Selene was the creator of all wolves in existence, the true Goddess of us all. When Zeus turned her former lovers into wolves, she used her power and love to create more so they were not alone. Not to be forgotten, the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone created the gifted wolves as a reminder that they held just as much importance.
There were Elementals, Healers, and Necros. Elementals could control their gifted element, it was never recorded if any wolf held all four elements but one has not been seen in hundreds of years. Healers could heal any ailment or injury by a simple incantation and were commonly found across the globe. Depending on the injury or ailment the Healer can be weakened for several hours or several says. Healers had nothing to fear as they were treated almost as well as royalty. Everyone trying to buy or claim their own Healer.
Necros were believed to have originated from the dark magic born in the Underwold, which is feared in all supernatural communities. It is rumored that nothing but death and darkness stalk the path of every Necro and those closest to them. That you can lose your life by just one look from a Necro. The last reported Necro was from five hundred years before. Necro Cyrus was a dark and evil man, abusing his powers to destroy packs and dynasties for his own personal gain. He met his end when Elementals formed an alliance with other Royal packs. Hundreds of thousands of wolves were lost in the great war but they were able to over Cyrus and end his reign of terror. The only way to ensure that Necro cannot regenerate was to remove the head and heart, his head was proudly displayed for all to see as a warning to others who dared to follow in his footsteps. After that, all Necros were hunted to prevent another from rising to power. Necros did hold the power to end life but to also conjure the dead to reveal the future and influence the course of events. They could also bring someone back from the brink of death, heal, or control the dead. An uncommonly known power of the Necros, they could summon apparitions or visions, some could even read the true purpose of a person, some could even disguise their scents or their wolf's appearance. Also possessing speed beyond most wolves, it was said that Necros moved as if a they were a shadow, passing so quickly that their movements were difficult to track, even with wolf senses. Hundred of thousands of wolves were murdered, most were not Necro but fear spread anyway.
It eats at my Mother everyday that she didn't see the attack coming, that she couldn't stop it, that we were so powerful yet so helpless out of fear. Alpha Derrick had a belief, perhaps from a rumor, that we were housing Necros and other Blessed wolves. His reasoning for the destruction of my pack. He wanted the power of the Blessed for himself, a perfect example of why Blessed wolves hid their true nature. His mind was twisted with the desire for power and control. I watched as the blood of my loved ones dripped from his blade onto the tile floor of our pack house living room, blending with the blood of other pack members who died trying to fight. Mostly the elderly and a few women and men were left. I could hear the screams of the children in the other room followed by the sick laugh of some maniac. My blood was boiling, the rage filling me. I knew I could clear this room with the flick of my wrist but that would mean killing innocent wolves and what remained of my family.
Derrick was covered from head to toe in blood, as if he bathed in blood, his eyes standing out with a crazed look. His pack standing around him laughing, kicking my pack mates in the stomach or head. A woman was screaming, cradling the body of her mate, I thought I could hear her heart breaking. So many lives lost, so much blood split for me. The pack did their best to fight back but they had three times the numbers we had. Even with all our training we didn't stand a chance. I could hear sporadic gunshots outside the house, Derrick's men were walking through the bodies and shooting any that moved with liquid silver bullets. Men were going around the house ransacking, looking for whatever they can to claim and keep. One man entering the room adjusting his pants with a sad, broken girl following behind him. Her dress torn and makeup smeared across her face. She was struggling to walk, blood smeared down her legs. The smell of fire reaching me, someone had started burning buildings around the pack lands. Derrick taking that as his cue to wrap things up.
"If no one is willing to reveal themselves then I suppose these two Alphas don't need their heads." With a swing of the machete he carried he removed the heads of my brother and father. No regeneration for them now, no Necro could bring someone back if they didn't have a head.
Cate, your eyes are glowing. Your powers are coming forward. Bow your head. Please. I can't lose you too. My Mother's voice entered my mind. I glanced over at my little brother, having just turned sixteen that summer, was silently crying, rocking back and forth with his eyes focused on his hands. I could see that he was slightly shaking. I forced my eyes down, focusing on my breathing to calm Amara.
My mother wasn't a strong Necro. She had healing powers, able to bring someone back from the brink of death, create apparitions of past events, and the ability to mask her wolf's scent. It was how she was able to convince people she was a human for so long. No one would suspect a human as a Blessed wolf.
