THE LYCAN ENFORCER

~Annabeth's POV~ "If this art isn't finished by dawn, my Uncle will have both our heads." Tommy’s voice was shaking so hard the paintbrushes in his hand rattled like dry bones. I sat up on my thin mattress, looking hard at the blank canvas in front of us. "A Lycan Enforcer doesn't care about art, Tommy," I said, trying to steady my own breathing. "He cares about power and control." My eyes still glued to the terrifyingly blank canvas in the center of the room. In a day's time, one of the most feared men in the Lycan territories, The new Lycan Enforcer... Kael, would arrive here in Red moon pack. He wasn't coming for a social visit. He was coming to evaluate our pack. In this world, an evaluation gone wrong usually ended in a m******e of the weak. And as a human living among wolves, I was the weakest thing in this pack. "He might kill me if this peace offering isn't perfect," Tommy whispered, his eyes wide with the predatory fear only a Beta feels when a superior is coming. "Anna, please. I can't even see the colors anymore." I stood up, the cool floorboards biting at my feet. I wasn't a shifter like them. I didn't have the strength to fight or speed to run fast, but I had a mind that could create something great out of nothing. "Pick up the brush," I commanded. "Close your eyes. We aren't painting a landscape here. We’re painting a masterpiece." For seventeen hours, we disappeared into the work. I sat on the floor, guiding tommy through a fever dream of purples and stormy gray paints. As I watched the paint hit the canvas, I couldn't help but remember the last time our pack faced an evaluation from the formal Enforcer. I was four years old when my parents tried to outrun the reign of the previous Alpha. They didn't want me to grow up as a play toy for the werewolves. But sadly, They were caught on their escape and were to be punished. Unfortunately for them, the Enforcer at that time was present for an evaluation and he gave the order for their punishment. My father was whipped 100 times until his whole body became a pile of red blood with shattered bones. He died instantly. My mother was brutally r***d until her spine snapped in half. The Luna at the time had held my head, forcing my small eyes to stay open. 'WATCH,' she had whispered. 'This is what happens to humans who forget their place.' "Anna? Anna! It's done." Tommy’s voice snapped me back to the present. The painting was haunting. Two massive wolf packs howling at a single, blood red moon. It was beautiful but It was a lie. What they were capable of doing wasn't beautiful. After an inspection from our current Alpha Dorian, Tommy's uncle, he seemed pleased, and had the canvas whisked away to be framed before the Lycan Enforcer arrived. ~~~ "Wake up, sleepyhead!" Tommy shook my shoulder just as the sun began to dip. "The Enforcer arrives in an hour. Tame that jungle you call hair, will you." I rubbed my eyes and headed to the cracked mirror. My hair was a wild, kinky mane of dark curls, my Lion’s mane. I spent forty minutes pinning it back, trying to look as small and invisible as possible while dressed in a simple floral green dress. Outside, the air was warm. The entire pack stood in silent, rigid formation. Then, the SUVs arrived, a convoy of shiny black vehicles that moved with predatory grace. When the doors opened, the atmosphere turned to ice. A dozen men stepped out, all in black suits, their auras thick with power. But the man who stepped out of the middle car was different. He wore a navy suit that hugged shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of the whole realm. He didn't just walk, he moved like he owned the very ground beneath him. He must be Kael. The new Lycan Enforcer. His eyes seemed to be scanning the crowd and I immediately dropped my gaze, just Incase. Rule number one: Never make eye contact with a powerful wolf or Lycan of great power. "Dorian," the Enforcer’s voice was a low, commanding rumble as he greeted our Alpha. "Kael. I see you're settling into the role well," Alpha Dorian said, his voice strained. "Well someone has to keep order." He said vaguely and halfway grinned. "My nephew has a gift for arts and we hope you can accept this offering as we wish you well in your regime." Dorian said to him. "Tommy, fetch the offering." Alpha Dorian ordered, and Tommy quickly left my side, glancing at me hopefully before making his way to them. Tommy stepped forward, presenting the painting. My heart hammered. Thum-thum. Thum-thum. A fragile sound in a sea of silent predators. "A gift, Sir," Tommy said and briefly glanced at my direction again. Kael was silent for a long moment, his eyes scanning the canvas. "You have a rare talent, boy," he finally said. Tommy smiled and turned his head to look at me once more. Then, his voice sharpened like a blade. "But why do you keep looking back at the crowd?" The silence that followed was deafening. "I... it’s nothing, Sir," Tommy stammered. "Kael.. I'm sure it's nothing." Dorian called out, wanting to be in control of the situation. "Quiet," Kael snapped at Dorian, who had tried to interject. He stepped toward Tommy, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Who were you looking at?" I used my hair to shield my face and wished the ground would open up and swallow me. "Sir..." "Give me a name." "Annabeth." Tommy choked out as he couldn't take the pressure. The name hung in the air like a noose. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Annabeth." Kael repeated. The way he said my name wasn't a question, it was a summons. "Annabeth, join us, won't you?" The enforcer called out to the crowd of people. I let out a sharp spikey breath. I looked up and glanced at two wolves from the pack who looked at me with the same stern look as ever, but this time, they looked somewhat scared as well. Scared for me. "I don't like being kept waiting. Annabeth." I took another shaky, jagged breath. My legs felt like lead as I took a step forward. Lord of the defenseless, I prayed, don't let him kill me tonight. ~~