Rejection Trials

Helping the neighbors

As we approached the border with our neighboring pack, I could see the wall was completely collapsed to rubble. The Swift River pack was a smaller pack. In comparison, every pack is small to the Death Falls pack, but Swift River was small by any standards. Just over one hundred strong. They are fishermen naturally, and have a wide river rushing through their territory. Like their river, they are known for being swift, but they are not big at fighting. They avoid confrontation as much as possible. We have always had a peaceful relationship with them. Their wolves even use our school like other neighboring packs. Every member of the Swift River pack I have ever met has been cheerful.

Bella jumped gracefully over what was left of their border wall. What I saw almost made me falter. There were bodies scattering the ground. There were more of those nasty-looking wolves. Like the one that tried to attack us in the woods. Their eyes were red. Not like the red color of a rogue wolf. The entire eye was red. Like the eye was filled with blood. Before I could even give a command, I could see the trail of lightning zip forward. Syrus has always been known to run forward without a plan. I rolled my eyes, then focused.

Look for survivors. Our priority is rescue. Let the cursed one fight whatever those wolves are. I command as our tight formation broke out in different directions. I am glad I brought Squad 7. We would need trackers to find all the hiding survivors. I was pulling an older wolf covered in blood over towards the river when I heard a hyena-like chortle.

I looked up in time to see Syrus joyfully spinning with a rabid wolf in their jaws, then they let go, sending the wolf into another with a cracking sound. Some wolves just love the hunt. I smiled then quickly shook my head, not wanting any comradery with that thing.

There are less than a dozen of those things. Oscar communicated. I look around, but I only see three that Syrus is currently dancing with. Seems only three remain among the living. He joked.

How could less than a dozen wolves do this much damage? I snarled. They would all have to be Alpha or Beta-ranked wolves.

They’re all alpha rank. Luke, another of the Squad, says his voice coming through the mind link like a sigh. There is a reason he is Bel’s favorite member of the Squad. They are so similar. Luke rarely speaks, but he has a rare ability to sense the rank of other wolves.

How is this possible? Rogues are rarely an Alpha or Luna rank. An Alpha or Luna would have to lose their entire pack or be rejected by their entire pack. If they have some ties to a pack, they won’t be able to go rogue. These wolves were corrupt somehow. And not in the same way as Syrus was different. Syrus doesn’t seem possessed by some kind of evil will like this. Syrus has just been altered. At least that my dad and Alpha Felix always said.

I contemplated joining Syrus to finish off the last three. But before I could act, Belvedere, in his human form, snatched one of the wolves when they lunged at Syrus’ wolf form. Bel mechanically broke the neck of the wolf and tossed the body to the ground. My jaw dropped in shock, then I saw Syrus had killed the remaining two wolves. So much for me helping.

My stomach began to churn as the smell of the rabid wolves became too much. Then I see Bel reach forward and affectionally pet Syrus’ head. A very intimate act for wolf shifters. Syrus instinctually leaned into Bel’s hand before they shook their head and huffed at him. Bel only laughed. Before I could shift back to my human form, I couldn’t stop the puke from escaping. They are mates.

BELVEDERE POV

I don’t know why Sai’s impulsiveness always surprises me.

The entire trek down the mountain and then being piggybacked back to my car, went in awkward silence. Well, Arnold talked the entire time. Luckily, there was a reprieve when we had to be carried. I want to keep these noise-cancelling ear plugs. My car was waiting for us at the original rendezvous point. We drove in the same awkward silence. Syrus was in no mood to ask me more questions at least. I think they just lost the ability to pay attention. I sent a quick mind link to Helena to let her know I would be back soon.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Syrus partially shift. The rounded ears of their wolf form popped out, which is known to happen. What I wasn’t expecting was their ears to swivel and Syrus to break the silence I was basking in.

“Pull over.” Sai’s voice came out so calmly. Which completely threw me off. Syrus is never calm. I just pulled over like an obedient mate. Before I came to a complete stop, Syrus was shifted and running into the forest.

I followed their trail. I had no drive to run after them. They wouldn’t get that far from me. I was smirking at the thought of my mate demanding I pull over just to chase a squirrel through the trees. My mate is a playful little wolf.

