Rose

Daryn stood thinking, the roll up cigarette burning away forgotten between his fingers. He was supposed to be on patrol, watching the main road that lead to the pack lands. At 26 he was starting to feel frustrated. As first son of the alpha and luna he was the second strongest in the pack. After his father of course. But the old man was getting tired. Alphas retired about 50 years old and his father was now 52. A lifetime spent fighting, maintaining, and lately, managing, one of the biggest wolf packs in rural North America had started to show. His once black hair was turning white. His beard and eyebrows also now streaked with silver. But as yet, he'd shown no signs of handing the pack over. Sy, Daryn's younger brother, had recently moved to a cabin out on the far side of the territory, he said the pack was "doing his head in" he'd wanted space. At 20 it'd seemed ideal for him to move away, but not too far. Daryn envies him his escape. Daryn's gaze slowly focused on the public road below him. A little, old fashioned, red car kangaroo hopped down the road. "Someone doesn't know how to drive" he thought, watching it slowly lurch forwards, stop at every gap in the trees lining the road, then suddenly hop forwards again. "they are looking for something" he thought, throwing away the burnt-out cigarette. "no one on this road but us. They are coming here!" Loping easily down towards the gate he saw the little car stop, turn and lurch forwards, just missing the solid stone marker posts at the end of the driveway. Before he reached the road, the little car had hopped into a tree and sat crumpled with steam gently rising from the radiator.   As he approached the car Daryn could start to smell it. The sharp nose pricking smell of boiling acid. Wrenching open the door of the car he staggered back. The smell making him cough. A Vampire! What the f**k was a vampire doing here?? In the middle of the day? Didn't those freaks hate sunlight?   The vampire looked young maybe around 19, she was crumpled over the steering wheel, the car so old it didn't have air bags. She muttered something. Daryn just heard it. "King" Deep breath "Alpha" Deep breath "Message!"   Repeat again and again. Her breathing laboured as though she was losing consciousness.   Daryn reached for his knife. No way he was leaning over her to release the belt. He cut through the webbing holding the girl in the car. She slowly toppled sideways. Ending in a crumpled heap at his feet. Still gasping the words. King, alpha, message.   His eyes watering Daryn looked at her more closely. She looked dreadful. Like someone tried to cover bones with tissue paper thin skin. Her eyes sunken and swollen almost closed. He lips devoid of colour, her cheeks so hollow he could almost count her teeth. She looked awful.   Daryn touched the Bluetooth device in his ear. "Alpha mobile" he commanded, taking a deep breath he lifted the inert vampire into his arms and started running back up the track to the pack lands.   The call connected "Son?" his father's voice said in his ear "Pops can you meet me at my cabin? Bring James!" "James? Are you OK? Are you sick? Why do you need a vet? Are you hurt?" "Pops! Just hurry!"