Chapter 10 Lakeside

• *Cali POV*
• “We meet again Golden spark,” the old grey haired prophet says. I don’t really know why he calls me that but it’s always been better than nameless girl everyone used to call me.
• “Eighteen not what you expected. Meeting your wolf will be the same, so will be your mate,” he adds with the same mysterious aura I can never quite figure out. I am yet to meet someone who can understand this old man’s riddles. As an Epsilon he is very respected in the pack. I am very fond of him because he told me when my birthday was, otherwise I would not even know that I turned eighteen today.
• “When is the full moon?” I ask a question that has become very important to me. He is right that eighteen has not turned out the way I anticipated. He is right about most things, probably all but no one fully understands what he means most of the time.
• He studies me for a moment as if deciding if to tell me or not.
• “Please, I need to know,” I plead.
• Leroy is not my mate. I might be homeless and back to slavery soon. My only hope of leaving this pack now is my wolf and discovering my roots and hopefully the scholarship to Fallow.
• The prophet smiles warmly but his next words sink my already shattered heart.
• “Four moons shall pass then the full moon but it’s no sunshine and roses.”
• “Four months!”I cry out. “Can this day get any worse?” I can’t help but lament. I have to wait for four months to meet my wolf.
• “You can’t control the moon but a silver lining you must turn to,” he advises, at least that’s what I think his words are.
• “There is no silver lining here!” I yell and storm away, not willing to listen to him anymore. He can never understand how important this is to me. No one can.
• The sun is still shining bright when I arrive at the lakeside. The birds take off in a spectacular formation that momentarily takes my mind off my throbbing heart. I feel like all my troubles are lifted when I am here. Something about this place soothes my soul.
• Stripping off my clothes and remaining with my panties I jump into the warm water I have been yearning for.
• Floating, kicking and splashing, I am disappointed by how fast the sun sets. It is very peaceful here, I could stay forever if I could.
• “A few more minutes,” I tell myself before diving under the water and coming out on the opposite end where I left my clothes.
• I look around and my clothes are gone! I am frantically looking and even picking up fallen tree branches to look under them.
• “Maybe the wind blew them off,” I think to myself right before a red she-wolf and three big grey he-wolves approach me from all directions.
• I clench my fists, my heart pounding. I am pretty much naked with only my wet panties on but that’s the least of my worries. These are rogue wolves, their strong scent gives them away. Rogues once belonged to packs but were casted out of different packs for different reasons. They are salvage and law unto themselves.
• “I am the Beta of Ruber pack. Stay away from me,” I yell, doing my best to keep a brave front. I just can’t die before meeting my wolf nor do I want to be some rogue’s slave.
• They glance at each other, probably mind linking before turning back to me and keep coming.
• This is not good. I have no chance against one wolf, let alone four. Nonetheless I pick up a stick, ready to fight. It’s pathetic but I won’t go down without a fight. I swing the stick with all my might and hit one he-wolf across the face. The impact sends him flying a few feet away but the rest pounce simultaneously at me, sending my tiny body tumbling to the ground. Completely pinned on the ground with their paws pressing down on my arms and feet, I can’t move. My heart is pounding. Four sets of enraged eyes burrow on me with razor sharp teeth snarling dangerously at me.
• It is suddenly chilly. Darkness engulfs the lakeside or maybe it’s my soul that’s gone pitch black. My body shudders as I come into terms with my destiny. Maybe Diana was right that I am cursed. That is the only explanation I can think off that could assure the hardships and heartbreak that befell upon me.
• I close my eyes shut when the he-wolf I hit growls, ready to pounce at me. He must be pissed off about the scar across his eyes the stick I hit him with left.
• I guess this is my end. Better than being a rogue’s slave right?