- Episode 1
Marissa
“I had a really great time, Marissa,” Kyle said as we walked to my door. It was just after 11:00 pm, and the moon was high in the sky; my cute little cottage house was bright, showing off the yellows and blues I used to paint.
“Yeah.Me too.” I didn’t match his excitement. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a good time, he was kind, witty, and sometimes funny, but he was safe. I forced a smile and started to head towards the blue door. I heard his footsteps go to follow me. Please don’t do this. He gently grabbed my arm, and I slowly turned. I was hoping and praying to whatever Goddess would listen that he wouldn’t ask to come in.
His lips were on mine without warning, and I was in shock. I broke the kiss abruptly and muttered something about calling him later, and I quickly unlocked the door with my magic. Not looking back, I squeezed in and shut the door. I was relocking everything; I hit the lights. My house was a disaster area; all over the teak floors were clothes, shoes, and unopened packages. I needed to get organized to open the damn boxes and deliver them to the council for the Fae. No one else knew how to use Amazon. I mean, they have been here thousands of years, and we now freely live among humans, but they can’t adapt somehow?
The fridge was my next stop before bed; tripping over boxes and litter of clothes, I walked past my blue sofa that needed a good cleaning. It was old, but I got a good deal on it, and it was hard to find furniture that fit in this space. Neither of my parents approved of me living on my own so far away from them, but I only had so long before my duties would sink in, and I would have to take up part-time residence at both the Wolf compound and the Fae Mansion. I didn’t ask for this and want to spend a few more years alone before never having any freedom again.
I plopped down on my sofa and kicked my heels off, making two soft thuds on the floor. From across the room, I heard my phone chiming but ignored it because I was not ready to talk to Kyle about anything that went down. After a few more chimes, it stopped, then immediately started again. I dragged myself from the couch and fished the damn thing out of my purse. It was my dad. What the hell was he doing calling me at this hour?
“Hi, Dad. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, hello!” He sounded almost surprised that it was me.
“Yeah, hi, Dad. What’s up? I am just getting ready to go to bed.”
“Marissa, I need you at the compound immediately. There is some business we need to discuss.”
“Can’t this wait until morning? It’s almost midnight.”
“No, Marissa, we must talk now.” He had me on the phone, so I have no idea why he can’t tell me what he needs to say. “I will summon you over.”
“Wait, I …” Before I could finish my sentence, a warming sensation moved through my body, and an earthy aroma attacked my senses. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. And about ten seconds later, I was standing in front of my dad in the hallway of his compound.
“Goddess bless Dad! This couldn’t wait a few more hours?” I looked down at the pendant around his neck, a gift from my mother from when they were together. It was spelled with Fae magic that allowed moving from place to place with a thought. The mansion and compound are on opposite sides of town, with the compound also being remote. I lived between them, and it was still a two-hour drive to get here.
“Children are missing Marissa.” He said as we continued down the halls of his home.
I stopped walking and didn’t know what to say. Whose children? And why did I need to come here for this? I had no authority here. We began moving again.
“Our correspondent with the Lunar pack has an update on the missing children, and he has agreed to prepare you for your transition.” He said and I stopped once again. The Lunar pack was a myth. Of the seven packs, they kept to themselves. They were the only ones who didn’t stir up trouble. They did so in silence if they attended meetings because I couldn’t recall who they were.
“Marissa let’s move we don’t want to keep him waiting?”
“Dad, I would love to help with the missing kids, but what does my transition have to do with this that isn’t for another five years” He remained silent and scared me.
I hadn’t been here much since I was young. Once I moved out of my mom’s house I didn’t bother with coming here. I was never welcome. Well, Eileen and Damien welcomed me they were my best friends here with the wolves. Eileen’s parents weren’t pleased about my presence, but Damien’s parents were like a second family to me. But they never broke us up. Eileen was from Shadowclaw, the Shadowclaws were never outwardly open about their hate, but Eileen talked a lot, so I knew what they really thought of me, and all the Fae. Damien was with the Nightshade pack; they were the most amazing wolves. As far as I knew, they disagreed with what happened to the royal Fae family.
