( RENEE’S POV )

It all started with a loud voice, like a ferocious yell, tearing through the bellows of the ocean. All the origin Werewolves remember the story like it was written on the back of their palms. and since I’ve been sitting in the jail for the past eight years, it was one of the fables I would bore myself with. Jail wasn’t a pretty place, it wasn’t at the beginning and even up until the present time, it got worse. Telling myself Werewolf legends kept me going strong.

When the yell bursted out through the atmosphere, the surroundings reacted greatly to the sound. It was likened unto the cry of a troubled woman. The voice carried a great belch, cumbered with a basin effect, rippling in several layers, stretching through the available dimensions. The air scattered with strength, the trees shook, all the animals were afraid. The great noise caused the animals to race past the forest where they lived, they all tore through the thick bushes and into the mainland.  

The Werewolves were forbidden to leave the forest, they weren’t allowed to exist where the humans lived. The origin Weres were believed to have no human language, they were normal animal wolves. They had strength and heretic magic. But when the thunderous voice laced the atmosphere, it made the animals run from their home into the mainland and got in contact with the humans, it was then that the Were history began to take a definite and divergent turn. 

The wolves got into contact with mankind, bit them, and brewed the first, notable werewolf clan. The new generation of wolf meant a lot of differences, Weres had more potentiality than the previous nature, they could exist more than what the forest life gave them. Weres coexisted as men, they could make use of both Were animal forms and human form. And so as time changed and progressed, different legacies began to rise as Were knowledge broadened. Legacies were werewolf families, separated by blood, joining or sale. When the segregation was at heat, surely indifference surged. Enemity soon ravaged between the different clans. Disagreements caused these enemities to rise, leading to conflicts and even war. 

The war started when the Thaneblood legacy wanted more that what was theirs, they wanted to seize all werewolf lands. It caused clans to fight bitterly to keep what was theirs. And so, the leader of the Thaneblood, Jacob thane used his enormous money and wealth and bought the clans leaders into selling their land. Those that refused were meant to loose right and resources. I fought valiantly for my clan. And amidst the bloodshed and actual field battle for supremacy,  the power of wealth won and the Thaneblood legacy claimed the lands. The endgame was not appeasing to me who was from the opposition because some of the other clans were bribed to seize fight. 

My father Martin Moon, being the type of man that he was decided to keep the pride of our pack and stayed out of the colony of clans that the thane's controlled. When the world long moved passed archaic times and resided in foreign homes, my pack was forced to move back into the forests and make homes for ourself through wood and trees. We hunted for food, drank from the natural water source, and so for us there was no great need to find a job. I was ravaged with anger and hatred for the thaneblood legacy. 

One day, I accidentally saw with the youngest daughter from the Thaneblood legacy, her name was Talia Thane. She was dressed in expensive clothes and drove an exotic car, with all the wealth her father stole from werewolves. I was utterly bitter and aggravated. Talia Thane accidentally bumped into me, when we hit, she uttered some words that I heard. 

“ Disgusting wolf. “

My aggravation got worse. I grew claws and took a maximum part of her neck off. Talia bled to death while I was purchasing tissue papers from the department store behind.

The cop vans drove into my home to pick me up, my family knew to be stupid to start a fight especially when it was one of their own that originated the cause. And the other clans wouldn't stand by our side, not even the ones that my father befriended. My clans begging didn't save me from arrest, I was whisked away, bounded and was thrown in jail. 

After a couple of years in jail, I heard from a family member that my father was left with other option than to begin working for the Thane’s legacy. I knew firsthand what that decision meant for my father, he would have gone through all the stages of embarrassment and shame. But his reasons were not only to provide for his pack but to see that I got to see sunlight again. Jacob Thane had given an unknown number of time for my father to work for him before forgiving the man for a crime that I commited. 

And so after eight years at twenty seven years old, I sat in jail, using a wretched broomstick to draw moon pictures on the wall and playing with my legs in the air when I had the chance to. I made friends when I wanted to, even enemies. Out of the blue without warning, I had a visitor in prison, it was my father and he came to release me. 

                   ***************

The drive was peaceful, Renee had her window fully opened, her hands out in the atmosphere, her hair dancing to the tone the wind played, she was finally happy to be free. Her father wasn't the man she knew him to be, his smile had completely disappeared from him, he was merely navigating life with what the Thane's allowed him have. 

“ Since you got me out, can you stop working for them? The Thane's? “ Renee asked him.

“ No. “ He gave a straight reply. 

“ But why? I assume the deal is over. “ she was early to realise that she still harbored hate for the Thane's, it was more justified when she saw her father. 

“ It is not, I still work for them. “ 

“ But father, the Thane's are not our allies, neither should you be working for them. Do not forget all the things that they did_

“ Renee… “ Martin started with a clear, slow and steady voice so his daughter would have no excuse not to understand him, “ You've been in jail for the past eight years, things changed. Even before you left the Thane's had power, it's worse now. “ 

Renee sat up. 

