My Fiery Mate

Darkness surrounded her, suffocating and thick. Flames danced in the shadows, casting eerie light on the walls and floor. The scent of burning wood and despair filled the air. 14-year-old Lireal stumbled through the smoke-choked corridors, her heart pounding in terror.

"Run, Lireal! Run!" Her mother's voice echoed through the smoke-filled hallway, the words barely audible above the roar of the flames. Lireal's heart raced as she struggled to keep up with the burning heat that seared her lungs with every breath. The pain in her legs was unbearable, her bare feet feeling like they were on fire themselves. She could feel the sweat dripping down her face, stinging her eyes, and blurring her vision.

The chilling realization clung to her – her home was crumbling, her parents were trapped inside. She tried to call out to them, but her voice was lost in the inferno. A sudden gust of heat blasted her from behind, forcing her to stumble forward. Through the haze, she saw a doorway leading outside. With renewed determination, she lunged towards it, barely able to breathe the cleaner air as she tumbled out into the cold night.

Through tear-blurred eyes, she turned around and saw the figures of her parents. Their faces were full of pain, their voices screaming "Escape, Lireal! Don't look back!"

A pack of werewolf firefighters approached Lireal, their muscles glistening in the moonlight as they sprinted toward her. They reached her in an instant, their strong hands grasping her shoulders and arms, steadying her. She struggled against their grip, her heart racing with panic and desperation.

"No! My parents are still in there!" she cried out, her voice desperate and hoarse.

"It is not safe!" emphasized one of the werewolf firefighters, their eyes reflecting the urgency of the situation.

Time seemed to stop as Lireal stared at her once glorious home. Everything she had loved was now reduced to ashes. It took a few hours for the fire to be completely extinguished. The werewolf firefighters were able to save some of the neighboring houses, but her family's home was a total loss. As the smoke lingered in the air, she noticed the chief firefighter approaching.

"Where are my parents?" she demanded, her eyes searching desperately for any sign of hope. The chief firefighter knelt down to meet her gaze. His eyes were filled with sorrow and understanding.

The werewolf firefighters exchanged glances before the chief spoke up. "I'm sorry, Lireal. Your parents... they didn't make it out." His voice was soft, almost gentle, but the weight of his words was crushing. Lireal felt her heart sink, her vision blurring with fresh tears. She wanted to scream, to rage at the unfairness of it all, but she couldn't find the strength. The firefighters had done everything they could, but it wasn't enough.

Lireal's eyes snapped open, her body drenched in sweat and trembling. She stared at the digital clock on her nightstand, the bright red numbers glaring back at her accusingly: 7:00 AM. Her heart pounded in her chest as the images from the nightmare faded slowly from her mind. It was the same dream she'd been having every night since the fire, reliving the horror of losing her parents over and over again. She swallowed hard, struggling to steady her breathing.

After her parent's death, Lireal was taken in by her aunt and uncle, Nova and Richard, and her cousin Willow. Lireal had to leave her original pack, the Starcrest pack, after her parent's death, and she had to join her aunt and uncle's pack, the Silvermoon pack.

The Silvermoon pack was powerful and respected, but Lireal felt like an outsider. In their small town, everyone knew the girl who lost her parents in a fire two years ago. Now at 17, she had gotten used to being ignored and treated badly.

While her aunt was kind and compassionate, the same couldn't be said for her cousin and uncle. Willow, was the same age as Lireal, and they were supposed to be friends, but instead, she was cruel and vindictive, always finding ways to make Lireal's life miserable. As for her uncle Richard, he was cold and treated Lireal like a maid. Lireal attended the same high school as Willow, tolerating bullying from both her classmates and her cousin. She was bullied for being wolfless, powerless and mateless...

Rubbing her eyes, she got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt ugly and disheveled. Lireal was skinny, her dark hair always messy, and her brown eyes tired. She took a shower, trying to wash away the nightmare, but it lingered in her mind.

After drying off, she slipped on her jeans and a top with a fluffy sweater, her hair in a ponytail. She grabbed her backpack and headed downstairs. When she entered the kitchen, she saw her aunt Nova and Willow. Willow, with her black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin, was sitting on a stool, her back straight as an arrow. She was on her phone, barely touching her breakfast. Her aunt Nova was at the stove, her blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun, humming as she flipped pancakes.

"Good morning, Lireal!" Aunt Nova greeted her warmly. "I trust you slept well?"

Lireal forced a weak smile. "Um, hi Aunt Nova. Yeah, I guess so." She took a seat at the breakfast bar, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for her plate. "Thanks for making breakfast."

Lireal glanced at Willow, who paid no attention to her, still lost in whatever she was doing on her phone. As she watched her cousin, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Willow had everything: popularity, beauty, and the respect of everyone in the pack. In contrast, Lireal felt like an outsider, constantly overlooked and ignored.

Uncle Richard must be at work, Lireal thought as she ate her breakfast.

"I'm off!" Willow announced suddenly, leaving her breakfast unfinished. She grabbed her handbag as she exited the kitchen. As she reached the door, Aunt Nova called out.

"You and Lireal should go to school together, since you drive!" Aunt Nova suggested.

Willow rolled her eyes "Mom, you always say this!" She complained. "And I'll say this again! There is no way in hell she can enter my car!" With that, Willow slammed the front door and left.

Aunt Nova sighed. "It's okay, I'll walk. It's not a far walk," Lireal assured her.

"Are you sure?" Aunt Nova inquired. "I can always drive you, or you can just take the bus."

Lireal shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'll walk!" She insisted, not wanting her aunt to worry. After finishing her breakfast, she gathered her belongings and put on her jacket. She hugged her aunt, and left the house, prepared for the day ahead.

The walk to school was quiet and lonely, as it usually was. Lireal tried to avoid looking at people, knowing that they would only make fun of her or ignore her. She wished she had friends, someone to talk to, to confide in. But she had learned long ago that wishing for such things was futile.

Lireal walked into school, her eyes fixed on the ground, feeling the weight of judgment and disgust in the air. She made her way through the crowded hallways. She felt judgmental gazes pierce through her as she walked past, her shoulders hunched inward. Her steps slowed as she neared her first class, History. With a deep breath, she forced herself to lift her head and look around, despite the urge to keep it down. The familiar faces of her classmates filled the room, but they seemed to avoid making eye contact with her.