Recent Time….
At seventeen Victoria and Vera are almost adults. Victoria, being the star child that mingled with children of higher members of the pack and making friends with them, got her parents' contract. George and Samantha were able to earn higher and become a higher middle class family and moved higher in the pack.
Victoria and her friends raced through the wilderness with the grace and speed of the wind. Transformed into their formidable wolf forms, they moved with a fluidity and agility that surpassed even the most skilled hunters.
As they closed in on their prey, a mountain lion that was trying to hunt for food decided to play a cruel game with it. Francesca, with her fiery red fur and sharp wit, laughed mischievously as they ran.
"Hahaha, I think it's getting tired," Francesca remarked, her voice filled with amusement as she glanced back at her friends. "Nah, let's taunt it a little more," Jordan, a sturdy and dependable member of the pack, suggested, as his eyes were alight with excitement.
Beverly, with her shiny black fur and piercing gaze, nodded in agreement. "I love making my prey think they've got a chance. It makes the victory all the sweeter," she chimed in, playing a smirk at the corners of her lips.
Victoria, with her golden fur and fierce determination, grinned at her friends' enthusiasm. "Hahaha, you're alright. Let's give our little prey what it feels like to be hunted," she declared, her voice tinged with anticipation.
With that, they resumed their chase, their powerful legs propelling them forward with astonishing speed. They leaped from tree to tree, their movements were fluid and precise as they closed in on the mountain lion.
As they neared their quarry, Victoria could sense the fear emanating from the mountain lion, its once confident strides faltered as it struggled to keep pace with its relentless pursuers. And as they circled their prey, her heart raced with excitement, knowing that victory was within their grasp.
"Looks like our little prey is getting tired, run pet, run," Victoria remarked, narrowing her eyes as she prepared to make her move. With a powerful leap, she launched herself from a nearby tree, extending her claws mid-air as she descended upon the mountain lion with lethal precision. And in one swift motion, she delivered the killing blow, her claws sliced through the air as she severed the mountain lion's head from its body with ruthless efficiency.
As the lifeless body of their prey fell to the forest floor, Victoria and her friends gathered around, their chests heaving with exertion and triumph.
Victoria and her friends reveled in the thrill of the hunt. They retracted back to their human form. But as they celebrated their victory, a sense of unease crept into Victoria's mind as she could smell two new scents in the air. She paused mid-celebration, fixed her gaze at the top of a mountain almost four miles away and with her werewolf eyes she could see it like it was just next to her.
"Looks like we're being watched," Victoria announced and she smirked seductively knowing who they were.
Her friends turned to look in the direction she indicated, their senses were on high alert as they strained to catch any sign of movement. And in the distance, almost four miles away, they spotted two people standing at the top of a mountain.
"It's Alpha Damon and his brother," Jordan remarked, sounding a bit surprised as he recognized them.
Francesca's eyes widened with excitement at the sight of the alpha, her heart racing with anticipation. "Oh my god, I want to marry him!" she exclaimed, sounding so excited.
But Beverly was quick to assert her claim. "Back off, Francesca. He's mine," she declared, in a strong and warning tone.
Victoria, however, remained silent, as a knowing smirk played at the corners of her lips as she met Damon's gaze from across the distance. She could feel the weight of his stare upon her, and the intensity of his gaze.
"Come on, let's go," Victoria finally said, sounding a bit amused as she turned away from Damon and his brother. With a flick of her hair, she signaled for her friends to follow, and without hesitation, they set off at a blistering pace. their superhuman speed carrying them effortlessly through the forest back to town.
As they raced back to town, Victoria still felt that Damon's eyes were still upon her, she knew he was attracted to her.
********************
Victoria and her friends made their way through the quiet streets. Laughing and chatting through the night as they reminisced about their latest adventures, their spirits were high with the thrill of the hunt.
But as they approached the Fitzgerald household, she felt tense. Her carefree banter gives way to an atmosphere thick with hostility.
"Where have you been, Victoria?" Vera's voice cut through her thoughts. She narrowed her eyes with suspicion as she watched her sister return home with her friends.
