Page 3 of Rejection on the Full Moon

[Okay, everyone.] The voice of Alpha Blue rings into my mind, and I stop, ducking just in time for Leo to crash into his father’s side. The Alpha gives the both of us a pointed look. There is a reason we are called “Double Trouble” in the pack. Somehow the two of us would get into trouble in multiple ways. Sometimes we would crash into higher-ranking wolves when being chased by one another. Other times, we would wreck a gathering without meaning to. But most of the time, we had a blast pranking Alpha Blue, my father, and the high-ranking wolves when they least expect it

[It’s time to run. Keep an eye on the pups, considering we have a few rare early shifters and remember the run ends at the lake just behind the pack house. Stay together and stay safe.] With that, he takes the lead as head of the pack, and we chase after him. The territory is a modest size, and unless you have had months of training, it would be hard to keep up in speed. Trackers scouted the route from the trees as Hunters surrounded the wolves. Even though we are on our territory, sometimes dangerous things could happen. At the last pack run, a group of rogues tried to kidnap some she-wolves. Needless to say, I watched how brutal a mate could be when one tried to harm their other half.

It took a total of three hours to finish the run before we reached the lake to rest. From here, we can either head home or socialize in our fur. This is where I once again tackle Leo after finding him in the crowd before dashing away again. For the next few hours, we chase and tackle each other in mock battle, enjoying the chance to let loose and tumble around like pups before heading back home for the night.

That is when we hear it. A gunshot rang through the trees as Leo and I separated, silence filling the forest that was once lively with pack mingling.

We freeze.

[Hunters have entered the territory. Everyone, get to the pack house and make sure the pups are safe.] Blue orders as wolves begin to scoop up many pups and race to the safety of the pack house where the bunkers waited to protect us.

[Amber?] My mother is worried and probably questioning my safety. Her voice fills the pack link, and I know I must reply into the link as well.

[I'm with Leo.] My answer is short, but it has two meanings. One, I am safe. Two, our future Alpha is with me. We should be a priority to protect, and hopefully, wolves will see us on our mad dash to the pack house.

[Okay, meet us at the pack house.] My father sighs, but I knew everyone would be vigilant for us.

[Okay.] I look at Leo and we nod in understanding, taking off and running to catch up with the other pack members. Some completely ignore us, which makes sense since hunters are considered enemy number one in the werewolf community. But the danger did not mean that they could not help. Although we did our best to keep up with wolves that we spotted, even barking out for help, our legs could not keep up with the fully-grown adults. Soon, we end up falling behind, trying hard to make it the last leg of the way to the pack house as the roof comes into view.

"Did you see that? The wolf with the fur-like flames?" I could hear the hunters, and they have spotted me. As beautiful as my fur is, it’s also dangerous since it’s easy to see. Leo seems to have sensed them too, and he steers me away from them into the thicker parts of the woods where it would be harder for a human to move through. It would also be easier for us to hide and blend in.

[Hurry up!] He growls, his Alpha side appearing. I could sense his urgency to have me moving faster, away from danger. It is his Alpha blood. The need to protect his pack mates grows stronger in dangerous situations.

[I am] I glared back at him, reaching the safety of the cave as it comes into view, and we hide just inside. Neither of us shifted nor breathed too loudly as we curled into the hidden ledge, Leo using his black wolf fur to hide me in the shadows. Unless a light is shone towards us, we will look like a shadow to anyone who looks in the cave.

"Where did they go?" Hunter One asks angrily.

"I don't know! You were the one tracking the fucking runt and its friend!" His companion answers just as furiously. I know to a hunter, a werewolf with rare fur is worth thousands to them. This is Survival 101. If you’re a special werewolf like me and held fur that the hunters' society deems novelty, then you would either be captured and kept as a pet or killed and have your pelt taken to be used for whatever they deemed fit.

[Amberle, Leo, where are you?] It is Alpha Blue, his worried voice filling the link.

[In the cave just north of the pack house. The hunters are outside where we are hiding.] I could hear Leo reply as he presses closer to me, his body ready to pounce in case we are found. I guess that means that Alpha Blue opened up the mind link to everyone.

[Stay there, we are coming.] It became quiet after that. The sounds of Leo and I barely breathing are the only sounds we could hear as we tried to sense the locations of the hunters and how close they are to us. Suddenly howls and growls could be heard. The sound of fighting between wolves and hunters reaches our hiding spot. It sounds like our Warriors are winning. Then, two gunshots ring out, and I felt my body go from shivering in fear to completely still. Shots are never a good thing to us. Almost all shots from a hunter’s gun are fatal to us wolves because of the silver-coated bullets created specifically to terminate our species.

[Amberle, whatever happens, whatever you hear, no matter what, just stay in the cave.] It is a command from Blue directed just to me as our private link buzzes into my mind. But worry and dread fill me while I wait for the cries of pain from the hunters to quiet down before I race past Leo, who tries to hold me back. Something in his eye holds pain and urgency in keeping me in the cave, but I trip his paws from under him and use this advantage and my speed to race past his sprawled-out form. The entrance of the cave greets me as I head for the outside, my mind hoping for the best, but dread starts to pool in my heart.

The scent of blood from my parents catches my attention before I see pack members circling around the base of a tree, sadness radiating through the bond. My steps falter with hesitation. My parents are strong wolves, so nothing should have happened to them, right?

With renewed resolve, I rush past everyone and shift into my skin, stopping with wide eyes at the sight of my parents leaning against each other weakly. With the slight sizzling of burnt skin, my eyes first catch sight of the scarlet blood dripping out of a wound on my father’s chest, the location close to his heart. His hand was clasping my mother’s as she weakly smiles at him, her free hand holding onto her abdomen as more blood drips out from her wound and past her fingertips.

“Mom…Dad…” I whisper out, my feet resuming their path slowly until I find myself kneeling in front of them, my hands resting on their clasped hands.

“Hey, Amber.” My father gasps, his smiling face now facing me as I stare back and forth between them. The wounds worsen with their movements as they shift to make more room for me, allowing me to move closer and hold onto them.

“You’ll be fine, right? The pack doctor will heal the both of you soon, right?” My mother’s hand reaches for my face as she runs her fingers delicately across my cheeks, her gentle smile filled with sadness. I did not realize that I had started crying until that moment, and I nuzzle into her warm touch.

“Promise me you’ll stick together, all of you!” Her voice is weak but still holds the command and respect of one of the pack leaders. Her eyes move from mine to over my shoulder. I follow her gaze to see Mia and Zack standing just behind me, a look of sorrow on their faces.

“You can’t leave us yet.” Mia cries out, taking the spot beside my father as she clings to his arm.

“I’m sorry, Mimi.” He sighs, releasing my mother’s hand to wipe away Mia’s tears.

“Zack, promise us you’ll take care of your siblings.” My mother continues, ending her words with a cough that causes blood to dribble down from the corners of her lips. My father quickly wraps her into his embrace as I catch Zack nod, unable to voice his words at the fact that our parents are at the end of their lives, and nothing could stop it.

“Good. Now, remember, we love all of you.” Father smiles, tears welling in his eyes as he starts to gasp for breath.

“Stay together and know that we will always be with you.” Mother continues before she sighs one more time. They lean closer together, their breaths becoming shallower until their bodies slowly go slack and their eyes close. They are gone.

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