Prologue

Seven months…
Ten days…
Twenty-two hours…
I’m not desperate enough to count the minutes… but I might be if I don’t get a response from someone soon.

January was the month that left me scared, scarred, and alone. It started out peacefully, as most days did for me. I was tending to the gardens, making sure all my babies were healthy and happy. I watered them, fertilized them, sprayed them, sang them songs…I even told them my deepest secrets. I dedicated most of my time to nature as an upcoming pack healer, potions master, and poison specialist. I studied under the best of the best. Lydia Waters, the oldest, wisest, and most intelligent woman I knew… Person I knew. She was with the pack from day one of its founding; the original Earth Iweh. The title given to those who specialize in all the professions I mentioned earlier.

There were other Iwehs in the pack who had learnt from her. They were amazing as well, but growing up, I knew that I wanted to learn everything from the original source. It’s not that I didn’t trust the knowledge of others, I just knew that no one would be able to teach like she could. So, in order to prove myself and earn her favor, I studied hard as a child. I read all the plant books from our libraries, asked in-depth questions during foraging observations, volunteered to help care for the gardens… Once I graduated from high school at the age of 17, I was more knowledgeable than the rest and impressed Iweh Waters so much that she formally invited me to the private Garden as my personal instructor.

From that day forward, I blossomed bigger and brighter than before, and Iweh Waters became like a second mother to me. I soaked up every bit of knowledge and wrote every important detail down, even if to others it may have seemed pointless. Because of my passion and drive, within a year of interning, I was pushed to the title of Lo-Iweh. The youngest in the history of the pack, younger than Iweh Waters when she started. All I had to do to earn the title Iweh was to take a final test; it was composed of healing hurt and wounded members of the pack with personally crafted potions and salves, and creating poisons and antidotes.

The only catch was that I couldn’t use plants from the Garden; I had to go out and forage them myself.

So, on the day of my final, I headed out at sunrise to find all the items on my list; it was overkill, but I wanted to start as early as possible in case of any hiccups. What if someone wanted to sabotage me, or what if, for some reason, I couldn’t find the plants I needed? Some of these guys were pretty hard to find and had tricky look-alikes. One had to be careful and very thorough.

To prove my point, I ended up spending hours trying to find three very important mushrooms vital to my poisons. One patch was partially eaten, probably by the Rose frogs, but thankfully, I was able to scavenge just enough.

By noon, I was done and headed back to the Garden Center to start a fun and hectic day of concoctions. As I neared the pack grounds, I noticed the shrubs and bushes in the distance were broken and uprooted, some lying in the path they normally bordered. Once I was close enough to touch them, a red trail began to appear on the stony path beneath me that led all the way to what I now noticed was a broken-down gate. Our broken-down gate.

Panic set in immediately, and I ran as fast as I could towards it. I really wished I hadn’t though, because the moment I stepped foot onto our territory, I stopped dead in my tracks, the horrendous sight in the distance turning my body to stone. There were wolves ripping each other to shreds, but we weren’t fighting against our own…this was another pack, one I was not familiar with. These wolves were giant white ones, with a red, jagged line running down their spines and the length of their tails. Their coat was short and pointy, and all their teeth were razor sharp. As I stood there unable to look away, one of the bigger ones stopped mauling an already dead body and raised its nose to the sky. They began sniffing and soon after turned in my direction, locking eyes with me. Without even a second to think, it came charging at me, and that was enough to break Medusa’s curse. I dropped my basket, morphed into my wolf, and charged in the direction I came from.

I’m a small wolf, the smallest in my pack, so trying to fight my pursuer would be a death sentence. However, my small frame gave me superior speed and agility. So, while I could not win in combat, I had a much easier time navigating the woods, choosing the trickier routes to slow the big wolf down and eventually causing it to growl in frustration and give up. Losing it was top priority and had saved my life.

