Who is Magpie?

Bronx watched his Alpha leave with more confidence then he deserved. He knew that Jessamine would be a lot more difficult to find than he gave her credit for, and he was prepared to be standing guard at the large gate well through the night and into the early morning. He had settled onto the ground, with his phone for entertainment when he heard the sound.

A long high sound echoed through the woods, and off the mountains far in the distance. He had heard every sound that Ezekiel’s wolf could make and was sure that it wasn’t him, which left Jessamine. It wasn’t a taunt, or a warning like they had given each other in the beginning, this was a beacon.

A cold sweat covered Bronx’s body in a shiver of a second and he was already dialing Delano. “Trouble in the wood, gather as many as you can and get out here now, I’m already off.”

“Yes Boss.”

The words were barely spoken before Bronx was shredding in clothes and running through the woods. Ezekiel’s scent was easy to follow, he wasn’t trying to hide it or lose anyone. Every ounce of strength he had went into those stride to propel him closer to where he had heard the sound come from.

Alpha, what’s going on?” Bronx asked, not slowing his strides.

Bronx could hear he was panting like even his thoughts were out of breath. “There was a false trail, someone dragged her bedding through the woods and left it by the ridge. Don’t follow her trail to the right from the creak,” he begged. “She’s being hunted.”

Their anxieties matched with those words and when Bronx thought he couldn’t go faster he did. He found the area of brush that Jessamine had crawled under and through, and leapt over it, taking out half the bush with his decent. Finding the creek Ezekiel had mentioned he found the clear trail to the right, but following it further down he found an area of mud that had clearly been rolled in and contained her scent.

“She was on her own by the creek’s edge, she rolled in the mud.” Bronx was angry at himself now, if he hadn’t given her the tip Ezekiel may have caught the scent of two trails. “Heading south-east.”

That information did nothing to change his emotions. “Alright heading for you. Can you reach her through your link? I’m still too far.”

“Jessamine!” Bronx called out.

There was no reply, but there wasn’t silence. Birds were flying out of the woods up ahead; panicked. Down the way he found another creek and the water ran red with blood.

“No.” He thought the word through the connection, not intending to but know he would have said it aloud if he could have.

He ran down the creek bed, looking for the source, and ignoring Ezekiel’s words over the beat of his heart. He came up to the form but it only took a second to see it wasn’t Jessamine. He sighed with relief and then Ezekiel’s thoughts came through clearly.

“… son of a fucking bitch I swear to god if you don’t answer me…”

“It’s not her. There was blood running down the creek, but it’s not her.” Bronx began to apologize but was pulled away from it by yelps where the birds had flown from. “I found her. Hurry.”

He took off again, following her trail. She deviated from the water, using her size to her advantage but it had slowed Bronx down too. He went around the brush focusing more on the sounds as he heard another high pitched yelp, followed by growls and barks. Bronx added his own growls to the cacophony, hoping they would hear him.

“By the mountain base,” Bronx called to Ezekiel. “I’m almost there.”

Another wolf approached Bronx, coming around a cropping of trees. Blood ran from his muzzle as he snarled angrily. The feeling was mutual and Bronx bared his teeth in return with a low growl.

“Where is she,” he demanded.

“You should be thanking us. Magpie was the biggest waste of time in the long run, and now you’ll have one less mouth to feed.” The man sneered his response and Bronx didn’t wait for more.

The two wolves leapt at each other simultaneously, but Bronx caught the other by the throat first. Bronx was not as small as Jessamine, and he couldn’t be over powered so easily. The other wolven was inexperienced and thinner than Bronx, making it an easy snag.

“Tell them to forfeit or I’m, break your neck,” he threatened, but the other man refused to speak.

Bronx bit down, causing the other wolven to whine, and whipped his body back and forth like a toy, depositing the limp form on the ground before continuing. He could hear the sound of Ezekiel’s growls catching up, likely after taking the cleared path at the bottom of the mountain and following the sounds. The sounds ahead meant a fight was still happening but with the growls and barks Ezekiel and Bronx let out the other sounds quieted.

A quick yelp ended suddenly and then there was the sounds of running paws. The sound was weird, and once it ended Ezekiel had himself questioning whether it was Jessamine. Bronx was in the same boat, having never heard her whimpered in her wolven form, the high sound both sounded female but not quite right.

As they approached the cleared area the previous sounds had been coming from they saw only one wolf remaining, growls still rolling from them. They were panting heavily, blood dripped from her mouth into the dirt, and her fur was coated in mud and blood; some hers and some not. Jessamine stopped growling when she saw it was them and took a step toward them but half her paws limped with the movement.

“I got two,” she said and her whole body wavered, she was loosing a lot of blood.

Bronx moved forward to support her with his body. “Ezekiel she needs medical attention, only one of us can go after them.”

“Don’t go,” she begged. “Neither of you, not alone.” Her breathing sounded laboured and she slumped into Bronx heavily.

“Bronx you’re faster than I am, you go back with Jessa. I don’t want them getting away,” Ezekiel spoke quickly.

“What? No, don’t go!” Jessamine took a few steps quickly like she meant to run toward him but a wheezing whimper rang out and she slowed her steps, Bronx continuing to stay beside her.

Ezekiel nuzzled into her neck, supporting her up. “This is something I need to do. Please, trust me.” Their eyes met and hers pleaded for him to not leave but he turned to Bronx. “Protect her with your life.”

“Yes Alpha.” Bronx moved the smallest amount closer to her to confirm his commitment.

He didn’t wait any longer turning to run off. Jessamine moved to chase after him but her injuries were too extensive to run. A loud whine echoed through the woods but Ezekiel didn’t turn around.

Jessamine continued to call after him, pleading with him to not go alone, but he was beyond listening. She could feel his anger and determination, but even as she whined about her own sadness and pain Bronx stood beside her.