Chapter 3 - The Accident

Chapter 3 - The Accident

Soon after my first shift, I was sent to training. Special wolves who shifted early are sent to train with three things in mind: speed, stealth, and self-defence. We’re smaller than the wolves that usually had their first shift at sixteen years old, which is why we’re taught how to be fast and silent but also how to defend ourselves. We are considered an “elite wolf” meant to serve a higher purpose in our pack. At sixteen, we could choose to either become Hunters or Trackers. If we end up being strong enough, we could be the leaders of our pack like a Beta, Second Beta, Head Hunter, or Head Tracker. I personally am eyeing the tracking spot just like Mother—the fastest Tracker in our pack. I could already be considered a natural. My body, although small, is faster than most sixteen-year-old shifters. I can easily keep up with older wolves and hide my scent even better. My mother always takes Mia and me for extra training because Mia seemed to be the only one barely able to keep up.

Once a month, my family took us hunting. Sometimes we hunted in the forest, training our bodies to dodge trees as we catch prey. I loved the chase of the hunt. My favourite things are usually smaller prey, like squirrels and rabbits, animals considered too quick to catch. After strict training from my mother, I became quick enough to grab a squirrel as it scampers up a tree and beat a rabbit to its burrow. The hard parts were leaving a clean kill.

But there are some skills we’re taught that are considered essential in case any of us becomes a Rogue. This includes how to loot from human territories, what herbs and plants are edible, as well as which farmers would not miss a few cattle from so-called “animal attacks.” This northwestern region of Ontario, Canada, holds many forests and land deemed unsuitable for living thanks to witches, but we’re close enough to farms that a simple raid on a moonless night is all it takes. Tonight is such a night.

My parents tell us to shift just inside the tree line by our house before silently making our way through the territory. A field of cattle greets us just outside the pack territory’s boundaries. Calves bleated and ran around, too restless to sleep. Their mothers slept blissfully, unaware of the threat lurking just behind them. Our targets are the babies.

I am the first to go since I can distract the creatures with my fur, my wolf body slowly maturing into a delinquent at nine years old. Our hunting strategy is that I distract the animals, and the rest go for the kill. Within thirty minutes, we have five calves and are on our way home with the deed done. The farmer would be pissed, but it is a sight many get used to considering the coyotes and ordinary wolves living in the area. It would be considered just another animal attack come tomorrow morning

We stop at the butchering hut, a cold concrete hut my father had built so that he could cut the meat and send a portion to the pack house to help stock up. This task was a mandatory rule set by the first Alpha of the pack that is carried down for many generations.  We gently place the dead calves on the metal square just outside the door and left my father to work. My mother, brother, sister, and I go out to the forest, killing a few wild turkeys and a deer. Our goal is to help get a supply going for when it is needed, as well as keep up the stock at the pack house for the next few weeks. We repeat the process of putting the animals on another metal square, then left to go into our house, take a shower and relax.

It’s a long weekend here in Ontario due to Family Day being tomorrow, so my siblings and I get to stay up late and watch movies with our parents. This is the only time we get to do this kind of bonding since Zack is in college and Mia in high school, so our parents don’t have to worry about them and their activities now that they have chosen their path and place in the pack. But because I’m still young and have yet to choose a path as a pack member, my parents still treat me like a child.

            I hate it.

            "Well, who wants my famous homemade burgers tomorrow?" My dad asks as he waltzes into the living room with a cooler, carrying what I assume to be meat for burgers, perking my siblings and I right up.

"Do we really need to answer that, dad?" Zack asks while Mia and I both nod in agreement. The night went on, with chatter about what else we would eat with the burgers and the fun we would have at the pack run tomorrow night. In the end, I found myself curled up between my brother and sister, fast asleep.

                                                                        …

"Daddy, can we go for the run now? The pack should be ready for one." I ask impatiently, hopping from one foot to the other. Our dinner had finished hours ago, and now it is time for the annual Family Day Run. To say that I’m excited is an understatement. I love being in wolf form and running in the night as my fur moves like flames in the wind. It always amazes newly shifted wolves when they run with the pack for the first time, especially since they have never seen my fur until then. The way some wolves would trip over a root from the distraction always has me rolling in laughter by the end of the run. My siblings have already shifted, tired of waiting, and I’m inches away from joining them and taking off in search of the other pack members. But I knew my parents would ground me to only the yard and away from any pack run if I took off without their consent.

