John's eyes were down, deep in contemplation as he walked towards the group. The sensation of eyes on him compelled him to look up. Once again, he was met with an unfriendly, hard stare. Icy blue eyes were locked onto him, conveying a message that seemed to say, "Don't you dare come any closer," sending a chill down his spine.
John's steps faltered, and he swore he saw the corner of her mouth quirk up in an evil smirk. He stood there, dazed until a movement caught the corner of John’s eye, and he noticed Prius calling him over. In stark contrast to the woman, Prius' eyes on him were warm and welcoming. John's gaze shifted to the burly man standing next to the Beta; he had long straight hair that, in the sunlight, resembled the color of honey. His dark brown skin was a stark contrast to his hair. The inquisitive stare he was giving John held a penetrating intensity, as if he were on the verge of unraveling some profound mystery.John's lynx perked up, and it was as if he was staring at the man through his eyes. Sensing it, the man arched an eyebrow in question. Feeling uncomfortable, John's eyes shifted to the last man standing there. However, Darius's eyes showed little or no emotion as he looked at him, leaving John questioning if he had changed his mind and if he was not really welcome here.Stopping in his tracks, he tried to make a retreat, but Prius ever so attentively noticed the shift in John and started walking towards him. A friendly smile on his face. The blonde man wasn't far behind him and asked, "So, what do we have here?" His tone was warm and friendly. Before Prius had a chance to respond, Mia, the redhead, made a snorting noise, redirecting attention to her. Closing the distance to Darius even more, she pressed a perfectly manicured hand onto his shoulder, the gesture bordering on possessive. At the sight, the jealousy feeling spiked up again, and his lynx hissed in his mind, "Mine," leaving the young man dumbfounded.She spoke loudly enough for him to hear, and if her look had not been convincing enough, it was evident that she had no intentions of sugar-coating her thoughts either. "Clearly Darius was feeling charitable, bringing a pathetic, weirdly smelling shifter to the village. When is he leaving, Darius?" Mia spoke up, her voice carrying a note of disdain as she questioned him.John recoiled at the hurtful words. It seemed like wherever he went, he wasn't welcome. Hearing the lynx whimpering in distress within his mind, he concluded that returning to the cabin would be a better choice. He hadn't anticipated such a chilly reception, and the words "weirdly smelling" and "pathetic charity case" stung deeply.Fighting back the humiliation and insecurity, John mumbled an excuse and hastily retreated from the gathering. He needed a moment to process the unexpected hostility he had encountered.Darius, inner bear, however, was not willing to let him slip away without clarification. Concern etched across his face, he attempted to follow John, but Mia intervened. She placed herself between them and interrogated the Alpha."Why the sudden attachment to this outsider?" Mia demanded, her voice laced with suspicion. "What is he to you, Darius?"The intensity of Mia's inquiry took Darius by surprise. The Alpha bear within him came to the surface, his eyes almost shiny gold as he released a low growl; he would not accept such a disrespectful tone from anyone. Mia recoiled, offering apologies for her tone, although the lack of sincerity was evident on her face. Darius struggled to find the right words to explain the connection he felt with John. The only thing he knew is that his inner bear had this weird attachment to the young man and would not let the man turn his back on him.As John retreated towards the cabin, he struggled not to cry, his thoughts swirling with confusion and unease. What had he gotten himself into? He thought he had found a safe haven, but yet again, this place was laced with hostility and unwelcoming individuals. He came to a sudden halt when he heard his name being called and a hand on his shoulder. Looking back, he saw Prius and the other man standing there, looking at him with pity in their eyes. He didn’t need or want it. With a strength he didn’t think he had, he looked at the two - "It's okay! I'm not offended," John reassured them. "I just need some more rest."Inside the cabin, John made his way back to the office. The warmth of the room provided a welcome respite from the chilly reception outside. Settling into one of the wooden chairs facing the desk, he couldn't shake the questioning thoughts about his reception here. Had he allowed his hope to cloud his judgement once more? Why was it so hard for him to be accepted?His inner lynx whimpered, echoing his uncertainty. John whispered to the elusive creature within him, seeking reassurance and guidance. "What should we do, my friend?"Outside, Darius looked at the retreating figure of John disappearing behind the cabins that lined the village square. He turned his attention back to Mia, noticing a few more curious people gathered there. Darius realized that he had to somehow address the now-growing interest in John. He cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the various shifters around him."Everyone, I know you have questions about John," Darius began, his voice projecting authority. "I know he's not a bear, but his presence here is not unusual. He's still a shifter, just like us, and he's in need of our support,” Darius declared. He paused for a moment, assessing the mixed reactions in the crowd. Some appeared accepting, while Mia remained skeptical.Darius continued, "We're all part