The Turn of a Page

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

            We were back at the camp in the forest; all four of us had run the distance and after dashing in between the trees, we were panting heavily.

            I was tucked into Baz’s side and had my head over his front legs as he stretched them out in front of his chest, while he had his hind legs tucked under my body. Nathaniel and his pack stayed as humans for the remainder of the night, telling us stories of how they came to be and how werewolves, in general, came to be. It was odd to hear that werewolves hadn’t been around as long as humans but what was odder was the fact that this particular pack had the average age of about a hundred years. Deciding not to let it bother me, I let it stay at that and accepted it.

            Resting his head over my neck, Baz spoke to me softly in a whining sort of manner. ‘How do you feel? Being like this.’

            I turned my head so I could look into his left eye with my right. ‘I feel fine. This feels right; more right than when I was just human and leant into your chest all those times,’ I whined back. ‘How do you feel?’ I asked in return.

            He took his time in answering. ‘I can relax more about being with you. I don’t have to be on my guard all the time now. Charlie has always tried to take some pressure off but now it is all almost gone. I’ll still be your protector but I won’t need to worry about defending your pride.’ To that, he lifted his head and held it with an air of supremacy. I nudged him with my body and put my head back down where it was before he spoke to me and continued to listen to Nathaniel’s stories.

            ‘So why exactly are you so much bigger than us?’ I asked Theo, as we traced our way back to the tents. It didn’t feel right to call him granddad after all this time.

            ‘I think it is partly to do with the way we live, and how old we are. Though I am the youngest of my pack, I seemed to sprout in size when I was made the Beta. It is strange how things like that happen, and not even Nathaniel has answers to.’ He bobbed his head in Nathaniel’s and Baz’s direction; as our Alphas they took it upon themselves to lead us out of the camp and as expected, Charlie was close on their heels.

            ‘Will we ever meet again?’ I asked as our field camp came into view between two large beech trees.

            He placed his paw on my shoulder. ‘I do hope so. But if ever you need me, you can always call the house and leave a message. It belongs to us, and at least one of us is always inside,’ he explained on behalf of his pack. ‘Maybe I will come visit you. It will be fun to go for a long run. But you must promise me something.’

            ‘Anything.’ I had a lot to owe to him.

            ‘You must not mention me to our family. They will not understand it like you have. I have a funny feeling that because they have lived so long as humans already, it will be too much of a strain to take on what you have.’

            I nodded with understanding in my eyes; I knew that he meant it in a caring, loving way.

            ‘Kerry,’ barked Baz.

            ‘Coming!’ I barked back. ‘I hope we meet again. But in the mean time, stay safe, Theo.’ And I dipped down onto my front paws before dashing off towards to tents.

            ‘Take care of her, Barry!’ Theo shouted from the trees.

            ‘With my life, Beta,’ Barry barked to him as the forest pack ran to their camp or dens.