The Farmer and The Wolf

Stranger Danger

"So let me ask again, who the heck are you?" Aaron demanded again.

"Fenrir," I said slowly, eyeing him. "I'm Sam's new farmhand." So this was the douchebag that dropped Sam because she lost her eyesight.

I stood a little taller, sizing up the guy. As far as I know, this was my turf, and he was trespassing.

"Ah," Aaron's eyes narrowed. "The werewolf Gavin told me about." He wrinkles his nose.

Great. So Gavin was going around blabbing about me to people. Terrific.

Deciding I didn't want much to do with this guy; I looked around. "Where's Sam?" I asked.

"She's upstairs changing." Answered Aaron; drawing closer, I growled at him in a warning.

He stopped but glared back. "Listen, I get Sam has a soft heart and all, but you shouldn't be staying here." He started. "You're just gonna cause her trouble, and as far as I know, you could be just taking advantage of her." He growled back.

My eyes narrowed, feeling them pull, and I knew they had turned gold judging by how tense Aaron became. I almost forgot that he was a Hunter himself, but at the moment, I didn't care.

The Wolf and I were pissed.

"I don't think you get to call shots around here just who Sam can't and can have on her farm," I growled.

My emotions were a mess. I was sexually frustrated, and now this dickhead was trying to throw his weight around as if he owned the place too.

"Listen, I've known her longer than you, and the last thing I want is some werewolf taking advantage of her. I was her fiancé at one point, bud." He points out as if that will give him the high ground.

Instead, it pissed me more that he thought he could throw that around proudly.

"Yeah? Well, I know you tucked tail and rain like a coward, breaking off your engagement when she lost her eyesight, bud." I mocked back. I saw his face redden with embarrassment and felt high and mighty for having caused that.

"Is that what Sam said?" He glared. "Because that isn't how it happened!" He snaps, invading my personal space. I growled lowly, knowing this guy was trying to push my buttons.

I knew he wanted me to act out, and my wolf wanted to do so, beat him to a bloody pulp for hurting Sam just because of her lack of eyesight from a battle they both fought. What potential mate did that?!

My hands curled tightly into a fist, trying to control myself. I've caused Sam too much trouble since I've been here, and I didn't want to anymore.

As we had a stare down, trying to get the other to look away as a sign of submission. Aaron was just about to waver before the back door slammed open.

"Ciao, Amico!!" A cheery voice called out, causing us both to look away—my wolf grumbles at the stalemate, hell-bent on showing this asshole who was boss.

River stood there, a little confused by what was happening, before her face fell upon seeing Aaron.

"Ah, hello medigan." she greets flatly. I didn't have to know what she said to see that it was some form of insult. It made me happy that the Alpha wasn't pleased to see this guy either.

"Ravensdale." Aaron greeted just as flatly. "Sam is busy right now." He added as if that would get the Alpha to leave.

River perked up at this. "Oh, no. I'm not here for Samira; I'm here for the young pup." She nods her head in my direction. "Tonight is the first night of a full moon, and he agreed to come on a run with us.".

I'd been busy helping out on the farm; I hadn't realized the first day of a full moon was tonight!

"Well, feel free to take him out of here." Aaron scoff. River's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms beneath her chest.

"And why are you here? Walking around like ya own the place?" She sneers, causing Aaron to flinch. He offended the Alpha by ordering her around, and Alphas were all about others trying to order them around.

"Last I checked, you were kicked to the curb when you broke off the engagement."

Aaron groans. "Does everyone know that?!" He ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up. "It was a mistake, alright! I just... Panicked."

"Oh! You mean, you couldn't foresee a future with a blind woman who would inhibit you." River pointed out.

An unbidden growl rumble in my chest. The more River spoke about this guy, the more I wanted to rip him a new one.

This situation was growing tense, and with an Alpha here, my wolf was more on edge. Aaron was standing his ground, like a Hunter about to take on two werewolves.

The tension broke quickly with Sam's soft voice calling out. "Aaron."

The three of us looked to see the brunette standing there with Eve at her side.

