Different Breed

Returning Home

“I’m running in a forest at night not quite sure where I’m going but knowing I have to get there fast as I hear the sounds of a war in the distance, “I have to find them” I kept thinking that to myself over and over as I reach the end of the forest and am suddenly in the middle of this nightmarish scene before me with the bodies of people from my packed all around with others who I don’t recognize when I hear a voice that sends a chill down my spine “if you want this to stay a nightmare you should join me”

I wake up gasping and in a cold sweat while everyone in the car stared at me with worry.

“Are you ok?” Even asks “yea I’m fine just had a really weird and bad dream” “yea maybe no more slim Jim’s before bed?” Eve said and I nodded in agreement.

Just then we pull up to the boarder patroll which they don’t even bother to look at our I.D’s since my dad is the Beta and all.

Our pack isn’t exactly the biggest but it’s not small either with about 600 wolfs living here in our tiny town which looks like something out of a fairytale with the cottages and little storefronts but we have our own hospital ,school and such so we don’t really need to interact with the human town which isn’t too far from here but some of the younger ones like to venture out to it sometimes but I never went because well it would be much harder for me to blend in even though Taylor says I can just say I’m a furry which then she had to explain what that was.

“Ooooo I can’t Wait to get out and run!” Eve says practically hopping in my mind which makes me giggle at how easily excited she gets but I can’t really blame her this time.

Instead of going straight home Dad pulls up to the pack house then turns to us to explain “I need to meet with Alpha Bane for a moment about some pressing matters but I’ll be right back” then he looks at mom and then mind-link for a moment then she nods to him as he gets out.

“Why can’t you just take us home then? Or better yet can I go see my friends?” Asks Even and I agree with him being as I just wanna get out of this car. “Your father won’t be long and it’s your sisters first day back so we should spend it as a family” funny she cares about spending time with me now but I told myself not to be bitter with them since they can’t really help it, my little brother huffs “fiiinnnee” and shoots a glare at me and sticks his tongue out at me “hey it’s not my fault” I say in defense as I put my hands up which makes him giggle abit, he’s as easy to please as Eve sometimes.

Father eventually returns and we head to our home that’s not far from the pack house and I’m sure you’re wondering why we don’t live in the pack house like other Beta families and well it’s because the Alpha doesn’t really like me and my Dad knows so he asked for a house and the Alpha was more then happy to not being under the same roof as me which I also like the privacy cause sometimes I feel like I’m on display the way people watch me.

As we pull up I seen a familiar face sitting on our porch which as soon as they saw our car hopped up and started waving like crazy which was my sweet bestfriend Taylor.

“Welcome hooomme!!” she yells while running to hug me “good to see you again!” I scoop her up into a bear hug and spin her around. “Ok ok! Put me down before you break my poor back” I place her down as she dramatically rubs her back making an in pained face and I just roll my eyes at her.

“Well hello to you too Taylor” my mom says to her in a sassy way “ hello Mrs and Mr Alonso” she says sweetly “sup little man” she says to Even while she nods in his direction “sup” he says back repeating the motion.

“I have soooo much to tell you!!!” Taylor as while practically vibrating “oh really? I couldn’t tell at all” I say with a smirk at the overly excited girl. “Well it’s gonna have to wait because today is family day” my mom says from the back of the car as she helps dad unload everything. “Oh come on! I’ve been waiting like half a summer to tell her in person!!” Taylor pouts while stomping her feet a little. “Pleeeaaasssee just give me a few moments of her time?” She begs with her biggest puppy dog eyes and she even pulled out the lip quiver which made Eve roll her eyes. “Why do we hang out with her again? Like this is embarrassing.” My mom sighed heavily “fine but only for a bit” my mom said sternly “that’s why” I think back “thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!” She shouts as she grabs my arm and we run to my room upstairs.

“Ok! So guess what I have to tell you” with the twinkle in her eye and the big goofy smile on her face I think I had an idea. “Hmmmm oh what could it be?” I pretend to think as she stairs “ did you perhaps...fine your mate!?” I ask excitedly “Yes!!!” She shouts “oh he’s absolutely dreamy with short dirty blonde hair and dark green eyes” she says while cupping her face. “I can’t wait for you to meet him! His name is Davon and he’s on the basketball team at school!” “He must be pretty tall then hun?” I say as I arch a brow “annoyingly so” she says as she rolls her eyes.

We talk for a few hours about our summer and how drastically different they were with mine being in the middle of the woods with my grandparents while she was here with her mate. “Astra! Taylor! Dinners ready!” Even calls from down stairs, we make our way down and help set the table.

“Astra I have some news to tell you” my dad states. I look at him curiously and he continues, “there’s going to be a ball in 2 weeks and our family has been invited which means you and Even can come if you wish” Taylor starts getting excited and claps “is it the one for the new Alpha of Bloodriver pack!?” “That pack sounds extreme” Eve comments. “Can I bring Taylor as a guest? I’m not sure if I could go by myself” I say looking down as my ears droop abit. “Of course sweetheart” Dad says with a sympathy smile “that’s why I brought it up while she’s here” Taylor squeaked “this is gonna be so fun! We should go dress shopping tomorrow!!” I look at my father with pleading eyes “do I have to wear a dress? Can’t I go in a blazer like you and Even??” He just shrugged his shoulders at me while mother interjected “Taylor do you want to stay the night then so you can just leave from here” then she leans close to Taylor and whisper shouts “so she can’t get away” which Taylor gave her a wink and a thumbs up “I’m right here ya know!” Everyone burst into laughter, this was nice to sit at the table like this with everyone which doesn’t happen that often.

