by Unknown
Wait a minute, how did my Dad know I wanted to look at myself? Dad can you hear me?
“Yes, I’m your Alpha after all.”
Can anyone else hear me?
“I don’t think so. Fridolf still looks kind of spooked so I’m guessing, no.” he chuckled. Fridolf snapped out of his gaze and excused himself. I heard him go downstairs. I guess he figured my Dad and I need some time alone to figure this out.
So do I look normal, eh I mean for a wolf?
“You look better than normal. You are almost full grown and close to being my size, which is pretty amazing. If this is your full grown size, which it can be, then it’s impressive. But most wolves grow out a bit more by the time they are fully mature. Your coat is intimidating which is good for the Alpha’s son. You are more than I hoped for.”
Thank you. I feel strangely like myself. But I am starting to feel restless like my room isn’t big enough for me. How long is this going to last?
“Easy, you have plenty of room. Let’s head downstairs to the garage. I’ll put you in the back of the truck and we’ll go give you some running space. As for how long this will last, it depends. You eventually will control it yourself but for now your wolf instincts control you, so when your wolf is ready to go it will. But I think it’s aching to feel the outside air. Let’s go.”
It was exhilarating. Everything I ever imagined couldn’t compare to the experience of being free to run wild. To have no care in the world but the joy of feeling nature around and knowing I was part of it in the most connected way. I was the son of the wind when I ran, a child of the dirt when I pounded into the ground with every turn and leap, a piece of every scent and sound around me. I was home. My predator instincts hadn’t made me ravenous but my Dad wanted to see me hunt. I was a black shadow among the trees and crept along the scented trail of a coyote. It wasn’t even a battle. As soon as I smelled him within a few yards I picked up my pace and caught him with some effortless strides. I snapped into him while running and by the time I came to a stop in front of my Dad he was merely a shell of a coyote. I wanted my Dad to shift. I wanted to share this with him but he said it would make my wolf feel challenged to have another shifted wolf near him. I was best not to provoke him on the first change.
I slept in the basement, exhausted but content. I slept as a wolf and woke as a man. I didn’t feel the shift back so I assume Fridolf had spent the night too. I heard him upstairs with my Dad and it sounded serious. I regulated my breathing not to tip my Dad off that I was awake.
“Rafe it’s just so incredible! To think she gave birth to a pure blood, an Alpha’s son. I mean this is the first I heard of it. I always thought you adopted him from one of your descendants as so many of us do. But to have had a child, is just incredible!” Fridolf said excitedly.
Rafe chuckled. “Fridolf you sound like a child bubbling with excitement.”
“I heard some rumors at one point but we all knew that it wouldn’t be possible with the curse. And then when we saw Shae, you, and baby Connor we dismissed it. We knew she would have been dead if it were true. She wouldn’t have survived the curse.”
“I didn’t want anyone knowing for obvious reasons but also because I wasn’t sure he would be a wolf. His changes only recently started. Now that you’ve seen his shift you can understand why I don’t want the pack to know just yet. I’m concerned.”
“Rafe, he isn’t going to be like him. The Terror will not rise in him like it did with Devon or with his mother. Yes he stands like Devon but that doesn’t mean he is like him.” Fridolf said assuredly.
“I need the Dark Days scrolls. I need to now all I can about Devon and Shae’s past. I know she told me everything she knew but I want to make sure there isn’t more. I don’t want to tempt those mages. If they find out about Connor they will seek him out.” Rafe said cautiously keeping is voice low.
“Do you think he will inherit her gifts? I mean, he is more than just the son of two wolves, he’s the son of a ...”
“Quiet. I think he’s up. I’ll decide when he needs to know but not now. Not this soon. He already has a lot to deal with.” Dad whispered.
CHAPTER 5
“Connor! Come up here son” Dad yelled.
I bolted upstairs surprised that I felt like nothing happened. I made it up to the kitchen to find Fridolf and my Dad having breakfast.
