It's Dark Within

Slow Like a Sloth

            Within ten seconds of being in the dense woods, I knew I wasn’t alone. That fire filled my nostrils like it was completely normal and comforting for me to be surrounded by this scent. I smiled big, glancing off to my left and saw Jack leaning against a large tree.

            “Slow, like a sloth.” He said watching me bite my lip. “You should really stop doing that.”

            I looked confused as he joined me. “Doing what?”

            He glanced over as I nervously went to bite my lip again. “That. Stop it before I bite it for you.”

            “Your moody today.” I rolled my eyes. “What are you doing anyway?”

            Jack shrugged. “I’m coming with you.”

            “No, you’re not.”

            He nodded. “Yeah, I am. You are going to explain to those brothers of yours that you gave me permission to be here and that I’m not a threat to them or you. I can’t have your big bad brothers chasing me every day, can I?”

            I sighed. “Your right, I guess. How’s your chest?”

            He lifted his shirt to show me the wounds were nearly all healed up. “I told you that I was fine, rain. Or did you just want to see my bare body again?”

            “Whatever.” I said looking away.

            I hadn’t intended on that, but I couldn’t lie that I did look at him like that. I could already see that his arms were ‘work-out’ toned, while his hips sported a sexy V that lead up to a taught and toned stomach. It wasn’t like it was abnormal for a Wulfkin to be toned and fit, it was actually common, but seeing Jack was different. He made me feel every bit of a female I was.

            We casually talked back and forth like we had done this forever, and the last mile we ran. Jack stayed in his human form this time as we ran side by side, playing like we were children again. We stopped suddenly when reaching the edge of the clearing where my house was.

            “s**t…” I said as all three of my brothers rushed out of the house at us. Jack looked over to me, and watched as my eyes began glowing yellow with my growing fright and anger. “Stop right where you are!”

            Callum, Troy, and Senan all slowed their pace, glaring back and forth between me and Jack. The first one to speak as always was Callum.

            “You f*****g brought that mutt here to the farm?! What is wrong with you, Christelle?!” He yelled as I put up a hand for him to stop where he was.

            I stepped over to Jack while never breaking eye contact with Callum. “He’s no mutt, Callum. I gave Jack permission to be on our territory. He’s my responsibility, not yours.”

            Troy sighed. “Why? You know this asshole killed a man four miles from our house? He ripped the human’s chest open and tore a gaping chunk out of the man’s throat.”

            “What? Jack…” I turned to look right at him, but he was looking to the sky. “Talk to me, sugar.”

            He looked back down at me when I put a hand on his chest. “I couldn’t leave that guy like that, rain. Not when he was so close to your property. I did do what they say. He needed to look like he was attacked by an animal. I Turned and ripped at his chest a few times with my claws, and then…carefully bit the chunk out of his neck to hide the cut marks. I didn’t want to worry you. Remember this morning why I was late to meet you?”

            I nodded. “You said my brothers were chasing you.”

            “They were. Damn near all night. They found me right after I was done with that hunter and didn’t give me time to explain anything.” Jack said touching the side of my face gently. “I think this is my time to apologize to you, rain.”

            “Get away from that murderous monster, Christelle! Don’t let him touch you!” Callum yelled as he took a few steps closer to them.

            I glanced over my shoulder with anger leaking into my eyes. “If anyone’s a murdering monster here, it’s me, Callum. Jack’s not the one who killed that human in the woods. It was me.”

            “Bullshit.” Senan said as he pointed to Jack. “That wolf is here for all of a work week and there’s a killing in the forest? That’s his doing!”

            “No, it’s not.” I shook my head, spinning around to face them. “I killed that man! I took my claws and I drug them across his neck so fast that he didn’t even get a chance to move before blood gushed from his body! He grabbed my ankle as he bled out in the dirt right in front of me! The only thing that kept me sane after that was Jack! He was there with me! So, get over it! Jack isn’t going anywhere, and if he wants to come onto our property to see me, then he can! You hear me? Jack did those awful things to hide what I did to him first!”

