* * * Morag’s POV * * *
“I’m telling you sister; we have sat hiding in this damn cave for too long. We should be out there fighting, with every other race on this planet,” Jennifer tells me. I know she’s right.When the world and Gods had gone to war, I had led my clan into hiding. I was a coward. We’ve spent the last ten years hidden away here, only venturing into the cities if we need supplies. Being skilled in the art of magic means we have very little need to leave the cave.“The Gods know that I have the gift of foresight. What if they abduct me and use my gift to their advantage?” I ask her, it’s a genuine concern.“Well, why don’t you speak with your damn crystal ball and look into the future. I’m telling you Morag; I’m done hiding. I can’t live like this,” Trudy says.I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve become a paranoid hermit and have led my sisters to a life of misery over the last ten years.“OK, I will try for a vision. Please place my candles and light them,” I tell them as I draw a pagan symbol on the ground in chalk. I place my crystal ball in the centre of the symbol's star and prepare myself.They mock the gift at times, but I wish I could show them just how much it takes out of me watching pain and suffering.“Oh wise spirits, hear me now. The future I wish to see if you will allow, I have great need, Grant this vision to me, with speed,” I begin chanting, hoping that the spirits of the world will bless my request. I aren’t hopeful, I’ve neglected them over the years. But not anymore.I feel the connection, and my eyes become heavy. I let my eyes close and follow the path the spirits choose. I see the Gods and Goddesses at war. I see the dead bodies, severed limbs and the bloodied living. A scream tears the vision apart and I see the mighty Selene on her knees screaming as tears run down her face.The vision blurs and then the Gods and Goddesses are sat together within Harlech castle. A truce has been called.“One is four. Four is one. Chosen and gifted they shall be. Once they unite, all shall be free. Peace on Earth, through the powers they each have been gifted. Wolf is she, wizard is he, hybrid she will be, vampire he shall be, and she shall be human. Four is one and one is four,” I mutter.My vision again shifts, and I see a warped speed version of the lives of four individuals. I see the will of the Gods. I return to my body and see my sisters looking at me with a curious expression on their faces.“What did you see sister? What was it that you mumbled?” Jennifer asks.“I saw the will of the Gods. Four children shall be born, one of each race. Each one will receive a gift from the Gods. Together they shall unite and bring peace to the Earth, a wolf their leader.”“What do we do?”“I must go. My daughter is the key.”“Morag, you don’t have a daughter.”“Not yet I don’t. I must go to London and meet a man called Arthur. The daughter we birth, will give birth to the witch of the prophecy.” I explain to them.“Great. So you hole us up for years, only to run away and have your way with a man,” Jennifer grumbles.“It’s the will of the Gods,” I laugh. “My vision shows that we have a long and happy life. Be prepared to protect the gifted children, for they will be hunted by those who wish for their race to hold power over others.” I tell them.“I shall come to London with you,” Jennifer states.“What of me?” Trudy asks.“Your path lies in France. Your descendants will protect my grandchild,” I tell her.“Good luck,” she wishes me.* * * * * * * * * * 50 Years Later * * * * * * * * * *“Sisters, I thank you for coming so swiftly. We must work together to prevent the details of the prophecy being relayed. It hasn’t brought the joy that I thought it would. There are those who would hunt each child, in the hope of having power over the other races. They seek to murder them,” I tell them.“But what can we do? Word is already out, and you know how the rumour mill is,” Trudy asks me.I slowly inhale and release my anxieties with my exhaled breath, “The road will be long, but we must travel far and wide and work on erasing memories of the prophecy, the less people that know of them, the less people that will hunt the children. Only then may they fulfil their destiny,” I say with a heavy heart. I had truly thought the people would rejoice with the knowledge that pain and suffering would come to an end. But instead, those who are power hungry seek to find the children for their own benefit.“So be it sister. It will be a long hard road, but we must protect them. How is young Delores?” Jennifer asks.“She is a whirlwind, for certain. I do believe I have aged twenty years already. But she is the greatest joy that life could have given me.” I say with a smile on my face.“Go with speed. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get on with our lives,” Jennifer says.“I’ve never told you that I love you and appreciate you. I’m so thankful so have been blessed with sisters such as you.”“Morag, you sentimental old fool. Be gone now, all will be well.” I watch as my sisters leave my shop.Yes, it will be a long road indeed to erase the worlds memory of these gifted children. But if I can grant them some years of peace as they grow, it will all be worth it. * * * Selene’s POV * * *“Cora, my child, where are you?” I call out for my daughter, among the garden of bouncing lights.This is the place that the souls of my children wait, they wait patiently for a werewolf to be conceived, a wolf that is the perfect match to bond with them.Cora has been here for fifty long years and has shown no sign of bonding with a living wolf. She’s not filled with joy like the others. Their orbs of light bounce around my garden, showing their joy at being a part of the world, they are ready to be bonded.