Early morning…

"Aura, come give mom a hug!" Arenia called from the kitchen. 

Crashing into the kitchen table, Arenia’s ten-year-old daughter, Aura Argenti, tumbled into the room. Her black curls with silver highlights bounced as she ran toward her mom. Arenia thought her daughter was a rare beauty among the hunters with silver fur on her wolf features, and maple brown skin on her hands, arms, chest, neck, and face. To top it off her eyes were a beautiful gold like the sun. Arenia worried about the days when Aura would take an interest in males. It made her sick to think how many wolves she would have to beat with her axes to keep them away from her daughter.

Aura wrapped her arms around her mom. "Mom, are you sure you need to go? I think Alpha Demos can handle a few stinky ogres." She whined. Aura was relieved when her mom retired four years ago from being a Huntress. Being a Huntress meant being an elite warrior who went undercover in the world outside of the valley. Aura's mom had been a successful trade negotiator for the village.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Raika, Aura's four-year-old, little sister, came running into the room. Raika was a spitting image of her mother with violet eyes, brown curls, and a small adorable nose. Raika grabbed on tight to her mother's dark brown, furry leg. "Daddy said you have to go to work! You never go to work!"

Arenia looked down at her beautiful daughters and remembered why she had retired in the first place. She crouched down to speak to her daughters. "Girls, today, mommy has to work. The Alpha asked mom for help, and she can't say no, can she?"

The somber girls replied in unison, "No, mommy."

"That's right. If Alpha Demos needs me, there's a good reason for it." She smiled and squeezed both her girls. "Now, go get ready. Grammy and Grandy will be here soon to look after you."

"Yay! Grammy will give me hazel berry pudding!" Raika squealed. She took Aura's hand and dragged her out of the kitchen before Arenia could object.

Arenia sighed as she finished strapping on her sheath for her axes. Odds were she would fight in her wolf form during the impending battle with the ogres, but she wanted to be prepared. Once her axes were settled on her back, she contemplated whether she would need her polymorphic ring. She couldn't imagine needing to be a human for any reason today. Her gaze landed on her black-plated and red jeweled ring. "Such a powerful spell contained in a tiny ring."

"Missing your glory day as Arenia, the princess of trade?" Ranos joked as he stood next to his mate. He placed a gentle reassuring hand on her waist.

"Not in the least." Arenia turned to face him and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "I just don't think I will need it today." She answered, admiring her mate. His face and shoulders were broad, and she had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him. His fur and hair were black except for a single strand of silver hair. He sported a short beard to hide the scar he received from a hunter as a child. His eyes were yellow like the fall leaves, and his caramel complexion made Arenia look pale instead of maple brown like their daughters.

Ranos could tell his mate was uneasy about going on this with him and ten other wolf hunters but they were going to free a large number of beast shifters captured and enslaved by the ogres. This was her first mission in four years, but she still kept up her training every day as she did before. Arenia had even started training Aura two years ago. She had no reason to worry. "Why don't you leave it with Aura then? You know she won't lose it."

Arenia thought over his suggestion. He was right about Aura's impeccable record for protecting important things. "Ok. I think you're right. She's ready for this responsibility."

Ranos rubbed his wife's back as reassurance. This would be good for his daughter. He remembered the exciting news that he wanted to share with his mate. "There's news from the Alliance of Kingdoms' Summit." Ranos grinned.

"Oh? What do the kings and queens of Lunaris want now?" Arenia said, unenthused. She took another drink of the energizing herbal tea Aura made for. Aura had been studying herbs.

"The new queen from Dryadalis has posed the idea of expanding trade beyond Lunaris' borders," Ranos said with a sly excitement.

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Arenia looked back at her smirking mate. She could tell he was telling the truth, which made her both so excited and nervous that she almost peed her pants. Having two daughters destroyed her control over when to use the bathroom. "You're shitting me! There's no way the other leaders would agree to that. They would need to make concessions with certain laws and practices to trade with Harenae. That country is dominated by the beast shifter kingdoms. Could you imagine the changes that would have to be made? No more hunting us. No more enslaving lower-ranked races. We could walk around without being in disguises."

"Yes, dear. We could, but that's if deals and laws can be made." Ranos reminded her.

"Still, it's a chance. It won't eliminate the fear and hate that other races feel from the last Great War, which was nearly three centuries ago. And, there was that hybrid that wiped out a few villages leading to that war… Remind me why our kind still lives here." Arenia exasperated herself.

Ranos gave his mate a soothing hug to calm her. "We are here because the other beast shifters in Lunaris need us, and this is our home. We were raised here. Our people started here. This is where wolf beast shifters were born." He kissed her on the forehead. "We need to get going, dear." He said as he strapped his sheathed sword to his waist.

