The Nymph and The Wolf

*Thunk* a book collided with my head nearly knocking me out of the tree I was perched in. I grabbed onto a branch, shaking the changing leaves loose. A flurry of red swirled around me then fell back to earth. "Thanks," I muttered sarcastically as my beloved owl Gera, landed on the branch beside me.

I rubbed the lump on my head absently, and she puffed up her snowy white feathers with a look that told me I should be grateful for what I got. I opened the book and smelled the lovely old book scent. The human library perfectly cultivated this one-of-a-kind aroma. 

This one was about bridges of the world and had a coffee stain on the cover. It wasn't necessarily the topic I would choose, but I was more than happy to absorb any information that had nothing to do with trees or wood nymphs. I couldn't exactly walk to the library myself, my wings might alarm the humans. I looked at them over my shoulder. They were very pretty, especially right now with the late afternoon sun making them glimmer a pinkish gold.

I didn't get the fuss over magic, or why the humans finding out about it was such a big deal. Humans were much more exciting creatures than nymphs and fairies, our kind were too predictable. I loved the things they made with science and engineering, the fascination I felt for them had grown into full fledged passion. I sighed thinking about the fact that there wasn't a single place for me in this world other than this forest, and I didn't fit here either.

I closed my eyes and imagined what it would feel like to stand on top of one of these mammoth creations. The wind caressing my face and sweeping back my hair would be similar to flying, but I didn't know what the air felt like near large bodies of water.

I didn't have much to go on besides the black and white pictures and things I'd read in other books. I had never left this forest for even a moment. Wood nymphs' lives were tied to the forest, we each drew our life force from an individual tree, and our duty remained here. 

Our reclusive nature was about self-preservation more than love for the forest; we could live an awfully long time if this vast green wilderness remained intact. The elders didn't care for it much when you pointed it out though, especially not when I was the one to say it.

They weren't exactly my biggest fans. Most of my kind fulfilled that duty happily and never dwelled on why they did it. I never quite fit in with them, even before they decided I was a threat. I dropped out of the branches and went to my little home in the hollow of my tree.

I touched the rough bark and the magic sparked on my fingertips, revealing the door. It was only one little room with a bed made from soft bits of the forest and little things my owl had pilfered for me. The tree was incredibly thick, but that still didn't leave much space to walk. At least there was space above me, and I lined the interior of the tree with some shelves that held little pretty things I'd found. Just enough room existed for me to fly straight up and back down to get to my special items.

I had a big stack of books I kept right next to my bed. Gera usually found them on the side of the road, sometimes left outside the door of the library, not properly tucked into the slots. Some of them were so old and battered the words were barely visible, but I kept them anyway. Beggars can't be choosers, as the humans say. I liked to think that one day I would bring back the books that were still nice enough for the library, and buy some of my own. I didn't want to be a thief even if Gera was technically responsible for the thefts.

My favorite of all the wonderful tomes was a book about love. The main character was this buff and dreamy human man with piles of muscles who oozed confidence. The woman he loved swooned at the thought of him, and it had very outlandish descriptions of human sex. It wasn't that way for nymphs, for one I'd never seen a male nymph with more than slight muscles and certainly none that made fire explode in my belly. 

We had all the same parts, but our marriages were arranged, often before we were even born. Our relationships were about partnership and procreation, the continuation of the forest. Each time a nymph was born their tree popped into existence with them. That's not to say that nymphs did not love one another, but there wasn't much in the way of passion. I dreamed of being touched the way I read in that book. Sadly, I would never have the chance, not even with a boring old nymph. 

My parents died long before their trees, and no one knew why. The gargantuan plants still stood to this day alive and flourishing, a constant reminder to myself and my community that there was something very wrong with me. The mystery kept me awake at night. Their loss broke my heart and left me alone. Our community was far from supportive.

My engagement was broken within the week and it's just been Gera and I ever since. They let me come around for feasts and holidays if I choose, but it's better for all of us if I just stay away. It's hard to play nice when you're afraid someone might be carrying a contagious premature death.

I was a healer among other things, and it had been a long time since the opportunity to use my abilities presented itself. I could not heal myself and Gera never had an injury as far as I knew. My mind drifted back to the last peron I helped that way, the wolf I'd saved in the forest years ago. I thought of him often, but never could place why being close to him lit me up inside.

I thought of his handsome face and chiseled body with a mix of fear and desire. I wondered what might have happened if I didn't run from him. I picked the book I liked best up for the hundredth time and laid against my bed. "You're all I need in life, Gera." She hooted and gave me a disbelieving look, yeah, I didn't buy it either.

*

Garreth

It was getting harder and harder to get through the day. All Alpha's had more than their fair share of aggression. It was a natural part of what we were, stronger and faster than other wolves, dominant and possessive. Some were better at handling it than others, but my self control was slipping away from me faster than I could comprehend.

An alpha needed their Luna, they were the cool water that tempered the fire burning inside of us. I was only twenty-five, the madness lingering on the edges of my mind should not be setting in so soon. Without ever knowing her, it would have been years away, except I already found my mate and lost her.

~

I turned eighteen just a few days earlier. My wolf and I ran through the woods near the packhouse. The wind blew through our fur, our nails dug into the cool earth, peace filled us as we communed with nature. That night was a full moon, and even though the day still shined brightly overhead we could feel its presence hanging in the sky. The power of our Alpha blood sang in our veins and everything seemed like it was in the right place.

Our ears perked to the east just a moment before a rogue plowed into us. His teeth caught our throat and while we tried to fight back there wasn't much we could do. He wasn't looking for a fight, just an ambush. He ran off to the west with a chunk of my wolf's throat in his mouth. We fell to the ground, dying in a pool of blood. We lost consciousness, I wished my wolf a fond farewell, hopeful we would meet again in the afterlife. 

Suddenly, I was awake again and healed enough that death was no longer a risk. I was naked in my human form and the most incredible scent filled the air. It was so similar to the aroma of the forest around me, except for the touch of sunlight, old books, and home. 

‘Mate!’ My wolf screamed inside of me, and I had to agree. I couldn't shift yet, my wolf was too injured, but I was strong and fit. I had no problem going on a run. I stalked her through the forest, smelling her scent in the air. I realized I was running in circles and she was nowhere. I felt myself losing my mind as I ran, the sun set, and then rose again before I realized I wasn't going to find her.

~

I came back to the forest at least once every day for the last seven years. It was getting harder to convince myself and my wolf that we would ever find her again. If it weren't for his single-minded focus I would have believed it was a near-death hallucination, but then again something must have helped us for us to be alive right now.

I walked into the packhouse, the run we just took through the forest was another useless waste of my time. Sometimes I would swear I caught hints of her on the breeze and against the trees, but she was never there. I ignored the people talking to me, and they quickly gave up as I stormed past. 

They knew better than to test me when I was like this. I went to my office, slammed the door behind me, and started laying into the punching bag I'd hung a few years back. I needed an easy way to get out some of this aggression before I wound up hurting someone who didn't deserve it.

If I didn't find her soon, I would need to give up my title. It burned my soul to even think of it, and my wolf snarled, furious at the thought. I couldn't keep this up much longer. I'd be better off as a rogue than an Alpha too fucked up to lead his pack and willing to hurt them. I drove my fists into the bag until my knuckles bled.