Born in Fire

*Kalama*      I lend against the cool stone of the cave wall. It was wet from the morning's rain and soaked into my already dirty and torn shirt, chilling my skin. I had been staying in the cave ever since that fateful night, now over a week ago. My stomach growled and I pulled my knees up to my chest, letting out a sad sigh. "Don't be sad." said a voice in my head. My wolf, Ash spoke in a whisper.     "How can I not?" I thought at her. "I should be at home, enjoying..." My thought dwindled and a tear trailed down my cheek. It had been my eighteenth birthday and had just met the eyes of who I thought was my other half. Evan was tall and lean, with broad shoulders, blonde hair and brown eyes. It was good at first, despite Ash's warnings. I had refused to listen to her, until it was to late. He had come into our bedroom, stinking of another she-wolf. I had been furious. At first, it was just yelling and then his eyes went black and his hand came across my face so hard I saw stars. I don't remember the full beating, only that when I woke I was chained to the bed, naked, bruised, and bloody. The silver chains burned my skin and I knew I had to get out, somehow.     "And we did." said Ash.     "Yeah, that we did." I thought, "But at what price." Ash snorted in disgust,     "He was not our mate. There is no point in dwelling on what has happened. The future is what is important."     "What future?"  Ash chuckled,     "You shall see, my Kalama." With that last statement, Ash went dormant, leaving me to do nothing but find breakfast. *Ash*     My Kalama was broken over what had happened to Evan. Evan had given her the one thing she desired, companionship. Before I had been able to come through, my dear Kalama spent much of her time alone. She was the only child of the Alpha and Luna of the Crystal Stream Pack and were often busy with other duties. The other pack members could sense something different about her and avoided her. The rumors that she was not the Alpha's daughter filled the pack-houses. Kalama tried to understand, using the fact that she had flaming red hair and strange hazel eyes that seemed to be alight, for the reason of these rumors. Even I had to admit that Kalama looked nothing like her parents. Alpha Phillip, who stood well over six foot, with well developed muscles, brown hair and brown eyes and Luna Litta, who was small and slender, with brown/blonde hair and brown eyes. I shared the hurt and loneliness that Kalama experienced in her childhood     I however, felt nothing for what happened to Evan. I had tried to warn her, Evan was not the one, but Kalama was lost in his companionship, having never experienced it before. Kalama did not fully understand what had happened as she laid, chained to that bed, but I did. I knew everything that sick son of a b***h did to her. I had tried pleading with his wolf, but the wolf was just as sick as he was. When Kalama awoke and felt the pain he had dealt her, I knew we somehow had to escape. I then sensed her fear, as Evan stood over her, his claws were out and his canines enlarged. He was hungry for blood, her blood, our blood and he wouldn't stop until we were dead. It was then that I felt the fire, I didn't know if Kalama did, with fear clouding her mind, but I did and pushed through, bringing the fire with me. "Ash?" Kalama's voice broke through my own thoughts. "Do you want to go for a run?" I purred my delight and watched through Kalama's eyes as she began to stripped off her badly torn clothes.     I closed my eyes as the warmth of the shift bubbled somewhere in Kalama's body. Her bones broke, lengthened, and settled. When the warmth had gone, I opened my eyes and looked down at my own paws and back up again as the smells of the forest filled my nose. A rabbit suddenly hopped out of the bushes, making eye contact with me and rushed off. I took off after it, enjoying the wind blowing through my fur and the dirt under my paws. I chased the rabbit, keeping up with ease, until it finally dove for cover under an uprooted tree. I paced back and forth in front of the spot the rabbit went, hoping it would try to make a break for it. After a few minutes, I huffed, giving up on the rabbit. The smell of water tickled my nose, making me realize how thirsty I was. Following the smell, I came to a spring. The water was crystal clear, allowing me to see the fish that swam at the bottom. I drank my fill and decided this would be a good place for a rest. I laid down in the soft grass as the edge of the spring, letting out a yawn and closed my eyes. I was just starting to drift off, when I heard the snap of a twig. I dropped to my feet, turning and facing the dark blue eyes of a black wolf. *Caspian*     I was paroling the south edge of my territory, when the smell of burning embers and cherry filled my nose. My wolf, Bay, growled. "It's a she-wolf." I let out my own growl, an intruder was on my lands. Using the mind-link of an Alpha, I connected my Beta, John and Gemma, Neal.     "Meet me on the south side, we have a problem." John and Neal were by my side within minutes and shifted as I did. Without having to be told, the two followed me into the forest. I followed the smell of burning embers and cherry for a half mile, coming to the spring. Through the brush, I saw the form of a sleeping wolf. Her red fur reminded me of the flames of a burning fire and I found myself wishing to run my fingers through it. Bay purred his agreement. I pushed the thought away, talking to my second and third through the mind-link. "John, go around and flank her on the right. Neal, from behind. We take her alive, we may be able to get information about who sent her."     "Yes, Alpha." They replied in unison, moving to take their assigned positions. Just as I was about to give the go ahead, I heard the snap of a twig and felt Neal wince. The she-wolf jumped to her feet, turning to face me, her teeth bared. My breathe caught in my throat. Her eyes were alight with brown and orange, as though a flame burned within them. Bay went crazy, screaming,     "MATE! MATE!"     "Really?"     "Mine." was his only reply. I looked into the flaming eyes of the she-wolf and she looked into mine. She unbared her teeth, c*****g her head at me and all to soon she looked away, making Bay whine. She bared her teeth at the dark brown wolf that was John, spinning to warn Neal, a dull grey and then back at me. I heard the all to familiar sound of bones breaking and settling back into place. I felt my eyes widen as a beautiful and very naked woman stood in front of me. She smiled and then her eyes rolled to the back of her head and her perfect body went limp. I rushed to her, shifting and catching her before she hit the forest floor. John and Neal shifted, coming closer. I growled at them and screamed,     "MINE!" They both, stepped back, their palms face-up. I hoisted the woman into my arms, bridal style. Her skin was hot, so hot it almost burned. I ignored it, she need a doctor fast. I ran back to the pack-house, the woman cradled in my arms. I wasn't sure if John or Neal followed, until they were bursting open the front doors, shoving pack members out of the way to the hospital wing. I burst through the doors of the hospital. Dr. Barker rushed over.     "Alpha Caspian. Set her down over here." He gestured to an empty bed. I did as he instructed. He began an exam, his hand lingering on a scar on her slim belly for a second to long. I growled,      "Mine." The doctor removed his hand,     "I'm sorry Alpha, but I must examine her. She's burning up, I need to get her into a cold bath, see if we can bring that fever down." I scooped her back up, following Dr. Barker to a back room, where a large bathtub stood. Dr. Barker turned the water on as I gently placed her in. Her skin sizzled as the water washed over her. I heard her sigh, as though the cold water brought relief and I saw her body relax. Dr. Barker turned to me. "This should help. Let's leave her for a while. Once the fever is broken she should wake up."     "Can I stay?" Dr. Barker smiled,     "Of course." He turned, shutting the door behind him. I grabbed a chair from the corner, placing it next to the tub, and sat, watching and hoping to the Moon Goddess that she would soon wake up.