Three

PHOENIX

TEN YEARS AGO...

Eight year old me sat on the semi rusty swing, letting the cool spring breeze push me back and forth. I watched as other young pups bounced around the half full play ground while I chewed on my bottom lip, biting it in furious concentration.

My fiery red hair was up in pigtails and I twisted the curls mercilessly in absolute nervousness. A hand grabbed mine, effectively stopping my muscular act and I raised my forest green eyes to see warm hazel ones looking down at me. I sunk into myself.

The owner of the beautiful eyes sat down on a bench beside the swing and he turned to throw his dimpled smile at me.

'I saw you sitting alone so I decided to keep you company' he muttered when I kept staring mercilessly at him.

I shrugged.

'I am Rain by the way' he continued when I didn't say a word.

I shrugged again.

He sighed deeply, running his chubby fingers through his coffee brown hair. I stared on.

'I am eleven' he pressed, wanting me to at least say something. I didn't.

He sighed again, deeper.

'Do you talk' he mused, staring intently at me. I shrugged.

'Well if you don't, you do not need to worry. I can talk for the two of us' and he launched into different stories of his rather adventurous life. I listened intently, smiling here and there.

My head snapped up when I saw my mom pull up in her car and wave me over. I nodded at her, picking up my back pack and turning to leave. I turned just in time to throw words over my shoulder, letting my words flow to Rain, my newly found friend, my first friend.

'I am Phoenix and I am eight'

* * *

FOUR YEARS LATER...

I sat watching the tadpole swish around in the pond. I looked longingly at it, running my hands down the length of its body. It swished around merrily eating the worms I fed it.

Turning to see the sun set, a shadow casted blocked my view and I sighed, knowing who it was.

'Are you trying to avoid the dinner for that' he giggled and took a seat on the edge of the pond, eyeing my tadpole suspiciously. I looked blankly at him.

'Stop hating on my babies' I murmured. He shrugged.

'Mom wants us to come in' he said, holding in a laugh.

I nodded and stood up, dusting my pleated skirt. Rain followed and we started towards the house. We walked across the linoleum floors and into the dinning area.

The clicking of heels made me turn.

'Thanks for joining us for dinner Phoenix' Celina walked up to me, pulling me into her arms, her lavender scent setting my nerves at ease.

A throat was cleared.

'Thanks so much for forgetting about me mom' Rain playfully frowned. Celina sighed and turned to her son.

'I see you every day. Phoenix though, not so much'. I had to hold in a laugh at Rain's shocked expression. Celina winked at me.

'Have a seat. Dinner would be serve soon' she mused.

'Thanks Luna'

Celina's brow wrinkled at that, raising all the way.

'Just Celina is fine. Luna makes me seem old' she muttered. I smiled at her.

Laughter floated into the dinning hall, the Alpha taking a seat.

'Phoenix, how are your parents' he bellowed. I looked down.

'They're fine. They are on their way, must be stuck in traffic or something Alpha' I answered. He cackled at me.

'Celina is right. Just Davis would do' he chortled.

I nodded.

* * *

FOUR YEARS LATER...

I grunted as I expertly dodged Rain kicks and punches. We stealthily moved on the sandy terrain, kicking up dust as we sparred. I pulled him into a head lock and smiled at him.

'Tap out Rain' I smirked, my tone strict. He smiled, mischief clear in his hazel eyes. I furrowed my brows trying to figure out what he was thinking. Before I could wonder any further on what he was on about, he started tickling me and my hold on him loosened.

'I win and you loose' he smiled, showing me dimples that never failed to send many girls' hearts into a frenzy.

'That was cheating Rain' I huffed at my best friend. He chortled happily.

' tsk' he tooted 'you should always pay attention. That's the number one rule of training right. Don't be distracted next time' He stated, or rather smirked proudly. I was right. He is one cocky bastard.

'Yeah, this is the only time you've beat me. I could beat you hands down anytime' I smirked at him, effectively wiping his proud smirk off his face. It was simply amazing.

'Really? I am your Alpha, show me some respect' he joked, his hazel eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

'You are not Alpha yet' I laughed, making sure to walk away proudly, sashaying my hips as I passed by.

My beautiful exit was ruined by Rain chasing me while I ran off to my house. Mom would be making something delicious. Just thinking about that made my stomach rumble. After dinner, I would play a game of catch with Dad and Rain. It would be so much fun. I could already envision how the evening would go and this brought a small smile to my face. Rain followed behind me as I raced home.

I ran home and into the living room, anxious to know what was for dinner. It could be a steaming bowl of pepper sauce with rice and a chicken casserole dish. It could also be spaghetti with meat balls and garlic bread. Oh yum.

I was snapped out of my reverie by sniffles coming from the kitchen. That sounded like mom.

'Oh yes, it's mom' my wolf, Lisa chided heatedly.

'Well, I bet I should check on her' I thought to myself.

'Who would do it if you don't' she replied sarcastically. I guess she was still a little upset that we got beaten this morning at training.

'A little upset?' she snorted. I wasn't ready for another battle with words with my wolf so I just blocked her out.

I speed walked to my kitchen hoping to smell something appetizing only to see my mom huddled up in a corner, crying her eyes out.

'Now that's not what you see everyday' I thought worriedly, approaching my mom while looking around for the reason behind her tears.

When I knelt beside her, she looked up at me with her tear stained face and burst into more tears.

'Mom, are you alright. Are you hurt. Is everything okay' I asked her worriedly, tucking her face into my shoulder.

'It's your Dad phoenix' she cried into my shoulder.

'What about Dad? What happened to him?' I asked, now confused.

'H-he has.. he h-has... he has left us Phoenix' She said, bursting into fresh tears.

' what do you mean 'left us' mom? Mom talk to me' I yelled but I didn't get any answers from her. Not then, not ever.

Rain who entered at this point, turned back to get to the pack house in order to notify the Alpha that his Beta was missing. Dad had apparently left a note but I was too shocked to read it.

Everything else happened in a blur.

The Alpha - Dad's best friend - arrived and sent pack warriors to look for Dad.

Weeks after Dad's disappearance, rogues attacked the pack. The Alpha, Luna and a lot of pack members were killed. A lot of people blamed Dad saying he had partnered with the rogues after he left. I prayed really hard during those weeks for Dad to come back but he didn't. Rain slowly drifted away from me and our friendship slowly evaporated till there was nothing left of it. He blamed me for everything.

Apparently the note Dad had left behind some how linked his disappearance to me. Rain felt Dad's disappearance weakened pack security as half the pack warriors went looking for him when he left. It made it easy for the rogues to attack the pack, leading to the death of his parents, the Alpha and Luna and the near collapse of the pack.

The obligations of Alpha were forced upon Rain's young shoulders and he singlehandedly had to take care of the pack. For all this, Rain couldn't forgive me.

Mom, on the other hand, kept on sulking, her health debilitating. Her health worsened day by day. I tried to snap her out of it but apparently it was her mate that had abandoned her. I guess it was too much for her as she soon slipped into a coma. The doctors tried all they could but they couldn't help it. She had lost the will to go on.

I had to support Mom.

I felt guilty.

Dad had left because of me.