Chapter - 4

Dingo POV

This was my favorite stop on my route. For five years I’ve been traveling the west coast seeking out more Were kind. I was handpicked by the Werewolf Council for the job. I blended well with humans, even if they are all crazy. My mission, to reunite the wild and unknown werewolf hybrids in a last ditch chance to keep our race from extinction.

It’s been 50 years since the last full werepup was born. Our only form of continuing our race lies in finding dormant hybrids that can be turned. Human-Werewolf hybrids completely unaware they carry the Were genes. Those Were genes that normally trigger at puberty in a full Were, remain dormant and they go through life with no idea of what lurks in their blood. With a blood infusion from a full Werewolf, we have been able to awaken those dormant genetics. Let the wolf out so to speak, but It’s risky.

The human mind and soul aren’t meant to just turn wolf. Without training and support for that hybrid, they can lose their mind completely when the wolf moves in. That’s if they survive the physical change during the shift. They need to expand their minds and open their souls to Selene, the Moon Goddess. Ultimately, she is the one that grants the wolf. Were kind are her children.

Dane, my wolf is so much a part of me I can’t even remember what life was like before we shifted and became one. He is always there, usually in the back of my mind unless I’m in wolf form. I consider him an old soul. A Were’s wolf is the spirit that Selene grants us at around 18 years of age when we get the wolf form. The Were and their wolf merge during the first time they shift. They have strong animal instincts, often quick to temper and driven with passion but they also are meant to guide and protect the Were.

These hybrids are getting harder and harder to find. The last two hybrids I brought forward couldn’t handle the change. I knew that they needed more time and training, but the Counsel was getting desperate. The hybrids were also excited to get the benefits of turning into a full Werewolf. Once the transfusion was done, they were uncontrollable. They slipped into comas and died within a year. It was a devastating blow and I feel personally responsible for their deaths. My mission is life. To find some way to give Werewolves hope, a possible future and right now, finding these dormant hybrids is the best option we have.  

I pulled myself out of my revery and continued to build my argument that elk meat is better than deer. Nick just wanted to argue. He owns half the town store although he lets his human partner, Frank, take all the credit. He finds Frank humorous with how he fusses over meaningless things all day.

That man has a deep need to have every label facing out from the shelf and each row of merchandise lined up evenly. Nick would often sneak back in at night and turn things around and move stuff just to fuck with Frank. Frank didn’t get a chance to say ‘no’ when Nick offered him half the business. Nick needed a human front to deal with humans, Frank provided that. Frank needed a reliable source of income. It was a win-win. But Frank was terrified of Nick.

Nick is a big softy unless you mess with his pack. He loves a good debate, especially since not many humans or werewolves have the guts to stand up to him. So, I tried and oblige him whenever I pass through. Nick was a monstrous werewolf. Old now, he’s lived along the Northwest Coast for at least the last 100 years. He has a pack but he’s always lived outside the pack lands. He travels home from time to time for updates and of course celebrations. Anything with whiskey and food. That man knows how to have a good time.

I chuckled to myself remembering last summer Solstice. Nick was passed out near the fire with a deer haunch half-finished in his hand, snoring like a thunderstorm. Field sprites had their way with him and had grown vines in his massive beard and braided his eyebrows together. When he awoke the vines had made it all the way down to root in the earth. We all got a good laugh at him, literally uprooting himself. Goddess, he was angry. Good thing the sprites had lost interest and moved along hours before.

He was a fierce warrior back in the day. Stories tell that he helped to fight in the blood wars…. so long ago. As our numbers declined, packs put aside their differences and moved together for safety and consolation. Things have changed so much.

“Ya see here boy, what makes the deer taste better is the chase.” He rumbled on. His bushy eyebrows twitching as he clearly remembered hunting in the forests.

“It’s been a long time since you brought down a deer old man,” I chuckled.

I’d like to see that too! Dane snickered and sent me images of Nicks pudgy wolf rolling in the dirt the last time a hunt was on.

He started to sputter a reply when we both caught the scent of were blood.

It wasn’t human or any Were hybrid I knew of. It was a sweet and feminine smell, a hybrid for sure, but different in a way I could not define. We both turned around to find a disheveled woman standing at the counter with a small smile. Her right hand was dripping blood on the floor. She didn’t even seem to notice.

