The Wolfless Twins: Inola and Lenora

Beep! Beep! Beep! Her alarm rang besides her bed, alarming her awake. She was just having her best dream, that didn't involve her current life. Freedom and happiness in a far, great land where no one can ever find her. She groaned and twisted in her sheets, covering her head with the blanket with great effort to get back to the dream, but led to no avail. It was still dark outside, winter nights. The cold wind, whistled, barreling against her window, encouraging more slumber. The warmth of her blankets was worth her ignoring the alarm, zoning in to deeper sleep. “Inola!" Just a few minutes later, the door burst open, followed by a booming voice. She cursed in her head, tossing the blankets to her feet. “ Dad!" She fumes raising from her fluffy pillow. The cold breeze all too fast, making her body shudder. “ Don't yell at me, young lady. Wake up, you're going to be late for training," he hissed, banging the door behind him. Couldn't he just wake her up like a normal person? But again, her life was anything but normal. “Ah!" she growls covering herself with the blanket, but there's no use in trying to sleep now. Why her? The Blue Snow Pack had the worst winter nights. She doesn't remember a day that she walks outside, and the whole territory wasn't covered in snow. “ Don't make me come in there and wake you personally," the old man growls on the other side of the door. She sighs, as she knew complaining won't help her situation. Her father would willingly drag her to the training grounds if he had to. Not that it's something she's not familiar with. The blanket being tossed aside yet again, she finally finds an effort to raise from her warm and snugly bed. The journey led to the shower, the hot water that she could endure for hours. But knowing her father, he would stop at nothing. If the hot water is not cold, then that's proof that winter hasn't started well yet. She suffocates herself in her training gear. Though it's tight and snugly it still didn't protect her from coldness. She leaves her room, greeted by a wave of servants. Already bustling at all corners of the castle, preparing breakfast. She admires how it was so easy for them to wake in the morning without so much trouble. They node and greet as she passes by with smiles on their faces. She continued down the hallway, down to the stairs that lead to the main hall. As she steps down, one of the servants come crashing to her. “Woah! Slow down," she cashes the servant, stabilizing her, trying to find the reason for her panic. “ I'm sorry, Miss Winter," the servant panics. “ What's going on? What are you running from?" She questions with deep concern. The servant panting breathless, in a frenzy. “ I'm looking for my little boy, I can't see him anywhere. I was busy in the kitchen. I only looked away for one second, and now he's gone, “ she cries, her eyes dancing around the hallway in panic. Especially with the pack having been under threat lately. “ Don't worry, Clarice Ballard. I'm on it, “ she assures the lady. " Give a description of the young man, “ she adds. As so, Clarice gives her the description as detailed as she can. Inola and Clarice bustle out of the house searching for the young boy. She instructs Clarice to search the north, while she searches the south side. She finally finds a trail of small footprints following them, as they go through the woods. Her heart starting to race a little as the tree's go thicker, and thicker, leading further from the pack house. Until the forest finally disappears into a small clearing between the river, and the forest. She finds the little boy lying on a bundle of snow, making the snow angel. She rushes up to the young man, as he was far at the edge of the forest. By the river that separated their pack from the rogue territory. Luckily, none of the rogues spotted him. As the pack has been under their threat lately. Had they seen him here, the warriors wouldn't have been fast enough to try to save him. Inola is glad that she was able to get here first before the worst can happen. “ Hey you. What are you doing here?" she squats down on the ground, helping the baby to sit up. “ I wanted to play in the snow. But mom wouldn't let me," the boy cries. “ When Aunt Kathy is here, she always plays with me," the boy continues in a saddened expression. “ But you really worried your mom. She's been searching for you," she tells the boy. He shrugs, hearing that he's been searched for. As he only hopes that he could play in the snow a little longer. “ But I just wanted to play," he says. “ I know. But you can't just disappear without telling your mom," she says. “ I'm sorry. I hope you're not angry at me for running away," he looks down, guilty. Inola rests her hands on his shoulder. “ What am I? A monster? Angry at the cute little man like you. Better yet, since you love playing so much. Why don't I build a small playhouse at the pack house, so you can play as much as you want?“ she promises. And the boy's eyes light up with happiness. " Really?“ He cooed, very excited to hear the news. " Yes really. But you have to promise me something. You won't run away like that. Promise? “ She holds out her pinky finger to the small boy. They make a pinky promise with the young man, happy that he can play as much as he wants. " I promise, “ he chirps, all smiles with excitement. " What's your name? “ She smiles. " JP, “ he answers. " Alright JP, why don't we go back to your mother?“ she says, helping him stand up. “ Race you to the pack house. The last one there is a rotten egg," she challenges the boy, already in a running stance. “ Hey, what's that !?" The boy says, acting shocked, as Inola is distracted, he sprints away living him in the dust. “ Hey, that's cheating!" She yells, but JP is already swifting through the trees. Laughing, Inola rushes after him, hot on his heels. They run, their movement shaking some of the snow off the trees, leaving visible footprints where their feet touch. Though intentionally letting him win. “ Haa! Rotten egg!" The boy laughs victorious as Inola walks inside. “ Very good JP, you beat me fair and square," she breathes out, a little tired from all the running. “ Inola I didn't —” Clarice rushes in out of breath, but stops in a halt noticing JP. " JP? Where were you? I was worried sick looking for you, “ the mother cries, scolding the young man. He looks down, clearly sad to have worried his mom. “ I'm sorry, mom," he says. “ Thank you, Inola. I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to him," the mother sobs, looking back at Inola truly thankful. " Aunt Kathy usually looks after him when I'm busy. But now she's gone to visit her parents." “ It's nothing, Clarice. Just