Keeping Human

Chapter Eleven

Bu-bum, bu-bum. Nelly's heart thumped hard in her chest.

The rhythmic sound was becoming quite familiar of late; as though one would learn to live with the ghost in their loft, until it was nothing but smoke etched into the foundations.

Thick, black furs melted into the darkness of the night. The Alpha pushed through his pack, tall over his pack-mates; angry with authority. With every step, his canine body gradually phased into a broad-shouldered and dark skinned man; complete with bright, amber eyes and tufts of black hair.

He edged forward with a foreboding stance. "You have no business here." He growled in a perfectly clear voice, as though phasing was nothing but taking a sip of water.

Jared outstretched his muscular arm ahead of Nelly to keep her well away from the giant wolves' snarling jaws. "We're just passing through, we mean you no harm."

The man looked Jared up and down with disdain. "You're patrolling, unphased, with a human at your side. Recently unphased, I may add."

Jared shuffled in place. "And what of it?"

"We've been tracking a blood-sucker for three miles, she passed our borders moments ago...and it's led us right to you." He raised a brow.

Nelly glanced worriedly at Jared, the familiar ghost in her chest beating harder with every second. "We don't know her." She said nervously.

The man raised his brow curiously. "Her? How do you know it's a female?"

"We saw her." Jared chirped in to save Nelly having to explain any more. "She passed by us just now."

"And she left an unphased wolf and his human pet alone?" The man scoffed. "Nonsense. Something isn't adding up, you're gonna have to tell me more, pup." He turned to his pack and nodded, to which three of his six wolves took off into the woodland in the same direction Valentina had mere moments ago.

The remaining three wolves crept closer; one a bright burgundy, almost rich red, with pointed ears and yellow eyes. The second, a smaller, and less lean wolf of grey fur, had one ear pointing downwards and the other up to attention. The third and final pack member left behind was a deep ember colour, not so much black as he or she was a dark coffee coat, with searing golden eyes and standing ears.

"Now we have all the time in the world," he smiled and crossed his arms, "you may fabricate any story you wish, but I will wait till the end of time to hear your truth. This is our territory, and you've crossed over without permission."

Jared sighed and shuffled in place. "What's your name?"

The man narrowed his eyes, but relaxed his posture a little. "They call me Alaska."

He nodded, bringing his arms across his chest. "They call me Jared. I'm from Imperial, and you?"

"Native Ash, from the Ohia River." He said, glancing over at Nelly.

"The King's men?" He raised a brow and gulped nervously. Alaska nodded a reply and Jared took a deep breath, peering at Nelly beside him. "Maybe you can help us then, rather than staying here till the end of time."

Alaska frowned. "Help you how?"

"I've been tasked with bringing this human before His Grace." He gently pushed Nelly forward and tucked a strand of hair away from her pale cheek. "Her name is Nelly Fox, daughter of-"

"-I know who she is. I knew her father..." He said, relaxing his arms by his side. "And you say the King wishes to speak with her?"

Jared chuffed lightly. "Not exactly, my pack leader - Oliver...or, you may know him as Tundra, called for me to escort her to the King. He says he's expecting her presence."

Alaska turned to his pack and frowned. "We've not heard anything of the sort I'm afraid, nor have I heard from Tundra in nothing less than six years, but I'm welcome to offer you a royal escort."

"We would be very appreciative of the offer." Jared bowed his head respectively. "Perhaps we could find some clothes, in the case a human encounters us."

"No need." Alaska shrugged and turned to the tree line where his wolves stood menacingly. "We can phase our way there."

Jared nodded. "If you think that'd be best."

Alaska smiled. "Of course. We change our clothes in the King's court. That's if Miss Fox can handle walking with five fully-grown wolves." He winked.

Nelly nodded assuredly. "I can handle it. I've tumbled with wolves before. They're not so scary."

"Badass." He laughed. "Just like your father." He edged closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have his eyes, you know."

"I do?" She asked, and for once her heart fluttered with joy.

He nodded. "You have the same flare in your eyes as him. His a golden yellow, they would keep the glance of whomever stared. Very powerful." 

"You say you knew him?" She asked with a tilt of her head. Beside her, Jared sank into his wolf form, the bright chestnut coat shone in the moonlight. He kept close to Nelly, protectively holding his ground beside the other wolves. It made him anxious that he could not hear them.

Alaska smiled. "Not as well as I'd have liked to, I'll be honest." He shrugged. "But he was one of the King's most trusted advisers, of course that was up until he married a blood-sucker."

Nelly's expression turned sour. "You mean my mother?"

"Oh, I mean no disrespect, my dear. I'm sure she was nothing like the rest. I'm sure she...was a lovely woman, albeit a dead one." He shrugged nonchalantly and crouched down, until his body gradually shifted into the dark wolf he changed from. 

His coat blended into the night, and his bright eyes led the way to the King.

CHAPTER ELEVEN, END.