The Turn of a Page

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

            That night, Charlie and I snuck out of the front door and got into my car. He had suggested that we went to school first to have a poke around there. It seemed like a good idea, and so I agreed as long as he stuck with me and didn’t leave me alone somewhere.

            ‘Don’t worry, I’ll follow you,’ he had said when I begged with him.

            We were now out of the car, and were padding about the field sniffing at the air to see if there had been any recent people or creatures in the vicinity. As I was knew to the tracking stuff and my nose still had to get used to what scents meant what, I left it to Charlie to do the sniffing while I did the searching.

            ‘I don’t smell anything. Come on, let’s check the woods.’ We set off towards the little woods that bordered the field to the school. Our breaths were turned into mist as the air was so cold, at least our fur coats kept our bodies shielded. Same as on the field, we set about searching the woods, checking piles of rocks or mossy caves. Until Charlie, stopped in his tracks and sniffed for a while at the air about us.

            ‘What is it?’ I whispered.

            ‘I’m not sure. There’s someone here, but it’s definitely not Baz. It’s familiar but I don’t know where I’ve smelt it before.’ When he’d finished talking, we were met with husky chuckling. It didn’t come from any one direction or from a single wolf. Charlie and I stood tail to nose, side by side and scanned the trees about us.

            From over the brow in front of me propped a wolf’s head, followed by his greyish brown body. In a sudden jolt, I spread my front legs and barked as loud as I could. But before I could do anything else, another ten or so wolves appeared from between the other trees in a broken circle about us.

            ‘Cayleb! What are you doing here?’ I knew him but I was so lucky and relieved that he wouldn’t know who I am. Then Charlie’s body brushed against mine as he stepped past me to assess the threat of another approaching wolf.

            ‘Who are you? And what are doing in my territory?’

            ‘It doesn’t matter who I am. And your territory? I thought this land belonged to our head. You can’t claim it.’

            ‘Actually I can, stubborn one,’ he chortled. ‘See, I’m the Beta of this pack, and I suggest you leave.’

            Surprise seeped over my face. How could that be? ‘You are not the Beta. You’re just a selfish loner wolf.’ Though the scene around me proved otherwise.

            ‘How would you know?’ And he began to advance down to me.

            My snarl was as harsh as I could make it. ‘I suggest you don’t fool with me, Cayleb. I’m the mate of an Alpha and am more than willing to take you on.’

            ‘Oh and who are you, Alpha mate?’ he asked, licking at his canines.

            I pricked my ears, unsure whether to tell him or not, but my choice was made for me. ‘Just tell him, Kez! We’re outnumbered here, we should run.’

            I barked and yelped all I could. ‘No! No, I won’t run! I refuse!’

            ‘Kez? Kerry? How are you a wolf? If that is really you,’ Cayleb grumbled as he took his last step to me.