Chosen and Taken (ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE)

Chapter 1

This chapter is dedicated to NVRCHANGIN4U, 'cuz she was the first person to comment and vote and my first fan! Thank you <3

Chapter 1

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The birds chirped and sang delightfully, high up in the trees. The grass in the meadow waved and bowed to the weak summer breeze that blew. The water in the river next to the meadow flowed and gushed and reflected the blinding reflection of the day-star that shone so strongly and spread its light in every corner and cranny of the meadow that the sun's rays could reach.

Safeerah sat silently in the middle of the meadow, and looked thoughtfully into the dark forest infront of her. As a child she had always wondered what was beyond the dark woods and its mysterious shadows. When she asked Asili - the woman who lovingly took in Safeerah when she was but a crawling child, and whom she considered her mother - she said that it was not to be spoken of.

Every ten years Safeerah had witnessed how one of the daughters of Asfuur was escorted out to the edge of the 'Dark Forest', never to be seen again. Safeerah frequently questioned Asili, but never got answers. Asili always looked frightened when Safeerah asked and always found a way to avoid answering questions Safeerahs, hoping that Safeerah would forget.

Until this morning that is.

This morning Asili had told her of it all, how the girls that were chosen moved away to live and stay with the Ko-naan family as a mate to one of the brothers. Now, being chosen to be the mate of one of the Ko-naan brothers mate is a great honor since the Ko-naan family are the leading rulers of Asfuur and the strongest shapeshifters known to all living shapeshifters. The brothers are rarely seen, but are said to be handsome and great warriors. Since Safeerah was young she hadn't heard nothing but the Ko-naan family being praised for their courageous and brave nature.

Safeerah stood silently up and walked towards the beautiful and clear river infront. She sat by the river and looked down on her own reflection.

Tomorrow morning, the Alpha himself would come and choose the future bride for his youngest son - Ari . The daughters would get lined up, as Asili told her, and the king will choose one of them to be escorted to the edge of the Dark Forest . Asili told her that the girl was then supposed to venture into the forests and walk until her mate approached her in his wolf-form, and she would then be taken on the wolfs back to her new home, never to leave it again. That's what bothered Safeerah mostly. She loved to be free out in the wild, with no walls holding her in.

Safeerah looked up and realised she'd been here longer than she intended. The sky had changed to a beautiful twirl of pink and orange colours, signaling that the ending of the day was close, and Safeerah knew that by the time she got back home it would be dark.

She slowly walked away from the meadow and had barely entered the path that  lead back home to her tribe and a worrying Asili, when she heard a twig snap behind her. Safeerah tensed, and slowly turned around, barely concealing her frightened scream when she saw how close the person behind her stood. She exhaled shakily and smacked the young woman in front of her, on the back of her head.

"Kara! What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?", she shouted annoyed.

Kara reached up and rubbed the place she'd been hit by Safeerah. She pouted adorably and looked guiltily up at her. "I just wanted to surprise you, no need for violence, Saf.", she mumbled the last part.

"Oh, hush up. Lets just hurry home before mom gets wild and crazy with worry." she said and both the girls walked away giggling and joking about how their mother would react.