by Karen Ruth
Making my way out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, I rejoined Cassie. “If you don’t mind me asking,” Said Cassie, “why did you transform back in here? Why not out there like the rest of them do.” She pointed her head in the direction of the outside.
“I’m not a big fan of public transformation,” I told her with all honesty.
“Ahh, I get it, it's ok.” She responded to me in a gentle tone. “I was just curious.”
“No worries,” I told her, “did you go out to the feast tonight?” I asked her.
She gave out a small laugh to me and said “no dear Nina, I’m not a werewolf. I thought for sure you would know that. Can’t you smell only human on me?” She questioned me no judgment evident on her fragile face. My cheeks flushed red in embarrassment, some alpha I was. I wasn’t even smart enough to even smell Cassie before accusing her of being a werewolf. In my offense though, I never expected a human to be here. Seth has always told me that it was against the law to tell humans the truth about us. I would have to talk to Lucas about that later and get the true answer from him on whether it was frowned upon or not.
“I’m sorry Cassie, I should have known,” I said tilting my head towards the ground ashamed.
“Oh, don’t worry Nina, you did absolutely nothing wrong!” She exclaimed waving her hand in a friendly gesture shooing off my apology. “Anyway, you better get back out there before they start to wonder where you are. Not that I don’t love your company, but you mustn’t keep them waiting. You are quite famous this evening,” she smiled as she started pushing me out the door.
As soon as I exited the main doors into the night, someone said “Ahh there you are Nina, I’ve been looking for you.” I turned my head in the direction of the voice trying to figure out who said my name. It was then that I realized it was the King.
“Hello, your majesty. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Is there something I can do to assist you?” I curtsied showing him my respect and gratitude.
“Oh, sweet Nina. Thank you for your respect, but I must ask something of you. Please just call me Devlon, I would prefer to get to know you on a personal level. No your majesty’s required.
“As you wish Devlon,” I smiled at him bowing my head.
“Thank you for coming with us tonight,” he said to me. “It was a blast and I heard such good news about you and Lucas’s pack, taking down an elk like that! What a blast!” he exclaimed, “You guys really are a powerful bunch, especially you Nina.” He smiled at me.
“Thank you Devlon, but it is I who should be thanking you for letting me go tonight.”
“Anytime,” he said as he began to turn away to talk to his other guests. “And I really do mean anytime Nina, I love having you here with us.”
"Thank you Devlon,” I said as he began to make his descent, vanishing into the crowd.
Looking around the party I noticed that the majority of them had alcohol in their hands. Some were holding keystone beer while others were holding bud light. I myself was not in the mood to drink any more than the few sips of red wine I already consumed. As I searched the faces amongst the crowd, I couldn’t spot anyone who I recognized. No one from Lucas’s pack seemed to be around. The thought occurred to me that it looked like I was going to be alone. I was not one to go around and make new friends. I hated introducing myself to people I didn’t know. I was more on the quiet and reserved side. I scouted the drink area knowing that I really did not want any alcohol. Finally, I spotted my favorite beverage. Fruit punch, yum, I thought as I poured myself a glass.
“Hey, my name is Augustus.” Someone said directly behind me, in my ear causing me to jump. The glass that I poured beginning to fall to the grass. Augustus with quick and fast refluxes gasped the cup before it could reach the ground. Amazingly, some of the contents remained. “I’m sorry about that,” he said handing me my glass back. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just spotted you over here and I knew I had to get my chance to talk to such a beautiful young lady.” I couldn’t help but look towards the ground as he complimented me. I have always been very uncomfortable receiving compliments from people. It makes me squirm and my face flush. Augustus was a nice-looking man. He was wearing a suit and tie, much like the others here. As to not make the same mistake I did earlier, I smelled the air confirming that he was indeed a werewolf. He had hair just long enough to have moose in it. Shaped in the appearance as what you would find in the movie Greece. He gave up the vibe that he grew up with a lot of money from how he dressed and how he looked. According to my judgment though he looked friendly enough.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m pretty clumsy, it’s not your fault. My names Nina by the way.” I said reaching my hand out for a shake.
“Oh I know,” he responded. “Your pretty famous tonight, everyone keeps mentioning you.”
“Really?” I asked astonished that everyone would possibly would know who I am. “What do they know about me?” I asked. “I haven’t really done anything, have I?”
“If you mean something bad no, they are just obsessed with the color of your coat.” He used his thumb and pointed behind him. “Would you care for a dance?” He asked me.
Behind him was a beautiful dance floor that had a huge disco ball on top illuminating the entire floor. Soft classical music was playing in the background as people happily danced together. I thought about it for a minute before deciding why not.
“Sure,” I responded.
He flashed me a smile and I returned one. Setting my punch to the side, I joined Augustus on the dance floor.
We began to waltz together to a slow song. Augustus pressing as close to me as he could. My body felt very strange like it was trying to tell me something. Almost as if it was in danger and that I should get away from this man. I decided to ignore it, I was just paranoid. I never liked dancing so I decided that that was the reason for acting this way. By the end of the song, my senses were tingling even more. I began to press away from Augustus thanking him for the dance. “One more song, please?” He begged batting his eyes at me. All my life I’ve had difficulty with saying no to people.
