Lover's Of The Night

Chapter six.

The blood.

The cool night air brought welcome relief to his heated skin as he tracked.
His overcoat discarded and shirt unbuttoned made him feel like he could finally breathe. Holding his pistol in his right hand, he continued on barefeet, taking careful steps through the dense forest.

His ears twitched at the girl's cry for help and the scent of the other wolves was everywhere. He figured they'd hunt again tonight and looked up through a break in the trees to gaze at the full moon, feeling it's call.
Finding the girl in his human form took longer yet he didn't want to scare the poor thing once he found her. The wind picked up and carried with it a new sent that had the blood rushing to his head.

Lillian.

He walked faster, stealth the least of his concerns as he followed her scent of roses. When he had her in sight, he was shocked when he realized she stood between a girl and one of the wolves. This woman would be the death of him if she didn't get herself killed first.
Coming up behind her, he aimed his gun.

"Don't move."

Her gasp was the only response.

Gideon felt his temperature rise even more and pressure build in his skull. He knew he might have to fight, but didn't relish the idea of anyone knowing what he was. Keeping his back to the two women to keep them from seeing his glowing eyes, he now stood facing the other wolf.

"Mine." Gideon growled, causing the wolf in front of him to snap it's jaws and growl back, taking a step closer.

"Back. Away. " His voice dropped even lower, seemingly shaking the forest around them.

Lillian felt a chill run down her spine at the sound. Charlotte whimpered and clutched her legs tighter. This brought the wolves attention back to them and it lunged around Gideon.

He anticipated this and jumped for the wolf, locking his arms around the animals stomach, causing them both to hit the ground. The gun was knocked from his hand and he'd have to let go to get it. But the wolf had tasted the girl's blood and wanted more. It clawed at the ground, trying to break free of Gideon's grasp, snapping it's jaws at the injured girl. Lillian felt sick at the sight of saliva mixed with her friends blood and fought the urge to gag.

"Shoot it!"

She tore her eyes from the repulsive sight of the hungry animal and locked eyes with Gideon.

"Shoot it now!" He yelled. His eyes aglow and his muscles straining with the effort to restrain the beast. She aimed the gun for it's head, her whole body shaking. She'd never killed anything before.

"Now Lillian!"

She closed her and pulled the trigger. And no shot sounded. She tried again and again but the gun would not fire.

"Get mine!" Gideon screamed before the wolf gained the upper hand, fighting it's way out from under him and pinning him to the ground with it's massive paws. Gideon wrapped his hands around it's upper and lower jaws, keeping it from sinking it's teeth into his throat.

Lillian ran for the other gun, reaching down to grab it. But before she could, another wolf planted it's paw on it. It's muzzle inches from her face. She froze, looking up into the eyes of the giant creature. It's growl vibrating her very bones.

"Lilly!" Charlotte cried out seeing her friend so close to these nightmarish wolves. She couldn't watch her die, so she simply closed her eyes and hoped it wouldn't take long.

Gideon wrestled the wolf's head out of his way to see why the girl cried out and his heart stopped. The Alpha.

"No!" He screamed, his blood burned and his skin itched. If he didn't do something and fast, he'd turn in front of them. Removing his right hand from the wolf's bottom jaw, he slammed his fist into the side of it's head causing it to yelp before scrambling off of him.
He jumped to his feet and ran to protect her but before he could reach her another wolf appeared and latched onto his leg.

"Ahhh!" He cried out, falling to the ground.

Lillian turned at his cry of pain. "No!" She made to reach for him but the larger wolf stepped in front her, teeth beared, it's yellow gaze pierced her soul and a part of her broke when she realized they were the same eyes that had been haunting her dreams.

"You." She whispered. The wolf stopped and glared at her, lowering its head, growling low in it's chest.

Gideon raised his head, saw what the Alpha was doing and roared, kicking the other wolf off his leg, getting to his feet he faced the giant wolf.

"The girl, is mine." He panted, sweat dripping down his chest and arms, his hat had been lost in the fight, letting the moonlight reflect of his coal black hair.
"I claim her as mine. You know the law."

The Alpha growled, anger rippling off his massive body, causing his black fur to shiver.

"Don't talk of the law to me half breed. It doesn't apply to tinted bloods like you."

The deep rough voice sounded in his against his will, only alphas had this ability, forcing his way into the minds of other wolves.

Gideon hated it. He hated what they were with every fiber of his being.

"The law applies to all wolves, born or turned. The girl is mine and you can't touch her."

The Alpha paced, snapping it's teeth at him. His pack members waiting in the dark. Throwing it's back, he let out a chilling howl. "I'll be back half breed. I won't stop till I get what I want."

And then the wolves disappeared into the darkness of the night.

Lillian couldn't look away. Questions ricocheting throughout her mind at impossible speed. Her legs shook and her stomach rolled. This was impossible. Trying to make sense of what she just witnessed made her feel faint.

"Lillian?" Gideon's voice barely registered in her shocked state. Her breath coming faster.

"Lillian, it's okay. " He kept his voice low and approached her slowly, holding his hands out in front of him. "Lillian, I know you're scared but your friend is hurt." He said gesturing towards the terrified girl. "We have to take her somewhere safe."

When he reached her, he gently placed his hands on her trembling shoulders. "It's okay. It's okay. " He repeated, trying to coax her out of her shock. When she still simply started at him unmoving, he took a chance and took her in his arms, holding her against his bare chest.
"You're okay and I'll explain soon but we have to go." He pulled back, hoping that it worked. The last thing he wanted was for the wolves to circle back.

Lillian blinked and shook her head. Gideon's warm hands still holding her, she took a deep breath and forced herself to move away and go to Charlotte.

Kneeling beside her, she carefully touched her friends arm. "Charlotte? It's okay, they're gone."

Charlotte removed her hands from her face, wet with tears and threw her arms around Lillian.

"Oh Lilly! I thought it killed you!" She cried.

"Shhh. We're okay. " She said as she rocked her friend. "Let's go and get you fixed up. "

She stood and reached to help Charlotte, only for the girl to cry out in pain.

"I can't.....I can't stand. It hurts."

"Here. I'll carry her." Gideon said walking over to them. Hooking one arm under Charlotte's knees and another around her shoulders, he lifted her into his arms. "I'm assuming you want to care for her?" He asked Lillian.

"Yes, this way." She answered and started the walk back home, only stopping to pick up Gideon's gun.

She had no idea how to feel. Her thoughts were a mess. He spoke to it. Spoke to it as if he could understand it and it could understand him. She wanted to know about the law and what right it gave him to her and why the other wolf couldn't hurt her because of it. It was nonsense, she told herself. She was simply in shock. He could have easily just been telling the wolf to leave her alone the same way a dog is told to leave a shoe alone. She clenched her fists, hard enough to draw blood and forced her back ramrod straight, leading him to her home. Her home, with her very angry father.

She cursed herself a fool. If her father was awake and she waltzed in with a shirtless Gideon, it being tore to shreds in the fight and a bloody Charlotte in his arms, she knew he'd beat her.

She really wondered if it wouldn't have been better to have stayed in the woods.....