Wolves Without Hearts

☙ Chapter 3 ❧

☙ T Y T O ❧

I sighed as my mate swiftly left me with her brother and then turned my attention to the two wolves in front of me. They were apparently both her relatives but what I couldn't understand was how two very lively and loving wolves were blood bound to a cold and heartless wolf like Alpha Calixa. I didn't recall if I had any siblings in my old pack, the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma had beaten my memories out of me. I silently began to wonder if my memories would ever come back or if I would remain the shell of a wolf that I am. Something about my past made my wolf antsy and I felt like a huge piece of my life wasn't quite right. Like the way everyone said 'Omega Tyto'. Whenever they called me that, it just didn't sound right.

Just as I was drawn deeper into my thoughts, a squeak drew me out, "Hi Tyto!"

My eyes widened as I looked down to find the Alpha's younger sister clinging to my leg, "Oh, uh hello... Artemis, was it?"

"Yes! That's mwe!" she chirped, hugging me tighter, "Do you wanna pway dress up with mwe?"

I chuckled and shook my head, "Sorry sweetie, but your brother needs to train me. Maybe we can play on my free time?"

Ryder nodded and grabbed Artemis from my leg, "You can go play with Elder Aldith while I train Tyto alright?"

"Yay! She aways pways magic games with mwe!" Artemis squealed, wriggling away from Ryder and scampering towards the door.

"Well, now that she's getting ready to go, why don't we follow?" Ryder suggested, chuckling lightly at his little sister's eagerness to play with the pack elder.

I nodded and walked with him out the door to follow Artemis to Elder Aldith. I had heard about the Elder before and how the Moon Goddess had granted her a special gift after her mate rejected her when she went blind. Every curse must have its blessings I always say. Her blessings came with the power to see through other people's eyes. That wasn't really something you could show a little girl to impress her so my guess was that she used some parlor tricks to keep Artemis occupied.

The walk to the Elder's house was short lived and we dropped Artemis off and headed towards the training grounds where I would train for my initiation.

"So Tyto," I heard Ryder say, trying to make some friendly conversation.

"Yes?" I responded, looking over at my mate's brother.

He grinned at me before saying, "I know you're my sister's mate. So I'm gonna train you to the best of my ability so you can impress her."

I was left speechless as he spoke and my mouth hung agape with shock. How did he figure it out? Was it the way I looked at her? "Uh... Thanks." I managed to say, giving him a look of confusion, "But if you don't mind me asking, how did you find out? Alpha Calixa never told anyone and her Beta was the only one there to see her find me."

"You must think I am some sort of blind wolf," he laughed, "I know when my sister is acting strange and as her brother I feel her emotions stronger than a normal pack member. When she didn't look at you, and insisted I train you, I knew something was up so I just connected the dots."

"Wow. Well should we start training? I want to make it out of initiation alive thank you very much," I joked, looking towards the training area.

Ryder gave another laugh and walked over to the training area. Once we both stood at a distance, he crouched into his fighting stance and challenged, "Come on Tyto, show me what you got. I won't shift but you can feel free to do so. I want you to give me everything you can do, that way I know what to teach you."