Elsie was beyond happy to have a run, the past year has been a rollercoaster of bonding and practicing relaxation tactics, it never seemed to bother Elsie and I though. It almost felt as if the bond was there before my shift when I met her, and I couldn't be happier to have her with me.
The deeper we went, the denser the forest became, luckily, our pack was practically in the middle of nowhere, giving us privacy and space from the human world. I've never been bothered by humans, in some ways they fascinate me.
We slowed as we got nearer to a large river. If you walked far enough, you would find the river ending in a waterfall over a cliff, giving you the perfect view of everything down below, there are even some small packs in the distance. Carlos always used to bring me here when we were little we would play for hours.
"Isn't it pretty Charlie?"
He looked down at me from the large rock sitting at the top of the mini waterfall, it made him look very powerful.
"Be careful Carlos, my Dad said he fell here once, broke his l-"
"Stop worrying Charlie, I'll be fine. Watch this!"
He took a few steps back until he was out of my view. I tried standing on my tippy toes so I could get a good look.
After a few moments of waiting, I heard him yelling, he jumped off of the rock and into the river, covering me in water.
"Eww Carlos, I liked these clothes."
"Sorry but now that they are wet, you might as well come in with me."
We spent the rest of the afternoon playing and swimming, and we went there almost every weekend afterwards.
I sat there, looking at the rock we used to jump off. We had been here two weeks ago, and after all the time since we were kids, some moss had grown on top and there was a lot more flora in general. It gave the sight a welcoming feeling. I started catching fish and playing in the water, it felt good.
As I turned around, Elsie became incredibly alert, panicked almost. I looked around frantically, there couldn't be rogues this close to the pack, especially not at this time of night. I smelt the air, it definitely wasn't a rogue, but goddess it was a nice smell. I closed my eyes and focused on it. Fresh rain and honey. It was absolutely amazing, but it was getting uncomfortably close. Should I stand here and see what it was? Or should I leave and go back to the carnival, alert my Dad and Alpha Knox that there was an unknown wolf on the territory, what if it wasn't a wolf?
I heard a twig snap in the direction of the rock, this wasn't good, they had higher ground. I turned around and made a move to step back but heard another twig snap in the direction I was headed towards. I turned my head, keeping my body facing forwards in case someone came from the rock. There wasn't anyone there. At this point I started to become paranoid, this could be an ambush.
I heard another twig snap behind me and immediately turned around. There was a rather large wolf, very beautifully coloured, a white wolf that had ashy coloured patches covering them, it seemed to me that he was a male, and from the size, a werewolf. He just stood there watching me, he didn't have the smell that was here before, but he didn't have the smell of anyone from my pack. I made a move to go forward, but he only stepped back. I dropped myself down in the water to show that I wasn't a threat, and it seemed to work. He took a few steps towards me and stopped at the river bank. There was about six feet between, just enough time for me to register an attack if he made a move, depending on how much faster his reflexes were compared to me. Instead, he dropped down as well and just stared at me, I saw his eyes glaze over, he was mind linking someone. Was I on their land? I don't think so, this area is supposed to be for no one. Then again, Carlos and I were only little when we first came here.
I sat there studying him, he was still mind linking someone, speaking of, I'm not sure how much time I have before I have to be at the carnival. His eyes returned to the colour they were here before, and the corners of his mouth moved upwards, a smirk? What had he said through his mind link and to whom?
Moments later there was a loud growl behind me and the smell returned, I stood and turned around but the other wolf was already next to me, growling at me, signaling me to stay down. I didn't want to but I did as I was told to avoid possible violence. I watched the rock and could see a silhouetted figure looking down at us, he seemed to be in human form.
"Kayden, catch."
He had a deep, husky voice. Elsie purred at the noise, thanks Elsie, glad I could count on you to keep a level head against someone who could be here to kill me.
He threw the wolf a pair of shorts and he caught it effortlessly. He disappeared behind a tree, I heard the sounds of his bones cracking, and soon he returned.
"Hey, she-wolf."
I looked up, and saw clothes being thrown at me. I caught them, but I didn't feel safe enough to shift back into a human, so I just stared up at him emotionlessly.
"Don't worry, I have no need to hurt you."
Bullshit, but I doubt I can get away from them. I trotted behind a tree and shifted back, putting on the clothes he gave me.
I walked out with my arms crossed, there was an unpleasant breeze.
"Can I help you boys? I apologise if I trespassed on your land, however I last recall this not being owned."
Nice and simple, make them think you're oblivious to the whole situation. The guy jumped down, landing in the water next to his friend. My eyes almost fell out of their sockets. This man was breathtaking, and so was his friend. He had vibrant green eyes with slight specks of gold towards the edges of his irises. He had a sharp jawline, and perfectly shaped facial features. He had what I would call the perfect body, broad shoulders and very muscular. He stood at a proud 6'3, much taller than my 5'2. I could hear Elsie chanting the words I always dreaded to hear from her.
