DESIRE

1

Vega: A district 

Olivia Bell

August 2037

The sun pelted down onto Liv's bare back as she ran, its harsh rays turning her alabaster skin pink like the cherry blossom trees she ran past. She went for a run every morning, opting for when it was colder rather than the afternoon's humid air. Liv wanted to avoid being sweaty for as long as possible.

After the war had ended, armed guards had been stationed at the borders religiously to prevent shifters from crossing over, until a law had been passed that anyone can cross over to the territories with the leaders command. That didn't stop hunters from creating their own traps to prevent the shifters from crossing over, and the shifters patrolling their borders themselves.

They were not armed with bullets however, a silver bullet would start another war, they were armed with wolfsbane beads which paralysed the shifter from the neck downwards. A dosage too high would cause them to be permanently paralysed. For years the shifters have fought to get the drug banned but it never was passed, the humans all too aware that they were physically weaker.

Like the packs, there were six human districts, typically smaller than the packs. Some survived the war better, like Sol which was at the centre of all the packs and districts seen as the Capital. It was the most progressive area of the Free State, Liv hoped to live there one day.

So far, Sol was the only place that had integrated universities whilst university was a human concept, many shifters still did not attend relying more on their pack roles, it was open to shifters as well.

She lived in Vega in the countryside. Mountains stood tall to the west and tall birch trees stood tall to the East. In Vega, hunters were common being so close to the woods, they were seen as a normal profession even those who weren't hunting shifters.

Her mother was the Commander of their district. Being the commander meant that she was in charge of keeping the peace between the humans and the shifters. It was seen as a birth right for Liv to inherit the commander position, her grandfather had been one of the most powerful commanders in the war and he passed his position down to his daughter when she was eighteen. He stated that she was of age, and he wanted a break from the fighting. Her mother, Sophia, settled into the role immediately and after six months of being in charge she married her husband; Robert Lee, who was the son of some of the most prolific hunters in the area. At the time, she had believed that it would strengthen her family's role ensuring no shifter would ever doubt their capabilities.

That was before Sophia realised just how much she'd have to work with the shifters, and instead reinvented herself with her mantra; 'just keep the peace'. She outlawed the hunters although some would still crop up and hunt secretively, but she would leave the punishments of such to the Alphas.

There were five packs in the Free State each ruled by different Alphas. The one closest to them, the Crescent pack was ruled by Alpha Erik who was notoriously strict. Shivers ran down her spine at the thought of him. He was known for being ruthless to any trespassers onto his pack lands and was strict against any fraternisation between the humans and the shifters. Although that didn't stop them completely.

Her mind had drifted away so much that she hadn't noticed that she was getting closer and closer to the hunter's territory. Liv hated hunters. They set traps within the woods to catch any shifters that may have crossed the border, whether it was on purpose or an accident the hunters didn't care. The commander had tried to punish them but without any solid proof that it was them who were setting the traps; her hands were tied.