My Savior?

ALLIE

The gray wolf growls and barks at his wolves. They move away from me to form a straight line in front of their new enemy.

Trying to be inconspicuous, I move to the safety of the tree line. None of the wolves pay attention to what I’m doing as they ready themselves to fight.

The wolves race toward each other, and I’m transfixed by the scene. They launch at each other, claws ripping into fur and flesh, fangs bared as they try to bite down and savage their enemy.

This is a fight to the death.

The black wolf is the biggest and fiercest of the newcomers. He leaps at the gray wolf. They appear to be evenly matched as they meet in a frenzy of claws and teeth.

The black wolf aims for the gray wolf’s neck, but at the last minute the gray wolf swerves. He succeeds in protecting his throat, but the black wolf still tears into his shoulder.

In an instant, the gray wolf retaliates and goes for the black wolf’s stomach, which looks dangerously exposed.

It quickly becomes clear that this was a feint. As the gray wolf tries to bite down, the black wolf moves to the side, evading his grasp and extending his claws to tear into the gray wolf’s neck.

The gray wolf staggers back, snarling. Even though he’s injured, he’s not prepared to give up the fight. They start to move again, circling each other, looking for weaknesses.

The gray wolf looks around. He has been so caught up in his fight with the black wolf that he hasn’t paid attention to the other wolves fighting around them.

It quickly becomes clear to him that his wolves are being beaten by the black wolf’s pack, and if he doesn’t leave soon, his wolves will be destroyed.

The gray wolf howls a command to his warriors. Abandoning the fight, he bounds toward the safety of the forest. Five of his wolves follow, but the rest are left dead or dying on the forest floor.

A large brown wolf turns to the black wolf and barks, and the black wolf nods and shifts into a large dark-haired man.

It’s James.

“Send the uninjured wolves after them,” he orders. “Check on our wounded, call on our healers to attend to them. Transfer the injured rogues to the pack house for questioning.

“I want to know why they decided to travel so far into my territory. What was their goal?”

The wolves move in response to his orders, and this feels like my best opportunity to leave. Hopefully I can escape before James realizes I’m here.

I move farther into the forest but James shouts, “Allie, stop! Stay where you are.”

It feels like an order, and it gets my back up. I’m not his to command. I ignore him and continue to move until I feel a presence behind me, and a hand grabs my arm.

“Why are you here? What have you been doing with those rogues?” he asks harshly.

“Nothing,” I respond angrily. “I was enjoying my first run with my housemates when two strange wolves attacked me. I fought them off…”

“You fought two full-grown rogues on your own?” he asks skeptically.

“If you stop interrupting me, I can explain. Two wolves attacked me. They’re over there, if you don’t believe me.” I point at the two wolves I had killed.

He looks at the dead wolves, but he doesn’t look convinced. “You managed to fight off two crazed rogues on your own?

“Most pack wolves would have struggled to take these wolves on, including many of my warriors. But you, who have never had any warrior training, a…” He stops, but I know what he was about to say.

“Me, a useless rogue? Is that what you were about to say? Well, some of us ‘useless rogues’ are trained to fight. I can look after myself.”

“So, if what you say is true, if you were honestly fighting against Ryan, why were his warriors surrounding you rather than killing you?”

“I don’t know,” I confess. “He decided he wanted to take me with them, for interrogation. If you hadn’t appeared… I don’t know what would have happened.”

He leans toward me and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. His head rests against mine as he breathes in deeply.

“At least you’re safe. That’s what matters.”

I’m surprised by the sudden change in his attitude. It’s like he really does care.

After a moment he seems to collect himself. He straightens up. “I need you to tell me exactly what went on between the two of you.

“Ryan is a dangerous wolf. He wants to make war on all the packs and is prepared to do anything and hurt anyone to achieve his ends.

“If he said anything that could shine light on his plans, that would help us a lot.”

“He said very little before he decided to take me with him as his prisoner.”

“I think we should keep your presence here quiet. I don’t think it would do your reputation any good if people realize Ryan is interested in you.

“They might get the wrong impression and think you’re working for him.”

I readily agree. I don’t want anyone to think I’m working for Ryan. Pack wolves are prejudiced enough against a loner like me without them thinking I’m in league with the Savage Wolves.

“I can’t keep it from Danielle though,” I insist. “She’s my closest friend. My housemates are the only people I’ll tell, but please don’t expect me to keep it a secret from them.”

He sighs. “No, of course you can tell them, I understand that you’ll need their support. Well, you’ve had a horrible night. Let me escort you home.”

I’m surprised by his offer, but grateful. I don’t want to walk back through the forest alone. Not after what has just happened.

We walk side by side through the trees. We don’t speak, but the silence feels comforting. I’m amazed to realize that I’m enjoying his company. I feel safe with him.

I’m exhausted and stumble. My feet just don’t seem to be able to carry me any farther.

James notices and, without saying a word, pulls me to him and lifts me into his arms as if I weigh nothing. Holding me close, he resumes walking through the forest.

All too soon, we are back at my house. Just as we cross the perimeter into the garden, Danielle spots us and runs toward me.

James sets me down on my feet.

“You’re safe,” Danielle says as she wraps her arms tightly around my neck. “We were so scared.

“You disappeared and then we heard rogues were attacking anyone they came across in the forest. I was terrified they would hurt you, that you had been killed, but thank the goddess you haven’t been harmed.”

“Yes, thanks to the alpha,” I tell her, looking at James.

“You helped her?” Danielle asks incredulously.

“I know my reputation,” James growls. “But I will protect any innocent wolf who is attacked by rogues, whether they are part of my pack or not.”

Is that all I mean to him?

Every time we’re together, I feel like there is something special between us, but maybe there isn’t.

He squeezes my arm and walks away without looking back.