of this den because we've needed a place to belong, to be ourselves without judgment. John is no different. He's experienced a difficult past, and he deserves a chance at a fresh start.""Alpha, do you know what he is?" inquired a curious voice. "He smells different..." another added. Darius sighed before carefully considering his response, "Not yet. All we know is that he has not been brought up in the shifter world, so he is still a bit shocked. We need to be patient with him," he concluded, his tone leaving no room for additional questions.Inside the cabin, John had been lost in thought, still haunted by the unease from his encounter with Mia. Doubts gnawed at him, questioning his place within the village and whether his presence would continue to fuel discord within the community.In that moment, the door slowly opened, letting out a subtle creak, and Darius strolled in, his face radiating empathy and understanding. The Alpha squatted in front of John, and the guy's musky scent, mixed with a hint of something sweet, kind of wrapped around the young shifter like a comforting blanket."John," Darius began, his voice comforting, "I want you to understand that you're truly welcome here. You're a part of the pack if you want it, and we'll stand by you, protect you, and provide our support."John heaved a sigh of relief, grateful for Darius' reassuring words, but still not convinced if they were true. He decided he would not question it. "Thanks," he quietly whispered.Darius nods, his concern still clearly readable on his face. "However, soon you'll have to tell me what shifter you are. We normally can tell by someone's scent, but you're an enigma. Probably it's your late arrival," he adds. "But nevertheless, you can understand this is leaving the rest of the pack wary of you. In order for them to welcome you and be at ease, they'll need to get familiar with you and your inner animal... We'll give you a couple of days to settle in, and then we'll host a welcome party and introduce you to everyone."John, though hesitant, subtly assented. He understands the necessity of revealing his true nature to the pack, but is he ready to do so? He comprehends that he can't allow further discord within the community, so what is there for him to do?Outside, tensions escalate as Mia finds herself in a confrontation with Prius and the third-in-command, Michael. Michael's voice resonates with stern determination as he addresses Mia, urging her to abandon her possessive behavior towards the Alpha and to remember her position within the pack. "Mia, we have been here before, how many times shall we remind you that you're not the Luna here, and you're not in a relationship with Darius. You can't continue to act as if you're the leader.”Prius chimes in, reinforcing the message. "Darius has made the decision to bring John in, and we should respect that. He is the Alpha here! Regardless of your feelings or aspirations, that means extending a warm welcome to new members." The two men exchange glances, silently expressing their shared exasperation with Mia's attitude.Reluctant and defiant, Mia begrudgingly agrees. Keeping the boiling rage inside her at bay, she maintains a neutral facade, not letting her real feelings show through. She understands she has to pretend to fall in line and play along to be left alone. At least for now, she decides to let this be.Following Darius' subtle head signal, John stood and followed him out of the office and the main house. Once outside, they weaved through the neighbourhood until arriving at the entrance of another house.As John climbed the front porch steps, his eyes danced, captivated by the impressive structure. Darius, holding the door open, welcomed John into an enticing entryway—gleaming white walls, a lively coloured rug leading to a door to the left, and a softly lit corridor on the opposite side. Walking down the softly lit corridor behind Darius, John quietly exclaimed, "Wow!" as he admired the bold ochre walls. They added a playful touch, standing out against the hall's clean white backdrop yet fitting in perfectly with the raw charm typical of such buildings. Stylish monochrome artwork adorned the walls, infusing the space with modern allure. The slightly creaking wooden floor beneath their feet whispered tales of a family home. Passing two closed doors intricately carved by hand, John
John's lynx moved gracefully through the dense forest, its sleek body blending seamlessly with the shadows. The setting sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow on its fur. Its emerald green eyes, like shining jewels , scanned the campsite and the surrounding area. The lynx's ears twitched, catching the faintest rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Its senses were keen, a guardian in the wilderness. They slow down to a stop as they reach their abandoned campsite."The lynx's gentle murmur echoed in John's thoughts, 'They've been here indeed, but they've long gone.' John contemplated, 'How can you be so certain of their departure?' The response was swift, 'I'll provide clarity soon, but you must comprehend that as you come of age at 18 and gain your full shifter abilities, you'll become adept at sensing their presence and distinguishing shifters from ordinary humans and animals, thanks to your heightened sense of smell.' The lynx added, 'Surely, you've alrea
