As we ran through the woods I marveled at how my life had taken on such a strange turn. First I'm attack by this strange female, her brand forced on me, suffered unimaginable pain when I tried running then zapped with her unusual electric power now this.
What was this females deal? Clearly she was mixed up in the supernatural underworld in a big way but why did she have to drag me into it too? It was true that when she found me I was all wolf a mindless creature with little thought to anyone or anything.
I sighed internally. I suppose there was one thing to be thankful for now that I had my human side at least partially back I remembered the reason I was out here in the first place. Though that only served to make me annoyed with myself for loosing to my wolf side in the first place. How could I let that happen? I didn't even know how long it had been since I'd left the red eye pack. Two years, fours years maybe even ten?
How was I supposed to know how long it's not like I could ask this female. I doubt she would care about the reasons that had me scouring the country side for the most important thing in my life. All she seemed to care about is herself and her own selfish goals.
I felt the weight of the brand now burned into my neck. While her interference had pulled me out of my wild state I refuse to be thankful since it's not like I'll be able to continue where I left off, even if she hadn't branded me to be linked to her at all times.
She had said her destination was Jacksonville, that might be my only saving grace. My only hope was that she got within a mile of the reedy creek preserve. If I could get word to even just one red eye pack member I'd be able to tell them what's happened. My mind flashed the the young male Tiona had killed for no reason other then that he was red eye wolf.
Then of course I remembered just the other night when she had woken up screaming. Something back had happened to this female for her to be the way she is. I huffed it would be so much easier if I could take on my human form but the ability has yet to return to me.
I looked towards Tiona. Her words back at the pack house coming back to me. When the others had charged at me she stopped my attack. She threatened them if they tried to hurt me. Maybe she wasn't as selfish as I thought. I will admit some of my pride had been snatched away in that moment. Thought it did show me that she wasn't entirely a bad person and that maybe the way she lives her life is just a results of bad things that have happened to her.
Either way I could not allow her to keep me under her control. Now that I had returned to my senses I needed to get back to my search. It may have been years since I'd seen her flaming red hair and unique catlike green eyes. Not unlike the eyes of the twins back at the house we'd just fled except not as menacing. Cora was her name for years I had held onto my feelings til the day she'd been sent on a dangerous mission. The day I decided to tell her I loved her was the day.. no I couldn't think of that day, the memories were too painful.
How could she possibly still be alive? Even if I'd just found out what happened to her that would be enough. I growled at myself. How could I let this happen? In giving into my wolf I'd basically given up on her. I was ashamed of what I'd allowed to happen. Maybe this was my punishment. My own personal hell for failing Cora. In not protecting her I was now bond and forced to protect this female.
What am I to do? Should I try get word to my brother or should I except my punishment? I knew that if anyone could get me free of this brand it would be him, but did I deserve to be free?
"DORAN!"
Pulled from the turmoil inside my head I hadn't even noticed that Tiona had shifted back to human form. Shifters were rare but not extinct. That very fact shouldn't have surprised me that she was mixed up in the underground since most shifters had been in hiding since the witches started hunting them and stealing their power to change into any shape they wanted.
I stared at her that black hair and sapphire blue eyes with irises that formed the shape of a three pointed spiral. Powerful though she seemed to be there was also a sort of vulnerability to her that I found hard to resist.
"Are you listening to me?!"
I growled at her the wolf still strong in me quick to temper.
'What?'
She groaned.
"I said we should stop for the rest of the night we should be safe by now. Tarlock would have talked her out of following us at least for a time."
'Fine.'
She stared at me her eyes studying mine making me feel like a specimen she wanted to study.
"What's wrong with you?"
I huffed irritated with the question ignoring it completely. Like I was going to tell her what was going on in my head right now.
She shrugged like she didn't care but judging by the way she kept looking at me as she settled down in her usual nightly ritual of stars at what few stars she could see through the dense trees.
I lay down near a tree resting my head on my paws as I watched her watch the stars. I found myself remembering how she'd taken down those two wolves in less than five seconds. No shifter I knew was able to do that. Ok so I'd only known one shifter but still. There's was also the electric power she was able to wield. Being in with the underground she obviously acquired it in some illegal way or had it somehow surgically imprinted into her DNA. Whatever the circumstances it was still an unusual power to have even for a supernatural.
I would ask her if I thought she would answer but considering how she'd refused to answer me last time I figured why waste my time.
