Red and Her Wolf

Chapter Three

Vennik Aka : The Wolf

The trio of villains stood little chance against the might of the Wolf. Concealed by the darkness of night, his lithe form crept through the forest's underbrush with ease. He'd tracked her scent for two days. They'd had a headstart. Unlike himself, they required rest and could only travel so far in a day's time.

Their blood now coated his fur. A soft growl of pleasure rose from the back of his throat. It had been many years since he'd tasted a man's blood. Oh, how he had missed it. His human counterpart had never allowed him the freedom for such carnage...not since their warring days.

Even now, Vennik's voice echoed in the back of his head. They were here for a purpose. The Wolf shook his head, baring his teeth at the darkness. He disliked being told what to do. But, alas, the pair were connected. The Wolf could not go against Vennik's wishes. Mentally, he was the stronger of the pair. It pained the Wolf to admit such a thing.

He turned from the body he'd been so focused on consuming. Lifting his head, he took a sharp intake of air. She was near. Her blood wafted across his nostrils. He offered a howl with the intent on scaring any other predators that might be in the area.

His massive paws sunk slightly into the blood-soaked ground as he walked forward, following her scent. He was not the average size of your typical wolf. He'd taken this form for one purpose and one purpose only: to keep his true nature a secret. Once he'd found the girl, he would allow Vennik to take over. At least, that had been the plan.

But, now, her scent drove him forward. Vennik's voice cried from the darkness. He ignored it. His muscles ached. Vennik attempted to force the shift. The Wolf's massive head shook back and forth but, still, he continued forward. Her scent grew ever stronger. She was close.

"STOP!"

The Wolf froze. Vennik would not allow him to approach in his current form.

"Would you have  me return to my prison, then?" The Wolf growled, pawing the ground before him in anger.

"It is I that have kept us safe all these years." Vennik offered in return, "If not for me, you would have perished years ago."

Vennik was not wrong. Many, many years ago, the pair had been taken hostage by a warring tribe. Nothing but a slave in those days, their master had not wished to pay the bounty to have them returned. Their identity had been discovered. For many moons, the pair had been tortured. Their captors wished to know the secrets of the Wolf and if it were possible to gain one themselves.

It wasn't. One was either born with a Wolf or they were not. Even so, they would not submit to this truth willingly. A witch had been fetched. They'd attempted to tear the Wolf from Vennik's mine. They'd almost succeeded.

"You would have perished with me, my friend.

Vennik fell silent. He knew this to be true. The people of their tribe were nothing without their wolves. A Wolf could die, that much was true. Alas, their human counterpart was more often than not left a shell of their former selves...if they survived at all.

"We shift. Now."

The Wolf offered a growl in response. Unfortunately, he had little choice in the matter. As previously stated, Vennik held mental superiority over the two. Even now, the Wolf felt the pain of the shift beginning.

Fur fell in clumps, skin dripping onto the forest floor. Bones cracked, and splintered, as they struggled to regain their former shape. It was not a pleasant thing to experience. The Wolf let out one last howl before collapsing. Vennik rose from the pile of fur and flesh.

No matter how many times they'd shifted, Vennik would never get accustomed to the pain. He didn't mind. It reminded him that a small sliver of him remained human. He was naked. A frown touched his lips. He'd forgotten about that...tiny detail

It was a detail he would have to figure out another time. Her blood called to him. She was in danger. He stood, wincing slightly as he did so. He took one step and then another. He was suddenly racing through the night, the snagging briars and thorns doing little to slow him.

He found her. She lay in a crumpled heap, crimson hair tossed across her face. He froze, fearing the worst. A small groan from her lips relaxed him. She had not perished. He approached, kneeling beside her. He brushed the strands of hair from her face, chest seizing.

She was exquisite. Even the Wolf had ceased his howling at being made to return to his cage. Vennik had not been expecting...well, this. There was a stirring pit of his stomach, something he'd not felt in a long while.

"Mate..." The Wolf growled, inwardly lunging forward. Vennik held him at bay.

"It is not possible." He muttered aloud.

Vennik and the Wolf had found their mate. Many years ago. The loss of her had nearly killed them both. It was uncommon for a Wolf and his human counterpart to have two true mates in one lift-time. To be fair, it was also uncommon for a Wolf to survive the splitting of the Mate bond. This was new territory to them all.

His eyes traveled to the head wound. A frown touched his lips. It was not a fatal wound but it would need tending to. Scooping the shivering girl into his arms, he carried her back to the trio's camp with ease. He rebuilt the fire, draping her in as many of the men's blankets as he could find. He quickly disposed of the bodies but not before stripping the one that was closest to his size.

The cold had no effect on him. He washed the clothing and himself in a nearby creek. The last thing he needed or wanted was for her to wake to the sight of him covered in blood. She'd been through enough trauma.

"What is she?" The Wolf inquired as the pair returned to the campfire.

Good question. From her scent, it was quite clear she was not...completely human. She was not a Wolf either. Vennik didn't know what she was. There was one thing that remained clear in his mind. Her grandmother had paid for her to return to the village...unharmed and in the same state she'd been taken in.

She'd been very clear with that last part when Vennik had been shown the place where she'd been taken. She did not specify but Vennik had tasted the dislike she had for those of his kind. Or perhaps she was aware of her unique heritage and knew the effect she would have on him.

It did not matter. Vennik had sworn to her that he would not touch her. It was an oath he would not break.