"What in the Moon Goddess' name were you thinking?"

The Alpha paces in front of the row of young males that are lined up by the backdoor of the packhouse. Lips drawn back in a snarl, his sharp pointer teeth glisten in the light of the setting sun. Neither Dante nor any of his friends respond to the question. Without exception, they have diverted their stares to the ground. The distinct scent of fear hangs in the air. Punishment will be swift and harsh.

"Dante, I asked you a question."

My mate's gaze flicks to me before focusing on his father. The message is clear—wait until I'll get you on my own. I'm not worried. If he even lays one finger on me for squealing on him, the Alpha will hear about it, which will get him into even more trouble.

"They killed three members of our pack. I think we're more than justified—"

"Justified to do what? Tear them apart?" The Alpha huffs. "What do you think the villagers will do if a few of their young are found dead with animal bite marks after we just told them our land harbors a pack of wolves? It will be open hunting season."

"Wolves are protected by law—"

"Not if they hurt humans. Hell, all they have to do is claim they are rabid. The whole village will be after them. And not only that. This would constitute a breach of our laws since humans can never find out about our kind. The pack council will condemn you, and with war already looming. . ."

As the Alpha's words trail off, pressing silence settles over the group. Harla glares at her son with her arms folded. No help will be coming from her. Dante screwed up and his mom and dad are no longer his parents but the leaders of the Scopan Lake pack.

After what seems an eternity, Dante musters up the courage to speak again. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't think of all that."

"No, I figure you weren't thinking at all." The Alpha huffs again. "Thank the Moon Goddess your mate has some brain cells for the both of you, and the fighters were able to stop you and your friends from causing any serious damage. Otherwise, this might have blown up in everyone's face." He turns his back on the youngsters, his hand running through his hair. "And the worst part is, I can't even punish you for now. I need Jos posing with Raelyn as the wolf couple tomorrow morning, and with the experts snooping around, everything needs to look absolutely normal."

Dante can't hide a small smile as he shrugs at me. His face is nothing short of gloating. Though he didn't get his revenge—yet—he will also suffer little to no consequences.

But the Alpha isn't ready to let him off the hook. "That doesn't mean there won't be repercussions in the future. All of you will have to make a sacrifice at the next full moon. In the meantime, you will not be allowed to run on the territory without supervision."

"Dad, we aren't little pups—"

One swoop of the Alpha's hand cuts Dante off. "You're lucky I'm not confining you and your friends to the barn for the rest of the year. I'm very disappointed in you, Dante. Your reckless behavior shows that you're not ready for leadership. Same for Jos. As my sons, I expected more. Now get out of my sight."

One by one, the offenders file out. Marco smiles at me with teeth. No doubt he's going to try to get back at me. I snap at him inconspicuously. Game on, jerk. It's already bad enough that I have to act all timid and submissive around the Alpha and Harla, but I won't let Dante's sidekick push me around.

I follow Harla through the backdoor into the kitchen. Since Dante was doing my chores before the fire and I was sick right afterward, no work has been assigned to me. I'm actually bored with nothing to do all day. "Can I help you?"

"We are already set for dinner. Maybe you can tidy up your room a little."

"Sure." Not really in the mood for cleaning, I drag myself over to the broom closet. Grabbing a mop, bucket, and dust cloth, I head up the stairs. As soon as I cross the threshold to the bedroom, my nose wrinkles. It's stuffy, the stale air almost nauseating. Dante couldn't have opened the window while I was in the healer's cabin. The bed is unmade and most of the closet contents are scattered on the floor. With a sigh, I set the bucket down. This will need to be straightened up first.

I step closer to the bed and the subtle scent of salt left by tears turns my stomach. His whole existence is centered on his grief. Nothing else in the world matters to him. When I lean over the bed, I notice an overturned shoebox. Piles of pictures are buried underneath.