Dane snapped to attention in my head, She needs help. Go help her, now.

That’s odd I thought, usually Dane isn’t interested in others outside of our Pack. Not like this anyway.

She took us both completely by surprise. Was she a friend or foe? Does she know what we are? Dane only confirmed that she needed help as her aura was already radiating a deep pain. A pain much worse than what a cut on her hand would account for. She started to talk but Nick broke in with his gruff voice, “Ah, Sweetie, what have you done to yourself?”

“Careful Nick,” I flashed him, “we don’t know what she is.”

She was tall for a human. The kind of body that I preferred on a woman. Not skinny like a girl child but a ripe woman. Well build with curves in all the right places. Her hand was bleeding enough to leave a small trail of blood across the store. As I watched her, her hands started to shake.

Nick stepped around the counter, smoothly as not to scare her. She looked like a wounded animal. Nick handed me her shopping basket then protectively put his arm around her in case she was going to fall. She nearly jumped through the roof at his touch.

Nick was determined and flashed back, “I don’t care what she is, she’s a Were and she needs help. Too bad we don’t have a pack healer here; it may require a doctor.”

Nick has been through more than enough to know how to care for a wound and when it’s something out of his league. The nearest pack is 2 hours away and there was no way I was bringing her there without knowing at least what she was.

Shit, Frank, now is not the time. I could smell the cheap cologne on him as he walked into view.

I felt a low growl from Dane, Typical human. As usual his mouth was running before he got done thinking.

Easy Dane, he’s about as harmless as they come. We don’t want to mess anything up for Nick. That eased him a little but I could still feel him tense in my mind.

“What the hell is going on? Why is there blood all over my store? What the hell are you doing?” Frank demanded of no one and everyone.

“She is hurt.” Nick calmly said, as if explaining to a child and continued to escort her to the back.

I smirked thinking, I wonder what he would do if he knew just how precious that blood may be.

I followed them to the back with her little basket. The smell of her blood was a little intoxicating. It was sweet and alluring but it gnawed at me that I couldn’t place what it was. Nick had removed the makeshift bandage.

Was that a sock? Clever girl, I thought and looked down at her. Her eyes were a pale blue, like a foggy morning sky giving way to the sun.

I like how she smells. She is not dangerous. Dane said with a hint of lust in his deep voice.

Nick gently asked her, “What have you done to yourself young lady?”

They were all young to him. Werewolves age much slower than humans so our perspective on age is quite different. At over 150 years old, the oldest human grandma was still a ‘young lady’ to Nick and he loved making them all blush.

“It was an accident.” She mumbled awkwardly.

I handed over the basket.

Nick looked her hand over and said matter of factly, “Ah Sweetie, you’re going to need stitches for this. I’ll wrap it for you, but you need to go to the hospital.”

“You think so? I, I didn’t think it was THAT bad.” She replied softly. I could see the wheels turning in her mind and the panic creep into her features.

“Shit, I don’t have insurance.” She choked, barely audible.

That summed up today’s humans. Too worried about making money to care for their own kind or anything else. Rarely fighting over anything of real worth. It was greed that drove them. She lifted her head, shut her eyes for a moment and then stated flatly, “I do appreciate your concern but really, I think the bandages will be fine.” Nick wasn’t having any of it.

“Sit,” Nick commanded pushing his dominating aura over her. A higher ranked werewolf can use this ability over another to force them into compliance. It was a risky move but in her weakened state she had no choice but to comply. She dropped back onto the stool.

“Easy Nick, she is weaker than she is letting on.” I flashed him.

Nick flashed back regretfully, “I didn’t mean to push so hard, this girl is in no shape to go anywhere.”

Dane smirked. See, she is not dangerous. As if Nick was confirming his previous judgement of her.

He followed up with a gentler request to “Sit.” and motioned for her to stay. He flashed me a list of the items he needed and sent me off to get them.

I walked past Frank without a second glance and headed to the First Aid aisle. Yep, this was the path she took. The cart boy hadn’t made it this far to clean up the blood. I inhaled deeply. So sweet with a hint of flowers.

