The Kindred, Dark Lineage

Chapter Three

This sucks! My fate is being decided without me, right now a pack of werewolves is downstairs determining whether or not to throw me and my mom out the door to fend for selves against the fae. I've been pacing back and forth across this rug for close to ten minutes now, at this rate I'm going to wear down the fibers. My mom is sitting in an oversized reading chair staring off into space, I wish I could just send her home and know she would be safe, but she would never leave me and  would never be safe.

"Taven."

I hear Riley's voice, she's speaking barely above a whisper but it's enough to get both my and my mothers attention. I move towards her and as always my heart begins racing, I swear every time I see her she becomes more beautiful than the previous. When I'm in arms reach I see the look in her eye, she looks determined.

"The pack is gathered and the meeting is about to start." She says.

I feel my eyebrow raise, she's not telling me anything I don't already know.

"I think you should be a part of that meeting, it's about you." She says.

I feel my mom standing behind me. "Your father told us to stay away from the wolves, being in a room full of them seems unwise." Says Jody.

Riley's mouth contorts in frustration. "It's a risk, there is no denying that but outside of these walls and without pack protection you will die! Take charge of your life Taven, fight, make yourself known." She says.

Mom and I lock eyes, I can tell she thinks it's a good idea but she is going to let me decide this for myself.

"I will be there with you." Interrupts Riley.

I turn and face her, hearing those words come out of her mouth fills me with courage that was missing moments ago. She extends her hand and I grab it, next thing I know we are running down the stairs with mom hot on our heels. When we finally stop we are standing outside the formal dining room in front of its double doors, I remember it from the tour earlier. Inside was a huge rectangular table carved with such detail, I remember my mom admiring its craftsmanship. It's chairs were just as rich in detail and reminded me of something from the Victorian period, twenty two of them in total surrounding the table.

"Ok." Says Riley. "You ready for this?"

I swallow nervously but nod. I watch as she places each of her hands on the door handles and begins slowly pushing them open, the sound that was so clearly present suddenly stops and the room becomes silent. When the doors are open completely Riley motions for us to enter. Stepping into the room I notice all twenty two chairs are filled and various people are standing behind the chairs, there must be closer to forty people in here. Several spectral wolves are visible, I'm beginning to think that when I see a spectral wolf it's because the wolf is close to the surface, almost in control. At the far end of the table Alex stands.

"Riley. What is the meaning of this?" Fortunately he sounds more concerned than angry.

Then a man steps forward, it's Bjorn. "THIS IS PACK BUISNESS, begone."

My knees begin trembling but Riley stands her ground as she turns to address her father. Unfortunately Bjorn must take her turning her back to him as an insult because suddenly he is in a full sprint moving towards us.

"Little BITCH, how dare you turn your back on me, I am Bjorn!" He shouts.

Mom and I embrace, I think this is the end but then the unbelievable happens. Its probably the most impressive thing I've ever witnessed in my seventeen years, Riley who is also seventeen and maybe 5'5" and 110lbs moves directly in front of the charging Bjorn who is more than twice her size. His spectral wolf looks crazed and ready to kill, my god he's going to rip her to pieces. Riley braces her stance and extends her right arm before her as to stay stop but the charging Bjorn continues forward.