KING

CHAPTER TWO

“Take her and get out of here!!”

I froze. I couldn’t move a limb. The man looked up smirking beside August, wiping the blood on his jaws. He stood up still smirking at me from across the field. With daunt steps he approached me like a predator. Snapping out of my thoughts, I began running backwards with an unconscious Janet on my back. The man’s face changed as fangs grew out of his mouth. Terrified I turned around picking up speed running through the trees. I didn’t care for anything except for my niece’s safety. I had been a few yards away when I felt the weight lift off my back jerking me backwards. I fell on the ground looking up to find Janet, hanging in the air. She was still unconscious.

“Don’t you dare do something or else…”

“Or else what?” The man challenged me jingling Janet in the air.

“Please kind sir, don’t do anything to her,” I begged him.

“For an Alpha’s son you are quiet..,” he was thinking, “...polite.”

“I’ll do whatever you want just let her go,” I begged him on my knees for the second time.

“Tsk..tsk.. I would have let her go but considering the situati-” his words were cut off when a wooden stake drove through his heart.

I woke up sweating. Throwing my bed covers off of me on to the cold floor, I launched straight for the door. Running through the hall in my boxers I rounded the corner to the stairs. The stairs thudded under my bare feet as I half ran and half raced down the stairs. Reaching the landing I lunged for Janet’s room. Opening the door wide I looked into the room my eyes searching her frantically. A huge relief passed through me, seeing her on the bed, sleeping soundly as a little baby. I walked up to her bed sitting down beside her sleeping figure. Her mouth was hanging open, her face relaxed. Tucking a stranded hair behind her ear I placed a kiss on her head to ease my nerves. Janet shuffled around till her hand touched me. She opened her hazel eyes and stared at me. “Ed! What are doing here at,” she yawned glancing at the clock on the night stand, “4:47 in the morning?” I ran my hand through her hair pushing back strands of hair behind her ears, “Nothing. I just couldn’t sleep anymore so I came down here. I didn’t mean to wake you up. Go back to sleep.” I rose up to leave when she grabbed my hand, “Did you have another nightmare Ed?” concern laced her voice. “No, no. I couldn’t sleep Peanut so I ended up in your room. No nightmares,” I lied to her. “Now go back to your sleep,” with that and a smile I shut the door and headed downstairs. It was still dark outside but I didn’t feel like sleeping anymore. So I decided to go for a run in the woods. Well early training wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Closing the main door behind my back I walked up to the large ash tree slipping off my boxers. I started jogging which turned into running and soon I could feel my bones cracking under my skin. Fur took place of skin; nose into a snout, hands turned into legs and I felt my paws thudding on the ground as an auburn tail swished behind my back. The sun was coming up, lighting the forest dimly. Instead of taking the usual path I decided to take a detour. The tall green trees seemed majestic commanding respect, the ground still damp, crickets still chirping loudly as if they were talking, the cool breeze brushing…Wait, what? I screeched to a halt listening intently. Now this sounds crazy but I could hear it. It wasn’t clear, rather whispers, overlapping whispers. Well I couldn’t get much except the broken words ‘returned’, ‘balance’, ‘miracle’, ‘save’ and ‘alpha’. I turned around in circles looking for someone, anyone. I growled to let that someone know who he was playing tricks on. I tried to listen to the whispers again but nothing. It was like nothing even happened in the first place. I pranced around the woods expecting to see or hear something, but to my dismay.

After prancing around a little more I realized how stressed I was to hear imaginary voices. Those nightmares really took a toll on me. So I returned home. I saw a Ford Aspire on the driveway. Putting on my boxers I smelled a scent that I knew all too well. Opening the front door I found my parents talking to two huge men. “What’s happening here?” They turned startled at my voice. “Honey, where are you coming from?” my mom asked eyeing me worriedly. “I went for a run in the woods Mom,” I lied again. “Are you okay son?” Dad stood up holding his crutches. “Yes Dad. I went on a run to warm up, but…,” I looked at the men, “what’s up with them?” My parents stared at each other. “The same stuff Aaron, the same problem,” one of the bulky men spoke up. “Actually we came here to talk to you. If you could come with us for the last time we-” Interrupting him I said, “You don’t have to say please for this. Anytime, just give me a call. I will go no matter wherever I am.” Both of them nodded towards me with respect. “Who is it this time?” “The same old Tristan and his men,” the other man said. “He never learns,” I muttered under my breath. “Wait here, I’ll be right back,” I called back as I ran up the stairs. “Alpha Aaron, wait!” I stopped midway turning back. “Not now. Come after school. The challenge starts late in the afternoon,” one of them said. “Okay then. Send my regards to his majesty. I’ll see him after school then.”