Legend of the Shadow Wolf

Chapter Six

Damien

Ever since Layla was brought into our family and pack by my father, Alpha Ransley, I instantly felt a connection to her. Little girl of just 3 years old suffered through so much in her short life and she always managed to keep the light in her eyes. I was 4 when she was brought home and when I first laid eyes on her, I knew I loved her. We were inseparable growing up, I was her protector and she was rock. We shared everything, there were no such things as secrets with us. She was my absolute best friend, aside from my best friend Caleb, who is current away with our other friend Jesse, doing some training with their fathers, my dad’s beta and gamma. They will be returning the day before graduation and we are all pretty close so they want to surprise Layla.

Caleb will be my beta and Jesse will be my gamma when my father finally steps down and makes me alpha. I turned 18 last year and will be 19 in a few months but I still haven’t found my mate. I was hoping Layla was going to be my fated mate but when she turned 18 and there was no mate pull, I was upset but I could never show it. She deserves the best and no matter what I will always love and protect her. I was shocked when she told us that she shifted early at 17 and was even more excited to see and meet her wolf.

Fang has always loved Kali, but he could never connect to her so he didn’t know she even existed for the past year. She hid herself and neither of us understood how she could do that. The night of her 18th birthday, we couldn’t keep our eyes off of her. She was absolutely stunning as always, but she will never know that. The only secret I have ever kept from her is the one I carry deep in my heart. I could never take her chance of finding her fated mate away from her, I would hate myself if I ever became selfish with her.

Fang and I were anxious and excited to go on our run with Layla tonight. We were always a bit competitive between the two of us, always testing each other’s boundaries and pushing each other to get stronger and faster. It was surprising when she ended up being faster than me, not even breaking a sweat. I didn’t even realize she ran so fast when she suddenly disappeared from the path in front of me. I got to a small clearing and scanned the area until something landed straight on my back, crushing me to the ground and putting Fang and I on high alert.

I let out a breath of relief when I saw that it was Layla. She scared the sh**t out of me, I was not expecting her to jump out of the trees like that. Her beautiful laughter filled my ears when she heard me freak out, it was hypnotic. Don’t get me started on how gorgeous her wolf was, she was massive and a soft pitch black. Her fur was so f***kin soft, it was like I was running my fingers through smoke. I rounded back to the front when I looked into her eyes and noticed the color of them were colors I’ve never seen before anywhere. The perfect shade of amber with flecks of red and gold in them and the enraptured me completely, I could get lost in them forever.

“Are you ready to meet Fang, Kali?” I asked her and she licks my face in response, making me chuckle, changing out of my clothes before I hand over control to Fang and shift in our big grey and black wolf. We both noticed the size difference between Fang and Kali, being an alpha we should be bigger than her but for some reason she’s a little bit taller than us. Fang makes a circle around Kali, taking in her appearance and her scent, making his way back to the front. Kali went to take a step forward before she stopped mid step.

Something is wrong Fang said, feeling uneasy.

What do you mean? Do you see anything? I ask, confused and worried.

No something feels off, must protect Kali.

Fang was cut off when his eyes widened, noticing the clearing darken strangely and quickly. He ran back and shifted and I grabbed my shorts from the ground quickly putting them on as I heard Kali whine loudly and began to whimper. I turn around and see Kali on the ground, I try to run and help her but I run into like an invisible barrier and get shot back towards the trees, landing hard on my my side. I can barely see around me, even with my heightened senses but I can make out some sort of shadowy bubble that’s surrounding Kali.

Get in there dammit! Fang shouts at me, angry and panicked.

I can’t! If I touch it again, we will get shot back again! I yell back, looking around frantically.

AAAAGH dammit! We have to get in there! Fang growls, pacing inside my head.

I know! I don’t know what to do! I yell, frustrated with my fists clenched to my side.

I get as close to the barrier as I can without touching it, yelling out to Kali hoping she can hear me when I notice that she has shifted back into Layla and she’s holding her naked body close in a sitting fetal position. The wind has started to blow a bit hard, throwing leaves around and shakes the trees. I then run back towards the trees to see if I can find a big enough stick or branch that could possibly break the barrier when I hear a soul piercing scream that stops me dead in my tracks. I turn around and catch a glimpse of Layla standing with her arms spread out to the sides, the wind inside whipping her hair around vigorously then she hunches forward before she’s thrown backwards to the ground.

The wind suddenly stops and the clearing brightens back up but all I don’t stop to question anything as I run up to Layla, laying unconscious on the ground. I gather my senses and quickly mind-link my parents, picking Layla up gently.

Dad I need help!

Damien? What’s wrong?! He asked, panicked.

It’s Layla, something happened and she won’t wake up I replied back hastily.

What do you mean? What happened? Damien, where are you?! My mother frantically asks.

I don’t know what happened. I’m at a small clearing a little ways into the forest in front of the pack house. I’m heading to the pack hospital. Meet me there and I will explain I said quickly before running towards the pack hospital a few blocks away from the pack house.

