Back at red river pack Lyle was instructing some of his peers. He had made great strides in the three months they had been out here. He had fought and beat basically the whole group. But he has also become much kinder and more prepared. Something was wrong though. He could feel it. Something was going on and his body started to wander if he went into autopilot. He couldn't let his mind rest or Ruger lost focus.
What is wrong with you Ruger? Lyle kept at it. He had to get Ruger to spill what was making him antsy. I don't know… It's just something weird. I feel our Mate's in danger. But I don't know I don't even know who our mate is. It's just weird… I feel like following it. Ruger sighed, sad that he was being reprimanded again. You almost went off the territory. You know full well that is forbidden for cubs. We could get dragged back and tied to the post. We are doing good and the others are coming around too. Stop ruining it.
Ruger whimpered softly. His nose was itching and his heart hurt. He had to focus on leading the hunts but he was losing focus. He shook his head, looked at the herd and twitched his ears signaling the time to hunt. Everyone had already set up without him; They had become a machine first they hunt together then they eat together with others now offering Ruger food. He had made it clear he was Alpha. But his beta Tyler and Cobalt started to hate him. He just didn't like the fact that even the omega's were forgiving me. In exchange for the larger wolves hunting the smaller wolves tracked.
Most were great at it too. He had found everyone has a place whether checking the tracks or making the killing blow. Now that they ate it was time to fight for positions. They would do this everyday for three years. But Ruger didn't want to fight. He wanted to search.
Thirteen had headed southeast. He felt something was there, something important.He felt the hunters on his tail. He whipped left then right. But could feel he wasn't any closer to losing them. I don't understand why I wanna run. But I want them to leave me alone. He growled and charged harder feeling the distance grow. This is it. At least I'll get some peace. He managed to break away. He started running through denser trees. Pushing harder he escaped the trackers for now. But he didn't have a way of stopping them from taking him back; all they had to do was order it. After all, what real reason did he have for this rebelion.
He curled his tail around a tree trunk waiting and listening. He could no longer hear the helicopters or track dogs. He heard nothing but silence. Why? Why does it seem like everyone of them stopped chasing me onto this land? Why do I smell wolves? He shuddered as he dropped to the ground floor. He yawned, stretching his limbs and finally taking in the scenery. He was fascinated, The colors and smells, even the animals he was so excited about having freedom. I want to see more of it without those fools.
But first I'm tired. I need a safe place to sleep… He looked around After running for 5 days straight from his helicopter scientists. He shook his head to get sleepiness away from his brain. He stood back up and lazily and drowsily headed towards the mountain in the distance. First water then shelter. I have to have water. I have tapped myself dry… He whimpered softly as he trudged along when he stumbled across a large pond. Plenty of water for him but he saw something else. A bunch of wolves, They looked young, maybe adolescent like him. Look, I can just take the water source. If I just take a little, maybe they won't have to fight.
Thirteen chuffed as he watched the group. They are fighting each other, but they never drew blood. They would give up then a new group would start. Like they were testing each other. One seemed to stand out. He was directing the others on how to better their fighting. That's the one I need to kill. Without him they will all fall apart. Smiled Thirteen before slowly walking around freezing when The leader moved his nose sniffing the air.
Thirteen thought this was odd so he checked to see if he was still downwind. When he verified he was he sniffed the air. He smelled something strange on the wind like Mahogany and sweat. He sniffed harder as he slowly made his way closer to the leader.
Ruger's head shot up as he shivered. He smelled it. Something he had been waiting his whole life for. He turned his head left and right, slowly sitting up. Trying anything to catch another whiff. In the process his warriors saw the change and immediately went on guard. It was like they all could see him. But Ruger saw nothing but trees. Ruger stood and started to sniff the air. Trist stood with him. What is it? Do you smell something?
I don't know trist… I thought I smelled something… Really good. He growled as an amazing but out of place scent wafted passed him. However, it was gone in a flash. I feel like I'm chasing a shadow. Maybe I'm losing it. He slowly walked over to the edge of the clearing. Trist had turned out to be stronger than omega rank and his father would be coming in just a few more months. He needed everything to work out. But the itch was driving him crazy. Is that? Trist do you smell gingerbread? He asked shakily. The scent was driving him crazy; he had to find the source.
Just as Ruger turned his head a tail came out of the foliage bashing him in the nose. He huffed and growled when the scent clogged his nose. He watched as a slender body leaped from the woods. Thirteen tackled Ruger, gaining the high ground. He stared into the piercing gold and white eyes. Ruger was being choked out when the young boy got close to his neck and sniffed him heavily.
Ruger eyed the boy without moving, giving his packmates a signal to stand down. He growled out "Mate?" But it was a bit garbled by having his throat get squeezed bit by bit. His pack mates had gone on the defensive but as soon as they heard the word Mate they understood and stood back.
