The Prophecy

Kara opened her eyes immediately she heard the door opening. Her body tensed, ready to sprint.

"Kara are you..." she sprang up and pushed the person to the floor.

Not bothering to check who, she ran out. She needed to be outside, she needed to run. She didn't stop when she finally got outside, she ran for the woods. She could hear the wings of the Griffin above her as she ran. With an howl she pushed herself harder, daring her Griffin to keep up.

Kara didn't know where she going but felt contented when she got to a clearing with a river. The moon reflected in the water and she stopped. She was tired, she had no idea how many miles she ran. She moved closer and stared at her reflection in the water.

A white wolf stared back at her. This was her wolf and she accepted it. Finally she was one with the wolf, no more hiding. Her fur looked so smooth and her eyes were blue. She felt Griffin land beside her and turned. It was time to go back.

She howl and turned swiftly back to the woods. She ran back happily, she felt free at last. Breeze blew through her fur and the moon lit her way back. She slowed down when she got back to the clearing of the manor and walked to the people standing. They all looked worried, Dimitri was the first to notice her.

He stared at her, his eyes widening slightly. His head bowed subtly when she growled and he knelt before her to stroke her ears.

"Quite the pretty wolf Kara. First white wolf ever seen." He mumbled with worry. How would they take one glance at her and not notice that she was different? That she wasn't like the rest? How would they not know she was The One? But at that moment, he swore allegiance to her. He would give his life to protect her.

She changed back slowly and knelt in front of him. With a laugh, she threw her arms around his neck.

"I feel so much better Dimitri. I feel so free." Kara giggled and pulled away. She stood up and hugged Lily also.

Tears were falling from Lily's eyes. She bawled. "You scared me Kara. I was so worried and scared. I thought you were gone."

Kara laughed and patted her friend. "For the first time, I got a friend. I won't ever leave you. At least not intentionally." She assured the other girl.

Hartridge nodded. He glanced at Dimitri's slouched form. "Why don't you girls go in. Tomorrow is a big day."

They nodded and hurried away, leaving the two men staring after them.

"What did you see Dimitri?" The older man asked.

Dimitri turned and stared unwaveringly. His voice thickened. "I saw an alpha. A very powerful one. We cannot stop or change destiny, the prophecy will run its course."

Hartridge sighed and shoved his hands in his pocket. "Then we'll prepare her for it."

"She is but a child. Why must she pay for it?" Dimitri said in a shaky quiet voice.

Hartridge placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. He led him back to the building.

"Nature is cruel like that. She will suffer for her mother's careless mistake." He sighed.

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A law broken cannot be repaired

The consequences cannot be avoided

A child has been born

Forbidden and cursed

An abomination in the realms

A black spot on a pure heart

Time shall come, said child shall kill

Family and foe

Betrayed by its kin

A rare breed created

A fate that cannot be changed

Friends turn enemies

A plague in their hearts

A family filled with greed

A love beyond bound

But for them to survive

One must die

A sacrifice of true love

Be warned, be told

For fate cannot be changed

The consequences cannot be avoided

The pure hearts shall bleed

Time shall come, said child shall kill

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The ones that listened, heard the whispers in the air. The prophecy blew through the realms, chilling the hearts of the wise.

Anastasia Deville's mug dropped and shattered on the ground has she heard the words that had ruined her life. She clutched her heart and fell to the ground, sobbing. The wind blew strongly against the closed windows of her little cottage. Far from the people, she had lived a lonely life. Paying for the love her heart had felt.

"Haven't I suffered enough? Why does she have to pay because I loved?" She whispered to no one in particular. She was alone.

For years, she had lived alone. Every year she had felt her essence fade little by little. The closer the time came, the more she had lost her mind. She had been abandoned all because she had felt love and had loved. She had lost her child before she could properly hold her to her chest and tell her how much she loved her. And every single day, she remembered the words of the ones she'd once called sisters.

"You chose to defy nature." Bianca had said, venom laced in her words.

Anastasia had pleaded with them. "I fell in love sister."

"Love is not a word of the sisters." Caramel had shoved her to the floor with so much force she hit her shoulder against the table beside.

Elena had said nothing. She hadn't even looked directly at her. Destiny had tried to help her but got scolded by the others. Destiny, the one true human among them had felt pity for her and had understood what it was like to love. But that hadn't changed a thing.

"By our hands, your cursed child shall die. Mark my words Anastasia. I will rip out her heart and hand it to you, your payment for 'falling in love'." Bianca had said finally before leading the rest out.

That had been the last time she had seen or heard from them. They had abandoned her. Exiled her cruelly and so had the rest of the world. She'd heard of Alonzo's marriage after two years and the birth of his son. And so she went to him just once, one final time to ease her heart.

He was running through the woods alone, the same route he always took. He perceived her scent before he saw her.

"Alonzo." She had whispered, afraid to go closer.

He shook his head when he stood before her in his human form. "You are alive."

She nodded and asked. "Our child?"

"Safe." He replied. It was too awkward. He could see she was broken, he wanted to pull her into a hug and assure her that everything would be fine.

"Does she make you happy?" They both knew she was referring to his wife.

He nodded. They both knew she was the only one he truly loved. "She knows of you. She knows you are the one for me and she accepts it. I feel guilty every day knowing that she loves me but I can not truly love her as much."

Anastasia smiled and remarked. "Is it cruel of me to be happy about it? Happy knowing that you still love me even after all that I've done."

"It was not your fault." He stepped closer but she raised her hand to stop him.

"I deceived you about who I was and lied to myself that everything would be alright. Its only fair I paid the price. But promise me one thing Alonzo, promise me that she will be protected always. I want her to live a good life, to be happy."

Right then and there, both their hearts broke. Alonzo understood that this was a goodbye. He tried to step closer but she stop him.

"Dont... I can't... I've done enough. It's best for both of us that I leave this minute." She cried , tears streaming down her face. "I've put you through enough, I can't put you through more."

Alonzo couldn't think of what to do except utter her name. "Ana..."

He had known her as Ana. His Ana. The girl who disappeared for days at times but came back apologising. She'd begged him to understand and he had. He hadn't questioned why she wouldn't marry him. Why she wanted to be kept a secret. She told him it was for the best, that their love was somewhat forbidden. Now Ana... Anastasia Deville, mother of his daughter stood before him. He finally understood her. Her pain. And so he kept quiet, he wouldn't make it harder for her.

She pulled herself together and spoke like she'd been bred to. Like a sister. "Kara will have to make a decision when the time is right. But it's not much of a decision because the choice will be taken from her."

She had known then as she knew now. And with that she made a vow in her own little cottage. Words spoken into the empty air but words that held weight.

"I Anastasia Deville will protect you with all that I have... till my dying breath. I love you Kara, I've always loved you and I'll always love you. Till we meet in pain."

She had understood what the prophecy demanded. It wanted blood as its consequence.