: The hand of fate

"How could I have been so stupid?..." I stated under my breath weakly as my world began to blacken. I could feel the blood trickling down between my breast from the wound as my heart began to slow. As quickly as this sensations began was as quickly as the cold of nothing took over. I just felt cold.( Im I dying ?..is this the end ..?)

The last of my life slowly seeped from my limps as I thought about giving in to the darkness and how it would be much easier then continuing to fight and choke on my own blood , I sensed her ....

~24 hours Earlier~

I am the youngest person in my pack to have ever shifted, even younger then when my father did;Then again , nothing less was expected from the daughter of the Alpha King. I was only fifteen when I shifted for the first time. Although most Therianthropes species don't shift until they are at least eightteen, i like most lycans proved that wasnt the case for us.

Standing near a small pond after the bones in my body cracked, twisted, and realigned painfully into place, I was now once again staring at a creature beautifully foreign to me.

While I was staring at this beautiful black wolf waiting for it to speak to me with some revelation like mufasa did with Sumba in the lion king,My father slung the bag that held our cloths over a near by tree branch and carefully shifted out of my sight only returning once he was in his wolf form.

(( Are you ready Ayanna ?)) His voice invaded my mind as he spoke to me through the pack's mind link.

I looked up at him then back at the reflection in the pool of water in front of me. I am large for a female lycan and twice as big in this form as any female werewolf. My paws are still to big for body as I am technically still a pup, but i already stood half of the height of my father when he was changed and He was proud of this fact. My fur is black as midnight and shines as the wind blows through it reflecting the star light back to the moon just like my fathers .My eyes were golden like amber jewels or coals heated to their limit , my father told me they reminded him of my mothers when she shifted as his eyes shined silver not gold.

(( Come now my daughter .....)) My father took a large stride forward in his wolf form to come stand at my side. He was a huge man in human form,towering a good 6'3 and an even larger wolf, Between this and the alpha aura that radiated off of him it was no shock that he was the alpha king.

I now stood still the anxiety hitting me in the gut like a dull blade.Looking up at my father i could see the look of confusion cross his face as he sat next to me looking more like a huge black bear then a wolf.

(( what is wrong pup ?)) his blue eyes pieced through to my soul.

I stamped my feet and then adjust my tail trying to hold back the tears i felt clinging to the edge of my eyes

(( this isn't supposed to be me .... ))

I could hear the waver in my own voice and it made me cringe as I never liked it when i felt weak.

((what do you mean youngling ?..)) He was still calmly sitting next to me staring into the same pool of water I was as if he was expecting to see someone else in it.

I stared back at the pool of water and whimpered. I knew i wasn't ment to be the heir of my clan .It should have been my older twin brother Alex who died two day before our sixth birthday from an unforeseen illness that we both had gotten as pups.

I knew that if it would have been Alex named heir my father wouldnt have had any problems,no proof that his son deserved it would have been necessary. Every time this thought crossed my mind I tried to tell myself that there was no doubt that it was destiny that lead me here to this point in my life.

It still hurt me to know that this whole ceremony wasn't to celebrate that i had been named heir but was to comfort the clans into believing i deserved it.

Each alpha of the six clans who had a son of age, offered them up as tribute to be chosen in my place . All of them stated that a women alpha would make the clans weak,especially one who trying to be not only alpha but queen of all the clans this was a mind blowing decision on my fathers part , since no such thing had ever been aloud.

The other alphas were quick to remind my dad that women no matter what type of Therianthrope could only reach the rank of Luna and this in its self was an honor.I couldn't stand to hear this sexist nonsense.

Realizing I was lost in my own world my father nuzzled into my face and licked the side of my head,Trying his best to get my attention

(( come on now speak to me I want to know how you feel ))

I looked at him worried he could see the growing fear in my eyes and then back at the water , chuckling in my head when I saw my hair on the side he licked was now soaked and sticking out like I had been electrocuted by his enormous tongue.

(( ...this should have been Alex father ... then you wouldn't need to prove anything to those other alphas and definitely wouldn't have to claim me as heir or hear how weak I will make our clan )) I stated as I took my paw and quickly maneuvered my hair back into place.

My Father was clearly taken aback by my comment as he let out a low ,agitated growl.His alpha aura radiating off of him making me nervously whine in my head,I hated it when i angered him even though his aura didn't affect me and i knew he would never hurt me his anger always struck a cord deep in me.