They all show her, as a younger pup with two teeth missing in the front, yet a smile so bright that could compete with the sun. Even back then, Lara had been stunning. The next one is of her just shy of adolescence. She pouts into the camera without hiding that she is more interested in the photo taker than the picture itself. Tons of her and Dante together with their lips glued together, making silly faces or gazing deep into each other's eyes. They were happy—until an arranged mating ended it all. I wrecked their fairy tale. Though I had no say in it, they had always blamed me.

With a sigh, I plop onto the bed and open my nightstand. The pair of socks in which I hid my amulet is still plugged back in the corner. I pull it out and run my thumb over the smooth moonstone. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as sudden anger crushes any sympathy I have for Dante. I have nothing but this half-burned necklace to remind me of the happy times of my past. Not one photo of Eric or my sister Chloe. I can barely recall my friend Megan's features. Would I still recognize her voice if I met her in the store with my back turned? It's not fair that Dante gets to hold on to Lara's memories and I have zilch.

Carefully stowing away the necklace, I get to my feet. A small smile plays on my lips as I gather up the pictures. Grief or not, I will not allow her to poison my personal space with her spirit. When Dante returns home, he'll have a bad surprise. I will scorch his mementos just the way he burned mine. Payback is truly a bitch.

Before I can change my mind, I grab a book of matches off the dresser and walk into the upstairs bathroom with the shoebox in hand. Spraying some of Harla's perfume on the pictures to make them more flammable, I light the box on fire in the safety of the bathtub. Flames lick soon at Lara's pretty face. The smoke bites my lungs, but I'm bolted in place. The fire spits in all directions. Flashes of my burning clothes, my burning necklace, my burning soul, blend together with the sweet tinge of revenge. It's as if a heavy burden is lifted off my chest.

"ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!"

Dante's shout from the door tears me out of the moment. Though the fire hasn't spread yet, the flames lick dangerously close to the curtains. I leap forward to turn on the water. The flames hiss as the spurts of the faucet smother them. The whole bathroom is filled with sharp smoke and I cough when breathing becomes close to impossible.

Taking a tentative step back, I let Dante inspect the damage. As it sinks in what I was burning, his eyes go wide

"You bitch."

His backslap tosses me off balance. I sway, blood flooding my mouth, and my wild takes over. A deep rumble resonates in my chest. I snap my teeth. Before my wolf can take full control, he shifts. Jumping me head on, he buries me underneath his powerful body. I kick and punch, but it's a losing battle. His weight alone has me at a handicap.

Just as his teeth go for my throat, I manage to shift. When his strong jaw closes in for the kill, my ear takes the brunt. I howl in pain. A thirst for survival releases strength into my muscles and I throw him off. Shaking my fur, blood splatters everywhere. Pain pounds in my skull and makes me dizzy. When Dante's wolf attacks again, my legs fold underneath me.

He tears into my neck. I'm too weak to toss him off again. Pain rages, the world around me turning red as my eyes bleed. Whimpers of mercy are all I have left to give while his teeth deliver punishment. Nothing to stop his rage. He blames me for her death—for his inability to take revenge—for living in the first place. He won't stop until my heart is torn from my chest and the last drop of blood has drained from my body.

And then he is gone. I try to stand, but gentle hands hold me down.

"Stay here. I need to get my healer bag." It's the Luna, though her words don't fully register. All I can think of is how to remove myself from this suffocating life.

Hurt. Disparagement. Shame.

That's all this place has ever given me.

Hate. Rejection. Disgust.

Mate bond or not, that's all Dante will ever hold in his soul for me.

It's a losing battle.

I don't belong here.

With my last ditch effort, I get back to my feet. The window is open. I leap out without thinking.

Falling. Air swooshing. Laughter from far away.

When I crash on the ground, the impact knocks the wind out of me. Bones separate in my legs and my ribcage is crushed. For a few agonizing moments, I just lay still on my belly, praying for the Moon Goddess to claim me. Somehow, I manage to stand.

Wobbly steps. Torment with every breath. A blurry world around me.

I have to get away.

