"The futures uncertain and the end is always near."

-The Doors

The moment I stepped foot into the alley, my stomach twisted itself into a tight knot. The scent of grilling food had become faint and there wasn't a single person in sight. I debated tucking back into the building, waiting until one of Eva's little birds flew back to the nest with news of whatever had gone down in the moments I was with the kids.

It wasn't unusual for merchants to pack down their stalls in a hurry, one report of patrolling soldiers was enough to cause a commotion in these parts. Trading outside of rations wasn't a severe crime, but it was punishable.

I had nothing to hide, maybe a few of the items in my bag might raise alarms but they didn't search people around these parts, they hasn't for years. I levelled the thundering in my chest and pushed myself down the alley, past boarded buildings that used to be stores and graffiti that hadn't yet been cleared by pack services.

The moment I reached the edge of the buildings the commotion became clear. There must've been around fifteen wolves along in the clearing, yanking at people like rag dolls and directing groups of people toward the divisions centre.

Mabye it was a crime crackdown, or just another routine inspection... whatever it was I want no part of it. It's like Olivers voice is chanting in my ear as I turn around, moving as still as a mouse, retreating from the armed soldiers.

I was meant to meet an ailing seventy-year-old woman this afternoon, bring her some medication and complete a routine check in but she was on the other edge of the woods. Getting to her would mean going through whatever was going down.

She would be fine for another day. It wasn't worth the risk. That's what Ollie would tell me with certainty if he were here, he'd take us straight back to our cabin and lock the doors.

So I scurried like a rabbit, weaving through broken paths towards my burrow where I would be safe from the jaws of monsters. It was the only logical thing to do in world where we'd become walking prey.

The harsh blare of a siren stopped me short, sending a ringing hum through my skull. It was the kind of siren you'd expect for a bomb threat.

The rusty old speaker positioned at the edge of a deteriorating building started to crackle, the static noise forcing my feet to move past it. The words sounded weathered from the broken machine, but they were unmistakable. "All civilians of sector three are to report to the main square immediately. All civilians of sector three are to report to the main square immediately. All..."

The last time I'd been visiting, and humans were requested to the square was for a public execution, but that was almost always held at nightfall when workers had returned home and the division's centre could be filled.

Punishments were not conducted mid-day, what was the point if there was no audience to witness it?

I gulped, trying to shake the inevitable terror it evoked and the memories that resurfaced at the very thought. Nothing was ever pleasant when it came to the ruling creatures, but executions... they were haunting.

I just had to get home, it would be easy enough to go unnoticed. Just out through the abandoned warehouses and then down past the cree—

Thick, rough fingers grasped at my skin, yanking me tightly out of the shadows before I could take another step. The action was so sudden I let out a yelp, the pressure of his grip drawing pain almost instantly.

The shifter's shadow fell over me before I saw his face, his nose crinkling in disgust like he'd sniffed me out. His claws grazed my skin, the tips pressing just enough to remind me how easily they could dig in.

"Hard of hearing, are we?" he sneered, the jagged cut that sliced through his strong features almost glistening with the words.

"No, sir," I answered, hands quaking at my sides. "I—I'm just heading home."

Unsurprisingly, my quivering did nothing to appease him. He just raised his lip into a sneer, exposing pearly teeth I knew could transform into skin-tearing canines at any moment.

"Are you admitting to disobeying a direct order?" he barked, leaning so close I could smell the stale tang of his breath.

Dread washed over my skin and I shook my head, lips moving without forming a single word. He could rip my throat out right here, right now and face no repercussions. I'd be at the mercy of begging humans to dispose of my body, not before they'd taken anything worthy from my corpse.

Would Oliver find me here, rotting in a dark alley after he warned me not to stay gone too long? Would he spend eternity cursing my idiocy after all his lessons on how to stay low, avoid this exact situation?

"Robbins!" another voice erupted and I couldn't tear my gaze away from the threat in front of me to the meet the one in the alley. "She fits the bill. Check her profile then bring her to the square—we don't have time for this."

I almost wanted to thank the other soldier, but whatever was waiting in the square didn't light me up with excitement. It could just be a routine announcement, a new law announcement or cuts to the rations.

They never herded people in like this though, not if it was anything good.

The man sneered towards me and let me go, staying within arm's reach. "It's your lucky day." He pulled out a small device, staring at me expectantly before grumbling. "Number?"

