Chapter 1
Marianne Sebille snarled in annoyance as she passed yet another minivan doing good twenty under the bloody speed limit on the highway. Even over the roar of her bike and the dull groan of the vans engine, her sensitive ears could pick up the sound of children bickering in the back. She resisted, just barely, flipping off the hassled father driving the annoying brood and continued on her way. Bloody tourists getting in her bloody way.
The mountains of Banff, Alberta loomed in the distance, and Marianne put on an extra bit of speed at their silent urging. All her life she'd lived on the prairies of Saskatchewan, literally being able to see the horizon for miles around. Albertas mountains and hilly terrain blocked out the skyline, and the large trees on either side of the highway loomed over her.
She wasn't afraid however, more excited than she'd been in a long time. Her wolf was practically prowling in anticipation of running through those woods. She was almost thankful for the whole Roland fiasco, something she was putting farther and farther behind her with every kilometer traveled. Without learning the ugly truth about that lying, cheating, mangy bag of fur Marianne wouldn't have been out here, exploring a vast new territory. Instead, she would have wed the conniving son-of-a-bitch and further boosted his position of power in her pack.
To have found out the way she did, on what was going to be their wedding day, had changed things. Gone was the quiet, demure, submissive Marianne she had been, the girl he had moulded her into. Ever since she was a pup Marianne had been dominant. Preferring to rough-house and hunt with the boys than to play den-maker with the girls. She was different from the other she-wolves, too dominant and aggressive, too alpha. A she-wolf wasn't supposed to be alpha. Roland had, passive aggressively, taught her how to tone it down. How to hide her true nature and be what everyone expected her to be. In the five years of their sham relationship, he had changed damn near everything about her, making her the perfect little pet.
Now that she had seen his true colours Marianne let hers free, but the backlash had been too much. It seemed like she was not the only one manipulated by Roland. ‘You were so much happier with him’ or ‘Surely whatever he did wasn't that bad, you're probably over-reacting’ were popular opinions from her pack mates. Even Dagda Sebille, leader of the Fair Planes pack and father of Marianne and Dawn Sebille, had urged her to get back with him. He guilted her with ‘the pack will need a strong Alpha to lead when I'm gone’ and other nonsense.
The only one not to pry was her little sister, Dawn. The sweet, fun loving omega didn't really understand why Marianne had called off her wedding and changed so much, but supported her anyways. Dawn was the reason Marianne had stayed with her pack for so long, nearly 7 months of enduring the gossip and subtle barbs just to be with and protect her sister. Until it became too much. As an omega, Dawn was outside the usual pack hierarchy of alphas and betas, dominants and submissives. An omega was the only one who didn't have to obey someone more dominant, and was the only one who could calm an angry wolf simply by being there, bringing peace whoever they went. Marianne knew no harm would come to her sister, for harming an omega was so utterly wrong that their wolves simply wouldn't allow it.
With the help of Sunny Goodson, a local human mechanic and best friend to Dawn, she made a plan. It took nearly a month for Marianne to find the right place and get everything sorted, but now she was on her way. She didn't tell anyone where she was going, swearing Sunny to secrecy and using a touch of her magic to ensure no one would smell her on him, or him in her old apartment. The only regret was leaving Dawn, but she'd gotten a new untraceable cell in order to keep in contact.
Since wolves were virtually immortal, only dying of a mortal injury and not sickness or old age, their pack had never been short on funds. Each member had their own accounts, which they put their own paychecks into and got an allowance from the Alpha as well. Marianne had never spent hers, preferring to save it up, and she was glad of this. She'd had enough savings to buy a small cabin in the woods, far enough from Banff that she would have her peace but not too far for basic necessities. She'd also gotten the motorbike she'd always wanted, and even a suv for rainy days.
Now she was on the way to her new home, Sunny following along with her meager possessions. Her new start. New home, new town, new people. Marianne felt her joy flowing up and couldn't help the excited howl that crawled from her throat. She tipped her head back, pouring out her happiness in wolf song as her bike flew down the highway.
Bog King, Alpha of the Dark Forest pack, looked up from his kill as a faint howl danced along the wind. It was so quiet he wasn't even sure it was actually real. If not for his second in command, a stout she-wolf called Stuff, also pricking her ears at it he would have assumed it was nothing. She shook her head at him, not recognizing the song. None of his pack had a howl so lovely, he knew their songs by heart. The pack in question was romping around in play, rejoicing in their fresh moose and a good hunt, not having heard anything.
Bog took a few steps away, lifting his nose to the wind and taking in the scents. Nothing new, but that didn't appease him. Instead he could only think of the strange wolf invading his territory, probably a loner considering no other wolf song joined theirs. Wolves were pack creatures by nature, needing the company of others to truly be happy. A lone wolf was always on edge, no one at their back, and could be a danger to his pack. With one backward glance at Stuff, who flicked her ears back in understanding, Bog took off down the mountain. They were only a few kilometers away from Banff, having tracked and taken down that moose quite easily.
