Waking up, sandy forgot why he was in wolf form and in the den. Then he whine a bit when he remember running from his job after they got attacked by a rogue pack. He hope that julie was able to get out and head to the forest without getting in trouble. He feels zamas waking up and looking at him with her ears down.
"Ready to face the world?" She ask as she move away and got up.
"Can't just stay here. Besides we need to find julie. She does have our clothes. He replied as he shook out his fur. Looking outside, he didn't hear anything but normal forest sounds. Maybe they ran too fast to be seen. With a small nod, he ran towards the bus stop, knowing zamas was next to him. Stopping behind a bush, he saw julie looking around with the bags holding their clothes. He let out a small whine to catch her attention and led her to the meadow. Julie put down the bags and turn around while they shift.
"The cops just check me over and let me go telling me to be careful. They did say they was going to check the forest but that for another division. So maybe warn the others and don't be in wolf forms for a while. Til it dies down. Also the cameras in the store was destroyed so there nothing but eyewitnesses account. Don't know how that happened but guessing it the ones you are fighting that did it. Didn't see ariel or dallas at all so hoping they got out." Julie was saying as they got dressed.
"Ariel got bit. We need to check on him after I let steve know that we know him. Otherwise he won't tell ariel anything. Thank you julie. Let us help you on the way back as there is a pack that really hate people." Sandy said as he grab his phone and begin to text. They begin to walk through the forest to the bus stop. Zamas was keeping an eye out as they reach the bus stop.
"thanks. Just don't let me get bitten. I love being human. I can help on the human side of things but I'm not getting involved in fights. Besides I'm pretty outmatch anyway. So mind letting me know the rules so I don't get you guys killed? We can talk about it some other time. Let me give you my number." Julie reply as they wait for the bus. They exchange numbers as they rode the bus to the hospital. Julie wave as they got off.
"So want to tell me why steve, my doctor asked me to wait for you two? Also why do we three have the same doctor? I got bit but steve just said sorry and look at me like my life is ending." Ariel quickly got off the steps and walk towards them.
"He more like a intro to a new life subject." Sandy replied with a small growl. Zamas got between them and place a hand on his shoulder.
"What sandy means that we need to talk. Us three tonight in the nearby woods. So no need to worry and..." She trails off, seeing how ariel and sandy was glaring at each other. Her wolf can feel the tension in the air as the glare off kept going. Is this a dominant thing? She wonder as ariel finally broke eye contact. Ariel might be dominant and sandy is responding to it. This is not going to be good. He just got bit and already showing signs of dominant behavior.
"We got to go. So ariel. Tonight! We are going to answer all the questions swirling in your head right now. Especially what just happened." Zamas grab the back of sandy shirt and pull him forcefully away from ariel. She gave a small whine when sandy resisted a bit, not even sure why she whine but it seem to snap him out of it. Was this the power of a submissive? To help control the dominants from lashing out at each other? Sandy shook his head as he walk away, not even looking back at ariel. They walk a few blocks so he can calm down.
"What was that?" She hisses as they walk. He just shook his head as his wolf kept whispering to turn around and pin ariel to the ground or against the wall.
"I need to go back. Must go back. Need to put in place. Him in place." Sandy growl as he start to turn back but zamas stop him by putting her hands on his chest.
"Hello guys. Allow me zamas." Alex grab him by his neck and shove him into his car in the backseat.
"Hop in zamas. Sandy not all there and we need someone close to him to keep him calm. He sees me as a threat and won't calm down when surrounded by my pack." Alex said as he got in the driving seat.
"Where we going?" She ask as she got in the front, taking glances at sandy, smelling the scent of anger rising from him.
"To the cage. Sandy needs some rip roaring fun." He gave her a smirk as he drove to his construction site. He knock sandy out as he carry him out of the car with zamas running to catch up. His pack nodded and move aside as he ran passed them to the elevator. Angelo and conner was inside and push the button to go down to the secret underground floor. Zamas was staring at how the pack seem to move in unison since they arrived. This was the power of an alpha. There was like twenty people out there and without a word, she can feel that alex controls them all.
"Not control zamas. They follow me, I protect them from others and themselves. It not control as meats know it. Meats want control over actions and will. It why they got government and laws. My pack got their own will and I ask for help when we need to get together. Also stronger in numbers. Let help sandy and will go over my pack history when we are done. And yes I got your thoughts due to scent and body language. We can't read minds." He said as the doors open. Conner just look at zamas as alex toss sandy into the fighting cage that was surrounded by comfortable chairs. The cage seem to be in a deep pit, looking up she could see that the cage could be risen so it can be just a dirt pit.
"Primitive I know but it works." Alex begin to tear off his shirt and toss his shoes to angelo.
"Now let go let off some steam!" He roar as he begin to shift. His hair begin to run down his body turning into fur, and he took off his pants. Zamas look away before he fully shifted.
