The Mark Of The Beast

6. Something Wicked,This Way Comes... POV:Khyzer

Tonight was the perfect night to run all night. Staring up at the night sky, taking in the illuminating glow of the full moon and the sparkling stars scattered around it. The weather was nice and calm, only a little breezy now and then.

Off in the distance from beyond

the treeline in the dark and shadowing of the lush green forest that surrounds the mansion of a pack and stretched on for many many miles to the territory boundaries. The howls of pack members that have already shifted and begun running untamed throughout the woods, their howls sing out quite frequently as it gets later.

I take a moment to silently give thanks to The Moon Goddess. I will pray to her at her alter at sunset tomorrow. The night is still young but I doubt I make it to pray tonight and will probably not get any rest till after dawn. So yeah it would be late in the day at the earliest, for going to pray to The Almighty Moon Goddess.

As I was about to strip out what clothes I'm wearing, which are my jeans and my boxers. Ready to just drop them and shift in my wolf and go run buck wild for the night with the majority of my pack. A bone-chilling howl broke out from way off somewhere close to the west boundary line.

I immediately mind-linked the warrior wolves patrolling the west boundary to see what's up. The whole pack would have felt if something had trespassed our territory boundaries. "What is happening at the boundary? What's with that howl?"

     A relatively calm-sounding response came from Mad Max, my lead warrior wolf "Khy I'm already headed there to see what's going on. I'll be there in just a few minutes, like literally bro." She was already shifted into her wolf and running around the woods enjoying the full moon. No doubt the whole pack heard the chilling howl that silenced the nighttime sounds of nature. The crickets, frogs, and hoot howls have gone silent and the lighting bugs seem to have quit flashing causing the relaxing ambiance created by the sounds of nature, the shimmer of lightning bugs in the darkest parts of the trees not bathed In Even a sliver of moonlight. Instead, all life is suddenly replaced by dead silence and stillness.

     "Here I come Max" I sent through the mind link but she immediately began to protest as one of my patrol wolves from the west boundary chimed in.  "Alpha it's all quiet but something doesn't feel right. There has been a change in the air. I sense something but I don't know what. I met up with the other's patrolling over here and they are feeling or sensing something is off as well." His tone sounded worried and confused. MadMax yells at me through the mind link. "Khy I'll let you know if you're needed. I'm just about there. I got this for now!" and just like that she closed the link.

I paced for a moment then quickly walked through the French doors that are propped open to the patio and pool area outback. Inside it was quiet and empty. With most of the pack out for the night. I was the only one roaming the halls of my packhouse at an agitated pace making the would floor creak beneath my every step.

Mad Max opened the mind link back up as I made my way around the corner at the end of the hallway leading around the side of the staircase. I intended to head up once making it to the front and bottom of the stairs, Selena was up in her room, and not that she wasn't ok but it's a habit to check on her often whether she is asleep or not but Max stopped me dead in my tracks. "Hey bro, It's all quiet but yeah there is definitely something giving me the same feeling the patrol wolves are having. We are on high alert. I'll keep you posted. Braidyn is at the south boundary. He was already there I guess he said he will check with the southbound patrol and mind link you before he heads eastbound. I'll head for the north boundary in a bit if nothing new happens in this area. The other boundary patrols don't seem to have noticed any changes in the air at the other boundary lines. You will be informed if you are needed at all boss".

I heaved a sigh. The Alpha doesn't just stay back and wait but the big issue I was now about to argue with myself over just how bad did I want to deal with MadMax's attitude if I just shifted and went ahead to check s**t out for myself.

    I really needed to head up and just check in on Selena real quick. She may be 16 but she is still my pup. "Fine Max I was about head up and pop in my head in to check on Selena real quick anyway."

    But Max didn't mind link anything back, instead, her 16 years old son and my daughter's mate gave me an unnecessary and unwanted response."Uh, pops I just got off the phone with her not even 5 minutes ago. She said she was getting in the shower and then going to bed and I absolutely better be on time in the morning. If I make her late for school 2 day's in a row she's gonna skin my wolf next I shift and turn my hide into a rug. She's just fine."

     "Well then Stirling what the hell are you doing then?" He's in the mind link so he is shifted to his wolf and in the loop. He probably was out running with the other wolves his age. He's a good enough kid and he has come along way from the angry teenage boy with a chip on his shoulder he used to be before the Moon Goddess brought him to my pack. But Stirling Perkins annoys me to no end mostly because my daughter is 16 and can't live without him. The Moon Goddess mated Stirling and Selena and he will give his life as quickly as he will take a life over Selena and I know that he will protect her at all costs. It's a slight relief when I'm away from Selena like when she goes to school all day. With her and Stirling being permanently attached to each other permanently now, he is usually with her constantly.

