Arlo;
'Yes I know what time it is! Get here, now!' I snapped, ending the call with Piper and slammed my phone down onto the desk before glaring at the family portrait on the wall. Other than the fact that I looked like a moody teenager, we were such a happy close family. When had all of that changed? My office door opened, and my mother walked in; I had called her before Piper, telling her that I needed her in my office immediately. She walked into the room flashing her famous warm smile. She took one look at my scowl and knew that something was wrong. She came a little closer to my desk and noticed the medical files spread across the tabletop.
'What is this?' She asked, her voice turning colder than that of what I was used to as she raised her angry gaze from the table to me. I climbed from my seat and stood behind the desk, staring into my mother's eyes silently. I clenched my jaw, causing my jaw to flex, when a knock at the door brought my attention from my mother, I glanced away from her as I called for the person to enter. Piper's auburn hair rounded the corner before her face broke out in a beaming smile. She took one look at my mother standing in the corner and her smile faltered. She knew that something was wrong. But it was too late now.
'I-is everything alright?' she asked, looking between me and my mother. My mother's eyes widened as she jerked her chin towards my desk and Pipers eyes widened in shock. So they had been keeping something from me? Both of them!
'I know everything.' I growled, pacing back and forth in front of my mother and Piper. They glanced at one another nervously but remained silent. 'And what I really want to know, is why neither of you thought that it was important enough to tell me?' I continued, trying my hardest to get some control over my anger, but it was no use. It was as though the flood gates to all my concealed emotions had broken, and now all that anger was coming out in a rush. 'Answer me!' I yelled, spinning around to face them. I locked eyes with Piper who stood there and glared at me.
'It wasn't as simple as that.' Piper said, her voice low, but holding a courage that I had never seen in her before.
'Neither of you thought to tell me that Amelia's blood is the key to us being resistance against wolfsbane? Do you not understand how much of an edge that would give us over all the other packs out there? And what about these murders that have been happening? Do you not think if I had found out about this sooner then we could have at least found out what it is that has given Amelia what she needs to be around Wolfsbane?'
'How do you even know any of this?' My mother asked, a sharp edge to her tone as she crossed her arms across her chest. I reached into my top drawer and pulled the manilla file from within, before dropping it on the desk.
'Want to start talking mother?' I asked maliciously. My mother's jaw flexed, and I knew that she was pissed. But I didn't care. I should have been given these answers from the very beginning.
'I am speaking to you; I demand an answer.' I bellowed, causing them both to flinch.
'You may be the alpha Arlo, but I am still your mother. And a respected elder. You do not speak to me in this way. And as for Piper. I was the one that asked her not to tell you.'
'And why shouldn't I be told? Something like this is huge mother! If we had known about this sooner, we may have been able to prevent some of these deaths from happening.' I snapped.
'And that is why I never told you! You think that I was going to just stand aside and let you use my best friend as your little fucking lab rat?' Piper screamed, lunging forward and slamming her palms on my desk. The wood beneath her hands cracked from the force but she didn't stop. 'You know what alpha, she deserves so much better than you. You're nothing but a pathetic user!' She continued. I tensed at the choice of words that she had used. The way that she had called me alpha. The only other person that said it in that way was… Amelia.
I shook my head and turned back to Piper and noticed that her eyes were beginning to take on the tell-tale glow that she was about to shift. I knew that if I didn't calm her down now then there would be nothing to stop it. And who knew what effects this was having on her psychologically? The last thing that we needed right now was a feral, pissed off Piper tearing through our little community. I caught my mother's eye and she put her arms around Pipers shoulders, calming her instantly.
'It's ok dear. Please try to keep calm. Remember that we are not entirely sure what effects that this is having on you.' She whispered softly. Piper nodded her head but refused to take her eyes from me. And they still held that slight shimmer.
'What is happening around here? I asked, feeling more than a little defeated.
'Do you not see how important that this is? I knew that your feelings for Amelia would cloud your judgement. She could be the key to us surviving. She could be the one that changes everything. Do you not see that?'
'Of course I see that. Why do you think that I am so angry that you never told me any of this?' I shouted in reply.
'The less amount of people that know the better. If anyone else found out about this… we don't know what they might do. Would they try and take her for themselves? Or would they kill her? Don't you see… she is our ultimate weapon.' My mother said, this time her voice a little softer. I stood in silence for a moment, thinking over this new information.
'You're right. Of course, yes. Who else knows about this?' I asked, looking from my mother to Piper. Piper shrugged and turned her face away from me angrily and my mother smiled.
'Benjamin, Piper and I… and now you. Not even Amelia knows this yet. She knows that her blood is special. But she does not know how important to us her blood truly is. Our ultimate weapon.'
'Agreed. Piper would you mind keeping this to yourself? I am asking as a friend and for a friend… that is not an order.' Piper nodded with an unimpressed sigh. 'Good. So, now we just need to make sure that our "ultimate weapon" is kept safe and well hidden.' I said with a sigh of relief.
