Alpha Tiana: The Unknown Wolf

Twenty-one years ago...

Sobbing bitterly, she lightened the night, illuminating the darkest of shadows without shielding any, looking down from her throne in all her beauty...she watched her children helplessly. She watched her descendants fight for their lives, their blood spluttering on every nook, pups crying for their parents, mates weeping for their losses, hybrids who didn't possess the natural qualities and abilities of werewolves were beheaded by executioners who showed no remorse. Her pride; Tsauno fell to their very own.

In the Ridara of Tsauno's Chata, a werewolf clan whose name commanded both fear and respect from far and near, eight persons were on their knees trapped inside a large silver ring who obviously had been tortured but remained unfazed and aloof. In the silver ring were the Guardians of the Clan who had sworn to protect their clan; Avery, Rico, Martin, Newton, Sameer, Axel and Damien ready to die with their loyalty.

One of the many doors in the Ridara opened and Derek sauntered in with menacing strides, his jet black hair in disarray, blood dripping from his mouth, weilding a glistening sword in his right hand whose blade could heave a wall into two. Dragging the tip of his sword behind him, he enjoyed the scratchy noise it produced. Speaking with indifference, he circled his prey menacingly, "Rico, you are the Head of the Guardians; the one you swore to protect is dead, surrender and swear your allegiance to me."

Rico lifted his head from his fingers, smiled at him, waited until Derek's face turned into a smirk. Rico's throat was dry but he had gotten the traitor where he wanted so he gathered all the saliva in his mouth that he could and spat at Derek's feet,"Never!" He growled, a dark aura emitting from him. He was still an Alpha; the Head of Guardians and his loyalty was with someone else that wasn't this traitorous rogue who had the Alpha of Tsauno executed. Derek, Demitrey's younger brother had ambushed the clan at a time when the Alpha's vulnerability was naked to all and forced himself on the Kalala as the Alpha of the Clan. This was unacceptable. It was treason!

Derek slowly lifted his sword above Rico's head for a strike then thought against it. With a lopsided smile he brought the tip of the sword to Rico's chest and pushed the tip of the sword in. Despite the pain searing through his system as his blood dripped out slowly, Rico didn't flinch; rather he maintained his usual calm exterior while holding Derek's gaze. He would never give Derek that satisfaction to see him broken...not after his best friend's death. Derek smiled with a dark satisfaction as his wolf rose to the surface, he had two choices; either break Rico or have him executed tonight. He growled knowing the impossibility of the second one; the Kalala would revolt at Rico's death. He growled and snapped his head at once to see the intruder when one of the many doors creaked loudly.

"I am sorry, Alpha." The intruder responded by bowing his head.

"Olanz, I made it clear not to be interrupted, did I not?"

"You did." Olanz affirmed cautiously, still bowing his head, knowing he had to stay on his brother's good side if he was to remain alive.

Derek gave Olanz an intimidating glare; this younger brother of his was wise enough to swear loyalty to him unlike the good for nothing Demitrey and that was the only reason he kept him alive. They were four siblings; all males, Demitrey was the eldest yet naive and weak, leaving him to ponder why the Alpha's position was hereditary, succession by the first son even when that son was weak. Demitrey was a pathetic dreamer, he always wanted an armistice with the humans, punished rogues and other packs and clans who attacked humans and Derek hated his elder brother for it. Demitrey was awfully commiserative which itself was a sign of weakness in a leader, especially one who's seen as the leader of one of the strongest Werewolf Clan, Tsauno. He also hated Demitrey for one other thing, his mate.

She was beautiful, every male's dream. Though she was human, she was stronger than Demitrey and he hated that fact. While he was cursed with a pathetic female, his pathetic elder brother was blessed with a strong one. Derek couldn't help lusting after her and many-a-nights, he had fantasized about her. He was doing this so he could be with her.

"Brother, Luna Tamara is in labour." Olanz announced, breaking his train of thought.

"I want that pup dead!" He roared at his younger brother.

There was no doubt that if that pup lived, it would be his undoing when it turned twenty-one. That wouldn't happen not under his watch! He would wipe out anything that survives from Demitrey's loins.

"Then bring her and the Tavala here, I know she has it with her and it is time I showed her some of my charity." He finished bitterly, this would surely break Rico knowing how he cared about Tamara and the pup, he was sure Rico lusted after her just as he did.

