The summer breeze was hot on my skin that night. In the tepee for the omega girl’s everyone slept stickily on the ground. We decided it was too hot to use the furs and pushed them aside, not daring to light a fire either. I shifted my weight uncomfortably. It was so hot to the point like everyone else I was almost naked, just wearing my undergarments which were thin to let air in.

Our tepee was medium size, but still cramped feeling I got use to over a few months of moving in. There was a fire pit in the middle and a bench at the corner with our shoes under. Our weapons hung on the posts of the support beams with our cloths hanging on the rope connecting on each beam. They were hanging up nearly dry from our mornings washing of them.

I could barely sleep that night, the heat with the crickets annoyingly chirping was too much. I felt sweat dripping down my back and the beam of my forehead. The sweat was almost boiling which reminded me how I was put in almost a pot of boiling water by trolls earlier this year.

It wasn’t a fun memory, only the fact that they kept complaining how much I screamed and struggled was annoying. They were too dumb to realize they could have shut me up with to whacks in the head. Alpha always use to do that. But that was so long ago it didn’t matter to me. I was someone else then.

Now the heat was killing me, I wanted to go to the river where we washed our clothes. Often after training or a day’s work Alpha would let us spend the rest of the day there. I was so grateful of that, the water was so refreshing and kept us cool. I wanted to go and I was sure it would be fine. So with my undergarments I slipped on a cloak with torn holes.

Alpha promised he would barter with a merchant dwarf for a new one when they trade came by on the main road. Which was very soon so I was excited, I was hoping for a royal purple one but whatever I got I would be content with. Cloaks were very handy especially if you have to hide yourself.

I grabbed my little knife on a hooked rusted nail on the post. I preferred this knife instead of my bulky, heavy bow and arrow. It was the first weapon that was given to me and I was forced to train to use it every day. It came handy and saved my life a few times. Now if our territory was every attacked, I would use the bow and arrow. Alpha chose this weapon not wanting me to be in front. It was a risk of me being hurt and I hated the fact he was so conscious on the fact I was different.

But we haven’t been attacked since peace has been made with all nations in the area. So I kept reassuring myself as I left the tepee, everything would be alright. I just needed to bathe for a while in the water so I could sleep feeling a bit cooler. No one should be around these parts. I left the tepee confident, bare foot. It was the closest thing being like the pack I would ever get. My feat had toughen over the course of months and it was just like theirs.

I looked around the open field circled with forests enclosing this quiet area with a river crossing by the edge of the meadow to the forest. I made my way to the river reaching it in not time. I stripped off my clothes and dipped myself in the river. I sighed in relief feeling the coolness of the water surround me. My body felt so nice and I swam in the deep river. Its current was not to strong, so I could break through easily. I always popped my head up to breathe, my eyes always gazing at the starry open sky with the crescent moon shine on my face. It was such a beautiful nice, with light bugs flickering around.

The only thing was missing were mer-people to talk to, who often swam in rivers traveling but there was none tonight to speak with. I chuckled remembering how they saved me once when I was not a good swimmer. I floated in the river before giving into one last dive to the bottom. When I popped my head up to the surface my eyes widened and I let my eyes sink to the surface. I held my breath, this tactic of hiding a few mermaids showed me, explain it was better to keep your head as low as possible and watch carefully.

Usually if there is travelers they will carry a torch light at night if they need too but it is rare. But I saw something greatly odd. It was a bright white light that shined in a circular motion moving around- a flashlight. I had not seen one for so long!

I saw more appear and the sound of dogs on leashes barking about a quarter mile away from me. I did a little gasp- more humans? No…impossible…we were so far from any village. Alpha made sure of it saying we could stop being nomads and built a life here.

I quickly and quietly used the tactics David showed me when he was alive. I laid low crawling too my cloak forgetting about my undergarments. I covered myself keeping low, I gripped my knife. I had to see Alpha. I went to the biggest tepee and took a deep breath. It was okay, he wasn’t going to hurt me by reporting this. Even though I’m not supposed to be out alone. I opened the flap to the tepee and slipped inside.

“Alpha.” I shook his shoulder very respectfully.

He grunted but turned over quickly snatching my small hand. He gripped it annoyed and I winced, it was only when he noticed it was me when he loosened his strong hand. “What is it Hannah ?” He whispered.

“I was out at the River and I saw-“ Before I finished Alpha pulled my me down on the skins with him.

“I smell them.” He growled. I could barely see what he looked like in the dark. “Wait here and be quiet.”

He stormed out of the tepee and I took some of his clothes in the corner that looked somewhat clean, and put them on. I heard a lot of commotion and his howling. I heard tepees being left and big paws thundering on the ground.

“WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?” Barked Nathan who roared near Alpha’s tent.

“KILL THEM, THEY KNOW THE WOLF LAW!” Isaac wolfishly screamed running past the tepee. I heard more barking and growling and the cries of men releasing their dogs first, to be sacrificed. I covered my ears whispering it was going to be alright. It was strange how I was so scared of my own kind. I hid under Alpha’s skins praying they were alright. I heard painful yips and I tried to be brave.

But I heard gun firing and I stood up. I smelled smoke and light blazing, one of the tepees was on fire. “NO.” I yelled I ran out into the chaos to see Beta’s tent exploded in flames. Guns ringed in my ears and a dog past me, it sniffed me but moved on. I was human and through the smell of Alpha’s clothes it knew that.

