Chapter Five: Revelations (Part Three)

Veronica was shocked, to say the least. Sure, she had just seen a man transform into a wolf and produce fire from his fingertips, but to hear that you're somehow involved with a deadly war?

Nothing in life can ever prepare you for that.

"W-wh-…-," Veronica said, trying to find the right words, before Aaron interrupted.

"Let me explain," he said, holding his hand up, in a way that was supposed to comfort her.

Isabella gave us all one defining trait so that we could know who was a part of our pack and who was not: Blue eyes.

Veronica opened her mouth to interject, but Aaron held his hand up to stop her.

"I know, you have brown eyes, but please let me continue."

In each generation of our pack, only one is given the gift of prophetic vision. Hundreds of years ago, one of our pack members had a prophecy: The wolf born with brown eyes will defeat the Beast once and for all.

Veronica was stunned. Was he tal-?

For generations, there was no Steelclaw Shadow member with brown eyes. But then everything changed, seventeen years ago.

It was then that the whole world froze for Veronica. There's no way. This is all crazy. She kept repeating to herself mentally.

As if sensing her thoughts, Aaron became more sympathetic towards her. My brother and his wife struggled to have children for many years. When you were born, they were overjoyed, but shocked by your brown eyes. Word spread quickly around the forest, and everyone was thrilled that our savior was finally here."

Aaron paused before continuing. Everyone, except for the Beast. Once word got out, the Beast and his resources came out of hiding to attack us.

Veronica saw how Aaron tensed up. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, as if he was trying to forget the trauma of what happened.

It was a vicious attack. Your father and I, being the leaders-

"Leaders?" Veronica asked out of curiosity.

Yes, he was the governor and I was the lieutenant.

"And yes, wolf politics are a thing," Aaron added, sensing Veronica's confusion.

Anyway, we stayed back to fight while your mother took you to see Alice, one of the most powerful wolves in our pack. She has the ability to transform objects into different things. People too, but it's too high of a risk. You were actually the first one.

Sensing Veronica's incoming panic, Aaron quickly reassured her. No, no! Nothing went wrong. Alice was able to turn you into your human form and you turned out ok. Your mother then ran with you as far away from the tribe as possible.

Aaron then turned somber. Unfortunately, she didn't make it too far.

"You-you mean-,"

"Yes," Aaron simply interjected.

Veronica's thoughts went a hundred miles per hour, going through all kinds of hurt feelings. Her mother was dead? She would never get the chance to know her? Perhaps what hurt the most was the fact that her mother was just a stranger.

A stranger who was inexplicably linked to her for the rest of her life.

"She loved you more than anything in the galaxy, Veronica. She gave up her life for you. Your father too."

"Let's just move on to the rest of the story, ok?" Veronica quickly brought up, not wanting to think about her parents.

Aaron sighed. The other wolves would have killed you too if I hadn't gotten there in time.

It was then that Veronica remembered her nightmare about the wolf attack. Were they one and the same?

I ran as far as I could, before stopping here in Sherwood, Ohio. I left you on the doorstep of the orphanage and went back to the destruction that was my home.

Aaron's fists clenched up once again. "The Beast managed to go back into hiding, but we survivors have always stayed alert, ready to give our lives for you."

"I don't need prot-,"

"You're right," Aaron said. "But that doesn't change the fact that it's time."

"Time for what?"

Aaron paused for a moment. "Time for you to come home."

A/N: I don't think he's talking about Sherwood…

Thoughts? Any constructive criticism is welcome!

And thanks again as always to inkyfrosting3217 for beta reading!