Shelenda smiles for a split second before her entire demeanour shifts.
"Mother what are you doing? we agreed that no one needed to know"
"My sweet Shelenda, you're too kind. There's no need to protect your sister, the pack deserves to know their future luna's limitations and if they still wish to be led by her then it is as the moon goddess wills it."
I'm utterly amazed at this choreographed performance, they could win an Oscar. Monty, the oldest and by proxy wisest member of the pack steps forward.
"Anita, is this true?" I curl into myself even more and i suppose my silence serves as an answer in itself.
He shakes his head and i see in his eyes that this will not stand.
The crowd surges forward, i feel a slap on my right cheeksomeone is pulling my hair, another kicks my stomach, it's too much all at once and i sob even harder.
"Please, don't hurt my sister! she may be a little delicate but that dosen't make her weak!"
This only serves to infuriate the crowd more and the mob thickens.
"If she is the true luna she would fight!" someone screams,
"We do not want a weakling for a leader!"
"Dune!" I scream, a last ditch effort, i look into his eyes and all i see is contempt.
The crowd drags me to the outskirts of the pack-land and i'm thrown outside the gates and into the woods.
"I am sorry, Anita" Monty says, "but this is the way it has to be, we cannot afford to portray ourselves as weak to our enemy territories. Shift, and we can put all this behind us. This is your last chance."
I turn my face away. I have never been able to shift, this is the main reason why my father, the alpha, is so ashamed of me.
A memory of my mother flashes before my eyes,she brushes my hair as she hums a song, my eyes are still wet from a sob session i had after i was scolded by my father once again.
"It'll be alright darling. It will come to you when the time is right."
Some people describe shifting as one of the most agonizing feelings a person can experience.
Now, i try to remember what was taught by my teacher when i was a child.
I reach into my subconscious searching for my she-wolf, the one with whom i'm meant to share a body and soul with, and then...nothing.
I scream in frustration, of course a miracle wasn't going to save me.
Typical of naive Anita i suppose.
"You are hereby banished on the grounds of conspiracy against the pack. As much as we value a strong leader, we also value a truthful and transparent one. For to omit is also to tell a lie."
Monty waves his hand dismissively and turns back into town. The rest of the crowd follows slowly.
"Such a disappointment!"
"I expected more from her!"
"She's practically human!'
I lay on the ground, too weak to move. It's about eight pm, how am i going to make it to civilisation in this state? The pack is located in a suburban area on the outskirts of LA, it's going to take more than a few hours for me to get to the city.
When everyone has gone i'm left alone with Dune and Shelenda.
I assume the rest of the pack thought that they would want to say their goodbyes to me, if only they knew.
I get up slowly, my figure is hunched and i can barely stand i'm also bleeding from...somewhere, my whole body is in so much agony i can't tell right now.
"I will never forgive you, all of you" i feel my throat close up but i clench my fists, i refuse to cry again, i am done giving them the satisfaction.
"But you're already half dead. There's nothing you can do, laying down there."
They both laugh leaving me to my death. I have been lying down in the cold dark words for about an hour and half when i hear the sound of twigs breaking and leaves rustling.
My body is too weak to move or open my eyes. Someting is behind me. The wood is dark and dense, my night vision is weak because i'm injured and i know that the only chance i have at getting out alive is to run.
I've had enough of being weak for one night, if there's one thing i'm sure of, it's that i don't want to die.
As the rustling grows louder, i pick up my steps and break into a jog, the steps grow louder, as i run i glance back to see a large brown wolf chasing me.
It is nearly six feet tall which is how i know it's a werewolf and not a regular animal. It howls and it's eyes glint in the dark, the howl echoes through the quiet forest.
I run faster, clutching my stomach. My heart beats loudly in my ears and i'm starting to get out of breath.
There is no way in hell i can outrun it, i have to be smart about my options. I wonder who it is, Could it be one of the pack members? i have already been banished, i will never be luna.
I am a weakling, i wonder what this person stands to gain from killing me. The wolf almost seems...familiar in it's mannerisms.
I veer right and duck behind a tree. The wolf pauses and sniffs the air, snarling. But it is in no hurry.
It crouches down and waits for the moment that i will inevitably reveal myself, it is determined to enjoy the hunt.
I press my palm to my lips to contain the whimper that threatens to escape. I still myself and think. I can't outrun it so i'll have to outsmart it.
I just have to hope that whoever it is will be dumb enough to take the bait. I tear off a peice of my dress then pick up a rock.
I wrap it in the fabric and throw it in the other direction. Throwing the rock alone probably wouldn't have worked but hopefully the fabric contains enough of my scent to lead it away.
I hold my breath and watch as it sniffs the air then darts in the opposite direction from where i'm hiding. I peek out slowly from behind the tree and start sprinting, i am not so far from the freeway now. I grin as i run, i'm so elated that my eyes fail to register a large branch in my path.I trip over it and land face-first in the dirt.
My foot has somehow gotten trapped underneath a mess of roots. My heart rate picks up. My little diversion can only be effective for so long. I grab my leg and pull with all my might, it still won't budge.
A cruel howl tears into the night air, and i see the wolf bounding for me, it's positively frothing at the mouth in anticipation of it's next kill, me. I pull at my foot frantically and it makes no difference, the wolf is getting closer and it almost seems to be smiling.
This is how it ends, I think. I'm going to die alone in the woods with no impact in the world, no proof that i ever existed, i have absolutely nobody who would mourn me.
I close my eyes and resign myself to my fate. It's towering over me by now, it's hot slobber dripping onto my face and into my hair. Suddenly, i hear footsteps rushing towards me. I open my eyes and the wolf has obviously spotted whoever it is as it prepares to pounce.
A shot sounds through the woods.