by Sean Kikkert
Cassandra looked around for a friendly face, as she was eager for company. Spotting Castor resting on the warm grass underneath a pine tree, Cassandra decided it would be nice to spend a little time with him. Castor was a serious-looking teenager with curly, chestnut hair, clear skin, and a round, cheerful face. He was the same age as Cassandra; they’d known each other their entire lives.
Castor gave Cassandra a warm grin when he saw her making her way toward him. Eyes dancing, Cassandra returned the grin—had she been in wolf form, her tail would have wagged.
Cassandra and Castor sat together in silence, perfectly happy enjoying each other’s company. Then Cassandra noticed a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a perfectly proportioned, muscular body making his way over.
“Good morning, Cassandra,” Ajax said casually. He shot her—and Castor—a perfect, pearly-white smile.
Castor ran a hand through his wavy hair when Ajax sat himself down next to Cassandra. He muttered something under his breath, but Cassandra couldn’t quite make out what it was.
The trio sat there for a while, bathing in the sun and telling each other vampire jokes. Eventually, they fell into a comfortable, content silence as they munched on the crisp apples Ajax had stolen from the orchard on the other side of the forest. The people had indeed been industrious, and had cultivated orchards and cleared fields to grow wheat, beans, barley, peas and oats. As Cassandra munched on her apple, in the comfortable presence of her friends, she couldn’t think of a more idyllic way to spend such a beautiful summer’s day.
The sun was already beginning to set, and its dying light enveloped the forest in an exquisite, orange-pink glow. Cassandra, Ajax, and Castor gazed up as the silvery moon rose higher and higher and the sky turned inky black. Then, transforming back into wolves, they spent the next few hours howling at the moon.
Cassandra’s enjoyment was broken by her mother’s harsh voice floating across the fields.
“Cassandra! That’s enough howling at the moon with your friends!” she yelled. “It’s time to come home now!”
Ever the obedient one, Cassandra gave Ajax and Castor an apologetic look and heeled to her mother.
How Cassandra wished these carefree summer nights could last forever. Every moment she was in human form was a burden. There always seemed to be cabins to build, fences to erect, fields to plow.
Telemachus’ people were extremely hard-working, and soon the camp turned into a charming village filled with spacious homes built with expert craftsmanship. However, the most beautiful building was at the center of the village—a lofty, stone chapel with a tall spire that proudly spiraled upward. The people had diligently cut and hauled every stone in their eagerness to create an exquisite sanctuary in which they could worship their god. Cassandra toiled among them each day until the sweat dripped from her body, which was why, by comparison, every moment she spent as a wolf felt like a holiday.
Cassandra loved the solitude of the forest, the freedom of the great outdoors, and the fresh feel of the cool evening air against her face. Cassandra, Ajax, and Castor spent many hours as wolves roaming the forest each evening. They chased squirrels, dug holes, and chewed on bark. They explored and expanded their territory and then returned to the village to howl at the moon once more. Indeed, life was good as a teenage werewolf.
Cassandra, Ajax, and Castor frequently took turns grooming each other. Nothing in the world felt better to her than when clumps of molting, tangled fur fell away to leave her newly sprouted coat gleaming.
This time, Cassandra was in human form as the groomer while Ajax and Castor lazed on their stomachs as wolves. She ran her steel brush over Ajax’s fur. Suddenly her eyes widened as she heard a noise. All three tensed, and Ajax and Castor raised their ears alertly.
Cassandra squinted against the dark. In her human form, it was impossible to see anything clearly on that murky, moonless night. Ajax and Castor’s eyes glowed red. Their wolf eyes could see much more through the gloom.
Suddenly, two young boys—about eleven or twelve—burst into the clearing. One of them had big blue eyes and a thick mop of blond hair, while the other had a mischievous face and devious grin. Upon spying the wolves, the grin turned into a shocked gape.