'Is that all I am to you people. A fucking weapon?' Amelia cried, causing us all to spin around to face her. Her face was pale, and tears fell from her eyes.
'All this time Arlo. All this time you knew how much I was struggling, feeling like I didn't fit in. And you knew why. But you never told me.' I whispered, tears rolling down my cheeks and pooling at my chin. I never looked up, but I heard him slowly walk towards me.
'Lia, please, listen to me…'
'Don't call me that!" I snapped, turning my glare towards him, causing him to freeze on the spot. The look of hurt that crossed his face felt like a stab to my heart, but I was not going to back down. He knew how desperate I was for answers and did nothing.
'Look, I know how this looks… but…'
'I don't want excuses Arlo. I want answers.' I cut in, my voice hard and emotionless. I couldn't allow myself to succumb to the true feelings that were raging within. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears and I felt as though I was going to pass out. Arlo cleared his throat nervously and dipped his head.
'I should have told you the truth.' He answered, his voice low and filled with pain. I gulped down a deep breath as a new wave of tears washed over me.
'Why didn't you tell me Arlo? How could you have done that to me?'
'It's because I-'
'I gave you everything. I gave you the one thing that I can never get back. I even thought that I was going to give you my heart. I know that you can feel the beginnings of an imprint, and I knew what I was doing. But... I just thought that you could have at least been honest with me.' I cried, dropping my face into my hands and sobbing uncontrollably. Arlo closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms; I know that it sounds strange but, in that moment, I thought that I could feel a tiny part of his heart break too.
'Lia, I never told you because I… I love you.' He whispered, his voice trembling as he spoke. I jerked my head back and stepped out of his embrace. Why was it that the three words that I wanted to hear more than anything just made me hurt more? I shook my head and stepped backwards, holding my hands up defensively. It was only then that I noticed the rest of the pack gathering in the doorway. Some with looks of curiosity on their face, some with concern, and some that were smirking. I grit my teeth and shook my head again, this time more forcefully.
'Get away from me.' I whispered, my words seemingly stunning Arlo.
'Lia, I just said…'
'I said, get away from me!' I screamed, this time throwing my arms down at my sides, allowing my anger to explode out around me. The sound of breaking glass filled the quiet of the room followed by the sounds of people screaming out in fear. I opened my eyes and looked at the devastation that was laid out before me. The entire pack lay on the floor, some staring at me speechlessly, others scrambling to get away from me as fast as they could. I felt my breath catch in my throat as my fears and anxieties crashed down on me.
I turned and ran out of the mansion, needing to be free of this place I know that I had tried escaping many times before, but this time was different. I would kill if I had to. I just needed to be free. I burst through the main doors and ran out into the darkness. I guess all the training that Arlo had been giving me was paying off. I remember last time I tired to run this my legs gave out and my lungs were burning, but this time, everything was different. I noticed that the trees and houses were beginning to whizz past me in a blur and the cool night air slammed into my bare skin, leaving me feeling free. I was so caught up in that moment that I never noticed the dark figure lurking in the shadows of the canopy of trees.
In the blink of an eye, the shadowy figure lunged forward, slamming into me with so much force that it knocked me to the slightly dampened earth. I rolled over the ground a few times before finally stopping on my back and staring up at the stars above me, panting breathlessly; the tackle winding me.
'You thought that you could just turn up here and ruin everything? Everything that I have been working for?' The familiar voice asked menacingly from the darkness. I knew that voice. Why did I know that voice? I propped myself up on my elbows and was surprised at how easily I could see into the darkness. Charlie was crouched beside me, a look of disgust crossing his face.
'C-Charlie? What are you doing?' I asked, disorientation and confusion causing my voice to wobble.
'I am here to make sure your time at ruining my life is over. Do you not understand how disgusting it is to have to be associated with someone like you?' He sneered, turning his nose up in disgust.
'I-I don't know what you are talking about!' I stammered, shaking my head and slowly crawling backwards. Charlie leapt up to his feet, and in one swift movement, kicked my arms out from under me, causing me to slam back down to the ground.
'A disgusting half-blood like you. We are pure bloods through and though. And you can't even shift. Have you not wondered why father always kept you hidden away in that cottage? Too ashamed to be linked to the likes of you.' He continued, circling me like a shark following the scent of blood on the waves. I tried to prop myself up once again, but Charlie moved forward, placing his boot on my hand, pressing down with all his weight. Pain burned through my fingers at the force of being crushed, and I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out. His other foot raised into the air before coming down on my face with a sickening crunch.
My head jerked backwards, slamming into the ground, a sharp pain erupting down my neck. Warm blood gushed from my nose, and I could feel it running down my face and pooling in my hair. In one swift motion, Charlie place a foot either side of me, giving my fingers once last stamp before dropping down on top of me, straddling me.
"Please? W-Why are you doing this to me?' I sobbed, pain flooding through me from the slight motion of talking. I tried to struggle out from underneath him, but the world was spinning around me in a blur. I was obviously suffering from some kind of concussion. Charlie threw his head back and laughed into the nights air, his breath coming out in clouds in front of him. He turned his stare back to me and grabbed my throat my both hands, squeezing with all his might.
