chapter 8: elias

We’ve got company. Oliver barked through the line and I saw six wolves. They were muted colors, night prowlers from their dark coloring. What were they doing in my fucking city? Well rested, still on the full moon high. Meanwhile there we were sitting at a fucking table eating.

“Andre,” I barked and stood up, “You and me, this will be quick.” I didn’t need a full blown war on the streets right now. It was a well used car park they were at, all cars removed of course for some damn reason. So someone in the city was working with them. Someone in the pack was a fucking traitor. All issues I was going to deal with afterward.

Rose stepped over to the door just as I shifted allowing myself and Andre to rush out at breakneck speed toward our destination. I was the quicker wolf but Andre wasn’t far behind. My paws pounded against the hard concrete as I didn’t think I just jumped.

One of the wolves had something small in it’s mouth, something like a pelt, no… a black fox? It was limp as he tossed it to the side and gave me a snarl. I returned by clamping my mouth over his biting with a force that ripped is nose from is face. The taste of blood, bone, saliva, all fueling me to release and clamp down on his neck tearing a chunk out and allowing him to collapse.

Where is Freya? I growled to Oliver who was in the process of tearing off the leg of one wolf who thought he could be pinned.

No idea, she tried fighting those two.

I turned back to the other who was making his way to the black fox. That wasn’t some city fox either, some variety I’d never seen before. It was black but then as it got to its feet I saw silver eyes reflecting back.

Freya? I called but was met with silence. She really wasn’t a werewolf.

She shook her head and rushed under the wolf targeting her to run toward me. I felt her stand underneath me shivering. I smelled her blood now too. She was hurt.

We’ll take care of the rest. Andre called. Get her out of here.

One left alive. I growled.

Always. He laughed wickedly and I just knew he was about to show them why he was my beta. Andre wasn’t anything special color wise. He was a simple brown wolf but his power lied in his strength of mind. His battle strategies and quick wit meant he could easily overcome the difference of numbers. I had taken out one and Oliver incapacitated another so two against four was hardly fair odds but I guess they hadn’t had a work out in a while.

Come on. I looked down at the fox who was cowering underneath me still. Did they hurt you that badly?

She looked up at me and turned to the side showing a few punctures in her side. Maybe she had a cracked rib or two based on where those marks were.

One wolf tried rushing me and Andre took him out with a bulldoze to the side. I guess I should have started moving but I just couldn’t stop looking at her. She was so small. Why would she change into this thing?

Her eyes darted back and it caused me to look away just for a moment. That’s when I realized what she had done when I heard the pitter patter of her little paws. She was trying to still get away from me? The fucking fox.

Warned you, Oliver laughed. She’s a trickster.

She was fucking fast too, Get her stuff and take it to my place. I’m done with these fucking games.

Her scent I couldn’t lose. Here and there little specks of her blood were on the ground further convincing me I was on the right path, but then I stopped. She was tricking me. He was smart, had to know blood was being left behind. At some point she was going to stop and double back. She would need somewhere to hide too, somewhere where her scent was already so I might mistake it for an old scent and lose her. You fucking fox. I laughed and turned heading into the park.

Sniffing around I followed my nose back to where we had spoken last night. My scent was heavy there too so she could have used it against me. Oh she was going to be fucking sorry. Goddess, I sighed, she is trying me patience.

Recalling her in that fox form though she seemed so cute. How the fuck could I ever reject her like that? Those wide silver eyes that stared back at me as if it were the full moon herself. That was my sign from the goddess, I just knew it. She put the moon in her eyes and guided me to her. I crouched low before I came upon her. That quick little devil was going to see how proficient I was. She was looking around the tree keeping her back to it and shifting those bright eyes all around. She didn’t see me though, I blended right in and my scnet already here meant I was just as masked as she was. This was the perfect dance. Now who was going to outsmart who in the end?

All cleaned up. Andre laughed and I saw Oliver through his eyes pinning one left alive just as instructed.

Took you long enough. I grumbled.

Fuck you, I’ll have the cleaners come by. When you want this fucking mut he’ll be at the pound.

Ah the pound, our secret jail for those trouble cases. Silver lined cages, electrified fences, it was the perfect prison for werewolves and I could not wait to torture that fucker until he gave me everything I wanted to know.

My eyes continued to watch her as I saw one ear go into the air causing her to twitch back around. Could she have heard something? One of my ears twitched in the same direction but there was nothing.

