Carter's Choice

-Chapter 8- Emmett Nolan Easton

            I held in my arms the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her black hair shimmered as it lay across my chest with her head on my shoulder. I glanced over her face; she looked like a sleeping angel. Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted as she took shallow breathes. Snowflakes fluttered onto her pale skin and eye lashes. We walked further into the forest and closer to the border of my pack. She was sleeping in my arms, running would wake her. I could hear her heartbeat getting quieter and quieter, making me worry.

“O’Shea! Where are you?” I screamed in the dark snowy night, hearing my words echo off of the fortress walls behind me. I felt Carter stir in my arms, snuggling closer to my chest. I smiled a little at this, holding her a little tighter in my arms. I promised her father that I would protect her as long as I lived and I intend on keeping that promise. Every time I looked at her my wolf would purr. An Alpha wolf would purr at the sight of her. But he couldn’t claim her, not yet.

            I know what you’re thinking, “Werewolves are myths,” and “Werewolves only change on the full moon.” Well, whoever told you those lies should have their tongue cut out because that’s what they are, lies. Werewolves are not myths, neither are vampires. Werewolves have been on earth since the beginning of time, protecting humans against vampires. Humans began to feel threatened by our existence and hunted us just as they hunted the vampires. We stayed in the shadows, keeping our existence known to only a few trusted humans. But since the war, humans and werewolves have been allies. The humans don’t trust us completely though, due to the rouges, but who could blame them. And Werewolves can shift at any time, not just at the full moon. Though every year in January we have a festival called the festival of the moons. We celebrate it on the first full moon, all wolves shift in order to bring in the New Year. It’s like a human New Year but werewolf style.

“Right here, Beta Matt reporting for duty.” Matt O’Shea appeared out of nowhere, breaking my thoughts. I could feel the sarcasm dripping off of his words. His messy red hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. His green eyes wandered over me questioningly as I held the petite girl in my arms. He gave me a smirk and a knowing nod, his eyes shining brightly.

“This is serious Matt; we need to get her to my mother. I think… I don’t even know what to think…” I could hear Carter’s breathing become shallower and her heart was as quiet as a mouse. I shifted her in my arms and checked for a pulse, not finding it easily. The slow, steady pulse beat against my fingers.

“Okay, so you run her there, you’re the fastest.” Matt said as I felt Carter’s grip loosen around my neck. I gave him a worried look and gestured for him to open his arms. He did as I asked and I placed her carefully into his hands, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

“I have to get numbers; we lost a few wolves back there. Run her to my mother and tell her to do anything to save her.” I said, shooing him away, carrying my life in his hands. I watched as he ran into the darkness, Carter’s hair flying behind him like a trail of black flames.

“Numbers, I need numbers!” I yelled into the cold winter air. Soon a dozen werewolves stood in a circle around me. I counted… 1, 2, 3…. Where was Diana... 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…? I counted eighteen out of twenty wolves, which is good for an attack.

“Where is Diana Walters?” I said to the group of wolves, keeping a secret tally of the prisoners we had saved. I counted eleven, but I could be wrong. My cousin Deanna, about sixteen years old, approached me. Her hazel eyes were filled with sadness. Her sister Diana was the best Delta that our pack had.