After running for a few more miles, I slowed down by the riverside to catch my breath, my adrenaline rush about done. It was at this point that my body realized I was no longer in danger, and I broke into a million pieces. I returned to my human form, naked as the day of birth, and sobbed heavily as I sank further into the river. I felt so guilty running away from my pack; a wolf doesn’t do that, but what choice did I have? I wasn’t a warrior, so I’d contribute nothing to our victory. I’d just be another body count for those wicked beasts to brag about. The best I could do was wait it out and return at a safer point to see the status. I prayed that my people would be the victors; only time would tell.

The rest of that day was spent crying every now and then and searching for herbs that would help on my return. I had no clothing, so I navigated nude, but for a wolf-shifter, that’s not abnormal. One would simply assume exactly what most cases are: you morphed without backup clothing. I found what I could though, and by the end of the day, I had woven tall grass into simple cover-ups. The ground was not safe, so at nightfall I found a tree with a thick crown, climbed to a sturdy branch up high, and used a few vines I had woven together to secure myself.

When morning came, I was up at the break of dawn. I covered myself in the masking paste I had made the day prior, then morphed into wolf form once more and headed back to pack grounds. My arrival this time was quiet and cautious. I returned to my human form once I was there and avoided stepping on anything that would make a sound. I’m a naturally small girl, so that worked out for me, too. Able to slip into small spaces when needed.

A few disfigured bodies of my people and our attackers were scattered throughout the grounds, and there was no sign of life. So few people were left…our attackers probably ate bones and all. I began to break down once more, stifling my sobs just in case there was life…ones not on my side. I visited every inch of the place and found no one, but there was a disturbing message left behind in the auditorium. The Alpha’s dismembered head was hanging from the ceiling by a rope, with the word ‘Weak’ carved into his forehead. It was a horrific sight, and I almost threw up, running out of the place to calm myself. Even though that experience was awful, the thing that hurt the most was that no matter how hard I searched afterwards, I could not find the body of my father. He was the only parent I had left, and I couldn’t even say goodbye to him. Couldn’t give him a proper wolf burial; reunite him with mom. It filled me with anger, and my grief only intensified. I was truly alone…a part of me wanted to have hope that he escaped. However, after observing the fight yesterday, something about the cannibalistic nature of those beasts hinted at the real reason.

The only good thing about that day was that those demons had left. They had not come to take our land and people; they didn’t care to expand. They just wanted to feast and torture; some wolf-shifters are that way. They are not the majority, but their existence is quite problematic…sadly, they are quite strong.

After quickly mourning the verified loss of my dad and the entire pack, I pulled myself together and forced myself to do the only thing I could. I got dressed and packed all I could into my Wolfpack. This is a spacious bag made of special, stretchy plant fibers. When morphing from human to wolf form, instead of breaking, the straps simply elongate, and the pack sits on our back. Simply put, a backpack for wolves.

I fit a few articles of clothing, toiletries, and small items of sentimental value: my dad’s watch and wolf-fang chain, a family photo, and my mother’s favorite hair tie, with a beautiful opal stone adorning it. I grabbed another wolfpack, my dad’s, and headed over to the Iweh lab, where I grabbed as much as I could. I could not find Iweh Water’s body either, which deeply saddened me. Even in death, I would have loved to thank her for everything one last time. I also took a trip to the garden where I clipped a few of our rarest plants.

Once that was done, I returned to the path where I had dropped my basket the day before and was happy to see that the beasts had left it untouched. They must have headed off in another direction to terrorize yet another pack.

The gods be with them…the pack, of course.

I saved what I could from the scattered bits and, before leaving, looked back at my destroyed home. A home that was no more. The floodgates opened yet again, and my vision blurred with tears. No more morning hugs and kisses from dad. No more seeing that proud look on his face when I tell him about my achievements. No more community story nights. No more Iweh Waters.

The Kymah Pack was no more….

So now, seven months…

Ten days…

Twenty-two hours later…

I’m standing at the entrance of what is to be my temporary home, waiting for Talia to return with the hope I need.

