“Where are we heading to?” I ask him. “I perceive James is behind us.” I say as I grab him and punch him until he lands on the ground. I sit on his belly, smirking as I stare into his eyes.
“Who are you? What’s your purpose?” I ask, gently yet threateningly.
“I guess it’s not your first time meeting a new person.”He retorts. “I’m Jason, and I’m here to lead you to a safer place. You need to leave this pack house before you’re killed.”
“It’s none of your business!” I scream at him.
“Then stay here and die! What is your…” He yell back, but I throttle his neck, silencing him.
“I’m in control. Don’t disrespect me… now, where are you taking me to?” I ask, rubbing his chest in a strangely affectionate manner. “Seems you’re a darling. Where are we headed to, darling?”
“My own pack house.” He says, and I smile.
“That’s really fine. What’s the name?” I inquire, and he clears his throat.
“Silver Moon Pack.” He struggles o say. I free him, and as I rise to my feet, he kicks me away. I fly up, as though I have wings, only to land back in his hands. He kisses my lips and makes me stand straight. As I do, I knock on his forehead, and he staggers forward.
In an awkward turn of events, I suggest we head to Jason’s pack house, feigning interest. As we start to move, I abruptly stop him, which causes confusion. When he presses for an explanation, I claim to be talking to someone and promise to explain soon, trying to save face.
I then ask Jason to greet Alex, who is supposedly present, but Jason remains unresponsive, his demeanor turning sinister. Frustrated, I urge him to greet Alex, but instead, he just stares blankly and waves his hand dismissively.
I grow impatient, and attempt to hit Jason, but he evades and retaliates by kicking my legs, causing me to stumble. Alex intervenes, striking Jason’s face, causing him to fall. Jason quickly rises, visibly shocked, only to be further bewildered as an invisible force seemingly slaps him hard across the face.
As Alex’s words sink in, I try to reassure Jason, reminding him that Alex means no harm and was merely correcting him. Sitting on his leg, I emphasize the consequences of trying to escape, making it clear that we could easily end his life.
As I listen to Alex’s advice, I acknowledge his suggestion to follow Jason and leave my father for the time being, with the promise of eventual retaliation. As Alex vanishes, leaving Jason coughing, I comment on the seeming coincidence, rising from his leg with a hint of uncertainty lingering in the air.
As we proceed deeper into the bush, I inquire about the size of Jason’s wolf pack. He explains that it’s a sizable pack, requiring shifting to traverse the distance without exhaustion.
I express nonchalance towards the shifting aspect but emphasize the importance of our purpose differing from that of the pack’s leadership, particularly in regards to potential mate-seeking behaviors from the Alpha or Beta.
Relieved by Jason’s assurance that he’s not bringing me to the pack house for mating purposes, I nod, feeling a sense of camaraderie as he suggests a friendship based on mutual training and shared experiences like hunting. His smile reassures me, and I nod eagerly, already envisioning the adventures we could embark on together.
With tension thick in the air, I voice my concern about our plan potentially being sabotaged, adopting a more ominous tone. Jason reassures me confidently, mimicking my seriousness.
Before I can ask him to repeat himself, he silences me, gesturing towards an approaching rogue. I suggest shifting to evade the threat, but Jason quiets me further, indicating that we should remain still.
We watch in silence as the massive rogue passes by, its menacing growls echoing through the surroundings. Jason holds my hand tightly as we cautiously slip away from our hiding spot, avoiding confrontation. As we distance ourselves from the rogue, we come upon a cave ahead of us.
Jason suggests entering the cave, but I resist, wanting to continue forward. He advises me not to engage with any rogues we may encounter, urging me to follow his lead and enter the cave if needed. I remain silent in response.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I inquire about his earlier insistence on silence. Jason’s response is curt and somewhat irritable, implying that my questions were unnecessary distractions during a critical moment. Feeling annoyed, I choose to let the matter go and refrain from reacting or retaliating, instead opting to focus on the task at hand.
As Jason rushes ahead toward the cave, a formidable rogue intercepts us. He swiftly darts past me, indicating he may intend to confront the rogue. However, instead of engaging in combat, he races into the cave, blocking the entrance behind him.
I’m left standing outside, facing the menacing rogue and the approaching pack. The gravity of the situation dawns on me, presenting three stark options: attempt to escape for survival, remain and face certain death, or shift and engage in a fight for my life. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I must make a split-second decision to ensure my safety.
As I shift into my wolf form, ready to confront the oncoming rogues, I’m met with an unexpected stumble, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. Jason, still in his human form, gives me a reassuring wink before leading us on an alternate escape route through the bush.
Despite our efforts, the pursuing rogues relentlessly chase after us, their menacing presence looming closer with each passing moment. Confusion swirls in my mind as I recall Jason’s recent transformation, questioning his true nature.
However, thoughts are quickly overshadowed by the pressing need to evade our pursuers. We find ourselves at a dead end, as Jason collapses to the ground with a groan. With no time to spare, I shift back into my human form to assist him, pulling him up as we seek refuge under a towering tree, hoping to remain unnoticed by the relentless rogues.
Yet, to our dismay, the rogues continue to close in on our location, their relentless pursuit indicating they may have already spotted us. With few options left, we brace ourselves for a potentially dire confrontation, strategizing our next move as the threat draws nearer.
I ponder aloud, perplexed by the rogues’ ability to spot us despite our expert hiding skills. I tap Jason’s shoulder, hoping for insight into their sudden detection. The growls of the rogues intensify, urging us to confront them.
“Did you offend the rogues?” I inquire, but Jason merely shrugs, prompting me to think of a solution. His encouragement boosts my confidence, inspiring deeper consideration.
“What if I shift to attack them, then we flee?” I suggest, but Jason warns of dead ends everywhere, making retreat futile. His reminder about returning to our starting point and the impossibility of reaching his pack house sinks in.
“Isn’t there a better way?” I ask, feeling a sense of hopelessness settle over us.
“There is.” Jason responds, “but I prefer here to there. There are no rogues there, but the security at the first gate of the pack house is tighter and more exposed.”
As I begin to shift into my wolf form, Jason bursts out ahead of me, swiftly transforming amidst the rogues, intimidating them with his presence. However, their initial retreat is short-lived as they regroup, seemingly intent on attacking him again. I leap into action as they target me first, but Jason swiftly engages them, his movements almost supernatural as he subdues them, returning them to their human forms.
Despite the chaos, I feel a pang of empathy, tempted to plead on behalf of the rogues so their wolves won’t be taken from them. However, their aggressive behavior extinguishes any sympathy I might have felt. Though we could have made our way to Jason’s pack house, their relentless pursuit leaves us with no choice but to continue evading them, their actions leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
In a matter of minutes, Jason effortlessly incapacitates the rogues, leaving them writhing in agony on the ground. As I keep a vigilant watch, I notice a sudden movement, but before I can fully register it, Jason seamlessly shifts back into his half-human, half-wolf form. Though still simmering with anger in my wolf form, I choose to let go of the suspicious movement and shift back into my human form.
“We’ve dealt with them.” Jason remarks, his voice tinged with exhaustion. I force a smile, and we share a gentle handshake, the moment lingering between us before we finally release our grips, sharing a moment of lightheartedness amidst the tension.
As we begin to make our way towards Jason’s pack house, relief washing over us, a horde of rogues suddenly charges towards us, shattering the brief respite we had hoped for.