Howls of the Lost

Chapter 1

     The forest was alive around me. Birds twittered. Mice scurried. A soft breeze blew through the trees, moving the white fur that covered my body. Breathing in deeply, I allowed every muscle to relax. Hunting required intense concentration. Opening my eyes, I flicked my gaze over the six or so deer approximately twenty feet away from my pack and I.

     I watched the herd of deer before us carefully as my pack stirred restlessly behind me. The largest buck looked up and scanned the darkness of the trees that concealed us. “Would you guys shut up and stay still?” I thought to them bitterly.

     “Sorry, Tor,” Ashlyn thought back.

     Rolling my crystal blue eyes, I glanced at the three wolves behind me. Ashlyn, David, and Michael all looked back at me expectantly. Ashlyn gave me a lopsided smile. She wagged her cream colored tail before nodding to David. Turning my head in his direction, I noticed that the tawny wolf was staring intently at the ground. David hated when I was upset with him. Resisting the urge to sigh, I returned my attention to the deer.

      A tug on my tail caused me to yelp in surprise. The buck raised his head again, along with a few of the others. Their ears were perked and alert. It was all I could do not to turn around and snap at the large brown wolf that had hold of my tail. Michael yanked on it again so I, reluctantly, turned to face him. A slight whimper slipped through his lips as he nudged me towards David.

      Dave’s head was still bowed. My ears flattened against my skull in shame. I hadn’t meant to make David feel bad when I snapped about the noise. “Dave?” I called softly through our mind link.

      His head rose slightly as he stood. “Yes, Torian?”

      “You’re not in trouble,” I reassured him. Immediately his tail started to wag from side to side. “Just keep the noise down until after we’ve eaten.”

      David nodded his head before moving to my side. “Yes, Alpha,” he remarked playfully.

      In return I simply rolled my eyes. Alpha. The term was used loosely. I was this ‘packs’ Alpha for all intents and purposes, but we were still mainly independent. Our story was one of tragedy and woe that I will save for a later date. With a quiet sigh, I turned back to the herd of deer we were currently watching. “On my signal,” I told them. “One, two, three.” The four of us prepared to spring, our muscles tightly coiled and ready to strike. “Go!”

       The attack was simultaneous. We all sprang into the clearing gracefully before going in for the kill. The poor herd never even saw it coming. Michael took down the large buck and the rest of us picked off what we could. I took down another buck and snapped his neck quickly; trying to cause as little suffering as possible.

       Silence descended upon us as we ate. After we all had our fill and stood up, I looked around at my pack proudly. They were the best and my only family. Our ‘family’ was due to grow sometime in the near future thanks to the fact that Ashlyn and Michael were mates. David and I were simply counting down the days until a fifth little wolf was added to our pack.

      Gazing around at the other three, I noticed the blood streaking their muzzles. I was sure the same blood marred my snow white coat, so I allowed my hearing to range out. The trickling of a stream sounded in the distance. I turned in the direction of the sound. “C'mon guys. Let's go clean up,” I called. With that we all took off running. Closing my eyes, I let my inner wolf lead me while I just enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing through my fur. This was a feeling that would never grow old. The wind had an almost calming effect on my hyperactive senses.

      Crack.

      My body immediately went stock still. The others slowed to a stop around me as I searched the surrounding woods. “Guys go ahead.” I continued to watch the trees as I backed up. “I'll meet you there.”

      David gave me an incredulous look. “Torian, we're not leaving you,” he stated simply, beginning to follow me.

      A low growl of annoyance slipped through my teeth. “I'll be fine. Just go.” They all glanced at me skeptically before they complied and ran off. Huffing, I turned in the opposite direction. There was something out there with us and I was determined to find out what it was.

      After sniffing through almost every bush surrounding the clearing, I was just about to give up. Shrugging, I moved to follow the others. I caught the sound of another twig snapping just before I was tackled. My back slammed against a tree forcefully and I crumpled into a heap at the bottom of it. Growling, I stood on shaky legs and faced my attacker.

      The blood red eyes of a vampire stared back at me.

