The soft earth turns harder as I step over the border onto the pack's territory. Lily was very interested in something, though I can't be sure what it is.

A male shifter leads the way through the brush and around the trees, taking me deeper into the pack lands. I feel a bit uneasy, however, if Lily feels like it is safe enough then I shall not argue. Her instincts are generally better than mine. I am not one to deny her without good reason. Her claim to this life form is just as great as mine.

The male neither looks at me nor speaks to me save for the traditional greeting. I pin my arms to my sides, refraining from rubbing my hands together. Something is familiar, but almost strangely so. I can't pinpoint it, but I feel like it is at the edge of my mind and I just can't grasp it. It's annoying. It's so close, yet it doesn't come to me.

Pushing it to the back of my mind, I stop myself just as I am about to walk into the male. Going to stand beside him, he takes a step forwards, and his eyes glaze over. I quietly wait, observing my surroundings, though nothing seems to be moving—all is quiet and still. The birds are not chirping, and the critters are not running, their soft feet padding across the ground. Neither do I hear someone approaching until they appear from the trees. The wind whistles quietly as the second male approaches.

The air around him washes over me, neither suffocating nor meek. My own aura is wrap up tightly and concealed as well as possible, but if it were let loose there would be a clash. Two betas; when it comes to hierarchy shifters like to know where they stand. When the first shifter addresses him as Alpha, I raise an eyebrow. The so-called Alpha glances at me before they start on.

I could make a break for it. I could leave now, but I don't. I can't die here, I can't lose anything I haven't already lost. Worst comes to worst I'll slip away at night, and none will be the wiser. Holding the shoulder strap of my pack, I follow behind them, looking around for signs of a pack.

The whole area seems to be filled with the scent of shifters, though I don't see any.

"Bring the female to the house." The second male leaves, not even looking back. I turn to the first male, but he just starts on again. Quickening my pace I try and find out more about this place, but I get no answer. Not a word or any indication of my presence.

It isn't long before a good-sized building appears, and we go inside. The inside is nice, a woven rug, and dark wooden chairs. However, we walk right past this all and I am lead to a set of stairs. Before I can get a question out the male starts to walk off.

"What in Lua Lupa's name-" Shaking my head I decide to drop it. I don't know what kind of pack this is, but who in their right mind leaves an outsider alone in their pack house.

As the male leaves, I look both ways before creeping down the hallway. I can feel the presence of others, but it's just a matter of finding their whereabouts. Something in me winces at this breach in etiquette, but at this point, I just want to find out more. This pack house seems strangely quiet, though maybe it's just the two Healing packs that have such a lively pack. I never saw my old pack's one, for I wasn't allowed inside.

Stopping by a door I assume to lead to a kitchen I call on Lily to help. She helps me heighten my sense and I smell the presence of another shifter. Listening, a soft murmur can be made out. Nothing seems to be dangerous, so I knock on the door. It isn't long before it is carefully swung open, and a dark-haired female stands before me. He gaze is cast down, and she just stands there.

I hear a small crash as another shifter comes up, pulling the dark-haired girl away. "Please, come in, don't mind Cortie. Are you the new member?"

"Sorry?" Fumbling with my words, it takes a moment for the question to sink in. "No, I'm not."

"Really? Alpha sent us a message telling us another female was joining." The dark hair shifter known as Cortie continues to chatter on, showing me around the room.

Closing the door behind me, I eye the females as they seem to be lost with their tasks. "Yes Alli'sia, I know, I know." Cortie huffs when the black-haired female questions her.

"Veene, come." Alli'sia beckons them over to where we are. "It is very strange, are you sure you aren't joining?"

"Yes." I nod firmly, not that I would want to join even if I could. I've been told from the Healers that Luna's cannot technically be apart of a pack due to the tasks we are set. Even if I could choose, I enjoy this freedom without the weight of another baring down on me. For the first time, I am free from the expectations of my family and pack.

"Hm... I'm Veene. Pleasure to meet you." Her eyes are a bright blue as she stares at me with a mild interest. "Come in, come in."

They quickly close the door and looks around hesitantly. Their heartbeats run at a quick pace, and they seem unsure of what to do with me.

My mind reels, as things start to slide into place.

"What is this pack called?" The question seems to silence the group completely as I look around. The kitchen is very simple with a counter on one side and few washbasins on the floor. Buckets stand near the table and some stools are all clustered in the middle. I step forward, and the females seem to retreat back. As we move closer to the table, the candles illuminate their figures. Cortie reaches out to hand Alli'sia a rag, and as her sleeve gets pushed up I can see bright red scars. Grasping my arm with one hand, my eyes flit back and forth.

The blue-eyed female speaks up quietly, "We don't know..." She sways on her feet, anxiety coating her words. "Maybe she should see her."

