Protector

Chapter X

Months came and went as peace surrounded my territory. It was, however, disturbed when a distant howl echoed through the tall trees. My back straightened and my ears swiveled around.

Did you hear that? I asked Aria, hearing her growl.

Are you going to check it out? She asked, pacing back and forth in my head.

A low growl lingered in my throat as I considered doing so. I gave into the restless shuffling of my paws and exploded into a powerful stride. An iron tangy scent tickled my nose, incentivizing a faster pace. Something went down here.

Surprise is on our side, Fang commented. I ducked into the underbrush. An unfamiliar scent was lingering in the air along with the blood. Injured game from another part of the preserve?

My pondering thoughts were interrupted by rustling trees. My blue eyes glowed, watching with mild interest. A surprised growl escaped me when I caught sight of a small bloodied grey wolf snarling at something out of view. My dark pelt bristled and my claws dug into the soft earth.

An enormous brown wolf was trying to free himself from the clutches of the intruding grey wolf and his slender she-wolf companion. A snarl curled my lip. I exploded into a lunge, barreling into the grey wolf. He cried out, my appearance making his hostile snarl falter and his tail tuck in between his legs. "Alpha."

I glowered, baring my fangs. A scuffle piqued my interest and I found the she-wolf struggling under her victim's enormous paws. Her struggling halted when she locked gazes with me.

I fixed the intruding duo a scathing glare. "What the hell do you think you're doing on my grounds?"

The duo whined, bowing their heads in submission.

A fire ignited in me; a thunderous growl pierced the air. "Answer me!"

"W-We were just chasing that trespassing mutt off our grounds!" The grey wolf started, glaring yellow daggers into the large wolf behind me.

"Well," I drawled, my piercing blue gaze pulsing a maddening crimson. "You two were prancing around my grounds as if they were your own."

"T-That's not true!" The muddled she-wolf protested. She exposed her neck at my daring stare.

I narrowed my eyes. "Your scents litter this clearing and the trees beyond here." I glared at her companion with disinterest curling my lip. I turned to the brown injured wolf. "Let her go."

The wolf blinked but obeyed. I met the intruding duo's gazes with my crimson one. "If I see either of you or your Pack trespassing again, you won't leave the same way you came."

The duo nodded and ran off.

I whirled around to the large brown wolf. He was hunched over licking his flank wound, oblivious to the stare boring into his skull even if it was a friendly one. The wolf averted my boring gaze when he was aware of it, though his perked ears echoed his interest.

"You didn't have to do that, you know." He mumbled.

"You came here not knowing it was my home. They did." I pointed out nonchalantly.

Caution still lingered in the wolf's gaze, but his shoulders relaxed. "What's your name? I'm Christian."

"Jasmine," I tilted my head and stared into his amber eyes. They were vibrant and welcoming. "Aren't you a little large to be a normal wolf?"

"I can say the same for you." He shot back. "I've never seen another Beast up close."

"Another? Does that mean you're also a Beast?"