Xender kept her head high as she stepped in front of the pack. Marcus, the leader, gave her a fierce look with angry eyes.
"You have brought shame to our pack, Xender," Marcus snarled. "You are no longer one of us.
" Xender was a little depressed, but she didn't want to show it. This was what she had anticipated.
She was aware that she would never be accepted by the pack for who she was. A monster.
A night monster. Xender left the pack behind and turned to leave. She was indifferent. In any case, she had never felt like she belonged. Xender experienced a wave of liberation as she moved.
At last, she was by herself. able to be herself at last. Lost in contemplation, Xender strolled for hours. It was only when he spoke that she realized the person was following her. "Xender." Peter was standing behind her when Xender turned around.
His voice was gruff and low, and his eyes were full of worry.
"What are you doing here?"
Xender inquired, attempting to sound informal. Peter, however, merely grinned. "I've been following you," he declared.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay." A beat skipped in Xender's heart. Her chest began to flutter.
She said, "Thanks," in an attempt to appear casual. Peter, however, simply moved in closer.
He said, "Xender, I have to tell you something," in a somber and hushed voice. Xender felt her heart thumping in her chest.
What was it Peter wished to convey to her?
She opened her mouth to ask, but Peter's lips suddenly touched hers.
A rush of passion swept through Xender's body. This was a new feeling for her. I've never felt so alive. Xender felt as if she was melting into Peter's arms as they shared a kiss.
As if she were at home. However, as they withdrew, Xender noticed something that chilled her.
Someone watching them from the shadows. A figure with eyes that glowed. Xender felt a sinking heart. What was meant by it? She opened her mouth to ask, but the person interrupted.
The apparition continued, "Xender, you're in danger," in a silky, deep voice. Xender's terrified eyes grew wide. What was meant by the figure?
She was going to inquire when everything went dark. Xender felt herself plummeting as her world darkened.
However, the voice of the creature whispered in her ear as she fell. "You're not who you think you are, Xender."
With a start, Xender sat up and her eyes opened. However, she became aware that she was alone herself as she looked around.
There was no sign of Peter. And the glowing-eyed figure vanished. Xender pondered what was going on, her heart thumping in her chest. She was about to get to her feet when she heard a voice behind her.
"Welcome, Xender," replied the voice. "I have been anticipating your arrival." When Xender turned, she saw a shadowy figure standing behind her. "Who are you?"
Xender, attempting to maintain a steady tone, demanded.
A woman with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes emerged as the figure moved forward.
The woman added, "I am Ariana," in a thick, deep voice. "And I have been waiting for you, Xender." Xender's gaze grew strained. Trying to maintain her composure, she responded, "What do you want from me?" Ariana grinned.
Her words were, "I want to show you the truth," "The truth about who you are and what you're capable of." A beat skipped in Xender's heart.
What was Ariana trying to say? Ariana reached out and caressed Xender's forehead as she was ready to inquire.
A rush of energy swept through Xender's body.
Abruptly, she was overcome by recollections and visions. Recollections of a life she had never experienced.
A life of power and magic. Xender's eyes became wide with surprise. What was going on?
She was going to inquire when Ariana interrupted. "You are a direct descendant of the ancient ones," Ariana stated.
"You have the power of the gods running through your veins." Xender's thoughts whirled. What was Ariana trying to say? Xender was about to ask when she heard a voice behind her. "Welcome, Xender," replied the voice. With an odd expression on his face, Xender turned to see Peter standing behind her.
However, Xender was not startled by Peter's eyes. The mark on his forehead was the culprit.
A mark that resembled a crescent moon uncannily. Xender felt a sinking heart.
What was meant by it?
She opened her mouth to ask, but Peter interrupted.
He continued, "I've been waiting for you, Xender," in a husky, low voice. "My queen." Xender's eyes became wide with surprise. What was Peter trying to say?
She was going to inquire when everything went dark.
Xender felt herself plummeting as her world darkened.
