Huntress

Prologue

Some memories you can never forget, no matter how hard you try they stay there; in your mind, haunting you forever.

-Reia

Rain drops slowly trickled off leaves and splattered on my nose. My paws were silent as they touched the sodden ground. I crept along the forest inhaling the sweet smells of oak leaves and pine needles. My breath swirled in a fog in the bitterly cold winter air. Smelling my brothers scent, I followed it hoping to find them then go night hunting.

Spotting two figures standing before me I stopped and looked closer. It was two wolves one brown and the other was black. Realizing it was only my older brothers, I padded closer and slowly came to another halt. They were both completely still, Seth's brown tail was tucked between his back legs. Erin stood beside him, the only movement that I detected was his black fur trembling. I could hear both of their pounding heartbeats from where I stood.

My hackles raised in uneasiness as I started to walk forward. I squeezed between them and looked forward to see what they were staring at. A gasp escaped my mouth when I saw what was in front of us. Everything seemed to freeze except my racing heart. Our parents who had left that morning to go hunting, lay dead before us.

Their gray and white fur was stained by their own blood. Each one had a gash across their throat along with several other disturbingly deep wounds. A trail of blood led away from them, giving a clear sign that their killer had escaped.

A noise came from my chest and erupted out of my mouth that sounded like a yelp and a scream mixed together. I sprinted forward and collapsed onto Dad's side the howled. My body racked with sobs while tears spilled over my eyelids. My mind kept telling me it was just a horrid nightmare and I would wake up soon. Nothing seemed real, so many thought and feelings swarmed through my mind.

Glancing up I saw my brothers standing beside me. Leaping up I buried my face into Seth's fur and whimpered. I heard Erin move closer before I felt his muzzle rub against the back of my neck. Seth suddenly growled and I pulled my face up to look the direction he was watching. Following his gaze I spotted a dark shape hidden behind a cluster of holly bushes.

A massive gray wolf stepped out and snarled at us. It lumbered two steps closer and I realized I knew this wolf. It was the beta of our pack, James. His fur and muzzle were stained with blood, his teeth flashed as he growled.

My heart quickened and I back away to stand behind my brothers. Three more shifters stepped out of the bushes, James sneered and gazed at us as if he was judging our strengths. This psycho had just murdered our parents and was now coming for us.

"Run." I whispered looking up at Seth.

"Run!" I repeated when he didn't respond.

Seth snapped out of his trace and looked down at me. At the same time the three of us wheeled and sprinted through the trees. I could hear the footsteps of the shifters behind us. Picking up speed I raced ahead of my brothers and followed the trail back to the pack village.

By the time we reached our home there was a large crowed gathered in front of the alpha house. James stood on the front porch, he had somehow made it back before us and had shifted back already. He was probably making up a huge lie, hopefully the pack wouldn't be stupid enough to believe him.

I shoved people out of my way to reach the inner circle. I found myself standing beside my Uncle Shawn. He gazed down at me and for the first time in a while I saw fear and pain in his eyes.