(The Prophecy)

~1860~

CLAUDIA

I hopped happily, turning in circles and giggling periodically as I moved closer to the Wagner Packhouse.

I had a great time with Thorsten, my very good friend outside Wagner’s gigantic walls again.

We have been friends since we were very young, and since I had him, I never thought of having another friend. He was more than enough.

His father and mother, Dirk and Bettina Schulz happen to be part of the Wagner werewolf clan. His father is the Alpha of the Schulz pack.

A werewolf clan is a local community made up of individual werewolf packs that come together for a common cause. It is often named after the Alpha that brings the packs together in a particular kingdom.

Going down to Packs, we are members of the Crescent Moon Pack, descendants of the late Alpha Logan Wagner.

The Wagner werewolf clan, even though being made up of about five different clans, is ruled by my parents Horst and Krista Wagner, it has never left the Wagner family or Crescent Moon Pack since the clan was created by my great grandparents Oliver and Monika in Jamba Kingdom.

As years passed, my friendship with Thorsten had grown into something deeper. We were yet to place a name on it, but we knew we weren’t just friends.

Do normal friends crave to see each other every day? Do they always want to hold each other?

Well, I’m not so sure…

My hair kept breezing in the air as I hopped and rolled in circles, my hair was my greatest flex.

My hair texture had always been the talk of the Wagner clan. it was bouncy and silky smooth, and light golden brown.

I got to the heart of our large compound and raised my head to the sky. I smiled very widely that almost all my teeth were visible.

I thought of Thorsten again.

“Our children will be so beautiful and handsome.”

“Claudia! Oh, you child!”

I stopped fantasizing immediately as I heard the voice of Ma’am Petra. The smile on my face faded as I lowered my head to look at her.

Ma’am Petra has always been my nanny since I was born. I loved to share more quality time with her than with any other person in Wagner packhouse.

I watched her storm towards me and my heart leaped at every step she took. She got closer to me and I opened my mouth to say something but I couldn’t.

“Claudia… Why did you stay out so long? We have been worried sick about you.”

She brushed my hair with her hand softly.

“I’m sorry Ma’am Petra, I lost track of time.”

She let go of my hair and exhaled loudly. She reached for my hand and held it in hers. She began to pull me with her to the house.

I followed her like a dummy, I knew mom and dad would be dead worried too. They are just so overprotective.

Well, I think it is understandable, I am the first and only child of my parents.

And to my very little understanding, I knew going out alone could be dangerous. My Mom and Dad has a lot of enemies because of their position in the Wagner’s werewolf clan.

We got to the door and my Dad’s guardsmen opened the door for us to enter. As soon as I entered, I saw almost every member of our pack seated in our extravagant living room.

They had very serious looks on their faces and I became so scared seeing them that way. Something must have happened.

They all turned their faces to Ma’am Petra and me. I forced on a smile and I saw my Mom stand.

She walked toward us and I tightened my grip on Ma’am Petra’s hands in fear. As Mom got closer, instead of her stopping in front of me as I suspected, she took a turn and went to my room.

I looked at Ma’am Petra and all she did was pull me along with her to my room. I got into my room and I saw Mom standing in front of my window, she stared outside like something out there caught her attention.

“Leave us.” She uttered and Ma’am Petra let go of my hand immediately. She gave me a reassuring nod and walked out of the room.

I was left with Mom and I had never been so scared in my whole life. She kept quiet for some time and I thought of saying something to break the awkward silence.

“Mom…”

I wasn’t sure what she was feeling at the moment.

“…I’m sorry. I lost track of time, my watch stopped working.”

I walked up to her in fear.

“You were out with Thorsten?” She questioned and I gulped in fear.

“Yes. We took some time to study some Myths and Legends before I headed back to the house. I’m sorry I stayed too long.”

I hoped she could say something other than staying oddly silent.

“I am not mad you stayed out late for the very first time Claudia. I’m worried that it has to be with Thorsten, again.”

She turned to look at me.

I furrowed my brows at her words, and I Iooked at her as she walked up to my bed and sat.

“Come sit with me.”

I walked to the bed weakly and I sat next to her. She looked at me, and then at my hands.

I was beginning to fear there was something she wanted to tell me, and that this thing wouldn’t go well with me.

“Mom, why is it a problem to go out with Thorsten? You have never given me a good reason.”

She started going against my meetings with Thorsten after my seventeenth birthday. I am still stuck trying to figure out why.

“How old are you Claudia?”

I raised my head to look at her again. Why is she asking me these? She is very well aware of my age.

“I’m 17 Mom. Mom, can you please tell me what is going on? You are scaring me.”

She smiled at my response and reached for my hand that I placed on my thighs, she gave it a little caress.

