"No." Alpha Valverde bellowed.

"How is that NOT within reason?" I argued "My mate is about to reject me and I am about to be shipped off to the King's army where no one has ever come back whole! All I am asking is for one hour." The Alpha looked at me surprised. Never in my life have I raised my voice, hell I made sure never to speak. I never question or argue against anyone. I was always the stoic one. But I needed this; I needed to get him alone so I could talk some sense into this idiot.

Why isn't mate saying anything, why isn't he fighting for us? Can't he see you trying? Rica asks

He's scared...never thought I would see the future Alpha being ordered around. But once he sees how much we are willing to work for a mate, he will come around. I try to comfort her. I want to believe what I am telling her. I want us to work out. But he's not even trying...he's ignoring me.

"The announcement will happen at five today. You are to remain in your room. Ten minutes before four we will collect you, and you will be placed in the holding cell. At four Xander will come to see you. The hour before five you can talk to him behind closed bars. Do we have an agreement?" Alpha asked.

No! We most certainly do NOT have a fucking agreement. Impudens es leno! My wolf growled

Easy with the Latin Rica! They may not hear you but I can!

But he is a shameless pimp! What's worse is that he is selling our mate! I was distracted by the Alpha clearing his throat. He was expecting an answer.

"I agree to your terms," I promised through gritted teeth. As soon as I said those words, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Alpha said. A man who stood at 5'8 entered the room with blonde hair and brown eyes. He was young and lean; I knew he was our fastest runner and extremely strong. Strong enough to give me trouble. I narrow my eyes at him, slowly I rise to my feet. I would bow down to the Alpha and Beta, but no more.

"Ah Jeremiah, right on time. Please escort Anala back to her room, have a few guards placed at her door. She is not to leave under any circumstances. Food will be provided." He ordered.

She is right here! Vacca stulta. Ulrica grumbled. I almost let out a chuckle.

Really, stupid cow? Ulrica growled at me. She was not happy with my decision to be locked up. But what choice did we have?

We need a plan I told her.

Nullum cacas, genius Rica, said rudely. It took all my power not to roll my eyes. Jeremiah stepped up to me and was about to grab my forearm. I growled at him viciously, and he took a step back. I could feel all of them tense up ready for anything.

"I can walk, I know where my cage is," I growled, and Jeremiah stepped back letting me through fear flashing through his eyes. I stalked out of the room. When I got out of the office, I saw three more wolves follow me to the attic.

I am insulted, only four wolves? Rica snorted.

If we fight now, they will lock us up, and we would lose the hour we have with Xander. And Alpha knows that. The asshole is trying to provoke us. We cannot give him a reason to hold Xander from us. For now, we go back to our room to grab what we need and plan. I don't know about you, but I am not overly fond of what happens in that prison. We both flinch at the memories. We've been down there so many times I've lost count. Most times I would be called down to interrogate the rogues or traitors, the other times...I block out the memories.

Concentrate, for now, be here. Rica reminded me. We make it up the stairs, and I see the door to the attic. I step to the side and bring my arms up. Jeremiah begins patting me down. Like a prisoner being led back to their cell. I snapped at him when he came to my thigh climbing higher.

"Careful, your hand goes any further up north, and I will break. Every. Bone. In your. Disgusting. Body" I threatened, baring my teeth at him. His hand froze, and he backed away standing up straight. He reached up and grabbed the string to the attic. Pulling hard the door gave way, and the ladder came tumbling down.

"Smart move." I jeered before climbing up.

In books, I have read about attics that were breathtaking. Pictures of symmetry and beams that always seemed to be perfect and I always thought it was a shame how a roof could hide such beauty. I tore those pictures out of their books so I could hang them on my walls. My attic was nothing like those pictures. This attic was something that had long been abandoned and forgotten.

