Raised by Centuars

Chapter 1

     It has been sixteen years since Zarek took in little Harmony, and he raised her like she was his own.  She had long blonde hair that went to the small of her back and curved along her long feminine face just right making her face look skinnier, and light blue eyes.  She was trim from her training and had some muscle on her as well, but was very feminine looking.   Him and Raven since had two children of their own.  A son Malick, who is now fifteen and got a lot of his traits from his father, the long brown hair and dark brown horses body and of course as he got older his muscles were forming and a strong muscular face.  He got his eyes from his mother which was a dark green color, and their daughter Serenity got her looks from her mother long blonde hair with a feminine oval face.  Her eyes were hazel like her fathers and her horse body was white with a little bit of black splashed over and a white tale.  They trained together with Harmony along with Tarmac, but they at first were easy on her, but she showed them that she didn't need them to be easy on her.

     Harmony always impressed Tarmac with her fighting skills even though she wasn't a centaur.  She always proved herself and also made a lot of friends over the time living with the Centaurs.  They always made her feel welcome even though she was different from everybody.  She has always known this, but it never swayed her on her feelings towards any of them.  They were family to her and she would do anything to make sure that her family was proud of her.  They have been in many battles defending their territory as people kept trying to take it away from them.  Even though she was always told to stay behind because she was a child she always ended up in the battle because she always found a way to sneak out and join.  She took down as many enemies as the centaurs that has had experience in battle.  Zarek always scolded her after the battle was over, but then smiled because he was proud of her and her courage.

      It was the day before her birthday and Raven and Zarek knew what was coming so they went to Harmony's room.  "Hi Harmony how are you?"  They asked together.

      "I am good just getting ready for training," Harmony answered with a smile.

      "I think today would be a good day to take a rest," Zarek said and showed that there was a reason for them wanting her to rest in his eyes.

      Harmony looked at them both and she always called them mom and dad even though she knew that she really wasn't their daughter because of the differences, "I can't skip out on training."

      "There is an extra special reason we want you too," Raven sighed, "tomorrow is your birthday."

      "I know it is my birthday," Harmony stated back with a smile, "but that doesn't mean I skip out on my training today."

      "Yes, but tomorrow is different," Zarek replied, "um here is a letter that we are supposed to give you on your birthday, but seeing as this birthday will be different we decided to give this to you today."

      "Who is this letter from?"  Harmony asked with a raised eyebrow.

      "This letter is from your real mother," Zarek replied, "she handed it to me when she asked me to take you in and take care of you."

      "My real mom?"  Harmony muttered softly taking the letter.  She stared at the envelope handed to her, a part of her was curious, but the other part of her was angry, "you met my mother and you never told me."

      "This was for your safety," Zarek said softly with sorrow in his voice, "and the reason will be in the envelope."  Harmony nodded her head and sat on her bed.  "I am sorry for keeping this from you, but she asked me not to give this to you until you were sixteen and since that is tomorrow we thought we would give this to you today."

      "Thank you," Harmony said still staring at the envelope, "but I think I will still train today."

     "Just take it a little easy today," Raven sighed because she wanted to tell her more, but didn't know how to tell her.

     "I will," Harmony smiled and started getting things together, putting the letter on the nightstand next to her bed.  She then walked out to the training grounds where Malick and Serenity were already sparring with each other, and Tarmac was overseeing them.  She quickly grabbed her shield and sword and joined in with a smile.  Both Malick and Serenity made room for her to join in the match throwing smart remarks at each other like siblings do.  This only made Harmony smile even more at them and spat some comments back.  She may not be like them but she had agility that worked in her favor and by the end of the day she was the one that had top markings in their training.

     While she was training Raven and Zarek were coming up with a special party for Harmony's birthday.  They were going to put streamers up and balloons and they talked to the cooks to make her a special meal for her birthday.  They were also nervous as they knew that she would be turning into a werewolf for the first time, and was afraid of what would happen.  They seen the kids approach the castle and Harmony immediately went to her room to change out of her armor.  As she got done changing into some pants and a t-shirt that was specially made for her because of her physic.  In fact they had a lot of things made specially for her, because of her being different.  She looked at the letter on the night stand and sighed.  She was always curious of why she was different from everybody.  Finally she picked it up and opened it:

