Cassandra
The Alpha stood strong and tall as he claimed his place on the ledge, but as able-bodied as he appeared, I could see his patches where his dark, jet coat was dull and matted. He had evidently served his people for years.
The Alpha rested his gaze on me. "Cassandra, correct?" I nodded. "You tell a strange tale," he said, "one that seems hardly believable. You were a human turned wolf?"
I nodded again. "Lune and I were hunting the beast," I said, "but the tracks were lost, and we came to a dead end. The intention was to part ways there and then when we were ambushed by someone from the village. Someone I thought was a friend."
I hated how my grief and hurt audibly seeped through my words. I gritted my teeth. But such was the way the cookie crumbled. Peter refused to believe me, and I would not let Lune be murdered without reason. I made my choice. I did not regret it.
"This beast," the Alpha continued, "have you seen it?"
"No. I've only heard second hand accounts, but even those do not describe its appearance. It slaughters mercilessly. Farmers lost their livestock all in one night."
A dark look crossed the Alpha's face. "Such a potent killer," he mused. "Should it set its eyes upon us, we could be in danger." He looked back down at me. "And the tracks. What did they look like?"
"They were lines, side winded lines, shaped like an S."
"An S?" Raisa said, stepping forward. "Father that sounds like the tracks of a snake."
He shook his head. "But there is no such snake that could kill cattle."
A croaky voice rose above the crowd. "There is one."
The wolf that spoke up hobbled on creaky joints to the front of the masses. Her fur was matted and stale like a dirt stained rug that had been left to the elements, and a pesky fly buzzed by her head. She would flick her ear every other second, but the stubborn insect never left, always hovering nearby. "If it is a snake that you seek, there is only one," she said. "If you believe me not, then there is none."
The Alpha paused, seemingly contemplating the wolf before him, then he finally spoke. "Who do you speak of, Esme?"
"With a heart as dark as his skin, he bears the evilest grin. The snake that bears such a threat is none other than the wicked Slyvet. And should he rise to power, we all will cower beneath a blotted out sun."
A shiver ran down my spine. A snake with a heart as dark as his skin? Memories of those visions I had flashed through my mind. A black serpent. A covered moon. A dark shadow cast upon the land. Esme slowly turned her head and fixed her milky, glass eyes upon me. A knowing smile spread across her face, and I looked away feeling a sudden chill.
Jaxton rolled his eyes. "It could be the evilest being in all of existence, but that fails to change the fact that it is nothing but a slimy worm. We have nothing to fear. Banish the girl, Father."
I shot a withering glare at the grey wolf. What did he have against me? Why was he so determined to get rid of me?
Esme tsked, shaking her head. "The young wolf seems to forget, but never mind and do not fret. For old Esme remembers the prophecy—the one that brought upon us this atrocity."
A hollow atmosphere settled in the gorge, and I glanced around. Sorrow eyes, drooping tail, sloping shoulders. This prophecy had to be the cause of the curse.
Esme recited the prophecy. "As sanction for your atrocities, I grant you this, a curse and prophecy. The form of lupus, you shall take. Tears of anguish lie in wake. To break the endless agony requires a simple act not of gallantry. The night of lunar bloodied zenith, be prepared, you ghastly behemoth, to spill the blood of a virgin maiden whose heart is pure and tough and brazen. When the pooling red taints the lands, the curse shall be lifted from your hands, and the sylvan woodlands that you roam shall be rendered empty, cold, alone."
Like an arrow, a realization hit me sharp and fast. To spill the blood of a virgin maiden. It was my blood that could change Lune, and it was my blood that she believed could break the curse. And if it was any more of a comfort, I'd never had sex either. Coincidence? It didn't feel like one.
"And what does this have to do with anything?" Jaxton asked.
"If the girl comes from the village," Raisa stated, "perhaps she can find the one who will break our curse."
"Or," Jaxton countered, "she'll lead the men here and kill us all."
The Alpha frowned pensively, accounting for the argument of both wolves. "Both of my children speak with reason," he said. "While Cassandra may become a valuable asset later on in our quest to return to humanity, she may have unknowingly left a trail of breadcrumbs back to our home. There is great risk in keeping her here." He turned his head towards one particular wolf in the crowd. "Hayden, your siblings have had a turn to speak. What do you suggest?"
