1 Chapter 1 My Last Practice

…..My calves were burning but I pressed further into the unknown forest a small area of light. I had to get out of here. I had to reach the light, to escape the creature chasing me. I heard a twig snap and my heart started to beat faster. It was getting close and it seemed like the light was only getting farther but I didn't stop I continued on running as fast as I could go I was gonna make it. I tried to look back but in doing so I tripped…..

I woke up sweating like crazy. I grabbed my phone to check the time: 4:30 am. Ugh! I got out of bed and made my way downstairs to the kitchen to get some water. As I was filling my glass my best friend and brothers mate Elaine walked in. "Have the nightmare again?"

"Yup." I took a drink and looked down at the tile floor.

"Oh Akira, I wish there was something I could do."

I smiled "I know El, me too. I'm gonna go get ready to train. It's my last day for it."

"Ok, you know having a mate isn't that bad. Well, maybe morning breath." We started laughing not noticing my brother in the doorway.

"Hey! It's not that bad." He walked toward El wrapping his arms around her. I walked out smiling and shaking my head. Time to train….

It's taking me a bit longer than usual to get ready. Someone had taken my training shoes and tied them to a tall branch in a tree.

"ALEKI!!! Why are my shoes in a tree." I looked back at the door to see my brother who was laughing like a buffoon.

"I couldn't help it they begged me to do it."

"Oh uh-huh sure?" I shook my head and jumped onto the tree climbing to retrieve my shoes. I looked below me and Aleki was on the ground laughing. I will show him. I climbed down the tree as quietly as I could and got low to the ground and hid behind a bush.

I could hear my brother getting up. "Akira? You still in the tree? Akira!?"

He started heading closer, I readied myself to pounce. But he managed to move to the side resulting in me landing face-first into the ground.

"Ugh. Aleki!"

I got up wiping away the dirt shaking my head and walked towards the woods. I went to my favorite tree, grabbed my bag from the cubby hole and stripped my clothes putting them in the bag then put it back into the tree. I then thought of my wolf form and in a split second was a wolf. I jumped around happily, my pure white fur moving in the wind. I took off in a full sprint and put all my thoughts into training. My thoughts soon turned to memories.

…" Mommy! Mommy! Look what I made you." I jumped up and down proud of my little creation. Four stick figures each with our names above. I ran and handed it to her. She smiled and scooped me up hugging my small frame.

"Oh Akira, it's amazing it deserves to be in an art gallery." She put me down and went to put it in the fridge along with all my other pictures. She turned back to me smiling. "Are you hungry?" I nodded and tried to jump up onto the chair but missed slipping to the floor. My mom ran over and scooped me up looking all over, I giggled trying to wiggle out of her grasp. "Mommy, I want mac'n'cheese." She laughed but put me down on the chair and started making my favorite food. I started to play with the silverware when Aleki came in and sat in the chair beside me. Mommy turned and smiled at him then went back to cooking. He turned to me with an evil looking grin he brought his hand up and put something in front of me. A spider crawled towards me and I screamed. "GET IT AWAY!!" Mommy turned around and grabbed the spider just in time before it got to me. I looked over at Aleki who was laughing at me. "That was mean." Just as he was going to say something Daddy ran into the house looking worried. "Get to the basement now." He grabbed me and ran towards the stairs Aleki following behind. Once we made it to the basement Daddy put us in a room and locked us in. I started panicking and Aleki tried everything he could think of to calm me but it didn't work. We stayed in there for a week before we were found by another pack member. I was coloring another picture for mommy when we heard the door unlock and the knob rattle. Aleki got in front of me and growled protectively. "Shhh. It's fine. It's Alpha Kyle. Your uncle." We breathed a sigh of relief and I ran up to hug him. "Where are Mommy and Daddy?" I looked at him quizzically and he looked sad. We walked to his home and sat in his living room. His mate Pearl held onto me after she gave me a Popsicle. Aleki grabbed my hand as if knowing what was about to be said. "I am so sorry, but your parents are gone. Murdered by rogues." He looked at my brother and ushered him to go to his office to speak. Aleki is 13 and understands more than my 5-year-old mind can. They had been in there a while but when they came out Aleki looked more grown-up than ever. "We are leaving. Don't worry we will be back. But we are going somewhere safe for now. Come let's go pack our bags." I looked at Pearl tears at the edge of her eyes. I got off her lap and followed Aleki, my small body trying to keep up but couldn't really comprehend what was going on….