"628333," I replied, the digits like second nature at this point. I didn't have to use them often in these parts but wherever wolves were concerned, your number was usually all that mattered.

He held the device up to my face, those dark eyes roaming over my face before he nodded his head to the side. "To the square. You step one foot out of line and I'll personally escort you to the cells, understood?"

"Yes sir," I stammered, staring blankly at the cracked pavement beneath me, clutching my bag and praying to any heaven above he doesn't ask to look inside. Not because what I have is illegal by any means, but the last time I was randomly inspected the guard threw all of my items to the floor, shattering jars, twisting my tools until they were completely useless.

He didn't push me though, simply walked three feet behind me the entire way to the town square, banging on doors and barking orders as we passed through homes, stores and crevices littering the streets.

We soon approached a series of tables that had been set up, forming a gateway to the packed crowds. I began moving to the left, towards the large lines but he pulled me back by my shirt. "This way." He led me to another, shorter line that diverted the crowd to a separate section. He didn't leave me at the edge of the line, he escorted me right to a stern looking woman, informing her, "Got another straggler, mark it down on her file."

She just looked at me with a disgusted sneer. "Name, station and number."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Maeve Wilson, undesirable, 628333."

She simply clicked at her computer, typing away furiously like some kind of bot and I peered out into the thick crowd, only growing larger by the second as busses and trucks pulled up, flooding in workers from higher sections and dirty, worn men from the woods.

I searched in the sea of battered faces for Ollie, Carter, Noah. But from this distance they all blurred to be one in the same.

Each person was being identified by a soldier and directed to a line. This sort of thing only happened in the early days, back when we were assigned stations or homes—everything about it was odd.

Were they trying to find someone? Criminals maybe? There were whispers of gangs forming every other week, most were squashed out quickly enough, and none with such a spectacle.

I twisted back to the larger crowds, still searching and my eyes landed on the square's stage, the podium sat atop it with chairs lined up, ready to go. Perhaps it was an announcement.

The woman's gloved hand harshly grabbing me drew my attention back to the table just as she wrapped a cable tie style wristband on me, a hiss escaping through my teeth as she tightened it like a second skin.

She gave me a satisfied smirk before pointing to the separate crowd forming in the roped off section. "Continue forward and stay within the yellow sections." I glanced to the edges of said section, wolves heavily armed were flanking the sides. "NEXT!"

My feet mindlessly stumbled forward, carrying me to the crowd's edge as I frantically searched for any sign of my husband. I gripped my bag and my wrist burned at the movement, that bitch fastened the damn band on so hard it hurt to move.

Ollie could cut it off later, and I could soothe it with a salve. I rubbed at it, glancing over the text before stopping dead in my tracks.

Maeve Evans. Undesirable. 628333.

Evans? Why on earth would my maiden name be there? I gave them my full name, that's what was written down against my name when they first put me in whatever system they had.

A large guy, not much younger than me bumped into me and I noticed the line that had already formed behind me. All young adults, all just as confused. "Hey do you know what's going on?" he asked softly, his arms and hands covered in grease like they yanked him from a station at a factory.

"No, sorry I just got here I'm trying to find my husband, Oliver. He's got green eyes, shaggy—"

"Move it!" A guard hollered, poking his gun straight into the chest of the young guy and it was enough to make both of us silent as mice.

I squeezed through the crammed bodies, pushing closer to the edge of the section towards the base of the stage until I couldn't physically press any further. All I could do was frantically look for those forest eyes, lifting myself up onto my tip toes.

My body began to sweat as the heat of the crowd grew more intense.

The harsh sound of a mic being tapped drew everyone's attention to the stage, followed by a blaring siren. If it was meant to shut us up, it failed, earning a wave of murmurs through the thick, dirty crowd.

"Silence!" A loud voice boomed from the stage followed by a deep growl, the sound straight out of a damn horror movie, a reminder of the monster in front of us.

The Alpha was notably older than the last time he'd been here before us, granted that was years ago. His clean swept hair was freckled with grey and the woman beside him now, the Luna, had a growing stomach and a small child.

All new additions.

His command crushed any noise, making the air turn taut, so quiet you could drop a coin and hear it rattle.

There were wolves everywhere, all decked out with machine guns and heavy artillery, clad in protective gear as if anyone might try to get the drop on them.

