Crawl Straight Home

Crawl Straight Home

Chapter One: Honeymoon Suite

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Anyone who saw us wouldn't say we are beautiful. Hell. They were my own kind and even I felt horror, gut clenching revulsion at the slobbering mass of fur and muscle in front of me. The fact that soon, I too, would be the same mindless freak did little to ease my disgust.

The growl from the creature in front of me said I should start my change now or he wouldn't be held accountable for tearing me into gory little pieces. I dropped to my hands and knees as I let the change take over, the sound of popping bones and rending flesh overtook the sound of my shallow, pained gasps for breath. I dragged my nails through the dirt as they twisted and changed, sprouting black fur and hardened yellow claws. When it was over I stood on my hind legs, a little shakily. No one ever takes to the change well, some were just better at hiding the pain. Another growl broke the silence. I dropped to all fours, after a moments hesitation I dropped my head down. I was on shaky ground here already, best not to piss off the welcoming committee.

I hadn't been aware this area had a wolf pack. Wolves don't take kindly to outsiders, especially one like me who obviously had no pack; a rogue. The other wolf stepped closer to inspect me, lips drawn back in an endless snarl, letting me know one false move would have me ripped to shreds. And I didn't doubt for a second he could do it. He'd be at least seven feet tall standing, weighing in at about 250kg, all muscle. The lazy coiling of his muscles and confident gait as he strode towards me screamed dominance, the aggressive snarl rolling from his mouth and his crowding presence demanded submission. I understood the message all too clearly, I lowered my belly to the ground and bared my neck to the approaching male. The submission rankled but if I wanted to pass through this wolfs territory unscathed I would need to submit.

Drool pool out from the side of his mouth and splash onto the ground near my paws, he leaned in and began scenting me. Short puffs of air whispered across my fur as he pushed his snout down my side before moving back to my exposed throat, the fur on my flank left wet from his saliva. He could kill me now if he wanted. A rogue in his territory, caught in his woods, his city, without paying their dues. The thought made my heart skitter in my chest, I bet he could smell my nervousness, almost taste my fear.

The teeth at my throat came as a surprise. They were gentle, poised with intent but not to rip my throat out. I baulked and tried to pull away, causing him to clamp his jaw down and worry at my throat, surprising me again by not using enough force to break the skin. This fact did little to ease my struggling. I dug my claws into the ground and pulled back, twisting my head in a desperate attempt to be free. It was a foolish move but desperation caused me to act without thought.

The male let out an impatient growl before closing his teeth around my throat and biting down, this time with enough force to break the skin, and with a little more force than a mating mark needed. Punishment for my struggling. I quieted down after receiving the bite, while the male lapped up my blood sloppily. My mind, which had ground to a halt, started up again and I yanked myself away from the male. Growling defensively as I turned tail and made for the town I knew was only a few kilometres away.

The male jumped after me instantly, his jaws snapping at my tail and hind legs, he had the advantage of size and knowledge of the woods surrounding us but my smaller frame could weave through bushes while he crashed through them. I also had the advantage of speed, I'd spent a large portion of my life on the run, that tends to help build up stamina. I could hear the tell tale sounds of traffic close by. I weaved through the trees and jumped over a a large branch, stumbling slightly on the uneven ground, growling at myself because my clumsiness was slowing me down, the male was gaining on me, maybe I didn't have a speed advantage, my tail instinctively tucked between my legs as his teeth snapped at the air behind me.