As any young girl with her life ahead of her I had envisioned how my life was supposed to turn out. A long life with husband and multiple children close in age to grow up together. Just like how I thought of the highs of milestones down the road the end was always weighing heavily on my mind. I had imagined being surrounded by my children, their spouses, and grandchildren lovingly recalling past stories. After experiencing so much loss in my own life, my own selfish heart wanted to be the first of my family to go. My husband would be by my bedside as my body slowed down of old age rubbing circles into the back of my hand as he would plant kisses upon any exposed skin he could reach. What I had never imagined was to be locked up in an algid basement with one wall of metal bars pinned so tightly I couldn't stick my hand out.
As I rested on the concrete floor my stomach no longer growled but was constantly churning in pain from lack of food. I pulled myself into a sitting position and rested my back on one side of the moist concrete bricks. The low light glistened on the wet brick and I wondered if I would be able to get any real water from lapping at it with my tongue. As I bent to examine the wet brick, I swept some of my brown hair behind my ear instantly recoiling my hand from my face. A searing hot pain spread from the small spot I had touched. As I slowly prodded around my cheekbone, I would feel my face was tight with inflammation. Surely from the many interrogation tactics I was taking part in. The cell was dark and hard to maneuver around without the help of my eyes. I knew it was five strides long and three strides wide.
Out of the many ways I would die I never imagined being beaten to the point I was on the verge of death. Well, that may be an exaggeration. I'm sure the lack of adequate food and water had a little to do with my current predicament. Sure, in my community there were certain instances where things had occurred but it was never like this. I was pretty sure I had been there for two nights just gauging from the guards two wardrobe changes. I had just caught glimpses of him when different interrogators would come in and try their tactics to see if they could get any information from me.
The more time I spent in the cell, trapped and alone, the more I thought of the Pizza I had picked up from Winners Market I never got to eat before I was abducted. I didn't get to eat dinner so that leaves the last thing I ate being a freaking salad. Worst. Mistake. Ever. By the third outfit change, my left eye lid was swollen shut, my lip busted, and my entire body was sore and bruised. I never said a word to anyone, silently praying to whomever listening for help.
Why was I here?
From what I could concur they were interested in Darwin, my only friend I had made out this way since I moved. I knew he wasn't the best company to keep but I was lonely. I had grown up in a close—knit community and then shunned. I craved connection and didn't care if it was good or bad.
I was alone. My own father chose his community over me. I understood why but I would never completely understand the dedication or loyalty because I wasn't like them.
I existed solely because of Red Moon Allegiance Pack. My father was a shifter and he could shift into a wolf. In fact, we belonged to one of the most powerful shifting communities in the United States. Our Alpha, Martin Daniels didn't take on a mate because he was so obsessed with controlling and harnessing our powers.
It was only when his community began having babies with the humans did, he notice the connection that was causing such an issue along his borders. The children that bore half a human parent weren't granted the honor to be able to shift. They had hyper senses and were stronger than the ordinary human but nothing compared to full blooded shifters.
It was after that realization that the changes started. While they were conscious in the beginning or not, Alpha Daniels is the reason why everyone started disrespecting the Half members of the pack.
The first change was that all full—blooded teenagers from Red Moon go to an academy that's known for its perfection in molding the perfect fighter. Halves were not permitted to go at all. Papers were falsified and the Halves were sent to an all—human school.
But it didn't stop there; it was lawed that if your mate was a half blood, you must reject them on the spot. And if in some extreme case where the Alpha accepts you to be with your half—blood mate, the half didn't have any rights and they weren't allowed to have children.
The halves were a mockery of the Werewolf community. After some other packs heard, they adapted to the Red Moons harsh ways. They just wanted power. Just like Red Moon.
I examined a crack in the cement under me as my mind wandered back to the dreadful day.
The leaves were in that in—between stage where they were turning different colors of yellow, orange, and red leaves with hints of green still lingering in them. I had just put my little car in gear when I watched Ben, my best—friend since we were kids pull up into his driveway. Ben was your all—American boy; he had blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles on his light tan face. He was one of the kids sent to the human school with me. He was flourishing in that environment. He played every sport he could afford to take and was constantly working out.