“Cora, there you are. Why are you hiding in this tree? I see your light is weak my child, what’s wrong?” I ask her gently once I have found her.‘Mother, I was a living God, and now all I am is a ball of light. Where is the joy in that? Where is the joy in never feeling the grass beneath my feet, or tasting the sweetness of the berry wine, or feeling my muscles as they exert themselves. Please, just leave me be,’ her sad voice fills my head.“You will experience all of that again, only in wolf form.” I tell her.‘Mother, I promised to guide your chosen. So far, no werewolf has called to me. I sense their aura as soon as they are conceived, and all are destined to be selfish and cruel in some way. That is not the being for me. I will let you know when my decision is made. Now, please just leave me be, to rest here and mourn what is lost to me.’ I withdraw from my daughter; I will try again some other time when she may be more receptive to my company.I walk away hoping that I didn’t make the wrong decision in asking this of her, I only did so in the hope that it would give her a reason to enjoy life again.* * * * * * * 19 Years Ago * * * * * * * * *“Cora, the other Gods grow impatient with me. Is there none who draw your attention and gain your approval?” I ask my daughter, as I sit cradling her spirit in my lap. Her orb of light is dim and swirling slowly. I have brought her to my cliff; the place I come to watch the Earth and keep an eye on my children.‘Mother, if they are happy to rush their decision then that is their choice. But I’m waiting for the perfect soul to align with mine.’“I’m sorry I asked this of you. It may have taken me 80 years to see it, but I now realise how incredibly selfish my decision was. I should have allowed you to pass peacefully and on your own terms. I truly thought this would help you find a new spark,” I whisper as a single tear falls from my eyes.‘Mother, I agree this is the right course of action, I fought and died for peace, I want to do this. I want to bring peace to the entire world, including the realm of the God’s. But please let the bonding decision be my own. I’m sorry that I haven’t been good company all these years, I’ve been too focussed on what I’ve lost. I now realise how selfish that was of me, we both needed each other, and I denied our love to share grief.’“Don’t apologise …” I’m shocked when she cuts me off, her orb swirling rapidly, and the light intensifies to a blinding beam.‘What’s that? Do you feel it? She asks me,’ her voice can’t hide her wonder.“It’s time. You have found the one,” I smile.‘Goodbye, Mother.’“Look after her. I will see you again soon, my child. I love you,” I tell her truthfully. I’m overcome with emotion when Cora floods my mind with her loving thoughts.Her orb disintegrates as her light rapidly travels down to the Earth, to bond with the foetus that has just sparked into existence. The gifted and chosen she-wolf will soon be born.* * * Eve’s POV * * *I can’t sleep, so I get up from bed and leave the tent. I can hear hushed voices in the distance. I follow the voices. “Alpha Luke, I know it’s you and your Luna who have birthed the child of prophecy. We must mate her to my son when she comes of age. It will make a strong alliance,” says a voice I don’t know.“No Alpha Charles. The Moon Goddess will pair our daughter with a mate worthy of her. When she is born, I think any future child of mine will be incredibly special indeed,” my Papa answers, as though I’m not already born.“Don’t take me for a fool, Alpha Luke. I know the child is born. Are you saying my son would be unworthy?” Alpha Charles says angrily. “Not at all. I have never met your son,” my Papa replies.“You will regret this, Alpha Luke,” the man says angrily, and walks away from Papa. Papa walks back towards the tents. I follow this strange man. He pulls a phone from his pocket: “Beta, summon my warriors and come to the Coral Lake pack. Alpha L
* * * Eve’s POV * * * “My name is Eve. I’m six years old. My mother was an Omega. I’m an orphan …” I’m rocking against the bark of the willow tree. “My name is Eve. I’m six years old. My mother was an Omega. I’m an orphan,” I repeat over and over again.Footsteps.People are coming.“My name is Eve. I’m six years old. My mother was an Omega. I’m an orphan,” my little voice says again. “Hey up, can you hear that?” A man’s voice questions.“Quiet man. There may still be some of those psychopathic pup-nappers around here. Are you trying to get us killed?” Another man says.“Stop, I hear a child.”“Then use your nose and find her. Imagine if we are the ones to find the child of prophecy, we will be heavily rewarded and live like kings.” “Arthur, this is an innocent child we’re talking about, stop thinking of yourself.” “Just find the child.”I hear the footsteps get louder and push my back against the tree trunk, trying to be invisible. I’m hidden inside the trunk of an old tree. It’s
