Hunter for Liberty

A man walks up to the Alpha dancing with his daughter in the middle of the ball room. His hands on a bottle of wine and says, " Alpha, a gift from your good friend, Alpha Markus." Although interrupted, the young lady and her father beamed at the man’s news. The mentioned Alpha Markus is a very good man leading a neighboring pack, perhaps, the only pack of honorable elite warriors in the whole of the North Frostfields and all dominions at present. "May I propose a toast?" The man asked signaling the first of traditional rights for the night. "After the first glass is served to our sweet 16” He gestured towards the young lady dressed in white soft satin dress with bejeweled thin straps that glistened as she glanced towards the crowd smiling sweetly. The man with the bottle and news poured the radiant debutant a glass of the ruby red wine. She happily took it, looked at her father for consent which he willingly gave. The first sip of wine symbolizes the coming of age of a female wolf. To be able to take in the bitter-sweet liquid and overcome it is like overcoming the bitter-sweet reality outside the sheltered wall that has protected her all her life as well. Although, it generally does not hold any effect on werewolves unless one had drunk a barrel full of wine, young females are prohibited to drink wine lest they fall prey when their heat suddenly comes without warning. The “Heat” makes females vulnerable to everything and anyone. The young lady looked at everyone and beamed at their encouraging smiles. She searched the room looking for her brother on the sidelines nervously fixing her sunflower and lavender flower tiara which slid slightly over her silky black, waist length hair. The Alpha’s heart stopped when he saw that his daughter and his Beta's son stared at each other, four twin fires glued together as if the time had stopped. He is happy for his baby girl. He watched the overwhelmed look signaling the strands of their young souls reaching out to one another, at moments like this you are out of control. Something would seem to just snap at the successful connection with a mate's soul. He saw through the proud eyes of the good man his little girl is staring at that just like that, to him she is no longer just his best friend's little sister, nor the sister he never had, she is now so much more. Just like the rest who have found their destiny, above all things good in every male wolf's life, she is his mate. The Luna held the Alpha by the arms as she watched the young couple hold each other's gaze as well and as the young female they proudly raised slowly drank the ruby red liquid, eyes glistening a sense of boldness and excitement mirroring her gaze while her mate walks to where the three of them stood. She had finished the glass of wine and turned towards them. The Alpha held his daughter's hands and walked her to her mate. He handed her right hand to her mate and patted his shoulder. "I couldn't be prouder, there is no better man to honor my princess' heart but you!" the Alpha proclaimed and everyone gasped. He looked at his daughter in happiness as she jumped to her mate’s sturdy arms in blissful giggles. The Alpha and his Beta regarded each other knowingly, their mates both hugging one another celebrating a somehow long ago dream of marrying their children together. The shocked expression that the Beta's proud son has as he catches his mate in his sturdy arms is such a beautiful sight to see. When her mate set her down on her feet, she swayed a bit and everyone laughed. "Love makes us all weak in the knees," the Luna commented and everyone clapped blissfully. The Alpha looked his mate in the eyes and moved towards her, kissed her quickly yet passionately. "Sam?" They suddenly heard the young male croak out. They all watched as the young male slightly lifted his daughter, anchoring her body onto his, as if she couldn't hold herself up on her own. There was no answer, silence immediately took over the festive atmosphere everybody's in just seconds earlier. "Sam..." His eldest called out anxious as he approached the new couple that was his younger sister and best friend. "Sam, please..." His daughter's mate called out a little louder and everyone hushed alarmed at the sudden tension building up. There was no other sound now but their quick heartbeats. Although no one dared speak verbally, you could sense a cacophony of tense outburst through the pack link. Males has their furs bristling, females reaching out to somehow send reassurance to their Luna, to comfort a mother unsure of her daughter’s state. Ever so slowly, his darling daughter looked up clutching her chest, her then made-up beautiful face now a contorted image of immense pain with beads of sweat on her temples. No one knows what's wrong. Is it her wolf getting ready to shift? But no, it shouldn't be the chest hurting but the limbs and the muscles if her wolf wants out for the first time. Her eyes glowed a faint gold then subsided, and it continuously changed in color as she fought the internal battle within her. It looked like she’s trying to shift but what's stopping the process? Her older brother lightly shook her shoulders. "Sam, it’s alright don't fight it, it’s just your wolf wanting out." He gently voiced out as if he was talking to a kid. Everyone saw how she shook her head and how her eyebrows almost met as her face contorts into that of a sudden pain once again, hands fisting at her chest, faint labored breathing, wishing it all just ends suddenly. "I c-can’t..." she paused and closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, seeing her life flashing in her