The Wolf’s Insight

"Kaelen, don't go too far, you hear me?" my mom shouted to make sure I could hear her.

"Alright, Mom." I replied, just to keep her from getting angry, but I continued running toward the forest without a second thought.

I was ten years old, and at that moment, all I cared about was running in the forest in my wolf form and having fun. I am a werewolf, and along with my parents, I lived in the Starry Sky pack village. My father was the Beta of the pack, and he always said that one day I would take his place. I would have loved to be just like him, like my dad. I often asked him to teach me, but he always said it was too early, that there was time, and that for now, I should only think about having fun like any normal kid.

So, I spent my time running in the woods; I loved nature and its colors, and I still love the scent of morning dew on the leaves and the quiet the forest brings. I often went hunting with my father, and we always had such a great time.

I kept running until I heard a familiar howl. It was Chase, my best friend and the Alpha’s son. I stopped, and soon after, he caught up to me with his black wolf, just like his father’s.

"Isn’t the forest a bit too big for you, Kaelen?" he asked telepathically, looking at me with his red eyes, worthy of a future Alpha.

"Since we’re the same age, Chase, shouldn't you be asking yourself the same question?" I countered with a smirk, returning the look with my yellow Beta eyes.

"Want a challenge?" Chase asked.

"And what would that be?" I asked, curious to see where he was going with this; he knew perfectly well how much I loved challenges.

"A race to the northern lake. The loser has to give their snack to the winner." he explained briefly, pointing his muzzle north.

"You're on. Get ready to lose." I exclaimed confidently. I love challenges simply because I never lose them. Or, at least, I hadn't until that day.

We quickly marked a starting line with our paws and got into position.

"Scared, Kaelen?" he asked, trying to provoke me.

"I wish," I replied, eyes fixed on the goal.

"Three..." I started the countdown.

"Two..." Chase continued.

"One..." I whispered, bracing myself to dash.

"GO!" Chase yelled, and we immediately started running fast and relentless as always.

I dodged trees, branches, and plants; I leaped over fallen logs; I ran without stopping and without thinking, fast as an arrow, free as the wind. I ran until I couldn't feel the ground beneath my feet, not realizing the distance I had covered.

We ran side by side, but a few meters from the goal, a sudden pain in my chest forced me to the ground, shifting me back into human form. Moments later, a column of black smoke rose into the sky.

As soon as Chase realized what had happened to me, he shifted back too to help me, but when we both saw the smoke in the sky, we said the same thing while looking at each other: "It’s coming from the village."

We immediately ran back, faster than before, and when we arrived, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The village was completely in flames. The screams of mothers and their children seemed to tear the sky apart. The deafening noises of gunshots filled the air.

I started running toward my home, followed by Chase, and just before I arrived, I saw in my mind my mother’s body lying on the ground, cold and motionless. Her empty gaze was directed toward the sky. As soon as I saw her, I cried out in pain and hugged her, holding her tight in the vain hope that she might wake up. But I was old enough to understand that wouldn't happen. I don't know how long I stayed there, minutes or just seconds, but it was Chase who gently pulled me away from her body: "Kaelen, we have to go." I nodded and stood up.

I left her, tears still in my eyes, and ran to find my father. While crossing the square, we found the Alpha lying on the ground, bleeding from his abdomen but still conscious. "Dad," my friend shouted when he saw him.

"Chase..." the latter whispered.

"I'm sorry... I failed, son," the Alpha continued with tears in his eyes; it was the first time in my life I saw him cry. Many tears were shed that day and in the days that followed, to be honest.

"No, Dad, you didn't fail, it's not over yet, I'm taking you to safety now," Chase replied with determination.

"Nowhere is safe... find my Beta... maybe he can... take you to safety," he replied, struggling due to the wound.

"Who did this?" I asked the Alpha.

"Hunters... a pack is coming... to help... stay somewhere safe," he replied, looking at his son with fear. Yes, the Alpha was afraid his son would die, or at least that's what could be read in his eyes.

"No, I’m not leaving you here," Chase replied, resolute.

"I’ll go find my father, you stay with him. Try to keep him safe if you can," I decided; it was the right thing to do. I realized then that I had become an adult all at once, the moment I saw my mother dead.

"Count on it, Kaelen, go and be careful," Chase replied, and after a nod, I started running again.

I crossed the burning alleys and avoided the hunters, trying not to think about the screams and gunshots I heard, focusing only on my goal.

I arrived at the house, but as soon as I entered, I saw my father tied to a chair, bleeding and covered in tons of a strange white powder. A short distance from him, a hunter was holding a fuse with a match.

"Run, Kaelen!" my father yelled, but before I could do anything, the hunter lit the fuse and walked away. A moment later, I was hit by a cloud of scalding heat.

The last thing I saw was a huge red and black explosion.

The last thing I heard was, "I love you, Kaelen, don't ever forget it."