Tirian had no scent. I now realize this, looking back at the woods behind me as they now bring more fear to my heart. What is going on?
As I make my way past a fallen tree I smell someone familiar to me. Vesper growls, not happy with this. 'Juniper.' I spin around and begin searching in a hectic manner, unsure as to why she'd be out here. Is she in trouble? Are the cultists here for her?
As I hit the fallen tree I spotted her, Juniper laying nude on the forest floor covered in wounds. Did she get into a fight? Is there something out here? I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I run to her, wishing to check if she was alive.
My eyes glaze over, wishing to mind link with Rhory. 'Rhory! I found Juniper injured badly in the woods. Find me. I need help!' I let out a loud howl, hoping to alert any wolves nearby to me needing help.
I feel Rhory connect to the link, but not respond.
"Juniper? Juniper!" I feel for a pulse, and I think she has one. I might not really like this female, but I'd never abandon someone hurt and needing help.
Vesper growls and I feel there is something watching me, something not wolf. I turn and push myself to shift, it is still so painful of an experience. I have only done this twice now, but I could not protect Juniper in my human form.
'The stench of death.' Vesper rumbles as I look around, remembering the smell of Mother. I did not wish to fight her, but I had to protect Juniper. She was part of our pack now.
I could hear Juniper groan beneath me, letting out soft whimpers of pain. "Help me..." She whispers, unable to do much for herself.
I lean my head back and let out another howl, this one much louder with me in Vesper's form. I know I am also alerting anything else nearby, but I want the wolves to find me quickly. I am no fighter.
The scent of another wolf wafts close to my muzzle, but not one I know. Yet it smells similar to another - Juniper. The cultists NEVER let one of their own leave. What the hell did Alpha Rainer drag the pack into. Why must I fight?
I spot them, a white wolf larger than my own not too far away staring at me. At first he feels dangerous, but then he lowers his head and attempts to approach me in a submissive manner.
Vesper growls, not liking this from a strange wolf. 'Don't let him close. It's a trick. Protect the injured.'
I bare my teeth and growl, my hair standing up as I try to appear larger and stronger than I am. I do not move from my defensive stance above Juniper, not taking my eyes off the stranger.
He gets closer and closer, I prepare myself to fight, but before I can Rhory appears and moves between us and bares his fangs. Vesper relaxes at the sight of the brown wolf, knowing that she is safe with him.
More wolves come, surrounding the white wolf whose eyes are still on me. He wants to get to me and that scares me.
"Juniper!" I hear a voice behind me as Alpha Rainer shifts and crashes beside her, picking her up into his arms. "Why was she out here..." He mumbles to himself, having some sort of moment. Does he care for her more than he lets on? Doesn't he love Evette?
The white wolf submits without a fight, shifting back into his human form. The nude man before me looks very similar to the woman in Rainer's arms. "Is my Sister okay?!"
Rainer glares over at the man now standing. "Why are you here, Elwood? You were told to stay back in your pack. Juniper did not wish for you to abandon them too." He is clutching her close to him, her wounds starting to heal. Strange.
"My sister is in trouble! I couldn't just stay back and do nothing! I am her Brother!" Elwood calls out, his eyes not glued on Rainer.
Rhory rumbles and moves to nudge me with his muzzle, aiming to lead me away from this 'fight'. I didn't really want to stay, Juniper was safe and this Elwood was not my problem to deal with.
As I am led away, Elwood flinches, his eyes darting back down to me as he takes a few steps forward. I hear some of the wolves surrounding him growl, keeping him in his place.
"Where is he taking her?!" Elwood growls, looking at Rainer.
"Why are you acting like this, Elwood?" Rainer responds. "I need to take your sister to the clinic. You will be escorted to the packhouse and be placed under observation."
The scene behind me becomes nothing more than mumbles as I follow Rhory, wanting to get away from it. He feels tense, and I can tell he is upset that I didn't listen to him.
