Northwood

Adline stood watching the back door just in case Kane came running back through but when she saw his pile of clothing sitting there it reminded her just how long it had been since she’d been running. An itch developed immediately as she ran over various scenario’s in her head. The one that kept surfacing however was one of fun and freedom. She had no intentions of running away from him but she felt the need to feel the bare earth beneath her feet. It had been far too long.

Stripping her clothing off quickly she left them in a semi neat pile next to Kane’s and ran out the back door. The bitterly cold winter air hit her skin and sent an immediate shiver running through her entire body but Adline didn’t have time to be cold. She needed to shift.

Shaking off the cold she closed her eyes and felt an energy rise within her. Balling her fists she clenched them tightly and focused on what she needed to feel in order to get to where she needed to go. For some werewolves they needed anger to shift, for others they needed to feel their wolves take over but for Adline all she needed was a quiet mind and some peace to start feeling the shift.

Closing her eyes tightly she soon let out a loud howl and felt her bones breaking. Like many others in many other packs could attest. It never got easier. Ever. There were some who fought the pain or somehow managed to hide their pain but she was not one of them. It hurt every single time she shifted, no less painful than the first but somehow more bearable.

Within minutes her body had been enveloped by a coarse coat of fur, her limbs elongated and stretched and as the pain coursing through her body finally subsided she stood on all fours like a normal looking wolf, just much larger.

Many a hunter had reported seeing larger than normal wolves but it had always been completely disregarded. No one ever had solid proof that there were abnormally large wolves and for the werewolves that were shot they often had the advantage of a longer stride and could quickly outpace those hunting them. As soon as they made their escape from humans they were free to shift and return to their human forms never to be seen again.

Her human body fell away quickly and left Adline standing alone as a gigantic wolf. Though some may have thought it strange for one of their kind to shift in plain view of everyone Adline knew it was the most secure place for her to change. With so many guards patrolling the grounds there was no chance of anything untowards happening.

Lifting her head to the gentle breeze Adline found herself surrounded by Kane’s scent and it became more than intoxicating. Like a drug she found herself completely overwhelmed by the sensation of knowing that scent belonged to her mate.

Taking off after him it was like she saw the direction he’d gone in like a shadow at the edge of her view. Not quite there but there enough for her to know better.

She cleared the expansive back yard after a short time and made her way quickly through the overgrown field beyond. There were other scents mixed with Kane’s and she knew without a doubt that Harvey would have been running alongside his cousin so that he could keep an eye on him.

Running her way quickly through the field birds flew out of the long grass. No doubt running from the giant wolf galloping and thundering through theor homes.

It had been a long time since Adline felt so free, it has been a long time since the last time she shifted and as she felt her paws pound against the soft slightly snow covered earth. Adline was not like every other wolf in her pack and she realised she was unlike any other wolf in the Northwood pack as well. No matter how many times she shifted the process never got faster, though she learned tricks it never sped up the process much to her frustration. It was part of the reason why her parents ordered her to leave during the battle that ended their lives. They didn’t want Adline to meet death before she had the chance to defend herself.

A very small hill range rose softly in the distance. It was sparsely lined with trees and Adline had a sense that Kane had gone right over the toward down the other side. Padding up to the base it took her no time at all to reach the top and from there she marvelled at what lay beyond. Just over the rise the hill dropped steeply into a narrow valley filled with trees. Down on the valley floor a clearing ran the full length of the area where Adline could clearly see a stream running off to a road in the very far distance. A bridge crossed the stream as the valley flattened out, the trees seemed taller around the bridge and she smiled wondering if it was to obscure the vision of any humans passing over the top.

Down in the valley she could see three wolves walking along the stream slowly, taking their time and savouring the moment. In the very far distance she quickly saw something that didn’t make sense. Off near the road she spied a small group of people dressed in black, they looked like they had weapons and were headed straight towards Kane, Harvey and Taylor. Who were they? Obviously they weren’t friendly but where were the guards that were meant to be patrolling that part of the border? So many questions ran through her mind all at once as she stood atop the low ridge whining. No matter how fast she ran down into the valley there was no way she could reach them in time, she couldn’t run back to the mansion and get help it was too far away and she didn’t want to lose sight of Kane and the others.

