The Wolf Kin

a wayward daughter

~~Alexis pov~~

Only having a few things to pack had its advantages. One bookbag was all I needed to get all my things, and I was ready to go. My friends cried when they heard I was leaving, but hoped they too would get a pack before their 18th birthdays.

I made my way to the carport to find my ride when I was suddenly slammed against a wall. I gasp before glaring into the hazel eyes of Connor, the orphanage bad boy. His father was an alpha, but he was born an omega like his mother, but you wouldn't be able to tell from his attitude.

"Hey pretty." Connor grins viciously at me, his hazel eyes flashing gold for a moment before returning to their original color. "I heard you're leaving. I thought I told you, you belong to me as my future luna." his voice turned to a growl and his claws lengthened to dig into my arms.

I do my best not to wince, knowing the bloody furrows will heal before too long. Even though I didn't get my wolf yet, I still have heightened senses and healing just like every other wolf. With swift and accurate movements, I grip Connor's arm before jerking my knee into his inner thigh. I barely missed his family jewels, but he dropped me anyway. I stepped away from him and snarled at him.

"And I told you that I don't belong to you, or anyone. When I find my mate, he and I will be partners, not property. You aren't even an alpha, Connor. Leave me the hell alone." my fists are clenched, ready for a fight, but he doesn't react. He seems distracted for a moment, probably conversing with his wolf, before his eyes lock back on me.

"Too bad I don't care what you want. You're mine, and if I'm not your destined mate, then I'll just reject my mate and take you anyway." He lets out a chilling laugh before reaching out to stroke my cheek with the back of his hand, but I slap it away. I'm seething with rage, not that he notices.

"And if you lay a hand on me again, I'll rip you to shreds and feed your flesh to the roaches." I snarl back. Unlike him, I do have rank. My father was an Alpha born to Beta parents and my mother was an Alpha. Lucky for me that I inherited Alpha blood from them. I'm a purebred alpha, which is why Connor wants me so badly. If my mate wasn't ranked, once I marked and mated them, they would be an Alpha.

Suddenly considering the time, I shove past Connor and enter the carport, seeing the transport bus to my new pack and rushing to it. I give my name and I'm handed a ticket and a folder of my information, birth certificate, social security card, and other government items before I'm ushered onto the bus with a last glimpse of Connor staring at me from the door with a look of fury in his hazel eyes.

I don't give him much thought as I tuck my bag into the seat beside me. Two or three others are on the bus, a witch and two wolves, all going to their new homes. I smile to myself as the bus sets into motion, starting on my three day trip across the country to the eastern states, and my new pack.

●●●

I'd fallen asleep some time into the night to wake up to a roll of thunder and heavy rain. I look up and see the driver calmly steering the bus with confidence. We had already dropped off the witch, now all thats left is myself and the two other wolves. Excitment itched in my veins as i imagined finally being part of a pack again.

