Sometimes We Love The People Who Hurt Us

Chapter 10: Buffet Froid

Paws thudded on the ground, air misting with the warm breathes of the wolves as we ran amongst the trees, the once quiet woods on the outskirts of the city now shattered by the howls of the pack. As I often did when running with Jack's pack, I stuck to the sides or two metres from the back of Rogers' pack. This time though for an extra reason; to avoid Campbell. And I nearly managed to succeed during the whole night.

So far, only two Alphas tried to run close to me, one bold enough to run right behind me until I turned and nipped at his muzzles, hackles raised. Luckily, he backed away before my Omega instincts could take over to submit to the Alpha, instincts made all the more stronger with the absence of suppressants and my approaching heat. The second Alpha had been more persistent, staying close and brushing against my side on many occasions. A warning growl had gotten me nowhere and I was considering pushing my discomfort aside and flee into the pack to avoid him when Rogers appeared and chased him away, ears flicking in my direction as he turned to look to me with a small pause before moving back to the front of the pack.

When midnight had finally arrived and passed, I was exhausted, small pants escaping me as the pack finally came to a halt. All I wanted to do was get back, have a warm bath and then hole myself up for my heat, even though I had yet to inform Rogers of my oncoming absence. Rogers passed a signal to the pack with movements of his tail and, seeing them go their separate ways around the city, I followed their lead, going down an empty street to avoid anymore unwanted company. It had been quiet at first, my ears relaxed besides the occasional chirps as a couple of birds flew past me to the park ahead to settle down for the night, making me envious as I had at least another ten minutes until I could reach the alleyway near the hotel where I had ditched my clothes for the shift.

Pausing at the corner of the block, I glanced again to the park and then around for any signs of people around before starting to move onto the road. I soon paused again as I picked up on something familiar, but I wasn't given much of a chance to figure out who it was as I heard a small bark behind me and then the nuzzling of a muzzle at my side. Jerking around with a small growl, my ears flattened against my head as I found Campbell behind me, lips pulling back to expose my teeth in a grimace.

Backing away from him to keep distance between us, I didn't notice the car until the driver beeped the horn, causing me to leap off the road just in time to be dealt a only a bruising blow to my left hind leg, though I ended up tucking the leg to avoid putting pressure on the throbbing limb. Campbell was quick to move towards me during my distraction, head tilted as he once again nuzzled at my side while he licked my hind leg.

Growling, I turned to bite his shoulder in warning, hackles raised once more as I wobbled back a step. He appeared surprised by my action and quickly backed away as I took the chance while I had it to turn and run, whimpering as I tried to use my injured leg before tucking it up again, hobbling into the park. A low growl behind me was my only warning before I toppled over with Campbell's charge, yelping as I felt his teeth digging into my right shoulder. He soon used his grip to keep me pressed to the ground as he clawed his way up my body, teeth eventually releasing me. Starting to thrash around, I kept myself from exposing my stomach as I managed to bite his ear and then headbutt him.

Feeling his grip loosen, I turned my attention to wriggling out from under him, proving to be a mistake as I soon felt Campbell's teeth sink into the back of my neck, barely missing my windpipe as I heard one canine scrape against my spine, causing me to howl in pain. A muffled growl was Campbell's only response, not releasing his hold as I felt his jaws slowly closing, knowing my spine would be crushed or even broken if he continued. But suddenly, he whined out against my neck, jerking back slightly as I soon heard someone growl. "Release him."

Campbell jerked back again before opening his mouth to free me, scrambling as he seemed to try and get free from whoever had showed up. Turning my head weakly, I whined at the pain the movement caused before falling silent in my surprise as I saw Hannibal gripping Campbell by the neck, appearing to pinch him in a spot that obviously hurt him, making Campbell writhe, blood seeping from a small wound on his neck. Hannibal gave one more growl before lifting him more and throwing him away, soon moving to stand between the two of us. By the way one of Campbell's front paw was hanging as he held it up off the ground, I could see it was dislocated, ears flat against his head as he watched us with a growl of his own before finally turning and limping away.