White Fur

Chapter 34

Kanto’s POV

We walked into the pack house, I could see Skyler was mentally trying to figure out what she just saw. She looked puzzled but not shocked. I softly chuckled to myself thinking how well she’s handling the sight she just saw as we climbed the stairs to my office. When we finally made it Skyler walked over to the couch, still puzzled. I plopped down next to her and let out a long exhale.

“So how was your day?” I ask receiving a scowl in return. I laugh at my mates reaction. “Should I start with Colton?”

“Um yea, maybe.” Skyler sarcastically replies. I grew up in this word so seeing how Skyler handles all these new things is very fascinating, some times terrifying, but she hasn’t run away yet.

“So in the supernatural world, there are different kinds of supernatural beings. Werewolves, fae, vampires just to name the more popular in human culture. There are even different kinds of werewolves. For example, there are natural wolves, who have a more regular wolf form and then their are lycan who have a more human like build. Obviously Colton is a lycan.” Skyler’s blue eyes were fixed on me as I explained, she was hanging onto every word. I smiled to myself thinking how she looked like a kid who was trying to be serious but was lost at the wonder of the story.

“Long long ago, a witch caught her partner cheating on her. So as revenge, when the next full moon came she cursed her lover to become a raging beast with no control over its instincts. The lycan killed many on those days of the month, but the witch’s curse had one flaw. If someone survived a lycan’s scratch or bite, the survivor would then become a lycan on the next full moon.”

“Well if this curse was spread so easily, how come there aren’t new reports or anything? If this happened it would be all over the news.” Skyler tilted her head.

“This was a problem hundreds of years ago, so it’s under control now. Due to their similarities, the werewolf community decided to hand the lycan problem. A werewolf’s venom mixed with silver is capable of changing a human into werewolf. Werewolves can control when they administer the venom, usually only when they need they encounter other supernatural species and only through their bites. Due to the magic from the curse, lycans don’t need the silver to turn someone, they can just bite or scratch. The problem was that since they have a difficulty with controlling their state of mind, they almost always using their venom with every bite and scratch. The way werewolves handled this problem at first was to just kill all the lycans they found. After time is was discovered that it was possible to regain their senses, but it requires a lot of training and will power.”

“Which explains why Colton was so calm and didn’t attack me.” Skyler concluded.

“Yes. He and Dustin have been training hard since the day they got here. They are very in control of their lycan form and can shift at will now.”

“How did they become lycans?”

“Hmmm. . .Colton doesn’t like to talk about it. If you want to know the story you have to ask them.” Skyler nodded accepting their privacy.

“You said the curse made lycans more powerful, are there other types of wolves that have a powerful advantage?” She paused to reform her question. “I read that alphas tend to be stronger, more powerful than others in the pack. Lycans have the ability to change people easily. Are there other types of wolves with special abilities?”

“Not really. There are packs that specialize in specific skills. Like in the East there is a pack that specializes in stealth operations since their wolf forms tend to be a bit smaller than other packs.” I thought about her question more and a story my mom used to tell me popped into my head. “Now that I think of it there was a pack that had special abilities granted to them by the Moon Goddess. But they are extinct now.”

“Extinct?” Skyler swung her feet up on the couch as if to prepare for a story.

“Centuries ago, there was said to be a small pack of werewolves that were descendants of dire wolves and blessed by the Moon Goddess. They possessed gifts like being able to control the elements or telekinesis. They were highly regarded but very rare. As time went by conflicts within the pack erupted, which gave other packs the opportunity to attack. Packs would kidnap female dire wolves, mate with them and hope that the pups would also be dire wolves. They tried to keep their pack together but were unable to succeed and the last true dire wolf was slaughtered. No one has seen a dire wolf since, so it’s believed that they are extinct.” Skyler’s face looked a little too sad for my comfort. “But whenever my mom told me the story of the dire wolf pack, she always said it was possible they were still out there. They have abilities that we don’t understand maybe they are using those to stay in hiding.”

Skyler perked up a bit giving me a gentle smile before her face changed expressions. Her face started to show a slight hint of guilt as she hesitated to ask her next question. “I’m not saying that I want this, I’m perfectly happy the way I am but how does a human change into a werewolf.”

I was relieved that Skyler didn’t want to become a werewolf. Zenith on the other hand let out a small whimper at our mates words.

You know it’s too dangerous for her. I reminded him.

I know. He whispered. I could tell it hurt him a little that Skyler didn’t have a wolf counterpart that he could claim as his. But as quickly as his pain appear, it vanished as he went back to his usual horny commentary. I’ll just have to put a wolf in her.