“Hmm, promise just one more?” I asked him.
“I swear just one more.” He said happily.
I felt a little better that I made him happy. I could suck it up and get through one more song.
“So how long have you known you were a wolf?” Augustus asked me starting up a conversation.
“Actually, just a few months ago. I didn’t know until my eighteenth birthday when I began to change.”
“Must have been hard not knowing beforehand.” He said to me with a look of sympathy.
“Yeah, but it’s ok. I’m a big girl, I can handle myself.”
“Of course you can,” Augustus said to me giving me a crooked smile.
After this, the song ended and I broke apart from Augustus. I went back to my punch and took a sip, not realizing Augustus followed me back. I began to feel a little dizzy, my head spinning. Before I realized it, a group of werewolves gathered around me, and then everything went dark.
Chapter 4
When I woke up, I was in the woods bound to a large tree by thick ropes. Immediately, without thinking, I tried to cut the rope with my claws. No luck. Panic began to stir from inside me. Why was I here? I had no idea what was going on before I remembered Augustus and the party. They were standing in a circle in front of me, still in their human forms.
“What are you guys doing?” I simply asked them.
They turned around with a surprised expression on their face. It was a group of ten werewolves, all in their human forms.
Augustus said “Hmm looks like you are a little stronger than we thought. Oh well, it’s not like you’re going anywhere anyway.”
Terror began to fill inside of me as I struggled against the ropes.
“What exactly are you trying to do?” I prompted once more.
One of the members decided to answer the question ever so slowly walking toward me.
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br /> “Well, since there is no way you’re getting out of here anyway, we are going to burn you to death. You see we can’t have the whole white alpha thing going on. We hate that and must keep it from happening. No females should ever be allowed in a pack. You are all too weak and we must destroy you.”
“What about the laws about not being able to hurt us?” I asked quickly coming up with absolutely anything to save myself.
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them. You see we plan to do this very fast and tonight. We were originally going to be nice and do it why you were out but you woke up. Now you will have to face the pain of being burnt alive. If I were you I would have stayed knocked out.”
He was right in front of my face now, only about two feet away. He lifted his hand and brushed it against my cheek. “Tell me, who bit you to become who you are. There is no way you have gone through your life without realizing who you were otherwise.”
“Nobody,” I said, “And even if I was bitten, I wouldn’t tell you,” I said as I spit in his face.
Probably not the wisest idea as the result was he lashed me across my face instantly causing it to burn in pain.
“Tisk tisk Nina, you really do need to learn manners.”
“Screw you,” I said not caring what he did to me. This resulted in a punch to the eye, my skin breaking on impact. Blood began to rush down my face, my eye swelling.
“The more you talk the more I’ll do. I really don’t want to hurt such a pretty face, but I’m not afraid to do what is necessary. Any comments?” He questioned begging me to continue as he brushed his hand along the right side of my face. I said nothing remaining quiet only moving my head away from his hand. “Good, now if you will excuse me, I have some work to get done.” He said as he walked back to the group.
“Think Nina think,” I thought to myself trying to figure out how to get myself out of this mess. I searched the area around where I was bound. Searching for a tool that could help me set myself free. There were a few sticks, but nothing in a close enough proximity in which I could reach. Even though I knew it was hopeless, I wasn’t going to give up on reaching for one. I used my foot and stretched it out as far as I possibly could. It was no use, they were too far away. I was too panicked to figure out anything right now. “Calm, Nina.” I thought to myself. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.
My life began to flash before my eyes. This was going to be the end of my life. I saw my sister Cath and me when we were young. Playing together outside in the woods and enjoying our life to the fullest. I saw my mom standing there watching us in happiness. Everyone too innocent to know what the woods really possessed and how cruel it could be. Then I saw everything that happened today. How everything I learned about my life has been a lie. How Seth lied to me about being in his pack and instead I belonged to Lucas’s. Wait that’s it. How could I have been so stupid?!
“LUCAS!?” I called out in my head as loud as I possibly could.
“OH MY GOD NİNA WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT MY EARS?!” He yelled to me “they won’t quit ringing right now!”
“Forget about your ears, I really need some help like right now!”
“Why, what’s wrong?” he asked suddenly alarmed. “Aren’t you at the party?”
“Well I was before this Augustus guy drugged me and kidnapped me and now I think he wants to burn me if I’m correct. There are ten of them here. You think you could help a girl out?” I asked speaking very fast surprised Lucas could understand what I was saying.
“I’m coming!” He said, “Where are you at?”
“I honestly don’t know, they drugged me I couldn’t see the way. All I can see are trees, wait I see some old red shed about a hundred feet from me.”
“I know where that is, I’m coming Nina, hold them off for as long as you can. I’m grabbing the group. Keep me updated.” Then the connection was severed as I lost focus seeing the werewolves holding the box of matches coming towards me.
They were fast approaching; my heart began to pound. “Hey guys, is that really necessary. Can’t I just call a peace treaty or something?” I asked my eyes darting back and forth among all of them. Augustus responded with a laugh.
