Willow

Chapter 2

                      Banished, Unwanted, Scared, Lost. Ben was an Alpha without his pack, without his life mate. Ben was a good man who cared to much for the wrong people, and now he lives deep in the woods in a large cave. It was the perfect place, safe. He must reclaim his position of Alpha. But how? 

When you first see the cave the entrance is covered with moss and veins with a large round stone door. Inside you see a large bed in the middle of the room, the bed is made of animal pelts it is soft and warm. Than you'll see the kitchen area and an open fire for cooking, as well as a shelf ben carved out himself. He will use this area as a pantry, along the walls in the kitchen you will see veggies, fruits and salted meat. To the left is a hallway that leads to a washroom. In the washroom you will find a tub, a sink and a toilet. 

Ben needed to go out hunting for some more meat before the winter comes. Winters here are harsh and long. There is no way to get out of the cave, and the snow was coming soon, Ben could feel it. He set off towards the stream, normally there he can find a couple of deer. Taking down a deer is not hard for him in wolf form. He never left his cave in human form, it was to dangerous doing that. On his way to the stream he saw a women rolling down a hill into the clearing in front of him. She was stunning with flowing long brown hair, cream pale skin, she was developed in all the right places with a flat stomach. 

Ben slowly approached her, twigs cracked under his paws and she looked right into his eyes, she was rubbing her ankle. 

"Willow you better get back here now! You are going to regret running girl, I am going to make you bleed!"  a mans voice boomed across the woods. Ben looked at her and saw the fear flood her whole body, she started shaking and began getting up. Ben couldn't help but growl towards the voice. Who was this man hurting her? Before he had a chance to approach her she was running, he took off running next to her, he didn't understand why he was doing this or why he felt the need to protect her no matter the cost. She turned to see him running with her and before she could stop she went head first into a tree. Ben had no choice but to shift back and take her to his home. She would be safe there while he finished hunting. 

Ben was able to get a very large buck which will be plenty of meat to get him through the winter. He made it back to the cave and started opening the stone door, the light was shinning directly towards the bed, but it was empty. Where did she go? He turned to see her sprinting out of the entrance he left open. Ben had no time to shift into wolf form, he took off after her. Finally catching up he grabbed her and they fell to the ground. He was laying on top of her trying to gather his thoughts. 

"why did you run!"   Ben growled, he was trying to hard to calm himself. 

She didn't say anything, just stared at him with dark emerald eyes.

"I asked you a question, I expect an answer! " his voice boomed "Your going to hurt yourself again and he is going to find you." 

She was terrified, he could see the tears welling in her eyes, he could feel her shaking under him. Ben scared her. He didn't want to do that. He stood up and held his hand out to her. She gently took it and he turned them in the direction towards the cave. 

After sometime he heard a soft voice say "Who are you Sir?"  It stabbed him the gut, her voice was so quite and sad. She was so scared you could hear it shake as she talked. 

"Benjamin Braddock. You can call me Ben."  he said, he was calm now, hoping his tone would calm her down a little so she could relax. "What is your name?"  Ben already knew her name was Willow but he learned this in wolf form and didn't want to scare her more. 

"Willow Williams sir."  she replied 

Williams... he knew that name. A very powerful important family in the wolf community had the name Williams. They passed away 6 years ago and their only child disappeared. Ever since they passed their seats in the council were never filled, the elders would tell us the lost child will be found by a wolf, he will protect her and bring her home. But it can't be, the lost child was a boy. Just a common last name I suppose. 

"Come on Willow, we are almost home."   Ben said. He wanted to make supper, bath and bed down for the night. But mostly he wanted to get to know Willow and to help her find her way home. He had so many questions for her. He wouldn't ask them though he wanted her to tell him when she was comfortable. 

They made it back to the cave just in time, the sun was setting it was getting cold. He looked over to see Willow was shaking she was so cold. Ben ran warmer than most people so the chill didn't effect him much. He moved the stone door out of the way waved Willow in and closed the door behind them. It was warmer inside but he needed to get a fire going before she started turning blue. He picked Willow up and placed her in the middle of his bed, than he throw the pelts and blankets over her before he started the fire. 

"Are you a picky eater?"  He asked while he was lighting the fire. 

"Um, I don't know... I have never had much other than bread and soup."  She replied 

What does she mean she's only had soup and bread? Was that all her body could hold down? 

"Is that all your body can handle? Or are you able to eat other things?"  Ben asked 

"Yes I can eat anything but I am not allowed to, I will be punished if I eat his food."  she said with her head down . 

"You can eat anything here, what food I have your welcome to it and you don't need to ask."  He said softly. When he looked up at her she was so excited, he than looked at what she was wearing it was a fifthly shirt filled with holes. He walked over to his dresser grabbed a shirt, hoodie, boxers, sweat pants and a pair of wool socks. He walked over and handed her the clean warm clothing. "There is a washroom over there and here are some clean warm clothes for you to change into" Ben said with a smile. She jumped up took the clothing and ran off to the washroom. 

"Ben?"  she called from behind the curtain 

"Yea?"  he said back 

"Um... May I take a bath? if its to much trouble I understand."  she said softly 

Ben put his pot down and walked around the corner and down the hallway where he found Willow standing naked in front of the tub with a hopeful look on her face, Ben turned away and covered his eyes to allow her some privacy. Before he looked away fully he could see all the bruises, and cuts on her body, her whole body was covered. He became so angry he was shaking but he remained calm so he wouldn't scare her again.

"Would you please put the towel over you? I just want to come in and help you."  He said has he lightly knocked on the door. 

"Oh, yes.. I am sorry, I am normally not aloud to cover myself in the washroom.. its a rule I can't break.."  She said with a shaky voice. 

"Willow.."  he said softly walking towards her. He went to hug her but she put her hands up blocking her face. 'What has he done to you sweet Willow' Be thought to himself 

"Here I will get the water running for you, if you would like under the sink there is some bubble bath, shampoo, and body wash. Your more than welcome to use anything you'd like."  Ben said. 

"Thank you Ben. Your very kind."  She said with a smile. That was the first time Ben has ever seen her smile and it was breath taking. He wanted to see more of it, he would keep trying to see that smile again. 

Ben was able to get her bath nice and warm, he laid out some clean towels and her clothing on the sink, turned and closed the curtain behind him. Than he wondered back into the kitchen grabbed his pot, some potatoes, carrots, a chunk of meat and some seasons for the stew, he mixed all that up and put the pot on over the fire to start cooking. Than he turned to make some bread to go along with it, he wanted to give her a good filling warm meal. He would care for her, and become her protector no matter the cost.