Avenge

CIANA

We traveled for two days, fending off countless rogues and earning new scars as we made our way to Dark Mountain. We stayed in our wolf forms, ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice.

We stopped at the summit. Jackson’s tall, powerful wolf frame stood out against the bright-blue sky, and his fierce gaze fixed on the mountain before us.

Looking at him, I couldn’t help but think back to when we were just playful pups, chasing each other through these woods. It felt like a lifetime ago.

We were warriors now, forged in the fire of our trials. With a nod, we started up the mountain, searching for a safe place to set up camp.

“Ciana, I think this spot is good,” Jackson said. “~We’re high enough to have a good vantage point, and the woods are dense enough to keep us covered~.”

“Sounds good to me,” I replied.

We found a good place along the rise to dig out two dens big enough for us each to sleep in. After finishing mine, I shifted into my human form and put on some clothes I found bunched up in the bottom of the backpack.

I sighed. There was so much to process, and I hadn’t had a moment since we left to let everything soak in. The pain of losing my family and my pack was still fresh.

Stepping out of my den, I called out to Jackson. “I’m going to find some provisions.”

“I’ll scout the perimeter,” he replied as he padded out of his den, shaking the dirt out of his fur.

“Just be safe, Jackson,” I pleaded as I hugged his large wolf form.

He nodded and disappeared into the trees.

The surrounding forest was lush and alive with the melodies of birds. The leaves rustled beneath my feet as I walked.

Memories of my father flooded my thoughts. He taught me everything I knew about survival during our camping trips together. His lessons echoed in my mind as I gathered materials for our shelters and headed back.

While Jackson set traps around the camp, I skillfully wove sticks of bamboo together to create beds. Exhaustion settled into my bones as I finished, and with a satisfied nod, I slid Jackson’s bed into his den before crawling into mine.

Using the backpack as a pillow, I curled up in one of the large sleeping bags left behind from our sleepovers in the treehouse and started to drift off.

Before I completely fell asleep, my wolf spoke up, offering words of comfort and strength.

“Ciana, I’m sorry about our parents,” she said.

Tears pricked at my eyes as I let her soothing words wash over me.

“Aella, I don’t know if I have enough strength to make it through this,” I confessed.

She quickly rebuked me with her unwavering confidence.

“You are stronger than you think, Ciana. You will prevail. I believe in you.”

Gratitude swelled in my heart for my wolf companion’s support.

“Thank you, Aella,” I said.

“Goodnight, Ciana,” she whispered.

“Goodnight, Aella,” I responded before drifting off to sleep to the sound of her gentle wolf yawn.

***

The sound of Jackson’s voice, urgent and insistent, broke through the haze of sleep the next morning.

“Ciana, get out here now!”

I scrambled out of my den, heart racing and ready for a fight. But as soon as I stepped into the open air, my breath caught in my throat.

Before me stood what remained of my pack, a once-thriving community now decimated to a handful of battered survivors. My heart clenched at the sight, but I knew I couldn’t show any emotion. Not now. Not when they needed a strong leader to guide them through this tragedy.

“Be alpha. It’s in your blood,” Jackson reminded me through our link.

I smiled at him and stepped before the small group of survivors, my heart heavy with grief but my posture rigid with resolve.

“We have lost brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers. We have lost friends,” I noted, not seeing Charlotte or her family in the crowd. “We have lost our homes.”

My words hung heavy in the air, each syllable weighted with sorrow.

“But we are still here,” I continued. “We are still alive.”

I met each pair of eyes around the circle, seeing pain reflected back at me.

“And we will not go down without a fight! I vow that we will have our vengeance,” I declared, my voice rising with conviction. “We will show the ones that did this that we are strong, and we will not be broken. We will make them pay.”

A surge of energy coursed through the pack as they took in my words, and I could feel their determination swell within me.

“I am your alpha,” I proclaimed. “This is our new pack.”

One of my pack members, Josie, raised her hand.

“What will we be called?” she asked.

“In our hearts, we will always be the Primrose Pack,” I answered, feeling a pang of sadness. “But you’re right. A new pack needs a new name. We will be the Stone Heart Pack. We will be what those monsters turned us into. Everyone, raise your right hand.”

Hands went up around the circle, all eyes and ears intent on me.

“Repeat after me,” I began, saying an oath of loyalty to our new pack.

Every voice rose to repeat it. When we finished, my words were met with cheers, and I felt a glimmer of hope rise within me.

I stepped down and stood next to Jackson.

“That went well, Alpha,” he said, smiling.

“Now all we need is a beta,” I said with a raised eyebrow.

“Who do you have in mind? A few of our former pack warriors managed to survive,” he continued, not catching my hint.

“You, Jackson. I want you to be my beta,” I declared firmly.

“Are you crazy?! I’m an omega,” Jackson protested, elongating the last word.

“You’re my best friend. There is no one I trust more than you,” I assured him.

He hesitated.

“Okay. Only for you, I’ll accept,” he said as he pulled me into a hug.

We pulled apart and looked out over our weary pack. The journey had taken its toll on all of us, both physically and emotionally. I knew Jackson and I would do our best to protect them and make this home. They were counting on us.

“We have a lot of work to do,” I mused.