2

I managed to put the incident with Alpha out of my mind for the following two weeks. As a wolf I am naturally able to hunt for myself to acquire food, so I have luckily, never had to go without for too long. Even though I have not had a nice hot shower in quite a few years living as a wolf does have its advantages. I am able to run through the springs in order to clean off and have no problems going to the bathroom in the woods either. The trickiest part is the fact that I have to do all of this while hiding from the closes pack of werewolves.

I wait another week before venturing closer to the pack lines again. Even though I am trying to avoid detection by the pack it is much safer to be close to them than it is to be surrounded by possibilities at all times. If it was not for the fact that I can also change into a cardinal on demand, then I am sure that I would have been found out a long time ago. Turning into a cardinal is not normal for werewolves but my parents taught me to never shoot a gift horse, so I have no problems using it when I need to. As of yet the pack seems to be unaware that I am in the vicinity even though I have now been here for almost 2 years. It seems as if my extra gift might have changed my smell to other wolves because they seem none the wiser to the fact that I have been living this close to them. At least, not until the alpha smelled me the other week. Maybe, I have been slipping up or growing careless but that does not seem to be the case.

As I am looking for my next meal, I hear voices again. “Sir, when are you going to stop looking for that phantom scent?” a voice said.

“As soon as I figure out where it came from. Either it is all in my head or I can faintly smell it again right now.” The familiar voice of the Alpha answers.

Hearing that he has been looking for me makes me nervous. He may not realize that it is me that he is looking for but as I am the only scent that he would not be familiar with it would make sense. Maybe, I smell just as good to him as he seemed to smell to me. This could mean that his is my mate! This could also mean that he makes a killer steak, and I am just remembering how it feels to eat a cooked meal. Either possibility does seem to be appealing.

Still, I need to keep my distance until I learn more about him. Shifting into the cardinal again I fly onto a branch a couple of feet in front of where the two wolves are searching. The alpha looks just as delectable and in the cargo shorts and black cut off combo he looks particularly scrumptious. Even though he is a bit smaller than the other one, what was his name again?......Oh, yeah Kevin, he seems to be just as athletic and more lithe than the other one. I watch them looking around for anything in the undergrowth that might be out of place.

After disturbing a rather disgruntled bunny, the Alpha finally looks up at the branch where I am perched. “Hey, is that the same cardinal from last time Kevin?”

“How am I supposed to know if that is the same one? They all look the same?” Kevin replies like he is annoyed. “Are we going to stay out here all day or are we going to head back to the packhouse for the cookout?”

“I did not order you to come search with me today. Or any other day in the last couple of weeks. You are more than welcome to head back if that is what you want.” Alpha snaps back.

Seems like they have been driving each crazy searching for a phantom scent since I was last here. “Well, you insist on coming out here every day to find a smell that does not exist. The rest of the pack is getting worried, so I have to keep you out of trouble.” Kevin snipes back.

“Alright, alright let’s go then. We can head back and maybe you can hook up with that blonde you have been eyeing all month.” The alpha says and with that they turn back towards the pack house and joke around before sprinting back with each one trying to outdo the other.

I wonder if I can follow them back. Will anybody think of not trusting a bird? As far as I know I am the only wolf in history to be able to turn into a bird so I should be safe as long as I stay in bird form.

Deciding that as long as I keep my distance and do not get caught up in the lives of these wolves too much, I should be safe, I follow the two men back to the pack. They head to what I would call a mansion where some type of barbecue seems to be going on in the back. The men head into the packhouse so I fly over to the backyard to inhale the wonderful smells of cooking food.

As it begins to get darker the rest of the pack begins arriving. The older ones arrive first carrying dishes and helping to get food and tables set up for the rest of the pack. All of the young adult women look like they are trying to catch the eye of somebody important. As the men walk back out, I see why they are all showing off.

As soon as the Alpha steps out they all start simpering like they are trying to impress him. Even though he seems oblivious to all of their efforts it seems easy enough to figure out. Each one is trying to become the pack Luna, but he seems like he is not interested in any of them. Still, something about the situation sets me on edge. I cannot put my finger on why but the fact that they are all trying to win him over really annoys me.

Embroiled in the drama that I am watching I do not notice another pack member come behind me in wolf form. At the last second, I notice the smoky gray wolf from the corner of my eye creeping up to me. I do not act fast enough, and he pounces on me. Immediately, fear makes me lose control of the bird form I am using. Slowly, I begin to shift back into my human form.

As my red hair begins to grow out and my body takes on the shape it is meant to be the wolf drops me. I hoped that nobody would notice, and I could fly off before anybody else spots me but at his terrified yell of surprise they all come running.

