Revenge to My Mate

"Tweet, Tweet, Tweet…” Birds continued chirping.

I was energized by the singing of the birds on the way to the market. A soothing feeling of calmness and peace were filling the entire sunny morning. It was something that I always look forward to every time I woke up.

For this day, the most awaited day of the week had come. I woke up earlier than my usual five o'clock waking hour. And mind you that I didn’t have to wait for my mother to wake me up because I woke up before she could even knock on my door.

I was smirking from ear to ear when my door opened.

“Hey, little sunshine, wake up… Oh! You’re already awake, huh?” My mother’s face peeked as she opened slightly the door of my room. She stopped her morning routine when she saw me sitting on my bed.

I lifted my chin with a proud look plastered on my face. My arms were crossed over my chest and I even crossed my legs together. I waited for my mother to fully opened my door, and got inside my room before I started talking.

“You're late, Mrs. Rosie. Did you know that my alarm went off ten minutes ago?”I said, trying to sound like her.

My mother laughed as she heard my words. She walked toward me and tickled my small waist with her playful fingers. I couldn't help but laugh so hard that my back fell on the soft mattress of my bed.

"Haha, mom! Stop! Haha!" my small laughs filled my dimly lighted room as my mom sat beside me and didn’t stop tickling me.

I tried to hold her big hands that kept on wriggling on my waist. But I knew I would not be able to stop her big adult hands from using my small and weak hands. So, I resorted to changing into my wolf form. But I thought it was the wrong choice because I got smaller!

"Who are you calling Mrs. Rosie, huh? Huh? I shall punish you now! Haha.”

The start of my morning for that day was full of laughs. It was indeed a good morning as my mother carried me in her arms while she walked down the stairs. I smelled delicious food coming out of the kitchen and I couldn't help but get more excited!

My mother felt my urge to run so she put me down as soon as she reached the last step. I immediately ran towards the kitchen.

"Careful, Av!”

My mother warned me, but it was too late. My small limbs trampled on the hem of the white dress I chose. I screamed and readied my body to get hurt but luckily a powerful and big hands caught me before I even kissed the floor.

"Gotcha, baby girl!"A wide grin on his face greeted me as my father caught me and lifted me.

His big hand-held my small waist, completely occupying my whole small waist! The nervousness I got from tripping on my own turned into loud giggling. My small hands extended and tried to hug my father’s face, but I was a meter away from his face so he had to bring me closer so I could touch both his cheeks.

“Father!" I excitedly screamed and put kisses on my father’s face.

“Haha, baby girl, you’ll erase your father's face,” my father said.

But his expressions were different from his words. He was grinning from ear to ear like me. He still carried me in his arms and carefully lowered me down when he heard the ting sound from the toaster. He planted a kiss on my forehead before he turned his back on me to go to the toaster.

I giggled followed him and hugged the back of his knee. He didn’t mind me clinging to his knee but when my mother came and saw my position, she immediately pulled me away from my father.

“Av, how many times do I have to tell you not to do that when your father is cooking? It’s dangerous,” she said while putting me down on my high chair on the table.

I pouted my lips. “I just missed father,” I whispered.

When my mother heard me, she immediately clicked her tongue as a warning that I shouldn’t go any further than that. I made a funny face which she ignored and went to help my father. I watched their back as they stood close together.

It was the only day where my father was off at his job from being the Alpha of the town. This would be our first breakfast after six days so I was pretty much looking forward to this. Plus, this was also a day when my father would do all the cooking. I was getting tired of my mother’s cooking so a change once a week was definitely, I was looking forward to.

A loud thumping that made dust fall from the roof of the dining table made me laugh and cheered. I even stood up from my high chair and danced.

"Snow! Mom! Dad! Snow!" I excitedly said while my hands were in the air and dancing.

"Get down on that chair, Avery! You want to get hurt, do you?" Mother almost screamed at me, but she still managed to tone down her voice.

"That boy, he's at it again," father said while shaking his head.

A second later, loud and heavy steps that made my chair bounces up a bit along with the dishes on the table made my mother scream. I laughed once again.

"Arnold!"

As if my mother's voice was magic, a wolf almost as big as the door entered the kitchen. But before the wolf could even step his foot inside, he changed into a teenage topless boy.

"Yes, mom?" my brother, Arnold, greeted my mom's angry face with a small grin on his face.

"Can't you be normal when you're waking up? Do you have money to fix our house?"

"Oh come on, honey, stop getting angry and let's start our breakfast, shall we?"

Father held my mom's shoulders while talking in a sweet voice. He massaged my mom's shoulders and slowly turned her body to face the pain and gave my brother an order by looking at him and signing something.

