*The day after the events of the previous chapter*

*5/15/90*

Rather than the usual meeting place, the humans went to the wastelands where they tied Steven up a mere three days ago. When they got there, four werewolves waited for them. There was Steven, who sat on the ground with a distracted look. Flint, who turned out to be a dark-skinned, short-haired man in human form, was eying the humans warily as they approached. Summer, a pinkish-orange-haired girl with bright blue eyes, sat next to both male werewolves. Ellora was standing over the three quietly.

Ellora brightened significantly when she saw the humans approaching. "Hello!" she called, smiling at Hunter.

"Hey," Hunter greeted, readily grinning at Ellora.

"How is everything?" Ellora questioned.

A weak smile came to Rose's face. "Could be better."

Flint cleared his throat and nodded. "It's good to see you again," his arms were folded, and his stance was reserved, not inviting anyone to come closer.

Steven stared up at the humans, shaking his head slowly. "Well, look who's back to screw up my worldview even more!"

Summer smiled, though it was a smile tinged with nervousness. "Hi. I'm Summer. Glad you're not here to kill us or anything."

The humans all murmured greetings to the three other wolves, unsure how to approach them.

Rose walked over, carefully avoiding looking at Flint, Summer, or Steven, who were all totally nude, “So Ellora, is Coraline here?”

Ellora sighed. "Since Ember discovered that she is an alpha, she's been commandeering her time increasingly. I hope we can bring her out tomorrow, but I'm unsure." She touched Rose's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know she wanted to see you and the others.”

Rose's shoulders slumped with disappointment, but she forced a smile. "Well, I'm glad she's adjusting to her new life. And…I'm glad that she has you."

Ellora noticed a slight protective change in Rose's tone and wondered at its meaning before dismissing it. "Of course, she sounds sad right now. She wanted to see Coraline,” she thought.

Flint looked at Ellora and the humans. "I know you're all curious about what happened to Emma."

"Yes, please tell us. We have to know what happened to her in there," Hunter sat down near Ellora, nodding at Summer.

Ellora looked at Rose. "Don't worry. I will tell Coraline everything tonight." She looked back at Flint and Summer, signaling them to start.

Flint took a deep breath, staring at his hands as he recalled the night of the raid when everything began.

~o0o~

Emma was in the kitchen. The others had just left to go battle the attacking werewolves. She poured herself a cup of tea to calm her nerves. She hoped everyone was okay, especially Rose and Hunter. She already lost her darling husband. She couldn’t stand losing another family member.

Before long, something huge and heavy hit her door, sending splinters flying. She spun around, dropping the teapot as she hurriedly wheeled toward the knife drawer.

Coraline rushed into the living room as the heavy force slammed against the front door again. "Get behind me, Mom!"

A third crash broke the door in two. A roar echoed through the house as a huge, hulking werewolf lunged forward.

"Coraline!" Emma grabbed a knife and swung desperately at the beast's face, only to hear a crashing sound behind her as a second wolf with jet-black fur came through the window. "Run!"

Coraline threw two of her red-Stone-tipped knives into the black-furred werewolf. It burst into flames and fled the house.

Two more wolves rush Coraline, knocking her to the ground. They mercilessly pound her, quickly knocking out her Energy. Then, one of them sinks its fangs into one of her unprotected arms.

"NO!" Emma screamed, plunging her blade into the beast's side. A sharp pain in her shoulder stopped her from going further, and she was yanked backward. "CORALINE!" She was aware of blood running down her arm and her wrist being squeezed. Then, there was a blow to the back of the head, and everything went black.

When she woke up, she felt something soft under her. Was she in her bed? Had she dreamed everything? She tried to move, and a bolt of pain went through her shoulder and the rest of her body. She yelped, eyelids flying open. As her eyes adjusted to the low light, her room. She wasn't in her room. She was in a cave.

A shape moved in response to her yelp and turned toward her. A pair of reddish eyes regarded her. She saw the outline of a werewolf and tried backing away. Something large and heavy pressed down on her chest, and she realized for the first time that she wasn't wearing any clothes. She felt claws scraping her collarbone, paw pads on her chest, and hot breath on her face. She started to tremble. The pain in her shoulder still dominated most of her body, and she had nothing to fight with. She was dead!

The werewolf leaned closer, and she shut her eyes, hoping the creature would kill her quickly. Then, something warm and wet ran across her hurt shoulder, causing her to flinch. She felt it a few more times before realizing what it was: the beast was licking her

She opened her eyes and turned her head slowly, looking at her shoulder for the first time. A deep ring of punctures went around both the front and back. Her blood went cold as she realized what it was and fully remembered the previous night's events.

