8. Losing Control

Raven’s POV

Shortly after returning to Seattle, we were forced to leave the city and joined a real pack in Finland near Blood Moon.

We lived peacefully in the pack able to hide Liliana’s abilities and that I shifted so young, but it all changed just after turning eleven.

“Lily!” I call out feeling her fear as we were playing in the forest with other pack children, but they disappeared on us.

“Where are you?” I ask quietly trying to find her scent as I can’t shift to find her because Alpha Quinn has no idea Liliana and I are different.

“Lily!” I yell hearing my parents calling out for both of us from quite a distance and it is now getting dark.

“Lily where are you; I know you’re scared,” searching for Liliana I try to link to her mind even though she has never been able to link me back.

I nearly cry because I am still unable to communicate through the link without her shifting.

I feel myself whimper as my hair stands on end making my claws start to come out feeling my sister’s fear and pain like she is being hit hard.

I nearly trip and stumble hearing Liliana crying followed by a little boy’s laughter.

“Leave me alone! Daddy!” Liliana screams as I run to a clearing with a large fallen tree and stump.

I can’t help but growl deeply finding my twin is cornered by a large boy named Benji who is our age.

He is pulling her hair thrashing her around into the tree while kicking her.

“Freak!” Benji yells while shoving her against the tree kicking her again making her collapse.

“Raven no!” Liliana cries while pulling at Benji’s hands trying to get away from him, seeing me running to them.

Liliana knows what will happen if I lose control and that this boy will stand no chance against me, most adults won’t stand a chance.

“Let her go!” I roar feeling my canines grow with my sharp claws slipping from my nail beds.

“What are you going to do about it?” Benji demands while turning to me as he is a lot bigger than myself and the kids our age meaning he was beta or alpha blood.

“Touch my sister and you lose your hand!” I threaten not even knowing the words coming out of my mouth, my instincts are in control.

“Mom! Daddy!” Liliana screams watching me then Benji slaps her for screaming, he hits her hard making her head snap back.

“Raven don’t!” Liliana cries out panicking and watching me grab Benji by his throat shoving him back into the stump.

It is like I’m watching myself from the outside become consumed with rage and power.

I watch my claws dig into his soft warm skin effortlessly like melted butter when warm blood begins to drip down his neck to his chest.

“Raven!” I hear Liliana beg when she grabs my arm making me growl as my canines become further engorged.

“No one hurts my sister!” I scream before everything goes dark like my own mind is blocking me from what I am doing.

I only feel rage and fear consuming me leaving me alone in the dark.

I hear muffled screaming that becomes a deafening silence when I’m suddenly hit from the side putting me on the ground.

“Raven!” I hear yelled into the link making open my eyes to find myself on the ground with a familiar silver wolf in front of me growling.

I look down at the warm feeling between my fingers to see my hands are covered in blood, I tremble afraid of what I have done.

“Don’t hurt her!” Liliana screams throwing herself over me ready to give up everything to protect me the same as I will do for her.

I whimper at the taste of blood in my mouth making me feel sick knowing the source and what it likely means.

“She didn’t mean it, I promise she didn’t,” Liliana cries while looking up at the wolf not afraid for herself, but me then I catch a glimpse of why.

I whimper when my eyes find the Benji on the ground with his throat ripped apart making me tear my eyes away to look up at the large familiar wolf.

“Raven?” His link connects to mine and my eyes widen not sure why I can hear him knowing I should only be able to hear my pack members.

“Beta Embry?” I cry recognizing his voice, looking around I try to figure out what happened as wolves began to show up growling in anger as a few howl.

“What did I do? What happened? What did I do?” I almost scream while looking at my hands remembering what it felt like to hurt Benji, feeling his flesh between my teeth and his blood running down my throat.

“Raven, Liliana! Get away from them!” My father Gideon’s voice booms over the crowd while running towards us with Rebecca at his side finding Liliana and I surrounded by angry wolves.

“Daddy,” I whimper while looking up for help as Beta Embry stands between us and the pack.

Liliana and I both sob terrified watching Alpha Quinn’s large chocolate brown wolf parted the crowd of brown, tan, gray, and mixed colored wolves.

“Beta,” Dad's acknowledges when Rebecca runs to Liliana and pulling us into her arms.

I flinch hearing the most heartbreaking strangled scream I have ever heard and I know I will never forget.

“Benji! My Baby!” I watch his mother the Beta’s mate collapse in front of us wailing and pulling her son into her arms trying to help him.

I can hear Rebecca asking Liliana what happened as I looked around at all the angry wolves waiting to take me away.

“Stand down now! What happened?” Alpha Quinn commands after changing back to human when Beta Scott brings him shorts.

I can’t help flinching at the fury in Beta Scott’s eyes when he looks from his mate and son to me like I am some sort of monster.

"You are dead!" Beta Scott growls taking furious steps towards me for Alpha Quinn to block his way making him stand down.

“Please don’t hurt her! Please!” Liliana screams running between Alpha Quinn and I seeing his furious gaze fixed on me.

“What happened?” Alpha Quinn commands letting out his Alpha aura making everyone submit other than Beta Embry and I.

“It was an accident!” Liliana whimpers now she is on her knees bowing in front of Alpha Quinn trying to resist his command.

I stand not willing to let him hurt her even if it means taking any punishment he can deliver, I know I can take it and give it back tenfold if I have to.

“Raven be careful,” Beta Embry links watching me closely as I lock eyes with Alpha Quinn clearly challenging him hearing my parents whimper in concern.

“What did you do?” Alpha Quinn growls dangerously putting more power behind his aura in attempt to make me drop. I keep moving forward not even feeling an ounce of pain or weight under his command as Liliana whimpers.

