Shattered skies

Alpha blood and ancient echoes

​Each step back towards the pack land felt like dragging a stone uphill as the sun shone morning light on them. The forest, once a haven, now suffocated her. Shadows stretched, mimicking the unease coiling in her gut. Behind her, the pups restlessly shuffled, their wolf spirits mirroring her own unease. Anastasia cradled the injured girl, her body limp and lifeless in her arms. The girl's scent—a strange mixture of wildflowers, sugary sweet strawberries, and a faint metallic tang—clung to Anastasia's senses, a constant, poignant reminder of the choices she had made.

​Reaching the edge of the clearing where the pack clinic nestled amongst the ancient oaks, Anastasia halted. "Go home. Tell the pack I will answer and address any questions they have about what happened last night," she commanded, her voice firm, though a tremor laced through it. "I'll be back soon. GO NOW."

​Dino and Clayso exchanged a glance reflecting a mixture of anger and worry. They hesitated, their wolf spirits reluctant to leave their mate, but they were made to submit and obey by their mother's command. Their muscles locked and their legs moved toward the shadows against their will, dragging them away from the clinic. With a low, irritated growl from Clayso, their youthful exuberance and defiance were replaced by a somber silence.

With the twins gone, ​Anastasia continued towards the clinic, the weight of the injured girl and the burden of her actions pressing down on her. She hated using her command on the twins. But it was the only way to ensure they were safe until she figured out if the girl was safe to be around. Reaching the entrance, she presented the girl to Fraya, their resident healer and her trusted friend.

​"Fraya," Anastasia began, her voice trembling slightly as she handed the girl over, "I found her… injured, near the edge of the forest. She is the star that hit the forest last night. I don't know who she is or what happened to her."

​She proceeded to recount the events of the night, from the chilling scream and blinding light to the pups' unexpected claim over the girl. She detailed her fears, her anxieties, and the agonizing decision she had made.

​Fraya, her eyes pools of ancient forest wisdom, listened intently as she checked the girl's vitals. Her eyes never leaving the girl. The delicate features, the pale skin, even the way she lay so still—the girl was much younger, but she eerily mirrored Astrid, Fraya's deceased daughter. A wave of sorrow washed over Fraya, so intense it stole her breath away. The girl's familiar scent brought back a flood of memories: Astrid's scent after a rough hunt, the warmth of her wolf's fur against Fraya's cheek, the sound of Astrid's wolf spirit, Asterisk, and her playful barks echoing through a field. Tears welled up in Fraya's eyes, blurring her vision. She gently laid the girl on a bed, her hands trembling.

​Even Eir, Fraya's wolf spirit, stirred within her—a sense of longing and recognition washing over her. It wasn't just grief; it was deeper. It was a soul-deep connection.

​As they spoke, the girl began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, wide with confusion and pain. "Whe… whe... ah... where am I?" she whispered, her voice weak and raspy.

​Fraya gently stroked the girl's hair, lovingly, as a mother would. "You're safe now, sweetheart," she soothed. "You're in the care of the Whispering Willows pack."

​The girl's eyes widened. She groaned softly as she tried to sit up. Fraya gently pushed her back down. "Easy, little one. You had a terrible fall. Try to rest for now."

​Studying the girl, Fraya gently inquired, "What is your name, little one?"

​"I… I don't know. I can't remember anything," the girl whispered.

​Panic flared in her eyes, and suddenly, a magical wind surged through the room. The green in her hair and her eyes started to glow. The soft breeze grew in strength as her fear increased, sending papers and dried herbs flying like confetti around the clinic. Fraya and Anastasia exchanged a worried glance. Fraya pulled the little girl into a loving embrace. With a steady hand, she reached for a syringe she carried in case a pack member lost control. As the needle found the girl's arm, the chaos died down. The wind vanished, and the little girl fell back into a deep, drug-induced sleep.

​Watching her, terror gripped Anastasia. "Who and what is this girl? And how can we keep her away from my pups? If she's this dangerous, we can't keep her in the pack."

​Fraya understood her friend's concerns, but Eir paced anxiously within her. She said calmly, "I can watch her for a week here in the clinic. If her behavior becomes unpredictable, I can administer the sedative. If her memories still haven't returned by the end of the week… I would like to take her in. Please, Ana... consider it."

​Anastasia weighed the threat. Leto, her wolf spirit, stirred with a flicker of hope. “You know we can't just kick her out,” Leto urged. “She's a child. She needs to be protected until we find out what happened.”

Even though it went against her better judgment, ​Anastasia sighed in defeat. "Fine. But she is your responsibility. If anyone gets hurt, I will hold you personally responsible."

​Meanwhile, Dino and Clayso walked back to the pack house. Clayso squeezed the worn stuffed wolf inhaling their mate's scent. Artemis finally broke the silence in her mind. “We can't let anything happen to her. Mother can't keep us from our mate.”

​“You're right, but how? She used her command on us,” Clayso agreed.

​“There is a way,” Artemis paced, “but this will require using our alpha blood.” Clayso contacted her brother through the mindlink. “Dino, I think I have a way around the command. I don't know about you but I don't like how Mother looks at our mate. Not only that but It feels wrong to keep us away from our mate.” Dino looked at Clayso waiting to hear what she had to say.

​“It's not going to be easy,” Clayso continued, “but Artemis and I think it's time to pick our betas, gammas, and deltas. With us both being alpha blood, we can each pick our own team. That would give us a trustworthy team to protect her.” She silently handed him the stuffed wolf.

​Dino’s eyes flashed with determination as the strawberry sweet scent of their mate came off the stuffed animal filling his lungs. “Let's start scouting tonight,” he said, his voice firm. Apollo mirrored his energy: “We need the strongest, most loyal shifters. We need a team that can protect our mate with their lives. And if our mother tries to interfere…” He let the threat hang.

​Handing Clayso the toy again, they continued. They were more than siblings; they were a pack. They would protect their mate together, even if it meant defying the only world they had ever known.