Me and Taylor head up to get ready and go to sleep since she insists on waking up early so we have first picks.

I’ll be honest here. It was hard to fall back asleep after that horrible nightmare, I was too afraid it would come back and end up being a reoccurring nightmare.

Just then Taylor turned to me on the bed that we were sharing and looked at me with eyes of concern like she could read my mind which often I wonder if she really can.

“Are you ok? You’ve been really quiet” I sigh a heavy “I’m not sure really” she gives me a look which makes me continue and I tell her about the awful dream and how afraid I feel to fall asleep and end up right back in the middle of the hellish place.

She pulls me into a hug and pats my head “it’s gonna be ok. I’m here this time and I won’t let them hurt you ok?” Which made me giggle seeing how tiny she was but also touched my heart knowing I have such a kind and caring friend by my side.

We talk a little more and then drift off to sleep. Thankfully I didn’t have that dream again and slept peacefully through the night.

It’s the next day now and I’m awoken by an all too excited Taylor “get up! get up! Geeett uupp!!” She shouts as she jumping on the bed. “Uughh just 5 more minutes” I say half awake as I peek at the clock which reads 7:00am “nope! No time if you want to shower and eat breakfast” she states as she try’s to pull me out of bed “fine fine. I’ll get up” I say reluctantly.

I hop in the shower and let the steamy hot water cascade over me and sigh.

Eve on the other hand isn’t a fan of hot water and prefers cold lakes and rivers.

“When are we gonna be able to go for a run and stop by our favorite place?!” Eve asks impatiently “maybe we can get Taylor to go after shopping” “possibly” I think back

“Depends on how long she drags us around” I think while giggling and I can feel Eve roll her eyes.

I get out and dry off with a towel first then use a blow dryer on my head and tail.

Then I put on an outfit I let Taylor pick which was a easy to slip on and off short dress that ends right above my knees with a hole for my tail in a lilac color and some white sneakers. I pull my hair in a high ponytail and I’m ready to go. I step out to see Taylor wearing a similar dress in buttercup yellow and same white shoes but her hair was in pigtails, she loved it when we wore matching things which I thought was cute.

“You look so pretty!” She chirped “so do you!” I say back which she gives me a twirl “Hehee I know” we head downstairs and have a quick breakfast then head out to my car which is a 1972 baby blue Volkswagen Beetle that my grandparents gave me for my 16 birthday. “Hello blue jay” I say as I pay the hood of my car and we hop in, blasting the radio to whatever song that we found which at the moment was some old rock song.

We pull up to our first stop which is a small dress shop in town that has some of the most elegant dresses and every she-wolf comes here for all the important events to get their dress.

We walk in and I’m instantly hit with the overwhelming smell of perfume and makeup but not just any perfume it’s Chanel which means the Alphas brat is here.

“Well, well. Look who’s back” I hear from the far side of the room. A very tall skeleton which silver hair and gray eyes walks my way with her bright red lips and smokey eyes, wearing a neon yellow tube dress and white platform heels. “Venessa” I say giving her the up and down “you look... skinnier” she’s laughs then gives me the up and down “and you look like a man in a dress” she says with her hand on her hip while checking out her claws “at least she don’t look like hooker who might faint at any moment” chimes in Taylor with her sassy attitude “zip it chipmunk” Venessa growls at her which makes me growl and mine is much more threatening then hers since I’m more powerful as well “just because you’re the Alphas brat doesn’t mean you can be a b***h to whoever” i spat at her “whatever” she huffs and quickly exits the store. She’s always been scared of me so she try’s to make me feel small which used to work when I was younger but not as much now.

“You should have ripped out that barbies hair” Taylor grumbles “but then that would just give the Alpha a reason to get rid of me and you’d never see me again” I say with a shrug “nooo!” Taylor says in horror “then who would I tell everything to and drag shopping and and” I chuckle at her dismay “and it won’t happen because I have been getting much better at self control” I assure her which makes her visible relax “ ok then let’s get to shopping!”

I tried on I think 100 dresses before we found the one. After that we were starving so we went to our favorite cafe downtown which had the best sandwiches and smoothies ever. We ate and then headed back home.

“Do you wanna go for a run to the river?” I ask Taylor “I can’t. Mom says she needs my help at home but maybe some other time” “that’s alright then” we hug and she runs off while I take my things in side and change into a tank top and short.

“You ready?” I ask Eve “Always!” I take off my clothes behind a tree a turn into my Giant black wolf with dark green eyes and dart off into the woods.

It’s the best feeling in the world to have the wind blow through your fur and to feel the earth beneath you, hearing the sounds of nature all around and being one with your surroundings.

In no time at all we reach the lake and hop in, letting Eve swim around and catch fish when we hear someone approaching.