The Lonely Wolf

13

Veronica

Today was the first day filled with good news I have had in a long time. I needed to do something to celebrate it. Sasha had been wanting to get out, and I figured there was no better time. Most of the students are away either at some school dance or a party at the pack. Sasha would have this side of the woods free to roam. We just have to stay away from the pack sensor.

As I have done a few times this week already, I went into the hut that was reserved for Roddy. He gave me permission to use it as often as I needed. I stripped my clothes off and shifted. Sasha took off in the woods chasing rabbits, zipping through the trees, jumping over the rocks. Before she knew it, we were near the pack’s perimeter.

She did not cross it. We sat listening to the music and laughter in the distance. She decided to climb up a landing to see better. It was a nice breeze on this hot fall night up there. It was the perfect night for wolves to run free.

I could hear and feel the wolves roaming the woods nearby on the pack's side of the perimeters. I figured they were the guards, so I knew I could get no closer. They probably could sense me there, but with no sudden movements I wouldn't be seen as a threat, right?

“The air just smells so good. It’s so fresh, citrusy and woody,” Sasha says, lying on the rock and closing her eyes just to breathe in the air.

“It does smell intoxicating. It’s citrusy like a bergamot orange, spicy like Sichuan pepper, and ambery marine wood. I want to just to lay here and breathe it in forever,” I told her, relaxing and looking up at the sky under the stars.

The scent was just so calming we were ready to fall asleep right there and probably would have if the alarm hadn’t gone off, startling us to our feet.

I had been there for a half hour now. I knew I hadn’t crossed the perimeter but someone did. I didn’t know if I should move or just wait it out.

I could hear the guards were approaching below. I could feel their movements. Sizable wolves were heading right towards me. I had to go.

Sasha jumped down from the landing and ran full speed back towards the school.

We were almost out of the woods when a ginormous midnight black wolf jumped out of nowhere in front of us, stopping us in our tracks.

He was humongous! Larger than Roddy's wolf. I was frozen, not because I was scared but because he was the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen. So beautiful yet very intimidating with how his green eyes watched me for a moment, almost looking confused.

He didn’t look like he was going to attack me, but I don't know who this wolf was. I could feel the other wolves getting close behind me. I didn’t do anything wrong but could only imagine how they would treat a rogue near the territory line.

Sasha crouched down low and began trembling. I needed to get past him and back to school. Next thing I knew, the black wolf had done something so unexpected. He jumped up. I thought he was lunging at me, but he jumped over me and quickly moved, taking a protective stance between me and where they were coming. He left me way to get to school.

Afraid of what might happen if I stayed, I ran back to the hut. No time for clothes, I wrapped myself in Roddy’s robe, grabbed my clothes and ran into the school.

Rodrick

We literally just began the scavenger hunt in the woods when the alarm sounded.

“Dad it’s probably one of the students just running back to school. They probably just forgot something or got distracted and accidentally crossed the perimeter. Do you really think all these security measures are necessary?” I asked my dad. He called me when someone triggered the alarm. I am hoping it was not Ronnie.

A half an hour later the guards said someone crossed the boundary from the pack and into the school. No intruder has entered the pack. Doesn’t sound like a big deal to me.

“They seem to have everything in control now but not many are interested in resuming the scavenger hunt. I’m ready to get into one of those she wolves over there. What do you say?” Bass says as he gets off the phone.

“For sure. I told my dad a while ago that I think they are blowing things out of proportion. Let's see if those beauties are on board and let’s go. Where’s Devin?” I asked Travis his beta.

Devin is the soon-to-be alpha of the Timberlake Pack, our neighboring allying pack.

“Man. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. He said he caught a scent he had to go track down.” He said using air quotes. “I am pretty sure he’s the reason for the alarms. The way he took off, it was almost like he caught his mate's scent.”

“Word! There are quite a few females in my pack that would be around the right age range for him to detect,” I say.

“Mapleboro has a few there too, I believe,” Omar, the new alpha of the Mapleboro Pack, walked up saying.

“Maybe they were playing a game of cat and mouse and just crossed over the sensor by accident. So that means he probably won’t be around for drinks, a game of pool or the ladies that will be coming to join us at the pool and hot tub later. You still down to join us?" I asked them both.

“Hell yeah. But first tell me how old blondie is over there,” he says, eyeing Stephanie.

“Stephanie is 16. Her birthday is next month, but she's still a little too young for you bro,” I reply. Travis, although just a grade higher than me, just turned 18 before school started. His birthday party was wild.

He makes a shocked face and puts his hand over his heart like he just got shot. There were a few more jokes and jests before we began to pack into the trucks. Devin finally comes out of the woods, but not with a female.

“Where is she, D?” his beta asks.

“She disappeared. When the guards came to tell me I had crossed the perimeter, I turned and all was left was her beautiful scent. Roddy, you have a sister, right?” He asks, still gone off of adrenaline.

“Yeah, but she’s too young to be out this time of night. She should be in the pack house with my parents,” I replied confused. Please don't tell me they're both into younger girls.

“f**k. She’s probably too young to recognize the mate bond too then. I think I was tracking her scent. I caught up with her just past the sensors. I almost thought her wolf was yours at first. I swear she was glistening in the moonlight and let me tell you, she’s gorgeous. I was going to tell the guards to just give us a minute. I just wanted to tell her about the connection. She looked terrified. Probably thought she would get in trouble for being out or something,” he continues, talking.

Rebecca just got her wolf, and it looks nothing like mine. It has my mom’s grey coat. No one in the pack has a wolf like mine besides my dad. The closest I have seen is… Veronica.

“I think he’s talking about Ronnie,” I say to Bass in mind link

“Do we tell him?” he asks.

“ I think I have to. Just not now. I’ll wait until we are somewhere private.”

“He’ll probably reject her, right? She’s a rogue hybrid.”

“More than likely,” I say, feeling bad for what is going to come for her.