The Rebirth

TALIA’S POV What is this funny sensation I feel all over my body? I tried to open my eyes, but it proved to be a difficult task. With a little more effort, they opened slightly, and I realized I was wet. No, not wet. I was deep in water—my hair, my clothes, my body. I was completely immersed and was going down. The survival instinct in me kicked in. I tried to swim to the surface to save my life. I have always been a good swimmer, but now it seems my body wasn't interested in fighting for our life—just my brain. Bubbles began to pop out of my mouth as I took in more water in panic instead of air. I was going down. I always had been going down all my life, and as usual, no one to save me. What’s the essence of surviving when I'd just drown again in another river? What’s the essence of living when no one is interested in my life itself? My struggling limbs began to go limp and heavy as I lost consciousness and surrendered to my looming death. Finally, some peace. My eyes closed. Rest. That word sounded foreign to me, but now I could begin to understand the concept of rest—or so I thought. A force jerked me up from sleep, pushing me with so much speed to the surface until I was floating on the river. How long had I been in there? Am I now in Hades? I sat up and looked around, seeing no one. All I had for company were the gentle movement of trees in the soft breeze and high mountains. This scenery looked too peaceful to be hell. “Did you have a nice nap?” I jerked my head instinctively to where the voice came from. Just by my side, not too far from me, stood a very tall and brooding male figure, analyzing me critically with deep-set, beautiful emerald eyes. “How… how?” I tried to form words through my scattered thoughts. I could have sworn on my life that this stranger wasn’t there when I woke up. I surely would have noticed, not with the dominant aura coming off him like a whiff of expensive perfume. "I said, did you have a nice nap?" he repeated slowly, his tone commanding respect and sending chills running down my spine as he drew closer with each word. “I don’t remember,” I replied in a small voice, surprised at how true that answer was. I really didn’t remember what had happened. “Good,” he grinned, all pearly whites, making his face look both scary and handsome at the same time. He stopped before me, squatting so he was almost at my level, though still taller than I was, and peered down to stare into my eyes. His clothes, a casual t-shirt and slacks, were dripping wet, just like mine. Could he have been the force that pulled me out of the water just now? And damn! Handsome alone seemed like an ordinary word to describe him, I thought, as I became lost in his penetrating gaze. “All that matters now is that you belong to me.” He grinned devilishly, further deepening my confusion. ****************************** "It's another beautiful day!" I stretched out languidly on my bed and smiled at the ray of sunshine coming through the window. Standing up gingerly, I walked toward the window to watch two little birds pecking at each other as they perched from one flower to another, playing and making beautiful melodies that filled the colorful morning. Their dallying disturbed a peaceful pair of butterflies who were napping lazily on a rose flower. "Even birds and butterflies have mates to keep them company, but you..." I shook my head in mock despair at myself. I sighed, yearning in my soul for a partner of my own. This has always been my desire. Our mate, my wolf perked up at the thought. I walked back toward the bed to settle down. She made a high-pitched sound, filled with hollowness and so much yearning. She was going mad from loneliness, just like I was. "Soon, dear," I consoled her—and myself—with these words as I walked toward the bathroom. It is that time of the year. I can already feel the buzzing and excitement in the air. It’s the mating frenzy when all our emotions, both wolf and human, are heightened. And also, this is when we hold a sacred gathering in the Blue Pack. This gathering I have attended for five years without result. To be honest, I really don’t know why I still keep going. It could be because of this little spark of hope in my heart that one day, maybe just one day, I would get lucky and finally find that mate I’ve always craved for all my life—or… I scoffed at my thoughts. "... I’m just a stickler for disappointments," I muttered out loud to myself. This meeting is held once every year at the Vinegarden, where wolves in their mating season, especially the females in Blue Pack, come out to mingle. If the goddess be willing, we get to choose our mate for life. But this year, there’s a rumor going around about the Alpha being in search of a mate. If this proves to be true, we would be having a gathering at the Vinegarden twice. My wolf and I are expectant about this occasion, though, for what reason I do not know. My reputation follows me everywhere in the pack—the murderer who killed both of her parents. This has made me an outsider in my own pack. A pariah. My presence itself is a stain on Blue Pack. I rolled my eyes dramatically, reflecting on the sorry state of my life as I cleaned up the house. Sometimes they are subtle in their expression of disgust for me, but oftentimes, some overzealous wolves are always eager to show their obvious distaste blatantly. This has been ongoing since I was a teen. I’ve always been an object of ridicule and bullying among my peers. Now, I’m twenty-five, and I can’t totally say I’m impervious to their crude acts and insults. Even my uncle, who is my only kin and guardian, makes use of every slight opportunity he gets to mistreat me and remind me of why I’m not loved in the pack. To remind me of who I am. Like I need a reminder. "Pfffffftttt." I blew hot air through my mouth in disbelief. A murderer who killed her own parents and is still alive thanks to his benevolence—and of course, that of the Alpha and my pack as a whole. "f*****g pretenders, all of them." I sliced the onions angrily, taking out my frustration on the meal I was preparing. My uncle, my worst nemesis, is currently not around, which is a big relief to me. And no, I do not know where he is and do not care, but I’m going to enjoy every moment of his absence. These rare occasions when he travels and leaves me all by myself are not easy to come by and are greatly treasured by my wolf and me. At least I would attend the meeting in an outfit of my own choosing and not something forced on me to look ugly. "Who knows? Alpha Mathias might just fall head over heels in love with me." I smiled, looking in the mirror as I checked out a purple gown, which once belonged to my mother. I watched as my lips tilted up in a genuine smile, reminiscing on those happy days I spent with her and my father in this same house. Memories of us making lovely dresses, attending imaginary balls, and hosting our imaginary guests. A single tear slid down my eyelid, and I let it run down to drop on the dress in my hands. How could they possibly think I killed my parents? Stupid, all of them—stupid and gullible hypocrites. I placed the clothes carefully on the bed and decided to go wash up... "Bang!" The entrance door slammed open, cutting my journey short. "Open this door, murderer!" A loud voice shouted from outside. My uncle wasn’t around. That’s not my uncle’s voice either. It was a female’s. I don’t have any female acquaintances. Pondering this, I tread carefully to the door and turned the lock open. I then came face to face with an angry she-wolf. Madam Carra or something was her name, I think. I don’t know her name, really, because I was used to calling her ‘the witch’—though not aloud. She is my taskmaster, and when I say taskmaster, I do not use that word lightly. "You b***h!" A hot slap landed on my face.