☾ 6: Temptations ☾

Okay, it's right there. I just need to attack it. Here goes nothing. I ran and jumped onto the deer but it easily kicked me off and ran away.

I sighed. It's been a few weeks. I had woken up earlier than Laine so I could sneak out for food, my meat cravings were getting way too strong.

"This is a lot harder than I thought." I sat down trying to catch my breath.

"Well, that was embarrassing."

I instantly turned around and growled at the sound of an unknown voice.

"Woah hey. Take it easy. I don't bite." A brown wolf stood before me he sounded around my age.

"I suggest you leave me alone," I warned.

We both knew I couldn't do anything to hurt him. Clearly, I had no idea how to attack.

"Or what? I saw you trying to take down that deer you don't scare me. Did you learn nothing as a pup?" He laughed.

"Honestly? No, I didn't because I was never a pup to begin with! Not that a stupid mutt like you would understand."

He snapped showing his long canines.

"I'm not a mutt! I'm a wolf! One whos a lot smarter and stronger than you. What are you doing on my hunting grounds anyway?"

"Trying to get a bite to eat genius."

"Well, you're not allowed here now run off to your pack, or are you the lone wolf type?"

"I don't have a pack so I guess the latter, but I'm not leaving so just get used to seeing me around." I turn and started walking away.

"Hey, wait!" He ran up in front of me. "You sure have some guts. A lot more than most who try sneaking onto my territory."

"Yeah well, I'm not like your kind." Completely ignoring what I said he continued to talk.

"I guess since you won't leave the least I could do is show you how to hunt properly." He stood straight as if to show off.

"Yeah... No, thanks! I think I'm fine on my own." I simply walked around him but only for him to come in front of me again.

"If you plan on eating anytime soon I suggest you take my offer."

He's annoying.

"Fine, but make it quick I need to go soon."

"Alright, follow me."

He showed me the basics, taking down a goat in the process.

"Your first mistake is taking down game larger than you by yourself. While you are larger than most given your skill level I wouldn't risk taking down anything bigger than yourself. If you expect to kill something make sure you're stronger than it."

"I-I knew that!"

"Of course you did. Take the goat. I need to go back to my pack now so good luck to you."

"I can't take this you caught it it's yours."

"Trust me I have no need for it we took down two elk earlier and are well fed."

"Oh... how big is your pack?"

"Quite large, I would be more than happy to introduce you to them."

"I should probably get going as well actually."

"Well before you go what did you mean earlier by you being different than us?" He tilted his head. It looked kinda cute in a puppy-type way.

"I'm not any ordinary wolf let's just leave it at that." I grabbed the goat by its foot and started dragging it away.

"I'd like to talk to you again sometime... maybe even give you a couple more tips?"

"Maybe," I say without turning back. Probably not.

"Well, you know where to find me." As I looked back he was gone.

I made my way to a nearby tree and ate. It was good to my wolf side but my human mind found it highly disgusting.

"Where the heck were you?!" Laine looked pissed which was in a way quite attractive.

"Just out," I said while brushing my teeth which were still bloody. Surprisingly it tastes just as good when I'm a human as it did when I was a wolf.

"Out where? Didn't you say a guy was trying to capture you? I was worried he did!"

"Yeah. His name is James but don't worry I was careful. I went to the woods to get a quick snack." I spit and she saw the red blood.

"Ew. That's disgusting."

"I mentally thought it would be too but I couldn't fight the craving."

"Well next time tell me so I could just go get you raw meat."

"What's the fun in that if you don't catch it yourself? Well, it's not like I caught mine but still."

"Then how did you get it?" I put the toothbrush away and walked over to her bed and laid down.

"I met a wolf. He helped me out." She sat next to me.

"Oh well, that's cool. Were you able to understand him?"

"Yeah, we talked as clearly as I'm talking to you now. He's honestly kind of annoying though. Kinda like you." I smiled.

She hit my arm. "Hey!"

"You didn't let me finish! He's annoying like you when I first met you." I said while rubbing my arm.

She hits pretty hard believe it or not.

"Okay good." She grabbed my hand and my face got red. "I just realized... Did you use my toothbrush?"

"You barely noticed?" I laughed.

"Eww! Why?!" She ran to the bathroom and washed her brush. I looked down at my hand still feeling the warmth of hers.

