2 - KIDNAPPED BY THE UMBRA KINGDOM

Meridian Water

When we emerged from the darkness of the trees and entered, I felt all eyes on us, the howling stopped, and a reverent silence took over the room. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and the wave of love spread toward my family.

 

My father smiled, and we headed towards the structure where we sat to receive support and tribute. After we are in front of the entire pack in our prominent position, my father begins. With a strong and imposing voice, he praises his family's lineage and the importance of keeping traditions alive. As he spoke, I looked closely at every face around me. Feeling a deep connection with each one, and it was as if a strange feeling took over me, as if this act, no matter how small, was extremely necessary. The celebration continued with dances, songs and ancestral stories shared around the bonfire. And I felt surrounded by an aura of gratitude, knowing that this was my home, my family.

In one of the dancing moments, as confided by my best friend, Renan approached. I was leaning next to a giant rock watching the full moon below our heads, the wolves were on a hunting rite, where they searched the forest for their chosen ones and were free to do whatever they wanted. I felt my face acquiesce at that thought. I sighed and continued there, taking some air and imagining the day when my wolf would be free to run into the forest. That apparently wouldn't be the night I transformed.

"All good?" Renan took me out of my reveries by standing next to me and facing the moon.

“Oh. Hey." I responded, trying to contain my nervousness. "Yes. I’m just getting some air.”

"I understood." He nodded, looking embarrassed.

“I thought it was part of the hunting rite.” I said, looking at him sideways.

“My wolf doesn’t have a chosen one yet.” He said with a smirk.

“That didn’t stop you from participating in previous years.” I grumbled, swallowing hard as I realized I had said too much.

“Were you watching me in previous years?” He asked and could see in the moonlight one of his eyebrows raised.

I stared at him because I felt an unknown need to observe the features of his face.

“Don’t ask me difficult questions.” I responded timidly.

He smiled at me and that smile seemed to make the entire ground beneath my feet disappear so I could float.

“You look beautiful.” He said finally, leaning on the stone and placing his shoulders close to mine, giving me chills.

"Thank you very much." I replied, and I was sure I was blushing.

“How are you feeling? I know you were looking forward to your first transformation...” His tone was careful.

"I am fine." I was sincere. “My dad always told me that at the right time it would happen, it's not like I'm any less of a wolf because of it, she's here somewhere, she's just waiting for the right moment to come out in style.” I joked.

“Your father is an admirable man, and so are you.” He said, crossing his arms and looking thoughtful. “I've always admired the way you deal with the pack, how you're always here.”

“It’s not like you’re any different.” I looked at him, his smile was so beautiful. His blue eyes staring at the forest in front of us.

“It's just that I carry the weight of a responsibility, you are doing this by choice. You chose to be here for us.” He looked at me, I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

I understood what he meant. From an early age, the men in the pack have a greater responsibility to protect us. He is the son of the pack's right-hand man in command and guard, a position he achieved last year upon turning eighteen.

Women in the pack are seen as advisors, caregivers, and protectors of the family. We protect ourselves from homes, from maternal advice, because we are seen as socially vulnerable and maternal lionesses. Although I understand that we are seen as intellectually wise and that is a good thing, I don't want to be just an advisor.

I always wanted to be a soldier, fight alongside my father and protect the pack. It's not like we can't fight, just because we're women. But Dad always vehemently respected traditions, always emphasized everyone's place, and although he is incredible, I believe his vision is outdated, seeing that historically many women fought and were in charge and this did not affect their intellectual capacity.

But still, I chose to take Renan's words as a compliment, because he was, there, admitting that he admired me, and I had dreamed about this for so many years that I couldn't believe it was happening. Smile.

“Thank you for the words. I feel like a responsibility to be here for you. I am the alpha's daughter, I also have the duty to take care of this pack. In reality, we all have a duty to look out for each other.” I replied.

He smiled and caressed my face, causing me a shock wave, and no, there weren't butterflies in my stomach, there were rhinos. I felt myself shudder at that touch. His gaze met mine and a smile played on his lips.

I felt like he was about to kiss me, and it would be the first kiss of my life. I don't know how I would react to that, but I desperately wanted to. When his thumb played on my cheek and his eyes seemed to observe my freckles... But suddenly, I felt something run down my spine and my instincts screamed that something was wrong. I looked around, uneasy.

"Everything is fine?" He asked confused.

“Something is wrong...” I said, swallowing hard.

“If this isn’t the best time for you, that’s okay.” Renan said, gently removing his hand from my face.

“No, that’s not it.” I whispered.

The festive atmosphere turned into a feeling of tension. The howls stopped abruptly, and I could see everyone on alert, Renan's expression changing into something unfamiliar. It was as if he was picking up some scent that repulsed him. Then, an ominous darkness fell over the clearing. The flames of the bonfire flickered, casting dancing shadows that seemed to take on a life of their own. The wolves growled and assumed defensive stances, preparing for the unknown. Without warning, the demonic creatures emerged from the shadows.

With sparkling eyes, they advanced towards the clearing, ignoring the threatening growls of the wolves. Chaos erupted as the pack tried to defend themselves against the surprise attack from the kingdom of Umbra.

Renan jumped, and his wolf appeared, heading towards our enemies.

In the face of the nightmare that unfolded, I saw my father fighting bravely to protect my mother, the black wolf growling fiercely, while my mother was lying on the ground, my brother was lost and scared. I ran to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards our hiding place in the heart of the forest.

On the way, I looked back to see if we were being followed. When we got there, I opened the trapdoor and pushed him inside.

“Stay here until someone comes to get you. Did you understand?" I said, looking into his eyes.

“But what about you, Meri?” He asked me, I could see the terror in his eyes.

“I’m going back to help our family.”

“Don’t leave me here alone.” He said whimpering.

“Eden, it’s okay. I'll get back to you, you hear? I love you." Smile.

He just nodded, and I ran back to the clearing, knowing they needed more people to help. The kingdom of Umbra was made up of a horde of wizards who lived in the shadows. Years ago, a war broke out and our pack exiled them from our properties due to the trails of death they had left.

We've been protecting ourselves from attacks for years, we thought we were safe, and apparently we weren't because they were retaliating. I was already getting close to the clearing, but before I could actually see anyone, I felt a hand grab me, covering my mouth, and its black nails and pale hands betrayed me as a wizard.

My eyes widened in horror, feeling the fervor of his skin drowning out any of my screams. My throat burned as I was dragged into the darkness. I fought, kicked and tried with all my might, but his embrace was like chains around me. I could hear my pack's anguished cries and order to attack echoing in the distance. I didn't know who was winning, and anger consumed me, I refused to stop fighting, even though I knew there was no solution for me.

Probably by dawn I would be dead.

“Meridian!” It was the last scream I heard in my consciousness, like a cry of supplication, of search. It was the voice of my father Túlio, and my name seemed to echo inside me.

Then I felt something hot under my neck, like claws piercing me, and I blacked out.