Now, as I have been in wolf or bird form most of the time since I ran from my parent’s house my human form seems very unfamiliar to me. Quickly, the rest of the pack surrounds me, and I have nowhere to hide before the Alpha shows up to see what is going on.

“Quin! What kind of trouble have you gotten into this time?” He says jokingly looking to the wolf that caught me. When he sees my form laying in front of him, he stops dead. After what seems like ages of us staring at each other like predator and prey he shakes his head and finally seems to snap out of it. “You! You are what I have been smelling in the forest. Who are you and how did you end up here?’ He demands.

Too scared to reply I just shake my head. When I do not reply Quin says from behind me, “She’s a bird! I was trying to catch a bird and next thing I know my mouth would not fit around her neck anymore! All of a sudden it was a girl! How is this possible!” He shouts.

“A bird? You smell like a werewolf though. How can you turn into a bird?” He continues questioning. When I still fail to answer he turns back to Quin. “What kind of bird was she?”

“I don’t know the difference in birds. A red one? Maybe a dove? Wait, those are white or gray. Red, red. Red is a cardinal, right?” He muses confused. Does not seem like that smart of a guy but hey, who am I to judge. Maybe everyone is like this, and I just haven’t realized with my very limited exposure in recent years.

“Kevin, wasn’t that bird that we kept seeing in the forest a cardinal?” Alpha asks the man that was in the forest with him. At the Kevin’s nod he looks back at me inquiringly. Lowering his voice he says softly, “It was you. I am not going to hurt you I just want to know more about you. I want to know how you can do this and where you are from.”

Slowly, I lift my eyes and just say, “I don’t know how I do it. It is something that I learned how to do recently when hiding in the woods.”

“Why are you hiding in my woods? How long have you been there?” he asks.

“Please, just let me leave. I mean no harm I was just curious as to who you are and wanted to see how others lived. If I had not been so distracted by the smell of food I would have been gone before you noticed.” I implored.

“Are you that hungry? How long has it been since you have last eaten?” He asks. Call me crazy but he seemed to genuinely care about my answer here.

I did not want to lie but I could not tell him the entire truth either, so I just replied with, “I caught a rabbit just a few hours ago.”

“A rabbit? That is all you had. Where is the rest of your family or even friends? Where are you staying?” He seemed concerned.

“Not too far. Do not worry about me, I never go hungry for long.” I reply.

“Nonsense. Stay, eat, when you are done, we will take you home. Until then, try to relax and maybe we can get to know you better.” He commands. As he says this one of the pack returns with an oversized shirt and some basketball shorts. Up until then I had forgotten about clothes. It has been so long since I have had clothes to wear that the idea seems foreign to me. Still, I slide them on and give a thanks to the one that brought them.

The alpha insists on getting me a plate of food and piling it high with all of the food that they have. In short order, I am stuffing myself on burgers, hot dogs, pork chops, macaroni and cheese and fruits I did not even know the names of. I hadn’t eaten this well in years. Completely forgetting myself in my food I get startled by someone clearing their throat.

“I know that you said you weren’t hungry, but you sure demolished enough food for five people. If you want more there is plenty left.” He chuckles.

Realizing how odd that might have seemed I just give a small smile and say, “No thanks, it was delicious, but I do not think I could eat another bite. If you do not mind, I will just head home now.”

“No, wait!” He almost shouts. Lowering his voice slightly he continues, “Please do not leave yet. You have not even told me your name.”

“I have not used my name in many years.” I query out loud. “If I remember right my name is Laina.”

“Laina? I have not heard of that name before. What is your surname? Maybe I know of your family.” He continues.

“I doubt you have ever heard of my family. My last name was Rayne.” I speak low, feeling as if I am betraying my parents by divulging these secrets after all of these years.

“Huh, I have not heard that name in a long time. Once, we had a family friend who lived here with that last name. I heard that she ran off with a human and got married. Nobody had heard from her or seen here since. Doubt that it is the same woman of course.” He muses.

“No, I doubt it. My father was a human, but I cannot imagine that my mother had ever lived somewhere as marvelous as this. Our cottage was quaint and perfect but nothing grandiose like your house is.” I reply.

“Was? Are you saying that you do not live there anymore or that your parents are no longer with you? Perhaps I can help find them.” He says helpfully.

“No, I do not think that you can. They were killed almost 10 years ago now.” I say dishearteningly.

“Well, what have you been doing for 10 years now then? Have you been alone this entire time?” He seems concerned for a complete stranger once again.

“I am fine alone. I do not need anyone else. In fact, I need to leave. Sorry to have kept you. I will just be going now.” I say hurriedly.

“Wait! You can’t leave.” He shouts.

“And why not?” I ask.

“Can’t you tell? You must be my mate. You smell too good to be anything else.” He says matter-of-factly.