It didn't take him too long to get back to his home, and Bog finished his Change before he even got to the back porch. Thankfully it was late spring and he didn't have to worry about snow, or any cold on his naked body. It was a downside to the Change, being unable to wear clothes through it. Most wolves didn't care about nudity, but it still bothered Bog to be so vulnerable. He quickly made his way inside and got dressed before sitting down at his desk. His answering machine was clear, meaning none of his wolves in the city had seen anything worth reporting. Likewise, his cell phone was also clear of voice mails and texts, save for one from his mother.
‘That fish shop down off main at 6 this friday, don't be late.’
He might be Alpha, but Griselda was his mother and he would not ignore her summons. Even if it was probably another chance for her to parade some human woman past him in chance of finding him a mate. The old she-wolf was a matchmaker, and would stop at nothing to find Bog someone. He groaned, scratching the back of his head before looking at the clock. It was just past 8, leaving him plenty of to patrol the streets before full darkness set in. Another groan escaped him as he cracked his back and lifted his lanky body from the computer chair.
The streets of Banff were his home, his territory. The sights, sounds, and scents of tourists and locals alike put him at ease. No hint of the loner either. After 4 days of patrol, renewing his territory marking with his magic, Bog finally made his way to the restaurant his mother wanted him at. It was a crowded place, off the main tourist path and filled with mostly locals. He saw a couple of his own wolves in the crowds, acknowledging those who noticed him before grabbing a table in the corner. The smell of cooking fish was nearly overpowering.
He was early, and so let his mind wander as he watched the people in the restaurant. An elderly couple bickered over the crossword, a mother and child drew on the paper placemats as they waited for their order, a small brunette girl with an elfin face and molten caramel eyes glared sullenly at her phone. That last thought made Bog startle, and he turned his attention to the girl. She seemed young, no older than 25, and practically radiated a fiercely annoyed aura from across the room. Bog was enraptured by her beauty, charmed by the way her eyebrows twitched and her scowl eased as she read lines from her phone. Her short pixie cut hair seemed to defy gravity, sticking out almost sideways. Dark purple smokey eyes matched the oversized maroon sweater she wore, paired with some dark leggings and black combat boots. An odd style, but one that worked for her.
Seeming to sense his attention, the girl looked up and met his eyes. She held the eye contact, her scowl deepening as he stared. Bog pulled a bit on his Alpha powers, bringing his wolf ever so slightly closer to the surface, but still she stared. His wolf was annoyed at being challenged, wanting him to make her submit, but Bog was too intrigued. Eye contact was a sign of dominance among wolves, the more submissive naturally lowered their gaze to the more dominant. Few wolves were able to hold his gaze for longer than a few moments, let alone any humans. He marveled at this before his vision was blocked by the waitress bringing his food. When he looked back the brunette had her phone to her ear. Then Griselda and his aunt Plum showed up, and Bog put the incident from his mind.
Marianne was having a mild freak out over her fish steak. Apparently the city she'd chosen to run away to had its own wolf pack, and the restaurant she was in seemed to be a common feeding ground for them. As icing on the cake, within only a few days she had somehow managed to attract the attention of a rather dominant wolf. As Dawn chattered on in her ear about some nonsense, Marianne took the chance to check out the tall male.
His nose was probably the first thing she noticed, other than his strikingly blue eyes. She felt as if those eyes had been able to see right through her. His nose was large, his chin prominent in a way that wouldn't be called conventionally handsome. When he looked at the women who joined his table his sharp cheekbones made Marianne's hands itch to trace them, and then draw them. She liked his profile, the way his brows lifted and dropped as he argued with his companions. From what she had seen of his entrance he was easily over 6 feet tall, maybe even close to seven. With legs that went on for days. The tight jeans and grey pullover he wore completed the package. Marianne might have sworn off love, but that didn't mean she wouldn't appreciate a good look when the chance arose.
“Hello? Earth to Marianne?” Dawns voice broke through her thoughts, and she returned her attention to her younger sibling.
“Sorry, got distracted. What were you saying?” Marianne mumbled around a mouthful of salmon. Not really a fan of fish, but it wasn't bad.
“Ooh, what's he look like?” Dawns sing song voice was only mildly grating. Marianne took a moment to appreciate the fact that no one could hear Dawn from her end, even the monotone wolf in the corner.
“Dawn no.” Her groan was one the younger wolf had heard often.
“Dawn yes. Look Marianne, I understand you needed to get away after, well, everything, but still! It doesn't mean you have to be all alone!”