Sleep tugged at me once again, and i fell asleep knowing that soon i would be safe in my own pack and possibly with my own mate. My dream was weird, there was loud screeching and in my dream it belonged to an owl. I woke up to the bus swerving, the screeching sound was the tires. The weak dawn light glinted off the mirrors and blinded me. I grabbed my bag and hugged it close just as the tires left the road. The bus began rolling down the side of a steep hill, and i slid from the seat and slammed hard into the side. Agony radiated up my arm as i heard my wrist snap, then the bus rolled again and the last thing i remember is my head slamming against the window before the world was swallowed by darkness.

~~~Tobias pov~~~

My muscles scream at me as I work out. I had been at it for hours now, trying desperately to drown out yet another nightmare with physical exertion. Nightmares are common for me, after fighting through several wars with different packs, and centuries of strife and losing those I cared for. I finally stop what I'm doing when Eli starts whimpering, the thought of my wolf in pain because of me making it harder to lift my arms and legs than the workout did.

I clean the sweat from my face with my third towel, it has been soaked in sweat for ages, I just haven't taken the time to get a fresh one. The salt stung my eyes, but I ignored it and took massive gulps from my water bottle. I stood up from where I had been sitting and made my way upstairs to shower with the hottest water I could, my sore muscles relaxing as steam rose up around me. Once my shower was done, I felt Eli stir in my mind.

"We need to go out. Let me out, Tobias." He growled, suddenly surging up and clawing for control of my body. I stumbled slightly, taken off guard, and dropped my towel. Eli surges forward again, but this time I'm ready for it. I shove him back in my mind and rush for the back door, not bothering to grab clothes. I barely make it through the door before Eli takes control and shifts, his massive paws slamming into the earth as he takes off at a run. I have no idea what he is doing, my muscles are still aching from the work out, so him shifting and going on a run was unusual.

"What is it, Eli? What happened?" I demand, not expecting an answer. The wolf had gone almost feral, following some unknown path to moon goddess knows what. Suddenly, he skids to a stop at the bottom of a hill, the scene in front of me bringing back memories I'd long ago tried to bury deep down.

A bus lay on its side, one wheel spinning at an awkward angle, glass was shattered all around, glittering in the pale sunlight. Slight smoke rose from the engine of the bus, but otherwise it seemed safe to approach. Eli padded forward, the pads of his paws tough enough to resist most of the glass shards. He stopped beside the roof of the bus, his nose touching the warm metal. The scent of supernaturals invaded my nose, wolf strongest among them. Eli leaps onto the bus and shoves his massive head into the largest opening, taking in the scene.

There were two dead, the driver had his neck twisted around at an awkward angle. The next was a female wolf, her skin was marred by puncture wounds from glass. There was a third girl, she was breathing, but had a wound to her forehead that was bleeding heavily. My heart raced at the sight of her wound, and Eli moved back from the window to search almost desperately for the emergency door. He lept towards it and ripped it clean off its hinges before trying to squeeze in. His body was too huge for the door, and he growls savagely. I murmer soothingly as I step forward to shoft back. My human form is thinner and capable of moving through the door easily, and I squeeze in.

It was awkward and almost impossible to get to her, the seats had come loose in some areas and as the bus flipped, they fell onto the side closest the ground. I hadnt used my powers in close to a decade, so i knew I would be a bit rusty with it, but Eli was urging me forward so I focused and raised my hand. As i did, a few of the seats that had been partially crushed and blocking my path lifted carefully out of the way. With a quick clinching of my fist, they were suddenly much smaller and compacted into balls. The effort drained my already tired body and i set them to the sides to clear my path.

I duck down to hurry quicker to the girl, when I reach her it seemed as if the bleeding had slowed down and the wound on her forehead was partially healed. Her healing speed surprised me, I've never seen a wolf heal that fast before, but the unmistakable scent of wolf mixed with her scent of raspberry pie. The scent made my heart pound for a moment before i shook my hear and picked her up gently.

I pulled her from the wreckage as gently as i could, protecting her head. It wasn't long until i noticed the odd angle her thigh was at, the bone probably broken. I sigh as I guess she probably has more damage that I cant see. Hurrying toward my home, I quickly evaluate my options. Here i am, naked from my shift, holding a bleeding and unconscious girl. She looks to be late teens, early adulthood, but she is definitely a quickly healing wolf. If i dont hurry and get her medical attention, her bones could heal in the wrong positions and make her lame or cause more damage, and a hospital is no place for a shifter. I grumble to myself, knowing the only option is to treat her myself. Hopefully i can toss on some shorts or something, at least.

