Klaus's Pet Prequel

46

Lorelei's Flashback:

The cold makes my body shiver. There was a Gathering yesterday. That's when we exchange clothes for ones that fit us, either from current pack members or the ones who've died. It happens maybe once every few years for when we all start growing.

I shove all my 'new' clothes into my tattered duffel bag. I force the zipper a little to hard and it breaks off.

At least the tent will keep my clothes dry.

I make my way past the groups of people and the garden towards the clearing where all the tents are set up.

Two weeks ago we migrated towards another section of the mountain due to a storm. Hector said there was a risk of a mudslide so we spent the next two days packing all of our belongings and moving. We're still trying to get everything settled.

I unzip my tent which holds nothing but a cot and my bag and a bottle of water.

And a secret.

I lift up my pillow to reveal a book that my mother had gotten for me a few years before she'd passed.

It's a book about a little blue jay going off on adventures in the woods to find a spot to make the perfect nest. I'm the only child in the pack who currently knows how to read. Hector told us it was a useless skill but my mother taught me in secret. At 5 years old I could read almost the entire book without a struggle.

Then my parents died and I'd stashed it and kept it hidden under my pillow.

I hadn't touched it since.

It's been two years since then.

I'm seven now.

"All children, please take your sheets to the creek for laundry day." A voice calls out

Someone walks by my tent and I dive to hide my book but I'm too late.

Gregory, one of the pack members spots it. He smiles at me in a way that makes me want to scoot farther away from but there's nowhere to go.

"What do you have?" He demands and snatches the book

"No! Give it back!" I yell
"You're not supposed to have this. Let's go."

He grabs me by the arm and yanks me toward him. Then he drags me all the way to Hector.

"Look what I found in the girl's tent." Gregory says and hands him the book

"Well this is interesting." Hector says
"My mom gave me that! Give it back!" I plead

Hector looks down at me.

"Your mother committed treason by bringing this here."

Then he turns to Gregory.

"Burn it."
"No!" I cry

Hector grabs me by the arm and forces me to stand still as Gregory throws the book into the fire. I cry and try and yank myself away but I'm no match for our Alpha.

I watch as the book catches flames and the only gift I've ever had turns into ash.

"Let this be a lesson for you little Lorelei. Nobody is above the rules." He says

With no other moves to pull, I do the unthinkable. My teeth bare down hard on Hector's arm. His grip releases not from pain, more like surprise.

I stare into his cold uncaring eyes.

He backhands me and I go flying onto the ground. My face burns and my eyes well up with tears. He stares at me, unsure what to do. He takes a moment to fix his sleeves and smooth down his hair. Then he turns to one of his pack members.

"Mark her." He says
"No! I'm sorry!" I plead

"Everyone gather around!" Hector yells out

The members start to move from their current places, the tents, the new garden, and make their way to us. Once everyone is here, watching, one of the members grabs me and yanks me to my feet and keeps me in place while another grabs ahold of my hand where they'll mark me with a brand.

A simple X mark brand that tells everyone I'm high risk and a problem.

"Let this be a lesson to her and all of you that no one is above my rules. If anyone brings in contraband or disrespects the rules I have in place, you will share her lesson." Hector says to everyone

Hector grabs the pipe and places it over the fire. After a few moments, the tip is burning hot. The member who has a hold of me, tightens his grip making it impossible for me to move away. The hot metal sizzles and I scream in pain as it touches my hand. I try to yank away and plead for him to stop but he doesn't. When the metal is removed, there's a large X mark on my left hand.

Hector signals for the guy to release me and sends me back to my tent, alone and in pain.

I cry myself to sleep that night, wishing I wasn't all alone in this place.