Limping, I reach the forest line. The Luna calls something after me. I'm too far gone to listen. The trees swallow me up. A sudden cool breeze makes me shudder, but it's comforting at the same time.

Caressing. Soothing. Empowering.

An invisible urge drives me forward. I start to run, ignoring the shooting pain that rips through my muscles. The blood in my mouth and throat chokes me. Twigs snap underneath my paws. When my nose picks up the scent of water, I head in the other direction. The scouts will search the path around the lake first.

I can't have them find me.

They can't take me back.

I won't survive another day in that house.

I'm unsure how long I run until my legs buckle underneath me. The ground is soft, a bed made of moss and leaves. I crawl until I'm almost fully covered by a bush. Panting, I close my eyes. The pain is all-consuming. Death is all that's left.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, the rustling leaves and a caressing breeze are my only companions. Then a sudden voice.

"Help her."

A response that is carried by wind. "And why should I do that?"

"I recognize her. She is their future Luna. Come on, Andrenior. For you, it's just a snip of your fingers."

A flash of light. An incredible pain. Darkness.

When I wake up, the sun colors the sky in a deep red. It must be early morning. Careful, I get up and stretch. I expect the pain to cripple me; instead, my limbs feel great. Not even the slightest discomfort. I can breathe without effort. Not a sign of blood. What the hell happened to me? I shouldn't even be alive.

I take a few careful jumps, but when the pain fails to materialize, I chase through the woods. Just as an invisible urge drove me away from the packhouse last night, a new thirst pulls me back in.

Honor. Perseverance. Power.

This is my fate. I'm the future Luna of the Scopan Lake pack and they deserve better from me.

Out of breath, I reach the settlement and stretch back into my skins. When I push the backdoor to the kitchen open, everyone stares at me from the breakfast table with an open mouth.

The Luna drops her fork. "Raelyn, where did you go? We thought you'd gone mad with pain and we lost you."

"I needed to heal. Alone." Conscious that I'm still naked after shifting, I head for the hallway door. "If you'd excuse me. I have to get dressed."

Nothing but silence follows me as I walk up the steps. The bedroom has been cleaned; fresh sheets put on the bed. Same with the bathroom. Nothing hints that a deadly fight between two wolves took place just hours earlier. I slide into my bathrobe.

A clearing of a throat draws my attention to the door. The Luna smiles. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Yes."

She steps closer. "Let me take a look at you."

I shy away from her hand. "Like I said, I'm fine."

"You lost a lot of blood."

"I guess I heal quickly."

"No, Raelyn. We followed the blood trail for two miles before a stream cut off any trace of you. It's impossible to lose that much blood and be fine the next day."

I don't remember even crossing a stream. "I'm not sure what you want me to say."

"Did something happen in the woods?"

Other than a couple of strange voices and a flash of light that might or might not have saved me? She will think I've gone insane if I tell her that. "No, nothing." I reach for my brush and start to comb the knots out of my hair. "What time is it?"

"Just after six."

"Do you know when the expert visit is?"

"My mate said at ten. Are you truly feeling up for it?"

"Yes." I glance at the door to the bathroom. "Would you mind? I want to take a shower."

"Of course. Give me a shout if you need anything and I'll make sure they leave some of the fresh kill for you for breakfast."

"Thanks."

As soon as the door closes behind her, I drop my robe. Staring at the mirror, I search my body for a scar. Anything that shows I was injured. My skin is smooth, not the slightest blemish. But then I see it. A tiny piece of my ear is missing, just at the outer rim. Not even visible under my hair. It's where Dante got me first.

When I turn on the water, I expect my hand to shake, but it's as if this new calmness and strength have settled deep within my bones. A memory flashes in my mind. When the incredible pain surged through my body after the bright light, it touched my heart. And my soul. Now it's almost as if my torment has formed an impenetrable shield inside me that will protect me.

Strength. Endurance. Courage.

I'm no longer afraid. Whatever this is, it's what I was destined to do. And I'm ready to meet any challenge head on.

~~~~

© Sally Mason 2018

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