What the pack saw was a monster, something that reeked of silver. He was dangerous. But he hadn't said a word, just picked up the future Alpha by the throat and started sniffing him. He looked like a lost kid. Trist shuddered and became human. This action caused the boy to drop Ruger.
There was complete confusion written on Thirteenth's face. Humans! they can change? He shuddered when he heard Ruger speak though it was rough. "Mate!" He said again with determination. Thirteen shuddered again as he stepped forward; he wanted that wolf. He had no idea what a mate was. But he had felt so much of a strange new feeling erupt in him from touching the wolf. But when he tried to kill the young wolf it hurt him. It felt like he was killing something deep inside him. He wasn't ready for that. He needed time to think now but something told him not to leave just yet.
Ruger turned back into a person. "H-Hi Mate! My name is Ruger. Instead of trying to kill me, why don't we talk? Just a minute…" He whispered seeing his future in this young male no older than him. Maybe he could at least get a name. He then saw the bruising on Thirteen's neck. The collar had shocked him hard enough to bust the front blood vessels leaving a dark ring of angry blisters and bruising around his throat.
As he was examined closer by ruger. He could see scars erupting from the boy's bare stomach. He also saw countless stabs and cuts that left jagged scars on his scaly lower arms and legs. Ruger let out a growl and without warning was at the boys side. Tracing a scar on Thirteen's stomach.
Thirteen's entire body trembled. He didn't know why but he didn't like how the wolf human was touching him. It was weird and gentle. It was a foreign feeling. But like he knew The wolf human backed up slightly. He then spoke to Thirteen. "Who did this to you?" Who? Did what? Thirteen thought, letting out a quizzical growl. Ruger stared at him a minute before it clicked. "C-can you not speak mate?" That's it. That's what it's gotta be. Ruger Growled something bad has been happening to his mate.
His thoughts were interrupted with a bang. He was shot. It was something making him sleepy. Thirteen growled as he looked in the direction the shot came from. There was more and dust started to rise. But Ruger was out cold. It was clear what was going on to Thirteen. He grabbed Ruger and bolted up a tree while the unsuspecting wolves were shot and put into a deep sleep. They were all young and fragile. Thirteen could tell they weren't used to battle yet. They couldn't even work as a unit without this one." He growled
Just as the gunshot went off Trist, Poppy and Tyler were all off. Ruger had fallen fast with the first surprise dart. It was now on Tyler as one of the potential future Beta's he had hard competition from Trist though. Tyler still hated that he lost every time he challenged Ruger. But he didn't want him dead. Protect our future Alpha's Lower ranks get the Adults fast as you can now's your chance to be heroes. He growled, Knowing some would be waiting at the halfway point in case anything went wrong.
But they were still a day and half away from the grounds. None of them had gotten the mind link yet since they are without rank they can only talk to those nearby. That meant they had to protect the fastest runners.
Poppy, Clover, and George growled but knew their importance. They took off separating a bit so if one got caught the rest could still reach the adults. They were off as fast as there paws could carry them.
The hunters sat at the border of the red river pack. "Shit why did he have to do that? Do we have his tracker back up yet?" He grumbled glaring at a fuzzy monitor in his lieutenant. When we get him back he is in for a world of hurt. Thought the captain.
We finally broke through the radio silent area. It was hard to see but there it was a little blip on the screen. "Remember men this is wolf territory we have to be discreet. Our citizens are on the fence about them existing at all. We are what protects them. We need our weapon back." He gruffed out as he chose a group of 10.
The small group slowly made their way into the territory they got about a kilometer in when They all ducked. Their weapon had met the wolves. But this was weird; they were all young wolves, about fifty or so. They couldn't make out what was being said. But they saw one wolf getting too close and friendly with 136897.
That's when they saw him ask something. There was rage in his eyes. But it vanished quickly when I shot a tranquilizer into the young boy. He toppled over faster than the adults would have. It wasn't even a full dose. "If we take these wolf kids we can use them." Shoot with non lethals." He growled out with a grin. Thirteen had led them to a beautiful present. They were quickly wiping out the small wolves. They hadn't stood a chance. But as things seemed to be going their way.
A loud howl could be heard from a distance and they were approaching fast. There was a lot of howling. "Damn it, we don't have time to take them all… 136897 Get down here now." With the command Thirteen immediately dropped but refused to drop the young male wolf. The weirdly affectionate one. Let's take that one and leave the rest. I want to know why our weapon let him get so close." The small group nodded abruptly. "Let's retreat thirteen and take him back home now."
Thirteen abruptly ran off back the way he came. Ruger being held delicately. He wanted to know about this wolf. But what if the humans try to take his new toy. He wouldn't let them. Never this was his.