            Jack wrapped his arm around the front of my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. “It’s okay, rain. Please, stop crying...”

            I let out a deep breath as my hands touched his arm for comfort, not even knowing I was crying before he said anything. “How’d you know I was crying?”

            “I just do.” He said as he looked up to my brothers with a completely blank expression on his face, shocking them to see the sudden change in his mood. Like this they were almost afraid of him. He looked like a devil looming over me protectively.

            Callum sighed as he tried to keep calm. “Why didn’t you come and tell us, Christelle? We could have done something to help.”

            I rolled my eyes. “You weren’t here! You were out chasing Jack around the forest, remember?”

            “I still don’t like him.” Senan said as his eyes narrowed.

            I snorted my irritation. “You don’t have to. None of you do, but you will stop harassing him. I won’t have you witch hunting for him through all hours of the night. Maybe eventually you’ll actually like him, and if you don’t then that’s fine. Jack has no intention of stealing our land or whatever. So, please relax.”

            Troy huffed. “It’s not land we’re worried about him stealing.”

            “See, I’m not the only one with a dirty mind.” Jack said sarcastically from over the top of me.

            I sighed. “You’re not helping.”

            “My bad.” He rested his head on top of mine.

             Callum shook his head. “I’m not sure if I like him either. He’s quite touchy.”

            “Okay, Senan, Troy, and Callum, I don’t care. You guys have to stop talking about anything remotely close to my s*x life, it’s excessive and again, none of your businesses.” I said pushing Jack off me. “Not to mention that Jack hasn’t ‘stolen’ anything since he’s been here.”

            Jack nodded as he put his hands behind his head like he was tired. “Plus, I wouldn’t steal anything from her. It would be given.”

            “Again, Jack, not helping.” I said with a slap to his arm.

            Senan sighed. “So, you two are dating then?”

            “No, what gave you that idea?” I raised an eyebrow at my brother.

            “Seriously? Do I have to answer that?” Senan looked over to Callum who was in a locked down staring match with Jack.

            Callum was trying his best to intimidate the younger Wulfkin, but Jack didn’t do anything reactive to him. He stared as if he had no soul or emotions. It was shocking Callum and making him even more nervous about Jack. Then he saw a smirk appear on his face, as if Jack knew exactly what he was trying to do. Callum grunted as he realized that Jack was messing with him, not intimidated at all and even amused with the stare down.

            “I have no intention of hurting Ell. I never have and I never will.” Jack said as he picked up a strand of my long black hair in his hands, loosening the only braid that was left so it didn’t knot. “What do I have to do to prove it to you?”

            “Jack, you don’t have to do that.” I said, watching him let my hair slide out of his hand.

            Callum nodded. “No, he does.”

            “Agreed.” Troy said as he gestured for me to come over to them.

            I shook my head. “What is wrong with you three? Jack is not on trial.”

            “He kind of is now.” Senan said as he went to grab my arm.

            I pulled away from him, but was caught by Troy instead. “What are you three doing?”

            “It’s okay, rain.” Jack said as he gave me a wink. “I’ll be fine.”

            “Jack, that’s not the point. You did nothing to be treated like this.” I said before Troy hoisted me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes. “What the hell? Put me down, Troy!”

            Callum snorted. “He came onto our territory, used our little sister to get permission, was involved in a killing of a human, and has apparently been alone with you quite often. Do I really need to list off more reasons than that?”

            Jack rolled his head on his neck, cracking it before giving me a reassuring smile. “Your brother’s love you, rain. I get it. I’ll be fine. Please, don’t stress too much, it’ll give you wrinkles.”

            Troy finally set me down in my bedroom, a slightly sad, yet exhausted look on his handsome face. He rubbed the back of his neck as I stared him down.

            “Why? I already told you that I was the one who killed that guy, and I was the one to give Jack permission to be here. Why is Callum making him do some kind of test? I don’t understand what’s going on.” I put a hand to my head.

            “Well, you said to not talk about your love life. I can’t really answer then.” Troy said as he took a step away from his sister.

