Prologue

"Dad! Please wake up!"

I screamed out as I shook his limp body. I didn't understand what was going on. He only left to hunt for food. I was supposed to stay in our little cottage and wait for him to return but after the sun started to set, I became worried and went out to look for him. 

Then I smelt so much blood. I knew instantly who it belonged to. I remember the training my father gave me and a constant reminder that if something ever happened to him, he wanted me to run away and keep moving and not to let anyone ever catch me. 

Yet I couldn't bring myself to do that. I needed my father. I fully expected my wolf to argue with me, but she just whimpered in my head and didn't say anything.  When I found him, I knew immediately he was dead, his throat had been ripped open and he was covered in blood.

"Daddy, please... I still need you!"

I cried out as my heart felt as if it was being crushed. I tried listening for a heartbeat, knowing it was futile. The only thing I heard was my own erratic heartbeat and my wolf whimpering. 

Leaning over his body I began to cry. Darkness fell over the forest and the feeling of dread started to creep through me. This quickly perked up my wolf and she spoke urgently into my head. 

"Kyra! Get up and run! Now!" 

I didn't argue, I quickly took off running back towards the cottage to grab the escape bag that my father had prepared for me. We knew it was just a matter of time before something like this would happen.

So, while I was prepared, it still wasn't any easier and we both had hoped we'd have more time. It had been fourteen years since my father, and I went rogue. 

The night I had been born had been on a full moon. The circumstances of my birth were completely unheard of. While most didn't shift until their eighteenth birthday, I had shifted immediately after I had been born. 

Not only that, but I had shifted into a pure white wolf. Wolves were typically brown or grey. Some were even black or mixed colors. It was unheard of to be a pure white wolf.

My parents knew immediately that it wasn't safe to stay in the Blood Moon Pack. When they tried to leave, the Alpha had tried to kill me. He claimed I was an abomination. 

My mother urged my father to keep me safe and that he was the only one that could do that. He hadn't wanted to but he couldn't deny her. They both knew that in order for me to survive he had to be the one to train me. 

She had stayed behind to fight them off to give us a chance to escape. She was a skilled fighter and had been the only female warrior in the pack. Yet my father had alpha blood and was the beta of the Blood Moon Pack. He was the best and the obvious choice to train me.

My father didn't believe my mother was dead because when a mate dies a part of the other dies with them and they are never whole again. My father missed her, but he says he can still feel her. 

For fourteen years we've been on the run. Now, whether I was ready or not I had to go on without him. I still had my wolf with me and with her, I would never truly be alone. 

The moment I reached the cottage I heard a howl in the distance. I couldn't take any chances. I quickly found the bag and stripped out of my clothes and placed them into the bag. Effortlessly I shifted into my large white wolf, Alexia. Picking up the bag with our teeth, we took off running. 

"Where are we going to go, Alexia?"

I asked my wolf. Unsure of what our plan would be now that my father was no longer here to lead the way.

"I don't know. We will have to rely on our instincts and trust the Moon Goddess."

I still couldn't figure out how her trust in the Moon Goddess was absolute. I just couldn't fathom why the Moon Goddess would make me into a freak. I would never know true peace and I would forever be on the run. Never belonging anywhere. 

We were not destined to find happiness or find our mate. Others would either fear us or hate us. Alexia believes that we are destined for something great, but she does agree that we will probably never get a mate. 

We kept running, the sound of howling was becoming more distant. Our pace began to slow slightly so we could listen better to our surroundings and try to determine which direction we should go.

Just when we thought we were clear, a large brown wolf came barreling towards us. It struck our side and caused us to get slammed into a tree. Slightly dazed, we shook our head and quickly recovered to face the wolf that attacked us.

He was a rogue wolf. His stench was overwhelming, it smelled of old blood and rot. Most rogues become a shell of their former selves and are unhinged. They are truly disgusting and can barely retain their humanity. 

Without a pack, wolves tend to become rabid. Though for some reason my father and I never had that effect.  My father did smell like a rogue, but he still had his humanity. We figured it was because of his need to protect me is why he never utterly lost his true self.

As for me, well we didn't know why I didn't smell like a rogue or act like one. Perhaps it's because I truly never belonged to a pack. My scent was off though. I didn't smell like a pack wolf either. 

I didn't know why this rogue wolf disgusted me so much, perhaps I had grown accustomed to my father's smell and it didn't bother me at all. This rogue on the other hand had me wanting to throw up. 

Trying to ignore the stench, my wolf and I focused on the rogue as it paced in front of us. Digging our hind legs into the soil beneath us, we prepared for the rogue to lunge at us again. 

