Chapter 5

“Lycia, why have you come?” My mother asked me with a frown, as always disheartened to see her disappointment of a daughter.

My smile dropped along with my  a confidence as I spoke. “I'd like a word with you and father ... Privately.”

“Very well.” My father nodded, turning towards my sister’s. “Take your brother and wait outside.”

The girls nodded, taking Terion by the hand and retreating from the hut, both of them knowing better than to disobey our father. I waited in silence as my mother and father stood from their seats and stepped towards me, their features blank of expression.

“Don’t tell me that you have been banished from the tribe. You are my biggest regret Lycia, why can’t you just behave like the other women.” My father blurted, jumping to the same conclusion that the whole tribe expected to occur out of my meeting with the alpha.

But how wrong they all were.

My mother gasped. “Danetion!”

“Do not start Quenay, she has dishonoured us! Dishonoured my name.” He bellowed with anger, shaking his head as he raised a hand to strike me.

“Wait father!” I cried, shielding my face from the coming blow. “That isn’t what the alpha said!”

He hesitated, lowering his hand, but only slightly, waiting for me to speak again. “Go on.” He said.

“The alpha...” I paused, wishing I had never come to see them, I should have known my father would treat me in such a way. He always did. “Asked me to marry him.”

“What?!” my mother screeched, a tremendous smile playing across her lips.

“Is this the truth.” My father asked, his features beginning to soften.

I nodded, barely surprised at their sudden  happiness; everyone knew what it was an honour to be asked to be to alpha’s mate, even himself. But I still wasn’t sure that it was what I wanted. Or if I could spend my life by his side. “Yes. I have until tomorrow to give my answer.”

“Until tomorrow? That doesn’t give you much time.” My mother frowned, taking a step towards me as she spoke; her height no longer seeming threatening.

“She doesn’t need time.” My father stated, clearly convinced that I should know the answer, and I suspected he wanted me to say yes.

I turned my attention away from my mother, nervous that the truth may make both of my parents angry. “I do father, I don’t know if it is what I want.”

“Of course it is what you want, he is the alpha.” My father uttered steadily, his repellent tone reminding me that I would only have one choice.

“But father, this is the first time he has ever showed me kindness.” I answered defensively, beginning to bring a voice to my concerns. “I do not know if his proposal is of truth.”

My father laughed deeply,  a the rough sound filling the family  hut. “It would dishonour him to give a false promise of marriage. I do not thing he would do so just to spite you.”

“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly, fearing that it was all somehow fake; that I was dreaming it all.

“Of course we are Lycia. If I were you I would wait until after the full moon and then accept the proposal.” My mother insisted.

I nodded, choosing my next words with care. “Ok, but I don’t know if I am going to accept yet.”

My father’s smile faded as instantly as the words passed from my lips. “What do you mean you don’t know if you are going to say yes?” he asked.

“I don’t know if he is right for me father.” I defended myself once more, couldn’t they see that I was conflicted about the decision I had to make?

“Daughter, you are right, don’t rush into things.”, my mother agreed, for one taking my side. “Marriage is an important thing and you can’t rush to decision, you have to be sure.”

“It is, however if she chooses not to marry him, it would dishonour the family.” My father sighed, finally seeming to understand my conflict. “Is that why you came? To warn us?”

“No father, I came to tell you what had happened, I do not want to dishonour you any further than I already have. But I am afraid that I wont be happy as his wife. That he doesn’t really want me, but perhaps he feels sorry for me instead. Or maybe he has asked me because he doesn’t want to banish your eldest daughter. Even if she has shamed you.” I admitted, my heart racing as I watched for their reactions; nervous that my fears were invalid and foolish.

But how would I be able to handle the truth? The fact that it was all real. That it wasn’t just a dream. I shivered at the thought that Terious really did love me, that he had fallen for my stern mind and views on equality. And yet, I wanted it all to be real, I wanted someone to love me for who I was, I was just afraid that I would get hurt. That it would all turn out to be a sick joke. My biggest fear of all? Well, that I would be a terrible wife.

“The alpha would not joke about such a thing Lycia, it is not how things are done. Trust me daughter, he would not have asked you if he wasn’t serious.” My father assured me, helping me to come to terms with what I must do.

Yes, I was afraid, but if his proposal was serious. Then their was only one answer I could give. I would become the wife of the packs alpha, and bear his children. As a woman of the tribe, it was my duty to marry him and bring honour to my father. Yes, I believed in equality, but things were done in a certain way and it was about time that I followed the path of all those before me. I could still believe in all that I did and be a good wife to Terious. The perfect role model and a mother of the next alpha. I would give him my answer as soon as the full moon had ended, and then set a day where I would be bound in an eternal bond to a man, a man that I would learn to love as time progressed. He wasn’t a bad man, I had simply misunderstood his intentions and feelings toward me, something that I would not allow again.

“Thank you father. I was unsure.” I smiled, for once feeling as though I can be happy amongst those of my pack.

My mother pulled me into a crushing hug, something I had not experienced since childhood. “You have made your decision I see.” She laughed, already knowing my choice.

“Yes, I have.” I nodded, my smile widening. “I will let the alpha know as soon as the changing has stopped.”

“You are going to say yes?” my father asked, seemingly confused.

“Yes father. I am going to become the alpha’s wife.” I informed him sweetly, knowing that he would now be proud to call me did daughter.

“I am so pleased daughter.” He chimed, a toothy smile spreading across his lips.

My mother finally released me from the hug, her tone high and pleasant. “What are your plans for the full moon?”

“I am not sure, perhaps just being alone again.” I sighed, hating spending the changing alone. Even at my age, the process was scary and putrid.

My mothers sweet smile only grew. “you should spend it with your father and I. It would be nice to have you with us once again. Just like when you were a cub.”

“I would love to.” I laughed, overjoyed that she had asked for my company.

“Then it is settled. The moon will be rising soon.” My father nodded, looking out at the sky as he continued. “We better get comfortable.”

I nodded mutely and took a seat by the fire, waiting for the changing along with my family, something I had missed greatly since I was forced to move out. My father smiled and spoke about all that I had forgotten from when I was a child, reminiscing on about the past as though nothing had occurred in the last year to spite me.

The moon rose in the sky like a beacon in the darkness, something that held hope for all those lost in the night. The horrific screams if my people began as I felt a shift within me, the sounds barbaric and primal. It was time, and the changing was beginning. I hunched forward, growling and snarling in anguish, the agony unbearable as I cried out.

My back snapped into an arch as my arms grew and bended; my entire form burning from the searing pain as my feet stretched and cracked, breaking an reforming twice before it was right. Before they were ready to hold my new form. My face elongated and my teeth sharpened, leaving me with the stench of a new hunger, one I couldn’t control​. I licked my lips and smiled savagely, the night had just begun.