(( the moon goddess saw it fit to take my only son as well as my wife leaving me with a strong beautiful daughter,who just so happened to survived the same sickness that took them ...))

This brought me great pain ,I was young but even I knew that he never talk about them ,especially about my mother ,she was his fated mate.He had told me once that it was rare to find your fated mate and then a wolf only bonds once if the bond isn't rejected ,never to mate again with another because the mate pull shows you who the goddess made just for you. He always end the conversation by saying fated mates are like two halves of the same soul and those who are rejected or lose their fated mates turn feral most the time . This always made me curious because my father never showed any sign of losing his mind and going feral , though many said it was because he promised my mother to watch over me .

I knew he did the best he could but raising a six year old girl with out a womanly figure other then his delta Sheila was rough.Sheila was a lead hunter in our pack which meant I rarely got any motherly attention, she treated me more like an alpha in training or a warrior then a little girl or princess. I always told myself that this is because I was the last heir of the royal blood line and they want me to be prepared for anything, but most the time I felt as if she saw me as a burden to my father.

His voice startled me back to reality as he continued talking interrupting my thoughts ((.....I take this as a sign that it is the goddess's wish for me to have a female heir . Ayanna it is just as much your birth right as it was his ))

He lowered his eyes to meet mine with a sense of knowing,sending a chill through my body (( you are strong my daughter..I know you will lead the clan of the waning moon with the heart of your mother and my strength,do not falter and believe the old ways pup,trust your wolf she is strong and have faith that the moon goddess guides us... even you with her choices ...I stand by that choice. You can do this pup, I have trained you as a alpha every day since your mother and brother passed .. Now come we don't want to be late ....)) with that he stood up and began to leisurely walk a way.

I took one last look at myself and sighed ( come on Ayanna he is right we our strong and we will show them what it is to be a royal blooded lycan) Xyon chimed in quickly as she felt me begin to second guess myself.

I knew that she was right ,at least some what. I believed we would give it our all and if anything i knew i could count on her strength as well as her speed to get through this hunt alive.

Listening to the howls In the distance, Xyon knew we couldn't put the ceremony off any longer (( come on Ayanna move those feet or I will)) then without giving me a chance,she forced our feet to move in the direction of my father,quickly trotting off to catch up with him.

The meeting place for all packs was in a beautiful valley along the border of the forgotten forest . This was the supposed birthplace of the first Lycan, the first pure bred of our kind and my ancestor or at least this is what my father and the other elders always said. They also stated that for this exact reason it was dubbed neutral and all trials or meetings where held here.

I could see a large crowd of wolves and people in human form who I could only assume just didn't want to change for the ceremony ,chatting among themselves around the standing rock in the middle of the open field.

Closely I followed my father as he walked proudly up the stone and let out a earth shaking howl to silence the chatter of the crowd.

(( We have come here to the birthplace of Lycans,under this glorious moon to recognize and acknowledge my heir my daughter Ayanna.....)) I could hear the growls and whispers, as he voiced aloud to still name me heir.

Xyon forced us to take a step back instinctively to show respect as he let out another booming roar. (( Any who opposes my decision step forward and name the one you believe is more deserving to be my heir as king over all and alpha over the waning moon clan be they lycan or werewolf all challenges will be acknowledged )) just like that two alphas stepped forward, i could count three young males in wolf form standing next to them.

Alpha Garret of the waxing moon clan which was a werewolf clan and long time friend of my father spoke for his clan as well as the others that stood with him. (( respectively your grace we believe your daughter would be more suited to be a Luna not alpha this is unheard of ...)) Xyon tensed at this insult and as I tied to calm her and keep her from speaking her mind, my father let out a growl that told the alpha he was beginning to cross a line,almost as if my father could smell the anger rising off of me .

Alpha garret looked down quickly he knew my father was still king as well as a lycan and he knew not to challenge him. (( ... but we have heirs to offer you in her stead my king and when your daughter comes of age she may prove to be a great Luna once she finds her mate we do not doubt this or refuse her right to this ....)) Xyon and I let out a low growl uncontrollably attempting to remind these alphas that we were still present and that we didn't appreciate being spoken about like an object.

My father look at me with amusement then back at the others as they cringed and look away from me due to my small sign of aggression and letting my aura slip.(( your challenge has been acknowledged by both me and my eager daughter ,I have chosen her to be alpha as well as heir to my throne and have raised her as such , I have not raised her to be a chip to be pawned as a Luna please remember this . I would also remind you garret not to speak about my child like she is just a random she wolf because we all know she is not ....now what are the names of her challengers ?))

