Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf

The intruders

Shifting this time was a lot easier than the first. My body still aches but Tala had more control and could move freely as she dodged tree after tree. I felt the cool wind brush her fur and the dirt collect between her paws when she gripped the earth to gain momentum. *That nap did us some good.* She panted excitedly, I felt her muscles relax and thoughts of the dream I had earlier played back in my head. *How was I able to see that? I wasn’t even there.* It did worry me, it all felt so vivid like I was dragged back into the past. My thoughts were interrupted when Mason’s wolf, Echo, flanked us. *You’re catching on quickly. Soon you’ll be able to reach full speed with the rest of us.* Mason’s voice grazed my mind as he connected us with the mind-link. It was the only way for us to communicate within our wolf forms. As long as we concentrated with who we wanted to speak to, any wolf within the same pack and range could do it. Sometimes, while in our wolf forms we could also hear each other's wolf. Echo’s voice was deep and feral, it gave me chills every time I heard his voice through Tala but my wolf didn’t seem to mind. She told me that most males sound like that if they have Alpha or Beta blood, their wolves would be bigger in size as well. Tala caught whiff of something nearby and skidded to a stop. *Is that smoke?* She pointed her nose to the air and Mason followed the same motion. We were near the edge of our territory but still, we lived in the mountains and there were signs that our pack lived nearby around the borders. *Think it’s rogues?* I asked Mason, his wolf responded with a low growl. *Follow behind me.* Echo let out a low howl, signalling the others to stay closeby, he likely mind-linked them as well.

I couldn’t help but think that Tala and I stuck out like a sore thumb, her vibrant white fur shined against the dark trees, to the untrained eye I may have appeared like a ghost. Mason however stayed low to the ground and used his brown coat effectively to blend in. *We are getting closer. You’ll stay back. If there are more than two enemies alert the others and go back to the packhouse.*

*I want to help!* Tala protested and Echo shot us a sharp glare. *Do as you are told. I can’t fight off rogues and cover your ass. You are an untrained pup. Just stay out of the way.* Tala swallowed her pride when Echo spoke to us, he didn’t have to tell us twice. We picked a bush while his wolf moved forward, I had a good view of the small camp with logs burning and a pot nearby. *Asshole… he doesn’t know what I can do.* Tala grumbled and I tried to comfort her aching need to sink her teeth into something. *We’ll have our moment. Once we get the basics down he’ll let us take on all the other rogues.* Tala audibly huffed and lay on her belly without another word. I couldn’t blame her for how she felt, I was also curious how I would handle a rogue attack. Though if it were anything like the dream I had, I honestly wouldn’t want anything to do with it. To think I shared the blood with a killer like that made my whole body shiver.

Echo approached the camp quietly and paused at the treeline of the small clearing. He surveyed the area and sniffed the ground. I saw his eyes dart around and then snap at movement within the tent. There was someone still in there! Tala’s head jerked up as Echo got into a defensive position in front of the tent, ready to pounce on anything that came out but when a woman in a heavy raincoat emerged with a scream, Echo relaxed. *Human.* He told me and I took a deep breath. Echo was an abnormally large wolf so when the humans saw him they knew exactly what he was. There was no way to communicate with them unless we were also in our human forms so I wondered what would happen. A man shuffled out of the tent after the woman’s scream but they both calmed down after a few minutes. At first he barroled out of the tent with a pocket knife which Echo did not like at all. He knocked the knife out of the man's hand as easily as he took him down and pinned him with a low warning growl. The women screamed again, begging for him to not eat them. The idea of eating a human nauseated me, it would’ve been the same as cannibalism in my opinion. A whole human being didn’t sound appetizing at the least. Echo reluctantly let the man scramble back over to the woman. *I need you to shield my body for a moment Aella.* Mason’s voice reached to us and Tala stood immediately. *What?*

*Just stand in front of me so I can talk to them.* He demanded and I shook my head. I can’t believe he’s going to use us as a shower curtain. Tala groaned thinking the same and carefully walked up to them. The two humans looked as if they were both terrified and mesmerized by my wolf but Tala growled at them softly not wanting them to take a step in our direction. We stood in front of Mason so that he could change back, Tala’s torso was enough to cover his lower half, I fought the urge to peek. Something told me that would be a dangerous idea. “A shifter… I knew it!” The woman breathed a sigh of relief. Mason didn’t look too pleased. “You are approaching the Crimson moon territory. You cannot camp here.” His tone was far from friendly, traces of Echo laced in his voice and I could tell from the look of their faces… and the pungent smell of urine that he didn't have to tell them twice either.

“Oh! We are so sorry, we had no idea. We kind of ventured off the usual path.” The man was quiet while the woman spoke, looking into my eyes as if he wanted to say something. I couldn’t tear my eyes away for some reason, something was off about this human as if he had something to hide. Tala smelled the air again, trying to separate the scents around the camp. The burning wood, the woman’s floral perfume and body sweat. The scent of meat swirled around the camp but they likely had their dinner with the wood they burned. I tried to focus on the man’s scent but all I could smell was Mason behind me, nothing about this man stood out either except… Tala’s eyes went down to the man's wet pants. *Poor human pissed himself in fear.* Tala snickered softly. I wish I could’ve believed her, this man didn’t look as scared as the woman clearly was. She was visibly shaking and he shielded her with his body even without a weapon. Why would humans be in the woods without any form of protection against wild animals? Surely he didn’t think he could fight a wolf or even a bear with just a pocket knife? My thoughts were cut short when Mason snarled at them, “This is your only warning. If you are seen around our territory again, you will not be spared.”

