GREY

Tribute

After 7 long days the Blizzard finally subsides, leaving a forest of destruction behind there are fallen trees and splintered wood everywhere. The search parties sent out this morning have located all of the missing wolves, no survivors. Among the dead was a young pup, at six years of age she did not stand a chance in the cold without the warmth and care of its mother. The mother of the dead wolf clutches her daughters pale body to her chest rocking her back and forth crying out into the snow blue sky. 

Our pack has never experienced so much death in such a short period of time, I don't know if the pack members are strong enough to cope with everything. I don't think we will ever be the same. 

During the blizzard my fathers condition has begun to improve slightly, the coloration of his skin is slowly losing its yellow jaundice and his heart rate is becoming a little more steady, day by day he is improving a little bit. My mothers mood has improved, a little bit of hope and relief has been restored.

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The Wolves of the North have all gathered together in front of their Alpha and Beta, cautiously I approach the two males as they talk with my mother. Her eyebrows are furrowed and her facial expression tells me I am not going to like what they are speaking about. 

"Siroux we lost many good wolves for your battle, their lives deserve reimbursement." Ezra says to my mother as I approach her side. 

"We have just claimed our land back and you are going to take it from us" my mothers voice comes out unsteady as she talks, they are going to take our land. 

"You won the battle because of us, Siroux you are well aware of our reckoning when it comes to battle. How will you lead this pack without an Alpha?"

"My father is not dead" I interrupt Ezra, disgusted with the way they refer to my father as if he is already gone. 

"He cannot lead in the state he is in, You will give us the Valley Siroux or we will take it by force. Starting with the pups" the coldness of Grey's voice stabs my heart, he would slaughter every pup and their mother if we resist. I look around at our pack, the mother wolves clutching their young to their chests with Greys threat. It is normal for an alpha to kill all pups in the pack they take over, impregnating all the females with his own offspring. It is a brutal and horrific way to take over a pack, it is uncommon these days but the threat is there. I can see it in Greys eyes that this Alpha does not bluff with empty threats.

"My son will lead in his fathers absence-"

"Your son cannot lead, he is weak and will be taken down. You have a choice here Siroux, give us the land or your lives" he has no emotion on his face, he is as hard as a rock now; you cannot make this stone bleed.

"Take Haleana as tribute"

My mouth hits the ground and I gasp at her words, my whole body feels numb and my wide eyes stare into the side of her head.

"And why would the wolves of the North want Haleana?" He spits my full name from his mouth as if it is an insult, it barely leaves his mouth as disgust takes over.

"She holds True North in her blood, its in her veins. And Alpha Grey you know exactly why you should take her. A first born and True North blood will make strong pups"

Lips continue to move but I cannot hear anything, my vision is blurring as I fade into my own world. My mother talking about the future I will nurse inside of me like I am some whore.

Shock

Betrayal

My own mother has just handed me over to the savages, Tossed me away as if I wasnt her first born. My heart is breaking, yet no tears come from my eyes. I am too shocked and angry to cry, fury is burning up inside me.

My mother looks as me and shock comes over her face, I was staring into the side of her head with daggers, my face full of fury making it look like I was ready to tear her throar out, too which some extent I am. I want to punch her face over and over, feel her bones break beneath my fists.

Grey and Ezra are both looking at me with a blank expression, they look as if they are talking in their mind link.

Lena listen to me, im sorry-
I cut off my mothers mind link and shut her out completely.

"Save your fucking apologies" disrespect leaking from my mouth towards my Luna, but right now all I see is my weak mother shipping her daughtet away. My mother says nothing, her face hardens and we continue to stare eachother down, I will not submit to her after she has just sold me off.

"Were leaving now." Grey speaks and my mother breaks our stare yet I dont look away from her.

"Lena? Mother? Whats happening?" Shamus comes to stand beside me looking between us.

My mother must have mindlinked Shamus because his eyes grow wide.

"You did what! Shes your daughter and you offer her as tribute to these savages!" He points at the twins earning a warning growl from them both.

I gently lower his hand and squeeze his shoulder, part of me is proud that he would fight for me while the other wants him to shut his idiot mouth.

I understand why my mother is doing this, protecting her pack. Yet I still feel as if she has stabbed me in the heart.
I will probably never see my family again.

The true north wolves begin descending into the forrest, its time.

Shamus and I say nothing as I wrap my arms around him, squeezing him as tears threaten to fall. There is no 'i love you's or 'goodbye's our embrace says everything that needs to be said.

I give my mother one last look, her eyes are softening and it looks as if she might cry, too late. I look away from her and at the two males, they both stand asside and I walk through them, their footsteps following behind me. No time to grab my belongings, all my childhood memories in my room, my clothes, my first set of silver, my family. My life, they all stay here. 

I walk beside the pack, everyone is in their human form as they easily walk through the snow, their weight floats above the snow in lights step as my feet sink and I stumble slightly through the snow.

Tears cannot leave my eyes as the cold wind pierces my eyes making it hard to keep them open, the further I walk away from my home the more emotional I become. I keep a blank face as I walk with this pack, they cannot see me in this saddened fragile state. I will not let Grey see what he is doing to me, after all he sees me as a worthless whore now

Wrapping my arms around my body as the cold bites my exposed arms. I brush my fingertips along the smooth white skin of the giants towering remembering each individual tree, my home.

Goodbye home.

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