However, she heard Peter's voice whispering in her ear as she fell. Saying, "You're mine now, Xender," "Always and forever." With a start, Xender sat up and her eyes opened. She was in a low-ceilinged, stone-walled dungeon that was damp and dark. Peter sat next her, his eyes shining with a radiance that seemed unearthly.
"Where am I?" Xender, attempting to maintain a steady tone, demanded. "You're in my home,"
Peter whispered in a hoarse, low voice. "My queen." Xender felt a sinking heart. What was Peter trying to say? She was going to ask when Peter got up and dragged her to her feet. "Come," he urged, his eyes bright with anticipation.
"I want to show you something." Peter's hold on her arm was like a vice, even though Xender hesitated. All she could do was follow him. Peter guided her through the cellar's twisting passageways until they reached a big, elaborate door. Xender gasped in surprise as Peter pulled the door open.
There was a big stone throne with elaborate carvings and symbols inside the room. And there was a little leather-bound book on the throne. Taking the book, Peter gave it to Xender.
He declared, "This is the Book of the Ancients," with a look of awe in his eyes. "It holds the secrets of our people." As she accepted the book, Xender's eyes grew wide.
The symbols on the cover appeared to shine and sparkle, and it felt weighty with strength. "What do you want me to do with this?" Xender asked, attempting to maintain a steady tone. Xender felt a chill go down her spine as Peter's eyes met hers.
He said, "I want you to read it," in a hoarse, low voice. "I want you to discover the truth about yourself, and about our people."
As Xender opened the book, her heart thumped in her chest. The text appeared to jump off the page, despite the yellowed and crackling pages. Xender was reading when an odd feeling began to grow inside of her. a feeling of strength and fate.
Then, Xender heard a voice behind her as she was ready to turn the page. The voice asked, "Peter, what are you doing?"
A figure was standing in the doorway when Xender turned around. A figure with long, flowing hair and piercing emerald eyes. Ariana.
Xender felt a sinking heart. Why was Ariana in this place? She opened her mouth to ask, but Ariana interrupted. She said, "Peter, you fool," in a voice full of hate. "You'll ruin everything." Xender sensed the tension rising in the air as Peter's gaze narrowed. "What are you talking about, Ariana?" Peter snarled.
Xender's spine tingled as she saw Ariana's smile. When Ariana said, "I'm talking about the prophecy," "The prophecy that says Xender will be the one to bring about our downfall." Xender's eyes became wide with surprise. With a firm voice, she demanded,
"What prophecy?"
Xender's spine tingled as she saw Ariana's smile. "The prophecy that says you will be the one to bring about our downfall," Ariana said again. "The prophecy that says you will destroy everything we hold dear." Xender felt a sinking heart.
What was Ariana trying to say? She opened her mouth to ask, but Peter interrupted. Peter snarled, "Ariana, you're lying," "Xender is the key to our survival, not our downfall." Xender sensed the tension rising as Ariana laughed.
Ariana responded, "We'll see about that," her eyes shining with ill intent. After that, Xender experienced an odd feeling as Ariana held up her hand. Although Xender made an effort to fight, it was too late.
Everything turned dark. Xender felt herself plummeting as her world darkened.
However, she heard Ariana's voice whispering in her ear as she fell. "Xender," Ariana remarked, "you're not who you think you are," "You're not even human." With a start, Xender sat up and her eyes opened. However, she became aware that she was no longer in the cellar when she turned to look around.
She found herself in an odd, futuristic lab. And bizarre, extraterrestrial animals surrounding her.
As Xender came to terms with the reality, her heart raced in her chest. She was no longer on this planet. She was in another planet. She was also not a human. She was a completely different person.
Xender glanced at her hands, her eyes wide with surprise. The hands were no longer human.
They were different. Something with a peculiar, luminous mark, scales, and claws. As Xender gazed at her new hands, her mind whirled.
Who was she?
What had she become into?
She was going to ask when a voice from behind her interrupted. "Welcome,
Xender," replied the voice. "Greetings from your new residence."