Gunner.
When it came time for dinner, I was relieved. I hadn't stopped thinking about Zee all afternoon. I was worried for her, I didn't even know if she had a pack. As far as I know, we are the only pack in this region. The closest pack wasn't even on the island, it was nearly three hours away. I couldn't let it go and kept telling myself over and over again, I should have followed her, I should have gone to check on her. The worry was stewing in my mind.
I was helping Nat set the table for dinner when I suddenly felt this weird headache come on. It was probably from being in the sun all afternoon. I shook my head and went to get some water. I went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of cold water. As I was drinking, I felt as though someone had just kicked me in the ribs. I spat the water out across the kitchen floor and curled over clutching my stomach. Mum walked in and dropped the cutlery on the counter. She rushed over to me putting her arms around me.
"What's wrong Gunner?" she questioned. I couldn't talk though, the hit to my ribs had knocked the wind out of me.
"Baby what's going on?" Mum demanded.
I coughed and spluttered trying to catch my breath.
"I don't know" I croaked,
"It felt like I got kicked in the ribs"
"Come on, come and sit down".
Mum ushered me over to the breakfast nook. I sat leaning over trying to breathe again.
"Lupus" She called out to my dad.
"Lupus, get down here now!".
I started to catch my breath when Dad walked in the room.
"What's the screaming for?" he groaned,
"Something's wrong with Gunner" she hissed,
"What's the matter boy?" he asked,
"I'm not sure" I croaked,
"Come on son spit it out" he demanded,
"I got a sudden headache, so I came in here to get a drink, as I was drinking my water, I felt a kick to my ribs. That's it" I rushed out taking a big breath.
He knelt in front of me and grabbed my chin turning my head from side to side.
"He looks okay now" he said, standing up again.
At that moment a series of electric shocks shot through my body. I fell to the ground convulsing, my body tensed, and the room went dark. As the pain cursed through my body, I could see something familiar. I tried to block out the pain and focus. It was the man with the whip from my dream the other night. He was standing over something laughing. I tried to see what it was, I was straining to focus but the pain was overwhelming. Then I saw it, the little black wolf. It was Zelena and he was torturing her.
I burst out of my convulsion and sat up on the floor. Mum, Dad, Nat, Spartan, Cole, Smith and Smith's mum Deena were all standing around me yelling at each other.
"It's Zelena!" I screamed jumping up off the floor,
"He's gonna kill her".
I took off out the door and jumped down the porch steps. As I was running through the clearing, I ripped off my shirt and threw myself onto my hands and knees in the dirt. I let the fire run through me as I broke my bones. Once I was changed, I flew out of the clearing and into the forest. I got to the path where I met Zelena and started sniffing the air. Cole and Smith ran up on me in their wolf form, I growled and snapped at them. I caught the scent, it was faint, but I have a direction.
**This way**
I ran off following her scent with Cole and Smith flanking me.
**Gunner what's going on?**
**There's a man and he's killing her**
**How do you know this?**
**I just do** I barked.
We came to a house at the edge of the forest. Her scent was all over it. I could smell her pain and her fear and her sorrow, but mostly I could smell her blood. Not wasting another second, I rammed into the front door, sending it flying off its hinges and across the room. Cole and Smith followed me inside. I quickly looked around the room. The place was a disgrace. Dirty, messy and very worn down, but empty. The scent was fresh, but no one was in here. I put my nose down and pricked up my ears.
"Please... stop" I heard her faint voice coming from under the floorboards. I growled,
**The basement**
I found the basement door, Zelena's scent was strongest here. So was the smell of her blood. I crashed in the door and jump down the stairs, landing on the ground below. I looked around and saw her half naked body lying on the floor, unconscious and covered in blood. The man was standing over her, sweat and Zelena's blood coated his stained singlet shirt.
"What the fuck!" the man exclaimed.
I lowered my head and bared my teeth, growling and snapping at the man. I slowly stalked towards him as he took steps back. Cole and Smith jumped down the stairs and stood behind me on either side. The man turned around and rustled around on the work bench, he quickly whipped back around, holding a small crowbar in his hands. He held it out in front of him waving it at me. Interesting, he doesn't seem overly shocked to see three giant wolves in his house.
"Get back" he yelled.
**Gunner you can't kill him**
I snapped my teeth at Cole over my shoulder,
**Look at what he's done to her**
**He will pay I promise but we don't kill humans**
I growled louder at the man, stalking closer to him. He swung the crowbar at me, but I caught it in my jaw. I ripped it from his hands and tossed it across the room. I want to taste his blood. I want to rip him to pieces and then scatter them across the town. I was past angry now, I was enraged.