"You can not do that Derek, they are your brother's mate and pup." Rico growled in consternation, his head shooting up at Derek.

"You think I do not know? I can..." Derek replied with a loud, sinister guffaw, he had Rico exactly where he wanted. "Because I am the Alpha of this clan now and the pup is a Hybrid and you know how I hate that!"

Behind one of the many doors, the echoes of a female's painful screams reverberated in the room as waves after waves of contractions hit her. Lying on her back, she grunted as her uterus contracted for the umpteenth time, her child was on its way to a world that was chaotic. She knew her husband's clan...no her clan's fate lied heavily on her shoulders now. She had endured all the tortures meted on her by Derek both directly and indirectly. Derek, her husband's immediate sibling, had him murdered before her eyes. She had always known him to be a wild card especially when he made advances at her but going as far as killing humans and their own people was unacceptable. He broke the armistice her husband brokered with both humans and attune races over the years.

Whether or not he forced himself on her people, she remained the Luna of Tsauno Clan as long as she had the emblem despite her degraded state except on one condition. She prayed and hoped the Guardians of the Clan wouldn't betray her mate too. If they did then she had truly lost it all. The death of her husband made her unwaver in her resolve not to tell the murderous Derek where the emblem was. Unlike her husband who was a werewolf she was human, a soldier, she'd received drills on endurance. She had trained herself to endure the worst of pains but this...this pain, this one she couldn't endure, she screamed as the contractions intensified.

Tamara turned to look at the woman bustling around, she was the only familiar thing in her world. She was Rico's mate and wife, Gloria; her midwife. Gloria wasn't qualified but it was their best shot. Tamara gave an ear splitting cry, the tiny life in her struggling to make an imprint in the world. She smiled hearing the cry she's been waiting for nine months, now it's time to plan. Gloria quickly wrapped the pup, her new Alpha in the woolen shawl she had prepared smiling, there was hope for Tsauno,"You are beautiful." She cooed softly at the pup.

Taking a defensive stance, she clutched the pup tightly to her chest when the door opened and Olanz waltzed in heaving a sword,"You will kill me before you get the pup." She informed him with determination.

"Male or female?" He questioned with an unreadable expression.

"Female." Gloria replied, still clutching the baby to her bosom.

His face beamed as he took another step towards them. Forcing herself to sit up, the new mother demanded,"Have you come to complete his wish?"

She wanted to fight for her daughter but she was too weak to do so, she swore on her husband's blood that she'd kill Derek with her hands if he harmed her daughter.

Olanz ignored his sister-in-law, instead he approached Gloria who held his niece, his new Alpha. He was grieved in his heart, Demitrey had always wanted pups of his own from his true mate and that was why he searched the ends of the world to find Tamara...he wasn't alive to see his own daughter being born. He didn't miss the warning growls Gloria sent him as he approached them. He knew Rico's mate, Gloria, as a strong warrior, one of the greatest in the clan, one whose loyalty to the truth was as strong as her mate's. His heart fluttered when he heard his niece cry, wiggling her tiny body searching frantically for food. He let out a small chuckle,"Can I hold her?" He asked huskily.

He had sincerely hoped from the day Derek started this madness that he'd allow their brother's pup to be born before executing it. Now that his hope was a reality, he'd protect it from Derek because he never had the chance to protect her father. He saw the hesitation in Gloria's eyes despite her posture relaxing, he wouldn't blame her though, he caused it by publicly transferring his loyalty to Derek but that was to buy him time.

The pup grabbed his fingers when Gloria handed her to him and he kissed her head. Her little brown eyes gaze into his like she was memorizing his face and it mesmerized him...just then her eyes flashed gold. He knew whom she was...a Lune Starlight Alpha, a rare breed of her Lycans, one sought-after by power greedy Lycans for their potentials and his resolve to protect her from Derek deepened. He gently returned his niece back to Gloria, held her right foot in his right hand and placed it on his head squatting at the same time signifying his allegiance and loyalty to her position as an Alpha...as his Alpha. He heard Tamara's pleading voice in his head, "Don't harm my baby, please."

He turned his attention to her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, crossing his right hand over his chest,he gave her a bow. Human or Werewolf, she was still his Luna and he had to acknowledge her position.

