Trophy Red Alpha

Red Down

Rosaline, along with Billy, Nigel, and the coach, were waiting impatiently for Claire to turn human.

"It shouldn't be too difficult to change back, Claire." Rosaline was growing frustrated. "If it hurts, just say-"

"It does." Claire's telepathic response shocked yet relieved her friend. "I just don't want them coming any closer." Claire whines, looking back at the men.

Rosaline recalled how hostile injured red wolves can become. If left alone, they mind their own and can be very approachable if you use respect, of course. Even so, respect might not be reasonable to Claire at the moment. She's too heavy to carry due to being as huge as a gray male wolf. Rosaline needed to conjure up a persuasion. She needed the brothers to help since the coach needed to stay with the other student that was traumatized earlier. Still, the main goal is to make sure that there is no fear and hostility coming from her injured bestie.

Claire's head goes down. Rosaline covers her mouth with her hands.

"Is she okay?" Nigel walked forward only to be halted by Rosaline's hand.

At that moment, her sweaty under arms gave her an idea. She quickly rubbed her armpits, then her entire body with her shirt. The coach and the Gudman brothers' eyes go wide when Rosaline starts to take off her shirt, revealing her training bra.

"Coach!" Rosaline began to regain her composure. "Switch shirts with Billy!"

"What?!" Coach and billy spoke in unison.

Rosaline releases a deep breath and casually walks to the resting claire. Panicking vibes would alert the red wolf into believing that there is danger nearby. As soon as she gets close enough, she scratches Claire on the head. She could hear her inhale deeply to smell who was touching her.

"It's just me." Rosaline lulls. "Focus on catching your breath okay?"

Claire's whine faded quickly into silence, signifying that the injury might be severe. From her peripheral view, Rosaline spotted maroon streaks on Claire's bust fur. She closes her eyes and calmly exhales long and deeply. Claire follows her breathing pattern, assuming it would help her regain her strength. Rosaline uses this to distract Claire as she starts ripping her shirt into strips to tie to Claire's snout.

The coach passes his shirt to Billy.

"What the hell is this going to do?" the baffled brother was still trying to piece things together as he put on.

"She's a red wolf. Think." the coach couldn't believe the pros he used to train were clueless right now. "She'll think I'm with you, signaling her not to be frightened. So hurry up and put it on."

Billy starts to take off his shirt, after that he slides his former trainer's white t-shirt on.

"That explains Rosaline's actions." Nigel answered. "But why use Billy?"

"He's a baiter and a chaser. His presence is not as intimidating as a defender and a killer," the coach explained. "Approaching her as grey wolf is already awkward and threatening, since she is a red blood. Moreover, I don't think adding hounding energy is going to help us."

Billy's nostrils are filled with an aquatic pine-like scent. "Woodland oasis?"

"Beach cactus," the coach corrected.

"Huh."

Rosaline waved her hands for them to approach her. The coach held his hands out to keep the boys from rushing with urgency.

"It's just a normal day, you two." the look in his eye warned them. "Billy, you will carry Claire once I transform her back into human. Do NOT panic once you see the injury."

"R-right." Billy was getting the feeling that he was about to defuse a bomb.

"How often does this happen with her?" Nigel interrogated.

"Situations like these are usually normal on the polar bear side, still that moose really threw the whole class over." the coach lifted his hat to scratch his head. "Oh!" he then placed the hat on Billy. "We really need to give the illusion, even though her vision is most likely blurred by now."

Billy nodded. He was doing his best to feel as if everything was surely fine. The jealousy that brewed from watching Claire take down a bear and how she snapped a moose before him brought back the old feelings him and his brothers had for her. They always told her that she could never be a Luna, let alone an Alpha. She would constantly stare the brothers down and pick fights with the girls. It was a major shock that Rosaline, daughter of the moon goddess, would even bother with her.

Nigel didn't know what to conclude. His emotions all came rushing one after another. Surprise on top of surprise. His day is already booked with recruitment and planning his alongside his brothers' schedules for hunts and events. There is sure to be an uproar about the rampant moose and polar bear running through the school grounds.

The coach places his hand cautiously on Claire's back. Her ear shot up.

"It's me, hot shot. You'll be alright." the coach rubbed her back, then gave a few pats.

Claire's body unwinds at the verification of her coach. The piece of Rosaline's shirt wrapped around her nose painted the idea that Rosaline was the only ther person there. She was still unaware of her past bullies behind her.

