Free Gauntlet Rite of Ascension by Marcus Abshire Page B

family of man was chosen. By what or whom I don’t know. All I know is that somewhere the first werewolf was born. He underwent the same challenge you did, fighting for his life against the Beast. He prevailed, only after watching the Beast kill his fellow men, thus bringing into being the Ascended. Unbeknownst to him many of his fellow family members had the specific blood in them that allowed the Beast to be unlocked. Some prevailed over the Beast, most did not. The carnage was unbelievable.”
    “A certain order was founded after the chaos. A Pack was formed. The Ascended hunted and killed the Descended. They also took in any who were bitten and many taught their own family members the ways of the pack and the Beast, making the ability for one who was bitten to ascend much greater than one such as yourself. One who is alone. Your father was Ascended and Pack leader. He got out and wanted to raise you and your sister apart from the Pack, give you a normal life. I told him he was crazy, but his love for your mother was greater than his fear of the Pack.”
                  “Wait, my dad was like me? He was Ascended?” I asked, furiously imagining my father going through this, having the powers of the Beast within him and spending his life as an insurance agent just to make my mother happy.
                  “Your father was not just Ascended, he was royalty among the Pack. He was Pack leader and ruled for many decades. He brought us much peace and prosperity. His rule was a time of great joy for the Pack.” Abaddon said looking off into the distance at memories only he could see.
                  “Decades? My dad was only forty two. That doesn’t make sense.” I said.
                  “The Ascended have very long life spans. Your father was two hundred years old.” Abaddon said, looking at me.
                  Two hundred years old? That’s impossible. Sure he was a little odd. I remember he wasn’t like most of the other dads. I just assumed it was because that was his nature. I guess growing up in the eighteen hundreds would give you a different perspective on things. My head was spinning with thoughts about my dad. I never knew, he was a great father, but I really didn’t know him at all.
                  “I know it’s a lot to take in at once. I’m sure you will have many questions and there are so many things to teach you. For now you need to realize that you are in danger. Being a Pack leader’s whelp, when you are ready, you will have the ability to challenge the current Pack leader for control. This makes you a threat and for that you are in grave danger. I promised your dad if this was ever to happen, if you were ever bitten I was to train you and prepare you for what lies ahead.” He said.
                  I stared at him for a minute then asked.
                  “So you have been watching over me all this time?”
                  “Yes.” Abaddon said.
                  “Then you watched as the Beast killed Sara. You did nothing when it killed the cops.” I said.
                  “No, I wasn’t present at that time. I had other pressing matters I was attending to. The change only can occur when someone with the right blood is bitten by another that has undergone the change. Be it one who is Ascended or not. It doesn’t matter. Someone found you and bite you. I believe in hopes of having you succumb to the Beast, thereby justifying your death, by Pack law.” He said.
                  “When I came back into town you were at your house and I watched as you accepted the Beast. I was prepared to step in if you attacked your family.” He finished.
                  “If you were gone how did you know about the cops and Sara?” I asked.
                  “Once I came back into town and realized that you had been bitten I began