Running from the Alpha's Son

Ember

Sirens are screeching outside and the pack is in a panic. Warriors run out of the pack house, shifting in silence as they run out. This is a small pack, and even though the Alpha has allies, the attack is too sudden to send for help. The warriors assemble and try to find the rogues that have invaded.

Ember looks up at her parents with solemn brown eyes as her mom and dad bundle her up and rush outside. They run to the little tree house that's tucked away into the hefty branches of an oak in the corner or their back yard. "Ember, you need to be as quiet as you can." Her mother strokes her soft, curly brown hair and Ember nods silently. Her father's deep grey eyes look sad, but he smiles. He kisses Ember's forehead and her mother hugs her tightly. Ember's dad tucks her into the tree house and says, "Stay here." She watches quietly through a small break in the slats of the tree house. Ember's mom looks back one more time. She brings a slender hand to her lips, and blows a kiss to her. Her mom's chocolate brown eyes glisten with moisture as she turns away. A snap of a twig in the bushes signals to them that they aren't alone.

Two rogue wolves jump out of the brush and attack Ember's parents in a rush of fury, claws and canines before her parents can shift. The rogues are stronger, and her parents quickly succumb to the attack. Ember covers her mouth tightly with both hands as she watches her parents die. The rogues sniff the air, and then make their way to the tree house where Ember cries into her blankets. Shouting erupts in the neighbor's house, and the rogues change direction. Ember is cold, hungry, and scared. She falls asleep, still crying into her blankets. She is only 4 years old. After a while, she wakes up. The moon is shining brightly and all is silent. Ember carefully climbs down from the tree house, and makes her way to the bodies of her parents. She lays down next to her mother, and pulls her mother's arms over her. At 4, she's learned life's greatest, and hardest lesson.

Alpha James and his wife go neighbor to neighbor, seeking out survivors. They find Ember sleeping next to her parents, and Alpha James gently picks her up. Ember struggles, not wanting to leave her mother and father. "Shhh, child." Alpha James soothes, as he holds her to him. Luna looks on with kind eyes, and takes Ember into her arms. Ember sobs into Luna's breast as they carry her to the pack house. They found a few survivors, but Ember was the only child, save for the Alpha's son. Alpha James looks at his Luna, and she returns his gaze, lovingly and knowingly. She nods in assent and in silence, Luna and Alpha agree to take Ember in as their own. Alpha's second runs up to them. "I've checked the perimeter, and the rogues are gone. We're still trying to determine how they got in." "Thank you, Stephen. Go home, get cleaned up and get a few hours sleep. We'll meet in a few hours and reach out to our allies." Stephen nodded and went back to the pack house.

Ember was asleep in Luna's arms by the time they got back to the house. Luna made her way to the overstuffed couch and gently lay Ember down. The child whimpered and then settled down. Luna walked down the hallway and gently knocked on a door. Bess, the housekeeper poked her head out. She looked tired, but alert. Her gray hair was tidy and neat, as usual, and kept in a bun at the base of her neck. "Can you make up a spot in our room for a child?" "Of course, Luna!" Bess looked at Luna curiously though. Luna pointed to the couch. "She's the only child we could find." With that, a single tear rolled down her cheek. Bess pulled Luna to her and hugged her. "Shhh, it's okay." Luna hugged her back, as Bess was like a mother to her. Luna's own mother had passed long ago, in an attack like the one Ember survived. "Thank you, Bess." Luna reached a hand up to her eyes, and wiped her tears. She still hadn't checked on her own son, and rushed to his room.

The boy slept as Luna looked down at him. His black hair lay across his forehead in a tangle. His long eyelashes rest against his cheeks as he slept. He was so innocent, and before she knew it, he would be training to become the next Alpha. "Settle down, Luna." She thought to herself. He's barely even 7 years old. She bent down and kissed his hair, tucking him in as she did so. Luna sighed as she left the room. Alpha James was waiting for her. "All good, my love?" He peeked in to look at little James. "Yes." He took her hand and they made their way to their room, where Ember was now sleeping.