Faye

~Faye

Perfect.

My fingers dig under the window pane, sliding it up until the cool night air drifted through. It's not snowing tonight, but the air bites at my bare arms. There's no point in dressing up if I'm going to shift anyway. So instead, I sling my leg over the ledge, looking down at the ground below. Here's hoping the grass catches my fall. Taking a deep breath, I fall until my feet touch the ground, my ankles jarring in response.

No one should be out this way tonight. As far as I'm aware, the Guards are working different rounds until midnight. The night buzzes around me. No one here agrees with me when the forest that backs my residence comes to life at night. It does, but in their opinion, in another way. My Pack, the Independence Pack has kept away from the rest of the twelve Packs; especially the Discipline Pack.

Their disagreement with the way my Pack leads their lives - without any rules - has meant the Alpha, Kael, and I, do not get along. In fact, he's sent some of his entourage to kill me many times. It should worry me, but it doesn't. I live in a Pack where people are allowed to commit to their actions with little consequences. Of course, there are restrictions, but my people are independent. They live the life they want to, as long as they respect my wishes when it's deemed necessary. There are people, though, who's opinions like to overrule mine. My mother. After a near death experience a few years ago, I've invited her to live back in my residence, so I can look after her. This has proven, however, to be a right pain, as with each day, she has been testing the edges of my patience, piping at it with her suggestions.

I flaunt the term suggestions mildly. I try listen. I try understand. But keeping me in at night when exploring the forest outdoors appeals to me more. I don't think so... So to keep the peace, I sneak around. Something a female Alpha who seeks respect from all Pack's should never be caught doing. When I find it in my heart to kick my mother out, then I won't have to. I won't have to worry about disappointing her. My bare feet crunch over fallen leaves, my left hand brushing the wall as I walk, ready to press myself into the shadows of it's deemed necessary.

The forest is surrounded with a large dark fence. Because my Pack is situated at the top of a mountain, the forest is the only possible way to get in and out. That's how Alpha Kael's assassins get in, which is why it's suggested I don't go in there. I see it, and I understand, it's just hard to fight the natural urge. It doesn't take very long to find the gate that keeps people out.

My eyes are trained, even to the darkness. This isn't the first time I've ventured out, and if I can keep inconspicuous, then it won't be the last either. Climbing over the gate is the hardest part of this. My hands clamp down on iron as I clamber up, my feet nearly slipping on the ice slick bars. The more I climb, the harder it gets. My hands freeze and cramp up, but I fight through it, swinging my arms over the top before I fall to the ground on the other side. Everything will be fine once I shift, then no one will find me, unless of course, they smell me. Then I'm done for. To avoid that, I wander further in the forest, letting its darkness consume me with every step. Just as I decided I felt comfortable enough to shift, I hear a strange sound. Rustling. And talking.

Dammit. I press myself up against the base of a tree, concealing myself from the torches belong to Guards. I can hear their voices, picking out the ones I knew. There are only two of them, but I know both. Preston and James. Pricks.

"Thought so," I hear Preston mutter, and a murmur of agreement comes out afterwards from James.

"Come on out Faye," I hear James call. I cringe. Of course they would find me, they are the best Guards in the Pack Quarter. That's exactly why I had them hired to protect my place. Now I'm starting to regret that decision.

"We know why you're out here, so you don't have to worry about explaining yourself to us." I know they are just saying that to get me to come out. They know I don't have to explain myself to them, as the Alpha. They also know that in saying that, I'll want to pop out to confirm.

"I'm only agreeing to come back because I don't want to disappointed speech again," I mutter, stepping out from behind the tree and into the light of their torches.

"If it will stop her from dropping dead from a heart attack then fine. I'm sure you'd be the types to go back and tell her. Preston and James exchange glances. They aren't my personal Guards. The ashen haired men patrol the area looking for people trying to get into the Pack.

"You were going to shift," Preston excuses, looking me up and down. I'm not wearing much considering the chilled air. It's a simple outfit I don't mind losing if I couldn't get back to where I left them. Now, all my preparation is for nothing.