She doesn't have her wolf yet. Her wolf isn't awake yet. She won't even phase for the first time for another year and a half at least. As long as she isn't sexually active that is. The younger the teenagers start having s*x the earlier the beast within will awaken. Relatively close to or around the 18 birthday is usually when the inner wolf comes alive completely and painfully phases you into a wolf for the first time. If a human is bit and turned younger than 18 or the born werewolves become sexually active before they are close to being 18. Are the only 2 know ways to get your wolf active early. Selena doesn't have her wolf yet and Stirling was human till over a year ago. I'm glad Selena doesn't have her wolf yet even tho she has already found her mate but her having her mate still tends to get on my nerves.

     Stirling gives me a deadpanned answer to my question. "Doing what my dad.. or uh Tracker said to do. It's his night off and a full moon so it's his night to be inlet his wolf have control all night. If anything is suspicious I'm supposed to go and check on mom at once and then I am to stay with her and not leave her side no matter what. If there is any kind of emergency mind link Tracker ASAP so he can take control of his wolf and come deal with said emergency and protect his mate who's also my mom and the General and Commander Leader of all the warrior wolf's and first on the front line always. It's my duty to stay by her side and protect her as best I can if need be till Tracker is present then I have to go to safety since I am not really war-ready and it would kill them if anything happens to me as I'm the only son they have ever had the chance to have. And all that was quoted from Tracker... Dad, Whatever."

I nodded my head to myself. I've known Tracker for years and he is that protective over Mad Max. She's like having a second Beta. My Beta is Braidyn. I grew up with him as Max. They are like having a brother and a sister for as far back as I can remember. Tracker came to my pack from another pack that we are allied with. Originally both packs were working together to deal with some rogue's that we're making trouble. The other pack sent them to help out even though it was not necessary because my pack is the strongest and has an intimidating reputation, to say the least.

As Tacker was the best of the best from the other pack at doing...let's just say he isn't called Tracker for anything. He's more than a decent fighter in combat and a remarkable foe for the enemies' concern. Mad Max is a fiery no-nonsense soldier type that she is, for a raven-haired beauty anyway. She can take Tracker without breaking a sweat and just about anyone else stupid enough to get into any kind of fight with her. She probably would be the one covering Tracker's ass, But I can see where Tracker is coming from. I haven't found my mate but I get that Max and Tracker have the mate bond and you gotta go through one if wanna get to the other. Mates lay down their lives for one another.

I get the moral standard Tracker is trying to instill in Stirling as well, and since Mad Max didn't cut Stirling's answer short, must mean she realizes that she just has to deal with Stirling right now if he's being a dutiful son by doing as Tracker says.

Bone-chilling howls rang out from every direction. I felt The Beast Within who was already running in circles mentally and climbing the walls because it's a full moon. It makes us really wanna run and act like animals when the moon is full. Instinctively raising the hair from his shoulder blades down the ridge of his back and baring his teeth while he lay his ears back aggressively. Vicious growls rumble from deep in my chest. Something just crossed a boundary line into our territory. Unexpected and unannounced and without stopping at any boundary line to formally inform patrol of its presence or seeking the Alpha's permission to come inside the boundaries of pack land.

    Therefore something just trespassed on my land. That's a punishable offense that does not go unpunished since the Alpha is in charge and makes the law in his pack territory. I mind link all the patrol and warriors along with Braidyn and Mad Max. "What the f**k was that?!" I growled through the mind link.

    "I get a bunch of responses retaining to the fact they don't know yet. Even Max and Braidyn didn't know but Braidyn interjected in the mind link to inform me" Brother I don't know what it is. Have to see it to get a visual but whatever it is it's coming from the north, south, east, and west. It's really big or really fast. maybe both but it's headed for the packhouse we think. There isn't anything to track it by. I and Max are headed to the packhouse and Max has given orders to all the warriors and pack members to get to the packhouse now in case it has to be defended."

    Tracker burst through the mind link from out of nowhere"Boss I'm practically on its ass. It's too hazy and foggy. I can't see what it is because of this thick ass fog. I dont have a scent. I think it may have a reddish glow whatever it is. I can tell we are so close to the packhouse. I'm can't catch it but I'm following close enough that just up ahead is the paved road that meets the end of the driveway to the packhouse!"

More bone-chilling howls rang out from all over our territory. More of the howls we're closer to the packhouse. Whatever it is and Tracker is in the woods just beyond the treeline right across the road that can be seen from the front door because the road runs in front of the packhouse.

Once you turn off the road into the driveway it stretches kind of long from the road to the garage and main entrance to the packhouse. The front lawn stretches the same length as the driveway from the road and the width of the whole front of the packhouse. The Beast Within knows how close it is with Tracker in tow. Getting closer by the second.

I know my eyes aren't my natural color. They nott even the Electric baby blue that glows electrically when I see through my wolf's eyes. I know my eyes are solid black like I am possessed or something, Because I'm pissed at whatever it dares to dare Trespass on my territory and is entirely too damn ballsy, coming straight to where most of my pack call's home uninvited. Selena is up in her room too. Houston we have problems.