It was quite funny watching my father brush off the arrogance of the other alpha and take joy in Xyon's reaction to alpha garret's comment. No alpha liked to feel weak especially not because of a female , but I couldn't help it Xyon felt she need to remind them what clan We come from, After all we are decedents of the man who brought the clans; both werewolf and lycan together in peace under our clans rule , this took prowess and cunning and that's not mentioning that we are from the only clan of lycans left.

I also took Joy in knowing why these alphas cringed at just my aura even though I was a she wolf I was royalty and not to mention Lycans are like dire wolves to werewolves,who are like coyotes in comparison a much smaller less pure wolf and they new to be Afraid of this even if I was just a pup.

Garret took another cautious step toward my father and began speaking again as he paced seamlessly trying to calm himself after having been forced to submit even slightly by a girl (( We have three challengers my king ... first my son Alfredo from the waxing moon clan,Second Tradiius son of alpha Dramos from the silver fang clan who has already taken his fathers place as alpha and last but not least Mikeal son of Samson alpha of the Riding dawn clan any of these boys taken as your heir would strengthen your clan and their own clans my lord ))

I knew each of these boys that now stood to take my spot.Each where already making a name for themselves not to mention they were much older then me and had their wolfs a lot longer then I had Xyon.

I felt betrayel wash over me as I stared down at the Dark brown muscular wolf that was Alfredo. He was four years older then me but we were raised practically together as our fathers were the best of friends. I consider him to be like an older brother to me until he got his wolf Tantalus and all that changed. Now as if to stab me in the back,he stood in front of me trying to take a birth right of mine that I wasn't even sure I wanted.

Slowly I let my eyes drift to the other competition focusing on each one as to learn their scent. Tradiius stood in his red wolf form now staring at me like I was some kind of lunch-able.Tradiius was eighteen and already known for his wolf Zerkus's temper and viciousness, not to mention he was already alpha of his clan after defeating his father in combat.Then there was mikeal with his off yellow wolf, who was the third and youngest child of his father's. Mikeal stood still observing the alpha's conversation around him, he was nineteen and his wolf Velco was known to be brutally intelligent, though he never once looked in my direction as if not to even acknowledge my existence , which made Xyon angry because this is how most male werewolves or male lycans treated females.

(( Fine .... )) my fathers voice broke my concentration (( these three males shall compete in the hunting ceremony against my chosen heir... which ever returns from the forbidden forest with the white stag of the moon goddess shall be named my heir by the will of the moon goddess and no clan or wolf shall deny them their rightful place as such ))

He looked at me with a flash of worry then he lifted his head to let out a final howl that echo through the valley,slowly each alpha of the Six clans joined him one by one in unison to acknowledge the end of the clans meeting.

(( will my chosen and the challengers please stand at the edge of the forgotten forest everyone else please return to your pack houses and. Regular duties .tomorrow if the goddess wills it we will announce the winner and my rightful heir))

Everyone began to leave and go there separate ways. I made my way to the forest line behind the three big males that threatened my place . (( we got this ..)) stated Xyon to calm my nerves I could feel she to was worried not that she would let me know it. My father trailed behind us speaking in a pack link to the other two alphas that stayed behind to send us on our way.

As everyone reached the edge of the forest my heart began to race.(( this is it ....) I thought as I tried to ground myself in the moment,I could feel the grass under my paws and Xyon pacing in my head resisting the urge to take over . ( ( are you sure you want to be in control Ayanna after all you can leave it up to me and just sit back you know i have a small advantage anyway)) Xyon purred at me her senses kicking mine into over drive as the smell of the forest around us hit our nose.

She was right, we did have the advantage,the night I first shifted and she took over she ran straight for this very forest. I woke up the next morning lost deep in the forest bowels close to some old ruins and had to use my sense of smell to find my way out . It was forbidden to enter the forest with out permission ,so when I finally arrived home covered in mud and twigs I just didn't tell my father where I had awoken.... he was so proud that day I didn't even have to tell him anything he could smell my scent changed I remembered him hugging me with such pride and excitement filled him that he never once did stop to ask me where I had been.

(( no Xyon just stay on your toes in case I need you to take over. I want ... no I need to try to do this not only for my father but to prove my place to myself))

(( awe I'm so proud)) she sighed sarcastically ((...look at you all brave all of a sudden .....ok I'll be waiting but if I need to I'll take over and get us both out of there with or without your permission )) Xyon stretched with a yawn then curled up in a ball in the back of my mind , allowing me to be in control of our animal self.