Arenia nodded as her mate went to investigate who was knocking on their door. She called Aura back into the kitchen and gave her daughter her polymorphic ring to hold onto while she was away on the mission. "Aura, this ring has been passed down in our family for three generations. Our ancestors were among the first to be given a polymorphic ring, and we were one of the few to be given such an honor. Please, protect this for Mom, okay?"

"Sure, Mom," Aura said, casually placing the ring on her finger. The red jewels flashed a bright red light, signifying that Aura was worthy of the ring's polymorphic magic. "Mom, is this the ring that lets you become human?" Aura asked, in awe of the ring on her finger.

"Arenia, we need to go," Ranos called out to his mate.

"Yes, Aura. It is. Don't play with it, though. Its power comes with a hefty price." Her mother warned. Aura gave her mom one more hug before her parents left for their big mission.

Midday...

"Alpha Demos!" Beta Warren yelled. "The ogres captured the Argenti's! Ranos and Arenia risked their lives to free the other shifters."

Alpha Demos grunted and spit the bloody throat of an ogre out from his mouth to the scorched ground beneath his paws. His black fur was burnt from the fire, and his body ached from every slice of an ax and stab of the sword that he had endured. The field around him was ablaze and covered in blood. Discarded weapons and dismembered bodies littered the field around him. The hopeless eyes of the beast shifters looked to him for hope. "Call for a retreat. We have to take the rescued shifters to safety."

Alpha Demos watched as his Beta rounded up the pack of muddy and matted animals. Monkeys, bears, leopards, and a few wolves followed the wolves into the maze of caves. Alpha Demos howled as he ran into the forest. His large, black body stood as tall as the ogres and leaped over the flames as he sped straight toward the Northern Mountains. Tree branches broke as he forced his way through the forest. His strength could break down the mighty pines around him with one swing of his tail. This was the strength and power of an Alpha hunter.

Ogres rallied across the field, belting out their battle cries. The sky was clouded in smoke, and the scent of burnt grass and flesh tinged his nose. The battle had waged longer than he had expected. Alpha Demos lost two wolf hunters and several more were injured. Now, two of his best had been captured freeing the last of the beast shifters. He had no choice; he had to retreat. Alpha Demos said a silent prayer for his comrades as he led the ogres away from his people.

Night Fall…

Alpha Demos thrashed and tossed weapons around his office in a fury. His mate and equal, the Alpha Huntress came in to calm him. She still wore her battle armor in case the ogres had invaded the valley. Unlike her black-furred mate, in her beast form, her fur was tan covering most of her body with human hands, chest, face, and neck with long brown fur flowing from her head like hair. Her eyes were honey brown and her face pointed like an arrow. His tall and muscular stature towered over hers. Alpha Demos' hair and short beard were black and peppered with gray. His eyes were yellowish-green and full of wisdom. He was by far the biggest wolf beast in his clan. His mate's gentle touch calmed his guilt and fuming anger.

Alpha Demos struggled with a plan to rescue his comrades and friends, Ranos and Arenia. He could still hear their howls of desperation as they left his friends behind. His Beta had gone to find the Argentis' family, He needed to notify them of the situation at hand. Alpha Demos clung to his mate. Most of his wolf hunters were away on missions, and those who were here were injured or protecting the valley. Who could go undercover to free his friends?

"Alpha Demos!" His Beta rushed into his office. "I know who we could send undercover!"

Alpha Demos looked at his huffing Beta. Who was left in the village to help rescue the Argentis? But… if there was someone who could free them, Alpha Demos could guarantee a safe return for all of them. "Who Warren? Who could help us?"

"May I present, Ranos and Arenia's daughter, Aura Argenti." Beta Warren stepped aside and walked a young girl who was barely on the cusp of being a teenager. Alpha Demos' face went sour as his Beta continued his explanation. "Arenia left her ring with Aura while she went on this mission. The ring has already deemed her worthy of its power, and her Grammy and Grandy said she could do it if she wanted to. I already explained the consequences of using such power to her. She's more concerned about getting her parents back."

Alpha Demos sighed looking at the young girl standing in his office. Did she understand what she would be getting into? Would her parents forgive him for letting her do something so crazy? "Aura, I don't think you understand what you are signing yourself up for. If you do this, you will have to become a Huntress like your mother was. There would be no escape. These rings come at a heavy price. The power also has limits, and at your age, you would only have a day to complete the task."

"All due respect, Alpha. My parents are worth a few days off my life. Even if I become a Huntress for life, it would be worth it to have my parents come home. My sister, Raika, is only four years old, Alpha. She deserves parents to raise her as I have had. I will not sit by and become an orphan when there's something I can do about it." Aura said, sternly. She nearly yelled at the Alpha though her body was shaking with fear.

"Very well." Alpha Demos said with pride. He got out the ceremonial knife and connected his power with Aura with small cuts on their hands. "You are now a Huntress." He hugged her. 

"Let's go, everyone. We have a rescue on stage."