Birth of an Anxious Wolf

Chapter 24

(Trigger warnings: Violence, blood, death)

Virgil was pacing anxiously through the house. Ever since Molly arrived he couldn’t sit still. It was too much. He couldn’t believe it. After all these years. It seemed impossible. She had been there for two days now, but she had been sleeping most of the time she had been at the pack house. It was driving Virgil nuts not knowing anything. His mind was swirling with all the possibilities. He eventually found himself in the training room he was abusing a poor punching bag so bad that seems we’re starting to burst. 

Roman watched cautiously from the doorway. He was worried about Virgil. He wanted to make easier for him, but he didn’t know how. Then a realization came to him and he wanted to smack himself upside the head. “No wonder he is so stressed.” Roman muttered to himself. Not quietly enough apparently because Virgil’s head snapped up to look at Roman his eyes bright purple. They had been that bright for a while. Roman really should have noticed before. 

“C’mon Virgil, we are going for a run.” Roman.

“A run?” Virgil said shifting from side to side anxiously. 

“Yeah, your wolf is anxious to run, that’s why you are feeling so wired right now.” Roman explained. 

Virgil rolled his eyes, “That’s just my anxiety.” 

“Is it? Does your anxiety usually cause you kill a poor punching bag?” Roman said gesturing to the now mangled bag leaking sand.

Virgil flinched, “So, I am a little more tense than usual.” 

“Virgil, just this once let me help you.” Roman begged.

Virgil thought about just walking away. He still wasn’t sure about this, he still didn’t want to get close to anyone again, but… Molly came back. So, maybe Virgil was wrong. Maybe, Molly being there was a sign that he was meant to have more people in his life. Virgil bit the inside of his lip in thought. 

Roman swayed anxiously from side to side waiting for his answer. 

“Alright let’s go for a run.” 

_______

They waited until they were outside before they shifted. Roman’s wolf bounded around Virgil’s playfully. Wagging his tail high in the air as he lowered his chest to the ground. Virgil just stared at him blankly. 

“He wants you to play!” Patton yelled out a window having spotted the two of them and noting Virgil’s confused look. 

Virgil looked at Patton incredulously. He had agreed to running. Not playing. Roman barked gaining Virgil’s attention again. Roman darted away from Virgil slightly into the woods. Then he made a gesture like he wanted Virgil to follow. Oh, so now we're running. Virgil started after him. Pumping his legs. 

Wow! It felt amazing. Virgil watched as the trees flew by him a rapid rate of speed. He felt the wind ruffle through his thick mane of hair. He lifted his nose and scented the fresh smell of pine. They ran and they ran. Until Roman lead them to a lake. He stopped and lapped up some much needed water. Virgil walked up to the water and eyed it skeptically. Roman looked at him and gave what could only be described as a wolfish laugh. He nudged Virgil with his nose. Virgil huffed before he lapped up a small amount how water. It was cool and crisp and very refreshing after the running they just did. 

After drinking his fill Roman trotted over to a shady spot under the trees and laid down. He watched Virgil with a close eye as Virgil decided to explore the area. He trotted around smelling all the different smells. He especially liked the smell of this one  specific flower. It was so nice. Every time he was breathing in the air his nose would go back to Roman, he had the best smell. Virgil shook his head and gave a slight growl to himself. He was not thinking about that. He was trying to enjoy himself. That was the point of this. Not stressing about mates, or the whole deal with Molly.
Roman could smell the stress rolling off Virgil in waves. He couldn’t have that. He trotted over to Virgil and nipped his tail. Virgil pulled it away and stared at Roman indignantly. Roman resumed his playful position as he bobbed and weaved around Virgil. Growling and yapping playfully. 

Virgil’s eyes lit up with mischief he felt something swell inside him, something like the excitement he got when Roman challenged him to an arcade game. He jumped tackling Roman to the ground. They wrestled and barked playfully at each other. Virgil started bounding around Roman. Every so often they would pause and stare at each other, before one of them would flinch and the game would continue. Virgil dashed away a distance. Looking over his shoulder seeing Roman give chace. They played this game of chase for a long time before the sun started to set. 

Virgil was being chased by Roman when a putrid smell filled his nostrils. It smelled like rancid food burning in a moldy garbage bin. He had to try and stop himself from vomiting at the foul stench. He tried to steer their game of chase away from the awful smell but it only seemed to follow.

Suddenly, Virgil heard something that sent white hot pain down his spine. He heard the sound of high pitched whimpering. He looked over his shoulder to see it was Roman making that sound. Another wolf mostly grey with patches of black in color  had him by the scruff of his neck and was biting down harshly. Roman was trying desperately to bite back but he couldn’t turn his head the right way. He couldn’t reach. 

No!

He could lose anyone else. 

He couldn’t loose Roman too.

Something inside Virgil snapped, he barreled into the two of them sending the attacker flying. Virgil wasted no time sinkings his sharp teeth into this new wolf's throat and crushing until he heard a sickening crunching noise. Metallic flavor floods his mouth. Hot and pulsing. The body goes limp. Even then Virgil doesn’t stop. He starts thrashing his head around in a frenzy. 

“Virgil stop!” Virgil paused in his movements. His jaw still locked on the other wolves throat. He looks up to see Roman. He had shifted back to his human form. Some blood pooling on his shoulder. 

Virgil pulled his lips back showing his teeth and growled at the blood. 

“Virgil, you can stop now. I’m safe. You saved me. I’m safe.” Roman said gently talking to Virgil. He held his hand up in an attempt to calm him down. “I’m safe.” 

Virgil slowly dropped the wolves neck. He blinked and seemed to regain himself. His eyes widened in horror at what he had done.  Virgil started shaking. He shifted back to his human body, before curling in tight on himself. Roman moved quickly picking Virgil up and moving him far away from the body. Only wincing slightly at the pain in his shoulder. When they were far enough away, he sat down and held Virgil in his lap rocking Virgil gently. 

“I killed him.” 

“I killed him.” 

“Danger”

“Danger”

“You were in danger” 

“I had to do something.” 

“Oh, god I killed him.” 

“You were in danger.”

“He’s dead”

“I killed him.” 

Virgil was muttering in a panic his breathing shallow and ragged. His ears ringing.  

“Shh, easy Virgil, easy it’ll be okay.” Roman tried to soothe. It wasn’t working too well for him. 

“How! I killed someone Roman! We don’t have any native wolf populations! That was a werewolf! That was a person! And I killed him.” Virgil sobbed.

“Did you notice how horrible he smelled?” Roman asked. 

Virgil remembered the putrid smell, “H-he smelled awful.” Virgil said still shaking. 

“Only rogue wolves smell like that. They are wolves without packs that go insane and become incredibly violent. If you didn’t kill him I would have. He was on our pack territory and it is more humane to just put rogues out of their own misery.” Roman tried to reassure. “Your instincts took over when you saw I was hurt. It was a normal response.”

Virgil shook his head violently, “I killed someone, I living breathing being. I did it without a second thought. I-I….” Virgil’s breath wouldn’t come to him. He couldn’t breath. Roman tried desperately to calm him down, but nothing worked.

Eventually, Virgil hyperventilated himself into unconsciousness. Roman looked around to see that darkness had fallen around them. He let out a frustrated breath, as he scooped up Virgil. Who snuggled closer to Roman in his sleep. “This is going to be a long walk.”