Howling Christmas

Merry was sick of all the rules. Don't leave the boundary. Don't talk to strangers. Don't grow up. Don't bother having fun. She had listened until she was sick, her father made every excuse under the snow why she needed to be an obedient little Sidhe and live under his thumb. Welp, in less than 30 days she was going to be 18, and all those rules would be out the window. Instead of going to present herself to her King, she was going to roam and be free like her Ancestors! No one, and she meant NO one was going to keep her prisoner ever again. "Merry! Merry there you are silly girl. Are you almost ready?" Merry's mother, Una was running around the cottage. Grabbing sweaters and scarves. Bringing them just under my chin to see if they would work. "Mother Im dressed! Please don't do this!" she was swatting her away, mumbling under her breath the countdown. "Oh please Merry, as if I'd let you run out in that!" she scoffed and then started to yank her red cashmere sweater off. "Mother no! I like this one." She was groaning because her fight to keep the sweater on wasn't working. Her mother had it half off, but her next words stopped her from moving. Her heart froze in her chest. "No, no silly, Fathers made a match for you. He's coming to the festival tonight. Your fathers going to tell everyone at court your situation." She was practically floating. "My baby, married! Hes the Kings cousin!" She giggled and noticed Merry's face. Merry was going to be sick, the room spinning as she looked for something to ground her. Hands floating to find something to grasp and squeeze. She found the back of a chair. Her eyes staring off as she tried to calm herself. You're getting out Merry, if we have to run we will be free. "Merry? What's wrong? Its not every day we get a betrothal from the Kings cousin. You should be swooning! All the women in court want Valen. He's handsome, a warrior and gifted. He will be able to protect you like no one else could. " Her mother's happiness had faded into a scowl. "Don't do this Merry Thistle, don't you dare!" Merry looked up at her mother, tears making her eyes shine. "Mama, I don't want to get married. Why do I have too?" Her mother gripped her chin, pulling it to her own face. Wild eyes met her own. "Merry Rose Thistle, you will Marry Valen Cloud" She snapped her teeth at her. The small fangs were her canines sat glistened. Merry stared in fear, a gulp sliding down her throat. "You are a halfling, and it's clear you will not shift. Your light side too powerful like your father. Now your father and I discussed what this will mean for you. If you don't protect our home, its your duty to do your part inside of it. As Valen's wife, it will be your job to give him heirs. Our court here isn't as big as other courts, but our work here is important. " Merry didn't speak. It wouldn't have made a difference. Her mother's eyes were shining luminescent gold, a sign that her wolf was close to the surface and one angry move away from shifting in this room. "Am I clear Merry?" Merry swallowed again and nodded. Not trusting her voice, knowing her mother's wrath unlike anyone else's. Una stared at her daughter, fingers digging into her flesh as she leaned in close and whispered to her. "You better understand, because if I have to beat you bloody to understand better.. I will." A deep voice saved her, "Una! Get your hands off her now!" Una gripped tighter, earning a squeak from my throat. One lone tear slid down her right cheek. "Yes love, I just wanted her to understand how serious this actually was." Her angry face morphed into a sickeningly beautiful face. The Lycan's could shift their facial features to change themselves or diminish themselves completely. It was a powerful Alpha trick, true shapeshifters. Bowing her head, she let her shoulders slump in sadness. "Then why would you grab her like that?" His luminous emerald eyes glared at her, while sneaking soft eyes to his only daughter. Una snapped her fingers at her husband. Drawing his anger to focus on her again. "I will touch her however I please Krystobel. She is my daughter and somewhere in there is my side of her Gene pool. " My mother and father fought more and more. My mothers clan protected our Village and the people in it. Lycans were the proper Guardians of the Fae. There was no cross marriages, except for a few exceptions. My mothers mate had died in battle and had been left widowed. She met my father's wife had died in the same battle. Neither had children and had fallen in love during their grieving. The King himself had allowed their union and I sealed their fate when mother came with child. Fae births had been declining and the King wasn't willing to lose any children, regardless of old laws. "This is not how we treat our children, His eyes glowing with anger." He walked closer to her. "Let that be the last time," he didn't get to finish. "Enough Krystobel, we both know who runs this house. It was never you" Each word made my father take a step back. His eyes went from angry, to shock. My hands started shaking, this was because of me. They always fought because of me. "Please, stop! Ill do whatever you want." She got up and stood besides her father, grasping his left arm. Pulling it down like she did when she was smaller. Looking up into his handsome face. He slowly looked to Merry, not breaking eye contact with Una until he had too. Looking to Merry, his eyes softened. His brows sliding up into a furrowed look. "You don't have too, I will back anything you wish little one." She smiled, reaching up to touch his face. She was too small, she could hear her mother sucking her own teeth. "Goddess, look at her Krystobel? She's barely tall enough to fight a twelve year old. Look at her. None of the Seelie height, none of the Lycan muscle. No wolf, no hand of power. She's practically human!" The disgust rolled off her tongue and felt like a slap to the face. Merry looked down and felt something bubbling up her throat, and a growl fell from her lips. "Im not weak!" She screamed, as her eyes glowed golden. Una stepped back, "No. No this can't be! The betrothal was based on a wolfless girl! You stop that!" Merry was horrified, she had never shown signs of a wolf or Lycan power. She let her father go, he held his arm as if she had burned him. His forearm was pink, and it looked like pink hand outlined on his tanned skin. His smile was so out of place, she was confused. Her mothers horror, her fathers smile. He turned to her mother. "Looks like the Goddess changed her mind Una, what now?" He crossed his arms as he faced his wife. Merry was hyperventilating, her heart hammering so loud she couldn't hear anything else. She turned and ran from the cottage, running from their fighting, and their constant bickering. What the hell? In 30 days she was supposed to be free, not this! This was a prison sentence! Merry was crying freely now, tears streaming down her face. Her options limited to the people in her cottage. All through town, the Holiday cheer was on full blast. Christmas Decor covered every lawn and house. She needed out.