chapter 1

The breeze felt warm against my skin as I ran through the woods, my brother close behind, racing after me. I giggled and hid behind a tree, peeking out to watch as his head whipped around in search of me.

“Lilli, where are you?” He called out laughing and out of breath.

I quickly ducked behind the tree, covering my mouth to hide my laughter. I had to be careful that he did not find me, or I’d lose the game.

“Boo!” He cried out from beside me, “Found ya!”

“Aah!” I cried out, jumping in shock, “Hey, no fair, you cheated. We said no wolf senses.”

“I didn’t cheat Lilli,” He responded ruffling my hair, “You’re just terrible at hiding.”

I poked my tongue out at him, and he grabbed me, whirling me around.

“No! Stop! Stop!” I screamed giggling as the wind whipped around me as he twirled me faster and faster. “Please, I’m going to puke.” I pleaded. He placed me down softly on the ground, holding me as the world spun around me in a dizzy haze. After a bit, things felt stable again.

“You ok now, Wolfy?” He asked, kneeling, to look at me. I nodded my head meekly, and taking my hand, we walked back towards our house.

Our place was a very large cabin, and as we approached, I could smell Mum’s cooking. Releasing my brother, I raced into the kitchen to join her.

“Lilli love, you’re here finally. You guys almost missed dinner.” She said as she wrapped me in her arms squeezing me tightly.

“Matt and I were playing hide and seek. I lost again.” I replied my voice muffled against her.

She drew back, holding me at arm’s length, then she smiled at me, her grey eyes crinkling with love and warmth. She let out a soft giggle, then said, “Oh, Lilli, honey, you know that’s the one game you can never beat your brother at. Why don’t you two ever play anything different? Like video games?”

“His games are too much for me to know, Mama.” I responded pouting, “And he was the one who said he wouldn’t use his wolf this time. He lied.”

“I didn’t use my wolf.” Matt said entering the kitchen arms full with wood, our father was close behind him also holding wood, “You’re just really terrible at hiding.”

They made their way to the fireplace, arranging the wood beside it.

“I am not,” I said annoyed.

“You are too.” He responded in a teasing tone.

“Mum! Dad! Matt’s being mean again.”

“Matt stop making fun of your sister,” Dad said as he walked towards me, carrying me. “Hey my little princess, don’t mind your brother, he was only teasing.”

I gave a wide grin and snuggled closer to him.

“Alright, everyone, dinner’s ready,” Mum called out, and we all trooped to the kitchen to have steak and mashed potatoes.

We were a family of wolf shifters belonging to a pack called the Waning Moon pack, and due to my mother being the head healer our house was on the outskirts of the pack, closer to the woods so she could easily grow and gather herbs. Father was the second in command, the beta, and the Alpha’s best friend. My brother was currently training to be a pack warrior and I spent my days in school learning about the pack and the outside world.

Tonight was peaceful and all felt right in the world, or so I thought. My father was the first to notice and he alerted my mother using the mind link. Frantic my mother turned to us.

“Ok, Lilli, I need you to stay inside with your brother, ok?” Then she turned to Matt, “Stay here, protect your sister and protect yourself.” Then she ran out of the house with dad on her heels giving me no time to question what was wrong. I turned to my brother, eyes wide in fear.

“Matt? What’s going on?”

“Whatever it is, Mom and Dad will handle it. Help me clear the dishes.” He responded with fake calm. I jumped down from the chair and started to pack the plates up, yet I could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. So I dropped the plates in the sink and ran out of the house after my parents.

“Lilli? Lilli no!” Matt called out after me, “Get back here!” He started after me.

I ran with all the strength my small body could muster and I found my parents in a clearing in the woods fighting a pack of rogue wolves. They had shifted to their wolf form and were biting, clawing, and jumping at the rogues. A wolf was trying to sneak up on Dad, and I cried out, “Dad, watch out!” The shock of hearing my voice distracted him, and he looked at me in surprise. The wolf took it as an opportunity and went for his throat, biting deeply and making him bleed out. Dad’s wolf whimpered weakly, trying to fight against the wolf, but he was losing too much blood, and soon he stopped moving. The wolf released his body and started walking towards me; I walked back my legs shaking in fear.

“Dad! Mom! Help me!” I cried out to my parents, refusing to believe Dad was dead. Mom looked at me and tried to run towards me, but she got overpowered and the wolves tore at her limbs. I tripped on a branch and fell. The wolf was now looming over me, its fangs red with my father’s blood. A gunshot echoed through the woods and the wolf’s head exploded, splattering blood over me. I let out a scream, turning to where it came from- it was my brother with a shotgun. He ran towards me, grabbing me roughly by the arm.

“I told you not to leave. Where are Mom and Dad?” He asked then his eyes turned to the wolves who were watching us like we were prey. He saw our dad’s body lying on the floor and our mom’s body ripped to pieces. I saw his eyes widen in horror at the sight of them then turn to the wolves who were closer now.

“Lilli.” He said to me, “Run, go get help. Run! Lilli Run!” He yelled and this time I obeyed him. I ran my lungs hot and burning till I reached the pack, but things weren’t faring so much there either. People were gathering bodies and stacking them to be burned, and injured wolves were heading towards the pack house. Then I saw Alpha Richard and I ran to him.

“Lilli, good you’re here, please go get your mother.” He said not noticing my bloody self.

“Rogues attacked us, Matt told me to run, so I came here,” I responded breathlessly.

Alpha Richard was quick, he carried me and had me direct him to where it happened. Together with a group of uninjured pack members, we ran back to the woods but it was too late. I was too late. I saw my brother’s headless body arranged next to the corpses of my parents and I screamed at the top of my lungs.