"Yes, we can." My father chuckles, this small phrase being all I need to hear before I run around behind a bush and shift. I whimper from the pain and the bones cracking and realigning themselves until I stand on all fours. It has only taken three minutes for me to shift and join my siblings, but it felt like hours with all the pain. Due to my age, my family limited how much I shifted, but they still have me training to shift as much as I could to get used to the pain until it became a seamless shift. I have another three years until I could go shift train at fourteen, and the horror stories that Mia and Zack brought back have me both nervous and excited for it to happen.

Finally, everyone is all shifted into their wolf forms and running through the forest. Our first stop is meeting up with the rest of the pack at the pack house, where our run would start. It gives everyone a chance to let lose in our wildest form, and any wolf is welcomed as long as they can stick with our group. The ages range from some as young as thirteen to as old as two- or maybe even three-hundred years old; perks of being a supernatural being. Zack had already split off for a group of friends as the pack house came into view. Then Mia left for another group. There is only one person I wanted to see, and the moment I spotted Leo, I nuzzle my parents then take off like a bullet, tackling the thirteen-year-old to the ground and pinning the older pup under me.

[Ambie, get off me!] He growls through our mind link as I playfully tug on his ear.

[Make me!] I retort, only to find myself pinned under him. I couldn’t help my annoyance as I try to wiggle free, even resorting to reaching for his ear and biting it hard only to give up.

[No fair, Leo. Just because you’re focusing on Warrior training more doesn’t mean you can take advantage of the fact you’re bigger than me.] I whine.

[Life is not fair, deal with it.] His smug voice fills my head. I huff and wait for him to relax, then move out from under him before swiping my paws under one of his and tripping him. I dash away as he chases me through the throng of wolves.

[Amberle, I will catch you, and when I do, you’re so dead.] Leo threatens me, and I laugh as best as I can while running. Leo may be able to use his greater strength against me, but I have speed. He would never be able to catch me unless I let him.

Leo is our future Alpha and son to Alpha Blue. Yes, his father’s name is Blue, like Blue's Clues, and he even looked a bit like the dog from that TV show. Blue is like me, a wolf with rare fur. His fur somehow came out as a light-blue tinge with a dark-blue patch on his left eye. It is a sight to be seen in the pack. What is even rarer was having two wolves with rare fur in the same pack. Normally, a pack has only one wolf shift with rare fur. It always signifies that the Moon Goddess blessed them for a greater destiny—one that always brings the best out into the world of werewolves. Blue’s destiny was saving the werewolf king many years ago. It is how our pack was able to thrive so long for being a somewhat smaller-sized pack. Everyone speculates what my destiny would be, but no one would know for sure just yet.

[Okay, everyone.] The voice of Alpha Blue rings into my mind, and I stop, ducking just in time for Leo to crash into his father’s side. The Alpha gives the both of us a pointed look. There is a reason we are called “Double Trouble” in the pack. Somehow the two of us would get into trouble in multiple ways. Sometimes we would crash into higher-ranking wolves when being chased by one another. Other times, we would wreck a gathering without meaning to. But most of the time, we had a blast pranking Alpha Blue, my father, and the high-ranking wolves when they least expect it

[It’s time to run. Keep an eye on the pups, considering we have a few rare early shifters and remember the run ends at the lake just behind the pack house. Stay together and stay safe.] With that, he takes the lead as head of the pack, and we chase after him. The territory is a modest size, and unless you have had months of training, it would be hard to keep up in speed. Trackers scouted the route from the trees as Hunters surrounded the wolves. Even though we are on our territory, sometimes dangerous things could happen. At the last pack run, a group of rogues tried to kidnap some she-wolves. Needless to say, I watched how brutal a mate could be when one tried to harm their other half.

It took a total of three hours to finish the run before we reached the lake to rest. From here, we can either head home or socialize in our fur. This is where I once again tackle Leo after finding him in the crowd before dashing away again. For the next few hours, we chase and tackle each other in mock battle, enjoying the chance to let loose and tumble around like pups before heading back home for the night.

That is when we hear it. A gunshot rang through the trees as Leo and I separated, silence filling the forest that was once lively with pack mingling.

We freeze.

[Hunters have entered the territory. Everyone, get to the pack house and make sure the pups are safe.] Blue orders as wolves begin to scoop up many pups and race to the safety of the pack house where the bunkers waited to protect us.

