Prologue
“The life given us, by nature is short; but for the memory of a well-spent life is eternal”
- Cicero
Thunder clapped in the background, as if the Goddess herself was in a rage, and rain pelted our backs, but no one seemed to pay it any mind. Everything seemed to be silent, even the wind as it fiercely blew. No one had said a word. The crying, screaming, and growling had finally stopped.
No one dared move as we all stood watching my grieving mother. The previous battle that had started earlier ceased to exist. The Alpha had fallen. Rouges ran from our land, using this time to escape. We may have won the battle, but no one seemed to take notice.
My mother finally stood and shifted into her wolf. Her wolf gave a painful howl. Others in the pack shifted as well and joined my mother, including my siblings. The mourning had begun.
The Beta shifted back into his human form and began to collect my father. The rest of the pack followed suit. My mother did not. She must have seen people approaching her as a threat as she began to growl at anyone who stepped close to my father’s body. My brothers and sister stepped forward to hold my grieving mother back. The Beta instructed the pack members to begin building a pyre.
I was faintly aware of my harsh, labored breathing. I could not shift, I was much too young, at the ripe age of 7. I could barely process what was happening. I had once thought my father was invincible and could never be taken down, but no, I was a silly girl. I was horribly wrong as I watched my father die. I had made no move to save him. I was much too frightened.
My siblings were finally able to let my mother go. She turned back into her human form. Her eyes shined with tears, desperately wanting to escape. Women from the pack circled my mother and held her close, scared that she may fall. Her eyes met mine.
“You!” she exclaimed. Her jaw was clenched, body shaking with tears pouring out of her eyes.
The group of women and the rest of the pack stopped and carefully watched on. Every person seemed to know that she was talking to me.
She proceeded to point a shaking finger in my direction. “You did this,” she seethed, “This is all your fault. You could have warned someone or sought help, but you did nothing. You’re a pathetic runt.”
Many gasps were heard throughout the pack. I could do nothing but stand where I was. I could feel the eyes of the pack on me now. It was suffocating and frightened me further. I could feel the hatred coming from each member of the pack. I started shaking. I finally moved my head and started glancing at my pack members. Their eyes were filled with so much hatred.
“Run,” my eldest brother, Liam, yelled, “run and never return.”
I was frozen and wide eyed. I did not understand what was going on, for my mind was far too young and not accustomed to such treatment.
“NOW!” He screamed, his body shaking and threatening to shift.
I instantly started to run for the woods. Tears were pouring from my eyes. I knew that I could not stop, for if I did, I was afraid that they would kill me.
This, however, was only the beginning of the many things to come.