I pushed him to the back of my mind, trying to ignore my dumb wolf. I focused on Skyler. “There is a way to turn a human into a werewolf but it’s so risky that it is practically illegal in our culture. In order to change a werewolf would have to introduce their venom and silver into the humans blood stream at the same time in the same spot. The werewolf would put silver in their mouth and bite the human. The silver counteracts the venom if they sit together for too long which is why it has to be this method of injection. Since werewolves can’t tolerate silver, it severely burns the wolf’s mouth and if they accidentally swallow it or it gets in their blood stream it could do serious damage. But the damage to the wolf is nothing compared to the human being turned. The mixture sweats through their body for weeks changing their very DNA. It’s extremely painful and more than not leads to the humans death. That’s why it’s practically outlawed, the death toll was too high only a handful of humans survived their transformations.”

Skyler’s face looked terrified but contemplative. “For the humans that survived, was there anything special that made them live?”

I thought for a moment reflecting on all the cases I read. “There weren’t enough people that turned for there to be anything conclusive. Some believe it’s based on the strength of their mate bond, some think that it’s based off the potency of the venom but nothings certain.” Skyler’s face twitched a little as if she wasn’t happy with my answer. “May I know why you’re asking that question?”

Skyler’s gaze turned to the ground as if debating whether to tell me. I started getting nervous. Did she hear about how the council wanted to turn her? Is she afraid that I’m not satisfied with her being a human? She interrupts my thought when she lets out a sigh and looks back at me. “Earlier when we ran into Colton I wasn’t shocked because I saw his lycan form. . . I was shocked because I’ve seen it before.”

“If you’ve seen Colton in his lycan form before then why were you so shocked to see him again?” I asked trying to put the story together in my head.

“Because the first time I saw him like that wasn’t in person.” She hesitates to say the next part. “I saw it in one of my dreams.” I title my head slightly hoping she will explain more since I’m still confused. “Look I know this sounds crazy but it’s true. Ever since I was a kid I would have very vivid dreams and then a couple days later they would happen. I used to think it was just déjà vu but with all this talk of magic and supernatural stuff, I’ve been rethinking about it. And since I’ve met you the amount of these dreams I have has increased. I saw myself get fired from my job before it happened, I saw the first time I met Varus, I saw myself run through the forest and bump into Colton. I don’t think it’s déjà vu anymore.”

She’s definitely not anything supernatural, her scent would have been recognized. Zenith said as I took in another hint of her scent to confirm.

Humans don’t have supernatural abilities, at least not that I heard of. I thought. Maybe that’s how she knew your name when we first shifted in front of her.

No that was the mate bond. My wolf said adamantly.

Dude she just said she sees the future in her dreams, maybe it’s possible that she doesn’t always remember all of them. I logically explained to my wolf.

No it was definitely out mate bond. Our bond is stronger because we are alphas. Out mate is perfect she would know me. It was defi—

I cut my wolf off feeling like an asshole. Here I was having a debate with my wolf, when my mate was terrified. Skyler’s eyes were wide as she stared at me hoping I had an answer. Her breathing was quicker, I could almost hear her heart beating rapidly. I said over to my mate wrapping her in my arms. She buried her face in my chest relaxing with each breath. The sparks from touching her were radiating throughout my body. I kissed the top of her head, savoring her sweet fruity scent.

“Skyler there’s nothing to be afraid of.” I pause for a moment fearing that I might scare her more with what I say next. “Skyler I love you. I love everything about you. I love how much you have been trying to adjust to this world. I love how you treat me like a normal person and not just an Alpha all the time. I love how you are always willing to help. I even love how you kinda snore sometimes when you sleep.” Her face was still buried in my chest but I could see her ears turning red. “You don’t have to say it back, I know this is new and different. But I will always want you the way you are and I will always support you, no matter what so there’s nothing to worry about.”

I feel Skyler pull away for a moment only to pull me down to her lips. I gently returned the kiss. This kiss was different than ones we have previously shared. Her tear were lightly falling on my face. She was kissing me like she was drowning and I was her oxygen. But she’s the one who’s my breath of fresh air. She pulled me out of my loneliness and into a whole new world, I didn’t know I could feel like this again since I took over my pack. This woman has changed everything for me and I never want to lose her.

We continued to kiss pulling holding onto each other until I pulled back to look at my beautiful mate. I gave her a comforting smile while moving a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, my fingertips feeling the sparks as they grazed her skin. She took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry I can’t say it back yet. But I want to be able to someday soon because I am falling for you I’m just fighting another part of me. So please be patient with me.”

“Of course.” I took my thumb to wipe off her tears. I noticed something about the way she said the last part. I had been thinking that she was hesitating because humans didn’t move this fast in relationships. But maybe it was something else.

Skyler took another deep sigh and let it out while running both hands through her hair. The exhaled until she slouched a bit as if deflated. “So I thought we had to come back because of Andrea?”