"Where is Coraline?" she asked, eyes blazing as she looked at the werewolf.

The wolf blinked at her but said nothing. It simply returned to her shoulder and licked the bite several more times.

Emma shuddered at the sensation and tried to move away, only for that paw to stop her yet again. She sighed and laid back on the softness she now recognized as moss. There was no point in trying anything while this wolf was right there. If she were lucky, he'd fall asleep, and she could sneak away. After that, it would be a simple matter of finding a sharp stick or a length of rope. Or, if she wasn't too far away, she'd just go back to Castell Henllys and let someone there take care of it. She was now destined to die, after all. A werewolf had bitten her. To guarantee that the Maidens would grant her passage into the Summerland, she had to ensure her life ended soon. Hopefully, before she transformed into a beast for the first time.

When she last saw Coraline, a werewolf had been savaging her. She felt a hot flush of shame that she hadn't at least managed to save her daughter. She hoped that her death had been quick, at the very least.

The werewolf stopped licking Emma's shoulder and moved its head so that its muzzle nearly touched her face. A puff of air smelling of old meat hit Emma's nose, causing her to cough and gag. The werewolf growled softly, curling up so that it was mostly around Emma's form. Its eyes closed, and its breathing became steadier.

On the other hand, Emma lay stiffly, not trusting herself to move. A sinking feeling of dread was filling her. This wolf wouldn't hurt her, likely because of her bite. That meant that it was expecting her to become like it. Did that mean it would guard her and keep her from killing herself? How was she to free herself from this curse? How could the Maidens see her as human? How?

She tried to sit up. If she did it tonight, she might be able to finish the deed before her host woke up again. A bolt of agony caused her to fall back again, and she noticed the werewolf's ear flicking when she moved. She let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll bide my time for now. I'll escape, though. Somehow." Closing her eyes, she forced herself to fall asleep.

~o0o~

"Patrolling the denning area is very important," Ember explained as she led Coraline around the perimeters of the clearing. "This is where the pups will be raised. We will be at our most vulnerable in the early summer months when the pups are young. The one good thing is that we won't have to worry so much about attacks from Scar since his pack will be in a similar state."

Coraline nodded. "How many pups will there be?"

Ember sighed. "It was not a good mating season. There will be maybe three new litters. Next year, I will have to actively encourage pack members to pair off," she looked at Coraline. "I noticed that Lightning expressed an interest in you. Since you're a whelp, he was discouraged, of course, but perhaps by next year…."

"No," Coraline said flatly. At Ember's glare, she quickly added: "Leader."

"Your first impression of him might not have been good, but he's a worthy beta and a skilled fighter. Think about it, at least."

"Leader, I…" Coraline coughed nervously. "I don't see males in that way… and I’m not interested in… mating in general.”

Ember shrugged. "Preferences are what they are, but pack responsibility matters the most. Whether or not you dally with females in your spare time is your choice. As an alpha, you are expected to have healthy pups for the pack."

"Yeah, I don't think so," Coraline thought, but she didn't voice the sentiment. She had a year to worry about it, anyway. "Will you be asking Ellora to find a mate too?"

Ember looked at Coraline for a moment before nodding slowly. "Ellora isn't known for prioritizing pack responsibility, but perhaps a family would help her settle in more. If you two don't decide on any males by the coming of next spring, I will select them for you." She gave Coraline a sideways glance. "Of course, you may be thinking of dragging in some strays."

"Huh?" Coraline stiffened, unsure of what to say. Thankfully, Ember didn't seem interested in saying any more. Still, the implicit warning was there. Ember was on to her. Trying to change the subject, Coraline asked: "What about you, Leader? Do you have a mate?"

Ember shook her head. "Sadly, no. When it comes to a leader's pups, one must be very selective. I have yet to find a suitable male for my purposes."

Suitable? Purposes? Coraline frowned at the cold, calculating way Ember described what should have been a happy subject. "I guess love isn't really a factor for the higher-ups in the pack.” She thought about a few of the gay omegas of the pack, whom she had seen together frequently ever since her first day with the pack. According to Ellora, they weren't considered to be ideal breeding stock.

"They can stay out of Ember's notice, read emotions, and do what they want," Coraline thought bitterly. "If I were an omega, maybe I'd be with the others. Ember wouldn't care about me at all. Maybe I wouldn't have had to put up with so many years of pack nonsense!"

The angry, resentful mood remained with Coraline as she followed Ember through the dens, trying to act as if she was listening.

~o0o~

"So, he had mom in his den and was licking her bite mark?" Rose made a face. "That's just creepy,” she glanced at Ellora. "That's creepy for a werewolf, too, right?"