* * * Alpha Charles’s POV * * *“Alpha, the Luna isn’t going to be pleased with us bringing in waifs and strays,” my Beta Ralph tells me.“I don’t give a flying fuck if she’s pleased or not. My Luna will do as she’s told. She isn’t my fated mate and so her thoughts and feelings mean very little to me. She has served her purpose by providing me with an heir with strong bloodlines.” “The financial impact on the pack for feeding and clothing these bastards over the years will be significant,” he says.“If one of them are the wolf of the prophecy, the financial reward will be greater,” I tell him.“Why don’t you see if you recognise any of them, sir,” he suggests. I know what he’s thinking, if there’s any we can rule them out now, we should just kill them and save ourselves the hassle they will bring during the years to come. He has a point. “It’s worth a try,” I agree. I follow Ralph to the van he’s stored the brats in and analyse the features of each of the girls. None of them seem e
* * * Eve’s POV * * * “Who are you?” A girl with black hair asks me.“I’m Eve. I’m an orphaned Omega.”“Are you sure you’re from here? I know all the cubs in the Coral Lake pack and I don’t know you. You must be a Mystic Moon member.”“I don’t know. I was in the woods and the men took me.”“It’s okay. I’ll look after you. My name is Elsie.” “Thank you, Elsie.” All the girls in the back of this van tell me their names and how old they are. Some are eight years old. Some are 14, and others are somewhere in between. The nasty Alpha has been asking them if they are the child of prophecy, he wants the child. They all promise each other that if one of them is the child he wants, they will keep the secret. They don’t want the nasty Alpha to take the prophecy child. “Blindfold and cuff them until we return to the back,” the Beta orders the others and then follows his Alpha.The nice man Walter climbs into the van and apologises to us before he cuffs our arms to the sides of the van and pu
* * * Alpha Charles’s POV * * * * * Four Years After the Betrayal * * I’ve spent years looking over these damn maps. The child has to be out there somewhere, but no matter where I search, I always come home empty handed. ‘Perhaps if you allowed us to spend time with our mate, you wouldn’t feel this way,’ David tells me.‘Enough with this shit. I don’t want our mate, when will you ever learn?’‘Never. Someone is coming.’ The sound of someone knocking at my door has me looking up from my desk. “Yes!” I call out.The door edges open and Ralph peeks around the frame, “Sorry to interrupt you, may I come in, Alpha?” He asks.“Yes, of course,” I answer. I don’t want him disturbing me, but I know I’m lucky to have a Beta who does as he’s told without questions asked.“Is there anywhere else to search?” He asks when he notices the maps on the desk as he approaches.“A few places, perhaps. What is the purpose of your visit?”“Sir, I’ve come to discuss the she-wolves that we brought back from
* * * Eve’s POV * * * * * * Aged 10 * * * I wake up and rub the sleep from my eyes, my body is programmed to wake at this time now. A year of waking up at the crack of dawn and I no longer need an alarm, or for Rose to knock on my door.I had the same dream again last night, the one where I’m an Alpha and I stop Alpha Charles treating his pack so badly. I was wielding fire and I was flying. It felt so real that it has to be more than a dream. How can something that feels so real, only be a dream? I climb from my mattress and straighten my blankets. I throw on my clothes and tie my hair back. It’s time for the day to begin. “Morning, Eve. Are you ready?” Rose greets me. “Of course,” I say as I turn to face her.“Oh dear. Come to my room so we can wash your hands and face. We’re in the kitchen today and the Alpha won’t like how dirty you look,” she says kindly.I follow Rose to her room and let her wash me. We change my clothes and use a belt to make her clothes fit. I realise how
* * * Eve’s POV * * ** * * four years ago * * *I open my eyes to the dim light that is a permanent feature here; I look around the room. Walls are painted white, there’s a series of tiny windows with bars inside and out (They let in no light even during the day, making it hard to tell the time), there’s a metal toilet in the corner, and a metal sink, and my white wrought iron bed. This is my room. I’m not allowed belongings here; they fear that I can make a weapon out of them. This is the institution for the mentally ill. Every day is the same, wake up, shower, have breakfast, exercise, lunch, classes for basic knowledge, dinner, therapy classes, supper, and bed. Always the same.It’s mind-numbing, tedious, and frustrating here.This is the Mountain View Pack; the pack is located in Wales within the United Kingdom. The mountain is Glyder Fawr, within Snowdonia National Park. Its highest peak is 1000m. The pack is situated within a valley with a lake. It’s a beautiful place, majestic
* * * Eve’s POV * * * When I left the institute, I’d made my way to the packhouse reception and asked a very stern librarian looking woman for Natalie as instructed. Natalie is the head Omega; the position has gone to her head. She acts as though she’s a ranked wolf. Not an Omega who is either ignored or insulted by the rest of the pack. Natalie is an older woman, although her wolf genes would fool a human. She has auburn hair that’s always tied in a ponytail, so tightly that it appears to give her an instant face lift. Her chestnut brown eyes are cold, and years of arduous work has left her with a slim but toned body. If she didn’t have her wolf genes, I dare say she would have callouses on her hands. She has been a packhouse Omega almost her whole life, the longest serving packhouse Omega. As such, she has been promoted to head Omega. Basically, she makes sure all the jobs are completed. A role that has gone to her head. She avoids work as much as was possible.Natalie assigns me t