Lost in the Wind

Farewell?

I climbed into my truck and gunned the engine to life.

I turned on my favourite station and started singing along.

30 minutes later, I pulled up outside the pack house. I climbed out of the truck and walked to the front door.

Closing it behind me I noted that the house was silent, for once, as I scurried up the stairs, down the hall and into my small room.

I threw my bag and my shoes onto my floor and began rummaging through my closet looking for something to wear to the pack meeting. I finally decided on camo pants, with a denim shirt, that was tighter than I was used to but it was comfy. I threw on a comfy pair of combat boots and sat down at my desk. I braided my hair down my back.

There was a knock on the door, followed by a "Room Service!!!"

I rolled my eyes. "Come in Jake"

The door flew open and in walked Jake. He walked over and flopped down on my bed and I raised my eyebrow at him.

Jake was my best friend. He is slightly lanky but still built like a bull. He is super funny and always reliable. Jake is special though. He is the only werewolf I know that wasn't born as one. Jake was 7 when he ventured out into the forest where he was attacked and mauled by a rouge that was trespassing on our packs territory. In the process, Jake was bit and is now a werewolf. He is a one of a kind. Jake has scars that run up and down his arms and across his back. He doesn't like them but I think they make him look tough.

Jake was abandoned by his family, so he was also given a spot in the pack house. This is when he became my best friends. Jake went to a different school than me however. He was turning 18 in a few months.

"So I wonder what this meeting is about" He wondered aloud.

As he finished talking, a howl ripped through the air. Everyone must be here because they are starting early.

Jake and I looked at each other, before we took off, pushing and shoving each other, trying to get through the door first. When I won, he huffed and we walked together out into the backyard where there was lawn chairs spread around. Jake and I took our spots in the middle of all the chairs and the meeting began.

I zoned out as the Alpha and Luna began talking about a picnic we would be having soon. Luna also mentioned that the pack was expecting many pups soon.

Suddenly an uneasy feeling rippled through the pack, and the Alpha trailed off, looking around.

That's when I spotted him. He was walking out of the forest that surrounded the backyard, with at least 30 fully grown men behind him. All of them looked dirty and grubby, but they gave you a feeling of uneasiness in your stomach.

Screams filled the air, and I realized I wasn't the only one who had spotted them.

The man out front smiled a sickly smile as if our terror was pleasing him.

The pack was in a frenzy but no one seemed able to move.

When he finally came to the front, standing beside Alpha Logan, he ordered everyone to be quite.

Everyone fell silent.

"Well hello fellow werewolves" he stated with a voice that made me shiver. "I am going to make this very quick and easy on everyone. I need workers. I have come to take some members out of the pack and give them a new job. So all of the werewolves, under the age of 18, but older than 6, come stand beside me to my left?" He spoke as if he was organizing a field trip.

No-one moved.

"Now!" he barked.

Kids started standing up and walking away from their families, terror filling their eyes.

"If you need workers, why dont you take some of our fighters?" asked Alpha Logan. Some of the dads of the young kids nodded and stood, ready to leave to save their child.

"Because I'm rather lazy actually, and children are less likely to fight back, why battle when there is no need?" He scowled back.

"Why are you taking OUR children though?" asked Alpha Logan.

"Because.. you said it yourself, you have many pups on the way, many to restock your pack, no I'm not that patient either, so ask me another question and ill show you how unforgiving I can be." He yelled.

The Alpha bowed his head, telling the man to continue. I gaped, how could he give up so easily? Was he crazy? I sighed, he's just trying to do what's best for the pack I guess. But I was relieved in a way, knowing I was safe because I was over 18. I watched in horror as all of the kids gathered at the front, cowering in fear.

The man spoke to his men and they dispersed around us, looking up and down aisles, making sure no kids were left behind.

"Now the honor, I need to pick one man to lead all of our new workers and help them grow to understand our ways, you will still be worked but it will be an honor." The man said scanning the pack. 

I scoffed. An honor?

Finally the mans eyes landed on someone and he was soon being forced to stand and walk to the front by the mans soldiers.

Oh god. They had Nate. Oh shit. I dont know why I was acting this way, I only just met him. Nate was positioned behind all of the kids, and he was being held down by two men.

Suddenly I felt Jake stand up. I looked over at him and saw that he had been found by the soldiers. The scary man, appeared beside him, and sniffed him.

"Ahhh... I can smell that you aren't 18 yet young man."

Jake looked terrified.

The man turned and began walking back to the front, "Come along Scar boy," he said chuckling to himself.

I hated when people made fun of Jake, I was like his big sister and I was protective of him. I let out a low growl that vibrated my chair. The scary man stopped mid-step to turn and look at me.

"Ahh, what is this? Protective are we?"

Damn straight I was. I curled my lip up and snarled again. The man leaned over and smelt my hair, then motioned for a soldier to come over.

"Take this one to, I like her attitude" he stated.

The soldier grabbed my arms and we were being dragged towards the front. Once I was thrown on the ground beside Nate, who was still trying to fight, panic seeped in.

The man stood at the front again "I thank you for your sacrifice, you have made the right choice in not putting up a fight because it wouldn't have ended in your favour. This is goodbye"

He turned and motioned for everyone to follow him and we did, being pushed by the soldiers every now and then. Behind me I heard mothers screaming, dads crying and my life as I knew it being ripped out from underneath me.

We had just stepped into the shadow of the forest edge, when we were brought to a halt.

Now the man addressed his soldiers. "Go back, finish them, I dont want evidence or problems down the road."

His soldiers nodded and started walking back the way that we came from. With tears stinging the back of my eyes, I took a hold of the two youngest girls chosen, I knelt down, picked them both up and felt them curl up against my neck.

I continued walking away. Away from everything I've ever known.