“Good morning Fridolf. Thank you for your help last night. I’m sure glad you were here.” I patted him on the back and he put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a reassuring squeeze. I didn’t feel as small as I usually did in his presence. I guess it was because I was still feeling large from my change.
“Morning Dad. Before you ask. I feel great. Like a newborn man.” I said, while making my way around the counter to fix my plate.
My Dad looked over at me and I knew there was bad news on the way. Oh no, the dance. I knew something was going to go wrong. Damn the wolf!
“Connor, we have a few things we need to address about the dance tonight.”
My shoulders slumped and I wanted to pout like a child but I am a Were, we just don’t do that sort of thing.
“Luckily, the full moon is fading and once you shift the first time it takes another cycle before you can shift again.” He took a sip from his tea and continued like this was such a typical morning conversation. “It’s how your body recuperates and starts to adjust to being transformed from human to wolf and back. We’ll make sure to be at the camp next time and Fridolf will be there to help you again.”
I let out a deep breath. I was relieved I didn’t have to cancel my date with Amanda.
“But you still need to keep your abilities under control. We don’t know what triggered your change so it’s best to keep things as normal as possible in the meanwhile.” He started stacking the dishes and I guess that was his way of putting an end to the conversation. He put my life in order just as he was used to doing with everything. My rebellious side wanted to say something but somehow I knew he was just doing his job as Alpha. My Dad wasn’t free to talk to me this morning, at least not with another pack member present. So I directed the conversation over to Fridolf.
“I appreciate your help Fridolf, but when will I be able to shift without the pain. I mean you said I looked almost full grown.” I said anxiously hoping it would be soon.
“We’re not sure. That all depends on you and how fast you learn to detach yourself from the shift.” He said in his slighted accented voice that sounded Nordic despite the hundreds of years he spent living in the United States. I wonder how he survived all the centuries. Then he stood up and I remembered in that instant the he was always a towering giant and his wolf was probably menacing looking.
“For me it was fairly quick because it was a survival instinct since my siblings made it clear they didn’t care for me to be alive. Fridolf seemed like a natural and was able to dominate the change with his aids quite quickly. We will just have to see how you progress with each shift.” Dad chimed in and then the bad news came.
“I told you how there are rogue wolves that always try to challenge my position. Well, I’ve tried to keep you hidden in case you were a Were, so they don’t approach you or try to use you as leverage against me. Unfortunately there was a rogue at the football game where you decided to show your Were self to those who know about us.”He said, stinging me with guilt.
“Coach Hersch heard him identify you and alerted me. So now we need to be on full alert in case the rogue tries something again. My guess is he is moving in large crowds and populated areas to observe you. I doubt he will attack in a crowd but he may be there tonight watching you, so be cautious and be aware of your surroundings.” He warned. I couldn’t help feeling like a child again. It was my fault for showing off. Damn the wolf ego!
“I’m sorry Dad, I had no idea something so stupid could be so much trouble for you.” I said in a voice that seemed to small to be that of a guy that just shifted into a two legged huge Were.
“Hey, C
onnor, if I’m harsh about this it isn’t because I’m disappointed in you. I just want you to understand how serious this is. You’re not to blame.” He assured me. He walked over to Fridolf and they seemed to have some silent form of communicating because Fridolf got up and grabbed his keys and my Dad grabbed his coat. The conversation was obviously over.
“Now go get Amanda’s flowers before the shop gets so packed it will take you an hour to get out of there.” He said, smiling at me and tossing me the keys.