Hayden flinched, surprised at being called upon. "I, uh…" Hayden swallowed. His siblings had their eyes on him, each of them expecting him to side with them. "I believe you will make the right choice, Alpha."
"I wish to know what you think," the Alpha said. "Voice your opinion, son."
Hayden cast me a glance. I returned it with a tilt of my head. I wouldn't beg to stay here. From the leery eyes I had already received, it was obvious many wolves were untrusting of me, but being tossed out into the woods would not be favorable for my survival. I had better chances in this pack than alone.
He didn't show it, but I think Hayden saw the slight plea in my eyes. He turned back to the Alpha. "I think she should stay," he said. "Raisa is right. She could be helpful later on."
The Alpha dipped his head. "Very well. Cassandra may stay."
Raisa smiled at Hayden, and he returned a smile back, but when he caught wind of Jaxton's seething glare, it faltered, and he turned away, melding back into the crowd.
Arabella nudged my side. "Welcome to the pack," she said.
⥷⭃
"And this is your den," Arabella said. "I'll admit they aren't the best, but we do what we can."
"It's lovely, Arabella," I said. "Thank you."
She flashed a cheese. "Okay, I'll stop bothering you now so you can go ahead and get comfy."
I thanked her again, and she bounced away, running off to join another group of wolves. With a long sigh, I peered around my new home. A thin sheen of water rested on the stone of the alcove, dampening the walls, and dried moss of varying colors patched the ground like a hastily sewn together quilt. I settled down, resting my head on my paws.
This was my life now. Once I was Cassandra the human, born only to marry and cook and clean, but now I was Cassandra the wolf, a being forever lost in the entanglement of nature. I pondered the thought. Mr. Murphy's son wouldn't marry me if I was a wolf. Rather, he couldn't marry me. I didn't have to be his wife or his cook or his maid. I could be Cassandra Anne the free-reined woman. I could be me.
"Pardon, Cassandra?"
I lifted my head and then scrambled to my paws. The Alpha hovered in the entrance of my den, smiling with gentle eyes. What did Raisa and Jaxton do when he arrived? They, they, they… Bowed. Right, they bowed.
I jerked my head down in what I hope was an adequate sign of respect and submission. "How can I help you, my Alpha?" I said. Did that sound right? Did any of the wolves say that here? Though I didn't have any visible skin, I felt my face flush, and it seemed just as obvious as without fur. Oh Gods, I was making a fool of myself.
But instead of berating me, the Alpha simply laughed. "Oh, Cassandra," he said. "You don't need to bow nor do you need to refer to me as your Alpha. We've hardly been introduced, and I've done nothing yet to deserve your respect."
I tilted my head. "You let me stay here," I said. "Despite the risks I brought."
"That was less my decision and more my children's. It will be their pack in the future, and they should be the ones to decide its fate."
"Oh, well, thank you anyways, Alpha."
He laughed again. "Please, call me Aslak."
I blushed again. "Sorry. Thank you, Aslak."
Aslak walked in and glanced around my den. "Are you comfortable?"
"Yes, very."
"Really?" He raised a brow. "You prefer this cold stone to your soft bed at home?"
"Ah, well—"
"No, no, you were being polite. I understand." Aslak turned his gaze to the moss on the ground. "I remember life before this," he said. "I remember curling up beneath the covers, feeling flattered when a girl complimented me, and eating a hot meal around a table. I remember what it was like to be human.
"But some of us don't. Some of us were too young to remember, and some of us never even had the chance. They were born wolves. Your friend, Arabella, is one of them. I pity those children. They've never eaten raspberry pie, worn fancy clothing, or fallen in love." He paused and cocked his head. "Have you fallen in love, Cassandra?"
I bit my tongue and turned away. "I thought I did," I said, "but I was wrong. It was nothing more than a shallow idealization."
"But before you realized, was it a good feeling?"
I nodded. "It was wondrous. I melted every time I saw him."
"I want them to feel that. I want them to feel what you felt. When I assumed the role of Alpha, I promised my people that I would grant them the best life possible. I promised that no matter the circumstances, the trials, and the troubles that we faced, I would do everything I could to ensure we thrived here. And we are. We are thriving." Aslak looked beyond my den and out into the gorge. A couple of pups were roughhousing, rolling through the dirt. "We are creating new life here," Aslak continued, returning his gaze to me, "but we're hardly living. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but I beg of you, Cassandra. Please help us break this curse."