The moon shone brightly overhead as a man in black rushed through the forest, the sound of pursuers behind him. The leaves and tree branches whipped across his body as he stumbled through the underbrush. He tried to pick up speed, knowing that the slower he went, the more likely he was to meet a sudden death. As the sounds of his pursuers diminished behind him, another sound could be heard. Ear-piercing and shrill, the sound of a babies cry, awoke his wolfs instincts. Whirling down a smaller footpath, he tried to ignore it, but in the end instinct prevailed. His wolf howled in despair, urging him to go and comfort the child. Knowing that neither he nor his wolf would be able to live with themselves if they didn't check on the baby, he whirled down a footpath, crashing through more underbrush. But as the man in black got closer to the wailing baby, he paused, thinking.
Something wasn't right. What was a baby doing in the middle of a forest at night? Wasn't that a little unsafe?!
Despite these thoughts, he knew that the child had to be found. And so, he continued onwards.
It was pitch black by the time he got to the baby, the moon having been covered by clouds. He found her lying in a basket on some bushes, crying her eyes out for parents that would never appear. As he bent to pick her up, his wolf calmed down. It was as if his alpha instincts were coming out in the form of this baby girl. Looking closer he noticed that she had white hair and ice-blue eyes. But the moment he touched her hair, it turned blonde with white stripes.
"That's strange," he thought out loud. "Normally babies have natural hair colors so why's this baby so different?"
Almost in reply to his thoughts, a voice spoke. "I see you have finally found my child. That is a relief." The person in question was a young woman in her 20's with silvery white hair, and ice-blue eyes just like the baby. She wore a white Greek chiton dress with silver circlets around her arms and on her head, and from head to toe she was glowing. The man in black was stunned.
Who was this woman? And what was she doing here?
In the back of his mind, his wolf howled, and within moments, the man was baring his deck and kneeling before the woman. Once more, his instincts persevered.
It can't be, he thought to himself. How?
Suddenly, she spoke again, startling him from his thoughts. "My name is Selene, and I am the Moon Goddess all werewolves worship. This baby is my daughter, Adrestia. Born of both my blood and the Alpha King, she is a powerful child, whose name means Justice. That is why I wish for you to take care of her. Hold her, love her, comfort her, feed her, clothe her, and act as her father. When she is 18 years old, you may tell her that I am her mother. However, you must promise me not to tell her who her real father is. If she learns the truth, he will surely come to know as well and then both Adrestia and all whom she cares for, will be in danger of the kings wrath. I wish for my child to live an ordinary life amongst your rogue pack, away from her fathers influence. In this way, she will be protected. I believe you are the right man for the job, as I have watched over you for a long time now. So, what do you say, Thomas Layton? Will you take my child as your own?" Nodding, Thomas replied, "If it is truly your wish then I will take care of this child as if she were my own flesh and blood." Thomas knew without a doubt that if it was a child in need of protection, then he would be happy to do it. Besides, when else would he get the chance to aid the Moon Goddess? Selene smiled. "One last thing, Thomas. Adrestia's father is a dangerous man. One who won't hesitate to kill any kin he deems a threat to his throne. So protect her and keep her safe. I'm counting on you to do right by my daughter. Now I really must go. I've spent too long here as it is." Thomas understood. If it were his child he would do the same thing. And so, he promised to protect her forever, until he breathed his last. Little did he know that protecting her was going to be a lot more trouble than he thought.