The Alpha's Howl

++Neoma++

The dark stormy night enveloped me in a blanket of fear. The howling wind and crashing thunder made my heart race. The flickering lights added to the eerie atmosphere. I felt a sense of isolation and vulnerability as if the storm was a powerful force beyond my control. The wind howled, causing the old structure of the small wooden cabin I was currently in, to creak and groan. Rain pounded against the windows, creating a symphony of haunting sounds. During the raging storm, its wooden frame trembles with each gust of wind. The storm outside rages on, and flashes of violent attacks fill my mind with dread. The sounds of thunder draw out my cries for help as the darkness of the night seems to consume me. Blood splatters in my dreams and fear grips my little heart tightly. The lightning illuminates the room, casting wicked shadows that dance around me, mirroring the chaos within. No tears were enough... Not for those men in black, in the room next to me. I can hear their screams of rage through the walls as they argue about my fate. One has something in that chest where the heart is supposed to go. Where was that when he murdered my parents in cold blood? Their blood still stains my face. The images of their lifeless bodies will forever leave a dark scar on my soul. That as an eight year girl, I knew. I also knew I couldn’t rely on the men in black to show mercy... Why would they? They were here for the power my parents had. My parents were one of the strongest alphas in the world, with the largest pack in the universe. The Scarlet Fangs. Cloaked in shadows, my pack moves with stealth and cunning, harnessing the energy of the Blood Moon to dominate the wilderness. The only pack that had the power to do so, with their alpha. By moon law, I was the heir to that position... Now these guys have taken that from me... The argument stopped. The silence piqued my interest, but my body trembled in fear as I heard footsteps getting louder by the second. The locked door launched open with a bang. Two tall men clad in black attire from head to toe released an air of danger and plan before stepping into the room. Their footsteps were silent, as if they were ghosts, moving with purpose and precision through the shadows. One walked closer to me, blocking any chance to escape. He knew to guard me like a dangerous prisoner. The other scouted out the room. They were smart and careful, making sure nothing got past them. They dare not underestimate the alpha’s daughter, as I was cunning. It was easy to deceive people with the innocence of a child’s face. This time I fear, that it was useless.

“Clear” The men scouting out the place informed.

The evil smile crept across his face, devoid of any trace of genuine warmth. It was a sinister grin, hiding a multitude of sinister motives. A glint in his eyes hinted at a twisted pleasure in his deception, as he reveled in his malevolent plans. This smile was a facade, a mask to conceal the darkness lurking within, ready to unleash chaos and harm upon me. The one guarding left with his head down. He couldn’t stand seeing harm done to a child, but couldn’t stop it. A coward who didn’t try hard enough. This sickened me and restrained me from my hope. Now I was in a room with the man, whose sinister grin widened. He launched at me, and in a second his hand gripped my neck. He lifts my trembling body to a standing position against the wall. He leaned in slowly while keeping eye contact.

“Can’t let their daughter take my rightful place” He spat out, like I’ve wronged him in ways no one can forgive.

I felt a sudden tightening around my throat. Panic surged as I struggled to breathe. Vision blurred, senses heightened. At that moment, fear consumed me, every gasp a fight for air. I kicked and kicked. As the world around me faded, a desperate plea for help was muffled by the grip of his hands. With my final kick, before I took my last gasp for air, a force was released. This force knocked the men across the room. I stumble on the floor, gasping for air. For a minute I’ve forgotten how to breathe. I kept telling myself to breathe, instead of worrying about the mysterious force that saved my life. Then I felt it...The surge of power inside me intensified, a wild energy pulsing through my veins. As my breath turns into low faint growls, my body contorts with muscles stretching and bones shifting with agonizing pain. The world blurs around me as my senses sharpen, the primal instinct taking over. I look at my hands, which are now paws with the sharpest of claws. The sharp, searing pain radiates from my lower back, shooting down my legs like hot lava. With each step, it feels like a fiery grip tightening around my spine, making every movement a battle against each agonizing twist and turn. The coward rushed to the room I was in. He looks at me like he sees a demon. Someone who should be shone out of this world with a wooden cross. I watched as he shrunk in size, and I grew large. So large that my head hit the damp roof. I let out a loud soft growl...A soft but loud growl emerged from deep within me, a rumbling warning that echoed through the wooden cabin. My chest vibrated with power as I asserted my dominance, the primal sound carrying a message of strength and authority to any who dared challenge me. The growl was a visceral response, a declaration of my place in the pack’s hierarchy. The growl before the bit...

