The Fenrir Saga - Part I

Chapter 6

--- Zac ---

The girl left our territory and I hurriedly returned to the pack village. I bumped into Tristan, who gave me a quizzical look and indicated the first aid kit in his hand. I was just about to explain when our alpha caught up with us—Alpha King Prospect Ben Connors, to be exact.

"Zac! There you are! I have been expecting you all morning. Our visitors are coming any time now," he raised an eyebrow at my naked torso and continued. "Did... you... meet a girl last night or what?"

"Uhm, early morning workout. Even managed to give my friend here a cut that needed tending to," I said and grinned at my cleverness; that explanation would cover Tristan, the first aid kit, and the blood on my jeans.

"Heh, giving Tristan a cut is hardly an achievement," Ben grinned and sucker-punched Tristan lightly in the stomach. "See, never prepared."

Tristan and I looked at each other. It was undoubtedly a cheerful Alpha we dealt with today. At least he was for a few seconds before we were all mind-linked by Zane, our best tracker.

"Alpha, we have just done a perimeter check all around, and on the southern border in quadrant 112, we found traces of a recent breach. The trespasser seems hurt but has managed to leave our territory again. What are your orders?"

Alpha's good humour instantly disappeared, and he looked between Tristan and me.

"Thanks, Zane. Do nothing for now, but come back for a full report and bring whatever evidence you can find. There is no need for a manhunt right now. We will deal with it afterwards."

"Copy that."

He turned to us.

"Quadrant 112. Isn't that your region, Tristan?"

Tristan's poker face left a lot to wish for, and he gave me a pleading look. However, before we could answer, Ben raised his hand to stop us.

"Never mind, we will deal with this later. Zac, go get yourself cleaned up and meet me in the meeting room ASAP."

His tone was short and clipped, and to avoid further questions I just nodded and started towards the main pack building where my room was. Through the entrance, up two flights of stairs where my rooms were and finally, I could close the door behind me. 

I sighed. The morning encounter had, for some reason, thrown me off balance, and I needed to stay focused today. Trouble was coming, and there was no room for anything off the path. One of our closest neighbours was coming to visit, undoubtedly to voice his alleged concern over something.

Even we had heard the rumours. Packs in our Prospects were restless and increasingly concerned about the dealings within our pack territory. Ben was... he was not acting as calculated as he used to. The last couple of years had seen him grow into a shell of nothingness, and even though maybe not that many others noticed exactly that, I did.

His growing paranoia and unnecessary concern about our safety seemed only to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. He hadn't found his mate, which made him fear that the pack would be weakened. Subsequently, he pushed them too hard, which only made them question him, and the doubt he felt made him force them to work even harder. When it rained, it certainly poured these days. 

I hoped the girl would be fine. That she would be long gone from our borders by now, in neutral territory and hopefully in the caring hands of Berta.

Outside the pack territory. 

I sighed. I had no wish to leave my pack or my family, but sometimes, only sometimes, I felt like there was somewhere I was supposed to be. Or that there was something I had forgotten. There wasn't.

I hoped she was ok. Maybe I should check with Berta after the meeting? Just to see whether she passed or not.

Yes.

--- Hild ---

I passed my exam and decided to leave when the diploma arrived in the mailbox. It was time—way past time, actually. The last couple of days had been painful but only served to reinforce the need to leave.

Deliberately and carefully, I had unregistered myself from everywhere. No traces would be left when I was gone. No credit cards, no paychecks, no nothing. Of course, having a fake name helped since everyone, in reality, probably no one, would be looking for a Hilary Jones if they decided they missed me. Not for Hild without a last name since she was her own person.

I had to make up a fake last name when registering for college a couple of years ago and had decided on "Connors." I also decided that Hild Connors was probably of Irish heritage and eligible for some Irish-American scholarships. They did pay for one of the courses I took. Thank you, fake Irish relatives. It would serve as my new name.

Harry started to bark outside, and sighing, I got up to see what the commotion was about. It turned out to be our cat-owning neighbour, Edna Masterson. She had done nothing to Harry, but he insisted on barking at her whenever he imagined she approached our house. Either Harry's senses were always wrong, or his antics worked as she never once knocked on our door, and I was glad for it. I didn't like the way she smelled for some reason. She was a nice enough lady and a good neighbour, but there was something slightly off with her odour that I couldn't grasp. Kurt, of course, was utterly oblivious to her scent but didn't like her all the same.

I got out to tell him to stop when I noticed Kurt slumping towards the wall, completely gone. I first suspected the booze had done him over, but seeing the bloodstains on his shirt and the swelling above his eye, I guessed it was booze combined with a bad beating. I knew what it meant. He had not been able to pay for either his drugs or gambling or some other things, and whoever, and I knew who this whoever was, he owed had given him a "fair" warning. I also knew how Kurt planned to pay the debt.

With me.

I was not much for praying, but I was hoping that they had given him at least to the end of the month to pay up, which hopefully would be enough time for me to be long gone before said time was up. The rain was pouring down, and I ushered Harry inside the house and half-lifted Kurt to help him inside. Wet dog and dark thoughts consumed my mind.