Genetics

Chapter 7

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Xalva asked as she crouched beside me.

"Yeah. Zackery's eleven. He's not going to be able to fight someone in their prime and win. If we handle them now, then he won't have to worry about them later on." I whispered.

We were all hiding behind an outcrop of rocks in Vast Valley. I had decided to help Zackery with his Prowler situation by talking with these Prowlers. We had stuck close to the mountains, using the outcrops of rocks as cover as we moved. It was a little past afternoon now and the sun was beginning to set. We could see tents between the trees and wolves walking back and forth.

I watched as the black wolf with the white patch I had seen at The Great River walked into the camp. He made his way towards a location I couldn't see, and the white wolf followed him. The other two were leading a group of three wolves into the camp who were looking around with uncertainty clear in their eyes. I glanced at Kane and the other werewolves, taking my bag and backpack off. I passed it to Xalva who gave me a small nod.

I crept out from behind the rocks and tried to make my way silently and quickly to a tree before anyone could see me. The trees were pines, but it was clear that the bottom branches had been chopped to provide their guards room to survey the immediate vicinity for enemies. I placed my back against the tree, smelling pine sap over everything else. I glanced at the rocks, watching for some sign that the guard closest to me wasn't looking anymore.

I spotted Mark's hand and glanced towards where the guard had been. Wasting no time, I bolted for the first tent I saw. I quickly moved along its side, glancing around me as I went. There were no guards coming and I didn't see any wolves walking nearby. I moved across the little pathway towards the next tent, noticing that there was a cave in the direction the two Prowler siblings had gone.

As I stepped out from my cover, a shout filled the air, freezing me in place. I turned my head towards the shout to find that a woman with two children were standing along the path I had crossed. She had her arm out to protect her children and was wielding a small knife. She looked terrified and her arm was trembling.

Her shout had drawn the attention of the guards and the people in the camp. I had nowhere to go that would not result in coming face to face with werewolves. I took a deep breath, looking out towards the cave. I could run and try to get as close as possible to the cave before I get attacked or I could stay still and let them attack in hopes they captured me to have the Prowlers handle what to do with me.

I took a deep breath and bolted for the cave. I heard angry shouts and felt something hit my leg. It wasn't sharp thankfully, but it did hurt a bit. I would most likely have a bruise there. I had reached the cave entrance before something heavy had knocked into my back. My face was pushed into the ground, and I couldn't move under what I wouldn't doubt being a wolf.

"What is going on out here?" An elderly woman shouted from the cave.

"Alpha, we found this intruder trying to enter the cave." A man spoke as someone grabbed my hair and forced me to look up from the ground.

The woman before me had silver hair and mesmerizing yellow eyes. She leaned down to look at me, her eyes and scent giving no leads as to how she felt about someone getting so close to the cave. She grabbed my chin and turned my head side to side before looking beyond me.

"Help her up. Adalwolf, Adela, come out here and help me bring this woman into the cave." The elderly woman spoke.

I took a deep breath as the pressure on my back subsided and I was helped up. My arms were pinned against my back, and I could tell that any movement I made to get my arms free would result in my arm breaking. I watched as Adalwolf and Adela came out of the cave. They walked over to me and grabbed my arms, forcing them to the side.