“I have something to discuss with you. You noticed the pack have a meeting in the living room right?” She asked and I nodded anxiously. All the elders were seated discussing only heaven knows what.

“Why?” I was concerned.

“Alex is dead.”

My eyes widened at her statement. Alex was one of the Betas of our pack. How did that happen?

“How did he die?” I was close to tears, he had always been so nice to me.

“He was found lying dead in his room this morning after you left to see Thorsten. We called on Holgar the priest and he told us that this is a warning and many more terrible things are going to happen.”

I became so nervous, I gulped hard and kept my eyes fixed on her. I gave her a nod and she continued.

“You will be 18 in a week, Claudia, it is time you grew up. You can’t keep seeing Thorsten.”

I lowered my eyebrows. But what does my growing up and Alex’s death have to do with Thorsten?

I began to breathe hard.

“Mom, what does this have to do with Thorsten?

I stood up from beside her as tears heated up my eyes, I ran the back of my hand under my nose sniffing.

“Claudia, this is about your destiny, the future of Wagner. You can't keep seeing Thorsten.” I became more confused and frustrated, more tears rolled down my eyes as I stared at her. I didn’t know the right words to say to her anymore.

Before she could say anything else, the door opened and I saw Father standing at the door. He gazed at both of us for some time before walking in.

He got to where we were and looked at Mom. He then looked at me who just stood there weeping.

“What’s wrong Claudia?”

I wiped the tears off my face with my palm after he spoke.

“Mom just told me I can’t keep seeing Thorsten, I love him. He loves me to Father, I can’t stop seeing him.”

I cried walking into his arms and he embraced me. I prayed he was going to say something different from what Mom had said.

“You need to understand that your Mom is saying this because she loves you.” He uttered and I withdrew from him instantly.

“Dad… you too? What is going on?!” I cried and my Mom looked at Father. He gave her a nod and she looked at me.

“Claudia, I am about to tell you something and I need you to pay rapt attention.”

She tapped the bed ordering me to sit. I sat on the bed and looked at her, giving her my undivided attention.

“About eighteen years ago before you were born, when you were six months in my womb, a prophesy came from Holgar, the priest of the Goddess moon temple. He said to your father and me that I carried the future of the Wagner’s clan inside of me and that the baby would be Wagner’s savior.”

After she was done talking, I became more confused trying to link what she had just told me to Thorsten. There was no connection.

“Mom, what does this have to do with Thorsten?” I asked impatiently.

“There was a condition attached Claudia.” She revealed and I looked at father to know whatever she was saying was the truth.

He gave me a slight nod and I gulped looking at Mom again.

“What was the condition he gave?” I queried nervously.

“You have to be United to your fated mate,” Father answered and I furrowed my brows looking at him.

“What does that mean?” I became impatient.

“You were destined to marry someone by the Moon goddess. You can’t be with anybody else but him. This is your destiny, Claudia.”

I became dumbfounded, tears rolled down my eyes before I knew it.

To my little understanding, I knew quite well what she talking about. I had always thought Thorsten was the one for me.

“Father this isn’t true right?”

I looked at in tears and he exhaled loudly. I needed to tell me it was all a joke.

“Claudia, it is true. If you don’t get married to him the Wagner family would perish, you are our savior.” Father detailed and I shook my head in tears.

“No… no. This isn’t happening. Mom, tell me this isn’t happening.”

I cried out holding my head in my hand, I have never been so broken in my entire life.

“I’m sorry Claudia.” Mom uttered sadly.

“Who is he? Who did the moon goddess choose?” I asked panting.

They exchanged looks and I threw my hands in the air knowing what that look meant.

“You don’t know?” I queried unbelievably.

“We were not told, child. It was said that you would be the one to find him and bring him to us.” Mom told and I became so angry.

“Why? Isn’t the moon goddess supposed to know everything? Why couldn’t she tell who he is?!” I yelled in anger and my parents stared at me.

“You shouldn’t say that,” Father warned.

“What does my marriage have to do with the success of the Wagner clan? Isn't that crazy?”

I shut my eyes and stopped weeping all of a sudden, the rage in me was more than the pain I felt. I needed to be alone.

“I want to be alone,” I muttered in a firm tone.

Mom looked at Dad and he wanted to talk but I stopped him by laying on the bed.

I cleaned my eyes with my palm and turned my back against them facing my room door.

I kept mute waiting for them to leave my room before I did anything else. I shut my eyes and pretended like I wanted to sleep.

After a few minutes, I heard them walk out of the room and shut the door. I turned on my back and stared at the ceiling.

More tears heated my eyes and they rolled down.

I thought about Thorsten, and the memories we have, and I shook my head in tears.

I can’t let him go… Never!! Thorsten is the one for me.