The Hunt
Panting, my legs burned as I ran, literally for my life.
I could see the edge of the border where our boundary finished, and the enemy’s border began. Lifting my nose to the sky, I could smell them nearby, lying in wait to see if I dared set foot in their territory.
Inching closer, I started to see the golden light of eyes flashing, the enemy’s guards stepping out of the shadows as a final warning that I am coming closer to their land, but I couldn’t afford to stop and think about the repercussions, my life was literally on the line and it was now or never.
A loud growl erupted behind me, not letting me forget who was chasing me. I bore down with all my force and jumped, hoping with every fibre of my being to clear the enemy’s guards and make it into the forest. And then I felt it. So deep in my thoughts I didn’t even hear it. A white-hot flash burned through my shoulder, making me momentarily see stars as and falter mid-air. Thankfully, the guards were either inexperienced or didn’t expect the gunshot to ring out and they faulted in their leap to bite down on me, instead clashing into each other in their haste to avoid the bullet.
Landing, albeit un-gracefully, behind the guards, I continue running, all the while talking to my inner wolf Pax.
“He shot us,” I mind-linked Pax in disbelief, “I knew his plan was to hurt us, but the asshole shot us!”
“Family,” Pax mind-linked back sarcastically, “Can’t pick ’em.”
With the pounding of each step, I could feel the toxins of the silver bullet pumping through my bloodstream making me weaker. I could feel my steps slowing but I wasn’t ready to give in with the guards starting to close in on me.
The forest line was in sight and a sliver of hope crept upon me, and that’s always when something bad usually happens.
My paw touched the forests lining and I breathed in the earthy smell, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
I didn’t see him until he was upon me, launching out from behind a thick oak tree directly into my side. My body slammed hard into a tree and as the air rushed out of my body, winded, the world around me went black.
Jake
I was laying in my bed, not bothering to fight the grin that crested my face. Alpha. It was finally my time and my dad had officially handed over the reins. My first official piece of business tomorrow would be announcing my Beta, my best friend since we were pups, Josh.
I was just about to mind-link him when an Urgent call out came from the guards at the border. There was a rogue fast approaching our territory, being chased by our enemy’s Alpha from the Crescent Moon Pack.
I immediately mind-linked them back, including Josh to meet me outside before we head into the forest.
‘Kill’, my wolf Jase linked me.
“Yeah, buddy,” I linked back, “Our first official kill as Alpha.”
My blood was pumping with adrenalin as I met Josh at the doors to the packhouse, we each grinned knowing the weight of this kill, before shifting into our wolves and running to the forest.
I heard the growl of our enemy’s Alpha loud and clear, “You will die at my hands, child.”
My wolf Jase instantly spoke up, “Not likely, this rogue is ours.”
I mind-linked the guards and Josh, letting everyone know we were in position and watched on, waiting.
“This rogue is fast,” Josh linked to me and I could feel him itching to get into battle.
“All the more fun to hunt,” I linked back with a mischievous glint in my eye. And then I heard it, the sound of a gunshot ricocheted through the dense forest making me pause.
While it was a common rule to kill rogues, when they crossed into another border, they then became the responsibility of that pack to destroy. This Alpha bringing a gun was un-orthodox and bit my curiosity.
I could just make out the white wolf in the distance, its gait slowing but pushing forward never-the-less.
“Kill”, Jase growled in my mind and I had to force him back down.
“No, this wolf knows something,” I linked him back and then I heard Josh link me as well.
“See that, man? WTF!” Josh linked.
“She knows something, and he doesn’t want to risk us catching her,” I linked him back.
“Right, stun not kill then?” he linked me disappointed.
“Stun, not kill.” I linked back in confirmation, including the guards.
Remaining in the shadows, I watched as the white wolf put her nose to the sky, breathing in her freedom before Josh’s golden-brown wolf ploughed into her side, effectively knocking her into the adjacent tree.
For a moment, I felt a little guilty at the small cry of surprise and the resounding thud, but I soon got over it. At least that was the plan, until the most tantalizing scent wafted into my nostrils. It smelt like a combination of vanilla and marshmallow combined with, I don’t know, Sunshine? Did sunshine even have a smell?
My wolf started panting, itching for me to draw closer to that still form, but the moment I saw her start to shift back into her human form, I turned my back out of politeness and mind-linked Josh.
“Might leave her with you, man,” I linked him.
“What, so I look like the creepy perve? No way!” he linked back incredulous.
“Someone’s gotta do it and you’re my Beta,” I smirked to myself, hoping he could feel it.
“That’s a low blow, dude,” he linked and I knew he was shaking his head. “Gonna get blood all over my new jacket.”
“Whatever,” I linked in return, already making my way back to the packhouse. “Get Bree to bring her some clothes and get that bullet out. We’ll interrogate her in the morning.” With that I shut off Josh, so I didn’t have to listen to anymore of his complaining and returned to bed. My mind still conscious of that intoxicating scent as I collapsed into my bed.
