Winter Wolves

Chapter 9

Hannah was walking the space between her cabin and the tree where the foreign she-wolf was chained. The pack members had helped her to get a home of her own, adapted for a blind person. In the beginning it had taken a lot of work to memorize where everything was located, but after some time she could walk all around her place without bumping into something. She remembered where everything was stored; she could even make small meals by herself, guided by her sense of smell. She had breakfast and dinner at her house but usually ate the main meal in the communal kitchens from the pack house.

She took careful steps, trying not to trip over the unknown space. She rarely visited this area, but elder Tyler had asked her to bring food to the foreign she-wolf and now, the had become friends.

With every step she took the smell of silver, blood, grime and sunshine became stronger. The foreigner didn't smell nice, but being in her wolf form, she probably would have noticed by now. She liked the she-wolf, she couldn't smell pity or rejection from her, she hadn't tried to take advantage of her the first time they met. Hannah's hand had been as close as it could get from the she-wolfs fangs the first time they shared a meal and she had just taken the piece of meat with utter care.

She liked the foreigner, even if she remained in wolf form. She was always nice, and she whined a little when trying to make herself understood.

She had almost reached the she wolf when she tripped over a stone and felled above the she wolf; at the sudden contact the wolf snarled and quickly shook Hannah off.

-I'm sorry, I'm sorry...I tripped, didn't mean to...Sorry.-

Hannah felt her cheeks turn pink and she kept babbling apologies when she felt a wet touch on her palm, followed by a low whine. The she wolf was apologizing In her own way for her reaction.

-It's okay...I understand...You don't like being touched, won't happen again...-

The she-wolf moved her head in a way that Hannah's hand was resting completely over the wolfs head. She hesitated before asking:

-Are you sure? You don't have to do this...-

In response, the wolf pressed its head harder against her palm. Hannah began moving her fingers softly through her fur. She sat on the floor and she heard the wolf crawl slowly until her head was resting on Hannah's lap. The wolf was giving her the opportunity to get to know her, so Hannah slowly moved her finger over her ears, her muzzle, her neck...There she touched the silver necklace and gave a hiss the moment her fingers grazed the punishing metal. She could feel the blood that had crusted with her fur.

-I'm going to get up, but I'll be back. I'm going to my place to get a comb, so I can brush your fur a little!-

Hannah rushed to her place and grabbed a comb, she went back to the wolf as fast as she could. Once she reached the wolf, she said:

-I'm going to brush your fur, ok? But first I must touch you so I can now where the dirt is...-

The she-wolf remained silent. Hannah slowly touched the wolfs fur, going from her neck to her front paws, then her hind legs and her tail, the wolf never moved or made any sound of discomfort. Hannah then took the brush and began grooming the wolf, she tried not to pull too hard, and she tried to make sure that no grime was left on her fur. She avoided the area where the collar was placed, the wound still smelled like blood and Hannah was pretty sure it remained open.

The wolfs hair was dry and shaggy, probably for the dirt and the time the wolf had starved. She kept brushing, until the wolf began making soft purring noises.

Hannah was happy, for once, she was able to provide help for someone instead of receiving it. It made her feel important.

She passed the brush over the wolf until no more clumps remained. The head of the wolf remained on Hannah's lap.

-The weather is nice, maybe we can arrange all the necessary things for you to take a bath...-

The wolf's head raised from her lap and she felt the attention she was paying to her.

-I could take you to one of the hot springs near the pack house and give you a bath, so you can have clean fur...-

The wolf rested its head once more on her legs.

-But you have to be good, I would need to ask Alpha shaw to remove the collar...-

Hannah was interrupted by a low growl. She froze, then she felt wetness against her palm, and she caressed the wolf in return.

-I get it, you're not fond of him, that's ok... I don't judge, but he has the key. And he won't give it to me if he thinks you are going to scape. If you do it, we both will get in trouble. –

The wolf remained still, not giving a negative answer, and that was permission enough for Hannah.

That day when she left the she-wolf, she went to the Alphas office. It was hell getting to the office by herself, she had followed the alpha's smell, to the place where it was the strongest. Someone could have guided her, but she didn't like to take the time of other people.

She gave a shy knock on the door, and when the deep voice of the Alpha said "Come in" she twisted the knob and gave small steps with her hands stretched out to avoid colliding with the furniture. She turned her head towards the place where the Alpha's smell was the strongest and acknowledged him.

-Hannah, hello...What can I do for you? –

-Good afternoon Alpha, how are you? -

-I'm just fine and you? –

-I'm alright...-

-So, what is it that you want? – He asked.

-I... Ummm, I want....- She never stuttered, but she never spoke to the Alpha either.

-Just say it Hannah- He was growing impatient, and Hannah's heart shrunk just by thinking she was annoying him. She took a deep breath and let it out.

-I want to take the foreign she-wolf to the pack hot pools to give her a bath-

She spit it out as fast as she could, she was very nervous.

-No-

She never thought what to do if he said no, so she just asked him why.

-She will run away the moment she collar is off her neck, I won't let that happen.-

-Alpha, I know you don't trust her, but please, nobody was been kind to her. She has been chained for months, her fur is shaggy and she stinks, she wants the shower- Her eyes were rimed with tears, she wanted to help the wolf, but if the Alpha denied her permission she would have to come back to the wolf empty handed.

-How do you know she agreed to the bath? She hasn't changed forms since she arrived-

-I brushed her fur today...she liked it; and when I told her that I would ask you for permission to go to the hot pools she let me know she wouldn't scape. –

The room went heavy, Hannah sniffed and catched glimpses of anger and jealousy on the Alphas smell. He remained silent a couple of minutes until she heard him open a drawer. The he gave her a small cord with a key attached to it.

-You take her to the hot pools and chain her back, now leave! -

She said thanks before hurrying out.