Hidden In Plain Sight: Book 2 (Wolves)

Chapter 6- Halyn

Jogging from my room, Susan is there and says, “hey, Gannon is finally back so we can do your blood bond.”

I’m slightly annoyed, because I had my heart set on running. It’s like something is telling me I need to run today. “Can I just do it after my run?”

Susan narrows her eyes before grabbing my arm and almost dragging me to Alpha Gannon’s office. I think to myself, I guess not. Susan knocks on The Alpha’s door. “Come in,” a deep voice says. When the door is pushed open by Susan, Gannon can be seen sitting behind his desk typing on his computer. “What can I do for you ladies?”

Susan explains, “I brought Halyn so you can initiate her pack blood bond.” Gannon looks up at Susan in what looks like confusion. “I figured it best to get it done now.”

Gannon just stared at Susan briefly before answering, “we usually have a pack ceremony the night of the full moon.”

“Yes, but I think since Halyn is family, we should do hers now.” Susan cleared her throat and tilted her head at Gannon. “Please Alpha, can you do it now?”

Alpha Gannon stands up, grabs the ceremonial knife case off the shelf, sets it on his desk, and opens it before making eye contact with me. “Halyn are you okay with doing this now? That way you will get all pack announcements and be able to mind-link with any of our pack members 1:1 or as a pack. Just remember it won’t work with the humans in our pack unless you are mated.”

I swallow nervously, looking at the huge knife on Gannon’s desk. Clearing my throat, I try to convince them, “I’m really okay with waiting until the full moon ceremony.”

Gannon shuts the box, but Susan speaks up, “no, please do it now. If I’m wrong and it wasn’t necessary, I’ll allow you to cut me. If I’m correct though cousin, it’ll keep you safe.”

Susan was making me nervous with her insistence, so I finally gave in and put my right hand out toward Alpha Gannon.

Gannon sliced his right hand, then grabbed mine and said, “I Alpha Gannon welcome you Halyn Eyak to the Mississippi Bluffs pack. Will you be a loyal pack member and be honest if there are difficulties? Will you help your fellow lupus canis in achieving a safe, prosperous, honorable, and love filled life as long as you are a member of this pack?”

“Yes Alpha, I do.”

“Okay,” Gannon replied, “you are officially of our pack.”

In a mind link he said, ‘welcome my cousin Halyn!’

‘Thank you Alpha, it’s an honor’, I answered, also via mind-link, before I walked out toward the back corner for my run.

As I reached the shack, I was already slipping off my shoes and then my shirt. My hand wound was already closed and healing. I was feeling a sense of urgency to get to the bank of the River. I’m not sure why, but the feeling was intense, and that rarely had a positive outcome. I’d make sure Susan explained to me soon what all the fuss was about, but today I was in too much of a hurry to push the issue.

Clothes on the bench, I shifted into my wolf form, Moon, and she took over. I bounded out the wolf door that needed no code to exit, and headed straight down the trail to the river bank where I saw the young human man yesterday. My heart was pounding in my chest, my breathing was labored, but I pushed myself harder to get there in spite of my anxiety.

As I neared the area, I could smell a male wolf as well as the human’s scent. I prayed to The Creator that I wasn’t too late. I recognized the male wolf scent as one from my father’s Red River pack. I couldn’t help but wonder why he was all the way here in Alaska. I had been happy to leave him behind, because he had tried repeatedly to convince me to date him, but I was not interested. For one, he was almost twice my age. For two, I simply wasn’t attracted to him, and he gave off a rather creepy vibe. No thanks!

I had slowed to a jog as I got close and the scents grew stronger. I began to hear a low growl and knew that wasn’t a good sign. I could just barely see the head and shoulders of the young man standing still on what I guessed was the bank of the river. His eyes were big as saucers and he was watching something as he stood very still. Just as I rounded the corner, I saw the large grey and brown wolf lunge toward the brown haired young man. The boy dived to the side and only received a superficial scratch. I saw a branch in his hands, a little larger than a baseball bat. Good to see he was prepared to defend himself, but this was a battle hardened wolf, and the young man stood little chance of surviving on his own. I inched up alongside the boy just as the wolf lunged and caught his ankle between his teeth. The boy ended up on the ground, swinging the branch at the wolf, but it did not deter the wolf from chewing on his leg. I could smell the copper scent of blood and knew this could be a serious injury. I hit the other wolf in the side with my head to startle him, then tore a chunk from his shoulder with my teeth. The wolf had let up a bit when I made contact but then whined and turned toward me after I tore the chunk from his shoulder. The delta wolf was also bleeding now. I growled and tried to circle behind the wolf, but he refused to be placed between us and jumped to the side to be in a more favorable position. The boy stood but couldn’t put much weight on his injured leg. I couldn’t focus on that now, I had to use my Alpha blood and training to deal with my father’s delta. We were about even in size since I was large as an Alpha b***h, but he was still about my size as a Delta Warrior.

I was no longer able to mind-link him now that I was part of Mississippi Bluffs pack, but I could call for help. As I circled slowly, I mind-linked Alpha Gannon, ‘human attacked by wolf down by river outside gates. Please send help and a cart. Still fighting him’.

Without question, Alpha Gannon answered, ‘on my way’.

I was unsure if I’d make it 10-15 minutes, but I was not letting this wolf kill the human, and I wasn’t going down without a fight. My best offense was a good defense. Being half his age, if I could wear him down, I had a chance. The other option was to keep this going until reinforcements appeared. The Delta growled again and stepped toward me, likely angry I had attacked him for a human. He stepped toward me before rearing up on his back feet and trying to come down on top of me. I also reared up and within seconds, we were gnashing, snarling and biting each other. He was stronger, but I was faster. Both of our muzzles were bloodied and blood lay all around from the wound on his side. I grabbed his ear and pulled back, but he was able to catch the side of my neck, and now I was the one at a disadvantage. A blur went through the air and the Delta went flying from a hit with the branch. The boy limped backwards to catch his balance, but the wound on my neck would have been so much worse without his help. I could feel the blood running, but wanted to take advantage of the Delta being stunned. I lunged for his throat with my teeth while he was down. Initially he didn’t respond, but then he began to twist his body, and it became evident he was not going to submit, even though I growled in my Alpha tone. Of course since I didn’t lead a pack, my growl was not as strong as a true pack Alpha, but it was still enough to make weak wolves submit. Unfortunately for me, this Delta was no weak wolf. A common wolf defensive move when I bit down harder, cut off his air, and pierced his trachea, was to try to use his claws to gouge my stomach. He was already getting weaker, but still managed to cut me up with his claws. I held on even though he stopped fighting, just to make sure he was truly dead. I did not want to start all over. I was becoming weaker from blood loss. I may look worse than the Delta, but I was still alive, he wasn’t. The puncture wounds in my neck had already knitted themselves closed, but it would surely take longer for my stomach wounds. As long as I could avoid infection, I would heal and live.

I lay down on my side as I began to feel weak, but still heard everything going on around me.

The young man kneeled down at my side and used his tee shirt to put pressure on the deepest gash in my stomach. I couldn’t help but admire his toned muscles, thick light brunette hair with blond highlights, and prominent jaw and nose. His scent was comforting as was his voice as he spoke to me in a calm, quiet voice, “come on girl, you gotta hang on. I wanted to see you again, but not like this. If we can stop the bleeding, I’ll run for help. You may have saved my life ya know. My name is Alistar. Wish I knew what to call you.”

Alistar… what a nice name for a handsome young man. I could no longer keep my eyes open and drifted off to sleep.