Traits That Define Us

Chapter 4

(Katie Domino POV)

Though I was happy that I lived a rich life, my mother's reign scared me. She is an intense woman, greedy for power, and persistent on her beliefs. I wouldn't say I was coddled, but I do love the finer things in life. Nature, of all things, can still be cruel to the young and weak. "Kate, stop slouching," mother demands. "you're a Princess that will inherit all that I have built with Vernin, you shouldn't be slouching." she assures with great confidence. Lowering my head, I silently listened as Mother and Vernin conversed. My brother and I are two sides of a coin, though I think he's a puppy that hangs on her every word. "Mother," he raises from his glass of blood. "if Kate doesn't want to take the throne I can definitely fill your shoes." he boasts with a convenient smile. "I know dear, but running an empire can be stressful, yes I have done it alone but, I need you both to carry on in my place should my past come back to haunt me." she replied before taking a sip of blood from her wine glass. "May I be excused?" I inquired flatly. "Fine, be disrespectful, you'll regret not having family by you later on." she retorts.

I didn't bother to speak, she would just belittle me more. Heading to my room, carrying out the next few days as a zombie, my Mother controlled us nonstop. Making the mistake of telling Mother I didn't want to follow in her footsteps, she lashed out. I was shackles in silver, tortured by UV lights and all before the great war was to begin. Mother sent me on a mission to take the life of a Luna from a neighboring Pack of the Regal Claws. My mind was in a haze, but upon my freedom of the dungeons, I vowed to gain my own freedom in my own way. Sent to the Wild Shadows Pack near the Claws with Maxwell by my side, I assumed he was my Mother's eyes. Treading carefully into the States, little knowledge of how the States worked, I found myself eager to put my plans into motion. While Maxwell slept, I went to the Alpha of Wild Shadows to inform him of what was to come. Roaming through the night of a shrouding forest, my nose able to pick up all sorts of wolf shifters and their numbers. Easy to get through them after masking my scent, I met the Alpha in his quarters after some time of waiting. He and his Luna were locking lips as they entered, from the shadows I emerged with crossed arms. "How did you get in here?" the Luna screamed after she noticed me. "I snuck in... I have important information from the Vampire Queen and the States are in danger of being conquered by her." I explained with slight haste. My information has shock on their faces. "She has an army of savage vampires ready to be deployed and take your lands, if you don't tell the Lycan King, she will succeed in wiping out all life on this side of the Atlantic." I informed wholehearted. They remained silent, resilient as they shared a glance and nodded with assurance of the matter. "Who are you then?" the Luna requests. "My name is Katie Domino, the Queens daughter." I replied, leaving right after and heading somewhere other than we're Maxwell was located.

Rumors spread like wildfire, Maxwell reported I was missing, news of Mother's conquest was everywhere and vampires were subjected to having documentation before entering the states. Another rumor, came from a lone wolf that sniffed me out. "Hello, my name is Haze Ryan." he offered beside me as we sat at a bar. "Look wolf, I don't want any trouble, just peace of mind." I assured as I gulped my Whisky. "That is understandable, but if you've heard," he stated as he sat a stool away. "Alpha Amel would like to speak with you about your Mother and why you are on the run." he insisted. I sighed, lowering my head and gazing lost into my low-filled glass. "I want to be normal, power won't give me happiness, and the last thing I want is to be mauled by a pack of shifters." I retorted in a slump. "At least come and swear your loyalty to the pack." he offered. "No, I am my own and I won't drag anyone down with me." I proclaimed. "Fine, may I at least take a mental photo to give to the pack for assurance since you aren't a registered vampire here?" he inquired. Sadly, slowly, I rose my head, gazing at him and nodding once I saw his smile. He took his leave, with me still at the bar, and two months passing me by. I heard the blood-chilling news that my Mother was defeated and killed by an incredible beast. The week after, a bounty was placed on my head and I had to remain in the shadows as a traitor of the Vampire lineage.

