The Caged Beast

Alanis POV

I hear fighting and screaming coming from outside my window. I get out of my bed quickly. I listen to my father and mother screaming as I scramble to look out the window. I know who it is, but I need to see it for myself. If I am going to die tonight, I want to know who the monster is that came calling. I want to look him in the eyes when I die.

I look out and see Alpha Raymond and his pack of wolves running from house to house. He is killing us, all of us. For what, he wants our land. He does not like us, what? There is no reason except that my father and the council refused his offer to combine our packs. Alpha Raymond does not like being told no. He never thought my father would lash out at him and reject his offer.

"Alanis!" My mother calls to me. I can hear fear in her voice as she waits for me to join her to wait for death.

I dash out of my room and run through the kitchen. I pass what remains of my birthday cake on the kitchen table. We celebrated my 18th birthday tonight. I am too young to die. I do not want to die, but it is here for me.

I run to my parents. My father takes his wolf form and rushes out the door to fight with the others. My mother and I hide in a downstairs closet. We huddle together. She holds me so tight I can feel the tears streaming down her face. She knows we will not survive this night.

"Everything will be okay, Alanis," my mother whispers in my ear.

I know it will not be okay. I know my mother is lying to me, but she is trying to calm me. I love her. No one on earth could have a mother as wonderful as her. She is kind, graceful, yet bold. She is the most beautiful person I know.

The door slings open on the closet door where we are hiding. I am afraid to look up. My mother pushes me behind her and darts out of the closet as she slams the door to protect me. I know they saw me. Besides, where would I go if I was the only one left alive after the carnage? No other pack would take in a refuge running from Alpha Raymond.

I hear her screams, and then I see blood rushing under the door of the closet. The door opens, and I look up to see him. It is Alpha Raymond. He grabs me, pulling me out of the closet. His hands are rough, and he smells like the blood of my friends and family. Alpha Raymond throws me onto the floor. He stands over me as I lie next to my dead mother.

"Beg for your life," Alpha Raymond growls at me.

I refuse to beg him for anything, not even my life. I will die here silent. I look at my mother. I reach for her. I want to touch her one more time. I want to feel her skin. The tears well up and begin to slide down my cheek.

"You bastard!" I scream at him.

I lie over my mother's body and sob. She did not deserve this; none of the wolves in this pack deserved this to happen to them. We are a peaceful pack. We do not get involved in other pack's business or feuds, and look where it landed us - Extinct.

"Beg for your life, and I might let you live!" Alpha Raymond screams at me.

I refuse. I will not beg for my life. I look up at him. I am angry. I want to kill him. "Kill me, now!" I scream at him.