Klaus's Pet Prequel

18

Hector stands in front of us, giving us the orders for the day. The adults get their commands first and then the kids.

The pack has 23 members.

There are 8 parents and 11 kids.

Then there's Hector and his minions.

"Lorelei and Eva will collect water."

Hearing my name, I snap back into focus.

I accidentally let out a groan. I hate water collection days. Walking down to the creek, filling up gallons of water one by one is one of the most exhausting chores.

Hector glares at me and I look away. Being seventeen, rules are more strict and the consequences are much more severe.

Kids get the basic chores, attending the garden with their parents. Once you're old enough, you have to tackle the worse chores. Then when you're old enough, you have to trigger your curse, get married and start a family.

Back when I was younger, one of the moms taught us everything about what the future would hold for every pack member.

Eva and I grab as many empty gallon jugs as possible and head back for more. We head to the stream and start filling the jugs. The rushing stream makes me feel at peace and makes me forget, even for a few moments about the hell hole I live in.

Breathe in.

The urge to run free screams in my head.

Maybe I'll be executed. But what if I actually made it off the mountain?

"Did you hear? The transition ceremony is coming up for the next group which means after they go, we'll be next!" Eva says excitedly snapping me from my thoughts

"Yeah. Awesome." I say with an eye roll even though she can't spot me since I'm behind her.

"You aren't exited?" She asks turning to face me

"To kill someone? No not really." I say with a shiver

The idea of ending one of my family's lives is horrifying. Technically since we haven't activated our curse, we're technically human.

We don't talk again for awhile, the sound of the water flowing downhill breaking the silence.

"How long fo you think it'll take to fill these?" She asks

"A few hours at least." I reply

Hector had stuck me on water collecting for weeks since I had picked a fight with another member of the pack. He told me I was being disgraceful and betraying the pack with my actions. He also told me to leave my aggression for the ceremony.

I learned a long time ago that our lives mean nothing to our Alpha.

We're his firepower.

Nothing more.

"Have you seen Anna anywhere lately?" I ask

Eva doesn't speak for a long moment but I can tell that she heard me.

"She's gone." Eva says so quietly I almost miss it

I almost ask her what she means but then it clicks. "Gone" is how they describe the people who don't return. They don't just disappear. Hector executes them for his own reasons.

Anyone of age who betrays the pack regardless of intentions will be put to death.

I've had that ingrained in me since I could talk. Different wording but same statement.

If you do something Hector finds as a betrayal, you die.

We continue absentmindedly filling the jugs until they are all full. Then we have the task of walking up and down the hill until all the jugs are in the right spot on one of the few tables we have.

"I trust that will t be quicker next time." Hector says as he eyes me

I just nod and head to my tent, ready for this nightmare that is my life to be over.