MOON NIGHT

Amanda looked up at the sky, seeing the white speaks of snow, swirling and drifting in a freezing breeze. A bitter cold flake of snow landed on her nose. She barely noticed as it melted, a small drop ran down her cheek. The dark gray clouds grumbled and a flare of lightning flashed across the sky, making the clouds brighter and more pleasant than the dark, glum darkness. She remembered the last time she saw her family. She had been sixteen years old, preparing herself for the first time she would shift. Her father was telling her that she didn't need to worry. It would be painful when it first happened but, when she changed, she would be the most beautiful wolf any male had ever had the privilege of laying their eyes on. Her mother assured her that it was the most exciting time in any wolf's life, the first time they experienced the change and were able to run freely as their wolf. You could feel the wind running through your fur and enjoy a freedom you had never had before. Her older brother, Markus, had done nothing, but raved how impressive it felt to be able to shift. He loved the power it gave him but what he loved even more than that was that he had been able to find his mate; he had told her that was the most precious moment in a wolf's life. The moment they found the person they wanted to spend the rest of their life with. It had been nothing short of perfect. Only that's the last memory she has of her family because, during the night as they slept, the Alpha and Beta of a moon night pack attacked. They killed anyone who challenged them, not even stopping to spare women and children. They ripped the entire pack limb from limb, never even giving them the chance to defend themselves. The only reason she was still alive is that her father bought her time. He sacrificed himself to the Beta, shouting at her and her brother to run—to run and never look back. She didn't want to leave, but she knew she didn't have a choice, especially when Markus was dragging her away from the violence. He left her in the middle of the forest, telling her that she would be safe for now, and he would be back for her. Amanda didn't have the time to ask him where he was going before he shifted and was heading straight back to the violence. That was the last time she saw her brother. He never came back for her. Amanda waited two weeks for him, but there was nothing. She was alone, and she didn't know what to do with herself. She was still to shift for the first time and that meant she was vulnerable to any form of attack, but she tried not to let that faze her. A month after the attack, she shifted for the first time, and that was when she realized there was only one thing she wanted in the world. . . She wanted revenge, and she was going to do anything it took to get that revenge. *****