"Aren't you going to take me back?" I question. I don't really want to create anymore talk with these two. Both gossip to my mother like she's the leader of her own little Pack, so the least I say to them, the better. They take me straight to my mother. Apparently it's not to tell her about what I was caught doing, but because she requested my company anyway. I hate walking into her room, though. It reminds me of how ill she is. The gauzy curtains, the smell in the air.

She lies in bed all day and all night, one foot practically in the grave. The moment she sees me, there's disappointment. She looks up and down at what I'm wearing. "You're lucky we have something to discuss that doesn't include what you're wearing." Preston and James leave me by the door. Lucky. I'm a complete mess right now. My feet and ankles are caked in a thin layer of dirt. As is the hem of my dress. My hair's a mess, and I'm tired. How is mother even awake at this hour, that I calculated so I wouldn't get caught? Or at least I thought I did.

"What is it mother?" I question, coming to stand over her in the bed. She lies there, frail is ever, her snow white hair that I inherited from her is now grey and scraggly. Her face is pale, as she stares at me with milky eyes. She can see and hear as well as I can, which is the frightening part. It means I can't get away with anything around her.

"I've been worried about you. The Discipline Pack have been training a few more of their assassins. I need to make sure you're safe at all times, don't you agree?" She says. She adds the don't you agree since it should be my decision. She likes to act as if I don't know.

"Which means?"

"Your father had a Huntsman a few years ago, before he died. That boy kept him safe at all times, when he knew it, and when didn't. After your father got sick we sent the boy away, but I've asked him to come back and take care of you," she tells me, and my eyes widen.

"Without consulting me?" My mother sighs. It's a raspy sound.

"Some things have to be done for you. You can't always worry about being caught. With this Huntsman, you can go further out into the forest, if that's what you want..." I grit my teeth. "What's his name?"

She sits up. "Cal."

~Faye

The note glistens in my fingertips, the paper decorated with swirling cursive text.

Darling daughter, I'm positive the Goddess would like to hear you sing today. ~Mother

Singing to the Moon Goddess is something I have done ever since I was a young child. As ruler of our land, the Goddess makes full decisions on our futures, and to help her make positive ones for my Pack, I sing to her. She feeds off the harmonies, the melody. It's not something I enjoy, though. Singing to a pillar on my knees for an hour can get tiresome after awhile.

I let the paper fall from my hand and flutter back onto the surface of my desk. This happens most mornings, but clearly today she wanted to stress it today. This must be some kind of way to be forgiven for what I did last night. Sneaking out, in her opinion, is not living up to my duties as an Alpha. She's right, but in my defense, that's the only time I really get alone. The moment I leave my bedroom, two of my favourite female Guards begin to follow me.

They are my favourite because they know when I need space, even when I don't say anything. I just hope this Huntsman, Cal, is like that. The building where I typically sing was made years ago for my great, great grandmother, when she was an Alpha. Hearing my mother sings always makes me feel uncomfortable when I do so. Her voice is toe curling beautiful, and I doubt I even come close to her talent.

Brushing through the sheer curtain the keeps the inside of the small building hidden from the outside, I leave the Guards at the door. They aren't allowed in here when I sing. The room is beautiful, really. It's dressed in colours of purple and gold, the drapes across the windows glinting with the morning sun streaming through. The tapestries and art on the wall has been explained to me before, and as per tradition, I acknowledge each piece before I kneel on the flat mat mother once told me was weaved out of real gold thread.

Maybe that's why it's so uncomfortable. The pillar in front of me is sculpted from pure marble. There's nothing there to see, but apparently it poses as a direct portal to where the Moon Goddess is. As much as I believe in her, I'm not exactly sure if I'm facing the right direction. Three candle are placed on the ground in front of me, a small box of matches beside it. I strike one, lighting the scented candles so they glow brilliantly.

Then I begin to sing. The scented smoke comes from candles that have been engineered in the Wisdom Pack to assist my voice. Everytime I sing to the Goddess, I must make sure I'm at my best, giving her the positivity she needs to continue on, giving her blessings to my Pack. It's a beautiful thing, for the first ten minutes. I don't really get that far. The feeling of eyes on my back is so heavy my shoulders almost slump from the weight of it. My singing ceases, as I turn around.

