144| RUNNING WITH THE WOLVES

The moment the chorus of howls die out, we’re moving. Without planning it, my feet - *paws* because I’ve shifted - leave the firm ground as the call to run fills me. Pulsing along my spine, the whispering desire that’s too strong to ignore burns through my lupine bones. Barks and yips cascade through the dozens of Wolven around me, sounds of joy and relief that are more human than wolf, and I easily locate the sources of the sounds.

My body changes direction automatically, the pull of responsibility drawing me from the position I’d taken behind the Azures. The motley crew of thinner, almost normal-sized wolves with amber light emanating from their irises is suddenly around me. My Pack. Without breaking from the path or the running pace, we crowd each other, their human names and faces flashing in my mind as I look over each one. Even the youngest of the Wolven are here, gathered in the center of the Pack’s running circle, but here all the same.

An odd sort of relief rolls through me as my Betas come up to flank me on either side, acting more like guards than my seconds, but I don’t really mind at the moment. I let out a whooping call and set my pace a little faster as the much smaller Wolven that I know are the rambunctious kids swarm up around me. They’re little balls of fur, glowing eyes, and snapping teeth. Over and over, they tumble over each other, letting little barks of joy escape them, but easily keeping up with the Pack.

Behind us, the Enforcers keep their semi-circle formation to cage in the younger children and keep them corralled as we run. This is only the third or fourth time I’ve run with the Pack, and the second with all the kids. Somehow, it feels more special this time around since we’re joined by the Azures and small cluster of Reiniers. The mass of fur in our view lets me know everyone else is inter-mixed and Darine is somewhere at the very front, her pale fur standing out among the grey and brown.

I feel invincible, strong, and more like a real Alpha than ever.

The trees and normal sounds of nature are heightened when I’m in this state. The air is filled with more than just scents. More than chemical smell and those that seem just so minimal in my humanoid form, I feel like I’m surrounded by the essences of those around me- and the world around me. Everything twines together, but is so noticeably separate, too.

I feel…whole. One with the deepest and warmest parts of my being that I’ve known all my life. The strong portion of me that is known. The parts of me that fill me with a sense of comradery and responsibility. A part that tells me that here, even running in another Pack’s territory, I’m home.

All-too-soon, the run ends, and we rush back into the clearing, panting and filled with infectious energy. The kids are worn out, but for the rest of us, the run was far from the longest trek we’ve done. But, of course, I catch sight of an exhausted Darine, sprawled out near a crowd of Azures. She’s gasping in a very non-wolf manner, tongue lolled out and eyes squeezed shut. Her pale paws scrabbling at the ground like she’s still running.

I break from my Pack and join them, passing a toothy smile to Blue and Yuri as I settle onto the ground beside Darine. I nudge her head with one of my paws, a wolfy-chuckle burbling from my throat. She whines as she cracks an eyelid open, the shock of her golden irises stunning me for a moment. I know with a lot of the bitten-Wolven their eyes don’t stay the same from one for to another. In time, she’ll learn to control the inner wolf and the brilliance of that shade will fade out a bit to a more natural-looking shade.

For now, she’ll just have to be careful.

I nod my head at her still scrabbling paws, knowing we can’t communicate telepathically since I’m not part of her Pack. Darine makes another whining sound, a baffled look in her eyes as she tilts her head. Her ears prick up, like she’s hearing something, but her eyes train on Yuri, then her ears droop and she lets out another whimpering whine.

I shift back to my human form, feeling a look of exasperation on my face.

“Yeah, I can’t understand you right now, Darine.” I remind her. Normally, I could piece together something from a Wolven…but Darine’s still too new, her jerky motions confusing to the sensitive detection of my wolf. It takes me a second of utter silence to remember I’m still naked, and something hot coming from Blue’s side of the connection to let me know that the position I’m in, half-crouched, is a little too revealing. I sit back on my butt, my loose hair coming to cover the majority of my naked torso, but it ends at my ribcage. I feign nonchalance as I wrap my arms low enough to shield my lap as I continue to look at my once-human-friend. “Has anyone talked to you about changing back?” I ask her a moment later when nothing happens.

Darine lets out another whining whimper, turning her head to her new Alpha and Yuri beside him. The two come closer, Yuri right next to Darine, and Blue just beside me. Together, the three of us create a sort of protective barrier from Darine and the rest of the Wolven around us. Darine struggles into a semi-sitting position, her bushy tail flicking nervously as she closes her eyes.

We wait a few beats, nothing happening at first, but then the first snap breaks the silence. I fight the urge to cringe, the sharp intake of breath my friend makes letting me know just how painful this is for her. After years of changing from form to form, I’ve gotten used to the pain and barely notice it anymore. But since she’s a fresh Wolven, her change is slower, and I know sh can feel each and ever break and movement of muscle under her skin. She lets out a whine, somewhere between wolf and human in nature as her back arches and she crumples back into the ground. Yuri jerks forward, like he can help her, but Blue snaps his teeth at him. We all know there’s literally nothing Yuri can do to help her through the change. Even touching her right now can spell disaster. Something may not go to the right spot as she changes.

My heart aches for my friend as she struggles with the change, her pale fur receding as she continues to keen, body shuddering with effort. Eventually, the sounds of bones snapping stops and a naked Darine lays on the ground, panting hard, her whole body trembling from the effort. But she’s no longer making sounds of discomfort. Still, I give her a solid minute to gather herself before I reach out to her.

“You good?” I murmur the question to my friend, making sure to keep my voice low so as to not hurt her probably still-heightened sense of hearing. Darine sits up in response, a look of determination on her face as she struggles up from the ground.

“Yeah, I’m good,” She croaks back with a thin smile and shudders. “I can’t believe you guys do that for fun.” She adds with a grimace, shaking her head. “I still hate running.” She deadpans, glaring at Yuri and Blue - still in their wolf-forms. Yuri makes a sound that’s close to a barking-chuckle. Then from one moment to the next, the two Wolven shift, making the change nearly seamlessly. “Show offs.” Darine mutters under her breath, averting her eyes since we’re at ground-level and looking up makes things awkward.

I get to my feet an offer a hand out to my friend, smirking as she smacks it away and attempts to stand on her own. I like that she’s strong enough to get through the change and still have enough energy to be feisty. It spells good things for her as a bitten-Wolven. Once Darine is standing, now practically gasping to breathe from the small amount of energy she is expending by standing upright once more, Blue turns to face the crowd.

“Alright, everyone, the celebration’s not over yet!” Blue calls out to the Wolven milling around in human form once again. Beside me, Darine is still breathing heavily from the exertion of her first change, a little tremble of fatigue rolling through her. Yuri steps into her personal bubble and wraps an arm around her in a one-armed hug of sorts, giving the tired woman someone to lean on. I would have offered…but I’m pretty sure Yuri wanted the opportunity, and Darine doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, my friend is leaning into the mountain-man’s side, resting the majority of her weight against him with a hint of a smile on her pale lips.

“If you need to return to your respective territories, that’s alright, but we have food and you’re all welcomed to stay until dawn.” Blue tells everyone, his voice easily booming out over the crowd. I can hear the welcome in his voice, the extension of his invitation nearly palpable. “Everyone, then?” Blue asks with a blinding grin. “Alright, let’s go eat.” He turns to me, taking my hand and leading us all through the trees and back to the center of the territory.