Sandy head hurt when he open his eyes and saw a black wolf with a white tail tip facing him snarling. Drool was dripping from his mouth, pooling on the dirt floor. He quickly back up til he hit the side of the chain wall. He can feel his wolf taking over as he begin to undress. The wolf start to attack when sandy slash at him with his claws. He manage to fully shift before he recognize the scent. Alex was the one facing him with fangs bared. He let out a roar as he clash with him, ripping at him with his front claws. They was both the same type of wolf but he knew he didn't stand a chance and he didn't really care. He just want to rip into something. No matter how much he claw at alex, he can only rip away fur. Soon his claws was full of fur so he couldn't do anything til he gets the fur from between his claws. He saw alex leave and zamas come in his place.
"Calm him zamas. He won't hurt you. I made sure of that. Let your wolf lead the way. Let her show you what submissives can do. This is something only you can do." Alex said as he begin to shift back.
Zamas look at sandy tearing at the fur with his teeth. She look back at alex, with a raised eyebrow. Angelo and conner both nodded.
"Submissives have good track record with calming dominants. My mother was a submissive so the beatings wasn't bad with her around. My old alpha had issues." Conner stammer out while alex place a hand on his shoulder. Zamas got down and partial shift her head to wolf shape, putting her forehead against sandy. He stiffen against her touch, and she put her hands on his snout, rubbing his whiskers. She feel her wolf directing her body, hearing her whispers in her mind. She can hear sandy's heart slowing down, She saw him slow shifting back, his eyes going back to hazel brown. She shift her head back to human and grin. Suddenly clothes hit her in the face.
"Welcome back. Now do you want to tell me why Dark's pack attack your store and why I had to hear it from my packmates who are cops? Also I know about the new pup. Some of my packmates are doctors. Told you I got my claws in other things." He said while zamas pass sandy his clothes. She turn her head as he got dressed. Fully dressed, he walk out of the pit and stare at him as zamas put a hand on his shoulder.
"Thought we could take them on our own. I was wrong. Seem dark just not your normal alpha of rogue wolves. He set us up. Something tells me you know all about that." He said with a regretful expression
"Let go to my home. Will explain everything there. Besides I need to eat after that fight. And no worries. Dominants are always wanting to fight, especially after meeting another dominant. It why angelo and conner are here. More for your safety than my own." Alex replied as he led them to the elevator. After pressing the secret button, he saw how close they was standing. With the heat on it's way, he was a bit surprise that they wasn't making out. What kind of guy can ignore their sexual urges, especially since he is dominant. It has nothing to do with him so he ignore it for now. He led them to the kitchen and sat them down at the table. Facing them, he told them that dark wasn't just an alpha of rogues. He was the last of his wolf species, a dire wolf. Sandy and zamas listened with great attention til he said that dark's pack was trained like an army.
"Wait so he train his pack like an army. That would explain why they wasn't defending themselves against us. They wanted to make it look like an out of control animal attack but all of them was in control of themselves. Then ariel's bite wasn't an accident. Dark sent them to attack the store but really his target was our friends." Sandy look at the others, waiting them to reach the conclusion he did.
"We need to train and do it fast. Why did ron have to leave us for two months? We got shifting down. Well at least I been practicing but we need to know more. After all knowledge is power." Zamas said quickly as she nodded at him, showing that she understood.
Alex gave a small cough to get their attention. "Hi. We are here too. And been fighting dark's pack longer than you. What you guys saw was a small number of dark's pack. Their den is huge and hard to find. How about I help with training and you guys let me know if dark contacts you again. Keep an eye on ariel too. He going to be contact by the one who bit him and probably going to make joining dark's pack is his only choice. Let just say it good that you got to him first. Go and help him. You guys know how to do that much. Will send angelo with you for backup. Will be here but you got my number in case you need to contact me. Do you know how to contact in wolf forms? It's common sense. Just howl. Guess your mentor ron taught you how to connect with your wolf. Do that and your howl will be the frequency it will need to be for help. Trust your wolf. Think of it like...." he trail off, wondering how to complete his sentence.
"Naruto and kurama." Conner complete his sentence. "It's a good anime. Just finished all seasons of the teenage version of him." He look up and saw everyone looking at him.
"Exactly conner. Thanks." Alex gave him a smirk before turning back to sandy and zamas.
"Anyway come back here on your free time so I can help you. And yes I will be asking for something in return."
"Alpha? Don't forget that they need to learn how to fight as well. I can take over that bit of training." Angelo spoke up, knowing that alex sometimes get carried away during fights.
"Agreed. thank you my beta. Angelo is second in skills, both forms so he will be your teacher until ron comes back." He walk to the elevator and let them go.
Sandy and zamas both looked at each other in confusion for this wasn't at all what they was expecting. He wasn't sure what alex plan was but they do need help. He thought he connected with his wolf side but he still got out of control. He look over at zamas and gave a small smile as a way to say thanks for calming him down.
"Wait! He never told me about his pack! Forgot about it due to everything else." Zamas suddenly exclaim as the elevator stop and open its doors.