I giggled when I saw my brother sign okay back to my father. Arnold grabbed a shirt from somewhere before he turned his attention to me.

"Oho! This young lad is wearing a dress. Where are you going? Into a playground? It's too early for that, baby girl," his annoying and teasing voice made me glare at him.

"No! I'm going to the market with mom. We're having a barbecue later and you're not invited! Hmph," I flicked my hair at him in a snobbish manner.

"Haha, I don't need your invitation," he playfully said and even stuck his tongue to me before he sat down on his chair in front of me.

In short, our morning went longer than usual. My father shared his new experiences about being an Alpha and even tried asking for my brother's opinion about some matters. But at first of course, Arnold didn't give any serious opinion so he had an earful sermon from our mom. I laughed at his face when his mother scolded him.

After that breakfast, my father and Arnold went out with a fishing rod and attire that looked like fishing attire. While I and my mother went out to go to the market.

As we were walking towards the market, an extravagant smell of a delicious and mouthwatering sweet snack entered my nose. My stomach growled just in time for it. Even though I ate plenty of toast and scrambled eggs, my stomach still gave me signals that I should eat, or else something might happen. I continued to swallow my saliva to minimize my excitement.

“Wow! That smells great,” I said as I looked up to my mom holding my hands walking towards the entrance of the market.

A smile was painted on her face. She leaned her upper body a little to reach me. She fixed the hair strands that covered my face. Then, pinched my cheeks a little.

“You do want to eat that? Huh? Again?” She asked while pinching my cheeks.

My head started to nod so fast. She chuckled at what I did and patted my head. We walked inside the market. The weird smells of fresh meat, salty fish, vegetables, and fruits welcomed my nose. While the vendors that were trying to lure the customers with their loud and sell talks were echoing and mixing inside the market. There were so many people inside it, maybe because it was Sunday and people were usually going to the market every Sunday.

This wet market inside the town of Tucson was a spot where people could buy everything they wanted and needed. Everything was inside here. Meat, Vegetables, Fruits, Clothes, Silks, etc. From dry ingredients, and stuff, down to the wet and smooth stuff. There were countless stalls with different types of products to choose from.

We were greeted by every vendor we walked by. Well, my mom was the Beta of the pack, the wife of their great Alpha, and my beautiful mother. I grew up being known to everybody, it’s not so shocking to me now. It was one of the reasons why I love to go out with my mother.

“Good morning, Beta Rosie and Avery!” A fruit vendor greeted us while a full smile on his face.

I could sense how kind and positive a person he was by just his stand. In front of him were the products he was offering to us. It was full of colors, they were green, yellow, red and many more.

I waved and smiled at him. “Good morning, Senor!” I greeted him while my mother and I walked toward him.

"We would like to buy some fruits, Senor. Do you have pink fruits? Hihihi!” I giggled as he suddenly tickled my neck.

"I apologize as I don't have pink fruits for you, Av," he said with a smile still on his face.

Mother chuckled at what he did. She then chose some fruits to buy for we were having our weekly barbecue tonight. She was busy choosing while I continued to talk with the vendor.

"Senior, how's Elen? I didn't see her in the playground yesterday," I pouted when I remembered his daughter at my age.

"Hay, Av. That girl is pouting all day long."

"Aww! But I wanna see Elen for tonight's barbecue! Make sure to tell her to visit, okay?" I offered my small pinky finger while looking at Senior with a serious face.

I didn't know if he took me seriously, but even though he stomped my waiting pinky finger, he was laughing. I was serious though!

“Ehem!” My mom coughed to caught both of our attention. The vendor prepared all the fruits my mom chose and gave them to us.

“Bye, Senor! Remember to go to our house later! Okay? Bring Elen or I will not give you anything!” I bid goodbye to him and walked with my mom towards the meat section.

Every vendor we passed by would greet my mother. Although mother didn't intend to buy so much for tonight's dinner, the vendors ended up giving her pieces of their food products, saying that my father helped them for that week. Some of them even gave me pieces of candies and chocolates so I gained a lot by being with my mother.

After a few minutes of roaming around, we were ready to go home. Mom bought everything we need for the barbecue tonight. Aside from tonight’s barbecue, we also bought our food for the whole week. And because of so much food we received, I guessed we could last more than a week with full stomachs.

I was so excited to go home and prepare all the food. I helped my mom to carry the bags filled with all the things we bought. I even sang while jumping. We were going home. Woosh! Everything seemed perfect and in place for that day.

We arrived at the house and everyone was busy. Everyone had their chores. Our helpers took the bags from us. Besides, my mom shopped for at least four hours. Although I didn't feel tired for that particular walking hours, my feet immediately felt sore as soon as I stepped inside the house.

