John's story

Darius led John through the dense vegetation with effortless grace, moving as if he and the forest were old friends. Each step he took blended seamlessly with the natural world, as if he shared an unspoken connection with it. John watched in awe, amazed at how naturally Darius navigated the woods, as if he belonged there, moving in harmony with the forest's whispers and rustling leaves. The towering trees seemed to sway in acknowledgment, creating a harmonious symphony that echoed their journey.

As they ventured deeper, the forest revealed its hidden wonders. Darius occasionally pointed out tracks and signs of various animals that only a keen eye could discern. The air carried the sweet scent of pine, and the ground beneath their feet felt alive with the energy of woodland creatures. The sun cast playful patterns through the dense canopy, creating a captivating interplay of light and shadow.

John marvelled at the richness of this hidden world, where supernatural beings coexisted with the untamed beauty of the wild. The more he observed, the more he sensed the delicate balance between the ordinary and the mystical.

As they walked, Darius couldn't help but steal glances at John. John was unlike anyone Darius had ever met. He carried a unique scent, both new and familiar, like a song you couldn't quite place. The scent wrapped around Darius and his bear, evoking a strange feeling, almost like a distant memory from when he believed in stories about fate, mates, and destiny. Could fate be playing tricks on him? The thought lingered in his mind as he grappled with the idea.

John had an intriguing quality about him, something that both fascinated and made Darius cautious. What made this young man so special? It felt like they shared a bond, not only through the mysterious connection of the forest but also through an unspoken understanding that went beyond words. This sparked a curiosity that Darius couldn't easily dismiss. It was as if the universe had orchestrated their meeting, weaving a tapestry of destiny that unfolded with each step they took together.

Their journey led them to a clear path, almost like a road. Just off the path, you could see the shape of a house bathed in sunlight, nestled among tall oak and pine trees. Looking closer, it wasn't just one cabin; there were several, some close to each other and some farther into the distance. John couldn't hide his astonishment and blurted out, "What's all this?"

Darius, with a warm smile, responded, "Welcome to Wildwood Haven, John."

"I had no idea this world existed," John confessed, his eyes scanning the cabins in awe. "How do you keep it hidden?"

Darius chuckled, "Shifters have been masters of concealment for centuries. But we are hardly hidden; in fact, we are a legal settlement. A town by human standards. We took the forest path, but there is a main road leading here and…"

Darius was abruptly interrupted when an unexpected guest made a grand entrance—a light brown bear charging toward them, its fur rippling with each powerful stride. The sight caught John off guard, and he let out an involuntary yelp, jumping toward Darius, who caught him in his arms. John's inner lynx purred with satisfaction in his mind, relishing the safety of Darius's embrace. "About time," John thought to his lynx, but there was only silence as it receded again. Despite his inner beast's reaction, John couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment on his own.

Darius's laughter echoed through the forest, blending with the rustling leaves and distant whispers. He gestured to the bear to stop and communicated over their mind link for it to shift back into human form. The sight of such a massive animal charging toward them could be unnerving to anyone.

The newcomer seamlessly shifted into a human man. His super short, earth-toned hair added to his rugged charm, and his sharp ebony eyes, though guarded, exuded subtle curiosity. A scar on his left eyebrow added intensity to his stare and overall presence. Darius introduced the man as Prius—his pack member and second-in-command.

Prius's inquisitive stare made John squirm. The enforcer excused himself to put on a pair of shorts and handed a T-shirt to Darius. That's when John scrambled out of Darius's arms, realising he had still been holding him. Darius's bear seemed to yearn for the contact, leaving John puzzled about the strange connection between his inner lynx and Darius's bear. The lingering feeling of being in Darius's arms felt strangely right.

Darius, John, and Prius walked toward a large, imposing building, a rustic wooden structure nestled just off what looked like a busy backyard or maybe a square. As they stepped onto the front porch and into the building, the air inside was heavy with the comforting scent of pine, and the creaking floorboards beneath their feet echoed through the room. A few people bustled about, tending to various tasks, but when they sensed the presence of their Alpha and Beta, their attention quickly gravitated toward the newcomer.

John's self-consciousness was obvious as he stood there, his slender frame engulfed by an oversized T-shirt. The shirt carried the scent of its owner, which the pack members recognized as their Alpha. John felt the unfamiliar faces regarding him with curiosity. Among them, a fiery-haired woman fixed her glare on him. She was strikingly beautiful with her pale complexion and perfectly shaped features. Her sour look didn't match her beauty, and the hostility she emanated was visible, leaving John wondering why he was met with such animosity.

Sensing John's discomfort, Prius cleared his throat, shifting the attention of the people around them to him. “Have you never seen a guest shifter before?” he asked in an authoritative tone. “Show's over—carry on with what you were doing.” Faint echoes of subdued responses, like "yes, Beta," hovered in the air, making John wonder once again if there was a hierarchy among shifters too.

Darius gently placed a hand on John’s back, guiding him down a short corridor. John felt goosebumps rise on his skin at the contact, even through his T-shirt. They reached a door at the end that displayed the word "Alpha" on a plaque. Darius, with a gesture, held the door open, inviting John into a room that resembled an office. The space was generous, featuring a substantial dark wood desk, tidy and organised except for a pile of papers on the side. Opposite the desk were two comfortable-looking chairs with a plaid pattern, and a cosy grey couch along one wall. The walls were bare, but the hearty moss green colours made the room warm and welcoming.

