His Eyes

Myranda was confused when the gold light around her faded and she was looking out into a field she didn't recognize staring out into the distance where small pups were rolling around and playing tug of war. Hell, some of them were just trying out transforming between human and wolf back and forth.

This was not a memory she recognized, and it felt uncomfortable.

"Sit here until I return. Try not to make a mess of things," a female's voice rang out. When she turned to look at who it was - the face was blurry, but she was certain it was the late Luna - Metas' "step" mother as it were.

"Yes, mother" she replied obediently and kept her gaze solid and unwavering ahead like a statue.

Her heart hurt, and even though she wanted to cry, her eyes somehow just wouldn't.

This must have been Metas' past, and it was feeling very similar to her own.

Despair was sitting in until a clear, bright greeting was given to 'him' by a pure white wolf with bright blue eyes.

"Hey there - whacha doin'?"

"Waiting for mother to return." Myrana replied without commanding herself to do so.

"Oh. You look like a statue... are you the prince?" The white pup continued annoyingly.

"Yes."

"Huh. This looks boring. Want some company? I can also sit still like a statue, wanna see?"

"....Yes...." Myranda said in reply.

"Yessss - check this out. I'm even gonna pick a pose!" The young girl said with enthusiasm, which caused Myranda to feel a bit of relief and joy. She even gave a chuckle.

"I'm Lara by the way. I know you didn't ask, but it didn't seem fair that I know your name."

Myranda merely blinked, and it was as though the entire scene changed in an instant once her eyes opened again.

This time she was sitting in front of Ajax, who was a bit smaller than the form she was in (which was really weird considering Metas was Ajax's younger brother). The grey wolf beamed and sat up tall as if to assert some authority.

"Well, I feel like calling you 'little' prince wouldn't be accurate..." the younger version of the grey male she knew said with a laugh.

Myranda said nothing, and sat frozen with rigorous discipline.

"You can relax, Metas. Your parents aren't here. My name is Ajax, and this is Gerald. We're going to be your training partners. The Alpha hand-picked us himself, so I'd like to think I'm pretty qualified," the older wolf said with pride.

Myranda didn't even feel her face move. It was like she was a statue or cold piece of iron incapable of feeling.

"Uhg. You're not even qualified to run a room of pups, Ajax..." Gerald quipped from the side, which earned him a shove that knocked him over.

"Hush. That wasn't my fault." Ajax said in defense.

Myranda merely quirked her head to the side as though she were asking a question, but before any words came out, she found herself rushing through what felt like water as darkness turned in and out to reveal new surroundings.

It was a ball room. It was large, had beautiful chandeliers and candles floating about, as well as strings of lights that decorated each fancy table. It looked so grand, she was confused on why she felt so sad and bitter.

Then, there was applause from the center of the room where Silas, Harbinger, and the Alpha himself stood proudly as they bragged about the young wolf's accomplishments.

"Today we celebrate my best student, and the Alpha's hand-picked choice to become Captain of the Guard - Silas. He has overcome all the trials and test needed to be the best Captain, and when I die, I hope he can take over as General." Harbinger spoke in his pure white form that stood on two legs.

Wow, he certainly looked a lot different in the past.... A lot stronger.... a lot more handsome. A lot more threatening.

"Who knows, maybe I can teach our prince a thing or two, isn't that right, Metas?" Silas said with a brag and mockingly toasted to the young male who was sitting at a table with Ajax, Lara, and Gerald. They were all rather sullen, but they faked a grin.

"...I hate that guy..." Lara grumbled and looked towards Myranda with pity. "....Later, we can go to the forest and have a real party," Lara offered brightly.

"We got you a present....something you'll really like." Ajax hinted.

"I just want to add, it was my idea - and I was the one who went into the dirty tunnels to pick it up," Gerald added.

"Don't let him ruin a good party, Metas. You know how it can be up here," Lara said softly and reached over to put a hand on his shoulder.

....but she felt upset. It was supposed to be a party for a birthday, not a celebration of a rank-up. It must have been the Alpha's plan all along to make it look like the elegant set-up was for the prince, but really it was a thin veil to praise Silas.

"By the way, thank you for sharing this moment with me, my prince. I can't wait to serve at your side. It was more than gracious to share your birthday celebration with me. We have a kind and generous budding leader," Silas went on in a mockery that could be felt into the depths of the soul.

Myrand could feel her lower lip quiver, and as her glass raised up, the world turned around her frantically and before she even realized it, the same hall was lit up again with different colors, and different races of mythics speaking to one another.

They had cheered something....

"So, are you going to try to get lucky with the unicorn princess? Isn't your dad prodding you to get married yet?" Vincent asked with annoyance as he stood next to Myranda who was broodily leaning against the wall.

"No. Her hair smells too....fragrant? Is annoying." Myranda said in Metas' voice.

"What about Marcelia?" Vincent prodded and pointed to a gorgeous, pale woman with dark black hair and red eyes.

"No, she stinks of death. Also, not good plan....she is the daughter of the Vampire Lord. No truce would make that marriage work." Myranda sighed in boredom.

"Pfft, I hear old Al'Hazier is quite fed up with having his eldest daughter at home - maybe it would make the truce stronger," Vincent replied playfully.

"No.... there is something else out there for me."

"Not this fated mate stuff again, Mets..." Vincent groaned.

"Yes, fated mate stuff again. I swear I got whiff of her twice now. Once when I was younger, and just today when Silas' mate passed by."

"Did that fuck-face steal your mate now, too? I'm not working with him. He's slimy. There is something off about him. I hope you've taken my advice and moved out to a better place, or at least a different bed each night. Trust me, my uncles were quite relentless in wanting my father dead." The Dragon Prince said with a bit of concern.

"Yes. I took your advice, it is good. Lara and Ajax know where to find me should you need me." Myranda answered in Metas' strong, cold tone.

She felt so lonely. She felt so isolated, and angry. There was nothing that had cut so deep before (or in this body, it seemed). As she looked through his golden eyes, she saw the Alpha and Luna walking around together with bright smiles and with Harbinger and Silas at their sides.

Her heart ached. What would she have to do in order to get approval from her own parents?

As she shifted her gaze away, the natural motion blur from her eyes moving pushed her into another place and time where she was sitting on a stone-like table and spreading peanut butter on a roll.

...the rolls  Myranda had made...

(So that's what happened to that extra jar of peanut butter....damn it she owed Jyriah an apology.)

She could even taste the food that entered her mouth, but for some reason it tasted a lot better than she remembered. A feeling of sadness, happiness, and pain all together jumbled in her chest. All she wanted was to hold.....herself....

All Metas had ever wanted was acceptance, love, and loyalty. Just like herself. To feel the anguish she put him through right now was unbearable, and this time - when she wanted to cry, she did.

It felt so good, too. Like she had never cried before in her entire life kind of good. The relief was immeasurable. These feelings - the rivers of tears, they were all so extreme from being bottled away for decades.

Goddess, she wanted to hold him now, and tell him he'd never be alone again....