WILDFLOWER AND WOLF

CHAPTER 1/THE OUTCAST'S WANDERLUST

My feet padded against the earth, my sense heightened as I skirted the village boundaries.

I just needed to be away from the pack for a while.

I felt like a lone wolf, never truly one of the pack.

the forest was the only place I could just be me.

even though Akira accepted me for who I was, the rest of the pack were different towards me.

As I walked, the trees seemed to close in around me with the leaves tangling above my head like a wolf's den.

The scent of damp earth and leave filled my nostrils, I felt a thrill of excitement.

As I ventured deep into the forest, the trees grew taller and the underbrush thicker.

suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees making me freeze.

A sleek grey wolf emerged from the woods with it's gaze fixed on me.

My heart skipped a bit as the wolf approached me with it's tail held high.

"Akira" I said making a sign of relief.

He gazed at me with a mix of frustration and concern.

"you're lucky I found you before anything worse happened" he said.

His deep voice stern but his eyes betraying a sense of warmth.

"I can take care of myself, I don't need your protection" I'm said lifting my chin with a flash of defiance in my eyes.

He was the same person who refused to allow me train with the pack.

I wanted to be able to protect myself but he just wouldn't let me.

His expression turned dry.

"Oh really, so that's why you're shaking like a leaf and your scent laced with fear?" he said.

my face flushed, but I wouldn't back down

"I'm...... just cold and my scent is none of your business" I said trying to maintain the serious look on my face.

His eyes narrowed, but he lets out a low chuckle,

"you're something else little one, I'll give you that" he said.

"But you shouldn't be out here, come on I'll take you back to the pack" he added.

I followed behind him without saying a word as he leads the way back into the woods.