The Mahani Wolves

Chapter 1 - Grace

Please see the Content Warning first. Read at your own risk.

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Please note here if you are a First-Time Reader or Re-Reader.

The Moon Goddess shed a tear as she watched another innocent die a horrible death at the hands of those in power.

At the same time, her spirits rose at the pure joy she felt blooming within her as the Mahani wolves were in the middle of a mating ceremony. This was one of the few werewolf packs that had no evil souls. They cared deeply for all the people on their seven islands, wolves and humans alike.

She watched the caring wolves for a bit longer, reveling in their love for their fellow man.

The Moon Goddess returned her gaze to the young wolf killed by her Blood Alpha during her first shift. The young pack wolf was an Omega - intelligent and loyal. She was also his son's mate. The Blood Alpha wanted better for his son. He took the poor girl's innocence before beating her to death.

A plan formed as the Moon Goddess turned back to the Mahani Islands. Her people needed a champion to protect them from those evil, corrupted beings - wolves and humans. All it would take is a little magic and some wolves with big hearts. She had plenty of both.

And so it begins...

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Present day (5000 years later)

POV - Grace

"Delta Four to Alpha Three. You are clear to leave. All the leaders are in custody."

"Understood, Delta Four. How many children did we liberate?"

"Sixteen. Two are Mahani. That's more than we were told were here. It's a good day."

While that last statement on the group link may be up for debate, I knew what she meant. My best friend felt overjoyed when we saved children from these slavery rings. For me, it was too close to home.

People have been stealing and hunting Mahani children for thousands of years. When the Moon Goddess made the Mahani the guardians of the wolves being abused or killed, it made our children targets. A Mahani child is worth millions on the black market. While modern technology gives us more resources to find the people who need us, it also creates a way to check a child's DNA for Mahani genes.

A descendant of a Mahani that left us is an easy target for these monsters. While we chip Mahani-born children with trackers at birth, the descendants don't have that protection. It is uncommon for a child to be born a Mahani several generations after leaving us, but it happens.

I'm living proof of that.

Not being able to tap into the Mahani powers until one comes of age is also a considerable downside. These children can't defend themselves or have their wolf cry out to us, letting us know of the abuse and need for help. It didn't take long for the abusers to learn this minor fact either, so they tend to kill the children on their thirteenth birthday, knowing their wolf would emerge during that year.

"How are you doing, Grace?" The voice inside my head was soothing, and I was thankful my father didn't use the group link.

"Honestly, I'm happy and sad at the same time."

"Any flashbacks?" I'm really happy my dad has stopped pulling punches with me and I hope this never changes.

"No. Just the heartache of knowing what they've been through." I deliberately kept my voice even, knowing he would worry.