Alpha Hendrix

Chapter 2

"Are we there yet?" groaned a tired Andy from behind me.

I let out a huff of air and closed my eyes tightly for a moment, trying to reign in my frustration. The amount of times Andy had asked me this question today was ridiculous, and in my fatigued state I couldn't gather the energy to act upbeat and optimistic.

I had slept awfully last night, the air had grown cold as the sky darkened to obsidian. The thin jacket I wore doing little to sustain my body temperature, and I was sure Andy hadn't slept much better than me.

"Not yet, monkey. Hopefully it's not too much further." I mumbled, my voice sounding gravelly.

Twigs crunched under our feet as we continued to climb further up hill, continuing in the same direction as yesterday.

The afternoon air was still as fresh as it was last night, the cold biting my nose slightly. Andy was a few steps behind me, trudging along tiredly as we continued walking. We had little to eat this morning, prey was scarce and I had only managed to catch a couple small mice.

Birds suddenly flew up into the air as though a strong breeze had lifted them from the ground, scattering them through the sky as a cacophony of flapping wings and squawks filled my ears.

I paused, listening carefully as a low growl came from the direction the birds flew from. I crouched down, gently tugging Andy beside me.

What was that? 

Andy's voice filled my head, I looked down at him.

I'm not sure, I'm going to go and get a closer look. Follow behind me, but stay quiet. I replied through our mind link.

He nodded quickly, and we began heading in the direction of the growl, crouching low to the ground. We hid behind a thick tree, as I peaked around the side to see what had made the noise.

A few steps before me, was a large brown wolf. The fur along his spine was raised and looked rough, as his crouched form continued chewing and pulling flesh from a bird he was feasting on. Blood dripped from his snout, and low growls poured from his mouth. I gulped, he hadn't noticed me yet, but I could tell from his rugged appearance and posture that this wolf was a rogue.

This wasn't good.

I was only 18 and I was sure I couldn't take on a full grown male rogue by myself. I silently cursed my pack for refusing to let females train, claiming that the combat and border patrols were strictly for the male wolves. They didn't want us getting 'hurt'. I never agreed with how my pack treated the females, I mean come on, this is the 21st century! Equality, right people!?

Those lessons would surely come in handy right about now. I thought, internally rolling my eyes.

I briefly flickered my eyes back to Andy, mind linking him before going back to watching the wolf.

Turn around. Walk away as quickly and silently as you can, he can't know we were here.

I could hear Andy gulp, his heart rate was beginning to spike and I gently squeezed his hand in an effort to reassure him. Andy slowly takes a step away from me, his eyes wide as they flickered from the wolf, to me, and then back to the wolf again. He took a few more cautious steps away and I began to follow him, keeping an eye on the rogue while also watching where I was going.

Unfortunately, Andy hadn't been doing the same.

Crunch! 

My head snapped towards Andy, his face pale as he looked down towards his shoe, moving it quickly away from a small twig which he had snapped in half.