Surprise Attacks and a White Wolf

Brian stood there between her and three rough looking, unknown wolves. Helena didn’t recognize any of these wolves' markings that disturbed her greatly because she could only hear her father’s warnings about her being kidnapped. Even their scent was foreign to her, and that terrified her. Because she didn’t, they come from? How did they get into their territory without tripping the security? Brian was in obvious danger, yet he wouldn’t give her room to shift into her own wolf. His wolf’s form dwarfed the other three wolves visibly. When did he get so large? She didn’t remember him being so large? White yes, she remembered that. Brian was white and Chris was black. They were like yin and yang.

When his size registered with these wolves, they paused for several heartbeats. She gathered the wolves believed their numbers were superior, because then fur flew as the four wolves met in a violent tangle of claws, teeth, and fur within the tight space of the corridor.

Brian had space to move while the other three tried to crowd in to get a hit on him. Like cowards, they tried to attack him as one, but this wasn’t a fight in the woods where they could surround Brian and distract him. Brian’s claws made contact in multiple locations while he dodged many of the attacks made on him. Everyone snapped and snarled menacingly as the fight went on. Gashes and blood appeared. Even so, Helena didn’t have space to shift and defend herself. All she could do was cower in the corners and watch the violence unfold.

“I can help. Push them back and give me space to shift. I can fight.” Helena demanded and entreated Brian, who only growled his displeasure at being distracted by her. That response warranted him a claw attack from one attacker, and it dug into the side of his neck, but it bounced off his thick neck ruff.

Helena watched in horror as Brian got the upper hand on one wolf. Bringing him down and fatally wounding him. The wolf must have been a new fighter because injured. He tried to turn tail and run. Which gave Brian the chance to bite his foreleg before the wolf disappeared the way it came.

A howl rose outside in the distance. The other two stopped fighting and their ears perked up. The howl was not familiar to Helena; it must be the unknown leader passing orders. Other howls came while Brian snuck in a couple of hits, bloodying the two. They retreated as quickly as they appeared, disappearing down the side corridor.

Once Helena was sure they weren’t coming back, she ran to Brian and searched his wolf for injuries. But the wolf only bore another’s blood smeared across his pelt. His thick fur protected him from their inexperienced attacks. Their strikes glanced off him, while his claws raked trails down the wolves’ haunches and shoulders. Spots of blood now dotted the floors and walls.

“Thank you, you look okay, but next time you need to give me space to shift, I could have helped fend them off.” Helena tapped his nose in irritation. Brian gave a growl of annoyance at her tap. “Oh, please, you went all cave wolf there and you growl at a little nose bop. I’m not some little human mate you can scare into line. I have my wolf and you know it.”

He chuffed at her. Chuffed! That’s as good as a laugh. Helena gave him an annoyed sound in reply.

He shifted back once he assured himself, they’d not find themselves attacked again. Helena could only roll her eyes at that. “For your information, there were only three small wolves. They couldn’t have been more than young adults. This most likely was their first mission, and I believe it failed. I can see your people milling about outside. Let’s go find your father and get back to Chris.”

“I’ll be happier when we’re in a group again. Not knowing what has happened to the rest of the pack isn’t sitting well with me.” Helena wanted to know everyone was unhurt. These were her people. Now it didn’t help have Brian this close, smelling like he did and now. Well… All Helena could think about was he made the term sightseeing have a whole new meaning. Was he, her mate? At dinner, she’d been surrounded by the scent. It was like it was surrounding her. Coming at her from both sides. It wasn’t fair. But… If they both looked this good… Figuring out which was her mate would be interesting, to say the least.

“Chris is out there, and he excels at fighting and leading battles. Let’s get you and your father to a safe place. Where would he be right now?” Brian barely paid much attention to her right now. He didn’t notice her checking out his body. Because he was busy being alert to danger.

“He vaguely mentioned that he would return to his apartment to rest. I don’t like it. He’s never left a formal dinner like that before. Especially one he insisted on.” Helena frowned as she realized the irregularity in his actions. “I don’t like this. Something is adding up.”

“Then we’ll start there. Come on.” Brian, now naked from his earlier shift, walked away a few steps and Helena tried to stop staring at his form. There was no embarrassment in the naked form among them, and she didn’t normally admire others, but he was a stranger and attractive. Several scars ran down his body. Maybe it was the scent he seemed to give off. Clearly, training and experience appeared marked on his flesh and… She appreciated his rippling muscles as Brian walked. Fine hair lay scattered over his body instead of the fur that’d been there moments before. White fur, a true moon wolf. She wouldn’t complain if he were her mate.

Moon wolves were rare. Larger than most wolves, their fur thicker and heavier. Built for strength and fighting. Many packs coveted wolf shifters of that colouring. In lore, moon wolves were calculating and crafty, strong, and agile. Expert hunters and trackers. Perfect guardians and providers.

Helena shook her head and followed Brian. “Turn left up ahead. His is the first door on the right.” Brian would not let her stand beside him or go ahead. He checked each turn and twist before he allowed Helena to follow him. She got annoyed at the time he wasted doing this. Helena knew she couldn’t fault him for that. Brian tried to keep his word, by keeping her safe and not allowing anyone to get close. At least, he kept his word and was honourable.

Brian looked around the corner and waved for her to stop. “Give me a moment. There’s a body on the floor outside of the door you directed me to. Stay here. Let me go check to see who it is.” Brian prayed the grey head wasn’t that of the Alpha, face first on the floor. He didn’t see any blood on or near the person. Brian jogged up to the body and carefully turned him over. It was as he expected, sadly. The Alpha lay there, unresponsive. His spirit now travelled on to the next life. He whispered an honourable farewell out of respect.

“Oh, my goddess! Father!” Helena fell to her knees beside Brian, tears forming while she checked for signs of life. She found none. Brian knew she wouldn’t find any.

“It’s too late, Helena. We must get you to safety. We’re at risk in this corridor. I can’t protect you alone. Whoever mounted this attack will come after you again.”

Helena didn’t respond to Brian’s words, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks as grief assailed her heart and tore at it. Brian lifted her from the body and held her comfortingly in his arms. “How did he die? He seemed weak, but strong enough. How could he just drop dead here in the corridor?”

“We don’t make these rules in life, and we can’t predict when life will end for us. Or where? Or how? Shh… We need to get back. There’s safety in numbers.” Brian could feel his heart break for this woman. He couldn’t protect her alone in these corridors. He needed to get them back to the banquet hall and hope the fighting stopped by now. 

Once the fighting ended, Chris and he would search for answers. There were too many questions right now. Someone needed to direct the pack and the cleanup. But he would not be easy until he knew Helena stood with him and was safe. “Come on. We’ll find someone to bring your father to a place where he can lie down and have some dignity.” Brian gave her several minutes before he tried to guide her down the corridor the way they’d come, heading toward the banquet hall. It bothered Brian how the alpha died. Wolves didn’t collapse in the corridor like this. Further investigation would clear that up. So, now they had a suspicious death and an attack by an unknown pack.

Brian needed to keep people from entering that corridor. Maybe he could pick up a scent. He didn’t want to investigate the sense with Helena in this emotional state. He needed to talk to his brother, make sure they both knew the stakes. Helena wasn’t safe, and neither were they. What was going on here?