I dare not take another sip of alcohol. I feel flushed. I can’t eat the fish on the plate. Each course has its own wine category. Second course is lamb and fresh vegetables. The wine pairing is red wine. It looks like blood with an earthy smell. I don’t think I like wine. “One time is enough then?” The Prince asks casually. “You cannot expect a slave to understand refined tastes or choices, your highness.” Luna Osiris quips. It stings. It’s like a hornet's sting. First you are surprised but not hurt. Then comes the deep intensifying burn that will not subside. “I find this wine with crow insignia to be quite lovely.” Alpha Osiris says with an air of sophistication. “Woody with a touch of smoke and juniper berry.” He muses. “I’ve seen plenty of slaves enjoy wine, Luna Osiris; some even a tad too much.” The Prince haughtily responds. I can tell Alpha Osiris is mind linking her. She forces a smile. “Yes, of course your highness.” She responds quietly. I enjoy her being pu
Of course, I knew it. One of the most famous propaganda songs from the early realm. Every child would learn it as part of the annual Blessing of the Moon Festival. It celebrates the gift the goddess gave us by giving us the King. Our Great Father of the Realm. I think back to that story my father told me.After the Alpha of the Shadow Mountain pack bent his knee to King Malakai, Lunar Storm Pack was the next to submit. The alpha of the pack had a son and three daughters. “When I offered mercy in exchange for loyalty, you hesitated. Now each time I consider you, I will think of that hesitation.” My father recited in his menacing Malakai voice. “In order to assuage my desire for loyalty, I will keep your youngest daughter as a member of the royal harem. I still show mercy by returning your Alpha heir.” He continued as Malakai. The Ode to Ahlai doesn’t give poor Ahlai justice for the cruel twist of fate she suffered. It doesn’t talk about her being taken to the royal harem at 16. Bei
The Prince made his way to the stage to announce the winners of the wine competition. The crowd cheers his entrance to the stage with enthusiasm. The Prince raises his port glass in toast, which is echoed by the crowd. “Long Live King Amon!” He roars. “Long Live the—“ An explosion booms from the stage. My ears are ringing as I try to make sense of what just happened. The King’s guard swarming the Prince in protective formation. Wasps protecting the nest. Strike first, contemplate later. Screams of chaos and breaking glass are all I can hear. I look around for Dmitry. Maristela. Agatha. The familiar faces of my house. All I see is panic, chaos, and breaking wine glasses. The screams then shift to shrills of pure panic and intense fear. The guard shooting arrows into the crowd, some shifting into massive wolves. The drool dripping from their glistening teeth bared and snarling. I shelter under the table and see Osiris and my mother already there. Coward. A wolf rips the throat f
Weeks had passed and no culprit was uncovered. Everyone is speculating and whispering conspiracy theories. Was it rogues? Other packs trying to damage our relationship with the crown? Angry peasants? Conspirators trying to shift the line of succession? Or my personal favorite, the witches of the black woods. I have always relished in stories of the witches of the woods. The legends say they drink the blood of young women to stay youthful. My father would always laugh when I would tell the stories I had heard of the black woods. “Legends, my dear girl!” He would laugh. “I’m afraid the truth is far more boring than you imagine.”Thoughts of witches and spells would have to wait for another day. I am to report to the temple this morning. A werewolf’s 18th birthday is one of the most important days of their lives. At midnight on the day you were born you officially meet and then shift into your wolf. It is the night your soul is bonded to the wolf gifted to you by the Goddess. My sto
People never really discuss the real mechanics of shifting. It is only spoken of in riddles and euphemisms. My father’s saying probably holds true here, the truth is far more boring than you imagined. I take pleasure in the little things though, and magic can be discovered even in the mundane. The walk to the temple is uneventful. As I pass people on the road a few give encouragement and blessings but most give a quiet nod of understanding. The temple is simple in design. A large complex on a massive estate. Vineyards and gardens being worked by priestesses and acolytes. Others come to work the gardens as an act of penance or charity. The food grown here supplies many temples around the realm. It is also sold and traded for other goods that are needed but not donated. The grounds are impeccably kept. Not one thing out of place. I walk towards the large temple doors. As I pull the door open, two others arrive for their ceremonies as well. I recognized the boy as a stable hand. He
The pink stains of sunset blot the sky as we make our way out of the baths and into our moon chamber. I was wrapped in a simple white robe. My feet bare against the cold stone floor of the temple. “May the Goddess bless you.” The priestess murmured as she locked me in the chamber.Now I wait. I sit cross legged on the floor and look to the sky. There is still quite some time before midnight. The light is almost completely gone. I close my eyes and rest my head against the stone wall. “Awaken.” I hear a strong female voice. “Who’s there?” I say aloud. My voice echoes in the chamber. When she spoke there had been no echo. In the darkness I see two Violet eyes staring at me. A wolf emerges from the darkness. “It is I who spoke, but mind to mind not aloud.” I hear her voice but her mouth does not move. “C-can you hear me?” I thought to myself, unsure if it would work. “Yes, I hear everything. I see everything.” She says slowly. I study her for a moment. She is large, especially for
I felt the tingling first. My whole body was on pins and needles. Then came the pain. I understand why descriptions are in riddles or euphemisms, there are not words to describe the feeling. Yes, there is absolutely pain. It is more than that though. The pain is almost disorienting, as your body shifts into a wolf. Then you are a wolf. I am a wolf!The freedom I feel is indescribable. I take a step. The cold stone floor presses against the pads of my feet. It doesn’t feel as cold as it did with my bare human feet. I look up to the sky searching for the moon. I howl. A long sorrowful howl. Like I’m calling for someone or something far away from me. “What was that?” I ask not sure what it all means. “That’s a story for another time.” Theia says flatly. “When will all these stories be told?” “When we are alone. Safe. We are not safe to speak freely here.” She warns. I do not respond. I hear soft steps from the hallway. A priestess peers in through the window of the door. She ga
The sun's first rays are illuminating the road as I step out of the temple. Acolytes, priestesses, worshippers, and volunteers are starting to shuffle around for morning prayers and chores. Theia and I are silent as a walk through the temple grounds towards the outer gates. I’m exhausted. It is taking all my focus just to put one foot in front of the other. “Do we always walk so slow and awkwardly?” Theia grumbles. “Do you want to be the one to walk?” I ask in a sharp tone. She sighs deeply. We both know I do not have the energy or strength to shift. Silence. “Tell me one of your stories then. I walk, you talk.” I say breaking the silence. Nothing. I reach the edge of the estate. I don’t really want to answer questions or work right now. I walk into the fields towards my garden. I might get lucky and find some ripe tomatoes or berries still on vines. I run my fingers through the fragrant herbs, making the pungent smells waft toward me. I will miss this place. These lands. My