Chapter 2 - The Thief of The NightEighteen years ago.... The harvest moon’s orange glow shines down on the land, giving the forest and meadow surrounding it an ethereal glow. The soft breeze carries the scent of fall on the wind towards where two wolves sit in waiting hidden amongst the tall grass and wild flowers that cling to life before the winter frost can hit. As the harvest moon slowly climbs to its apex, a mirage slowly appears on a crystal clear lake in the shape of a crescent moon. This mirage will soon be a lush green forest only visible during two events. The first being the ascension of the new Moon Goddess who will take the place of the Current one once she is grown. The second is the birth of the Moon Goddess’ pup. The latter is only if the Moon Goddess has met her mate after becoming the next Goddess and is a rare occurrence once in a blue moon. Today is the latter. The current Moon Goddess is due to give birth to her baby after many yea
Chapter 3 - FamilySeven years later I giggle happily, watching my brother Alex as I stumble around the yard, chasing his brown wolf and reaching for the fluffy tail he sways before me. Alex stays just out of my reach, as always, his tongue lolling from the right side of his muzzle as he gives me a wolfish grin, a twinkle of mischievousness in his eyes. “Geminie, leave your brother alone.” My father, Bastian Blake, Beta of Hidden Claws, orders, his stern angry eyes bearing down on me. I stop in my track, a small spark of fear budding inside me as I stand before this man. Alex nudges my hand gently, whining lowly as he wraps his furry form around me. “Alex and I are playing father.” I answer quietly, leaning into Alex for comfort while trying to avoid the glare my father sends me. At seven years old I have never been able to understand why my parents are so stern towards me. With Alex being only eight years older than me at fifteen I alwa
Chapter 4 – Bloody Picnic "Now you know the rules Geminie. Be polite and don't eat too much. You're a lady not a Rogue." My father warns and I nod, my curly white hair bouncing with the movement. Mother and father set high expectations for me the moment I was old enough to hold a fork. Sit with your back straight and hands folded in your lap. Never rush to eat your food and only eat what is on your plate – never ask for more. Never speak unless spoken to and if I do not follow this rule when out in public around other pack members or dignified visitors, then father will punish me. I learned quickly what a leather belt felt like against my skin the first time I asked for more food when I was hungry. After that, I obeyed each rule without a fuss even if my back hurt from sitting straight for so long or if my stomach protested in the middle of the night for food. “I understand father and I will behave properly.” I answer quietly, catching Alex clench his f
Chapter 5 – No Longer a Beta "Do you remember much of what happened?" My father asks, the tension in the air so thick making me feel as if the walls are closing in on me. Mika and Lace sit to the side on the small couch with tear stained face while my parents force me to stand. Today we buried Alpha Sorus and Luna Reena and the idea of dealing with my parents after everything that’s happened in the last three days is not something I want to do after their neglect the night they found us pups huddled together in fear. Instead, I keep my gaze towards the window watching the rain drops pitter patter on the glass. “I don’t remember much. We fell asleep watching the unicorns play. Geminie woke me up because she heard something then woke Lace up.” Mika answers, his voice wavering. I turn to look at the older boy to see my mother comforting him and sending her seething glare my way. “Geminie, if you woke them up then why didn’t you come get hel
Chapter 6 – An Omega’s life I groan while going through the laundry, nearly gagging at the smell left on the sheets from a particular room while the heat of the dryers in the brightly lit basement room intensifies the smell emanating off of this particular basket I am stuck with. Visitors from Forest Paw had just left and their Alpha, Alpha Leo, being the biggest sleaze I have ever met left a mess in the guest room that I had the unfortunate misfortune to clean. He came for an alliance with our pack and I watched as Mika and Beta Bastian accepted this man openly while cleaning the foyer of the pack house. Alex managed to keep me as far away from the visiting Alpha as possible after the first night where I was forced to serve dinner. I could feel his eyes on me throughout the night, knowing that if he spoke one word to the Beta, he could have his way with me – a fourteen year old child. It wouldn’t be the first time the Beta tried to use my body for his own advantage bu
Chapter 7 – Days, Years, Death is a wish I groan as every step leading to my room causes a wince of pain. I hate life! Is the thought that floats through my head while I slip out of my worn out clothes and into some plain comfortable black sweats and black long sleave. With Alex still helping me every now and then, protecting me from Beta Bastian and Mrs. Jasmine as best as he can is the only other ray of hope I have to survive as my eighteenth birthday rolls closer. The thought that I will meet my mate, break free from Hidden Claws and never see this pack again after graduation and the eleven years of hell I have suffered makes me smile while I lock the door to my room and open the window. Its midnight and the moon shines down at me while the wind brings a much needed fresh breath of air. The leaves to the large sugar maple tree next to my window rustles in the breeze, bringing the delectable smell of maple inside. It’s midnight, chores in the pack house are done and
Chapter 8 - Planning a Departure I glare as the small device on my side table as the alarm clock rings shrilly in the quiet morning. With only four hours of sleep after training and talking to Lizaria I want nothing more than to sleep in, but I have duties as an Omega to perform. Slamming my fist onto the alarm clock and turning it off, I take in the time of six O’clock in the morning and groan. Today is my day to cook breakfast for the pack and with only an hour and a half to have the meal ready and on the table or face punishment from Beta Bastian I will have to quickly get ready and make it downstairs within the next fifteen minutes. A quick look outside the window and noticing the sky is still dark outside I groan with frustration and fling the comforter off of my body, shivering with the cold fall air. Today being graduation day, many of the wolves will be preparing to walk across the stage at noon. Chores will be delegated to the Omega’s twenty ye
Chapter 9 - Graduation Blues I quietly stand off to the side while wolves in their graduation gowns run around chattering away with their friends. The well wishes and ‘I’ll miss you’ sound around the room. Left alone, I realize that although no one caused me trouble here at school, I was left with no friends and spent my “golden” high school years as a lone wolf. The halls behind the gymnasium where graduation will take place buzz with an excited and nervous energy. “Geminie are you ready?” Mrs. Horris asks. The wolf with graying hair before me looks around the halls and smiles. As our Principal, she has been the wolf to have mentored me and helped me through many things since entering grade nine. She understood me right away the first day we met when she watched me faint my first day at school. As we sat in her office, my heart racing thinking that I would be in trouble, Mrs. Horris surprised me by handing me a warm meal and a glass of orange juice. H