As if on cue, Andrea burst into the room. “There you two are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere Sky.” She rushes up to my mate grabbing her hands about to pull her off the couch.

“Graceful as always Andi.” Skyler teases, Andrea clueless. Skyler gets up from the couch and I do the same. “Thank you Kanto.”

“Alright you two, it time to plan a party.” Andrea tugs at Skyler’s arms trying to get her to move. Zenith growls low, mad that someone is stealing our mate.

Skyler let out a melodic laugh. “Andrea, it’s a ceremony not a party.”

“Same thing.” Andrea mumbled.

“Wait, let me make sure Dustin or Colton can guard you.” I started to mine link them when Andrea groans.

“Alpha, your mate will be protected by myself and the gamma female, some of the best fighters in your pack. She’ll be fine, so no body guards.”

Skyler turns to me. “I’ll be fine, beside I don’t want to burden you or them more.”

Skyler places a hand on my arm and I relax. “Fine but don’t go anywhere without protection.”

“Alright. I’ll see you at dinner right Kanto?” Skyler’s hopeful eyes on me.

“Of course, go plan for your party.” Skyler rolls her eyes at my contradicting comment before being dragged out of my office.

What if she really can see the future in her dreams? I thought internally. What if someone else finds out?

We will rip out the throats of anyone who tries to take her from us. Zenith growled.

Right, but we have another urgent problem. I reminded him.

I instantly open my mind-link to Brett and Jack. Meet at my office in the next 10 minutes.

Yes Alpha. They respond simultaneously. I walk to my desk and take a seat. Jack is the first to enter but followed quickly by Brett. They both bow upon entering, I motion for them to take a seat knowing this might be a while.

“The council meeting went better than I expected.” Brett broke the silence. “Your Luna can really hold her own. That poor wall though.”

I chuckle a little remembering their poor attempt to cover the damage. But my brief joy disappears as I address why I called them here. “While Skyler and I were in the woods, something happened. A deer jumped out from nowhere. Usually a deer is no big deal but this one was different. Unlike normal deers, this one didn’t have a scent to it. It was like there was nothing.”

Jack and Brett were silent for a moment, Jack was the first one to speak. “Do you think someone sent it to our pack?”

“I don’t know, but if someone if fiddling with the idea of hiding their scent, it could be very dangerous for us.” I answered.

“Witches have the power to change a person’s scent but never has a scent been completely removed.” Jack said.

“If a witch is working with Steelridge, we might want to consider reaching out to a witch ourselves.” Brett contributed.

“Witches are hard to come by, their covens are always secret or on the move it difficult to pinpoint.” Jack replied. “The fae may be able to help.”

“The fae live hundreds of miles away and really leave their territories.” I sigh. “For now send some scouts out to that part of our territory, see if they pick up any other clues. I would prefer to keep other beings out for the moment, I want to know who we can trust.”

Brett stared at the ground for a moment until he perked up with his thought. “What if the deer was a distraction? What if the whole point of the deer was to get you focused on that while something else was happening?” I thought about his words as he continued. “We should consult with the future Luna, maybe she saw something.”

“I’ll ask her.” I didn’t want to keep dragging Skyler in for every problem we faced but it was a good idea to ask. She already has enough on her plate, I didn’t want to add more. But this was unavoidable.

After that we talked for another 2 hours about other updates with the pack and the business. Brett was about to lose his s**t when he mentioned the Morrison’s house, even though our part is mostly done. Jack discusses recent training of the pack members and recommends new recruits for the patrols. I informed my Beta and Gamma about the Blue Forest pack situation and what our warriors have reported. We then plan come up with the plan to go to the Blue Forest pack in 2 weeks. I dismiss them both and take a moment to think.

Why aren’t we going to our little mate? Zenith impatiently asked.

You know why, she’s planning her Luna ceremony, we should let her focus. I grumble back.

No, we should find our mate and mark her. He argued.

I sigh before responding. She said she wasn’t ready yet, so we need to be patient.

Not ready yet? Do you not remember what happened earlier today. My c**k started to get a little hard reminiscing about how hot things were getting earlier at the waterfall. We probably could have marked her if it wasn’t for the f*****g deer.

No. She isn’t ready. I calm myself.

What? Zenith roared.

There’s a difference between physically ready and emotionally ready. She may want to take things physically farther but she asked us to be patient. You saw the pained look she had on her face, there’s definitely something in her past. We need to wait.

Zenith huffed but he knew I was right. If I ever meet the person who hurt her, I’m ripping out their heart.

Now that we can agree on. I replied. Zenith grunted and retreated back in my mind. I started to shuffle through the left over documents I needed when I felt a slight sting on my left cheek followed by a weird feeling in my stomach. But after a few seconds it was gone. Strange.