by Karen Ruth
I looked across the clearing. The last thing that I wanted was for everyone to get hurt because of me. I couldn’t stand my friends getting hurt or worse, killed, because of a fight that wasn’t even about them. Before I knew what I was doing, my feet began to walk in the direction of Seth. I was interrupted by Lucas jumping in my way, blocking me off.
“Nina, please. I know what you are thinking. You can’t trust Seth. He will still use your sister against you. Don’t go to him, please.” He begged me, his eyes full of sorrow.
I looked straight at him and said, “what choice do I have? I can’t stand to see you or anyone else get hurt because of me.
“Please dear sweet Nina, let me take care of you.”
I looked into his golden eyes and immediately felt the warmth radiating through them. I gently inclined my head and gave out a small whine.
“Catherine, I am so sorry,” I said and started to turn around to walk to the back of the group.
Before I knew what was going on, Seth yelled “Attack,” and I was pushed over from my side. Immediately I stood up to see who my attacker was. It was all but Seth who decided to attack me. “Oh, Nina. If I can’t have you nobody can.”
I backed up away from him as he was creeping towards me.
“Nina! Get away from him!” I heard Lucas yell into my head.
I quickly darted my eyes around the clearing to see where he was at. After a few valuable seconds, I found him being attacked by Rafiq, thorn, and one of the rogues. Seth laughed snapping my attention back on him.
“He won’t be able to save you this time Nina. You are all mine.”
Suddenly he jumped on me, his weight much heavier than I predicted. My body crumpled as he overpowered me with his massive body. In a panic, I rolled unto my back and was able to scratch Seth in the eye. In pain, he whimpered and jumped off my body. As soon as he released me I got up onto all four of my paws and began running away from him.
“You slut! You will pay for that!” Seth screamed chasing after me.
I ran as fast as I could, getting separated from the rest of the pack. My paws stretching out further than they ever have before. My breath became labored as I was running for my life. I glanced behind me and Seth was nowhere to be seen. I found myself re-imagining the dream that I had when all of this started. The dream about being chased by Seth and the rest of the group. I thought that waking up would get me out of that nightmare, but I know now that was not the case.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a grey wolf jumped out and slammed me to the ground. Weighing less than Seth, I was able to exert enough force and flip him off of my body. When he was trying to regain his balance, I jumped upon him. Without thinking I snapped my jaws around his neck, making him go limp. Once the adrenaline subsided I realized what I just did. I just killed this wolf. Sure it was out of self-defense, but I have never done something like that before. My breathing began to accelerate after panic began to fill in.
Laughing began to fill the woods, vibrating off the trees. I turned around in circles trying to find the source.
“Such a pity Nina, I had high hopes for that wolf that you just killed.” Seth appeared behind the tree, his eyes digging into my soul.
I growled at him in disapproval trying to warn him from coming any closer to me. He walked up to the body and kicked it.
“Oh well, he was just a rogue anyway. As for you Nina, your time has come to an end.”
I tried to make a distance between Seth and myself as he came closer to me. Unfortunately, I realized that there was a large tree behind me as I ran into it. I was trapped and there was no place that I could go. Seth began to pounce in the air as I prepared for the impact that was surely going to come. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.
I heard a loud noise and I immediately opened my eyes. A grey body jumped in between Seth and me taking the blunt force. The body fell to the ground in a large thump. It was then that I noticed who it was and dread filled my body.
“Catherine!” I screamed out loud and ran towards her.
She had a large cut across her belly that Seth inflicted. Her eyes were closed but I could tell that she was still breathing. For how long I didn’t know.
“I’m going to kill you!” I screamed and charged Seth.
I knocked him over in strength that I never knew I possessed. All fear that I previously had vanquished and turned to anger. I put all that anger in my fight. Seth’s eyes widened when I knocked him over, clearly not expecting that I could do something like that. Taking full advantage, I jumped onto his body. He tried clawing me, but I moved too swiftly for him. I quickly scratched his belly and jumped off before he could return the favor. He whined from the pain of the wound. He tried to stand up but I knocked him back over biting his hind leg. I squeezed until I heard a snapping sound, breaking his leg into two pieces.
“Nina!” I heard Lucas yell into the woods.
“Lucas!” I screamed back trying to find him, losing my focus on Seth.
As I scanned the woods, something plowed into me. Before I knew what was going on, my head smacked the ground and Seth was on top of me pinning me to the floor. I tried to struggle under the weight, but it was too much. No matter how much I struggled I could not get out of his grip. He was too much for me.
“You really shouldn’t have turned your back on me. That was stupid of you Nina. Now your sister is going to die for absolutely no reason. You know that she is going to die right? Just look at her, her breathing is slowly decreasing. Soon she won’t be able to breathe at all and it will all be your fault. How does it feel being the reason that your sister is dead?”
“No,” I whispered to him.
“Oh yes, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
Strength filled me once more and I twisted throwing Seth off me. He crumpled to the floor in exhaustion. I gripped my teeth around his neck and snapped it. I heard a noise from behind me and I jumped around and growled. It was Lucas who slowly backed up giving me space not wanting to frighten me. I ran towards him and pressed my head against him.
