MENE

CHAPTER 1

Dark clouds were gathering illuminating the pack with darkness, an emblem that a storm was approaching. The pack led by alpha Owen stood at the edge of the territory, their ears curling nervously at the rising wind. As the first drops of rain began to fall, the wolves' senses were on high alert as they anticipated what was to come.

''Alpha did you hear that?'', asked Caleb second in command, his voice edgy with intensity.

''I heard it '', the alpha replied as he scanned the darkness with his eyes. Alpha Owens eyes went wide open when he heard the twig snap again, and with steady paces approached the source of the sound ready to defend his territory. It was then that he spotted two figures that were acquainted to him, emerging from the shadows.

Alpha Owen heaved a sigh of  relief as he recognized the trespassers.

'' Is this welcome for little old me,'' asked Mene with a smirk on her face.

''What were the two of you thinking, leaving the pack borders with everything going on?'' roared Alpha Owen irritation written all over his face.

''I...I.... A......AM...S...,'' Allie, Mene's best friend could not bring her self to complete the words she wanted to utter.

''Not now Allie, this act coming from Mene is not a surprise to me, but from you Allie, I expected more. Caleb, get your daughter in line, as for you Mene you have a lot of explaining to do when we get to the pack house. Let's go back everyone," Alpha Owen roared as he led the rest of the wolves back to the pack house.

Mene was used to this kind of mischief but she did not want her friend getting in trouble for it. Allie's father Caleb is strict, especially when it comes to discipline and Mene knew their punishment was going to be harsh. As the pack house came to sight, Mene could see the hostile faces of the pack members who were residing inside the pack house, a look she was all too familiar with.

''Thank you for helping tonight, you may all go and have some rest,'' Alpha Owen said, as the rest of the pack members retired for the night.

''Not you Mene, lets go my office, you to Allie,'' Alpha Owen roared as he headed for his office in the anticipation that the girls were following. Mene and Allie followed quietly each lost in their thoughts.

''Close the door behind you and have a sit, can you girls tell me what's going on, because I have just had enough with you two getting into trouble all the time,'' alpha Owen said in a stern voice.

''I am sorry alpha Owen, we only left the pack for the forest to gather some herbs that Mene's nana needs. We thought we will back before its late,'' Allie said, sincerity in her voice. As for Mene, she did not put any effort in trying to explain, all she could think of was her nana who has been sick for some time.

The lotus pack of course  provided her nana with the medical care she needed, but the modern medicines were not working, so Mene decided to try the old methods with the hopes that her nana will get better.

''Allie you may leave, come to the office tomorrow for your punishment,'' alpha Owen said, as Allie stood up and walked out of his office closing the door behind her.

''Mene, I understand your nana is ill, but you can't keep defying the rules and expecting everything to be okay. I know you have heard the rumors about how some mere handful of wolves came together and tried to overthrow the royal family. This has caused unrest all over packs, especially since there has been shift in power, at the royal pack, and some packs have declared war. Mene, are you listening?'' alpha Owen asked as his eyes searched for insignia that he was getting through to her.

Mene stared back at the alpha with no expression on her face, she had this eerie feeling that she could not shake off. The starring contest between the alpha and Mene was interrupted by a knock on the door.

''Come in,'' alpha Owen yelled, Caleb walked in, his face full of alarm.

''Mene, you can leave but just like Allie, I expect you here early in the morning for your punishment,'' said alpha Owen,  as he noticed the concern on his beta's face.  Mene stood up and walked out of the room with curiosity of what could be so urgent. 

As Mene was walking through the hallway, she could hear people murmuring behind her, she thought she would be used by it now, but she wasn't. This time however their whispers seemed to carry secrets and only she was not part of.

Mene walked out of the pack house towards the clinic where her nana Mary was being nursed, as she entered the clinic, she observed that her nana caregiver could not hold eye contact. It is when it dawned on her that eerier feeling she had was because of her nana.

''Am sorry Mene, but I don't think your nana is going to make it through the night,'' Gracie her nana caregiver said, her voice full of grief.

'' But....... B......I .... have the herbs that can help, we can't give up, please don't give up on my nana, she is all I have left,'' Mene said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

''Am sorry Mene, but there is nothing more we can do, go say your goodbyes, she doesn't have long,'' said Gracie with tears threatening to fall.

Mene walked in her nana hospital room and the sight of her nana made her take in a deep breath. She looked so frail, her once lively spirit now wrapped in a shell of delicate skin. The gentle rise and fall of her nana's chest seemed almost too delicate to sustain the life it held. Mene took a timid step forward her mind filled with a blend of grief and love.

She took her nana's hand placed it on hers, '' Nana please don't leave me, please nana, I have the herbs that we can try to use to make you feel better, please hold on,'' Mene said as tear rolled down her cheeks and onto her nana's hand.

Her nana squeezed her hand, a gesture so small yet so meaningful, and it was as if her nana was wordlessly communicating with her, filling her heart with warmth. However, that warmth slowly faded away and the once firm grip grew weaker with each passing moment, and just like that her nana was gone.

With nana hands still in hers, Mene sat there, tears rolling down her face, as the only family she had and knew was gone. Mene felt grief like never before, it was as if her heart was being ripped to pieces and nothing, she could do to stop it. Her breathing raised, and the walls around her seemed to be getting smaller, larceny the little air surrounding her.

''Mene .... Mene......Mene,'' Gracie yelled trying to snap Mene out of her trans.

'' She is gone ......my nana is gone......,'' said Mene, sobbing into Gracie's chest.

''Am sorry Mene, but we have to go, the pack is under attack,'' Gracie said, as she helped Mene on her feet.

''What......