Since my mother and I were just left the house, we ate lunch together. Although it's just the two of us, the dining table is still full of laughs and giggles. We're used eating together since my brother was in his teenage years, he usually eats lunch outside with his friends and would just come back for dinner.

"I'll wake you up when the lunch is ready, okay?" My mother carried me in her arms after we had tea together after lunch.

She put me down on my bed and I just groaned at her as an answer. I immediately fell asleep. I woke up because the light from the sun which was escaping the midway opened the curtain of my window. I yawned and realized that I slept longer that afternoon. When I looked at the digital clock at my side, I knew that the four digits indicated that dinner was coming!

I immediately got up. Since I took a bath early this morning, I decided not to take another bath and just changed into another dress. But this dress was different from the one I wore early this morning. The dress I chose to choose to wear for tonight's barbecue was a flowy one with pink and white roses as a flower design. I partnered it with pink lace shoes. When I got satisfied with my look, I smiled from ear to ear.

I went out of my room to search for my father and brother. Since the sun was slowly hiding in the dark, I was guessing that my father and brother were at home now. I roamed around the house to search for my brother and my father.

When I asked a maid their whereabouts, she immediately answered me after praising my cute motif of appearance for this night.

"Thank you!" I cheerfully said and immediately went out.

Father and brother were both in the garden, laughing and bonding with each other. I ran towards them.

“Daddy! Up! Up!” I motioned my arms up waiting for my father to lift me. He chuckled at my clinginess towards him.

My brother also laughed at what I did. They always find every single thing I do a cute one. Although my brother teased me that I wasn't cute, he loved to give me candies and pinched my cheek to see my cute reaction. He was silently simping her cute little sister. But since he didn't want to be called a lame one by his friends, he tried to hide it so I had no choice but to just secretly thank him.

“Avery you're too old to be lifted.” brother tried to tease me and tickled my side.

“Arnold, no one's too old for love. Okay?” I pouted at what he said. There was nothing wrong to ask for hugs and kisses from time to time.

He chuckled and kissed my cheeks many times. See that? I knew that he loves seeing me cute. What a sly brother. Hmpf!

Even though my dad was still holding me up, he continued to attack me with kisses too to the other side of my cheek. We continued laughing and eventually, my mother joined us.

The evening came, and everything was set. The meat and fish that they caught were ready to be grilled. My brother was starting a fire after his mother ordered him to. I rushed towards my room to get the teddy bear that my father bought for me yesterday.

It was a blue bear, filled with flowers on its dress. This was the one I wanted to show to Elen but she didn't meet me so I would show it to her today.

I was about to finish when I heard a small knock on my door. I immediately opened it and my mom was outside. Smiling from ear to ear. I knew that she was happy for tonight.

I smiled sweetly back. Shy about what she would say to me. “You look so pretty tonight, honey.” She smiled and kissed my head.

She then hugged me so tightly. While we were hugging, a sudden feeling of fear crept into my heart. My heart beats insanely fast, I was sweating so much even though I didn't do anything.

My mom stopped and looked at me with worries in her eyes. “Why what's wrong?” I could feel panic in her tone.

Before I could even say a word, shrieks filled our surroundings. My mother rushed outside our house. I ran after her, curious about what she saw.

When I saw what saw happening. I just stood there. I was so shocked by what was happening. The market that I could barely see from my room was burning from afar. Everyone was panicking.

I walked towards the crowd where everyone was running from left and right. Women were screaming, children were crying also scared for their own lives. Men transformed into wolves to protect their families and loved ones.

In the middle of this, I started to process everything. We were being attacked. My whole body was shaking in fear. I started to cry looking for my family. They were out of my sight.

“Mommy, Daddy, Arnold,” I said in between my sobs still trying to look after them.

I started to lose hope when suddenly a hand pulled me out of the crowd. It was mom.

She looked like a disaster. Her body was filled with scratches. Even so, she still smiled at me. Trying to make me feel better but it is not working. I knew how much we were in trouble.

We ran holding hands towards the back of our house. We ran very fast to avoid getting attacked by the wolves. I withdraw my hands when we arrived at the back. My mind was filled with questions and explanations of what is happening.

“What is happening, mom?” I asked her straight in the eyes.

Tears slowly rushed down her cheeks. I could feel how scared she was too. No one expected this to happen.

“Avery, you listen to me. I know that you are smart and strong. But I have to tell you this. We are being attacked by the Balthers Clan, honey. He brought all his high-ranking soldiers and wild bears to attack us. It seems that he planned all of this. Now that I have explained what is happening, find your brother in the forest. He is with the other children there. Do not come back until your brother tells you so. You listen to him. Okay? I love you, Avery, so so much.”

