Ten Years Later

Sigmund's POV

I find myself lost among friends. Yes, I went out looking for this life. So far, I have gathered about twenty loners, both male and female. A few have found their mates in our makeshift pack, but I still haven't. I also haven't taken a woman. I refuse to until I can bond with her and make her mine, knowing she is in it and not just scared of me.

It took five years for me to find a place in the world where we could meet as humans who shift into wolves. The human world has all kinds of fantasy novels about us, or are they paranormal? Either way, they make it sound like we are some mystery, all the while living right next to us. 

I help my neighbor in town all the time. She has no idea that I have a literal wolf inside me. What she does know, is that every night a few wolves howl at the moon. The moon is out and full tonight, putting us all on edge. 

"We need to do something about these packs. They are getting out of control. If we don't stop them, they may start to encroach onto the human's territory. If they do that, we are all dead, and the humans will be screwed as far as safety goes."

This wolf, the one who spoke up has a story of his own, one that tells me he came from a pack similar to mine.

"Not all the packs are shit, some are nice, they just are scared to let in a loner, for fear that they will actually be a spy from the others."

This woman is a nice were, she has no qualms, just refused to service the wrong wolf in the pack she was in. She and her mate have been thrown out, under the guise of refusing a higher up. I put my hand to my face as I take a deep breath. For ten years now I've put up with these packs and the shit they pull. I've taken in every shifter I can find, making sure they learn the ways of the human world. 

Now I need to get back on track. I need to get the war started against the packs. But not all the packs are bad, we have to take that into consideration. I look up at the crowd and lift my hand, fist closed and just wait. 

When everyone is silent, I look around at the crowd and nod. "Okay. I need everyone to calm down. I need you each to tell me what pack you're from and what they did to you." Everyone starts to make a lot of noise. "One at a time! I will point to the one I want to speak. When we have determied which pack is the worst, we will get in there and break it down." I look around at everyone, each of them standing in stunned silence. "We need to do this in a smart way. We rush it and we all die."

When they all quiet down I point at the couple in the front row, already knowing their situation. "Anyone from their ex pack, stand with them. We need to know how many packs there are to go after."

The process takes a long time, and I can't help but get it done correctly. By the time we finish organizing everyone into groups according to pack and finding out which packs are the worst, I am exhausted. We call it a day when we decide to go after the worst pack, which unfortunately isn't my own.

"Tomorrow we will get started on a plan to take out the lake nightstalkers. They seem to be the most abusive to their own pack and those around them. They also hunt humans, regularly. Which should never be done. They need to be eliminated. But we need to do it with our safety in mind. Now, who is ready for a shift?"

Everyone shifts, howling our displeasure at having to use this small forest as our safe zone. We have yet to be discovered by any of the other packs. I hope to never experience anything like it ever again. As we take out bad people, and werewolves, the ones who felt trapped and out of position, will join us. This will keep happening until the humans and the other good packs are safe.

I look up at the moon, having grown comfortable in my wolf form. I howl at the moon as my nearly silver fur shines in the moonlight. So many werewolves to help save. So little time. I get a feeling that the revolution will take place within the next few years. 

There will be a time when we don't have to hide who we are. It's just not yet.

Sophia's POV

Dad and the men in the pack went out to hunt in the light of the moon. Every time he leaves, I can feel mom's exhaustion with keeping up appearences. She looks at me as she smiles. "I don't miss going on pack hunts, Sophie, I want you to know that I love you. You do know that, right?"

I look at my mom and smile. "Of course I know that mom. But I know dad doesn't love me, or you, or anyone for that matter." I tilt my head to the side, realizing that my mom is pregnant again. This time dad says it's a boy. "Well, except maybe him."

When I rub her belly, I feel a kick. Dad may think he can raise this boy up to be bad, but I just don't think that will ever happen. Mom smiles when she feels him kick her. "Yeah, he probably does love him. But you know he will try to change him, your dad. He will try to make your brother to be a bad person. I want out of here so bad, but I can't just leave, the bond breaking would kill me."

I take pitty on my mom. She has a true bond with my dad. Even though he seems to not care about it, he really doesn't care about her, but most of all, he only craves power. I may only be ten, but I have experienced enough life to know that the men in this pack are all power hounds. They take what they want.

"I refuse to be something the men of this pack take, momma." She smiles at me as she lets me talk. "If they ever want something from me like dad does to you... The way he treats you. No. I'd rather just stay single and unbonded forever."

The sympathy shows in her eyes as she says, "You may one day change your mind." She wipes her tears as they flow down the most recent bruise dad has given her. "And keep in mind that we can only talk about these things when the men aren't around. They would hurt us both if they knew about your doubts Sophie."

I hug my mom, knowing full well that she is right. This whole pack is full of bad and I need to get out. But I won't be allowed to leave until I'm eighteen. I need to get out. They haven't let anyone leave since the Alpha to be did. 

That was the day I was born, so I have no memory of it. All I do know is that I have never felt comfortable around the men of this pack. I feel safe with absolutely zero of them. Hopefully my little brother will be different. 

I sit with my mom, cuddling her as we both drift off to sleep. I don't know how long it takes, but the next thing I know I am getting tossed off to the side as my dad in all his wolf form goes after my mom. I watch as he rips her clothes, not caring that she will have to stitch them together or go naked. He doesn't care about her, or the work she does for him. 

This is my cue to walk away. To go to my room and not look back. But I do. I look back one more time as I hear my mom scream. She looks like she is in such pain as I see my dad on top of her. This isn't her normal scream. She sounds like she is in real pain.

My dad chuckles as he keeps doing what he always does to her, not caring if I'm around or not. "That's it, give birth to my son tonight, woman. I know he's going to be as great and brutal as I am."

That sound, is her going into labor. She is in so much pain from labor. I want to help her, but it looks like there is nothing I can do. Dad won't stop getting what he wants from her. Maybe I can at least support her. 

I go back, acting like a mindless ten year old girl. "Did you say momma's having my brother?"

My dad's over top of my mom, her legs around his waist as he holds her down. He looks at me and smiles. "You want to stay and watch? I am making her go into labor by screwing her, ya little bitch."

I flinch at his words as I nod. I don't want my mom to suffer this alone. "I would like to see my brother born, sir."

I'm not allowed to call him dad. He says that is for his son only. "Fine by me. Go ahead and take a seat. It won't be more than an hour before your brother is here, little one. A boy born on the full moon is always special."

I look down at my hands as I say quietly, "I was born on a full moon."

Of course he hears me. "But you're a girl, you don't matter." Before going right back to doing what he was doing. My mom is in pain, more bruises on her cheek as dad keeps doing it, screwing her. Why does he have to hurt her?

I know I have no power to stand up to him. I know I am no one. What I hope is that one day my brother will be able to stand up to him for the both of us. I hope one day, this whole pack will be saved by someone stronger than them all. Maybe that fated Alpha will come back and save us... one day.