Between Gods and Lycans

3 - Something familiar

Liv

What was I hoping for when I ran from those men?

That I would get away?

Yes, actually!

But I didn’t escape. They overtook me when I stumbled on a tree root. Panic hammered in my chest until the man with the strange eyes returned me to his pack. I went along, powerless and uncertain. Yet, I sensed those men weren’t out to harm me. Their intent felt different—almost cautious, which gradually eased my fear, leaving only confusion.

Their clothes looked familiar, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. A memory flickered. Their hairstyles echoed something I’d seen before, too. But I couldn’t focus. I was nervous among these strangers. My thoughts scattered, darting away.

The men brought me to their Alpha. I could tell that was who he was. Power radiated from him—undeniable, impossible to ignore. He is a handsome man, no doubt about that. His Luna is beautiful, even with a scar on her face. The scar only adds to her strength.

The moment I looked up and saw the Alpha’s face, I knew where I was, and a jolt of shock ran through me. Recognition flashed as I realized these men belonged to the Wild Pack. Relief mingled with confusion—Mother hadn’t lied; she sent me home. Yet now, standing in my birth pack, I feel both belonging and a strange sense of being an outsider.

It seems no one recognizes me. It has been eighteen years; I have changed. I can’t even speak to tell anyone who I am. I tried, but nothing would come out. I tried to mind-link the Alpha, desperate for him to understand me, hoping I still had a link to the pack. But sadly, that wasn’t to be. The Alpha didn’t hear me. Anger flares inside me. I grit my teeth. I am powerless.

I have looked at the people walking around. I do not recognize anyone else. Some seem familiar, but I can’t place them. It’s like I have forgotten everyone. Everyone has forgotten me. That hurts my heart.

I have scanned the area, looking for my father and brother, but have yet to spot them.

What if they aren’t here any longer?

What if they’re dead?

I cannot think like that; it hurts too much. Admitting it’s a possibility fills me with pain, but I have to face it. It’s also possible that they simply moved away, and if that happened, I feel lost—not knowing if I will ever be able to find them.

I have a memory of being small. I was sitting on my father’s knee as he explained his love for Wild Pack. He told me that he would never leave until the Goddess took him.

No, if my father is no longer here, then he’s dead. My stomach churns just thinking about it.

A woman tried to lead me into a wooden house when I arrived. I refused to move. I will not move from this spot until my father arrives!

But what will I do if he’s dead?

What if I am too late and never see him again?

Surely my brother is still here?

They both can’t be dead. I refuse to believe it!

No, I must find a way to reach my brother. Yes, he is many, many years older than I am, a grown man when I was born. But he was always so strong and powerful. If he were here, I’d know him right away.

Would he recognize me after all this time?

I wish I could understand what these people are saying to me. However, I don’t remember the language. It just sounds like noise to me.

So, why did I imagine the Alpha would understand me if he could hear my mind link?

I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking.

Luna offers me a cup. I stare at her for a moment. But she nods while pushing the cup toward me. I take it and sniff the contents.

Water.

I drink it down quickly. I was so thirsty!

I hand the cup back to her, and she smiles. She says something, but again, I don’t understand what she’s saying.

She walks away from me, leaving me sitting on the steps of her house. I watch as children play happily. A man laughs loudly. I look at him, and I recognize him, yet I can’t recall his name.

Perhaps he would know where my brother is?

What would be the point of approaching him when he wouldn’t understand me?

No one will without my voice.

I see a woman across the way. She’s sitting on a chair, seemingly looking at the children playing in front of her. However, I can see from here that she’s blind. Her eyes are completely white.

Curiosity gets the better of me.

I walk over to the woman. Her eyes move from side to side. I see her mouth move, hear words leave her lips, but I don’t understand what she’s saying. I get to my knees in front of her. I can feel her fear as her throat moves nervously.

I will not harm her. She has nothing to fear. However, she is not to know that when I cannot speak, and she cannot see.

I close my eyes, moving my hands as I draw magic from deep within. I open my eyes, and I can feel them glowing. The heat of it rushes through my body.

I slam my hands on either side of her head. Her screams fill the air as my magic forces its way through her brain.

I see things in her mind that will stay with me always. A tortured child looking for food. She’s caught, tied to a bed, and she is so frightened. I can feel her fear as if it were my own. I see something hot press into her eyes, and then there is nothing.

Her eyes were damaged beyond repair. I sense others have tried to fix the problem, but it seems no one was ever able to help her. But I can. I use my magic to throw up a shield around us, so that no one can stop what I’m doing. If they try to stop me now, they will hurt this woman even more. I cannot risk that.

I grit my teeth, bracing myself. The noise around me begins to fade, replaced by the woman's screams growing louder, pain filling her body. I draw her agony into myself as my magic knits together the damage in her eyes, feeling a sharp ache that wasn't mine a moment ago.

I feel the last of my magic correct the damage just before a hand grabs my shoulder and throws me away from the woman. I sail through the air, twisting and turning, unable to stop myself. Then, I slam into a tree with so much force that my spine breaks on contact.

I cannot move.

My vision is blurry.

Everywhere hurts more than anything I have ever felt in my life. I understand why everyone would have been afraid. That girl was screaming her lungs out, begging for help.

I know I should not have done what I did without her permission. Regret fills me even as I think it. My intention was only to help, driven by desperation and compassion.

I meant her no harm. I merely wanted to help restore her vision. Looking at her, I could tell she was not born blind. What I saw in her mind cemented that she was tortured.

But how could these people think anything other than I was harming one of their own when they don’t know me?

I cannot speak to tell them my name, where I came from, or how I got here. I cannot even tell them that I was born here, or that my father and brother have been members all their lives. I am a stranger who came here and harmed one of their own.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but they must have realized by now that the woman can see. Maybe she has a mate, and she will be able to see him for the first time. Mayhap she has children that she has never looked upon until now.

Will I die here?

I am a tribrid with immense power that most Lycans and Werewolves will never possess. My Lycan is mighty, my Werewolf, too. However, I have not sensed them since I arrived here.

Did they somehow abandon me when Mother sent me back here?

I have called upon them more than once, but neither has answered.

Will my spine heal without them?

I don’t know. Doubt creeps in—relentless.

I know that I haven’t so far. That is unusual for me. I generally heal in seconds. Much faster than any other Lycan or Werewolf I have ever met. But now, it seems without them, my healing ability has deserted me.

I cannot use my magic to help myself because I can’t move. I can no longer feel my body. Perhaps I am dying.

I would have liked to have seen my brother and father before I died. I would have liked to have looked upon them one last time.

Everything Mother did to save me from Alpha Bode feels wasted. Now, lying under this tree with vision, hearing, and voice slipping away, grief and disappointment overtake me. I’m losing the fight to stay alive, and hopelessness settles in.

Well, finding my family was a nice thought.

Will Mother ever know what became of me?

Will anyone?