A Prequel [Book 8] in Her Destiny Series ||| ❝His family was blinded by greed and he lost everything in the crossfire.❞
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Everyone knew his family was a twisted one, they slaughtered packs for power. He was trapped, unable to escape t...
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Daylight had exposed the shadows.
It was midmorning and he paused by a small creek. He hadn't shifted into his wolf because he had focused all of his energy on running. Plus, his human skin was less likely to catch scent over his wolf's fur, and the blood was a good enough disguise so he could move undetected.
He had no idea how much ground he had covered but it was enough that his soles burned and his muscles quaked. The territory had changed, numerous times, as he traveled beneath the cloak of night, and Anise had been quiet every step of the way.
He glanced down at her, checking for the hundredth time to make sure she wasn't dead. She was so silent for a newborn, he still found it strange but interesting. He kind of liked her. Though, he had always been told the quiet ones were the ones to watch out for.
Anise's eyes were wide open and they lit up when their gazes met. Her tiny little fingers reached up towards his face. As much as he wanted to flinch, he hated things close to his face, he found himself lifting her closer. She was a curious little thing and her soft, slightly chubby fingers grabbed onto his jaw.
She giggled.
His entire stomach did a flip. It was the most innocent noise he had ever heard. Something in his soul was aching sweetly as Anise ran her hands over his stubble, grabbed his nose, and then literally pet his eyebrows. Eventually, she yawned and drew her hands back to suck on her thumb. He missed the tiny comfort she brought.
When her eyes fluttered closed, he almost found himself smiling. Newborns sure slept a lot, completely oblivious to anything around them, but it was okay because he would protect her. He found a little divot in some tree roots and gently laid her down.
He quickly knelt down by the small creek and cupped his hands to drink as much water as he could. His stomach was achingly empty but he wouldn't stop because of the minor inconvenience, he could only imagine how empty Anise's stomach was, as he didn't remember her nursing, and he needed to find someone to care for her before too long.
Before he had even agreed to this, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep a newborn with him. Not with the lifestyle he now faced, and he didn't know how to care for infants anyway. There was never any good in his old pack, just corruption, and pure evil.
However, he hated traveling in broad daylight. Once he began moving again with Anise in his arms, he was on edge. His nerves were jumpy, his senses in overdrive, and it was mostly because he wasn't only protecting himself now. Despite how exhausted he was, he kept light in his step and didn't slow his pace.
The sun made a giant arch over his head and before he knew it, the shadows were crawling back into their places for the night. He didn't mind, though his eyes did grow heavier. His wolf was giving him every last ounce of strength they had, just to carry this child to safety. He was glad she hadn't woken much during the day, he figured she was just as exhausted.
Suddenly, right before the light faded, he heard someone crying.
He froze, listening closely to the forest around him.
It wasn't a female.
He supposed curiosity had gotten the best of him because he covered Anise's face with a part of her blanket and then he crept closer to the noise that was filled with sorrow. Pressing his back against a giant tree trunk, he leaned around and saw the man.
On his knees, a man with curly black hair was sobbing.
He was confused until he picked up on the energy around him. He was close to a pack territory. He focused on the man again, unaware that someone was watching, and he felt the presence of an Alpha. That made his brows furrow. Why would an Alpha be crying? Alone in the woods? He never noticed the gravestone.
Maybe it was instinct or maybe it was foolishness but he stayed until the man finally pulled himself together. It was dark then. When the man began walking back to his pack, he slipped from the tree and followed. He had caked his skin with mud from the creek so that his scent was undetectable.
The shadows covered him as he kept his distance and the Alpha never expected a thing. He was surprised when he couldn't detect any wolves on patrol but the closer they drew to the pack houses, the more he felt great sorrow and it was like bitterness on his tongue. This pack was mourning.
He paused behind another tree, a few feet before the edge of light would reveal him, and he surveyed this pack. Something had drawn him to follow that Alpha, who entered one of the houses a few yards away, and he was too curious to turn back now.
He glanced down at Anise when his surroundings remained unthreatening, she was still sleeping peacefully, and he thought of the Alpha again. He knew it was uncommon for Alpha's to accept one that is not their own. They believed in their strong bloodline and it was their legacy. He knew it was a long shot but something about the direction of his thoughts felt right.
This Alpha was clearly suffering from a great loss and by the way it affected the pack, he would be willing to guess that their Luna was no longer with them. He couldn't be sure but whatever the loss was, a little distraction could be just the miracle. A miracle that would save both of them.
So, he stayed around, all night long, and he observed this pack.
Perhaps it would be a good home.
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Ah, the backstory is orchestrating perfectly. *wipes away tears*
This is one hell of a prequel, I'll just say that right here.
