I wake up early and have breakfast.
I go outside shortly after and just walk around. This place is huge! I follow the street through the houses. A few adults stop me to ask how I am or where I'm going... just like home. I smile to myself. The road leads through the woods a long way. Eventually I run into a gate. A guard looks out at me from a little guard station.
"What cha doin' out here pup?" He asks.
"Just walkin'... is this the border?" I ask.
"Of the pack boundaries, yes. The territory extends further. A few smaller towns are scattered about to keep order... you shouldn't be out this far tho. Alpha will be worried. Why don't you head back?... better yet. Rex!" The man I met in the gym comes up to us.
"Yea Benny?" The first man rolls his eyes at the childish nick name.
"You mind escorting the pup back. Don't feel right sendin' him back alone given... current circumstances." He says.
"You mean the other packs that are about to attack?" I say and both men look at me.
"Yea... how'd you?..." Benny stammers.
"Guess Alpha talks shop around you." Rex says. I nod.
"Ari and Beta James were discussing it... are you guys the warriors Ari said were ready to fight?" I ask.
"That's us!" Benny says grinning. "I'm Ben and this is Rex. First line of defense along with the rest of the men patrolling the borders... you really need to stick close to the pack house tho. They could attack any time."
"Sorry sir... I can go back on my own I dont want to take you away from your duties." I tell him.
"No... we can't let you do that. You know the first order of business is to protect the pups and you're the Alpha's. He'd kill us if we sent you off on your own." Rex says heading back towards the houses. "You comin' pup?" I run to meet him as he walks quickly.
"You know I got a boy your age... I'll introduce you before I head back." Rex says as we speed walk.
"I'd like that... the pups treat me different than the adults... I don't think they like me." I tell him.
"They just dont know you. Keep your chin up. They'll come around." As Rex finishes his sentence he stops cold sniffing the air. "No." He whispers then turns to me. "Run back to town. Go into the first house you find with people in it. Don't look back."
"What's wrong? What's going on? Are they attacking? Where's Ari? Are they close? Can I make it back in ti..."
"Brayden!" Rex stops my rant. "GO NOW!" He turns away from me shifting into his wolf.
"Woh!" I've never been this close when someone shifts! "Cool!" Rex growls nudging me in the right direction. "I'm goin'!" I say and take off running.
I hadn't realized how far out I was when walking but running back is difficult. Before long I'm panting my legs are sore and my heart racing. I can hear the growls behind me and turn to look only to trip and fall on my face.
"Owww!" I groan pulling myself to a seated position. I look around and see I'm nearly to the edge of town. I reach up and touch my mouth to feel that I have a busted lip and a loose tooth. Fun fun! A growl pulls me from my thoughts as a massive brownish red wolf runs at me. I dive to the ground face first covering my head. The wolf sniffs me then grabs the middle of the back of my shirt picking me up. I am shocked untill I take a whiff of him.
"Ari?" I ask. He huffs and takes off running to the pack house. I'll take that as a yes. He drops me at the door and pushes me towards it with his nose. "Yes sir." I say taking the handle. I turn back to him. "Be safe Ari." He nods and runs back towards the battle letting out an enormous howl. As soon as I'm through the door someone grabs me pulling me into a safe room.
The room is full of pups and pregnant women. Mrs. Jones is talking to different groups of kids keeping them calm. Everyone looks scared.
"You alright?" A boy asks sitting next to me. His dark hair and green eyes remind me of someone.
"I'm good... you Rex's boy?" I ask.
"Yea... how'd ya know my Pops?" He responds.
"He was escorting me home until the attack started... then he ran off to fight." I see the boy frown. "Don't worry... your dad is strong. I saw his wolf. He's impressive. I'll bet he'll take down half the bad guys himself without a single scratch." I say.
"Yea." He mumbles unconvinced.
"And have you seen Ari! My daddy is... was an Alpha and he still wasn't that big! Ari was right behind your Pops. No way he will let your dad get hurt. Ari protects people. He cares about this pack. You should have heard him talking to Beta James in his office." At this point I realize everyone is listening to me. I stand up and face the boy so I can't see the crowd of people. "He said he wants to be an Alpha who leads well. Knows and loves his people. He said he doubled patrols and that he would lead his people. That he would protect his pack. Your pack. Your dad is a part of that pack and Ari has never gone back on his word. Not with me at least. He said he will protect his home. This is his home! We are his home! He is my Alpha now and I don't think we could do much better! Your dad will come back to you!" At this point I turn to the rest of the people. "Alpha Aaron will protect everyone he can. We will get out of this safely. He promised not to leave me... and I trust him." I sit back down and everyone is silent.
"Thanks." The boy mumbles.
"Its the truth." I respond. A low chorus of voices begin again and I breath a sigh of relief. At least they aren't looking at me any more.
"I'm Eric by the way." Rex's boy says.
"Brayden." I respond.
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
It seems like an eternity before the door to the safe room scrapes open. Everyone stiffens until Clay steps through the door.
