The Past Is Gone

Serena yanked me upright, sending the basket of compost clattering to the dirt. Her fingers dug into the sides of my neck hard enough to bruise, as she guided my form effortlessly. A flick of her wrist, a twist of her elbow, and my body shifted to her command with no resistance. She marched me around the dirt path, cooing and mewling as though I were a puppy she was burdened to train.

"No, no, no. Not like that. Like this. Head up!" Serena snickered and shoved me to the dirt.

The impact knocked the air out of me, and I gasped into a coughing fit. Dirt and food waste stained my clothing as I shook with ragged breaths and scrambled to collect the mess.

"Now it's playing in the trash, how ungrateful. We were trying to help you straighten up, and you'd rather dig in the dirt with your bare hands? Are you feral?" Brayden hissed, the heel of his sneaker slamming down onto the back of my hand, grinding into my aching digits. The pain pulled a scream from me, brought tears to my eyes, and a tremble to my huddled form. But it did not stop their teasing and torment.

All the while, Alpha-heir apparent Evangeline Snow stood back and watched. Her unblinking, unyielding blue eyes pinned me in place while her friends played with their food. She said nothing. Not to encourage or condemn their actions. She didn't join in. She didn't try to stop them. She simply watched each cruelty with the silent satisfaction of a princess watching her favorite jester be flayed for insulting her one too many times.

"Can you believe this thing dared to share a moonday with Eva?" Serena snapped, spitting on the ground next to where I lay curled up in defense. "Is it not bad enough that it exists in the same region? How dare it try to darken her special day?!"

"That's enough, now," Evangeline finally spoke up, stepping forward with all the authority of her future title as Alpha of Snow Pointe. The air trembled with the familiar energy of an alpha issuing a command, and her flunkies obeyed instantly. "Aurelia, here, did just as she was told. She stayed in that dank, nasty little shack all day. Like a good pet. I think that deserves some recognition. Weak as it is, at least it's obedient in the presence of its betters."

She stepped around me, her attention shifting to something in the distance as a stiff breeze blew through the territory. Her lovely, pink sundress fluttered in the wind, and she smiled up at the sun, a glow with all the vitality I lacked. "I'm bored. Let's go to the packhouse to prepare for my feast. I heard my father was going to invite the Alphas and Lunas of Io and Cassiopeia to my party! I want to look my best for Alpha Rafe and Luna Makayla."

Without another glance back, Evangeline led her pack of hyenas off into the distance. The scene was done, and there was no more use for me. Not with the promise of celebration on the horizon.

Broken, wounded, and exhausted, I lay in a heap among the compost scraps. My hand throbbed, my lungs burned and ached, and my head thundered with every pulse.

Get up, Aurelia.

I tried to urge myself to move. I needed to rise. Needed to finish my tasks before Delta Hester made Serena and Brayden's assault look like child's play. Needed to keep pushing forward to keep from ending up in the infirmary. I couldn't face Doctor Andromeda again. Not so soon after what happened on my moonday. I needed to get up.

But I couldn't.

Please. Don't.... don't give up yet, body. I need to get up. Please!

Aurelia... stay down. Arya said calmly. Her voice was a startling but soothing melody in my mind. Deep and resonant, not at all what I imagined her to sound like. Don't force yourself yet. Not yet. We aren't ready.

But if I stay here, I'll—

I didn't get to finish my thought before another set of hands was on me, gathering me up into their arms. Away from the dirt and towards the sky, the arms turned me, and I saw... brown eyes and dark brows tented with worry.

"Phil-lipe?"

"Goddess, Aurelia! What happened to you?" he asked, his voice strained and eyes filled with fear. How long had it been since I'd seen him look at me like that? Like I mattered? My heart ached at the thought, the distant memory of my best and only friend's care. I tried to speak, but my voice cracked and failed as my vision began to wane.

"I... I'm..."

"Shh, don't try to speak. Let me get you to the infirmary. Doctor Andromeda needs to see you, right now!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Phillipe hoisted me into his arms and took off toward the infirmary. His training as a Gamma warrior was paying off. The Phillipe I knew from the kitchen could barely haul a sack of potatoes. But this Phillipe carried me like I weighed nothing and ran at a speed he'd never possessed before.

His wolf was strong. He was strong. Different. Not my Phillipe. Not anymore.

That was the last thought I had before blacking out.