“I'm not alone.” Marianne grumbled in response, well aware of the other wolf listening to her. Her phone volume was turned all the way down, and the restaurant was loud on sensitive wolf ears, so he was only hearing half of the conversation.
“Your cat doesn't count.” Dawn steamrolled over her sister complaints. “You're gods knows where, doing gods knows what. I'm worried about you! So is daddy.” Guilt trip, party of one.
“Well you don't have to be.” Taking a fortifying sip of her soda, wishing it was something stronger, Marianne countered.
“Too bad. As little sister it's my job to steal your things, cause you trouble, and worry about you.” She had an almost snobbish tone to her voice, but Marianne could hear the smile and felt her own grow in response.
“Love you too. But I'm fine Dawn. It's nice here, different. I like it.” It might have been her imagination, but Marianne thought she saw Mr. Pointy Nose preen a bit at the praise of his town. She barely repressed a snort.
“Fine. But you’ll tell me one day.” Marianne gave a noncommittal hum at that. “Roland was here today. He asked about you.” Her words were hesitant, as if unsure of their welcome.
“That ass.” Marianne snarled at the hated name, the fork she was holding warping under her fingers. “Don't tell him anything, okay?”
“Yeah, figured you would say that.” Dawn sighed. “I told him that as far as I knew you were okay, and that he shouldn't worry about it. You are right? Okay? Because you haven't told me what happened, but I know you're hurting.” The omega whined, and it put the older sibling on edge.
“I'll tell you one day Dawn, I promise. But I can't, not right now. I'm sorry.” If there was one thing Marianne hated it was feeling weak, and that's all she felt just then. She dropped a couple twenties on the table, more than enough to cover her unfinished meal, and made her way from the busy shop. Once outside she gave a sigh, leaning against a light post.
“Okay. I just want you to be happy.” Dawn relented her questioning. In the background Marianne heard the unmistakable voice of their father calling for Dawn, and her heart clenched. “I gotta go, daddy's calling. Talk to you later.”
“Bye.” She barely had time to get the words out before she heard the call drop. With another sigh she shoved the phone down her shirt and into her bra. The one issue with tights was that they had no pockets. Her wallet was nestled safely in her boot, and her phone and keys were kept with the girls upstairs.
Shaking off her melancholy Marianne made her way home. Tonight was going to be a full moon, she could already feel the pull of it on her wolf. The moon thing was one of the few correct legends about werewolves. While a wolf could change form at any time they wanted, when a full moon rose they couldn't resist the call. During the days leading up to it wolf instincts ran high, making them more aggressive and bringing their wolves to the surface. Normally a werewolf worked as a pair, a wolf and human in the same body. When emotions ran high, or the moon was full, the wolf took over. It was obvious in certain ways. Their eyes changed color, Marianne's amber eyes changed to a bright amethyst, and their scent changed. The wolf also behaved differently. More instinct, less reason.
Marianne could feel her wolf prowling at the surface of her mind, pushing against her control to be free. She pushed back, giving the animal a firm 'shush' before popping into the local grocery store to pick up some last minute supplies. She would hunt during the night, and would without a doubt make a kill, but wolves needed to eat. A lot. They burned so many calories during the Change alone. Marianne often joked that she needed to eat twice her bodyweight every day. Not that that was a large amount, considering she weighed next to nothing. Still, she didn't want to worry about getting caught by the resident pack while she was out chasing a deer. This meant she bought meat, lots of red meat, and some protein rich snacks for during the day. The cashier gave her a weird look as she was rung up, but she didn't mind. She was used to it.
When she finally made it home Marianne couldn't help but sigh in relief. Fifty-ish pounds of meat might be nothing for her enhanced strength, but the damned bags were digging into her arms something fierce. She dropped her bounty into the giant chest freezer in her kitchen before making her way to the bedroom. Unlike other wolves, she didn't have to worry about her clothing while she Changed. Her magic, inherited from her late mother, allowed her to Change with her clothes on and when she Changed back she would still be wearing them. With a bit of concentration she could even change what clothes she was wearing, although she didn't quite know how that worked. Dawn also had this ability, and was much better with it. Marianne could do a simple shirt and jeans, whereas Dawn could be wearing intricate gowns after a shift. Dawn could also do shoes, something that Marianne could not. They just didn't work with her magic, for some reason.
Deciding it wouldn't make any sense to shower now, or even bother changing her clothes, Marianne simply toed off her socks as she padded around the room. Her phone was plugged in, wallet and keys dropped onto her dresser. As a last minute thought she pulled off her bra and flung it into her hamper. It was uncomfy at the best of times, having to wear one after the freedom of being a wolf was just torture. After checking that all the windows were locked, Marianne made her way to her back porch. The last light of sunset flickered through the trees and made her breath catch. A whole new territory. So much to explore, All her life Marianne had wanted adventure, and now she had one.