“ You wouldn't believe that we need their permission to hunt for food. “ 

Renee was aggravated and surprised, “ What? “ 

“ They somehow sectioned a group that seized hunting rights and the bill was passed. “ He weakly sighed, “ The pack needed to survive, I was pushed to the wall when the Rivers began to be guarded, I had no choice Renee. “ 

Renee had tears at the bridge of her eyes, she was saddened.

“ Those people, “ She was once more bustling with hate, “ One kill that I made shouldn't count, since they slaughtered many by bribery. “ 

“ It was the clans that chose to kill their own. “ He glanced over at his daughter as though prepping to tell her more bad news. 

“ What? “ she probed. 

“ The Pledge. “ 

Renee was yet to comprehend what a pledge was, “ Pledge? “ 

The mere mention of Pledge had made Martin recall pain, desolation and even fear. The sheer fact that he and the members of his clan was forced to succumb to the pledge was frightening, seeing that Bloodmoon was formally known to be the most powerful Werewolf clan. 

“ What is the pledge father? “ 

“ Renee… “  His voice broke, “ The Thane's formulated a power takeover plot that worked, I don't know how he did it, but it worked. “ 

Renee arched a perplexed brow, “ Power takeover? “ She squinted hard, accessing the little information her father had given her, “ You're trying to say that Thane is trying to seize power? Is it more wealth or… “ 

“ Believe me, if it was wealth I would be at peace, I mean origin power. In a matter of hours the Thane would render all the other clans powerless. “ 

The shock came to Renee slowed, “ We're loosing all our powers? That's impossible! How does he plan to do that? “ 

Martin realized that he had to protect his daughter, “ I don't know, but it has something to do with blood. That wretched bloodline is gonna control us all. “ 

                   ****************

It was sundown, the dark was somewhere in between abject nightfall and medium light when Martin parked his trunk on a grassy pathway. They sighted a line of empty cars which were also parked, it appeared that the other clans had gathered. Renee was troubled, after eight years being incarcerated, she was expecting to see her family again. Her mother, brothers and what was left of her friends, but that wasn't the case. Instead, she was in a distant scene on route to a pledge set by the Thane's to seize werewolf power. 

“ Transform. “ Martin ordered his daughter. 

Renee, glancing around in a bid to see if she could understand what the pledge was all about did as her father was told. In less than some seconds, she was in her full werewolf form, white and a mix of brown, her father was full black. Renee was a natural hybrid, so was Martin.

Both Weres in their natural form walked up a giant hill, on the hill top laid a barren area where the multitude of wolves stood. The wolves all in animal form stood in a continuous circular pattern. Renee could verify that the pack of wolf stationed at the middle was the Thane's. An apparent scowl camped on her face. Renee and her father soon met the crowd and joined the long line. 

A brown wolf, big and full began to speak, he was Jacob Thane. 

“ Everything known to existence has a history. Werewolf has history, mankind has history, wealth… power and so on. The history of werewolf is not as the same as it is now, that means that history can be bended, evolve and it can change. The history of power has come to a pinnacle point of change, as we all know that it is due. “ He stepped outside the wolves guarding him, “ I have given you all everything that mattered, I have seen to it that you have what you need to survive in the new world, all that I gave could be seized back. “ 

The saying was sure to strike fear on the other clans present, including Martin. 

“ Look at your brother. “ Martin gestured to his daughter, Renee sighted Herin. He too stood, subdued to the Thane's control. 

Jacob continued, “ To ensure you all keep that which I gave, to ensure that your love ones are not totally displaced, you must fulfil your end and return that which rightfully belongs to me. After all, “ He placed a dark smirk on his jaws, “ I have more than just your wealth, I have your people in your keep. “ 

Renee, without the permission of her father spoke, “ What is this pledge that you want from us? Will it render us powerless as they say? “ 

Jacob didn't recognize who owned the voice, “ I have gathered the strongest origins here for a purpose, it is to draw your blood, which you will rightfully give to me. I will not render you powerless, but I seek to control that power, that I believe i already own. “ 

Just like that, one by one, the wolves began to move to the middle layer, cutting their flesh and rendering their blood to Jacob's cause. 

“ We will not give our blood. “ Renee spoke from the back of the crowd. Her voice stood out, the other werewolves had heard and were all looking at her. 

One look from her father spoke volumes in how upset he was at her words,

“ Shut up, “ He whispered as loud as he could get. 

Renee stood her ground, “ The Thane’s have committed far more atrocities and this is their worse one yet, now they want to control our power? “ She began to walk to the other werewolves reach, “ You all have sold your fellow blood for ruins but I assure you, if we all stand together, we can put a permanent end to the Thane's. “ 

Without warning a Thaneblood wolf flew from the highest section of the hill and pounced on Renee. She fell down the hill and had a rough romance to the ground. The wolf didn't stop there, Renee, injured and bleeding from her head could see the male wolf running down the hill in pursuit to place further hurt on her. She sought to stand and battle the wolf but she was too weak, another option came to run. Renee couldn't afford to be killed or be thrown into jail again, and so she dashed into the bushes. 

Renee ran without looking back. She soon fell down a hilly slope. She ventured from the bushy arena to a refined, land. It was facility, and just up ahead was Jacob Thane's first son, Desmond Thane.