Ellora nodded earnestly. "Whelps, our name for newly-bitten werewolves, are never supposed to be approached for mating. When I brought Coraline back, I dressed her wounds with herbs and slept separately. Intimate acts like licking wounds are reserved for mated pairs, family, and close friends. Never whelps.” She shivered with disgust. “To be so shameless just after biting someone…It's disgusting!"

Steven shifted uncomfortably. "I…didn't know that there were rules like that concerning whelps."

"There are many things Scar didn't tell us," Flint growled, shaking his head before continuing the story.

~o0o~

When Emma awoke the following morning, she was first aware of a dull pain in her shoulder. Then, she realized she was lying beside a naked man. Her spine stiffened as memories from the previous night returned in full force.

"I have to get out of here!" She sat up, only to feel a hand closing around her wrist. Her blood turned cold as she saw the man’s eyes open.

In his human form, the werewolf has red and black hair and dark red eyes. His back is coated in scar’s one would receive from being flogged time and time again. He smiled lazily at her as he sat up. "I hope you slept well," he said. His voice was deep and almost gentle.

Emma’s eyes sharpened slightly. "You attacked my village."

The werewolf tilted his head. "I did, didn't I," his smile didn't waver. "I hope I didn't scare you. It had to be done. I knew you wouldn't just follow me willingly. Your infernal Temples have brainwashed you, am I right?"

"Had to be…." Emma's eyes widened. "You attacked the village because you wanted to take me?"

"Of course," the man said calmly. "We don't attack humans unless they have something we want. Food, vengeance, new blood," he grinned, showing off a pair of canines. "I've had my eye on you for some time, my darling."

Emma jerked her hand away from him. "I'm not your anything, werewolf! What did you do with my daughter?"

"The small girl?" The man shrugged. "She got lost in the madness. She's either in the woods or dead. Worry not. You will make new friends here."

Emma felt a stinging feeling behind her eyes and blinked angrily. She refused to let this creature see her cry. Coraline was gone.

The werewolf continued to smile at her. "Aren't you going to ask me my name?"

"I don't really care," Emma snapped.

A flash of anger appeared in the werewolf's eyes for a moment. In that brief instant, he seemed infinitely more dangerous and fearsome than the bestial form he had taken that night. "I will let that pass since you are a whelp and cannot understand pack customs. I am Scar, the leader of this pack. You will do well to remember that in the future."

Emma wanted to retort that she wouldn't be around long enough for that to matter, but that dangerous expression she had seen caused her to pause. "Be careful," she told herself. "This is the creature that led an attack because he wanted you. Don't do anything to provoke him."

"Sorry," she said, her voice sounding fake and dull even to her own ears. "My name is Emma."

Scar's smile returned immediately. "Emma. Such a pretty name," he stood up, offering his hand. "Would you like to see the rest of the denning area? I'll introduce you to some of your new packmates." Though his words were friendly, there was a hardness behind them that said that he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Emma sighed, a frown of dread growing across her face. “You should know that I am a cripple. My legs are useless. Without a wheelchair, I am pretty much dead weight.

A small, amused smile appeared on Scar’s face. “You humans don't know much about werewolves, do you?” He offered his hand again. “You will no longer have travel issues. Please, let me show you.”

Giving up, Emma reached out to take his hand with pure distance hidden behind a nervous face. She barely kept from wincing as she took the werewolf's hand. "I suppose I should get to know them," she glanced down at herself. "Um, do you have any clothes for me?"

"No. Traditional werewolf packs don't wear clothes unless it's unbearably cold," Scar replied. "The weather is quite pleasant, is it not?" As he stood her up, he looked her up and down, not bothering to be subtle about it. "Besides, why would you wish to hide beneath clothes? Seems like such a waste, don't you think?"

Emma's face flushed, and her eyes focused on the ground. "I... I don’t…”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Her eyes shot wide open upon noticing something. She was standing! On her own two feet! Without crutches! "H-How. How am I standing? I haven't been able to walk for almost twelve years.”

Scar's smile widened but only slightly. "Are you happy? When a human is bitten and turns into a werewolf, all their illness, disabilities, and injuries are all healed.”

He noticed Emma, thankfully seeing that her brand was still there. “Not counting the bites and scar’s, of course. Think of it as nature's way of granting the individual a fresh start. Biting you and giving you back the use of your legs was my gift to you. Do you like it?”

Emma dug her toes into the dirt and stretched her legs while crying tears of joy. She looked up at Scar with thankful yet still questioning eyes. “How? I’ve prayed and seen dozens of doctors, chiropractors, and herbalists. None of them could help me! Not even my Energy! So, why now? What fixed me?”