"Never...I will never hurt a hair on my Alpha rather I have to take her away." He replied calmly, determination lacing his every word as he knelt beside her. "Derek wants her dead...Gloria and I will take her to your world, the human world where she would be safe then we will come back and figure this out–"

"Then leave." Tamara interrupted him gently, unable to hold back her tears. If he really wanted her daughter safe as he just said then it was best they left now.

"Luna, I am sorry about Trey." He said, rising to his feet.

Tamara nodded silently, there were unshed tears in his eyes and she didn't want to spike his vulnerability right now,"Go now Olanz, else it becomes late."

"Do you want to hold her?" Gloria asked her.

"No...If I do I will bond with her and we do not need that now." She explained though her heart broke in a thousand pieces because she might never be opportune to carry her child.

Olanz nodded and motioned with his head to Gloria who moved back to give him the needed space. He inhaled deeply, his bones snapping in place and he was on all fours in a flash,"Ready?" He asked Gloria through the mind-link.

She nodded and got on his back still carrying the pup. Tamara retrieved the Tavala; the very emblem that had caused her pain from under the bed. Handing it to Gloria, she said,"This belongs to her."

Gloria nodded and collected it from her. Watching Olanz walk to the window, their only route out of the heavily guarded Chata, Tamara tears flowed because neither she nor her husband had the chance to hold their daughter. Olanz gave one final bow to his Luna and leapt out of the window. He had fooled Derek long enough that he knew all the spots that weren't guarded by Derek's army of rogues. Once out of the Chata's radar, he took a turn that led straight into the forest. The full moon meant they could be spotted easily if they took the open fields, barrelling through the forests hidden by the tall trees and bushes as he sped through the clan's lands. He let out a victorious howl as he leapt out of the borders and was a bit overwhelmed by the response he got. Now that they left Tsauno, he had to think of a plan...a plan he forgot to draft in advance of this moment.

"What is it?" Gloria demanded, with a nervous edge.

"Where do we take her?" He demanded panting.

"Maybe to the north." She replied."You have no plan?" She asked him confused and surprised.

"Yes...knowing my brother I am not sure going to the north is safe for our Alpha. The only option is the human world." He answered.

"Then let us use it!"

"The portal–"

"Tonight is a full moon so it would remain open by the way you are from an Alpha bloodline."

He found himself smiling at his foolishness, Gloria was right, tonight the portal was unguarded by whatever force he didn't know.

Even before Derek heard the victorious howl, he felt three unpermitted exit from Tsauno through the sharp pains in his chest that confirmed the breaking. He recognized the howler's voice, Olanz had betrayed him! The other two persons should be Gloria and either Tamara or Demitrey's hybrid pup. He stormed into Tamara's room and roared angrily when he saw Tamara glaring at him with a satisfied smirk.

Tamara's heart fluttered with joy when she heard the victory howl and the accompanying howls, her daughter was safe from Derek's reach. She smiled smugly when the fool stormed into her room.

"Where are they?" Derek thundered at her. He knew that smile, she had him outsmarted.

"Make a lengthy research on that." She replied in disdain.

Derek growled, covering the distance between them in a flash, she screamed as he yanked her hair. Dragging her behind him to the Ridara.

Tamara closed her eyes and screamed in fright when she was hurled by Derek and thrown as he dragged her into the Main Hall of the Clan's House. She grunted when her body hit another body, she opened her eyes slowly and smiled when she saw Avery grinning at her.

"I will ask you again Tamara," Derek growled. "Where are they?"

"This time I'll give you the answer you seek." She replied sitting up with an effort, her entire body was still sore from pushing her baby. She locked her gaze with him,"They left with my daughter, far away from your reach."

"Did you give them the Tavala?" He demanded with a low growl.

"What did you think Derek? The emblem of authority rightfully belongs to her and–"

"Enough!"

"No Mister!" Tamara countered fiercely,"You keep quiet! You think murdering my husband would make me give it to you?"

"I am–"

"My daughter is the new Alpha of Tsauno! And she would come back to claim her birthright, you son of a bitch"

"His mother was an angel." Newton corrected calmly.

"Then my apologies to her but seriously Derek you failed–" She screamed as his palm stung her face,"You hit like a woman." She told him grunting.

"GET THEM ALIVE!" Derek roared to his warriors. "By the time I am done you will beg to be turned because none of them can save you from me." He told her coldly. She was right, the escape of her pup meant he had a contender and he would never truly be the Alpha of Tsauno without the Tavala. He'd failed but not for long because he'd make sure she watched the agonizing death of her hybrid pup.