[Amber?] My mother is worried and probably questioning my safety. Her voice fills the pack link, and I know I must reply into the link as well.

[I'm with Leo.] My answer is short, but it has two meanings. One, I am safe. Two, our future Alpha is with me. We should be a priority to protect, and hopefully, wolves will see us on our mad dash to the pack house.

[Okay, meet us at the pack house.] My father sighs, but I knew everyone would be vigilant for us.

[Okay.] I look at Leo and we nod in understanding, taking off and running to catch up with the other pack members. Some completely ignore us, which makes sense since hunters are considered enemy number one in the werewolf community. But the danger did not mean that they could not help. Although we did our best to keep up with wolves that we spotted, even barking out for help, our legs could not keep up with the fully-grown adults. Soon, we end up falling behind, trying hard to make it the last leg of the way to the pack house as the roof comes into view.

"Did you see that? The wolf with the fur-like flames?" I could hear the hunters, and they have spotted me. As beautiful as my fur is, it’s also dangerous since it’s easy to see. Leo seems to have sensed them too, and he steers me away from them into the thicker parts of the woods where it would be harder for a human to move through. It would also be easier for us to hide and blend in.

[Hurry up!] He growls, his Alpha side appearing. I could sense his urgency to have me moving faster, away from danger. It is his Alpha blood. The need to protect his pack mates grows stronger in dangerous situations.

[I am] I glared back at him, reaching the safety of the cave as it comes into view, and we hide just inside. Neither of us shifted nor breathed too loudly as we curled into the hidden ledge, Leo using his black wolf fur to hide me in the shadows. Unless a light is shone towards us, we will look like a shadow to anyone who looks in the cave.

"Where did they go?" Hunter One asks angrily.

"I don't know! You were the one tracking the fucking runt and its friend!" His companion answers just as furiously. I know to a hunter, a werewolf with rare fur is worth thousands to them. This is Survival 101. If you’re a special werewolf like me and held fur that the hunters' society deems novelty, then you would either be captured and kept as a pet or killed and have your pelt taken to be used for whatever they deemed fit.

[Amberle, Leo, where are you?] It is Alpha Blue, his worried voice filling the link.

[In the cave just north of the pack house. The hunters are outside where we are hiding.] I could hear Leo reply as he presses closer to me, his body ready to pounce in case we are found. I guess that means that Alpha Blue opened up the mind link to everyone.

[Stay there, we are coming.] It became quiet after that. The sounds of Leo and I barely breathing are the only sounds we could hear as we tried to sense the locations of the hunters and how close they are to us. Suddenly howls and growls could be heard. The sound of fighting between wolves and hunters reaches our hiding spot. It sounds like our Warriors are winning. Then, two gunshots ring out, and I felt my body go from shivering in fear to completely still. Shots are never a good thing to us. Almost all shots from a hunter’s gun are fatal to us wolves because of the silver-coated bullets created specifically to terminate our species.

[Amberle, whatever happens, whatever you hear, no matter what, just stay in the cave.] It is a command from Blue directed just to me as our private link buzzes into my mind. But worry and dread fill me while I wait for the cries of pain from the hunters to quiet down before I race past Leo, who tries to hold me back. Something in his eye holds pain and urgency in keeping me in the cave, but I trip his paws from under him and use this advantage and my speed to race past his sprawled-out form. The entrance of the cave greets me as I head for the outside, my mind hoping for the best, but dread starts to pool in my heart.

The scent of blood from my parents catches my attention before I see pack members circling around the base of a tree, sadness radiating through the bond. My steps falter with hesitation. My parents are strong wolves, so nothing should have happened to them, right?

With renewed resolve, I rush past everyone and shift into my skin, stopping with wide eyes at the sight of my parents leaning against each other weakly. With the slight sizzling of burnt skin, my eyes first catch sight of the scarlet blood dripping out of a wound on my father’s chest, the location close to his heart. His hand was clasping my mother’s as she weakly smiles at him, her free hand holding onto her abdomen as more blood drips out from her wound and past her fingertips.

“Mom…Dad…” I whisper out, my feet resuming their path slowly until I find myself kneeling in front of them, my hands resting on their clasped hands.

“Hey, Amber.” My father gasps, his smiling face now facing me as I stare back and forth between them. The wounds worsen with their movements as they shift to make more room for me, allowing me to move closer and hold onto them.