Who is Talia, you ask?

Each remote pack is visited by a flight-shifter. Just as my shift animal is a wolf, there are other variations. Talia is a Hawk shifter, a messenger Hawk. The popular mailwoman of my world. After leaving the pack grounds, I had no hope of ever finding a new pack. I had planned to try and survive on my own. I would find a way…I needed no one. I had found a safe and hidden cave, north of the river and made it into my home. One day, when I was out searching for cotton-pod plants, I used them for bedding and warmth, I heard a loud screech in the sky.

I looked up towards the sound, shielding my eyes from the bright sun as a small figure came diving my way. As it got closer, it became bigger, and I backed away just in time for a woman to fall from the sky, landing on all fours. Her long, dark brown hair hid her naked body. She immediately jumped up, and when I saw it was Talia, tears flowing down her cheeks, we rushed towards each other and hugged for a very long time. She had returned a few times to the pack grounds in hopes that someone had survived, but when she saw no one, she figured that we all had died. The only reason she caught me with her birds’ eye view was because the cotton-pods were in fields, and she happened to be passing through that day. If I were hidden in the dense forest, shielded by the thick crowns, she would have passed me.

I took that opportunity and asked her to relay messages to as many packs as she knew, far and wide, who were able to take in a lonely wolf. Tell them my story, tell them my specialties…sell me. As much as I had convinced myself that I could make it on my own, I knew that at some point in time, I would come to the realization that I needed a pack. A small wolf was weak compared to others of its kind. A small wolf did not have the build of a warrior; they were meant for internal duties. I would need the protection of a pack if I wanted to live without fear. Now that I had hope…I stopped lying to myself.

I waited months for a response, but each time Talia came back, it was letdown after letdown. We’re currently still in the birthing season, so most packs are unlikely to take in a newcomer. I know I have a very low chance of finding a pack right now, but I have to try. And Talia is doing her absolute best, traveling distances that wear her out, all because she wants me to be okay. To be safe. She’s offered a few times to take me to her flock, but so far I’ve declined. If she absolutely can’t find me a new pack, as a desperate wolf, I’ll have no choice but to take her up on that offer. It’s not that I have anything against birds; obviously, it’s just that I’m a wolf and my needs and lifestyle are very different. Also, what if her people aren’t as welcoming as she is? It’s so much to think about.

She hasn’t been back in a month, and each day I wait for her, hoping to hear that screech. I also hope she’s okay and hasn’t fallen victim to those awful beasts, because I honestly don’t think they’re picky. A month seems like such a long time for her to be gone, though…she isn’t a long-distance bird as far as I know. I’m desperate though…I don’t want to be out here any longer. The sun has almost set. Normally, I seal the cave entrance midway through, but I’m waiting. I’m holding on just a little longer in hopes she’ll show up.

“Please, Talia,” I beg softly towards the sky. “Come on, show up today. I need you to show up today. The forest is too quiet, the food is getting scarce; I am not a hunter! I’m so scared out here…”

I watch for a bit longer, sighing as the sky remains clear. She’s not coming…my hope is hanging on by a single thread. How much longer will I have to wait out here? A small brown wolf waiting to be eaten… How much longer will I survive?

Shaking my head, I get to my feet and step inside, pulling the thick, heavy board in front of the entrance and fixing it in place with two big stones. The dim candlelight allows me to navigate the area, and I slowly make my way over to my cozy cotton bed in the corner.

Just as I take a seat, I hear a knock at the cave door, and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest. Talia? I take a whiff of the air, disappointed as an unfamiliar scent finds its way into my nose. Immediately, I panic and remain completely silent. I don’t know who is at my door, but with my odds, they’re probably an enemy.

“I was told a woman named Moon lives here,” a deep male voice says. “My name is Kyrie, and I have a message for you.”

