~Unknown~

We were trailing, something we do often. Our lord was busy working on something or another, so as good men we ran the boarders. We had picked up the scent of a war bear, and we headed for his direction. They weren’t allowed on our lands, so dealing with it now was a must. As the scent thickened, we slid to a stop. The sound of a battle cry, ringing through our ears. It was to high pitched for a man, which lead us to believe a she-wolf was screaming.

Quickly we ran, pushing our wolves faster. Had the she-wolf encountered the bear, she would be done for. The sickening stench of blood, filled our noses as we pushed over a hill. At the top we watched in horror, as the young female fell to the ground. The war bear pluming towards her, his paws shook the earth. As she lay there her eyes fixated on the bear, he lunged. She moved grabbing something, before his body smashed into hers. His roar of pain, as a large bloody object stuck out his back.

Blood covered his fur, as his eyes fluttered closed. Quickly we ran down, the men checking to make sure the bear was dead. Pushing his large body to the side, the small female had positioned herself into a ditch. Her eyes closed, as her breathing was labored.

She shifted before rolling onto her side, her hair covered in leaves and sticks.

“Easy” Kneeling down to her. As if I had poked her with a hot iron, she launched upwards wrapping her back around a tree.

“Who are, what do you want?” Growling.

“This is our territory, shouldn’t we be asking you that?” I asked still kneeling. Her eyes roamed the ten men I had taken along with me, before they settled on the dead bear. Something in her relaxed a little, as she sighed.

“Where are you from?” I pushed on.

“River stone” Whispering as she still looked at the bear.

“You’re a little off from their, did you get lost?” Giving her the benefit of the doubt.

“No” Shaking slowly.

“So your trespassing?” Standing up right.

“No” Again she shakes her head. Puzzled, as I can’t seem to sense her wolf.

“How old are you?” Her eyes look at mine, their grey and full of something sad.

“Does it matter?” Relaxing her shoulders.

“I suppose not, do you have a name?”

“Yes” Her answers were vague, and without any emotion. It was like looking at a kicked puppy, who had just given up all hope.

“Can I hear it?” Taking a small step.

“Its not worth speaking” Her eyes flickered to mine, showing she was on the verge of tears. Turning she started to walk away, before calling over her shoulder.

“I wont speak a word about your pack, not that anyone would believe me” The crackling in her voice, broke my heart. Had my daughter sounded like that, I would of held her. Without another word, she vanished into the dark trees.

For a few minutes we all stood, looking in the direction she had run off in. It was hard to believe such a small she-wolf fought off this war bear, there not easy to kill even for a full grown wolf male. Turning to my men, I nodded as they lift the bear up, heading back to camp. This was going to be an interesting conversation, when the Alpha heard about it. Good thing I had witnesses, or he’d never believe me.

The return was duel, and the only think I could think about was her. Who had she been, what rank was she. How’d she manage to learn a skill like that, who taught her. Every possible question ran through me, without any answers I became annoyed. “Beta Kem?” Our enforcer called, from behind me.

“Yea” Turning around.

“We removed the bear” I nodded.

“Good, I’ll inform the Alpha” He paused before walking away.

“It’s hard to believe a little she-wolf took down a war bear” Grunting I had to agree. Walking away, passing my house and a few others, before stepping up the large river stone steps. Opening the large door, the smell of our Alpha filled my nose. Walking down a long hallway, to his office knocking three times.

“Come in” He roared. Opening the door as he looked up from a desk.

“What is it Kem?” His dark eyes fixated on me.

“We located the bear Alpha” Lowering my head.

“So I am to assume you killed it?” Slipping his hands behind his head.

“No Alpha” Swallowing as his stair darkened.

“Then what are you doing in here?” Leaning forward.

“You see sir, we ran into a she-wolf.” Rubbing the back of my neck. His eyes widen for a second, before returning to their hard look.

“A she-wolf. I suppose the bear mauled her” Huffing.

“No Alpha.” Sighing heavily, he rolled his fingers over the desk.

“Kem what is the hell does this she-wolf have to do with killing the War bear?” His patience was growing thin.

“She sort of killed it herself, Alpha” He burst out laughing, with the deep rumble around it.

“What was the war bear a cub?”

“No Alpha, it was a full grown male” He quickly stopped.

