The Alpha's Mark

Odesse was sitting outside on a hill, gazing at the bright moon and smiling, when she suddenly heard a voice say, "Odesse, my dear." She turned and saw her mother and her younger self. Odesse’s eyes widened in shock, and she stood up. As she did, everything transformed into a bedroom. Odesse found her younger self on the bed while her mom sat beside her.

"Odesse, my darling," her mom said gently.

"Yes, Mama," little Odesse replied. Odesse walked closer to get a better look at her mom and her younger self, still in disbelief.

Her mom said, "Odesse, I want you to always remember that your dad and I love you no matter what happens. We will love you for eternity."

Little Odesse responded, "I know you both will, Mama. That’s why you both won’t ever leave me." Tears began to run down Odesse’s cheeks as she listened. Her mom looked down and then back at little Odesse, saying, "Yes, of course, my darling, we won’t leave you."

"Promise?" little Odesse asked. Her mom hesitated before saying, "I promise."

Little Odesse smiled and said, "I love you, Mama and Papa, so much."

Her mom replied, "I love you too, baby."

"When will he get back so I can tell him goodnight?" little Odesse asked.

"My darling, Daddy is working late today, so you won’t be able to see him when he comes back," her mom explained.

Odesse pouted and said, "Aww." Her mom smiled as she touched her cheek warmly, saying, "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gives you a goodnight kiss, alright?" Odesse nodded and said, "Goodnight, Mama."

Her mom kissed her head and replied, "Goodnight, my darling."

Odesse’s eyes opened in horror as she realized, saying, "This is that night." She watched her mom blow out the candle and then walk out the bedroom. Odesse followed her mother into the kitchen when suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door. Odesse looked at the door in terror as the knocking grew fierce and frantic.

"I’m coming!" her mom called as she walked toward the door.

"No, no, no! Mom, don’t go, please!" Odesse cried, positioning herself in front of her mother, but her mom walked right through Odesse as if she were a ghost.

"Who is knocking like that?" her mom said, moving to the door. Odesse rushed to the door, still trying to reach her mother, who opened it to reveal a horrifying sight. Her husband, Odesse’s father Jarek, lay on the floor, beaten and almost lifeless. He looked up weakly and said, "Run away. Take Odesse and run away as fast as you can."

Odesse watched in despair, crying bitterly, "Mom, please run! Please run!"

Her mom asked Jarek, "No, what happened? Tell me!" Just then, two guards appeared, and her mom looked up in alarm. Odesse gasped and said, "No, please, no!" She knelt beside her parents, begging, "Please don’t take them. I beg you!"

The guards grabbed Jarek and Odesse’s mom, and as they struggled, Odesse shouted, "No, please! Please!"

Her mom cried, "What is this? Let us go, now!"

Hiding behind the curtains that led out of the room, little Odesse watched everything unfold with wide eyes. Odesse saw her parents pleading as people gathered, wondering what was happening.

Little Odesse rushed out, shouting, "Mama! Papa, no!" Someone held her back. She looked at the person and cried, "Let me go! Let me go! MAMAAAAAA! PAPAAAAA!"

Odesse turned to see her younger self being restrained, pleading for her parents. They were dragged to the center of the community, tied up and battered. The crowd accused Odesse’s mom of being a witch and Jarek of being a traitor.

Odesse overheard some people whispering, "Do you wonder why they are being burned?" A man replied, "I heard that Jarek’s wife is a wolf"

Odesse was filled with dread as she heard someone say, "Don’t they have a child together?" The man responded, "It’s not confirmed that she is a wolf; it’s just a few suspicions." Odesse’s eyes widened in shock. "No way!" she exclaimed, glancing back at her parents as they were being pelted with objects.

A guard approached them and began pouring kerosene on her parents. Little Odesse screamed. The person holding her snapped, "Shut up, you little brat." Defeated, Odesse sank down beside her mother. As the guard brought forward a torch, Odesse suddenly felt a hand resting on her head.

"My darling baby, you’re all grown up—an alpha in the making," her mom said with pride. "I’m so proud of you."

"Mama?" Odesse replied. But as she looked at her mother, she felt an unsettling change; it was as if her mom could no longer see her. "Mama! Mama!" she cried, but her mother’s head hung low in defeat and shame. Her father had already blacked out, and tears began flowing down Odesse’s cheeks.

Then, the guard threw the torch onto her parents, igniting them in flames. Gasps of fear echoed through the crowd, some smiled, and a few cried. Odesse hung her head in exhaustion as she watched her parents burn. The little girl screamed at the top of her lungs.

After several minutes, people started to leave. Heavy rain began to fall, and her parents’ bodies were reduced to ashes. Odesse sat broken, surrounded by what remained of her family. Slowly, she stood up and looked around.

She saw her younger self facing the ashes. "I hate humans for laughing at my parents’ death, and I hate wolves for causing it," little Odesse declared. "One day, I will rule over everyone, both human and wolf like mama said, and I will seek vengeance and rule this world how ever i want. Mark my promise. Humans and wolves are no different; same mind, different species, filthy."

As little Odesse looked up at her older self, Odesse was taken aback. Black blood began to trickle down both their faces. "What are you still doing here? You’ve gotten your answer now, wake up," little Odesse commanded, snapping her fingers as darkness enveloped the surroundings.