“Y-you can’t kill us! It’s against the law for shifters to kill humans.” The woman’s voice was small but a sliver of confidence slipped through and I could tell it ticked Mason off from the heat emitting from his body. I wondered if I would have to hold him back from killing these two defenseless people. *He’s in charge, we cannot go against him.* Tala hissed at my thoughts. “Shut up Claire, these are their lands.” I heard Mason’s deep growl from behind me and Tala flattened her ears showing the intruders her teeth. The two campers took a step back and looked past us. The woman gasped with even more fear in her eyes. Finally the other wolves started to emerge from the woods looking feral and deadly and they circled the camp like sharks. “I’m well aware of your laws.” Mason spoke calmly, “I am also aware of how many humans get away with killing other humans and how many go missing in these mountains.” A flash of realization crossed both their faces at Mason’s meaning. I wanted to stop Mason but he noticed Tala looking at him with her head lowered. He ignored my silent plea and c****d his head to the side, his eyes were completely black as he glared down at them. “You humans always come here to cover your tracks after committing your crimes and you dont think we’ve noticed. Perhaps whoever is looking for you will find corpses instead.”

“No! Please, I promise it’s the truth! We just got lost ok?! W-we'll leave right now!” The woman tried to pull the man away but somehow they both tumbled over, the man too busy staring at me to catch himself before falling over her. Mason quickly changed back into his wolf and snarled at them giving them no time to pack up their tent and camping supplies. The two humans scrambled away quickly and Mason stood still until none of us could see their backs within the trees. *Loki, stay here and look out in case they try to come back. Report anything suspicious.* Echo barked to one of the wolves behind us and the black and silver wolf from last night came around us sniffing around the campsite. *You got it boss.* He nodded and kicked dirt onto the burning fire, encasing us in darkness once again. *Let's go back to the pack house, I have to report this.*

*Is training cancelled then?* Tyler perked up wagging his tail like an i***t. Echo growled at him and Tyler's wolf lowered his head. *Of course not…* He mumbled sadly.

We got back to the Packhouse around midnight and Mason went inside after giving us orders to practice hand to hand combat with each other. Since there were only three of us at the time, the boys took turns sparring with me. Tyler was incredibly helpful, showing me a move to roll underneath him and kick my legs out to send my opponent flying. “That’s it, you gotta use your speed as a strength, focus your legs at the core and they won't see it coming!” I grinned excitedly when I was almost able to pull it off. I just didn’t have enough strength yet to flip 6 foot boys. About 30 minutes flew by and Mason returned but the Beta was walking behind him. The warm lighting for the training yard lights made the Beta look even more menacing. His dark brown hair was cut short but pulled back neatly and scars littered his face and arms. In his slacks and button down shirt he didn't look like he was going to bed any time soon, but we all wondered why he came out with Mason. “Beta Levi!” Tyler choked and the others lowered their eyes but it was the first thing I did when I noticed him. “You all are training late I see. You do have school in the morning you know.” He spoke with a sense of disappointment in his voice. “And with this one.” I just knew his eyes were on me, my skin crawled on instinct when his voice pointed arrows at the back of my head. The others also tensed in response. “Why is she out with you three?” They cleared their throats but nobody said anything, they searched desperately for an excuse to give the Beta. Tala gave me a nudge of confidence but I was reluctant to even listen to her during all this. The tension was much too heavy for me to put myself further into trouble. *He may approve of your training with them if he knew why. It's for a good reason.* Her words did little but I took a deep breath and raised my head slightly to meet his eyes. Mason’s brows flickered up at me and he nodded as if giving me permission. “I’m here to train because I want to help catch the rogue who attacked the pack and kidnapped my mother.” Beta Levi’s lips pressed into a thin line but he did not look like he was impressed or surprised with my response.”What makes you think you are capable of such a thing? Most wolves start training at the age of ten, you are six years too late.”

“I have to do this, sir. It’s the only way I can get my own life instead of the one everyone’s painted of me.”

“You’re asking for death, Aella. This man is no ordinary rogue; he's a white wolf.”

“As am I.” I couldn't control my expression of anger at his response. As if he could overlook the fact that I also had white hair and pure white fur, I was just as capable of the abilities that rogue. “I won’t disappoint you sir. Please allow me to train with Mason and the others. I’ll train every day and night, I’ll do anything no matter how hard it is. I promise!” For the first time in my life I held eye contact with the Beta. Every ounce of me wanted to put my forehead to the ground but Tala howled within my mind filling me to the brim with her courage. There was a deafening silence before Beta Levi let out a sigh then he brought his arms behind him tightly. “I will not allow you to train with these boys.” Tala’s howling came to an abrupt stop and I glanced at Mason who held his same little smirk.

“Mason and I will be the only ones to train with you from now on.”