"What?! You cannot be serious, Father! " I interrupted him loudly, forgetting my place. Rising to my feet, my wolf was enraged by the injustice done against me. She rose to her haunches also, roaming restlessly. I was to be given away to the lycanthrope against my own will.
"Silence, sister, before you say something you will regret!" My oldest brother, Franco, warned, growling in his throat. I couldn't believe they were going to stand by and watch my father send me into the arms of those monsters. I stared into their eyes, gauging their reactions, but their minds had long been made up. They were on my father’s side.
"Do not silence me, brother! What have I done? Why me? My father, why did you decide to dictate my destiny? Don't I have the right to choose anymore? "
Tears threatened to break through the boundary of my lashes, and I held them off with all my might. Only cowards and wimps cried to get sympathy. I didn't want their sympathy; I wanted due justice.
"Sister," my other brother, Valerian, beckoned gently. He was a lot like my mother in character, soft-spoken and in love with nature. He took my hand and hugged me tightly. In my ears, he spoke softly:
"This is not the father's will, and you know that." He let go of his arms around me and smiled. "You can end this war, sister. The Alpha of the lycanthrope has promised to withdraw his forces and leave us alone if we give you to him. It hurts us dearly, sister, but it is out of our hands now. You will be honoured for your bravery for ages to come, and generations will tell your story. "
My wolf mellowed, listening to his calm words. It was up to me in the end. If I refused to go with the lycanthrope, they would wipe out the rest of our pack, and if I agreed, I might never see my family again. I weighed the pros and cons in my head, pacing my room. They stood aside, waiting for me to make up my mind.
"Can I visit home occasionally?" I asked, but sadly, I already knew my answer. There was no way the Lycan Alpha would let me return home ever. I would belong to him, both soul and body, forever, till I faded away in death. The tears that I had been fighting back broke out freely, staining my cheeks shamefully. I would miss the love of my parents, my brothers, and the safety of the pack, but had no choice; my destiny had been decided long before time.
"Take me to him. I will do what I must to bring peace to our pack. "I accept my fate," I stated with a distant voice that wasn't mine. My mother came in at that time, tears clouding her eyes. She hugged me warmly and kissed me on both cheeks.
I'm sorry, dearest. I tried everything to change it-your destiny-but it isn't in my power. It is the Moon Goddess that decides, and it is for us to follow her will blindly. I can only pray that you find your way in this life. Remember, my girl, to be as cunning as a serpent and wise as a dove. You are being sent to them for a reason, my girl. Find that and your path will become clear. "
She kissed me again on the forehead, this time, and stepped aside to allow my father to come forward. He led me outside to the courtyard where a mountain of a man stood in his majesty. His back was covered with scars and ugly wounds, and his skin looked as tough as leather. When he turned toward me, I almost fainted with fear. Dark fur stained with blood trailed down his chest, and his shoulders were as thick as tree trunks. He lowered his bloodshot eyes at me and snorted like the animal that he was.
"We depart immediately!" he commanded in a deep growl, and his army fell behind him. I was shackled at both hands and feet and pushed along behind the warriors. I sucked up my tears and fell in line as well. My glance behind me was the last I saw of my pack.
The route to the Red Bone Pack was rough and full of itchy grass. I was dragged on mercilessly and was not allowed a moment of rest. I was supposed to be an alliance 'gift', but the way I was being treated made me rethink what I had agreed to. I tried to act brave for as long as I could pull it off, but soon, I grew tired and slumped to the floor helplessly.
"Get up, bitch!" The man, I was beginning to think, was the Alpha’s Beta, bellowed at me harshly. Whether he was referring to my gender as a female wolf or merely calling me names, I could not decipher because all my brain cells were exhausted from carrying me on so far. I cared less about what they called me and more about my condition.
"I can't. I'm exhausted and I am also very thirsty, "I weakly replied, tasting the earth's dust. Salt bugs flew around my face, attracted by the salinity in my sweat. I was too weak to swat at them, and so I laid down, unwilling to get up. The man marched up to me and, to my surprise, burst into a peal of mocking laughter.
Did you hear her, men? She is very thirsty. I think we should give her some water, isn't it? His sarcasm dripped off every word he uttered. They cheered loudly like cavemen, clamouring for some action. He left my side briefly and returned with a small bowl filled with liquid.
"Take and drink," he said as he shoved the bowl under my nose. He withdrew at once, grinning widely. The liquid was a bit milky with some dirt at the bottom. When I shook it slightly, the chalky particles rose to the surface and a funky smell filled the air. It wasn't the water that had been given to me. Alarmed, I spilt the contents of the bowl and its wasted droplets went in different directions. The entire troop of lycans sniggered wildly, some hooting and howling in intervals.
"Why, princess, don't you like the taste of lycan urine? Quite judgmental, if you ask me," he jested, picking up the wooden bowl. He passed it to a foot soldier, who, seizing me by my tresses, pulled me to my feet. I felt the ache from my head down to the tips of my toes. I was the maleficiary of their mockery, and I had nowhere to hide from the shame.
"Next time you want water, princess, you just let me know," he sneered and pushed me onward. The keeper of my chains tugged me along, and the journey continued. I kept my mouth shut this time, keeping my thoughts to myself and suffering in silence. We walked up hills and tramped through valleys, never stopping, never resting, even for a moment. The Lycan Alpha was at the head of the queue, his minions following after me obediently. There was no one else like me, no other hostages apart from me, and I was partially thankful for that. I had paid the price for my pack's freedom, and I wanted no one else to share in my forced martyrdom.
When it seemed like I would finally collapse and die, I saw a trail of smoke rising from a point in the distance. I zeroed in on my hearing abilities and I could hear people laughing; women, to be precise. It could only mean one significant thing; we were in Red Bone territory.