Inevitable #1 Hunter for Liberty

Prologue

"A gift from your good friend, Alpha Markus of the Winter Warrior Pack, brother." Alpha Roman's brother, Hugo, said as he interrupted their father-daughter dance and stepped in the middle of the ball room.

Although interrupted, Samantha and the Alpha beamed at the news. Markus is a very good man leading a neighboring pack, the only pack of honorable elite warriors. "May I propose a toast? After the first glass is served to our sweet 16 of course..." Hugo trailed off as he poured her a glass of the ruby red wine. She happily took it, looked at her father for approval which he gave her for it symbolizes the coming of age of a female wolf among other things, to be able to take in the bitter-sweet liquid and overcome it just like the bitter-sweet reality outside the sheltered wall that has protected her all her life.

She then looked at everyone and beamed at their encouraging smiles, she searched the room probably looking for her brother on the sidelines, Roman's heart stopped when he saw her and his Beta's son stared at each other's eyes as if the time stopped. He is happy for his little girl. He watched the overwhelmed look by the strands of their souls reaching out to one another, at moments like this you are out of control, something would seem to just snap at the successful connection of their soul. He saw through the proud eyes of the good man his little girl is staring at that just like that, to him she is no longer just Samantha, she is no longer the sister he never had, she is now more than that, just like the rest, above all things good in every male wolf's life, she is his Mate.

His Luna held him by the arms as she watched the young couple hold each other's gaze and the young female they proudly raised slowly drank the ruby red liquid as her mate walks to where the three of them stood. She finished the glass of wine and turned towards them. Roman held his daughter's hands and walked her to him. He handed her right hand to her mate and patted his shoulder. "I couldn't be more proud, there is no better man to honor my princess' love but you," the Alpha proclaimed and everyone gasped. He looked at his daughter in happiness as she jumped to her mates sturdy arms in giggles.

The Alpha and his Beta regarded each other knowingly, their mates both hugging one another celebrating a somehow long ago dream of marrying their children together.  The shocked expression that his Beta's proud son has as he catches his mate in sturdy arms is such a beautiful sight to see. When he set her down on her feet she swayed a bit and everyone laughed. "Love makes us all weak in the knees," her mother commented and everyone laughed softly. The Alpha looked his mate in the eyes and moved towards her, kissed her quickly yet passionately.

"Samantha?" They suddenly heard him croak out, they all watched as he lifted her up, anchoring her body into his, as if she couldn't hold her own. There was no answer, silence immediately took over the festive atmosphere everybody's in just seconds earlier.

"Sam..." the future Alpha, his eldest child and only son called out as he approached the new couple. 

"Sam, please..." Zeke, her mate called out a little louder and everyone hushed alarmed at the sudden tension building up. There was no other sound now but their quick heartbeats. Although no one dared speak verbally, you could sense a cacophony of tense outburst through the pack link. Males has their furs bristling, females reaching out to somehow send reassurance to their Luna, to comfort a mother unsure of her daughters well being. 

Ever so slowly she looked up clutching her chest, her then made-up beautiful face now contorted of that of immense pain with beads of sweat on her temples. What's wrong? Is it her wolf getting ready to shift? But no, it shouldn't be the chest hurting but the limbs and the muscles if her wolf wants out for the first time. Her eyes glowed a faint gold then subsided, and it continuously changed in color as she fought the internal battle within her. Shes trying to shift but what's stopping the process?

His son, Samantha's older brother held her shoulders. "Sam, its alright don't fight it, its just your wolf wanting out." He gently voiced out as if he was talking to a kid. She shook her head and her eyebrows almost met as her face contorts into that of a sudden pain once again, hands fisting at her chest, faint labored breathing, wishing it all just ends suddenly.

"I c-cant..." she paused and closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, her life flashing in her mind, the good old days, the incredible moments with the man who helped her brother in looking after her then now, the picture of them finding their true purpose to each other, the slowly crumbling world they haven't even started to established yet.

"What's wrong?!" Her mother, Elisa shouted frantic now. Overthinking? It could be mothers instinct the Alpha thought to himself. Samantha slipped further down, and because her mate is holding her still, they fell together. He laid her down where her bottom is on top his legs and her back is secured by his arms. His face now mirroring the terrible pain she feels, his lips set into a firm line thinking, if he lets out the damn of emotion his feeling now his lips might quiver so badly the way hers does.

"Love, what's happening?" Zeke pleaded for an answer almost inaudibly, holding her cheeks willing her to look at him but to no avail, he looked up "I can feel her pain..." he trailed off looking at her father, looking at his Alpha, asking for guidance on how to deal with such situation "the feeling of lacking air flowing through the lungs causing it to burn so bad it hurts, please call the pack doctor!" he cried, his eyes are now red from the amount of tears and frustrations for not being able to help their princess. His best-friend, his mate's brother knelt next to him and tried to take her from him.