He was feral and his movements were erratic. There was no telling what he was going to do. We kept our stance, letting off a warning growl to the rogue that we were not going to give in so easily. 

That was enough for the rogue to lunge toward us. Using our hind legs, we pushed out towards the rogue. The look of surprise flashed across his pale brown eyes. It seemed as if a part of him realized he was no match for us. While the other part of him didn't care and only seen an enemy. 

We crashed into each other with such a force that it caused the rogue to whimper. We were unfazed and quickly rolled the rogue onto its back and latched onto its neck. Without hesitating, we ripped its throat out. 

Only staying long enough to make sure it was dead, we quickly gathered the bag that fell when we first encountered the rogue and darted through the forest again. This time we didn't bother to slow down. 

We kept running and tried to keep out of other territories and change directions as often as possible to avoid being followed. At this point, we were unsure if we were being followed. We weren't taking any chances. 

After miles of covered ground and running nonstop for seven hours, we needed to stop. We found ourselves near a cave with a stream of water running into it. This was probably going to be our best place to rest.

Doing a wide circle around the area, we didn't sense anything, and it appeared to be clear. Before entering the cave, we looked around for something to eat and only managed to find a squirrel. It wasn't much but it would do for now. 

The moment we entered the cave carrying the bag and squirrel we collapsed onto the ground. That was the longest run we've ever done and regardless of how amazing our endurance and stamina were, we were exhausted.

It was slightly more painful than usual to shift back. Every muscle in my body ached. I crawled over to the stream of water in the cave and slowly eased myself in. The cool water was heavenly. I let out a slight sigh as I leaned my head against the rock I was sitting against and let the water soothe me. 

As I sat there, my thoughts automatically went to my father. Without realizing it, tears flowed down my face, my chest became tight. I felt the desperate need to just give up and just let everything be over.

"Kyra... we can't give up..." 

My wolf whispered to me and while I knew she was right, I felt helpless. I was tired of running. I was scared and lonely. I was only fourteen and I still had much to learn. 

"What will we do Alexia?"

"I don't know yet. We just need to rest and figure it out in the morning."

Without answering I climbed out of the water and got dressed. Not caring that I was still wet, and my clothes were now soaked. I looked around the cave and decided I needed to go further back so I can stay hidden better. 

I could see clearly in the dark and the cave was rather deep. After looking around a bit I realized this was a good place to stay camped out for maybe a couple of days or so. It was like a maze. It was bigger than it originally appeared.

There were a lot of holes in the wall that was just large enough that I could climb in. I was small in my human form and even I had to squeeze through the holes. It was a really good spot and if I'm careful I may be able to stay here for a while.

After going through a small tunnel, I had to crawl through I found myself in an open space within the cave with a water hole. There was only one way in and out of this area and unless someone was as small as I was, there was no way they could get in here. 

I decided that I was going to stay here as long as I could, for as long as it was safe. I would look around more tomorrow. I knew it wasn't safe to stay in a place for too long, but this was probably the best place I'd find that would give me adequate protection. 

It would at least give me a place to lay low for a little while. Going back outside I looked around for enough sticks to create a fire to cook the squirrel. 

"I am going to have to leave you for a little bit. My energy is fading. I need to restore my strength. Will you be okay?"

My wolf's words caught me off guard and I jumped slightly. I didn't like the fact I wouldn't have her here with me for a bit, but I knew I was going to need her at her best.

I still possessed her strength and speed, in my human form. But if we were going to survive this, we both had to be at our best. I didn't like the thought of not being able to talk to her, but I knew she would always be with me.

"I understand. I will keep us safe. Take the time you need."

"That's my girl. Remember I'll be there if you need me. I'll never truly leave you. Just going to rest. Shouldn't be longer than a couple of days. Stay safe Kyra. I love you."

"I love you too Alexia. You're all I have now. I'll keep you safe."

I soon felt her move to the back of my mind, and I could no longer hear her or connect with her, but I could still sense her. After everything that has happened, I was glad to still have that at least. Yet I still felt alone. 

I no longer had an appetite, but I cooked the squirrel anyways and ate it. I didn't seem to taste it much, I just knew I needed to keep my strength up. Who knows what will happen in the oncoming days. 

I just hoped that whatever it is, I can get through it. Putting out the fire, I crawled over to my bag and laid down. Using the bag as a pillow I curled up on the ground, hugging my knees to my chest, I started crying again.

I cried for my dad, my mom, myself, and my wolf. I just wanted peace. I wanted to not be alone. After what seems like forever, I finally drift off to sleep, only to be plagued with the beginning of my night terrors.