Eila would soon be sixteen, an age of great significance in a werewolf's life. It was the moment when she would finally receive her wolf and step into the path the Moon Goddess had written for her—however flawed that path might be.
But for now, she was just Eila, the eldest daughter of a large and lively household, where chaos and love existed in equal measure.
Her family was everything to her. Eight younger siblings filled their modest home with laughter, noise, and occasional trouble. Each had a unique personality, making their household a world in itself—one that never knew silence or boredom.
At fourteen, Micheal was the eldest of the younger ones, quiet and dependable. He had inherited their father's patience and strong sense of duty. He never complained about his responsibilities, always stepping in when needed, whether it was chopping firewood or helping with repairs around the house. If Eila was the guiding force for her siblings, Micheal was the steady hand that kept things running smoothly.
Thirteen-year-old Meera was the heart of the family, nurturing and soft-spoken. She had a natural ability to care for others, often found tending to their younger siblings or helping their mother with household chores. Despite her tender nature, she was also perceptive, quick to notice when someone was troubled. She could calm an argument with a few well-placed words, and her presence was like a soothing balm in a house full of strong personalities.
Then there were the triplets—Drake, Drew, and Daria. At twelve years old, they were the true storm in the house. Their energy knew no limits, and their mischief had no boundaries.
Drake and Drew were identical in both appearance and personality. Mischievous, clever, and always pushing the limits of what they could get away with, they had an uncanny ability to finish each other's sentences and cover for each other's pranks. They turned every task into a game, whether it was running errands or training in the field. Their humour and charm often got them out of trouble, though their mother remained unimpressed by their antics.
Daria, on the other hand, was different. Unlike her brothers, she did not waste time with silly games. She had a goal—to become a warrior. Her determination was unshakable, her resolve as solid as steel. She spent hours practising with wooden swords, determined to prove that she was just as capable as any boy. Where other girls dreamed of dresses and dances, Daria dreamed of the battlefield, of protecting their pack. And while their mother sighed at her wild ways, their father often watched her with quiet pride, recognizing a spirit that could not be tamed.
Emma and Erik, the ten-year-old twins, were much easier to handle. They were diligent and responsible, following the example set by Micheal and Meera. From a young age, they had taken on small responsibilities without being asked, whether it was tending to the animals, assisting with meals, or keeping the younger ones entertained. They had none of the recklessness of the triplets, nor the scholarly ambitions of the youngest twins. Instead, they were the steady, reliable ones—the ones Eila knew she could always count on when things got out of control.
And then there were Jean and Jake, the youngest at only five years old.
They were, in many ways, the strangest of them all.
While the rest of the siblings ran wild or worked hard, Jean and Jake were often found with their noses buried in books, their little minds constantly absorbing knowledge beyond their years. Their intelligence was unnerving at times. They spoke like scholars, quoting great thinkers and asking questions that left even their older siblings struggling to respond. Conversations with them could quickly turn into debates on philosophy, history, or strategy—subjects far too advanced for their age.
Their mother, Celena, had high hopes for them. She dreamed that one day, they would be chosen for Moonshine School, the most prestigious institution in the pack, and later attend the grand University where only the most brilliant minds were sent. She imagined them becoming scholars, advisors, or even leaders.
For the rest of their siblings, however, the youngest twins were an enigma. Most avoided deep conversations with them, wary of being caught in a discussion they could not keep up with. Even Drake and Drew, the most confident of them all, had learned their lesson after one particularly embarrassing debate where Jean had calmly dismantled their argument with cold logic.
Despite their differences, the siblings shared a deep bond. They fought, argued, and caused endless headaches for their parents, but they were a family—and in a world where power and status determined one's fate, family was everything.
Eila loved them all fiercely.
Even when the triplets knocked over a barrel of water inside the house.
Even when the youngest twins pointed out her grammatical errors in front of guests.
Even when Erik and Emma acted like miniature adults, lecturing her about responsibility.
Even when Micheal scolded her for being reckless or Meera forced her to take breaks when she didn't want to.
They were her home.
And soon, everything was going to change.
She would turn sixteen. She would receive her wolf. And she would step into a future that had been written for her before she was even born.
A future that the Moon Goddess had already made a mistake in.
But for now, Eila was content to live in the present, surrounded by the people she loved, blissfully unaware of the storm waiting for her beyond the horizon.