There was only one thing to do. Throwing her head back she let out a howl for as long and as loud as possible, she wanted as many people at the mansion to know there was trouble headed their way. Adline had never felt useful in her life and although she knew she couldn’t do much this felt as though she was accomplishing something.

As her howl reverberated through her entire body and the immediate ground around her she sucked in a deep breath and repeated it again. She needed to make sure that Kane heard her and with the lay of the valley and her standin point at the top she knew he would hear her eventually as her howl carried along the steep valley walls.

Before long she stopped her howling as she saw in the far distance that some near the mansion began shifting, others began running off no doubt to gather vehicles. She didn’t know what was going on down in the valley but she couldn’t ponder it for too much longer.

Leaping down into the valley she didn’t know the quickest route down or if there was an easier path, she just knew she needed to get to Kane just in case he didn’t hear her warning howls. Somewhere deep inside she didn’t have a good feeling and she knew that the people coming in from the road had a sinister plan.

If she ever survived her descent to the valley floor she told herself that Kane would have to let her explore the area so that she wouldn’t ve at a disadvantage again.

Disregarding her own safety she jumped down a shrubby scree slope only to have her foot sink in to the rubble. Unfortunately for Adline her large lupine form carried on with the slope of the debris and she found herself in an uncontrolled roll to the bottom of the pile. ‘That’s one way to get down quickly’ she couldn’t help but think humorously as she climbed to her feet quickly.

She noticed how narrow the valley ws where she stood and that where Kane was in comparison looked a lot more open.

Without a second thought she stood on her furry feet and leapt off to find her mate and help, should he need it.

Soon Adline heard shouting and a gunshot. Her heart stopped in her chest as she heard an earth shattering howl. Who was it?! Even more determined now she put her head down and ran as fast as the wind could carry her. What if it was Kane? What if they were there to kill him!

The trees began thinning out and she realised she was coming up to the flat near the bridge. Suddenly Adline ran straight in to the middle of a very serious incident.

Two wolves lay on the ground, crimson staining their coats in small patches. She’d only heard one gun shot, why were two of them down?

The third wolf stood against the people standing in dark clothing, it was outmatched and with her there it didn’t make a difference. Their guns were trained on the wolves and Adline realised now tgat the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach was one she should have trusted.

Leaping over the two downed wolves she heard one yelp a little as two humans stepped forward. A large man wearing what looked like police armour dragged a hooded man with him.

The hooded man had his hands bound in front of him with what looked like silver, the burns on hos wrists meant there was something mixed with the silver to make it extra potent to their kind. “Is that the bitch were looking for?!” yelled the man ferociously.

Ripping the hood from the prisoner Adline was more than surprised to see that Tobias was the one bound. What on earth was going on? She backed up a little towards the wolf unsure of what was going on.

Tobias’ face was battered and bruised, he walked with a limp and he looked more than a little sorry for himself. He looked up at Adline’s wolf form and took a deep breath in. “It’s her,” were the only words he muttered out.

“Good,” the man shoved Tobias forward roughly and released him. Pulling a gun from its holster he aimed it at the back of Tobias’ head, “won’t be needing you any more.” And with that he pulled the trigger

Again Adline’s heart stopped as adrenaline coursed through her body. Time slowed instantly as Tobias’ eyes rolled back, his head shot forwards and a mass of blood and tissue spattered against the man behind him. His body went instantly limp as he fell to the ground lifeless. The man that held the gun wiped the blood from his face with the sleeve of his shirt, much of it only smeared across his cold, hard features.

“Get the girl,” he ordered as others stepped forward.

Before anything else happened Adline felt a searing pain in her back right leg. Turning her head she saw Kane’s wolf sinking it’s canines in to her flesh.

He was marking her, claiming her for himself.

“Hurry up you idiots he’s marking her!” The man yelled angrily.

Adline knew what to do as she turned at an impossible angle and returned the favour. Now that he’d claimed her he would be able to find her no matter where she was taken.