          Dear Harmony,

                    Harmony my love, if you are reading this you are sixteen I am probably dead.  Since you are

              sixteen you already shifted into your wolf form, for you are a werewolf.  I know it was painful, and I

              wish I could be there to help guide you during the shifting.  Don't fear your wolf embrace it for she

              will make you stronger in many ways.  I am sorry I couldn't be there for you, but your safety was

              the only reason I couldn't.  I left you with the person that I did to keep you safe and so that the

              you could survive and take your rightful place as Queen of werewolves.  I know this is a lot for you

              to take in, and I am sorry for that as well.  I hope that you are alive and well and I also hope you

              will embrace your heritage.  You are a royal and strong like your father and I.  Just know that your

              father and I may not be there in person for you, but we are with you in spirit and you can overcome

              anything that comes your way.

                                                                                                                               With all my love

                                                                                                                               Sonia, your mother.

     Harmony read the letter and gasped.  A werewolf wouldn't I have known, she thought to herself.  What happened for her to leave me  like this.  She sat in thought for a while and then decided she wanted to talk to her mother and father, so she headed out in search and as she came up on the throne room she heard a hushed conversation.  She then opened the door and she seen that her mother, father, and her siblings were talking and they all quieted down as she entered the room.  The only conclusion she came up with is that they were talking about her.  It was almost dinner time, but she didn't care she wanted some answers.  "Can I talk to you?" Harmony asked looking at Zarek and Raven.

     "We can talk," Zarek smiled at her, "but first let us eat dinner."

     "Okay," Harmony agreed as she knew she needed to eat although she wasn't really hungry.  They made their way to the dining hall and everybody in their kingdom was gathering to eat dinner.   They made their way to the head of the table, which was already filled with food.  There was a big feast in front of them, like always, there was several roasts, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, fruits and then for desert was chocolate cake.  Everybody started filling their plate after the royal family filled their plates with what they wanted Harmony the only one sitting in a chair, which wasn't unusual.  Harmony didn't take as much as she normally did, for she didn't have an apetite, but knew that she needed to eat something.  Raven and Zarek took notice and made worried glances at each other.   They never seen her like this before.  Malick and Serenity were talking to other centaurs their age and glanced over at her with a long expression. 

     Harmony has always been a strong person, but what they were seeing concerned them.  "Harmony are you okay?"  Serenity leaned over and asked.

     "Yes I am fine," Harmony replied bringing herself out of deep thought, "I think I will just go to my room not really that hungry."  She then looked at Raven and Zarek, "I will talk to you when you are done."  She then got up and walked out of the mess hall and made her way to her room.  She laid down on her bed when she got back into her room which was huge and had enough room to fit hundreds of people like her in but only had enough room for her family to fit in.  She was lost in thought when she heard a knock on her door bringing her back into reality.  "Come in," she bellowed out.

     The door opened and in walked in Raven and Zarek, "Are you okay?"

     "Will you tell me what my mom was like when you met her," Harmony asked.

     "I was the only one who met her," Zarek said with sorrowful eyes, "and she was so concerned about your safety that she sacrificed herself to keep you safe."

     "Why would she need to do that?"  Harmony asked.

     "When I met her she was being chased by rogues," Zarek explained, "they wanted to kill her and from what she told me is that they wanted to kill you too."

     "Rogues?"  Harmony asked with a raised eyebrow.

     "Yes rogues," Zarek said trying to explain, "they are bad werewolves, but your mother was good."

     "What about my father?"  Harmony asked.

     "I don't know what happened to him," Zarek answered, "I only met your mother and she said that her pack and him were fighting off the rogues in their territory.  She also said that she didn't know if anybody survived."

     "Okay," Harmony gave a soft smile, "about this shifting thing, can I just avoid it?"

     "From what it sounds like in her letter you can't," Zarek replied, "but we will be here to try and help as best we can."

     Harmony nodded at this and sighed.  She felt as the weight of the world was on her shoulders as she didn't know exactly what to expect, and when to expect to shift.  After the conversation she had with Zarek they left and she soon fell asleep.  At midnight she started feeling intense pain and screamed out.  Zarek was the first coming through the door, with Raven close behind telling her other children to stay out there. 

     "Its okay love," Zarek told her soothingly, "it will be over in a little bit just stay calm."

