1 The Beginning

For some reason, the sun refuses to shine at it's brightest when tragedy strikes. Perhaps it does shine, but we are too occupied with our thoughts to notice it. However, I was determined to not miss the sun shining, no matter how hard the situation would prove to be, the one thing I would not steal from myself was the sun, it had been given to me freely after all. My wish was fulfilled and I was not happy with the result.

Our community had been declared suspects in the strangest case to ever be brought before the Alpha. We were being tried for treason- at least that is what I thought- and the blaring sun was scorching my back and my arms. I was sweating, my legs were shaking, I was standing before an Alpha and I would probably be killed by the time the sun decided to give me break yet all I could think of was how tired I was. I really wanted to sit down. And I was wondering if this wish would be granted too.

The Alpha called my name, I lowered my head and stepped forward, five small steps in total, then I stopped. I knew the questions I would be asked and I had practiced my answers. This would be perfect, easy. I wouldn't betray anyone if all I did was stick to simple truths. I was ready.

"How long have you known Terry?". He asked.

He sounded calm, too calm for my liking. It almost seemed like he was trying not to scare me.

" I've known him all my life, Alpha." My answer came out with a tiny squeak at the end. This was not going according to plan.

"Did you know that he was an Alpha?". Again his voice was calm.

I was not about to make the same mistake as before, so I cleared my throat before answering, "No Apha, I found out two days ago."

This time, I knew my voice was at the right pitch, if I was not being interrogated by a scary man I would have fist bumped the air, or smiled. I settled for relaxing my shoulders instead, that would be enough for a victory dance for now, I would celebrate fully later.

"I see," the alpha paused, "tell me how you found out."

That was a command, yet it felt like a request. On normal occasions I should have felt an immense pressure to obey him, yet the pressure was not enough to phase me. I did not know how to deal with this.

"Yes alpha." I replied feeling more composed. I was ready for this, I had practiced. I had replayed the scene from two days ago over and over in my mind to the point where all I could think about was that scene. That terrifying scene.

"Two days ago," I started, " Terry and I were going to the main square to buy a toy for my little sister. When we entered the gates to the main square we saw a group of kids out age laughing at something one of them had said, we didn't pay much attention to them. But they started acting strange. One of the kids from the group turned to us, scented the air, gave a low growl as if pained and then turned to the others. By then, half the group had noticed that something was happening to their friend, so they turned to us too. Then as if they were possessed, they too scented the air and gave low growls."

By this time, the alpha was beginning to get uncomfortable, I could tell because he had shuffled his feet. For some reason, I loved that I had made him uncomfortable, indirectly.

"I was terrified, I had never seen anyone react like that to someone's scent before. Terry looked annoyed but I can't really speak for him,"

"Just focus on what you saw." The alpha cut me off.

His voice was less calm and more annoyed, it felt like he had the upper hand again. I didn't like it.

"Of course, Alpha. Around the same time, Jackson showed up, as he was walking towards the group, he abruptly stopped. He turned to us too, and when he spotted Terry, he started growling. He made his way towards us in angry strides and stood right in front of Terry. He asked Terry who he was, but I could tell that he was trying to intimidate him. When Terry did not reply, Jackson punched him." I said the last part in a rush, I was terrified again.

"Terry responded with a punch of his own, after that I could not tell what was going on. I had seen people fighting before but it was the first time I had seen them fighting to kill. I...I was confused."

" Before I knew it, Terry had pinned Jackson down, and that was when people came to break them apart." That had been my practiced answer. I couldn't take any of those words back, and at this point I had accepted whatever punishment I would be given by the scary man in front of me.

They called it treason, but truly none of us knew how it could possibly be treason. Terry was born and raised in this town, the Alpha knew him, knew his parents, his siblings. How could he say that keeping Terry's status hidden was treason. None of us knew he was an alpha, shouldn't that have been obvious?

"I see," He said, then continued to ask, "Did it ever occur to you that he was of a higher status?"

"No."

"You're dismissed."

I would have said thank you, if I had not started feeling terrified again.

This was my chance to go hide somewhere, or sit somewhere, whichever came first. All I knew was that I did not want to be anywhere near the Alpha. His calm attitude had only spooked me. So I headed home. I'd have to stay in the sun for a few more minutes but I had to get home and hide, sit, probably hide first.

Jackson was the Alpha's son, he was an heir, this meant he was born with physical abilities superior to ours. Without trying so hard to, he could easily overpower us. Terry included. That is how it was supposed to be. So for Terry to defeat Jackson, for everyone in the Town square to acknowledge Terry as an alpha through his scent alone was wrong.

That was why our community was being tried for treason.

Our communities never interacted unless it was during a massive celebration or funeral, so sometimes we could go for months without going to the town square. In Terry's case, it had been 3 years. That is why, according to the alpha, we had been hiding Terry's status on purpose. Although in truth, no one in our community had noticed. Not even his parents.

Not that it mattered. We would be punished. And I was determined to get some rest before that happened.

By the time my parents came back from the hearing - that's what I will call it - I was well rested. I discovered after I had found a nice hidden place to sit that looking to such a nice place was a bad idea. I was resting, and I was feeling fairly safe, so my brain had decided it was the perfect time to review the days activities, and to torment me. Thanks to that I had spent the better part of my afternoon fantasizing about the worst case scenarios, and how I would be able to deal with them. This led me to the brutal realization that I was completely helpless and powerless. Accepting my fate was the only option I had. I wanted to curse my fate. I would if I received more bad news.

That is how my parents found me. They did not look too sad, on the contrary, they looked relieved.

Mother acknowledged my presence by giving me a small smile. Father patted me on the back and they made their ways past me. They did not want to discuss what ever had happened just yet, I knew that, but I was too curious to know.

"What did the Alpha say?" My voice came out too eager, a hint of dread in it, even I could feel it.

Maybe it sounded desperate enough because Father stopped and turned to face me. The faint smile still on his face, "You won't let your Father sit first, my dear?"

"You know I normally do that, Father, but I am too nervous," his smile got sadder, "I feel like we've been doomed, what did he say? Please tell me."

I could tell, he wanted to share the news, I could also tell that he did not know how to tell me. He shared a look with Mother and she turned to me. "Are you ready for the worst? I know you always picture the worst case scenarios."

"I am."

"Well, Bella, we're leaving. Our community has been exiled." She paused, whether to let the shocking news sink in or to read my reaction, I had no idea. " Our community recognized Terry as our Alpha and we did not realize, as it is, we are already two territories governed two different Alphas. This was the best decision that could have been made,"

A few moments passed, I realized my parents were waiting for my response. I had none, but I knew I had to reply. What did they want me to say? What would someone say in this situation? Why were they still waiting? Wasn't there something else they wanted to add, something that would help me make sense of their words?

"Bella, say something."

"Terry isn't an Alpha, I've known him my whole life."

"It happened subconsciously, my love."

"What does he even know about leading, you expect an unmated eighteen year old to lead you into exile?"

"This was not our decision."

"Clearly! You all just accepted it! This is a disaster! Where will we go? We'll die out there."

"You're saying that like we're all puny creatures, Bella. We will survive."

"I don't want to survive, am not leaving!"

I was the only one getting agitated though. My parents still looked calm. Like they knew more than I did. I got up to leave the house when my father spoke again,

"You won't die, believe it or not, Terry is strong. He'll protect you. Where we're going is a deserted place, but we'll survive. Before you do anything irrational, remember that."

With that he went to their bedroom, mother game me a small smile and followed. I was left standing in the living room thinking of my possible options. Again I realized how utterly powerless and useless I was.

"Curse you fate, curse you."