“I’m so glad that you are safe Nina.” He cooed into me. “You gave me a huge fright, you know that right.” He said in a shaky voice.
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault I should have protected you better. He said to me in sorrow.
“Shh, there wasn’t anything you could have done.”
Just then I remembered my sister and began to run in the direction towards her.
“What are..” Lucas started to say and then he went silent.
“What happened!” Lucas asked when I got to her.
I changed back into my human form immediately not caring who saw me like that.
“She saved my life. Seth was about to attack me but she jumped in the way. She saved me, Lucas.”
Lucas transformed and immediately went over to help her. As we were trying to cover the wounds the rest of the group showed up. Everyone seemed to be in good condition considering the battle that just occurred.
“We need help!” I yelled towards them.
“Everyone grab her and let’s carry her back to the infirmary. We can do it faster than the emergency crew!”
Lucas yelled and we all jumped to pick her up.
“Nina?” I heard a faint whisper from my sister. I put my ear next to her mouth to try to hear her better. “I’m so sorry.” She muttered.
“Shh don’t be,” I said to her, a single tear dropping from my eyes.
“I am so proud of you Nina. You have grown to be such an amazing woman. I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. I will always love you never forget that no matter what happens.”
“Cath you’re going to be ok.”
“Shh not now Nina, you must promise me something.”
“What Kitty.”
“Promise me that you will never forget who you truly are.” She sputtered.
“I promise,” I muttered out.
A hard cough erupted fr
om my sister and a stream of dark blood emerged from her mouth. She began to shake violently as her body trembled.
“Lucas!” I yelled in panic.
“This doesn’t look good!” Eli screamed.
“We have to hurry!” Reed yelled.
“We have to run!” Lucas yelled.
As I watched my sister, I saw that her breathing was becoming shallower and quieter by the ticking minute. I was afraid that within minutes my sister would no longer be with me on this Earth. I was going to lose my entire family within just a couple of days all because of me. Suddenly, as we entered the castle grounds, my sister choked on the blood and her breathing went silent. Her body went still, not a single movement occurred. I fell to the ground in utter shock and disbelief. She had to still be alive. There was no way that I could continue on without her. She risked her life for me and there was nothing I could do to repay her.
Out of nowhere immense pain erupted from my head. Immediately, I put my hand to the back of my head. It was full of blood.
“Nina’s hurt!” Someone yelled.
Blood dripped to the floor next to me and everything went black and silent.
A/N: That's the end of the first book. thank you for reading this story from start to finish. If you like you can continue to the second book.
The End
Book – 2
Chapter 1
I stared blankly in front of me, my glazed eyes following the glorious casket floating along the swift coursing river. My mind couldn’t fathom what all happened in the last few days. Images of everything fluttered through my eyelids, fast like an action picture movie. Images of my bloodied mother and sister. Images of my sister getting attacked by Seth right before my very own eyes. Through the transparent images, I watched as an arrow containing fire leaped through the strong wind, striking the casket, engulfing it in a hue of orange and blue flames.
I felt a soft squeeze come from my left hand. I shook my head to clear all the rampaging thoughts and glanced in the direction of the touch. Lucas was there looking at me with concern in his golden eyes. They shimmered with sincerity and sadness. He gave me an apologetic smile, but all I could do was flash him a quick one in return. I looked to my right and Catherine was holding my other hand. She was resting in a wheelchair and her right arm and leg were in giant green casts. She looked pretty beaten up, but I was glad she was still alive and safe considering the circumstance. I let go of Lucas’s hand and gave her a gentle hug, careful not to hurt her anymore. It was apparent that it was just what she needed as she erupted into wet tears on my chest.
“Shh Cath, it will all be ok,” I said in a hushed voice.
We both knew it would not be ok. How could it when our darling mother was dead? We were both alone with no parents left. She obviously wasn’t in the mood for arguing, or she wanted to believe it herself, as she shook her head up and down in acknowledgment. She was trying to be brave and strong.
According to the doctors, Cath broke her back, right leg, and right arm in the fight. Her back was all healed, but still extremely sore. Unfortunately, her leg and arm are still trying to mend themselves back together. Her arm and leg were broken terribly. They were snapped in various locations within the bone, some fragments even exposed themselves from the skin. I was told that she is lucky she can heal fast, or her injuries would have caused her to never walk again. That is if she even would have survived.
Pulling my attention from my sister, I focused it back on the casket. There went my mother, casket on fire, floating down the river. My heart ached at the sight. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t just stand there and watch her float away. I wasn’t ready to face a world without her yet. I started running through the hills after her. I transformed into my wolf, shredding my clothes into millions of pieces.
“Nina!” I heard Lucas yell after me.
I glanced back at him.
Devlon put a hand in front of him and said in a hushed tone, “Let her go.”
I ran all the way to the edge of the cliff, where there was no more land to run left. Her casket was right next to me. I looked down at it as I held back my tears.
