The Master of Me

Chapter 2

Alue took off down the patio stairs, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She ran until she reached the ravine that served as a natural border between the acres of owned property. The three pieces of bacon had certainly calmed the hunger that scratched at her belly. It definitely wasn't enough to make her full by a long shot but at least she could rest without growls interrupting her dreams. Not that her dreams were fantastic. They were nightmares; memories of her dreadful past plaguing her. More often than not, forcing her awake in wolf form in a panic, with a need to run.

After her run to the edge of the ravine, she found a craggy slope that lead down into the empty basin and began to explore. She couldn't go back to the comfortable hay in the barn. Not when the male knew she was around. She padded about, occasionally scenting an owl or a rodent. She found the remains of a coyote den. The scent was stale and overgrowth was formed around the entrance, indicating its lack of use for some time. She carefully belly crawled into the hole and began to dig making it suitable for her larger sized wolf body.

Sleeping through the mid-day hours was normal for a wolf and Alue didn't awake again until the growl of her belly and the scent of the cool evening air drifted across the tip of her nose. She would need to dig the den deeper if she wanted it to be suitable to block against the chilly night air. Cautiously she crawled out once more, scenting the air about her. Small rodents were also aware of the arrival of the dusk as the sun began its decent into the horizon. This was prime time for her to hunt and she wouldn't pass up on the opportunity. Padding through the empty ravine she found plenty of mice to snack on and even a fat gopher. Her mind drifted back to the young man's offer of dinner. As tempting as it was, she refused to go. Why would a stranger offer such to her? She was a nobody.

A runaway pet that had been hurt too many times to become suddenly trusting of one male that was kind enough to give her bacon and let her go before calling the authorities. He probably offered her dinner just so he could tell them a possibility of where she could be found to catch her and take her back home. At least that was what her untrusting mind willed her to believe and pushed her on to keep hunting until her belly was content. Except her heart reminded her of what she had clearly seen in the young man's eyes that night as she fell asleep. Sincerity, real sincerity. Nobody could read eyes and peek into the soul of another being (human or animal) like Alue could.