I rush through the doors of the hospital, yelling for someone to help me. “Help! I need a bed!” I yell to the staff in the hallway as they quickly rush over to me. “Oh my goddess what happened? Quickly young Alpha, put her on the bed here.” A nurse says, guiding me to the closest room motioning to the bed. I set her down gently and step aside as the nurses start checking her vitals and hooking her up to an IV. The doctor comes in, looking at Layla then looks at me.

“Good evening future Alpha, I am going to have to ask you to stand outside while we work and I will come update you as soon as we know what’s going on.” He says to me respectfully. I can’t speak, all I can do is nod as I don’t take my eyes off Layla, reluctantly stepping outside the room and take a seat in the closest chair. My parents burst through the doors and run up to me as I stand to meet them. “Oh my goddess hunny, what happened? Where’s Layla?” My mom asks frantically, pulling me into a warm hug. “She is in the room, the doctor is in there with her now.” I said as we all take a seat.

“What happened Damien? Why were you both out in the forest? Were you attacked by rogues?” My father asks sternly, confusion and worry present in his eyes. “No there weren’t any rogues. Layla and I went out for a run, we wanted our wolves to meet and connect and I don’t know what happened. Fang and Kali were getting to know each other one minute and the next, she was frozen and in pain. It all happened so fast. I shifted back and tried to run to her to help but something blocked me and threw me back across the clearing.” I started to explain.

I went into detail about the clearing suddenly getting dark and how there seemed to be some sort of shadowy barrier circle around Kali and Layla. I told them about Fang sensed there was something wrong before it happened and about the soul shattering scream we heard coming from Layla before she was thrown across the clearing and how everything went back to normal. It all seemed so surreal, I barely believed it happened and I was there.

My mother gasps, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle a sob and my father had a panicked look on his face and his eyes blown wide. “I don’t understand, what could have happened to her?” My mom asked confused with tears streaming from her eyes. “I might have an idea but I’ll have to hear what Doctor Ivan says and possibly ask around to some of the other alphas, maybe even the king to confirm my suspicions.” My father finally said, with a distant look in his eyes as he’s thinking.

We sit there for what feels like hours when the doctor finally comes out. “Well is there any news? How is she?” I asked the doctor frantically. “She is stable for now, her heart rate is a little faster than normal, her body temperature is high and her veins in her body have all turned black but they seem to be fading slowly. I can’t give you a definitive answer because I have never seen this before but she is still unconscious and we will monitor her until she wakes up.” Doctor Ivan explains, looking from me to my parents before giving my father a look that I don’t miss.

I dismiss it for now, looking to the doctor again. “Can we go see her?” I ask nervously. “Yes of course but only for a little while.” He replies with a nod. “You and your mother go on ahead, I’ll be there in a bit. Doctor Ivan, if I may have a word with you in private?” My father said before turn towards the doctor and walk down the hall a bit. I make a mental note to ask him about it later and go into the room, walking up slowly to the bed. The heartbeat monitor is beeping faster than normal to pick up her racing heartbeat, her body is pale and her veins are dark against her skin. Other than that, she looks like she’s peacefully sleeping, her face is relaxed and her breathing is little pants as she’s trying to breathe with her heartbeat.

I pull up a chair and sit next to her bed, grabbing her hand which is cold in mine. My mom stands behind me with one hand on my shoulder and the other on Layla’s head, brushing her hair with her fingers softly. “She will be ok, she’s a fighter and she’s strong. Whatever happened to her, I know she will pull through. My poor baby girl.” She says softly, more to herself than to me. I don’t say anything, fearing if I speak I might break down. “I should’ve been able to protect her. This wouldn’t have happened if we just stayed at the house.” I said, self hating and feeling like I failed her.

It’s not your fault. Whatever happened to her, we couldn’t stop it Fang said softly, blaming himself as well.

My father walks in with the doctor following behind him, looking at me then at Layla. His eyes full of worry and pain seeing her like this, he walks around the bed and takes her other hand in his. He looks back at me after a couple minutes. “We should all go home and get some rest,” he said, breaking the silence. “I can’t leave her, she needs me,” I said softly, not looking away from Layla. “Son, you need to shower and get some sleep. She will be unconscious and you can come back to see her after you get some sleep.” He said as I finally look up at him, tears forming in my eyes. “I will keep you updated if anything changes and I’ll call you as soon as she wakes up,” Doctor Ivan spoke up, trying to ease my worried mind.

“Ya ok, but please call or link me as soon as anything changes or she wakes up. I don’t care what time it is, I will drop everything. I’ll come back in the morning.” I said reluctantly as I turn back and give Layla a kiss on her forehead before turning and leave with my parents, taking one more glance back at her as I shut the door. We head back to the pack house and I go up to my room, shower and lay on my bed with the events of the night swirling in my head as sleep finally takes me.