Chapter 1 #2
“I only wanted to watch the dancing and hear the music,” I pouted up at the scarred face of my keeper.
Greta had been my nanny for as long as I could remember and hated me just as long.
I didn’t know why the older woman stayed if she hated me so much, or why she was so mean.
It wasn’t like she couldn’t go to another home, or heck, retire.
The pack always took care of their elders.
My parents took a bow, making me smile at the grace and love that shone from their faces. The crowd cheered.
“One day I’m going to be as pretty as my mama.” I looked on with awe.
“You’ll never be like her,” Greta sneered, her fingers digging into my arm.
Pain shot through me, but I kept my mouth shut.
Tears threatened to fall, but over my six years of life, I’d learned not to let the old woman see it.
My parents didn’t seem to notice, or care.
The last thought almost had my resolve cracking, but the shimmer of triumph on the old crone’s wrinkled face kept the moisture locked inside.
Tonight, when I was in my grand room with its cotton candy pink walls and canopy bed, I’d let the tears fall.
Until then, I’d stand straight and pretend nothing could hurt me.
Following—or more like being dragged out of the hall—I took one last look at the party. My parents hadn’t even noticed my presence. Although they were shifters, and surely they had smelled me, not once had they welcomed me, unlike the other parents who’d brought their children to the celebration.
Back at the home I shared with my family, Greta took great delight in shoving me into my room. “Did you enjoy watching the entire pack having fun without you? Why do you think they don’t invite you to the parties?’
Greta’s black eyes stared down at me with hatred.
Shrugging my shoulders, I walked around to the other side of my bed.
“Because it’s too dangerous for the entire royal family to be in one place at the same time.
” Conviction laced my words, but doubt filled my heart.
Even at the young age of six, I knew that wasn’t the truth.
Something wasn’t right with my family, but I didn’t know what.
A loud cackle came from my keeper. “Aw, you stupid child. I’d bless your heart, but that would mean I thought you were stupid.” She held up one misshapen finger. “But we both know better than that, don’t we?’
Not wanting to answer, I turned away to stare out the small circular window overlooking the back of the property. Trees as far as the eye could see stretched out like sentinels. My bright red hair bothered me. Maybe that was why my parents didn’t like others to see me often.
“You can go to bed without supper since you decided to skip off to the party. I’ll have the power shut off at eight o’clock sharp, so don’t think to stay up past that.” Greta’s voice rivaled that of the fiercest wolf.
The thick door to my room slammed shut, the locks engaging from outside.
I counted as high as I could, then started over five times before I climbed into the big bed.
The tears I’d held at bay for hours came once they’d shut the power off, just as Greta had promised.
If I could shift into my wolf, I’d show Greta who was the boss, but I was too young.
When I grew up, I’d show her, I promised myself, pulling the blanket up to my chin.
Hours later, I woke to the sound of howls and screams. The terror-filled shouts of my pack reached me through the thick walls.
Scrambling out of bed, I fell onto my knees.
The fear and pain woke me the rest of the way.
From the small window, I stared in horror at the view below, highlighted by the moon.
There, in the clearing, was my family and pack, surrounded by dozens of wolves.
My father stood with his head high, and my mother next to him.
The other wolves moved as one, attacking in mass before any of them could shift.
I shoved a fist into my mouth to keep the scream from ripping forth. My head jerked to the door. I needed to get out and save my family. Where was Greta?
The sound of several feet coming down the hallway alerted me to danger. My only escape was the one small window four stories up. With no other choice, I pushed the small octagon-shaped window open, glad to be small enough to fit through, and climbed onto the edge.
“The girl is probably sleeping. She can’t shift yet and is actually pretty stupid. I’ll unlock the door and leave you to it,” Greta said.
“I don’t think so, old lady. You will fulfill your duty and kill the brat.’
I didn’t recognize the man’s voice, but his deep baritone was one I’d remember for the rest of my life—if I lived past the night.
“Oh, no. I only promised to allow you entry onto the lands, not kill anyone.” The sound of Greta’s pain-filled gasp was cut short as the imperceptible sound of the locks disengaging, letting me know time was up.
Looking left and right, I spied a tree. Praying to the Goddess to help me make it, I kicked off the ledge toward it.
Wind rushed toward me, blowing tendrils of hair into my eyes.
I didn’t think I would make it—then bark bit into my fingers.
With instinct born from determination, I wrapped my arms and legs around the rough surface. Blessed Goddess, I made it.
Not looking behind me, I shimmied down the tree, uncaring about the damage to myself.
My bloodied body didn’t register until I hit the ground.
If the wolves scented me, they’d kill me.
Of course, the animals were already filled with bloodlust and on a rampage.
The thought had my little feet stumbling. What could I do?
Pushing back the fear, I left the safety of the tree, using the same route I’d taken only hours before to sneak into the party. The festive lit hall no longer resembled a fairy tale. My feet slipped in a puddle, and I went down, only to realize the puddle wasn’t water.
“Oh, Goddess, no,” I whispered, rolling away from the sightless eyes of one of my pack.
Crab walking backward, my back hit the stone wall.
Looking around, my gaze landed on mangled bodies and a blood-filled room.
My once pristine gown and body were now bright red and sticky.
The copper-scented space made me gag. I pressed a fist to my mouth, holding the sound inside.
I held still, opening my senses, and knew it was too late to save anyone in the hall.
My parents were in the clearing. With a destination in mind, I rose and kept against the wall until I could see out the door leading to where I’d last seen them.
There stood the dozens of wolves with a few who’d shifted to men.
My mother knelt next to my father’s form.
From a short distance, I could see he wasn’t moving, and my mother’s once beautiful gown was stained a deep crimson.
I couldn’t hear the men’s words to my mother clearly. I only saw her shaking her head, then saw her hand shift into that of her wolf. Before any of the men surrounding her could stop her, she used the razor-sharp claws and slit her own throat.
I screamed. The sound escaped before I could call it back. The men’s focus turned to me. As one, they all lifted their heads, but I’d ducked back inside. My entire world disappeared within an instant. Gone.
“Catch her,” the leader growled.
No way could I outrun them. My feet slipped in the blood, my red hair came free from the braid, yet I didn’t let it slow me.
I exited the hall on the opposite side, hitting the woods lining the edge of the property.
The feel of my wolf rising up comforted me.
Fear lent me strength, and my wolf seemed to understand I needed her.
I closed my eyes, allowing the animal to take over.
Pain hit. Bones shifting, changing, becoming something else—and then I was running on four paws.
The sound of men’s voices and shouts blended into the background along with the other animals in the forest. I blocked out all sounds, focusing on escape.
My wolf was in charge, and I let her take the lead. Nothing could harm me while in my fur.
“Damn it, LeeLee, wake up,” Slater yelled.
The feel of his hands running over my flanks made me whimper.