     They were hearing cracking sounds as her bones were relocating as she was shifting into her wolf form.  Soon she was growing a long snout and fur is all over her body.  She opened up her eyes and looked down to the floor seeing white furry paws.  The pain was finally over and she heard something in her head.  "Hi my name is Simi."

      "Simi," Harmony softly stated, "yes I am your wolf."  Harmony looked around and seen her senses were heightened.  She could hear all the birds clearer and see all the surroundings clearer.  She looked at Zarek and Raven and seen there faces were in awe at the sight.  She tried talking to them and realized she couldn't because it came out in huffs.  "Simi how do I get back into human form or do I?" Harmony asked.

      "Just think about your human form," Simi stated, "and when you want to be in your wolf form you think of me."

     "Okay," Harmony muttered back and started thinking about her human form.  She opened her eyes again and seen that she was in human form.  "Wow that was intense," Harmony stated, "what did my wolf look like?"

     "Your wolf was completely white with blue eyes," Raven stated, "your wolf was gorgeous."

     "I felt like I wanted to go run," Harmony stated, "I had that urge and wanted to tell you, but I couldn't tell you."

     "Well how about you get some rest and tomorrow you can run in your wolf form," Zarek stated.

     "That sounds great," Harmony agreed and layed back in her bed, "good night sorry to wake you."

     "Its okay we already knew," Zarek stated, "you mom left us a letter telling us what to expect as well."  They left the room leaving her to sleep.  They told Malick and Serenity to go to bed that Harmony was fine not to worry, and made their way to their room for sleep.  "Well that went better than expected," Raven sighed in relief.

     "Yes I am glad to," Zarek agreed, "lets get some sleep so we can get her party set up."  They both laid in their hay bed and fell asleep.  They all woke up a little later than usual since the night before was a long night for all of them.  Harmony was very hungry and piled her plate up higher than normal with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and her favorite pancakes, which made all of them laugh.

     "Hungry this morning are we?" Malick teased.

     "Shush," Harmony growled and then looked at them surprised, "I am sorry I don't know where that came from."  In her head Simi stated, "that is what wolves do."  After breakfast they decided to let her go run along with them, letting the maids decorate for her birthday.  They been planning this for a while and wanted to make it a surprise.  they made their way to the forest and she shifted into her wolf form and ran side by side with all of them.  Usually if they went out in the woods she would ride Zarek since she couldn't run as fast, but now that she had her wolf she was able to keep up with ease, but also notice she could run faster.   They made their way to a lake in the middle and she started to drink from it.  She heard rabbits hopping about and birds from the other side of the lake that would make humans squint to see but she was able to see with ease.

     "I think we should head back its getting kind of late," Zarek said.  Everybody agreed and Harmony nodded at them to tell them she understood and they started running back.  They were about half way home when they were stopped by some wolves.  Harmony growled at them.  One wolf shifted into his human form and was handed some shorts to put on.

     "What are you doing here?"  Zarek asked him Raven and the kids brought out their swords and got in defensive mode, "we don't allow outsiders!"

     "Looks like you have an outsider with you," the leader said looking at the white wolf in front of him.

     "She is not an outsider," Zarek defended, "she has been here since she was a baby."

     "Is that so," the leader said with an eyeybrow raised, "my name is Steven, and I only followed her scent here."

     "What do you mean followed her scent," Zarek narrowed his eyes, "and state your intentions."

     "Everybody has a scent and she smells like apples and chocolate," Steven stated, "and I am not here to harm anybody instead I believe she is my mate."  Steven then looks at Harmony, who is still in her wolf form, and they held their stare for what seemed like hours but was only minutes.  Harmony let out a huff and shifted into her human form.  She looked down and immediately hid herself realizing that she was completely naked.  Steven quickly handed her a shirt to put on and it was loose and went down to her knees.

     "What do you mean I am your mate?" Harmony stared at him.

     "Every wolf has a mate," Steven stated with amusement, "have you not been around other wolves?"

     "No I haven't," Harmony answered back, "I been her all my life."

     Steven looked at Zarek, "I think it should be a good idea if I came back with you and we all talk."  Zarek nodded in agreement.

     "My name is Zarek," he stated to Steven, "and if there is any trouble we won't hesitate to kill."

     "Trouble is not my intentions," Steven reassured him.

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Please tell me what you think I hope you like this story and there is more to come thanks.