Chapter 4

Alone in the Pack

My mother reached for my hands to calm me. "Honey, remember what your father said about behaving."

But it was too late. The anger in my eyes was already showing. I snatched my hands from hers and stood above both of my parents. “You are leaving, and you weren’t going to say anything.”

My father didn’t look at me. Instead, he looked to Alpha Ken. “Alpha, I am so sorry. Forgive her. Please continue.”

When he didn’t acknowledge me, I hit the table shaking the plates and cups around me. That finally got his attention. My father looked at me and spoke. “Zaya, please calm down.” I was hurt by him. And now everyone in the room was staring at me. I stormed out of the dining hall. Leaving everyone behind. Before I exited the dining hall, I heard the Alpha tell my father that it was ok and not to worry.

I found myself pacing back in forth in my room. I could not believe this was happening to me. My parents had never treated me like this. We were only in the pack 24 hours, and they were already new people to me. With that thought, my mind quickly shifted to the pack. They probably thought I was some kind of brat reacting like that in front of everyone. I never lost my temper before. Especially with my parents. But I couldn’t control the feeling inside my core. My entire face felt red with heat.

After arguing with myself for at least an hour, I started to grab my belongings. 'There is no way I’m staying here without my parents. This was their dream to join a pack, not mines.' I said to myself as I grabbed my bag and phone. How dare they think they could just dump me here while they travel for only the moon goddess knows how long.

Just as I snatched the door to my room open, my mother and father were standing there with their hands in the air as if they were about to knock. With a shameful look on their face, they asked, "Can we come in Zaya?" Their calmness was infuriating to me.

"No need, I was just leaving." I tried to brush past them, but my father grabbed my arms, dragging me back into the room.

"Listen Zaya. We are sorry we could not tell you sooner. But if we would have said anything before, we came, you would have tried to stay back home. And the world isn't safe for a wolf to be alone. You need the pack."

I pointed to my mother. "But you said I would be safe in the human world. So long as I did not exhibit any of my strengths. And we have been in without a pack for this long. Why now?"

"Yes, I did say that, and I meant that. But soon, you will come of age and get your wolf. You will need the help of the pack to control yourself. They can help you in ways our parents couldn't. We both know what it was like to grow up without a pack. Friends who understood what you were going through. And family you could always lean on. You need a pack." She cupped my face, trying to calm me. 

"But you are my family, and I do not know these people. Why can't you see? I will be alone. here?" I contested, not wanting to hear anything else they had to say.

My father caressed my back, while my mother held me close. "That’s the point of a pack. You will never be alone Zaya. Someone will always be here. And the Alpha will always protect his pack."

Tears climbed down my face as I sobbed a little more. "How long will you guys be gone."

"It might be a year. Maybe two." My father said so calmly. As if they were only leaving for a few hours or a few days.

"We will be back before you know it. And we can always let you know where we will be and you can come to visit. And of course, you can call us anytime." My mother pleaded with me.

"When…do…you…leave?" I asked sobbing between my words.

"We leave at first dawn."

I cried a little more, not wanting my parents to go away. They both held me until I fell asleep. When I awoke, my room was empty. Nothing but a note on my nightstand.

'My Dearest Zaya,

         We hate to leave you, but we must leave early; if we are to make our first destination by the first moon. We know this is hard but in time we hope you will bless us with your forgiveness. In the meantime, remember to be mindful of the pack rules. As you already see it is very different from our life. But we know in our heart, it will be very good for you to learn the ways of the wolf. We love you very much. 

Love, Papa'

I held the letter close to my heart and closed my eyes. The tears began swelling in my eyes again. I was truly alone in the world now. No matter how hard my parents tried to convince me the pack was my new family, I could never understand how a forced bond made someone my family. So, what if we were all werewolves. The only family I will ever know has completely abandoned me and is heading halfway across the world. If something was to happen to me, how would they reach me in time? I wasn’t sure why, but my feelings were magnified at that moment, making my chest feel heavier than normal.

I pulled the covers over my head and tried to hold the letter as close to me as possible. Keeping it safe from anything else. Like it was the last time I would ever hold my parents again.

It was not until I heard the pounding on my door that I realized I had fallen back to sleep. I rolled over and ignored the knocking. I was determined to stay in my bed and forget where I was.

A few hours later, the knocking came again, only this time it was much stronger. I could see outside my window; the sun was already setting. My entire day had been spent inside this room, locked away from the world. The banging on my door persisted. The loud noise bounced off the walls. I sat up and grabbed my cover, frightened by the noise. I heard the door unlock, then in walked Alpha Ken.

"Alpha?"