That moment hit me. As of now, I couldn't do anything to protect all the people that I love. Even with what was happening. All I could do was just look at the suffering.

I nodded my head agreeing with what my mom wanted me to do even though my face was full of tears. She hugged me tightly, seizing every bit of it. We did not stop crying even when she loses the hug to go back there. She gave me her last kiss on the forehead and waited for me to run into the forest.

I was running so fast. Incredibly fast. Even with my knees shaking I continued to run to go to my brother. I was in the middle of the forest when I hear a familiar voice screaming so loud.

It was a mom!

I completely lost my mind. A sudden urge to go back and see what was happening is eating me. I ran back to the entrance of the forest.

I had to see what was happening. I had to see my mom! I have to save her. It did not matter if I die today. I would try to save her.

When I arrived at the entrance of the forest, I hid first to see what was happening. My whole body froze with what I was seeing.

My mom.

She was... she was being burned alive.

Several other people I was familiar with were being burned alive. A couple of men, topless were the ones to add fire and woods, while the gigantic wolves were surrounding the fire and would bite the head of someone trying to run.

Screams and shouts filled the atmosphere. I could feel how much they were suffering and how much it hurts. The fire was not just burning their body but it was also burning their soul.

My heart was broken into tiny million pieces. Our people, my mother... they were dying.

My small body trembled and shivered. Even though my eyes were not running out of tears, my voice was trapped inside my throat. I couldn't move, and even though I wanted to run to them and save all of them, I couldn't even blink.

I did not stop looking at them until my mom's eyes met mine. Even though her lower body was being eaten by the growing fire, she smiled and mouthed I love you before the fire ate the whole of her.

I knew at that moment that it would be a nightmare for me. That it would haunt me forever. My mom’s smile fades when she’s slowly losing consciousness. She was now dead.

My mother... was now dead...

I ran back to the middle of the forest with all my might. I tried too hard to find my brother. Until I reached a cave deep in the forest. The entrance was small and you have to crawl to enter inside. To my shock, the space inside the cave was huge. It felt like an abandoned space of nature. It felt like a comforting chamber ready to protect you against anything.

My intuition was right, they were here. My brother, the children, the people who survived, and my father. I ran towards them for I knew that they were not aware that mom was gone.

“Dad, Arnold... I-I'm s-sorry... Please, f-forgive me,” I said and kneel in front of them.

They were so confused about what happened. “Why? What is happening? Where is your mom?” father asked worriedly.

"M-Mom... Mom... is..."

Tears rushed down my cheeks. I felt like dying just by saying the truth to them. I couldn’t say anything, it hurts. It hurts so bad!

My brother also kneeled and shook my shoulders. “Avery! What happened to mom!” His eyes are filled with anger, resentment, hatred, and rage.

I just could not stand telling them what happened. All I could do right now was looked at them with pain. No words could describe how much I was grieving.

My dad kneeled and cried like a river. My brother silently sobbed and punched the floor. Everyone was quiet and cries just filled the whole place.

Until my father changed into his wolf form and howl a cry in the air. It was followed by my brother, the remaining men, and women survivors who changed into their wolf forms and howled in crying.

Hours passed and I am still crying. I want to breathe some fresh air but I know that as long as my brother was awake, he wouldn't let me. On the other hand, my father is being treated right now for all of his bruises. His body was filled with scratches and blood.

Deep in the night when everyone was sleeping. I tiptoed my way out of the cave. I was hoping to breathe some air and continue my never-ending cry there.

As I mourned my mother's death, an unfamiliar young wolf was in front of me. I was ready to fight to protect myself but our eyes met. The wolf's eyes were glowing beautifully in the middle of the darkness but it seemed sad. I could not stop myself from looking at it.

The comfort, peace, and safety that it gives me were immaculate.

The wolf slowly walked toward me.

I was deeply hypnotized by his eyes that I knew I would die if he would attack me. Fortunately, he just sat beside me. It seemed that he was trying to calm me down. He nuzzled my back gently with his flurry head. I bowed my head and continued to cry. I seized this moment of tranquility. I had the hardest night of my life.

When words couldn't describe how you feel actions depict what was inside of you. That was what my mom always would say. I knew she would say that if she was here right now.

I looked up to see the wolf beside me, we locked our eyes. Every time we locked eyes, there was some feeling that I couldn't explain. I smiled at the wolf and whispered.

"Thank you so much.”

As I blinked my eyes, I went back to my reality. The fear and the shaking of the knees were back. That wolf was gone.