I felt the panic setting in as I struggled to get my breath. My eyes were bulging from the force of his hands and I felt as though my head was going to explode. A pressure began forming in my head and I kicked my legs out trying to get him off of me, but it was no use. He was too strong. I could hear my heartbeat in my once again, at first slamming hard, but gradually slowly down. The edges of my vision darkened, and I knew in that moment that I was going to die. I felt every muscle in my body tense unlike anything I had ever felt before, and a strange glow gently illuminated a terrified looking Charlie. I threw my head back and screamed, the pressure releasing me instantly. A force threw Charlie from on top of me, throwing him across the clearing, before slamming him into a tree. A sickening crunch filled the silence as he dropped down to the ground, groaning in agony. I climbed to my feet and looked down at my hands in awe.
Every pore in my body began to sting, and bones felt as though they were vibrating within. What was happening to me? A red-hot pain bolted down my spine, hitting my hips and causing me to buckle to my knees. A heat from within seared my inside, causing me to cry out in pain once more. I rolled onto my back and laid staring up at the beauty of the night sky, happy that the final moments of my life would be spent staring up at the magical array above me. The sound of running footsteps could be heard getting closer to where I lay, but I couldn't move. My body suddenly felt as though it had turned to lead and I couldn't move an inch.
The footsteps grew louder and I realised that it must have been the entire pack, and then the sounds of gasps filled the air. They had obviously just seen Charlie. Someone rushed over to me, dropping down to the ground and reached out for my hand, but it was too late. The burning pain had reached a level that was intolerable and my back arched, snapping sounds filling the air.
'Lia its ok, just breathe, it will all be over soon.' Arlo whispered, leaning in close so that all I could see was those golden eyes staring down at me. My back arched once more, this time the burning spreading through my entire body, throwing me forward onto my hands and knees. I watched in horror as my fingers seemed to retract back inside my palms and my nails turn into claws and darkening. My knuckles popped up and my wrists bent in ways that seemed inhumanly possible. Pure white hairs began to sprout through my skin, slowly at first and then speeding my, spreading up my arms and down my back. My mouth and nose stretched out into one and my teeth throbbed as they extended and sharpened. I felt my shoes loosen, before falling off and just knew the same thing that happened to my fingers was happening to my toes. I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my teeth, riding out the burning pain as it intensified. For a brief moment I thought that I was about to pass out, and then there was a pop.
My clothes burst out into tattered rags around me and all the pressure that I had felt moments ago seemed to ease. I dropped down into the dirt, my eyes still tightly shut as I panted to catch my breath. Something was different. Every little sound that I heard seemed to be intensified somehow. I could hear the thumping of peoples hearts. I could hear every whispered from around the pack. And I could hear Charlie.
'I t-tried to s-stop her. I j-just wanted t-to help.' He stammered, his voice sounding weak and feeble. My eyes flew open and I came face to face with the shocked faces staring at me. I turned my stare across each member of the group, finally stopping on my father. Before I could stop it, my lips curled back, and a low feral growl erupted from deep within my chest and everyone stepped back.
I finally stopped and looked at Arlo. His kind eyes filled with a look that I couldn't quite place. Was that fear? Concern? Panic? I shook my head and slowly began backing away from them. A shrill voice filled my ears, so loud that I thought my eardrums were about to burst.
'Get her!' Lori screamed, bursting her way to the front of the group and pointing at me. 'Look what she has done to one of our pack members. This goes against pack lore!' She continued, her hateful stare boring into me. The sound of fellow pack members agreeing filled the silence causing me to back away from them further.
'We don't know…'
'I know that you are the alpha Arlo. But look. See for yourself what she has done to our Beta. To your best friend!' She cried, turning back to Charlie and gesturing to the ground where Charlie lay. Arlo closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. Before turning a sorrow filled eyes back to me. I narrowed my furious stare at them all and shook my head, growling viciously once more. I snapped my jaws and turned to run. I moved at speeds that I had never moved before. I no longer cared if anyone was following me. I was not part of that pack. I knew in my heart that I didn't belong there. And I was finally free.
I ran as fast as my paws could take me. Not stopping at anything. This was a whole new world to me. Every sight, every sound, every feeling. It was all new. I don't know how long I had been running. I didn't care. I felt so alive. I ran beside a huge lake that separated the pack mansion from the rest of the world and stopped to drink.
I turned my stare down to the reflective surface and startled myself with wide shocked eyes. I had never seen another wold look the way that I did. My green eyes seemed to sparkle, as though they held their own light. And my fur; although it was white, it shimmered in the dull light of the moon, looking just like that of a pearl. I shook my shoulders from side to side, and watched as the white seemed to reflect, blur, purple and green. I narrowed my eyes and nodded to myself before throwing my head back and letting my first howl rip through me. My sorrow filled cries filled the still night air, drifting off into the darkness.
Now, all I needed to do was follow this voice that seemed to be calling me. I wanted answers and in that moment, I swore to the gods that I was going to get them!