With a silly grin she took off at a run, dodging around trees and leaping over obstacles. As she jumped from the top of a rather large rock she let herself Change, giving herself up to her wolf and landing on four legs. Her vision sharpened, colours fading and shadows receding, while detail stuck out. The rest of her senses were also heightened. She could hear the flap of a birds wings hundreds of feet above her, the scurry of rabbits and squirrels as they fled from the apex predator in their midst. For a moment she was overwhelmed by the new scents. Pine and dead leaves, the sharp tang of fresh growth, and the smell of animals she'd never hunted before. Unable to resist the lure of these smells, and wanting to mark her territory, Marianne threw herself down and rolled around. The crushed plants were so fresh, and she loved the feeling of fresh grass running through her fur. She gave another wolfish grin as she sprang up again before taking off into the woods.
She didn't know how long she ran, the moon was high in starry sky by the time she slowed. A deer had stumbled onto her path early on and was quickly brought down under her fangs. She almost howled her success, but remembered at the last minute that these were not her woods, and she did not want to be caught by the resident pack. A few times she heard them howling and, though she would never admit it, it tore at her heart that she was alone. Ambling through the woods, exploring her new play area, Marianne almost didn't notice the pack of wolves until she nearly stumbled upon them. The sounds of playfighting snapped her attention, and the wind brought her their scents. Crouching onto her stomach Marianne made her way under a bush, crawling towards the ledge she was on.
Below her, maybe 50 feet away, the Dark Forest pack rejoiced in their kill. Wolves of all size romped around, arguing over the downed animal and fighting for the fun of it. Marianne watched, hidden beneath the juniper and downwind of the wolves, learning what she would need to know about them. The group here was smaller, only 10 or so wolves, but one stood out in particular. He was standing off to the side, watching over his pack. Though her colour vision was off, she marveled at his colours. Dark brown, maybe even black, with flecks of white and lighter brown dotted him. He was lanky, his legs seeming to be too long for his body, but it worked well for him. His chest was large, nearly twice the size of her own, but his waist was surprisingly thin. Not that Marianne could talk, she was lithe and small in either form. She'd never seen a wolf of his colours before, her old pack tended to be more of the classic grey wolf colours, or even light golden browns. Her coat had always been different, with it's darker tones and reddish hue, and it was one of the things she was self conscious about.
Marianne was jolted from her thoughts as the big male turned her way, his eyes roaming over her without seeing. She kept her own half-lidded, hiding the colour and not meeting his own. The colour of those eyes caught her attention though, and she was instantly reminded of the man from the fish shop. The wolves eyes were paler, more silver than the bright cobalt the man had, but they had the same fierceness to them that caused her breath to catch. Judging by his interactions with the pack, he was one of the most dominant, if not the Alpha.
He looked her way again and Marianne felt a thrill go through her. Not fear, because she didn't doubt her ability to take him. No, she felt a rush of excitement as his piercing eyes stared at her hiding spot. She knew he couldn't see her, her coat doing its job as camouflage as she kept herself still, not making any noise. The winds hadn't shifted so Marianne got lung fulls of his scent, masculine, wild, and a bit like autumn leaves. Then his pack mates started a victory howl and the moment was broken. He turned away, joining in the merriment, and Marianne took the chance to spirit away unseen.
Months passed from when Bog first heard the loners howl, but there was no sign of the wolf. He would have assumed they were just passing through, if not for him occasionally catching an unknown wolf scent in town. It was a subtle thing, weaving through his nose without him noticing and then gone when he tried to follow it. That annoyed the hell out of him, and not only because it was so damned alluring, but because it meant a wolf was in his territory without his permission. Normally, when a loner was in another territory they would make themselves known, submitting to the Alpha and maybe even joining the pack. Many of his pack used to be loners, kicked out from their old packs for some reason. The fact that this loner didn't come and greet him put him on edge.
It didn't help that he also kept seeing that elfin brunette around town. Something about her drew him in, though he adamantly refused it. He was done with love, with females in general. There was nothing they could do for him that he couldn't do himself. Mating only brought on hardship, and he was stronger alone. The girl still invaded his thoughts, though he would wish otherwise.
Thinking about her, or the loner, only encouraged his agitation. It was a full moon again tonight, a blood moon too, and he was looking forward to running with his pack. They were the terrors of the forest, nothing could stand in their way. With summer rolling in the forest was ripe with life, flora and fauna, making it quite the adventure to run through. He would of course be searching for the lone wolf during the run, they wouldn't be immune to the moons call, but he didn't hold much hope on finding them. That thought made him snarl as he stomped into his cabin.
