The Last Black Wolf

Prologue

Blood. So much blood. Everywhere I turn, a new death greets me. I know I can't protect everyone by myself. We have to flee. Unfortunately, I can't make that decision, since I'm not Alpha just yet. Just turning 16 and not having shifted still has not boded well for me. My pack believes me to be human, whilst my parents believe otherwise. Even if I didn't have my title, this is my pack and my home, and everyone would have accepted me all the same. Our kindness and fierceness are what allowed us to become the strongest pack in the world. I fight with my bare hands and a katana at my side, formed with the purest silver, determined to save my friends and family. Even being a mere human, I alone have killed over 20 rouges. I am respected and feared. As is my pack. But, this... this took us by surprise.

Being the strongest, normally we wouldn't have to worry about another pack invading or fighting because we would wipe them out before a paw could be placed on our territory. My father was dubbed, 'Alpha King' and my mother the 'Alpha Queen'. The strongest mated pair since The Dark War.

We were caught off guard. An attack in the middle of the night by an infamous pack of rouges: The Moon Fallen. Made up of exiles, outcasts, runaways, and ferals. This pack was always small, but tonight, they have proved us wrong. 150 invaded our homes and immediately wiped out half our territory. Made of about 500 members, our pack is not one to fall without a fight. Within just a few hours, our numbers dwindle to less than 30. As I continue to slash and fight my way through the battle, I come back to back with my mother. Her wolf is tall, about 5 feet. Same as my father. With her head raised and ears flickering, we almost see eye to eye. I slash at a mangy wolf lunging towards me. It recoils in pain and disappears. The silver will poison all who touch it.

I turn at the sound of a sword being unsheathed. A tall, brooding man in a hood looms in the distance. As quickly as I see him, he vanishes into the fight. Not even a moment later, he returns. His sword glistens in the moonlight as he catches both my mother and me off guard, quickly plunging it deep into my mother's chest. He rips it out with such ferocity, a gaping hole is left. I drop my katana as I catch my mother's wolf. I stroke her fur as her labored breathing slows. Despite the fighting, all I hear is my mother's wheezing fit begins to quiet until all I hear is her silence and a newfound fire in my soul.

I snatch my sword from the ground and continue fighting my way through, slaughtering every wolf that gets in my way. Soon, there's no one left to kill. Or so I think. I come upon my house's front yard, only to find the hooded man with a sword against my father's throat.

"Release my father and state your business." To my surprise, I can feel power radiating off of me. The hooded figure looks towards me.

"Whatever you say, princess," His voice is deep and sharp and wicked. He cackles as he brings his sword back and swings at my father.

"No!" But I am too late. I watch in horror as his head is severed from his body and rolls from his slumping body.

"You killed him," I say in quiet horror at first, then I yell, "YOU KILLED HIM!" Anger flows through my body as I lunge towards the man. Surprise and confusion etch both of our faces as I land atop him with four feet. Shock follows my feelings as his hood falls back and reveals his familiar face. I jump off and shift back. I gasp, as I see the person who I trusted most, and called my best friend. Hunter Cage.

"A black wolf! I knew it, I was right about you. But I'm afraid more bad news is to come-"

"Hunter?" I ask, still taken aback by his reveal, not even paying attention to what he's said.

"Yes, Kiara?"

"Why?" I finally get my bearings once more, "Why did you kill my parents and the pack?"

"Because Kiara, he," he points to my father's body, "banished me from the pack when I was only 14 years old. The entire pack agreed with his decision, except you. You stood up for me-"

"Because I believed you were innocent and not capable of what they said you did."

"Well, it doesn't matter now. Because now I'm going to have to kill you as well. I was going to let you live, but you've seen my face and are no mere human."

"What do you mean?"

"Your wolf has black fur. Which means you have to die. I'm sorry." His emotionless voice leads me to believe he isn't sorry.

"So you did it then?"

"Did what?"

"You killed him."

"So what if I did?" He asks nonchalantly.

"I stood up for you. I believed you. And you lied straight to my face. You're lucky all you got was banishment. They should have slaughtered you in a second! They should've killed you for what you did!"

"Well, you can blame yourself for that. Dear old' daddy didn't want to make his daughter even sadder by making her go through another loss. The moment you stood up for me, he knew he couldn't kill me, otherwise, you would've hated him. So, in a way, all this is your fault."

His words strike me harder than any weapon can. He's right. This is my fault. I know he was my best friend, but a part of me always knew he did it. I was just too selfish to lose another loved one. I needed him alive to distract me from what I lost.

Before I can say or do anything else, a sharp stinging sensation erupts throughout my abdomen. I look down at the sword as he pulls it back out. I fall to the floor, lying down while clutching my stomach.

"This sword," He comes down closer to me, "is made with the purest of silver and is laced with wolfsbane. There is no way that you will be able to heal yourself. This sword causes a slow and painful death."

With what little strength I have left, I reach for my katana. Gripping it tightly, I slice at Hunter. He easily

dodges and jumps up.

"You missed," He laughs.

"Did... I?" I laugh as well.

I watch as he taps his cheek and recoils his finger in pain and surprise.

"You b*tch! What did you do?"

"You're not the... only one... with the power... to wield... silver," I say in between breaths. "I hope you... suffer."

My eyes become heavy as I finish. I can see Hunter walk towards me with his sword raised. Unable to

fight anymore, I finally welcome the darkness.

I perk my head up as a twig snaps in the distance.