Orphan Wolf

19 What Am I*

I make my way to the forest edge in a daze. Once I run out of trees, I shift. Now I need clothes.

I look around until I see a guy carrying swim shorts, and I call to him trying to keep myself covered. He walks over, laughing.

"What happened to you?" He asks, grinning.

"Ummm... I kinda got in a fight and ended up like this." I say, and he laughs again.

"Your girl kick you out?... been there! Here, take these." He hands me the shorts.

"Thanks, man!" I say as he turns away.

"No problem, bro... we got ta stick together, right?" I nod.... right... yeah, he doesn't know the half of it. I put on the shorts and make my way to the nearest store.

"Can I use your phone?" I ask the young lady at the counter.

"We don't really let people do that?" She responds in more of a question as she takes in my appearance. Muddy, covered in dirt and blood, twigs in my hair and shorts at least a size to small. I decide to use this to my advantage.

"My buddies thought it would be fun to drop me in the woods overnight... please, I just need to call my uncle to get a ride home." I explain... it's close to the truth.

"Well.... I guess, but make it quick." She says, handing me the phone. I quickly dial.

"Hello?" A welcome voice answers on the first ring.

"Uncle Rhy!" I am so happy to hear his voice!

"Alaric! Is that you?!" He sounds amazed to hear me.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm in California at a shop... can you pick me up? It's right by the forest." I tell him.

"Yeah buddy, I'm on my way... how are you still alive?" I'm not sure how to answer his question... why would he think I was dead?

"Ummm... Uncle Rhy? What are you talking about?" I ask him.

"Never mind. I'm on my way sit tight."

I thank the woman and hand her the phone. It takes over an hour before I see Uncle Rhy pull up.

"Get in quick, pup." He says, opening the door.

"I'm not a pup!" I growl as I climb in.

"Thanks, Uncle Rhy." I say as we begin moving.

"What's family for?... How did you get here?" He asks, looking me up and down in concern.

"I woke up here... and before that... I was... Ti! Uncle Rhy, Ti! I need to call Alpha Aaron! Ti He's.. He's..." I can't form the words.

"Dead." My uncle finishes for me.

"How did you know?" I ask. He takes a deep breath.

"It's been a week and a half since Aaron and Clayton found his body in a pile with at least thirty rogue wolves... it was a bloody mess. The field coated in bodies. They still don't know what killed them all. They thought you were with him and were killed too. They caught your scent but couldn't find your body... well, I guess we know where you are now!" He tries to sound upbeat but still seems worried.

"I did it." He gives me a confused look, so I continue. "I killed the rogues... once they got Ti, I snapped."

"No way you could have done that pup. I saw the pictures. It would have taken at least a dozen well trained warriors to do that kind of damage." He says.

"It was me... just me... then I blacked out and ended up here." I say. The rest of the car ride was quiet until we got to the pack house.

"Come on, Alic. I'm having the doctor check you out." Uncle Rhy says as we enter.