Did you see something?” My head jerks in a nod, whining as I shake harder, hiding between his legs. The horror and brutality of the attack tearing me apart. Why? Why is the pack being attacked? When is it bound to happen?
‘Bad man, rogues, evil wolves, it’s awful Daddy,’ I try again. Watching as his frown deepens and he gives a single nod.
“Home, now, we need to talk to your mother,” Dad shifts and nudges me forward. I race off before he grabs my scruff, picking me up to eat up the distance efficiently. Mid step he shifts back to his human form, his arms scooping under my body. “Cordelia! Inside, now,” his voice is a low stern order, not one to be ignored. She glances up shocked by his tone before her eyes fall to me and she nods.
“Reginald, did you interrupt the vision?” She asks in her dainty voice, urgency drips from her voice as she shuts the door behind him, locking it with a worried glance at me. Her fingers stroke over my ear delicately before Dad puts me down. He didn’t mean to, I don’t know what’s going to happen. The thought makes me shake, the uncertainty crushing me.
“I think so, I was getting her back for dinner-” A howl is heard that sends the pack up into arms, my parents glance at one another. Mom’s lips pinch as Dad’s lips thin and a cold calm settles in his eyes as Mom meets my stare.
“You saw the attack?” I nod, whimpering as I crawl to her, shaking horribly. Dad shakes his head with a low growl as he glances out the window.
“Theia, honey, you have to hide,” he mutters with a grim expression. He understands the threat we are under considering the position of the house.
“What did you see, honey? Was it wolves? Just wolves?” Mom asks with panic in her voice as Dad growls at her.
“Cordelia, it doesn’t matter- she needs to hide now,” Dad asserts with a growl. Mom stares at him with a frown, her lips thin before she gives a slight nod.
“Come on honey, just like we showed you,” Mom calls to me softly. She moves towards the hall closet, removing the paneling in the wall waiting for me to slip inside. I turn and stare at her expectantly pushing myself up against the corner with a whine waiting for her to come inside.
‘Please mommy? Don’t leave me in the dark,’ I plead with her. She smiles a sad and accepting smile.
“Be safe… don’t leave, not until we or someone you know comes and gets you,” she pauses, staring at me with tears in her pale eyes. “We love you Theia,” she whispers, stroking my snout before she replaces the paneling. I cry out, terrified as darkness descends around me, closing limiting my vision to just about null. Another howl sounds in the air that sends shivers down my back.
Dry heated air tickles my nostrils, dampening my heightened senses. I strain to listen to my parents’ soothing voices. Curling tightly into a ball I try to fight the shivers that rack my terrified form, to fight the sounds of fear. Snarls weigh the air, terrible sounds of growls and pain filled yips fill the void, tormented screams sound through the pack link as terror descends. The pack is under attack. Daddy will keep me safe, he’s the strongest wolf I know.
Pain fills my chest hearing how close the fight sounds. Mommy and Daddy have to be ok. I fight to keep hope that this has a good ending for the pack. For mom and dad. The screams and pain filled growls make my heart crack as I recognize them. It falls silent for a moment before there’s a low recognizable growl that shakes the walls. Alpha Hudson is here… Why does he still sound angry? Are there more rogues?
Glass shatters, wood splinters, objects crash against the walls as the house is torn apart, ripped apart. Is Alpha Hudson looking for the last rogue? Does he not know they are inside? The door to the closet is ripped open, sounding as if it’s been pulled from the frame as the walls shake, a sliver of a gap in the panels filters dust hazed light into the small room. Everything freezes before the panel is torn from the wall, cracking haphazardly as a snarl reverberates through the air terrifying me.
Whining I pin myself against the wall, crying in fear at the rabid expression on his wolf’s features, the hate and rage in his eyes makes my blood freeze in terror. Teeth exposed his jaws snap in the opening reaching for me, unable to catch me he growls in frustration. Pulling away only to shift, reaching in his hand locks down on my scruff, nails breaking my skin I cry harder, nails digging into the carpeted floor to try to escape.
Alpha Hudson yanks me out of the closet, throwing me into the broken wall, pain explodes as I make contact, hitting the floor in a heavy daze. Small pitiful whimpers leave my lips as I try to crawl away, my eyes are drawn to the cloaked figure that stands in the glass doorway, cutting off my exit. He was with the rogues… It’s clear to see the large figure is a man with a strong bone structure, harsh malicious glaze.
His eyes glitter, the red color glitter with victory as he offers a sinister smile, his teeth sharpened to fangs. “You’re the reason for the attack.” The soft murmur is mesmerizing, a stark difference compared to his appearance. His words make the Alpha snarl, the house shaking as I stare at him in shock. What is this?
“You’re the reason we were attacked! You mutt.” His eyes are hazed, tinged with red as if he has a cataract. He screams, with a deep angry snarl as he stops forward, lip raised in a silent snarl. What? I didn’t- how could I? Mutt? A myriad of thoughts filtered through my brain as I scrambled to my feet, skittering away on the slick, clutter filled floors.
“She needs to be punished… make her a prisoner… your pet.” The cloaked figure murmurs in this mesmerizing voice once more. Alpha Hudson’s hand latches onto my scruff, lifting me from the floor. The haze deepens as a sinister grin appears on his features. Agreement to the thrall.
“My pet. The mutt will be locked away, mine forever,” he agrees. Throwing me to the floor earning a yelp as pain blinds me, ice picks stab into my skull. The cloaked figure frowns at his words.
“Ours,” He corrects Alpha Hudson who frowns briefly before nodding in agreement. The haze clears for a moment before the man speaks again. “Every pet deserves a collar.” I’m horrified with the thought, Alpha Hudson’s muscles ripple with awareness as he nods, eyes twinkling.
“Chains are good to hold her- keep her in place. Permanently.” Pain splinters through my body as I shimmy away, attempting to free myself. Alpha Hudson takes two steps before he kicks me into the wall. Numbness surrounds my mind as I collide with the floor, my lungs rattle as I can’t find the willpower to open my eyes. What happened in that vision? What’s this nightmare?
