Silver Mane - Part 6

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     Aureal fumed. His snorts could be heard from his spot in the rear of the pack. “This bitch of your’s is n’thin but trouble.” His words were smashed through his clenched teeth, while his lips were pulled back. His eyes were those of a mad man, wide with a wildness to them.

     Stela stepped up to him. The pack had been on the move all night and the sun had started to come up. They were all tired and hungry, but with what happened in the village, they couldn’t afford to stop any sooner. Aureal had been irritated he entire time. “She is mine, and you shall do well to remember that. You did not carry her, you do not have to feed her, but you will damn well respect her.” There was a snarl in her tone and her hackles rose up along her spine. Her words had been true, she carried the human woman with her the entire way, her arms ached from it but even when some of the other pack members offered, she refused them. “She is an alpha of this pack.” Her eyes narrowed at her words, a silent threat, almost willing him to challenge her.

     Her pack stepped up behind her, forming a half circle around the human. They would always have her back. Aureal looked around and realized anything more that he said would only start a fight. While he didn’t agree with his alpha, he respected her. He lowered his head and took a step back. Then looked up with a grin. “She’s not alpha yet, you two aren’t mates just yet.” He stood up again, squaring his shoulders in his own protest. “After that, then I’ll honor her as one.” He turned on his heel and walked over to the other side of the clearing they had stopped in and plopped himself down on a log. The wood creaked under him, but didn’t give way to his weight.

     Stela took a deep breath and turned, her pack dispersed as she did and they went about getting themselves ready for some rest. She walked up to Ana and pressed herself against the woman. “I’m sorry if he causes you pain. He’ll get used to it.” Her voice finally showed the exhaustion from their all night run.

     Ana herself found her breath catching in her chest. She could feel the warmth roll off the wolf, her wolf, she mentally corrected herself. She still felt so strange to this life. She felt safe and scared all at the same time. She heard every word of their exchange. She knew what he meant, and she was scared. There had been a time when Ana was placed into situations with other women. Normally they were for her lords pleasure more than hers. She had never however, considered herself a lesbian. “I...” She started to say, but Stela placed a padded finger to her lips to hush her.

     “I know. You are not the first to enter a pack this way. I will wait until you are ready.” She lowered her head and pressed the top into Ana’s chest. The was a deep grumble that followed. Almost like the purr of a cat. There was nothing but warmth and love in the action. The large wolf stood back up and scooped up the woman in her arms and carried her off to the spot where they would be sleeping.

     The sky was clear and warm, so they slept without shelter. Ana curled up against her wolf and Stela wrapped her tail around the human like a blanket. Her own body heat keeping them both warm. High noon had just passed as the wolves stirred. They woke and stretched. Ana was still very tired and groggy but she woke with the rest of them.

     “Did the princess get enough sleep?” Kavos bantered.

     Ana at first thought he was talking to her but when she turned to look, his eyes had been focused on Aureal. The larger wolf just snapped at the pure white that stood there, arms crossed. “Shut ‘yer face or I’ll make you a real ghost.” There was a deep chuckle from both males. It seemed as if the entire pack was actually in good spirits after the short rest. “I’ll make use of myself and go grab something to eat for us.” He bowed low at Stela as she nodded in approval at him, and with a flash he darted into the woods.

     Kavos walked over to his alpha and bowed, then turned to Ana who was still sitting on the ground trying to wake up and bowed again. “Morning my lady. Did you rest well?” His common out of all of the pack was by far the best. It shocked the woman as he spoke so clearly through his animal maw.

     “I did, thank you.” She was still scared and trying to be modest around them. The truth was, she wasn’t exhausted only because she had been carried most of the trip. That had been odd and when she tried to argue it had only gotten her the response that she wouldn’t be able to keep up, and deep down, she knew it was true. “Where did you learn common so well?”

     The white wolf laughed, it was a deep laugh that came up from somewhere in his chest. “Thank you My Lady. I, unlike the block head,” He jabbed a thumb over to the now empty log. “I enjoy the company of humans and often go explore their villages.”

     “How can that be? Villages don’t allow wolves in.” There was shock. In all her time she had never seen or heard of a wolf in a village, let alone a werewolf. The only one she had ever seen was the animals head mounted on the wall of her Lord’s throne room.

     Again he laughed at her words, not directly at her. Alice had started to make her way over by this point, all of them slowly gathering around for whatever story was to come, and one anothers company. “You are right, they don’t let wolves in. They do let in humans however.” There was a grin on his wolf like face. “With time comes power. It might be a surprise but I’m actually the oldest in the pack here, two hundred years ago I had my first change. I didn’t choose to join the pack at that time. I did my own thing. I was happily surprised that I could change back to myself when the magics of the world were low. New moons, and day time. With a few years of practice, I was able to change to my human form easily.”

     Ana watched him with intent while she listened. She knew nothing about werewolves and their lives. She also had a lot more to learn she realized. The white wolf took a seat in front of her, his short tale now over and he pulled his legs awkwardly under him. Alice took a spot to her side, her deep ebony fur was plush and touching Ana. They were all so close to her. She felt her heart race for a moment.

     Stela swiveled an ear towards them. All of them heard the change but only the alpha reacted. She stopped watching the woods and walked over to the small group. She took her own place behind the human girl and pulled her prize against her warm body. Ana relaxed at once.

      “Would you like to see Ana?” Kavos watched her. His words were kind and low, and exciting.

     She didn’t even have to think for a moment. This was something that would truly be interesting. “Please! I’ve never seen a wolf change.” She pressed herself back against her alpha and watched intently.

Part 7