Donavan was making his way home from his 3 hour meeting with the elders. He was looking forward to getting home. He needed someone to give him hope and lift his spirits tonight. That person was definately Evelina. She had arrived at his pack only days ago with her loyal trio, Ethan, Keith and Lydia. she was a bundle of joy to be around and was not acting like a fugitive at all. There was a big prize on her head and anyone taking her to Arkansas was going to be rewarded well. But she was so relaxed and carefree to the point that Donavan had suspected that she might have lost her mind.

As Donavan was walking home, he was thinking back to the headline news at the meeting; Dante was back. Spies had brought news that he was powerful and ready to fulfil the prophecy. Another disturbing news was regarding the surrender of the central territory. Donavan had been informed that it was only a matter of time before Dante would call upon the Alaskan people to decide their faith. They either could become Dante's new recruits or stay in Alaska but start living by his laws under the watchful eye of his enforcers or representatives. There was also the suicide option to resist and and make Dante attack them to take what he wanted by force. This was a life and death matter and therefore it had to be decided jointly by the elders and the council of guardians. He now wished that he was not a member of the council guardians.

What occupied Donavan's mind the most was; "what would his vote be?" Either way, Donavan wanted no part in this. He could never live with himself if he voted for a war that his people were destined to lose. Neither did he want to vote for a surrender that would lead to the suffering of many that Dante regarded as weak and worthless.

It did not help his dilemma that he had witnessed what the Arkansans were capable of. Donavan was well aware of the kind of catastrophic consequences that could follow any land that did not bow to the Arkansans. They always had a strong army and could get any state to fall on their knees if they wished it. But until now, ever since Ronas the conqueror, none of his heirs had ever cared about expanding territory except Dante who was the strongest warlock with the darkest power ever known on earth.

Donavan had memories of Arkansas and even Dante. But no one except his most trusted friends like Athena, knew of his past. In his 21 years of existance, his days in Arkansas counted as the darkest and most traumatising in his life. Donavan still remembered the day that his parents had taken him to Arkansas. He was 5 years old. The purpose of their trip was for him to see his half brother,Dylan from his mother's previous marriage. His mother and Dylan's father were both from a long line of Arkansan noble bloodlines. He was so young at the time and therefore, Donavan recalled very few details from his first Night. But what he had witnessed was enough to make him fearful of the Arkansans for the years to come.

He remembered how much hate his prejudiced maternal grandparents had directed towards his father at the night of their arrival. They hated Donavan's father because he was only of ordinary blood. They were noble werewolves with some warlock blood. That was a deadly combination that had resulted in such a strong bloodline that allowed them to terrorise any one below their class. He still remembered how his grandparents had attacked his father at the dinner table on their first night of stay and had fatally wounded him. His mother had cried and begged them so much until they let him go. In the end they had agreed to let Donavan's father live only on the condition that his mother would have agreed to stay behind with her son.

That was how Donavan had been condemned to living in the most horrific place on earth for the next 8 years of his life. He went to "the Phoenix Academy for nobles" where he witnessed the horrors that his half-brother Dylan was capable of. Dylan was 1 year his senior and was the head of the law enforcement division of the academy at a very young age. Both of Dylan's parents were nobles and descended directly from Ronas's army commanders generations ago so he was incredibly strong. He was ruthless when doing his duties for the academy and always made sure he severely sanctioned the rule breakers especially any one who showed any sign of empathy for the weak.

However, Dylan had never hurt Donavan in anyway during those 8 years. It seemed that within the protocols in Arkansas, it was not part of the custom for nobles to harm anyone blood related to them unless it was really necessary as punishment or defence. But again Donavan was wise enough not to be caught when breaking the rules. All those years in Arkansas had taught him how to keep silent and pretend to be agreeing to his faith whenever in presence of people of power. He had even been taught by special tutors recruited by his grandparents, about how to behave when meeting a Ronas.

Donavan was in fact taken to the Ronas residence by his grandparents on numerous occasions. His mother had also accompanied them every time reluctantly. After all no noble would have dared say no when invited by Eros and Leona. An invitation to meet the house of Ronas was seen as an honour by nobles but of course not by Donavan's mother. The trips to the Ronas residence were not enjoyable but had at least taught Donavan how the nobles really viewed the world and how much they demanded people in their presence to act submissive.

If Donavan was to rank his memories, the worst was going to be his first night. But meeting Dante in all the dinner time gatherings with the nobles were ranked close behind. He remembered the cold grey eyes of the boy his age who had nothing but coldness and ruthlessness in his eyes. He wanted to turn away every time Dante used his rank to terrorise anyone in his way. Even his little brother, Demetrious was not immune to his cruelty but Dante's mother interfered whenever she was around to save him. Luckily Donavan never had to endure Dante and his antics at Phoenix Academy because the children of the Ronas family were trained at their residence on site the majority of time until they turned 14 to avoid threats of kidnappers and assassins. Not that anyone ever even dared to look at a Ronas in the eye, let alone cross them.

Amongst Donavan's most troubling memories in Arkansas, was also the time when he had met Dylan's father for the first and last time. Dylan's father was a highly ranked fighter in the army and was happily married to a woman from a noble family. However, his wife's inability to conceive and have children had lead to their divorce. That was when he had paid his mother a visit and demanded for them to get back together. She had refused the reunion but him being a powerful figure, had refused her wishes and set a date for the wedding. On that night, his mother decided for them to run away. The process was never worth the risk for his mother to try breaking out in those 8 years of forced residence. But she knew Dylan's father well enough to predict the misery that could be upon them if that marriage went ahead.

Leaving Arkansas could be arranged legally but there had to be a good reason. Donavan's mother had managed to leave the first time with the excuse of getting extra training as an apprentice with the elders in Alaska. Permission was granted because she was divorced back then and her son Dylan was left behind. But this time, there was no escape by any legal and safe means. the rules had been tightened and also Dylan's father was an influential figure and could intercept their departure with a flick of his wrist.

It was a miracle how they escaped. If it wasn't for the help of the freedom fighters, they couldn't have broken through the border controls. Donavan considered himself and his mother lucky to leave the territory without being caught. There were horrific consequences for the Arkansans who refused their heritage.

Donavan came back to present when he got to his front door. He hoped to find peace inside and he found much more as he walked in.

"Athena"