I would expect my mother on a normal day. Not today. A man stands against the doorframe, the curtain behind him. He isn't familiar in the slightest; people in this Pack don't look like him. All I ever seen on a normal day basis is white hair to a dark grey. This mans hair is an oak wood colour, all messy across his forehead as if it's been tousled by the wind. His most striking features are his eyes, considering how used to the light coloured eyes of my Pack. They are the softest brown, so mellow compared to the rest of him. He's tall, his body broad. Clearly he's seen more violence in his life then I ever will.

I'm swiftly on my feet, my dress twisting with my legs. "You shouldn't be watching me sing."

"I'm not watching you sing, I'm listening," he replies, raising a dark eyebrow at me. I find myself scowling in response. Who does this man think he is?

"And who are you?" I question. He shrugs, stepping further in the room. At this point, he's ignoring me, gazing around the room, taking in all the colourful artwork, before it lands on the golden map, candles and the pillar. He doesn't look confused, only slightly amused by it all.

I sigh, "at least can you leave. This is a ritual that is not meant to be interrupted."

"You're singing to the Goddess, how fascinating," he continues. I watch him carefully, making sure he wasn't going to make any suspicious moves or blow out my candles. "How long do you, as the Alpha, have to-"

"Who are you?" I snap, cutting him off.

"I work here." I'm not fully familiar with everyone who works in my residence, however, I, sure I would remember his face if he did. I would never admit that to him, so I continue to question him, not allowing myself to dwell too much on it.

"As?"

"I'm merely a simple servant here to walk you back to your room," he tells me. Noticing my raised brow, he continues. "As per your mother's commands, of course."

I frown. "She wants me to stop my singing now?"

I don't mention to him the note. I try not to give everyone an idea of how much of a pushover she can be. The idea of her pulling me away from this isn't something I should let affect me so much, so I keep it masked. It is clearly an important matter.

I straighten my skirts. "Fine. Can I have your name?"

He doesn't look like a simple Guard here, with the missing dress code. He's wearing fighting leathers that show off his bronzed arms, that half my Guards wouldn't spot, considering how indoors this place is. Winter is commonplace here, being atop a mountain.

"I'm simply a lowly servant to you, Alpha Faye," he says airily. "You would forget it in moments, I'm sure."

That's not true, but I wouldn't admit that to him.

"You're not the Huntsman my mother has hired to follow me around, are you?"

"The one she is taking you to meet right now? Hardly," he comments, and my eyes widen. So that's the matter that has my mother has found important enough to drag me from my daily ritual. After last night, this especially a surprise. I follow the stranger from the room, after I blow my candles out. Once he is out the room, I close the curtain behind me. He shouldn't have seen that.

"You don't seem so happy about this?" He notices, as we begin to walk side by side toward my room. I'm not used to that. Usually they trail behind, not wanting to generate any kind of conversation with me. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

"I don't need one. I'm the Alpha, I can look after myself," I mutter, as we make it back inside the main building.

"I'm sick of people babying me at all time."

"I understand, but the Silents are a real problem here. They are highly, trained, dangerous, and none of them have remorse. They sign up to horrible missions to kill, the be killed, all in the order of Alpha Kael. All of them are cowards, who would rather have their throats slit than talk about a single fact of their origin," He tells me sternly. I've never heard someone describe them like that. I've been told to forget they exist, and let my Guards deal with it.

"That's why I sing," I tell him softly. "To keep myself and my Pack safe."

He doesn't say anything for a moment. We keep walking. I hate the fact that my room is situated so far away from where I sing, since I go there almost everyday, in a ritual dress that has me sweating in a few steps.

"So, Alpha, explain an average day in your life," the man asks, changing the conversation to something of a lighter note. I think about that for a moment.

"I have breakfast, then I sing. A Guard typically accompanies me for a walk around the gardens. Then its lunch, study and business. Sometimes on the weekends I'll visit the villages within my Pack."

"Sounds utterly uniform," he comments. I couldn't agree more.

"I think that,' I lie. "Sometimes life is better being free," he says and I cast my gaze up to him. At this point, we have made it to the edge of my quarters. I'm more focused on the man in front of me. All I want to do study him, find out who he is, and his job here entails. Instead he bows graciously, and backs up a few steps.

