Chapter 2 The Condition

• Katie’s POV
• I gave her the shiny jewelry, and mama grabbed it really fast. I almost tumbled and fell, but Khalid was there to help me before I could bump my bum on the ground. While mama grabbed the pretty necklace, I peeked at her face, and it held this sadness I didn't understand.
• "This is too much! What did she ever do that was so wrong? She just didn't wolf out! Maybe she's a late bloomer!" Khalid was now angry too. Showing his long and sharp fangs towards our parents. Papa growled and showed his fangs too. "You dare show your fangs at me!? YOUR ALPHA. You may be my son, but I am still the leader of this pack, and you follow MY orders."
• Khalid got scared 'cause papa looked really mean right now. Of course my brother is scared; he's only twelve. Papa let out a low growl as Khalid whimpered. My brother's knee was on the ground 'cause of the super scary feeling papa gave off.
• "Oh no, Khalid!" I yelled as I turned around and sat, reaching out for his hand. What happened to him? One arm was on the ground, and the other was on his chest. As if something is attacking him. I try to console him, but it seems like Khalid is still in pain. Feeling so powerless, I stood up and faced the leaders of our pack, our parents..
• "Stop it! Just stop all of this!" I begged for the sake of my brother, and now I really wailed.
• "K-khan.." I heard Khalid whisper in a quiet voice. When I see his eyes, it changes from Khalid's eye to the color of the sun. I think it is called yellow. I want to ask him who is Khan but papa called my name.
• He looked at me with his super serious face, and I felt like I was in big trouble.
• "According to our rules, it's your family's duty to send you to the forest as punishment for not wolfing out on your fifth birthday.
• But!"
• He stopped talking for a little while.. And it was super quiet. I got kinda scared.
• Really.. Really scared. Waiting for what he has to say in silence.
• "I have no interest in wasting my time to personally drop you there. So, here's the deal.
• Walk on your own; I'll forgive Khalid's offense."
• I didn't fully understand what he said, but I think that I needed to be punished? Maybe not wolfing out is a big sin. Since he also says he will forgive Khalid if I go to the dark forest.
• Khalid gasped and tried his best to shake his head to say no. Papa made it clear that an Alpha had no mercy on someone who hadn't wolfed out, even if it was his own daughter and to her supporter.
• Even though my brother kept on shaking his head, he suddenly screamed and howled in pain. My eyes are shaking, and I look from my parents to Khalid. Not knowing what to do. My mind wasn't capable of thinking beyond my brother's safety. "Please don't hurt Khalid; I'll go."
• I got up, hardly balancing my weight on my wobbly legs, and glanced at my family for one last time. I think I just need to walk inside the scary woods that papa points out.
• "Take care, brother. I love you.." I gave Khalid another peek, and he was crying nonstop.
• "Leave!"
• Papa yelled really loudly, making me run away fast. Even though I was hurrying, I could still hear Khalid's whimpers, like he was trying to say, 'Wait!'
• It was like the Moon Goddess was watching over us, and I'll always remember how my brother cared about me, even if things got really bad.
• I walked really brave, thinking that I'm a superhero, but the scary feeling was tickling me all over when I went into the dark forest.
• Even though I'm still five, I know this place is super scary. Everybody knows. Wolves just poofed away here, like magic! Mama always told me spooky stories to make sure I never came close. But guess what? I'm actually in here now, and it's giving me the shivers. But, weirdly, deep down, I feel like my big brother Khalid is now safe. As if I have instincts as a superpower.
• Slowly breathing out, not knowing that I was holding my breath this entire time. Maybe it is okay for me to turn around and head back. After all, Papa didn't say anything about not going back.
• With a resolve to return, my body slowly turned around, but that's when I heard some low, scary growls. Quivered in fear for my life, my feet didn't dare to move a step. My family had not taught me how to fight yet. They pampered me in those five years.. Now, I miss those happy times.
• As much as I want to daydream, I was shocked when I saw a little creature with a yucky face and big eyes like a small ball. It was a little taller than me. It jumped out from the bushes and I stayed super still, holding my breath. I hoped it would just go away, but it didn't.
• It smiled all creepy, and it had big, scary claws like a wolf, like Papa's, but not really the exact thing. The creepy thing came close to me and crawled all slow. Taking its time. I figured out why Papa didn't bother to worry if I came back. He thought I wouldn't..
• I tried to run real fast and got scratches from pointy branches, and it hurts a lot. There's blood, and it's dropping to the ground. My whole body feels sticky and slimy, but I keep on running. The only problem is that I was very unlucky since the ugly creature jumped on me. I punched it and tried to get away, but it was too strong. It grabbed my neck and tried to hurt me. Coughing really hard, I keep on slapping its wrinkly arms. I closed my eyes, and it felt like I was gonna be gone forever..
• Then I feel my fingers moving as my arms and legs shiver from the cold breeze.
• When I opened my eyes, a tall person was there. He wore a fancy black cloak, like a prince from those cartoons that I adored. The ugly creature did not move in his hand anymore as he threw it away with force.
• The tall man was staring at me with his beautiful red eyes. His hair was super black, the same color as when I closed my eyes. With a voice like a prince, he spoke, "Wait for me; I'll come and get you the day before your eighteenth birthday."
• That was the last thing I heard, as it sounded more like a lullaby than a promise.