~Mordikai~

It was a typical sunny day. Samara, mom, dad, and I were all playing outside. It was our daily activity we did as a family, and Samara had just learned to walk a couple of weeks ago, and she was already running around the house and causing such huge messes. The other children were also playing outside, and they were with their families. Surrounding the whole palace were guards, and more were around the back area of the castle where everyone was playing. We were currently playing a game of soccer with my cousins, aunts, and uncles and a few of all of our friends were also here.

My team consisted of all my guy cousins, my uncles, my friends, and my dad. My sister's team consisted of all our girl cousins, aunts, her friends, and my mom.

My team was winning.

By a lot.

By the time the game was over, we all went inside for a very large feast. It was my sister's second birthday party, and everyone was so excited to see how much she has grown. She has started saying short sentences and knows the necessary words; please, thank you, etc.

When we sat down and started eating, the pack members began piling birthday gifts in one corner of the room. There were so many gifts for my little sister that the corner where all the presents were started overflowing to the point where a box fell, and one of the guards had to catch it.

Everyone was happy and laughing and cheering as my little sister opened her gifts and saw her reaction. She got my gift and stopped to look at it like she had done with every other one. She looked confused, but her eyes were gleaming with excitement, curiosity, and confusion. I giggled a bit and opened up the music box that was passed down through generations. I opened it with the key, and she gasped and started giggling once she heard her lullaby.

She started to twirl around in circles as she wound the music box and everyone chuckled and laughed as she did so many twirls to the point where she fell over.

I walked over to help her up, and she wobbled a bit, but I kept her upright.

"Kai! Spin me! Dance with me!" She laughed, and I couldn't deny her, so I agreed.

"Okay, Mara." We had our pack members recreate the melody on their instruments; the piano and a bit of the violin. It sounded beautiful. And soon enough all of the pack members were dancing with us with their partners.

My mother and father looked so happy, with massive smiles on their faces. It was just contagious.

We were all one big, happy family.

We all danced the night away, and after we finished opening up the gifts, we ate the cake, and it was just about eleven-thirty when our parents declared that the children go to bed.

"Bedtime for the little ones, it's way past your bedtimes, and I'm pretty sure most of you have to get up early tomorrow. Five of our neighboring packs are coming forth to discuss many topics, as well as trying to see if there are any mates around."

A bunch of teenage boys in the corner of the room hooted and hollered at their unmated friends, while adolescent girls all around giggled and sighed dreamily.

I smiled softly, thinking about me meeting my mate when I'm older... That would be an experience I would never forget. Looking into her beautiful eyes once we meet, being able to hold her hands and hold her body close to me. It all seemed so, magical. I truly can't wait for my mate.

Samara yawned loudly and jumped into my arms and snuggled into me. Everyone awed, and all the young ones started on their way to bed. I carried Samara all the way up to her room and tucked her into her crib.

"Goodnight Mara. I love you, sissy." I kissed her head, and I heard her faint reply.

"Goodnight Kai, I love you too bubby." Once she said that I turned on her nightlight and shut her bedroom door. Her room was right next to mine, and there was the little doorway that connected our rooms, so whenever neither of us could sleep, we would meet halfway and talk for a while, and she would come into my room and sleep with me because she was scared to be by herself.

I then went into my room and laid in bed. I started thinking about what Momma and Papa talked about while we were still out there in the ballroom. Mates. The idea of a mate. Was just the most delightful thing I've ever heard of. I couldn't wait to have my mate. I would love her so much... Every last part of her I would admire, and we would cuddle all the time, and we would watch movies and eat food a lot, and we would be so happy. We would always hold hands and share little kisses, and no one would stop us from being happy. I don't care if she would be human, she would be mine, and I would be hers.

She'd have the most beautiful hair and the prettiest eyes. She would be so lovely, and we would do everything together. Overall, she'd be beautiful, on the inside and out.

---

Boom.

Screaming.

Crying.

Gunshots.

Slicing.

That's what I woke up to.

The sound of men, women, and children screaming and crying echoed everywhere. I woke up in my bed, and from right outside my door I heard most of the pack fighting.

But for what I didn't know.

I jumped out of bed and ran through the closet and to Mara's room.

And there I saw it.

Samara was screaming and crying on a stranger's shoulders. He was taking my little sister from me. From my parents. From the pack. From us.

I then became furious and charged at him. I may be small, but I pack a punch. He dropped Samara and looked at me with hatred and rage.

"Listen here, boy! I won't hesitate to kill you if you don't leave now. You're an obstacle in the way, and I won't have a child as you get in the way of our plan! Of our prophecy! Now leave!" He yelled, and I was scared, but I needed to help Mara. She's my little sister, and I love her.

"No! I won't let you take my little sister! You're a monster!" I screamed as I hit him more. He smacked me upside the head hard, and I fell to the ground. I felt fatigued. I looked over to Samara she was crying harder.

"Bubby! Bubby! Help me!" She screamed, and I tried to get up, but my body wasn't letting me. I was too weak to save sissy.

"I love you sissy. I'll come to get you; I promise Samara." I said with a firm, weak voice.

"I love you too Bubby! Please hurry Mordikai, please! I'm scared!"

"I promise Mara... I promise..." After I said that I let the sleep take over me...

(Eighteen Years Later)

"Mara!" I screamed as I woke up. I looked around, and sure enough, I was in my bedroom. The same one where I have been for twenty-five years. The one that was right next to my little sister's bedroom...

Samara...

I promise.

Every day that passes the more I hate myself for not looking hard enough. I've contacted every pack in all of Europe and the Middle East... Anyone who would listen about my missing sister.

But everyone has had their children taken from them... But it's only the girls that were kidnapped. The boys were spared or beaten when the girls were kidnapped. Every day we worry about who's going to be taken next. Every day I wonder how she's doing. If she's alive. If she's okay. If she remembers our promise. If she remembers me.

My parents aren't any better. They've grieved the loss of their youngest child for eighteen years. Every night I hear my mother cry and my father rage about the loss of their only daughter.

Samara.

My baby sister. The one I swore to protect since I was seven. The one I promised to save. The one who was always there for her no matter what.

And now she's gone.

She and the others haven't been found for years. Even other species like vampires, hybrids, and many others have reported stolen children. Their stolen children. Everyone for the past twenty years has been beyond worried. No one knows what to do. We have nowhere to look, and if we get even the smallest bit of a lead it runs dry, and we lose it as fast as we found it.

I let out a warning growl. It wasn't for anyone in specific, but I had the urge to let it out just thinking about what happened that night. How they got away and how they just took her.

But since then I haven't been able to stop blaming myself for what happened.

The way she called for me... The way she cried... The way she pleaded for her parents and her big brother to come to help her and save her...

It's all embedded in my brain.

She's embedded in my brain.

My little sister. My only sibling. I loved her more than anything, I still do.

I feel so lonely. I feel like I've lost a piece of me.

I feel depressed.

I got up and ran to my closet, throwing it open and putting on red and black plaid lounge pants, and I ran to my father's office when he was currently doing pack work. I knocked on the door and waited until he told me to come in.

"Enter, my boy," I heard my father say and walked into the door.

"Father I remember what he said." He looked up at me and motioned for me to sit.

"Tell me, Kai, tell me please." My father pleaded, and I told him what had happened in my memory. I told him what he looked like and what he had said. I mentioned the prophecy, and he stopped me there.

"Prophecy? What prophecy?"

"That I do not know, Father. I'm sorry."

"It's fine my boy... We'll figure it out." My father said determinedly, and I nodded. I sighed and got up after telling him what happened.

"Thank you Mordikai. You are dismissed."

"Thank you, father."