Chapter 38: A Near Miss

[Cole]
Dove looked preoccupied towards the end of the meeting; Cole had to stop her from leaving the room.

He pulled her close and she immediately wrapped her arms around his waist, flashing him a bright smile.

"What's on your mind?" He couldn't help but notice his natural bluntness with her.

Her eyes in a crescent moon, she whispered with a cheer in her voice, "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"You look… troubled." His thumb brushed across her eyebrow and then her cheek.

She shook her head, not missing her smile, then pulled him down for a kiss.

There was a knock on the door and Dove hastily broke away. She tried to step aside but Cole held onto her hand and kept her near him. He was beaming inside at her blush, now that he knew they were all because of him.

Jude was leaning against the doorframe, arms folded in front of him, wearing his grin. "Sorry to interrupt." Ignoring the Alpha's glare, he said, "Jave is here. He wants to see you, Cole."

Cole was surprised but ready.

His wife looked up at him. "I'll be at Connie's." And she quickly left. There was a glint in her eyes that bothered Cole.


******


[Dove]
I moved towards Connie's three-story house, then past the sign CONNIE'S BED & BREAKFAST.

Knowing that Connie will be watching, I tried to practice the four moves that Cole had taught me.

The moment I felt her attention went on a break, I swiftly shifted into my wolf form and sped off.

I had wanted to visit my father late at night. The darkness would provide a better cover for me. But I felt safer with strong daylight, especially after my encounter with the rogue wolves.

Yes. I intend to sneak in. You would too when the entire clan despised your presence.

It would be risky but I had a strong feeling about it. I didn't like that we are using chemicals and explosives on each other. We shouldn't tamper with the Goddess's gift this way.

I zoomed through the abandoned tunnel that I had been secretly using since I was little to escape the stifling atmosphere in the village, and halted at the other end, crouching low to avoid detection.

Everything felt smaller now. Remembering that my silver fur would glitter in the sunlight and attract unwanted attention, I carefully shifted back to human form.

After waiting a few moments to make sure there was no incoming sound, I cautiously stepped into the sunlight.

Coming to the edge of the forest, I surveyed the low lands beyond and caught my father's unmistakable shape. I had always watched him from this spot as he trained the other members.

As if by habit, he looked up and froze briefly in my direction. I knew he had seen me because he turned around and raised an arm. Then, the field slowly emptied.

He waited till there was no one, shifted into wolf form and sprinted over.

I backed away with a nervous heart until he came before me.

"Dove." His voice was a low whisper.

We never hugged, but the sudden sight of him, even his wolf form, brought hotness to my eyes. I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around his neck.

I felt his skeletal frame and the corner of my eyes dampened. "Remember to take your meals," I whispered.

His paw patted my back. "Did they treat you well?"

"Yes."

After a silent inhale and exhale, I quickly told him about the fire attack. He stiffened but said nothing.

I pulled away and stared at him. "You must know something, father. We need to stop this. You know it's wrong."

He searched my eyes as if he had something to say but didn’t know how to express it.

Or he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Father, please. This is no longer about the pack."

"Abe is not involved," he looked away sadly.

I sighed. "Father, you’ve always told me that it’s not wrong to do the right thing. What has Abe been up to?"

He stared at me for the longest time. Then, in a less heavy tone, he said, “They have been treating you well.”

I hugged him again. “Father…”

“Abe is… not involved.”

I pulled from him again, this time to search his eyes for the truth, and found it.

“Run.” He stepped away from me, gave me one last look, turned away and howled.

I shifted into wolf form and shot off.


******

The howling was far behind me but I dashed forward. Avoiding the trees, leaping over slopes, soaring through the air that was turning cold with nightfall, and racing past heaps of dry leaves and across barren spaces.

“Get that bitch!” A faint cry echoed beneath the dimming sky.

I need to hurry. I knew who that voice belonged to - beautiful face and her chummies. They wouldn’t let me go so easily if they caught me.

Suddenly, I heard a faint whizz. It grew louder, heading straight at me. Then, a large, black and hard thing knocked me aside and a glass smashed.

The squeals and howls of cheer were still far behind. I quickly got up and saw a gigantic black wolf on the ground, an arm’s length from me, panting heavily. Moving closer, I saw a gleam of metallic blue across in the fur.

“Cole!”

Then, my paws stepped onto a glass piece and immediately a vision of Owin in burns popped up in my mind. They’re going to throw fire, my mind screamed. It must not hit Cole!

I spun around and nervously scanned the gloomy horizon for an incoming glow.

Then, I heard it again. A soft whizz. I turned towards it and saw a yellow dot, coming at me, growing in size, speed and fury.

This must be it, I thought and crouched low, ready to pounce and slap it away.

Cole was stirring behind me, but I was focused on the flaming torch, piercing through the chilling air, aiming for me.

And then, it halted in the air.

The flame went out and the torch dropped to the ground.

I continued to keep my guard up. Cole had stood and was breathing heavily behind me, but I couldn’t turn away. He had caught the kerosene and the tiniest flame would… I shook the dreadful image out of my mind and stared at the darkening distance.

The forest fell into deep silence once more.

I could hear my breathing again and swallowed in relief, but my alert eyes were still trying to detect any suspicious movement.

“They’re gone,” Cole whispered.

I froze briefly then spun around. Cole was in his wolf form. “Cole!” I hastily shifted back to human form and rushed forward. “Are you alright?”

He moved away. “Don’t touch me,” he growled. “There’s silver on me.”

Panicked, I said, “We need to wash it off. ”

“Follow,” he snapped and sped off.

I shifted into my wolf form and tailed behind him.


******


Cole dived into the icy waters briefly and surfaced again in human form.

I could breathe properly again until he trudged towards me, waddling fiercely through the thick waters. His clear blue eyes darkened with anger.

“What the hell, Dove!” He barked as he stepped out of the water. “What the fuck were you thinking? Didn’t I tell you not to--.”

I lunged at him, circled my arms around his waist, crashed my face into his broad chest to feel his warmth, making sure that he was alive, and held him hard. “Are you alright?” There was a huge lump in my throat.

“No.” He grabbed my shoulders, pushed me to an arm’s distance from him and leveled his gaze with me. “No, I’m not alright! What were you thinking sneaking back to your pack at a time like this? I told you not to leave, didn’t I? I told you not to leave like that again. Do you take me for a fool?”

My tears fell as he pulled me forward for a hard kiss.

When we broke apart, he was still fuming mad. “Do I have to tie you to a fucking tree?”

I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing so I said nothing. For a moment in the forest, I thought I’d lost him. It was so frightful that I couldn’t bear thinking about it.

“What if that damn thing hit you? And you... “ He choked. “Fuck.”

For a long while, we stood apart, staring at each other. Quietly, I stepped towards him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He remained unmoved for a moment and then slowly put his arms around my back.

Then, he tightened his arms and rested his cheek on the top of my head.

“Fuck,” he muttered in a hoarse voice.