fangs²[wyatt lykensen]

.6

ASSURANCE AND ATTITUDE

"NO ONE PATROLS alone anymore. You must be in pairs or more. The pups aren't allowed to play in the woods until we get to put this problem to rest, I'm sorry, but this is purely for the safety of the pack." Wyatt held my hand tightly as I gave the announcement to the pack, earning understanding nods from the majority of them. "Training will resume everyday and hunts will be led by Wyatt or myself."

He tugged me off of the platform and down the stairs as the wolves talked amongst themselves. "You're doing good," he assured, his hand gently rubbing my back.

"We shouldn't have to hide on our own territory," I said harshly, my voice an involuntary accusing tone. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean to snap at you, it's just...why would they attack Wynter? She can be threatening, but she wouldn't actually hurt anyone." Like everyone else in the pack, I was taking what happened to the werewolf personally. Over the years, Wynter had become like a sister to me and I loved the girl to death. "We need to find that blond guy from the fro-yo stand. I have a feeling he has something to do with this, and the sooner we get answers, the sooner this can be over."

☽

My eyes scanned the tree line as Willa kneeled next to me. Nightfall felt like it had come quicker than normal with everything that was going on. All of the patrols were nervous to go out, even if they didn't show it physically. By now, they all knew about the blond boy and my encounters with him, so they knew to keep an eye out for him. Though, unlike them, I wasn't nervous. I was more than ready to find him and get some answers. I could tell Willa felt the same as her brow creased in focus, her eyes sharply trained on the trees and anything that moved within them.

This was the direction I saw the boy go the other night and I had a hunch that he would be back.

Moments later, a few branches ruffled. It was too much movement to simply be wind. Willa nudged my shoulder with her own and quietly gestured to a figure rushing through the forest, then I knew we'd caught who we were hoping for. I gave her a nod and she took off, her feet hitting the ground so softly you could barely hear it. Once she was out of my line of sight, I knew it was my turn. The plan was for her to cut the boy off and I would come up behind him, then we would corner him together.

I went straight through the tree line and made my way further into the woods before making a turn. Through the darkness, I could already see the familiar glow of Willa's necklace and her golden eyes, telling me that she had successfully cut the blond boy off. I pushed myself to run faster and came to a abrupt stop as soon a he turned to make a run for it.

Tilting my head to the side, I gave him a once-over. "Going somewhere?"

He took a step back, nearly tripping over a fallen branch before finding himself pressed against the trunk of a tree. I could tell that he knew he wasn't going to get away from us, at least not without a fight. He visibly clenched his jaw before a look of determination passed over his face. Willa flanked my left and I gave her a subtle nod, she'd seen the change in his features and knew it was time to alert the rest of the patrol.

As soon as the girl let out a howl, the boy's eyes turned into a glowing blue as he bared a set of fangs at us. He lunged for Willa, but I successfully cut him off by tackling him to the ground. The momentum caused us to roll and wound up with him towering over my body. He pinned my arms down next to my head, earning a growl from me. I could feel his claws digging into my wrists, trying to keep me down, but I wasn't going that easily.

"Go!" I yelled to Willa, the girl quickly obeying since she knew I was more than capable of handling myself.

I lifted my leg and kicked him in the torso, sending him off of me. I glanced to my wrists, noticing a faint trickle of blood from them, but I ignored it and continued fighting. He tried sending a kick to my abdomen, but I grabbed his ankle and twisted it, causing him to fall to the ground. I didn't waste a second before pinning him face down in the dirt, pressing my knee into the center of his back as I restrained his arms.

"Who the hell are you and why are you in my territory?" I only got a deep growl as a response. "Answer me!" I dug my knee into his back further, putting enough pressure on his spine to make him squirm beneath my grip. "I will break your arm if you don't give me some answers," I threatened, tugging his left arm further back and bending it. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the other patrol wolves emerging from the trees and running to where I was.

"Fine!" he croaked out. "My—my name is Declan!"

"That wasn't so difficult, was it?" I asked rhetorically, letting some of the pressure off of his back.

"Can you let me go now?" Declan questioned, his voice a bit hoarse as he spoke. I chuckled dryly.

"Sadly, no. You're gonna come with us," I replied. I looked to one of the patrol wolves who held a rope in his hands, gesturing for him to come here. "Tie his hands. He's coming back to the den."