The Broken Wolf

Dominic had done many questionable things for the sake of his pack without so much as an afterthought, yet watching Elodie make her way out to the lake alone, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the worst thing he’d ever done. She was young. Only a few years younger than him and naïve enough to not sense the danger in the trees that lined her family’s property. He tried not to notice the way her eyes seemed to glow in the afternoon light. Or the softness of her expression as she sat at the lakes edge her hair a loose mess of curls around her shoulders. Alone. Her hands trailed absently over the patch of wild flowers surrounding her. Nimble fingers pulling out stems and weaving them together to create the beginnings of a crown. Dominic had been watching her for a few hours. She hadn’t done anything particularly interesting. Helped out in the kitchen for almost an hour. Spent some time collecting herbs for the healers cabin. Spoken to a few pups who’d gotten into a scuffle on the road. And yet still he watched her. “That’s her?” Dominic didn’t turn recognizing Haze’s voice behind him. “Yes.” Haze stepped through the bush, careful not to disturb the ground beneath his boots. He was one of the very few wolves Dominic trusted to accompany him on a job like this. Though whether or not his being there was necessary he couldn’t decide. “She doesn’t look like much.” Dominic’s jaw tightened his wolf flicked his tail in response. “So? What are we waiting for?” Haze asked peering at the girl with disinterest. Dominic wanted to ask himself that too. This was ridiculous. As the second in command for Hallow Night Land pack he’d done many questionable things. When Jasper needed something done that couldn’t be entrusted to someone with a conscience he sent Dominic. Border disputes. Warnings. Hits. Retribution. Dominic had never questioned a thing. Orders were orders. Simple. Carried out quickly and efficiently. Until now. His gaze returned to the girl. Elodie. The youngest daughter of Alpha Harrow. Nineteen, unmated, no rank worth mentioning. Seemingly a ghost in her own family. Worth only what her mate pairing could provide. That last part bothered him more than it should. She was a bargaining piece nothing more. His orders were to take her across the border before anyone realized she was gone. Alpha Harrow refused to negotiate so Jasper wanted the upper hand. It was a simple enough task, not one that should have caused him so much contemplation. But his wolf had been restless in his chest ever since he started. Pacing back and forth beyond that boundary which separated them. Uneasy with the idea of taking her like this, uneasy with the idea of leaving her. Not aggressive but something more. Something unnamable. He didn’t like it. Or the way his wolf seemed to settle whenever she was in sight. “She’s leaving.” Haze murmured. Sure enough she stood up holding half a flower crown she dusted the dirt off her skirt and glanced up towards the forest. For a moment he froze. She couldn’t see him, the shadows were thick in the setting sun. The distance between them was too wide. Still something about her gaze had the hair along his arms standing. “Dominic.” Haze hissed as she turned to walk away. Dominic didn’t move. “Now, Dominic.” He could do it. Could take her before she made it back out of the forest. He could cross the distance in seconds, cover her mouth and carry her home before anyone had any idea what had happened. He’d done worse things. His wolf growled. Low, a protest of some sort. “Fine.” He muttered. Haze eyed him skeptically. Dominic ignored him and stepped out from their hiding space. Leaves crunched underfoot and Elodie froze swiveling around so quickly she stumbled. Eyes the color of melted honey blinked in shock. For a heartbeat neither of them moved. Her flowers fell hitting the ground in a flash of petals. Her face went white. The fear in her eyes sent a shiver down Dominic’s spine. He hated it. He took a step towards her. “Stop,” she barked eyes wide. He did as she asked. His wolf settling down on his hind legs like a pup receiving a command. “Who are you?” She asked words shaky and dripping with fear. “Dominic De Leon.” Her expression changed. She recognized his name then. Of course she did. Every wolf in North America had heard of Hallow Night Land. A pack that had grown out of obscurity led by the ruthless Alpha Jasper. They knew his warriors guarded the largest stretch of forest in the region. They knew who had earned the pack its land through blood and sweat when diplomacy had failed. She took a step back. Haze took one forward. Dominic raised his hand to keep him back. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Her eyes flicked toward the trees and then to his raised hand. “Then why are you here?” She asked with a swallow. “You’re coming with me.” Elodie blinked. “No.” Dominic almost smiled. Almost. Not because it was funny. But she was strangely brave as she said it. Her simple refusal in the face of true danger humoring him. “No.” She repeated stronger this time. And underneath the overlaying fear he saw her anger. Good. That was better than fear. Then there was a howl in the distance. Instinctively her head snapped toward the edge of the forest where in the distance she could undoubtably see the edge of her pack. Dominic moved. He crossed the distance between them too fast for her to react in time. Her hands struck his chest as he caught her around the waist. “Wait—” She had time to cry out as he lifted her. She fought with all her might twisting and kicking and then driving a knee in his ribs. He grunted, “Stop it.” “Then let me go!” “Elodie.” “Help!” He clamped a hand over her mouth and her eyes instantly widened. When tears welled in those honey colored eyes he almost loosened his grip and let her go. Another howl, closer, no doubt lured in by her screaming helped him focus. Out of time he threw her over his shoulder and ran. Back toward Hallow Night Land. And as night fell she stopped fighting. Something in his chest twisted. Guilt he’d never felt before settled in his chest like a stone as they made their way through the expansive forest back to his pack. Regardless he knew one thing with certainty. He would follow Jasper’s order. Because Elodie was a Harrow. An enemy. And whatever strange instincts his wolf had been developing he would bury them. He could not allow himself to forget.