The boys simply stood there and stared at Cassandra, Ajax, and Castor with their mouths wide open in disbelief. Cassandra was not surprised that the two boys had such shocked looks on their faces. Happening upon a young girl grooming two monstrous wolves with glowing, red eyes on a moonless night must have been the last thing they’d been expecting.
The boys backed away, their eyes not leaving the wolves and Cassandra. In his shocked state, the blond-haired boy almost tripped backward over a fallen log. Then, in a heartbeat, the pair turned and ran, sprinting out of sight.
“Just let them be,” Cassandra said.
Ajax and Castor appeared a little fazed by the intrusion and looked tempted to give chase. But Cassandra resumed grooming Ajax’s silvery fur, and he shivered with pleasure.
Chapter 3
Queen Ailsa was used to having the very best in life: dresses made of velvet and silk, gourmet foods that tasted heavenly, and servants to cater to her every whim. It was good being royalty, and it was particularly good being married to the king.
Ailsa’s flowing blonde hair blew about in the breeze as she stared out of her carriage window at the slender fingers of clouds wrapping their way around the moon. The carriage hurtled through the dark, foreboding forest at an incredible speed, and Ailsa couldn’t shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach that something bad was going to happen.
The queen had enjoyed the day visiting her cousin, Catriona, in the nearby city of Foxmond. They’d watched the jousting together—it was so exciting and romantic to see the knights fighting for their lady’s favor. After that, they’d talked and talked until sunset. Oh, how wonderful it was to catch up on all the gossip with her cousin; it reminded Ailsa of those happy times, long ago, when they were just young girls.
Now, as Ailsa looked up at the dark sky, she realized she’d overstayed and was keen to get home as soon as possible. The forest always gave her the creeps, and tonight she felt particularly vulnerable and exposed. It was so intensely dark, with only a little moonlight managing to filter through the thick trees. It also didn’t help Ailsa’s nerves that the stillness of the night was continually interrupted by long, eerie wolf howls.
Ailsa hated wolves. Those hideous creatures with their mean stares, vicious teeth, and wiry bodies scared her half to death. The queen sighed and tried her very best to relax.
Her carriage came to a sharp halt.
Annoyed, Ailsa popped her head out the window. “What is it?” she demanded of the driver. “Why have we stopped?”
Something was definitely wrong. By the way the hair on her beautiful black mares’ napes stood on end and how they snorted nervously, Ailsa knew they were spooked. Her guard stood ready with a hand on the hilt of his sword, and his eyes darted in every direction.
“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” her bearded driver said, his voice shaking. He looked far more nervous than Ailsa had ever seen him. “There appears to be a wolf blocking the path.”
It was then that Ailsa saw the beast. There, standing menacingly in the shadows, was the biggest wolf she’d ever seen in her life. The creature’s red eyes gleamed ominously in the dark as it panted and stared directly at her. It then snarled at the carriage, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth.
Ailsa almost cried out loud as the fearsome beast let out a deep, resonating bark. The queen’s heart pounded furiously in her chest as she took in a long, deep breath and waited for the wolf to attack.
But it didn’t.
It just stood there, watching her with intense curiosity.
The wolf . . . yawned.
Then it turned and disappeared silently into t
he shadows as if it had never been there at all.
“I’m going to the city of Brakchester,” Cassandra announced to Ajax and Castor.
The three lay next to the creek, basking in the sun as the crickets chirped loudly around them; the sound of the rushing water filled Cassandra with a snug, peaceful feeling.
Ajax raised an eyebrow. “Why?” he asked.
Cassandra pointed down at her dress. It was over-stretched and threadbare, and the purple had faded to a nondescript, pale color. “I need to buy a new dress. This one is so worn out from our journey to this land that I can’t really wear it anymore—not if I want to look pretty.”
Castor frowned. “I . . . I’m not sure if that’s safe,” he said. He had a troubled expression upon his face. “We’ve had trouble with our neighbors so many times in the past.”
