The Hidden Daughter

Amaya- 8 years old The first weekend of summer vacation meant a two-week camping trip down by the river. My grandparents, who were raising me, would take my cousin Lance, Quincy, Marlow, Carlie, and me on a mini getaway to celebrate the end of another school year. Occasionally, their other grandchildren joined us, even if it was for a short period. Nathan, Priscilla, and the triplets, Natasha, Bryant, and Ryan. They are the current alpha children and they hate me. While my grandpa and the boys set up the tents, the rest of us gathered firewood and set up the fishing rods along with the rabbit traps. I could shift by age five. We aren't sure what triggered an early shift, but it is rare for someone to shift before thirteen. It actually happened during one of our camping trips. My grandparents thought it would be a good idea not to share that information with anyone outside of our group. Not even the alpha. My group looked at me to lead them. It was as if they recognized me as their alpha, which is weird given that none of them had shifted yet. Not to mention, I am the youngest in our group. My grandfather said that someday, I might create and lead a pack and that my true life mate would be the strongest in the world. "Amaya, snap out of it and help with the snares," my grandmother urged. "Sorry Grammy. I just got a little lost in my head," I replied. This year's trip has been cut down to two nights instead of two weeks. We had asked them repeatedly why they changed their mind, but could never get a direct answer from them. "I was thinking, Grandpa, maybe we should stay in the cabin tonight instead of camping here?" Lance asked. The cabin was our go-to spot because of its seclusion. It also meant extra security because they had cameras everywhere. "Your Grandmother is just a little worried and wants to stay close to home. I am sure everything is going to be fine. So, let's humor her by staying closer to the main pack house. Now, let's finish putting up this tent so you can go play." We had to set up more tents because of the additional patrolling warriors. So, instead of an hour, it took us four. Typically, only ten warriors are assigned to each shift, but for this weekend, we have at least thirty of our best warriors for each shift. To avoid exhaustion, they rotated every four hours. Which is why we need to set up tents for them. They were running simulations and getting everyone ready for tonight. I don't know what is so special about tonight, but that is when most of the warriors were expected to be patrolling. "Today, the river has a calm flow. That is a bad omen," my grandmother pointed out. The river is unusually calm. "Do you really think that something bad is going to happen?" I asked. "Yes, but don't worry, child. You can go play with your friends." With a worried frown, she turned and left me to return with the warriors. It looked like they were laying out plans for the night patrol. She is right, though; it is time to have fun with my friends. Running to join my friends, I jumped on Lance's back, pushing further underwater. He got up, splashing and laughing. That is how we spent the rest of our day. Trying to dunk one another, splashing each other, and when we were tired, fishing. At dinner time, we all sat around the campfire and ate the food that we had caught that day. We caught seven rabbits and fifteen fish. After dinner, we helped reset the traps and the poles for a little night fishing. With my grandparents changing into their wolf forms, it was up to us to tell stories. My grandfather had some of the best stories, especially since he had been alive for over two hundred years. Some of our favorite stories were about a female werewolf named Sasha and her two wild friends. We asked about Sasha. and her friends. We wanted to know what happened to them. All anyone knew was that Samara was mated to the Lycan King, and the other two had disappeared on the day of her wedding. No one knew what happened to them or if they were even still alive. It was just a couple of hours after we fell asleep that the alarms went off. There were rogues in the area. Waking up Marlow and Carlie, we slipped out of our tent to make our way to the boys, Lance and Quincy. They met us halfway between the tents where we found two warriors wounded. Taking in my surroundings, I can see that our pack is outnumbered and won't survive much longer. Pointing for everyone to follow me, we headed out to the river where there was a secret cave. Three rogues appeared and blocked us before we could make a move. I knew that even if I shifted, there is no way I could fight off three grown wolves. Not knowing, I grabbed my bracelet and broke it. Sparks flew all around us and a portal opened. Gaping at the portal, I watched as the beautiful witch stepped through. She had crystal blue eyes and long raven-black hair but her expression was anything but beautiful. Her eyes were drawn in and her eyes blazed with rage. As soon as she saw the wolves, she sent each one flying into a nearby tree. "My name is Saline. Go through the portal where you will be safe. GO!." We barely made it through the portal before it closed. Our eyes are locked as we sit there silently. No matter what happens after tonight, it has changed us. We saw things, heads being ripped off, our own warriors lying dead.