Present moment
The scene before her was horrifying. Lifeless bodies of wolves and humans were sprawled around her.
Bloody guts making the once fresh green grass now tainted with the unholiness before them.
There were barely survives. With each passing moment looking around her, she wondered what was the next move.
Shaking with fear she cried, tears were like a waterfall flowing non-stop.
Her life as she knew it has ended because they all tried to save her.
***
This morning
Instead of her normal routine. Alexia stayed in bed. No training. No trying to do something that she could not do.
Pathetic right?
Well no. Why?
Because she did not want to face reality of what was to come if she did. Everyone hated her.
And to say they always called her special. Ha...what a joke. Special maybe...as in good for nothing.
She held in her tears. What was the point of crying if it was just going to make her cry more if she thought of why she was crying.
But it was time for breakfast. Should she go join them? It was bugging her.
Others would say;
Yes go join them for breakfast and be the bigger person. Show them that their words cannot affect you because you are strong.
But on the other hand their words were affecting her, and she definitely was not the bigger person.
Alexia saw reality and not a fantasy world. Which means that one day or another she would have to face them.
It was Ten minutes past Nine. Meaning that Max would probably head in from training.
Crossing her fingers hoping everything would go just fine with no arguing. There was always hope right. That inch of the rope that might keep you from falling.
Waking up from bed and showering she did her normal routine. But this time instead of a training outfit she put on her maroon lacy long sleeved dress that reached till her knees.
She braided her brown her to the side. Her lips were painted Matt red with a hint of darkness. She applied eyeliner making her eyes cat-like.
Scanning herself in the mirror, she had successfully made herself look different. Was it because she was being childish as she decided to rebel. Or was it because she wanted to change and this was the first step to that.
***
Life is always a mystery as to what could come next. What should a person expect next.
Max returned early from his training, already refreshed after his shower. He went down for breakfast.
The night before gave him a sleepless night. It still pained him.
A wolf is always protective of his own and family. It would always be in his instincts to not want to see his sister hurt. Even from his own doing.
Sitting at a table made to seat ten people. Max filled his plate with toast, bacon, eggs, sausages and a fruit salad, you know to say it still was a healthy breakfast. The table was filled with plates of different varieties of foods, thanks to Jane his mom who had prepared breakfast for the family.
Wolves were savages which meant they easily got hungry. They could eat a whole cow and would still be hungry.
Jax, Jane and Max were seated and awaited anxiously for Alexia to join them for breakfast.
***
While munching on his toast with eagerness, Alexia came descending the staircase. She had caught her family off guard. That Max bit his tongue instead of his toast, Jax chocked on his sausage while Jane spat out her coffee, gripping the mug in both her hands. They were in shock seeing their daughter dressed as such.
Jane was the first to break the awkward silence by speaking.
"Are you going somewhere special dear?"
"Just thought of spicing up my day."
Honestly, Alexia was uncomfortable in that dress. She hated dresses, in fact she had skipped prom, and her graduation outfit was a simple black jeans with a long sleeved turquoise top. Talk about self-conscious right. But she was ready for change and best to begin to show off her real side. No more hiding. But how long would she try to change when she kept failing.
"Well that dress is inappropriate to use on a windy day like this." Jax said.
"Actually father, the sun is out. And even though it is windy, nothing will stop me from having a fun day."
Max knew his sisters intentions, he practically knew her mind and her every move, but this was simply not one of those times.
"What are you playing at Alex?" Max asked.
"My name is Alexia, not Alex. Please refrain from calling me by that name. It sounds boyish whereas I am a female. And I'm not playing at anything. I'm just being myself. Don't you like?" She gestured to her dress.
"But on the other hand only people close to me are allowed to call me Alex. But since I have non, I guess I don't have to hear that name."
Throughout her speech she gave a smile as if emphasizing what she had just said.
The family was stomped by Alexia's words. Having nothing to say to break the awkwardness of that moment, they carried on eating. Alexia only ate her fruit salad with a toast. Not her everyday meal but it was enough to satisfy her without stuffing her face with meat upon meat. Once she was done, she pushed her bowl and got up.
"I will be out for a walk, please don't disturb me."
"Stop Alexia. Wash your dirty dishes and then you may go get ready for your afternoon training since you are feeling much better."
"Actually my arm is still hurting. Ouch, owwww..." Alexia faked a hurt face and held her once broken arm. They knew she was pretending.
"And I'm sure mother dear can wash my bowl, right mother? After all I am good for nothing."
With that being said she turned, grabbed her phone and exited the house.
"Gah...what have you done. She's now acting like a spoiled brat. You should have just explained things to her in the beginning instead of making things play out like this."
"Max just shut it. If this is how it plays out then let it flow. She is changing one step at a time from being a potato couch. Soon she will decide to train by herself."
"Talk about reverse psychology in a whole other way. If you think it will work then fine. But so you know I'm done with all of this what you and Alpha has planned for her. You'll have gotten everything wrong. The alpha king will stop this war or whatever it is."
