Wolf Girl (Book 3)

Chapter 5: Rhydian

Rhydian's POV

Maddy and I help the pack hunters bring back the meat they hunted at dawn. Maddy couldn't bring herself to actually go hunting but I don't blame her, it took me ages to kill my first rabbit, let alone the deer that Aran took down by himself this morning. I actually sort of enjoy hunting now.

We've been out here for five days now, and Maddy's adjusting really well. If I didn't know her I would never have suspected that she was tame. Gwyn has been showing her how to make baskets out of tree branches and Aran has been teaching her to fight. She's already a good fighter, but Aran says she needs to control herself more.

Alric has been hounding mum and dad about the Alpha ceremony, and they're not so sure he should be Alpha anymore, but there are not a lot of other options. Unless you include me and Jana, but there's no way I'd ever live out here full time.

Mum and dad are a bit on edge with everything that's going on. They're sitting with Carys, Jana and Bryn. Everyone howls at the sight of the meat. We share it around with the pack and everyone sits down to eat together. In that respect, a wild pack isn't so different from a normal human family, they sit down to eat every meal together.

I sit down next to Carys, who seems a bit moody, "You okay?" I ask

"Yes!" She snaps at me, "And I wish everyone would stop asking me that," she bites into her food.

"Woah, someone got out on the wrong side of the boulder this morning."

She gives me the 'Carys' look that she reserves for Bryn and me when we wind her up, "Shut up, Rhydian."

"I'm just messing, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing, oh my God!" She throws her food down and storms off into the woods.

This is more than just morning crankiness. Something's wrong.

"Hey, Carys," I run after her, "Talk to me. Slow down!" She speeds up.

She's always been faster than me. She weaves through the trees like lightning and I can barely keep my eyes on her. I chase her until she finally runs out of breath and has to stop. I leap over her and land in front of her.

"Can you just give me some space Rhydian?" She asks, breathless.

"Why are you so out of breath?" I ask, "We run way more than this back home and you barely break a sweat usually."

"I'm just tired, okay? Please just leave me alone," she huffs.

"Not too tired to run two miles through the forest just to avoid talking to me. Are you still taking your pills?"

"Yes, God, just because I'm a little irritable doesn't mean I'm off my meds. Get out of my way," she shoves past me and starts to walk up the mountain.

"What's going on with you?" I follow her, "You've been acting weird since we got here, and now you're throwing a tantrum when I ask you if you're okay?"

She turns around and shouts in my face, "I'm not a cub, Rhydian! I don't need babysitting!" She stumbles over a broken tree branch and falls to the ground; she grasps her side in pain.

"You okay?" I ask, and reach out to help her up.

She slaps my hand away, "I said I'm fine. Look, I'm just stressed, okay? With Alric wanting Jana to be his heir, and exams next year, trying to figure out what the hell I want to do with my life! There's a lot going on," she squeezes at her ribs as she stands, and I can see the pain in her eyes.

"What's wrong with you? Are you injured?" I demand answers, "Carys!"

"Rhydian, don't," she continues up the mountain.