            I groaned as I picked up a loose shoe off the ground, throwing it right as his head. “Stop, Troy! Just tell me! Tell me why I shouldn’t go out there and stop all of this!”

            “You don’t run this Pack, Christelle! Callum does! We’re all looking out for you. With your heat coming up and the Gathering in a few days, we want to make sure this mutt didn’t come here to bond with you because of that! Have you even thought about the possibility of him trying to use you? To take you for himself? He could be faking being your mate to get close to the pack. You’re the only female Wulfkin in a thousand miles and seems to be very fond of you. What makes you think this mutt is any different? Do you really want to know what’s going on out there right now?” Troy yelled as he got inches from my face.

            My eyes began to swirl yellow as I ran my tongue over my fangs in irritation. “I may not run this Pack, but you three don’t own me either! Jack hasn’t done anything to warrant that line of thinking. If he wanted to, he could have forced me last night when I was weak minded after killing that man, but he didn’t! He asked me what I needed from him! He promised that he would do whatever I needed of him, anything! None of you were there! Oh, and yes, I do want to know what Senan and Callum are doing. I swear if they-“

            “What?” Troy asked as he pointed outside. “Are you going to stand between your family for some wolf? Is he worth you turning your back on us? What do you feel for this wolf, huh? You haven’t even hit your heat yet, so you have no idea who your mate could possibly be.”

            “I don’t have all the answers, Troy! But you three have to let me live, confining me to this barn is not going to work forever! And whatever you’re doing to Jack, is not going to help you keep me here once mother allows me to leave to find my mate. What about you three? Are you ever going to find mates of your own? Or are you just going to keep yourselves hidden away too?” I yelled back as I glared at him.

            Troy shook his head with a shrug. “Your asking questions I don’t have the answers too either, Ell. We’re just trying to do the best we can. You don’t know how it is when you come of age. It’s…different. Me, Callum, and Senan went through it already and it was terrible. We love you sis, we’ll go through hell to make sure you’re okay and safe. If your mutt is as strong as we need him to be, then he’ll be fine.”

            I shook my head before I rushed over to my open window, closing my eyes. I let the air fill my mind and senses. Picking apart the world around me into different pieces until I found the one I wanted.

            “Don’t do this, Ell. This is Pack law. You cannot intervene!” Troy sighed as he watched his sister try to find my own answers.

            I pushed away the scent of dry leaves to land right on what I wanted. Fire. Burning wood filled my mind, then my eyes shot open as I smelled the same scent from this morning.  “Callum and Senan are…”

            “Initiating your mutt into our pack. This is the way Wulfkin have always done it. It’s Pack law.” Troy said as he rubbed his face, knowing full well what was about to happen next.

            I let my claws extend as I gestured for him to move away from the door. “Move, Troy.”

            “I can’t, sis.” He shrugged. “I can’t. You’re just going to have to try to calm down. If your mutt can’t even do this initiation, then he has no right to be with you or on our territory. We won’t allow some pathetic mutt who can’t even protect you, let alone himself, be in our territory.”

            I rolled my eyes. “This isn’t right.”

            “It’s law.”

            “It’s two on one!” I screamed. “What chance does he have?!”

            Troy sighed again. “If I didn’t have to be here, it would be three on one. He’s supposed to be initiated by all unmated male members of the Pack, but I’m stuck here with you, sis.”

            Without warning I lunged at him, but Troy was prepared. Still holding onto that shoe from before he tossed it at me. I swatted it away and nearly avoided Troy coming for me, but no, he grabbed my whole body and with a quick swipe he kicked my feet out from under me. As I hit the ground, he was on top of me, pinning me to the ground. With a grunt, he wrapped his arm around my neck and held me in place.

            “Calm down, Ell.” He said into my ear as I clawed the wood under my fingers.

            I tried to get his arm to release me, but he squeezed tighter. “Get off me, Troy!”

            Troy ground his teeth as I dug my clawed hand into his forearm. “Christelle, stop!”

            He yanked me up by the chokehold and slammed me against the wall to get me to stop. I felt a piece of wood jab my right into my stomach, instantly causing me to scream out in pain. When Troy pulled away he saw the blood and cursed several times.