"Sam," He started, moving towards her, but Hollow soon appeared from behind Sam and sat right down in front of Aaron. The guy looked confused but didn't try to approach her any further.

"I just came to get Fenrir." River explained her reasoning for being here. Sam nodded before beckoning a hand towards me.

"Come here." She says softly. I nodded, making my way over and giving Hollow a pat on his head for being a good boy. Aaron scowled my way, but I hardly paid attention as I followed Sam around the corner, out of view.

Her hands place against my chest, patting me down. "You okay?" She whispers.

I nodded. "Yeah, just... A little irritable." I admit. I watch as Sam presses against me again, face pressed against my chest. Her soft scent tickled my nose, fresh and clean, telling me she had just gotten out of the shower.

I place one hand on her head, and the other slung around her waist lazily. "You okay?" I asked in concern. Was she rattled by her ex being here?

I felt her nod against my chest. "Just a little upset Aaron's here. I guess Gavin thought if he couldn't reason with me, send someone that knew me better." She grumbles. I held her tighter, face rubbing on the top of her head.

"Want me to stay? I can stay and go later to River's pack." I compromised. I rather stay, period. I trusted Sam, but I didn't trust Aaron or what he might try and do.

He broke her heart for a stupid reason, and I didn't want to give him a chance to hurt her any further.

Hearing Sam draws in a deep breath as she held me tighter, she shook her head again, leaning back this time. "No, no. This is a good time to run with a pack for your first full moon here." She murmurs, rubbing her face into my chest again to comfort herself.

Hell, it comforted me too.

I rubbed my chin on top of her head again, in the act of scenting her, a light version of marking what's mine.

Sam giggled but made no move to stop me. My wolf wiggled in happiness that Sam accepted this.

After a brief moment, she finally pulled back with a heavy sigh but looked less tense. "I'll be okay, Fen. Don't worry." She smiles.

I regarded her a bit in concern but finally nodded. "Alright." I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, a notion she seemed happy with by how tightly she clutched onto me.

Reluctantly I let her go but without cupping her face gently, looking down at her with a soft smile. "Reach out if anything goes wrong, alright?" She nods again.

Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, I let her go before heading around the corner to see Aaron backed into the corner of the kitchen by River, who seemed to be rummaging through the pantry for something to eat.

In reality, the Alpha was bullying this guy around.

I couldn't go but grin and wave as River spotted me. "Ready to go?" She asks happily. I nodded.

"Great!" She clasps her hands together. "See you around, Sammy!" She says cheerily, almost unAlpha-like. She turns to Aaron and scowls. "Medigan. " Then she turns to head out the kitchen door. I followed suit before stopping, looking at the ex, giving a growl at him in warning in case he hurt Sam before catching up with the Alpha.

My wolf whined, not feeling the idea of leaving Sam with her ex, and neither did I, but I didn't want to undermine her and treat her like some fragile piece of glass. Sam was more than that, more robust, and I needed to have faith she could take care of herself.

"Don't worry," River's voice broke my thoughts. "I called Alys to come over with Jay to look after Sam while you're away." She smiles back at me. "She's human and looks after my twins, and her daughter and Jay, on the other hand, don't participate in hunts as often."

My body relaxed, knowing Sam wouldn't be alone.

The closer we grew to River's camp, the more excited I got. The idea of finally running with a pack filled my wolf and me with joy, considering how long it's been.

Once there, I spotted familiar faces along with new faces.

"Aye, the mighty Alpha returns with a wee pup in her wake." A very tall male with the sides of his head shaved, leaving only dirty blond hair on the top of his head that was braided back into a ponytail. He has markings on his face, almost like war paint. He was broad and well built and pretty much screamed Viking to me.

The red hair male next to him was the same, with one shaved head on the side and his curls flipped over. It was long and poofy; it reminded me of a lion's mane.

"Aye, cousin, perhaps he's to be bait for tonight's hunt?" The redheaded Viking grins.