Time in hiding was easy, I posed as a human, never killing anyone, everyone has the name Katie so I saw no reason to change it, resembling a younger form of myself depending on how much I drank, I went to many schools in the states and made my own living. Odd jobs, a place to call home and even a cult of humans that wanted to feed me. Repressing their memories after my fill, I would continue this for 20 years, that being said, I was content with my life. Around eight years ago, all vampires were expunged from the Regal Claws and forced to move to the Ravenous Claws or Scarlet Fire territories. My guess, Mother has set a bad name for vampires, and they want us in a designated area where little to no humans are targets or to have a spell preformed where we can't drink as much and rely on human foods to sustain ourselves. Some have undergone the spells or perseizures for this, but others demand otherwise. With desperation to have it done, it was a success but, a vampire had called me out. Unaware that the bounty on my head was still active, I fled back to the Regal Claws and sat in silence.

With more time passing, Afraid my brother would find me or his lackies, I was out for a stroll to grab some groceries. The night was creeping through the setting sun's rays, the walk not long, but on the bad side of Somber Springs City, known for their growing rouge shifter problems. My house is located two blocks away and I don't like driving. On a Friday afternoon, I was being followed by a pair of shifters, tailing me closely as I rounded an alley as a short cut. I dropped my bags, took off running, sadly they used minor magic to trap me in the alley anyway. As a vampire that has went through the reforming, I had the strength of about five grown men, nothing compared to when I was younger and I could take on an army. "Please, don't hurt me!" I begged as I fell to my knees. "Aw, the Princess is so weak, I can smell the fear from her." the male assailant boasted. "I don't care, that money on her head will feed us for lifetimes on." the female recanted. Their growls made my heart leap in my chest, a shadow passing by behind them caught my attention. Did their snarls gain the Shadow's attention too? Coming into view of the street light, a sad silver eyed girl with silver bangs and a black attire approached. A bookbag was on her back, she was so well composed, like an assassin or something. "Take a hike human!" the male noticed her, while the other woman began to approach and wrap her hands around my neck. "Better leave before you die too." she boasted with a nasty grin. "Or you can grovel and not do this in a public place." the assassin requests before holding up a lightly curled palm to them.

My vision was leaving me, it was hard to breath, the rain droplets on my skin were slightly easing the pain as I attempted to rescue myself. "Do you want to die human?" he barked. My attention was bewildered by the sudden removal of the shifters head, it was in the air and blood fountains from his chopped neck. I was swiftly released, choking as I tried to catch my breath, and the female taking quick action for revenge. "You b***h, YOU KILLED MY MATE!" the female snarled. As my gaze met the female's back, I watched her head explode and the assassin was untouched. She didn't even move, my bags were floating beside her as well, I was beyond afraid. "Im sorry they treated you this way, would you like for me to walk you home?" she asked in a Tinder tone. "No, thank you..." I assured helplessly, "My name is Katie, are you a witch?" I asked her. Shaking her head 'No' in response, she looked up to the dark rain clouds above us. "I don't know what I am, call me Yusira." she informed me before leaving and vanishing up the street with my bags were she once stood. Amazed by her strength, astonished by her composure, bewildered by her sudden use of magic and no scent, I wanted to find her.

