THE BLOODLINES: SHANICE

CHAPTER 3

The meeting went off as expected. People were scared, as they should be. In the days and weeks to come, everyone would be on their guard and alert them to anything strange. At the very least, they were knowledgeable about what was going on. They preferred to be open with their pack. Whatever was going on, they would handle it together. 

They now stood on the edge of their woods outside the village, all wearing their rings. There was this thing that they could do that made them unique from any alpha ever. Their auras could merge and move as one. Together they were stronger, and faster, and all of their senses were super-enhanced. The magic of their wolf was a gift from the demon Chauncey after they had given his daughter refuge from an evil alpha. 

They had taken her in, fed her, and cloth her. She had been welcomed into the fold and taught to live as they did. For eight months she had been with them and when she had first arrived she had been quiet and timid. When she left she had been confident and strong.  He had appeared from thin air to retrieve her. As thanks, he had given them rings to merge their wolves and make them the most powerful alphas known to man. The rings were identical, all with a red ruby in the center. One simple act of kindness had stopped an age-old war and resulted in a treaty no one had seen coming since they had been at war for so long.

"Ready?" Shanice asked her sisters. They nodded and held hands letting their rings touch.

There was a shimmer and a red mist and when it cleared one wolf was standing there. The wolf had dark red fur and bright yellow eyes. It stood about eight feet tall and had teeth that resembled a tusk. Not wasting a second of life, It threw back its head and howled.

"I love when they do that," Alexis said smiling.

"The most beautiful wolf ever, " Asia agreed.

The wolf huffed blowing dust and took out off into the woods. "Never gets old," Asia said as they headed home.

The big wolf ran through the woods to the edge of the border and started to sniff around, looking for anything out of place. Their wolf had a photographic memory and she knew every edge of these woods. When in this form the ladies could communicate with each other and guide the wolf.

They called her beast, and she was their surprise for anyone who came with trouble. Beast ran the perimeter twice and then stopped for a drink in the pond.

"How is there no trace, dammit, this is ridiculous," Shanice said.

"Fuck" Raven yelled through their link.

"Wait," Imani said, " did y'all hear that?"

Beast ears perked up and then they heard the snapping of a twig. Followed by another one. Beast sunk low ready to pounce.

"Steady baby," Raven said, "Capture, don't kill."

Beast lunged and pounce on the unsuspecting wolf. There was a yelp and then it side-stepped her and took off.

"What the hell," Shanika said. No one ever escaped the beast. Who was this guy? He was quick, she would give him that and he didn't smell like a rouge, instead, he smelled pretty good. Like lemons, limes, and something spicy. He also radiated a powerful aura, and for some reason, she didn't want to hurt him.

"Beast take his ass down now," Raven yelled.

And Shanika's heart lurched.

*****

Alpha Reginald Thomas was having a bad day. Scratch that he was having a fucked up day. He returned home from a meeting to find that his pack had been attacked, and three of his females had been taken, again. Last week it was four women.

He and his beta could not figure out home the women were disappearing. There was no trail, no sign of a struggle, no scent. When he got home today and was told four more women were taken, he had lost it and at once shifted into his grey wolf. He had picked up the first unfamiliar trail and followed it. It had led him out of his pack territory and into an unknown forest.

On entering the unknown lands, he had sensed magic, a shit load of it, and the trail was lost. But he figured he would explore and see if he could find the hideout of the sneaky bastard that was taking his females. He had sent a quick text to his beta Andre when he crossed this territory border to let him know where he was and told him he would leave his mark on the trees for a trail. Andre had told him he was on his way.

He was stopping for a break and to let Andre catch up when he sensed another wolf, or maybe more than one. He was not sure but it was female and she was not from his pack. Reginald had taken cover and watched as a beast unlike any other he had seen came into his peripheral vision. It was at least nine feet tall and the bastard had tusks like a fucking elephant and black red fur. He froze up when he saw the eyes trained on him, a split second before it pounced, he quickly barrel-rolled and took off into what looked like mountains.

As he approached the mountains his wolf wanted nothing more than to turn back, he gulped as he was gripped with an unfamiliar emotion. Fear. This mountain reeked of fear and pain. Hate even. He chanced a look over his shoulder and he could not see the beast but he could hear the heavy paws as they made a beeline for him. So even with the overwhelming gripping fear surrounding him, he made his way up the mountain. With every step he took, he felt his resolve lessen and he wondered briefly if he should take his chances with the beast. His breaths became shallow and he felt so weak and drained.

He nosedived into the dirt at the top of the mountain and saw what looked to be a village. Three women were standing there all in fighting stances. One had a crossbow aimed at his head, another had pistols, and the last one an ax.

He felt his strength returning and tried to stand but was knocked down again. He rolled over and was met with glowing yellow eyes. They looked like huge, yellow diamonds, he thought as his world went black.