I whimper, trying to become submissive to him, licking at his muzzle.
He grumbles, looking over at me and then gives me a bit of a nuzzle.
'Don't do that again.' I hear his voice rumble in my head as we mind link.
'I am sorry. I had to follow the scent...' I respond, but don't know what all I should say to him. 'I found something that scared me.'
'What did you find?' His tone is soft, watching me carefully.
'My Mother...or well a walking corpse.' I whimper and get closer to him for comfort.
He stays silent, perhaps thinking of what this means. We stay silent till we make it back to the Omega house. 'Go get changed. I will meet you out front once you are done.' With that he turns to run off, liking going to change himself.
I walk up the stairs of the Omega packhouse quietly, trying to wrap my mind around everything that has happened. I think I am in shock, or perhaps I am dreaming. Everything going on is insane. My Mother is a zombie? Who was that man, Juniper's Brother? Elwood? Why was the Alpha holding her so tightly? How was she healing so fast? 'Don't forget about the vampire.' Vesper chimes in. What is going on? My head is spinning, opening the door to my room and shift, my body again filling with pain as I switch from Vesper to myself. I stand there naked, looking at myself in the mirror. That hurt. 'I wish I could have gone for a run.' Vesper rumbles, clearly upset. 'I don't like that strange man, Elwood. Something about his wolf made my skin crawl...'I should shower first, then get dressed. Running around in the woods has made me feel stinky. I grab a towel and a change of clothes and head over to the showers, planning to be quick so Rhory would not have to wait long for me. The floor was q
I turn to leave, but immediately bump into Beta Ander and stumble. He grabs me, making sure I don't fall down. "There you are, Omega Elesi. I have been looking for you. Rainer and I have some questions for you, please follow me." I want to go back to the dorms and lay down, but it seems fate has another idea in mind. I follow Beta Ander, letting out a sigh, fidgeting as I feel like I am being sent to the principal's office. I kept silent, not really knowing what I could say.Ander leads me to the Alpha quarters, and then the office. The Alpha and Luna are absent, but Rainer is standing there lost in thought. "Rainer?" The Beta speaks up, aiming to pull his friend's attention. "I have brought her." Rainer looks up at me, then stands quickly. "What happened out there?!" Ander puts himself between Rainer and myself, protecting me from his outburst. "Get yourself together, Rainer. Your parents put you in charge of figuring this all out as a test. Do not disappoint them with anger towa
I was going to head to the clinic, but all I want to do is lay down now. Somewhere safe. Escape the chaos of this day under the comfy blanket of my bed. My body reacts to this, now heading towards the dorms. Bre left a note on the door, saying she'd be with her parents tonight. Alone sounds good right about now. I don't have to explain to yet another person how my day went. I almost tear off my clothes, my body still feeling so warm and crawl into bed. It doesn't take long before I feel myself drifting off, hoping that my dreams will grant me some relief from the day.I am awoken by a strange tapping noise. Is someone at my window? I am on the third floor. Slowly I move, my body still feeling strange from earlier. I make my way to the window and pull back the curtain, finding myself shocked to see Tirian perched outside it."Going to let me inside?" He whispers, watching me with those blood red eyes of his. I quickly move to open the window, not really thinking other than 'what if
I get up and head to the showers, at least I should go in late then not at all.I rush to the pack house to check in with the head Omega, but upon arrival I am met by Ander waiting for me in the kitchen. "There you are, Omega Elesi." He says with a tired smile, it seems someone didn't get much sleep last night. "Can I help you, Beta Ander?" I fix my hair up into a ponytail, trying to keep myself from fidgeting too much. "Alpha Rainer has asked me to fetch you when you come in this morning. He'd like for you to be assigned to help Juniper. It seems she has taken a liking to you - or well trusts you." He smiles at me, almost pleading with me to agree to this. I really REALLY don't want to, but I also know that any Omega that agrees to this is going to get bullied by Evette. I don't want any of my friends to suffer. I let out a sigh. "Fine. If the Alpha wishes, but please let it be known that HE asked me." I give him a look, and he raises his hands. "Deal. I will make sure people know
