Shadow Searcher (completed)

Waking Up

  Green surrounded me as I was pushed into the ominous forest by my father.

"Sir, where are we going?" My young self asked as I stumbled over an old stump. My dad stopped to look at me with, always, cold, dead eyes and said, "You stupid girl, don't speak unless I ask you a question."

I nodded soundlessly as we continued on until we're in the middle of the lush foliage. "You should start your shift anytime now. Try not to scream to much," he said as he backed away a few feet.
"Shif-," I started to ask when suddenly a throbbing pain erupted in my chest.

I fell to the ground as I felt each of the small bones in my feet snap and reshape, the cracking echoing over the forest. The snaps traveled up my legs, breaking everything in my body. As soon as it snapped my neck, I blacked out.   

Upon waking up, I found that everything was clearer. My dad was looking at me in a weird way; terrified and awed.

As soon as I looked down, I tried to scream but it came out as a strangled bark, not able to gauge the fact that I was covered in golden fur.

Dad looked at me in a greedy way before muttering, "You are special. Many people would kill to get their hands on you."

I yelp and started to take a shaky step away from him as he advanced.

      ++++++++++++++++++++

   I jolt awake with a strangled scream, and stand easily, I'm not sore at all.

Looking down I see I don't have any blisters and burns, just faint outlines and scars. Odd, very odd. They must have used good medicine.

Whoever they is.

I take a look around, surveying the hospital-like room, complete with white everywhere and a hospital bed.

The white door bursts open as I'm still tending, and the alpha walks in. My heart flutters as his eyes met my mine, and all I want to to is rush into his arms.

       Instead I stand my ground and ask,"What's your name? Where am I? How along have I been asleep? How did I get out of the fire?"

I see him chuckle and say, "My name is Darren Whisp. You are at the pack house. You have been asleep for two days, and I carried you out of the fire."

Not knowing what to say and not wanting an awkward silence, I just smile then look down at the thin hospital gown.

I gulp and ask through clenched teeth, "Who changed me?" Darren holds up his hands in mock surrender and says, "Down girl, my sister did. Although I did volunteer, but she didn't let me." "Good." I instantly stiffen up and put my mental walls up as he asks, "Why did you run away from me?"

       I look at his baby blue eyers and let my walls slip. Then I did something I've never done and never intended to do, I told him my life story. I told him everything.

That's the problem, you know. The mate bond. It makes you trust fast, love too fast. I hated it, but I loved it.

       After I'm done I look at him straight in the eye and say,"I will leave because I don't want to put you or your pack in danger and I will put up a permanent residence outside your territory. I'm not going to run any more, so that way I can face him head on and not have anyone die because of me." Darren is instantly by my side and says,"You're staying here."

I set my jaw and say, "No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes!"

"No!"

   We're suddenly interrupted when a girl around my age walks in and says, "Jeez, you guys sound like a married couple." I just glare at Darren then turn toward the girl and sway,"Hi, I'm Jasmine." The girl smiles and replies,"I'm Jess, Darren's sister."  I nod, then continue to glare at Darren.

       Jess laughs and tugs on my hands, pulling me out the door. I hear a growl coming from Darren but it doest even faze Jess, she just looks over her shoulder and says,"I'm just bringing her up to my room so she can change out of that ugly rag of a hospital gown." With no other choice, I allow myself to pulled up a flight of stairs.

         After a short shower, Jess shoves a bundle of clothes in my hand then not too gently pushes me back in the bathroom.

         I pull on the pair of jean shorts, and striped, loose t-shirt. Now I'm presentable enough to meet the pack. Hopefully not everyone at once, but I'm bound to run into someone here and there. I steel my nerves and walk out.