“It’ll be fine,” Ajax assured him. “I’ve been to Brakchester a few times, and I’ve never had any problems. It’s important for us to know our neighbors. The better we know them, the less likely they’ll persecute us. This time around, our neighbors seem to be good people.”
Castor bit down on his lower lip. “I don’t know about this.” There was uncertainty in his voice. He looked over at Cassandra. “But if you insist on going, Ajax and I are going with you.”
The two boys and Cassandra separated so they could transform. Stepping into the bushes, Cassandra removed her clothes and placed them in her backpack. Then came her favorite part; Cassandra loved the sensation of fur, claws, and teeth erupting from her soft, human body, and most of all, she relished the feeling of security and strength that came along with the transformation as her muscles hardened and strengthened. With glistening teeth and glinting claws, Cassandra was intoxicated with power and confidence.
Then they ran. With her fellow pack members at her side, Cassandra was at one with her companions, and together they could do anything.
The caress of the wind rippling through her fur exhilarated Cassandra as she hurtled along at breathtaking speed. The trees of the forest passed by her in a blur as the trio galloped furiously toward Brakchester. Soon, the city walls came into view, looming solidly upward like immense stone sentries. The heavy, intimidating castle, built into the mountain itself, towered high over the city like a protective dragon gathering its young underneath its wings.
The trio returned to human form in two secluded spots outside the city gates. Quickly, they changed back into their clothes.
Cassandra had never been to a city before. She thought the place looked both terrible and beautiful. There were people everywhere. Some had dirt-stained faces and wore grubby clothes; yet, by contrast, others were dressed in the most magnificent and colorful clothing Cassandra had ever seen. She was amazed that both rich and poor meandered about the myriad of market stands and shops.
Cassandra finally caught her breath from the run. Her heart rate returned to normal. Her eyes grew ever wider as she took in the sights, sounds, and smells—some of which were particularly foul—of Brakchester.
Cassandra’s heart pulsed with excitement when the trio entered the dressmaker’s shop. There, a trio of cutters were busy working on gowns made of cotton, velvet, silk, and lace. Every dress Cassandra saw looked feminine and graceful—she wanted them all!
The proprietor glanced across at Cassandra. She scowled and barked at a young apprentice to serve her. Had Cassandra appeared rich, she would have no doubt warranted the owner’s personal attention.
Ajax and Castor stood impatiently in the corner as the apprentice measured Cassandra from head to toe.
“This is going to take a while,” Cassandra said. She gave them a wry smile. “You don’t need to wait for me here. Why don’t you get a meal at the inn across the road? I’ll join you when I’m done.”
Needing no further encouragement, Ajax and Castor left the dress shop.
Cassandra wrinkled her nose when, finally, the apprentice told her how much the gown she wanted was going to cost.
“However, I can make a pretty, blue tunic for you for just five gold coins,” the apprentice offered. “I’ll have it ready in a week.”
Cassandra smiled. It wasn’t exactly what she was after, but it was prettier than the tatty dress she currently had no choice but to wear. Cassandra paid the apprentice with five shiny gold coins she pulled out of the pack and left the store, counting her good fortune at having found something that would make her look beautiful for such a reasonable price.
She made her way down a shadow-strewn alleyway toward the inn and noticed three men across the way. They had huge, brawny shoulders and thick, broad necks, and they appeared to be watching her intently. She didn’t like the way they eyed her with a menacing air. Cassandra continued on her way, the thump-thump-thump of heavy footsteps approaching her. Her heart began pounding, and a wave of fear made its way down her spine.
A man with an ugly, ragged scar running down his cheek stepped out in front of Cassandra. “Where do you think you’re going, little lady?”
There was danger in his deep, booming voice. His cold, cruel eyes glared down at Cassandra as she backed away from him. Now all three men had her surrounded.
“Perhaps you can give us some money? I’d like to buy a present for my wife.” The scar-faced man’s tone oozed threat.
