I am falling. Floating. Flying in the wind. It whooshes, whistles in my ears, whispering the secrets of death. For it’s my death I am falling to. Gravity pulls me down, my bodyweight adding to the force as I fall earnestly. I should hit the ground any second now. Any second I should splatter on some rock to break into a thousand pieces. Or maybe get impaled on a tree branch, jutting out of the cliff that slid out of my feet, letting me go.
I wait for the fall, but it never comes. Instead, there is a swirl of motions, then I black out.
*****
Olivia -
Life is beautiful. A sweet sensation that courses through your veins. It’s power. It’s acceptance. It’s finding your place in the world and owning it. I have done it all. All by myself.
I smile as the pack journeys back to Silver Forest. I cannot wait to be there. My white wolf shivers with excitement, the biting cold on my snout sending electric currents down my lithe wolf’s body. It’s so powerful. So beautiful. Not that I have ever been ugly, but this wolf-form just brings me more into myself.
I run through the undergrowth, gliding through the air as my paws scrape the ground from inches above. No other wolf can match my speed. Well, maybe the Beta can, but today Adam Stevens is in no mood to race.
He is miserable. The entire pack is sad. I kind of understand their situation. They have lost their Luna, and the Alpha is injured. The siblings are scattered–the witch taking Billy and the vampire taking Tamara. I feel for Billy, but not for the bratty girl. It was a sight to watch when he took her as a slave. My laughter was about to burst out. I only contained it with great effort.
The girl deserved it. This entire family deserves a lesson in humility. How they looked down upon us when we arrived. How Tamara and Phyllis were hell-bent on getting rid of me and Danny. It was only our wolf-blood that kept us here. It was our grandfather’s legacy, his heritage, that saved us from being homeless.
They got their comeuppance as they should. The only casualty is my sister, but I do not want to think about her.
I am not sad. Why should I be? I got my wolf form, in the best possible way to assert my right to be in this pack. Danny could also have tagged along with me, but the stubborn girl had to…
I shake my head, remembering that sad little wolf. My heart aches for her. Never in my worst dreams had I imagined she would turn out to be this pathetic. But then it was no surprise. I had warned her. I always knew this would happen. No wolf ever survived with a weak heart. It was Danny’s fault to have such high hopes despite her condition.
Now she is gone. She chose to jump over that cliff. I lost my twin. My only sister and well-wisher in this world. Yes, I know she loved me to death, and I loved her back. Only it annoys me when people overstep their boundaries and try to do something they can’t handle. The way she snatched Gabe from me was despicable. I never knew she was capable of that. The ugly, sick little sister of me, who preferred math over men. She was never my competition yet when it came to it, I lost.
I will never forgive her. However sweet she was, however caring and loving. She broke one rule. She tried to snatch what was mine and I will never forget that.
“Olivia, wait.” Gabe pants behind me, finally catching up to my speed. An irritation flares in my heart.
“What is it?”
“Let’s run together. I have so much to talk to you. So much…” I bump up my speed, racing ahead, leaving Gabe and his pathetic pleas behind. I do not want to hear from him. My so-called mate, who chose to ignore me, thinking my sister was better. Now I have the upper hand. Hell, even my wolf is bigger than his grey wolf. I have to look down when talking to him.
I smile and rush ahead, racing over the hillocks that tell me we are closer to the pack boundaries. I am enjoying this. My power, my sleek appearance, the wild spirit of the wolf that recharges my soul. My joy would be greater if others too acknowledged my status. But to my chagrin, they remain aloof.
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I grind my fangs to rush forward, leaving them all behind. The moon shines overhead, filling the landscape with its silver glow. Something crackles inside me, an urge to call out to the moon. I stop my flight to climb a flat hilltop on the path and raise my eager snout to the shining orb.
A howl erupts my throat. Long, loud, and gloriously haunting. The forest falls silent. The wolves behind me come to a screeching halt.
Their shock is palpable. They ignored me throughout. Me, my magnificent wolf, my glorious transformation were nothing in front of their sorrow. How I wished someone celebrated my success, but all were busy wallowing in their grief. Now I have their attention.
