The Wolf of the Woods

Chapter 8

Kostis paced back and forth in the hallway. He has been waiting for nearly 2 hours for the Alpha of this pack to see him and has been growing impatient. Every week, day, hour that went by was another day the she-wolf was stuck in whatever hell that wolf took her into.

Was she even alive anymore? Himself and his brothers worked tirelessly for months to get help to find this she-wolf yet they couldn't garner anyone's interest, after all, who would be interested in a lone, feral she-wolf probably born into the wilds.

Swithun and Tanwyn were at another pack trying yet again to get support from a pack to help search for the wolf. Kostis even called his father in Alaska to get help only to be given a lecture on wasting his time chasing after feral wolves and insane rouges, his mother even called telling him to stop acting like a bleeding heart and focus on what truly needed his attention.

He was so focused on his thoughts he didn't notice the older Alpha watching him pace. "You seem awfully preoccupied son." He spoke startling Kostis.

"Forgive me Alpha, I apologize for my distracted mind." He said offering a small bow of his head to the Alpha. "No worries, from what I've heard you have quite an interesting problem. Something about a missing she-wolf? Come, step inside my office." The Alpha said gesturing towards an open door.

Kostis followed him into the room and was surprised to find it practically bare apart from a desk and chair with paperwork and a phone on it. Not even a photo or painting on the wall, no other chairs, or even windows. The room looked more like a prison than an office.

The Alpha walked over to his chair and sat down watching Kostis with calculating eyes.

He was an older male, tall in build like almost every Alpha. Streaks of grey and a few wrinkles on his face showed his age, if it wasn't for that you would think he was a young male in his prime from how he held himself. His hands were rough from years of hard work and scars covered his arms from past battles.

"Are you going to continue staring at me or are you going to explain why you have called upon my pack? From the beginning please." He asked folding his hands together and leaning back in his chair.

Kostis stood up straighter and started to explain. "Nearly a year ago land was given to us by an Alpha on pack land he never used as thanks for helping with a rouge issue they had. My brothers and I were exploring the territory better when we came across a scent, a she-wolf. We informed Alpha Evans and he asked us to bring her in alive so he could see if she was dangerous or not." Kostis took a deep breath as he got to the next part, where they ruined the poor female's life. "We spent a few weeks tracking her to her den, it was difficult. She was constantly covering her tracks or backtracking and confusing even Swithun, a damn good tracker when we finally found her after she grew too hungry and took down a young buck.

We watched her for a few hours after dusk and left to gather supplies and a plan to capture her. When we finally headed out again we found her by a stream in what looked like the process of running, we think she scented us and it spooked her. My brother Tanwyn shifted and started chasing her. He got her up a steep hill where I was waiting and then he circled back to Swithun to guide him to where I was.

I grabbed the she-wolf by surprise but she immediately fought back, my brother Tanwyn barely got there in time before she got my throat. She could've killed us both of Swithun hadn't sedated her in time. We transported her back to our home and locked her in a kennel we built and loaded her into a truck to transport to Alpha Evans after we treated her wounds. We stopped a small diner and got food for her and us as well as a blanket. Swithun fed her and was grabbed by two rouges. They held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him if I didn't allow them to take the she-wolf. They took her and we tried tracking them but it was like their scent disappeared. My brothers and I have been trying since this happened to get help, she's been in that rouges hand for months and I greatly fear what he has done to her." Kostis explained. The Alpha's face showed no emotion as he silently listened to Kostis.

"And why should I put my pack members in danger to help you? From the sounds of it, it's two rouges who probably knew each other." He said leaning back in his chair.

"Because she is an innocent she-wolf. He looked at her like she was a... weapon. A tool to be used, I fear for the other packs' safety Alpha!" Kostis said raising his voice.

"And whose fault is that Kostis? Your's and your brother's faults." Kostis winched at the Alpha's tone and bowed his head in shame. "A she-wolf that sounded peaceful, not bothering anyone, that you stole from her lands. How do you intend on making that up to the wolf when you find her?"

