Chapter 1 – The Beginning

In my twenty-one years this village was the one place I could call home, it was all I had ever known. I was the eldest of my mother's two children soon followed by my younger sister Tatia.

"Mika!" Tatia hollered.

I groaned as I awoke from my slumber, I looked up only to be met by my sister's devious gaze. Thought Tatia was my younger sister she had her share of suitors. They merely overlooked the small fact she had a child out of wedlock, but the women in my family were no strangers to scandal.

"What Tatia?" I growled in frustration.

"Mama needs you to go wash the clothes." She sneered.

"But I just did the last batch?" I scowled.

"Yes but Mama says I'm still too fragile to do any house work." She giggled as she left our shared room.

It amazed me I could be related to someone as vile and manipulative as Tatia. She took pride in making others miserable, and it disgusted me. I dressed myself and started towards the kitchen.

"Mama…" I called out.

"Yes Mika dear."

"Mama it's not fair I just did the washing."

"Mika dear your sister is very frail at the moment."

"Mama she is faking to get out of her chores."

"Mika how could you say something so spiteful?" She gasped. "Your sister has endured a great deal in the past few months."

"It's not like she actually kept the baby." I closed my mouth as the words floated through the air.

"Mika, I think you should get to your chores." She said with disappointment plastered on her face.

Tatia wasn't the only one who had disgraced our family. However my mother's shame was a very well-kept secret. It was revealed to me on my eighteenth birthday that my father wasn't my true father. I can remember the day as if it were yesterday.

*Flashback*

"My darling Mika." My mother cooed as I entered the room. "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you Mama."

"My baby's growing up." She continued. "Soon you'll be married and have babies of your own."

I nudged her playfully and giggled. It was embarrassing for me to talk of such things with my mother. I knew she wouldn't judge, but it didn't feel customary to me. My mother was always so private.

"So are there boys in the village that have caught your eye?" She grimaced.

"Mama!"

"Oh come now you can tell me." Her smiled widened.

"Well there is one boy." I chuckled.

"Anyone I know?"

"I believe so, he is one of Esther's sons."

I looked at my mother for her response, but there was none her face had paled. She turned to me and looked hesitant to speak.

"How about we go for a walk?" She stammered.

We left our home and proceeded towards the woods, my mother looked worried and I didn't know why. Was it wrong for me to have feeling for Elijah, well I never told her it was Elijah I fancied. We continued at a comfortable pace when she began to speak.

"Mika there is something I've been keeping from you." She began. "About your father."

"What about Papa?"

"Papa is not your father." The embarrassment flooded her face. "I was young and foolish."

"Does Papa know?"

"No." She sighed. "When I realized I was with child, your father and I were already betrothed, I convinced him to move up the ceremony."

"Mama what does any of this have to do with me having feelings towards Esther's son?"

"One of them is your half-brother." She looked on the brink of tears. "I feared that this would happen." She whimpered. "Esther and your true father also had an affair, and they had a son close to your age."

"Mama it is only one of her sons." I tried to comfort, but I was also fearful that Elijah was that son.

"Yes." She answered. "Her middle son, Niklaus."

"Mama you have nothing to worry about Niklaus is not the one I seek." A sigh of relief washing over me as well as my mother. "Elijah is the one I fancy."

"Oh thank God." Her face regained color, and her tense shoulders relaxing once again.

*End Flashback*

I grabbed the basket of dirty clothes and headed towards the stream not too far from the village. I continued on my way and was greeted by my dear childhood friends Niklaus and his older brother Elijah.

"Hello boys." I greeted.

"Mika." They replied in unison.

"Those look heavy." Elijah motioned towards the basket of clothes. "Here let me take those for you."

"Elijah if I've carried it this far I think can make it to the stream." I blushed.

"Would you like some company?" Niklaus piped in.

"That would be lovely." I grinned.

"Mika…" The shrill voice of my sister finding its way to me.

"What is it Tatia?" I replied as she approached.

"Mama wanted me to remind you of the full moon tonight." She grinned at Elijah and Niklaus. "And to get to the caves before dark."

Our village was small and humble but believe me we had our share of excitement. When I was younger I didn't know why we hid in the caves on the full moon. That was until I reached the age of thirteen and began to notice not everyone in the village was hiding with us. My suspicions were diminished when my assumed father told me of the wolves.