"Clayton!" Mrs. Jones calls running to him.
"Its Beta now." He says lowly head bowed.
"Beta James?" She asks.
"Gone." He answers.
"I'm so sorry Clay!" She hugs him.
"Where's Ari?" I ask and he turns to me.
"Brayden listen..." Clay starts.
"No! Where is he!?" I yell.
"Upstairs but Bray..." I run past him following my nose to where Ari is.
In the entryway I see him pushing a man away from him.
"No Green! Get out there and help the men!" He yells.
"Alpha you need help too." The man argues.
"I'll heal now you..."
"Ari!" I cut him off.
"Bray what are you...?" I jump on him to give him a hug and he howls in pain stopping his question.
"Sorry Ari... are you okay?" I ask. looking at his bloody shirt I gasp. "You need a doctor!"
"I couldn't agree more." The other man says. "Now please Alpha."
"I'm fine Doc." Ari protests.
"No Ari! You said you wouldn't leave me! What if you die?! You can't Die! No! I cant lose you too! Momma! Poppa! Bella! No! Ari plea..."
"Alright, alright!" Ari cuts me off. "Make it quick Doc then help the men."
"This way Alpha." The doctor says giving me a wink. I follow them to the infirmary where Ari lays back on a bed. The doctor ripps open his shirt revealing massive slashes across his chest and stomach.
"Ari!" I gasp.
"Looks worse than it is. Don't worry pup... stitch me up Doc." Ari says.
The doctor sews up the mangled flesh so quickly my jaw drops. He is like a craftsman mending the human body. Once the doctor is done a woman comes over and washes off the blood then wraps bandages around Ari.
"See? Good as new!" He says standing. "Thanks Doc. I'll be off now."
"I know I won't convince you to stay a few hours to heal so I'll just say this if you rip a stitch you better get your Alpha butt back on this bed or I'll drug you and drag you back! Doctors orders!" My jaw drops. Can you talk to an Alpha like that?
"Yes sir." Ari says stunning me even more. I follow him out glancing back at the older man in awe.
"He patched me up alot as a kid." Ari says catching my amazed look. "I owe him alot. He has earned my respect and the right to put me in my place... on medical matters at least."
Walking behind him I can see many scars across his shoulders reaching under the bandages. Do they cover his entire back?!
"I'm not gonna talk about it pup." He says sencing my stare.
"Sorry Ari." I mumble. He nods as we walk back to the Alpha's house. "So did we win?" I ask as he buttons up a shirt.
"We lost people and we killed people... in war there is never a winner. Just a side that has fewer casualties. We were that side this time." He says as he changes into clean dress pants and shoes.
"Why so dressed up? You are hurt!" I ask.
"I'm about to address the pack. I'm about to tell women that their mate is not coming home. I'm about to tell children that their parents won't be having dinner with them tonight... the least I can do is respect them enough to be strong for them. They deserve that. I'm the Alpha. My injuries don't matter. If I can be up I am. For my pack." He says. "You deserve as much pup." I hug him as carefully as I can. He hugs me back and looks down at me. He grabs my chin touching my busted lip I flinch. "You okay?" He asks.
"Yea.. just when I fell... I'm fine! Busted lip and lose tooth no big!" I smile.
"Lose tooth?" Ari questions. He tilts my head back "Let me see!" He seems overly excited for a tooth but I smile and wiggle the tooth with my finger. "Promise me something... when it comes out, no matter where you are or what you're doing, run directly to me. Okay?"
"Sure Ari." I say pushing his hands away from my face and giving him a look. "But why?"
"Well ya see... I'm not supposed to tell you before it happens." He says.
"Arrriiiiii!" I whine. "Pleeeeessseeee!"
"Come on Bray! I'm not supposed to! It makes some pups rush it and that's not good for you." He says.
"Tell me or I'll pull it out now!" I challenge him. He sighs realizing I won't budge.
"Fine! But you cant tell anyone. Deal?" I nod furiously suddenly eager for the information. "After you lose your first tooth you will shift... you should start noticing your hearing and vision getting sharper as you get closer to your shift. Then afterwards you will meet your wolf." My jaw drops.
"I'm gonna shift!?" I start bouncing up and down. Ari nods grinning. "I'm gonna shift! I'll be a wolf! I'll get to go on runs! I'll meet my wolf! This is so cool! Will he like me? Of course he will! Hes part of me! An official werewolf!... will it hurt?" That final thought stops my rambling as I look to Ari for answers.
"Yea pup... it hurts like crazy... but in the end you get your wolf and it hurts less the more you shift." He tells me.
"I'm scared." I whimper. Ari pulls me into a hug.
"Hay! Don't be scared Bray. I'll be there with you every step of the way... and once you shift we'll go on a run. You and me. I'll show you what it is to be a wolf. Trust me... it's worth it!" He smiles down at me and I can't help but return it. "But don't go knocking it out on purpose! That can make it take longer if your body isn't ready for the change."
"Yes sir!" I say happy and eager for the shift.