SHADOWS OF DESTINY

She hung at the back of the group knowing her first shift was finally about to happen- a moment she had longed for most of her life, and her heart raced in anticipation.

'Are you ready Kendra?' Her childhood best friend Lira asked, her eyes twinkling with joy, as she stood next to Kaida, her golden hair aglow beneath the nocturnal light.

After inhaling much needed air, Kaida felt her senses sharpen, more so than the previous moments. 'I think so. I mean, I have trained for this, but still, it is overwhelming. Even thinking about it.'

'What is there to be worried about babe? You will be fantastic! Like your father ' Lira encouraged her and held her hand to motivate her even more. 'You were made for this.'

Looking back at the pack and recognizing a lot of faces gave Kaida a sense of achievement, but also made her a bit paranoid. Alpha Kaida's father was standing at the far away clearing and he was so imposing and powerful in gaze. He stretched out his arms to the sides motioning for everyone to be silent and the muttering excited crowd came to a stop.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I take this opportunity to request your attention as we warm- up the stage for the first shift of my daughter, Kaida." He paused for a moment closing his eyes and breathing in several times. "She is a rare white wolf, a pure feminine strength. Let's have some fun with this one!"

The pack cheered riotously, mixing their voices with the surrounding nature. There was a warmth that spread in Kaida's chest but a small voice at the back of her head caused some hesitations. Was she really prepared for this? Did she have the right to carry on her father's legacy?

"Let the moon take you Kaida," her father's voice echoed in her mind in a soft manner.

She took a decisive bow and stepped forward as the ethereal glow of the moonlight enveloped him. The cool earth beneath her paws provided a calming effect as she closed her eyes and concentrated. There was a pull, an energy around her, a night full of magic that encouraged her to embrace who she really was.

A thrill accompanied her as she let go of the transformation. Bones adjusted, muscles expanded, fur emerged, and she became a glorious beast instead of a mere woman. When she could finally see after that, she was in wolf's skin, her white fur glittering with relief under the clearest moonshine.

"Wow how cute! Kaida!" Lira could only say in astonished voice, "You are a great gift" Kaida also suddenly felt a new thrill of boundless freedom.

Kaida took a first step and her veins filled with a strange warmth as if she was breathless from the excitement. The smell of pine and earth greeted her; she listened carefully to the sound of leaves swaying in the wind and remembered the calls of animals hiding in the dark. It was simple sheer joy.

Nonetheless, as she reveled in her newfound sense of self, an abrupt turn of events caught her off guard. At the far end of the clearing, Julian, the Alpha's son, stood with his back turned. Dark orbs studied her. An amused smirk stretched across his face as he advanced with an infuriatingly charming air.

"It's adorable to see the baby wolf break out," he let out with faint cockiness laced in his voice.

Kaida felt something deep within her ignite and she could not understand why she was feeling that way. "What do you want, Julian?" She tried to sound calm, but the tension in the air was palpable.

"There's been a lot of talk about the rare white wolf, so I had to make a trip,'' he stated, his voice smooth as satin.

"Perhaps you should be changing into your own wolf rather than pestering me," she retorted and walked away from him.

But Julian wasn't done. "You know, I will be the one who gets to mate with you. It's just a question of time." he said most possessively.

"Die, dream on!" anger fighting back no will to remain calm Kaida barked out. "I don't need you!"

Lira crowded Kaida to shield her, an automatic response to Julian that was evident. "Let go off her, Julian. Clearly, she is not interested."

Julian merely laughed, dismissing their attempts at defiance. "Do you really imagine you can run away from such a fate? Just wait till the ceremony. You will see how you will feel."

Kaida's heart began to flutter at the notion as her stomach twisted. The mating ceremony was something every female in the pack had looked forward to since time immemorial. Until now, a glorious picture that being united with Julian had a chain binding to some unappealing years down the line.

As Kaida walked away, there was a sickening knot that formed in her stomach. The happy moments turned to laughter as the celebration went on around her, but the twinge of anxiety that had nestled in her heart remained. She spun to Lira, unable to contain her vexation. "I can't believe this guy thinks he can just come along and take me."

"Don't pay attention to him, Kaida. You can always say no," Lira said, this time her voice strong yet calm.

But Kaida was not able to calm her mind; thoughts burgeoned, swirling in a mass of complexity. There were too many expectations about life more than how it actually was, making her feel contained in a circle that dampened her spirits. "What if I'm not strong enough to oppose this? And this is what I am meant to do?"

"Your destiny is not determined; it that you have control over," Lira shouted back, anger blazing in her eyes. You're stronger than that."

At that very moment, a sudden wave of sudden and inexplicable cold rushed through the force and brought an abrupt end even to the sounds of laughter and merry swaying. The warm breathable air filled with an unease and almost dead silence. Kaida's instincts took over, a warning deep within her mind.

"What's going on?" Kaida said, her voice barely above a whisper, and her body stiffened as her fur fluffed up.

A low rumbling snarl emanated from the dark, sending tendrils of terror through her. The pack stirred for battle, their bodies trying to adjust to the posture, as if bracing themselves before an attack while danger was already present beyond the tree line.

"Keep up!" her father uttered, pinching together his lips under the strain as he saw the tension mounting around them. A defensive formation was occupied by the pack while each member was scanning the blackness around.

Kaida's heart was pounding hard in her chest as she forced herself to look into the darkness. The tension in the air was almost electric and heavy, providing a monstrous climax to the evening. Without warning, out of the blackness, a dark shape appeared, signifying malevolence.

"Ah, the beautiful white wolf," a timberous voice resounded through the glade. "I have come for you, Kaida Dhera. The time is nigh to reclaim your birthright."

Kaida sucked in a quick breath, feeling as if she was about to choke. "Who do you think you are?" she questioned, the firmness in her voice not matching the fear that threatened to pour out from within her.

Light fell upon the figure, revealing that it was a man and he was tall, with an intense stare that burned with an almost luminescent glow. "I am the herald of your demise. You, however, have no idea how much greater than this my mission is, my sweet."

The pack snarled as one, instinctively shielding their own. As confusion and fear washed over her, Kaida was acutely aware of the thumping of her heart in her chest. "What could you possibly want with me?"

"Vampire arrogance knows no bounds," he shook his head, a cruel smile on his lips. "I have waited centuries for this moment. You carry the mark of the moon, dear. Your fate is of a higher calling than you can fathom."

Before Kaida could voice what was unbearable, the surrounding air felt as if it was altered. A darkness that seemed to creep across the trees, caressed her ears with the sweet temptations of the night. Almost immediately, the earth rumbled beneath the two, and a frigid gust of wind flowed into the clearing, snuffing out the flames that had previously decorated their assembly.

"Kaida!" her father yelled out, worry evident in his tone. "Get back!"

But obviously, it was already too late. The figure drew himself, and energy blasted in a wave, surrounding Kaida and the pack in swirls of force. As she was dragged into the void, one thought occupied her mind this was just the start.

It was like someone took a picture and was bright. Everything was the black.