River frowns at them. "Don't be assholes." She tells the two. The blond gives a hearty laugh

"We're just teasing, Alpha!" The two walked off to do their own thing.

River shakes her head. "Those are the Cousins; Aksel and Troel." The names rolled off her tongue in a gruff European accent. Like she had years to practice saying their names perfectly, and she probably did.

"No wonder Michael didn't seem keen on working with them." I joked. River laughs but nods her head.

"Yeah, they can be a handful together but get the job done." She smiles. "They're good to learn from, so do so when you can." We pass one of the trailers where a gorgeous woman with beautiful straight black hair is. For some reason looking at her remind me of the Spanish flamenco dancers with their grace and power.

She sat there looking relaxed next to a male with a hardened face, his dark hair slick back in a wave, both of them watching us pass by.

The woman smiled before leaning over to say something to him, which caused him to scowl in my direction.

"That's Ziva and her on and off old flame, Arturo." She explains. "Arturo can be a bit standoffish but don't take it personally. He's just the type of guy." I nodded.

I was introduced to Samara and her son Mathias. His twin sister Jay was the one with Alys and Sam. The Irish werewolf O'Riley, William, who was Adrian's cousin, and River's younger sister, Aleu, who was hanging out with the pack witch, Aerius.

River gave a loud whistle, gaining the attention of her pack. "As you all know, Fenrir is joining us today with this first run." She places her hands on me, standing off to the side since my six-foot frame almost blocks her own.

"Treat him well. No shenanigans." Her eyes narrowed at the Cousins, who only laughed before talking to each other in their native language. River nods before patting my back and taking a step to the side. "Werewolves first." She calls out.

Michael and Elizabeth step forward along with O'Riley, Ziva and Arturo, and the Cousins, who both gave a few whooping cries as if to start a hype to get the adrenaline going. They all stripped off their clothes and began to shift. It took a few minutes of growls and snarls as fur sprouted and bones rearranged themselves before there stood seven werewolves, looking significantly larger than regular wolves. A white and yellow wolf, along russet and white wolf, began to snap and wrestle with one another, who I figured were the Cousins.

I couldn't help but grin as I watched the two. A wolf whose fur coat was a mix of black and dark gray came trotting up to River, looking small for a werewolf, and I could smell that it was Elizabeth. I was curious why her form was more diminutive and wondered if it was due to her status as a Submissive.

River pats her down before nodding to the rest of the pack. I watch in wonder as the others stripped, and like a shift, they were human one second and wolf the next like one fluid transition. It was fascinating as I never really came across wolf shifters till now.

A white wolf with silver patches came bounding over to a russet brown werewolf and tackled him, growling playfully. The size difference between the werewolves and wolf shifters was noticeable as the shifters looked like regular wolves.

River looked at me next and nodded. "Go on, Fenrir."

Feeling nervous, I nodded and stripped my clothes off, folding them neatly before I started my shift. My teeth bared in pain as my whole body and guts rearranged themselves. The transition was faster thanks to the pull of the full moon, so it didn't take long till I was a wolf as well. Elizabeth came over, nosing me with her snout, tail wagging happily. I snorted and pranced my two paws onto the floor playfully.

As River gets undressed next, we watch the Alpha shift quickly into a gray and white wolf with a noticeable black tip tail and a black band around the middle. Surprisingly her wolf looked small compared to the others. I expected her to be bigger since she was Alpha, but I learned over months never to judge a book by its cover.

The same goes for werewolves and wolf shifters.

I was proven right as one of the Cousins came running over with an apparent attempt to try and pin her down in a play fight, but River was quicker, dodging with ease and jumping onto the blond and white wolf, grabbing the back of his neck and quickly taking him down. The russet-white let out a few sharp tips and barks as if laughing at the other.

Jumping off, River circles around before throwing back her head and letting out a howl. It was the call of an Alpha as I felt the pull to return it. I howled along with the rear of the pack, feeling a sense of belonging.

My wolf was rejoicing at the feeling of being with our kind.

Once River had our attention, she turned and took off running, and soon we were all running behind her.

The hunt has begun.