"Alesi? Alesi!" My Mother calls for me as I run through the woods, flinching each time my bare foot hits the cold ground. "Alesi!" She is getting closer, following the scent of my blood - following the sound of my heart. I can feel her hot breath upon my skin. "Alesi. Naughty girl. You know better than to run from Mother." Her teeth upon my skin, pain rushing over my battered body. I try to scream, but my voice is lost to the silence of the woods. The darkness overtakes me. "Alesi?" I wake up, panting again as I try to focus and listen to the small voice beside me. "Alesi we need to wake for chores. You want to be able to eat breakfast today, right?" It was all just a dream. I groan, peeking over at Brenna with a frown. "I am up, Bre." She pouts, the young omega looming for a few more moments before moving to the door to leave. "You best hurry, Alesi." As Brenna leaves I can hear the sound of the others within the Omega dorms scurrying about. The night shift returns, and the day sh
The Daytime Head Omega approaches me, letting out a cough before speaking. "Omega Elesi, today your cleaning duties are the Gamma's rooms. Make sure to do a deep clean - drapes, clothes, sheets, towels all laundered. Everything dusted and wiped down. Vacuumed and mopped. The full shebang." The last bit was said oddly, trying to sound 'hip' as the old folks call it. "Yes, Omega Hilda." I give her a polite smile and go off to find my cart to take up to the Gamma's rooms. Traveling around the packhouse there are whispers of rumors or perhaps truth; The Alpha's and Beta's Sons have returned from training. I can't remember the last time I saw them. I know we are around the same age. I reach the Gamma's room and knock, waiting for a response. If Luna is down at breakfast, he is likely too. He is her shadow after all.With no answer I enter, moving about to gather the various articles of clothing littered about the floor. Yet something causes me to pause, picking up a bra. "The Gamma doesn'
"Elesi!" Bre calls out to me, moving beside me to loop my arms with hers. "How was your morning? I was cleaning the public rooms and oh boy, people are all up in gossip today." She has a big grin on her lips, clearly wanting to whisper these things to me. "I had Gamma's rooms. It was quiet." I smiled, lying but most of it was quiet. "What did you hear?" Vesper seems curious as well, enjoying the pack gossip."Weeeeelll." Bre whispers in a sing-song manner. "You heard the boys are back in town, right?" She snickers, clearly wanting to spill. "I have heard from a source that one of them returned with a MATE!" 'A mate?' Vesper asks curiously. "Didn't they go to an all boys training? Meant for Alphas and Betas..." I ask her, unsure how they'd find a mate in a place filled with males. "We HAVE to go to the bonfire now. They are going. I heard the Alpha and Beta's daughters giggling about it in the playroom." Bre looks obsessed, but I can't blame her. Now I want to go too. "Let's go the
I rush out of the packhouse and towards the forest path, walking briskly as to be free from this feeling. 'Slow down." Vesper aims to soothe me, worried that I am in such a state of panic. I almost trip over a root, stumbling to rest against a tree - calming my breaths. The woods are quiet. Everyone is either back at the pack house, in the village, or at the dorms and houses. The middle of the day the forest is usually quiet, most taking their runs in the early morning or in the evening. Letting their wolves out. Yet it seems I was not alone. I hear the sounds of growling in the distance, mixed with soft whines. Someone was in pain. I slink towards the sounds, not wishing to alert anything yet - it could be two males fighting.I stop in my tracks, letting out a gasp as I hide behind a tree and cover my mouth. How is it happening to me AGAIN?! 'Horney males.' Vesper chuckles as she lets out a little purr, clearly enjoying what we saw. A warrior male is leaning against a boulder stro