We were close to the parking lot though, maybe she was listening for the dying sound of the fight. How long was I going to just watch her? It was like I could get lost seeing her fluid movements spinning, twitching, her eyes looking everywhere for any sign of me. It was almost tragic I needed to have it end.

Bursting through the bushes I leaped onto her tail pinning her to the ground. She turned snapping back at me her little needle teeth trying to sink into my fur to reach my skin.

Cute try love. I laughed. Andre, cleaners here?

Yep.

Bring a carrier and some clothes for me. This is going to get messy.

Damn, putting your mate in a carrier?

They were designed for pups who got out of control but they’d hold a fox just fine too. She kept trying to wiggle out never tiring only hissing and snarling which might have been intimidating for a rabbit but this was just sad.

“Yo,” Andre waved moments later with a carrier.

The sight of it made her go feral.

“Fucking gods she’s vicious.”

All bark no bite. I rolled my eyes at the gremlin. Open the carrier I’ll put her in.

He opened it and stepped back. I leaned down and put my mouth gently but firmly over her body paying extra mind of the already puncture holes in her side. She seemed to lose all fight after that… until I started moving. The fucking bitch wormed her way around and tried clawing at my eye. Andre jumped forward as I slid to the ground putting my head at the opening as he forced her inside taking a few bites and far too many scratches along the way. It was a trial but we finally managed to do it.

Andre slammed the cage shut afterward, “Fuck you too cousin!” He huffed and started sucking on the bite marks, “If she’s got fucking rabies I’ll take her out.”

I walked over shifting and put on the basketball shorts and tshirt he brought me. “She’s definitely smart.” I laughed and picked up the carrier holding it to my face. “Don’t worry, you’re safe. Just don’t make a fucking display of this.”

Of course she wasn’t going to listen. Foxes were some of the loudest fucking annoying creatures sounding like howling gargles of devish gremlins and she was going to make sure everyone knew she was in there. Plus she was putting up quite the fight inside it was making it difficult to carry the damn thing.

“Calm down.” I barked only being answered by more halfway barks and groans, “Fine, but no one fucking cares.” grumbling I walked into my apartment building Andre at my side. “You can help Oliver, he’s had a trying day already, make sure he eats something. If I have to hear one more fucking groan or complaint I’m going to go crazy.” I’d fucking disapear into the damn woods on the edge of town and no one would see me again. Not that I already had a plan or anything.

The doorman looked at me a little concerned when he heard the commotion from inside the carrier but he also knew better than to ask questions. He just nodded watched me walk by and called the elevator for me.

When I stepped inside I brought the carrier back to my face to once again try to have a civil conversation with my mate. “Are you ready to talk?”

She answered with a hiss and slapped her paw against the door.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

I swear I heard her say “Fuck you.” and it made me laugh.

I made sure she saw what floor I pressed and turned the carrier back to me, “Not going to surprise me and fly away are you?”

She narrowed those large eyes.

“Wonderful, so when we get to my apartment you’ll be let out. I’ll give you some clothes and you and I are going to have a conversation.”

She didn’t respond but at least the gurgling and gremlin chatter stopped.

Just as I told her we reached the top floor the elevator opening to a small hallway that only had one door and the fire escape. I unlocked my apartment and stepped inside latching the very top bolt and every other lock I could find before setting the carrier on the large ushapped couch that faced a TV in a sunken part of the floor. The whole open concept of this place was annoying to me but my grandfather loved living in style. The kitchen was just a large area to cook with a small table.

“My bedroom is behind the kitchen.” I told her and pointed the carrier to the large staircase, “There’s three bedrooms upstairs. Whichever room you want is yours.” Not like anyone was using them. Oliver slept at the den most nights and there was no one else. I pointed her next to the grand view out overtop the city, “You can go anywhere in here. You just can’t leave. As you clearly can tell it’s not safe.” There was a large patio outside with a hottub and pool. The entire outside was meant for entertainment but of course who had time for that anymore. “Are you ready to be let out?” I turned her back to my face. “Don’t attack me, It’s annoying.” I dropped the carrier on the couch once more and opened the door before going to get a tshirt from my room. She needed something to wear, her clothes were somewhere outside probably covered in blood. The rest of her stuff was wherever her car had been taken which I’d soon find out. Until then this would do. I tossed her one of my older shirts and went back to my room to look for something else she could have worn.

“Fuck you!” She called once I was out of sight, “You fucking put me in a fucking carrier and bring me here? Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“You’re welcome.” I called back. That’s when I felt it. She slipped my shirt on and let it linger at her nose. That little taste of me… she wanted it. I felt her want it. Was this the bond getting stronger?