How the hell does this man know my name? Okay, what is going on? Someone told him I live here. I specifically told Talia not to mention my whereabouts to anyone except Alphas of trusted packs, so how the hell does he have this information? I know for a fact that this man is not an Alpha. How? Because his scent is not wolf.

I hear a sigh as my continued silence prompts him to speak again.

“I know your friend, Talia. She is a friend of mine as well. She isn’t able to make it, so she sent me instead.”

Okay…he knows Talia. I don’t know though, it’s pretty freaking late. Couldn’t he have relayed her message earlier? Why wait till the night, when wicked acts are easier to execute?

“I get that you don’t trust me; after all, it is a little late for a messenger.” Okay, at this point, I’m certain this man is reading my mind because he seems to answer my questions each time I internally ask them. “I’m a messenger bird like Talia, and seeing as I have an important job, I have to delay messages based on importance; yours is the last on my list, so I’m dropping it off on my way back home. Can you please open this door so I can hand this to you?”

I walk closer to the door, taking a proper whiff of the man; I haven’t smelled many bird shifters in my life, so I’m using Talia as my basis for everything. Other than a generic bird scent, no clue how to explain it, I can’t tell exactly what he is. But he is a bird though…if anything, I can handle a bird. Small creatures by nature…if he’s evil, I’ll sink my teeth into his neck and snap it like a twig.

I take a deep breath as I mentally prepare myself for what may come. My shaky hands begin removing the giant stones, and I very carefully slide the board just an inch to peek out.

HOLY. FREAKING. MOTHER OF FEAR…

For a tiny creature by nature, this man is huge! A flipping giant! He’s taller than my damn cave door and half as wide. What breed of Hawk is this?!? Demon? Oh hell no.

As I rush to slide my door shut, he slips a hand in and shoves it aside like plywood. Without hesitation, I morph into wolf form, ready to attack; I don’t care if he is big, his bird has to be small, right? Definitely…

Completely unfazed by me baring my teeth, he steps inside and flings a white, opened envelope at my feet. He has to crouch a bit due to his incredible height.

“I’m a Grand Eagle kid, I can grab wolves three times your size with my talons. If I was a threat, I’d knock your door down with a fan of my wing and swoop you right out.”

My eyes widen for a moment, soon after averting to the ground as I lower my head in fear and embarrassment.

I morph back to human form, covering myself with a blanket before passing a smart remark.

“If you’re so strong, then why are you just a messenger?”

The giant man before me smirks. “Never said I was just a messenger, now did I? Most grand eagles are Aviation soldiers, for obvious reasons, as am I. But also, we are used as long-distance messengers because of stamina, speed, and the ability to carry hundreds of letters per trip; we have side pouches. Anyway, little wolf, I am a friend, not a foe, so calm down and take your letter.”

I nod, still fearful of him. I mean, if he’s telling the truth, to be in the presence of an army bird is still pretty intimidating.

“It’s open,” I complain, as I accept it. “Is part of your job invading people’s privacy?”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Not at all, but I believe Talia thinks it is.”

“She opened it?”

“Correct,” he nods, “I received it from her just like this; she was giddy like a child who was given tickets to Disneyland.”

“What is Disney…land?” Not really focused on his reply, I crease my brows together and remove what seems to be a ticket; a ticket and nothing else. I look to see if maybe there’s a note on the back, but nope. Nothing.

Out of nowhere, I hear a crinkle of paper. Confused, I look up, and to my surprise, eagle guy is in fact unfolding a piece of paper.

“Is that my letter?” I ask in disbelief.

“Yes…” he clears his throat nervously and continues to look at the paper. “Like I said, I didn’t snoop, but Talia did. Then she gave me the message to read to you for she believes it will add…dramatic effect.”

“Umm…o-okay?”

What?

