Tick Tock goes the clock,
and now what shall we play?
Tick Tock goes the clock,
now that summers has gone away?”

Life hasn’t been fair to me. Then again who didn’t have a rough life? I mean everyone had to go through some strife or some struggle to overcome. I didn’t ask for this life. I didn’t ask Fate to take me into this world and live with a family that believed I was cursed, that believed I was a Monster ever since the day I was born. I didn’t want to be a Monster you know. I didn’t want to be considered something so wrong or despicable. However, I decided to be. I decided to be the thing they feared most. I decided to shroud myself in the myth and lore of my pack, to become the epitome of Death. I was good at it. Really good at it. So much so that I decided to believe in the lore that I was the Monster they feared, that I was the Monster that would destroy them. I didn’t just destroy my pack. I annihilated them. I had my revenge. How dare they treat me, so young and so small, as a creature to hate and despise. I didn’t deserve that. No one did, no one ever does – unless they deserve it! I didn’t deserve it. When I was done the damage was done. My soul was forever tainted and dark, and so, I embraced my role as the Monster, and I continued on with it for the rest of my life. Enjoying it.

Tick Tock goes the clock,
and then what shall we see?
Tick Tock goes the clock,
until the day, ‘till thou shalt marry me.

Was I a misunderstood creature? Of course I was. Yet no one took the time to see that. No one took the time to ask themselves, ‘why was I was the way I was.’ For years I roamed alone, without a care for anyone, but myself. I learned how to overcome Mother Nature. I learned quite quickly from a young age that I would never have anyone to care for me, and so I would never have anyone to care for. I lived alone. At times it was agonizing. She was a creature that was born to be among others. Wolves were supposed to be with their own kind, they were family orientated. Yet I had no one. I was alone. I accepted my cruel fate. Yet it would seem as I got older and traveled to these lands, Fate decided to grant me a second chance. Here I learned and received what I never had when I was much younger. I had a family now. My soul was connected to another, he was like me, a me that I could have evolved into. I loved him as I have never loved another. He is my other half, he is the other half of my soul. He completes me. He soothed the agony that I have felt for all eternity. I took the time to understand him and he took the time to understand me. We had a very good understanding. He never said he loved me, but I do not think he had to. Words were not his thing – actions were. His actions showed where his words failed, and it was enough for me.

Tick Tock goes the clock,
We laughed at fate and mourned her.
Tick tock goes the clock,
even for the Monster.

I have a family now. A family that I am extremely proud of. My first born child, my first cursed child, my Raven. My Raven, who’s soul I swore to the former King of Iromar to serve for eternity. I left her in the moor pack, because I knew she would be raised well. I wanted her to have what I couldn’t have. I taught her for a year until she no longer needed me, until she was ready to learn from them. My Raven that carried the cursed mark, like me, her blood mixed and tainted with a weaker wolf, my former imprint. I killed him though, I freed myself. Which is a good thing I did, because that is when Fate allowed me to bond with Tobias. I knew who he was. We met here and we connected. Then we took this land and made it ours. We created Gunsynd and Nevermore, wolves that took both our traits and developed themselves to be something absolutely incredible. They had our advantages, and our weaknesses, but they were absolutely perfect in my eyes – and I loved them dearly. I took in the wolves, all the wolves. I did not believe in weakness. I took in the wolves that would be unwanted. I took in the wolves that had nothing wrong with them. I took in the wolves that liked the taste of wolf flesh. I took in the wolves that felt out of place or didn’t feel like they belonged in anywhere – like me. I even took in a wolf that was a mute and deaf. It wasn’t his fault that Fate decided to make him weak. I would prove, through him, that I can make anyone overcome their weakness and their shame. I would do that. I owned these lands. I took it from a she-wolf that assumed she could be a Queen. I created something special here, something no other pack had. At the same time I brought peace to Moladion – never again did Tobias attack a pack wolf. I did that. Without hurting him or attacking him. I did that, and no other Alpha of any pack was capable of doing that. I love my pack. They choose to be here, for whatever wish they had, and I took care of them. I protected them when that foolish green-eyed wolf came back again and again. I served them. I never called myself a ‘Queen’ for they were not my subjects. I called myself an Alpha, because an Alpha is a subject to their pack. They are my family and I hope they knew...they knew I loved them.

“They are wolves like you and me, and yet, they shouldn’t be treated poorly because they are different. You must learn and understand them. Some were born to be cannibals because they were taught. Others have an overdrive of predatory instinct, it is not their fault. They are good wolves, all of them, but many are too blind to see that. Asteraia is a haven for all and I expect it to remain so.”

Tick Tock goes the clock,
he cradled and he rocked her,
Tick Tock goes the clock,
even for the monster.

I pause for a moment as I look upon the young King. I am satisfied with my choice. I think it was a good one. I just hope he does a good job and does not fail me. My dark eyes look upon him carefully. There is a venomous drawl in my voice, as a rare smirk appears upon my paw, and there is an even rarer twinkle of mirth in my weakened eyes.

“You’re welcome. These are your lands Halcyon, they always were. Just make sure it stays that way, don’t make me come out of my grave to take it back.”

Monster, brave and good.
She turned away from violence,
when she understood
the falling of the silence.

I continue to stare at him intently, holding his gaze to imply the gravity of this situation. I can only assume it must be unnerving to be close to me, more so my threat. I hope he can see that there is some humor in there. Although I have been told I am not good at expressing that. With a sigh, I extended my muzzle to my daughter, inhaling her scent, and nuzzle her gently. She is to leave soon, with my son and her friend, who I assume is becoming her paramour. It is good. She needs to venture out and accomplish a few things and grow. I look to Halycon now and then my daughter, and speak for the final time, of course had I known that, I would have said so much more.

“I am tired and I think I’d like to take a nap before the storm hits. Nevermore, find your Father so that Halycon can carry his scent, so he will not attack him. ”

I turnaround and leave them. There is no need to ask Halycon permission for me to stay. I am quite sure he will allow Tobias, his mate, and I to live in peace within Asteraia until it is our time to go. As soon as I make it inside the cave that I share with my imprint, and his mate, I shake the cold rain out from my fur. With a sigh I settle myself upon the bed of furs. I curl up in a ball, inhaling my loves’ scent. It is easier for me to sleep now at the age that I am. The rain is a comforting sound as it falls and slowly I fall asleep. As I sleep my closed eyes notice the sudden flash of light, I hear a terrible thunderous roar, and then nothing. I feel nothing. In fact I feel...at peace, a peace I haven’t felt before. I did not know it, but when the lightning struck my imprint, it must have struck me too, for I had died that instant. I guess our souls were far too entwined and too attached to each other. I am aware now that I am gone from this world. I see my imprint, he is young, and I can feel myself capable of moving as I once was able to when I was younger. We are here it is peaceful, and I place myself at his side, two equals. My life was a struggle and now I am free of it. Monsters are not supposed to have happy endings, and yet, it would seem that Fate would allow us this gift. Through all our strife and struggle, we deserved a ‘happy ever after.’

Tick Tock goes the clock,
She gave them all she could give them,
Tick Tock goes the clock,
now Fate takes away the Monster.