5. HELPING THE ALPHA

Enril looked at his brother Aren whom he admired for the powerful alpha he was despite the curse, and sighed.

"Yes, I don't want them to discover who she is," he paused, then added, "I want you to use your power on me."

"I won't do such a thing!" Enril stepped back, frightened, looking at Aren who was watching him intently. 

 The thought of hurting his older brother terrified him; he was the only family he had, and he didn't know what he'd do without him. No matter if he was a grumpy wolf that nobody could stand, he was his beloved brother, and he didn't want to lose him.

"Why not?" Aren asked seriously.

"Brother, it's been many years since I've practised or used my powers, not since Mum died. I might erase your entire memory. You already have enough difficulty with your condition." Enril shakes his head.

"What do you suggest then?" Aren looks at him desperately waiting for him to tell him as usual what to do.

Enril approaches his older brother and suggests: "Use your power."

"My power? What power? I don't possess any." Arent exclaims in disbelief.

"Yes, I know you've always refused to do it and that you don't remember you have it. But you have a great power, and with it, you can ensure they can't read your mind or do anything against your will, let alone find your Luna or any other." Enril explains patiently, he knows that his brother forgot everything.

Aren fell silent, looking at his brother who nodded affirmatively. He has vague memories of what he is being told but isn't sure he can manage it alone, which is why he asks.

"Will you help me develop this power? No one in the pack must know." He stares at his only sibling.

"Alright, we'll practice together. I have all of Mum's books. We'll do it in our secret hideout," Enril replied, unsure if it was the right thing to do. But on the other hand, he believed that if his older brother could develop the immense power inherited from their parents, perhaps he could break the curse and become fully human again, not split into a bitter wolf and a boy who remembers nothing. So they will take the risk to see what happens.

"Good, go fetch those books. We'll start today. I can't let them find out where she is. And tell them yes, I agree to the ceremony as soon as I'm ready." Order Aren immediately.

"That's a good idea; it'll get them off our backs. Everything would be easier if you showed yourself as human—that's a clear sign you've found her." Enril insists, wanting to help his brother.

"I've already told you no; doing that would put her in great danger!" Grunts the alpha in annoyance.

 In the city far away from there. A little girl ran as fast as she could, scared out of her wits, watching strangers approaching along the path she was on, until she got into some bushes in fear, keeping silent until the voices moved away without her having been discovered. She stayed hidden for a while longer in case they came back and caught her if she came out. When a familiar voice made her jump.

"Gil, honey, what are you doing hiding there?" asked a beautiful woman leaning over to look through the bushes.

"Nothing, Mum, it's just that people look at me strangely and make fun of me," she answered, coming out, feeling that she was safe in her mother's arms.

"It's not strange, love, it's just curiosity," her mother tried to explain once again. It was true what the girl said, her beautiful white hair and her peculiar eyes made everyone look at her as if she was something bad. There were many times that they had to escape from places for that reason.

"Why is my hair white, Mum?" The little girl asked.

"I don't know, honey, it was the gods' design," she answered what she really believed, she had no other explanation for that fact.

"Can't you paint it?" The girl asked again

"Why do you want me to paint it? You are very beautiful like this, my daughter." Replied the mother with a smile.

Gil smiled and hugged her mother tightly. She knew that her mother was right, she was beautiful just the way she was.

They walked along a forest path towards the village. They had gone to pick some fruit. When they were about to arrive at the house, they saw several people come out of the house and hide. When they had gone far enough away, they ran and entered the house through the back door. In the living room, her father's head was clutched in his hands. When he felt them arrive, he lifted it up.

"Did they arrive?" he asked worriedly. "Did they have any problems?"

"What did the village chief want here?" the woman asked in turn.

"The usual, you know, it had been a long time coming. He came to tell me that we have to leave the village." explains the husband, still picking up his things.

"Why? What new misfortunes have they blamed on us? Where are we going to go?" The woman protests without understanding what is wrong with the girl's white hair.

"I don't know, dear, but they gave us until tonight to leave, or we would be persecuted. So pack up and let's go." The husband looks at her sadly, but she understands and starts and sighs.

"All right, dear. Come on, Gil, gather the most necessary things. We can't carry too much."

The man and woman quickly gathered their belongings and left the house. They walked through the forest, following a path that led them away from the village. As they walked, they talked in hushed voices.

"I don't understand why they're doing this," the woman said. "We've never done anything to them."

"I don't know," the man said. "But I'm sure it's nothing good."