I curled up on the wet mossy floor, inside a base of a tree, shivering. The icy wind was stinging my skin, radiating pain all over my body. I shifted into my wolf immediately, which didn't really help.
My eyes snapped shut as I curled into a tighter ball. The wind was howling, swinging branches and leaves everywhere. I shivered again, seeing little white dots falling from the sky. Snow.
Ah man...
I got up quickly and headed the opposite direction to the storm. I had no idea that it had led me to the Pack House. I clawed at the ground, stopping at the edge of the forest, slowly getting covered in the thick white flakes.
Then I froze, seeing my girlfriend a few metres away from me. What was she doing here?
Then I realised, she was at the Pack House, most likely looking for my father.
Her head snapped toward my direction and I had only just ducked out of the way in time. I heard her sigh before she began the awful trip up all of those stairs.
I watched her as she climbed every step before she stopped outside the main hall. No doubt about it that she was going to get Stoick to change the rules. But he would never - not even for his own son.
I had to prove that I could protect Astrid. I mean, I've already done that countless times but, this time, it will be more difficult.
So whatever the case, I had to be watching Astrid at all times. I looked up to check that she was still outside the hall, but she wasn't.
I caught a figure running towards a hut - our hut. I jumped into a sprint, racing up the stairs towards our hut. She left the door ajar. I pushed my head against it, letting it slide open.
I stepped into the hut cautiously, scanning the room for any danger. With a slight howl from the wind, my gaze moved over my shoulder to see the door slam shut.
I focused my gaze on the bedroom door. As I walked up to it, shifting as I went, I realised it had been shut. My hand landed on the door knob and I turned it slowly, pushing the door.
I found Astrid slumped against the wall, her face buried deep into her hands. But when she looked up, she gaped at me. She scrambled to her feet, running towards me at full speed.
My arms opened in time for Astrid to jump on me, her legs locked around my waist, her arms crossed around my neck. She sobbed into my shoulder, staining my skin with her tears.
My hand cupped the back of her head while my other rubbed soothing circles across her back.
"Shh . . . I'm here," I whispered. "I'm here . . . Shh, stop crying, it's OK. I'm here baby . . . I'm here . . . "
I sat on the bed, clutching Astrid closer to me. She pulled away enough so she could kiss me, not giving me a chance to respond, she leant her head back against my shoulder.
I kissed her forehead, rocking her back and forth. I heard orders coming from the other side of the Pack House.
"I can't stay long, Astrid," I mumbled while continuing to rock her.
"No . . . Stay, please . . . "
"I can't, and you, of all people know that." I glanced down at her arm. The memory came rushing back. I growled, my eyes clenching shut. I reopened them once I knew the memory had dispersed.
"This way!" A Shifter shouted, not far away from this hut.
"Astrid . . . " I let go and gently pried her arms and legs off me. "I have to go, they'll kill me if I don't . . . "
Astrid's expression changed without warning. She wiped her eyes furiously, standing and exiting the bedroom, headed to the door.
"Astrid!" I hissed, running after her. I caught her wrist. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your ass," she replied, glaring as my Father and another Shifter entered our hut.
Astrid put herself between me and my Father, her arms crossed against her chest. "You don't need to do this Stoick. He's your son. I've already forgiven him for what he did."
My jaw dropped. She had forgiven me? I was not expecting that . . .
"But Astrid - "
"No Ryan." My head shot around Astrid's head to recognise the slight bulky figure of her brother was it? I narrowed my eyes at him. "I forgave Harry ages ago. You only want him gone because you believe he isn't good for me."
Astrid grabbed my hand and tugged, making me stumble forwards. "He's better than Scott ever was." Astrid turned and smiled up at me which I gladly returned.
My arm slipped around her hips. "Thanks baby," I whispered so the others wouldn't hear.
That's when we shoved past the two, settling in the lounge, falling asleep immediately.
