Who would've thought Russia could be so damn cold! I mean, I've seen snow before, but this is insane! Thankfully, as a werewolf, the cold doesn't bother me much, but I need to act like a regular human without any superpowers.

On my way to the Airbnb, my wolf inside me is restless. All these years of longing have led me to this moment – the big forest I've always dreamed of. Once I change into more suitable clothes and drop off my belongings at the apartment, I order another Uber to drop me a few blocks away from the forest. I don't want the driver to think I'm crazy by asking him to take me to the forest's edge. After all, who in their right mind would venture into the forest, alone, in the middle of winter, in an unfamiliar town? But I trust and rely on my wolf instincts.

When the Uber stops, I thank the driver and try to contain my excitement. I walk briskly towards the forest, and once I'm in front of it, I'm in awe of the majestic trees. I can't believe I finally made it here after years of dreaming about this place.

Suppressing my yelp of excitement, I make sure no one is watching before I step into the forest, taking in the magical scenery blanketed in snow. The sounds of various animals inhabiting the forest make my heart flutter. There's something strangely familiar about this place. As I take a deep breath, something stirs inside me, and my wolf becomes restless. Perhaps it's because we're finally in the place we've always longed to visit, but there's an odd feeling I can't quite pinpoint.

I strip off my clothes and stash them in a bag hidden in a bush. Swiftly, I shift into my wolf form and can't contain myself any longer. I raise my head and howl to the sky, then start running through the forest with pure joy.

I bark and yelp in excitement, playfully bumping into trees and bushes, reveling in the freedom I feel. In a clearing, I fall onto my back, shaking and rolling from side to side, savoring the sensation of the snow against my fur. I howl, my initial joy turning into a bittersweet melody of longing and loneliness.

I'm all alone in this vast forest. Wolves thrive in packs, but I have no one else like me. The feeling of isolation weighs heavily on me, and I ache for my lost family and friends from the incident that robbed me of my memories. I yearn for warmth and familiarity, but I'm left alone in this world, and it cuts deep.

Suddenly, I hear howls – multiple howls joining my own. My heart races as I run towards the sound. Could they be like me? Other werewolves? Will they be friendly, or will they see me as a threat?

I howl desperately, seeking an answer, and I receive plenty in response. My mind is in a daze, excitement and fear battling within me. I've only encountered one other werewolf before, during my first transformative run. But now there are more, and I crave their acceptance and companionship, as I have no family left.

In my haze, I fail to notice a few feet away a bear feeding on a dead deer. My realization dawns only when I accidentally bump into it.

I back up immediately, trying to make myself look smaller as the bear turns and growls at me.

Oh, shit.

Was I about to become a bear's meal just before meeting others like me? The fear and desperation to cry overwhelmed me. I whimper and try to back away from the bear, but it stands on its hind legs, ready to attack. I close my eyes, unable to face it, when suddenly, I hear more growls and barks. Wolves, the sounds of wolves!

As I open my eyes, I see different-colored, huge wolves standing in front of me, protecting me. Their barking and growling drive the bear away, and they turn to me with curiosity rather than hostility.

Approaching me, one of the wolves sniffs the air and then sniffs me, tilting his head curiously. I stand tall, barking at him to show I mean no harm. He barks back and motions for me to follow him. Feeling accepted, I walk behind him, and the other wolves surround me, forming a protective circle.

We walk for a while until the forest opens up into an unexpected town that wasn't on any map I'd seen before. My fascination with maps and my knowledge of Russia didn't account for this place. In front of us stands a large mansion-like house made of ancient-looking stones.

The wolves suddenly begin shifting into their human forms, leaving me feeling shy and embarrassed. A woman greets me kindly, covering me with a blanket, and urges me to shift so I can meet the alpha.

Once I'm covered, I shift back into my human form, and the men surrounding me are now clothed in jeans and simple shirts, studying me with curiosity. I realize that it's rare to find a lone wolf.

Just as I wonder what's happening, I meet the gaze of an old man whose eyes are locked onto mine. He seems shocked, and he sniffs the air as if trying to confirm something. Before I can react, he embraces me tightly, lifting me from the floor.

Confused and overwhelmed, I try to speak, but he pulls away slightly, and another woman comes running towards me, embracing me as well, calling me "baby" and "home."

Feeling breathless, I pull away from their embrace, not understanding why they are showing such affection. Besides my adoptive parents, no one has shown me empathy before. I ask who they are and how they know me, and their response leaves me stunned.

They claim to be my parents, but I can't comprehend it. Their faces are somewhat familiar, but I've never been to Russia before. My confusion and doubts irritate them, and I scream in pain as my brain throbs and memories start flooding in.

The realization hits me – they are indeed my parents, and I remember them now. Memories come back in a painful rush, putting names to the faces that were triggering my brain to remember.

Before succumbing to the darkness, I can hear their concerned voices, and I finally accept my true identity and the family I've found.

On the day of the incident, I was filled with excitement and nerves as it was my first time leaving Europe to travel to the United States. Looking at the maps, the vastness of the country seemed alien to me, and I couldn't wait to experience new landscapes and meet different people. As a werewolf, my life had been mostly secluded within my family and pack, which left me feeling somewhat isolated. I longed for adventure and exploration, but my parents, especially my father, were very protective of me as the youngest and only daughter in the family.

My father often warned me about the dangers of the human world, emphasizing that humans could be cruel if they discovered our existence. His cautionary tales had always quelled my desire to venture beyond our territory. However, this time, I managed to convince him to let me accompany them on an alpha business trip, feeling that it was essential to understand how a pack worked, even though I had no intention of becoming a pack leader myself. With three older brothers, the responsibility of inheriting the pack rested solely on their shoulders.

