Chapter Five

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Jace walked out of his office, deciding running would be the best thing for both him and his wolf. He walked through the den, several men who were there stood seeing their Alpha walk in; they bowed their heads respectfully. Jace nodded back, walking to the door. 

“Dante, I'm going out.” Jace's mind linked him not seeing him anywhere close by.

“Want company?” Dante replied back, his voice playful.

“No. Let me know when you hear back from Kip’s pack.” Jace said back his voice, not thrilled.

“Yes Alpha.” Dante replied back.

Jace pulled open the door, the warm sunlight hitting him felt good on his flesh. He could feel his wolf become excited as if it couldn't hold back any longer. Jace smirked a little bit and walked to the woods. Stepping far enough away from eyes he shifted. His wolf took off running. Jace sat back and let his wolf do his thing. He enjoyed not being in control for once. All the pressure of making sure everything was together and right and perfect slipped away when he was his wolf. His wolf took off in full gear, running playfully about. Then in a split second everything changed, his wolf's ears went up and his nose went to the sky. Jace watched curiously was he hunting, he didn't notice a deer or anything around, What was he doing? After several sniffs. His wolf took off running towards the pond. Hey, what are we doing? Jace asked, trying to regain control.

His wolf ignored him, resisting the hold Jace was trying to place on him.

Hey! Jace tried to gain its attention. Jace quickly realized he was going from co-pilot to passenger and tried to gain control. His wolf resisted and the world around Jace went black

Nora raced into the woods, panic and anxiety driving her. She needed to be away. She ran until her lungs burned deep in her chest. A raised tree branch caught her foot and she crashed forward into the ground. Her chest into the soil knocked the wind out of her. She rolled over and began for air to return to her lungs, as she tried desperately to breathe in. Getting to her knees leaning over, she dug her hands into the soil. Finally air rushed into her and she inhaled deeply. Sitting back on her heels, she brought her head up as she started to breath calmer. As she raised her head up her eyes locked eyes with a pair of ice blue ones. Ice blue eyes and jet black fur.

Nora forzed as she was face to face with a very large wolf. The wolf leaned forward and pressed it’s nose into her hair. The wolf inhaled deeply, closing its eyes as it did. Nora stayed still, closing her eyes praying she was making this up. She felt another rush of hot air and knew the wolf was real. She shifted further back slowly as she opened her eyes. She locked eyes with the wolf and the fear she had was gone. She decided she was going to be brave and gently put her hand on the wolf’s head. Electricity ran through her when she touched the wolf. The wolf must have felt it too because it jumped back. Confusion flashed in its cold eyes. 

“Hey it's ok.” Nora whispered, holding her hand out to him again.

The wolf narrowed its eyes at her but slowly approached her again. It nudged her hand with it’s nose and then pushed it up onto its head. Once her hand touched his coal black fur the electricity filtered through both of them. The wolf made a weird noise and jumped back. The wolf began pacing in front of her. Nora watches as it seems to be trying to work out the feeling.

“Hey, hey come here.” She whispered and then realized how insane she must be right now, this wolf could snap any minute and destroy her.

The wolf whimpered, it wanted to but it was fighting with itself. The wolf would step towards her but then turn the other way. It continued pacing looking at her. One minute he looked like he wanted to kill her the next he looked like a lost puppy.

Nora sat down on the steps watching the wolf. Even when it would throw an angry glare at her she didn't feel threatened. She thought she had officially lost it but she couldn't bring herself to leave.

“Do you have a name?” She asked for some reason and then once she heard her question she laughed.

“Of course you don't, you're a wild wolf not a pet.” She laughed.

At the sound of her laughter the wolf tilted its head and sat. It acted like it liked the sound of her laughter. She smiled as it sat there studying it.

“How about Shadow?” Nora asked.

The wolf blew hot air out of its nose at her and flipped its tail. She laughed again. The wolf's tail seemed to almost wag when she laughed once more.

“Blacky,” She said laughing agian at the silly name, when the wolf shook its head fiercely she laughed harder.

