Runt's Revenge

Fun-Sized

Athena let out a long slow breath, releasing the tension of the battle from her body. And now she needed to switch gears to help this poor frightened young pup. Would the girl be frightened of her after watching her kill those rogues? Shifting back into human form, Nea made eye contact with the pup as she bent down to pick up her clothes. She casually stepped back into her workout outfit as she walked over to the tree. She stopped just in front of the sobbing girl, giving her enough room that she wouldn’t appear threatening.

“Hey, little one, are you okay?” Nea said as gently as she could manage.

The little girl was crying so hard that she could hardly talk, but when she did, she breathed out, sobbing, “I was so scared and your wolf is so cuuuuuuuuute,” with the last word drawing out on a long hiccupping wail.

Nea exposed her neck to the girl as she drew closer to show that she meant her no harm. “Yes, Angel is a sweet wolf,” crooned Nea in a sing-song voice. “She likes you, little one.”

The little girl furrowed her brow, “I am NOT little! I am NOT a runt!” she said in an angry tone.

“Of course, you are not!” sang Nea, “I am a runt. You are just young! Everyone could tell that you are not a runt like me!”

“You? But you fought those nasty rogues… You’re a runt?” she asked, squinting her eyes as if she expected Athena to grow a second head. She seemed intrigued, so much so in fact, that she stopped crying as she tried to work out the puzzle of Nea, who was obviously quite small, but had still managed to take on three rogues single handedly.

“Yes, I am a runt! Or rather, I was when I was born,” Athena giggled, “now I am just… ME! I am, in candy bar terms, like a mini-sized candy bar. You, my dear, are “Fun-sized!” Bigger than a mini-single bite of candy, but not quiiiiite full-sized... yet!”

While they had been talking, Nea had gently begun to untie the girl from the tree. She was still worried about the wolf or warrior that was supposed to be meeting these rogues in the woods. She needed to get this kiddo to safety before anyone else appeared.

“Well,” said the little girl as she rubbed her little wrists, “maybe that does make me fun-sized.”

Nea gave her a reassuring smile. “I think so! So come on, “Fun-Size,” we need to get back to my packhouse and talk to my Alpha about getting you back home to your mom and dad.”

“My mom is dead,” the small blond said bluntly, looking down at the ground. “She got sick. She was human and didn’t have a wolf to heal her.”

“Aww, I’m so sorry,” Nea said sadly, she paused for just a moment, but finally had to say, “We really need to get moving, Fun-Size. Let’s go! Can you walk?”

“I can walk. I can RUN. I am really fast,” blurted out the pup.

“I’ll bet that you are, Fun-Size, come on now,” coaxed Nea

“Wait! Wait! I need my backpack. It… it has my homework in it! My dad will be so upset if I don’t do my h-h-homework!” She bit her lip trying not to start crying again, “And my name is Cassie!” she said.

“Cassie,” Nea soothed, “that is a beautiful name. My name is Athena, but my friends call me Nea,” she said as she scanned the area. “And I wouldn’t worry too much about your homework. I think that your dad will just be happy that you are safe.” She touched the girl’s hair lightly, trying to comfort her. The light was dim, but the artificial color of the bag stood out against the dark bushes near where the rogues had been eating. “There it is!” said Nea, sighing in relief. She walked over briskly and picked up the bag. It was a light pink backpack with a Luna-Alpha wolf cartoon on the front. “Cute bag, Cassie!” she said smiling as she jogged back over to her.

Cassie whispered, “Thank you, Nea. And, Nea? You can call me Fun-Size… if you want.”

“Okay Fun-Size, then let’s get this show on the road! I am going to carry you for a little bit, just so you don’t leave a scent trail, ‘kay?”

Nea put the back pack on her front on so that Cassie didn’t have to carry it and invited Cassie to jump on her back. Her new little friend jumped on quickly and off they went. Athena was aware that if someone was coming from the packhouse, that they would follow the Eastern Creek trail to get to this part of the forest. Even though she knew that she and the pup were tired, she took the long way around to avoid running into anyone. She was hoping that there weren’t any trackers involved in the scheme. Any regular wolf would smell Nea, especially as her scent was on the bodies of the rogues. But her scent was also all over these woods and an untrained wolf wouldn’t know which trail to track. Hopefully, they would follow the trail she came in on. A real tracker would be able to determine a fresh scent as opposed to an older one. But, trained trackers were few and far between, the so odds were that she and the pup would get back to the packhouse before they could catch up to them.

_____________

Lydia knocked on the door to the office.

“Come,” she heard Zayden say curtly.

Straightening her short skirt and tugging on her blouse to show a little extra cleavage, Lydia opened the door and peeked her head in. “Got a minute?” she asked with a deliberately cute smile.

Zayden sighed, pushing his laptop back abruptly, “what do you need, Lydia?”

“Oh, just a few signatures for training schedules and food order invoices,” she said.

“I don’t know why you ask me to signed these,” he growled, “You have permission to make these decisions yourself, as the Gamma.”

“I know,” she said as she perched a hip on his desk in front of him allowing her bare leg to brush up against him. “It gives me a little upper hand to have your signature on them, you know, if anyone pushes back or gives me attitude. It also gives me a chance to check in on you. I am so worried about you, Alpha,” she said leaning forward slightly.

“Who is giving you attitude? That is not okay here.” Zayden purposefully looked away as her leg on the desk was showing a little too much of what was under her skirt.

“Well…” she said, reluctant to name names, “let’s just call it youthful rebellion. Your approval takes care of it though.” Lydia laid the papers out in a fan, with just the place for the signatures visible to make it quick and easy for him to sign.

Zayden glanced at the top two pages, and sure enough, it was dates and times for different groups to be training with rotating sparing partners. He signed the documents and handed them back to her. “Did you find out anything new at the school?” he asked tight lipped.

She tapped the papers on their edge to stack them neatly as she shook her head. “I’m so sorry Alpha. I feel like I am failing you. If there is anything I can do to… to make you feel better… anything at all… I hope that you will give me a shout.” She leaned forward and Zayden looked away again as her cleavage was inches in front of his face.

“That will be all, Gamma Lydia,” he clipped.

She smiled as she stood, standing just a little too close. “Okay Alpha. I’ll see you at dinner then.” And she walked slowly out of the room, swaying her hips as she walked, softly closing the door behind her.

Goddess, that woman could not take a hint, thought Zayden. “Nate!” called out Zayden through his link to his Beta.

“Yes, Zayden?”

“I want to go check out the remains of the car down by the river again,” he stated sadly. He couldn't help but hope that they had missed something... anything.

“I will meet you out front in five minutes,” said the Beta dutifully.