It had now been a week since I'd branded Doran and I found myself enjoying his company. Five years since he'd left his pack even less time spent as a wild wolf. So that was the reason he gained make his senses so fast. He'd probably only been full wolf for probably a couple years at the most.
He seemed so sad when I told him the year I couldn't stop myself. I hugged him... I hugged him? Why did I hug him? What was going on with me? It wasn't like me at all. What was Doran doing to me? I didn't care about anyone. All I cared about was gaining more power. I wanted to be strong, stronger then any one else so that no one would even try attempt hurting me again.
I was still in my fox form my sleek body built for stealth and speed. I darted between the trees using the foliage on the ground to cover my progress. Our side stop to Imogen and Tarlocks pack had put us back at least two days.
Doran hadn't offered any more about himself and I hadn't asked. If he was anything like me the past was too painful to share especially with some one you'd only known a week. However I did feel the relationship between us changing if only by a little. Whether it was a good change or not only time would tell. I haven't truly trusted anyone since my escape. Would I be able to trust Doran? Would I finally be able to let down the walls I'd built around myself?
Out of the darkness I heard a strange bubbling noise. Doran must have heard it too as he stopped and sniffed the air.
'What is it?'
He chuckled.
'Come on I'll show you.'
He lead me through the trees til the scent of Sulphur in the air became more pronounced.
'Is that what I think it is?'
Dorans eyes met mine.
'Hot springs.'
I sprang forward shifting to human form I started unbuckling my belt.
'Whoa wait what are you doing?!'
I froze looking Back at Doran.
"What's wrong?"
He seemed embarrassed as he answered.
'At least wait til I've turned around!'
I laughed as he started padding away.
"Didn't peg you as the prude type."
He growled back at me.
'I may be stuck in my wolf form now but I'm still human..."
More quietly he added.
'And male.'
"Wow Doran your so cute when your embarrassed."
He grumbled deep in his chest as he lay down his back to me.
'I'm not embarrassed nor am I a prude it's just..'
His voice trailed off making me laugh harder as I continued to get undressed. Slowly I made my way into the small pool of steaming water.
"God that feels good it's been so long since I've had a bath."
I looked to where Doran still lay with his back to me.
"Too bad you can't shift the waters amazing."
'Yeah poor me.'
His tone was sarcastic.
"Come on Doran you don't have to hide it's not like it's the first time you've seen a naked girl."
It was then that something occurred to me I didn't even know how old he was for all I knew he could be and old man.
"How old are you anyway?"
Forgetting himself he looked my way but didn't answer. I raised my eyebrows at him.
"Well?"
His nose twitched slightly as he answered.
'Twenty one.'
My eyes widened in shock.
"Are you serious? But if your twenty one now and you left your pack five years ago that means you were sixteen at the time."
'What's your point?'
I shrugged.
"I'm just surprised that's all. I didn't think packs let there sixteen year olds leave at such a young age."
His eyes never left mine he next words sounded sad.
'They don't.'
I narrowed my eyes at him. Something bad definitely happened to him. Whether it was the kind of thing that had happened to me Probably not but bad none the less. There was only one thing that would cause a sixteen year old to leave their pack.
"Who was she?"
His eyes avoided mine as he once again turned away resting his snout on his paws.
'What does it matter she's probably long gone by now.'
Reaching out I gently tugged on his tail causing him to spin around growling.
"Don't lie Doran I can tell it does matter. It matters a great deal to you."
He remained silent his eyes going to the skin at my chest and arms. Looking down I realised what he was staring at. Normally my long sleeved hooded jacket and jeans hid the layers upon layers of scars that riddled my entire body. Slowly I stood up showing him all of it. Every jagged line every burn, all of it as I spun just as slow. I don't know why I showed him I guess it was the fact that I felt so comfortable with him I just knew he wouldn't pity me for them.
When I stood facing him again his silence had me sitting back down in the water. The murkiness now covering them again. I shrugged.
"We all have something in our past we'd rather forget."
'Tiona-'
I twig snapped in the trees causing him to turn growling as I grabbed for my knife hiding behind Doran. After awhile a deer bounded through the trees. I sighed in relief, Doran however chuckled as he looked at me using him to cover my nakedness.
'I thought you weren't a prude.'
I punching him lightly in the foreleg.
"Being naked in front of you is one thing being naked in front of a stranger is another."
His eyes met mine sarcasm in his voice.
'Geez thanks next thing you know your going to start calling me lassie.'
I chuckled.
"I didn't mean it like that. It's just I don't know, I feel comfortable around you that's all."
He watched me as I started to get dressed again, not even caring that I was naked any more. After awhile he answered.
'I feel the same way.'
We remained still staring at each other both knowing that something was drawing us together. In what way I didn't know but something in me was fighting whatever it was. Like a voice inside me telling me that if I let someone in I'd regret it. The voice telling me all that mattered was power not friendship or anything more. Power is the only thing I wanted anything else was meaningless.
Sparks began to dance across my hands as the voice became stronger. Dorans eyes went to my hands.
'Tiona?'
Before I could answer I felt a change in the air quickly I grabbed the hilt of the knife just before it hit my chest. Doran growled spinning as he bounded after the person that threw it.