"Mate, Mate, Mate"
I wasn't ready for this, I wanted to leave, I had to leave, Alpha Knox would be getting worried, and so would my Dad and Carlos.
"I'm sorry gentlemen but I have somewhere to be, pack matters, but before I go, is there something you need to talk to me about?"
I watched his eyes darken and a frown form on his perfect face.
"You won't be going anywhere, mate, I've waited a long long time to find you, and now that I have, there is no chance I'm letting you go."
"I'm very sorry but I have a carnival to attend, and I have a limited amount of time here, now, if you would please excuse me."
He lunged forward and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I felt the tingles and tried my best to ignore them, this was not an ideal situation. I mind linked Carlos.
"Carlos, I have a very serious situation."
"I'll say, where are you, the Alpha has been waiting for you, he asked me where you were, are you at the carnival?"
"No I'm being carried by some guy, don't alarm the Alpha, but I want you to tell him I went home because I have a headache, when I say otherwise, let him know, in the meantime, find my scent and stalk us, but try to stay low, these guys are werewolves too."
"Like hell! There is no way I can't let the Alpha know about this, you're being carried away by strangers."
"Carlos please, he is my mate, apparently."
"Your mate? Is he from our pack?"
"I don't think so, but I need help getting away from him, I need you here for backup."
"Ok I'll be there, but the second it gets hairy, I'll get the Alpha, K?"
"Ok fine, also Carlos, just you, no one else."
"Got it"
I looked up to see the other guy staring intently at me, he looked slightly mad.
"Alpha."
"Yes?"
Shit, there's no way he's an Alpha, hurry up Carlos, I think it's already gotten hairy.
"Keep a sharp watch around the forest, someone is on their way, or possibly multiple people. From the Ash Claw pack, her pack."
He stopped abruptly, and I nearly fell.
"How do you know, I can't hear anything."
Yeah how can you know that? It's not like I was speaking out loud.
"Her eyes glazed over, she's mind linked someone."
"Has she now?"
I felt his head turn, he must be looking at me. I said nothing, what could I say. He began walking again, but at a much faster pace.
"Shift into your wolf and continue following us, the second you hear something or someone, kill them."
"NO!"
He turned to look at me again, I lifted my head and stared into his eyes, he had a smirk playing on his lips.
"And why shouldn't he? Surely they're not that important to you?"
"I'll tell him to go back, just don't hurt him."
I hated the way my voice sounded when I said that, I sounded pathetic, I was begging him.
"I'm not stupid, Kayden go ahead, but instead of killing him, bring him with us."
"No! What is wrong with you!"
"Nothing is wrong me, love, I'm just trying to protect you"
I just slumped back down.
"Carlos, go back! You better listen to me, the dicks are waiting for you, it's a trap, I'll find a way out, just stay away!"
"What do you mean? I'm coming whether they are waiting or not, I said I'd call the Alpha when things turn to shit, and this looks pretty fucking shitty, I'll be there soon don't panic."
"No Carlos, they will-"
I could feel the mind link being cut off, Carlos was going to be killed.
"Please, don't kill him!"
"Him?"
There was venom lacing his words
"Kayden, change of plans, kill this man the second he comes into view."
"NO! He isn't that to me I swear, he's my best fucking friend, please don't hurt him"
He didn't even spare me a glance, I watched as his friend shifted and retreated back so he could be closer to the direction Carlos would most likely come from. I wanted to scream, they were actually going to kill my best friend.
"Please, please I'll do anything, don't hurt him, please…"
The last part came out as a sob. My mate was an absolute monster.
"Don't say that about him!"
"SHUT UP ELSIE."
I heard Elsie whimper back, I felt bad, but she really just told me to be nice to someone that was about to hurt Carlos.
"I'm sorry, Charlotte, this is our mate we're talking about."
"This is my best friend. We are talking about Carlos! They are going to hurt him, my mate can take his protectiveness and shove it up his ass!"
"Charlo-"
I blocked the link between Elsie, as if she's standing up for this monster. I started to cry, I've known Carlos my whole life, he's always been there for me, I've known this fucker for 20 minutes and Elsie chooses him over Carlos!
"Look, I won't hurt your stupid friend, but he will be fought away, mindlink him and tell him to retreat."
"Carlos please go back, they will kill you."
"Charlie, I'm not leaving you, you know how much I care about you, you're being taken away from me!"
"If you really care about me, then you will leave, I promise I will talk to you about it soon just please go Carlos!"
I cried the last part, I really hope he goes, I could never forgive myself if he ended up getting hurt.
"Fine, Charlotte, you better be careful."
"I promise."
Thank you Carlos, I want to kiss you, I want to kiss you and your lovable mate Miriam, thank you.
"He's gone, call your buddy off."
"You don't get to talk to me like that, my Beta will continue to patrol the area around us."
"Ok whatever I'm sorry. Thank you."
"You're welcome."