“Oh Nina, I’m really sorry about this but it has to be done.”
“Why?” I questioned. They were right in front of me now it was only a matter of time. I wasn’t good at stalling anyone, I never have been.
“Nina, we explained this. We can’t have the whole white alpha thing going on. Now quit stalling I know what you’re trying to do.”
“I’m not stalling, I think a girl deserves to know why she is getting killed don’t you?” I looked straight at him with my eyebrows showing a questioning look.
He let out a huge sigh and said “Very well, but don’t think anyone is coming to your rescue. They are all busy at the party and frankly, you are nowhere near popular enough for anyone to realize you’re missing.” He took a step back and everyone else followed his movements. “You see, there was a prophecy a long time ago that was about a white wolf. According to the prophecy, she will be the strongest female of all. She will either lead the pack along with the alpha male to better the world or destroy it.” He was looking me straight in the eye. “So you see it is our duty to keep this event from actually happening.” I looked at him and let out a laugh.
“You honestly believe that is me? Do you see the size of me? How am I supposed to be the strongest of them all? I’m not even a leader nor do I even know how to be. You guys are honestly crazy if you think it’s me.”
He smiled at me and said, “We did think of that and contemplate it. You really are kind of pathetic in your size, but we still don’t want to take a chance. We will kill every white female we find and make sure this doesn’t happen.” I opened my mouth to respond to his idiocy but then he cut me off with a wave of his hand and said, “Now, no more questions, it is time Nina.”
Chapter 5
I closed my eyes not wanting to see what was going to happen. I was prepared to feel the heat from the matches touch my skin. All of a sudden Lucas’s voice broke out amongst the silence.
“Augustus! What do you think you’re doing? Let Nina go!”
I opened my eyes to see all ten of the wolves turn around. I saw Lucas, Reed, and the others who I still don’t know their names. Relief flooded over me, making me exhale and smile.
Augustus began to growl. “Lucas what are you doing here? This doesn’t concern you, go back to the party.”
“Nina belongs to my pack, why would you think this doesn’t concern me. You mess with her you mess with all of us.” Lucas said as he waved his hand to the rest of our pack. “How else do you think I would know she was in danger and where to find her?”
This caused Augustus to spin around and I flashed him my best cutesy smile. He lifted his hand and said in a low growl “You little…”
Lucas yelled back, anger flashing in his golden eyes, “Don’t you dare touch her Augustus or you will regret it. Come now before all of this gets worse. Don’t make this turn into a fight.”
Augustus didn’t say anything, he just looked at his fellow group members. Together they shook their head. Something was definitely wrong with this action. That was when I saw it. Augustus was opening the box of matches and began to light one up.
Everything was happening so quickly, all I had time for was to yell out “Lucas!” before closing my eyes not wanting to see the flames surround me.
Loud growls exploded everywhere along with the sound of clothes ripping into millions of tiny pieces. I could feel the heat at the bottom of the tree trunk as I lifted my legs in order to not get caught on fire. It was only a matter of time before it climbed high enough to reach me. A breeze blew past me causing me to open my eyes. The fire was spreading all over the grass. Not just on my tree but everywhere causing a forest fire. It was climbing the bark trying to reach me.
Lucas in his human form was standing directly in front of me, transforming his nails into his wolf
form. He began to quickly cut the rope with his nails. As soon as he finished he grabbed me in his arms and ran towards somewhere safe. I could hear the others locked in battle with the rest. There were nine of us and ten of them. I was hoping that the others who were fighting would be ok, but I had no idea if they truly would. Lucas set me down and frantically asked if I was ok pulling my pant legs up to check to see if I was hurt.
“I’m fine, I promise.”
“Good!” he yelled back as he was turning away to rejoin his pack. He transformed into his wolf and set off to help them.
I quickly stood up wanting to help them. I didn’t want to be the type of girl who is the damsel in distress and just sits there while the men do the work. I quickly took off my clothes not caring who saw me as I did it. They needed me and I wasn’t going to waste any time in trying to find a location to hide. As soon as my clothes were off I began to run towards the group, jumping over the fallen tree that I was connected to just a few minutes ago, fire burning it to ash. As I was jumping, I transformed into my wolf in the air. My paws struck the ground hard and I pushed as fast as I could to the group. I saw Lucas’s black fur locked in battle with the wolf who I assumed was Augustus. I spotted Reed who was locked in battle with two wolves. It looked like he was doing well handling himself, but I wasn’t going to risk it. I ran up to Reed to help him.
“Ahh Nina, so nice of you to join me.” Reeds' voice broke out in my head.
I jumped on the back of the werewolf who was closest to me and used my weight to make him unbalanced knocking him to the ground as I quickly jumped off.
“Seriously Reed? Even in a time like this, you can still talk?” “Always. Especially if it’s to you.” He said causing me to look at him as he winked.
Unfortunately, this gave the enemy werewolf the time to get back up and cause me to have to try and knock him down all over again. I was angry at myself for being so easily distracted.
