Six Years Earlier
\[Serenity’s POV\]
I sit quietly, staring at the babbling brook in front of me as it sweeps easily across smooth pebbles and sparkling rocks. Even though I know that my father will go ballistic that I’m out here alone in the middle of the forest, I still snuck out to try to clear my mind after my shitty day of training.
As the daughter of an alpha, a great one at that, there was a lot expected of me and though I was able to live up to those expectations, I was still not accepted by the youth of my pack.
Pulling my knees closer against my chest, I close my eyes and let the faces of all those who taunted me appear. Even if I know they shouldn’t bother me, I just can’t get their voices out of my head.
“You’re only that cocky because you're the daughter of an alpha.”
“I bet all of your scores were given because of your backer.”
“You’re just a freak with a powerful daddy.”
“A woman will never be accepted as alpha.”
“Stop being delirious.”
Again and again, their voices and faces swirl in my mind, making me believe that they’re right.
‘Don’t let them get to you.’ Mahogany, my wolf, whispers. ‘They’re just jealous because you’re the strongest in the class.’
I don’t bother responding to her words as I open my eyes and take in the brook in front of me. Maybe she was right, maybe she wasn’t; I truly didn’t have any way of knowing. Even I sometimes wondered if the students and teachers went easy on me because my parents are the alpha and luna of Emerald Moon. Maybe I was really a fake with a superiority complex. Since I was young, I was always the strongest in my classes, but what if everyone was actually going easy on me?
Sighing, I stand up and wipe the dirt and dead leaves from my ass before turning and heading back to Emerald Moon.
Above, the sun is beginning to set, and I knew that my parents would be expecting me soon.
As I walk slowly, I listen to the sounds of the forest around me. Small creatures scurry about while the limbs above me sway, filling the air with a peaceful melody that calms my heart almost anyway, but all of that is ruined as the sound of branches cracking reaches me.
Stopping, I go on alert, extending my senses until I feel something dark and sinister pressing against me.
‘What is that?’ Mahogany asks as a shiver races through me, ‘I’ve never felt something like that before.’
‘I don’t know.’ I admit, keeping my attention turned in the direction of the thing. ‘But whatever it is, it isn’t good.’
Never in my life have I felt something like this, and even though I knew that I possessed immense strength due to my lineage, I couldn’t help but feel like it was much stronger than me. And with that worry, two thoughts immediately hit me.
To flee or to fight.
As they appear, a loud snarl rips through the trees, and whatever it is that I’m sensing begins to move, rushing straight for me.
Realizing that my only choice was to fight, I begin to shift, and once I’m in my wolf form, a large mutated wolf rips through the foliage and rushes straight for me. It’s like nothing I’ve seen before, from its glowing red eyes to its saliva covered muzzle. Even its body looks distorted, with missing fur and bones sticking out.
‘What the hell?’ Mahogany growls as the wolf slams into us, and we begin to engage in battle. ‘What is this thing?’
‘I don’t know.’ I admit snapping and clawing at the creature while it tries to find somewhere to bite down on me. ‘But it’s strong.’
If I were being honest, this thing was stronger than even my father, and that was terrifying given the fact that he was one of the strongest alpha’s to exist in centuries.
Ignoring the fear that is slowly growing in me, I continue to fight, tearing and biting where I can, until the thing finally manages to snap its jaw around my shoulder.
Letting out a howl of agony, I pull with all my might until I’m free and then scurry back while it spits out the meat that it managed to rip from me.
‘Fuck.’ I growl, bracing myself for another attack. ‘It may be too strong for me.’
‘Then should we run?’
Mahogany doesn’t need to ask twice before I’m turning and moving, weaving my way through the trees while the wolf follows me with immense speed.
Faster. I hiss inwardly, feeling my lungs and muscles screaming at me. Move faster, Serenity!
Just ahead, I could make out the pack house and those who milled about. If I just managed to get past the territory line, then...
The rest of my thoughts get lost as the wolf slams into me, tackling me to the ground and pinning me there.
With wide eyes, I watch while it opens its muzzle and prepares to attack, but then stops.
For a moment, it doesn’t move as a strange look appears in its bloody red eye, and before I can figure out what is happening, it collapses on top of me.
As we both lay there, the sounds of shouting began to echo, but I could hardly hear them as I watched the beast slowly shift from a terrifying wolf to a handsome man with long, crimson-colored hair and a bushy beard.
When the nearby guards finally pull him off of me, I get to see that his body is suffering from extreme malnourishment and astrophe.
“Princess!” One of the guards gasps, helping me onto my paws. “What happened? Who is he?”
Shaking my head, I continue to examine the man while shifting back into my human form.
“I don’t know.” I admit feeling like something was off. “That question will have to wait until he wakes up.”
Everything after that is a blur of motion as the guards work to carry the man toward the packhouse while I follow silently.
“What’s happening?” My father roars, appearing at the top of the steps. “What’s with all the noise? Serenity,” he continues spotting me and taking in my condition. “Who did this?”
“That’s…” I begin, but stop as the man the guards are carrying begins to stir.
“Help,” he whispers, his face contorting. “Please help me!”
Instantly, he is thrashing like something is attempting to get him, causing the guards to fight him to the ground where they can better control him.
“Who the hell is he?” My father growls, starting to come down the stairs, while my brother, Alec, follows. “Someone better fucking tell me what is going on.”
My father’s aura explodes from his body as he speaks, pressing into everyone's skin, causing them to cower while the man continues to fight.
“Dad!” I gasp, moving toward him. “Try to calm down.”
“Calm down?” He repeats, his eyes flashing. “My daughters hurt, and there is a random fucking freak on the ground screaming like he is being attacked. How am I supposed…”
“The most important thing is calming this man down!” I argue, stepping between him and the man. “We can question him then.”