“I will never bow to you, he was hurting my sister,” I growl threateningly while grabbing Liliana’s hand allowing her to stand like she suddenly becomes immune to his command.

“Raven your eyes,” Liliana whimpers making me close them knowing they will glow red like my fur when I am losing control or using my aura.

I know I am special and I am more powerful than most, even alphas, but I don’t understand why.

“You will not touch my daughter!” Dad roars with his canines and claws out fighting against the Alpha’s command.

“Your daughter killed my nephew! She tore the throat out of a child!” Alpha Quinn snarls when reaching for me making Beta Embry push Liliana and I into Rebecca, then stands between us and the Alpha.

“Beta Embry, you don’t belong here this doesn’t involve you or Alpha King Osric. I will punish the girl for what she has done, I can’t let this go without justice,” Alpha Quinn speaks calmly like he has already made up his mind.

I can’t help growling with a gentle whine while pinning Liliana and my mother behind me afraid for them.

I have to protect them I am stronger and will protect them with my life. I know I killed Benji losing control, I can still taste his blood in my mouth like I fed on him like a vampire.

I also know Alpha Quinn isn’t just going stop at punishing me he will hurt my whole family.

“Surrender your daughter and I will spare the rest of your family!” Alpha Quinn tries to command my father who fights hard sweating under the strain of Alpha Quinn’s command.

“Gideon Holmes of Wolf Creek you will hand over the girl!” His command gets stronger making Beta Embry push us back giving our dad space.

My father’s normally gorgeous icy blue eyes begin to change glowing intensely almost glacial in color brighter than I’ve ever seen.

“I Gideon Holmes denounce my loyalty Alpha Quinn and Wolf Creek, I swearing my loyalty to Alpha Osric and Beta Embry of Blood Moon!” Dad growls dangerously as I feel pain in the back of my mind when our connection to the pack breaks.

“We are no longer under your authority! Touch either of my daughters and you will answer to Beta Embry and Alpha Osric,” Dad calmly speaks with his aura oozing authority when I feel Liliana grab my hand trying to calm my racing heart.

My father’s eyes are glowing glacial blue with the power of an alpha making me blink rapidly in surprise.

Everyone gasp seeing him become an Alpha of his own making which is nearly unheard of to become an alpha out of sheer will.

“Raven shift now! I have to get you out of here!” Beta Embry orders through the link and I look to my dad who nods his head as Alpha Quinn is pacing fuming with rage.

“What about Liliana?” I cry into the link not willing to leave my sister in more danger because I lost control.

“They won’t hurt her, but he will kill you. Raven shift now!” Beta Embry growls approaching me and I whimper slightly as Alpha Quinn begins to fight with my father.

“Raven go! Protect my daughters Beta!” Dad yells back to us so I look down and begin to shift into a small red wolf that is still larger than most who shift at 13.

People gasp in surprise because I am too young to shift and I am the only pure red wolf seen in a millennium, at least that's what my grandmother has told me.

“Let’s go,” Beta Embry nudges me, running with me nearly under him like he was armor covering me.

“Slow down!” I hear Liliana cry out making me look over seeing her feet hanging off Embry’s sides, I didn’t even know our mom put her on him.

“She’s got a good grip, keep moving,” Beta Embry links as we continue to run through the trees, I can hear other wolves following us making me run harder.

“They’re going to hurt Liliana,” I whimper feeling so afraid when Beta Embry changes direction and I follow like part of me knows where to go.

“I won’t let them touch either of you,” Beta Embry reassures hurrying through the forest to a clearing where we stop because we are surrounded.

“Liliana don’t let go!” I scream into the link when a grey wolf lunges over them making Beta Embry duck protecting Liliana as I try staying behind him.

“Raven! I can’t hold on!” I hear in the link making my head whip around, it is the first time I have heard Liliana in my head.

“Howl! He will come if you howl!” Beta Embry orders before growling trying to fight while protecting Liliana on his back not willing to leave her vulnerable.

“Hold on Lily,” I link back to her hoping her grip is tight enough to keep her safe.

I begin to howl letting out all of my anger and rage making the wolves around us growl threateningly as they whimper like I am causing them pain.

“No!” I scream launching myself onto a wolf that jumps at Beta Embry knocking him on his side sending Liliana tumbling into the snow.

All the wolves around us begin to whimper bowing their heads when the deep howl echoing mine coming closer.

I tear into the wolf who tries attacking Liliana, screaming in rage I feel my teeth tear into his throat crushing everything spilling more blood into my mouth.

“Raven!” I hear in the link making me instantly stop tearing into the young reckless wolf who is already limp and dead.

“Back down now!” Alpha Osric commands walking into the clearing and kneels down in front of Liliana who is petrified and curled up between Beta Embry’s front legs.

“You’re safe now,” Alpha Osric reassures while picking up my twin sister cradling her in his arms close to his bare chest.

I slowly crawl closer to him dragging my belly afraid that he will be angry I lost control and killed another wolf.

“This is over! Return to Wolf Creek this family is under my protection!” Alpha Osric bellows dangerously with Liliana clinging to him knowing he is here to help us.

The wolves growl before reluctantly retreating leaving us alone and I collapse feeling my entire body tremble in exhaustion and shock.

I whimper and shake my head trying to shake away the image of the Benji’s pale face laying on the ground with blood pooling around him from his throat.

“Raven?” Alpha Osric questions while kneeling down letting Liliana run straight into me burying herself in my fur.

“Please don’t hurt my sister, she didn’t mean it, he was hurting me,” Liliana begs as I lick her cheek wishing she will stop crying as none of this is her fault, I lost control not her.

“No, Little Luna, I wouldn’t dream of hurting either of you,” Alpha Osric speaks with a gentle chuckle as I whimper and shake my head not wanting to remember what I did.