"I shall see you later, Alpha," he says, before he turns and walks away.

~Faye

I quickly made my way back to my room to change. For whatever reason, mother hates it when I wear pants - apparently it's not formal enough. So I wear them around her out of unsung protest. She spends all her time in bed, so it's straight to her room for me. It's not her fault she's ill, and we haven't yet found a cure just yet. It gives her a good reason to push me around though, since I have no heart to protest against my sickly mother, who everyone conspires will die soon.

Her Guards hardly acknowledge me as I knock on her door. That man who was supposed to bring me here did a horrible job of doing so. He left me at my room and that was that. Oh well, I'm here now. Without waiting for confirmation, I walk into the room, closing the door behind me firmly, so mother would hear me come in. What I hate most about her room is that I can smell the sickness, since she never opens a window to avoid getting a chill.

She keeps her gauzy curtains closed, which do a brilliant job at keeping the sun out. Only a full lamp on her bedside table gives me sight, as the light illuminates her set of pills on the surface of the wood. She leans her head up off her pillow as I walk in. I see the moment of distress in her milky eyes as she notices my outfit choice.

"Good morning, mother," I say, not bothering to mention the note. How she had the strength to write that doesn't surprise me. The extent she goes to to ensure I remain straight in my Alpha role can get rather ridiculous sometimes.

"You're late," she notices, glancing at the small clock propped on her little table. I ignore that statement, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. It sinks under my weight: she likes it soft for her back.

Luckily she's bathed already, and her servants had her bedsheets washed while she did so. My mother likes to keep herself groomed, even with Death on her shoulder. She keeps her hair pinned back out of her face, neat and tidy. The one flaw to this, is her pale, swallow skin is revealed, her sunken eyes that have lost that brilliant green colour on complete show.

"I suppose I'm meeting the Huntsman today," I grumble, running my hand against the ridges of her waffle-duvet cover. "The one I never asked for."

"You're hopeless at asking for help, Faye," Mother protests, hauling her frail body up to sitting position, leaning back against her headboard. I monitor her brittle arms, making sure she isn't about to stress them to the point where they break.

Suddenly, the door opens, and someone steps in. My eyes widen at the intruder. It's the man from earlier, the one who escorted me to my room...that liar. He seems to notice my expression, those sultry eyes gleaming as he wanders in, hands tucked behind his back out of respect. I should have known. As an Alpha, I shouldn't have passed his lies off, and suspected my mother would put him up to something like that. Already, I can't stand his presence.

"Ah, Faye, meet your new personal guard, Cal," mother introduces, as the man comes to stand in front of the bed. I keep still in where I sit, my eyes twitching as I have to physically stop myself from narrowing my eyes on him. He focuses his gaze on mother.

"Thank you for calling. It's an honour to serve an Alpha once again." My mouth almost falls open at that. Seriously?

"My husband much appreciated you those few years okay. My, have you grown to be a rather handsome man," mother compliments. Casting my gaze down to the floor, I curse the Goddess internally. It would be just my luck to be paired with this man, this damned lying prick. I decide to voice my protests to my mother.

"In all due respect to Cal," I say firmly, looking from the Huntsman to my mother, "but I can look after myself. I don't need someone on my heels at all times, I already have two Guards."

Mother sighed, seeing this coming, clearly.

"We have had word that Alpha Kael has released a new faction of Silent's, each trained and ready to kill you. Who knows when they will strike, so until then, you will have Cal with you at every waking hour. This is for your best interest. You cannot leave your Pack without an Alpha," she says sternly, and I clench my jaw. Damn, she has a point.

An infuriatingly good point that every fiber of my Independence wants to disprove.

"It would be my pleasure to protect you with my life, Alpha," Cal says warmly. Ignore him.

"And you're positive he's the right choice?" I question my mother, planning my hand on her calf under the blanket.

"I mean, he's a Huntsman, a Bounty Hunter. He's meant to hunt and kill, not protect." Cal clears his threat, and I reluctantly drag my gaze back to him, as he says, "I trained as Guard when I was sixteen, and was hired by your father as his personal guard when you were only four years younger than me. Once I lost my job, I became a vigilante of sorts, before I took on a local job as a Huntsman for an Estate owner."

