Challenge accepted by Erika M Szabo
Howl of Grief
The alpha male howled mournfully into the
vast, starlit night sky, his piercing blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight. His pack gathered closely behind him, their warm breaths forming
fleeting clouds in the crisp, frigid air, yet he stood as an island of
solitude, engulfed by his own deep sorrow. The loss of his beloved mate struck
him with a gut-wrenching force, leaving an aching emptiness as if a vital piece of his very
soul had been torn away.
She had been
his equal in every facet of their wild existence, a formidable hunter and
steadfast guardian of their pack. Her spirit matched the fierce winds that
swept across their territory, unwavering and brave. But fate had dealt a cruel
hand when a man in a drunken haze decided to go hunting.
He searched and stumbled with his loaded gun, ready to shoot anything that moved. He mumbled with a wide grin on his face, "A deer or rabbit for dinner would do, but a wolf fur coat for the wife... Now that would be something." He cackled, watching his unsteady steps.
Suddenly, the man heard a threatening low growl that froze the breath in his throat as he looked up to face the wolfpack a few yards away. His hands shook in terror as he raised his rifle and pulled the trigger.
In a moment of selfless courage, the alpha female had
thrown herself into the line of fire, sacrificing her life to ensure the safety
of the others. The alpha male launched and tore the man’s throat out with one
powerful bite. The man’s lifeless body slumped to the ground, but the wolf didn’t
feel the satisfaction of revenge.
As he
howled mournfully, the deep, resonant tones seemed to vibrate through the still
night air, a somber lament that carried his grief far and wide. He could feel
the palpable sympathy and understanding of his pack surrounding him like a
comforting cocoon. Each of them had suffered the loss of wolves they held dear,
but none had been as formidable, as integral, as his beloved mate. Her scent
lingered in the cool night breeze, a whispering memory of what he had lost.
Even amidst the
profound ache of his cries, he understood the necessity of fortitude for the
sake of their pack. He would honor his mate's memory by leading them with the
same unwavering courage and indomitable strength that she had so gracefully
embodied. As his mournful howls echoed through the vast, star-studded sky, his
pack joined in, their voices rising in a harmonious tribute to their fallen
leader. It was a poignant reminder that she would forever be woven into the
very fabric of their lives, an enduring presence in their hearts.
Erika M Szabo
Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books that are based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.