“It’s simple,” Scar said. “Werewolves are just superior to humans in every way. You have just experienced that truth firsthand.”

“Yeah…. But….it's...” Emma looked back down at her legs, unsure what to say next.

“Overwhelming, I understand. You aren’t the first whelp to be shown the truth.”

"But, but...."

"You'll get used to it. Don't worry," Scar soothed, grasping her hand firmly and pulling her out of the den and into the morning light.

~o0o~

Ellora growled quietly. "What a disgusting pervert!"

Rose looked at Ellora. "How'd Coraline cope with the whole no-clothes thing?"

"She was put off at first, of course," Ellora replied. "That's why I started wearing clothes again. Bandit and Scarlet have been more modest around her as well. She’s getting used to it, but no one is pressuring her into anything.

“She's getting used to it, but no one is pressuring her into anything.”

Hunter listened to Ellora, feeling another rush of gratitude that the chestnut wolf managed to at least save Coraline from what his mom had to go through.

~o0o~

Emma was introduced to the rest of the pack. Most of them were distant but treated her with respect. She didn't expect anything less. She was their leader's trophy, after all.

Day by day, that was exactly how he treated her. With all his talk about how horrible humans were, he made Emma feel more like a captive pet than any animal.

He shared the choicest bits of prey with her but glared daggers if she showed even the slightest disgust at eating raw meat. He allowed her to interact with the other wolves whenever she wanted to but was always standing within her vision, subtly reminding her to mind her manners.

Two wolves, in particular, became friendly with Emma. They were a pair of betas named Flint and Summer.

Scar said a pack consisted of one alpha and several betas and omegas. Very rarely is a lunar wolf present within a pack. Another alpha was allowed if she was the leader's mate, though betas and luners were also acceptable. Emma desperately hoped that she would turn out to be an omega.

Whenever she walked around the denning area or talked with Flint and Summer, she would scan the borders and watch the werewolves, trying to figure out behavior patterns. Sadly, there were just too many members of the pack to do a decent job of it.

At night, all the werewolves turned into their second forms without fail. It was a rule that no one could be in their human form if they could transform. Emma felt especially on edge and lonely during these times, surrounded by cursed beasts.

No matter where she went or what she did, Scar was a constant presence. He only left her when he led a hunt and always left someone to watch her. At one point, he let Flint and Summer watch her. Emma suspected that it was a reward for how compliant she had been that day. The very thought made her sick to her stomach.

Every fiber of her being wanted to kill herself before the full moon, but there was never an opening. Scar could easily track her down and bring her back, and she knew he wouldn't kill her. What he had planned was much worse. She could sense it.

Finally, the night she dreaded the most came: the night of the full moon. The whole pack stood in a circle, ready for the change to take them fully and give themselves to the moon's wild spell. Emma stood between Scar and Summer, unable to keep from trembling.

"Worry not, my darling," Scar whispered. "Once you run with me under the stars, you'll lose all fear."

Summer touched Emma's arm, making the older woman jump slightly. "Hey, don't worry. It'll be lots of fun. It doesn't even hurt that much. It hurts, but it's like how cracking your back hurts, you know? It's not bad. You'll be fine. I'll race you if you want. Think you can race me?"

Not surprisingly, Summer's words calmed Emma far more than Scar's. "Sure," Emma replied, forcing a smile. "I'll race you."

Her situation forced her to quickly change her thinking or at least hide her thoughts. Scar became angry at the slightest mention of the Temple's, at the tiniest inkling that Emma was comparing werewolves to Shadows, at the most minor hint of disrespect. While he hadn't struck her yet, Emma knew that he wasn't someone to be trifled with. She would earn his trust and run away when his guard was down. This forced change of perspective also allowed her to befriend some of the werewolves, particularly Flint and Summer. She guessed that Summer felt a certain kinship with her. Since Flint was Summer's mate, he followed suit in the hyperactive werewolf's friendly attempts to integrate Emma into the pack.

Emma also leaned toward them because she noticed how they reacted to Scar. Whenever he shepherded Emma away or glared at another pack member, Emma was positive that she saw a look of disapproval across Flint's face or worry across Summer's.

~o0o~

“These glares,” Ellora cut in, looking at Flint and Summer. “Does Scar use the Alpha stare often?”

"Yes," Flint murmured. "Scar uses his alpha stare very frequently.”

Ellora's brows furrowed. "How has he not gone mad yet? There are limits on how often alphas can do that."

