I was never human

Cacophony: multiple POV'S

Tori's Pov:

"Kwen looked beautiful today, didn't she, Tony?"

I asked my mate as I wrapped my arms around his torso. He hugged me back, kissing me on the top of my head, rocking us back and forth. We made a great escape from the party taking place at the pack house. We went to our home, which wasn't that far from the packhouse. We watched the night pass us by as the music could still be heard in the distance. We stood out on our balcony, enjoying the cool air.

"She looked lovely... she must get that from her mama and her grandmother."

Tony said, and I chuckled. Flashes of her and Danny laughing and playing together went through my mind. My heart warmed, knowing they had already loved each other so much.

"It's a shame Sierra refuses to get along with Kwen. She could learn a lot from her. I remember when she told us she was heading off to college. I thought she was joking until Brandon confirmed she was actually going. My jaw almost disconnected from the rest of my face. I can't believe she's so gifted."

"Well, aren't all Chosen are? Granted, I've never seen one as gifted so early on as our granddaughter, but still."

"Yes, they are usually. But I know this is gonna sound crazy, but... I can't help but feel this foreboding. I've prayed countless times to the Moon Goddess to spare our baby of this fate. I've seen the mayhem being her chosen can cost, and I've honestly never wanted it for any of my children. I know it's a gift and an honor, but at what cost? How much is one willing to give up? In my lifetime, I have seen the cost, and the price is often time too high to pay."

"Tor..."

Tony held me tighter, rubbing my back. I laid my forehead against his chest, taking in a deep breath of his scent, trying to ease my weighted heart. He ran his fingers gently up and down my cheek, then used his finger to lift my chin, bringing my lips to his. I suddenly felt this shock run through my body.

"Tori... y-your eyes."

Tony whispered out in shock and concerned. I frowned at him, confused as to what he meant.

"Tor... your eyes are... glowing."

My eyes widened at his words until my stomach dropped. I unwrapped myself from him and turned in the direction of the forest.

"No."

I whispered. I was coming to the reality that my grandbaby will forever be in danger. If my eyes are glowing, that means the Moon Goddess has just made herself known. I turned back to Tony, fear written all on my face. By his look, he already understood.

"It's her, isn't it."

I shook my head, wanting to deny the inevitable.

"We have to go."

Tony nodded. We didn't even think twice. We jumped off the balcony and shifted mid-air. Our paws hit the ground running. My wolf's name is Sheena, and her fur was all white except for the strip of silver fur that matched the location on me in human form. The white fur brings out the silver of my eyes more. Tony's wolf, Midnight, is an all black wolf with deep blue eyes. All chosen's eyes stay the same gray color, even when they shift. I thought Kwen's eyes being green made her an exception to the rule... maybe she really wasn't a chosen. But now I know it was just wishful thinking on my part.

'Son, where are you. Your mother believes Kwen is in danger.'

I heard my mate minlinked conversation with our son.

'Come to the waterfall.'

Brandon sounded so distraught and hallowed.

The pit in my stomach grew deeper. I prayed to the Goddess, hoping she'd be ok.

As we ran up on the mountain, we followed the warriors that ran to the base of it. As we got closer, the words of my grandson sent dread through me, and I knew it didn't matter what or how much I prayed. Kwens' life will never be the same... and it seems Stephen's won't be either.

"Moon Goddess. Come forth and heal. He blew some air in her face, and she no longer struggled for air. Steph looked at me and said she would live and passed out."

Once those words registered, my legs gave out, and I could no longer keep at bay the agony I felt at knowing Kwen's fate.

"NOOOOO!! NOOO! NOT HER! THE MOON GODDESS CAN'T DO THIS TO HER! DON'T TAKE HER FROM US. PLEASSEEE!!"

Brody's Pov:

I leaped from the top of the waterfall, screaming after her. I could see Kwen just below me falling quickly. She had already passed out, and I was scared. She's human. She can't just heal like the rest of us, and I don't think she'd be able to survive this fall. She can't die. I reached my hands out, trying my best to grab her, any part of her, or even her dress. She was only an inch out of reach. I drew out my claws, hoping I could grip her like that. I was able to snag the extra fabric of her sleeve. I held on tightly, then pulled her to my body. The movement of pulling her caused me to shift backward underneath the weight of the waterfall. It shot us out of the water into the wall of the mountain. The impact almost had me lose my grip on her, but I kept her close as we fell the rest of the way down. I used my body as cover for her. A couple of jagged rocks caused cuts and groans. My shoulder hit a huge boulder that rested on the ground in the area we fell in.

