2. Bunnies and Friends

“Raven,” I hear Dad’s voice in my head as I finish my milk so I get up and walk through the kitchen to him.

“Come on, there’s no one around for miles Mom and I made sure it was safe,” he says, making my ears perk up excited about running around outside.

“Really?” I question with my tail wagging making him chuckle and nod his head as my eyes widen.

“You’re a natural, just reach out for the link you’ll only be connected to those who have shifted that you’re related to and who you share a link with,” Dad replies proudly as he leads our way outside into the beautiful snow.

“It’s so bright,” I mention as my eyes focus on every detail of my surroundings almost like the sun is up.

Your sight is much better at night and the full moon reflects off the snow,” Dad explains watching me as I run around in the yard getting used to being on four paws.

My tail begins to wag even more seeing my mom coming towards us from across the pasture.

My dad begins to walk towards her and I begin to follow, then I catch a delicious a scent.

I turn towards the scent trail and begin following it into the woods. I'm drawn to the smell like a magnet, feeling it was someone familiar I don’t recognize.

I look around carefully as I continue to follow the smell to a clearing deep in the woods when I spot a bunny at the base of a shrub.

“You’re mine,” I giggle to myself while dropping down lower moving my feet as softly as possible getting closer.

I make sure to move down wind staying out of sight as the bunny seems distracted eating from the shrub.

It hops forward making me slowly stalk closer careful to move my feet slowly over the cold snow.

“Ha!” I laugh internally jumping straight up into the air closing the gap grabbing the bunny by the back of its neck quickly killing it.

“Daddy!” I excitedly try to connect to the link while looking around realizing I have wandered away from my parents.

“Oops,” I giggle to myself picking up my kill then start back towards the house knowing my parents will worry.

I playfully toss the bunny and chase it while following the scent of a warm fire knowing that is the direction of home.

“Shit,” I groan running into a solid warm fury object that makes me drop my bunny so I look up at the huge black wolf I walked into.

“I… I…” I stutter through the link while crawling away very scared as it is his scent I followed; his scent is mouthwatering remind me of a campfire and crisp rain.

I can’t help staring at his size, he is massive like a bear with stunning black fur that is so dark there isn’t a way to describe it; he is absolutely magnificent.

I don’t recognize him as he slowly lays down and watches me curiously when I grab my bunny then cower with my tail between my legs.

“You don’t have to be afraid Little Bunny, I know your family,” I hear his deep gruff voice in my head giving me butterflies as I smile a little knowing he must have watched me hunt.

“How?” I ask while laying down in front of him with ten feet between us as I begin to chew on my bunny.

“Gideon was in my pack before you were born; you must be Raven where is your sister?” He questions while looking around like expects to see Liliana too.

“Yes, Liliana didn’t change… something else happened. Who are you?” I say, before asking another question as he watches me with a tilted head like he is surprised.

“Alpha Osric, you’re very brave wandering all the way out here alone. I see you’ve made your first kill,” he answers watching me move closer, being very drawn to him, while bringing my snack with me.

“Want some? I caught a bunny,” I reply dropping my bunny next to him and sit willing to share.

“What do you mean something else happened to Liliana?” He questions seeming confused as I look away feeling like I couldn’t lie to him.

“She didn’t shift because she got magic, she can heal,” I link somehow knowing I can trust him as he gets up then gently nudges me to get up.

“She’ll be running around out here with you soon enough, she’ll just shift when most wolves do,” Osric reassures with a slight chuckle watching me as I have my half-eaten bunny in my mouth.

“What pack are you Alpha of?” I link nudging my bunny closer to him wanting to share with him.

“I’m Alpha of Blood Moon, your father Gideon used to be my Beta,” Osric answers as I tilt my head recognizing the pack name.

I remember my dad telling Liliana and I stories about him, his friends Nikki, Angel, and Embry being from there and growing up with Alpha Osric.

“My Mummo and Vaari raised my dad there, she always talks about her friend she grew up with as a little girl,” I speak with glee in the link glad to know he is my dad’s friend and I am safe with him.

“Yes, Adaline is very good friends with my Mum, Gideon was my Beta long before you were born and a very good friend, we used to muck around and get into trouble like you and Liliana probably do,” Osric chuckles while peeling away some of the skin of the bunny to eat some.

“Lily and I like to play, I have to be careful though because she gets hurt easier,” I admit with a slight sigh feeling bad she isn’t able to be here.

“She’ll catch up some day Bunny, you’re quite special and so is she,” he reassures brushing his large head against my small fury body making me giggle a little. 

My ears perk up hearing my mother howl making me whine a little as I don’t want to respond.

I don’t want her to find me because she’ll be angry at me and make me go inside.

“It’s ok,” Osric reassures so I instantly drop the bunny and begin to howl back for Osric to start howling with me sounding beautiful as we harmonize.

I can’t help smiling and jumping on Osric wanting to play after he finishing howling.

He laughs a little landing on his side playfully like I knocked him over.

I can’t help giggling while biting at his legs as he moves them around my muzzle playfully.

“Why are you here?” I ask after a minute now lying next to him and chewing on his neck.

“To check in on Gideon he’s a good friend,” Osric answers while resting his head against me and I laugh more because his head is nearly the size of my body.

“Raven! Get over here now!” I hear Rebecca nearly scream through our link so I look up to see her and Dad running to us.

Both of them are large grey wolves, my mother is slightly smaller and darker than my father, but Osric is much bigger than both of them making my mother look like a pup.

“What? I met Osric he said Daddy was in his pack?” I question while looking over at Osric when he uses his nose to nudge me towards my mother.

“What are you doing here?” Rebecca snarls when I begin to crawl towards them with my belly dragging in the cold snow.

“Rebecca calm down, you’re scaring Raven it’s ok. Osric only came to check in,” my dad links trying to calm my mother down as she is still growling like she is a feral animal.

“Gideon is right Rebecca, I just came to make sure your family is well,” Osric reassures and Rebecca shakes her head nearly lunging at him.

“Raven, go home,” Rebecca orders with a slight growl and I whimper not wanting to get closer.

“Rebecca!” Dad snaps while stepping toward her and she slowly calms down as I look to him for what to do.

“Raven head home, we’re going to talk to Alpha Osric,” Dad reassures with a nod so I start to run home not understanding what I did wrong.

I don’t know why my mother is so angry that I found Osric and why my father is so calm.

I instantly take off running not even caring what direction I go; I only want away from my mother feeling the anger radiating from her.

I whimper not understanding what I have done wrong. I didn’t mean to find him, but he is my father’s friend and their old Alpha.

Osric isn’t weird nor did he do anything odd he only watched me hunt and kept me company once I noticed him.

I find him to be quite nice and fun to play with, it's almost like he has pups or is around them often.

Being an Alpha, means he is around the pack’s children often and from our interaction I imagine he is active among his people.