Lord of Wolves (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 2 - White Wolves

Author's Note: I don't know much about Inuits. I wish I did. They sound interesting. I would research it but I am on a roll. If you have any advise please let me know. I will skip a lot of what happens at the village. After all, I don't have any ideas. Thanks for understanding.

Crystal's POV:

I had been at the village for close to a month. All I had done was get to know the villagers and meet the children. I had started a little teaching but found that I wasn't to good at it. In fact Norbert was better. He did most of the teaching while I helped him. It was a strange turn of events. On top of that I liked Norbert. He was a really nice guy. I couldn't help but like those dark eyes and rather strong body. He was handsome as men go. I had begged him to tell me more about the Lord of Wolves but he wouldn't. I was stubborn but he was more so I lost. I wanted to know about this man with golden eyes and his white wolves. At last Norbert agreed to take me near the ice caves. He was terrified and I could feel it. I watched him harness his dogs and I smiled to myself. It was cold morning as it had been since forever but I sensed that today was colder. A storm was brewing but Norbert had told me that it wouldn't come for several days. I trusted him so I didn't worry. We loaded up and I settled back to enjoy the ride. It was a lovely day and the snow and ice was especially bright. I squinted because of the light. Very little was said between Norbert and I. He was the silent type which I liked. All I could hear the swish of the sled, the pounding of the dogs' paws, and the dogs' breathing. I relaxed but it was short lived. I heard something running behind us. I looked back and froze. It was a large polar bear. And I mean large! How it was keeping up with us I would never know. I looked at Norbert while pointing back and he turn to look back. I saw fear in his eyes. I could feel the speed increase in the sled. Then we went over a ruff spot and I lost my hold on the sled. I felt myself slipping but before I could call for help I was thrown from the sled. Norbert didn't even look back. I glanced toward the bear who was slowly approaching. I mentally face-palmed myself. This would be the day I would forget my weapons. I wanted to close my eyes and faint. That way I wouldn't have to watch death coming toward me. But my eyes wouldn't close. I watched the bear draw nearer and nearer. Then out of the blue a growl exploded near my head. I tore my eyes away from the bear just long enough to see a huge white wolf standing over me. I would've thought it was wild but there was a black collar on it. Then I knew who's it was. The Lord of Wolves wolf. It was then that I saw the other seven wolves. They all had black collars and were standing up to the polar bear. Each was growling and I wondered if they were saving me for their dinner or for some other reason. I look around for their master but he was no where to be found. I assumed they were on a hunting trip. The wolves sprang at the polar bear and I started to faint. Black spots whirled in my vision and the last thing I felt was eight warm bodies laying down around me.

Lord of Wolves' POV:

My wolves had left early this morning and hadn't returned. I didn't like it when the left but I knew they needed to hunt. I could trust them to return in the evening. It wasn't like I needed them ever minute of the day. I just missed their company. I propped my feet up on a stone footstool and warmed my feet by the fire. Even in a cave made of ice I could get warm. Suddenly, I heard a loud howling. It was Cromwell, my lead wolf. He was my best friend and the leader of the pack. He was howling at the entrance to my ice caves. I howled back at him and ran to the entrance. I know it sounds strange that I would howl but that is how we contact each other. He knows my howl and I know his. You might say I am part of the pack. As soon as I reached the entrance of my home I saw Cromwell take off towards the ice sheets. I started to run. My heart pounded and I tried to keep up with Cromwell. There was a reason I drove a sled. Even the smallest of my wolves Juliet could out run me. I was fast but not that fast. Soon my lungs were burning and my heart racing. I stopped and so did Cromwell. He understood I wasn't as fast as he was. Sometimes I wondered about that wolf. He seemed to understand me and I him. It was nice to have a friend. As soon as my breathing returned to something like normal I took off again. Cromwell led me onto the ice sheets and I saw my wolves surrounding something that was laying on the ground. For a moment I feared one of them was hurt but I quickly counted and that thing that was in the middle wasn't my wolf. It was dark green and black. I soon dropped down beside the form a realized that it was a girl. She was dress in a long, heavy, dark green dress and wrapped in a dark green coat. Her head was wrapped in black fur and she was unconscious. I reached out with one finger and touched her cheek. My breath hitched as I for the first time in fifteen years touched a human being's face. I couldn't let myself get caught up in the moment. I had to warm her. She was frozen even though my wolves had tried to keep her warm. There was only so much they could do. I picked her up and struggled to keep my emotions under control. She was so thin and pale. I wondered why but hadn't the time to worry. I jogged back to the ice cave and wrapped her tightly in blankets and placed her by the fire. She wasn't too wet which was a relief to me. I laid my polar-bear cloak around her. I stood up and Titania, one of my female wolves, laid down beside her. Titania laid her head on her chest and looked up at me with those pleading eyes. I smiled.

“You've adopted her haven't you, Titania?” The wolf whimpered and went to sleep. I had no idea when the girl would wake but I hoped she wasn't scared to death. This was the first time I had had any human contact except for twice a year when I got supplies from the village. The next little while would be interesting.