      Almost instantly I deduced that he was a newborn. The way his arms twitched along with the irregular breathing pattern were my first clues. Add to that the fact that he was practically salivating as he stared at me and it wasn’t too difficult to figure out. To add to his horror movie looks, his blonde hair was dirty and disheveled. It stuck up at random angles. His rabid snarl echoed in the silence around us. My own low growl mingled with his in the air.

      The growl built and increased in volume as I advanced on him. He leapt at me and I met him in the air. Once we crashed to the ground a horrific snap bounced off the trees. My startled and pain filled yelped mixed with his scream of agony. With little hesitation I jumped to my feet, favoring my left hind paw. The vampire tried to stand but his leg was contorted at an awful angle. Taking the advantage, I allowed sinew, bone and muscle to shift as I took on my human form. Stalking to a nearby tree, I ripped a limb free. Not caring that I was completely bare, I advanced on the injured newborn.

      He looked up at me through fear filled eyes as I raised the make shift stake above my head. "Rot in hell," I hissed out as I plunged it into his heart. A screech escaped him as his pallor began to change from pale ivory to stormy gray. Within a matter of seconds, he was nothing but a pile of ash.

      Shifting back to my wolf form, I was greeted by screaming. My brow furrowed in confusion as I tried to make out what they were arguing about. Ashlyn was ranting about something, but I couldn't quite decipher their bickering. “Shut up!” I thought to my pack. Silence was granted. “Now, what's going on?”

      I was answered by Michael. “Tori, we have a problem.” His voice was laced with worry.

      Fear flooded my veins as I told him, “I'm on my way. Hang in there guys.”

*              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *             

      Logan Grey cursed silently as the timber wolf from his pack tackled him to the ground. “Rikki,” he growled to her through their mind link.

      As Rikki pulled back she gave him a wolf grin. “So sorry, Logan,” she told him sarcastically.

      Logan stood up and looked to the part of his pack he had with him. The four wolves around him were all preoccupied with their own thoughts. Logan fought the urge to tackle the only other black wolf in the clearing, his brother, Dalton.

      Logan met his brother’s gold eyes with his own green ones and motioned him over. “Dalton, it’s your turn.”

      Dalton trotted towards his older brother, rearing for a fight. Logan grinned as he lowered into a crouch. They were just about to begin the fight when the rapid cracking of twigs caught the attention of the two wolves. Logan growled low in his throat and turned to the opposite side of the stream, snapping to attention.

      The others jumped into the clearing with grace. Three wolves, one female and two males. They newcomers noticed Logan and his pack. They slowed to a standstill. Logan could easily distinguish their Alpha simply by the brown wolf’s hulking form. The female was a small cream wolf who looked at Logan with contempt. “State your purpose,” Logan ordered in his Alpha voice.

      The one Logan believed to be the new pack’s Alpha spoke back to him, “Simply passing through. Let us clean up and we will be on our way.”

      A horrible screaming tore through the clearing. The rogues gave each other worried looks and stared over their shoulders in the direction the sound had come from. Logan growled in order to regain their attention. “You're rogues trespassing on my pack's territory. You cannot just leave.”

      “Puh-lease,” the female muttered.

      “What was that?” Logan snapped at her.

      “I said – ” she started, but the supposed Alpha cut her off.

      “Ashlyn, shut up!” he told her.

      “Michael, don't tell me what to do,” the female retorted hotly.

      Logan looked at the small pack in amazement. Had she really just blatantly defied her Alpha? “You'd be wise to listen to your Alpha,” Logan told her.

      She snickered. “Michael? Alpha? Are you really that stupid?”

      Logan simply glared at her. “Then who is your Alpha?”

      As if on cue a new wolf swept its way into the clearing. The rare white wolf surveyed the scene before it. The wolf’s blue eyes glittered with curiosity as it automatically sought Logan out. The new wolf spoke, revealing that it was in fact a female. “I am.” No sooner had the words reached Logan than his inner wolf started howling. He was almost forced to the ground with the power of a single word: Mine.