My eyes peeled from the authoritative Alpha to behind at the crowd again, still driven to find Oliver, scanning at a furious rate. I turned to my right and saw a shaggy head of brown hair mimicking my actions, the world slowing as his head turned to my direction, worry and concern etched into his skin.

Seeing him should calm the raging beat of my heart but I was only consumed by panic as I looked at where he stood, completely sectioned off from me.

"Today marks the seventh year you were all graciously welcomed into the safety and security of this pack. For seven years, our people have stood side by side, protected and guarded underneath our most noble warriors and trusted leaders. It has been more than an honour to see first-hand how our species have united to build something truly remarkable."

I glanced back to the silent crowd, a sea of clenched jaws and tight faces.

"Since the dawn of our people and the first moon to rise, our species has protected these lands and those that walk among it. We have taken our duty as the superior race to nurture, care and love all of you as the goddess intends. She is who guides us, her divine word and wisdom shapes all that we are—each and every one of you."

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as people were dragged up onto the stage, their heads covered in white linen bags as their bodies barely managed to stay standing. But their jelly legs were soon forced to kneel, all five of them lined up at the stage's edge.

"Our goddess is like the mother we share, a guiding force for those who are lost, wisdom for the foolish, a caring shoulder to many in need. But, like us, she is a fierce protector and to any who would seek to harm our pack, she is unforgiving."

Like they'd spent hours rehearsing this spectacle, dark drums began beating as guards ripped the sheets from the prisoners' heads and revealed completely battered faces, so ruined they were almost unrecognisable.

Gasps of horror erupted, followed by the screams of those who could identify the people on stage. Women wailed as men started to shout, their protests quickly quelled by the brunt force of a barrel's edge.

It was a show we'd seen before. An execution, after all. They didn't always occur, not like this with the Alpha himself present. He hadn't been this far out in three years, any enemies of the pack were executed in front of whatever audience cared to gather, their bodies strung up in the square until they rotted.

And never had they pulled in a crowd like this.

"These criminals before you have committed an unforgivable act against this pack, against you. Their actions spat not only in the face of our beloved goddess, but threatened the very sacred way of life that binds us together. They came for the foundation of our people." The sound of cries only continued, the begging and pleading of audience members almost unbearable.

"But you needn't fear, by no means did these criminals meet their goals. Our pack guards identified their plans before they began to form and saved us from suffering great losses. You are all aware of the punishment for those who seek to end a mating bond and today that justice will be served. Our bonds are the most sacred, precious gift the goddess bestows upon us, a gift that is even shared with humans who are lucky enough to receive her divine blessing. Let this ceremony remind you of the importance of that bond that binds us, and of the wrath those who seek to destroy it will face."

I wanted to vomit, I wanted to scream like the others in the crowd as I inspected the tortured bruises littering their faces. My hand itched to reach into my bag, my body threatening to lurch forward and do something—anything to help ease their pain.

Some were so beaten they didn't really register that they were on stage, some looked dazed out, drugged, and others just sobbed, begging silently for it to be over.

They tried to stop a bond. They tried to save a human from a fate worse than death.

My heart constricted as the thought of Avery crossed my mind, terror gripping at every muscle in my body as that night flashed before me once more. I tried to stop it then, I screamed and protested and cried.

Would such actions today earn me a one-way ticket to that stage?

A slender woman practically floated across the stage, dragging her pristine white gown along the ground. Her face was painted in strokes of kohl and her eyes were wide, almost as dazed as the drugged prisoners, and she held out a large bowl towards the grey sky.

She started speaking in some guttural, archaic-sounding language, the words moulding themselves into the rhythm of the drums. It was a scene straight out of a damn horror movie. The Alpha, still clad in his suit, took the bowl from her and guzzled the contents down, turning back to the crowd with the black liquid streaming down from his canines. It only took seconds before a guard approached, placing the gun in his hand.

I hated the relief that washed through me at the sight. But it was a relief. Last execution had been a blade, the one before that poison. At least they'd have the mercy of a quick bullet.

He weighed it like an extension of himself, then walked to the line of prisoners with unhurried steps. The drums slowed, each beat a heavy footfall in the chest, until the only sound was the faint cries of the crowd as the captives trembled. He stopped before the first man, met his swollen, bloodshot eyes, and pulled the trigger. The crack shattered the air. One by one, he moved down the line, each shot clean, each body collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut. The scent of gunpowder curled into the cold air, mixing with the metallic tang of blood. Silence followed—not of peace, but of shock so deep it felt like the world itself had paused.

