Saved - Chapter 1

The wind was hitting my face and the scenery extending to the infinite. With my wings, nothing was unreachable. Joy filled my heart as I did a spin before letting myself fall into the sky. Just before I touched the trees, my wings extended instinctively and I was back flying in the beautiful crystal blue sky. As I did another spin, I heard my name being called.

"Keith! Stop fooling around and help us hunt the damn deer!" screamed my best friend Sebastian as he and other members of the Aquilam clan stealthily followed a pack of deer.

Sadly, I stopped my flip halfway and pouted as I silently joined the rest of the hunting group. We were following the pack until they stopped in a plain. We separated in groups of two and took strategic positions. In fact, each team had to have a knight which was Sebastian and an archer, me.

I was in position ready with my bow, waiting for the signal. I eyed my friend and he told me with some hands movement which deer I should target first. I nodded as I went higher in the sky, so I could see the plains in its entirety. We, the archers, waited patiently and when the knights moved their swords with a perfect synchronization, each archer of each team killed their assigned deer. The animals started to run away from the dead corpses and as planned, the knights were waiting for them. After a few minutes, we were already flying our way back to our homes.

"It was a good hunt today. Everything was in our favor. Good job everyone!" congratulated Daniel our group captain and my father. "However, Keith..." he sighed. "I don't mind you having fun before the hunt, but you were slightly late compared to the others. A few more seconds and you'll have missed your target." he explained disapprovingly.

"I'm sorry father... I promise to work on it." I apologized as I looked down. Sadness filled my heart knowing I let father down, but it was sadder to know that he was never satisfied no matter how well I did.

Back home, we gave all the dead animals to the next team, so they could prepare everyone's meal. As soon as my duty was done, I flew away. I went to my favorite spot, it was on the highest tree of the forest. Each time I was there, it gave me a peaceful feeling and gave us the illusion of flying. I watched the sunset as my mind wandered away.

I was thinking about father and how I could make him happy and proud of me. Then, my mind wandered to my mate. Not that I wasn't happy or felt loved, but at a time like this, I felt incredibly lonely.

I was so into my thoughts that I didn't hear my best friend arrive.

"Keith, lost in your thoughts again?" said Sebastian with a chuckle.

"What?!" I jumped in surprise. I turned around and saw Sebastian behind me. "You startled me... Is it already time to go back?" I asked looking back at the sunset.

"Yeah, if we don't go back now, we'll miss the meal." he said as he appeared in front of me blocking the magnificent view. "Come on, don't make me put you on my shoulders." he joked, well I hope it was a joke.

I slowly went on my feet on the branch and lazily my white and pure wings extended. I saw Sebastian glaring at me and made a hand movement to tell me to move faster. Then, without warning, I jumped and flew as fast as I could. I laughed when I heard my best friend swear, but when I looked back, he was no were to be seen. I stopped and called his name, but no answer. Where did he go?

"Searching for someone?" the voice of the owner resounded, but Sebastian body? "I'm here." he poked my back. "Let's race back, the one arriving first can ask anything to the loser."

"You're way faster than me, so I want and advantage!" I bargained crossing my arms.

"What do you propose?"

"I want to start five minutes before you." I tried. From where we were to our clan village, it would usually take 25 minutes, but while racing, I took 10. If I could do more than a half in five minutes, I may have a chance to win. Because if I took 10, Sebastian can easily take five to eight minutes.

After some thoughts, he finally accepted. So as fast as I could, I flew without looking back and forced myself to fly faster than I usually did. However, I didn't know how much time I already used. Then, I felt an air flow above of me. I looked up and saw Sebastian smirking at me. I groaned and tried to fly faster, but I already was at my maximum. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't the case for him, easily he passed me and landed a minute or two before me.

Exhausted and panting, I fell on the ground next to him. That was a reason why I couldn't be a knight. I was too slow and didn't have enough stamina. Some even said my wings were too short and to stay at the village helping the injured or the punished to cook. I refused, of course and trained hard to fit as an archer.

Sebastian helped me go on my feet and we walked toward the communal house dedicated for the pack meetings or the meals. Almost everyone was already there, so was Sebastian and my family. We sat down next to each other and on the other side there was my sister, Angela. After the King's speech, we all started to eat and discussions filled all the tables.

"What did you do after we were back from hunting?" asked my dad as he took his glass of wine.

"I..." I hesitated from telling the truth, fearing to disappoint him again.

"We trained. I helped him practice and we raced to come back." Sebastian explained for me.

"And I guess you lost." he asked with a frown forming on his forehead.

"Yes..." as soon as I answered, I heard him sigh as he shook his head. "I'm so-"

"If only you were my son Sebastian. You're a dominant, a knight and you don't daydream. That way, I won't be so ashamed." declared father making me look down as swallow back the tears threatening to fall.

Tension went up at our table as I heard some whispering. I didn't dare to look up and see all those eyes pitying me. I did everything I could to please my father and he was still blinded mainly because I was a submissive.

Supper ended more badly than usual. It seemed like the King heard what father said and they were now mostly talking about me. As Sebastian and I were walking home, he tried his best to take my mind away from my father's words. It didn't seem to work until he got to the prize of the winner for the race.

"Now, what do I want Keith to do for me?" when I heard those words, I gulped.