After running as fast as I could, I made it back home with some major huffing and puffing. Not that the girl was heavy, im just tired from using my body so hard all night, plus the mental strain of using my powers. I set her gently on the patio lounge and begin working swiftly. My fears were realized when i had to rebreak her leg and set it properly, but her broken wrist and the cuts on her face and shoulders were well on their way to healing. I made sure her wrist was set correctly before moving to check her back for any wounds. I find a half healed gash on her left shoulder and i make sure its clear of glass, but other than that she was fine.

All through my examination and setting her bones, even rebreaking her leg, the girl remained unconscious, though she did let out a scream of agony with the rebreak, but didn't wake up. I worry about her possibly hitting her head, so i place my hands against her head and close my eyes. The power I'd barely used in years bubbles up in me, and suddenly behind my eyes is a full view of her brain. I quickly search it for any swelling and check pressure of the fluid, finding no trouble. I let out a deep sigh and let my hands fall and open my eyes. I cant help but study her face as she sleeps, and i let out a soft chuckle. She is really pretty, but i worry about her waking up to a stranger staring at her. I don't even know what her name is. I shake my head and take her into the house, laying her on the sofa and pushing a fluffy pillow from my bed under her head and pulling the blanket off my bed to drape over her.

Now all i need to do is hope she wakes up sometime soon. With another deep sigh, i head outside to grab a shovel and head back toward the crash.

Alexis pov~~

My eyes feel heavy and I ache all over. I force my eyes open, but they are blurry and I can't seem to keep them open. I think I see the indistinct shape of a person, but it's gone before I can really focus. My dreams are dark and full of soft whimpering, a flash of silver-gray fur every once in a while. I used to dream a lot about having a wolf, especially once I passed age 16 and didn't receive mine. Always the same silver-gray color, always the same sky blue eyes. She never spoke a word to me, that would be too much to wish for, even in a dream.

The darkness gave way to a soft green forest, the trees swayed in a gentle wind and the scent of growing things drifted through the air. A sense of peace was so overwhelming that I couldn't help but giggle and twirl as if i were a small child once more, safe in the care of my parents and confident in the fact that they were there to protect me.

I stopped twirling, giggles still spilling from me as I gazed around. A brook bubbled nearby, the sound fitting perfectly with the forest around me, and I hurried to it. When I crouched down to sip from the cool water, it reflected my image back at me. A frog was disturbed by my presence and leapt into the pool of water before me, sending ripples through the water. When they settled, there was another woman standing behind me. She was absolutely stunning, her hair was silver and let off a soft glow, her eyes matching her hair and standing out in stark contrast to her skin. It was dark as night, and looked softer than silk. Her kind smile flashed brilliant and perfectly white teeth. I was absolutely mesmerized by her beauty.

"Hello, my child. I have long awaited this day." Her voice was melodic and soothing. I felt a deep instinct to kneel before her, and I gave in without resistance. It just felt right. Her beautiful smile turned sad, and she shook her head and offered her hand to me. "No my daughter, do not kneel before me. We have much to discuss and not long to discuss it. Come with me."

I don't hesitate to take her hand, though I'm curious about what she means. Who is this woman with such unearthly beauty? She pulls me up away from the brook and we seem to ride the wind effortlessly. We stopped in a clearing that held a small cottage. I'm not sure how much time had passed, but somehow the sun had set and the full moon floated in the cloudless sky. The flowers and undergrowth here was thick and beautifully arranged, each petal and leaf glittered in the moonlight. I stood in awe at the picturesque scene before me and the woman moved forward toward the cottage. She matched it exactly, her hair shone like the dew in the moon and I had a sudden suspension of who she was.

"Wait, are you the moon goddess?" My voice came out small, fear overtaking the peace this place inspires. "A-am I dead?" My hands shook in fear and one hand moved to my chest as I felt my heart pounding. This can't be happening, I had finally found a pack! I was going to turn 18! My whole life was ahead of me and now it felt like it was cut short unfairly.

"I am the moon goddess, you may call me Selene, or Luna, or Goddess, or any other name my children have thought up for me." She let out a soft laugh, the sound as soothing as falling rain, before she continued; "no my dear, you are not dead. Quite far from it, in fact. You're with a very special child of mine, though I'm sure you wouldn't call him a child yourself." Her laughter filled the space once more and i felt myself relax with her revelation.

"I-I'm not dead? Thank the Goddess… I mean thank you!" I exclaim before clenching my jaws shut to keep from embarrassing myself further. "S-so what did you want to talk about?" I stuttered unflatteringly before forcing a smile and glancing around.

