The Boundary Line

Chapter 2

At any other time, I would love this. Running through the woods in wolf form, with four others of my pack. But not this time.

I listened to my paws as they thudded across the dry leaves, sending them flicking up from behind me.

My muscles and legs ache. My breathing is slow and raggered from running for so long. I look to my left to see my dads powerful brown wolf, running in time beside me. I can feel his fur rub against me sometimes at his closeness.

I swiftly turn my head to the right and see another two big wolves running a few meters from me. Knowing they are just Joe and Tim, I focus my attention on my Alpha running a few paces ahead of me.

He's massive. Almost the size of a horse. I consider myself bigger than the average she-wolf, but I'm nothing compared to Alpha Mike. Alpha Mike's wolf is a deep mahogany color. Watching him from behind, I notice the way his movements are so graceful but powerful at the same time.

"Are you okay Luce?"

I turn my attention to my father as he mind linked me.

"Yeah dad, just a bit nervous".

If I'm being honest here, nervous is an understatement. I'm freaking out, my heart is pounding in dread and anxiety as we move closer and closer to the Boundary Line. We can't be more than ten minutes away.

Never in my life did I think that I would have to cross this line. It may just sound like an ordinary line, but this is no ordinary line. It holds so much power that when your are a few feet away from it, you get this feeling inside you saying, 'don't cross', 'don't cross'.

I've heard from past stories that when you cross the Boundary Line it is somewhat physically painful. Like some invisible force is trying to pull you back.

How my mother got across without noticing? Well, I guess I'll never know.

Suddenly, I got a sickly feeling in my stomach as Alpha Mike started to slow. Mike turned his head towards us.

"We're here", he stated, slightly out of breath. I've never been this close or even seen the Boundary Line before, but now looking over to the line engraved into the dirt a few feet away, it looks harmless.

"Shall we go?" Joe, the third in command asked.

Alpha Mike shook his head and moved towards the line. The rest of us followed suit. Mike cautiously crossed first, then my dad, Joe and Tim. I was the last.

Once again, I asked myself, why did I have to come? What business do I have here at the Dark Moon pack? When I asked my father this he just told me 'As a Betas daughter, you need to face and meet other packs.'

I snorted. I'm completely fine without knowing other packs. I looked to my dad, he nodded in encouragement for me to cross.

Hesitantly, I put my front paw over the line.

As soon as my foot touched the Dark Moons territory, my mind was screaming at me to retreat. The stories were right. It did feel as though a invisible force was pulling you back.

'Keep going' my wolf encouraged.

When all four of my paws were over, it felt my head was being squeezed together. I didn't belong here. I stood up straight and walked towards my dad who was waiting with the rest.

He nuzzled his big head into my neck.

" You did great". He informed me. I nodded in return.

"Let's keeping moving, Alpha Tristan is expecting us soon", Mike notified us.