"No! pp-p-lease..." she begged which came out barely just above a whisper, the way she held him so tight it seemed like she poured all her strength onto holding on to him as if she's afraid it would be the last time they held each other, the foreboding feeling of losing something so great eating at him. 

It broke the Alpha's heart just as it breaks this man's to see Samantha so weak and helpless. "I cant b-breathe," she managed to say. "T- the wine..." she added faintly in labored breathing looking into her fathers eyes with fear stricken face. Hard as it is the Alpha tried to look brave, strong and reassured, a father wanting to tell his princess all will be well. 

"Alpha!" the pack doctor, announcing his arrival as he came inside the ball room and his shoulders sagged as he looked at the scene before him. "Quick! Take her to the clinic"! he announced but the good man that holds Samantha hadn't felt his presence. His whole world is crumbling in his embrace and she's all that he sees. I should be mad because he was thought awareness in all the training he went through but, I'm not the now not so firm and strict Alpha who's suddenly afraid thought to himself. 

He is a proud and strong Alpha but he now walked towards where his princess is, trembling and frightened for the first time unsure of the play of events thinking please Goddess don't take her yet, take her pain away, give it all to me if you may she was not brought up like this, a silent prayer to the Goddess above.

"Son," Roman called out to the man hanging by a thread himself not wanting to let his mate go. He tried to sound firm wanting to hide the fear but it showed through the faint crack he heard himself as the word came out of his mouth. He tapped his shoulder and he looked up to him, the pitch black eyes of this young mans wolf staring in rage but not to challenge, somewhere inside those debts is a swirl of a strong desire to be guided and be reassured that nothing even worst is to ever happen. "Amad is here and demands that you take your mate, my daughter to the clinic quickly before we lose her," he said looking at his helpless princess who is now falling in and out of consciousness. Ace obliged, with a firm hold unto her torso; heavy, steady, and yet frantic steps he took her to the clinic. 

His son, their future alpha following suit with a face unknown to him, the face that lacks of confidence and assurance for the first time after he shifted. Roman stayed even though it broke his heart not to, not at this very instant. "You may all go back to your homes, all guards to your station, kitchen staffs gather every food and drink and burn them all, should anyone feel even the faintest pain or illness immediately go to the clinic to get checked," he announced and everyone dispersed and did as instructed. He did not leave to follow his family until all was safely escorted out of the ball room.

He looked around and found his brother's eyes then he looked back to the bottle of wine he brought in from Markus. He's so lost with just the thought of Markus doing this. "I don't understand why Hugo but, mark my words he will pay if I lose my daughter he will lose his and each and every daughter of the winter warrior pack!" a promise from a man shaped and honed by experience and fate who is now being threatened of losing something so precious to him.

"I will avenge her with you if the wine is proven the cause of all this my alpha." Hugo promised his fist to his chest as he knelt one knee bowing his head. Swirls of emotion was playing inside the head of the Alphas brother. Regret, shame and anger being the most prominent of all.

"Father!" Roman heard his son's frantic call through the mind link sounding defeated. His heartbeat raced as he ran like his life depended on it. Just one more corner and he's there but he felt this pain he had never felt before, the feeling of loss he knew of but don't want to give acknowledgement, to not give it power because then, it would have been so final. No! His daughter will live through this, life was just starting for her! This is just another test they all will conquer and thrive later on. 

His knees buckled and he fell to the ground kneeling, clutching his heart so hard, then he heard it. The most agonizing wailing of a mother who lost a very vital part of her being, and just like that part of the world he so carefully built with her with all that they were and have, came crashing down. He held on to his face closing his eyes. Goddess, no please! He begged then stood up shakily, braved his fear and blindly ran into the direction where his mate's misery was coming from.

When Roman opened the door he fell yet again at the image of his son holding onto his mother who is now a picture of exhaustion, grief and loss. His beta's son holding his little girl as if he's in some sort of trance rocking his body back and forth tears streaming down his face. Roman  howled, poured out his own sorrow, rage and contempt at how the goddess had permitted someone of robbing off one's innocent and beautiful soul. Every wolf in the pack felt the loss and soon echoes of howling were heard, one string detaching its connection from the pack link, one ever present kindred soul forever lost from their grasp, soon their Samantha will only be but a beautiful memory of a sick tragedy.