"Agghhhhh!!!"

I screamed out, feeling my shoulder dislocate as we splashed into the water hard. I looked around me. Everything was fuzzy and out of focus.

Shit!

I think I hit my head. I get up slowly, swaying on weak legs. I looked down and around, searching for Kwen. I see her floating a little aways away from me. She looked as if she wasn't moving. My heart fell out of my chest.

"KWEN!

I tried running to her, but my legs were really weak, and moving in water made it harder. I tripped and stumbled before getting to her, falling to a knee. I ended up crawling the rest of the way. When I got to her, I grabbed her up into my arms, ignoring the pain of my shoulder. She was cold and pale. I caressed her cheek as tears ran down my face. I could hear her shallow breathing, which sent a flood of relief through me. Her beautiful hair, which was once full and fluffy, was now cut. I sat there for a while, just staring at her. Finally, after garnering enough energy, I picked her up in my arms and dragged the both of us from behind the waterfall to the front. Once I made it around the rushing water, I saw the pups that hung around Kwen. Stephen, the gamma's son, was in front of Daniel, Logan, and Elias, the alpha, beta, and commander's sons. The closer I got to the sandy grassy edge of land, the further and further consciousness withdrew from me. I fell to my knees as I lifted us out of the water. I couldn't really make out anything that was going on around me. I felt when Stephen made his way to me and kneeled down next to us. I took a glance up and noticed his eyes were glowing a strange greenish gold, and the power I felt radiating off him was immense. He looked as if he was saying something to her, but my ears weren't picking up any sound, and my eyes were blurry. My vision began to tunnel. I started to sway more. I looked down and saw when Kwen took a deep breath. She opened her eyes slightly, and I could've sworn they glowed with the same golden green before she closed them again. The next thing I knew, Stephen passed out in front of me. He beat me to it because I was next.

Brandon's Pov:

We reached the pool of the waterfall, and bodies laid all around it. I saw Danny holding a passed out Stephen, while Logan watched over an out cold Brody. He looked terrible, and that made me even more nervous about how my daughter looked. Elias had her head in his lap. I rushed to her side until I got closer. Her frail body looked even more fragile. Her deep chocolate skin was now black and blue and faded, as if she was already gone. Her beautiful, thick, curly hair was cut off by the puffs she had her hair in. My hands trembled. I fell to my knees, taking her gently into my arms and began rocking her. Jake had rushed in, concerned for his pup. The story we were told was shocking, yet it confirmed what I dreaded. My mother's heart-wrenching pleas only added to my already broken heart.

Why would the Goddess do this to such an innocent child?

Why?

A tear escaped. My heart shattered, knowing that Minnie was absolutely right in keeping our daughter away from me and all this madness. She hasn't even come into herself yet, and she's already hurt. Axel whimpered out in pain, and that pain turned into rage. I roared out in agony at the pain my daughter had just endured. The ground around us shook. I felt a hand come and rest on my shoulder. I looked up to see my father staring down at me. His eyes held a mist in them from unshed tears, but behind it held the rage he, too, wanted to let loose on those who hurt his granddaughter. He looked at her, and I could see the pain in his eyes.

'We must protect her.'

My father said through mindlink. I nodded, knowing what he was referring to. I stood with Kwen in my arms. I felt a cacophony of emotions, but one was more present than all the rest: unbridled rage.

I looked out at all the warriors that were here. I looked down to see my son passed out as well. Elias and Logan huddled around him while Kyle held his brother on his shoulder. He always held a smile, but today, I saw a crack in his shielded joy. He has grown very attached to Kwen, and he adores his brother. Today, someone has dared to hurt both.

"What you have seen and heard today, you will speak of none of it to not one who is not already standing here, especially what was said about Kwen and Stephen. I'm not sure what exactly is going on, but

misinformation could cost more damage. And I swear, if anything else was to happen to my daughter because someone decided to run their mouth, then I would take that as you forfeitting your life. Is that understood?"

I spoke to everyone there, leaving no room for discussion.

"Yes, Alpha."

I looked back to see my father picking up Danny. My mother kissed his cheek and then made her way over to me. She took one good look at Kwen, and a new batch of tears came pouring out. Jake took up his son with concern in his eyes. He looked over at Kwen, then back to Stephen.

'We will figure out why it is they're connected. Don't worry. I will protect your son with my life as I would my own, my friend.'

I mindlinked Jake. He took a shaky breath, nodding in my direction. With that, we all headed out.

'Dr. Mason, be prepared for some visitors.'