      Logan had finally found his mate.

      He snickered despite himself when comprehension finally dawned. She was the Alpha? That was impossible. “Excuse me?”

      She limped over to the rogue pack and stood in front of them. Logan was momentarily distracted by her injury. She seemed to be favoring one of her hind legs. She turned to glare at Logan. She emanated power and authority. There was no fear showing in her eyes. “I am this pack's Alpha,” she said firmly, an obvious Alpha’s voice lacing her words.

      Even though her voice proved it, Logan was still skeptical. “A female Alpha?” he asked incredulously.

      She rolled her eyes and glared at him with a defiance he didn't know anyone was capable of. “Yes, you idiot. A female Alpha.”

      Logan growled at her and sunk down into a crouch. “You will respect me.”

      She snarled in return and mimicked his position. “I do what I please.”

      Logan wasted little time launching himself across the stream to stand right in front of her, baring his teeth. She glared up at him. For just a moment her eyes widened in shock, but her dark look quickly returned. As she took a step forward a wince flashed across her face. She had applied pressure to her leg. She growled and prepared to launch herself at Logan, but one of her pack spoke to her. “Torian,” the tawny wolf said in a clipped tone. “You're hurt. Fighting him won't do any good now. We all know you could hold your own just fine, but please don't let your stubbornness make you injure yourself any more than you already are.”

      Torian growled menacingly as she tore her eyes away from Logan. “David, I can take care of myself,” she snapped.

      David rolled his eyes. “I know that Tori.” His eyes gained a far off look to them and when he spoke again, it was barely above a whisper. “But I'm not about to risk losing you again.”

      Her eyes softened as she looked at him. “Dave . . .”

      “Tori, you are not going to injure yourself anymore,” he said with an air of finality.

      Logan stared at the exchange absolutely mesmerized. She was letting him talk to her that way? She was his Alpha not the other way around. So why was she allowing him to tell her what to do? Her voice broke Logan from his thoughts. “Alright, David.” She bowed her head and sighed. With a swift glance at Logan she continued. “Let's go.”

      Torian turned to leave. “You’re not leaving,” Logan called to her.

      “Watch me,” she retorted as she continued to walk away.

      He growled in annoyance as he moved to stand in her way. “Let me rephrase, you can't leave.”

      She rolled her eyes and tried to get around him, failing with each attempt. A scowl curled her lip. “And why not?” she asked, looking up into Logan’s eyes.

      He softened his gaze as he stared down at her. “You're injured.” Logan looked at her paw. “I'm not going to let you leave just so it can get worse.”

      Torian sighed in frustration and tried to get around him once again. She didn't succeed. “I don't want your help. Why do you care anyway?” she snapped.

      Logan was about to reply when her pack chorused, “Tori!”

      She growled at them. “I hate you guys, you know that right?”

      The female that started the whole argument between the packs, Ashlyn, walked forward and nudged the white wolf with her shoulder. “We know Tor, we know.”

      The one Logan had originally thought was the Alpha stepped forward and crouched low. “Get on, Tor,” he said softly.

      Torian stared blankly at him. “Really, Mike?” she asked skeptically.

      He did a horrible imitation of her voice. “Really, Tori.”

      She sighed but positioned herself on top of his back. He stood and looked to Logan. “Lead the way.”

      Logan nodded and waded through the stream, hearing the rogue pack following closely. His inner wolf was snarling at the fact that he wasn't the one carrying his mate. As his gaze fell to his pack, he realized they were all looking at the rogues apprehensively. “C'mon guys,” Logan told them. “We're going home.”

      Brooke spoke up. “You're bringing them with us?”

      “Their Alpha is injured and they will be staying with us until she is well enough to lead them on.” His wolf growled at him, a firm reminder that it would be impossible to allow Torian to leave.

      Rikki, being the pest she was, caught on quickly. She gave Logan a knowing smile. “Finally met your match, Logan?”

      “Rikki keep your big mouth shut,” he warned her.

      “Yes sir!” she said while trotting on ahead.

      Logan could already tell it was going to be a long, interesting day.