Despite the million thoughts running in my head about everything that’s happened over the last 24 hours I was relieved to see Amanda walking into the room looking so beautiful I had to pinch myself. She was wearing a golden fitted dress that matched her hair. She wasn’t overdone like most girls with stiff hair and tons of make-up. Instead her hair was gently falling in waves to her shoulders and a gold studded clip was in her hair. She always wears some sort of hair clip which makes her look so sweet. Her face was barely touched by makeup and her lips were a pale caramel orange color. She had a slight shimmer to her body but I wasn’t sure if it was my eyes or something she put on to make it seem so. Her scent was clean and fresh with a hint of something sweet. Not flowery but more like a hint of some sweet candy. We met at her friend’s house since we were all sharing a limo to the dance. Mike and Lisa were with me and they looked surprisingly good together. Lisa was in a Grecian inspire dress that was blue and gold. Mike was in a navy blue tux with a muted gold tie. He looked so happy and Lisa looked less annoyed at the fact they were going together. Which I had to say made me feel even better about the night. Seeing my best friends together felt as right as my being with Amanda.
The hotel ballroom was already full of high energy by the time we got there. Everyone was in a great mood and the music was insanely good. We were all having the best time and Amanda was the best date. She was hamming it up with Mike and she seemed to get along well with Lisa. We walked around and talked with a few more people then joined the dancing frenzy. She wasn’t worried about her hair getting messed up. She was there dancing with me beat for beat. Finally, the mood slowed down and we laced our fingers and dropped our hands down to our side and she placed her other hand on my shoulder while I gently held her waist. We danced without a word. Just enjoying each other’s touch and anticipating then end of the night when we both knew I would kiss her.
The song ended too soon, and as I was leading her through the crowd some couple came up next to us and the guy said, “Here we thought that Lisa was the one we would have to use to get to you, but this one seems like she’ll be more fun.”
All I saw was a wicked grin before I lost him in the crowd, I knew Coach Hersch heard him since he appeared in front of me and asked me to stay in the crowd while he and Mrs.Stenner trail him. Apparently, my Dad was outside and they were going to circle the rogue. I was anxious to go with them. I wanted to tear through the crowd and track him down myself but I had Amanda’s hand and somehow she became more important at that moment. I felt claustrophobic, I felt like I did in my room last night. I needed air. I needed to get free, and I needed to get Amanda, Lisa, and Mike out of there.
Rafe
“Connor needs me. Jason, Caitlin, get the rogue. I need to get Connor out of there now. Stay open to me so I can see what’s going on.”
“Yes sir.””Yes”.
“Sir Caitlin is tracking them but she can’t shift. There are too many people. I’m going behind the hotel to the lot in the back.” Jason channeled in. Then Caitlin came in loud and clear.
“Sir I lost the scent but it seems there was more than one. Oh no, Jason SHIFT!”
“Jason! What’s going on? I’m coming in to see through your eyes and thoughts.”
Caitlin is surrounded by three rogues in human form who had silver cross bows and chains. One said to take her alive so they can use her to learn about our pack and Connor.
“Jason there’s a mage!” I told him.
“I see it Sir. That’s how their scent was masked. Shit what if there’s a cult of them!”
“Stay calm. Take out your claws. And attack!”
Jason had the sharpest claws in the pack. His claws were razor sharp elongated claws that are as deadly as the sharpest samurai sword. He turned and sliced into a wolf coming in from behind. He was ready to charge into the human rogues that hadn’t shifted yet when something caught his attention. Caitlin was in the midst of a battle but she had been so weakened that she was losing badly. The three rogues had her down and were about to execute her. They had decided to take Jason instead and were taunting her.
“Get to her Jason!”
Jason started to charge when suddenly it seemed like he crashed into a glass wall.
“Sir! I can’t move! What the f…”
“Jason! You will move and I will move you! Give me a moment. The mage has put a holding spell on you but I will release you. Just calm down so I can concentrate.”
That’s when I heard them. They were toying with Caitlin and baiting Jason.
“Aw. Are you pissed we have your girlfriend?” One of the rogues sneered at Jason.
“What should we do with her, huh? Should we see what kind of girlfriend she is? Should we have her show us some love?” He laughed and I felt the rage in Jason surge. I couldn’t break the spell with him so distracted.