“You’ll be fine, right? The pack doctor will heal the both of you soon, right?” My mother’s hand reaches for my face as she runs her fingers delicately across my cheeks, her gentle smile filled with sadness. I did not realize that I had started crying until that moment, and I nuzzle into her warm touch.

“Promise me you’ll stick together, all of you!” Her voice is weak but still holds the command and respect of one of the pack leaders. Her eyes move from mine to over my shoulder. I follow her gaze to see Mia and Zack standing just behind me, a look of sorrow on their faces.

“You can’t leave us yet.” Mia cries out, taking the spot beside my father as she clings to his arm.

“I’m sorry, Mimi.” He sighs, releasing my mother’s hand to wipe away Mia’s tears.

“Zack, promise us you’ll take care of your siblings.” My mother continues, ending her words with a cough that causes blood to dribble down from the corners of her lips. My father quickly wraps her into his embrace as I catch Zack nod, unable to voice his words at the fact that our parents are at the end of their lives, and nothing could stop it.

“Good. Now, remember, we love all of you.” Father smiles, tears welling in his eyes as he starts to gasp for breath.

“Stay together and know that we will always be with you.” Mother continues before she sighs one more time. They lean closer together, their breaths becoming shallower until their bodies slowly go slack and their eyes close. They are gone.

“You bitch! This is your fault!” My head spins as a hard slap connects to my tear-stained face. My body sprawls against the forest floor as I turn to look at my sister Mia, who stands above me, her nails turning into claws. Zack quickly rushes over and restrains her. He has a passive look on his face as he stares at me, but the disdain and hate in their gazes have me frozen in place.

“It’s not my fault.” I retort back, standing up and rubbing my now swollen cheek.

“If you weren’t such a special wolf, our parents wouldn’t have died. It’s because of your fucking fur.” She screams, fighting to gain freedom from Zack as her hatred simmers in the air. I slowly back away from my siblings, seeing the anger in Zack’s eyes and wondering if he would attack me too.

“Enough, Mia! Zack, take your sister to the pack house now.” Alpha Blue orders, coming to shield me from the two. I could see the hesitation in Zack’s eyes before he nods again. He takes a few steps, dragging the still-raging Mia along with him before he stops and turns to look at me.

“From now on, you are no longer our sister.” He states before he resumes dragging Mia away. My heart feels like it’s shattered as darkness slowly fills my vision. What was supposed to be a typical pack run has led me to lose my entire family.

“Amberle?” Alpha Blue yells out, his arms reaching for me before darkness fully takes me with this overwhelming grief.

                                                                        …

I stand beside Alpha Blue as I watch the caskets with my parents inside be lowered into the ground beside each other. It has been three days since the accident, since the death of my parents and the loss of my siblings.

“Let us remember Maxwell, our beloved Beta, and Carrie, our beloved Head Tracker, as they return to the Moon Goddess’ side.” Alpha Blue says, sadness etched into his voice. His words soon become white noise as the graves are slowly filled with dirt. Everyone cries around me, but my eyes were dry. I could not cry anymore, so I stood there, emotionless. My siblings disowned me three days ago, and no one my age came near me in fear that I would also cause their death. Leo even ignored me, just when I needed my best friend the most. He would even go as far as push me away from him and yell at me if I eventually found him.

My thoughts wander to the notion that I’m an orphan now. I’m an outcast to the wolves my age and unwanted by any family I have left. I am alone.

“Come on, Amber, let's go pack your things.” Alpha Blue nudges me from my thoughts as he takes my hand. My eyes scan the crowd, and I see looks of sympathy from the older wolves and disdain from the younger ones. Many held their words because the Alpha has taken it upon himself to raise me now and give me protection. I am led away from the funeral and taken towards a path that is all too familiar, the forest quiet and still. Alpha Blue and I knew of the plans Zack and Mia have to burn the house down tonight, leaving only a short amount of time to finish packing everything. If I did not gather my parents’ things, they would be lost forever.

“Hey Amby Bamby, how are you feeling?” Axel, the new Beta, asks as he picks me up. Axel was the Second Beta my father had chosen and trained. He is like an Uncle to me, and I could not help but cling to him and bury my head into his shoulder.

“I understand.” He sighs. My silence and actions were telling enough as he slowly rubs my back. Axel joins Alpha Blue and me with a few other trusted wolves to pack up everything before Mia and Zack get here. I’m happy to feel some sense of security with him around. He carries me the rest of the way to the house while talking with Alpha Blue, settling me down by the front door and letting me take the lead for what needs to be done.