The sun gently crept through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor. The warm embrace of its rays shone in my face, awakening me. I flinched from the sun, but there was no escaping since it soon covered the whole ground. I left my head up, feeling disoriented in this unfamiliar wilderness. Surrounded by towering trees and the sounds of birds chirping. I was confused. It took only a minute to realize what happened. In a life and death situation I gained my wolf at a very young age. This is almost impossible for a she-wolf. I was still confused about how I ended up in the middle of a forest. My sense of direction has become only a memory. I figured I blacked out for days since the memory of the stormy night was distant. It is not enough that I only remember the tragic events. But now is not the time to grieve... I needed to find a way back home, or at least shelter before nightfall. Days went by slowly. Days turned to weeks, and yet I was still Surrounded by towering trees and a thick blanket of leaves... Every step I took seemed to lead me deeper into the unknown, with no signs of a way out. As the days passed my stomach growled in protest, echoing through the silent forest. I knew I was going to have to hunt soon... As a wolf can only last five weeks without food... I dreaded the thought of killing the animals myself. My parents forced me to eat meat, and I admit a liking to it, but to see animals before death.. To watch their eyes drain of life, I was certain I would never eat meat again. However I decided to push myself more. Nightfall hit again... Each night was indeed a nightmare..The rustling of unseen creatures made me shiver, adding to the feeling of isolation. I eventually grew a pair of balls and hunted my first rabbit. That was easy as I let my instincts do the job. The rabbit was brown and had soft brown eyes that almost matched my mama... I stared into them for a long time... Despite drooling over the corpse. The thought of my stomach being full drove me mad. After taking the first bite, the rest was easy. I gobbled the rabbit up, like it was about to run away. Soon when there was no more rabbit, I sat next to the bones and cried. Teardrops hit the leaves on the ground like rain. I sobbed. I was always independent from my parents, and from the world. Creating my path to greatness, but now I have never longed for a path to follow that much. Just a clue to guide me back to safety, no matter where I looked, all I saw was an endless sea of green. Hope seemed to fade with each passing moment, as the reality of being lost in the heart of the forest set in. Despite losing hope, I got back up. I kept walking with each step getting heavier by the step. My head held low... My naturally red hair hangs, blocking my vision. Weeks turned into months, and I collapsed on the ground. My body was weak. Not for starvation, but from walking for months. With the lack of hope, I didn’t see the need to keep moving forward. It was a joke anyway. An eight-year-old trying to survive in the middle of the forest, I had no idea how I even got here. The only reason I’m alive right now is my she-wolf inside of me. Although she doesn’t talk to me, I could feel her power strengthen me. My stomach growled. It was that time again. The time I hated the most in my situation. I have to go hunting again. The rabbit I killed last time still haunts my dreams, now it’ll have friends. I lift my head up and my eyes widen. I stood in shock as a majestic mountain loomed overhead from afar. I observed the trees that seemed to bow in reverence to their grandeur, creating a serene and awe-inspiring sight that gave me hope. The energy that I didn’t even know I had spiraled out of me. This was good. If I climb the mountain I can see the area around me, which would help me spot a village or any signs of human life. I skip to the bottom of the mountain. The mountain doubled in size, but I wasn’t intimidated. This was my final straw of hope. So I climbed... As I got higher I felt the cool breeze against my face. Step by step, the rocky terrain challenged me. As I ascended, the panoramic view unfolded, rewarding the effort. A hope of some signs, some clues to find my way home. That distant goal motivated me. After a few long hours, I made it to the top. I could see miles and miles ahead of me, but as I searched the faraway trees. That was all I could see... Trees and trees, an ocean of trees on hills like waves. My hope began to crumble, my fists clenched tight. Anger surged through me, my body tensing with each breath. The fire within me burned bright, eyes narrowing as I felt my control slip away. A storm of fury raged inside, my very being consumed by the overwhelming tide of rage. I screamed with rage. My scream echoed among the trees, like wind. I hate them, no despise them. The people who killed my parents. The cowards who were too scared to do anything. I promise I will make them pay. Anyone who ever dares to conspire against my rightful pack. I imagine confronting them face-to-face, holding my ground with unwavering resolve. The moment I see the shock in their eyes, the satisfaction of retribution will be sweet. I will make them cry for mercy. The anger I felt gave me a new kind of energy, the kind that hope doesn’t dare give me.