Just like me, I thought. I look around the attic, it sat low and sunken in, and the beams were dark, more from moisture than the type of wood. At the center it barely reached 5'5, luckily no one ever came in here, and I would never make it past 5'1. Every breath feels like sucking in the air of my own grave, dark, cold, and moldy. Maybe fifty years ago this place must have smelled of fresh pine. The only thing that made this place bearable was the sunshine flooding in from the tiny window at the far end of the wall where an old beat-up mattress lied. My home, though weak, broken, and grimy it's been the only thing that has been consistent in my life. When I heard the door slam behind me, I sighed and made my way over to my bed. The bed was older than me, but it still held some softness. Surrounding my bed was piles of old books and photos of things I took. I was never given proper schooling, everything I know I taught myself, and I stole those memories from my poor victims.

I hate to steal but in this world, it was my only means of survival. I put my head on my makeshift pillow and feel a piece of crumpled-up paper. I take it out and hold it to the light. It was the picture that I look at every night before I go to sleep — Lady Liberty with the city of New York behind her. I always wanted to go...I wanted to see how humans lived. Humans didn't know about wolves...not yet anyway. But I had planned on going with my mate. I look to my left and see more books and pictures of places where I wanted to go. Everything in those books held my dreams of what I wanted to do with my mate — everything I had planned. I snorted.

All that planning has gone to hell. I thought bitterly. I wanted to scream and throw everything but instead, I buried my head in my pillow. I want to cry... but I can't. I feel the need but the tears don't come out. Instead, they burn my eyes and my throat starts to close up. I want to scream I want to fight something. I kept promising myself that one day it would end...one day I will be happy. So I never cried...I didn't have a reason. I have spent my whole life telling myself not to break. Telling myself that my mate will come and see how strong I have become. But now...now he was right in front of me. He was there and he didn't do anything.

"Xander" I whispered letting all my pain through in that one word. In His name. It was said that I might never have a mate...but I held onto the hope that they were all wrong. I was right! I had a mate...a mate who was willing to let me go to an army that would use me until I was nothing more than an empty shell.

Rica, what do we do I asked. She was my strength...my only constant.

I-I don't know she replied. Three words, who knew those three words could hold so much doubt and instill so much fear in me. I don't want my life to end because of one person's stupid decision! I had plans to go out and see the world...not be used by a king who wanted nothing but power over the world. I jump to my feet and nearly knock myself out on the low beam.

Ana, we can't! Rica gasped reading my mind. But I was too far gone. I took a deep, steadying breath and began searching for what I needed.

Ana, think about this! If we disobey a direct order from the King, we could be considered traitors to the crown! We would have to be on the run our whole lives. You are easily recognizable! I ignored her.

Paper, paper, paper, pap-AHA! I mentally did a happy dance. I grabbed a blank piece of paper and my worn-out pencil and began writing.

Ana please....think about this. Rica pleaded and I stopped.

Rica, why can't we? 

Huh? Why can't we be free, make our own decisions? Do whatever the hell we want and eat whenever we want? 

If we let this continue then we are basically forcing chains upon our own hands. Then everything from here on out will be our fault. Weren't you the one who said we have to run away. Well, I am finally agreeing with you! So why can't we?

Ulrica was silent. For once I had left her speechless. I continued, Rica, we have no other option...if we can't convince Xander not to reject us, we will be shipped off to the king. I don't want to be used anymore...I want, I want my freedom, Rica. I'm so tired. I'm tired of being forced to hurt others or being hurt. I'm exhausted! And for once I wanted someone to fight for me...I wanted Xander to be there for me but you saw him! You kept asking, 'Why? Why wasn't he doing anything?' Well, I'll tell you why! It's because we are a Blood Wolf! I mentally shouted at her, I was breathing hard. Blood wolves were demon descendants. There were only three blood wolves ever recorded in history I am the fourth ever born to this world. All were male until me. All of them were deadly and powerful. All with the same traits, blood-red wolves with a stripe of pitch black fur running from the tip of the nose to the tail. Each had the ability to suck the souls out of everyone they killed and harness their energies and create whatever our minds allowed but at a terrible price. With each soul we consume, we lose our own, our bodies suffer gravely. I was never told about what happened to the other Blood Wolves. But I feel how much these powers have taken from me. I slumped to my knees and hugged myself. I tried to get my hands on any information on Blood Wolves but no one told me anything, no one kept records. I felt so hopeless; I yearned for any control over my life. 