I can't. I need to leave I still haven't forgotten. Anything I think I'm starting to feel needs to stop. It's only a matter of time before James finds me here and I don't want to risk her family dealing with that moron. Maybe I could stay in the forest it's not too far from here it's only like a twenty-minute walk. He might expect me to be there though but if I get that wolf to show me around I could possibly outrun him if I needed to.

Laine came from behind me put her arms around my neck and whispered. "What are you thinking about?"

I need to tell her now and just get it over with.

"Laine listen I have t-." The doorbell rang interrupting my sentence.

I heard her mom open the door.

"What were you going to say?" She asked.

I turn to face her. "I have to g-."

"Laine I need to talk to you for a second come down here!" Her mom said.

"Hold that thought." With that, she left.

Curious I crept down the stairs and heard Laine and her mom talking.

"Laine there's a man outside looking for his dog. Look here's the picture."

It has to be James. Of course, he wouldn't give up on this city so easily.

"I told him we didn't have a dog but that we would keep an eye out so you can say your goodbyes."

"Mom, we can't give her back!" Laine sounded upset.

"Hun, it's his dog."

"But you saw what she looked like when we got her! He probably did that to her!"

"Oh darling, I doubt it he said he spent good money on her."

"Yeah, I bet." She muttered. "Mom you don't understand please!"

"Listen, if he didn't love that dog would he put a thousand dollar reward?"

"Mom... Please."

I could tell Laine was tearing up.

"Okay, here's the deal I'll pretend I don't know anything but if they catch her she belongs to them."

"Thanks, mom!" Laine beamed.

I decided to stay a while longer. I couldn't tell her I planned on leaving yet as I didn't want to upset her. The next day I did head out to the forest again.

"Please be careful." Laine looked at me like I wouldn't come back.

"I will I promise." I have her a reassuring smile.

She walked over to me and placed her arms around my neck.

"I mean it." She spoke softly.

I knew what was about to happen. I knew I should've pulled away and that I shouldn't get further involved with her knowing I'd need to leave. Despite knowing that I couldn't bring myself to pull away.

As my heart started to race we were so close our noses nearly touched. I shut my eyes in response just waiting for her to move an inch closer.

When I felt a soft kiss on my cheek my eyes shot open seeing her step back.

"Aww, you're blushing! Did you think I was going to kiss your lips?" She smirked.

If I wasn't upset about the fact that she didn't kiss me before, seeing her smirk sure did the trick. At that sight, I nearly sealed the deal myself.

"N-no! Why would I want to kiss you anyway?" I lied trying not to let my disappointment show.

"Are you sure?" She came closer once again but this time our lips were so close you could barely fit a finger between them.

My heart can't handle this torture. She's just trying to tease me. With that, I backed up and quickly left before she could say anything.

I went to the forest, the same spot as last time, and looked around. I couldn't see anyone.

"Looking for me?" I jumped and turned he was right behind me.

"Don't do that!" I yelled.

He just laughed in response.

"How'd you get behind me so fast?"

"Now that's my little secret. So do you want to come to meet my pack?"

"Sure."

He led me through the forest it was bigger than I thought I nearly got lost a few times. Then we came up to an area with a decent size cave.

"Hey, guys come on out! I want you to meet someone!" All of a sudden a bunch of wolves came out from the cave, trees, and logs. There was a total of eight. Two guys and two girls around our age and four pups. Three boys and a girl.

"So is this the girl you were talking about non-stop?" One of the guys said.

"Shut up!" He replied.

Come to think of it I never got the guy's name I've just been calling him annoying.

"Hey, I just realized I never got your name."

Everyone turned to look at me

"Did she get knocked on the head when she was a pup?" Someone said.

"Cut it out! Right, let me introduce myself my name is Mason."

"So you're the leader of all of them?" I was shocked how could this freak be their leader?

"Yeah. Let me introduce you to them this is Jake and Chris." Jake had dark brown fur while Chris had grey.

"And over here is Mariah and Kristen." Mariah was a silver-colored wolf and Kristen a light brown one.

"The pups wish to name themselves but haven't come up with anything yet."

"Nice to meet you all I'm Cassy," I said.

"You must be special to Mason over here he would not stop talking about you!" Jake said. Mason snapped which made Jake whimper a bit.

"Hey follow me for a bit okay?" Mason led me away from his pack and we stopped after a short while by a broken-down cabin.

"Listen I get you're different."

"What do you mean?"

He looked at me for a moment.

"Wait here." He went around the corner after a short while he called me.

"What is it?" I walked over and froze in surprise.