After walking the mile-long hallway, my father took a left, and I quickened my pace. We entered his office, and inside was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. I tripped over my feet and caught myself on the door frame. He had eyes like storm clouds, a beautiful head of curls the color of the sky at midnight, but I swore I saw a hint of silver, a five-o’clock shadow hinted on his cheeks. He raised an eyebrow, and I realized I was staring. My cheeks flushed, and I awkwardly pulled on my clothes to adjust the mini dress that I was still in from my date.
“This is Aiden. He will be your counsel during the transition period. He will help you understand the current pack atmosphere.”
Aiden took a step forward, and a smirk formed on his lips as he reached out his hand. I forced my arm to move to shake his hand. He looked me up and down but seemed to settle on my eyes. A flush hit my cheeks again; I looked at my father and ripped my hand out of Aiden’s.
“Dad, what is going on?” Panic laced my voice. I could feel my palms sweating with anxiety.
“We need Fae help with the search for the missing wolves and they won’t give it unless you are Alpha so we have to move your transition up.” He quickly looked away.
“I apologize for the early meeting. I wouldn’t have requested your audience if it wasn’t important. In addition to the missing children we have some troubling news about Marissa”
Both my dad and I locked eyes and then looked back at Aiden.
“There are whispers that someone is trying to kill her Thieron,” Aiden said with an edge of danger in his tone.
Several minutes passed, or seconds. I wasn’t sure, but the room was spinning, and I needed to sit down. A hand touched the small of my back just before I hit the ground. Through blurred eyes, I saw a concerned Aiden.
“Marissa! Are you all right?” my dad rushed to my side as Aiden gently placed me in the recliner. “What do you mean a threat? Where did you hear this?” He shouted while looking over at me.
“No! I don’t want it.” I protested, “ I told you they hated me and would never accept me as Alpha. I love you, Dad, but I can’t do this.” I trembled and fought back the tears. Pulling my legs toward my chest as it tightened, and my breath shallowed. They would have to kill me to gain any possibility of becoming the head Alpha.
Becoming Alpha was my birthright. So was becoming Fae Queen. Two roles I never asked for. The Fae have long wanted to gain the upper hand on the wolves. A rogue wolf pack had slaughtered the royal family. Celeste had been with Thieron that night, and when she heard the news, she left pregnant with me and never returned. I didn’t know if my mother blamed my father for the killings so long ago; she never discussed it. It was as if talking about or thinking about him hurt too much. The Fae meant to use me. The wolves hate me— want to kill me.
I felt like a pawn in a game I never wanted to play.
I looked at the two men, who were no doubt discussing my future as if I wasn’t in the room. From there, I noticed how tall Aiden was, and that was saying a lot because I was 6’0, so he must be 6 ‘7, 6’8 easy because he practically dwarfed my father, who was barely 5’ 5. I took after my mother in height for sure. Not all wolves are short, but my father was vertically challenged.
“Marissa, dear, I know you are scared, but these are just rumors, and the pack loves you. They have said so.” The glare I gave was so nasty it likely could kill him, but I wasn’t having this bullshit conversation again.
“They do not love me. They love you and tolerate me out of respect for you. My biggest concern was someone trying to leave, but now I have to worry that someone will try to kill me.” My voice was too loud. “You can’t expect me to go through with this,” I spoke in barely a whisper this time.
He kissed my forehead and told me he would ensure I was safe. He told me that Aiden’s pack had one job: keeping me safe.
I was unsure why, but I wanted to believe that. I stood up and started to walk towards the door. Aiden cleared his throat before I reached the knob and said,” There is something else.” I didn’t give him the courtesy of turning around but stopped. His next words I was not expecting.
“Damien’s sister is missing, and there is reason to believe the hunters are involved. “
I turned around, my face ashen. Damien’s sister was just three.
Hunters are all but unheard of. They haven’t been a problem for over a century. Even the Fae hadn’t experienced hunter problems like they did when they first entered the realm. Why would they be back now, and what do they want with wolf cubs? I had time to think that over; for now, I just listened.
The two men told me that the remainder of Aiden’s pack would arrive in a few hours, and they would be my protection detail. There was a team from the Wildheart pack, another pack I was fond of. Unfortunately, they couldn’t pick up a scent. The trail went cold from her house as if they had just disappeared.
I needed to find Damien. I needed to know what he knew. Aiden advised we make me Alpha immediately. I will connect to all the packs and gain power upon becoming Alpha. It won’t be impossible to kill me but will be much more challenging.
“What do you need me to do?”
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