Chapter 1
I ran as fast as I could. The mud squelched between the pads of my feet, spattering my silver fur. The sound of the rain pounding on the canopy above was deafening, overwhelming my senses. My heart pounded in my chest. My vision was obscured, blocked by layers of wet leaves that slapped my muzzle as I pushed forward. I closed my eyes and used my other senses to navigate through the brush. Sticks rubbed against my coat, pulling out small tufts of fur, only further highlighting the path I had taken, along with my strong scent of fear.
I breathed deeply to focus my senses; I allowed my mind to wander while my wolf navigated us through the underbrush.
I flashed back to running through open fields with my little sister. Her white wolf was twinning my silver while my mother sat nearby, her kind eyes watching on. We ran to her.
“Momma?” Eva whispered.
“Yes, dear?”
“Tell me the story of the prince again!” She squealed.
Mother smiled and began.
“There once was a young prince destined to rule in a faraway kingdom. His parents were determined to find him the most beautiful bride to be his queen. They brought women from all over the land, yet he remained unfazed by them all. He left the kingdom in following his heart, in search of his one true love.”
“Did he find her?”
The image abruptly changed to her lying on a hospital bed, motionless, hooked to a series of machines. My mind snapped back.
I could feel that the brush was thinning. I prepared my muscles for the dead sprint that was fast approaching. I was Kiera of the Starlight pack, and I would succeed.
I yelped out loud as a sharp pain emerged from my hind. A thick root had snaked its way around my left ankle. I both felt and heard the bones crack, and I rolled out of the brush into the cleaning ahead. My body came to a halt as I crashed into a large object.
My eyes snapped open and locked onto the unforgiving eyes of a massive grey wolf looming above my crumpled figure. Where one would expect to see the savage stare of a predator, I only saw sorrow. The wolf let out a long sigh.
Not good enough, Kiera
I felt his voice reverberate through my mind.
I watched as the alpha wolf stalked away, leaving me in the clearing where the cold rain numbed my shattered ankle.
I let out a whimper.
I’m sorry, dad
I thought out after the wolf, but he was gone.
