Alpha's Blood (Book One)

A Helping Paw

The night was filled with silence as Nova moved through the forest, using her gift to see through others eyes to find her bearings. She had learned a few nights before that under the glowing light of the moon, her black pelt changed into what seemed to be stars and the sky itself. She loved the way her coat looked at night but hated how it flowed and easily would give her away to predators. It was why she used her gift to hurry away from the unprotected forest and to find a borrow. Her and Saba had gotten separated many miles back, Nova was to blame for it. When told by Saba to stay while she hunted, the omega female was overcome with curiosity and fell into a gorge due to not using her gift. She had learned to stop searching for Saba and just continued in her way to find a pack until she wished to return home. Her belly argued with her continuously as she walked, but she had no way to control her hunger. She couldn't hunt well, and that would be her ultimate death if she didn't find a new home soon. As her paws guided her through the forest, her mind traveled to her siblings, wondering if they had found a place to rest or even a pack already. Jealousy stroke her heart as she thought of Sage and how lucky her elder sister always seemed, and anger made the dark shewolf snap her jaws when she thought of Arrow. She was nothing to them, she always knew that. Why did Sage pretend to care? Did she care as she was dragged away by Arrow? Did she turn around to search for her baby sister? Nova sent her claws flying into the bark of a nearby tree as a growl erupted from her throat, deep and hateful.
"They'll regret leaving me behind one day!" Her words echoed in the dark forest, her eyes pushing out tears that only burned her milky blue eyes. Who was she kidding? What could a blind and weak omega pup do? She pulled her sight away and returned to seeing darkness as she fell to the ground, deciding to rest where she had laid. She didn't care if she was killed, or captured, or anything. She only felt anger and sadness in her faintly beating heart. It seemed when she laid her head down on her paws, a strong pulling called to her in her inner soul. Knowing what the call meant, she closed her eyes and relaxed herself letting sleep take her. A familiar shape in the stars moved towards her as Nova stood to greet her mother's soul. The white alpha shewolf looked sad and gave her youngest pup a look of sorrow.
"Nova..why do you weep?" Artemis's voice sounded like bells among the stars and echoed across the galaxy around them.
"They left me, mother. I am alone and dying." Nova looked away, not able to meet the gaze of her mom, a sharp sadness radiating off her pelt. With her abilities she felt her mother's emotions swirling around, like a pack of bees buzzing in the black shewolfs ears. Her mother felt sad, and regretful.
"I am sorry, but don't hate them. They were frightened in the moment and did what they could do."
"They could've come back for me!"
"Nova! You had left the cave! Even if they did you gave them no time to save you. Be lucky your alive at the very least!"
"But mother-"
"Don't but me, young lady. You will get up and push through this. You are not far from a new home at all. Do not give up!" Her words were fierce as her form faded into the stars, Nova's soul was beginning to waken.
With a heavy sigh and saddened heart, Nova woke to feel the warmth of many wolves around her. Using her gift, she watched through the eyes of a nearby fox, and gasped at what she saw. Three males sniffed at her pelt and were urging her to stand. One even pulled at her ears to force her on the back of another male. What were they doing? She pretended to be asleep still as she watched them, her gift of sight switching between animals to watch their movements. After what seemed like ages, Nova watched them lay her down on a soft pelt and curl around her in protection. Another male appeared from the shadows, giving the total of four males now and dropped meat before the blind shewolf, before dropping to lay around her himself. Calling her sight back, she ate the meat and felt satisfaction fill her before turning to the male closest to her, the one who brought her food.
"What's going on?"
"Forgive us, my lady. I am Conrad, and we noticed how lovely you were. We couldn't let a shewolf die, so we are here to nurse you back to health until you are ready to continue your journey. Unless you'd wish to stay with us." His voice was deep, and filled with genuine concern for Nova.
"Until I can return home, I think I might stay. Thank you for your kindness."