It's been 12 years and I can still remember that day as if it was yesterday. We moved back about 2 years ago. That's when I met Elaine she was a year older than me but we became friends instantly. Even though we look completely different we are more so the same. She is blonde with light skin and I have dark brown hair with tanned skin. When I brought her to meet Aleki he seemed very intrigued by her and always tried to steal her away. It weirded her out, although she liked the attention she never gave in and always hung out with me. She turned 17 last year and realized that she and Aleki were true mates. True mates are very rare these days and I was excited to see it happen in my lifetime. I finally came to my favorite clearing with a small lake. I decided to jump in to cool off. Swimming around for a while I began to notice the sun shining higher and decided to head back home. After shaking my fur out to dry I darted for home running straight for the glass doors to my room I used my muzzle to slide them open. Going into the bathroom to wash off.

I stepped out of the shower wrapping my towel around me. I got dressed in something simple and went downstairs to get some mac'n'cheese, then went into the living room plopped down on the couch to watch tv and just hang out by myself. My brother had planned a surprise date for him and his mate. I got up off the couch and turned the tv off as I turned to take my bowl into the kitchen. I had just put the bowl into the sink when I heard them laughing coming into the house.

"Akira, We are home."

"I know. Did you guys have fun?"

"Oh we sure did, I even convinced Aleki to take me shopping!"

El smiled while pulling out the most beautiful dress I have ever seen.

"Oh, wow El, this is amazing. I love it. Thank you" I ran to my room eager to try it on. El followed to help me out. Even though I don't want to be caught that doesn't mean I can't look my best. It fit perfectly and hugged my curves so well. I took it back off carefully and laid it across the chair in my room.

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Waking up to the sunrise and birds chirping I glanced over at the chair one more time to look at my beautiful dress. I smiled getting out of bed and made my way to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the big day. Today is the mating ceremony, where wolves from 17-23 partake in a day filled with events to find a mate.

It first starts with a big speech, then the introductions and ratings of each wolf. Each wolf is rated on beauty in human and wolf form, then we are rated on strength, skill, and speed. Tests that have been given to us weeks in advance. Although we won't know our own rank until then. After being ranked there is a ball that is held for us wolves to get to know others more and hopefully find our true mates. True mates are rare and you would be lucky to find them. Finally the last event is the chase. A truly barbarous event where males are allowed to hunt us like prey. But if you can make it to the end, the finish line you are free for another year. This will be my first year and I'm going to make it. I will not be caught.

I turned the water off, wringing out my hair. Stepping out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself I could hear Elaine humming in the bedroom. Slowly opening the door Elaine was dancing around the room getting everything ready to make me shine.

"Oh my, I hadn't even noticed the water turn off. Are you ready for today?" She smiled, pulling the chair to be in front of her, patting the back for me to sit down. She got started on my hair first curling and pulling it into a beautiful curly braided bun, with a few strands left to hang that framed my face perfectly. Next came my make-up and before long it was time for the dress. Standing up and walking over to the mirror the first thought that came to mind was wow. I noticed Aleki standing in the doorway, tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.

"You look just like Mom! Beautiful!"

Tears threatened to come out but I held them back, I smiled at him.

The doorbell rang signaling it was time for me to go. Hugging my brother and Elaine I went to leave, my suitcase ready for me at the door. One last wave behind me as I sat in the limo ready to get this over with.