The Wolf Kin

A New Day

"Why don't you stop thinking about her? She is long dead." A voice snarls in my mind, shaking me from my thoughts. I blink quickly and shake my head, confused for a brief moment of where I am. Long gone is the wooded landscape where I first met Liza. In front of me was now a pile of grimy, slightly rusted watches and chains. These lovely items were from the early 1900's. I remember the dates in some of the items as if it were only a few days ago instead of over 100. I sigh as I pick up a watch, flipping open the top to study the hands. I sigh as i set it back down, my thoughts wandering once more before my wolf, Elias, snarls once again.

"Would you quit that?" He snarls, and the image of him flinching flashes in my mind. His greatest regret was not coming forward sooner to protect her.

I crack my neck as I shove my body away from the counter I had been leaning against. "We aren't that young pup anymore, Eli. We are grown now and able to control our powers." I whisper, my voice rumbling in my chest. I had well over a hundred years to discover I not only had a voice in my head that was my wolf, but I also had a plethora of abilities that reached beyond those of a human and other wolves. I tend to avoid other wolves, their packs making them highly territorial. Without a pack, they slowly go mad, most rogue wolves going mad within a year or two. The only way to save them is if they become part of a pack again, either by joining one or creating one. In my many years, I had created only two packs, the Frost Mountain pack and the Blaze River pack. Both on opposite sides of the country, they had no idea they were started by the same alpha. I regularly switch my name up and fake my own death every five or ten years, not eager to explain to anyone why I never seem to age.

I glance in the mirror behind me, the same deep sapphire eyes as always stare back at me, though I had cut and dyed my hair from dark black-brown to a more caramel chocolate brown. My jaw had squared out more than when I was younger, but little else had changed. My golden brown skin was only marred by a small scar on my upper lip, only the barest hint of stubble colored my cheeks and chin, but I paid it no mind.

I turn away from my reflection, still having a hard time looking myself in the eye.

A clock on the wall buzzed electrically, letting me know the time. I brush my hand through my hair with a deep sigh before carefully placing the items I'd been working on in a box and placing it on a shelf. I do my nightly ritual of closing up the shop before setting out for home. I walk casually down the sleepy streets of the small town I had moved to only a week ago. As far as they know, my name was James and I was a 19 year old college graduate who moved here to run his grandpa's business. Unknown to them, I was really a wolf who had been alive since the late 1800's, and I had owned land around this particular town under various names for several generations.

I made it home as the sun was setting, stretching to limber my muscles up. Bending over a counter cleaning antiques all day causing them to be stiff and sore. My home was not a lot to speak of, just a small one bedroom house. White paint outside and a gray/black roof. It lay at the edge of town with plenty of access to the forest in the backyard. No other people live past my home for miles, I know because not only do I own the land, but I also regularly run every night after dusk. A quiet knock on the door draws my attention and I walk over to open it.

A human in her mid 60's smiles kindly at me, a plate of food held delicately in her hands as she offers it.

"Oh, Jamie boy, I was hoping you would be home!" She gushes, her gentle brown eyes taking me in and she clicks her tongue. "You look as if you haven't had a good meal in days, James. A young boy like you needs to eat, you're still growing." She shakes her head in exasperation, but smiles again when I accept the plate from her. i chuckle softly as my wolf grumbles softly. "if she only knew." Eli huffs, though he liked the woman as much as i did.

"Mrs.Todd! It's so good to see you again. What did you cook for me this time? You really are too kind." I smile enthusiastically at her. Waving to invite her in, I lead her to the kitchen. It was well built, white trim tan paint with wallpaper halfway up the wall with a dark green background and roosters and chickens lined up pleasantly along it. The counters were regular, if somewhat cheap, wood with a clean wooden countertop. I prefer the warm colors of the woods in this home, always various shades of green, brown, and gray.

"James you know better than to call me that, it's Linda to you, young man." The woman chuckles, shaking her head. At 5'2", she looked like everyone's grandma. Tightly curled white‐gray hair and skin the color of caramel, she was one of the sweetest ladies I had met in many years.

"Alright, fine. Linda, you really are too good to me." I gave in easily, flashing a smile at her. I enthusiastically set the plate on the counter and uncovered the top to discover fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and some sweet corn. My mouth waters and I grin happily as I haven't eaten in hours. Letting out a little dance, I pick up one of the chicken thighs she had made and take a bite. The flavor exploded in my mouth, making me do another dance as I enjoyed the food. Once I finished the piece, I smiled happily at her.

"This is delicious, thank you. Do you need anything done around the house, or yard? I can come over tomorrow before work and make sure everything is running smoothly if you like."

