ALPHA'S TIME

Chapter 2 – Nightmares

I think we have everything that we need.” Kurt said, shutting the trunk of the blue SUV that he shared with his sister. The SUV was a gift from Beta Shaw to him and Maya on their 18th birthday. “Wait!” Maya shouted, “ You forgot this,” she said, handing her brother a duffel bag. “ Maya, we will be there for one week, not one year,” Kurt said. “ Kurt, don’t you know that there are things a girl needs and can’t do without?” Maya replied, rolling her eyes at him. “ I think we need to leave,” Skye said, laughing. “ We will never arrive if you two keep arguing like this. The twins were always arguing, but Skye knew that they always looked out for each other. “Let’s go, ladies,” Kurt said, with a smile, getting behind the wheel. The twins usually took turns driving, and today, it was Kurt’s turn. Maya and Skye hopped into the back seat so that they could talk on the way. “You look tired,” Maya said softly so that her brother couldn’t hear them. “ Are you still having nightmares, Skye?” Maya looked worried. Skye was grateful to have Maya as her friend. Despite her crazy, humorous, and often annoying nature, Maya truly cared about Skye. “Yes, Maya,” Skye said sadly, “The herbal decoction that you gave me is helping, but I still have nightmares.” Maya gave Skye an encouraging smile and whispered, “ Don’t worry; I will prepare something else for you, which will work.” Maya was the apprentice of the pack healer and was already skilled in herbal medicines and decoctions.

Maya had given Skye some herbal medicines before, but they only had a temporary effect on her. Skye continued to have nightmares, which had troubled her since she was young. The nightmares she saw were terrifying. There was always this large grey wolf chasing and cornering her, pinning her to the floor, baring its colossal teeth and fangs, relentlessly slashing at her flesh with its claws and teeth. However, Skye also saw another wolf nearby, badly injured, barely holding on to its life, trying to reach them with every ounce of strength it had. It was a big black wolf whose eyes were yellow, almost golden in colour. Each time she tried to reach out to this black wolf in her dream, everything would go black, and she would wake up bathed in perspiration. Skye had this dream often, and it terrified her. She would wake up, whimpering and shivering. The crescent-shaped birthmark on her shoulder would burn, become inflamed and sensitive. Maya believed that the mark was a sign from the moon goddess, and the nightmares would stop once Skye found her mate. Skye hoped that Maya was right, as the nightmares had gotten worse ever since she turned eighteen years old.

Skye rolled down her window and let in the cool breeze, trying to enjoy the moment and forget her worries. Suddenly, a deer bolted across the road, in front of the SUV, forcing Kurt to jam his foot on the brakes. Maya let out a string of curse words that were enough to burn the ears off a sailor, and Skye held onto the front seat for stability. “ Maya, Skye, are you OK?” Kurt queried, the concern evident in his voice. Maya screeched, “I almost shifted in the car, thanks to someone’s driving skills! I think I should drive instead if we want to get to Mooncrest Lake in one piece.” she continued, sounding exasperated. “ Hey, it’s not my fault that the deer suddenly bolted in front of our car!” Kurt argued, “Something in the woods must have spooked it for it to dart onto the road into incoming traffic. Thankfully, no one was hurt, so spare me your diva act, Maya,” Kurt rolled his eyes and muttered. Skye was accustomed to this constant squabbling between siblings and didn’t pay them any attention. The movement she noticed in the woods, just before the deer dashed in front of their SUV, piqued her interest. Skye used her keen senses—a result of her alpha genes—to sniff the air and try to detect the scent. Although she did detect a scent, it was so subtle that she was unable to identify it. Skye put all the worrying thoughts aside and decided to take a nap before they arrived at Mooncrest Lake.