Clamied

Prologue

"Did you ever stop to think that even if I'm a monster . . . I might be your soulmate anyway?"

The grass tickled my arms as I lay in the yard, letting the wind move my hair around my head like a halo. The soft sounds of birds chirping nearby and the smell of lavender relaxing me. Today was the day. A day I wished I'd never see. It was a choosing ceremony. A thing only werefoxes did. Every fox, on their 18th year would get paired by their parents with someone they'd marry.

I had just turned 18 two days ago; just in time for the ceremony. It started off simply, with the parents bringing the two 18 year olds together, whether to meet for the first time, or find out you've been paired. The male would kiss the female on the cheek. He'd have to take the female into a room made just for them, where they'd mate. The next morning, when they'd come out, there would be a big celebration and if she was lucky, the female would give birth to a pup.

And I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to be mated and have pups with someone I might not even know. And what if I do know who it is. What if it was David, or Kevin? I wasn't ready for any of it. So I hid. laying in my backyard away from everyone else, who was getting ready. I heard the sliding door open and shut before feet moving across grass.

I stared up at the cloudless sky as whoever it was laid down beside me. "I don't want to go." I spoke before they could even speak. "I know." It was Drew, my brother. "But I promise, in the end, everything will be okay. It's not as bad as it sounds."

Drew was 5 years older than I was. He had been mated and Mattie was already on her second pup. They seemed happy together, but in the beginning, that was far from the truth. Mattie had been frightened, just as I had been, and they'd never met before. Now they were very much in love, and I could tell Drew would do anything for Mattie.

But I didn't want that. For some reason, I felt a pull of my heart to a different direction. A direction my skulk weren't going. I felt like I was missing something, and I felt if I went through with the ceremony, it'll be lost, and I will never get to find out what it was.

"Come on. Let's get you ready." Drew spoke, standing up and reaching for my hands. I let him pull me to my feet before wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we walked into the house. "Could you stay with me?" I asked, looking up at him. I had always been the smallest, mum telling me it was because of something that happened during pregnancy. I didn't mature fast enough, therefor, there was something wrong with my growth. I only reached 5'5, and was less than 120 pounds.

I was often called little girl, or little Wren. Drew looked down at me with a smile, hugging my shoulders before speaking. "It's not my place to be with you. But don't worry, you'll do great."

I only nodded. Drew took me upstairs to my bedroom, where a few of our elders stood, waiting to get me ready. We had 5 elders in all. Lana, Maisie, Marcus, Kane, and Dana. Marcus and Kane were downstairs talking to my parents.

Drew hugged me once before leaving me alone with the elder females. All 5 of the elders took care of the skulk. All coming to an agreement, or voting for what was best for us. The female elders would always get the females ready for the ceremony, since it was very sacred.

"Hello dear." Lana spoke, walking towards me and gripping my wrists with delicate hands. Her smile was bright, her skin wrinkling around her eyes and lips. "Let's get you ready, hmm?" I gave a small nod and she gave my wrists a squeeze before walking me towards the other elders.

It was always intimidating to be in the presents of an elder. They were wise and old, almost ancient. Marcus had grey hair and a long beard that rested over his chest. Kane more clean shaven, but still just as old. Kane's wife, Maisie was the youngest of the elders. Her hair just starting to grey from its natural brown. Lana, was second oldest only to Marcus.