“Is that any way to greet your mother? Shoes off! I just mopped, don't you go tracking mud on my clean floors.” Griselda started nagging as soon as he was through the door. It was out of love, he knew, but no less annoying.
“Mah floors. Mah territory, mah cabin, mah floors. Why are ye here mam?” His growl had no heat to it, so used to his mother's meddling. It wasn't a rare occurrence for her to be at his home either. No matter how many times he took the key away from her she always got back in. Say what you may about her, but Griselda King was nothing if not resourceful.
“Did you find that new wolf yet?” Griselda was the only person who could ignore his questions, and she did so on a regular basis. Other wolves would be compelled to answer their Alpha, but not her. Kept him on his toes, she claimed.
“No mam. No sign of them. They're using magic to hide.” Bog snarled out the word, his hate for anything magic apparent. Before, years ago, his pack used to work side by side with a white witch, Aura Plum, but they were betrayed. Bog didn't like to think of those times, how he was used and his pack suffered for his mistakes. Magic had been banned from his territory since.
“You'll find them eventually sweetie. In the meantime, how's it going with that girl?" She cooed, enjoying her sons discomfort just a tad.
"It's not." The Alpha growled back, pacing the length of the cabin. Bog didn't regret many things in his life, preferring to focus on the future instead, but he did regret the past week.
A few days ago his mother had met him at a small pub in town, under the pretense of a social call when in reality it was a blind date. With a human, since his own wolves knew better than to go along with Griseldas schemes. The pub was packed with people, the smell of them, booze, sweat, and sex clogging his nose. The woman his mother had presented to him was nice enough, but he was distracted. Bog had, to his chagrin, completely ignored his 'date' in lieu of the pubs new singer. Up on stage, singing an old school style of Seven Nation Army.
She was mesmerizing, and Bog was drawn in. Without paying attention he had walked away from his suitor, getting as close to the stage as possible. Her voice cut through all noise, and suddenly there was no one else. She hadn't even noticed him, too busy clutching the mic and swinging her hips to the beat. Bog had issues listening to singers, his superior hearing picked out every imperfection, but she was different. No wavering, no notes going flat. She was like a siren, luring him in with her song, and Bog didn't want to escape.
The spell was broken when the song finished. Her chest heaved, the final words hung in the air. He caught her eyes, shocked at the bright purple contacts she seemed to be wearing. He knew his own eyes were probably wolf silver, but the dim lights of the pub would protect him. After a beat of silence she turned from him, breaking the eye contact and retreating from the stage. Pre-recorded music played, Irish Rovers singing about a black velvet band, and his siren ducked through an employee door.
Griselda had been watching him the whole time, unfortunately. She sent the other woman away, thanking them for their time. Now she didn't let Bog forget about it, trying to convince him to go back to the pub. The bartender, when asked very nicely, had told her that the singer was new, but worked every other night. She had a setlist of songs, but requests could be made for a price. Griselda had some plans in mind for that, but only if she couldn't convince her son to make the first move himself. In her opinion, sometimes love needed a push.
"We should go back to the pub. Girl could use a comb, but she'd be perfect for you." Griselda intoned, pulling some meat from the freezer. She would be going out to hunt with them tonight, but she knew Bog always craved a steak or 5 on blood moons.
"Ye dorn't even know her name." Bog grumped, finally flopping onto the couch in defeat. His wolf was restless, prowling and fighting for release. Bog had half a mind to Change early and run by himself for a bit, work off a bit of his frustration. That sounded like a good idea. Especially if it got him away from his mother.
"Well you could find out if you just went back." Griselda cajoled, focused on the fridge. She was dimly aware of the rustle of dropped clothing but couldn't miss the tingle of pack magic as her Alpha changed. She turned on Bog, who was now on four legs instead of two. He shook himself, as if to get water from his fur, and padded to the back door. In his haste to get away he'd forgotten to open it, and so looked back at his mother expectantly.
"We will talk about this later, young man." She warned him, but still opened the door for him. He took off with a snort. The world wouldn't classify him as a 'young man' for many centuries now, but there was no telling his mother that. To her he was simply her son, her baby boy.
Once in the tree's his unease lifted, and Bog released a howl with his joy. He didn't expect any of his wolves to be out yet, the sun had only just begun to set, but was pleasantly surprised to hear them answer his call. With a direction in mind now Bog ran through the woods, letting his wolf take control. These were the woods he'd grown up in, before Banff was anything more than a couple shacks. He knew them like the back of his hands, knew the smells and animals. It was connected to him, his Alpha magic binding him to his territory in an indescribable way.
