Lissa's Story
It was the howl that woke our wolves. A howl of incredible grief, pain and anger.
Every one of us had their wolf surge forward, the change quickly overtaking the pack members as we ran for the doors of our home. I led the pack alongside Jack, the senior Beta, since our Alphas were out making the next generation in the woods somewhere. The howl was Joel, our Alpha, and something was very wrong. Our warriors were in front, the female Betas on the sides, the lower ranked wolves following behind as we tore through the woods towards whatever had caused this. The pack was quiet and efficient.
A low growl from Jack caused us all to slow and fan out. I smelled it too- blood. I could smell Emma, and her scent carried the stench of death along with it. Jack looked left and right, the Pack spread out and hid until we could figure out what was going on.
It was only a few minutes until we saw Joe slowly moving towards us. His head was down and he was bleeding from just behind his left ear.
The Alpha looked at the woods, the darkness quickly came with the setting sun. What was needed now was violence. Coordinated violence. The whole pack was pissed that their Alpha Bitch had been killed and wanted blood.
We set off in a V-formation, Joel at the head, Jack and I by his right and left sides. We moved swiftly and silently through the dark forest, our eyes able to see the paths before us by the starlight of the clear winter night. It only took us about ten minutes before the smell of the human was before us. Joel chuffed and we slowed and spread out, forming a semicircle around the area his scent was the strongest. Once every wolf was in place, we moved forward as a group, shrinking the circle and trapping him within. I could feel my lips pulling back to expose my teeth as we advanced, Emma had been a friend to me and having her killed by an irresponsible hunter was a tough blow to my human side. My wolf was clearly pissed. Didn't these idiots know it was a violation of Federal law to hunt wolves?
We exited the treeline as one, seeing the small tented area on the rocky point just twenty yards ahead. A low growl from Joel stopped our advance. He looked left and right, his meaning clear. This kill was his.
There was movement ahead, we saw an arm poke out and then the night was lit up with a bright red light. It raced up in the sky and then started to float down. We started to advance again as a group as the man stepped out into the light. He reached for something on his leg, but I didn't see that, all I could see was his face.
"DOUG DOUG DOUG!!" I yelled but in wolf form it did nothing. I saw him pull a pistol out, closing my eyes I focused my will and somehow pushed my wolf back. The change was quick, and I stood up and saw the recognition in his face.
"LISSA!" My heart broke for him but it was too late. Two of the warriors had run forward and latched onto his arms, pulling him back, as Joel jumped forward between them. Doug was knocked back and I could only watch in horror as my Alpha went for his throat. "NO PLEASE NO PLEASE DON"T KILL HIM JOEL! HE'S MINE."
Doug stopped struggling and I saw Joel hesitate. I ran forward, using my hip to push him out of the way as I flung my naked body protectively over Doug. I kept my back to the Alpha as I tore a strip from his shirt and used it to stem the flow of blood from his neck. Luckily, he had been wearing a turtleneck and it had limited the damage somewhat. I kept pressure on the wounds as best I could while ensuring he could still breathe.
I felt a push at my shoulder and a growl. I turned to see Joel standing there, hackles up and growling. He pushed at the front of my shoulder this time, he wanted me out of the way to finish the job. "NO! Leave us alone!" I turned my back on him, which clearly was the wrong behavior. His growl became more menacing, and this time he nipped my shoulder as he leaned his chest on my torso. I stared into his eyes, defiantly claiming Doug as my own. I may not be in wolf form, but my message was clear. It was over my dead body that he would touch him again.
The next time he came to bite, I was ready. I dropped my body on top of Doug and then rolled to the far side, allowing Joel's muzzle to chase air as he lunged for me. I continued the roll, grabbing the fur of his forechest as my knee came up to slam into his side. I pushed him away and put myself between him and Doug, raised up on my knees and waiting.
He stared at me for a moment. I could see the anger in his eyes, the conflict, the need to dominate. I'm pretty sure his wolf could see my love and determination in mine. My body language mimicked a wolf- I was making myself seem bigger, more dominant, more dangerous, even as I kept human form. I watched as his body language changed; his shoulders relaxed, his head lowered, as he continued to stare at me. I glared at him. "Go home. Leave us. Emma needs to be tended to."
With a chuff he finally turned around, leading the rest of the Pack away from us. I lowered my shoulders in relief, I knew this wasn't over. The next time he got me in wolf form he would make my wolf understand the consequences of my rebellion, stomping his dominance into my hide. I really didn't care, he could kill me if my Doug didn't make it. He would be doing me a favor. I went back to Doug, tearing another long strip of shirt I gently wrapped his neck to hold the cloth in place. It looked like his bleeding had slowed.
Of course, now I was freezing. I went to his sniper hide, and clipped to his backpack I found a flashlight. It wasn't much of a shelter, just the heavy sleeping bags and a tarp for weather cover. I unzipped the sleeping bag and went back to Doug. Kneeling down, I grabbed the material of his jacket and slowly slid him across the snow and ice. It took me about five minutes, even with the werewolf strength I had gained he was a load to move. I finally was able to get him close enough to remove his jacket and boots and roll him into the sleeping bag. I put his jacket on then snuggled myself in next to him, my back spooned into his chest, before managing to zip the cold weather bag up again. Snug was an understatement, I could barely move and my legs and feet were still cold.
It took a while, but I started to warm up and his breathing on my shoulder lulled me to sleep.
I woke the next morning, reveling in the heat that warmed my body. He had made it through the night! He might be cursed to be a were like me, but at least he was alive. I still had a chance at happiness again.
I zipped the sleeping bag down and slowly got out. Checking his wounds, they were no longer bleeding. His color was good, but he was running a fever. I just had to find a way to get him through the change now.
I looked around in his backpack and found some long underwear, wool socks and an extra pair of boots. Thank God he had the extras, I thought, as I pulled the clothing on. It was big on my but at least my bottom half was covered now. Once I could stand up, I found an extra shirt and put that on before putting the jacket back on. I looked around the hide and sniffed, all was clear. It was one of those beautiful winter mornings, clear and calm. I was really beginning to like it up here, it was so peaceful compared to the city.
I heard movement behind me and turned to see Doug starting to wake up. I quickly went to his side and pressed a hand on his chest to keep him down. "Relax, love, I am here. You were bitten on the neck and it is bruised, I need you to keep still so you don't open the wounds again." He looked around then looked back to my eyes as he relaxed. "The rest of the pack is gone. You are safe here, I will take care of you." I slowly lowered my face to his and gently kissed his lips. "Now move over, I'm freezing out here and I need to hold you in my arms again." I quickly doffed the jacket and boots then slid back in, this time he was on his back and I was on my side with my head resting on his broad shoulder. My left leg found its way up his thighs as my left hand snaked its way under his torn shirt to the patch of hair on his chest. "God I've missed you. I don't ever want to leave your side again." His arm hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe as we stared at each other in wonder.
He tried to speak but couldn't get above a scratchy whisper. "I thought I had lost you." Tears were forming in his eyes as his hand caressed my back and down to my butt. I ran my hand across his chest.
