Delivered from Exile

Chapter Four

chapter four.

The door to the bookshop clicked shut and I shook the doorknob vigorously to be sure it was locked. There had been an increase in crime in the area and all the shopkeepers were very high strung. I lifted my hand to my brow and squinted into the distance, the first sign of dusk just visible over the trees. It was time for me to go home; Trey would be waiting up for me. It would be faster to shift, but a nighttime walk sounded like a good way to wind down after the last couple of days. I lifted Ayana off the ground and placed her on my shoulder, where she curled her tail around my neck and held on. The quiet hum of the streetlights was incredibly relaxing and I closed my eyes, listening to the soft silence of night.

“They don’t need me on this mission. I’m too important for the risk. I’m royalty; I should be treated as such.” A familiar voice broke into my thoughts and I stopped in my tracks, backing behind a nearby building to peer around it. I could see Lance standing in front of an older man, his body language aggressive and violent. “My father will never go for this!”

The other man lifted his hand suddenly, beckoning him to be quiet. “We’re not alone.” His voice was a cold baritone and it unnerved me greatly. I saw Lance scent the air and I hid. “We’ll continue this later.” He instructed. I could hear footsteps approaching, and- pulling Ayana safetly into my arms -I jogged off in the other direction.

“Stop!” Lance demanded.  I ran faster, diving into a crevice and beginning to strip off my clothes as I prepared to shift. I heard him growling and sniffing the air, though he wasn’t able to pinpoint my location in his human form. Ayana hissed, her fur beginning to stand on end as she realized the danger. "Go baby girl, go home." I whispered to her. She wasn't as fast as I was, I wouldn't risk her falling behind and that brutish man hurting her. Hopefully she'd slip under his radar. Clothes rustled as he began to undress and I threw myself to the ground, forcing myself to change. My pained cries became whimpers and I inhaled to steady myself. Ayana's tail disappeared into the brush and I relaxed slightly, finishing the shift. The deeper noises of the wolf behind me told me he was close to being done as well and so I bolted away. My smaller form was better suited to sprinting, and I was confident that he couldn’t catch me. If I ran to the forest, I’d be able to weave through trees and hiding holes.

My paws thumped rhythmically into the dew-damp ground as I ran, heart pounding. Downwind of him I couldn’t smell if he was close, but I had been running for a good half an hour; if he was able to catch up he’d have done so by now, wouldn’t he? I slowed, focusing on the atmosphere of the forest. I couldn’t hear much, but I wasn’t sure if that was because all the animals were already asleep, or because he was close and they’d already all scattered. An owl hooted and I relaxed slightly. I was getting close to home but unfortunately I’d already passed the point in the forest which I hid my change of clothes, but it was an unforeseeable inconvenience. I decided this was as good of spot as any to change back.

I stretched my muscles languidly, preparing them for the intense pain that was to come. Steading my four paws into the muck below me, I closed my eyes.

Suddenly I was barreled over, and with a whimper I rolled. The Bastard dirtied my fur! I came back, furious and snapping. The two of us tussled that way for a while and then parted, circling each other wearily. My ears flattened onto my skull and my lip upturned in a snarl. I had to kill him now, before he went after Trey. A sudden flare of emotion welled up in me and I lost my strength of will. I lunged for Lance’s throat- a completely basic move that he was easily prepared to counter- and ended the exchange with my own at his mercy.

We stood there like that for minutes. Both of us huffing from the exertion, covered in mud and with intermittent growls thrown in. Once in a while I’d wiggle, testing his grasp. Once in a while he’d squeeze his jaws tighter- I guess he hadn’t decided how he wanted to kill me, yet.

I felt the pressure on my throat light up, and opened my eyes as he backed off. I looked at him, puzzled, and noticed he was beginning to change. I didn’t have the energy to bolt away… besides, I could definitely outrun him in his human form if he was going to try to chase me again. I turned my head, giving him the courtesy we all inherently held for other werewolves. When we changed we were at our weakest moment, in extreme pain, and the moment was incredibly private. I waited until his grunts had subsided and he stood before me, bare.

“You haven’t paid your fee yet, mutt.” I was getting annoyed at the derogatory term he’d coined. “I think I’ve been very fair in giving you so much time.” Wordless, I growled.

“Shift.” Much like the first time we’d met, he thought he could command me. I yawned, exaggerating the gesture.

“Shift, please.” He amended, eyes burning. I turned my own scorching glare upon him, though I knew I had no choice. I stalked into the brush; being sure I was a good distance in before taking in a breath to steady myself and beginning the change.

I walked back over to him, feeling a strong sense of déjà vu. Somehow the fact that he was alone made my state of nudity more embarrassing, though his eyes never strayed from my face. I appreciated that, though I’d never admit it.

“I’d like to make a deal with you, mutt.” Lance crossed his arms and leaned back against a tree. My eyes couldn’t help but trail down from his face lower. “I have an important mission coming up and I need more capable fighters. You held your own back there even against a wolf twice your size. I’m confident your abilities would be something we could use.” His words sounded scripted, and I didn’t believe that this was his idea at all.

“In exchange for what, my obedience to your stupid pack?” This drew a laugh from him.

“I don’t want you in my pack.” He stated clearly. A part of me was offended. “Hell I don’t even want you to come to this mission, but I don’t make all the rules.” A pause. “If you accompany us through this mission and help it to be a success, we’ll let you live and work on our land for free.”

I knew it was a hefty sum of money he was offering me; the fee they demanded from rogues was very extensive. I considered his proposal.

“I need to think about it.” I told him honestly. “Would you give me a day to talk it over with Trey?” That sparked something in him, and I knew he didn’t like another man making the decisions, even if it was just helping me to decide.

“Come to the pack house tomorrow at 4pm. I’m sure you know where it is.”  I did. “Oh and mutt, if you decide you don’t want to take this offer… you’d better be there with my money.”

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They always seem so much longer on my phone!! Thanks for the ongoing support guys, next chapter will be much longer. It's my favourite of the chapters I have mapped out so far. :)