Four: Coming of Age

After mother left for work, with the food I had prepared and packed for her, I decided to relax a little. I was an extrovert and was loved by many. At least that's what I want to believe. But I just wanted to be alone this evening.

The thought of what mother was going to tell me when she got back continued to gnaw at me. What could she possibly have been keeping from me, believing I was not old enough to handle before now?

The thought of my father and all he went through trying to save me and mother, resurfaced. I felt sad that he was not here to guide me anymore. I know how my mother missed him. She always tried to hide it from me but I knew. Mother had said more than once, how she wished, father had been here to see how I had turned out.

We had been coming home from visiting mum's sister who was married in the Raven Pack when we were attacked by rogues. There had been rumours of rogues' activities, but we had thought they only operated at night and had set out early for home. Also, being poor, and having nothing of value on us, we felt we had nothing to fear from the rogues, what did we have that could possibly interest the rogues? Nothing! And we were not that powerful, nor influential and we were hence not a threat to the rogues.

All these considerations were all logical but the rogues didn't think that way and neither did they feel that her mother was too old to be had nor that Diana was still underaged.

Father had fought with all he had and had asked us to run for our lives. He was a retired warrior.

I recall how he had taken on the five rogues that had attacked us. And had screamed, "Run!" in the most terrible voice, I had ever heard and will never forget.

My mother had been adamant, wanting to stay with her husband. "I cannot leave you here. We shall stay with you here!" she protested. I could do nothing but weep as I saw her father being clawed.

"For the sake of Diana", father pleaded. "She still has her life ahead of her".

My mother looked at me then, like someone who was waking from a dream and seeing her child for the first time. She looked at her husband once more and nodded. Then taking my hand, she led me to running the way we had never run before.

I was still underaged and had not had my wolf yet, so mother went through hell to ensure we ran to safety as far as we could while father fought to buy us enough time to escape, fighting any wolf who wanted to run after his family. But he could do only so much and soon we heard his scream and then a great sound like someone falling and I could remember thinking that a giant tree had fallen. My mother clutched my hands tightly. Too tightly in fact that she felt her mum's claws sinking into her tender flesh. I knew mother didn't mean it. She had stopped running and a look, very terrible and frightening was etched on her face and I forgot my pain as I was overcome by another kind of pain and fear. The fear that mother was about to slump. I almost thought that mother had been struck by some invincible force but I was not too young to know that it was the realization that her husband had died. That the scream they had head and the sound was her father's last sound and falling to his death.

Mother had wanted to run back but as young as I was, I knew that was not a good idea.

"Mum, don't!" I pleaded. "Dad sacrificed himself that we might be saved. If you go back now, his sacrifice would be in vain and he might never forgive us wherever he is right now watching!"

Anna looked like she was in a trance but when we heard running footsteps, she swung into action and holding my hand firmly, we started running again as though our lives depended on it, which it did, actually.

I sighed. That was about three years ago. We have not heard from him ever since and though we had returned to that place with some of our friends in the pack and searched the whole area, to see if we could find his body for burial, we never found his corpse, just blood stains, a reminder of what took place there.

I was excited that the next day was going to be my eighteenth birthday and that I was going to get my wolf. The thought of my father's death had diminished my excitement. I had always thought in the secret that it was my fault that father was murdered. perhaps if I had not been there, father may not have had to sacrifice himself. Mother had tried to talk me out of it and I had behaved like I no longer felt guilty but that was because I didn't want that to be an additional anxiety for mother. Anna was already too stressed and I didn't want to add to it.

I deliberately turned my mind from those painful memories to my birthday and the possibility of me, getting my wolf. The excitement flared up once again. I could not sleep that night.

"My wolf would be the most beautiful of them all and then perhaps, Alpha Ray would fall madly in love with me and we shall live happily ever after", I thought aloud, smiling happily.

The clock struck 12 am and I heard my name called.

"Diana", a voice called.

I looked around but could not see anyone.

"Don't be afraid, I am Mia, your wolf", the voice continued.

I was filled with joy. My eyes dancing, my hands pounding with great excitement. I had heard that some didn't get their wolf and that was the worst punishment a wolf can be cursed with. A wolfless werewolf.

"Mia, I am glad to meet you", I replied excitedly as Mia appeared before her.

"I feel so strong", I confessed.

"That's because, there's nothing we cannot do together", Mia replied. "Your wolf is supposed to strengthen your powers and you are one strong werewolf ".

I smiled. Of course my wolf would flatter me, but it did not bother me. Rather, it felt good hearing Mia say all that.

"And I know the question that is gnawing at you", Mia said with a smile in her voice and I could not help smiling back.

"Okay spill. Who is he?" I asked. "Who is our mate?"

"It is someone you already know", Mia answered. "Our mate is Alpha Ray!"

"What?" I exclaimed, happily. "No kidding?"

"No kidding!" Mia replied.

"I knew it. The Goddess cannot allow me to suffer in vain. She saw how loyal and dedicated I am to Alpha Ray and has decided to bless me by mating me with him!" I gushed, thinking that I could not wait to tell mother about it. Then I shall recalled that she would not be excited, as I recalled her words when I had asked her what would happen if she ended up being mated to Alpha Ray.

"I hope for your sake that it doesn't happen"

I was not going to allow my mother's pessimistic attitude, no matter how well intended it was. So, I offered a silent prayer of thanks to the Moon Goddess for this blessing, when all of a sudden, I heard the door handle turning. I was sure that it was mother coming back home. perhaps she had found someone to switch with her at work after all.

"Mum, you are back?" I asked excitedly. I could not wait to share the good news with her. The news of my wolf and my mate

Silence greeted me but the door handle continued to turn and I had to restrain myself from going to the door. I didn't know why but I became weary all day of a sudden, recalling how troubled mother had seemed before leaving for work that evening.

"Something does not feel right", Mia said, feeling agitated.

My heart started beating wildly. She laughed nervously, "Don't be stupid!" I scolded myself, thinking, "What can possibly go wrong on this most memorable day of my life?"