They all nod slowly, eager to get back to their tasks.

As if on cue a figure appears from the shadows, her voice sounding throughout the chamber. Her eyes hold many years of suffering, the glint of innocence snuffed out completely. She isn't old, but neither does she look young. Her figure holds a stance of confidence, of power that could have been great. "Go back to work."

"Yes, Ena'vale," they all mutter, eyes downcast. The she-wolves glance nervously at us, before scurrying off.

Ena'vale and I head over to a small room in the back that I hadn't noticed before. She invites me to sit down, so I do. A small shudder runs through me as I understand what this is. In my old pack, I was of higher ranking, they wouldn't dare to do this to me even if I was a female. I had no reason to go further than the house, and I learned to stay where I was told.

"What is your name, she-wolf?" Ena'vale runs her fingers along the floor, tracing the cracks in the stone.

"Redaliya."

"Redaliya. This is not a good place to be. I can feel your bloodline. Why are you not with your pack? Though... no pack is a good pack in these times." Her grey eyes pierce into me, her voice holding a tone of command. My beta blood bends to her will, but my Luna side shrugs it off.

"I was drawn here, I don't know why, but everything is so quiet." Shrugging, I hate the feeling of helplessness that crawls along my skin.

"They like to keep us hidden. One by one we go and learn what there is to be taught." She seems to have a hard time saying the words as if the very idea of them burns her tongue. "Obedience. But they dare not take me out. I am too dangerous, even with poor eyesight."

"Why have you not run away?" I would have if I had the strength, and the door was unlocked. This isn't right, how could I have never seen this before. I used to think this was okay, this is how things should be. Follow the rules, don't question it, mindlessly do what is asked, and most importantly never fight back.

A sad smile graces her lips. "Others get punished for our actions, we get punished for our actions, we all bear the scars of it. No she-wolf is safe, even if you learn what they want you to. What can we do against a pack of trained and well-fed shifters who want to keep us here? Besides I care for those who come down here. My life is here, it is almost all I know, and one day. One day things will be better. It is about all I can do without a wolf. She has long gone, and probably all the better for her."

Lily whines, not understanding the full meaning, but the feeling of sadness for this female we relate to is heavy in the air.

"I understand." We sit in silence, and I truly feel bad. If only I could do something, but I can't. I am useless to them, for I may be unable to die, but everyone else can.

"Redaliya, you shouldn't be here. Your spirit isn't broken, and you have a chance." She grips onto my wrist, turning it over. Her fingers trail along the faded scars that are barely visible to me, but she seems to know exactly where they are.

"What about the others?" I only just met them, but I feel for them. I once was just like them, oblivious to what freedom even was, and so strongly held in the deathly claws of rules that my scars and bruises were normal. A bubbly furry starts to prickle my skin, weaving its way around my bones. Ena'vale squeezes my hand and I look up.

I meet her gaze.

"I've tried Redaliya." Her tone is soft but firm. "We have all tried, but we are tied to this pack. We can't get further than a few hallways before we are caught. Some of the others in the other rooms even convince themselves that this is okay, or they have mates, kids, family here. Even that this is how they should be treated."

"Nothing will change if something isn't done." I understand what she means, I've seen it myself. If I wasn't forced out of the pack due to my cursed actions, I would have stayed there, unable to do anything but follow the rules. My sister is still there, so willing to bend to be the perfect role model and please our parents. She could have been great if she wasn't tied down, she was so smart, yet naive to the truth of what was going on.

Tapping her fingers on the ground she answers, "Yet nothing can be done without those willing to change things. The truth hurts. If no one is willing to stand up then no one will start the ripple of change." Pausing she seems to listen, the footsteps of the others in the room so quiet they are hard to detect. "It's too late for you to leave tonight. Who brought you here?"

"I saw the Alpha and this other male. Why? What's going on?"

"They like the night. The nights are when they scour the forests and halls for any female caught out. Those are the first to be taken for what they call training." She pulls me in closer, her tone growing serious. "The Alpha won't remember you, he rarely remembers any of the females unless they do something he doesn't like. Just do what we do and stay near me. Whatever you do, don't challenge them." Under her breath I hear her mutter, "May they be cast down into the darkest depths of Kan'ra, where the moon does not shine."

If Kan'ra really is a place for all those who have done wrong when they die, I hope they all go to the very bottom.

Ena'vale stands and I follow her to the doorway. She pushes aside the torn tarp and we head into a small room beside hers. I help her pull out blankets from a basin and lay them on the ground. They feel rather thin, and well worn with holes

As I am about to walk away, Ena'vale pushes me into the darkest corner. "Quiet. I will come get you." Her footsteps are quick as she disappears into her room. Lily and I are frozen, wondering what is happening. A sharp inhale comes from the females, but then everything seems to stop.

Silence. Something is coming.