Once they crossed the tiny shield, Olanz closed the portal that separated the Human world from all Werewolves and other races behind him. He was now at another crossroad, he knew no one here and now wasn't the time to search for Tamara's family as that was the initial aim. Speeding off to the only direction he knew, he sensed they were followed even before he was ordered by his pursuers through the mind-link to stop which he didn't rather he doubled his speed. He was a wolf with an Alpha blood, that made him an alpha by right and Alphas never submitted to wolves of lesser ranks. He mind-linked Goria urgently,"We have guests, confuse them."

"I can not now, just go faster." She replied.

"Why?" He asked surprised. A scent masker was the only thing that would enable them escape, especially for the life of their future Alpha.

"I already used the last one I had on our Alpha, in case we do not make it in time." Gloria replied, fear lacing her every word. For the first time in her life she was afraid, Rico's calm and the confidence from their bond was the only thing keeping her sane.

Olanz growled in response and sped on, he had to think fast, going to Tamara's hometown was already out of question as it would ensnare the pup and their efforts would be wasted. He paused for a second to observe the standstill of all vehicular movement when he saw the familiar signpost, the major landmark he had come to know too well hanging over the bridge.

WELCOME TO ABUJA.

Rogues were having a field day, those of his kind who delighted in the taste of blood, human blood were busy ripping humans off their fragile hearts and his heart broke at how surreal werewolves could be when turned feral. He scanned his surroundings frantically and stopped running when his gaze fell on ROUTE SIX. With renewed vigour, he ran towards the route.

Halting by the last car on the queue, he banged on the door impatiently with his paw and sighed when it was opened by the occupants who were shivering in fear. He glanced inside the car; male and female, "They must be mates." He mind-linked Goria.

"Now is not the time to find out." She snapped at him, pushing the pup into the female's shaking hands.

"Please, protect her. We will come for her when the time is right and also this is hers." Gloria finished, handing her the Tavala. Olanz turned round immediately the male collected the Tavala from Gloria, weaving through the route they took in a zigzag pattern before anyone could spot them.

The couple watched astonished at what they just saw, the wolf-shifters didn't hurt them despite the ongoing attack rather they wanted the baby protected. The lady muffled a scream as a large net was thrown over the duo and they heard the wolf howl very loudly probably in defeat and pain while his companion fell to the ground. The couple shared a knowing look, putting the car in reverse gear, the couple did the next sensible thing...run!

The reflection in the mirror bounced back at her and her hand traveled on its own to her neck. She loved the feel of the necklace that adorned her neck and she admired the pendant lovingly. Its intricate design was rare and special but she was never allowed to show it off. She was brought to reality when the ever nagging voice in her head hummed softly.

"Bella?" She called out of herself.

"As always, I'm right here." Luna Bella replied cheerfully.

"Keep quiet!" She ordered, slightly irritated at Bella's cheerfulness.

"I can't, I'm just so happy this morning." Luna Bella's voice rang in her head once more.

"Keep quiet or get out of my head!" She yelled.

"We both know I can't get out and technically you're arguing with yourself, because there's no one around." Luna Bella pointed out, chuckling happily.

"Please tell me, how can I get rid of you?" Tiana demanded with an air of desperation.

Luna Bella laughed loudly, "No way hon, coz we stuck together."

"Why!" Tiana demanded, her irritation getting the better of her.

"Because I'm your wolf!" Luna Bella snapped at her in annoyance and continued her humming.

Tiana groaned and touched the necklace again. "Bell?" She called softly, after a couple of seconds.

"What is it again?!" Luna Bella barked at her.

"Do you know why mum gave us this necklace?"

"This is the upteempth time you've asked me."

"I'm curious." Tiana replied warily.

"I am too, I don't know why. I am technically a wolf not a seer." Luna Bella answered.

"If she wants us to have it, why can't we wear it proudly?" Tiana queried, confused at the situation.

Luna Bella was silent for a while,"I think she's protecting us."

"From what?"

"I'm clueless." Luna Bella replied and resumed her humming.

Tiana ran her hand over the pendant, she'd had the necklace on since she was ten. It was her tenth year birthday present.