Rumors were the best way for me to get information, Omega wolves are the best at gossip and where I work. A small business Cafe in Somber Springs City, "I heard that Gamma Jared's son had a female in his car that made him ram a Hunter's car at Charge High School." gossiped one lady. "Gamma Jared has a random woman in his home? I thought he had a mate?" another woman asked. Averting my gaze for her answer, I noticed she shrugged, "I heard that the girl is a slave as well as a human." the lady mentioned after. Luck was on my side to figure out about Yusira, also in October was the three Beta Ceremony that would bring the Alpha's welp to the throne. A plot was circling in my head, I needed to get enrolled in Charge High so I can meet Yusira and maybe rid my brother of the throne. A good three week came and left, I was able to meet Yusira while touring the school with my own eyes. She seems to have a lot of onlooking wolves buzzing about her and who's home she resides in. She's so helpful to others too, a heart of gold. Catching up to her just as the last bell rang, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and a shocked look from her caught mine. "Katie?" she asked quietly, "The one and only." I chimed. "But, I thought you were much older to join the school?" she asked flatly. "Vampires can adjust their ages depending on how much we drink, but don't worry, I don't kill my pray." I answered. "Sira?" we heard a voice behind us. By the red hair, I assumed from the rumors is Alanna Manx, and just beyond her, two wolves waiting at a car and stared at us. "Who's your new friend?" she examined crossing her arms. "Don't bother, Yusira and I are just old friends that wont do anyone any harm... Unless provoked." I answered with a sly grin. Alanna didn't like my answer and pouted before walking off to the other two. I couldn't stop laughing at her as she wasted our time by getting to know me. "If you're going to be mean I won't consider you a friend." Yusira suggested. I instantly shut my mouth, following her as she walked back home and me to accompany her. She is very humble, to humble and too quiet for my taste, but I do need her help and it seems like she needs help too. her sad expression was a dead giveaway that something about her wasn't right. "I heard there was a Three Beta Ceremony coming up in October..." I recalled, "would you like to hang out on that day?" I inquired with a huge smile. "I will try, I can give you my address if you need it, but I have to wait until..." she stopped, my gaze strayed from the scenery to her. She's shorter than most wolves I've seen in this territory, she never looks me in the eyes unless she's serious about something, I just can't tell what she's thinking.

"If you can come a little after sundown, I believe it will be a full moon, that's when we can hang out." she shifted the subject. "Okay, can you come out next week on Saturday?" I request. Raising and eyebrow she glanced to me, "Why?" she asked flatly, "Well, I do need to make sure my savior is repaid for saving me." I assured. As if she had forgotten, she simply nodded and lowered her head. We parted ways a few blocks up the street she was going to head down for home. I followed from a distance, I was shocked that she didn't pick me up, but that pesky Gamma did. He set traps around his house so I couldn't get any closer, my chest was getting heavy with every approach. Something about that Gamma peeked my interest, Yusira's powers had my interest too. After I worked two weeks straight and met Yusira at the parted street we went strolling along the sidewalks of Somber Springs City. I think it's safe to say, I made a new friend, though she didn't have a cell phone, I bought her one and showed her how to use it before she went back home.

With more rumors of high standing shifters coming into the Regal Claws Territory, I noticed Yusira hasn't sent any messages to me at all. I was wondering if she was okay, worried if she was actually at home due to missing wolves of another pack. "Hey, it's Katie, I heard some nasty rumors and wanted to know if you were okay?" I sent to her phone. No reply...The week of the Ceremony was right around the corner, Yusira sent a message the day before, "Can you come by around eleven thirty?" it reads and forcing my excitement. "Hell yeah!" I texted back. I couldn't wait, a song came on tv and it sent a chill down my spine to watch. 'Au/Ra-Panic Room' it gave me a sense of anxiety and Yusira's contact was the only one present in my sight. Something is coming and with a full moon to eliminate the night sky, I can tell it won't be very good.

(Yusira POV)

The day of the ceremony, I woke before Jared and Bryan to attend to my daily chores. Make breakfast, start laundry, clean the living room, dusting and cleaning dishes as I go. Jared was the first to wake, today is my birthday and I'm officially eighteen. Keeping my composure, his breakfast on the table as well as Bryan's and keeping my distance. Good on me for sneaking small bites before they took their seats, my magic tending to things outside of the house before daylight. "..." silence overwhelmed the house, except the clattering of their forks to plates and me forced to stare at the floor until they finished. "At least you didn't poison us with bad cooking," Bryan putting more ideas in both Jared and my heads. "Don't bother," Jared opted, my accidental acknowledging gaze meeting his at that instant. "She knows I'll kill her before she steps foot out of this house." he assured causing me to bite my lower lip and avert back to the cherry Oak floors beneath me. "Dad, why don't you put a collar on the runt?" Bryan chuckled. "You know very well why... Hell the Alpha has already asked me about her attending school and getting dropped off by you." he explained through seething fangs. "Why is it any of their business anyway?" Bryan groaned and leaning back on two of the chair legs shirtless. "You fought alongside the Dragons and killed thousands of vampires, what's one little pesky slave?" Bryan reasoned.

