The Omega's Price

Chapter 31: The Wolf Within

Mate. Mate. Mate.

Morning dew wet the wolf's nose as its snout pushed to the ground, dragging deep inhales as it tracked the scent of its mate. Everything was overwhelming as the wolf's ears flicked with the loud sounds of the city and its paws dug into the ground until its nose led to quieter lands filled with hard, grey terrain. Smashed animals littered the cold slab as bright lights lit its path before a whooshing sound preceded a giant predator flying by at untold speeds. The wolf's vision was sharp as its nature kept it constantly on the lookout for these predators prowling the early morning. It would feel the rendering of flesh in its teeth if anything had happened to its mate or pups.

A bark of grief and fury exploded from its chest and its head tilted towards the fading moon as the bark turned to a howl. If its mate could hear the call of the howl, then he would come. The wolf paused, ears straining as it listened before its nose plunged back to the ground, nails clicking as it scented.

Hours passed as the wolf followed the trail, until it suddenly stopped. The wolf glanced around, desperation filling its large body.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

The wolf sat back on its haunches, the outline of a mountain behind as its head lifted, a long howl leaving in a call of grief until there was no breath in its lungs. The wolf lay down, curling up, no life left in the grief-stricken creature. The wolf lay its head down on its paws and closed its eyes. The wolf would sleep until its mate came.

Mew's eyes opened and his body shivered in the cold, snow falling in waves onto his naked body. He sat up, joints protesting as the freezing temperature wracked his frame with goosebumps and his teeth clicked together. He needed to find shelter quickly.

Memories were fuzzy in his mind as he tried to think of where he was and how he had gotten there. His whole body ached as if he had worked out for three days straight. As thoughts came back to him, he wished they hadn't.

Gulf and the children were gone, and his eyes shut tightly with distress.

He shook it off. They wouldn't be found if he sat here doing nothing. He glanced down at himself and vaguely remembered the sensation of fur sprouting along his body and his joints shifting. Did he really turn? In the perusal of his body, he noticed his toes turning an ugly shade of purple. He really needed to find shelter.

Following the sensations of this morning he concentrated, sweat popping out on his brow as he tried to remember the mechanics of shifting. He felt a tendril of something in his mind and pulled on it ruthlessly. A being sat deep in his conscious, a huge black wolf, tossing his head and unwilling to come out.

I need you. He pleaded with the creature

The wolf huffed as if trying to understand the strange communication.

Please, I need you.

The wolf's flashing eyes turned to stare straight through him, a fathomless pit of agony welling in the depths of its eyes before it huffed once more and curled into a ball.

We need our mate.

The wolf's ears flicked at the sentence and Mew smiled in triumph.

We must find our mate.

The wolf's ears flicked once again, but it didn't move from its position.

I can't search for our mate if I die here. You brought me out here, now get me back.

The wolf stood up and turned its back to Mew before plopping down again.

Get up you lazy asshole, I'm going to freeze to death! Mew shouted at the beast.