**Stop now Gunner**
**Gunner please**
I lunged at the man pinning him to the ground under my paw. I leaned down to his face so that he could feel my hot breath and let my drool drip onto his fearful face. I continued to growl and snap at the man. He started to cry and beg.
"Please god help me" he pleaded.
I extended my claws and dug them into his chest, ripping at his flesh. He screamed out in pain, his hand coming to grip my paw.
**GUNNER STOP!**
Cole was growling at me. I was about to snap my jaw around his neck when I heard a moan from across the room. It was Zelena, I looked over to her and saw her head tip to the side. She was still alive. I snapped again at the man under my paw, just brushing my teeth across his cheek. I got off him and ran to Zelena. I cracked my neck backwards and changed back into my human form.
"You're a fucking werewolf" the man cried at me.
Cole growled and snapped at him. He curled himself into a ball next to an old mattress that was leaning against the wall.
"Oh Zelena" I whispered helplessly.
I gently removed the shock collar from around her neck. Her skin was scorched and raw from the top of her neck down to her chest. Her eye was swollen shut and her face was covered in blood from the gash on her brow, and more from cuts on her lip and cheek. The shirt she was wearing was covered in blood and torn in places, she had on no pants and no underwear. I pulled a raggedy towel down from the bench beside her and cover her up. My blood boiled at the thought of what that monster did to her. I looked over at him and growled, letting my canines extend. He was cowering beside the mattress, trying to dig himself in behind it.
**Pick her up Gunner, she needs a hospital**
"No!" I growled.
I scooped her up into my arms being as gentle as I could. I walked toward the stairs and stopped at the bottom, I glared at the man one last time,
"Never again" I snarled at him.
As I made my way up the stairs Smith followed behind me, still in his wolf form. I heard Cole snap at the man one last time and then he ran up the stairs, as he reached the top he was back in his human form. I left the house and walked to the forest in the direction of home. Zelena stirred a little in my arms, regaining some semblance of consciousness. Her head lifted slightly, and she let out a small, grunted squeak like sound.
"It's okay Zelena, I've got you now" I said to her, and I meant it.
I will never let another human harm my little wolf. She turned her head into my chest, and I held her a little closer, my heart breaking at the sight of her battered body. Cole came up beside me and peered at Zelena over my shoulder. I growled a warning at him to back up, and he did. I don't want him near her, I don't want anyone near her.
"She doesn't look so good mate" he said quietly.
"No, she'll be fine"
"I really think we should go to the hospital" he pleaded, I could smell his anxiety and fear, it's not what I need from him right now.
"No" I snarled back angrily, and we continued to walk through the forest towards home.
"Gunner" she whispered as her head tipped back and she lost consciousness again.
Smith was still in his wolf form, he's a young wolf and still learning so he can't change back as easily as Cole and me.
"Smith, run ahead and get Artemis and send him to my room" I barked.
Smith whined softly and took off into the trees ahead.
"I think this may be beyond Artemis' skills mate" Cole said quietly, still beside me but not as close to Zelena now.
"She can do it, she's strong enough" I walked on in silence, not daring to look at her anymore.
Her beaten little body was tearing my insides a part and I thought I would break at any moment. I walked as fast as I could without disturbing the precious cargo in my arms. We reached the clearing and went straight for the main house. I didn't care a lick about my nakedness, as a Were it's a common occurrence. Everyone that was here earlier, was now waiting on the porch. My mother ran over to me and gasped loudly, putting her hands over her mouth.
"Oh, the poor dear" she cried.
Dad came up beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
"She'll be alright, love" he whispered into her neck.
They both followed closely behind me. I reached the porch and walked up the steps. I could hear the shocked reactions from the pack members waiting there. I went straight to my room and was relieved to see Artemis waiting by the bed. I gently placed Zelena down and wiped the hair from her face.
"Out!" Artemis yelled waving us away,
"No, I'm staying" I insisted,
"I not work with you here" he snapped at me.
I leaned forward and growled at him. Mum grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back.
"Come on dear, best do as he asks" she said gently, as she led me out the door.
I turned around trying to see Zee one more time before the door closed. Her lifeless body lay on my bed, her skin was red from dried blood and her raven black hair knotted and sticky. She looked so small and helpless laying there alone. Mum closed the door, and I could feel my heart break. My knees were weak and giving out and I thought I may pass out. I stumbled on my feet backwards until I hit the wall behind me. I slid down the wall and tucked my head into my knees.
"Who is she?" whispered Nat.
I lifted my head and looked at them, they were all staring at me waiting for some kind of explanation or indication as to who the mystery girl is.
"She's my True Mate" I said matter-of-factly.