Bold

Legends speak of a land of wolves, divinely blessed by God and Goddess alike. A land where a prophecy once was spoken freely and exalted, one in which peace and prosperity thrive. This land was know as Anzalta. The wolf God ruled from a golden throne with passion and empathy for centuries. As time crept forward trusted allies became valued and respected soldiers standing at his side. The Wolf God, Whewayo, Slept, a deep slumber, of only the Gods, trusting his his followers would ensure peace and the prophecy were kept and protected. He left Alphas, wolves to watch over the regions, none more important than Anzalta, the land of wolves. Each region was given their own Alpha family who would serve the truth and prophecy to the best of their abilities. Alphas came and went over the centuries leaving very few elder alphas save for Alpha Varkaine Thulruk leader of the gold wolves of Anzalta, Alpha Declan Nightshade leader of the black wolves of the Nightshade pack, Alpha Ulchter Rychter leader of the red wolves of the Bloodrayne Pack, and Alpha Richert Gunthry leader of the blue wolves of the Shadowmoon Pack. The prophecy won't be denied, and truth will be revealed. "Get up you lazy leach!" He screamed as he burst through the door. It was barely three o'clock in the morning and she had only finished her chores at midnight. She had slept less than three hours, she should be happy she slept at all. "Sorry Alpha Declan, I overslept." "No you miserable girl you slept, while our Luna bled out your prince. You were sleeping, instead of keeping her healthy and doing the job you were given as a blessing when your pack was wiped out. If not for Luna Madred you even at six months old would have fallen under my blade. She had mercy on you, she kept you alive, and you slept while her child died within her." His hands cut through the air slamming into her already frail and broken body. As his hand landed on her she stayed on the ground, knowing he would do much worse if she didn't. Anger was always his excuse. The luna had saved her, only for her to become the Alphas slave, and the Luna's anguish as she grew older and remained childless. She had loved the Luna, as her mother, in a way she had prayed the luna was her mother. Wondering if the Luna was going to be okay, she lay on the floor as the pain ceased and her eyes darkened life slipping aside for a brief moment she heard his voice again "The prophecy won't be denied, the truth shall be revealed." His voice comforted her. She wished she could remember who he was. He had always been there in her dreams, he felt like home. "Bella, Bella, wake up girl." The voice was gentle, calmly coaxing her back into the light. "Did I die?" Bella ask. "No, but not because he didn't try." the voice sounded sad. "Why?" a tear dropped from the corner of her eye as she ask. "He couldn't kill you honey, not when you are Luna's favorite." the voice was soft but the words cut like a knife. Bella lay still feeling every part of her body scream from the damage he had inflicted. Her thoughts screamed, "I mean why am I still alive?" her voice was silent. She was in the hospital again, the pack hospital had been the only place she was safe from his beatings, ironically it was also the only way she ended up in the hosiptal. Nurse Muera was the reason Bella had a safe space, even if she had to almost die to be there. Bella was the only survivor of Anzalta, the land of wolves. Luna Madred found her in the hollow of a tree outside the palace of Alpha Varkaine Thulruk. Barely six months old the Luna begged Alpha Declan to allow her to keep the baby ensuring one small piece of Anzalta remained for all to see. She grew from a baby to a child and older as they Alpha family was hoping to add children to their family. With every disappointment the Alpha blamed Bella more. With each failed litter and the aging luna's health the Alpha became more viscious towards Bella, deeming her their servant and beneath them, he became the things she feared in her nightmares. "Bella?" Muera whispered gently. "Yeah." She responded. "Do you know how old you are?" Muera was asking something she wasn't fully sure about. "Well, you see I was only a baby when Anzalta fell and Luna Madred took me home. Is there something wrong?" "That was seventeen years ago, so you must be almost eighteen, have you heard from your wolf yet?' Muera ask casually. "Wolf?" "Yes, sweetheart, your wolf. You should be able to hear her inside of your head. She speaks to you and helps you heal. If you can shift into your wolf you would heal much quicker." Muera wasn't telling Bella anything she hadn't known, just she hadn't thought about it, about having her own wolf. "How would I know?" she looked at her feet feeling embarassed. "Her voice would be soothing, you would hear her and feel safe, untouched, she might even sound like you. Do you ever have thoughts that you think should be yours but you aren't sure they are?" "Well yeah, I guess sometimes." "This might be your wolf. Have you felt the shift begin yet?" Muera pressed calmly. "I don't know. I can't be sure.Why do you care?" Bella was uncomfortable, "I am so sorry, I was asking only because of healing purposes. You heal fast, but the shift would speed that up for you, helping ease the pain." Muera remained calm. "I don't really know. I guess I will have to wait and see." Bella slipped into a restless sleep as Muera left her room. Four days passed as she healed slower than the other wolves. She hadn't thought of having a wolf ever to be honest. As she lay in the hospital bed recovering she had more than enough time to think about the posibilities she hadn't yet. If she had a wolf what would her voice be like? Would she be black, red, gold, blue or was she something completely different from these wolves. She was after all the only living Anzaltan remaining on the planet. She had never seen the golden wolves of Anzalta, nobody talked about Anzalta before Alpha Declan and the Nightshade pack. "Luna Madred and Alpha Declan have ask if you could come to dinner this evening Bella." Muera's voice trembled slightly. "Why would Alpha and Luna want to have dinner with me?" Bella ask. Muera looked scared but bit her lip as if deciding something important, "They want to know if your wolf has awakened." "Why would they care?" Bella was confused. "Because Bella, if your wolf is gold, well..." Muera trailed off looking for the words to finish her thought. "If it is gold I might be a problem, wolves might think I am something I am not." Bella's voice was quiet. "Bella, lie if you have too, don't let them know if you have a wolf even. I know they'd kill you if they thought you had a wolf." Muera was whispering forcefully. "I don't have a wolf Muera. I have thought hard about it, and I can't even think of anytime I felt a wolf." Bella sighed accepting what she was feeling all along. "I really am nothing, just an orphan with nothing but their mercy keeping me alive." "Mercy? That's what you call this? How can you believe what they have given you is mercy?" Muera was indignant. "I am alive, I have survived where every others of my species are dead. What is it, if not mercy?" the tears falling from her eyes burned her cheeks. She was going to dinner, wolfless and at their mercy once again.