For The Love of An Alpha

Recollection

Sixteen years ago...

A firm hand pressed against her shoulder as she laid on the couch at her grandmother's home. She felt the shimmy across her body as the hand nudged her into awareness. Jhera stretched hard as she looked to her relative.

"Yes, Nana?" her voice groggy and half asleep.

"Quiet girl," her grandmother spoke quickly in a hushed voice, "get up and dress yourself." She moved from the couch quickly and looked out her front window.

Jhera moved with urgency as fear began to race through her body. Pulling her nightgown from her body, she dressed in jeans and a long sleeved shirt. She pulled her sneakers over her feet and was quickly dragged to the kitchen by her wrist. She moved swiftly to keep pace. 

"Listen carefully," her grandmother began as she moved about the kitchen, grabbing things from different places. "A threat is coming, and you must leave."

Jhera shook her head, not risking speaking out right now.

"Yes." Her words were firm. "You must, or they will kill you." She shoved a pack into the girls arms. "Your father was killed last night." She opened the pack and threw a canteen into the pack. "The apposing pack allowed a warlock to fight for them," she stopped to take Jhera's head in hands. "They offered you up as the price."

A lump stuck Jhera's throat, her father was dead and her life was in the balance. Her father always told her she was destined for great things. That her mother was a child of the stars and that she was kissed by the moon itself. Jhera rubbed her right arm as she watched her grandmother move about the room.

"Now, you must trust your wolf." She placed some food in the pack and a roll of bills that she pulled from her freezer. "She will not lead you wrong." She turned the girl around and put the pack on her shoulders, covering it and her shoulders with a poncho.

"Nana..." her voice sounded weak and shaky.

"I love you, with all my heart." She drew her granddaughter into her arms, hugging her tightly.

Screaming flooded their ears, as the fighting moved to the village. Their heads turned to the front of the house as screams of woman and young pups running from the village filled the air, followed by snarling and growling. Jhera could imagine the gnashing of teeth as the wolves moved across the village. 

Her grandmother looked around and shook her head. "Come, quickly." She took her granddaughter's arm again and walked to the backyard, it edged on the forest line.

Jhera watched as her grandmother shifted into the familiar gray wolf, her green eyes peered from the girl to her own back. Jhera moved quickly and climbed atop her grandmother's shoulders, grasping the fur beneath her tightly, they took off at a swift pace. The sounds of howling and screams could be heard behind them, as they moved through the forest. The only safe place was far from where she was. Ezara moved as fast as her legs could carry her, the sound of howls coming from behind her. She knew they were on to her scent and she hoped that what they had taught the girl would be enough. They arrived at the stream that was far from the village. Slowing to a stop, Ezara lowered herself for the girl to climb down. 

Shifting form, Ezara moved quickly to grab maple leaves from a nearby tree. She rubbed her granddaughter up and down with the leaves. Whispering to her as she did. "You find shelter far from here." She grabbed a handful of grass rubbed it over the girls shoes and socks. "You have about a day before the storm comes. You keep moving until the storm. When the rain starts, you keep pressing on for 3 hours. Keep to rocky areas where you leave no tracks."

"Light footed and gentle to the ground, leave no track, leave no trace." Jhera continued as her grandmother moved about her. 

"And here we thought you never listened to us." She smiled one last time to the last of her line. She looked across river and placed her hands beneath the arms of her young granddaughter. Eight years was far too young to be on your own. They nodded to each other and Ezara tossed the girl across the water.

Jhera landed on her feet and looked back once to her grandmother. They nodded one last time and she took off at a run. She climbed high up the ravine from the river, glancing back only to see her grandmother in wolf form once more. Looking to the distance, the warriors were closing in. Jhera grit her teeth and pushed on, the howl of her grandmother ringing in her ears as the last stand for her life engaged. She was giving her life to buy her time. She climbed the rocky path quickly, moving nimbly as her father had taught her. She was small and light, it was easy for her to move swiftly across the rocky areas. 