"Never let anyone see or know you have this on, Tiana." Her mother had told her that day as she helped her secure the lock on her neck.

"Why?" She'd demanded as her curiosity got the better of her.

"It's your guide to those who need you...it's your family too." Her mother replied.

"But if they can't see it on my neck, how can they know they need me, mom?"

"Darling, they'll find you when it's time, until then keep it on and keep it safe." Was her mother's reply.

She combed her long hair and carefully curled it into her favourite bun before heading to the bed to examine the clothes she had arranged earlier before going to take her bath then headed to the vanity table. Carefully collecting her contact lenses from its box, she carefully wore them. She had always had them on since she could remember to call her name whenever she was going out of the house. Her parents had spent a fortune to get this particular one that concealed her eyes' colours perfectly. She had brown eyes that always changed colours according to her emotions. Her father had once told her that it was an abnormality that came from his own side of the family tree and not forgetting to always mention how unique she was to have them.

Today had come with a lot of expectations for her, she had an interview by 4 P.M at Sean Corporation right after all the classes she had lined up for the day as being schooled in History at a prestigious University such as Tena University came with a high price of dutifulness, hard-work and diligence. She wore the white long sleeved shirt with navy blue stripes and carefully did the buttons after making sure her necklace was well concealed. She dragged her nude hose over her legs and gracefully wore the knee length navy blue skirt she had borrowed from her kid sister Emmaline. She sat on the bed to enable her to put on the 4" peep-toe heels.

"Tiana, breakfast is ready." She heard her mother call her.

"Hang on mum, almost done, I'll join you guys soon." She replied.

She wasn't from an affluent family though she carried herself like one, her family was one the many families living above average in the commercial city of Lagos. She was the eldest of two girls, her father worked as a banker while her mother was a teacher but recently there were discussions between her parents to start a catering and business academy. Her father still had a poultry farm that earned him income on the side. Her parents were Alex and Karen Mante.

She grabbed her Boston bag hanging on a nail in the wall and poured its contents on the bed. She wanted to be sure she wasn't forgetting anything. She picked her pen and scratched the tip on her palm to confirm it was still working properly then picked the notebook and her lipgloss. She had never been an avid fan of cosmetics...she had to look classy today specifically for that interview if she was to ace it.

BEING CLASSY IS THE MAJOR TOOL TO GETTING A JOB.

She'd read that in one of those many articles about interviews. She put on her favourite pair of hoop earrings and slipped on her ever reliable wrist watch then walked to the mirror to check herself, she looked prim and proper.

Her mind wandered as usual, she couldn't for the life of her stay calm, not even for a full damn day. She either talked to Luna Bella, remiscened the past or day-dreamed about the future. As a child she had a pretty sheltered life unlike her younger sister who was termed as the life of the party. She had no friends in school, no one wanted to be friends to a girl who'd beat the living daylight out of them. She never seemed to get the human relations right hence she became an introvert.

At twenty-one she couldn't boast of a boyfriend not that she was bothered but she hated guys with everything in her, it could probably be because all the guys she had met were all assholes, egoistic bastards who believed in the total subservience of women and she hated that.

"You're just a control freak." Her sister, Emmaline had jokingly told her one day at family time.

Well, it was either that or be a door-mat for some guy. All she truly wanted was a man she could share with not one who would want to dominate her. One who would sweep her off her feet while she remained standing. Well, she was unlucky in that aspect so all she did now were blind dates with random guys from dating sites in search of the very man who'd treat her like the queen she was.

Though there wasn't any pressure on her to work, she was tired of drooling around the house and her parents rather she stayed at home to work. In their own words, they just wanted her safe, but could they be faulted for that?

No...she was different from everyone she'd ever come across. She had the tendency to become violent and she always resorted to it which scared her, it still does.

She didn't spare a second glance at the job posting Ad when she saw it on Facebook despite how under-qualified she was for the job. She wanted and needed to feel the thrill that came with having a job and a pay-cheque at the end of each month. She was stupefied when she received the invite for an interview.

"Guys, I applied for a job." She'd announced it at dinner that evening. The silence that followed her announcement could be cut through with a knife.

Her sister was the first to speak, bailing her from the awkward silence,"Really? When?–"

"Never mind, you're not going." Her father interrupted briskly.

"Tariana..." Her mother had called her full name tenderly which was rare."We agreed on a no work policy for you, didn't we?"