"Sounds like he's already losing his mind," Hunter muttered grimly. Just hearing the description of this wolf was enough to make him feel uncomfortable. His heart ached, knowing that their plan had failed.

"Some betas have learned to resist it," Summer added. "Flint and I got really good at it."

Steven put his hands over his temples, rubbing fiercely as if he were trying to scrub this knowledge away. "What about the omegas?"

"None," Flint said. "In a way, Steven, you're lucky the humans took you away."

"I bet there were no patrols sent to look for me, huh?" Steven sighed. "Sorry. Go ahead, guys."

~o0o~

The sun vanished, and Emma felt the change begin almost immediately. The moon shined down on her. Desperately, she tried turning away, but her eyes were drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Silvery light seeped into her blue eyes, spreading the blue pools until no whites remained. Emma hugged herself tightly, gritting her teeth as she felt her nails extending. She shook her head, trying desperately to deny what was happening.

"Maidens, stay with me. Watch over me and let some miracle strike me down tonight!" She prayed, tears streaming down her face. One tear stopped halfway down her face and was absorbed by a patch of fur.

More fur grew. It felt like it was being pulled out of her by the light, though she tried to keep it in. She bit her lip, drawing blood as her teeth extended into fangs. "No..." she moaned as her mouth extended into a snout. Her voice turned to a whine. Her ears became pointed and lupine.

All around her, Scar's pack threw back their heads and howled joyfully. She locked her jaws together, forcing herself to remain silent. She already had a plan forming in her mind. After the raid on Castell Henllys, there would surely be a werewolf hunt tonight. All she had to do was break away from the pack long enough to find a hunting band and throw herself at their mercy. They would make quick work of her, and the Maidens would surely reward her for being so prudent, even in her forsaken form.

First, they had to get closer to the borders, and Emma would have to rely on the other wolves to figure out where to go. Of course, Scar was quick to move to her side as her transformation finished. His eyes glittered with an unspoken command: "Follow me."

Unable to do much else, she sighed and walked after him into the trees. She noticed some other betas going off in a group, probably to hunt. It struck her as strange that the pack leader wouldn't accompany them. Emma realized that none of the other wolves were following as they walked. Just before leaving the denning area, she noticed an omega wolf starting to walk over, only to be stopped by a piercing, powerful glare from Scar. The wolf immediately backed off.

A sick, sinking sensation came to Emma's stomach. It was like the feeling one gets when walking down a dark alley alone. It was the certainty that one feels when something is just off enough about their house for them to know that someone had broken in. It was that deep, inner knowledge that something horribly wrong would happen.

Emma sniffed the air, hoping to discern where the borders were. She couldn't afford to run blind, after all.

At that moment, however, Scar stopped walking and turned to look at her. His red eyes locked on hers, and she could not look away.

Looking into his eyes, she found that her mind was clearing itself of all unnecessary thoughts. She blinked slowly, tilting her head and flicking an ear. What had she been worried about before? Whatever it was, it wasn't important anymore. Scar would tell her what to do. He knew what would make everything right again. Her tail wagged as she looked up at him, awaiting his command.

Then, Scar turned away again, a satisfied grin on his muzzle. The spell was broken immediately.

Emma's knees started shaking, and her whole body began to tremble. "What was that?!" She thought, eyes darting around desperately. "He just went into my mind. Did he find out what I was planning? What was he-?"

She nearly bumped into Scar as he stopped walking again. Looking up, she realized that they were in a tiny clearing. The sense of wrongness that had gone away when Scar used his strange power on her was back in full force.

Scar turned toward her, a smile on his black and red-streaked muzzle. He moved close to her, and a new scent caused her nose to twitch. An oddly sweet, thick smell made her blood suddenly feel very hot. The heat increased when Scar leaned in and began licking her bitten shoulder. Her tail was wagging again. Why was her tail wagging? She found herself burying her muzzle in his fur, inhaling that weird, intoxicating scent. Her worries started to fade again…

That jolted her back to reality. He was using his power on her again! He had to be!

Growling sharply, Emma jumped back, shaking her head. She felt her lips curling back, revealing her new fangs.

Scar blinked at her for a moment. Then, that dangerous expression came to his face. Horrifying in his human form, it was a nightmare combined with his monstrous lupine glare.

Emma spun around, tearing off into the trees. She'd be fine if she could just smell a group of humans. She'd run to them, and this nightmare would end. Also, Scar could be taken down as well. She certainly wouldn't shed any tears if that was the case.

Unfortunately, she was no match against Scar, who knew this forest as well as the patterns in his fur. She barely had time to register the sound of his pursuit before she was forced to the ground, all the air leaving her body in a loud whoosh. She whimpered as Scar's superior weight held her down. She heard a low, angry growl in her ear that caused her to tremble. She shut her eyes, determined not to be taken in by his strange, godless stare again.