I take a moment to drink that in. He's broken the law. He must have. When I glance at my mother for a reaction, she doesn't make one; she trusts this man. As the Alpha, I'm not used to having people admit their unlawful action right to my face. I stand my stance though. I don't punish, I don't endorse.

"He starts work today, Faye. You can't possibly be against this. I promise things will go back to normal once we sort things out with Kael," mother insists. She takes a moment to sip her water, after she starts coughing wildly. I stand swiftly, knowing she's talked enough for today.

"For now, I'll accept this," I say, biting the edge of my lip. "Good day, mother."

The moment Cal and I step outside, I begin questioning him.

"Why lie about who you were to me? You came and watched me sing, which was rude, by the way, then, you disregarded my protests and refused to tell me your name. I was moments away from finding out who your were anyway, yet you decided lying to your Alpha's face was a better idea," I say in one breath.

His expression doesn't change, but he does seem thoughtful for a moment. "I knew you wouldn't tell me anything if you found out who I was. I wanted a feel for who I would be protecting first." That makes sense. I'm being proven wrong a lot today.

"I'm still not sure how I feel about you yet," I tell him honestly, giving him a sideways glance. "but I'm willing to give you a change if you're not too annoying."

"I do have to be with you at all times, but I'm sure we can make some compromises." My mouth remains closed. I'm not about to mention to him how much he made that sound like some dysfunctional relationship. It's not as if I know very much about that. By the sounds of it, I'll be spending more time with this Huntsman than I will be with any other male. The idea of that has me a little nervous.

"Well, you probably already know it's time for me to eat lunch now, considering you know my daily schedule," I say flatly, and he nods affirmatively. "Of course," he replies. "Shall we?"

***

It was raining that night. Cal had set up right next to my room, a door separating us. He lectured me before I was able to close the door that I would call once, and he would hear, if I was in distress. I only nodded sardonically and closed the door on his face once he was done with his speech. Once I had bathed and changed into my bed closed and slid into bed. Cal hasn't been the biggest nuisance so far, but the novelty will surely wear off. I slept for awhile, but I woke around midnight.

As per usual. The forest isn't an option tonight, considering the heaviness of the rainfall outside. The moment I open that window, Cal will hear. He's warned me he's a light sleeper, which I don't doubt, considering his past. Since my stomach is protesting about the small dinner I had, I'm going to wander down to the kitchen to grab a snack. This isn't uncommon for me. I make it to the stairs before I stop. The landing gives me full access to look over at the front door.

Guards spend most nights taking shifts to protect it each night. Tonight though, things are shockingly different. The front door is wide open, rain from outside hitting the floor indoors. Fine hairs on the back of my neck and on my arms stand right up. Slowly, I back up a few steps, before I scold myself. My Guards are nowhere, but I'm the Alpha. Naturally, I'm stronger than the average person. But a Silent, who trains against their Alpha as practice?

Trying to be brave and sensible at the same time, I decide to move further down the landing to see through the door, but not get close. If I don't see anything, I'll wake Cal. My hand stays on the banister, sliding along it while I move. I can't tell if I'm trembling from the draft, of from the cold. When I look through the threshold, I almost scream. Two of my Guards are lying dead on the ground outside, their blood entwining in the puddles by the entrance. Above them, is a shadow of a figure, their dark glove running across the blade of their knife, cleaning the blood away.

It's a Silent, I can tell. I don't breathe, as I back up, before I turn and make my way quickly back to my room. My hand is still over my mouth, as hurry back, ready to wake Cal as soon as I'm back.

Him and I both will fight this intruder. When I burst back into my room, I'm shocked into silence but another shadow on my bed. He wears dark closes, a piece of cloth covering his nose and mouth, eyes hidden behind a mussed veil of dark hair. I can't tell if he's looking at me, as his finger comes up in front of his mouth.

He's silencing me. A Silent is. My uneasy gaze finds the knife on his thigh, simply lying there as a heavy threat. The blade is straight cut and glints in the light of my bed light that is always on. Another knife lies on his other leg. That one has a jagged blade, and is as dark as night. I'm dead.