I let out another howl, this time even louder, letting my strength soak the sound. The air itself crackles in response. Every leaf, every grass blade stands still in obeisance.
“What do you think are you doing?” A voice snaps behind me. I turn to find a menacing black wolf striding towards me. “Do you know how close we are to the pack grounds? What is the meaning of this irresponsible behaviour?”
“I am merely calling to the Goddess,” I tilt my head, answering over the bond. “Is that a crime?”
“It’s a crime if you do it on the outskirts of a pack boundary, especially when the Alpha is gravely injured.” He snaps, eyeing me coldly. “You may have turned into a wolf, Olivia, but you still have much to learn of our ways. I would suggest you tone down your high spirits before making a nuisance of yourself.”
He turns and signals the pack to lead them to the pack gates. I watch his receding form as anger bubbles in my blood. How dare he insult me like that! How dare he talk to me like I am a nobody! The ugly scar-face needs to be taught a lesson. I will do it myself, if only he wasn’t the high and mighty beta of the pack.
Growling in anger, I descend the hillock, then stroll to the gate. To my irritation, Gabe is there, waiting for me.
“You should not have done that.”
“Done what?” I snap. I hate him trailing me, pretending as if he cares. As if we are going to be proper mates. Does he think I will accept him after how he treated me?
“Get lost, Gabe.”
“Wait, Olivia. I know I have been an asshole and don’t’ deserve you, but you need me. Don’t think you can do this without me.”
“Do what?” I am getting even more irked. What is this idiot blabbering about? “I do not need you, Gabe Stevens. I have been telling you for the past two days, but if you haven’t heard it properly, I am happy to repeat - I. will. Never. Take. You. As. My. Mate. So bugger off.”
He shivers, as if I slapped his face. I would have loved to, had I been in my human form.
“Leave and let me be.”
“Do you know what that howl means?” He persists through his heaving chest. I frown.
“A wolf pack is most vulnerable when its Alpha is injured. It’s a time when everyone needs to stay together. Any wolf that stands at the boundary howling to the moon is considered a direct challenge to the Alpha. You can be considered a traitor. A challenger for the Alpha position.”
I stop in my tracks. He smiles.
“I hope you understand what I am saying, Olly. You are in a precarious position. My father is injured and is counting his last breaths. The second powerful wolf here is Adam, but he will never dream of challenging our father. It will have to be someone external or someone powerful enough from within the pack. And at this moment, there is none other than you.”
“Are you suggesting …?”
“I am not suggesting anything.” He shrugs, a wolfish grin curling his mouth. “I am only saying there are possibilities. You are the heir of First Wolves, the only worthy successor to Rey Armstrong’s legacy. The others will rally behind you if you lay your claim. Your howl just now may be perceived as that. It’s only your ignorance, your lack of knowledge of our tradition, that is holding you back.”
“I see.”
He smiles and shifts, turning into his human form. His glorious body is on full display. The broad shoulders, the narrow waist, the smug smile in those mossy eyes as my eyes trail downwards …
I curl my lips, taking a good look. “If you think that will impress me, you are wrong. I am not the innocent Danny. You may have fooled her, but it’s difficult to fool me.”
“Of course not,” he nods, his face losing a shade or two when I mention Danny. “All I want is to present you with facts. There are no secrets anymore. Yes, I chose Danny over you. I did not know any better. None of you had your wolves, and my first instinct was to go with her. It was a mistake. And I am sorry about that. You will have my full loyalty, as any mate should.”
Right! His words settle slowly as the chill in the air seeps into my blood. Yet a warm flicker of excitement runs through it, tantalising my senses.
“You can take your time to make a decision. You will have my full support as your mate.”
“As my mate.” That seems like a precondition. I raise my eyebrow as he smiles a suave smile.
“Yes, Olivia. As my mate. It’s my duty to stand by your side, but only if you allow me. So take your time and let me know of your decision. I am here when you need me.”
He tilts his head in a mock nod, then enters through the gate.
I purse my lips and follow him, submerged in my thoughts.
***** *****