Rayne's POV:
As I ran through the woods, the familiar scent of pine and damp earth filled my nostrils. The full moon shone brightly overhead, casting a silvery light between the trees. My paws pounded against the forest floor, my wolf form moving effortlessly through the underbrush. I had always loved the sense of freedom and wildness that being in my wolf form brought me, but tonight, I was running with a purpose.
My human senses still lingered, keeping me aware of what was happening around me. I could hear the rustling of small creatures scurrying away from my path, and the distant howls of other wolves in the distance. But above all, I could feel the gentle forest wind, ruffling my fur and urging me forward.
As a werewolf, I had always been hesitant to fully embrace my wolf form, especially in the presence of others. But tonight, the need to get home quickly outweighed any hesitation I may have had. The moon was high in the sky and I knew that soon it would be dawn, and I would be transformed back to my human form.
The thought of being naked in the middle of the woods at dawn was enough to spur me on. I pushed my wolf form to its limits, my muscles straining and my heart beating rapidly. But despite my efforts, I could feel the moon's pull tugging at my body, slowly transforming me back into my human form.
Panic set in as I raced against time, trying to make it to the safety of my home before the transformation was complete. My paws turned back into hands, fur into skin, and before I knew it, I was running through the woods as a naked human.
But luck was on my side that night, as I burst through the trees and into the clearing where my home stood just as the sun began to rise. I collapsed onto the grass, panting and exhausted, but relieved that I had made it back in time. As I caught my breath, I couldn't help but let out a joyous howl, celebrating my victory over the fact that I had managed to get home with my dignity intact.
As the sun slowly rose, painting the sky with shades of pink and orange, I found myself lying in the grass, lost in thought. My mind was consumed by the image of Lila, the vampire girl who I had just saved. I couldn't seem to shake the memory of her, even as the sun's rays warmed my skin. But my thoughts were abruptly interrupted when I heard a familiar, thundering voice booming towards my direction.
'Where have you been all night?' My father, the Alpha of our pack, stood tall and intimidating as he towered over me.
I looked up at him, my mind scrambling to find the best excuse for my absence. 'I... I was just taking a walk,' I stuttered, hoping he would believe such a silly excuse. My father's expression grew even more stern. 'A walk? On the night of the pack gathering? Do you know how important it is for you to be present at these events, especially as the succeeding pack Alpha?'
'I'm sorry, I just needed some time alone,' I muttered, not daring to look him in the eye. I didn't want to prolong the issue any further. I could only imagine my father's reaction if he came to know the truth about me saving a vampire rather than be in our pack's meeting.
My father's expression softened as he looked at me in awe. This was one of the rarest moments one could find me - apologizing was one thing I never did. Instead, I would protest further rather than apologize. But this time, I knew I couldn't let the day start on a sour note. Thoughts of Lila still overwhelmed me.
He stared at me for a brief moment and said in a serious tone: 'But you should know, this is not something to be proud of. You should never let it happen again,' he said sternly. 'Now, let's not dwell on this. The day is still young and we should enjoy it.' He then smiled at me and extended his hand, pulling me up with him. 'Get yourself in clothes and we'll go out for breakfast. My treat.' I nodded, knowing I deserved the scolding, and then we both walked towards the house. Despite my shortcomings and stubbornness, I know my father means well, and he's just trying to be the best alpha dad to me. I look up to him in so many ways but the only disagreement we ever have, is my role in becoming the next alpha. I feel it's too much of a responsibility being a leader, and I just want to bask in the freedom of living my life, and doing whatever I wanted. Rather than be responsible for a pack of primitive wolf-beings.
I was only seven years old when my world shattered. It was a dark and stormy night, and my mother had gone out to gather wood for our fireplace. She promised she would be back before the rain started. I watched her leave, her long dark hair swaying in the wind. But she never came back. I waited and waited, but the rain began to pour and she still hadn't returned. My father grew worried and went out to look for her, leaving me alone in the cabin. Hours went by and my father still hadn't come back. I was scared and alone, not knowing what had happened to my mother and father. Finally, my father returned, but he was covered in scratches and bruises. His clothes were torn and he was panting heavily. I could see the pain and anger in his eyes as he kneeled down in front of me.
'Son, your mother...she's gone,' he said in a broken voice. I couldn't understand what he meant.' Gone? Where?' I asked. And then he told me the truth. My mother had been attacked and killed by vampires. He had found her in the woods, drained of her blood. He went after the perpetrators, and though he wasn't strong enough to take on the two vampires, he was able to behead one of them in the fight while the other fled.
Tears streamed down my face as I clung onto my father, begging him to bring her back. But he couldn't. And in that moment, my father blamed himself for letting her go out alone. He thought if he had gone with her, this wouldn't have happened. From that day on, everything changed. My father became distant and closed off, consumed with grief and guilt. He had lost the love of his life and he blamed himself for her death. But he also knew that he had to be strong for me. He became my sole guardian and I became his priority.
My mother's death had been a brutal reminder of his responsibility. To protect ourselves and other werewolves from harm, my father became the alpha, the leader of our pack.
When I turned 13, my training began and my father trained me hard, teaching me how to control my shifting and how to fight. He wanted me to be strong and prepared for any danger that might come our way. As the years went by, my father's power grew. He became a respected and feared alpha, known for his strength and loyalty to our pack. We lived in harmony with other werewolves in Grimswood, secluded from the humans and vampires as my father never forgot the threat of the vampires. He made sure our pack was always vigilant and prepared for any attack.
In the heart of Grimswood, a forest shrouded in mystery, there were two distinct phases. One phase was inhabited by the werewolves, and the other by the vampires. The two groups lived in uneasy coexistence, with a silent agreement to stay on their own side of the forest. The werewolves had been the first to settle in Grimswood, building their humble cabins deep in the heart of the forest. They were a proud and solitary people, loyal to their pack and fiercely protective of their territory. The humans who lived on the outskirts of the forest knew of the werewolves' existence, but they dared not venture into their domain.
On the other end of the forest, the vampires ruled over their own phase. Their grand castle stood tall and imposing surrounded by a gated large fence, a stark contrast to the simple homes of the werewolves. The vampires were a secretive and elusive species, preferring to keep to themselves and only coming out under the cover of darkness- or so my father taught me. He had a strong mistrust and resentment for vampires after they killed his wife. The family head of the vampires Viktor, had assured my father when the incident happened that the perpetrator that escaped would be punished by vampire laws, but it didn't change how my father felt towards vampires.