She barrelled down the drive, trying to smell him, but Beth was right. With more anger, she ran faster, thundering through the woods and out onto the highway. A car skidded to a stop in front of her and she dodged it, leaping back into the thick trees. She wanted, no needed Grayson Holtz and with the potential of never finding him, she became frantic.
No longer a human. No longer a weaker kind. She could handle him. He could take alpha, he could beat Darcy, it could all be right, if she could find him.
It didn't matter what was in her way, it didn't stop her. She leapt, breaking trees and dead wood in her path.
Skidding to a stop, she looked out across from her. The white blanketed valley was massive and expansive. Her father's house was a close few minutes from her. She could not only feel that, but also smell it. She bound out into the frozen valley and ran. The sound of snarling and a low howl, caught her attention causing her to slow her run.
Her deep red and copper coat blew in the wind as she listened, but nothing more came.
She felt the snow crunching beneath her as she moved forward and then came a sharp snap. An axe hitting wood.
It made her snap around in search for the origin. She saw the back of Henry's house and her eyes narrowed, focusing on her father's silhouette, where he stood, chopping firewood.
Her heart pinged and Grayson slipped her mind.
She walked towards her father, her eyes not leaving his lonely figure. He swung the axe in the air and split another log in half, the old lantern next to him only lighting a tiny area.
She swept into the bushes and darted up the steep incline to the level ground out back of her father's house. She crept from the forest.
Henry stopped, his axe above his head and stared at her. His broken, soft eyes met hers, like he'd been crying for days straight.
She walked forward; her paws sinking into the deep untouched snow. She paused and dropped her nose.
His grip tightened on the axe, “Come on... Get out of here!”
She wished she could fall back into her human, but that wasn't going to happen, her heart still focused on Grayson. Colten had been very right about the whole thing.
“Get out of here!” he shouted, moving forward to scare her.
She turned to leave and looked over her shoulder once more at him. He'd be her next stop once she found Grayson. A small howl escaped her mouth. It's what came out when she tried to say sorry to him.
Sorry, Daddy. I love you.
His face softened, almost like he understood her and then she darted away.
She ran down the incline and back onto the valley floor. The sound of the wolves came, they didn't sound too inviting, but she was curious of who.
The wind blew and she could smell them, dirty and putrid. She heaved and wasn't sure if she should pursue them, even though she was moving towards them.
Half way into the forest, she stopped and turned. Her gut had started to turn.
Tisk, tisk, tisk. What do we have here?
A big black wolf appeared at the dirty brown wolf's side, hissing, We're in agreement then!
Chloe blanched, that voice was familiar as hell and she'd seen him before in wolf form too, on top it. Indefinably Darcy.
She swallowed, her tongue almost choking her. She backed away.
The brown wolf she figured as Bruce, snarled, Agreement. Now look at the fresh little wolf. No pack scent on her.
Darcy perked up and looked her over, taking a whiff of the air, No mate.
Chloe's heart stopped and her step faltered. She knew she had to get away and now.
I need a mate. Bruce growled and dropped his head.
Darcy snapped at him, Leave her. She's mine.
Bruce growled, but backed off. Darcy had the upper hand, being he was mated, but where was Savannah? She wanted to lash out, but knew she wouldn't win.
He lunged forward.
She panicked, tripping and falling into the deep snow.
Pressing his mouth against her neck, he growled.
Who are you?
She stared up Darcy, her blue eyes focusing on him. She knew where she'd seen him shifted before; outside her house the night she'd screamed out her window and he had in turn, scared the living bejesus out of her by rushing towards the house.
Her stomach heaved, about to throw up. Not even being a wolf had gotten her away from her weak stomach. The thoughts running through her mind were sickening and she realized Savannah had been the other wolf that night.
She backed away, not wanting to think or speak, because she was sure if Darcy figured out who she was, her outcome would be bleak.
Chloe ran as fast as she could, but Darcy stayed right on her heels.
She pushed herself harder and faster away but the black wolf wasn't fazed. He jumped on top of her, snapping and snarling, Hold up, little female!
He took a long whiff of her, Which Alpha? He demanded.
She whimpered and stood from his ease of pressure.
