The Mahani Wolves

Chapter 6 - Grace

The cloudless sky has my attention, and a pleasant breeze passes over my muzzle as I look around my small backyard. My home doesn't lead into the forest as others do. I'm housed in the center of our little community and have a fireproof dome that a swinging dog door leads to. You can exit my dome through two ways: the dog door into the house and a gate latch in the back that you can only reach in human form. I also have a standard back door that leads to a small patio if I want to sit outside.

This is my safe place when I am in a mood, or my past is getting the most out of me. Last night, I slept out here in wolf form. I don't look like a dog, as most Mahani do. I'm an Elemental with control over fire. We look like wolves. Well, wolf pups.

Elementals have a shift into a pup and a transformation into a larger wolf. I would become itchy and bitchy, just like a normal wolf, if I didn't shift regularly. However, I can go my whole life and never transform. We can only transform the first time with the help of a Mahani Blood Alpha, and my transformation is only supposed to be used for work and training. However, I also use it when playing with my sisters or friends.

I could sense that something was happening through the family bond, but they were not sharing it with me. I didn't sleep much and awoke twice, breathing fire, so I let it go as I didn't have the proper control to help.

But, I was curious, so I called Delta Four, my best friend, to find out.

"Good morning. I know you're busy, but what's happening?"

I could feel my thoughts go through, but she didn't respond immediately. It was several minutes later before she answered me.

"It's been an unpleasant morning. One of the Gammas was drugged, kidnapped, raped, and forcibly marked before the Betas could reach him. The amount of drugs used would have killed him without medical attention. We believe the brothers of the Blood Alpha did it purposely in an attempt to kill them both, but we are still sorting it out."

"My Goddess," I whispered. "How is the Gamma holding up?"

"His human is unconscious, and Blood Alpha Cooper calmed his wolf to sleep. He is healing well, but I can't imagine he will be good for a long while."

"I'll contact Nicolas and ask if there is anything I can do. What happened to the Blood Alpha?"

"He is being held in the BA (Blood Alpha) holding cells. He will go in front of the Council later t-t-today." As she said that, she stuttered, and I knew there was more.

"Tell me!" I demanded. I could feel her stress and emotions were close to breaking.

"It WAS Nicolas."

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"Let me go in!" I yelled at the Beta guarding the door to Nicolas's room.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. The Blood Alpha said no one was to enter."

Someone updated me that the FMT (Fated Mate Talk) was happening now because she collapsed and her own Blood Alpha called. I can't interrupt that to get permission. As angry as I was, I knew better.

I stomped my displeasure as I headed back to the Elemental housing. Instead of going home, I went to Doc's. I entered without knocking and found my sister in the kitchen, scrubbing a spotless counter and a forgotten cup of coffee on the stove warmer.

"Before you start screaming," she said aloud, "if his mate wants to meet him, a female scent on him could mess up the process. You know this."

I growled in frustration. Yes, I knew this. I didn't care. As much as the Elementals sometimes hated Nicolas, he was our confidant, secret keeper, and trusted friend. He would do ANYTHING for us.