Victoria's eyes narrowed with annoyance at the interruption. She didn't expect her sister to ask her such a question. She turned to face her sister. "None of your business, Vera," she spat in a disdainful tone. But Vera tried to make her see reason, despite the fear that gnawed at her heart. "Tomorrow is school, and we have to finish this assignment," she insisted, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Victoria's lip curled into a sneer at her sister's audacity, her superiority shining through as she dismissed Vera with a wave of her hand. "I have more important things to worry about than some stupid assignment," she scoffed, with her words filled with contempt.
"And as for the assignment, you will write mine for me, weirdo," she added, eyeing her.
Vera's heart sank at her sister's cruel words, her insecurities laid bare for all to see. She opened her mouth to protest, but Victoria cut her off with a sharp rebuke.
"You are nothing, Vera. Your only purpose in life is to serve me, vermin," Victoria spat, her words were like a dagger as they pierced Vera's fragile heart.
Francesca, Beverly, and Jordan joined in with cruel laughter, their taunts added to Vera's humiliation as they mocked her for her perceived shortcomings.
"Hahaha, your sister is such a freak," Francesca jeered. She didn't care how Vera felt.
"Yeah, what a loser," Beverly chimed in, her laughter ringing out through the night.
"And she can't even turn into a werewolf yet," Jordan added, his words knocked off Vera as he laughed at her expense.
Vera's eyes immediately filled with tears as she turned away from her sister and her friends, her heart was so heavy with the weight of their cruelty. She felt like an outcast, a freak among her own kind, and her inability to shift marked her as a disgrace in the eyes of her family and her pack.
As she retreated into the house still hearing the voice of her sister and her friends, still mocking her. Vera couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find a place where she truly belonged.
Beverly and the others left to their houses and Victoria walked into their home. As soon as she entered, she was greeted with open arms by their parents.
"Oh, darling, did you have a fun time with your friends?" Samantha asked, with her voice filled with motherly concern as she enveloped Victoria in a tight hug.
Victoria beamed with excitement, her eyes sparkled as she remembered everything they did that afternoon.
"Oh yes, Mom, it was amazing! And guess what? Damon and his brother were watching us!" she exclaimed, blushing at the mention of the alpha and his brother's name.
George's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of Damon, his thoughts drifted to the prophecy of the oracle and the possibility of his daughter marrying into the Spelman family. "Ah, it seems like it might finally happen," he mused, as a hopeful smile played at the corners of his lips.
But Victoria's joy quickly turned to frustration as she remembered the task she had assigned to her sister, Vera. "I asked Vera to write my assignment for me, but I don't know if she's done yet," she admitted. Glancing at her parents.
Her parents exchanged a knowing glance, showing disappointment as they turned their attention to Vera, who was holed up in her room in the attic, diligently working on the assignment.
"Vera, you stupid child! Your sister asked you to do something for her!" George bellowed, his voice echoing through the house with anger and frustration.
Vera flinched at her father's harsh words, her heart sank as she didn't want to be misunderstood and punished. "I'm doing it right now, Dad," she replied meekly, sounding barely above a whisper as she struggled to hold back her tears.
Samantha shook her head in exasperation, her disappointment was evident as she turned to Victoria. "That girl is so useless," she muttered, hurting Vera more with her words.
Vera sat at the small desk in the corner of her room, clutching her pencil so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her eyes stung, but she blinked back the tears. She had to finish the assignment. She had to do it perfectly.
Maybe this time… they'll notice me. But deep down, she knew the truth. No matter how hard she tried, it would never be enough. Not compared to her sister, Victoria. the golden child. The one everyone loved. The one their parents praised every single day.
Vera took a shaky breath and kept writing. Her work is messy now. She was barely holding on.
She could hear laughter from the other room. Victoria's voice. Their parents joined in.
No one has ever praised her even when she's doing everything right.
The room felt colder and quieter, as if the shadows were creeping in just for her.
Suddenly, her candle flickered… then went out.
Vera looked up.
The window was closed. There was no breeze.
She froze. Then she heard a soft whisper coming from the corner of the room.
"Vera…"