            “s**t! Christelle! I’m sorry! How many times have we told you to have that board fixed!” He said as his free hand went to put pressure on the wound.

            I groaned. “Damn, Troy! Let me go!”

            He caught my arm to help me steady myself. “Where’s your healing balm?”

            “Top drawer. Hurry, the blood is soaking into my floor.” I said as he moved to get my special balm.

            Milou, our mother has done extensive research to make it for me. Since I couldn’t Turn to heal, I had to use the balm to speed up the recovery time. After slathering it into the wound I laid my head back against the wall, swallowing hard as I noticed that Troy wasn’t watching the door anymore. With a huff, I pushed myself of the wall and to the door. I was out and flying down my stairs before Troy even knew I was gone.

            “Christelle! Come back!” He yelled, but I had no intention of listening.

            I was faster than my brothers, and they all knew it. I made it out of the barn and looked around to find Callum, Senan, and Jack. Callum was huffing and puffing with his hands behind his head, bruises and blood all over him. Senan was on the ground, spitting out blood between his legs and a solid black eye forming on his left eye socket. Jack was hunched over with his hands on his knees as he too spit out blood, but the moment his senses picked up on that soothing familiar rainy smell he looked over in my direction. My eyes filled with worry and sadness as I rushed over to him.

            “Jack! Are you okay?” I put a hand on his back and one on the side of his face to get him to look at me.

            “Yeah, we’re fine, sis. Thanks for asking.” Senan said as he laid back in the grass.

            I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t, Senan.”

            “I’m fine, rain.” Jack said as he gave up and plopped down into the grass too.

            I tilted his head back to get a look at the facial damage and frowned when I saw a massive cut on his lower lip that was still bleeding. “I hope you beat the hell out of them at least.”

            Callum snorted. “Do you not see us?”

            “He beat the s**t out of us, sis. My whole body hurts.” Senan said while Troy came up next to Callum.

            Jack laughed a little, I wiped the blood off his chin. “Stop looking at me like that, rain. I told you I would be fine.”

            I looked over at my brothers and shook my head. “I hate all of you right now. Will you leave him alone at least?”

            Callum nodded. “He’s one of us now, Ell. He will have the protection of the Pack and he’ll be allowed to see you. I hope she’s worth it, mutt.”

            “Ell is.” Jack said without hesitation. He lifted my shirt to get a look at my wound, letting out a sigh.

            I gave him a little smile. “I was trying to come save you.”

            He laughed at that before letting out a deep breath. “I don’t need saving, rain.”

            “Is that why you went all Hulk on us?” Senan asked as he pointed to me. “You could smell that Ell was hurt?”

            Jack shrugged as he swallowed hard. “I was trying to go save her. Seems we both wanted to be Superman at the same time.”

            “Never mind. I like him.” Troy said as he held out a hand to help Senan up.

            “Yeah, because you had the easy job. Next time you can fight him. That wolf is part monster. I don’t want to ever have to square up to him again.” Senan said as he groaned and moaned.

            I smiled, crouching down in the grass in front of Jack. “How many times are you going to have to fight people when you’re with me?”

            Jack gave me a sexy lopsided smirk as his eyes met mine. “As many as it takes, I guess.”

            Troy and Senan took Jack home after I cleaned him up, leaving Callum and I alone. It was dark out now, and both of us sat next to each other without speaking for almost twenty minutes. It finally took one of us to break the tension.

            “I’m still not forgiving you for what you and Senan did.” I refused to look over to him. “It wasn’t fair, two on one?”

            Callum nodded. “Yeah, I know. It had to be done though, sis. If that mutt-“

            “Jack.” I interrupted. “His name is Jack.”

            He sighed, but corrected himself. “If Jack wanted to be able to see you and be on our territory, then he had to be a part of our Pack. Especially with the two of you dating. This way no one can do anything to him or us.”

            I laughed at that. “We’re not dating, Callum. We’ve never had s*x, and we’ve never even kissed. I’ll tell you what happened last night.”