My hands morphed from normal human-looking hands. Replacing my fingers tips and fingernails with long sharp claws that are more like indestructible talons. I run the tip of my tongue over my k9's as I feel the sharp points of fangs that are retracted but have grown to a prominent noticeable size that can are already dangerous enough to tear out somebody's jugular if I locked on to that area of their neck.

The Beast Within is rearing his ugly head already fighting me for control. Tracker yells through the mind link"Boss we just crossed the road and it's headed right for the front door I think I can't see s**t for how thick the fog has gotten!" Followed by Braidyn and Max announcing they aren't that far off anymore either as more bone-chilling howls surrounded the packhouse extremely close this time and closing any distance between them and here at lightning speed. The main and front entrance has double wooden doors that are a little bigger in size than the normal size front doors on normal houses that aren't mansion-sized. The doors are tall, thick, and solid with no little windows or peepholes.

I darted for the double doors while I snapped through the mind link "I'm well aware that something has stepped in my yard. If it's here to challenge me then I accept!" my words heavy with blood lust and my alpha voice radiating through the mind link.

Suddenly there was knocking, more like banging on the door like the police. I'm pretty sure I heard the hinges rattle to the door on the right side of the double doors. The mind link floods with complaints of fog so thick they can't see from multiple warrior wolves. I halt right in front of the doors. Digging my hills to stop so abruptly. Then 3 more loud bangs for knock's came from the other side of the double doors that is on my right and not both of the doors this time.

I closed the mind link the shut of all the talking going on at once in my head. More chilling howls sounding like there are also right outside. As well as extremely close and threatening growls and snapping snarls of k9 jaws that are about to attack or locked down on whatever limb they get their mouth's on first and tear it to shred's

My hands have turned back into hands I grabbed both door knob's and jerked the doors open and let them swing the rest of the way open and hit the wall hard causing damage when they bounced off the wall back in the direction they came from but there wasn't enough force so they stopped short without making it even halfway to hitting as I stood in the now open doorway.

A cloud of smoke or fog poured in the doorway quickly thinning out and disappearing. Till there was a clear view of what, rather who, was banging on the door. I just glared and growled at the person standing there looking exactly like the actor in Universal Soldier and BloodSport. You know the VanDam guy with the karate kicks.

There is only one entity that will come knocking on my door in the form of Jean Claud VanDam. Last time he came as Mick Jagger. The first time I ever encountered him he came looking like Christopher Walken. A growl rumbled from the back of my throat so when I narrowed my eyes and spoke the word "You!" It came out as a harsh growl.

To my shock and Dismay, it didn't sound like VanDam's accent when it opened its mouth to enthusiastically break the ice with a smile showing off pearly whites.

"Oh good Your home. I wasn't sure if I would be able to catch you in time. With it being a full moon. I see you're answering the door yourself instead of whoever is usually charged with the door answering service. The forest is very alive tonight seems quite busy. I assume that is due to it being a full moon and the traditions held by the children of the Moon Goddess on such nights like this. You must be on you're way out for the night judging by the way lack of clothing and the beastly features you have already taken on. I do hope to just take up a moment of your time. Just to have a brief but friendly little chat. I really must speak to you and it won't take long at all."

My brain started to throb from listening to him ramble with the voice that sounds entirely too damn happy for the pissed of mood I am now in and it would be better for my ears to listen to him use VanDam's accent while he's masquerading as him instead of sounding like a pretentious and overly polite door to door insurance salesman.

I grunted at him and retracted my fangs and changed my eyes from solid black to my wolf's electric baby blue eyes. Tracker in his wolf form stood right behind him. Growling and baring his teeth. He wasn't alone there were large wolves everywhere. Just watching and growling and showing their teeth and waiting. The packhouse was undoubtedly surrounded.

"This better be good. Your trespassing! Uninvited! Unannounced! You didn't stop at the boundary lines and have patrol let me know you wanted to speak to me. I didn't permit you to come knocking at my door!" My Alpha voice radiated with power but he seemed to not even be unnerved which figures. He is a cocky motherfucker. I crossed my arms and stepped to the side. "I guess you can come in since you being all mannerly and going through the trouble of knocking and s**t. I don't see the reasoning behind but whatever." I groaned as he stepped inside the doorway.

I mind-linked the whole pack to stand down or continue as they were. This is not an attack of any kind or social call for that matter. This was business most likely, knowing this bastard he needs something. I'm positive of that fact or he wouldn't be here wanting to chat.

I motioned with my hand for him to follow me to my office as I was already heading back to the hallway around the staircase in the direction I came in here from. My office in the packhouse is located down the same hall as the doors to the patio and pool area. further down the hall past the French doors still peopled open to my left.

My office was opposite the French doors leading out. The door to my office stood to my right about 11 steps past the French doors. I barged in my without need. I plopped down in my chair behind my desk. I pointed at the chairs across from me on the other side of the desk. He gracefully took a seat in the chair closest to the door. Snapping his fingers the door to my office shut easily and quietly.

"Ok Lucifer what brings you to grace me with your presence again."

To be continued...