"How can he when, our so-called king is the reason we are in this mess in the first place. That witch I spoke to said we should keep her safe. Nothing can happen to her. She will be a reason for our race to live. In what way I don't know. I have no idea how she will make what our two hundred-and-seventy eight year old Alpha King has done go away. He just seems to bring more problems. We don't know what he is up to, but we do know it's not good. I really hope she does not cross the king, or they both will kill each other." Jane gave her input to keep both Jax and Max from arguing.
They were warned of what was to come except they could not change courses because fate had to play out as fate should.
But was changing Alexia the right thing?
***
Walking silently in the forest, surrounded by the large trees and vision of full green. It was a windy day but the sun was still shinning. Alexia's knee-length maroon dress kept flying up and sideways. Not that she cared.
As she walked with her arms folded, she wished she had brought her jacket seeing as she now had goosebumps. She shivered against the wind.
There was only one place Alexia would ever go to think. The place that brought so much laughter for her and her brother.
The stream. Or as they should call it as a signal 'the swoosh', because of it being a fast-flowing stream. They used to sometimes let the waves carry them, except with all the rocks. There was not a chance to get out without a scratch.
Now sitting on a large boulder besides the river, she looked at the scene before her. Trees, flowing water, birds, reptiles, bugs. All were free with no care. They had no problems as in not fitting in because they were all made to be different. No one should expect the same outcome from the rest. That's how mother nature had created them. They brought full wonder to us all, distracting us from all our problems with their color, skin, and movement. They helped to keep us calm.
Especially on a windy day like this, the moving trees bent due to the wind ahead across the stream with people in black leather ducking and diving from tree to tree with knives stuck around their outfits and guns in hand.
Wait! What!?
Bending around the boulder and crouching down she began zooming in at the scene unfolding before her. And she could not believe what she saw.
Humans!
Humans had made it past the borders. But they were not just any humans. They were deadly and made for destruction. Hunters they were. And by the look on their faces they were not friendly. There were signalling each other. It would take them a while to cross the stream.
Getting to her feet, raising slowly making sure not to be noticed she turned the direction of her pack and started to run. Stumping on the leaves below her feet. Her dress flying behind her. Her side braid getting loose from the speed of her running now that she was using her wolf strength.
While running, she took her phone in hand and dialed her brother.
"Come on Max...answer the phone."
After 5 rings had Max finally picked up.
"Alex? I mean Alexia what do you want?"
"Max, they are here. The hunters. They've crossed the boarders about to cross the stream. I'm heading home now." Alexia breathed out as she ran.
"Shit. Okay go home to mom."
"But I can help."
"No Alex go straight home to mom. Don't come help. Listen to me."
And he cut the call on her. Gripping her phone in anger she continued running home. She can help later but now she had to warn her mother.
Finally, arriving home. Out of breath she went up her porch and sliding the glass door open.
"Mom?!"
"Mom!"
Alexia screamed in the kitchen hoping Jane's wolf hearing would hear her.
Moving to the staircase she screamed again.
"Mom?!"
"Wha-what is it Alexia?"
Her mother came scrambling down as if she had just came out of the shower, with her hair wet and using her flower summer dress that had a thin strap.
"Mom-mom thank the goddess you're here. We need to go mum. We have to help the others. Come on." She said grabbing her mothers hand trying to pull her out the door. But Jane halted in her step.
"What are you talking about?"
"The hunters they are here. We need to go help. Come on."
"No wait."
"What."
"We-you can't go. You need to leave before they arrive."
"No mom we need to help."
"No you can't help Alexia. Just come on."
Jane pulled Alexia up the stairs.
"Mom there's no time."
Jane ignored her.
Entering her parents bedroom her mother pulled her to stand still.
"Wait here."
"Wha-?" Alexia rubbed her palms on face feeling frustrated.
Jane walked into her closet and came back out with a black two shoulder bag and a piece of paper.
"Come on we have to keep you safe. Put this on now."
Jane forced Alexia to put the bag straps around her shoulder as if forcing a child who does not want to go to school.
"What's this for."
"Supplies and these are your instructions. You much follow them."
"I can't leave."
"Yes you much."
Jane pulled Alexia out of her room and back down the steps going back to the kitchen sliding door. Things were beginning to move slow motion for Alexia.
They wanted her to leave just when they were about to be attacked. But she was capable of fighting for herself.
But her thought was disturbed when she heard a scream.
A child. A child's scream for help. Alexia turned to look for the child. But instead there was a slight tug at her heart.
"No" Jane whispered.
"They are here Alexia. Listen to me you are to run away from here. Read this to find your way. I love you. Your father loves you. Max loves you. Please forgive us. Please go...go..."
Jane was crying pushing Alexia.
"No...no I won't leave. I will fight too."
"No Alexia don't."
Running from her mothers grip. She stuffed the piece of paper in the side pocket of the bag.
She went to the front of the house. It had a view of the entire pack. She would be able to find Max.But the scene before her was heart shattering.
The hunters were here. And they were... winning.