Chapter 1 | Three Years

Violet

It’s been three years since I lost my parents.

The trial run with Cora went well enough that she allowed me to move with her permanently. But I went to be with my relatives at the Renegade Pack a few times throughout the year. I would normally go and stay with them for a month at a time.

My Uncle Maven and Aunt Amelia are the Alpha and Luna of the Renegade Pack. Amelia was my mom’s twin sister, and honestly, they are great people. They offered for me to come live with them permanently multiple times, but I always denied. It's not where I belong. I've never been a part of a pack and I don't think that will ever change.

I know it hurts their feelings that I don’t want to live with them, but I have my reasons. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Xavier will come looking for me. He’s a greedy bastard and I don’t think he’ll quit hunting for me even though he got my parents. I'm the current white wolf and that's enough to make him chase me for the rest of my days. That's why I have to kill him before his greed ruins the rest of my life.

A twig snaps and my attention goes back to the surrounding forest. I’ve been outside hunting to bring something back to the cabin for me and Cora. My eyes zero in on a rabbit that is hopping along, and I try not to think about it as I let my arrow go and it hits my target.

Hunting is a necessary skill for me, and I try to learn useful skills instead of fully relying on my wolf, Selene. Shifting into my wolf is still painful, no matter how many times I do it. Selene says it’s because I’m not meant to have her yet and that once I’m old enough, it won’t hurt anymore. I can only hope that she's right. 

I pick up the rabbit and head back to the cabin. I put the kill where it belongs before going inside to see Cora. I can smell the cake baking the moment I walk in the door and I smile softly as I walk to the kitchen where Cora is at. I wash my hands and say, “You didn’t have to do this, Cora.”

She shakes her head and says, “Nonsense, you turn 18 tomorrow! I wanted to surprise you with the cake, so I wanted to do it while you were hunting.”

I smile as I take a seat and say, “I appreciate it.”

She hands me a bottle of water and I take it from her and sip on it as I stare at the wall as I zone out. Cora snaps me out of it when she says, “So, do you have anything you want to do tomorrow? We could go see your Aunt Amelia and Uncle Maven and Magnolia, if you want.”

I shake my head no, “I’m sure I’ll see them soon. I don’t want to tomorrow, though.”

She always offers for me to visit with them on my birthday. She thinks I’d enjoy spending time with family, at least that’s what she tells me. To be honest, I think she offers it because she doesn’t want me to sulk in my room all day.

I hate my birthday. My parents always made a huge deal about it, so without them here, I just don’t feel like I have a reason to celebrate.

Cora’s head tilts to the side as she looks at me, her black curls bouncing around as she does this and she asks, “Are you okay, sweet pea?”

“I’m fine, Cora.” I respond with a slight edge to my voice, making it obvious that I want her to drop the topic.

She presses her lips together. She doesn’t believe me. I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t believe me either.

We both know the issue. Xavier Black is still out there, alive and running a successful pack, all the while he is a murderer who ruined mine and my parents' lives.

Every year, my anger and desire for revenge gets stronger.

Without thinking, I say, “You know, I don’t think I’ll live a long life.”

Cora freezes and looks me up and down and asks, “Why would you say such a morbid thing, Vi?”

I sigh, “Because I won’t, Cora. I’m going to take risks… probably ones that aren’t very wise. But… I don’t care! I have to avenge my parents! I refuse to let Xavier get away with this. Don’t worry though, I have a plan. I’ll succeed.”

Cora crosses her arms and looks at me skeptically and says, “Oh really? And what plan is that? You realize that your parents sacrificed themselves to ensure that you would have a good life- a long life! From the moment you were born, they did everything they could to keep you safe.”

Even though Cora knew from the beginning that I planned to kill Xavier, she’s spent practically every day for the past 3 years trying to convince me to enjoy the life that I have been blessed with.

“They shouldn’t of had to sacrifice for me!” I yell back. I take heavy breaths as I try to calm myself. But the truth of the matter is that ever since my parents died, I have felt empty, and an unrelenting rage has consumed me. I’m not the happy-go-lucky 15-year-old girl I used to be.

No, I’m 18 tomorrow, and I have learned that life isn’t so great. And sometimes… karma doesn’t get the people that deserve it the most. Sometimes, you have to take matters into your own hands.

My fists clench and unclench as I try to keep my voice steady and I say, “I will go to the Renegade Pack. I will ask my uncle for me to be trained by his best fighters. I will become one of the best and once I’m ready, I will infiltrate Xavier’s Black Moon Pack and I will kill him.”

Cora shakes her head, “Xavier Black has created an incredibly strong pack. He knew he would have enemies, and he prepared himself for it. What you want to do is have a suicide mission, Violet!”

I throw my hands in the air as I say with exasperation, “I don’t care! I’d rather lose my life and try than not try at all!”

Cora’s eyes soften as she looks at me and she walks over to me and wraps me in a warm motherly hug. I can’t help but melt into her embrace as a small sob slips from my lips. She runs her fingers through my hair as she says, “Violet, I want to see you move on with your life. I want to see you happy and see you achieve all the dreams you’ve ever had. I want you to live the life that your parents wanted for you… is that so hard?”

My lips quiver as I try to respond in a steady voice, but it cracks and wavers as I say, “I can’t have the life they wanted for me without them.”

Cora sighs, “I know I can’t stop you, sweet pea. Even though I disagree with you, you have too much of your father’s stubbornness and determination so, I know my attempts to stop you is just a waste of breath.”

I let out a soft laugh, and she pulls me away and holds me at arm's length and tells me, “I will do everything I can to guarantee that you will live and for you to end Xavier once and for all. But… I need you to do me a favor.”

I tilt my head to the side in confusion and I ask, “What is that?”

The corner of her mouth twitches up, and she says, “I’d like to train you a little myself. I understand if you want to live at the Renegade Pack, but how about once a week, the two of us do some training?”

My eyebrows furrow in confusion as I ask her, “What kind of training?”

She gives me a mischievous smile and waves her hand around as she says, “The magical kind, dear. After all, magic runs in your blood.”