The Alpha Shifter

Chapter 5 - Ari

Alpha! There are wolves near the border. They've come for the bodies of their fallen.

I stood up and away from my desk, pacing the room of my office. Are they still there? How many of them are there?

I see six wolves in total. Two of approximately the same size. I assume the slightly larger one is the Alpha. The Alpha has shifted to his human form and is loading the bodies of the dead wolves onto the backs of his pack.

Get in closer, find out what you can. I need to know how close the wolves are to our territory.

Yes Alpha!

I waited patiently for Allie to fill me in on what was happening. The Alpha of the wolves was retrieving his fallen. If they were able to get here this quickly, then they couldn't be too far. This worried me, my pack members would be in danger constantly if the wolves resided this close to our border. The cubs weren't safe. They'd be slaughtered instantly if they found out where we were.

Allie's voice rang loud and clear in my head. Alpha, one of the wolves has stayed behind, he seems to be scouring the area.

Allie, you must stop him at all costs. If this Alpha finds out the coordinates of our pack house, it could mean the death of us all. You must stop him, whatever it takes.

As you wish Alpha.

I continued to pace the room of my office. "KEIL!" I heard the thumping of footsteps running towards my office. No sooner had I called, had Keil barged into my office, eyes wide. "What's wrong? What's happened? Is it the wolves?" His chest was rising and falling with every breath he took.

"We need to talk. Come, sit." I motioned to one of the chairs in front of my desk. He nodded, preparing himself for whatever I was about to say.

"Keil, the wolves are close to our border. They've already come to pick up the bodies of their fallen. If they got here this quickly, it means they're close, and that our pack is not safe."

Alpha, I scared off the lone wolf, and will be pursuing them to their border.

Stay safe Allie, and stay out of sight.

"Who was that?"

"Sorry, it was Allie. One of the wolves, probably the Alpha tried to stay behind and scour the area. Allie stopped him and is now following in pursuit. Hopefully she can stay out of sight."

"But Ari, they're bound to know we're close too if they saw one of our own near the bodies of their fallen." Keil was gripping the armrests with such force that his knuckles had turned turned white.

"You think I don't know that? If the wolves find our location, it'll be a slaughter house. The wolves hate our kind. They'd probably exterminate us if they could. I can't risk the live of the cubs. They're too important and precious. I have to protect them. If any of them were to die...I could never forgive myself." Keil's eyes had softened. He'd stood up and walked towards me. Just as he was in front of me, he embraced me in a brotherly hug.

"We won't let anything happen to them. We'll protect them all, even if it kills us." I couldn't help but smile because I knew it was true. Deep in my bones, the instinct to protect my pack was before anything, or anyone else.

I pinched his cheek, "You're so cute when you go all soft on me." I grinned at him unable to help myself. He was my brother, maybe not by blood, but in every other way that mattered.

Keil slapped my hand away, "Please, I am not cute."

"You know that's a lie." I pinched his cheek again just as there was a knock on the door to my office.

"Come in." It was Davin who had walked through the door. His large build barely fit through the door and I couldn't help but give a small laugh. "I think we need to upgrade the size of our doors." Keil covered his mouth trying not to burst out in a fit of laughter. I slapped his back, and gave him a look. "Shh."

Keil coughed with a smile on his face. "So what brings you to the Alpha's office Davin?" There was a glint in Keil's eyes like he knew something I didn't.

Davin bowed his head to me.

"You know there's no need for all this formality right? But anyway, what does bring you to my office?"

"Alpha I've come to inform you that we're running low on supplies. A food run needs to be made right away. Who do you wish to dispatch?"

I paused for a second, there really was no one to go on this errand run. But there was me, and I hadn't been in town in a while. A change of setting would help me clear my head. "Davin I believe there is no one who is not already on duty, to take on such a simple task. Every other person of the pack is busy, either patrolling the borders, scouting, or in training. So since this is the case, I believe I shall be going on this errand run." I could tell Davin was about to reject, as was Keil, and before they could say anything I added, "I'll be fine. The two of you can manage the pack while I'm gone. And Davin I want you to help others in training. You are, after all a bear. The young ones will especially be needing help in their training." I winked at him.

Keil was about to try and protest again when I raised my hand. "Please Keil, I'll be fine. Honestly. Just make sure no one dies or burns down the pack house while I'm gone." He nodded solemnly.

"Take care okay, and if there's any trouble I want you to mind-link me as soon as something comes up. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you, or anyone else in this pack for that matter." I nodded and gave him a quick hug, ruffling his hair as I let go. "I promise not to get into any trouble big bro."

Smiling I then turned to Davin and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I expect the both of you to make sure no problems arise while I'm gone. Understood?"

They both nodded, and Keil replied, "We wouldn't dream of it Ari."

I nodded satisfied making my way to the pack house front door. Just as I had stripped of my clothing, no sooner had I shifted into my jaguar form.

Allie had contacted me just before I was about to set off towards the town. Alpha, the wolves are just ten or so minutes away from us.

Thank you Allie, that's all I needed to know. Don't stay there any longer than you have to.

Carrying my clothing between my teeth, I headed in the direction of the town.

***

I had reached the border of the town, and whilst still near the tree line I hid and shifted back, wearing the clothes I had carried between my teeth. The weather was warm, and the sun was still out. It was a nice day.

Making my way through the town, I see that it was crowded. For some reason my jaguar seemed all jittery, wanting me to shift in the middle of the crowd. I kept her under control, not allowing her what she wanted. The people would freak if they saw me shift right before their eyes. I had not come here to attract attention. Simply to gather food and supplies.

As I was making my way through the town I made sure not to bump into anyone, and in the slightest fraction of a second I had looked away, my face met with a toned muscled chest. Looking up, I saw the softest brown eyes staring back at me as if they could see into my soul. The mans arms rested on my forearms as they tried to steady me. My arms felt all tingly where his hands were resting. I mumbled a sorry before I side-stepped him, the memory of his brown eyes still fresh in my memory.

I felt odd, and the jaguar within me wanted me to turn and go back into the stranger's arms. I continued to walk on, refusing to glimpse back for fear of turning back. My legs kept dragging me forward until I turned a corner and walked into the local supermarket.