The Uncaged Omega

Chapter 3: Dry Pines and Wet Soil

Everything happened so quickly, so quickly that I couldn't even react. My hand was halfway extended, and I wanted to use a spell to ward off the big wolf before it could tear my head off with its mouth. But suddenly the wolf had disappeared, I felt a liquid trickle down my cheek, bewildered, I looked around trying to focus on the two figures that were a few meters away.

The gray wolf was whimpering like a puppy as it tucked its tail between its legs, it shrunk, and the wolf as dark as the night had it pressed by the neck with one of its thick and heavy paws. They looked at each other for a few seconds and he let it go.

With great care I stood up flexing my knees, I had to sneak away somewhere quickly before they devoured me between the two. Terrified, I hid behind a large tree and watched the interaction of the two wolves. The gray one had its head slightly bowed, it had stopped looking into the eyes of the wolf in front of it, the one that had saved me a little while ago. I didn't know if it had been on purpose, but I wouldn't stay to find out, I started to retreat carefully not to make too much noise, my bad luck was the damn winter and the dry branches under my feet.

The sound of those branches being broken attracted the attention of the big dark wolf, it snorted and approached where I was hiding, the gray wolf disappeared into the trees in the direction of the enemy village, what did that mean?

It can't be.

I stood still in my place, unconsciously my knees had failed in the presence of that wolf, it was a powerful alpha, and his gaze scanned me carefully. I looked at him terrified unable to move a muscle, I wanted to run, but my brain didn't react. Those big eyes looked at me curiously, I started to babble. I extended my hand lowering my gaze and recited the first spell that came to mind.

A deafening sound echoed throughout the forest, immediately I stood up and everything happened in slow motion. I ran like never before, but everything was happening halfway, the wolf had easily dodged that attack and was running after me, when I looked ahead, he was already in front of me. I heard him growl deeply and I screamed extending my hand again, my breath was beginning to fail me, that spell from before had drawn more energy than I planned, because of my nerves. I wouldn't hold out much longer, if I attacked and failed I wouldn't be able to move anymore. I lowered my hand and grabbed a huge branch, with the strength I had left I extended it in front of the big wolf, he walked around me, my behavior seemed to amuse him. I clenched my jaw looking frantically around, I would take advantage of any small opportunity to the fullest. I hadn't endured so much just to die at the hands of the enemy.

The ears of that wolf moved and its tail wagged a little, was it really having fun with me? He probably saw me as his prey, that must be it, he had fought with that other wolf to be able to feed on me.

"I warn you, human flesh tastes rancid," I said, stretching out that thick branch aggressively. I didn't manage to do anything, he moved away with a gentle leap to a rock where he stretched his neck showing himself so elegant that I had to react seconds later. "Get away."

The wolf pounced on me and the branch that I thought was strong enough broke as soon as the wolf was on me, its claws were hidden. I was in trouble.

I put both hands in front of me and the wolf shook its head desperately, it looked terrifying, it was four times my size and weighed like the devil. Its paws were on my arms and I complained with a groan. The wolf took its paws off me and sat down next to me wagging its tail, its tongue came out and it scratched its head with its paw. What was going on here?

The wolf looked at me for several seconds, I was still lying on the ground with my arms at my sides, breathing slowly. I doubted it was blind, it had located me easily, all its senses were perfectly. A few seconds later its fur bristled, it stood up and looked at me. It licked my cheek, I laughed unconsciously, it started to smell me and when it was on my neck it emitted a low moan. A howl in the distance made me raise its head.

It gave me one last look and ran off. I didn't understand what had just happened, but I couldn't get up until after about 15 minutes. My energy was completely drained, I sat on the cold snow and noticed how my body began to numb, my mind was blank and I hadn't been able to think of anything coherent since that wolf had left. It took me another 5 minutes to realize that I had probably interacted with the enemy, that enemy against which the alpha fought. I had to take a bath to get rid of the scent of another wolf or he would go crazy. Shaking with cold, I got up and hugged my body. Fortunately, I knew that forest like the back of my hand, I went directly to the cabin at the pace I could afford at that moment; very slow. I arrived stumbling over everything, I was freezing.

I boiled water, did what was necessary to bathe with warm water. It was that or die of hypothermia, my feet were starting to turn purple and I worried when I felt the alpha making his way into my head.

"What's wrong?" he asked gruffly.

"I'm sorry, alpha. It's very cold, it's nothing serious," the link was immediately cut.

I remembered the feeling of dampness on my cheek, I had a large wound on my right cheek, surely it was at the moment I was almost devoured by that insane wolf. I shuddered at the memory of that bitter experience, I had never felt so scared in my life, I didn't remember it. And if before I had already felt scared, this would surely be the most terrifying experience.

I was still confused by the attitude of that jet-black wolf, his fur was so well-groomed. He must be a very healthy man, that aura and scent had left me breathless. Dry pines, and something else I couldn't identify.

That makeshift bath I took in front of the fireplace made me warm again. I rubbed my skin hard and made sure to eliminate any strange odor, that smell was addictive, I would clean the house as soon as I finished dressing to erase any trace. I was cleaning the place so eagerly that I almost didn't hear the heavy footsteps, I immediately knew he would come, I hurried to throw the remaining water out the back door. I ran back inside full of nerves, my fingers felt electricity and my spine tingled, I breathed deeply feeling dizzy. I staggered to the sides, that smell was familiar, and it wasn't the alpha who possessed me.

Oh, no.

The door opened revealing the person behind it, the first thing I felt was the smell hitting my nostrils with an indescribable intensity. I stepped back recognizing that particular smell, it belonged to that jet-black wolf, he had followed me to the cabin.