Lunar Rising

An Ally

Luka's POV:

I felt her for the faintest of moments. My heartbeat sped up as I grappled at the whisper of a feeling tugging at the end of the bond. She was alive and my wolf leaped for joy inside my head, howling his excitement and raw emotions over the revelation. 

I tried desperately to focus on our link and push all my strength into the connection to let her know I could feel her, and I was coming. 

The sensation didn't last long enough though. As quickly as it came, it was gone just like that. But it was there. My determination grew heavier, and it added an extra 'oomph' that I had seemed to lose when I thought I would be carrying my mate's body home. 

Of course I was still determined to find her, but the thought of seeing her lifeless body and know I did nothing to protect her? I couldn't stomach the thought, and subconsciously, that fear had me moving slower than I should have been my instincts saving me from a sight that would undoubtedly tear me to shreds. 

I couldn't feel her anymore by this point, but the feeling was unmistakable. I focused on what she was pushing through the link. She was scared. She was terrified beyond belief. But she is alive... Hold on baby I'm coming for you.

I padded through the cold mountain terrain with heavy paws. Every mountain pass felt like it was taking an eternity to navigate through.

Thick forests and dense snowfall were my biggest challenges that I faced as I moved through the Canadian mountain rage. I didn't know exactly where I was going nor did my wolf, but I let him take our skin, moving on pure instinct that I was trusting would take us closer to Aura. 

The wind bristled against my fur and cut deep to the bone, tensing my muscles and slowing me down. I growled out in frustration. I needed to keep moving, but I also needed to rest. I would be no use to Aura if I showed up a raggedy mess that could barely stand from sleep exhaustion and starvation. 

With the winter storms rolling in full throttle, the forest animals grew sparse and started their burrowing for the winter. I was lucky to have found a mule deer two days ago or I would most likely be keeling over by now. The amount of calories I was burning through were exponential. 

A resonating growl thundered from the tree line ahead of me and I came to an abrupt halt, letting my own warning resonate from my chest in response. 

A large grey wolf stepped out from the trees, showing me his dominance over his territory I was encroaching on. 

The Alpha looked almost feral as he snarled and snapped his teeth at me. I could feel his Alpha influence attempting to push at me. He wanted me to submit. 

I huffed, annoyed. Pfffft, cocky Canadian wolves. 

Even though I was exhausted and weaker than usual, I could feel my inherent strength could overwhelm him easily. 

I abruptly stopped the snarls I was emanating and ducked my head while keeping eye contact in case he got squirrely. I signaled to him that I was no threat, but I would be if he pushed me. 

He grunted deeply, approaching me wearily. When he got about 15 feet from me, he attempted pushing his influence on me once more and that is where I drew the line. 

I am not some petulant pup! 

He would be able to feel that he was outmatched and outranked by me. He was either very brave and sure of himself or very stupid. 

When I didn't bare my neck for him, the Alpha wolf lunged, going in for an attack. I countered him swiftly, dodging to the side and grabbing the scruff of his neck firmly in my canines.