“I say we make her squeal a little” The first one said and the mage finally spoke.
“This is not a game. I will not hold him for much more. There is some other force her. Do it NOW!”
And with that the second rogue decapitated Caitlin and they began to move towards Jason. The first took out a dart gun and shot him. It was silver and it took him down to the floor in an instant. I began to lose him and I knew there was no way I could release him now. Then everything started to get blurred. He was about to close his eyes when some movement caught his eyes and he forced them open. There was a dark shadow moving across the lot and all I could hear as Jason closed his eyes were screams and sounds like bones were being crushed and blood was being splattered.
“Dad, Dad! What’s wrong? Dad I’m ok now. Dad snap out of it!” I yelled hoping to get my Dad’s attention. We went back home after my Dad dropped Amanda at her house. I was so embarrassed. She must have thought I was a weirdo. She looked shocked to see my Dad and after he mumbled some excuse for being there, he told her I had food poisoning and he was taking us home. She was too shy to say anything in the car but I knew she was disappointed and maybe even hurt. My Dad had a pack member guard her but that just means she’s safe for now. I may have to stop whatever we were about to start for her own good. But there were more pressing things at hand. My pack members were out there fighting and I was stuck here holding up my Dad from putting an end to this attack.
“DAD! Let’s go help!”
“I hear you Connor, there’s nothing more we can do.” He said in such a soft voice. I knew this was bad. He got on the phone with someone and a few minutes later Ula came over and he left.
We waited for hours and finally he came back.
“Dad, what happened?” I asked gently.
“Caitlin is gone and Fridolf is helping Jason recover. It was an ambush. We’re dealing with a rogue pack.”He said looking at Ula.
She walked around him and lightly touched his arm, while making her way to the stove. She was making his tea, and I realized she may be a ball buster but she cares for him.
“Tell me everything Dad. I need to know what to prepare for.” I urged him. I knew the time for being a kid was over. I had a pack that was getting attacked because of my Dad and me. It was time to step it up and let the wolf run free on these rogues.
“Caitlin followed the scent but it dead ended at the lot behind the hotel. Before she knew it there were five rogues circling her. She called out to Jason to shift and come but it was too late for her to shift. She showed me a cloaked man who was standing in the background.” He continued to tell me the horrific event. My wolf was restless and my blood b
oiled at the image of Caitlin being tortured and killed. Then he told me of the shadow and what I could only assume was the death of the rogues.
“Was that you Dad, the shadow he saw, was it you?” I asked a little terrified of the ruthless wolf inside my Dad and yet my wolf is satisfied with the rogues meeting their end.
“No. Jason thought it was me too. When we got to the site the bodies were in shreds like they were raked over by sharp claws. Sharper and bigger than Jason’s.” He sighed. “I’m not sure who this other player is but I have to think it was after the rogues and didn’t see Jason as a threat. Still we have to be on the lookout for whatever it is as well, just in case it doesn’t want to play nice with Weres.”
“Connor we will have guards on you, Lisa, Amanda, and Mike. But we can’t afford to spare anyone else. We have to find who is leading this rogue pack.” Ula said with what I sensed was annoyance. I hoped she wasn’t pissed at me but I think she may have been upset she wasn’t in on the recon.
“We need to get your wolf out on demand.” Dad said waiting for me to answer.
I took a deep breath and began to call my wolf with all the determination of vindicating Caitlan and protecting my family, my pack, and my friends. I began to feel the tingle and ache.
“Whoa, I didn’t mean right now.”He chuckled. “But it’s good to know you can call him now without the moon. Tomorrow you meet my wolf and we are going to have you shift without Fridolf.”
I almost choked on my own saliva. But I cleared my throat, stood straighter, and nodded.
Ula patted me on the back and said, “That’s it Connor boy, buck up. It’s going to be a long day.” She was laughing as she walked out the door. I can see how she can irritate the hell out of my Dad.