"I found it." The coach managed to find the nerve on Claire's neck to trigger her transformation. Rosaline holds her unconscious friend as the blood transfers onto her bare body.

"It's pretty bad," Rosaline tells them. "Even so, approach like a wide awake hissing alligator is staring dead at you."

The boys signaled that they understood, thus placed on foot forward. Nigel placed his hand in his pocket, convincing himself he was just passing by. Billy's hands tangled together to remain calm and patient. The thought that the hostility her peers showed over the years might have driven her to such tactics. Perhaps the stress has finally gotten to her.

"Go!" The coach quickly pinches Claire's nerve, forcing her to become human. Billy and Nigel pace casually over to aid her before the blood loss gets critical. Claw marks from the polar bear went from her collar bone to her chest.

Nigel artlessly picked up the strips of Rosaline's shirt to dress Claire's wound with them. Billy stood there twiddling his thumbs waiting for his cue. His brother took note to not tie it so tight, so the s***h wouldn't agonize Claire while she breathed. He couldn't process what he had been witnessing. He knew of Claire's alpha behavior and, as a young man who values traditional roles, he was grateful for alpha energy. Usually, female werewolves lead you out of danger while the males fight. He wasn't strong enough to even paralyze the raging moose, let alone move to help her with the polar bear, knowing how tired she had become.

"Okay, Billy." Nigel walked away.

Billy steps closer to scoop the unconscious student up like a groom does his bride. The sight of his blood makes him reflect not only on how he got outdone but, in fact, by a brave young lady. He always thought Claire was too manish to be a girl when they were younger. Rumors had spread that she was a boy posing as a girl, seeing how she didn't shift with her generation of girls. Watching her take on two big games back to back made him take notice of his position in the team. Could Claire take his spot if she wanted to?

"Please take care of her." Rosaline pleaded. "She may be a ruthless i***t, but she can be better when she tries."

Seeing the blood on Rosaline's body almost phased the boys. They sighed and smiled genuinely at her.

a loud honk breaks the mood.

Mr. Gudman managed to get the car on the field. He parked the car and stepped out to open the back driver-side door.

"Let's move before she winds up living at the hospital!" he hurried.

The boys maintain the peaceful vibe to prevent Claire from panicking. Mr. Gudman shuffled to the passenger side. Billy maneuvered his way into the back seat while holding Claire close to his body, so he wouldn't bump her head. Nigel closes the backseat door, then proceeds to the driver's seat.

"Take the freeway to the Pinecrest Hospital since it's closest," their father instructed. "Stay steady!"

"Yes, sir." Nigel drove off.

In the waiting room, the three Gudman's wait patiently to hear about Claire's condition. Billy and Nigel are still doing some self-reflection. Their dad could sense that his sons were beating themselves up over how things could've been if Claire had been absent. He wanted to give the boys a lecture, but in this commotion, even he was defeated by it. He remembered Claire's father telling him that she could handle moose pretty well on her own. Other than that, the polar bear fight really got to him. Conversations of her getting better in time for the full ritual have been coming in, but he wonders if his friend has been hiding information. Hope her father knows and trusts that the community would not take someone as humbled as Claire the Red Wolf away from her loving family.

"I'm taking off." Mr. Gudman rose from his seat. "Billy, you stay with Claire. I will drop something off for you and her in the morning."

"Keep us posted." Nigel added.

"We're not gonna switch?" Billy was confused due to the upcoming hunts that were scheduled.

"We have Pete. We should do fine with and without you," Nigel answered as he headed towards the exit.

"Either way, the performance won't be affected," his father stated following his second son.

His father's words hit him hard. Billy was the team's chaser. Pete, however, could chase and bait. He was stronger than the youngest brother and could outperform him. The two were born on the same day, but Pete hit shift as well as spurted back to back due to his health along with smug confidence. He would tease Billy for being so humble around their peers. Furthermore, he knew for a fact that Pete wasn't going to keep doing both jobs for long.

"Excuse me!" a nurse waved her hand in front of Billy's face.

"Ah! I'm sorry." Billy refocused his attention on the nurse in front of him.

"Don't worry, things like this can get our minds fogged up in distress." she rubbed Billy's shoulder to comfort him.

"Tell me about it." Billy smiled with a light chuckle.

"Well, you're friend is going to pull through just find." She grinned.

"Buuuuut...???" billy knew that statement was just the top half of the iceberg.

"I would just hope that she's not part of the major role of your team." her smile became worried. "I would also hope that she doesn't mind being a chaser for a bit."