I stand alongside the other future members of the wolf pack.

Future members on one side and current members on the other.

It's initiation day and I'm terrified. I cross my arms over my cheat to try and keep myself from shaking.

The day some of us become wolves and some of us die.

The day we either trigger our curse by taking the lives of our friends and family or die in the process.

The Alpha of the Tray Wolf Pack, Hector stands among his people and gives a hand signal. A few wolves dump lighter fluid into barrels of charcoal and light matches, giving us light as the sun begins to set.

I never really had family here. They all got sick and died when I was 5. That's what Hector had said.

We all live in the Tray Mountains in Georgia and every year, this ritual takes place.

I feel like I'm going to throw up.

"There aren't enough competitors to make an even match." One of the wolves says to Hector

Hector signals for a young girl to step forward.

My heart breaks when I see her step forward. She's got dirty blonde hair in braids and chocolate brown eyes. She can't be more than 13.

Hector never picks someone so young. He waits until everyone is at least 16. She had three more years left. Three care free years exploring the mountains and gardening before she had to compete.

This is wrong.

But there's silence.

Nobody would dare disrespect their Alpha. They all knew the rules. Rumor has it that if you rebel you're tossed off the highest cliff, about a 4,430ft drop.

Not even a wolf could survive a fall like that.

Hector starts calling our names and pairing us off one by one.

"Taylor, Amanda.

"Renee, Jason.

"Timothy, Loreli.

"Lewis, Emma."

Is he serious? He's putting a 13 year old girl against Lewis? He is the strongest guy in the group. That's not even close to a fair fight.

But this tradition isn't about fair. It's about carrying on the twisted legacy of the Tray Wolf Pack. I used to hear stories about the old days when I was young, how it used to never be this way. Then the people telling those stories "vanished."

No doubt down a 4,430ft drop.

We stand ready next to our matches. I keep my eye on Emma every so often. Timothy won't be much of a fighter. Never was.

I grew up with him. He talked a lot of shit for a guy who couldn't throw a punch, but my main focus is taking care of Emma. Even if it kills me.

I watch closely as Tim throws a punch. I dodge it. He grabs me by the hair and kick him as hard as I can in his balls. He backhands me and I roll across the damp grass. I charge and slide the way baseball players and my foot collides with his ankle, breaking it. I grab a large stick and stab him through the eye into his brain.

Quick. Painless.

The others are all a safe distance away, fighting each other and I search u til I did Emma. She's lying on the ground with Lewis on top of her, punching her in the face, laughing.

He's enjoying this.

I'm going to make sure I enjoy what I do to him.

I charge before anyone can try and stop me and knock him off. I go tumbling as a result. Then as quickly as I can I find another sharp thick stick and jam it into the side of his neck.

I rush over to the little girl as her competitor falls to the ground, gushing blood. I fall to my knees and my eyes glow golden. I've triggered my curse.

After a moment I turn back to Emma.

She's bruised but she's okay.

"What are you doing child?" Hector demands

"What's right." I say

He grabs me by the arm and yanks me up. I look around, multiple people are falling to their knees, eyes glowing, triggering their curse while their kills are lying dead on the ground.

"The rules of the ritual are very clear. You kill one competitor and trigger your curse. You know the punishment for breaking this rule."

Outcasted. Abandoned on the outskirts of the mountain to die.

"Don't punish Emma for the choice I made." I say glaring at Hector

"Oh rest assured child. No harm will come to her. You on the other hand are a different story."

He hands me to a pair of his followers. They grab me by the arms and drag me down the mountain as I stumble over rocks and branches and throw me to the ground in the darkness. Then they turn and walk away without a word.