Rite of Submission - Rite 1

63: Wolves in the Woods

                I let myself fall slightly behind; then kept the pace to maintain the gap. Dmitri, Blake and the female wolves kept pace with me as the rest of the enforcers ran together ahead of us, Nathan at the head of their charge. It was a long way to the rocky shelf that they ran up the hillside too every run. Dmitri had pointed it out on a map for me the night before, and I was just enjoying the feeling of wind in my fur and dirt beneath my paws as we ran.

'You're toying with him,' Dmitri accused.

'Only a little bit,' I teased and picked up my pace for a moment to close the gap a few feet.

'He's going to be very grumpy for days,' He teased back.

'I warned him, you warned him,' I mocked.

'6, Princess,' he warned, but I could feel his amusement.

We continued through the trees, racing up the slope, closing the gap a little more every so often. When our group was a few feet behind the enforcers, Nathan surged ahead. 'See you at the top,' I called back, letting myself run freely instead of holding the pace. My muscles sang as I picked up speed, easily catching up to their cluster as they continued to run. They moved together, blocking my path, and shifting course when I tried to circle around them.

It was nice that they were loyal to their Beta, and wanted to see him succeed. After all, he was the elite among them. But I am an Alpha, an extension of the Moon Goddess herself even, and this was a challenge. Digging deeper into the dirt I leapt over them. As soon as my paws hit the ground ahead of them, I sprinted on to catch Nathan.

Running along beside him, I almost felt bad. He was running hard and panting as he tried to push himself harder. He let out a low growl, as I pushed past him. Alone, I ran, winding through the trees, like the wind during a storm. I had to skid to a halt as I broke through the tree line onto a small flat expanse of bare rock that overlooked the forest below. Letting my head lift high, I let out a long victorious howl. Cheerful howls rang out around, below and behind me.

Staring up at the full moon a wave of pride washed over me. 'We seem to have captured their adoration quickly; many are expressing renewed hope and faith in us.'

'They believe their pack is no longer cursed and that their Alpha was blessed with another Alpha as a mate for the first time in forever. They don't know that they're being lied too, not yet. They will expect to see me marked soon.'

'Your insistence on this bond is tiresome. Would you have us tie the moon down for him as well?' The ethereal twin image of me stepped out on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the land below us.

'Give the experience a try. What do you really have to lose?' I huffed.

'They will come for us if you stay here...' her melodic voice soft and thoughtful, 'They're already on the move.'

'Who is "they?" and how am I safer alone?'

A long pause as she stared out, looking at something far past the horizon. 'He comes to claim us.'

'WHO?!?!' I yelled, exasperated.

'Hello, Dmitri, it is kind of you to join us,' she spun around toward the trees as she spoke.

'My God! You really do commune with the Goddess.' He dropped low, to bow before her.

She laughed happily, 'Mortal men are so amusing.' She beckoned him closer. 'Come now, and regale us with all the virtues and prowess you posses that make you so worthy to claim my blessed girl.' She leaned into me as she spoke.