Wolf Magic: A Fantasy of Werewolves and Witches in the Twilight by Sascha Illyvich

TORN TO PIECES
     
     
    C HAPTER 1
     
    Emesh stood, her arms resting protectively over her large belly. Standing in the middle of a clearing, she rubbed her stomach, hoping the beauty inside that was to be born soon would not hate her; never curse her though she would deserve it.
    The wind blew, moving wisps of dark hair across delicate pale skin. Emesh reached behind her ear, tugging loose strands away from her face. A final glance over the land revealed lush grass and fields as far as the eye could see. Her goddess powers reached out on the seawater smell of the lake several miles away. The other gods promised her the land would be fertile. Her babies would need the fertile land to thrive as she had planned.  They said the wolves could not occupy heaven just yet ... they needed to mature first.
    When Emesh first heard her babies would be born on earth amongst the humans, her heart trembled in fear. But the Boldog Asszony, the fertility goddess reassured her things would be all right.
    The fertility goddess even helped Emesh find a suitable home for the wolves.  They had chosen this land because of its breathtaking beauty and diverse landscape. The flatlands would give her children enough room to roam freely. The lake in the central area of what would be known as Hungary would supply nourishment and prosperity. The people who would inhabit this land would be noble but struggle until they reached their purpose ... to prove their worthiness and status as beings capable of living amongst the others in Paradise.
    Even through their struggles, her babies would show the other deities that survival was the only option if they were to be considered just rulers.
    Her children, born of wolf and goddess would push forward ideals set in stone by Fate itself, the idea that wolves were the chosen inhabitants of this earth and even though they'd fall from the graces of the gods and be cursed to roam Earth, struggling to survive with man. Once they learned of the prophecy, they would be given the tools to master their fate and return to Heaven.
    The idea of her future grandchildren having to bear the heavy responsibility of finding their salvation without her help pained her, made her heart ache. The fact remained that the wolves were not trusted amongst the gods and goddesses in Heaven. They were being forced to prove themselves in the mortal realms, to prove they had strength and character. They had to prove to the other Deities they were trustworthy.  If they could do that amongst man, with all his foolishness, then they would be welcome back in Heaven.
    Emesh stood still in the circle, eyes closed, listening.
    Waiting.
    A gentle breeze blew, whispering words that caught her attention.
    It's time.
    Emesh opened her eyes, focused on a single point on the ground and blinked.  A bright red and orange flame appeared, several feet high.
    Boldog Asszony's face appeared in the flames, hair spread wide and flowing like the rivers, eyes bright yellow as the sun. Her lips were blood red, skin the color of the moon, a ghostly white tinged with pale blue. "I would not damn my own."
    Emesh read her creator 's lips and nodded. Feelings of love for her babies, anger and hatred for the others who would force her new children out of heaven, welled up inside her, bringing tears to her eyes. Still, she would not shed them as she birthed her babies.
    The image vanished, leaving behind a smaller flame.
    It was now or never.
    Emesh trusted this was the right thing, as she sank down to the ground, felt the energy ball containing the lives of her first pack extricate itself from her body. Gritting her teeth, she clenched her fists and kicked at dust, feeling the pain of birthing magickal creatures deep throughout her body in a pain so hot it burned throughout her thighs and upward. Closing her eyes, she threw her head back, wishing for her mate but he had died. "Damn you all, these are my babies!"
    Hot tears slid down her cheeks as she opened her eyes and