Darius motioned for John to take a seat on the couch while Prius leaned against the door. The room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves outside. Darius's strong scent lingered, making John assume this was Darius's space and that he was the Alpha.

John settled onto the couch, his eyes cast downward, his hands nervously wringing together. Darius turned one of the armchairs around and sat facing him, wasting no time in asking about his past and what had led him to the remote woodlands where Darius had found him. The warm, softly lit room seemed to encourage confessions, and John began to share his tumultuous upbringing.

He recounted being discovered as an abandoned baby by two hikers when he was just a few months old. They handed him over to the local authorities, and he ended up in a local orphanage when no one came looking for him. The subsequent years were marked by a nomadic journey between orphanages and foster homes. Loneliness and relentless bullying became his constant companions. His vibrant emerald-green eyes, remarkable grace, and uncanny agility made him an outcast. The fact that he never seemed to fall ill only heightened his sense of not belonging.

As John delved into his past, he bared the wounds of torment that had pushed him to the edge. The relentless bullying and pervasive isolation became unbearable, ultimately pushing him to move away. Faced with the impending milestone of his 18th birthday, he yearned for a fresh start, hoping to leave behind the painful echoes of his past.

Darius glanced at Prius and communicated through their mind link, "He's not even 18..." Prius was puzzled—given what the kid's revealed about his tough upbringing, why was Darius focused on his age?

“Okay,” Darius nodded. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through. It explains why you wanted to leave,” he said softly. Then, with a sceptical tone, he continued, “But about your shift—you said you’ve never shifted before?”

John simply shook his head. "No."

"No one has ever shifted later than 16. Sure, the age varies among shifters, but..."

John, growing frustrated, thought sarcastically, *Was this man even listening when I recounted my story?* He resisted the urge to voice his irritation aloud. "I don't know what to tell you," he said instead.

Despite the sarcastic thought, John wisely kept the comment to himself. Prius asked, "What happened when you shifted? Were you in danger?" John's eyes shifted from the Beta to Darius. How much could he trust these people? If only his lynx would talk to him.

Instead of recounting the recent events, John began weaving a plausible response. He stammered that he had ventured into the woods in search of food. Unfortunately, he had tripped and injured his leg, leaving him unable to move forward or return to the camp.

In his predicament, as he was about to resign himself to the fact that he might die there alone, a mysterious voice echoed in his head, urging him to trust it. The next thing he knew, he had lost consciousness and awakened to the sight of a bear looming over him.

John maintained a sense of guardedness, spinning a credible story and strategically omitting certain details, such as the existence of his lynx form and the threat of werewolves. The fear of potential consequences prevented him from placing full trust in Darius and Prius.

Darius's scrutinising gaze lingered on John, searching for any subtle cues of concealed emotions or falsehoods. John's green eyes reflected the fear of reliving too much. It didn't go unnoticed that he had left out the species of his animal form. But when John had earlier jumped into his arms, Darius could have sworn he detected a momentary glint of silver in John's eyes. The elusive shimmer vanished as swiftly as it had appeared, leaving Darius to question whether it was real or just his imagination. He couldn't remember whose eyes he had seen shimmer like that before.

Having laid bare his story, John glanced up to find Darius and Prius exchanging knowing looks. The weight of unspoken truths lingered in the room—John had not been entirely honest, and the mystery of his other animal form remained undisclosed.

Through their mind link, Prius asked, "What do you think?" Darius responded, "I know he hasn't been completely honest," but added privately to himself, "I feel something—like a pull, a need to protect and shelter him, to hold him close." Prius acknowledged his own protective instincts but voiced concerns about what John might be escaping and whether it was safe to have him in the village, considering the presence of children and other vulnerable shifters.

As their mind-link conversation continued, they failed to notice that John had quietly drifted into sleep, his breathing soft and steady, a small crease of worry still etched on his face.

With John asleep, they found themselves at a crossroads. What were they going to do with him? They needed to discuss it elsewhere. Darius rose from his seat, moving quietly to help John recline on the couch. The young man mumbled incoherently in his slumber, and Darius, prompted by his bear's protective instincts, couldn't resist running a hand through John's tousled curls.

Startled by his own actions, he quickly pulled his hand back, covered John with a soft throw, and signaled to Prius with a nod toward the door. Together, they left the room, closing the door behind them, leaving the enigmatic young shifter to his dreams.

Darius and Prius emerged from the office and made their way outside. Darius, with his arms crossed over his chest, stared ahead, his eyes fixed on an unseen horizon. Beside him, Prius stood, his hand momentarily rising to stroke his close-cropped hair, a sign of his nervous energy. The question, unspoken yet evident, hung in the silence: "Where do we put him up, Darius?"

Prius's eyes darted between Darius and the villagers, his anticipation mounting as he awaited Darius's response. As the Beta, his role was to ensure that the Alpha made well-considered decisions, but he knew better than to challenge Darius's authority.

"He will stay with me," Darius declared in a tone that brooked no argument. His decision was final, and Prius recognized that this was in the best interest of their pack too. He simply nodded at his Alpha, acknowledging the decision.