Dead quiet, and then it's shattered. The door slam open, and my hairs stand on end. My eyes shut of their own accord, my mind painting a picture with my other senses. A hum, or for like a feeling of something that shouldn't be there wafts up, and a collective whimper piercing through the air.

A sharp crack resonates, followed by a muffled cry.

"You. Come, it's time again." A tense pause before I hear a faint cry of dismay. The cold voice gets louder. "Where is the blind one."

It takes all my strength not to strangle this male, but Ena'vale was right. They'd get the backlash. Pressing one hand to my neck, my pulse pounding against my fingertips.

"Yes. I am Ena'vale." Her tone is level, neither giving away her anger or fear. Rather was that a hint of amusement? "The blind one. What do you want?" She steps out, her back just visible from my place on the floor.

A snarl fills the chamber and I can picture my father's flashing eyes. Something clicks and I still, holding my breath as I tighten my hold on my aura—no feelings, no dominance, nothing that could give away my presence. It's hard to keep it under wraps, as a metallic scent fills the air. Though I'm almost sad to admit that I learned to do this during my lessons in my old pack. Breathing out slowly, a heavy pause, the fresh flow of blood still hanging thickly.

The door slams shut, and the remaining candles flicker dangerously, threatening to snuff out.

Ena'vale appears in the doorway, blood trickling down her arm. "It is safe now. We may have one more... visitor tonight, but they tend to forget about us completely. Come, we must see to the others."

Cortie is curled up on the floor clutching her wrist, the black-haired shifter—Alli'sia—bent over her. The bright blue-eyed shifter is missing. When I question them, they tell me Veene has a mate, though don't say anything else.

Kneeling by Cortie, I touch the female tentatively. "Should we wrap it up?" I take her forearm to look at the damage. "What is this?" Tapping the band, the sharp edge cuts into my finger and I hiss. Yanking my hand away, pain flares up. "Silver," I mutter in dismay.

"Careful, Redaliya. We can't do much but hope our hopes have enough energy to help us out. They put the bands do ensure obedience and whatnot." Alli'sia tries to wave it off, but the undertone of bitterness is overly present. "Every night they snap them on. Sometimes they are on for days, simply because they forgot- no, probably purely too lazy to come take them off."

A haze of dismay weights down, heavy, and burdening. Everyone's face is downtrodden, their eyes holding a prominent pain; dull and sorrowful, dreaming of a different life.

Opening my bag, I pull out some extra fabric. Cortie winces as I try to slip the fabric underneath the band, but it is too tight. Wrapping it around her wrist, and on either side of the silver, I have Alli'sia bind it with a thin rope. Hopefully, her wolf will be able to mend the bone quickly. If only they could shift. But for some reason or another, the body seems to expand for a split second, before shedding the skin.

"Is there food?" Alli'sa and I both take an arm and help Cortie to her feet.

Ena'vale grumbles, a dry laugh escaping her lips. "Food is scared down here. The others suffer worst then us, simply because they don't care if they die. But our lovely Alpha finds pleasure in keeping me alive."

An internal struggle alights when I recall the dried meat in my bag. Something in me screams to save it, however, I push it away and reply, "Let's sit down. I have some I can spare." I will leave tomorrow and then I can hunt. For I am neither a part of their pack nor can I die by their hands. Maybe the she-wolves will come... But the conversation Ena'vale and I had echoes, reminding me that claim to be okay.

Ena'vale clutches her temple, her breathing speeding up. Her eyes are shut and her hands dig into the table. Cortie places her good hand on Ena'vale, and whispers something soothing.

Taking out half the smoked venison, I keep the others in case prey is scarce. Handing the food to the others, I nibble on mine, forgetting that I hadn't eaten much today. Watching the others Lily is silent, and as I focus on her I notice what she is feeling.

The females before me seem to have something that I can only describe as a dark tendril curling around them. "What is it?"

Cortie and Alli'sia tilt their heads, as they work away at the meat. Ena'vale chews silently, her fingers drumming across the table. I meet her gaze, and she nods slowly. "This pack... doesn't just have a connection to the Alpha, but we have a carkaeum link."

A breath catches in my throat as my eyes widen. Rubbing the back of my hands, I try to process it. No wonder they can't leave; a carkaeum link. Those links insure complete and utter obedience giving any shifter who is apart of it and higher than you the power to inflict mass amounts of pain. My hair prickles at the thought, eyes darting between the three females. If it was made with no real deadline, then I don't know of anything but death that can break it. My mind spins. Did my old pack do this? Was I so blind to what was happening?

"It's okay, Redaliya," Cortie sighs. "We will live and tomorrow you must leave. The Alpha may have forgotten about you, but he will feel your presence and come. The sooner you get away the better."

"Yes... Thank you all." I wish I could do something for them.