Page 33 of Protection of the Pack

As Elena emerged on four legs, she left the hut on the other side of her two companions, keeping as much distance between her and us as possible. She wasn’t the only one bearing scars; Mrs Dawes had a wicked looking one up her forearm that I’d never seen before. No wonder she always wore long sleeves. Like me, she hadn’t been a werewolf long, and I wondered whether she had acquired it before or after her turn. It would probably be rude to ask.

Manners, Lauren, Ace and I were the last ones to shift. I hoped that my esteemed guests would be too preoccupied with their own shift to notice how rapidly mine took place. Manners obviously had a similar thought because he stood in front of me, blocking the others’ view with his muscular frame.

I whipped off my clothes and put them in a neat pile in the nearest locker. When I looked up and caught my reflection in the mirror, Ace was looking at me. His gaze was openly admiring as he ran his gaze down my body. Ugh: that was just plain rude.

I wanted to let the shift rip over me and get me safely into fur, but I waited patiently for Manners. When I was sure he was ready too, I let the shift roll over me. In seconds I was on four legs.

Esme waited calmly for the others to complete their transformation. Ace’s change took a mere two minutes, one of the fastest I’d seen, perhaps only beaten by Marissa’s. Ace’s head whipped towards me when he noted I was already on four legs, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped fractionally.Wow, he mouthed at me in the mirror before smiling in open admiration. He was impressed at the speed of our transformation. Esme gave a wolfish grin back.

When everyone was ready, we headed out. Esme took the lead and I settled down to let her run the show. She was eager to show the pack what she was made of. Letting out a yip that meant ‘follow me’, she dived into the dense woodland without looking back.

She stretched out our legs and joy flowed over us as we effortlessly covered the land and cleared the obstacles in our way. Esme pulled the pack on mile after mile, and they followed us with happy yips. We reached out our senses – not just sight and smell and hearing, but somethingother. As I had with the elder tree, we felt everything that was around us.

We could see where the deer were quietly grazing and resting. Not far now. Not far at all. We called a command to slow down because we needed to conserve some energy for the final sprint when we brought down our targets. Someone queried us – Lauren – wondering why we were slowing down. We gave a warning growl and she dropped back. We knew what we were doing, and we guided the pack forward slowly and carefully.

Finally we scented our prey, and so did the rest of the pack. Excitement swept through them as the anticipation ramped up. Esme gave some quiet commands and the pack split into three smaller groups – paws – that separated to flank the deer herd. There were no yips, barks or growls, no noises at all as we slunk closer to our quarry. The deer would scent us soon enough and the game would be afoot.

Esme and I approached the clearing with Manners to our right and Ace and Lauren to our left. They held back respectfully, letting us take prime position. When we were close enough, we burst out of the undergrowth, our heart racing as we exploded towards the unsuspecting deer. The left flank did the same, led by Marissa and Seren with Brian, Noah and Ethan. The right flank was a little slower, just a half beat, but it made all the difference.

Archie led that paw, with David, Elena and Mrs Dawes. The fractional delay gave their quarry the head start it needed to survive, but our target wasn’t so lucky. We approached from behind and leapt onto its back to bring it down. As we laid the deer low, Manners leapt in and ripped out its throat, ending a potential struggle before it could begin. Parallel to us, Ace and Lauren effortlessly corralled and killed the deer nearest to them.

Marissa and Seren had a slightly longer chase with their prey, harrying it and nipping at it before eventually bringing it down. We all started to feast on the three deer. Archie’s paw returned from its hunt empty handed.

Manners was sharing the carcass of our kill with me, but I stepped back and let Archie and his cohort take a turn. Manners followed my lead and did the same. All around us, the pack was making happy noises and ripping enthusiastically into the feast. I even saw a few wagging tails.

Esme and I were satisfied; the hunt had exceeded our hopes. Everyone we’d called to hunt had turned up and, by working in paws we’d brought down three deer. It had been a monumental success.

The wolves devoured our ill-fated prey and we stayed there until we were all-but picking the bones clean. With dinner over, we dragged the remains – such as they were – into dense undergrowth where they would never be found. There was no need to advertise the pack’s presence, even though it was us that constantly replenished the deer herd. It wouldn’t do to let dinner go off.

All done, Esme and I called a commanding bark and led the way once more. With our Other sense stretched out, it wasn’t hard to know where we were going. We could feel the ancient tree like a pull on a magnet. It wasn’t too far from our location, so we set a relaxed pace and let our food settle as we ran.

Tension ran through the pack as we broke into the clearing and they realised where we were. Esme moseyed forward to the elder tree and bowed to it – not a sign of submission, but one of respect.

Shit. I hadn’t thought through this part. I needed to address the pack, but to do so I’d need to shift, meaning the council members would see my lightning-fast change. Well, Ace already knew it was fast; let them see it and wonder what it meant.

I called the pack to gather round and then I faced them with the elder tree at my back. Esme and I let the change roll over us. I stood in a power stance with my legs akimbo, like I wasn’t even a little bit awkward about being completely naked.

I glowered and met the eyes of my pack until they all looked away. ‘It is not okayto urinate on the elder tree.’ My voice was hard. ‘If Ievercatch wind of another packmate being so disrespectful to our neighbours, you will be out on your ass before you can say “lone wolf”.’ I glowered some more. ‘Have I made myself clear?’

The wolves ducked their head, tails tucked in close. I noted Archie, Noah and David were cringing most. David often seemed to be looking down at the ground or out the window, and it surprised me that he was eleventh in the pack. He seemed far more subservient than I’d have expected an eleventh to be, but what did I know?

‘Excellent,’ I continued. ‘On this occasion the dryads have forgiven us the insult, but if they had demanded blood I would have given it. Your actions reflect on the pack. To act so disgustingly, so shamefully, brings all of us into disrepute. I’m not just angry, I’m disappointed. Lord Samuel would have been disappointed. I will not allow this behaviour to stand. This is the only warning you will get.’

I glared a moment longer and some of the gathered wolves let out whimpers of distress. ‘Good.’ I nodded and slowly smiled. ‘Let us remember the joy and success of the hunt. Today we have hunted and fed, and I’m proud to have you all with me. Now – fastest to the lodge wins!’

I let the change snap over me and Esme and I bounded off. Calls of excitement rang in the air as the pack leapt into action. But we had the advantage; we could sense the most direct route like it was a map in our mind, and we sprang towards the lodge. Weneededto win this.

Esme was confident of our success, but Ace and Lauren would not hold back out of a sense of respect and they were in prime condition – but then, so were we. The race was on and nothing would stop us. We gave it our all, pounding through the forest like Satan himself was on our tail.

We heard the pack behind us, but the sounds were happy and joyful, washing away the scolding of a moment before. I hoped the lesson would stick, but I needed the pack to have this positive night together to start to cement some bonds.

We arrived at the lodge first. Our chest was heaving as we gulped in air, but we made it a full twenty seconds before Manners joined us, then Ace, then Liam. I wondered if Tristan would be annoyed about Liam beating him back; time would tell.

I shifted back into human form once more, opened the lodge door and grabbed my clothes. I dressed swiftly whilst the others started their shift back, then waited patiently. Some were so slow that it was hard to believe the shift was enjoyable.

As I stood ready to go, Ace joined me. ‘That’s some shift you’ve got there.’ His tone was openly admiring.

‘Thanks. It’s handy.’

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