I will always be different that way. I cursed to myself, as I grabbed the dog’s collar as it was running towards Eilsha who had already several dogs biting at her. I stabbed the dog with my knife through the neck. It didn’t bother me to kill animals now, but the collar what got me. Through the fire light, I saw something I thought I would never see again.

It was my old last name. Elkwood’. I grabbed the collar and saw my father’s name printed in the metal. My hands shook and my heart pounded. They were alive, they were safe in a new town that must be somewhere near here.

“WAIT.” I looked around seeing men with guns and swords trying to even get a nick at my fast companions. “FATHER!” I screamed. “STOP!”

I burst into tears wanting to go home, wanting to see my family. They were alive. The large wolves, bigger than me or any of the humans were running around trying to herd the humans up, an old tactic they used when hunting prey for a big meal.

I suddenly was not afraid of the humans anymore, but afraid of the pack. Alpha leaped towards me, dodging a shot. “I TOLD YOU TO STAY INSIDE, YOU CAN’T BE OUT HERE IT’S DANGEROUS IF THEY SEE WHAT YOU ARE!” Alpha roared at me in a way I had not hear in a long time. It was fear, and I saw the rage of the past burning in his eyes. He was going to kill them.

My legs wobbled. “STOP THEM, YOU HAVE TO STOP THEM. I DON’T CARE IF THEY SEE ME THEY HAVE TOO!” I yelled back at to him in the mob of terror.

“NEVER, GET INSIDE AT ONCE BEFORE I MISTAKE YOU AS ONE OF THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.” He roared in terror, his sharp teeth could be seen just in the moon light itself. “I HATE THEM AND I WILL HATE YOU AGAIN IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO MY ORDER.”

“MY FATHER IS HERE!” A tear slipped down my face, it had been a long time since that has happened. I fell to my knees, looking up at his majestic wolf body. It was black, powerful and huge.

“You’re….what?” His voice softened with his eyes snapping out of his murderous intentions for these people.

I slipped another tear and choked on a lump in my throat. “Please, for me tell the pack to stop fighting and to come here. The oddness of it will make them stop shooting I hope and I can possibly without so much chaos see my father.”

Alpha sighed making a large bark. I covered my ears, I turned around to see nine wolves stopped in defense. They quickly went behind the Alpha who had his tail high in the air. The men with their guns lowered as they finally were able to take a good look at me.

Shakily I stood up looking at each of their dark faces. These were angry avengers whatever they were angry about, we had not committed. The pack has not attacked any villages in a long time.

“It’s the girl.” A man spoke shocked. “Alive…with these animals? Impossible?”

“Is my father here? Elkwood?” I said trying to gain confidence. “The wolves won’t attack, is he here-“

“Hanna!” My father pushed through a crowd of man, an average man with a strong built. He looked built for war but safe. His gun was slung on his back as if he had not pulled it out. “Baby girl…” He was in front of the men and I finally faced him. I thought I would never see him again.

I ran to him, jumping in his arms. I cried in his shirt trembling, grabbing fist holds of it. He whispered tenderly to me. “It’s alright baby girl, I’m never letting go of you. I thought I would never see you again”

I heard the clicking of the guns rising. I didn’t care though, not anymore I was with my father. He found me. “I thought you died.” I moaned. “I thought everything I had was gone but you’re here. How?”

“I was out hunting when I thought I saw a familiar wolf from that night they came to our other village. The year when there was shortage of elk and deer? They came for us instead. It looked like it was on a scouting mission and I knew I have to come and make peace with myself leaving them dead.” My father explained pulling me back to look at me. His big hand cupped my face whipping all my tears.

“Don’t kill them.” I hissed staring at the guns. “They have been good to me.”

My father nodded putting his hand up to the others to lower their guns, the growls of the Shadow pack died off in confusion. I saw Alpha looking at me puzzled. I felt my heart ache but the nervousness made me feel like I had to stay….I just wanted to go home with my father.

My father seemed to know what I was thinking, he knew me well like that. “No absolutely not you have been through enough. Your coming home with me, we will leave these animals be. It is time for you to be with real people of our own.”

Not only the Alpha’s but I saw a brokenness in the pack’s eyes. Why were they so sad at this? I was a burden most of the time. I nodded “Just let me say goodbye to them.”

I walked over timidly to the pack. I looked down not able to meet any of their eyes. “My father is taking me home now. They will not harm you anymore if you let me go. It was an honor meeting you all.”

“You’re listening to him?” Nathan a wolf with rusty brown fur barked. I could hear the hurt in his voice. “They called us animals Hannah-“

“More like monsters who took my daughter.” My father growled.

I was surprised no one defended themselves with that comment. Alpha stared at me long and hard but slowly turned away.

“Boron?” I said his name softly.

He began to walk away and he snapped quietly “Go with him. You must be with your kind now.”

The pack gasped as the Alpha continued I heard him choke on emotion. “Don’t hurt those humans. They have done nothing, we would do the same in their place and say the things they are.”

“Alpha.” I cried softly. I heard the guilt in his voice and reached to touch his tail to stop him from walking away.

He barked spinning around. His hot breath roared in my face. “JUST LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK. I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE.”

I nodded shakily and ran back to my father. I never looked at the pack again, as we slowly left their territory heading home. I thought this was the end of my tale and so it was for then.