Everyone was silent with anticipation , my father was just standing there staring at us, one at a time as if he was the one who was prepping to go on the hunt and then he spoke

(( Two hours before the ceremony we alphas of the six clans let the white stag of the moon goddess go... this stag is your goal and already has a two hour head start.... be weary and respectful of this forest younglings it holds tells, wonders and dangers of a time long past that you could not comprehend.... the first to bring me back the stag is my heir ...May you all return safe and may the goddess bless me with an heir ...with my howl may the hunt begin ))

Then my dad let out a thundering howl ...I didn't hesitate instead i took off as fast as my lycan legs would take me , I knew that I had to get ahead of my competition or their scent would mask the smell of the real prey.

On my heels was Tradiius I could hear the snap of the branches under his paws as he began to gain on me.

Right as he reached my left side he went to take me down throwing his whole body weight at me .Bracing for the impact I swiftly changed direction, causing him to lose balance and flip over himself with a yelp.

I was amazed at myself but my joy was quickly taken as Mikeal ran past me clearly not focused on me but the smells of the forest .His intention unlike Tradiius Wasn't to waste time on me but get to the deer first.

Tradiius got to his feet and was still on my tail (( what is with this guy ! He knows he is hunting the deer and not me right ?)) I thought to Xyon who rolled her eyes at me in response. Tradiius once again lunged at me ,his teeth snarled back to go for the back of my neck.

Right as I felt his teeth graze me ,I saw Alfredo running full force at the big red wolf who was now trying to forcefully pin me to the ground. Alfredo slammed into Tradiius side making him let go of my neck and topple over from the freight train that just hit his side.

(( go Ayanna, run !! .... )) Alfredo growled his eyes never leaving Tradiius as both males now stood circling around me in a stand off..

(( Alfredo ?.....wha—)) he cut me off before I could say another word to him (( Dammit princess !!! run !!! he isn't here for the deer that fucker is here for you ...he wants to take you by force , he knows even if he were to lose he can still make his clan strong you are still a lycan and can produce pups that are of royal blood !)) (( mind your own business Alfredo)) Tradiius snarled at him (( she is an un mated she wolf and what I do is my business you brown nosing lycan lover ))

Alfredo protectively snapped at tradiius when he tried to take a step towards me . (( Come on you bastard i dare you .... she is still a pup and I fucking dare you to attack the royal family with me present ....)) Alfredo snapped all his teeth where now beared at Tradiius ((...I know what you're really here for my father made me join this hunt even though I didn't want to just for this reason ....I won't let you won't dishonor this hunt or her clan or the moon goddess in this manner .. Run Ayanna !!! run now ! get the deer!!! ))

Without a second hesitation I did just as he told me I ran, Just as I went to stride past the two Tradiius went to stop me only to be tackled again by Alfredo.

I could see the two begin to fight , their large wolf forms clashing against one another as the smell of blood filled the air. Quickly I disappeared back into the forest after mikeal with the howls of the fighting males behind me.

Mikeal was cunning alright. He had already picked up the scent of the stag and was leaving us behind to go farther into the forest after it or so I thought .....

After I ran a few more miles into the Forest I caught up to Mikeal's scent and the copper smell of blood in-tangled with it. The smell grew stronger as I came upon a large oak tree and I froze horrified at what I saw ...there lay mikeal.

He was naked ,his blonde hair now orange from the blood that he was covered in.His human form was covered with multiple wounds and he had a arrow with strange markings sticking out of his throat,blood was pouring from his mouth. His gray eyes held a lifeless look of horror.

I couldn't help it,I took a step away from his body and vomitted. Even though I was a lycan and had seen a dead Werewolf before , I was still a child and the scene made my stomach turn uncontrollably.

(( What is going on something isn't right....)) Xyon growl her hackles raise she was now on full alert (( do you smell that Ayanna ? ))

I did my best to tear my eyes away from the terrifying scene of Mikeal's body and focus my attention to my surroundings.

(( is that smoke Xyon ? ....)) the smell came from deep in the forest were the ancient ruins lay.

(( Are we under attack ? We need to see were the smoke is coming from Ayanna and warn our pack ))

(( I don't know Xyon .... what could have done that to mikeal ? I mean he was forced out of wolf form and murdered ))

(( Ayanna we are in these wood to prove ourselves are we not ? ... our pack is in danger we need to see who is attacking and warn them now !!))