Then, two other voices added their growls to the mix. Emma opened her eyes to see Flint, Summer, and several other wolves approaching. Many of the smaller wolves' ears flattened with confusion. Their eyes darted left and right as if unsure of what to do. Flint and Summer, however, were glaring coldly at their leader.

The weight left Emma as Scar stepped forward, placing himself in front of the patrol and giving them a wordless order to leave. Most of them obeyed. Flint and Summer stood their ground.

After another minute, Scar huffed and abruptly turned away, kicking some dirt in Emma's direction as he left. His stance said, "You're not worth it," but Emma knew that that was not over. There was surely to be hell to pay tomorrow.

She stood up, ready to make a break for the border, only to fall again with a yelp. Sharp pain shot through her from her right foot. "Great. I must have twisted it when he tackled me," she sighed. "I guess that's why he's leaving. Even the weak wolves could catch me if I tried to run now."

Summer let out a sympathetic whimper and walked over to Emma's foot to examine it. Meanwhile, Flint stepped forward and licked Emma once between the ears. This was nothing like the way Scar had licked her before. This was a purely platonic, wolfish form of offering comfort.

“If they're really sympathetic….” Emma sat up, yipping quietly at the two beta wolves.

Flint tilted his head, flicking an ear questioningly.

Emma responded by baring her throat and whining.

Summer whimpered and shook her head, scratching the dirt with a front paw. Flint gently lowered Emma's head and growled. He looked once at the sky and then at Emma. He seemed to say, "We'll talk in the morning."

For the first time in days, Emma felt herself relaxing. Whatever else happened, she at least had some true allies in this pack. She couldn't help but wonder what the Temples would think of these two. Were they redeeming themselves by helping her? Was it possible for a werewolf to find redemption? If they helped her, would they consent to be killed with her, or did they truly believe their tainted forms weren't evil by nature? There was a lot to think about, but all Emma wanted to do at that moment was sleep until morning.

~o0o~

"Okay," Jade cut in. "Flint, Summer, can I hug you guys right now?"

"I'm fine, thanks," Flint muttered.

"Sure!" Summer chirped at the same time. She giggled when Jade immediately hugged her, not even caring about her nudity. "I like these humans, Flint! I can see why Emma wanted to get back to them so badly."

"She wouldn't have expected this kind of welcome," Hunter muttered. "Remember, she is still of the mindset that being a werewolf means being damned. She probably wanted us to kill her."

Flint shook his head. "You were probably raised on these beliefs, correct? What a terrible thing to teach children."

"Hey!" Rose snapped. "We're not all to blame! The werewolf raids don't exactly disprove the Temple's teachings. And this Scar does a pretty good job of brainwashing his pack.”

Flint glared at her for a moment before his shoulders slumped. "Well, you're not wrong.”

"I think we can agree that there is prejudice on both sides," Ellora said calmly. "Recognizing that is the first step toward making peace."

"If only that was the hardest part," Hunter groaned. "The next step is getting everyone else to recognize it."

Ellora touched his shoulder with a comforting smile. "One thing at a time, my friend,” she looked back at Flint and Summer. "So, what happened next? Scar didn't hurt Emma after that, did he?”

"He did," Summer said. "He didn't force himself on her after trying once, but he hurt her."

"With what you've said about him so far, I'm honestly surprised that he didn't go further," Rose said. "He sounds like a complete monster."

"He didn't make that choice out of mercy," Summer growled. "He was convinced that he had her trapped and had all the time in the world. He wanted to get her to the point where she begged him. Now, I think that is becoming a reality."

Rose gagged a little. "That's it. He's a dead man if I ever see him."

Garrett looked carefully at Rose. "Are you sure you're fine to keep hearing this story?"

Rose nodded. "Yeah. Might as well finish it, right?"

~o0o~

For the first time in days, Emma felt herself relaxing. Whatever else happened, she at least had some true allies in this pack. She couldn't help but wonder what the Temples would think of these two. Were they redeeming themselves by helping her? Was it possible for a werewolf to find redemption? If 144 they helped her, would they consent to be killed with her, or did they truly believe their tainted forms weren't evil by nature? There was a lot to think about, but all Emma wanted to do at that moment was sleep until morning.

Flint and Summer didn't leave Emma's side for the rest of the night. They warded off any curious packmates and forced the whelp to eat meat from the hunt. They guessed correctly, it turned out, that Scar wouldn't be very generous with food when morning came.