"Only Rouge wolves keep slaves, boy." he informed harshly. "The ceremony will start a little after sundown, I'll be there anyway to help prepare the warriors, and I need you to watch the runt until they announce the new Beta." Jared orders as he threw his fork onto his cleaned plate. My thoughts were overstepping me, being alone with Bryan scared me and if Katie shows up... I can't imagine what they will do to her. "Come get this plate..." Jared orders stiffly. Instantly following his command, I tiptoed with my wobbling knees and reached for it's round edge. His hand wrapped my wrist, forcing me to wince as his grip was nearly intolerable, and my voice hitched in my throat. "You better pray that Bryan is on time and not say anything to anyone once you arrive." he enforced while his glare cut through me. "Yes-yes sir!" I stuttered, with my answer he held my wrist a bit longer before letting go. Continuing to take his dirty plate, he rose from his seat stern as ever and pushed me aside. I gulped, with my face being blocked by his plate, and my knees still buckling. "Wretched piece of shit..." he huffed as he left back into his room. Bryan snickering at me, sadly he isn't the one that instills fear in me...

Being stuck at home with them is nothing, but to be alone with Bryan and his dirty mind... It was so unexpected, keeping his distance while Jared was here. I was tending to the laundry in the basement, unable to really hear much but footsteps and had no clue of the time. The sound of the basement door came to me, my senses picking up something hostile and it was in the basement with me. A loud 'Bang!' was heard from behind, as I turned to see the cause, Bryan was behind me in an instant with something behind his back. "Sorry about the noise, but I wanted to give you a little gift anyway..." his conniving grin from ear to ear rendering me uneasy. A step forward, my back against the washer machine I had just closed, and my heart sinking into my butt. "I can hear your fear..." he sheds light as he points to my chest, my eyes looking helplessly into his.

He was so close now, too close to my liking and revealed a small black choker from behind his back. "Please, allow me to put it on you." he suggests, causing my forced gulp. "I don't deserve your gift..." I informed. A sickening cackle came from his chest, a gruff growl depicting his hunger and his gaze overlooking my body. "I also got you a dress to ware." he added happily. My eyes widened to this news, I swiveled my sights away from him, he doesn't like me, why would he do this? "Don't be that way, I just want to make sure you look good in the presence of the Alpha." he informs as he tilts his upper body into my line of sight. "O-kay?" he chimes with a more gentle smile. From his other hand behind his back, he bares a large soft pink box with a crimson ribbon on top. It seems expensive, my sight on the box alone, I gave him a quick glance to affirm that it was mine. A gift from my mean ass brother that only sees me as a slave, after he gave me an assuring nod, I quickly started to open it. Astounded by the gorgeous maroon color, golden floral prints and it's off shoulder ruffles, I was amazed by this gift.

"Go try it on, we have plenty of time before the party starts." he informed tenderly. I smiled as brightly as my cheeks would allow, nodding and rushing upstairs to the bathroom. After removing my clothes, I put the dress on, in the massive mirror that covered most of the bathroom, I noticed it showed just enough of me to seduce any male. A knock came to the door, startling me, I took one more glance to the mirror and sighed at the knee-length dress. "Sira, let me see..." he begged on the other side. I had a hair tie on my wrist and quickly pulled half of my hair into a ponytail as the rest laid along my neck and back. My bangs fell around my round plump cheeks and my eyes seemed more welcoming. I was surprised by how an outfit can turn even the ugliest into a Goddess, and giving one last sigh before I opened the door. "I love the gift you've given me..." I thanked genuinely, but his eyes were prowling and his other hand was behind his back again. "You need the shoes too." he urged, kneeling before me and pulling a pair of equal-colored pumps.