I like her, she smells good. You need to help her. Dane rumbled.

I know, I know. I replied to him.

Inside I was still frustrated that I couldn’t place it. Could she be fae? She is a hybrid werewolf and…. What? I grabbed the supplies and hurried back.

I handed the items to Nick as he carefully examined her hand. There was a hole that went straight through the palm and an ugly gash. Was she in a fight?

My mind was racing when she said, “Dingo, was it? Thank you.”

See, she is nice. Smells tasty. Dane insisted.

Who knew you had such a soft spot. I teased Dane.

I’m not soft, you don’t pay attention. She is nice, smells good and is beautiful too. Dane was annoyed with me.

I looked her over and was discovering he was right. I hated to admit it at times but my wolf was very rarely wrong. I could tell she was trying to stay in control but to me she looked even more like a wounded animal.

“No problem,” I said trying to keep it light.

She was staring up at me. Nick grunted and shooed me out of the room again.

As I left Nick flashed, “I don’t think she means any harm. Don’t think she could do much of anything to hurt us if she tried.”

I stepped out of the office and began closing shop.

I flashed him back, “Yes, a hybrid, but a Were and what? It’s her secret to tell, if she even knows but it’s puzzling for sure. The last few hybrids I found had no idea of their ancestry.”

A few minutes later Nick let me know that her hand would be ok. “It’s bandaged, but we need to follow up on this one. There is more to this than just a wounded hand.” I agreed and turned to face them just as they were walking out.

“Making soup huh?” Nick gruffed.

She looked a bit brighter and replied, “Nope, my hero, Biscuit earned a right reward today.” The words were happy but she sounded almost worried.

I was starting to feel hungry; the scent of her blood was still tugging at my mind. “Soup and biscuits? Sounds good to me.” I smiled as I took off the apron. “It’s quitting time Nick.”

“No. Biscuit is my dog.” She giggled lightly.

It was a soft and feminine sound, enticing. A pleasure to my ears and I found that I wanted more. I couldn’t have kept myself from smiling even if I wanted to.

See, she likes animals. Maybe she will like me too. I could feel Dane’s excitement with the idea.

Don’t count on it Dane. Its name is Biscuit. She probably has a chihuahua and you pal, are far from a chihuahua. I knew that would set him off. 

Noooooooo! Dane was whimpering at the idea.

Nick flashed that she had been in a few times, so she must be from around here. He would follow up with some friends.

He then asked aloud, “Dingo why don’t you get the bones from the discard box and bring them out to Danny’s car.”

‘Danny,’ I thought to myself. Strange name for such an obviously feminine woman.

I nodded and flashed back that I would ask if anyone knew of her at the closest Pack, Ocean River. The pack boarder was about 2 hours out of town. They are a great lot. Their Alpha, Brad was a friend of mine for many years. Dane and I were both anxious to learn more about the woman and hopefully someone at Ocean River could fill us in.

Nick knew of my mission and what a find like this could mean. A new way to bridge werewolves from dormant hybrids to full Were. I grabbed my bike and walked out the back of the store balancing the box of bones. There was only one truck in the lot, so even though the smell of her blood led me right to it, it wasn’t hard to figure out it was hers.

I preferred bikes to cars. Vehicles made me feel closed in. Bikes were open and a great way to work my legs when I couldn’t shift with humans around.

Inside the truck was an anxious dog, it looked like a pit mix. He was nervous, locked up in a truck with a predator approaching. He started to whine and cower. Lucky he was inside, otherwise he would have bolted like most animals do on sheer instinct.

See not a chihuahua, she might like me more than you. Dane was gloating. He was impossible when he was right.

We pushed out an aura of calm and slowly walked over. I wasn’t sure that would work on a domesticated animal. He whined and rolled over, exposing his neck and belly in submission. I got up to the window and tapped, talking gently. Once he decided I was ‘ok’ he bounded up, wagging and licking. He knew I was not here to hurt him.

I never understood why humans assumed some dog breeds were ‘dangerous’ or ‘bad.’ Each creature is unique and has as much potential to do good or bad as any other. A few moments later he was my little buddy. I could feel Dane was not really impressed with the small creature and I think a little jealous of the ‘little buddy’ thought as well.