Hours earlier, right in the heart of Wildwood Haven, Darius, along with his Beta and third in command, were holed up in his office, engaged in an important meeting. Darius, sitting in his chair, repeatedly clicked his pen, revealing his bear’s deep-seated anxiety that he was attempting to conceal and ignore- what's going on? The rhythmic clicking of the pen echoed in the quiet room, and the eyes of the other two men subtly narrowed, indicating a growing sense of irritation. The Alpha, his forehead furrowed in deep concentration, failed to notice the reaction of the enforcers sitting in front of him. "DARIUS!" came the annoyed voice of his Beta. "What?" the bear snapped, momentarily breaking the pen-clicking pattern. “ I…” right as Darius was about to continue, he felt that familiar sensation of someone crossing the pack's border. His heart raced, and he gripped the pen a bit tighter, instinctively preparing for what he knew was about to happen.He sat there, holding his breath, his e
John felt his strength waning, and his hope dwindled even more when suddenly, the familiar echo rang in his head. "You're back!" he exclaimed to his lynx, relief coursing through him. "I was never really gone, John. I would never do that to you. We are one," his lynx comforted him."I had to go and refocus my energy so that we can still shift!" the lynx explained. "These fools don't even realize we don't smell like them," the lynx chuckled in John's mind. Amusement colored his voice as John questioned the connection between his ability to shift and the oblivious wolves.His lynx sighed mentally, "I wish I had time to explain it all, but let's focus on this for now.""Those wolves tried to knock you down with wolfsbane, but it's a dud on me; nightshade is the real troublemaker," his lynx spilled the beans. John, interest piqued, couldn't wrap his mind around wolfbane and nightshade. Were those actual herbs? Plants? Flowers? Or was his lynx just making up names? His lynx huffed in frust
The wolves retraced their steps through the encroaching twilight, the fading sky yielding to the first hints of dawn. Their heightened senses accompanied them as they neared the spot where Arlo awaited them. Returning to Arlo with empty hands, the air thickened with anticipation. Arlo's narrowed eyes and disappointment transformed into anger.Addressing his men, Arlo's frustration echoed in his voice, "What happened? Where is he?"Lenny, a cocky grin on his face, retorted, "He won't survive out there, Arlo. We did you a favor."Arlo's temper flared, "How can you be so sure?"Lenny chuckled, "Trust me, he's as good as dead. Probably food for the wildlife by now."Consumed by rage and fearing Lex's reaction, Arlo couldn't contain himself. In a fit of unbridled fury, he seized Lenny by the collar, his face contorted with anger. The other men took a step back, sensing the impending storm."How can you be sure?" Arlo demanded, his grip tightening.Lenny's smirk faded, replaced by a nervous
The sun, in its early quest to dispel the night, cast a gentle glow upon the still, serene road, anticipating the imminent presence of both humans and shifters. Mindful of avoiding undue attention, Carla led John along the well-worn path, seeking a secluded spot. Upon reaching a sufficiently hidden clearing, Carla, as if it was a normal thing to do, began peeling off her clothes.Taken aback, John's face flushed crimson, and he instinctively averted his gaze. Amused by John's discomfort, Carla couldn't contain her laughter. "You're unquestionably the quirkiest shifter I've encountered," she teased. Cutting him some slack, with a playful grin, Carla retreated behind a tree, discarding the rest of her attire with an easygoing demeanor. "Turn around... you'll know when, and no more freak-outs, please!" Carla admonished John with a mix of command and amusement. With audible bone-snaps, she underwent a breathtaking transformation. As John turned around, his sight fell on the majestic bear
Darius stormed through the pack territory, a mix of emotions churning within him as he sensed Michael and Fez entering the pack. Abandoning his discussion with a lead warrior, he sprinted towards them, a knot forming in his stomach. Three figures stood at the border, but the third person felt off, and Darius couldn't shake the unsettling feeling.Approaching them, his eyes widened as he saw his best tracker, Fez, and his third in command coming towards him with a girl. She clung to Michael, and his possessive grip around her only intensified Darius's unease. The absence of John's usual presence hit Darius with disappointment and concern."Alpha," Michael began, taking a step forward, yet refusing to release the girl from his grasp."Not here," Darius interrupted, his voice firm. He turned on his heels and started fast-walking towards the pack house, the trio obediently trailing behind him. As they walked, Darius sent a mindlink to Prius, urgency echoing in his tone."In my office, now!
The car hummed steadily along the winding road, and John's gaze remained fixed on the passing scenery. His thoughts wandered into a realm of unanswered questions, the weight of curiosity evident in his unfocused eyes. As he repeatedly glanced at Carla, the woman sensed his inner turmoil and met his gaze with a questioning look.Interrupting the rhythmic hum of the journey, John finally voiced his uncertainty, "How much longer?" But Carla, perceptive to the unspoken queries lingering in his eyes, proposed an intriguing distraction. "Okay, we have one hour and a bit to go. I'm getting tired, so I need your help. Let's play a game – one question for one question. What do you say?"Caught off guard, John timidly asked, "Just one?" Carla's boisterous laughter filled the car cabin. "Let's start with one; we'll have time for the rest once you've settled in."John, mouth agape, stared at her incredulously. Did she really say "settled"? Carla reassured him with a warm smile, "Hey, I can't let