She was a day into her walk when her wolf spoke up. It was as her feet grew weary and she was ready to stop moving.

We can't stop yet. The soft voice of her wolf spoke into her mind. The comfort of her voice was almost melodic. 

I know, but I am tired. Jhera let her mind reach back to her wolf, knowing this was the only companion left in her life.

Take from my energy. 

With that a second wind filled Jhera's body, she had renewed strength and pushed herself further yet. It was halfway through the day when the rain came, and it fell hard. Jhera had trouble keeping her footing on the stone ravine, nearly slipping several times. She allowed her fingertips to dig into the rock as she moved, water pouring down her back. Her pack was in front of her, she was doing her best to shield it from the rain. All the camping trips with her father were paying off, as she traversed the space and moved into a clearing. She judged the area and chose to move quickly from the clearing to the forest line.

She sniffed at the air and could almost smell the electricity in the air as thunder was about to roll in. Finding shelter in a small overhang of rocks, Jhera set her back to the stone and placed the pack in her lap. The pack was barely filled, leaving room enough for her clothes. 

We should shift. The soothing voice came once again.

You're right, the smell of wet dog will be common in this area. Jhera stood from her place and undressed quickly. I can smell at least three packs of wolves in the area. Her feet felt unsteady as she removed her pants.

This will hurt, my star. The voice spoke softly and Jhera nodded slowly. She clenched her jaw and felt her bones break for the first time. Tears ran down her face as she listened to them break multiple times. Her wolf and her wanted to wait, for this to be a sacred moment she could share with her father after the war. It was uncommon for a child to receive their wolf before puberty, more so if they were under 10 years old. Jhera has had her wolf for as long as she can remember. There wasn't a time in her life that her wolf wasn't there.

Soon there was a red wolf standing beside a closed backpack. Jhera sighed as she curled up and pulled the pack close to her. Everything she had left was in that bag. Resting her head on the bag she braced for the long run ahead. Her sleep was not peaceful, but not restless, it was calculated. Her dear wolf was educating her in her sleep, stepping her through processes of things they would need to do. It was a meeting of souls, one was as ancient as time itself.

Mornings came and went, Jhera wondered the land alone. She learned much from the human children that lived on the streets. They were cut throat, and Jhera learned to fight and defend what was hers. She didn't care about things, only what was in her pack. She would stay in a town or city for only a few weeks, then move on. Staying in one place for too long would make it too easy for someone to find her. Jhera's fifteenth birthday came and went without incident. As she entered a new town, a man stood in the small square, asking people if they had seen his daughter. Jhera listened intently as she moved about the town, she couldn't make out what he was saying.

"Please!" The man pleaded, "Just look at the picture." He pleaded more, as Jhera's heart was moved by his eagerness to find his kin. Taking up a seat about a block away, so she could still hear him. She wanted to know if he would say anything else.

"She's pretty," one lady took pity and looked at the photo.

"Thank you, her name is Jhera, have you seen her?"

Jhera about fell off her seat. She stood and slowly left town. Her pack on her shoulders, she took to the woods and moved swiftly, leaving the small town far behind her. She turned North, to the cold mountains. Her pacing back and forth from the East to the West was becoming troublesome. As soon as she was out of the town and safely in the woods, she shifted and moved at full speed to the coldest area she knew. Her fur would be a beacon in the snow, but she would learn to sleep through winters, she had to.

We have to change your name. 

I know, I just don't want to. Jhera replied, the name her father gave her was precious and unique. It meant more to her then anything else, it was all she had from him.

What if we just change what people call you?

To what? Jhera glanced around as she slowly made her way across a roaring river. When her feet were on solid ground again, the conversation resumed.

Star?

Not a chance. Jhera was not going with that, only her wolf called her that name, it was too precious to be thrown around. Jhera could feel her wolf thinking as hard as she was.

I got it! Jay!

Jhera thought it over for a moment. I think you're right, I think that will work well. Thank you, Scarlet.

Always, my star.