Reluctantly, my father agreed to let me go, but he insisted that I stay close to him or one of my older brothers throughout the trip. It frustrated me at times, making me feel like a little child instead of a twelve-year-old who wanted to be treated more like an adult. My mother, on the other hand, would remind me that acting responsibly was the first step toward earning such treatment, urging me to focus more on my grades at school.

Yet, the truth was, I was a restless Gemini, constantly craving new experiences and easily bored by mundane tasks. I yearned to be out in nature, living life to the fullest, rather than solving math problems that seemed irrelevant to my future. The idea of going to college after high school didn't appeal to me either; it felt like it would only restrict my freedom and limit my experiences. Spending my whole life in one place, I felt that time was slipping away, and pursuing a career through years of study would only make it even more limited.

...

"Stay by my side at all times, and never go to the forest alone. There have been reports of rogue sightings, and they could attack at any moment. Do you understand?" My father repeats his warning, which frustrates me. How am I supposed to enjoy my freedom now? The adults here are so overprotective.

I respond with a growl, expressing my annoyance, as Mark, my dad's beta, parks the car outside the packhouse of the American pack we're visiting.

"Don't growl at me, young lady," my father warns before leaving the car to meet the pack's alpha. He's always on edge when we're outside our own pack's territory, knowing he can't keep an eye on me constantly.

Noah nudges me to get out of the car, and I comply, feeling irritated. One day, they'll regret treating me like this. I feel like a burden, like that bag of groceries no one wants to carry because it's too heavy or smells bad. All I want is to be appreciated. Is that too much to ask?

We're greeted by the alpha of the pack and a woman who appears to be a maid. She leads us to our guest rooms, and I'm grateful to have one all to myself. I need some time alone.

Once I've unpacked my belongings, I leave the room and close the door behind me. I start heading downstairs, following the path the maid took us through earlier.

As I walk around, I feel a bit shy and uncomfortable being in a place that doesn't belong to me, surrounded by people I don't know. I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to roam freely in the house.

"Can I help you?"

I jump in surprise at the unfamiliar voice coming from behind me. Turning around, I make myself smaller, feeling intimidated by the large man standing there.

"Uh, hi, yes," I mumble and then clear my throat to sound more confident. "I'm looking for my father, the alpha of the Silver Moon pack from Russia."

He nods, understanding what I said, and smiles, which looks odd on his rugged face.

"They're outside. Let me guide you," he says, placing a big hand on my shoulder, and we walk through the packhouse until we reach the gardens. There, my dad is sitting with the alpha of this pack, smoking a cigar. Noah and another guy around Noah's age are also present.

The conversation stops when they spot me, and suddenly, I feel nervous.

"Alpha," the big man says, bowing his head before leaving. I want to call him back, feeling like I need some backup. He exudes trust and warmth, despite his imposing appearance.

"I want to join," I say with as much confidence as I can muster, though my fingers betray my nerves as I fidget with them.

"Not now, Riley. We are discussing pack matters," my dad dismisses me.

My heart compresses and explodes at the same time, and my cheeks turn red from anger and disbelief.

"But you said I could come to get to know about pack business," I protest, my voice coming out a bit squeaky.

He sighs, clearly annoyed by my persistence.

"Riley, that may have been your excuse for coming, but let's be honest, you wanted to come to America with me. You don't really care about pack stuff," he says calmly.

He's not entirely wrong. While I don't have aspirations to lead a pack, I am curious about pack matters and believe that, as an alpha's daughter, I should have some basic knowledge about our community. Plus, I want to be taken seriously, and engaging in adult discussions seems like a good way to do that. It's frustrating that they assume I don't find pack business important.

"Fine. Whatever you say, father," I reply, emphasizing the word "father" to express my annoyance. For me, "dad" is a warmer and more personal term, so when I call him "father," he knows he's upset me.

I'm fuming, and my wolf feels restless. She's young and eager to run freely, just like me, and that's exactly what I intend to do.

Leaving the packhouse behind, I head towards the forest, its tree tops visible in the distance. I walk with determination, feeling like I'm in charge of my own destiny, even if I'm just a twelve-year-old with limited control over my life.

Once in front of the forest, I make sure no one is watching before I go deeper into the woods, finding a safe spot to leave my clothes. I shift into my wolf form, embracing the freedom and sense of control it provides. Being an alpha's daughter comes with its own set of challenges, as my dad's protective instincts can sometimes be overbearing, especially towards me, the youngest of the family.

I growl as my thoughts race in my head. I feel trapped and suffocated, craving more freedom and to be taken seriously. I want to be treated like a capable individual, not a naive child.

But my growl is interrupted by another growl that is not my own.

My heart races as I turn around to face a silver-haired wolf with wild red eyes, growling menacingly, ready to attack me.

Oh no! The rogue wolves! I had completely forgotten about my dad's warning in my anger and frustration.

Without a second thought, I whimper and dash away from the rogue wolf, even though I know I can't outrun an adult wolf, especially one that seems rabid.

I keep running, howling loudly, desperately seeking help. I don't stop until I reach the edge of a cliff. I come to an abrupt halt, realizing that there's no ground left beneath my paws.

I turn around, refusing to expose my back to the enemy. The rogue wolf growls, baring its fangs, and fear courses through me. I hear another howl in response to my distress call, but I doubt they'll arrive in time.

Before I can react, the rogue wolf lunges at me.

Instinctively, I jump back, trying to avoid the attack and certain death, but there's no ground left, and I plummet down the cliff. Mid-air, I shift back to my human form to be able to swim and breathe, but as soon as I hit the raging river below, pain envelops my head, and darkness consumes me.