He circled her, Speak female!
What did you do to her? Chloe finally got out.
Darcy stopped, What did you just say?
Chloe tensed.
Are you from her pack! Darcy snapped at her, he wasn't as dumb as she had hoped.
Chloe shook her head and backed away.
A couple wolves approached from behind and Darcy drew his attention away from her, I told you to sweep the area!
We did. It was Mike's voice, he sounded tired and annoyed.
Darcy straightened, Come with us, female.
The others were at her side now and looked Chloe over. She thanked god it was Mike and likely Kyle, as well.
Who's this? Kyle's voice came.
Grayson's friends were almost as relieving as having him there.
She turned to look at the tall dark haired wolf that held ice and snow in his grey and blue coat; Kyle.
Darcy growled, Some wandering female. New blood too... It's got to be a product of that alpha messing with me!
Mike stepped forward, a washed out grey colour with a pink nose, no wonder he looked albino in human form. He sniffed her, She's afraid.
Darcy growled. Bring her back to my place... I'm going to get something to eat. He bound off and her heart released.
Kyle stepped towards her, Who are you? Did he hurt you?
Chloe knew she was safe with them, It's Chloe.
Mike leaped forward, California!
Kyle stared at her.
Yeah... but Darcy doesn’t know, she informed them.
Good. Kyle shot, He'd kill you, I'm sure. Especially, with this other wolf sniffing around Tribune territory and Grayson gone.
She whimpered, hoping Colten far away.
Kyle looked around, How'd this happen, Chloe?
Her heart began to pound, It’s a long story. I'd rather explain it later.
Kyle nodded.
I don't want to go to Darcy's, please, just let me go. I'll run away. Say I got away! She begged them.
Kyle turned to silent Mike. He'll kill her or hurt her.
California, you better run and get out of here fast. Mike concluded.
Thank you... She ran across the valley as fast as she could, realizing at the same time how big and vast Alaska was, how fast Grayson could run, if she could move this fast, he'd move faster. She had her work cut out for her.
***
The long hours of searching in the dark and cold left her exhausted, hungry, and cold. Her coat was great, but not as warm as she hoped against the Alaskan wind. Either that or she wasn't used to it.
High on a mountain, the wind gusted against her again. The big moon was tipping the horizon and bouncing off the pristine snow.
She stopped, needing a break. Her paws ice cold and her legs shaking. She couldn't imagine, if her wolf gave out now, how she'd survive.
She looked out to mountains. Only mountains. Not knowing where Tribune's territory was, but she could smell some sort of difference and was sure that meant something.
She had visited the crash site of the truck. There had still been parts of the vehicle and broken glass and even some of her blood on the tree she'd hit. She'd been dying, she more than believed it now and owed Colten for her life, if she lived through this now.
The thought alone of being without Grayson made her run, pushing herself to exhaustion.
She followed the mountains above the town Colten had put them up in, but she'd gotten a bit carried away and had turned around and taken a whole different route. Now searching for the white wolf; he was her allies and only friend now. He would help her, but she was lost and didn't know the first place to look for him.
Stumbling on rocks, her legs like rubber and her eyes heavy, the shifted form was taking its toll on her weaker human side. She could feel her bones moving, she didn't think that a good sign.
A low howl across the bare rock face, she stopped to listen to. It sounded long and lonely and she began to run, but much clumsier this time.
Bounding down the mountain, she called back. He answered and she raced for the howling.
She came into a ravine and searched, her head flying every which way. Then she spotted the wolf, Colten!
He sat near the entrance of a den, I thought I smelled you.
Grayson is missing. She walked towards him, tripping over her paws, Darcy kicked him out of Tribune or something like that.
Colten walked into the low level cave, where there was a fire burning, Interesting.
Chloe felt the warmth and shook, loving the comfort of it, I saw Darcy too.
He looked across the cave to her, And?
She sat near the fire, Umm... Then she smelt a strong smell of dead animal and blood; it made her heave. What is that smell?
I got some food. Colten motioned to a dead deer that he'd ate half of. He lied down and relaxed next to the fire.
Eww. She'd rather starve, than eat a decomposing blood fest, Is it road kill?
