As the next few seconds unfolded in front of my eyes, I realized two things. The first being that, we'd truly been out-smarted, sure. But that was only because we find it hard to doubt those we trust.

However, the second realization was far more startling. Something that we hadn't foreseen at all, but should have, the moment we saw Sgriosaire's warrior force stand in the middle of our pack.

Kristján was a complete fool.

He was a fool to think that Sgriosaire would enter Fathilagt on his command, to back him up in his fight for Alpha. He was a fool to think they'd buy his words regarding whatever he had to offer them in return. He was a fool to think they wouldn't have an ulterior motive coming in here in such large numbers just on the word of a boy throwing a temper tantrum.

As soon as he challenged Valente for Alpha, four wolves attacked him from behind, kicking Eidis away before tearing into Kristján with their sharp fangs and claws.

Before I could register what was happening, they'd killed him, Eidis's screams the only sounds in the gathering, besides the low growls that came from either side.

Valente had mindlinked everyone an order to not move, as the next minutes were completely unpredictable. And we could expect anything from the enemy.

One side had already tasted blood, but we couldn't tell whose it was. Ours, or theirs?

One of the attacking wolves shifted into his human form, his skin covered in only Kristján's blood and remains.

He stepped forward to face Valente with a weird kind of grace, as if he was sipping red wine on his penthouse balcony, and had not just ripped a boy to shreds.

"So good to see you again Valente," he said amiably.

"Femi," Valente breathed out.

"I'm sorry about Kristján, I was getting tired of his antics. I thought I'd let him have his moment of attention before I was done with him," Femi said, shaking his fingers out in a useless attempt to get rid of the blood.

"Poor thing though. He didn't even realize the position he put us in by telling us you were planning on attacking us, which would have failed by the way, and also promising to bring us to your pack without breaching borders! Can you believe it?" he said, almost excitedly.

"What do you want Femi?" Valente asked him calmly, although I could tell Valente's patience was wearing thin.

"Oh you don't know? All that snooping around you've been doing? I'd think you knew exactly why we're here," Femi said.

"Rayne you need to run on my command," Valente said.

"I'm sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about. Surely you want something that's why you haven't attacked yet?" Valente said, now clearly buying time.

"Sgriosaire isn't one to talk around much. We kill first, then talk if needed. But tonight, I'm feeling a little more generous. Maybe you'll comply without needing more violence?" he asked Valente.

"Once we start the attack, you will run Rayne, that's an order," Valente said.

I pressed my foot further into the soil in determination.

"I'm not leaving," I said.

"You've already lost Valente. Might as well give up now," Femi said.

"Don't you see Rayne? They're here because of you! They want you!" Valente's voice came through my mind and I could feel the disbelief as if it was tangible before me.

All these years I've been told that I've been a curse, I've been the reason for their sorrow, and now Valente is standing in front of me, asking me to leave Fathilagt for that very reason?

"Are you waiting for me to give an order Valente?" Femi's voice had turned sinister.

"If it's me who they want, I'll give myself up!" I told him firmly.

"No!" a voice resounded in my mind. This time it wasn't Valente's. It was Sterkur's.

"You will leave Rayne! You will leave Fathilagt right now and you will never return," Sterkur's voice came through my mind, deep, hoarse, and filled with authority.

I staggered a little as I took a step back, my feelings slowly getting more numb.

Femi noticed this.

"It's this one isn't it?" he asked, looking at me with a hunger that you'd see in the face of a predator at the sight of his prey.

"I'm going to call an attack and you will run," he said, his words caused a pain in my chest and a hard lump in my throat. "Giving yourself up won't help us. They're murderers and will not hesitate to kill anyway."

"I can't leave Gramma. I can't leave you Valente! Where am I supposed to go? And what about us?" I asked him, even in the mindlink, my voice was breaking.

"Forget us! Just leave Rayne! Right now you need to leave!" he said, insistent.

I ignored his words. I had a newfound sense of defiance, and it was built upon the pain his words caused me.

I knew I was going to defy direct orders, but I couldn't run to hide when my Gramma and Valente were staying back to fight.

"I can feel fear for you," Imadis said in my mind. "Sterkur is fearful for you. Perhaps we should listen to them. They know something we don't."

