The Protector of Wolves

Chapter 14: Wolfsbane

Lacy’s POV

After taking a quick glance at the time on my phone, my heart starts pounding in my chest. Only 30 more minutes until Jake is supposed to arrive. I can’t help but pace around my apartment; I haven’t felt this nervous and excited in a long time.

I grab a small backpack from my bedroom closet and start gathering a few things for the hike today: water, sunscreen, first aid kit, etc. Once I’m sure I have everything I need, I walk over to my bedside dresser.

“Do you really need that today?” Cecelia questions me.

I take a deep breath and let out a long groan before carefully taking the wolfsbane out of the secret compartment in the top drawer.

“You know I do, Cecelia.” I reply. “Though I wish I didn’t...”

Ever since Travis attacked me, I’ve always carried it with me. Since wolfsbane doesn’t affect witches, Lena has helped me by gathering it, processing it, and storing it in a small bottle in case I ever need to use it. It feels so wrong as a wolf to carry wolfsbane around with the intent of using it on another wolf, but I can only imagine just how far Travis would go to get me into his control. I have to protect myself first before I can protect anyone else.

I very carefully lace my small dagger with the wolfsbane, watching as the silver blade begins to exhibit a purple shimmer. Before I slide it into the sheath that is strapped to my right thigh, I enchant the dagger so that the essence of the wolfsbane is imbued into the dagger – a trick that Lena showed me. I also perform another enchantment that makes it so that I cannot accidently cut and poison myself with the dagger. I then slide my baggy hiking shorts on, which does a great job of hiding the dagger. I also tuck the bottle of extra wolfsbane in a hidden pocket in my backpack. There’s just enough wolfsbane on the dagger to incapacitate one wolf if the situation is dire, but I never put on near enough to kill. I just hope I don’t find myself in a position where I have to use wolfsbane again.

It’s unfortunate that I always have to be prepared for the worst, but I am hopeful that my hike with Jake today will be uneventful in that regard. I do feel slight unease though, because, if I remember correctly, I think the Crescent Moon pack is nearby where Jake is taking me today. I’m not sure how they are going to feel about two humans coming pretty close to their boarders, especially if they find out I’m carrying wolfsbane. I think as long as we don’t cause any problems, it should be okay. Last I knew, Crescent Moon had a strong alliance with my old pack, and my father would never make an alliance with anyone who was overtly hostile. He undeniably made the right decision when he rejected Alpha Douglas and Travis’ alliance proposal. Even years later, the thought of their proposal to make me Travis’ chosen mate makes my blood boil.

“He is a poor excuse for a wolf, let alone an Alpha!” Cecelia growls in my head.

Travis is the main reason I’ve had to hide for so long. At first, Cecelia was angry with me, but her anger at me has slowly dissipated over the last couple of years and has been replaced with anger towards Travis instead; a change I wholeheartedly welcomed. Other than Lena and Cora, Cecelia and I are all each other has right now and I hate being at odds with her.

It hasn’t been ideal for my wolf to be alone without her pack, but Lena has been able to magically seal a safe space for me outside where I can let my wolf out without fear of being discovered by anyone else. For being away from other wolves and our pack for so long, Cecelia really has managed quite well and I’m proud that she’s my wolf. I owe it to her to bring her back to our pack as soon as I possibly can.

“I think we are ready to take care of Travis and the hunters,” Cecelia confidently tells me.

“Soon...” I say.

I have had this feeling of guilt for so long. I know Cecelia is right – it’s more than time for me to stop hiding. Although I’ll never be as good as Lena, I’ve come a long way with my witch powers.

A part of me wishes I could just stay here and hide forever. Am I really ready to take on these dark hunters and Travis? What will happen if I fail? I am scared to see how my pack will react to me when they found out I basically faked my own death and hid from them.

Will everyone in the pack hate me for it?

What about my parents and brother?

It makes my heart ache knowing how much pain I caused them all. I need to defeat Travis and the dark hunters before I can go back and see my family. And here I am about to go gallivanting around with a human when I should be focusing on defeating Travis and the dark hunters.

As I question my decision to agree to go on a hike (and possible date) with a human, I hear a loud knock at the door.

Jake’s POV

“You seem distracted this morning,” Kyle links me. I glance over at him as he’s observing and coaching a few of the warriors. He wiggles his eyebrows at me suggestively.

“I am focused on the task at hand, are you?” I shoot back while giving him an unenthused look.

“Of course,” he chuckles. “But I would be distracted too if I was going to see my possible mate today.”

“Alright everyone! That’s enough for today. Great session!” I announce. “Austin, would you please come speak with me before you head out?”

Everyone slowly makes their way to our pack’s gym and locker room, making small talk on the way. I can tell Kara is staring at me as she’s walking with her friends, but she doesn’t say anything to me. She’s no doubt still pissed about what happened last night.

“Hello, Alpha. You wanted to see me?” Austin says to me.

“Yes. You are in charge of today’s patrols, correct?”

“I am.”

“Great. Keep patrols away from the western borders today,” I instruct him.

“No patrols at the western border...?” He c***s his head to the left, waiting for an explanation.

“That is what I said.”

“Yes, Alpha,” he replies to me, with a nod.

The last thing I need is for the entire pack to know I’m dating a human who may not even be my mate.

----

After the training session, I hop in the shower and get ready for the hike today with Lacy. I make sure to pack a picnic basket full of a variety of foods. I don’t particularly like to cook all of the time, but there are a few things that I make quite well. I hope to impress Lacy a bit with my cooking skills.

I can feel Ryker getting excited in my head, matching my energy. I have a duty as alpha to find my mate, my Luna. I want it to be Lacy, but at the same time, I know the challenges that will arise with having a human mate.

The trip from the packlands to town is a bit of a long drive, but the scenery helps the time go by quickly.

Once I find Lacy’s apartment, I give a loud knock on the door. After a few seconds, the door swings open, and I see Lacy’s sweet, smiling face. Instantly, all of my concerns have dissipated, and I only feel excitement for the day we are about to have together.

“Hi Lacy. It’s great to see you again,” I say while smiling.

“Thank you,” she says with a giggle.

“Shall we go?” I ask.

She gives me a nod and a small “yes” and we walk down to my car. I open the passenger door for her, and she gets in. Once we are both seated and buckled, I turn on the car and hear her breathe in deeply. I look over at her and she has a puzzled look on her face.

“Lacy are you okay?”

“Oh yes, I’m fine. It’s just...” She trails off, seemingly lost in thought for a moment before continuing. “Well... you smell very good,” she admits. Her cheeks turn pink.

I laugh a little. “Well, thank you. I am glad I don’t smell bad,” I tease. “By the way, it’s a bit of a drive north of here, and then the hike is kinda long, too. Hope you didn’t make any other plans today,” I say with a wink.

“Nope! I’m all yours today!”

All mine, huh? I like the sound of that.

I can sense Ryker squirming in my head.

“Ryker, is she mate?”

“I like her and want us to spend time with her.”

“Ryker! Is she mate or is she not mate?”

“Dunno. Can’t tell.”

Great. My wolf is just as confused as I am. "Useless..."

“Maybe you should touch her hand again, he suggests, "...or kiss.”

“Yeah, maybe. But we will have to take it slow with the kissing. Humans don’t move as fast in relationships as wolves do.”

“Hmph.” is all he replies.