The anxiety in her voice made me realize she was right.if I was to be alpha queen I couldn't run from danger. I took another look at mikeal's body and then ran off towards the smell of smoke.

Running as fast as my wolf form would carry me , I came upon the edge of a large clearing past the old forgotten ruins of the long dead and abandoned city.

In the middle of the clearing stood what looked like a solitary entrance of a mine the metal door swung off of its hinges . Flames bellowed from down in its depths,screams echoed out and quickened the beating of my heart. This wasn't a scream of just one person in pain, no it sounded like a village was under attack with no village to be seen just a entrance to a old mine on fire. The darkened sky was only lit now by the flickering of the flames That's rose up to meet it.

Emerging for the flames came what looked like a undead army in dark black armor dragging behind them women and children in chains. all of them had silver collars around their necks that had the same symbols as the arrow that stuck out of Mikeal's neck. some were wounded,others crying and screaming.

I had seen enough. I knew I need to report this to my father but just as I was going to turn and run back the way I came , I saw a small group of those same soldiers emerge from the forest line not two feet from me.Behind them in silver chains that were symbol covered was a wounded and now very human looking Tradiius.

(( Tradiius ? ..... where is Alfredo? Xyon Do you see him ?! Can you sense him at all ? ))

My fear finally took completely over as she howled (( RUN !!!)) as loud as she could in my head. My feet felt as if they were no longer there but I pushed them to run as hard as I could.

As I rounded the old ruins I felt like a lighting bolt struck my body and it took the wind out of me. Looking down I saw what looked like as hand carved spear with the old looking symbols that seemed to glow sticking out of my chest.

Forcefully I felt my bones and body break as I began to shift back against my will to my human form , this massive undead looking creature now towering over me.

" Vich lycan oldnus. ? " it's spoke to another undead soldier in a voice that sounded harsh to even my human ears . I could see the dead skin around it's mouth peel back to show a sickly smile,As the other soldier glanced down at me, it's eyes were just blue glowing orbs in darkened and rotten sockets.

" Etu vita vich lycan crests" the creature responded without taking its orbs off of my naked,frail and bleeding body.

The soldier that was once smiling seemed to get upset then yank the spear harshly from my body leaving a gaping,gushing hole in my chest. Then the creatures left me. They just left me to die they didn't even have the decency to put me out of my misery... soon enough the embers behind me began to faded

(( .... we have to get up .... why aren't we healing I don't understand ....)) I tried to get Xyon to answer me as I drug my body to lay against the rubble behind me but heard no response I felt like the connection between us had be broken .....I held the hole in my chest trying with all my might to hold onto my consciousness... looking over to the right of were I now lay I saw the white stag. It was laying not but a foot from my dying body was leaning and I couldn't help but chuckle which caused me to cough on the blood now filling my lungs ....the screams fading in the back ground and I felt the world begin to go silent.

"How could we have been so stupid?..." I stated to my wolf weakly as our world began to blacken. I could feel the blood trickling down from the wound in between my breast as my heart began to slow. As quickly as this sensation of pain and panic began was as quickly as the cold of nothing took over. I just felt cold ( are we Dying ?... is this it ..Xyon ?) I tried to ask my wolf threw our bond but once again got no answer.

I felt as the last of my strength begin to slip from me , and right as I was going to give In to the loneliness and the hollow pain I sensed her .... I brought my blurry eyes to focus behind the deer and there hiding in a hollow log was a girl.

Her eyes were a vibrant lavender like lilacs in spring and her long hair was so golden that it looked white or maybe it was white I couldn't tell but as her eyes locked on to me I felt Xyon stir for the first time since the spear pierced us .

The girls sun-kissed skin was covered in mud and soot as she crept to my side. She had some kind of runic words in a language I didn't know tattooed on her face starting above her right eye brow and streakin down through her eye to end on her right cheek, these same marks were on her biceps and wrapped around them like a tribal tattoo .

I felt Xyon begin to weakly try to bring her self to the front of my mind as this girl took my blood covered hand. Her intoxicating eyes drifting from my face to the wound in my chest and back to my face making me forget the pain i felt . I noticed that her ears were perfectly pointed like that of an elf and I noticed she was wearing deer skin clothing unlike the modern cloths that I wore. she had what look like a Fox tail coming from her back and her canines were slightly enlongated like some one who was half shifted into their wolf state. Even on the brink of death all I could think was how godly she looked....as the darkness took over me the last thing I remembered was Xyon weakly growling (( ....Mine ...))