faint rays into the darkness where Beth lay unconscious. The cell was a box-like space with a very high roof, no windows, and only those distant pinpricks of li

Beth..

ror of the night, replaying her desperate flight through the woods. Thorns to

h. You ca

Her will to survive became her only source of strength. She co

wolf. Awake

their transformations, she was left behind. Her last transformation had been at sixteen, a fleeting moment when she had the will to fight back.

the territory of the Death Valley pack, notorious for their cruelty. Known as wicked souls, evil incarnat

muttered, wi

so thick she couldn't tell if they w

.. Is anyo

er body was covered in a thick, liquid su

ered, she was too weak to survive. She staggered through the dark, groping like a blind person, unsure if she was truly blind or if the room was just that dark. She stumbled and hit

ebod

body gave out again, her strength fadin

memories from her childhood res

ad

an towards th

ng into the room where her

rrupting," she said,

her father said, gest

r's guest said. "I w

good," her f

aking room for Be

her said. "What brings my ba

en't interrupted y

emarkably intelligent child, pe

always have time

gigg

She produced a tiny plant.

plant that's still gro

bility, identifying h

ut herbs. Remember the assignm

ir, searching his memory. "Oh, you

tly,

s saying this herb

es, Dad. This

o you

weed is any plant growi

epped off the throne, ta

w you are young, but there i

e left?" Beth smiled. "S

ed her hair. She didn't

m listeni

ds I didn't explain. The first i

yes. "Learn from th

u: if you pluck this herb, do

r. It can

th. You'll be knocked down, but y

no

our throne?" sh

princess.

ed the thr

his throne not as a princess, but as the r

er, knowing her future

he urged. "Move to

is about the throne

at the thr

to the

here specific plants grow. Only certain people

one not meant for i

l want to sit on thi

eone will try to s

eant for you, but someone is

wn from the throne. "Tell m

ther g

r to reclaim the throne. Just as you uprooted th

nod

eth muttered

as still dark, but beyond the darkness, thoughts raced through her mind. What did she just see? Dad? She had no memory o

ay," she

t be real. The throne room was vivid, not just any thro

light began to p

lucination,"

d a flash of morni

questioned her reality. M

. "I am finally here. I ha

her. With firm hands, the figure placed two fingers on h

he de

her eyes slightly, she saw the hands