Alpha Caleb and the Blessed Wolf

6.

RYKER

Kissing Nikita was bittersweet the taste still lingered on my lips as I ran in the opposite direction trying to throw off their trace. I was prepared to die for her not only was she my best friend, my future Alpha but I hoped one day she would be my mate. I was sworn to protect her at all costs. This was a promise I had made from a very young age. I knew I loved her even back then.

*****

Nikita was always fun, vibrant, full of life like a little firecracker. Being son of the Gamma I was always hanging around the pack house learning from my Dad, lucky for me I became friends with the Alpha's daughter. One day when I was about 14, I was summoned.

"Son." My dad said seriously as I entered the Alpha's office. Alpha Cairo sat at his desk and Luna Ellenor stood behind him, all their faces looked tense. I knew whatever I was called for was not good news.

"Please sit Ryker" the Alpha said, nervously taking the seat next to my dad.

"Who died?" I said and my Dad shot me serious glance. Silence.

"Last night there was a situation." Alpha Cairo sighed before continuing. "Nikita shifted."

"Are you sure? Maybe she's been daydreaming again and thought it actually happened but was just her imagination" I scoffed almost laughing, she was always dreaming up crazy things like that.

"It was confirmed Ryker." My Dad said. I stared at him confused for a second.

"But...she's only twelve. How?"

"That doesn't matter right now. It has happened. She is....special. You and her seem to have a connection we hope one day might turn into a mate bond." Alpha Cairo continued.

"We have an important job for you. As a gamma and future chief warrior it is important to protect your pack especially the daughter of the Alpha. The Goddess blessed her with life as a baby and she needs to be protected. Will you be willing to sacrifice your life if you must to protect her. I know we ask a lot from you but we need someone we trust looking out for her. She can be.... well.... you know what she is like.... wild." Yep she sure was. She was my crazy little Nikita, smart, funny, sarcastic, pretty. I even punched stupid Davis Chadwick in the nose when he gave Nikita her first kiss then threatened any boy who tried to go near her the same punishment. She was mine. Protecting her was in my blood.

"I swear to you I will protect even make a blood oath if I must."

"There is no need for that Ryker. We hope one day you two will make this pack proud."

"When you get your wolf we will be sending you for training at Shadow Claw with your Uncle Isaac."

"I'll do anything to keep her safe."

"We thank you." Luna Ellenor who had been quiet this whole time said softly kissing my cheek.

******

The squad of wolves had followed me like planned, dodging and weaving my way through the forest I let them follow our scent.

I had almost reached the mirage that protected our pack from the outside world when a wolf leapt at me claws extended just missing my hind legs. I knew they would catch up eventually, in my wolf form I wasn't the fastest runner but I was strong and well trained in combat. Skidding to a halt I turned to face the squad "five to one bring it on" I thought. Ready to fight.

Throwing Nikita's coat aside I released a deep growl that rumbled through the forest. Two of them attacked first I steadied my back legs launching myself at the advancing wolves. My strength barreled one to the ground pinning it beneath me. Its claws swiped as I sank my teeth into its back, piercing the space between the ribcage puncturing it's lungs. It's a cruel way to kill a wolf but I had no time as the second wolf caught my eye. Fangs heading straight for my hind legs I quickly rolled using my claws to gut it's underbelly. Looking toward my next assailants but only one was left, I assumed the other two had been cowards and ran away before it hit me Nikita's coat was gone.

"s**t" I thought.

Running at the last wolf dodging and weaving to disorientate it it seemed to work. Clawing it's face from ear to snout it didn't even have time to defend. Blood dripped from its mouth and it's vision disrupted from the punctured eye. I stalked up to it slowly, calculating my kill. "Inimicus" I said in my mind the mirage responded my anger made me viciously attacked the lone wolf by grabbing the scuff on its necks and hurling it toward to mirage. As soon as it made contact the wolf burst into flames incinerating it in seconds.

As future pack Warrior General I had access to the mirage' s magic. The specific words to protect our pack this was only known to high ranking pack members.

I stayed in my wolf form trying to catch the slightest whiff of Nikita's scent. Every now and again I got a hint of a trace.

"She had actually listened to me when I taught her how to hide her scent." I thought in shock subconsciously chuckling. "Always had her head in the clouds, lucky she has such a strong wolf."

My wolf was begining to become anxious and restless when I couldn't get a solid trace. I was a warrior not a tracker and either these little leads are clever distraction or she had no idea where she was going and had to backtrack. On second thought she 100% had no idea where she was going.

Night had fallen after and I still couldn't find her scent. It was as if it was there but weakened. Occasionally the metallic scent of blood would hit me. I knew my wolf's pacing was because of his worry that she was injured. If I couldn''t get a lead I needed to make my way to Uncle's pack and wait for her there.

Continuing the search into the night, the stars as the only key to my coordinates. I prayed she had found somewhere safe from the winter chill. As the soft snow began to fall there was a gnawing weight heavy in the pit of my stomach something wasn't right.

Under the mud and leaf decay I smelt some thing that almost made me gag. Blood and wolfsbane. Dread dropped into my stomach like cement. Not only was she injured but poisoned. This was not good. Not f*****g good at all.

When I made it to a small alcove usually hidden by a shield of running water. Nikita's scent was there both strong and weak, overpowered by sickness and poison. The moon light illuminating the dark cavern as I stood at the entrance. A small, naked, fragile body was curled in the corner near the dying embers of a fire. Mud caked to her hair and body. Leaning close to check her I could hear shallow breaths, a sigh of relief washed over me she was alive. She had picked a great spot to hide. I was proud.

Assessing the state of her condition I had to resist the urge to gag at the wound on her leg. It was swollen with purple streaks like octopus tentacles travelling the length of her leg and up to her stomach. The poison was spreading it wouldn't be long before it entered her bloodstream killing her.

She whimpered.

"It's ok, I'm here," I whispered in her ear holding her close to my chest. I held her while I rekindled the flame her delicate body rigoring with fevers, her breathing remained shallow but stable.

There was no time to get to my Uncle's pack we needed help now. Lying her back down I quickly left scouting for danger and covering our tracks. Morning breached the sky and we needed to leave. Returning to the cave I heard her breath quicken and pulse race, s**t she was panicking.

I ran toward her "it's me Nikita, it's me" but she had passed out again. Scooping her up like the delicate princess she is and cradling her close to my chest, I listened to the now shallow breaths and her slow weak heartbeat. I thanked the goddess she was still alive but barely.

She felt so small and cold in my arms. My heart pounded, adrenaline circulating my veins like never before. Taping into my wolf abilities, I needed all the strength, endurance and speed I could get.

Kicking down the door of a small cottage tucked high in the mountains I called for help.

"IZMELDA"

Izmelda lived in the mountain on the outskirts of the pack she was a hybrid wolf/witch who created the mirage making it impenetrable until now. We had her protection and she had ours. The small plump woman with wild white hair came bustling out of the kitchen.

"What the heck is going on!!" She looked at me then down at my arms and gasped.

"Quickly, quickly bring her through here" leading the way she opened a pair of stained glass doors into what looked like a potion or study room with a small cot in the corner. Placing Nikita down carefully I was abruptly ordered out.

"Out I need to work without you hovering. There is food in the fridge and a box of male clothes in the attic. Go" I couldn't argue with the little old lady that wasn't gentlemanly so I hurriedly did as she told.

Food was tasteless in my mouth as worry twisted my stomach. I had slipped on a pair of track pants before coming to pace in front of the doors waiting for news. Praying to the goddess she would be ok.