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Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

I shouldn't have slammed those dollar drinks. Groaning, I peel my lids open, and roll onto my side.

Shielding my eyes with my wrist, I think back to Kez egging me on. I knew better than to fall under her persuasive spell. I'd overdone the graduation celebration.

I roll to the side and my stomach protests the movement. I breathe through my mouth, and slowly lower my arm.

Squinting against the light pouring through the window, I blink as my vision comes into focus.

I spot the Volva and memory slams back into me.

"You saw him?" she asks.

"Yeah." My voice cracks. I lick my dry lips.

"Who?"

Alpha's voice draws my attention to where he stands in the corner.

"Fenrir. He called me his daughter?" I furrow my brow as the dream returns in increments.

"Did he explain the prophecy?" Alpha's voice is tense as he comes and perches on the edge of my bed opposite the Volva.

The commanding man looks strange in the feminine setting. His expensive suit is out of place against my cream and rose-patterned comforter.

"Not really?" I cough.

"Get the girl something to drink," the Volva demands. I look to the doorway and watch as my aunt scurries off to do her bidding.

"The choice was mine to make about the pack's survival."

"And?" Alpha leans over the bed, crowding my space.

"I chose to save you."

Exhaling, his shoulders slump. "How?"

"He didn't say." I shift in the bed and wince at the ache in my legs and arms.

"Then what happened?" He says impatiently. The anxious energy paired with his Alpha's power flusters me. "You were the only one who witnessed it girl, spit it out," Alpha demands.

"I." I exhale. "I don't know. He said heroes have to sacrifice and then there was only pain."

"That's enough for now. Let the girl rest. She's been between the veil and back and been touched by a god. I can sense the changes taking place in her," the Volva says.

"We have to figure out what she's done," Alpha protests.

"Not until she's able to stand on her own two feet. She's already chosen her fate. Nothing you do

will make the pieces line up any faster."

Only this trusted and revered elder could go toe to toe with the Alpha. I can't help but admire her for standing her ground and advocating for me.

I throw the blankets off, squirming. "Why am I so hot?"

"That's just the power settling in." The Volva places a cool hand on my forehead.

"There are things I must attend to." Alpha rises and stalks out with Alphonse behind him.

"You've chosen a rocky route, girl. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that."

I groan. "No."

"I'll help get you through this first bit, but the rest you'll do on your own. They want to know you're worthy of the gifts you stand to receive."

"Who?" I croak.

"The old ones who created us."

My aunt returns with a carafe of water and a glass. I hide my glee when the Volva shoos her

away.

"The birth rates have dropped like a stone because our people have grown lazy and lacking. Back in the

day we fought for our positions and acted as a true community to survive. This modern age has spoiled

us. People have grown more concerned with things than pack, and they're finally responding to our

ignorance."

"How do we fix it?" Closing my eyes, I press fingers to my eyelids in attempt to ease my headache.

"A new set of trials are being put into place."

"For who?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Not only you, but others vying to prove themselves. The winner will be in control of what's left of the

wolves. I've seen it come to pass in my visions." Glass clinks as she pours the water into a cup, and helps me sit up.

Holding the cup to my lips, she steadies me while I suck down half of the water.

"Easy. You don't want to get sick."

"How long was I out?" I lean against my headboard, settling in.

"A couple of hours."

Mentally bracing myself, I get straight to the point. "What have you seen?"

"Stone. There are precious things hidden beneath the earth and many people are rushing to uncover it. Only the worthiest will gain the prize."

"What is it?"

"I could never see it. The images came in bits and pieces, disjointed and hazy. The shadows

obscure many things. My time to walk among our ancestors is coming and my visions have become few."

"Who will take your place?" I whisper, unable to imagine life without the wise woman guiding

us.

"It hasn't been revealed yet."

Her power in the wrong hands could be devastating. "They seem to be cutting things close, don't they?"

She smiles. "They don't care about the whims and wants of mere wolves."

"If I fail in my task. What will become of the pack?"

Her face becomes somber. "We will fall one by one, and all we stand for will be slowly forgotten and erased with time."

I clutch the sheet and bow my head. "Then there truly is no other choice but to move forward. What do I need to do?"

"Be prepared to stretch yourself in ways you never imagined. You'll need an open mind and

heart to withstand what's ahead."

I think back to Fenrir, bound but defiant, patiently waiting for his freedom while he continues to

watch over his people. There are many ways to be a hero.

I'll make my parents and my brother proud and remind the pack of why our name was exalted. If nothing else, I can bring back the honor we lost in the fire.

At least something positive can come from the neglect that came with being a misfit. Once I've done my duty, I'll leave the pack life behind, and live out the rest of my life as I please.

Satisfied with my plan, I clear my throat. "Tell me everything I need to know. If you want me to succeed,

I need every advantage I can get."

Navigating the pack requires knowledge. It's more than physical strength, it's politics, secrets, and

blackmail for leverage. I've never been privy to the inner workings of the pack. The Volva chuckles.

"Let me pour you another glass. This is going to take time. Alpha is running scared. He's losing control

over the pack. People are frightened. There've been no new births while the vampires seemingly flourish and the witches bring in recruits."

"Always worrying about others instead of ourselves." My lip curls in disgust. "We've become

our own worst enemies. The packs should band together. Instead, we've become more segregated as

time passes, holding on to the last threads of dying bloodlines."

"And what would you do differently, young wolf?" She waits patiently for my answer.

"I'd abolish the deferential treatment of the few," I say firmly.

"Scandalous," the Volva whispers.

"Necessary if we want to continue. There are more of us than them, and if it doesn't stop, more will continue to leave."

"You're right, families have been moving away in small but steady numbers."

"They have?" I turn to her. Thoughts swirl in my mind. When did this change happen? Leaving has always been damn near impossible.

Envy twists in my gut. What would it feel like to have choice? The alpha males of the family protect and guide.

When I lost my father, I missed out on that natural protection. I wonder what they bargained with our Alpha to gain his approval.

"Alpha tries to keep it as quiet as possible, but we all notice."

"This is worse than I expected. What do the others think of my return?" How can I help people who don't trust me?

"They're confused and the Alpha is calling in all of those he can."

"For what?"

The Volva shakes her head. Everything about this feels gross. Remembering how they'd taken me down, trussed me up, and drug me back here with no regard boils the blood in my veins.

"Women of the pack are afraid for their daughters."

What could possibly free them from their commitment to tradition?

"There've been whispers of matchmaking returning."

The barbaric practice places couples together according to the Alpha's will. "There have been a couple of

pairings that I suspect were the product of this. Much older men from prominent families and women half their age."

"They're buying themselves brides to reproduce? It's sickening. If they want my help, this will stop now." They've grown too impatient to wait for women to find mates. Now they want to arrange them like a fucked-up reality dating show.

Here eyes sparkle with mirth. "You're going to turn everything upside down, aren't you?"

"By Fenrir's chains, I hope so." I can't ignore the anger exploding inside me.

I tried to stay out of things and live my life separately. Circumstance returned me here. Perhaps there's a reason for that. If I want to fight and win, I need to plan.

"What else can you tell me?"

I gather the information like a squirrel stocking up for the winter. This is my sword and shield. They caught me unaware once; I won't let it happen again.

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