Winds of Change

Chapter Two

Smaller packs were always boring for me to handle, but recently it was getting ridiculous. They wouldn't even put up a fight! I huffed, slumping then stretching my shoulders and I walked the hallways away from the Alpha Drake's office. Nothing was keeping me entertained anymore. I rolled my eyes and left the massive pack house, walking the grounds. Wolves sensed me and ducked away behind doors and corners, avoiding me. I wasn't going to hurt them, but I understood why they didn't want to come near me. I was a force to be reckoned with, and I enjoyed it.

I smirked at the idea, reaching the edge of the woods where the pack territory continued on for miles. I didn't have a wolf, so a 'run' wasn't what I was going on. I just needed something to do, so why not fool around a bit? I hit the ground running, bolting to an old lake most wolves avoid. With the war so close by, and the lake close to the edge of the territory, most wolves were scared to come near. I sensed no wolves close by, and let my energy flow freely. I felt my eyes turn gold and then black and red, meaning nothing was being held back. The power in my veins was no longer controlled, and I could feel my body humming with energy. I sighed with relief.

Releasing the energy within my body like this was never an option around the wolves. In fact, only when I was alone was it even a thought. When I had been created, placed here, that was the only instruction I received from the Moon Goddess that limited my power. She said that releasing my energy like this around other wolves would draw something to me, something that needn't know me until the time came. It was confusing to say the least, but even I will bow to her request. Just as quickly as I was made, I could be taken away.

The Goddess hadn't exactly put a label on what I was. It wasn't really necessary. All I know is that some kind of energy flowed through my veins, and made my body heal almost instantly. I was fast, strong, and to be afraid of.

A mile or two away, a small wolf was getting close. I held my control back and my eyes reverted to their green state, and I already felt more uncomfortable. Holding back the energy was hard and sometimes painful. My bloodlust ran high when I hadn't let it out in a while, and it was very hard to keep under control then. Standing, I looked in the direction I felt the energy coming from.

I smiled. "How about I go ahead and say hello to our friend?" I said to myself, springing forward in their direction. Trees whizzed past me as I met the small child at the edge of the trees. The boy was clearly of wolf decent; I could already smell it on him. For the past month, the babe had seemingly run off and coming to the edge of the woods nearly everyday. I had stumbled upon him the first time, and returned him to the other pack without being noticed. Now, it had become a routine.

I smiled down at the boy, whom I called Drew, and laughed as he began jumping to me. I scooped him up in my arms and twirled around, making him giggle uncontrollably. "You ready to go home?" I stopped and asked, smiling ear to ear and bopping his little cherry nose. He nodded ecstatically, his mop of brown curly hair falling in his face. His blue eyes shown in the sunlight, full of hope, happiness, and wonderment. It was feelings I had never experienced, and never wanted to see go from his eyes. "Okay then."

Still holding Drew on my hip, I closed my eyes and focused on the energy I felt contained in my body. I felt the blood in my veins, the platelets carrying oxygen and power throughout my body. They flowed fast and vigorously. Breathing in deeply, I slowed them. Breathing out, they slowed to the pace of that of a human. I opened my eyes and smiled softly at Drew. "Okay, we're good to go." When my blood flowed at this rate, I was able to conceal my power and go unnoticed by the wolfs in town. I slowly began jogging, shifting Drew onto my back. He threw his short arms around my neck making my laugh, he could barely reach despite how small I was and how high I was holding him up. I picked up the pace minute by minute until I was running at the pace of wolves in human form. Drew bounced on my pack, giggling the whole way.

We reached the edge of town in no time, so I slowed to a walk and then to a complete stop. I swung Drew around on my hip again, and looked down. He looked so alive, so young, so innocent. "Bye, Drew. I'll see you again soon." He smiled and nodded. I kissed his forehead and he my cheek, and I set him down. He turned and ran into town, and I watched him until he was out of sight. Even after I could no longer see him, I focused on his energy, until I sensed two others with him. I always presumed they were his parents. Once they were gone, I turned back to head home.

I felt eyes on me. I whipped around, scanning the town of anyone looking in my direction. No one. It left me unsettled, and angry. But I needed to get back, and find out my plan for tomorrow. I shrugged it off, and headed back.