"To be a mate is the greatest gift a human can receive—an honour and reminder that even the weakest among us deserve the divinity of our goddess's light. To share a bond with a wolf is to become their equal, it is the only chance many have to lift themselves closer to the goddess through the ranks of our pack.

"Of course, we realise that not all humans are able to interact with those outside of their species, which is why today—and every year hereafter, the human men and women of these sectors aged eighteen to twenty five will have the opportunity to travel to the heart of our pack and meet your potential soul mate."

My thumping heart gave out completely as my blood turned into a ravine of icy rapids, sending shock waves over my skin. I looked around me, to the shaking bodies of young women, to men whose faces had been leeched of colour and to eyes that held hope, joy even at the chance to leave this hell hole even if it came with a monster.

My twenty sixth birthday was in three months. Three months and I'd be on the other edge of that rope, sectioned off safely with my husband—Ollie.

I twisted around, finding those green eyes pinned on me instantly, his face pinched in pain as he realised what this meant.

"We expect this sacred practice be met with respect, love and gratitude by each member of this pack. To go against the bond and the wishes of our goddess is treason."

At his smile, his smooth words—at all of it, the crowd erupted and shit really hit the fan.

The men stood in the section with Oliver all began to protest in uncontrollable anger. Oliver tried to get to me through his crowd, to get to his family. Noah and Carter must be in this section with me too, Oliver only missing out by a few months.

The men stood in the section with Oliver all began to protest in uncontrollable anger. Oliver tried to get to me through his crowd, to get to his family. Noah and Carter must be in this section with me too, Oliver only missing out by a few months.
My ears began to ring with the noise as I took in my surroundings. The wolves had retaliated against the protestors, the mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. The husbands. Holding them in their section as the Alpha tried to silence everyone once again.
It didn't work.
No amount of growling or snarling could get the crowd to settle down, to get the potential mates to stop screaming, the children to stop crying.

My vision began to blur with tears threatening to spill as armed, officious guards moved towards the yellow section, forcing us to shuffle towards the buses that would carry us to whatever waited beyond. My body numbed as my feet moved forward with the crowd, my eyes scouring through the chaos for any glimpse of resistance, of hope. I caught a flash of curly brown hair and broad shoulders and my heart wrenched, but the crush of bodies swallowed the figure before I could be sure.

"Oliver!" I yelled, panic scraping its way up my throat. "Oliver!" My voice cracked as I shoved against the bodies surrounding me, carrying me towards the busses like the current of a wave. The pushes sent me stumbling into the press of strangers, my hope splintering even as my head whipped around.

I couldn't even register the incoherent pleas that tumbled from my lips, swallowed by the noise and the smoke and the mechanical hiss of bus doors yawning open. My boots found the metal steps and my hands gripped the cold railing as if it might anchor me to the life I was being torn from.

Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of sweat and fear and I sank into the nearest seat, my knees trembling, my hands still clutching my damned bag like it was the last piece of myself I could keep.

Through the grimy window, I saw a flash of green eyes as the bus lurched forward, my breath trapped within my chest. It was probably not even him, likely some poor other soul being dragged to this fate but I couldn't search further as the wheels rolled over the uneven road, each jolt shaking something loose inside me.

The town shrank away, crowds swallowed by dust and buildings and woods, until it was gone.

And I was gone with it.

PSA: my old authors note seems to honestly ring true haha. I knowwww what imma get, OMG why can't u put the book back up, what's taking u so long, u suck but GUYS. the simple answer is life is crazy and when I have edited and feel confident, I'll continue to re release. 

I have so much I could say but writing this now its so late and I'll get like four hours of sleep but please, comment, vote, share--all that stuff doesn't give me anything other than motivation + entertainment which tends to = more writingggggg

But I'm thinking to do a Q & A to help answer some questions that I can, with answers posted next chapter -- if you've got a questions just comment it on this paragraph :) 

otherwise -- should I keep my old cringey authors notes live?! or nahhhhhhh 

old authors note

Hey there! I am not sure about my update schedule as of yet but the fact that people have actually commented and read my book, let alone like it, made me so insanely happy that I stayed up all night busting out this baby. I know its a little shorter but I don't want to over-cram the story with unnecessary fillers to get the word count up.

Please make sure to vote, comment and share to your friends :))

Lots and lots of love,

Khalesi <3