Chapter 1
18 years ago
"Guys, do you hear that?" Kate asked. The blonde had been halfway through a grizzly when she'd heard a loud, piercing howl. Looking towards her sisters, she saw the same confusion dawn on their faces. "There's no way that's a regular wolf", Irina mutters, wearily eyeing the other two blondes before all three heads snap to the north. Another eerie howl pierces the otherwise silent forest, and with a nod for her sisters to follow, Tanya takes off running towards the origins of the sound.
Jumping from branch to branch, the sisters cautiously proceeded to run towards the sound. Kate and Irina, used to running in this formation with their coven leader, fall back slightly and keep their eyes out for any trouble that might be hiding in the darkness. Another howl breaks through the silence, this time seeming weaker as it ends in a whimper.
"What the…?" Tanya stares wide eyed at the horror that greets her when she breaks through the tree line and enters a clearing. The ground is littered with human remains, and the blood pooled on the forest floor shone almost black in the moonlight. Irina gasped and covered her mouth, and Kate simply sighed and shook her head as she surveyed the scene. The last time they had seen this much carnage was when the three had come across a village that had been slaughtered by a newborn. Tanya's heart sinks as she realizes it is too late to save them.
"You think... this was done by a youngling?" Kate asks Tanya, confusion lacing her tone as she couldn't smell any traces of a newborn. She could make out a scent; however, masked by the overwhelming scent of blood was the smell of fresh snow and blueberries.
For once, the tall blonde vampire seemed serious, her eyes conveying how worried she was; this was their territory, and no newborn should've dared venture there. "No. This was a shifter's doing", Tanya states. Suddenly, a loud snarl erupts from a few feet away. All three blondes tense up and crouch down as they face the source of the threatening sound. Across the clearing, a large brown wolf was lying on its side, baring its teeth at the three vampires. The wolf's lower stomach had been pierced by a large tree branch, and she seemed to barely be holding onto consciousness; however, she regarded the three vampires with weary eyes, her tail tightly curled around a small object. The three blondes exchange a quick glance, and the tallest one takes a step forward, her hands held out in a gesture of peace. She speaks softly to the wolf, offering to help remove the branch and tend to her wounds.
"Kate, are you fucking insane? Look at the size of her; she's a shifter," Irina urges, pulling her sister back. Kate reaches up to her shoulder and takes Irina's hand, cradling it in her own, and then turns to look Irina in the eyes, saying, "I know she won't hurt us; look at her tail; it's a pup". Irina looks over at the wolf's tail and finally registers the small, moving object that seems to be letting out weak whimpers. "You two stay back; I'll check on her," Tanya orders. She hated having to use her authority on her sisters, but she'd be damned if she let them get hurt. Tanya slowly approaches the wolf, who looks up at her with pleading eyes. She reaches out to touch the pup's fur and feels a sudden sense of protectiveness wash over her. Tanya reaches for the she-wolf's large muzzle and runs a hand down her head. As beautiful a creature as she was and as strong as she was fighting to stay awake, Tanya knew her time was almost at an end.
"I will protect your child; I can sense she will be very important in our lives, and I promise you... I will never let any harm come to her." Tanya whispers, her eyes locked on the large brown orbs. Huffing, the wolf finally lays her head on the ground, tired eyes having seen the truth behind the golden orbs. Tanya knew that the wolf had understood her.
Regarding the other two blondes, the she-wolf had only one thought in her mind as she felt her life fading: 'I'm sorry, my child, but your mates will protect you now'. Kate and Irina slowly approach Tanya. Watching their sister tense, they start to survey their surroundings, wondering what threat their leader had detected.
Tanya slowly stands to her feet, turning around. She slowly walks over to the two curious blondes, eyes glued to the small child in her arms, venom tears pooling in her eyes. As she gets closer, so does the scent, and once Kate and Irina look down, their world seems to freeze, and all the three vampires can focus on for what seems like an eternity are the small brown orbs staring back at them.
"We've finally found her," Irina whispers, awestruck by the small child. "We need to head back, s-she... we need to get her cleaned up and then get her some food," Kate rushes out, panic lacing her tone as she stares at their unmoving sister. "Yes, let's go home." Tanya finally chokes out, and a small smile makes its way to her face as she carefully secures the child before the three take off for home.
As they run, Tanya can't help but feel grateful that they found the little girl when they did. She dreads to think about what would have happened if they hadn't stumbled upon her in the woods.