Page 134 of The Lands Defying
I’ve been training to be an Elite for years already, my father starting when I was just six years old. I will be heading into The Deadlands to do my rite of passage to become an Elite in a few short years, and I will eventually take over from my father when he accepts the position as a Higher, so why can’t I sit in on their meetings? To learn everything I need to know about this pack, as I will need to do the same for others when I become the Alpha of the Elites.
Instead, he sent me out like a scolded child.
I should have just stayed home with mom and Isabell.
I head into the trees, pissed and frustrated when a heat suddenly spreads up my neck. I pause, moving a hand to it and feeling pinpricks along my fingers.
I’ve been feeling this sensation for over a week now. There is no pattern to it, no explanations for it, yet every time it happens I don’t feel threatened.
I haven’t told anyone about it, especially father, he will look at me like I am unfit to lead one day and I can’t bear for him to look at me like that.
I will be the greatest Alpha of the Elites there has ever been. I will protect the lands so my mother and sister will always be safe.
I will keep the peace, and kill all that are a danger.
So no, telling my father will just let him know I have a weakness in my body because of this…thing. I thought about telling Leo once, but thought better of it. He’s training for the rite of passage too, he doesn’t need a distraction.
Angry voices reach my ears the further I walk, and my eyes move to the direction it’s coming from, tilting my head to try and hear better. Are pack members arguing?
I move further into the woods, toward the voices. If I handle the situation, if there is one, I can go back to my father and prove to him I’m ready to be an Elite, that I’m ready to be the Alpha when I come of age and can sit in on pack meetings and aid them. He won’t be able to deny that I’m capable.
The heat spreads up my neck more forcefully the deeper into the trees I go. The raised voices become more distant, and I pick up the pace, trying to keep up when I round a cluster of trees and a scent hits me. It halts me in my tracks, the burn in my neck on either side intensifying and I hunch over, gritting my teeth.
I bring a hand up to my neck as my vision wavers in and out.
What is going on?
A scream pierces the air next and I freeze, my body locking up yet my muscles strain under my skin. A flash of a violet color appears before me, until it’s blinding me and then it’s gone.
But I’m on my knees.
My hands hit the ground as something inside of me expands…shifts and moves. My skin feels like it’s crawling, bristling, and rearranging. My fingers dig into the earth as I grunt, my insides turning. I growl low, with a snarl on my mouth and I dip my head and close my eyes assomethingreaches the last layer of my skin, and then it’s out.
I breathe heavily, sweat dripping down my back, my heart beating wildly within my chest.
I’m confused, disoriented and feeling strange.
Then, two black paws come into view.
I tense up, slowly raising my head and my gaze connects to piercing green eyes.
The connection locks, the heat on my neck cooling slightly and the wolf before me moves forward, putting his nose against my forehead. I close my eyes, the feeling of completeness washing over me and I know.
I know this wolf is mine.
A cry comes from within the trees. It’s scared, pleading, and desperate and I’m instantly on my feet, but not before the wolf before me whips around and charges forward, a deep, low growl coming from it.
I follow this irrational need to go to that cry more than anything I have ever felt. To go and…do what… I don’t know.
I run, barely seeing the dark wolf up ahead of me as he wastes no time in darting over bushes and tree roots. I try to keep up with him on foot, but a wolf is much faster than I am.
The sound of angry voices gets closer, twigs snapping in hurried, panicked steps and my protective instincts rise within me. I don’t know what for, all I know is I need to get there.
A sob reaches my ears and a sound starts within my chest, reaching my throat and releasing into the air in apurr. Everything stops for a second at that sound, as if the lands are holding its breath before it exhales again.
I come through the trees, onto what looks like a made path, like someone takes this route often. I see my wolf ahead, his stance defensive, and my eyes move to the area in front of him.
Light hair whips past a young face, tears pouring down her cheeks as she runs past. Her eyes were wide, her body trembling as she looks at my wolf in panic, before looking toward me as she passes by. A cry passes from her lips as I move closer, and then she’s gone. Her little legs taking her away.