When the sun rose, and the wolves returned to their daytime forms, Scar called an impromptu meeting in the denning area. He stood in the center of the area, a coil of rope at his feet.

"Last night, a new whelp, who was taken into this pack out of pure charity, decided to throw our gift aside," he turned toward Emma, eyes blazing. "This whelp tried to flee to the border, where many of our wolves were fighting against Huntsmen. Three of them were lost, and we shall have funeral services tonight. Despite the kindness we have shown her, she was ready to throw herself to the human's blades and endanger her pack in the process."

There were several glares and growls in Emma's direction. Thankfully, Flint and Summer remained on either side of her, silently challenging anyone to approach.

Scar looked down at Emma, who refused to meet his gaze. Sneering, he picked up the rope. "The hateful Temples of the humans have taught her that we are nothing but animals. Savage dogs that need to be put down. If she is so determined to see werewolves as such, so be it."

He walked over and looped the rope around her neck. "Don't forget, my darling," he whispered. "You are as much a savage dog as we are. When you are ready to show some gratitude for the life you have been given and swear not to flee anymore, this rope will come off," he smiled. "Maybe you'll finally understand the gift I tried offering last night. The new world you could have explored."

"I wouldn't hold your breath," Emma muttered, narrowing her eyes at him as the rope tightened.

Scar's eyes flashed. "Also, don't think of trying to hang yourself with this. I intend to keep you guarded at all hours," he glanced at Flint and Summer. "And not by these two. I'll speak to both of you about your insubordination later on."

Flint and Summer both bowed their heads, saying nothing. There was little they could do with the entire pack watching them.

Emma was silent as she was dragged to the edge of the denning area and tied to a tree. She stared into space as Scar again reminded her what she would gain if she pushed her pride away and went to him. She only spoke a few hours later when she asked the guard to take her elsewhere to relieve herself. Thankfully, he untied the rope from the tree and allowed her to go into the woods alone. She didn't go far, knowing the pursuit would be swift if she tried anything. She had to bide her time. She had to wait until one of the guards grew lazy or until something else could happen.

That night, the pack transformed into their wolf forms. Emma refused. Scar came to her and growled sharply. She knew he commanded her to accept the moon and become a beast. When she only glared silently at him, he lashed out with his claws, leaving three thin, painful scratches on her arm. He huffed before walking away, presumably to lead a hunt.

Her guard left halfway through the night to switch with another. She paid close attention. If they rotated on a schedule, there could be a window for her to get away.

Summer walked by the tree the following morning, discreetly slipping Emma some meat. Emma ate it quickly, noticing the guard's nose twitching. If he knew, he didn't say anything, for which she was grateful.

Scar walked by the tree once, but Emma refused to look at him. She suspected that she'd suffer for that when night came again.

Finally, around noon, Flint came over. The guard said nothing.

"He was with my hunting group that night," Flint explained quietly. "He saw what Scar was trying to do to you."

"I need to leave this place," Emma begged. A tear trickled down her cheek, the first sign of emotion she had shown since the rope had been tied. "Why didn't you kill me when I asked you to?"

"I know the Temples say bad things about us, but you don't have to die just because you're a werewolf," Flint insisted. "Summer and I have been thinking of leaving for some time now, ever since we realized how often Scar was using the alpha stare on everyone. If you wanna join us, you can.

"Alpha stare?"

"It's an ability that alphas have. They can even control other people's minds by looking them in the eye." Flint explained.

Emma paled. So, that's what he did that night! "If you leave, I want to come with you."

After that, she'd decide whether she still wanted someone to kill her. If more werewolves were kind and sympathetic, like Summer and Flint, maybe they weren't doomed by the Maidens after all. Though, they aren't the only ones. She looked toward the guard, who could probably hear every word being spoken but was pretending not to.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Emma asked.

"Just eat whatever you're given, drink when you can, and keep your eyes open," Flint told her."We'll figure out the best time to run over the next few days. With luck, we'll be out before the mating season ends."

Emma thought of Scar's crushing weight on her back and shivered. He wouldn't wait forever for her to give in. "I hope you're right."

A few days passed, during which Emma got used to a schedule of staring into space, licking the dew from leaves, and talking discreetly with Flint or Summer. She endured another scratch from Scar each night when she refused to transform. Then, four nights after the full moon, news came from the border of another werewolf hunt and the deaths of several wolves at the northern border. Emma wouldn't have thought anything of it, but one of the survivors returned carrying a scrap of cloth in his paw. Apparently, the humans had left them on the border.

