PROLOGUE

~PROLOGUE~

It couldn’t end like this. Kenzia was the resident prophetess of Timberwolf Valley. Tommy barged into her office without preamble. If she was any good at her job, she would know what happened to Thiago.

“Kenzia! Do something.” Tommy hissed.

As Tommy sniffed the air, he could smell his brother, Thiago. Tommy didn't realize that Thiago came to see Kenzia before their encounter with the vampires. Kenzia should have warned Thiago not to go. She worked with his brother, Trevor, at the Timberwolf Academy for the Gifted. Anytime in the past week would have been a great time to tell him not to fight the vampires. It would end in his death. Anger poured off of Tommy.

“Thiago is in a better place, Tommy. You are the honorary alpha. Take care of the Timberwolf Valley pack, just the way Thiago would if he were here.” Kenzia adjusted her purple glasses with a grim line on her face.

“BUT HE’S NOT HERE. Why didn’t you tell me? You are supposed to know all!” Tommy turned away, and wiped his eyes.

“You’ll see Thiago again. It will be okay again... one day.” Kenzia reassured him.

“When I’m dead! Gee, thanks, that’s a life worth looking forward to.” Tommy growled.

Tommy could only see red. His fists were balled at his sides. He was barely keeping his inner wolf inside.

“It won’t always be like this. Know Thiago loves you.” Kenzia frowned.

“If he loved me, he wouldn’t have died.” Tommy hissed.

“Some things cannot be helped.” Kenzia folded her hands together and put them in her lap.

“Yeah, ain’t that the truth, like a prophet that doesn’t speak prophecies? You told me what I was going to have for lunch once, Kenzia. Don’t you think telling me that my brother was going to die in front of me was slightly more important?” Tommy put his index finger and thumb together.

“I speak the words that need spoken.” Kenzia didn't bat an eye.

“I wish you would speak more.” Tommy muttered.

Tommy didn't know how Kenzia knew everything she knew, but over the course of his lifetime, she had stopped feuds before they started. She's helped Trevor become the headmaster of the academy. She gave Thiago counsel when he needed it.

Tommy couldn't fathom why she hadn't let them know about Thiago's death before it happened. If he knew that their encounter with the vampires would lead to his brother's death, he wouldn't have gone. He would never have sacrificed Thiago for the pack. Family came before the pack.

“I know it hurts right now, Tommy, but trust me, it will get better.” Kenzia put a hand on Tommy’s back.

Kenzia's touch was meant to be comforting, but Tommy wasn't ready to be comforted. The loss of his triplet was still fresh. The pain was excruciating. Anger oozed out of Tommy’s pores. He shook off Kenzia's touch, and stomped towards the door.

“It will never be better. My brother is dead, and it’s my fault.” Tommy threw open the door, and slammed it behind him.

Tommy stomped down the hall. All of the students moved out of the way. Tommy was seething by the time he reached the front door.

“Tommy, I’m sorry for your loss.” Professor Talons gave him a sad look.

Tommy could feel the pity from his previous professor to his core. It was pity that he didn’t feel deserving of. Tommy knew he was the reason Thiago was dead. He was more than a brother to Tommy. He was Tommy’s best friend.

The Timberwolf triplets were young. It never occurred to any of them that one day they would have to live a life without each other. They were wombmates, best friends, and complete enemies since the day they were born. It was a bond neither of them imagined could be broken by an unexpected death.

Tommy shed his shirt as he marched across the yard of the academy. He started unbuttoning his pants. As soon as he was out of sight from the school, he shed the rest of his clothes, and took off in a sprint in wolf form.

The smells of the woods were normally comforting to him, but today it wasn’t. Blood ran straight to Tommy’s head. All he could hear was his paws hitting the ground. The faint scent of vampires were still on Tommy’s fur. The howls of the Timberwolf pack were still sounding in the air. Each one, was in pure agony. Tommy was numb. The pain was too great to feel.

Tommy knew that he alone was responsible for Thiago’s death. He ran off his mouth, and the vampires took their revenge. Tommy should have died, but Thiago jumped in front of the arrow. The scene played over and over in Tommy’s head. Whomever said words can’t hurt, you lied, he thought to himself.

How did Tommy live up to Thiago's legacy? Thiago was the best choice for alpha. He always put others first. He listened to everyone, and came up with a plan. He wasn't hotheaded like Tommy, and he wasn't overly cautious like Trevor. Tommy knew he couldn't fill Thiago's paws as alpha, but he owed it to his brother to try.

What would Thiago do if he were still here? Tommy decided he should finish running a lap around Timberwolf Valley like Thiago and Tommy did every night since his brother became alpha. Tommy loved running, but tonight it was clouded by his guilt and self-doubt.

Tommy stopped outside of the cabin Thiago and he shared with Trevor. The triplets built the cabin together. It was a place to grow into. The plan was that when one brother found a mate, the others would help build a new cabin.

Tommy saw his brothers everywhere. Memories haunted him as he saw Trevor poring over the blueprints in the front yard. Thiago and Tommy were using the saws to cut down the surrounding trees. He watched Trevor and Thiago carrying a log past him.

Tommy blinked rapidly, and ran up the stairs. The smell of both of his brothers floated around the cabin. He went straight to the shower, hoping to wash away the smell of death.

He stood in the shower, and let the water pour over him. He put both hands on the wall, and leaned his head down in the shower. Tommy could shower a million times, but he couldn’t wipe the scene of Thiago’s death from his head. Angry tears fell from his eyes, until he couldn’t cry anymore. He wiped his eyes, and got out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist.

Thiago’s scent clung to the air. Tommy sat on his bed, and fought back the tears. Life would never be the same. Tommy’s existence was wrapped up in his brothers. Without Thiago, he didn’t know who he was anymore.