"DORAN!"
He didn't stop. Quickly I gave chase after them both. the throwing knife still in my hand.
I saw them through the trees in front of me. Doran was close on the heels of someone I couldn't tell who. Just as I was about to catch up Doran leapt at the runner knocking him to the ground. The guy rolled over just as Doran bared his teeth standing on his chest.
"GET YOUR MUTT OFF ME!"
Doran growled while snapping at his face making the guy cringe in fear. Calmly I looked down at the guy Doran now held.
"It's really not a good idea to insult Doran."
Squatting beside his I smiled.
"Especially when he's an inch from your throat."
To empathise my point Doran inched closer to his throat. The fear in the guys eyes was prof Dorans threat was working. I grabbed the guys ash blond hair as I turned him to inspect his brand that was burned into his cheek. A yellow fang, another underground pack. I sniffed the scent of something rotten a trait from one of the lowest of the low packs. I glared into his blood shot brown eyes.
"WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!"
Unlike a red eye wolf he didn't need much persuading to talk. Just the threat of Doran ripping his throat out was enough.
"Alright alright just get your beast off me!"
"Not til you tell me why!"
He nodded rigorously.
"Sure I'll I'll tell you anything just don't kill me. Word has it theres a bounty on your head. Somebody with deep pockets a hundred thousand dollar reward for bringing you in dead or alive."
I pulled his hair bringing the knife up that he'd tried to kill me with to his throat.
"Who put out the bounty?!"
He shook in fear.
"I don't know honestly I over heard one of Imogen's wolves talking about it. They were pissed that Tarlock let you go. They had planned on going after you in the morning saying you were heading to Lexington. That's all I know I swear!"
I threw his head back in anger. If what he said was true every supernatural being would be after me. Who the hell had that much money to waste on me I was just a thief who stole power nothing special.
'He could be lying.'
I looked to Doran.
'I don't think he is. the yellow fang pack they are made up of idiots that couldn't put together a simple jigsaw puzzle let alone something like this.'
I looked to the wolf before me I couldn't let him go if someone was willing to pay that much on a bounty he would likely sell our location for a portion of it. I had no choice I sliced his throat.
'TIONA!'
Dorans voice sounded in my head but it was too late. He jumped back facing me he teeth bared.
'WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!'
I scowled at him knowing that the new bond we had formed had just been shattered.
"I had no choice he would've told everyone where we were!"
Doran growled my way.
'So what they already know where we're headed you didn't have to kill him!'
"YES I DID YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR DEALING WITH! ITS KILL OR BE KILLED IN THIS WORLD!"
I threw the knife that had very nearly killed me the blade sinking deep into a tree. I shook my head at Doran.
"It's clear that you don't know this world, those of us who live outside the legit packs.."
I sighed.
"There's no help for us unless we help ourselves. If something happens to us we only have ourselves to blame. If we're captured there's no one who will look for us, no one who cares. Don't you get it if I hadn't killed him it would've been me that was killed. Whether by his hand when he returned or another led here on his information either way I'll be dammed if I save his life over mine."
Doran was quiet as his eyes seemed to search mine for something only he could see. Finally his voice sounded in my head a edge to it I had never heard from him before.
'If you think I don't know how cruel the world is I can assure you I do. There are some scars that aren't visible with our eyes but it doesn't mean we become the monster that created those scars.'
His words hit me hard was that how he really saw me? As a monster? the fact that he saw me as a monster hurt more then it should. Was I really a that evil? Anger at his words filled me as my fists clenched.
"You think I'm a MONSTER?!"
I growled.
'That's not what I said nor what I meant I'm just say-'
I cut him off my anger rising with each word.
"No your just saying I'm no better then the son of a bitch who gave me these scars!"
Sparks began to dance across my entire body as my rage increased. Doran eyed the blue bolts as they zig zagged across my skin.
'Tiona stop! Whoever gave you those scars is the lowest being to ever walk this world for what he did to you but don't let his actions define you. You are not alone any more, I'm here with you. I'll help keep you safe but you have to trust me.'
I shook my head the sparks growing.
"How can I trust you I don't even know you! The only reason your still here is because you can't leave!"
I lifted my hand channeling the sparks into an electrifying orb.
"You think I'm a monster I'll show you just how much of a monster I've become!"
I threw the orb surprising me with his speed he dodged the blast as it hit the tree behind him. Quickly I took cover as the tree exploded. Stunned I was forced to the ground Doran above me his teeth bared. I glared at him I should've known he was just binding his time til he could take me down.
"DO IT THEN KILL ME AND YOULL BE FREE OF A MONSTER LIKE ME!"
His eyes stared into mine not moving an inch. Then slowly he pulled back letting me go.
'I don't want to kill you Tiona.'
He watched me as I sat up.
'I want to help you. There's good in you I've seen it."
He paused his voice sad.
'I couldn't save her. I won't fail you, I won't let anyone else hurt you. You have my word.'
I stared at him in shock at his words. I could see the truth in his eyes. Ever since I'd escaped I thought The only person I could count on was myself. Staring at him I knew that he would do what he said. We had only just met yet he would gladly give his life for mine he would keep me safe, but who would save me from him. Some things hurt more then physical pain.