He clears his throat and begins.
“Dear Ms. Fang, my name is Alpha Clementine, female Alpha of the Cloud pack. I have received a message from a friendly hawk that says you are in need of a new family. I am so very sorry to hear about your loss, but never mind, for I have good news. There are not very many births for us at this time, and we are always looking to expand, so I offer you a place here. A new start to build a bond with a new family. I have purchased a ticket for Blaze Express since we are quite far from the coordinates mentioned. I also hear your pack does not use money. I have placed directions to the station on the back of this letter. Remember, be careful not to be seen in wolf form when you near this place. It is A-shifter territory, so keep a low profile. Everyone is excited for your arrival, and I’ll give you a personal tour when you arrive.
Ps. One of the pack members will meet you at your final destination to take you the rest of the way, so don’t worry. Sleep well, little Lo-Iweh.”

I am so entrapped by the letter that I don’t quite remember moving closer to the eagle guy. All I know is there are happy tears streaming down my face, and I now stand naked with no care in the world.

“You wolves have an abnormal comfortability with nudity.” Eagle guy says, handing me the note and turning his back to me.

“You shift as well, so why don’t you?” I ask this, but really, I’m not interested in his response. My attention is clearly elsewhere.

“I shift multiple times a day; if my clothing were to tear each time, I’d have to carry quite a number of outfits. The uniform I wear is made of a material named Nano-Flex that repairs itself upon shifting back into human form. Perks of army tech. Anyway, congratulations on your new pack; it seems this won’t be the last time I see you. I deliver to the Cloud pack every now and then; they are good people, and their Alpha is wise and strong.”

“I have a pack…” I breathe, still in shock. “This is my last night in this stupid forest. No more constant fear and sleepless nights; I’ll have a home. Protection. A purpose again…”

I fall to the ground and sob heavily. Finally, a good cry fueled by nothing but gratefulness and joy. After waiting for so long, thinking no pack would be able to accept me, now I have an offer. Of course, I’m desperate, and I’ll take any that comes my way, but to have one with a female Alpha, who, according to bird-guy, is wise and kind…yes! A thousand thank-yous to the gods of odds!

I feel warmth take over, but it’s not from all these emotions, it’s from my blanket, which eagle-guy has shrouded me with.

“I must now go,” he says, walking towards the entrance. “Get dressed and head to bed, you have a long run and a long day ahead of you tomorrow. Oh, and I forgot to pass along Talia’s apology for being away for so long. Something urgent came up, but she apologizes for making you wait and worry. That is all-“

“Wait!” I call, quickly getting to my feet. “What’s your name?”

He turns to face me with a smirk and says, “I guess you were far too afraid to process it the first time, huh? It’s Kyrie.”

“Thank you, Kyrie, and please tell Talia I love and appreciate her and that I’m glad she’s okay. I’m sorry, but as a small wolf, I have to be cautious. I appreciate you taking this message all the way here. I wish I could give you something to show that appreciation.”

“Will do; but no worries, little wolf, I understand. Also, it’s my job to deliver, and you’re on my way back, remember? Anyway, lock up safely. I have to go, if I stay any longer, I’ll get back problems from all this crouching in your tiny cave. Goodbye for now, Ms. Fang.”

He sprints out of the entrance, and I run towards it. I watch in awe as large wings span from him as he glides upwards, fully transforming into a giant black eagle, with flecks of deep gold at the tip of his feathers. They flicker like golden embers from a black flame. Majestic. Guess he wasn’t lying.

Once he’s out of sight, I close the entrance once more and secure it. As I get dressed, I think about everything that I’ve been through these past seven months. It’s been hard, but thankfully, I’m lucky enough to have been raised by a man who taught me many survival skills just for the heck of it. Without this knowledge, I’d most likely have died during my first week. Oh, Dad, I miss you so much; this painful gap in my heart is going to be around for a long time. Even though things are hard, I’m gonna make it. I may not have become an Iweh for our pack, but I have another shot, so I’ll make you proud this time for sure. You no longer have to fret about your little girl, she’s gonna be okay. She won’t be alone.

Keep watch over me, will ya?