"Why are you so different?"
I grumbled at her the sound coming from deep in my chest.
'What makes you think I'm different?'
She sighed her eyes finally meeting mine.
"Your not the first wild wolf I've tried taming."
I chuckled she had said as much before and considering how fast she managed to trap me I figured that I wasn't the first already.
'How many others?'
Her spiral eyes didn't leave mine.
"Your the fourth."
'What happened to the others?'
She shrugged.
"I killed them."
She tried to appear blasé about it but after what she'd done for me at the pack house made me think otherwise.
'I assume they did not met your expectations?'
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me.
"No they did not."
I sighed.
'I couldn't tell you why I'm different it's not like I've known many wolf wolves. I only know what I've read about them.'
Tilting her head she smiled.
"You've read about wild wolves?"
'Of course haven't you?'
She went quiet her smile disappearing. After awhile she answered.
"Maybe that's the reason your different."
'I don't understand. I'm different because I've read about wild wolves.'
She shook her head.
'You because your smarter then the others I've tamed.'
I chuckled.
"I remember you saying my human half was dumb."
She smiled apologetically.
"Yea sorry about that with the others they were more wild so if I didn't show them who was boss at all times.."
She shrugged.
"Well you get the point. Two didn't even gain the ability to talk the ones that did still maintained their wildness. They took orders fine but when it came to thinking ahead or thinking out side those orders nata."
Hearing about the others made me realise why she had treated me the way she did when we first met. She had not expected me to be so human having been used to dealing with the mindless wolves before me. I was beginning to understand her and with understanding came respect.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to except my punishment. I felt that deep down Tiona was just another supernatural being trying to sit in a world that was sometimes cruel and unforgiving. Deep down she was just scared and alone. I watched as she lay back down her eyes returning to the skies. Just as I was starting to close my eyes I heard her voice again a quiet sound almost timid.
"Doran?"
'Hmmm?'
"I'm sorry I branded you."
I sighed. Slowly I got up and padded towards her. Without a word I lay down next to her sharing the warmth of my fur with her human form. At first she froze but after awhile I heard her heart slow as she drifted off to sleep her body unconsciously moving closer to my warmth.
The next day I woke when I felt Tiona start to rise. She seemed embarrassed that she'd slept next to me. She quickly hid it through behind the mask she thought no one could see through.
"Umm thanks for last night."
Standing I yawned not answering since she seemed uncomfortable enough. Shifting into wolf form she started padding forward.
'Just one more stop then we will be on our way to Jacksonville.'
I padded after her as we once again made our way south. I still had not decided what I would do when we passed Charlotte, even if I decide to stay with her at the very least I wanted to see my family. My brother I had not seen since the day I left the pack in search of Cora. I again wondered how long it had been since I'd left everything behind.
'What year is it?'
Tiona stopped as she looked back at me.
'Did you just ask what year it is?'
I huffed somehow embarrassed for asking.
'Never mind.'
I started walking again but she caught up quickly.
'Doran stop.'
I didn't stop.
'Please.'
I sighed as I paused not looking at her.
'I'm sorry it's just I didn't realise that when you go all wolf you loose track of time. Guess I should of realised that.'
Finally I turned to face her those spiral eyes staring right into my very being.
'The year is 2025.'
I sighed.
'Five years.'
'Five years?'
'Five years is how long it's been since I left my pack.'
I looked away suddenly I felt her human arms wrap around my neck hugging me.
'I'm sorry Doran.'
I froze in her arms not knowing what to do. This female seemed to have two sides to her. One was the fearless strong selfish being craving power the other was a kind hearted soul that feels empathy for others. I didn't know who was the real her, didn't know which one was trustworthy or if either of them were. Pulling back she smiled.
"I know what will cheer you up. What name an animal any animal."
I stared at her perplexed but I figured what the hell. As I thought about it I realised she was going to shift into the animal I chose. If I could smile I would have as I made my selection.
'Unicorn.'
She was about to shift when she realised what what said as she scowled but their was no anger in it.
"Seriously Doran?"
I laughed.
'Fine a fox.'
She smiled then shifted into a fox and together as wolf and fox we headed south. Her fox form darting in and out of my legs laughing as she did. First the first time since she had pulled me from my mindless wolf state I was actually having fun. I knew it wouldn't last but for now I was enjoying this moment. Maybe being bound to her wasn't as bad as I'd first thought.