There was a headwind, meaning he smelt his wolves before he heard them. Without a sound he stopped running, ducking beneath a bush. When they got closer he could hear them bickering, yapping and snarling at each other in play. From the scents he knew it was some of his most trusted. Stuff and Thang, along with Brutus, his brother Gus, and a few of the younger wolves. Stuff and Thang were in charge of the newer wolves, teaching them how to hunt, what the rules of the pack were, and other things Bog simply didn't have the patience to teach.
The group of wolves ran right past his hiding spot, and Bog sprang. With a menacing snarl he tackled Thang, rolling around in a play tussle before pinning the smaller wolf to the ground. Thang, for his part, had fought back valiantly until he realized it was his Alpha, and then submitted instantly. Not much fun for a fight, but Bog appreciated the respect. Stuff gave him an unamused huff, bobbing her head in submission. As the only wolves in the pack bigger than Bog himself, Brutus and Gus couldn't really put their heads lower than him without groveling, so instead they bared their throats. The remaining wolves dipped their heads.
Bog stood and accepted their fealty, stepping off Thang. The scrawny wolf rolled to his stomach, wagging his tail happily. He snapped playfully at Stuff, who snarled back at him before jumping on him. Not wanting to be left out, Brutus tackled his younger brother, the two behemoth wolves going down in a flurry of swipes and bites. Bog took a couple steps away, not wanting to be crushed by the two or accidentally brought into the growing fight between the newer wolves and their keepers. A snapping branch alerted him to his mother joining the group, the old she-wolf sitting beside him gamely.
A sense of peace washed over Bog as he watched his pack tussle. It wasn't all of his wolves, the group only totaled 8 wolves, but he could feel the rest of his pack Changing or running to join him. On a normal moon they ran in their own groups, separated by either friend or family, but a blood moon made them crave the whole pack. It was almost painful to be alone, and Bog wondered how the loner was doing. Maybe this would finally convince them to come forward. He wasn't sure how he'd handle them, but he'd deal with it. For now he would enjoy the familiarity of his pack, watching the arriving Dark Forest wolves join in the tussle.
A scent carried on the breeze broke the evenings calm, and Bog stiffened. He recognized it. The cloying smell invaded his senses, reminding him of darker times. The owner of such a scent had been banished from the woods for nearly a century now, Bog had been unable to kill the woman he once loved. Now, with the pain of her betrayal less recent, Bog felt his anger surging.
Griselda was the first to notice the change in his mood, snarling as she too caught the damnable scent. The play fight was quickly stopped, all the wolves going on alert. Most of the wolves had been with the pack when this scent was last around and knew what it meant. The others were simply reacting to their Alphas anger and the mood of the pack. Gone was the carefree mood, now the wolves paced in unease. Bog looked them over, thirty-some wolves ranging from brand new to nearly as old as him.
Annoyed with Bogs lack of movement Griselda snapped her jaws at him, egging him on. He snarled in reply, stretching his legs out. The pack watched him, waiting for his command. Bog tipped his head back, howling his anger and signaling the hunt, before taking off towards the scent. His pack joined in, their wolf song taking over the night and promising death to their prey. Any animal with sense would run from that noise, cower in their hides and hope the hunt passed them.
It didn't take too long for the pack to reach the source of the smell. She was standing in the middle of a clearing, her long black hair whipping in a non-existent wind. Bog snarled at his old lover, facing her head on as his pack circled around them. He didn't bother to Change, she wasn't worth it.
“Bog. How wonderful to see you again.” Her voice grated on his ears, and Bog saw a few wolves wince at it. This close to her the perfume she wore was nearly overpowering, but it didn't cover her. She reeked of blood and death, pain and torture. Her voice sounded like glass in a blender. The once beautiful dress she wore was no longer white, the bottom of it stained dark with dirt and blood, the top stained a dark rusty brown.
“Did you miss me, lover mine?” She asked coyly, giving what was supposed to be a sweet smile. Griselda snapped her jaws angrily and a growl sounded throughout the pack, but Bog remained silent.
Over one hundred years ago Bog had been in love. Griseldas friend Plum had decided she wanted to pass on her white magic, and had so gotten an apprentice. The young witch was beautiful, her hair dark as ebony and her eyes a bright green. Bog had fallen for her almost instantly. He was no fool, he knew his looks would never be considered attractive, and thus she was out of his reach. She had been impressed by his status as Alpha, and after a a few years of dancing around the subject they began courting
It was perfect at first, but soon things went wrong. The weaker members of his pack had gotten sick, something unheard of for werewolves, a few of them even passed away. Farm animals from the village went missing, followed by family pets and soon humans themselves. Bog had felt like a fog was on him, his mind weak and body unable to fight. His lover had been there for him, taking care of him and his pack, something he was grateful for. Plum had gone on a trip and the fledgling witch had remained behind. When Griselda got sick something changed for Bog, snapping him from his daze. With newly opened eyes Bog saw his love and the monster she had become.
