The daughter about whom the old man was talking, was walking inside the forest. She didn't react in a much strong way. She still remembers the face of the old woman who told her about her mother's death.
" Oh you poor baby, your mother is dead. I am so sorry. But nothing to fret about, your father is coming tomorrow to take you with him."
Her name was Isabella. The old woman has always felt pity for her. She has seen how her mother has mistreated her. No one in the village knows much about her. But everyone knows she is a beauty. Some even say she is a beauty far from the world. Girls and old women are jealous of her beauty.
They have rumors ongoing. Some say she is a witch some say she has done wrong deeds but no one knows her side of the story. She goes to the forest every night. She was not accepted at her home is what her mother says. Her human mother only needed her when she needed someone to wash the clothes, clean the house, milk the cow, and cut the crop. Other than that, she was never accepted in the home.
Living alone for few years had taken a dangerous toll on her mother. She was no more willing to take care of her or to wait for her father. She had sexual desires which were once fulfilled by her husband but ever since he has gone away, she has no one to fulfill her desires. Not to mention, a baby who needs her care and attention.
She was four years old when her mother couldn't keep it in control anymore and her desires overcome her rational thoughts and she got over another man. The moment the man came inside, poor Isabella couldn't keep her excitement inside. She has seen other families laughing with each other and are happy together too. She has never seen her real father as he has gone few months after she was born to give both of them a better life. The moment she saw the man hugging his mother she shouted the word,' Father'. The man didn't know about the little girl. He had no idea she will be there and overall calling her father. Her mother jumped in and handled the situation the way she sees it fit.
She didn't want to lose the opportunity which she has got after such a long period of time. Before the man could've said something, she slapped her and locked her outside after taking her outside holding her wrist. For the first time, the little girl was made to sleep outside the comfort of home.
That night the little girl cried for the harsh behavior of her mother. She didn't know where she went wrong. In the midst of her confusion and tears, she found himself in the midst of the forest. She lost her way and found herself in the woods unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadow. Once again she started sobbing. She looked around trying to find someone to help her but found no one.
The forest was quiet during the night. All creatures know that the hunting animals hunt their prey during the nighttime. It was the time of hunters and hunting. Suddenly in the silence of the forest, someone heard her wailing sound. That someone happens to be some wolfs. They were out to hunt during the nighttime. They were not far away from their pack. The sparkly blue eyes of Isabella were emitting so innocence that it appeared as if they were looking in the eyes of a pup of their own. They can never kill a human. Killing a human meant that other humans can come and kill them. They don't want to put their pack in danger.
They were still confused and observing the little girl with curious eyes. Suddenly, their leader, the Alpha came to the spot. By now she had stopped crying and was looking at them. She has never seen such creatures. When the Alpha came forward, she was awe-looking at him. The Alpha was taller than other wolves. Both of them were looking in eyes of each other.
For the first time, he didn't threaten something for looking into his eyes. He felt attached when she slowly smiled at him and stroked his fur. He had a litter among which he had a single daughter. His daughter, unfortunately, couldn't survive but seeing this little girl was as if he once again met his wolf daughter. He slowly crouched down beside her as if to tell her to ride him. He let her sit on him and then he made his way to the den.
His mate was waiting in the den. She was protecting her first litter while her mate was far away from them. She was feeding her pups when suddenly she smelt the smell of her mate mixed with something else. She started taking the scent mixed with his mate. After taking a whiff of the scent of human, she took a defensive stance. All the worse scenarios were passing through her mind. She was worried for her mate but when she saw her mate bringing a small human baby, she relaxed a little. She let him place the small baby in the den.
Isabella has never been in a den. She was still in awe. She has first time riding something like that. It took her some time to adjust according to the difference in light, but when she did she squealed. Both mates became curious but suddenly when she ran to the mother of the pups, they couldn't help themselves but give her a wolfish grin. She soon got comfortable and after playing with the litter, she soon fell asleep curled in a ball beside them. Both wolves were watching their pups affectionately. They were worried about the new addition to the family but they also know that from now on, they will love her and she will be a part of their pack. Until she finds her mate.
They miss their daughter wolf but now that they have Isabella, they decided to keep her as their own. Although they decide to let her go every morning among the humans, but yet she will come back every night to spend her time. She has learned all necessary lessons from his wolf pack and forest. She never again needed her human mother.
Every day her human mother will make her do the work. And sometimes when she let her anger out on her, her wolf mother will lick her to ease her pain. Sometimes she will find some plants to ease her pain. She always keeps them with her so she could use them when her pack needs them. All that she knows are the things that she needs to know to live her life.
She was yet unknown to the wicked and harsh reality of the world. Her knowledge of life and the various situation may exceed any other human, but yet her mind was working as if she was a kid. She has not slept on a bed for a long time. The safety and comfort which she should have found in her well-built house were given to her by the cave in the woods. The love and affection, the acceptance which should have been given to her by the humans, were given by the wolves. While the wolves gave her lessons, comfort, love, and acceptance, her mother kicks her out every night to sleep in the cold. Slaps her, kicks her, gives her bruises and, calls her names while she just silently cries. Although she doesn't understand the dark intentions of men, yet the looks given by them make her skin crawl in fear.
One man once cornered her when she was walking inside the forest. He was drunk and the lust was swirling in his eyes. She didn't know why she was so scared but she was frozen on the very spot. She was in luck as after he cornered her and walked inside her comfort zone, her brothers and her father jumped into the scene. The man was now scared.
While she has lived among them and ran towards them for safety, he became sober because of his fear. He took off running after throwing her to them thinking they would kill her and let him be. How wrong was he. The moment he decided to take off running, they chased him. They love a good chase.
Isabella couldn't understand what happened. For some unknown reason, she felt scared of him. His father understood his intentions. Although his brothers didn't know about it, they had one simple mindset that time,' eliminate the reason for my sister's fear'. And boy, they did that.
They chased him to the edge of the cliff and he stood at the very edge. Out of fear, he lost his balance and died from the impact.
Ever since then her father started teaching them about the auras. And told them to only trust those people whose aura matches with their actions and words. And even after that, not to blindly trust anyone out of the family.
"A bond in the pack is stronger than any blood or water. Be it the demon or angle, life or death, it can never be tethered only become stronger."
He taught all the young wolves to include his daughter about how anyone should be towards their leader ad how a leader should be towards his people.
She doesn't know if to feel hurt or not. She had cried when she lost her wolf father. She cried when she lost her wolf mother. But now, she doesn't know if she should cry for her or not. But she knows one thing that she has to leave her brothers and go far away from them. Although they don't want to be separate, they know they have to. With a promise to howl every night to let other one know of one's well-being. With a last howl to the moon as unite, they saw each other off.
Her father came in a carriage to take her the very next day to a new future awaiting