“Can we do my room first?” I ask, hesitating at the open door.

“We can do whatever you want, sweetie.” Axel smiles as he ruffles my hair, giving me a slight nudge. I lead the wolves toward my room, passing by Zack and Mia’s. Their empty rooms remind me that I am alone now, and a small tear slips down my cheek.

For the next six hours, we slowly pack up my room, my parents’ room, and anything my parents kept in the house. My father had an extensive book collection that he was proud of. He kept it in his study and always let me sit in the window seat to read or attempt to read. I asked Axel if I could have them placed on the shelves in my new room. Everything that would not fit into my new room would be stored in a trailer that Alpha Blue attached to my father’s treasured Mustang convertible. It was a 1969 model, and my mother always complained he loved that car more than her at times. It is now mine.

“Looks like everything is packed.” Alpha Blue says with a sigh, climbing into the Mustang. He would drive it to a shed belonging to him at the edge of the pack property. In this way, everything would be safe and hidden from the pack.

“I’ll get Amber settled in at the pack house. My mate should be finished with organizing her room.” Axel volunteers, his gaze catching mine as I cling to a suitcase. The Alpha nods before driving away and leaving Axel and I in front of my house.

“What do you have there, Amberle?” He asks as he sits beside me, my hands trying and succeeding at opening the case.

“Mom’s Tracker uniform. I want to use it when I become a Head Tracker like her one day.” My voice is quiet as I run my fingers over the fabric, her calming scent wrapping itself around me. The scent would fade away soon.

“That’s a good idea. Think I can hold it for you while we head to the pack house?” Axel is always asking if he could do certain things. It’s why I was happy to have him stay with me when the Alpha couldn’t. I nod and close the case, letting him take it before reaching out to hold onto his free hand. We make our way to the pack house and up the many stairs until we reach the attic. Blue knew that I would be living in the pack house with him and a few members. The attic used to store some party equipment, but after making some room in the basement, a few pack members took it upon themselves to renovate the attic into my room. It was the biggest room in the entire pack house and my own personal world away from the real world.

Serena, Axel’s mate, had spent the day organizing my things that were sent to the house as we packed up my old home. She smiled and envelops me in a big hug when I step into the room.

“Want to see your new room, sweetie?” She asks, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. Her eyes don’t hold pity like all the other wolves did. Instead, she looks at me the same way my mother used to—she held eyes filled with love and care.

“Yes, please.” A small smile plays at my lips as I take Serena’s outstretched hand and let the Beta female lead me to my new room. The shelves along the far wall already held the many books from my father’s study with a reading nook by the large window that let in a lot of sunlight. My bed was tucked into another large nook that gave me lots of room to switch to a larger bed as I got older, but I was happy with the pink princess bed. My favourite part was the big office desk with many art supplies that faced the floor-to-ceiling windows. A bigger smile bloomed on my face as I looked at Axel.

“Your dad always raved on and on about how you loved art and planting any plant you could get your hands on. The Alpha was not happy when we demolished the wall for your windows, but I figured this would make a good surprise for you. You can be as creative as you want here and plant any flowers you wish.” An embarrassed look crosses his face as Serena chuckles at her mate and pulls him close for a quick kiss. The tour ends with Serena showing me my own bathroom and walk-in closet. It was her idea, considering that the only washrooms in the pack house were communal, so she thought it would be nice to have my own private things away from all the other wolves who lived here.

Serena and Axel help me decorate my room to finish making it feel more like home to me. The two made my aching heart hurt less with how well they treated me. They were not afraid to get closer to me like the other wolves were and even made me giggle and laugh with how normal they acted.

“I left food on your desk for when you get hungry. If you need anything, just link us.” Serena says while tucking me into my bed. It has been a long day, but having Axel and Serena here helped.

“Thank you,” I whisper, the feeling of love from them making the ache in my heart dull a bit more but not completely. The new Beta pair leaves after making sure that I knew where their room in the pack house was. The room is quiet and solemn without their presence. Snuggling into my stuffed rabbit mom had won me at a festival in town, I finally let out the tears I’ve been holding in all day and cry my heart out. I’m afraid of being alone, but I have a feeling that for a while, I would be nothing but alone. I must work harder now that my family was gone. With determination and sadness mixing in my heart, I find darkness creeping in as I cry myself to sleep.