Amaya’s War

The Start Of It All

“Amaya, I promise you we will be together again one day. I love you my starlight.” She leans forward to touch me as the mighty wolf’s fangs clash onto her neck.

…

“MOMMY!” I shout as the dream comes to an end. My crystal eyes now as wide as dinner plates as I’ve shot up from this nightmare.

Four months ago, on my sixteenth birthday the Shadow Pack came into my home and attacked us. My mother tried to fight them off, but as the Alpha attacked her—she was simply no match for him. Her final words linger in my mind, wishing I could have protected her the way she protected me.

What was left of my pack fled, my father Alpha Kristopher, led us away and into the forest. We’ve been here in this part of the forest ever since.

I shook my bay coat, feeling the dirt between my paws as I stretch.

A lot of the others hate that we’re trapped in our wolf forms, not me though. This is the only life I’ve ever known. The rocks beneath my paws, the sounds of the water flowing downstream and the wind calling us to howl back, seeing things over a mile away. It’s truly a gift in my eyes, but so many others had married, bonded, mated other species: humans, fairies, bear shifters, etc. now being stuck they can’t be with their loved ones.

It happened before I was even born, this curse. My mother and father had just finished their Luna & Alpha ceremony, when a coven of witches made their way within our borders. My father was supposed to take the coven leader’s daughter as his chosen mate and when he found my mother he just couldn’t go through with it. Julianna, the woman my father was supposed to marry, put a curse on everyone in our pack that night. That we would be trapped in our wolf forms from then on.

The pack carried on as they had to, they abandoned their homes and loved ones and took to the forest within our borders. We were safe there and at least then members of the pack could see their loved ones at a distance. A year later, I was born. An only pup in the litter which was rare amongst our pack, but my parents told me it was because I was special. For seventeen years we were safe there, until we weren’t.

I sniff the air, the scent of oak filling my nose. I sigh and smile, “daddy.”

I trot out of the cave I was resting in, the sun hitting my fur bringing me instant warmth.

“Dad, dad! Is it time to hunt, patrol?”

“Well good morning to you too love. Settle down, get some water and I’ll call on the hunters.”

“You got it, dad”

I migrate down to the river where I spot my best friend, Luca. He’s this beautiful light timber color, larger than me but not by much. As the alpha’s daughter I’m larger than most females but still smaller than all of the males.

“Hey May, what’s up?”

“Oh nothing, about to go on the hunt with dad and the hunters. Wanna come?”

“Of course anything to hang with you!”

Suddenly I hear my dad’s warning howl, someone entered the pack. A stranger.

Luca and I take off, his stride putting him just ahead of me. He always preferred that in these situations, he thinks he needs to protect me. I don’t know how he hasn’t realized that I can take care of myself. I jump ahead of him, snarling at this invader with my father. It’s a solid black wolf, dark as the night sky with eyes just as dark. He was clearly injured, gashes and blood covered most of his left side including a giant cut across his face. He limped his way inside the circle, surrounded by our fiercest warriors and collapsed. He stared up at me with his dark eyes and muttered a name that I couldn’t quite make out. I brought my head closer so that I can hear more clearly. He said the name again, this time barely even whisper before he fell completely unconscious..”Elaine.” He said my mother’s name.

“Daddy, what does this mean? We have to question him. We have to get answers! DADDY SAY SOMETHING!” I roared at him only for him to slam his massive paws and unleash his low but thundering growl in my direction.

“I hear you Amaya, but I’m just as confused as you are. Was he mistaking you for your mother? Is he from the pack that killed her? We just don’t know. Of course I’m going to question him, but the healers will have to work a miracle to save him. I’m more worried that he’s a threat than anything else.”

I huffed at him, so beyond irritated by his lack of fury in this moment. This wolf muttered my mother’s name, the mother that was stolen from me, the packs most beloved Luna. The Willow Pack has not been the same since we lost her, none of us have.

“I’m taking watch.” I grumbled to my father as I left the cave, stomping my paws into the ground as I make it to the healers field. I lay just outside as to not disturb their rituals, when I hear a twig snap. I shoot up into a fighting stance, when I realize this is a figure I recognize. “Luca,” I sigh as a grin makes its way across my face.

“Hey, I know you’re really upset I wanted to come be with you in case you needed anything.” He curls up behind me, wrapping his body around mine. I lean into him as he lays his head across me.

“Are you okay, Amaya? You can talk to me, I can feel your hurt.”

I feel a tear slowly crawl down my snout, “I miss my mom, Luca. I heard her name and it was like it was happening all over again right in front of me. I miss my mom.” I began to whimper as more tears fell. Luca wrapped his body as tightly around me as he could and nuzzled his head against me to comfort me.

“I know, May. I know.” He held me as I continued to cry. I will never be more grateful that he sees me and is helping me through this.

Luca’s POV

I hate seeing her in pain, this hurt of losing her mom is the absolute worst and the lowest I’ve seen her. I’d give anything to bring our Luna back and bring the smile back to her face. Since I can’t do that, all I can do is be here for her and hope that she knows I always will be.

The next morning, I woke before Amaya. I took the opportunity to just watch her rest, these days it’s the most peaceful I see her. I try not to crowd her, but when she’s feeling low like this I can’t leave her alone. Everything in my body pulls me to her, especially when she’s upset, but in these moments with her snuggled against me I feel a different pull. A pull like I’m a flower and she’s the sun drawing me in.

We’re still so young, we won’t discover the mate bond for another couple of years, but I’m praying to the Moon Goddess that Amaya is my bonded mate. That this pull can only mean that we’re meant to be together forever.

Helios, the packs eldest healer, makes his way to where we are laying causing May to jump to her feet like she was never asleep.

“Amaya, he survived and is ready to talk-“

She starts to walk away, I’d guess to get her dad.

“However, he will only speak to you.”

Those crystal blue eyes widened with shock as she stuttered “m-m-me?”