"Brother, its the wine." Hugo announced his face that of sadness, shame and regret. Roman felt numb at the lowest kind of betrayal. He went to embrace the only family he has now, give them the comfort and security he now lacks but hope to somehow by some miracle be able to provide for them. 

"I will kill him father!" His son declared, his eyes lost to oblivion, there was no other emotion but madness and rage. He moved to leave the comfort of Roman's embrace but he held him tighter, he already failed to protect his daughter. No! He will not lose his son as well. 

"I wont ask you to calm down and look brightly at this, because that would be hypocritical of me to ask when my mind and heart is of raging anger and madness. We will do him much more than what he had done". Roman reasoned to an angry son who looked up to him unimpressed. Wolf brooding, furs bristling, canines extended. Had it been any other day he would have schooled this wolf who thought so highly of himself standing up against an Alpha by right and deeds to respect and submission but no, not now, he understands its the loss of a family, a gem that drives the fury in him.

"May I ask a period of mourning to honor the life they robbed off before I lose my life avenging my love's death?" Zeke who is now a mate-less male wolf asked, his face still to the Alpha's daughter's lifeless one. Numb of any pain, any promise and hopes, his only desire was now to lay his mate in a peaceful place with the honor she deserves and to end everything that had caused him this beautiful life of his.

The Alpha's son, his best friend growled madly eyeing him, as if he lost his mind. "You want to dilly dally and give them time to rejoice and strike again?!" his future leader and brother by bond asked, rage radiating off his trembling limbs, directed to him. To reason with him was always Zeke's way but not today, too much life and energy was drained out of him. He simply has no energy for discussions even if it is his brother through bond, future alpha nor best-friend that asks.

"Stop!" Elisa shouted using her Luna tone, very seldom does she use it. She left her mate's embrace and slowly walked to the bed where their daughter lays lifeless in the arms of a man who could have given her the world. Testing the waters with his wolf, he growled ever so slightly feeling territorial, she stared at him, not challenging but wanting him to understand she is above him, for she was the loving mother that brought up who theyve lost today. Zeke bowed his head, a sign that his wolf acknowledged the presence of his Luna, the mother that brought up the soulmate they just lost today. He let her hold Samantha and she did ever so tightly afraid of letting go permanently. Silent tears, clenched hands and throaty whimpers escaping off of her.

"You can go there now with all your anger and frustrations kill them all and what? What will that do? Will that give my daughters life back?" Elisa ranted taking her eyes off of Samantha's serene face. There was silence. "You will give this mans desire of laying his mate down her grave in a peaceful and dignified way with her family beside him relieving her memories p-probably for the la-last t-time," she paused her lips quivering looking at the miserable man who's eyes and smiles had shone and captured many young hearts just as Samantha's not so long ago "b-because they at least deserve that..." she announced trailing off with tears in her eyes but forcing herself to proudly stare down anyone who would dare disagree with her. 

"After my daughter is..." Her mouth trembled and the bravery she mustered all but slowly crumbled crying, heart clenching so bad she wished it just stop as well like her daughter's now. Holding Samantha helplessly, she felt her mate's embrace around Samantha and hers.

The embrace that provided so much comfort and protection every time then, now just don't have that magic over this because her protector is just as badly injured as she is now, the first battle he lost out of many without being able to do everything he is capable off because this was not a battle of power nor dominance. It is battle way out of his league, a battle no one will ever win. A battle of death and life only the goddess above as the only jury. Why she let her daughter be defeated is beyond her, but everything they say has a reason. A reason she cant really find within herself to be reasonable now and probably nor ever.

Roman felt useless hugging his mate who's supposed to be ok and at ease from his embrace. He held them silently praying to the goddess he almost doesn't believe in to save him, his faith and his princess' life by waking her up.

"Mother..." Their son called out sounding regretful, hurt and lost. "I, I-I'm s-sorry" he cried out kneeling where he stood earlier. "Sam, forgive me! you will not be laid down alone. all of midnight moon will be with you until the goddess had welcomed you into her kingdom."  he said almost inaudibly, his best friend helped him up and they held each other.

"When my love has rested, brother, we will end them! Every one last winter warrior will die." Zeke vowed his fist firmly pressed to his chest. A promise made by a man who has lost his world just as sudden as he had found her. A promise of a man who won't stop at anything to justify the loss forever will be eating his sanity, forever fueling the primal hunger to destroy greater than they had destroyed the whole purpose of his existence.

"Five days of mourning Alpha," the Luna declared. "Enough days to process acknowledgement and acceptance, hard as it may, for the misery of Samantha's death carved in every midnight moon members hearts and to plan for the fall of that pack that had caused it." The Luna spoke, now staring at the wall her eyes void of any emotions.