“I am sorry, mother. I will always love you. I promise that I will take care of Cath for us.”
I lifted my head up and the casket continued down the river, into the sunset, away from my field of vision. I laid on the cliff and closed my eyes. I tried to picture my mother’s face one last time. I pictured her warm and loving smile. How her beautiful blue eyes sparkled in delight as her puffy lips curved upwards. How her long brown hair flowed in the slightest amount of rustling wind. How it drifted towards my nose, reminding me of the lilacs.
My vision was interrupted when I heard someone say “Nina,” gently behind me.
I opened my eyes and Reed was standing there with a saddened expression on his pale face.
“Hey Reed,” I said to him. “What’s up?” My voice sounded shaky and monotoned.
“Nina, you’re worrying us. Maybe you should come back inside,” Reed muttered.
I flashed my head back to where I last saw my mother. She was too far gone to see, even with my wolf vision. I inclined my head once indicating that I would go with him.
“Goodbye mother,” was the last thing I said as I turned around and followed Reed to the castle.
As I made it to the door, my heart dropped. “Cath!” I called out as soon as I remembered that I forgot her at the river. I took a step in the direction to go back and fetch her. Reed lightly put a hand on my back.
“Don’t worry Nina, she is already back here safe and sound. Lucas brought her back a few minutes before I went to find you.”
I inclined my large wolf head to him in gratitude but said nothing. Reed opened the door for me and I walked into my “house” and into my room. Without changing into my human form, I got onto the bed, twirled in a circle, and closed my eyes. Eventually, the pain and exhaustion overtook my body, bringing me into a deep slumber.
Cath and I were sitting on the dark green forest floor in our wolf forms. We were staring up at the brilliant sky illuminated by the stars and moon.
“What do you think mom is doing right now?” Cath asked me.
I lowered my gaze to look at her. Her blue eyes twinkled but didn’t move from the stars. I looked back up at the sky and exhaled.
“I bet she is happy with Dad. I bet they are both watching over us right now. I can picture her smiling down at us, happy that we are finally getting along.” I gave off a small chuckle.
Cath was silent. I glanced back over towards her and noticed a small tear fall from her soft cheek.
“She would be so proud of you Cath.”
“You think so?” She asked me.
“I know so.” I simply replied as I slowly walked over to her one paw at a time.
A quiet crunch sounded from behind me. I quickly turned around, scanning the woods for danger. I saw nothing. I smelt the air to try to pick up a trace of a foreign scent. Nothing. I shook my head confused.
“What’s the matter, Nina?” Cath walked over to me confused.
“Didn’t you hear that?” I asked her cocking my head sideways.
“Hear what?”
“Hmm never mind. I must have been hearing things, I must still be on edge.”
“Don’t worry Nina. Everything is fine now. Seth is dead, you killed him yourself. Rafiq and the rest of the group were chased from the area and sent away. There isn’t anything else to worry about.”
I huffed audibly. “I know, it’s just hard thinking that everything is finally ok. It feels too much like a dream. I can’t help but worry.”
“I know how you feel Nina, I do. But you must relax a little and have a good life. If not for me, do it for mom.” She said to me.
I inclined my head to her and looked back at the stars. “Watch over us mother,” I muttered to her.
A loud gunshot rattled in the brisk night air. I jumped to my paws, startled. I observed the darkness to see the source. A m
an in a black skin-tight outfit was against a tree holding up a rifle. He was too far away to make out any of his facial features. Quickly, I got into my fighting stance.
White fangs bared and blurted out, “Who are you?!”
“Tisk Tisk Nina. You should really know who I am.” I recognized that voice somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where.
I furrowed my eyebrows confused. “I don’t know who you are, let me see your face,” I said to him.
“You will have some time to figure out who I am. Just know that we are coming.”
“Who are we?” I asked growing agitated by the lack of answers.
“TWHS.”
“The who?!” I yelled.
“Would you rather know that, or would you rather save your sister. I have a feeling you don’t have the time for both.”
“Cath? She is right here. She doesn’t need saving.”
As soon as I finished talking, I glanced to my right. My stomach dropped, and my heart stopped beating. Catherine was laying on the ground bleeding from her shoulder. A pool of dark red blood surrounded her.
“Cath!” I yelled as I transformed back to my human self to apply pressure to the wound site. Thick warm blood coated my hand. “What did you do!?” I screamed in the direction of the mystery man.
To my disbelief, he wasn’t there. I looked back down at my sister, but she was disappeared into thin air.
“Cath!” I yelled again.
The world around me spun and everything went black.
I awoke to the feeling of someone shaking me. I rapidly opened my eyes and shot my upper body up.
“Nina, are you ok? It was only a nightmare!” My sister yelled at me from on top of my body.
“Cath you’re still hurt. Where is your wheelchair?” I asked her worried.
She laughed and crawled off of me.
“Nina, they removed both casts about an hour ago and I was cleared to go without the wheelchair.”
“Oh,” I muttered back. “Wait, what time is it.”
“About 12 PM.”
