4. His Return.

PRESENT DAY

CARA

Induction Day is always worth the stress. Worth the sacrifice of brain cells. Worth the sleepless nights filled with rigorous training drills and marathon exam preparations.

For two solid years, I and my brother Al, together with our friends, Rhia and Killian, stood by one another through the thick and thin of the Greenwood Defense Academy.

And today, all our efforts and hardwork will be worth it.

The large auditorium is opulently decorated. The vast space is bathed in a soft, golden glow emanating from the ornate chandeliers suspended from the high vaulted ceiling.

The rays of the morning sun radiates into the auditorium through the tall glass windows, adding to the glow of the chandeliers. Rich tapestries line the high interior walls.

Rows and rows of polished oak pews stretch the entire space all the way to the exit, each one cushioned with plush burgundy velvet.

Delicate floral arrangements, bursting with vibrant hues of crimson, gold, and emerald, adorn the several aisles leading to the podium in front.

I and the people I love sitting beside me will walk down one of those aisles today.

Crimson velvet curtains, adorned with intricate gold embroidery, frame the backdrop of the podium. A raised slab platform that is decorated with the same intricate embroidery of the podium stands near the Lectern.

The platform bears the Moonstone Crucible—a large, solid, white glassy bowl containing a pure scarlet liquid and a metallic stylus dipped into it.

The stylus is the engraver bearing the Mark of Selene—a celestial warrior symbol that is going to be bestowed upon each and every one of the inductees by my father, our Alpha.

I slightly adjust the slit of my black ceremonial dinner dress over my left thigh, our Gamma's voice booming authoritatively from the speakers hanging all over the auditorium as she delivers the opening speech comfortably from the Lectern.

“Thousands of years ago, an elite force was formed from the heart and might of Greenwood. Warriors bound by duty and sacrifice to protect our home from any evil threat that will rise up to wipe out everything we have built and everyone we have ever loved. Over time, the knowledge of this legacy of strength and resilience has been passed down from generations to generations.”

She pauses, as if for impact, adjusting the microphone.

She continues. “Today, we are here to witness the Mark of Selene being conferred on another generation of warriors that have proven themselves worthy to carry on this legacy. Warriors that have proven themselves capable of fulfilling their sacred duty of protecting Greenwood. As we are gathered here today in unity, it is indeed my pleasure, and my absolute honor, to declare this induction ceremony open.”

A loud, deafening applause follows her speech.

I join the clapping crowd, trying so hard to convince my brain that I did not just listen to the voice of the mother of the heartless bastard that rejected and abandoned me at that cabin house before he vanished into the darkness of that night years ago.

Dane. Fuck him.

I hate myself that I still think about him. I hate that I am still clinging to this painful, unrequited feelings I have for him, even after all these years. I tried so hard to forget him. To move on.

But everything I did to accomplish that was like wasting precious water on a hard, unabsorbable rock.

After he ran away that night, I still could not believe he did that to me. At first, I waited. And waited. Every single night outside that damned cabin. Like a little daddy's girl waiting for her papa to return home.

A day of waiting for him to come back turned into days. Days turned into weeks. Weeks stretched out into months.

And months turned into years. Two fucking years of miserably suffering in pain and silence as I also fought to train my body and soul into becoming one of the best warriors of my pack.

That rugged determination consoled me at the very least. Loving Dane was the one mistake I never should have done.

He broke my heart. He turned his back on me, and fucking left me behind to pick up the shattered pieces and heal all by myself.

Well, I never healed. And I hate that I never stopped loving him. Never stopped dreaming about him and about so many ‘what ifs.’

The microphone whizzes loudly and stops, dragging me back into the auditorium and straight to the face of my dad, who now stands before the microphone.

He glances a quick proud smile at me and my brother AI before he shifts his attention to the rest of the crowd.

A printed white sheet of paper bearing the names of all the inductees is in his hands resting on the white marbled Lectern.

I gather my thoughts and compose myself. Both mentally and physically.

"My Gamma has declared this ceremony open,” his baritone carries his alpha aura, seeping it into the microphone and spreading it through the sound waves across the atmosphere. “And I am glad to welcome our finest into our warrior force through this sacred ceremony. They have shown the embodiment of the essence of courage, resilience, and selflessness. They have answered the call to serve, to defend, and to protect Greenwood with unwavering determination. They have embraced sacrifice and thorough discipline, knowing that the path of a warrior is not an easy one.”

“Today,” he continues, “As you take your oath and receive the sacred Mark of Selene, always remember the importance of the responsibility that rests upon your shoulders. You are the guardians of freedom, the defenders of justice, the protectors of the innocent. You carry the hopes and dreams of our home on your shoulders, and you do so with honor and dignity. Without further ado, it is now time for the Marking. A Mark on the arm, a Seal on the heart….”

“A warrior is born.” Everyone choruses in response. Including me.

Dad has always had his unique way with words. Like it is some sort of special gift given to him by Selene.

Moments later, the entire atmosphere falls into a solemn silence as the Marking begins. Names are called. Oaths are sworn. The sacred Mark of Selene is inked onto the arm.

And the cycle continues one by one with each and every inductee.

I have always dreamt about this day, praying that my efforts and that of my brother's and friends will bring us all to this moment.

And now, here we are, about to be made full fledged warriors of our pack.

My dad's voice breaks through the silence once again with other inductee’s name.

“Dane Morgan.”

The name rings throughout the entire auditorium, and my blood instantly chills to ice. A collective gasp echoes from Al, Rhia and Killian, who are all sitting on the same pew with me.