mind, the good old days, the incredible moments with the man who helped her brother in looking after her then, and now, the picture of them finding their true purpose to each other, the slowly crumbling world they haven't even started to establish yet. "What's wrong?!" Her mother, The Luna, shouted frantic now. Her daughter slipped further down, and because her mate is holding her still, they fell together. He laid her down where her bottom is on top his legs, her back to his chest, and where she’s secured within his embrace. His face is now mirroring the terrible pain she feels although they both feel different kinds of pain. His lips set into a firm line thinking, if he lets out the damn of emotion he's feeling now his lips might quiver so badly the way hers does. "Love, what's happening?" He almost inaudibly pleaded her for an answer. He held her chin up, willing her to look at him but to no avail. He looked up "My wolf shares her pain..." he trailed off looking at her father, his Alpha, asking for guidance on how to deal with such situation. "It’s the feeling of lacking air flowing through the lungs causing it to burn so bad it hurts, please call the pack doctor!" he cried, his eyes are now red from the multitude of unshed tears and frustrations for not being able to help his mate. His best-friend, Sam’s brother knelt next to him and tried to take her from him. "No! pp-p-lease..." she begged which came out barely just above a whisper, the way she held onto him so tight, it seemed like she poured all her strength onto holding on to him as if she's afraid it would be the last time they held each other. The foreboding feeling of losing something so great eating at him was like nothing he ever felt before. It broke the Alpha's heart just as it breaks this man to see his beloved and only daughter so weak and helpless. "I can’t b-breathe," she managed to say. "T- the wine..." she added faintly in labored breathing looking into her father’s eyes with fear-stricken face. Hard as it is, the Alpha tried to look brave, strong and reassured, a father wanting to show his princess all will be well. "Alpha!" the pack doctor shouted, announcing his arrival as he came inside the ball room. His shoulders sagged as he looked at the scene before him. "Quick! Take her to the clinic!" he announced but the scared mate that holds the young lady hadn't felt his presence. His whole world is crumbling in his embrace and she's all that he sees. The Alpha thought he should be mad because his daughter's mate was taught awareness in all the training he went through alongside his own son as he was after all, the Beta's son but, he’s not even the ever firm and strict Alpha he normally was at that moment. He was a proud and strong Alpha but he now walked towards where his princess is, trembling and frightened for the first time unsure of the play of events thinking, please Goddess don't take her yet. Take her pain away, give it all to me if you may, she was not brought up like this. A silent prayer to the Goddess above. "No! NO-NO-NO!" Hunter heard his mother frantically begging with urgency as he changes his shoes to slippers getting inside the pack house. He had just finished his perimeter run shift for the day. He quickly shut the door and made his way towards his mother's room. "Mom?" Hunter called out opening her bedroom door. "Mom, wake up. It's just a dream. "Help her please! Make it stop!" Lydia cries beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she tosses and turns her head frantically from left to right repeatedly while pulling the sheets as if she's shaking someone whom she's convincing to help whoever was in dire need of help in her dreams. Hunter stared sadly at the state his mom in at that moment. He knew all too well who she was begging help for. He scooped her upper frame from drowning in her nightmare, sweat and sheets. He held her and rocked her back and forth murmuring comfort and reassurance. Lydia woke up in that state, Hunter's strong arms and reassurance lulling her nightmares away. She could feel the labored breathing her son is trying to control just so he won't cry in her presence. It was now her turn to reassure him all is well. She patted her his arms laced around her repeatedly saying it's over son, it's all in the past. Hunter would tighten his grip and burry his forehead in her curly black hair for seconds and he would say, "I know mom, it's all just a nightmare." and he would help her get up. "I will follow downstairs son, please put the baking sheets in the oven I'll be there in just a minute." She says looking for her hair brush and clamp to tidy up her self before she graces the pack kitchen and her breads her presence. "Ok." Hunter answered back as he walks up to the bedroom door. He inhales a long deep breath as he turns the door knobs open. "Thank you." She tells her son and she hears him let's out that deep breath to compose himself. He turns towards her direction and he smiles reassuringly. "I love you mom, I am always here." He tells her sincerely. Although always has been a far off term recently with his new duty as the royal hunter. "I know son, as I am for you. Move along now, young male wolves will come crawling down that stare case an hour now and you know how hungry they are... as always." she said lacing humor in her tone to lighten the mood. Hunter let's out a half smile knowing how accurate his mom's description of the young boys the Delta is assigned to train every morning at 7 am sharp. He looks at the clock and walks out his mom's room quickly. Got to hurry, those sour doughs aren't going to cook themselves up in room temperature heat.