"You truly are silly when you're nervous, Alexis. Please, calm yourself. Today is your 18th birthday, so I thought I would come to wish my daughter a happy birthday, and give her the present I had been working on since before her birth." The Goddess's eyes teared up slightly before she cleared her throat, but I was left in confusion.

"Wait, how long have I been out? My birthday isn't today! I still have time! I don't want to go mad! Please, you have to tell me it isn't my birthday!" Fear gripped me again, but suddenly the Goddess was before me, her soft hands cupping my cheeks and she leaned forward to press her lips against my forehead. A fierce pain ripples through me, stealing my breath and my ability to scream. When the pain fades, I become aware that the Goddess and i are on the ground, she had pulled me into her arms and the sweetest music filled the air as she hummed lovingly.

"Wh-what?" I slur, confused. My mind felt foggy and full, though I wasn't sure why. The air smelled sweeter suddenly and the feel of the Goddess's embrace was infinitely warmer. I felt at home for the first time since I was a child, and i didnt know why. "What happened, Goddess?"

"I gave you a gift, my love. You are so incredibly special, Alexis. My true daughter, born in the stars. I'm so sorry for missing so much of your life. Once you were turned mortal I couldn't change anything." Glittering tears fell from her eyes, each one containing starlight. I once again was mesmerized by her beauty, as tragic as it was. My hands moved on their own to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks, though nothing made sense to me.

"I can't be your daughter, my mother was a wolf. An alpha wolf, and my dad was a beta wolf." I blinked hard, trying to figure out how she could be right in any way. We didn't even look the same, I was sure of it.

"No my daughter, you are mine. I see the stars in your soul. In fact, I see the stars in both of your souls." She smiled soothingly before declaring in a voice full of power and love; "You, Alexis Amaris, are the first celestial wolf. You will have the power to rule over all wolves, and break, or cast any curse, even the curse of madness packless wolves fall into. You will be able to visit my realm in your dreams, and so much more. Once your life ends, if it is led with honor and dignity, you shall join me in the stars as the heir of the heavens."

It was as if i was struck by lightning, every cell in my body came alive as energy flowed through me. My body quivered almost violently as I settled, panting. I blinked the daze from my eyes once more and looked into the loving eyes of my goddess, my mother. A soft sob escaped me and she held me closer with a loving stroke of my hair.

"I don't understand, how did we get separated? There is still so much i need to know…" i clung to her, tears escaping my eyes. It had been so long since i felt the loving embrace of a mother that i felt myself breaking down entirely.

"You were only a year old, barely that. One day I came home from a hunt and you were gone. I tracked you for days but when i found you on earth, you were mortal with mortal parents. Your god form looks mostly like me, with a touch of your father in there." A soft smile graced her lips before she sighed sadly. "He was the North Star. I havent seen him since your conception. I loved him dearly, your father. I have no idea who kidnapped you from my realm, and even less of an idea of how they turned you mortal. Very few deities or beings are capable of turning others mortal."

My head was spinning with all the information given to me, and i nod in apprehension. "So, why wait so long to contact me?" I whisper, waiting for all of this to vanish as part of a dream.

"Well thats simple, my love. You weren't ready for your wolf. Had you gained her any sooner and she would have shredded your body. Also, you've never died before, so summoning you into my realm would have taken many years of energy that i couldn't afford to use." She said casually, as if she didn't just reveal to me that i had died.

"Wait i thought you said i wasnt dead!" I gasped, panicking slightly as i grip her tighter. My hands shook once again, but im suddenly distracted by a soft whine. I turn to see where its coming from and i see the most gorgeous wolf i had ever seen. Her thick coat was a deep, endless black, what appeared to be stars glittering on every single hair. Her eyes were enless pools of galaxies. I caught my breath as she moves closer, her warm breath tickling my cheek. I move my hands to her fur and its softer than anything i could describe, nothing like the bristled and semi-stiff fur of most wolves id felt.

"You arent dead, Alexis. You were dead for less than a heartbeat before i summoned you here and your heart restarted." The Goddess chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke the wolf. "This is Phoebe, the other half of you. She will be your closest friend and your greatest support. Love her, cherish her, and allow her to do the same to you. You two have been waiting an awfully long time to meet each other."

I open my mouth to respond, but the world suddenly went dark and i felt nothing around me. Not my mother's loving arms, not the wolf, not the ground beneath me, not even my own body. I shudder and open my eyes to find myself in a completely unfamiliar place.