No. Colten paused, I killed it.
You killed Bambi! Chloe snapped at him and she heard him laugh at her.
Colten licked his lips, Another example of human life verses our existence. When did you shift?
A while ago... maybe five... six hours ago. I'm exhausted and I can't find any sign of Grayson.
Colten looked to her, his eyes saddened, I'll help you look in the morning. I'm sure he's stayed around this area. Most wolves won't leave a mate till they have closure on a situation and even then... they usually just rot away to nothing.
Chloe swallowed, she wasn't sure if that made her happy to hear, You're sleeping like that?
Colten closed his eyes. It's warmer and ensures survival.
You said you'd be a couple days.
I don't like to rely on human comforts when I can be out looking for my sister. I'm faster and stronger shifted. Plus, I'm not in Tribune's borders. I've spent a lot of nights in this cave.
Chloe lied down and dropped her head between her paws; she wanted to be back in human form. Her body was sore and ached for a bed and blankets. Her chin on the stone was annoying and she tried to get more comfortable.
I see his motive. His mate is more important than answering to Darcy Holtz.
Chloe lifted her head. You should have just brought me back to his house, after the accident.
Colten snorted, I did the right thing. You needed full control of this situation and I made sure of that. We'll find Grayson, he's a big strong wolf. He's around. Now, get some rest.
Chloe lowered her muzzle, Can you last longer than someone like me?
As an alpha, we are stronger, more resilient, our bloodlines are better than the average cross over or wolf. We have to be though, we're bred to lead.
She really had no desire to sleep in a cave with a dying fire, so she decided to keep him talking. Your sister...
Chloe didn't want to bring it up, but she wanted to find out what Savannah looked like at least, What's she look like as a wolf?
Why?
I saw some wolves one night, behind my house fighting. I think one of them was Darcy.
Colten snapped up to his feet, You decided to withhold this information till now! He jumped across the fire and landed within inches of her. For some reason, he wasn't so lonely and broken as a wolf, as he was in human form.
She shot up, Hey! I didn't know what Darcy even looked like as a wolf till today, so why don't you back off?
You revealed yourself to Darcy? Colten's voice broke back to his sombreness.
Chloe sighed, No, but he almost got me. I wouldn't tell him who I was, but he knew I was new blood somehow...
New bloods have a certain smell. He left you alone?
His pack spared me for Grayson's sake. She sat, her muscles hurting again.
Colten backed off. Savannah's a small dark brown wolf. She has a bushy tail.
Chloe thought back to that night and tried to remember the small wolf. It had been dark, but the other wolf had been Darcy. I think it was her. I can't be sure, but I think it may have been.
What happened? Colten's hurt extenuated his hesitation, but he was calm, which made her want to speak further on it.
Darcy pinned her, he bit her neck, and she fell into the snow. I opened the window and shouted out to stop and Darcy ran towards my window, snapping. I got afraid, so I slammed the window and went back to bed... I don't know what happened after that.
Colten growled and lied back down. He has her,. I knew it. I need to confront him and soon. Get some sleep... I'll be back later. He walked to the entrance of the cave and disappeared before she could protest where he was going but figured he wouldn't be long. Maybe just needing a few minutes to clear his head.
In the drop dead silence, she listened intently for his return. Walking to the entrance, her knee gave out and she fell to the ground.
Why'd you leave me, Colten! She howled out the entrance of the cave.
The fire cracked behind her and she jumped in fright. She looked back around to the entrance of the cave when she heard footsteps; low, soft approaching footsteps. Her heart pounded, but she was relieved Colten had returned.
Some rocks and debris fell from the top of the cave and a wolf jumped down the entrance. He flew in at her, knocking her down and running to the back, grabbing the deer in his jaw.
Growling, she recovered from being taken down and looked up. Her blue eyes snapped to his big green ones.
She stopped dead. His perfect coat, muddy and covered in ice and snow. He even had blood, grease, and other forms of bodily fluid on him, his mouth drooling didn't help. He clutched the deer between his canines and growled back at her.
She lowered her muzzle. Making sure she was seeing correctly, because he was skinnier; sniffing the air was enough confirmation though, Grayson.