~Fina~

I had beaten it, with all my training I had finally gotten some kind of result. But man was I tried, with everything I had tried it never seemed to push through the bears heavy coat. The only think I could think to do, was have his own weight work against him. It was a risky move, but it was either that or die. The last minute decision worked, as he lunged for me. The thick pointed log I had choose to save my life, paid off with astounding results.

Now under his weight, I grew weak. My eyes closed as I tried to maintain a normal heart rate, getting my head into a spot where I could breath. Something had me puzzled, as the weight of the bear was removed. Wolves a few of them, their smell over powering and not from my pack. As I jumped to my feet, he tried to calm me. Something I hadn’t expected, he sounded like a Beta but didn’t act like one. He was almost fatherly to me, as he tried to smooth the situation out.

Honestly I just wanted to run away, other packs aren’t always friendly when you go tramping through their territory. It had been a stupid mistake, that could cost me my life. However as the conversation went on, I figured he wasn’t going to hard me. Just looking for information, but I wasn’t stupid. With any info I gave him, he could locate me. Giving out my pack info was stupid enough, know all he had to do was search for my face.

As I moved away, I tried to assure him I wasn’t going to tell anyone. Not that they would believe me, the dark forest was off limits. And if I had even mentioned going into it, I would be punished. It was a win, win for them. Walking back I could feel the boarder to my pack, the smell of someone I didn’t want to see hit me in the face.

“Where the hell have you been?” He growled grabbing my arm, and sending sparks through it. I hated him, and his stupid attitude. Pulling away I kept walking, not bothering to speak to the bastard.

“Damn it Fina, we have been looking for you” His pace stayed in line with mine.

“Shouldn’t of bothered” Keeping my growl contained. The fire came into view, along with a ton of pack members. My parents being two of them, when my mother saw me she sighed in relief. However my father was giving me a death glare, as his arms covered his torso.

“Fina where did you go?” I mother asked, coming to my side.

“For a walk” Shrugging.

“That’s a vague answer, you stepped out of the boarder why?” Jex snapped. As if I had to answer him, I huffed.

“Didn’t want to be bothered” Looking at my mom, instead of him. Stomping behind us was my father, his rage hadn’t dissipated even a little. I knew I’d get an ear full when we got home, but really I’d just tune it out. Opening our door, walking in I sat down at the kitchen table. Waiting for my parents to finish talking to the Alpha’s son, who was acting like he really gave two shits. Scoffing I pulled my shoes off, tossing them to the wall.

With my parents inside, my mother looked grey as my father paced.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” He snapped, pointing his finger at me. Keeping quiet was a sure way, to get him madder.

“Yes” Bowing my head, as if I was ashamed.

“You made the whole pack, look for you. Put your mother in an emotional state, and had the Alpha’s son freaking out” I almost laughed at that one. If he only knew, he’d probably still side with the stupid boy. My mother drummed, a little as she touched his arm.

“Let me talk with her dear” Soothing his soul, he grumbled before storming out of the house.

“Fina, what happened baby?”

“Nothing” Shaking my head, as I tried to forget my wolf wasn’t around to help me.

“Honey, something had to of happened. Why else would you just wander off?” She pulled her chair closer to mine, resting a hand on my leg. I broke a little, as I watched a wet droplet hit my jeans.

“Fina?” Lifting my chin.

“I don’t want to talk about it” Biting my lip. Her matching grey eyes, showed pain as I saw her nod.

“Alright.” Pulling me into a hug.

“Go get cleaned up, and get some rest” Nodding I pushed my chair back in, and headed for my shower.

With myself taken cared of, I was going to grab something to eat. That is till I heard my parents talking, leaning against the wall I ease dropped.

“Something’s wrong John, she’s detached.” My mother whined.

“Detached how?” He huffed, relaxing in his chair.

“Her wolf, its not showing its self. Almost like she’s hiding. I just know something happened at the bon fire” She sat on the arm of his chair, as he thought in silence.

“You really couldn’t feel her wolf?” My mother shook her head. With a long sigh, he rubbed her back.

“She’ll come around” Tears stained my eyes, as I headed back to my room. Not even my own father, gave a shit. I’ll come around, he says as if it was just something minor like a boyfriend break up. That night I sat looking out my window, watching the stars. As one streaked across the black sky, I made a desperate wish. For someone to come for me, to make my life more fulfilling and exciting. As my eyes grew heavy, I rested in the window dreaming the only thing I could think of…freedom.