None of the wolves knew their meaning, but Emma caught a glimpse. It took every ounce of self-control she had to keep from laughing in relief at what she saw: Painted on a dirty, white scrap of cloth was a detailed drawing of her clan's brand.

She didn't dare to hope, but a certain lightness entered her chest anyway. Whether or not her children were looking for her, their symbol had to be a sign. Maybe she'd get out. Maybe she could die at the hands of her children.

"No," she reminded herself. "You promised Summer and Flint that you'd try living as a werewolf once you got out."

Her shoulders slumped as she realized that whether she escaped or not, she couldn't approach her children. She'd never see them again.

~o0o~

"Obviously, something is very wrong with Emma," Summer muttered, leaning back against the withered tree. “That’s everything. You are all caught up. About ten days later, your friend showed up.”

"It's funny that you came when you did," Flint commented. "Summer and I were just going to Emma.”

"Good thing Emma's guard was one of the lazy ones," Summer added. "I knocked him out easily. He wasn't even standing near her!"

"They tend to get lazier at night," Flint said with a shrug. "They think their wolf forms will allow them to detect danger without paying attention. Amateurs. Even betas have to be alert.” he frowned. "Of course, with how Emma has changed, I doubt she would have come with us even after her promise."

"That creep,” Rose growled. “I bet he used the alpha stare on her. That must be why she is acting so different."

"I have a theory," Brianna continued, scribbling down notes. "What if Scar is being influenced by Emma's manipulative nature as she is by his alpha stare? Like maybe they had some exchanges that no one saw, and they affected each other or at least Emma was affected. Like Stockholm syndrome.”

Then, Rose let out a sigh. "A never-ending cycle of insanity and manipulation."

Summer hugged Flint, leaning into the comforting warmth of her mate. "I'm glad that's over, but I'm sure he'll come after the three of us."

"Not if I can help it!" Ellora declared. "Any enemy of Scar is a friend of mine. Not only will I defend you, but I am sure those wolves who can deny Scar's stare will surely let you live." She turned to address Flint, Summer, and Steven as a whole. "So, what will the three of you do?"

"We've decided to stay here for the time being," Flint said. "We'll scout around and see about finding a new territory elsewhere. Maybe another pack will take us in. We should probably leave the area, though. Ember likely won't want three of Scar's wolves in her ranks, and Scar will kill us if he finds us."

"Even me," Steven said mournfully. "Even though I didn't do anything wrong. Why didn't I see how horrible he was?"

"Mental conditioning and the alpha stare," Flint said. "Don't worry, though. You're free now."

Hunter watched Flint and the others momentarily before turning to Ellora, who was already looking at him. "So, are things okay in the pack? You mentioned that Ember's been a bit pushier with Coraline."

Ellora sighed. "Yes. I know that she wants all of the alphas in the pack to be on her side, but I can't help but feel that she's isolating me. She was never like this when I was confirmed as an alpha."

"Do you think it's because of that whole 'pack leader destiny' thing?" Hunter questioned.

"I don't want to think so," Ellora said. "I want to think that Ember is above worrying about such things, but I honestly don’t know.”

"At least you have something to look forward to now. Our meetings," Hunter pointed out, hoping to cheer her up.

"Well, we probably couldn't have kept meeting daily regardless," Brianna said. "It's impractical. We could meet every few days, though. We just need to figure out a good place to leave notes."

At this, Ellora shifted uncomfortably. "I wouldn't be able to do that. I never learned how to read," she bristled in response to the shocked looks directed at her. "I was born a werewolf. Human writing was never something I had to know."

Hunter's face flushed. "You're right. Sorry. I guess we take it for granted."

"No need to apologize," Ellora said quickly, not liking the guilty expression on Hunter's face. "I understand."

"Coraline can read any notes we leave," Brianna said. "And, if you're the one at the drop area, you can just make marks on a stone or leaf to show how many days away we can meet and whether it's during the day or night. Unless we're told otherwise, we'll assume we'll meet here by the tree. That's easy enough."

The group continued to talk longer but was forced to end their meeting as the sun sank. Ellora retrieved some rabbits for the humans to take back.

"One of these days, I'll get you a deer or something," Hunter promised. "I'm starting to feel like a moocher here."

Ellora laughed. "Sadly, Ember would detect your human scent on it. I honestly don't mind helping."

"Well, thanks again. Hopefully, we can see you tomorrow and talk more about where we can exchange notes," Hunter said.

"Tell Coraline to be careful with Ember," Rose said. "Don't let her do anything I wouldn't do."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ellora said with a small smile.

After everyone said goodbye, the humans and werewolves parted ways again. They weren't sure what would come next, but after what they had gone through, it would be nothing they couldn't handle!