Dane, you are in a whole other league, there is no comparison between you and a dog. You know that little buddy. I teased.

A low growling persisted, and I chuckled inside.

“This mean ole pit doesn’t scare me,” I smirked. I’ll admit it, I was baby talking the silly beast.

Her feminine voice floated over as she walked out, “I’ll never get all the drool off the door, you know that right.”

She caught me by surprise, not easy to do. She looked so tired. Despite her tired manner she had an aura swirling about her. I just couldn’t read it.

“You can just throw those in the back.” She said. “I’m sure Biscuit won’t mind a bit of dirt and rust on them.”

I was watching her intently, trying to read her. What was she? I felt drawn to her, like I needed to take care of her or at least make sure she was ok. It was then that I realized that I was staring.

She looked up and said, “He must really like you.” Breaking the quiet tension.  

“It’s my animal magnetism.” I replied cockily.

I AM your animal magnetism; she will like me too. I want to meet her. Dane was anxious.

I had never felt him like this before. Calm down and you most certainly are NOT going to meet her. She probably has no idea Werewolves are real.

Yeah, my animal magnetism is drawn to her curvy body, I thought as I felt my pants get tight. Although her hand was now bandaged, I could still smell her blood. I wanted to touch her but I had no reason to and I knew she was still hurting. I felt a need to make it better. She opened the truck door and the dog dashed out and around to me.

His behavior was clearly draining for her. I snapped my fingers and pushed out to the dog again, ‘calm down.’ He promptly dropped to a sit position and rolled out his pink tongue. Her eyes grew wider watching the effect I had on the dog. She had no idea that Nick and I are werewolves. That’s a relief.

She introduced us, “Dingo, this is Biscuit. Biscuit this is Dingo.” We both managed a chuckle.

And Dane. Dane added. He always had to add something.

“Oh, Nick told me to give this to you as well.” I remembered and I handed her the small bottle of ointment.

“What is it?” she asked, eyeing it curiously.

“I have no idea.” I said but then quickly added, “It’s something Nick cooks up, but it heals almost anything. Put it on once a day for a week and your hand should be fine.”

I didn’t want her to not use it because of not trusting us. Her hand still needed to heal and this I knew would help. Wolf medicine is not technologically more advanced than humans, it’s just been perfected over time and is far more effective with the results on both werewolves and humans.

Her hand slipped as she reached for the bottle and brushed against mine. I felt a faint tingling sensation where we touched. I looked over and she had just stopped.

Her hand was on the bottle but her eyes were unfocused, like she was looking a million miles away. Her aura surged outward; the whirling increased. I could feel fear, pain, calm and…. arousal all radiating from her.

Davin you need to help her. She still needs help. You should stay with her. Dane growled anxiously.

I couldn’t tell what she was doing or what was happening but it was powerful. I called to her gently trying to pull her back, “Danny. Danny, can you hear me?”

I tensed my body to catch her in case she started to fall. I really didn’t know what to expect. I just felt like I needed to help. Goddess I wanted to touch her. It was only a few moments before her aura retracted and her eyes refocused.

“Are you ok?” I gently asked.

She took a deep breath and whispered “Oh, what? Yes. Sorry, I’m fine. I’m just really tired that’s all. I need to go home.”

She’s lying. She needs help. Dane was on edge and he was right but he didn’t understand the human world.

Dane, I really have no right to stop her, I have no idea what was going on. Hell, I still don’t know what she is. I was trying to sooth him, but I felt the pull too.

I wanted her to tell me something I could use to help. Anything so that I could ask her to stay. She opened the door, the dog jumped in and she carefully pulled herself inside.

I just stood there watching as she pulled away. Dingo you’re a damn fool sometimes, I berated myself. I should have made her stay, offered to drive her or call a cab or something. One thing I do know, is that she is having one hell of an effect on me and Dane.

You’re and idiot Davin. Dane was not pleased, but there wasn’t anything I could do.

I shook my head and angrily jumped on my bike. A few miles out of town I would ditch the bike and travel in wolf form up to Ocean River. For now, I was content to pedal furiously as my mind reeled over meeting this amazing creature.