Prologue

I can hear my sister outside of the cabin, listing off who will and won’t be going into battle today. Some of my friends make the list, including Kita who is only two weeks older than me. I can’t help but feel bitter, as I stand there cleaning the dishes left over from breakfast. The previous chief was laid back, he was fairly well know for bending the rules. Not that it had gone over well. But his time caught up with him, he passed peacefully in his sleep a month ago, at the ripe old age of 96. Now Sila, my sister, was the chief.

It was undeniable that she won the alpha tournament. She’d out maneuvered each of the pack’s favorites and pinned them on their backs, dominating them. Not to mention everyone else who chose to go for the title. But I still couldn't believe it, each morning since I woke wondering if it was all a dream

You would there’d be some perks to my sister being in charge of the pack, like being allowed to fight with my brethren a mere week before my coming-of-age ceremony for example, but no. ‘Traditions are to be upheld, not broken’, was the excuse she gave me, before she’d gone out to announce today's ‘hunters’. I feel frustrated, but what was I supposed to do? Just charge off anyway? Maybe I should.

I run my fingers through my short, thick hair, craning my neck a bit when it tickles my collar bone. Am I actually going to do this? Sila will be mad, but I'm not a weak little boy anymore, I will be sixteen in less than a week. I have every right to fight with the others, formalities be damned. So I have my answer. I'm going to disobey my sister, the chief, and prove myself to her and everyone else… hopefully.

I sneak out through the kitchen window, hoping that I'm quiet enough not to be caught by my sister’s sensitive hearing. Landing on the balls of my bare feet, I run off into the tree-line without looking back. I know there won't be much time before Sila and her advisers follow, they're sure to notice my scent growing distant. Quickly, I catch the scent of my brethren and those vile things, easily distinguishable from the smell of animals and the various plants that call our woods home. I'm closing the gap between us and I can't help but shiver in excitement. There is nothing like the thrill of the hunt, the raw adrenaline was addicting and the recognition that came with a job well done was more than enough to urge my desires on. I don't dare stop to transform, fear of Sila catching up keeps my feet pounding on the dirt as though I'm being tugged along by some invisible force.

I join my brethren, receiving a curious look from my teacher, Balt. His bright blue gaze asks why I'm here, as he shakes blood from his sleek black coat. Even in wolf form, he looks more intimidating than anyone I'd ever met. I don't have the chance to answer his silent question before I find myself dodging an axe. Kicking the ugly green creature square in the throat, I finally allow my instincts to take over. My body begins to convulse, pain searing through me as my bones seem to shatter apart, only to reform. I feel like needles are flying out of my skin, but it's only my snowy white coat of fur growing, wrapping me in it's warm embrace. The tips of my fingers seem like they're splitting open, I know my claws forcing their way out. The transformation is torturous, but something all of my kind must accept. I can swallow down most of it, but the teeth are the worst. Blood assaults my taste buds, the intense burning along my gums is too much. It's as though I'm chomping down on a bonfire. Despite my training, I can't help the canine yelp that slips from my throat, as the shaking finally comes to a stop.

If it hadn't been for Balt having moved in to keep the enemy back, I likely would have been killed during transformation. I nod gratefully at him, then charge off into the fray. I'm eager for the kill. Our teeth easily pierce their skin, causing brief screams to erupt from their throats. Slimey blood washes over the ground, dying it a sharp green as the enemy numbers fell. We are the predators of these woods, not them, and we are happy to remind them. I'm lost in the frenzy, ripping, tearing away at their less agile forms. It's so much more exciting than the drills. The beasts of the forest hold no weapons, no real intelligence, the pride that came with besting a goblin was on a whole other plain. I am immersed in the carnage, acting as one with my pack, each bite I take from their wrinkly green flesh only leaves me leaping for the next. Like usual, it doesn’t take long to clean up and soon we were all back in our human form, relatively no worse for wear. The excitement pulses through me, a grin stuck on my once again human face, as I start over to Balt. I don't make it halfway before a familiar voice has a chill running down my spine.

“Arken!” Sila calls out for a second time, her tone dripping with rage. I expected it, but that didn't keep my muscles from tensing up. Resentment swells within me as I turn to face her, why can't she let me enjoy my victory? She sure enjoyed hers, in fact, she still is.

Gritting my teeth, I walk over to her raising my chin in an effort to appear unafraid, though I'm sure she can smell it on me. “Yes, Chief?”

“You disobeyed me.” Her eyes, somewhat darker gold than mine, narrow as she continues. “Or did you forget that you weren’t allowed to come here?”

“Come on, it’s not like I got in the way!” I defend, feeling a swell of pride at my own performance. I can't help but brag. "I took care of at least a dozen goblins myself."

“You know the tradition, you aren’t to participate in these hunts until after your ceremony!” Sila’s tone reminded me of when I was younger and she would flaunt her age at me. I hated when she treated me like I was a child, even back then, but to do it now? It infuriated me.

My face hot with rage, I unconsciously step closer to her. “I’m not a kid anymore, I’m a hunter!” The words are filled with as much venom as I can muster, but rather than getting angrier as I’d expected, she seems to relax. It immediately sets off warning bells, my stomach tightens, I already know that I won't like whatever's coming.

Her arms crossed, she stares at me for a few moments, leaving me to stew in the silence, before she finally speaks. “Your ceremony will be pushed back one month, if you disobey me again I will make it a season.” Her tone is as cold as her expression, stabbing at me with no regard. Hitting me where it hurts most, my pride.

I immediately cry out. “That’s not fair!” My hands balling into shaky fists at my side, I open my mouth to protest more, but she raises a hand to silence me.

Her eyes are fierce, like golden swords pinning me where I stand. The thinly veiled rage I see within them sends a shiver down my spine, as she replies. “Neither is me having to worry about my own brother going against my wishes.” With that she turns to walk away, only to stop after a few feet and look back at me from over her shoulder. Her dark hair whipping her in the back as she explains. “This is not just for my own selfishness, you know that with my new status you are likely to be the elders’ choice.”

I growl to myself as she walks away, the last thing I want is some dumb arranged marriage.