The Outcast

Josephine's Gift

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!! Happy birthday, dear Mona... Happy birthday to you..." a teary old Josephine singing that classic birthday song, carrying a pink cake with 18 melting candles. Mona Elara Mayfield turns eighteen years old today.

To them, it is the most important birthday and a momentous age when a wolf finally turns into a young adult and will be responsible for all of their actions. It also means that they can participate and contribute their skills and opinions for the benefit of the pack. Training will become more intense, and the level of discipline will be tested.

"Thank you, Nan..." she said as the cake was placed in front of her. Her nanny kissed the top of her head and gave her a warm hug. 

"Now, make a wish... " she said cheerfully. 

"I don't have any..." Mona said flatly. 

"Of course you have a wish! Come on, dear..." she coaxed. 

"Alright..." She closed her eyes and silently uttered her wish. She blew the candles, and there was a pop from a party popper, and a rain of colorful confetti fell all around. Troy Brooks did it, smiling happily.

"Happy birthday, Mona," he greeted simply as he gave his small gift to her, wrapped in brown paper with a cute little red ribbon, he look sideways as Mona reached for it. 

"Thanks, Troy," she smiled at him.

Troy Brooks was one of the rogues who attacked the camp some 10 years ago and kidnapped her. She also learned that it was he who saved her in the Moon River and brought her to Karen Sage, the healer. Since then, he has never wanted to leave her side, and she doesn't know why. Josephine told her that it had something to do with imprints. Another kind of bond known to their kind. 

 According to Josephine, Troy was born a Guardian. A guardian is a wolf whose only purpose in living is to serve and protect their alpha for all of their lifetime. Wolves are known for loyalty and affinity to their pack, but having someone imprinted to you is another level of loyalty and is a very rare circumstance, especially since she is not an Alpha nor does she have a single drop of an Alpha's blood in her veins. He insists on following her around, everywhere she goes. So far, the number of bullies has dwindled with Troy around her. He looks intimidating, and the reputation of a former rogue scares them away. For her, it was a good thing. 

Everyone was shocked when Mona came back with a rogue in tow ten years ago. But Josephine was the first to welcome her in a bear hug when she returned. Right then and there, she knew she was loved. And one is better than none, and that matters a lot. Her father, on the other hand, said he was glad to have her back, but his treatment of her remained the same. But she felt something had shifted towards her father - guilt maybe? He mostly spends his time in the pack house and seldom goes home.

Everyone despised Troy, and they wanted to execute him instantly, even though she tried her best to explain how he turned out to be her hero. Which was, of course, useless because nobody takes her seriously. Later on, Troy was given a chance to stay in their pack. Mona did not know what conspired behind the Alpha's closed door during their assembly that made the Alpha accept Troy in the pack. A lot of pack members questioned the Alpha's decision, but still, the Alpha's word is the law. And no one dares to go against it. Sometime after, she learned that Josephine takes Troy as her responsibility, given that he saved her, she will have to save him too, and she's willing to take him in as her son. From then on, Troy Brooks became Josephine's adopted son. Finally, he is no longer a rogue. He has found a family.

At 12, during the Shifting Ceremony, when everyone was anticipating that her wolf would show up on her first shifting, turns out to be her worst nightmare. Her wolf just lay still and slept some more. She was frustrated; she did not leave her room for a week. From then on, her father stayed longer in the pack house rather than at home. Her father's friends are even questioning him if she was really his daughter or if she is one of them because of what happened that.