Okay, Rica whispered. I felt my heart lift a little.

If we can't convince mate, we run. I nod my head and look at the piece of paper again. I had enough space for a few sentences. I thought of my brothers and for a second I almost abandoned the plan...I couldn't leave them. But Antoni was going to be the next Beta. He was strong and someone worth following. He tried to protect me but even he could not stand up against his father. It doesn't mean he didn't try. Antoni has a small scar on his eyebrow from when Father threw a silver knife. It was meant for me but Atoni pushed me aside. That was the day I knew I couldn't put him in danger again. I had turned eleven then and all I wanted was to spend time with him. After that day I have not spoken a word to him. But he would always try to slip books and table scraps. I would not be alive if it weren't for him. My other brother, Milo, was someone who I greatly admired. He was going to be the next General Warrior for our pack. He was strong, fast, and always had excellent battle strategies. I would miss them both. But they would be able to have a life with their mates when I am gone their lives will go on. With that in mind, I write my letter.

Antoni,

I'm sorry for leaving, please understand. Please take care of Xander, stay close to him. Please take care of the pack and our brother.

I love you.

A

I felt my throat close up again. I never told him I loved him. Never spoke it out loud. After a few deep breaths, I fold up the piece of paper and hid it in a slit I made in the waistband of my pants. No one will find it, I hope. I look out the window. The sun was still high up in the sky. I still had time. But I couldn't bring anything with me. I knew there was a bookbag with all my clothes in it hidden in a tree. The last time I had clothes in this room they were thrown in the swamp. Kids were playing pranks but I learned from that mistake. In a way, I was preparing to leave the pack all my life. I just needed the extra push. I look around the room again.

Rica...they can't find these books. They will know where I want to go. I said, realization dawning on us both. I felt my blood being replaced with ice water.

Burn it. Rica said flatly. I backed away from the bed.

What? I croaked.

You have to...otherwise, they will find us. They know nothing about us...they are going to investigate once we are gone. Burn it. She commanded. I gulped and shook my head.

I can't I rasped.

Let me...I promise we won't lose control. I closed my eyes and looked into Rica's eyes, searching for anything. I saw power and confidence. Everything I needed. I looked back at my little corner, the place where I grew up, and comforted myself with dreams and hopes. I needed that now, to dream of a better tomorrow. If this is what it takes then so be it. I gulped and allowed Rica to take control. With fascination, I saw her gather our books and pictures into a pile on our bed. In front of the window where we watched life go on. Every star, moon, and sun we saw everything through that tiny window. We placed a hand on the window and began drawing our strength. I felt a pull at our gut before I saw the black soul dance on our palms.

"Fire" Ulrica whispers to the soul and in a matter of seconds, the black soul begins to shine brighter and brighter until it is a blaze of colors, red, orange, yellow, and blue. Dancing in the palm of our hands. I feel Ulrica give a huge smile before she places the soul gently on the mattress.

"Dance" she ordered, and as a slave to her mistress, the soul began to dance. The mattress was their stage, leaps and turns over and over again until everything was up in a glorious blaze. I watched as everything I loved began to fall victim to the flames. Nothing would be spared no trace of Anala would be in this attic. I carefully backed up until we were close to the door. Ulrica pushed me up with her parting words.

Your turn. She whispered into my ear. As soon as I had control of my body, I jumped to the door and began banging on it. After my third punch, the door broke and I jumped down to the wolves waiting for a fight.

"Fire," I said calmly pointing up. They all looked up and saw the smoke. Chaos broke out. The last thing I saw before I was dragged to the holding cells were wolves scrambling around trying to get the flames under control.  And for the first time today, I gave a genuine smile.

So it begins.

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