"You know very well we can't do that Ima. What kind of warrior will I ever be if I run now, when my pack is in danger," I asked her.

"Something just doesn't seem right," she said back.

I stood my ground firm as Valente's first orders came through the mindlink and the wolves around me started to get restless.

"I'm going to take your silence as a no Valente. Pity, you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble. Hate doing this to you," Femi paused, "again."

His voice had a sinister undertone, and I could tell this wasn't going to be good.

"Warriors!" Femi's voice was loud as he addressed those behind him, his voice dropping low as he gave his final order. "You know what to do."

"Run Rayne! Run now!" Valente screamed through my mind before giving the order to attack the enemy, and jumping into the fight.

Instantly everything was chaos and the thought of running went out of the window.

Everyone in the field had shifted and were fighting, all except for one person.

Sylvia still couldn't shift, was tied up and was the most vulnerable target for them. Just as one of the wolves jumped at her, surely to kill her, I watched as Gramma jumped to push that wolf away, standing in front of Sylvia in a protective stance.

I couldn't watch much as I could see at least four wolves coming my way, distracting me. They all moved to attack me at the same time, but I was quicker, and smaller. I used my size for agility, and could feel my wildness come out.

I tore through the first warrior that reached me with just my claws, the second one's flesh soon staining my fangs. Just as the other two were about to reach me, I saw Gramma take a hit from the wolf she was fighting, and I felt that she was now weaker.

She still stood again strong in front of the helpless Sylvia, before the wolf in front of her hit her hard, causing her to fall down again.

I kicked the two wolves on me and rushed to Gramma's side, growling angrily at the wolf who dared to touch her.

Unfortunately, there was more than just one wolf on Gramma, and I heard a yelp from her wolf, Verndari.

I turned around to watch a sight that I knew I would never forget for the rest of my life.

An enemy wolf jumped on her from behind Sylvia, its teeth digging into Gramma's flesh wildly till she couldn't stand up again. Other wolves joined to jump on her at the same time, making sure she couldn't fight back. She was powerful even in her vulnerable state, but not powerful enough.

A sharp pain along my side brought me back to my senses. Three wolves attacked me from both sides and behind me. I couldn't get to Gramma as she was being torn apart at Sylvia's feet.

I struggled to get free, but at that moment as I watched my tender-hearted Gramma be mutilated by the enemy, I wished to die at this moment so I could still be with her.

And that thought led me to release a deadly growl.

Gramma would never recover from this.

The pain that shot through my heart at this thought was staggering as compared to the claws of the warriors that I could feel tearing through my skin.

I watched our warriors fight the wolves on Gramma, pulling them away from Sylvia who'd fallen to the ground still tied up like a mortal being. I saw blood and flesh that wasn't Sylvia's on the ground beneath her, a sight that was too painful to see.

I let out a howl.

It's because of me. They're here for me.

Gramma is dead because of me.

Suddenly, I was running. I was running away from the fight, watching the burning buildings, shouts and screams all around me, and I was running.

I was running away from my Gramma, from Valente.

I didn't want to, but I was. Imadis had taken over me, not because she was out of control, but because I was the one who'd lost control of my body, of my senses.

I reached my house, and I ran inside, looking for whatever I'd need to survive for a few weeks. I shifted and packed whatever clothes I could see, medicines, and some money I'd saved up over the years.

I was numb to everything.

Gramma's death. Valente's rejection. Sgriosaire's seige.

I couldn't cry, I couldn't feel. My movements were robotic as I quickly did whatever I had to do to escape, in case they really were looking for me.

I knew just one thing for sure.

I could never come back.

I could hear shouts at the front of my house. They were coming.

I put on some clothes and my backpack, and jumped from the window in my room without thinking.

As soon as I landed behind my house, I knew I was hurt badly, but I couldn't stop now. I ran straight ahead into the forest, running without looking back for even a second.

I only stopped when I reached the abandoned cottage with the stream of water running behind it.

Only now, it wasn't abandoned.

The cottage illuminated the dark forest just as the full moon did this dark, dark night. It's windows spilled yellow light around it like a beacon, the door slightly ajar in waiting.