Not-So-Fated Mates

Chapter 8: The Little Wolf

    As they were locked in the tender moment, the crack of a twig being stepped on jerked them out of it. Both quickly got to their feet, searching the forest with all of their senses. A whimper sounded to their left, causing them to look at each other in confusion before going over to investigate. They got closer, moving silently as they sniffed the air. A wild scent hit their noses, a scent like a fire and cedar meshed with the smell of wolf. The wildness that accompanied the scent told them both one thing: whoever was out there, they were a rogue.

    Another whimper sounded, and Drake looked at Layla with a warning in his eyes. She rolled her own, as if she, as commander of the warriors of the pack, didn’t know to be leery of any rogue that crossed her path. Slowly, carefully, they moved forward, low to the ground and prepared for attack. As they made their way through some brush, careful to only make the slightest of sounds, their eyes fell on a small brown wolf, curled between the roots of a low-hanging willow tree. They stopped, looking him over. He was indeed small, but his paws were oversized for his small stature, meaning he was merely an adolescent wolf, probably having only learned how to shift within the last year or so.

    He suddenly realized they were there, attempting to stand without putting weight on his front left leg. When he’d gotten as stable as possible without using that leg, his eyes wide and his scent laced with fear, he attempted a threatening growl and failed miserably, only getting out a small growl before whimpering again. His eyes flitted to the blood matting the fur on her side where Drake had clawed her, and the blood from the wound she had given him on the chest, his eyes fearful. The wounds had long since closed, thanks to their enhanced healing abilities, but she was sure that, since he had no idea how they’d gotten blood on themselves, it looked pretty scary. Still, she needed to see what this little wounded wolf was doing on pack land, so she could decide what to do next. It didn’t seem like he was a threat, more likely he’d accidently stumbled into it. Layla took a cautious step forward, causing Drake to growl a warning at her, and the rogue to take a shaky step back.

    She glared at Drake, then called forth the change. In just a few minutes, she stood in human form. She wasn’t exactly enthused about being naked in front of an adolescent wolf, not to mention Alpha Drake, but since the younger wasn’t pack, she couldn’t mindlink him, so the only option was standing here, baring it all for both of them. As she slowly walked towards him, she kept her hands at her side to show that she wasn’t going to hurt him. His brown eyes jumped from her to her companion, obviously nervous, but he didn’t try to bolt around the tree. Progress, she supposed.

    When she was only a few feet away, she slowly knelt on the ground, reaching one hand out, careful to keep it palm up so he’d know she wasn’t about to hit him. “Hey,” she said in as gentle a voice as she could muster. “It’s okay, we won’t hurt you if you don’t hurt us, okay?” Drake snorted derisively behind her, but she didn’t even bother to glare at him. Obviously he had a learning problem.

    The little wolf looked between them again before looking in her eyes and nodding. She smiled at him, before asking, “I see your leg isn’t doing so well. May I see it?” He shifted on his good paws, before nodding again. She got close enough to touch it, looking up at him as she inched her hands closer to it. “Do you mind if I touch it? It’ll hurt, but it will help me make sure I know what is wrong with it.”

    He whined a little and looked like he was debating whether or not to let her. She continued kneeling, with her hands outstretched towards the leg, not daring to move until she got permission. She could tell life hadn’t been kind to this boy, which likely had something to do with why he was a rogue, and the biggest rule when dealing with anyone with trauma was to let them make the decision on when and if you got near them, touched them, etc. Otherwise, you wait, no matter how long it takes, and try not to make any surprising movements. She’d learned this when her mom brought home a dog she’d found wandering the streets, beaten and starving. Her mom was a sucker for animals, especially those that were really in need of love. She may have worked at a bank, but you wouldn’t think it with how many wounded and starved animals she’d brought home to help them recuperate and get to the point that they could be adopted or be taken by whatever association would help them get back to where they should be.

    After a few long moments, little wolf finally nodded his head again. She took his leg into her hands, using only the barest of touches to examine it. She could tell almost immediately that her first instinct was correct; it was broken and needed setting or it wouldn’t heal right. She had to get him back to her pack so he could have the pack doctor examine it and make sure that his leg didn’t heal funny. Unfortunately, it would be likely that, by the time they got him back, it would have already healed and, thus, the doctor would have to break it again before he set it. “Your leg is broken,” she told the little wolf. He probably already knew, but it was best she update him just in case he didn’t. “We need to get you to a doctor.”

    The little wolf instantly jerked back, yelping as the quick movement stirred the pain in his leg. His eyes became watery as he shook his head no.

    “But we need to take care of this,” Layla pleaded, not wanting this boy to have a permanent disfigurement. “If we don’t, it won’t heal right and you’ll never be able to use it like you used to. Please, I promise, on my honor as the commander of the warriors of this pack-”

    Drake growled again, this time louder, not liking where this was going.

    “-that you’ll be safe in our pack while you mend and decide where you want to go from there, okay? And Drake, not your pack, you don’t get a vote.”

    Little wolf sat on his rump, looking down at the ground as he decided what to do. Five minutes passed as Layla waited on an answer, and Drake paced behind her in agitation. Finally, little wolf looked up and slowly nodded his head.