CHAPTER 2

I had never really understood the whole concept of finding a mate, I mean...who came up with that anyway ? how was it possible that I'd meet someone today and instantly know that we were meant to be together for all time? and that if I refuse to be with them, our destinies will forever be ruined.

Then again, what if I didn't want to be chosen by a mate ? what if I wanted to make my own choice? what if I end up having an ugly partner for a mate ? I've seen it happen before, don't the rules say anything about that ? are they even true, or just excuses some bunch of ugly wolves came up with to avoid growing old alone and without anyone to love ? " I mumbled on and on, while my aunt gently brushed my hair.

This was one of those days, when I felt like asking a hundred questions, Luna Lilley often never showed her frustration when I acted like this, but It was only a matter of time before she'd flair up and explode, one thing for sure was I couldn't ask my father, he wouldn't even take it as a joke, maybe I would've asked my mother, but she died when I was born, father hardly talks about her, unless when he's furious with me.

He'd say I'm just as stubborn as she was. I could tell that wasn't everything, just by looking at father I knew I looked more like my mother than he was letting on, she probably had long red hair just like mine, a pointed nose, small lips, big blue eyes and a knack for questioning everything, I wish I had known her, just a little would have been ok, we'd have been crazy together, I just know it. Anyway, that's what aunt Lilley is for, she isn't half as crazy as I am, but she does her best.

Brother on the other hand took right after father. That was yet another thing I couldn't understand, I doubt I could stay so uptight all the time, I'd kick myself straight in the face, '

* donk * the sound of my aunt's knuckles as they met with my unsuspecting skull, " owww " I cringed, trying to pull away, " why'd you do that ? " I questioned her actions.

" Watch how you talk about your father young lady, or the next time it won't just be a knock on your head " she threatened, then I realized, I must have said that last part about dad being uptight outloud. I couldn't argue with her, not if I didn't want a migraine.

" But you're right, he can be a little... uptight.. sometimes " she finally admitted, earning a smirk from me, that ended with the both of us bursting into laughter.

We hadn't been able to get over ourselves when a hand pulled open the flap of the tent and my father appeared in front of us, " if you two are done gossiping, I'd like to tell you something Maple " he said, sounding ever so serious.

" We are dad, what do you want to talk about ? " I asked, getting up from the chair and turning to face my father, knowing the conversationist he was, this should be over quickly.

No words came out surprisingly, strange even for him, even stranger was what happened after, " Theo ? " one of my father's servants appeared beside him, I had known Theo ever since we were children even though we hardly said two words to each other, I just felt he wasn't big on making conversations, ' what was he doing here ? and what role did he play in what my father had in store for me ? '

" Dad ? what's going on ? " I asked, not hiding my confusion.

" You resume your training with Theo tomorrow, he'll teach you how to defend yourself, it's high time you started doing something other than sitting around and making jokes Maple " he said, catching me completely off guard.

" But I'm already training, Goku started teaching me how to fight, I don't need anyone else to... " his stern look was all I needed to keep my mouth shut.

" Goku's gone Maple " he voiced the unthinkable " left to complete his rite of full transition, Theo will be training you now " he said again.

" That was today ? " I couldn't help the surprise, Goku and I had been friends since I could remember, and unlike Theo, him and I were actually real friends, he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye .

" No, but times have changed, the fourth moon is approaching and the clan will need a new alpha..."

" Why didn't you tell me sooner ? " I said, cutting him short " you knew he was leaving today and you kept it from me, am I supposed to pretend that that's okay ? "

" Be quiet Maple " aunt Lilley's voice cautioned

" You'll come to understand why soon enough, for now get ready, your training starts tomorrow " he said again, and with that he turned his back to me.

' I'm not a child anymore dad ! I'm 14, you can't threat me like this !! ' I wanted to yell so badly and scream at the top of my lungs, but I knew better than argue with my father, in the end, I had no choice but to obey him, with Goku gone, I was truly alone, I turned to aunt Lilley, hoping for an assurance that she'd talk father out of it, but I knew she couldn't, only one person could have and I lost her a long time ago.

I burst into tears the moment aunt Lilley walked out of the room, even though I knew crying wasn't going to solve anything, I couldn't believe Goku was gone and without so much as a goodbye.

*****************************

Four years since, not a day goes by when I don't miss Goku, father was right about one thing, I did need the training, it was the only thing keeping my mind off Goku, I got better, faster, stronger, I'd never have been this fast if I'd stayed in my room all day gossiping with aunt Lilley.

I let my sword fly carelessly against the unsuspecting tree bark, I had hoped to hit something else, or rather, someone, this is supposed to be part of my training, the same training father had assigned Theo.

Unlike the othes, Theo was different, he had served our family for so long and had slowly become a part of it. Theo is around my age, a bit taller, a bit older, but despite that, he is one of the most skillful of our fighters, in sword and arm combat.

It may seem surprising that werewolves had to train, learn how to defend themselves, nature had made us almost invisible, but the turning only happens once we attain a certain age, and until then we had to defend ourselves like the humans do. Hence the reason why we had to train.

As the chief's daughter I had certain priviledges, and each time, I made sure I exploited them, the ones I couldn't exploit however, I just found a way around them.

You can already tell that I was a stubborn child, naturally I hated the thought of being controlled by anyone, I just couldn't stand the fact of having someone else make decisions for me.

Dad knew that all too well, he had told me once before that other than having my mother's looks, that was another thing I took from her, her stubbornness.

I could already feel my head throb in anger, I hated losing, and Theo knew that, he dwelt on my weakness as he had always done, since that was the only way he could get me to train, I hated seeing his smirk each time I missed, or couldn't hit him, or when I tripped after he evaded my blow several times.

It wasn't that I lacked skill, I could hold my own in a single combat, but training with Theo made a couple more beads of sweat run down my face, he was that good.

" Had enough ? " he voiced, I could already see the smirk beginning to take form.

I wasn't going to let him win this time, God help me. I swung my sword to my side forcing the dirt to fly off the sharp blade, then wiped the sweat from my forehead.

" I'm just getting started. "