The Untameable (completed)

Chapter 3

James' POV

I was sleeping piecefully untill someone storms through my bedroom door. I'm immediately on the defensive, eighteen years worth of warrior trying immediately kicking in.
I'm tackled by two big bodies. Through the laughter I can tell who it is and what's going on, but not before they wrestle me to the ground.
"Happy birthday buddy!" John says trying to get me in a choke hold, while messing up my hair.
"Yeah, your finally eighteen now" Anthony says trying to hold my legs together. John and Anthony, are my two best friends in the pack.

"Alright boys, enough fooling around. We better get going before it gets late." My dad calls from the door. Immediately the two of them loosen their grip, rising to the floor and pulling me up with them.

Talk about a rude awakening.

"Aw, sorry we ruined your beauty sleep." John taunts, jabbing me in my side.

"Ow, hey!"

John and I start sparring again

"I said enough. James, get dressed so we can go." My dad calls from the kitchen.

"Go? Where are we going? What time is it even?" I call back, rummaging through the pile of clothes on my chair for a clean shirt - every guy needs a chair in his room.

"Hunting. And it's just past 5am. Now get dressed and lets go, we don't have all day thanks to that party tonight."

I try not to flinch, yeah the party. I've been dreading this stupid party since Tracey said we should have it. We all know it's not really about my 18th birthday. I sigh, trying not think of it as I pull on a semi-clean shirt and pair of shorts before meating the others at the jeep.

We drive a short while off till we get to a clearing at the edge of the woods. The sun is just starting to rise. The air is still cool and crisp. Little air-smoke wisps form as we breathe.

Jumping off the truck, we walk towards the edge of the woods. Striping off our clothes before we shift, I can feel the cold biting my skin, but it gets better once we've shifted. I wait for my father to give the signal- the alpha always leads the hunt. He looks at me expectantly before giving me a nudge.

What? Am I supposed to lead the hunt? Wow, uh, okay. I turn back facing the forest sniffing the air. We slowly walk through the forest sniffing and searching for a sign of the local herd of dear. We walk past the waterfall pool, where Esme and I have spent a lot of time together. I think of yesterday when she dived off the waterfall, her glorious body slicingh through the ice cold water. I wonder what she's doing for her birthday today? She would've enjoyed hunting. She's always been the wild child of the pack.

I almost run into John infornt of me, my mind wandering to much, causing me to loose concentration. John sniffs the air, having picked up on something.

Why can't I seem to focus on anything besides Esme? I shake my head, trying to snap out of it. My dad follows behind patiently, seemingly unconcered about my lack of attention.

Suddenly, the wind changes direction. Adrenaline pumps through me, as I finally pick up the scent of the heard of dear. I let out a howl and storm off into the woods, the others close on my tail.

***

"Whooohoo!"

We exit the forest, carrying our load, covered in blood.

"Good job boys." My dad gives me a pat on the shoulder, before throwing us a bunch of towels. "Let's get cleaned up before taking this baby to the bucher to have the meat prepared".

The ride back to town is quick, filled with laughter and banter.

"You had me worried there for a second, James. When we reached the waterfall without picking up the herds scent, I thought we were going to turn back empty handed."