A House Full of Wolves

Eila stretched her arms as she sat beneath her favourite tree, the old oak near the riverbank. The warm summer breeze carried the scents of the forest—fresh earth, wildflowers, and the distant scent of her family's home. She closed her eyes, listening to the rustling leaves and the faint laughter of her younger siblings in the distance. Soon, she would be sixteen, nearly an adult in the eyes of their pack, and yet she still felt like the same girl who used to chase fireflies at night.

But time never waited for anyone, and neither did her ever-growing family.

Eila had a total of eight siblings. Michael, fourteen, was the eldest after her. He had inherited their father's strong build and quiet nature, always the responsible one, always watching out for the younger ones. At thirteen, Meera was much the same—steady, dependable, and mature beyond her years. She had taken over many of their mother's household duties, ensuring everything ran smoothly when Celena was busy.

Then came the triplets—Drake, Drew, and Daria, twelve years old and a force of chaos wrapped in three mischievous bodies. If there was trouble to be found, the triplets were already in the middle of it. Drake and Drew were inseparable, constantly pushing each other into reckless adventures, whether it was climbing the highest trees or sneaking into the village to listen to the warriors' stories. Daria, however, was different. Unlike most girls her age, she cared little for cooking or embroidery. She was obsessed with fighting, archery, and combat training. Her dream was to become a warrior, a dream that their father had reluctantly started to support after she managed to take down a full-grown man in a practice fight.

The ten-year-old twins, Emma and Erik, were much more sensible. They had begun helping around the house just like Michael and Meera had at their age, fetching water, cleaning, and assisting with small tasks without being asked. They were responsible, and calm, and rarely got involved in the triplets' antics.

And then there were the youngest—Jean and Jake, five years old this year. Unlike the rest of the family, who were loud and energetic, these two were quiet, observant, and unnervingly intelligent. They were already reading books far beyond their age, quoting great scholars, and sometimes speaking in riddles that even their mother had trouble understanding. Celena was certain they would be chosen for Moonshine School, the most prestigious place of learning in the werewolf world, and later go on to Moonshine University to become scholars. Most of their older siblings avoided deep conversations with them, afraid of being outwitted.

Eila loved them all fiercely, but with a family, this large, peace was a rare thing.

A Day of Chaos

The peaceful afternoon shattered with a loud shriek from the direction of the house.

Eila groaned, pushing herself up and running toward the commotion. As she reached the clearing, she found Drake and Drew running for their lives, their shirts covered in bright purple splotches. Behind them, a furious Meera stood with her hands on her hips, her face red with anger.

"You little devils!" Meera snapped. "Do you know how long it took me to dye that fabric?"

Drake skidded to a stop behind Eila, panting. "It was an accident! Honest!"

Drew, however, was still grinning. "How were we supposed to know the dye would explode like that?"

Eila sighed. "What did you two do this time?"

"Nothing! We were just helping," Drake said, then ducked as Meera threw a wooden spoon at him.

"You were not helping!" she yelled. "You knocked the entire dye pot over my new fabric. The one I was making for the festival!"

Eila winced. The village's summer festival was only a few weeks away, and Meera had been working hard on a special dress. "You two better fix this before Mother finds out," she warned.

At that moment, Daria strolled in, carrying her bow—nearly as tall as she was—over one shoulder. "Are they in trouble again?" she asked, amused.

Drake and Drew immediately turned on her.

"It was your idea to use magic and arrows and see what breaks the pot of dye first!" Drake shouted.

Daria's eyes widened. Then, realizing she had just been sold out, she turned on her heel and ran before Meera could grab her.

"When are they not in trouble?" Michael muttered as he arrived, shaking his head.

Before Meera could continue her scolding, a small voice interrupted them.

"Technically, the blame is not entirely on them," Jean spoke, walking hand in hand with Jake toward the group. The five-year-olds had the kind of calm, serious expressions that made them seem far older than they were.

Jake nodded. "It was bound to happen eventually. The probability of them making a mess was significantly high. Meera should have accounted for that and stored the dye in a safer place."

There was a stunned silence.

Michael sighed. "And this is why we don't argue with you two."

"Because we're right?" Jean asked innocently.

"Because you make our heads hurt," Drew muttered.

A Mother's Watchful Eye

Just as the argument was about to start again, a firm voice called from the doorway.

"What is going on here?"

All nine siblings turned to see Celena, their mother, standing at the entrance of their home, arms crossed, watching them all with a knowing look.

Celena was not a woman to be easily fooled. She had grown up as the daughter of an Alpha, trained in discipline and leadership, and even though life had humbled her, she still carried the presence of a leader.

Drake, Drew, and Daria all pointed at each other immediately. "It was their fault!"

Eila sighed. "It was the triplets."

Meera huffed. "They ruined my dye pot!"

Celena pressed her fingers against her temples, looking as though she were regretting ever having so many children. "You three will fix whatever damage you've done," she said, directing a sharp look at the triplets. "And you will do extra chores for the next two weeks."

The three groaned in unison.

"And as for the rest of you," she continued, "stop bickering like pups. We are family, not enemies."

They all lowered their heads in submission, murmuring in agreement.

Celena exhaled tiredly, then turned to Eila. "Come with me. There's something we need to talk about."

A Conversation in the Moonlight

Later that night, after all the chaos had settled, Eila sat with her mother outside, watching the moon rise over the treetops.

Celena studied her daughter for a long moment before speaking. "You'll be sixteen soon."

Eila nodded. "I know."

"You'll come of age, and that means changes."

Eila frowned. "You mean finding a mate?"

Celena hesitated before nodding. "Yes. And… something more."

Eila glanced at her mother. "What do you mean?"

Celena sighed. "You are different, Eila. You always have been. And soon, the world will see it too."

A chill ran down Eila's spine. She had always known she wasn't like the others. But what did her mother mean by 'the world will see it too'?

She looked up at the moon, feeling that familiar sensation—that something, or someone, was watching her from above.

And for the first time, she wasn't sure if that was a good thing.