doing my job," she says, giving a tiny smile. “ But your job isn't to look after my children. I should have been more careful," she answers. “ Every child in this pack is my child. And it's my duty to protect everyone. Besides, me and JP made a little promise. Right?" Inola winks at the boy, and he chuckles. “ I must go now, before my father kills me. I'm already late for training," she adds. She kneels to hug the small boy. “ Don't tell mommy our little secret, okay?" She whispers. “Okay," JP nodes, in agreement. “ Now you be a good boy to your mother," she says, pulling away from the hug. She gets up, ready to leave. “ Thank you again," Clarice rests her hand on her shoulder. Clearly deeply thankful because she was so scared for her little boy. “ It's okay," she smiles before turning away. She rushes out of the house, rushing to where her father should be waiting for her. Inola it's true that she's very helpful to the pack, even in cases that everyone believes it's not her job. But she cares about her people, and she can't resist offering help when it's needed. Even when it's gotten her in trouble with her father many times. “ You're late!" Her father sneers as she approaches, him standing in the middle of the field. “ I'm sorry. I was helping Clarice find her little boy, “ she explains, though she knows very well it's not enough to make her father understand. Only when she's dead, would he accept her excuses for lateness. " Since when is Clarice's boy any of your business? “ His lips curl, his face livid with anger. " You know about the recent rogue threats? I couldn't just do nothing when the little child is in danger. What kind of Alpha would that make me? “ " The kind of Alpha takes her training seriously. I'm getting tired of your excuses already, “ he spits, his eyes burning red with rage, sure to melt the snow off the ground. " They are not excuses, dad! “ She huffs angrily because she didn't understand why her father is always so angry. " Yes they are! You could have gotten someone else to look for the little boy. We have so many warriors in this pack, the search team. Why do you have to do their job? “ If he was an egg, he would crack in anger. " I don't understand why you are like this. You already know I don't want to be an Alpha! I never wanted to be. I don't want the stupid title! “ She protests too, fuming with anger. She doesn't understand why everything has to be about him. He doesn't care about her feelings or what she actually wants in life. When she was young, she never wanted to be an Alpha. She actually dreamed of leaving the pack, to travel the world. Meet new people, learn new languages and different cultures. She wanted to offer her hand to different parts of the world. But her father could never let that happen. She was forced to become an Alpha, and if she became anything else, she would be disowned. Unfortunately, she was too young, and all the businesses belonged to her father. And by the time she was old enough to disappear, she was already forced to stay. Only if her father could stop being so stubborn and listen for once. Everything would have been easier to all of them. Because there's one person who always wanted this title. Her twin sister, Lenora. She trained every day, and actually enjoyed attending to long, boring meetings with their father. And she always dreamed to ruling this pack one day. But because of her father's stubbornness and greed, he never really cared. She was only sixteen when they got separated. Sending her to get married in a far distance land. She was only young and had no choice but do what my father wanted. She knows she never wanted to get married. Not only that, but she never wanted a man that would rule over her and tell her what to do. She's the woman her father always wanted all this time. Inola on the other hand. She always dreamed of finding my mate, even though 8 years have passed, no luck. That they would travel together, and someday decide to settle down and have kids of their own. But now her father would turn the earth upside down if he saw her with a boy. Because he doesn't want some stupid man claiming titles in his pack. But since she was born only a few minutes after her sister, her father believes she's the rightful heir to the throne. That she's the one who should take the title. He doesn't care about everything else. And now she can't just run away. Who's going to take care of the pack when she's gone? Even though they disagree, she loves her father, and she knows deep down he loves her too. And she can't just throw away all her father's work into the hands of someone who wouldn't care for it. “ I thought we already talked about this. When are you going to stop with your foolish talk? You're getting old now, Nola, and you know I won't be alive for too long. Soon you'll have to take your place as the rightful Alpha of this pack, “ her father says. She only sighs as she knows that there's no convincing him. “ Now let's get by to your training. It's late already," he turns away, expecting her to follow him. She trains the whole morning, until the sun comes up. Even with the sun sometimes, the land always had snow. Only melting a part of it, but would always find more of it in the morning. After she was done, she was also responsible for helping the warriors with their training too. By the time she was finished, it was almost noon, and she was exhausted. Despite the cold weather, she was sweating in her training gear. That when she arrived in a room, she took them off and tossed them aside only so she could rush to the shower. Having the water cleansed the smell of sweat and eased her tiredness. When she was done, she wore her favorite black off-shoulder and A-line dress, with lace sleeves and a back that kept below her knees as the front was a few inches above. It was a little shorter than it was a few years ago, though it still fitted since she didn't gain much weight, not that she was allowed to. It's actually her favorite because it's a dress she got from her sister, and a last gift from her that she got on their last birthday together. She's really not a fan of anything black, and she thought black clothes only make her look angry and mean. And she still does. And this dress was only a little joke her sister played on her, knowing she probably would never even wear it. But now they've been apart for ten years, without no means of communication. And this, even though it was just a silly joke, has grown to be the closest thing she had from her sister. Though today wearing it was not just to remember her sister. After so many years without her sister, she finally managed to get a hold of her. And they will be meeting for the first time in a very long time.