His Wolf

Twenty One

I looked over at the grey-eyed man that I have now been informed whose title was 'Austin'. He gave me a small smile as I glanced up at the lower part of his face, not wanting to look in his eyes now that I had come back to my senses and wasn't allowed to kill him. I made a promise. Looking back at the man on the other side of the bars, I couldn't help the small whine that left me. If I didn't have him to tell me what to do, how was I supposed to know what was wrong and what has right? 

Seeing my anxiety growing, he gave me a nod and pointed back in Austin's direction, "Dont worry so much Max, just trust him, he isn't like me or trainer," I flinched at the name of that man, "Austin will show you how to be happy,"

I didn't understand that word, but I stood from my sitting position and started padding my way to this Austin guy, head low and ears flat, looking back at my biscuit man once more to see if this was really what he wanted of me. One more nod and I knew that I was truly released from his hold. I limped the last two steps to sit at the man's feet, looking up at his chest, but not any further. I may not have a handler anymore, but I still had years worth of training engraved in my head. 

Bending down, Austin crouched in front of me. My eyes instantly went to his knees as he tried to look into my eyes. He sighed, the tension in his shoulders disappearing as he reached out a hand slowly towards me. I flinched at his outstretched fingers, but instantly forced myself to remain calm and not make him mad. His hand paused when I did so, but once I stilled myself he carefully continued until his hand was rubbing the fur on the back of my head. I whined slightly and lower myself down in a laying position as a strange sense of comfort seemed to wash over me. His hand traveled down to my back and over the scars I have acquired over the years until he got to the brand that I had recently gotten.

I had forgotten about it until his fingers brushed over the still angry burns that have not seemed to heal in the slightest. I let out a small yelp and jerked away from his touch. He pulled back quickly and said those words that people tend to say when they regret doing something. 

I still wasn't sure why they would regret hurting me, it's all I've ever really known, the only normalcy that I have to cling to. But even so, I couldn't resist the urge to lick his hand as he brought it back to stroke the fur on my face as if in a way to tell him it was ok.

"Alpha," Austin's attention was pulled away from me as he looked over my shoulder at the man that raised me. Great, so he has two titles, that's not going to get confusing, "when you get time, I would like to speak with you about something if you wouldn't mind," I wanted to look back at him again, but the hands of this man held my face towards him as he stroked my ears contently.

"I want to get my mate settled first, but once I know she is safe and comfortable I will consider listening to what you have to say,"  with that he stood and started to turn to leave, but I remained where I was. He seemed to realize that I wasn't following and turned back to find me still lying on the cold concrete floor.

"Come on Max, let's go get you cleaned back up before we get Shar to look and make sure you didn't reinjure yourself, ok?" 

I didn't get why it matters that he told me where we were going. I was supposed to follow him to wherever he took me, no matter if I wanted to go or not, handler or no, it's what a dog is to do. 

He just needed to do it right. 

He seemed to know what I was waiting for, and even though I wasn't looking up at him I could almost hear the shake of his head as he looked down at me.

"No, Max, I'm not doing that," I whined and put my head down in my paws, curling my tail around my body, content on waiting until he did. He huffed in annoyance that caused me to flinch slightly, "I swear, you are something else," he seemed to mutter before he finally caved and patted his leg.