            So, I told Callum everything. About Jack asking me out for a run and then the hunter trying to kill him. How I attacked the man to keep him from shooting Jack, and the way he comforted me after I broke down. I told how he carried me home and made sure I was okay this morning. Even how he defended me at school against the guys who had been picking on me. When I was done, Callum looked lost in thought for a few minutes before giving his attention back.

            “I’m sorry, Ell. I guess we thought that…You two look so close.” Callum said defensively.

            I shrugged. “We kind of are. I mean I saved his life and he watched me kill someone and even covered it up to protect me, but we haven’t done anything you’re thinking of. Jack is way out of my sights.”

            “League. That what the humans say, Christelle. I think you have that all wrong, I think you meant to say that you are out of his league.” Callum said with a sigh.

            I shrugged. “I think I had it right the first time. Who would want to be around me when there are you, Troy, and Senan to be there too? Jack is a…close friend. Nothing more. Does this mean you’re going to make him come with us? Jack can go in my stead this Gathering. I don’t want to go.”

            “Nope. He’s going to come with us. We’ll need help this year with you...” He said as I raised an eyebrow.

            “You are too worried about my coming of age. I don’t even care about it, and neither should you. Please, leave Jack out of this though. He came here because his adoptive mother moved back to her hometown when her husband died. Jack didn’t choose this place out of choice.” I sighed. “He asked how he could be here without problem, and so I gave him permission.”

            Callum nodded. “I understand that, but he…never mind. You think one thing while we think another. We are your brothers, and we will always put you first. Now your Jack is a part of our Pack, we’ll leave the two of you alone. He’s coming to the Gathering though, so you’re going to have to explain that to him tomorrow. You know the Wulfkin from Chicago are going to be all over us like they were last time.”

            I shrugged. “Probably, but I’m not worried about it. Those female wolves from South Carolina will be there to keep you boys busy, and I’ll make sure to stay close to Jack. Apparently, he can scrap better than you three anyways.”

            “Ha-ha. You’re so funny, sis.” He rolled his eyes. “That wolf of yours has training. I’m sure of it. He took me and Senan out like it was an everyday thing for him. Must be because he’s Irish, he can fight like Tyson.”

            “Being Irish doesn’t make you a good fighter, Callum. Your just jealous that you can’t fight like him.” I said with a smile.

            Callum nodded. “Yes, yes I am, but at least I can worry about you less. That kid, you don’t see what we see. I think he’s really attached to you already, maybe even thinks you’re going to end up being his mate. Do you want to know what he said to us after you were gone?”

            I raised an eyebrow at him as I tilted my head to the side. “What did he say?”

            “He told us that he belonged here, with the girl that smells of rain and that nothing we did to him would make him go away or leave you unless you wished it. Now, what does that say, oh wise Ell? Cause to me it sounds romantic, even coming from that brutal Irish guy.” Callum asked, smiling like already knew his answer.

            “I don’t know.” I rubbed my arm nervously. “Wait, is this a trick question?”

            He rolled his eyes. “Nope. It wasn’t.”

            I sighed. “Your confusing and hopeless sometimes, Callum. So…how will Jack explain to his family that he’s leaving for three days? That’s not something to excuse out of easily. One day maybe, but not three.”

            “You’ll think of something, Ell. If not, then I’ll ask the brother’s if they have any ideas.” He said as he shrugged. “For now, just go to bed and sleep good. Try to heal your stomach with more of your balm. Don’t need you sporting around a hole in your gut for all the humans to notice.”

            I smiled and waved him off. “Goodnight, Callum.”

            He left like he hadn’t moved for days, a repercussion of what Jack had done, making me laugh a little. My brothers decided to jump Jack and they got their asses handed to them, served them right. I got up and went to take a shower before heading off to bed, dreaming of Jack and the feeling of his arm around my shoulders just like I did the night before. Except this time, my mind went a little more explicit. I dreamed about his hands running over my bare skin, the feeling of his lips on my neck, and his hard shaft pressing against my wet center. What was getting into me?