Chapter 1

-The Wolf Wakes –

Soon I could feel the changes beginning to take hold within me, my mind seemed to stretch I could feel the air currents running over my skin bringing the scents of wild places, Cars and Tarmac.

Her scent lingered in the air it made me angry the burning was nothing to my desire to shred the fox, bury my fingers in her eyes and pull her apart, SHE DID THIS.

I WOULD DESTROY HER FOR IT.

But why?

Have I always burned?

Was this my existence?

No

I remember her from before. She was taunting me bitter words about revenge and loss, for which I don't truly understand the context. The name James and Cullen setting her small round face into a bitter line. The image was hazy, like staring through frosted glass. I felt somehow smaller then, like I was something less than this burning was making me, and I remember the finality that laced in my fear, I was going to die.

Is that where the path of this burning was leading me, to the gaping maws of hell?

I spent days, or perhaps years searching my memories exploring the corners of my expanded but blank mind trying to find answers do I even remember who I am…

surely, I am somebody?

No answers are forth coming so I change course.

My frantic search like a starving man in search of sustenance brings me only one more thing.

A face blurry at the edges but filled with golden eyes and a tight grimace in place of a smile. Floppy blonde curls greet me and his deep voice utters the phrase

"your worth it."

In a lilting accent that I found immediately diverting. The vision of him was not pinned behind a frosted window but clear. I could see the strain in his eyes something was going on and it was stressful for him, and yet his image was like the dawn so very bright. I grasped his visage desperately and searched ever onwards.

Remembering his words heralded the beginning of the end of my change, the pain receding from my extremities and settling itself right at the heart of me. I was truly surprised there was anything left to burn.

My heart beat skyrocketed, drowning out all other sounds and with resounding finality my heart thudded no more, releasing at last a single scream of rage and pain to end the life I had before.

I released a shocked gasp which had me bolting upright with its strange musical quality. My eyes snapped open and I was standing before my mind could truly comprehend the movement.

Searching around me I knew my heart should be pounding in my chest, but it remained stubbornly silent leaving me bereft there was so much. Dust motes swirled about in front of my vision, layers upon layers of dancing swirling air shifting lazily around me lit up with startling colour.

I was awe struck, was this the first time I had truly seen? a smile of wonderment pulled across my face followed by a giggle which once again shocked me with its quality.

Was this how I sounded, so light and musical?

Perhaps I was not destined for hell after all.

I was in wide-open space the floor was cement and would have been cold on my bare toes, but I stood there unaffected. The term Warehouse swam into my brain and I seemed to instinctively know what that was, although when I considered it I didn't even remember my own name, 1000 questions left me dizzy.

The space was empty and dark what appeared to be small windows hung just by the ceiling but no light shone through, did that mean it was night?

My nose soon found her scent in the air and I tensed into a crouch a growl ripping through me, surprising me in its intensity. The image of tightly curled red hair and a small pretty face shot across my mind's eye. I was tense searching for danger.

There was no answering growl and it took me a moment to unlock my limps and try to move around the space.

where was I?

It made sense to make my way to the door which hung at the far end but as I did I was assaulted by a cacophony of sounds freezing me in place the sound of moving vehicles, the hum of electricity in the air and distantly, a chorus of thumping heartbeats.

And suddenly my mood shifted again a burning flared in my throat and I zeroed in on the noise. I knew the people in possession of such delectable heartbeats would somehow, be able to quench the fire within me the insatiable hunger I suddenly possessed.

I smashed through the door to the warehouse like it was nothing more than tissue paper and I was off, the towns streetlights surrounded me and I shot past like a flash as I made a bee line for my prey. And there exiting what appeared to be a bar full of heartbeats someone stood having stumbled out drunkenly from the building.

Its like this man became the focus of my attention the centre of my world, I slowed my run stalking towards him from the shadows. This man will help me with the burning.

He was stumbling along unaware of me staring at him making his way in my general direction.

I stepped forwards and a streetlight illuminated me. This drew his attention

A strange noise gurgled in his throat, and I tilted my head at him, examining him intently.

"…M…Miss…. Miss Swan? Is that you? The Chief has been searching everywhere."

I was distracted again and froze in place.

Did this man know me? Should I care, when I was so very thirsty and he could help?

It was then that the wind shifted carrying a nose wrinkling scent with it that had me whirling in place, in a defensive crouch a territorial growl ripping through me.

It smelled like wet dog and if I could have gagged I would have. The smell of the human and his presence behind me now forgotten I needed to get away from that smell, it made the hair on my arms rise in alarm and the threat of danger hung in the air around me.

Disappearing from the streetlight away from my former target I ran, finding a path in the opposite direction to that hell raising smell and fleeing. The town spread out before me, I got the distinct impression the warehouse I had been burning in was on the outskirts and now I found myself in the middle of a town. Before I could consider my moves a chorus of heartbeats surrounded me as I ran, streetlights and houses flying past, on impulse I held my breath and continued forging my path forwards the lack of breath eased the burning in my throat, and removed the distracting influence of the delicious sound, but the smell of dog still haunted me, I could almost sense them coming despite my lack of breath.

Skidding to a halt a figure appeared in the street before me, flaming red hair and evil grin stretched across delicate features.

The fox.

I stiffened and simply stared at her for the length of a heartbeat, my eyes flying around scanning for routes of escape, my chest was caught in a vice like grip of fear. The sound of padding paw prints came from all around us as me and the fox had a stare down.

It took a while for the fear to dawn on her features as the wolves emerged from the buildings surrounding us.

She quickly turned to me, strange red eyes darkening at the sight of me. When she spoke her voice was no louder than a whisper and had a childlike ring in its sound.

"I wonder you haven't frenzied yet swan, all these humans so close and burning for just under a week. Seems were out of time though I'll reason this out on my own time, those dogs are out for flesh and it won't be mine this day. I hope they eat you slowly." The malicious grin on her face stretched wider

"and if not, well I have a few more treats in store." Before I could think to flee or pursue her she had launched herself to the top of a nearby building and vanished, just as the wolves blocked any remaining path to my freedom.

Whirling around to take it all in I realised my mistake, I ran in a straight line allowing them to flank me, I slotted this information into a side pocket of my mind. Another part of me watched and felt for the movements of the wolves, keeping as many as I could in my line of sight. The overriding sense however was panic.