Before I had even completed the offer, Linda was shaking her head with a sweet smile. "No no, sweet boy. You've done enough already this morning when you took my trash out and raked the leaves in the yard. If you keep at it, I'll have nothing to tell my son to do when he comes over and our visit will be terribly boring." She lets out a sweet laugh before she pats my arm and turns to leave. "I'll come back for the plate later, dear. You get some sleep, you hear me? You've looked like you haven't slept well in ages ever since you moved in here."

"I do alright, ma'am, don't worry about me too much." I hold a chuckle back, though it warms my heart that someone, even someone I have known for less than a month, is trying to be sweet to me. I walk her to the door and close it behind her, watching as she makes her way down the path to go to her home. I rub the back of my neck anxiously, wishing i could walk her to her home. Things are different now than they were back in the day, and after the scolding i got when we first met, i have never tried to walk her back to her house again. I shrugged and turned to the kitchen, scarfing down the rest of the food before carefully washing the plate and placing it on the dish rack to dry. With that accomplished, i hurry out the back door to go for my run. I strip off my shirt and then my pants before running forward and leaping at a tree. My jump carries me almost to the top of the tree and i shift on the way down. It was instantaneous, faster than human eyes can see. As my paws hit the ground and my eyes scan the night-time surroundings, im filled with joy. I let Eli take control and he throws his head back in a long, beautiful song. As soon as he is finnished, he takes off for his nightly run.

The wind felt incredible on my fur as Elias races with puppylike joy through the woods. Earth and leaves were thrown into the air as Eli's huge paws carried him through thickets and over fallen logs. once we found a stream, he crouched down to drink with a wagging tail. Elias hated being trapped in my body all day, so i gave him the night to do as he wished while i went into hibernation. we never left the safety of the trees, Elias understanding just as much as i did. Humans seeing a wolf the size of a mini van would have a major heart attack. we stay hidden.

Dawn is breaking when i come into consciousness, Eli had his face burried into the hollowed out chest of a young spring buck. Our belly was comfortably full and i sigh in contentment. As much as I missed the freedom before America was tamed, I had to admit that it was plentiful in food. i only look so skinny because during the night, Elias burned more calories than is safe for normal humans and even normal werewolves to consume.

i remind Eli about the time and he growls about not wanting to leave a fresh kill. we compromise and he picks up the kill in his strong jaws to carry back with us. once back in the yard, i shift back into my human form before picking the young buck up and tossing it over my shoulder. i carry it effortlessly to the door to the basement, pulling open the door and finding the coolest and dryest corner to put the deer before i go upstairs and shower the blood and fur off. once clean, i head out to open the shop.

~~~

{Alexis}

"lets go, beauty queen." i jump awake, startled out of bed completely. once i collect myself off the floor, i glare at the woman who stod above me with a harsh smirk on her face. Everyone was treated the same here, all of us being orphans of some race of supernatural. witches, shifters, other beings of some kind. didnt matter, you were work force. especially those that take a while to come into our powers or respective shifts. for me, i was turning 18 soon and i had yet to get my wolf. usually a wolf shows up the exact minute you turn 16, but for rare cases, they dont show up when they are suppose to, and its everyone's guess when it could happen. some shifters even go most of their lives without the other half of their soul, and im terrified im one of those wolves. without my wolf, i cant find my mate, and if i cant find my mate, my soul will never be complete and ill live half a life. no one wants that.

"hey, wake up already, you are being called to the office." the girl who had woken me up snapped again, growing more impatient by the minute.

i scramble to my feet, nervous about going to the notorious office. unless you've been evaluated for a family, the only time you go to the office is when youve done something wrong. i dont remember meeting anyone for a family eval.

i rush off, hurrying up the stairs of the building to the office and knock on the outside. my heart is beating in my throat from the rush and my nerves, but i still hear the soft voice call for me to enter. i go in, putting on my best smile and relaxing my arms at my side. i bow slightly before waiting for her to speak.

the woman sat behind the desk, her black hair cut in angular lines, her thick glasses perched on her nose and her dull green eyes were rimmed by dark circles. she looked to be about mid to late 40's, though no one knew her exact age. she scooted back from a computer screen she was inspecting and cleared her throat.

"youve been asigned a pack, Alexis. you will be sent there before your birthday to be pledged in so the madness doesnt take hold of you." her voice was monotone, though her words brought relief. i had dreaded the possibility of going mad, and the last alpha orphan had been adopted last year to be an heir, so the chances of starting a pack had been slim to none. i nod eagerly, hoping for more information, but the woman simply waves her hand in boredom.

"you leave tomorrow. say your goodbyes today and be sure your work is completed before the bus arrives tomorrow at 2pm or youll be cast out as a rogue. this is your only shot at a pack, Alexis. dont f**k up."

her words sting but i nod, secretly pleased before turning and leaving.