Do you smell that? Tobias’ voice broke through my imagination. I hadn’t paid attention to anything other than my mate. I sniffed, and I could feel Tobias take over my sight.

It almost smells like rogues…but somehow worse. I answered.

It must be a few of them. The scent would be much more overwhelming if there was a large number. Tobias said.

We are far enough from our border. Should we see how mate handles themselves? I suggest. Tobias didn’t respond, but I could feel his agreement. He wanted to see just how Syrus survived on their own for so many years.

I picked up into a jog, not wanting to chase after them. The only reason I picked up the pace was to jump in if necessary. That is when the howling started. It was a howl for help.

Swift River. Tobi said. Swift River pack? Why would they need help with a few rogues?

It’s a good thing mate is on their way already. I picked up my pace.

We were running a few miles behind Syrus, heading towards the Swift River territory. Syrus suddenly changed directions and darted forward at a speed I didn’t think possible. Now is not the time to be side-tracked Sai.

I picked up the pace even more, wanting to intercept Syrus. Not enjoying being at a full-on sprint at this point. I needed to get Syrus back on track. Then I could feel them before I smelled them. My own pack members. Not just any pack members but Squad 7. Helena.

My body stopped moving. Tobias took complete control of my human form and stopped running completely. Strange.

We can’t get closer. Traps. He growled. Tobias pushed me towards the Swift River Pack. He was moving around effortlessly. The path he took seemed ridiculous. Tobi must be avoiding these traps. I could smell some kind of toxins mixed with that putrid scent. The distorted rogue scent was becoming stronger, but it was also coming from every direction.

I was very annoyed that I had to take the long way. We didn’t shift either. Tobi said it was easier to avoid the traps in my body. As we approached the border wall, it was obvious something wrecked the wall.

As I hopped over what was left of the wall, I saw Helena and Squad 7 desperately rescuing Swift River pack members. I knew Syrus was there, and I could feel the pull of our mate bond. The crackling sound of electricity announced their presence. Syrus was in their wolf form still and surrounded by an electric charge pulsating as they ripped apart these gross-looking wolves.

Blood wolves. Tobias growled.

You can’t say things like that without explanation, Tobi. I replied as I lunged for the wolf that dared to jump at my mate. I surprised myself by how quickly I snapped the wolf’s neck. My strength must be intensified with Tobi in charge of my body still. I looked over at Syrus in wolf form. Sai was sitting politely by two dead wolves. Their tongue hung out of their mouth and one of their ears flopped over.

I saw my hand reach forward and pet their head. I was shocked. Sure, I would love to pet Syrus. I’d like to do much more than that, but Tobias. I felt Syrus lean their wolf's head into my hand, then shake it. Tobias grumbled in my mind as I laughed. Syrus shifted in front of me. I was preparing to take my shirt off to cover them when I laughed again. Syrus’ clothes survived, and I mean that sarcastically, their shift. Syrus was small for a wolf, so it makes sense they wouldn’t rip through their clothes like other wolf shifters, but it was still funny. How did I not notice their wolf form still clothed? Syrus does wear all black and is a black wolf but still. The clothes tattered to hell and a little burnt looking, but they still covered most of Syrus’ body. I looked up to see Helena changed and jogging up to me.

“Alpha, way to show up at the very end,” Helena said.

“What is the damage?” I asked, knowing it was a hard question.

“Not sure yet, there are so many bodies. Swift River has about one hundred that we know of. The number of bodies here seems like...”

“63” Syrus interrupted. How could a handful of rogues do this?

Blood Wolves. Tobias says again, not caring to elaborate.

“We have twenty or so by the river so far,” Helena continues her report.

“There are more on the west side of that…building…well, what is left of that building.” Syrus points out. I could see the disbelief in Helena’s eyes.

“I was just over there,” Helena argued.

“Under the ground. There must be a tunnel somewhere or something,” Syrus says, seemingly unaffected by Helena’s aggravation. Helena grumbled before heading towards the other squad members to arrange further inspections.

“We need a wagon or wheelbarrow,” Syrus said while they started effortlessly piling those foul wolf corpses.