Kostis looked up surprised "Y-You'll help!?" He asked. "I will because no innocent wolf deserves the fate you subjected her to. Now answer my question. How do you intend on making this up to the she-wolf?"

"Any way I can Alpha. Starting my rescuing her. I will spend the rest of my life in her debt, she-" he swallowed thickly as he spoke his next words. "Can even take my life if she wishes it, she is in her right for what we did to her."

"And your brothers? Would they as well?"

"Yes Alpha, my brothers and I agree on this," Kostis said softly.

"Very well then. Let us gather a plan young wolf."

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The she-wolf panted heavily as she took another step through the hard snow. The Alpha had to lead her outside and currently, they were walking around on a worn path. She was walking ahead of him making sure to keep some distance between her and the male wolf.

She was already exhausted and had only walked maybe 20 yards before stopping to catch her breath. Her legs and lungs burned with exhaustion and her legs shook as she tried to stay on her paws.

With a groan she laid down on the ground in the cool snow, Almost instantly it eased her burning pain.

The Alpha watched with growing concern as she struggled to remain awake, her exhausted body finally forcing her to rest and heal. She had pushed herself too much and would pay the price by the time she woke again.

The she-wolf whined softly as she shifted her body so she was laying on her side and got comfortable and closed her eyes. She liked the cold, it reminded her of her den, her home. Reminded her of the harsh snow that was probably covering her territory, of the bears that would come out mid hibernation to gather more fat, some brave cousin wolves would venture into her den area and try to steal the food she stored. She struggled to survive in the winters but she loved every second of it, she felt free and her instincts thrived in that environment.

Now, here she was, a shadow of what she used to be. Too tired to even walk 20 feet and her pelt did nothing to keep her comfortable now. Everything always hurt and she had nowhere to go, her home was invaded by males and males captured her and hurt her. Males were the ones who tortured her, they were untrustworthy creatures.

Opening her eyes she saw the Alpha standing only a few from her watching her. She growled, showing her teeth warning him to stay back. He looked at her surprised and backed up a few steps, his hands raised in surrender. "Easy she-wolf, I will not harm you." He said soothingly.

She ignored his words and pulled herself into a sitting position. She didn't like being near him, now that the valerian was no longer clouding her mind her instincts woke and went on the defense as his sight and scent.

Panting heavily she pulled herself to her paws and slowly started walking, taking a wide berth around the Alpha and heading towards the tightly packed trees. "She-wolf it is getting dark, you cannot go into the woods. The rouges pass through at night." The Alpha said trying to get her to stay away from the woods.

Through that clearing is where his Warriors train, he had no doubt that seeing them roughly training would it set the she-wolf back further. She needed a calm environment to heal from her trauma. She needed to go back inside and rest on the blankets the elders of the pack provided for her and food his warriors caught, and be tended to by the she-wolves of his pack. She deserved all he could provide for her.

The she-wolf ignored him and continued going into the woods, she wanted a safe place to rest, away from the male and away from his pack. She needed a new den, that's all her instincts pushed her towards and it's all she wanted. She heard the crunching of snow under the heavyweight of the Alpha. She snarled loudly and stopped. Her body stiffened and she turned her head to watch the male. Her eyes were darkening and her teeth seemed to lengthen as he stepped closer.

He stopped and his eyes widened in alarm as his instincts pushed him to stay, not to anger the she-wolf anymore than she was. "Little one, my warriors are training through there. You may be ha-" the she-wolf interrupted him by giving a warning bark. She had no interest in listening to him tell her what to do.

The Alpha's instincts flared to life warning him of pushing her any further. He shut his mouth and bowed his head slightly telling the she-wolf he would no longer stop her.

The she-wolf held her head high and forced her tired body into the woods to find a place to rest. Her walk unsteady but she would not be stopped.

The Alpha watched quietly as she disappeared into the forest and linked his warriors. "Go home. The she-wolf is coming towards you and she isn't safe right now. Keep back" He warned. "Something is odd about that she-wolf." He thought to himself as he stared at the woods.

An

Welp that chapter is done. Hopefully, I can finish up another this week. Again I do apologize for the late updates lately.