"Mum, dad," Emmaline had answered in her place and Tiana was grateful for such a nosy sister. "I think it's a good idea, let her do it."

"Never!" Her father barked in response and Tiana felt her control button zap off.

A dangerous air sizzled around them as she looked her father in the eye,"Either you let me work peacefully or I'll leave this house and never return!"

She was sure her eyes had turned gold and her voice had a convicted calmness to it from her father's fidgets.

"Honey, what your dad and I mean is that it's too dangerous out there." Her mother had explained gently. Her mother's tone confirmed her suspicion, they all knew whenever her eyes turned gold, everyone and thing in sight was in grave danger.

"Mom, I'm twenty-one." Tiana began slowly,"I can handle myself fine, I'm dying of idleness mom. I aced to the interview stage." She announced in an eerily calm tone.

"When is the interview?" Her father asked in a defeated whisper.

"Two weeks from now, plus I'll be getting my own place if I get the job..." Her mother's fork fell from her hand making a loud clatter on her plate. "Please let me prove to you that I can take care of me too." She had added glancing at parents with a pleading look.

Her parents had shared a look and sighed defeatedly.

Tiana listened raptly to Professor Kima's lecture on 'History of killings around the world by shape-shifting monsters over the years.' and she got bored after fifteen seconds of the class so she zoned the Professor out.

"Guys, Emmaline and I'll go out tonight." She'd announced at dinner three years ago when she turned eighteen

"No." Her father's stern reply came, he turned his focus to the bowl of soup he was eating.

"But–"

"There are no buts!" He'd reprimanded her harshly.

Her vision turned red, jolting to her feet, she demanded with a furious growl,"WHY?!"

"We're protecting you." Her mother's gentle voice answered her instead.

"Protecting me?" She asked, sarcasm dripping from every word,"You overshadow me! I'm never allowed out but Emmaline has it, infact freely!" She vented her frustration, screaming.

"Tiana!" Her father called her name with steel.

"And she's just a year younger than I am but you let her have everything she wants!" She yelled back, bitterness coating her every word.

"You know that's not true, Tiana!" Her father returned angrily.

"Just leave me alone! All of you. I hate you!" She yelled at him, kicking her chair and ran to the kitchen. Searching frantically for something...anything that would calm her. She picked a chinaware from the rack and smashed it, though it did nothing to cease her anger it gave her something to do, to channel her anger because all she wanted was to punch her father's face until he bled. She picked another and smashed it, she was tired of being treated as a third wheel, tired they never let her soar. She never bothered pausing or looking at the door when it opened, not even when her mother's scent filled her nostrils.

"Tiana...please...we want you to be safe." Her mother spoke softly. She ignored her mother and continued smashing the plates on the floor.

"Please, stop it, you'll hurt yourself." Her mother continued upset and it broke her. Instead of replying, she stormed out of the kitchen, climbed the stairs to her room furiously to sulk, forgetting about dinner...no, refusing to have it.

By midnight, she was so hungry she couldn't resist a sneak to the kitchen. She got out of bed and tip-toed out of her room, without switching on the light, she didn't need to as she had a perfect night vision. She opened the fridge with a silent prayer,"Oh heavens, please let there be something."

Seeing a carefully covered plate, she beamed smiles as brought it out, put it on the kitchen island, dragged a kitchen stool and sat on it.

"Thank you guys." She hooted mentally, sniffing the plantain porridge and dug into it.

She frozed when she felt a sudden chill accompanied by a twings of piercing pain ringing through her marrows, she screamed both in trepidation and pain as the darkness sucked her life force away.

Tiana found herself standing on a narrow path surrounded by low grasses and heard low continuous howls, horribly the howls sounded happy. Taking a quick glimpse of her surroundings she shuddered in fear...the place looked strangely familiar and she couldn't for the life of her fathom why. Shielding her face with her palm from the blinding light ahead of her, she felt a tug, an urge to walk to the source of the light ahead. She followed her instincts and five minutes later...she wasn't sure of the exact time, she came to an open clearing and came face to face with a wolf.

A she-wolf, taller than her. Its fur was an immaculate white with a single pink stripe that ran from the middle of its head and stopped at the tail. Its eye colour was gold and the paws were ocean blue. What was odd was that Tiana felt confident with herself, she was neither scared or intimidated by its presence but felt content. Tiana was stunned when the wolf spoke.

