Chapter Four
1282 Words
Ella
There was darkness around me. The woods seemed eerie and silent. No wolves were heard and no creature was in sight. One-year-old myself walked through the trees, shifting to her little beast, scenting the air after a rainfall; refreshing and sweet.
The dark pup explored the deepest parts of our pack lands, trying to show her father how brave she could be at such a short age; not realizing that danger lurked ahead.
As she reached the clearing, the place where all the wolves who turned to age mated, she saw a dark figure. Her eyes were as red as the brightest scarlet gem on Earth, and black tendrils surrounded her body; her face was covered with the hood of her cloak.
“Hello, princess. You have such a beautiful pup. Don’t be afraid, come here,” she said in a sultry voice who could hypnotize anyone. Even that baby.
The woman shot beautiful sparks of fire into the night sky, bright enough to light the darkness, and stunning enough to bring her straight into her hands.
“Yes, little one. Come on over. I have a small present for you. You will love it.”
As the pup made her way towards the mysterious woman, a dark figure stood in front of her, a loud howl resonating through the pack grounds as the beast tried to reach for her before she disappeared to nothing.
~~~~~~
I gasped, looking around to make sure I was in the safety of my home. It was just a dream. That woman… I knew I had seen her before. But, who is she?
And my father; all he did was try to protect me and he wanted to keep me safe. For me to be able to keep the pack safe in the future.
And I have been so ungrateful. Despite being so strict, I know he loves me and he wants me to be deserving of being the Alpha.
Tossing my covers off me, I put on a warm fur coat, as the night had suddenly turned cooler, and headed out of my room, making my way towards my parents’. I needed to make sure they were okay after what I just caused.
My stubbornness and pride were always getting me in trouble, and I needed to stay humble if I were to achieve the goal I had set for myself.
As I stood in front of their door, debating whether to knock or just walk away, I took a deep breath. “It’s now or never,” I muttered, raising my hand to knock. My mother’s faint voice was heard from inside her room and as I pushed the door open, I could feel the chill in the air.
It was dark and ominous as I spotted my mother standing by the arched stone window, snuggled against her robe while she looked outside, keeping watch over the pack lands.
With my father still in bed, unconscious, it was her duty. She looked exhausted and weak, and I couldn’t help but blame myself for it.
“Mother?” I called her, feeling her aura fade as she turned to look at me with a soft smile on her face. “Are you all right?”
Her eyes were white as if she was a possessed creature, but I knew not to be frightened. It wasn’t the first time she had used her powers and had been drained of them, making her look like that.
“Yes, princess. I’ll be alright. Just waiting for your father to wake up. Seems to me that trying to stop you both truly affected him.”
I stood beside her; my mother looked so beautiful and regal in her nightgown as the breeze flowed through it, making her look like a ghostly queen. Wish she was, in all sense of the word.
“How is Violet?” I asked, curious and concerned about her wraith. Taking a deep breath, she smiled weakly.
“She’ll be fine; just needs some rest.”
As I stared out the window, the soft howls of the warriors echoed through the trees, and I knew they were watching over the land, making sure we were safe. The threat of that woman hanging over us needed to be addressed, and I would make my father proud by helping him until the end.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. Your father won’t allow it,” she said with a hoarse voice, keeping herself steady against the wall.
“But, Mother. I want to help. I’m the future Alpha, and this pack needs to know I’m there to keep them safe and sound. It’s my duty as his daughter. As the leader.”
“Rosalyn,” Father called in a whisper, loud enough for me to hear and my mother rushed to his side, sitting by him before holding his hand in hers. I itched to tell him but didn’t want to cause him any further grief.
Our fight earlier was petty and dangerous, and I wouldn’t get to it with him anymore.
“You look frail, my mate,” he mentioned, stroking my mother’s cheeks.
“I’m exhausted.” She replied, kissing the palm of his hand while trying to give him a reassuring smile.
“You should have let me turn you, Sassenach.” It had been a while since he called her like that when they used to tell me their story of how they met and how much trouble she had given him, which I found romantic, to be honest.
They had been like water and oil, always clashing and never blending. They were perfect for each other, and the sight in front of me proved it.
“Father.” I approached their bed, kneeling next to it as I stared at him straight into his eyes. “I am truly sorry for the way I acted. It was childish and I know all you want is the best for me. But I would love to ask you to let me help; to let me stop whatever she-wolf is threatening our pack.”
“Ella, you’re only fourteen. I can’t risk having you out there…”
“But, Father. Daviana and Duncan are also fourteen. And they are out there, doing the same. Just this time, please.”
He took a deep breath, and it made me think I was screwing this up, but I wanted his approval. I wanted him to let me do this, to show him that I can.
“They are because they’re your warriors. Duncan is the future Beta, and he needs training. As for Daviana, she has the strength of ten warriors together.”
Mother set her hand on my arm, but I shook my head and sat on the bed, leaning over my father.
“Please, Father,” I said in a soft, pleading voice. “I promise to keep myself out of danger if it’s not worth it. But, let me help. As the future Alpha, it’s my duty to them. Don’t take this away from me.”
He looked at my mother, who sat there, still feeling the after-effects of her powers, and nodded.
“All right, my daughter. We start training tomorrow.” He slowly sat straight, his eyes glowing, and I was sure mine were as well, our Lycans showing each other the strength and stubbornness we carried. “But you better bring it all in, or else, Connal will be disappointed at his pup.”
I pressed my forehead against his, a sweet gesture between us and I nodded with a smile.
“We promise to make you both proud, Father.”
- Writer