Being half raised by Plum Bog had grown up around magic. He knew about the two types, white and black magic. Both relied on rituals and spells as a power source, but while white magic used emotions black magic used sacrifice, humans being a powerful source. It was well known that black magic was stronger, but at the price of tainting the practitioner. White magic was good at healing, foreseeing, and defensive works, while it's darker counterpoint specialized in death, destruction, and offensive works. Plum had used mostly white magic, occasionally using animal sacrifice in her rituals, and her apprentice had been taught the same. It seemed the young witch had become addicted to the power sacrifice gave, and switched sides.
In an attempt to get more power for herself she had bonded herself to Bog and used him and his pack as a magic source. Wolf magic was incredibly strong, not constrained by the rules of witchcraft. Tapping into the pack magic had given Bogs lover strength, and it had taken Plum and a coven of white magi to free the wolves. Bog had nearly lost his life during the battle, had certainly lost his heart. When all was done and she was cut off, Bog couldn't find the strength to kill her. She freely admitted to using him, telling him he was too ugly to love and no woman would want him, but his love for her had been true. He banished her, having Plum strip her of her stolen magic and then cast her from his woods.
Now she was back, staring at him with eyes he had come to hate. Hindsight being what it was, Bog could see how she had manipulated him with magic and her wiles.
“Come now, it's been so long. Don't you want to catch up?” Her voice carried through the woods, settling on the restless wolves like oil on water. Bog could feel her magic seeking a weak spot in the pack magic, and sent his own Alpha powers to chase it out. She cried out as if slapped, staggering back. Some of the wolves barked at her, jeering at her discomfort.
“You will pay for that. I was going to be a queen, until you ruined it. Do you know how long I had to work to get my power back? Power that you stole from me?! You ruined everything. Now I will destroy your life as you did mine.” Her monologing was anger filled, and Bog could smell the madness on her. A shiver ran through him as she called on her magic, the feel of it a violation on his fur.
Inky shadows wrapped around her form, her arms thrown to the side. Trepidation ran through Bog as he watched the shadows overtake her. His pack snarled in confusion and unease, stopping their circling to watch. Soon she was nothing but a black blob, the light of the blood moon being absorbed by her darkness. With a sudden snap the black exploding from her, racing to join the natural shadows. Standing where she had once been was a massive bear. It was bigger than an elephant, it's giant paws easily the size of a wolf. Tendrils of darkness rose from its back like smoke, and it's eyes were simply empty pits. The bear stood on its back legs and gave a mighty roar, causing the ground to rumble in displeasure and the trees to shake in fear. Some wolves flinched, but Bog watched on unwavering. When the last echoes of the roar died out Bog let his own loose, easily as loud, and attacked the cursed bear.
The elk Marianne had been creeping up on took off as two roars battled in the sky. She couldn't even be annoyed at it, the discomfort of being alone during a blood moon eclipsed by dread. The taint of black magic could be felt in the air, and her hackles rose on instinct. Her own magic, which she had inherited from her mother and preferred suppress, swirled within her protectively. Hesitating only slightly, Marianne shook herself off and started running towards the noise.
It came from farther away than she had explored, deep within the Dark Forest packs territory. She hadn't dared to explore this part of the woods, not wanting the other wolves to catch wind of her. With great trepidation she wove through the trees, bringing herself closer to the black magic. A couple times she had to stop and reorient herself, the feeling of dark magic giving her direction, until she heard the sounds of a wolf battle. Vicious snarls and growls, yelps of pain, and a grating roar that gave her ears pain.
Once she was close enough to the battle Marianne did a loose circle around it, finding some high ground to get a better picture of what was happening. She hopped onto a boulder not far from the clearing and took in the fight. The great bear was the first thing to grab her attention, wisps of black magic rising from its back like smoke and whipping at the attacking wolves. The fighting pack was large, easily fifty wolves, but it wasn't clear who was winning.
Every time one of the inky tendrils touched a wolf it sent them flying back, then seemed to confuse them. The affected wolves would attack their own, their eyes covered by shadows and changing what they saw. They couldn't get it off, no matter how they scratched, and it took one of the more dominant wolves pinning them to make them calm down. At least a quarter of the wolves were out of the fight because of this, another quarter with injuries too great to continue, trying their best to heal quickly so they could get back in the thick.
That left just over two dozen wolves attacking the giant grizzly, but they were doing a damn good job of it. A few would grab the bears attention while other would charge at its size, tearing at the flesh in quick bites before jumping back out if range. It was classic bear baiting, but it didn't work too well when the bear was ten times larger than the wolves. Marianne watched as the biggest wolf she had ever seen launched himself at the bear, getting a good mouthful of shoulder flesh before the beat swatted him away, like a particularly annoying fly. She recognized the Alpha wolf from two months prior as he dodged around his thrown packmate, snarling viciously and swiping at the bear much like a lion would.
