Far From Home

Chapter Seven - The Run

Suddenly I hear what sounds like tv static in my head and Frederick’s voice begins speaking as clear as day.

“They’re admiring your beautiful wolf cousin. She is special and rare because she is royal like you. Join us at the front of the pack where you belong,” he states. My first mind link and it is with a long lost cousin. What even is my life right now? Opal is pleased with the Prince’s statement and trots to the front of the pack to finally run with her family. Ryan and his magnificent deep brown wolf Thunder follow closely behind making sure no one dare approach me out of line. As we approach the front I see that my cousin and his wife are standing there fully nude speaking with Alpha Chris, his mate, the Betta couple, and the new Gamma couple. They have remained in human form so they can talk as they are not all in the same pack and Frederick’s smile grows wide as he sees me coming. He nods at Alpha Chris and Stephen and they all shift into the largest wolves I’ve ever seen. But where my cousin had just stood moments ago, now stood the largest beast of all and there was no mistaking him as family because he looked just like me with glowing white fur. The other wolves were beautiful in impressive shades of black, brown and cream but my cousin and I looked like literal unicorns glistening in the moonlight. There was no denying we were family. And now if was time to run.

Because it was their ceremony, Stephen and Liz stood at the front of the pack and began the run with a howl to the goddess. The chorus of howls that followed would have brought tears to my eyes if I was in my human form. I may be far from the place I call my home but right here in this moment, I feel more at home than I ever have in my life. The run begins and I can tell that the Prince, Alpha, Beta and their respective mates are holding back to allow the Gamma couple to shine and I’m so happy for my friend Liz. She’s a petite sandy wolf with playful white socks and she is in her glory leading this glorious pack of shifters. I hear my mind link open again and my cousin comes through asking, “Are you enjoying yourself dear cousin?”

“More than you can ever imagine. This is surreal and more than I could have ever imagined growing up.”

“I am sorry we did not find you as a child so that we could have grown up together but we will make up for lost time now, you will love the Crystal Moon Pack - I will take you on a run and let Opal truly shine like she deserves,” and he cuts off the link but Opal has a new surge of energy and she leaps over a Boulder with a grace and speed that shouldn’t be be possible even for a werewolf. Everywhere I run wolves move out of the way almost bowing to me. It seems that even Thunder may be having a hard time keeping up with me but he doesn’t show any signs of fatigue and playfully chases Opal as she darts back and forth through the trees enjoying her first moment to truly be free.

We follow Stephen and Liz for hours on a run through their pack lands. They are proud of what they are now a part of leading. Many wolves have left the run to return to the party as they are not higher level or warriors and after a while they found it hard to keep up. As we are approaching a corner of the Harvest Moon Territory I hear snarls and howls and quickly look around to see what is happening. Some pack warriors jump ahead of me and Thunder tackles me to the ground. He quickly shifts back to Ryan so that he can tell me to stay here and stay covered and shifts back to Thunder to go investigate. Frederick’s voice fills my head asking where I am and if I’m safe.

“I’m fine, what is happening,” I ask.

“A rogue attack - The Gamma female has been injured,” he informs me. Opal growls and refuses to hide any longer. I may not have grown up training like most wolves but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone ruin my friends perfect night. When I get to the scene of the fight I see Alpha Chris, his Betta and Stephen fighting off at least a dozen wolves while other warriors try to escort the Prince and his mate to safety. Ryan is right up there as well and I watch equally terrified and intrigued as he tears the throat out of wolf that tried to lunge at the Alpha from behind. The guys make quick work of the rogues and only one is left alive I assume for questioning. He is being dragged toward the pack house as I turn my focus to Liz who is being lifted by two warriors while Stephen clears a path for her to the pack infirmary. The other warriors begin disposing of bodies and as I go to meet Ryan to head to the infirmary with him I hear a gunshot. I feel intense pain and my shoulder feels like it is no longer a part of my body and I begin to black out. The last thing I remember is more snarls and Ryan’s scream as darkness envelops me.