Readying my small foot to enter the first pump he held for me, the touch of his hands on my ankle were gentle. By the second pump, they began to caress and climb up my calf... Then my thigh, "Dont hide anything from me." his warm breath close to my thigh, uneasy of this encounter, I gasped. My heart was racing though my brain, disappointment hit me like a sack of potatoes and I swiftly pushed him away. Sadly my human strength was no match for him, it only resulted in me falling on my ass and his grip to tighten on my thigh drawing blood. "We're alone little slave, no one can hear your sweet screams but me." he chuckled as his other hand went up my dress and ripped my panties from my womanhood. Whimpering as he progressed, I fought with all my strength to remove him, but his hand cuffed both of my wrists as he forced me on my back. His palm was rubbing me, "Stop this Bryan!" I cried, a growl of pure hunger came from his chest. Barrying his head into the nape of my neck, his fingers entered me, my heart leapt in my throat again, and my mind going blank. My body was reacting on it's own, "My how wet we are..." he examines with a snicker, I bit my bottom lip, my powers had to surface. I gave the loudest scream I could muster, glaring at him as a overbearing force sent him into the living room couch.

I quickly sat up trying to catch my breath, rising to my feet using the toilet for help, instantly making a run for the front door. Reaching for the knob, I was pelted on the back of the head by something, a large amount of my hair was grabbed and my head was bashed into the front door. Everything was swaying, blurry, suddenly out of reach. My body was so heavy, until a pair of arms took me from the floor and my eyes could make out Bryan. "Please..." I whined, "Dont do this big brother..." I uttered as everything spun around. "I'm no brother of yours, just relax and let me have my way with you." he advised. Tears trickled down to my ears, my heart and head was pounding so loudly, I'm to dizzy to portray a spell to protect me. "So you can use magic, what makes you think I'm remotely related to you?" he asked, his slightly distorted voice making my stomach turn. "Please!" I begged again through a supple sob that was making my head spin more. I was then thrown on the bed, flipped onto my chest, my dress was being lifted, and a sound of his pants coming undone. The sensation of him penetrating me was the worse I had ever experienced. Rough, unmerciful, shameful to experience. My first was taken from me, his low grunts as he thrusts repeatedly, deeply, I was going to hurl! "How's this Slave?" he asked in my ear, the room was getting dark, the sun was going down, something within me was on edge and about to explode.

My body began to shake, quiver even, and a scream that conformed into a roar caused me to arch my back. My vision was on the ceiling, Bryan had gotten off of me as I convulsed on the bed as if I had a seizure. I was finally shifting, the pain was worse than Jared's beatings, and my anger was now exposed. I allowed the shift, went with it's flow until the pain stopped and Byran was under my claws. The fear that was on his face gave me my satisfaction, grabbing him and with my massive head tilted above us, I destroyed a portion of the house with black flames and freezing ice. My massive body leaped from the hole to the top of the house, an a ray of lights near the pack homes could be seen, with Bryan in my clutches, I headed there. My wings flexed in great length, the moon was full and following me through the night sky. I released a bloodthirsty roar through the sky to alert them of my arrival, slamming down with Bryan still in my claws. Screams were heard as I landed, my attention was on Nick and another male that was standing next to him on a stage next to Zeek. They were both so enchanting to gaze upon, "Let go of my son you MONSTER!" I heard Jared from the crowd. Never did I think that he would point a double barrel at me and pull the damned trigger. Nick, the Alpha and the other male had attacked Jared, but the fire power that shotgun had was directed to my heart stone over my chest.

My diamond gemstone on my chest was hit, pain crept through my entire body as it cracked and chipped. I was losing focus, my body was reverting back with a whimpering roar and I swayed in my human body. From there, something was placed over my mouth, nose and neck making it hard to breathe. Able to eventually focus enough, screams and random voices called to me. "Get off of her!" came a familiar woman's voice. Barely able to move, I tried to keep one eye open to see who was talking, carrying me, and to find Katie had an arm around my waist to keep me on my feet. "Let her go!" a male voice demands. "Fat chance asshat!" I heard Katie retort, her grip of my naked body more firm than before. "Im getting you out of here, hold on Yusira!" she mentions before my focus left me, I was saying thank you, but I couldn't hear my own voice. Weakened terribly, my mind drawing a blank and a brisk breeze sent me to sleep in Katie's arms.