"I'm Luna Bella, your wolf. The one meant to complete you, created to guide you. I've waited for this day and for you to mature so we will unite and be together finally."

"How? Why?" Tiana thought to herself, wondering about the possibility of a talking wolf.. She had been watching too many Disney movie series.

The she-wolf chuckled heartily,"You will find out soon."

"You can hear my thoughts? " Tiana asked, shocked.

"Yes, and you can hear mine too, because...", Luna Bella said, taking majestic strides towards her. Tiana was puzzled when Luna Bella walked right through her, "I'm you, your missing puzzle, your completion, your wolf but never your mate."

Tiana's eyelids opened slowly, her consciousness coming and going. She heard distant voices only to discover they belonged to her family. They were crying, they thought she was dead and it broke her heart to see them in pain.

She remembered clearly how she was never normal again after that day. She communicated with Luna Bella daily, and the wolf became her first best friend. Her mother and her sister were both second...well to begin with, despite how weird it sounded...she was never totally normal before and having an abstract best friend made her an official weirdo. Well, she avoided whatever would get her angry, she and Luna Bella were a crazy pair whenever that happened.

The last time her control snapped, she was on a date with this guy named Ethan...She was twenty then plus her parents had allowed her to date, well...that was the only thing she did that they never put a foot against and they even urged her.

"Hurry up, Tiana." Her mother coaxed excitedly peeping through the door. "It's 7:30 pm already." Her mother gasped seeing her still rumbling for an outfit. "Emmaline!" Her mother cried. Emmaline rushed upstairs with a fry pan with her father in tow weilding a spatula ready to hit. Her mother looked at them confused,"What's going on?"

"Karen, you screamed bloody murder!" Her father had replied in a rush.

"Really?" Her mother had demanded, folding her hands and fixing her father a glare. Tiana remembered she'd opened the door wide and burst into a giggling fit.

"Now, what's funny?" Her sister had demanded angrily.

Tiana stifled her laughs and kept a straight face,"Nothing."

"Em, for the life of me this young woman here needs help getting dressed for her dinner date in a fancy restaurant somewhere in FESTAC Town." Her mother exclaimed.

Emmaline grinned,"Fashionista Emmaline Mante to the rescue." She'd squealed, shooing Tiana into the room,"We'll see you guys when I'm done." She announced closing the door.

She'd walked into the upscale restaurant, scanning the sea of people, smiling politely when he had waved at her from his table. He was exactly the way his Profile Picture had portrayed him. She approached the table with a confident gait.

"Hi." He greeted, standing to meet her, she took his outstretched hand and smiled when he pulled out her chair.

"I like him, Bell." She announced to Luna Bella when she sat down.

"Yes, you do." Luna Bella replied with a hiss,"Well, I don't like him. He's fishy."

"Whatever! I'm going to enjoy myself and you're stuck with me, you might as well enjoy it with me." She stated factly.

"Whatever." Luna Bella, rolled her eyes at her.

The waiter soon arrived with the menus and they both ordered their meals. She enjoyed his company, he was even interested in History, he was an intelligent fellow and she had thought he was the one. She gasped when her hair was yanked suddenly from behind and a lady's voice screeched in her head dragging everyone's attention to her,"You shameless bitch!"

Tiana managed to free her hair and turned around to see a very furious, lanky looking girl, "Excuse me?" She asked Miss Furious Lanky calmly whilst Luna Bella pushed her to the background the second the lanky girl slapped the living nightlight out of her.

"Leave my man alone, he has a girl in his life!"

"What the fuck?!" She cursed, rubbing her abused check.

"Let me deal with this bitch!" Luna Bella growled furiously as they both fought for dominance.

"No! We'd be in trouble." Tiana replied. Luna Bella growled angrily in response and pulled off her heels...they didn't hurt the girl too much just she scared the bitch for good on her face and broke the front teeth of the Ethan guy. She walked out of the restaurant and hailed a taxi.

"It's your fault!" Luna Bella reminded her furiously as if the humiliation they received wasn't enough,"I told you he was fishy!"

"Really, Bell?" She demanded with sarcasm.

"You never listen to me!"

"I'm sorry." Tiana apologized soberly.

"I'm sorry too, let's go home." Luna Bella replied, holding a grip on herself. She and her wolf argued a lot but they each knew when to compromise.