My powers began with my first shift and with each passing moon my powers would grow more and more until I was almost as powerful as Necro Cyrus. My family knew that if word got out of what I was it would mean death. My parents always feared that it would pass down to each of us but I was the only one to show any sign. It was why Benton and my father trained me so hard, I had to be prepared for the fight of my life if it came down to it. My mother taught me what she knew and the rest I had to learn from reading of the old tales, most destroyed to prevent another Necro rising but Amara seemed to already know what to do without any hesitation.
"Cate Mercer. Daughter of the Alpha. Aren't you a pretty little thing. Happy birthday!" Alpha Derrick placed his stained blade to my throat, I waited for the stinging pain praying that it would be quick. I prayed to the Moon Goddess to protect my mother and brother.
"No mark. No mate. You'll do nicely for Beta Michael's son Alex. He's unmated and I need to keep an eye on you. I think you hold....great potential." His laugh taunted me, he believed that I was a Necro but I refused to give him the satisfaction. Turning my eyes away from the blood drenched floor, I turned to look him in the eyes, never wavering, holding my power back. I refused to let him think he won even though we both knew he had.
"I'll go. Willingly. If you, and only if, you spare my brother and mother." I could see the wheels turning.
"Agreed. But! Your brother does not come with us. He has to go away. If he ever enters Blood Stone lands he'll be killed on sight. Your mother. She can live in the city, off pack lands."
And just like that, I condemned myself to ten years of hell. I knew that the pack doctor suspected that I was a Necro, which was why I had lasted so long enduring the pain of unsated heat and bond poisoning from all the infidelity – I was able to heal myself in a way only a Necro could. I started believe that nothing but death and darkness would follow me until Olivia. No darkness could create such a beautiful life. A new fear adding to my anxiety – what if she was a Necro. She hadn't exhibited any of the signs that my mother said I had but we wouldn't be in the clear until her wolf presents herself.
I laid in bed for hours, replaying the scene, trying to create new scenarios, what could I have done differently. Nothing could ease my mind.
Let's go for a run. No one would be out right now. I knew Amara was feeling the stress. I laid in bed a while longer considering it. The clock on my phone read 3:47 – no one would be out at this time. If I stayed close to pack lands and didn't venture too far I would be okay.
I grabbed a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt before heading out the door. I found my Mom sitting at the bar in the mini kitchen.
"Where you off to this early?" She looked exhausted even after the hours of sleep but I knew they were hours that she had missed over the years.
"I was going to go for a run. I can't sleep so I thought it would help." She nodded knowing that I experienced this from time to time.
"Be safe and make sure no one is around if you plan on dropping your cover." I had to alter Amara's appearance when I ran, to everyone else she was a red wolf. If I let her out with no cover, she's a blazing fire, her fur a bright burning red that moves and morphs as if she were made of flames.
I walked out the door and to the elevator finding not a soul out just as I was hoping. I could smell shifters and humans all through the halls, picking up the scent of a witch or two. The elevator light burned my eyes but as the doors opened to the lobby I was greeted with nothing but the soft sounds of jazz playing from the speakers. I made my way through the back of the building searching for the signs that I had seen previously, the path lights glowing softly in the night. The stone path changing into the dirt one as before. I walked deeper into the forest, passing the small clearing where I had stood with two Royal guards just hours before. I wanted to be sure that I was deep enough in that I could let Amara free without fear that someone would accidentally run into me if they happened to be out. When I felt safe, I stripped out of my clothes, placing them in the backpack I brought along and shifted. It was painful from not having shifted in so long.
I dug my paws into the partially frozen ground, breathing deeply the fresh scent of earth and ice. I made sure to mark the tree where I placed my bag before letting out a howl of raw emotion. I ran as fast as my body allowed – pushing myself harder than ever before – letting Amara drop her glamour and setting the area around me a blaze with the light I emanated. There was no moon out tonight which made my fur burn that much brighter in the night. Savoring the chilled air that rushed through my fur and burned my lungs I pushed further up the mountain. I could clearly see the shadow of a castle and switched direction to get a closer look, careful not to draw too much attention to myself. I gazed at the intimidating structure, admiring the simplicity of it, curious about one man behind those walls. I caught the sent of a small animal and could feel Amara pushing for control. She was dying for a hunt.
Let's go get em girl! I let Amara take full control. She was free. We were finally free.