Raika lay on the ground still awaiting help. Her eyes were still closed, making everything seem dark. What had her sister done to her? Why was this necessary? Nothing made any sense to her. When did Aura decide love was more important than her commitment as a Huntress. The clansmen viewed Aura as a hero who could do no wrong. Raika heard the footsteps of someone approaching. Her nose scented the air for anything familiar from the one approaching her. The smell of grass and cinnamon hit her nose and instantly knew who had come to her rescue.

“Are you always going to get yourself into these situations, kid?” A condescending voice said to Raika.

“Sure, this is my fault,” Raika responded through the mindlink. “I love being rescued by my mentor, Ivy.”

Ivy reached down and rubbed her fingers in circles on the back of Raika’s neck until the paralysis released, allowing Raika to open her eyes and move. Raika stretched and wiggled her fingers and claws. The paralysis faded from Raika’s body, so she sat up slowly. It was still night around them, but the moons will set over the horizon soon. Raika replayed everything in her mind from seeing Enoch seething to Aura running away. It all felt like a bad dream with a hangover kind of headache.

“Are you going after her?” Ivy asked, leaning up against the trunk of a tree.

Raika glared sarcastically at Ivy. “She chose to go fall in love with some human instead of continuing her commitment here. Why chase after someone who wants to abandon her family?” Although Raika had let her sister go in peace, she still held some resentment in her heart. She pushed herself off the ground and shook out her body and fur. “What did she do to me?”

“She used a paralysis technique on you. Very few people can do it because it only works under certain circumstances. I taught it to Aura about six years ago when she started training people in case someone tried to take advantage of her.” Ivy shook her head at the memory. “She didn’t need it though.”

The two of them started walking toward their village in silence. Raika always had a comfortable silence with her mentor, Ivy. They both had reckless siblings who made decisions based on impulse instead of logic. Ivy was professional at all times and carried herself gracefully. Raika aspired to be a Huntress like her. Raika's mind drifted as they reached the border of the village. The few roads in town were dark, meaning the clan was now in mourning. Her chest hurt from the pain from the grieving villagers that she could feel through the mindlink.

“I suppose we should go see the Alpha. You might be the only one who can calm him down.” Ivy said nonchalantly.

Raika stopped dead in her tracks. “Me?” She squeaked in disbelief. “You think I can help? I mean my sister just walked out on the clan. I think I am the last person he would want to see.”

“On the contrary, Ms. Argenti. Given the situation, I believe you are exactly who the Alpha needs now.” Lead Councilman Titan interrupted their conversation. “Ms. Morjor, your brother has already departed to retrieve what belongs to our clan. I suggest you join him.” The man stared at Ivy until she bowed her head in submission and left Raika and Lead Councilman Titan alone on the dark road. “Come, Ms. Argenti. We must hurry or there will be no furniture left in the grand hall.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Raika was torn between fearing Titan and giggling at the idea of the grand hall filled with broken furniture from her rampaging Alpha. When Enoch’s anger subsides he will be mortified by his behavior. She followed him back to the grand hall where the destruction of chairs and tables could be heard for miles. Again, Raika was torn between laughing at the immature tantrum and being scared of the elder in front of her. They approached the giant doors of the grand hall, and Raika had to swallow her desire to laugh at the situation.

“Ms. Argenti, kindly go comfort the Alpha. I am sorry, but you are the only person that he will agree to let in. This should have been your sister’s responsibility, not yours.” Lead Councilman Titan said bitterly.

“Why would it be my sister’s responsibility, Councilman?” Raika asked with her eyebrows furrowed.

“I suppose there is no harm in telling you since you are her family, but this is council business that should not be shared.” Lead Councilman Titan sighed. None of this had gone the way it was supposed to. Aura was supposed to be a sign of strength for the clan in this time of grief. Now, she was gone because Enoch had a tantrum and exiled the girl. He looked down at Raika’s young face and violet eyes. This girl was the last chance the clan had to keep the Alpha from losing himself to the beast inside. He cleared his throat. “Aura was selected to be the Alpha’s mate by the Elders’ Council.”

Suddenly, Aura’s choice to run away didn’t seem so crazy to Raika. The Elders’ Council was trying to force Aura and Enoch together, which explained the weird vibe she had gotten from them before. Raika didn’t blame Aura for leaving, but she did blame her for leaving the clan like this. Aura would have been a good Alpha Huntress, but Raika remembered Aura telling her only a few hours ago that Raika would be the next Alpha Huntress. Had Raika’s feeling been part of the reason Aura left?

“That’s quite an honor,” Raika replied, unsure of what else to say.

“Indeed, but it’s time to get to work, Ms. Argenti.” Lead Councilman Titan urged, opening the giant doors to the grand hall. Raika just nodded and entered.

The elegance of the grand hall had been torn apart by Enoch. Wood and debris littered the hallway. Raika could hear Enoch’s tragic growls and howls as he tore through another room of the ground hall. Raika transformed into her pure black wolf form. She thought that she might need the extra strength to get Enoch’s attention. She followed the noise to the gathering room to find Enoch’s black wolf with white-tipped ears, tail and nose, and hazel eyes ripping apart a seat cushion like a young pup teething and whining. The gathering room was huge for clan meetings, and Enoch had managed to tear apart half of it already. Feathers from the cushions were still floating in the air, and all the chairs and tables on the left side of the room were missing legs. Raika wanted to laugh at Enoch’s destruction.

“Enoch,” Raika whispered through the mindlink.

Enoch only growled in reply. He had no interest in anyone else, but this cushion that he was pretending was Aura. How could she have hurt him like this? Raika approached slowly. Enoch didn’t bother to move from his spot. Raika was less annoying than the Elders’ Council, which he was berated by for exiling Aura. His argument with the Elders’ Council had pushed him over the edge, causing him to destroy everything in sight. Raika had crawled up right next to him. She gently nudged him with her nose.

“Enoch,” she whispered.

Enoch didn’t feel like growling at her, which was odd for him. Raika was starting to have an odd effect on him. Still, he didn’t want to talk to anyone. He continued to chew on his cushion, sending feathers flying. He wouldn’t push Raika away. She brought a sense of comfort to him that he didn’t entirely understand.

Raika sighed, “Aura’s gone for good, Enoch.”

Enoch dropped the cushion and looked back at Raika’s sorrowful, violet eyes. Raika was hurting because her sister left. Enoch turned to her and put his head under hers. As enraged as he was with the world, Raika had been innocent in all this, and he was the reason her sister left the clan. They stayed like this for a while when Raika whispered, “I am sorry that they are all gone, Enoch.” Her voice was as tearful as her eyes.

“Gone,” Enoch said. “Yes, I suppose they are gone.” His rage was fading the longer he cuddled with Raika. This woman was comforting for reasons he couldn’t fathom. “Raika, I am sorry, too.” The two of them laid there until they finally drifted off to sleep.