Framed

Part 6

I spent five months roaming, trying to figure out what to do now that I had my revenge on Tom Whelan. I knew that I could always join the rogue king, but I didn't agree to his 'quest' of taking over weak packs, killing those who would not join him.

I stared at the rising moon as I sat in a large spruce tree. The overwhelming scent was enough to mask mine, making me almost invisible for the moment. My thoughts turned to the human I had met two months ago and my wolf whined softly. I could see myself settling down with him, having a family. But I couldn't bring him into the danger that followed me.

If I had given into what my heart wanted, those that hunted me now would have a way to get me to do whatever they wanted. It hurt when I had left him, but I had someone that I trusted with my life protecting him from a distance. A wolf's howl had me pushing my thoughts away as I searched my surroundings. I knew that the call wasn't from a normal wild wolf, but from one of my kind.

The painful call to the moon had my heart hurting, more than it already was. My wolf answered the call as I threw my head back, letting my sorrows join theirs. Just as the sound of my howl faded, a distant howl replied, sounding just as heartbroken as the mine and the first call had. That was a thing about our wolves, no matter if we were pack or rogue, it was our true nature to extend comfort in any form we could until our human side, stepped in and then things got complicated.

With a sigh, I slip from my perch and shift as my feet hit the soft ground. My wolf took over as we raced through the dark forest, dodging trees as our pace picked up. I watched through her eyes as familiar territory came into view and I knew where we were.

As she made her way up onto a large rock slab that overlooked the pack land but was still on unclaimed territory, I wondered how Max and his pup was doing. My wolf lay down facing the pack house, waiting. The sun would be up in a few hours and I knew that she was longing for a glimpse of the man that had held my heart since the day our bond formed. We stayed there all night, just watching.

Every now and then, one of the wolves that were patrolling the borders would sense my presence, but they couldn't pin point where I was exactly. They would growl softly before slowly going on their way, making sure that the threat knew not to breach their boundaries.

The sun hadn't been up for long when I felt my wolf perking up. A large rusty brown wolf stepped into our line of sight and stopped. He slowly looked around before our gaze met. I knew instantly that it was Max, but I didn't move. His eyes lit up before he shook his head, putting his guard up.

But he hadn't been quick enough. Sure, I knew that he hated his father for what he had forced him to do to us, but he still loved the man. I saw the small spark of fear in his eyes; fear that I was here to kill him. A soft whine slipped from my throat as my heart felt as if it was being squeezed hard. My wolf was ashamed that Max thought we would kill him.

I was about to shift when a she-wolf and a pup joined him; his mate and his pup. My wolf sinks deep within my mind as she gives me control back. Jumping down from the rock slab, I was about to leave when an all-too-familiar scent hits me. Spartan Bear.

My eyes scanned the forest as I finally spot him. He didn't have the smell of forbidden magic around him, just anger. He was focused on Max as he silently made his way towards the little family like a ghost. Dread filled my body as I realized that he was intended on killing them. Shifting, I lunge forward yelling, "Max, get them away from here."

My voice drew the bear's attention like I wanted, and Max rushed his family away, looking back at me once. The bear shifted and glared at me. If I had been a normal wolf, I would have coward underneath that hatred filled look. But I was a warrior, and I stood my ground.

"What do you want with Alpha Max?" I asked; my voice calm as I crossed my arms. "He killed my brother. I've come to avenge his death."

"I'm guessing that your brother was the bear that was killed here not so long ago... The one that had the smell of forbidden magic about him?" The bear growled as he took a step towards me. "That was him. And Whelan killed him instead of helping him." I shook my head, bringing a slight confused look across his face.

"Max Whelan didn't kill your brother. And you know good and well that the only cure for someone that has been a subject to forbidden magic is death."

"Who killed him?" He demanded as his eyes flashed coal black before snapping back to the ice blue. "I did. He was about to kill an innocent young pup." The bear shifter let out a roar that shook me to my core, but I still did not show the fear that was racing through me.

"You will pay for killing him." I could tell that he was just moments from shifting. Since he wasn't under the influence of forbidden magic, this fight would be more brutal. And there was a very high chance that I would not be walking away from it alive. I mentally shrugged, if it meant that Max and his little family, along with his pack was safe, I would gladly give my life.

"Before you kill me," I say with a slight smirk on my lips, "I want you to swear something to me."

"What's that?" He asked as he lifted a brow at me. "I want you to swear that no harm will ever befall this pack while you live." His head tilted towards the side a little as he thought it over. Finally, he gave me a quick, firm nod. "That seems fair to me. I swear that until my last day on earth, I will protect them." I gave him a smile before shifting. He followed a few seconds later and charged at me.

I lunged forward, my body slamming hard into his. It was like hitting a concrete wall that was flying towards you at 90 miles an hour. In other words, it hurt a lot. His claws dug deep into my sides as I managed to bite his flank, ripping a large part off. Another bone-shaking roar left the bear, but it was answered with faint howls from the pack.

My heart soared for a moment, but I shook my head. I had no reason for living anymore. And dying at the hands of a Spartan Bear would be one heck of a way to go. Everyone knew that a Spartan Bear honored their word, no matter what. So I knew that as long as this shifter lived, Max and his pack would have an ally; an ally that few supernaturals would want to face.

I lunged at him again, but he was waiting for that. His large paw slammed against my front shoulder, his claws digging deep. The force of the hit threw my body through the air, slamming me against the rock slab. I gasped as the air rushed from my lungs. Struggling to my feet, I knew that I wasn't fighting as hard as I normally would have. I felt my wolf slowly detaching herself from me and I knew that I was dying.

I was already dizzy from the loss of blood, but I took another step towards the bear. Our eyes met and I watched as the hatred that had them burning red faded. His ice blue orbs stared at me as if he was looking into my very soul. I was breathing hard, trying to fill my lungs again. Slowly, he began to walk towards me as I braced my legs to keep from falling over.

He gave me a look as something flashed in his eyes. I realized that he was telling me that he was sorry, but I just gave him a wolfish smile. This was the path I had chosen, it wasn't his fault. He was only avenging the death of his brother, much as I would have done.

When he was a few feet from me, I gathered up the last remaining bit of my strength and launched myself into the air. His reflexes reacted before he knew it and I howled out in pain as his large teeth buried deep into my throat. The bear shook his head, slinging my body into a large oak tree. The force of the impact broke my back, but the fatal damage was already done.

My body shivered as I slowly shifted back into my human form, not having the energy left to stay a wolf. I felt the final snap as my wolf faded away fully and I felt the empty void. The bear shifted as he knelt beside me, his eyes meeting mine. I coughed on the blood that was running into my mouth, but I managed to give him a smile. "Thank... you." I managed to say just as I took my last breath and the light faded from my eyes.