She calmed herself down as a tear rolled down her cheek from laughing so hard. She hadn't laughed in weeks now. The realse felt good. She took a deep breath in as the wolf inched closer to her.

“What about Cole? I kinda like Cole? Your fur is as dark as it is.” She said softly, holding her hand out to the massive wolf.

The Wolf seemed to debate with the name and almost shrugged like a person would as he approached her again. As he reached her the wolf pressed its nose into her hand and inhaled. It then began smelling up her arm. She stood still letting the wolf smell her. She wanted it to know she wasn't going to hurt it. This very dangerous animal could literally kill her but she was worried about not scaring it. She smiled at the thought. The wolf pushed its nose into her hair and inhaled. She reached up and scratched behind the wolf’s ear. The wolf flinched slightly and more sparks followed as they touched. A hollow erupted through the silence off in the distance. The wolf picked its head up away from her and looked towards the woods. If the wolf could have frowned he would have. He stepped away from Nora and nudged her with his nose. He nudged her again almost as if he was telling her to go. He pushed her again hard. She stumbled back as he shoved her. He then took off running towards the woods.

Nora watched the black wolf disappear into the woods. She felt sad that the wolf was leaving her. She sat still a little longer almost as if she was waiting to see if he would come back. After several minutes the string in her knee brought her attention to it. Her jeans had a blood stain and were ripped from the fall. She sighed as she stood. She didnt notice that the woods was getting dark. She hadnt been gone for more than fifteen minutes, how? She stood and began walking out of the woods. As she exited the woods she noticed the sky was dark and the moon was out. She looked at the school. It had been closed for hours now. She needed to go home. She didn't want to go home. Her stomach felt sick as she didn't have anywhere else to go. She followed the walkway around to the front of the school limping slightly at the pain in her knee. She stopped in front of the bright spot light near the school sign. She reached into her pocket looking for her phone.

12 missed calls, 23 text messages all from Joel. How did she not hear any of these? She flipped open her phone just as it started to ring again.

“Hello?” Nora answered.

“In the name of all that is holy! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been to your house several times, that sleazy ass bar that lets anyone in. Where the hell are you!” Joel said clearly upset with.

“Joel I am so sorry I don't know how I didn't hear the phone. It’s been a weird night. I am still at school.” Nora said, leaning against the spot light pole.

“School! You're still at the freaking school?” Joel said angrily.

“Yeah, after I accidentally set the fire alarm off I kinda ran into the woods and I guess fell asleep.” Nora said quietly.

“Your psycho doesn't freaking move. I’m literally five minutes away.” Joel said she could hear the eye roll in his voice as he spoke to her.

“I won't go anywhere. Love you Joel.” Nora said sweetly to him.

“I know you do. Love you too babes see you in five.” Joel said, clicking the phone.

Psycho, she definitely felt like a psycho. Losing track of time and petting wild animals. She suddenly got a weird feeling like she was being watched. She looked about trying to find the source of the feeling. 

“Cole?” She felt funny calling out the made up name she gave the black wolf.

There was no response. She sighed she was definitely losing it. She saw headlights and watched the black honda civic whip into the parking lot. Joel flung around the circle drive stopping right next to the sidewalk where she was leaning against the spot light pole. Nora knew she was going to have a lecture the whole ride home. She smiled, thankful at how much Joel cared.  She opened the car door and got in. As she did she swore she could feel a pair of eyes on her. She closed the door and clicked her seatbelt in.

“I swear Nora  you're going to be the death of me.” Joel said, sighing looking at her.

She swallowed hard trying not to be sensitive with him talking about her being the cause of his death. She knew whatever killed her parents had nothing to do with her but sometimes she wondered why whatever or whoever did it, didn't wait for her to get home.

Joel saw her thoughts spiraling, she reached over and tapped her hand softly. He put the car into drive with one hand and began leaving the school.

“Where to doll?” Joel asked.

“I don't want to go home tonight.” Nora said, her voice full of sadness.

“Not to worry, I wasn't going to let you anyways. You can crash at my house.” Joel smiled at her, as he changed direction and started towards his house.