“I think not.” Cassandra maintained as much firmness as she could muster. Although, despite her best attempts, her voice was rather shaky.
One of the men grabbed at Cassandra.
Instinctively, aggressively, she snarled and bared her teeth. The thickset man backed away in fear. Oh, how Cassandra wished she could have turned into a wolf right at that moment—but the whole pack depended upon each one of them keeping their identity a secret.
Fear flooded Cassandra’s body as she realized someone was right behind her. She tried to spin around, but it was too late. A gigantic, strong man with terrible, fetid breath grabbed her from behind and pinned her arms to her waist. With a yowl of rage, Cassandra struggled to break free from his vise-like grip. She kicked and thrashed, scratched and spat, but all to no avail—the man was too strong for her. Cassandra’s heart thumped crazily in her chest at the realization she was completely helpless and at the mercy of these evil men.
Chapter 4
Cassandra continued to fight against the powerful man who held on to her tightly without seeming to expend any effort at all.
“It’ll be better for you if you don’t struggle,” he whispered in her ear. “That way you won’t get hurt.” His breath stank terribly of rancid meat.
If these men gnawed on bones as the werewolves do, Cassandra couldn’t help but think, their breath would smell so much better.
The more she struggled, the more the man tightened his bear hug. As the brute mercilessly crushed Cassandra’s chest, her ribs crackled and popped under the intense pressure, her side bruising. Defeated, Cassandra was about to tell the thugs she would give them her money when she heard a familiar voice.
“Let her go!”
Relief flooded through Cassandra as she realized that Ajax and Castor had come to save her.
Ajax held up his hands to the thugs, palms facing out. “We don’t want any trouble.” His tone was calm. “If you let the girl go, we can all forget about this. If you don’t, you’ll get hurt.” Pure danger dripped from his voice.
The three huge men sized up Ajax and Castor. The scar-faced man sneered and edged toward Ajax.
With a suddenness that shocked Cassandra, Ajax leaped through the air. He snapped his leg back at the same time that he aimed a massive punch into the scar-faced man’s jaw. There was a wet, sickening crack. The man’s eyes bulged in their sockets as he dropped, unconscious, to the ground.
The man holding onto Cassandra let go. He shoved her roughly to the side, and she tumbled onto the hard pavement, scraping the skin
from her knees. The thug stepped toward Ajax with a deep scowl on his face, his meaty hands clenched into tight fists. He launched a hard punch directly at Ajax’s nose. Ajax stepped nimbly to the brute’s side and placed himself behind the man. Ajax then landed a swift, heavy kick to the back of the man’s knee. The thug crumpled to the ground in an ungainly heap.
Castor trembled. He jumped high in the air and aimed a kick squarely at the chest of the third man. His foot landed directly on the man’s solar plexus, knocking the wind from his lungs. The thug sprawled backward as he gasped for breath, clutching at his chest and groaning loudly.
The men didn’t offer any further resistance. Fearful of Castor and Ajax, they got to their feet and grabbed their scar-faced friend, who was just regaining consciousness. Propping one another up like hopeless drunks, the three thugs scrambled away.
Ajax put a comforting arm across Cassandra’s shoulders. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded. She was still shaking as she dusted herself off. “I should have just given them my money.” Her voice sounded bitter even to herself. “That would have been the smart thing to do.”
Ajax smiled fondly. “But you didn’t. You stood up to them and told them they weren’t going to get anything from you. You’ve got the fighting spirit, Cassandra.”
Cassandra brushed a tangle of wavy, brown hair out of her eyes. “Well, if I knew how to fight as well as you two, I might have more of a chance. There’s little point resisting with my mouth when I don’t have the skills to back it up.”
“Then let me teach you,” Ajax said.
Cassandra’s heart skipped a beat. The very thought of Ajax teaching her to fight was quite thrilling. “Sure.” She smiled. “That’s so kind of you, Ajax.”