Deciding she had done enough watching, knowing that the pack would need help to defeat this enemy, Marianne leapt from her rock and streaked towards the bear. She kept herself low and as silent as she could, not even snarling. She passed the recently tossed Alpha, leaping onto the distracted bears back. The shadows whipped at her but she felt her own magic push them off. Loosing a terrible snarl Marianne sank her teeth into the back of the beasts neck.
Enraged, the bear stood on its hind legs and roared, shaking itself to dislodge her. Marianne held on with all she could, using her powerful back legs to gouge through its flesh. The other wolves took advantage of her distraction, leaping to tear at the bear themselves. With another shake the bear threw Marianne, a mouthful of meat still in her jaws. Black soulless eyes glared at the she-wolf as she spat out the tainted muscle, blood dripping down her jaws. She mad landed hard on her side and had to scramble to her feet, but luckily the other wolves had been enough of a distraction to keep her safe.
With another roar the bear lunged at her, unfairly fast for something so large. Thankfully Marianne was quicker, and she used her smaller size to her advantage. Ducking underneath the paw that swiped towards her, she sprang for the creatures head. Her luck held as she managed to get a strong bite of sensitive ear, making the bear shriek in pain. Working quickly Marianne used all her paws to scratch at its face, her deadly sharp claws tearing through skin like paper. A sickening squelch sounded, telling Marianne she had completed her goal of gouging its eye, before the bear smashed her with its paw, launching her into the air.
A sturdy tree stopped her impromptu flight, a few ribs protesting the hard landing with cracks and breaks. Marianne watched with a swimming head as the one eyed bear turned to her, preparing to finish her off. She could barely manage a growl as she tried to find her feet. Pain caused her vision to dot, and it seemed like the Alpha wolf come from nowhere, launching himself at the bear and taking its attention away from Marianne.
Taking the reprieve Marianne mentally checked herself for injuries. While the inky tendrils hadn't been able to work their magic on her, they were still very strong whips and she could feel lash marks all along her body. At least 3 of her ribs were broken, even more of them cracked. Something was up with her lung, a ringing sounded in her ears, and her vision kept going foggy. If she had a pack these injuries wouldn't be too bad, would probably heal within a couple hours. Alone though, with no pack magic to draw strength from, it was going to be a long recovery. That means she needed to end the fight, quickly.
Gathering her feet and shaking off the dizziness, Marianne called on a bit of her own magic to give her a boost. When the world stopped spinning she loped toward the fight against, watching for an opening. Only 10 wolves were left in the fight, including the Alpha and her. All of them had injuries, but it seemed that seeing the bear losing its eye had given them a second wind. The big wolf once again had the bear attention, and Marianne took the chance.
Running in low and quick she took her last leap for the bear, her jaws latching on its throat and crushing the windpipe. The animal gave a silent roar of pain, bringing its front paw up to scratch her off, but the other wolves took the chance she had given them. With its attention focused on getting air back into its lungs the bears magic tendrils had vanished, freeing those who had been under their influence. All the wolves who could launched themselves at the bear, knocking it down and tearing into it. Some grabbed the paws, preventing it from dislodging Marianne, while the Alpha tore at the other eye.
Slowly the struggles of the bear got weaker, overpowered by numbers and weakened by lack of oxygen. Marianne felt its pulse weakening, clamping her jaws down so hard it hurt. With a rushing noise the shadows washed forward, knocking off the attacking wolves and covering bear and she-wolf in darkness. It was colder than Marianne had ever felt, the freezing temperature burning her wounds, and darker than she'd ever seen, and completely silent. A distant part of her thought of a black hole, how being in one might compare to the crushing nothing of this shadow realm.
When she could barely stand it, her instincts telling her to open her mouth and release her victim, the world rushed back in. It was so bright, so warm and loud, all her nerves screamed in pain at the over stimulation. A whimper escaped her, without her permission, but brought her attention to the body between her teeth. Gone was the massive bear, replaced with what seemed to be a young woman. There was no pulse in the throat in her mouth, but Marianne would take no chances. Using the last of her strength she ripped her muzzle away from the body, tearing out the womans windpipe. She spat the bloody flesh out, taking in the wolves surrounding her.
They were watching with rapt attention, awe and fear on some of their faces. Some were nursing their wounds, or tending to the wounded. Marianne couldn't tell if any were dead, her vision going fuzzy again as the last of her adrenaline left her. She watched with eyes unable to focus as the Alpha came towards her, cautiously but still dominant. Marianne tried to growl at him but it came out as a ragged whimper. She did manage to lift up her lips in a silent snarl before her eyes rolled up and she passed out.