"Elijah would you escort me to the caves?" Tatia flirted.

"Why of course." Elijah always the gentleman. "Mika perhaps I will see you later?"

"Perhaps." I retorted hiding my fury for my sister's actions.

"Is that a hint of jealously I detect?" Niklaus smirked, as my sister and his brother departed.

"More like detest." I replied in a mocked cheerful tone continuing towards the stream. "How someone as horrid and unchaste as Tatia can have every boy in this village slobbering like dogs is beyond me."

Niklaus looked displeased with my rant, and I was starting to figure out why. I turned to him almost wishing I hadn't had my little outburst. Niklaus wasn't just my childhood friend he was my brother, even he didn't know it.

"I'm sorry for my outburst Nik." I cringed.

"No need." He assured. "I've heard the rumors time and time again."

"What rumors?" I said with a smirk already knowing what he was going to say.

"You know very well what rumor."

I merely hid the urge to laugh at my sisters misfortunes. I guess one would say it was karma for the type of person she was. Always flirting and sneaking around with the village boys like a common harlot. Niklaus and I had reached the stream, and I knelt down to begin soaking the clothes.

"Niklaus… Niklaus." His little brother Henrik came running towards us.

"What do you want Henrik?"

"Are we still going to go watch the wolv-" Niklaus placed his hand over his younger sibling's mouth to hush him.

"You two know what will happen." I scolded. "If the wolves don't kill you I'm sure your mother will."

"I suppose you wouldn't want to join us?" Niklaus replied slyly. "Come now if Tatia can get away with her indiscretions." Henrik chuckle, my lord did everyone in the village know my sister was a whore even the young ones. "So can you."

"Although very tempting…"

"Please Mika…" Henrik and Niklaus begged.

"Fine" I sighed "But only if you help me get these clothes done before dark."

The laundry was finished and hung up in front of the house, it was nearly night fall and Niklaus, Henrik and I made our way through the forest. Apparently Niklaus had snuck to watch the wolves more than a few times.

He knew where they would meet before the full moon, and it wasn't far from the caves we hid in. We crept through the trees and shrubs Niklaus turned to me and pointed towards the trees gesturing for me to climb up, I was soon followed by Henrik then Niklaus hopped up.

Now we waited and watched as the full moon slowly made its rise. The howls were ear-piercing, exciting and terrifying all in one sound. It felt a shriek preparing to escape my throat, but was silence by Niklaus' hand before it ever broke free. Although a moment to late a wolf passed by the tree we were perched in, and approached it analytically.

Its eyes met mine and it pounced causing Henrik to fall from the tree. I could hear the wolf's thoughts as it attacked Henrik.

"Stupid foolish children." The beast's thoughts rang in my head. "These are my woods."

"Can you hear me too?" If I was going to die, what else did I have to lose? I might as well see if the beast before me could hear me as well. Niklaus looked at me curiously.

"Who said that?"

"I did." I said aloud my voice shaky from fear, I met the wolf's gaze causing him to relinquish his attack on Henrik, and stare at me. I descended from the tree and slowly walked towards the wolf.

"Mika what are you doing?"

"Trust me…" I whispered to Niklaus not turning to face him.

"How can you hear me?" The wolf cut in. "Only the children of wolves…"

He paused and looked at me his canine face growing long and gaining a look of clarification. He looked to me and then to Niklaus. I turned and gazed at Niklaus face he looked horrified, could he hear the wolf as well.

"You are Maria's daughter?" The wolf questioned.

"Yes." I spoke clearer now.

"And him?"

"He is my half-brother, Esther's son and I'm assuming you are our father." I revealed.

"Can you hear me to boy?"

"Yes." Niklaus replied as he jumped down from the tree finally joining the conversation.

Just as the wolf began to let his guard down Elijah came running through the forest and decapitated the wolf, killing our father. Elijah looked to Niklaus and I curiously.

"What do you think you were doing?"

"I was finishing my chores, and it got late we were trying to run to the caves when the wolf found us." I lied hoping Niklaus would go alone with the story.

"Is that what happened Niklaus?"

"Yes." He replied still shocked from all the new information.