"I do have his number. Besides I want to hear about it too. His pack seem more like a family. I noticed how different he is compared to luke." Sandy mutter as they walk out of the site. Looking up they saw the sun setting and knew they had to get to the forest. They saw ariel as soon as they arrived, looking confused at his arm since it was out of the cast.
"Got home. Cut my cast, arm looks normal. So decided to come here since you guys did say you will explain. My girlfriend was confused as well since I did tell her about what happened. Also I saw you guys get put into a car so I'm thinking that was your friend." He said as they stood in front of him. Looking around, sandy saw that they was alone and there was still light enough for him to see. Since being a werewolf, he did noticed that they don't need much light as their noses was one of the strongest senses they had. He sigh as he reach a decision. Telling ariel to follow them, they reach the meadow. He begin to take off his clothes, knowing ariel was going to be more confused than before.
"As they often say, show, don't tell." Zamas said as she caught his clothes. He was left only wearing his boxers. "Just look at him ariel. Just watch."
"What the..." Ariel said as he saw sandy shifting to the wolf that helped him during the attack. He rub his eyes, not believing what he was seeing. No wonder that wolf helped him, it was his coworker. He watch as sandy stretch, seeing his claws extending and his fangs as he open his mouth.
"Sandy don't freak him out. We are here to help him after all." Zamas said as she gave a small sneeze due to ariel's scent of fear overpowering everything else. She saw sandy sneezing as well before giving a small wolf laugh. Ariel watch as sandy bark at zamas and zamas answering in kind. He heard something running in the forest towards them when sandy stood in front of him with his hackles raised and growling loudly. He watch as another wolf appeared, this one brown in color with darker brown on its paws and amber eyes growling back.
"Mike leave. He is going to be one of us. We taking him with us to the den." zamas growl as she stood in front of him as well. His eyes widen when she pass him sandy clothes, seeing fur growing on her arms. Her hands turn into claws as mike let out a sharp bark. Suddenly a yellow wolf with a silver stripe on its back joined him. Sandy and zamas knew they was no match for them so they begin to back away. Suddenly a loud howl sounded.
"Would someone like to tell me why you was about to fight over a new pup? Mike, Sam, stand down! Despite the scent of fear, you both are experienced enough to know the scent of a new pup!" A dark brown with a silver stripe wolf jump down from the tree she was standing in. But instead of joining her packmates, she snap at both sam and mike, forcing them to back away from sandy's group.
"please forgive them. It been so peaceful that mike here been itching for a fight. And my bonehead of a brother follow him like a shadow. Both of them should have known better. Our alpha will punish them for this transgression. By the guy look of confusion, I'm assuming he just got bit. Wouldn't understand us til he survive the sickness as that when our wolf spirit joins us. Good luck. Boys! let's go now!" Sally snap at them til they turn around and begin to leave.
"Sally! thank you. Also the alpha in the city does hold a fight club of sorts for our kind to burn away that aggression in us. Let luke know and we can set a date for us to have a bit of fun." Sandy bark out before she can disappear with them. He watch as her ear twitch, letting him know she heard him as his fur settle down.
"Follow us ariel. We should show you our den. That was mike, sam and sally. They are part of a pack living in here. Guess they was hunting when your fear scent alerted them to us." Zamas said as she grab the clothes back. She even pick up the boxers as sandy led the way to the den. Shifting back, he got dressed as zamas begin to explain everything as they sat on the cliff.
"You can camp here if you want. Second day is the sickness and without other werewolves around, you can die. Or that what steve told us." Sandy said as he came out of the cave and sat besides them.
"This is just going too fast for me. I get that I'm a werewolf or not yet til I survive but camping here for two days? Can't I just come back tomorrow?" He ask with a worried expression.
"The sickness is like you are dying so that why it's better to be here. You don't want to worry your girlfriend right? I will be here with you too." Sandy replied with a comforting grin. People are kinda easy to read so he knew that by bringing up his girlfriend, he will be sway to the idea. He was good at being manipulative if he needed to be thanks to his childhood.
"hate to say it but you are right. Just let me call so she won't worry. I saw there was nests or whatever but going to need to stay warm as it gets cold at night."
Sandy gave a small chuckle and ariel got the hint. Werewolves do have fur and their body temperature is hotter than humans. Even now he didn't feel any chill and the sun set a few minutes ago. He can see ariel shivering a bit but zamas wasn't.
"I be on my way. Good luck ariel." Zamas said as she got up and left. She gave a wave when she landed below. Ariel was shock til he saw she was fine. He sighs since now it seems his life was on the line. He call his girl and let her know he going camping for a few days. He felt sandy hand on his shoulder, knowing he was trying to comfort him. Sandy is so kind so he knew he was in good hands. Besides he going through what they already been through so he see how things can turn out. He hopes that he can survive the change. The only thing he knows is what in the movies. He watch sandy walk back into the cave, knowing he was going to shift. Guess he won't get any questions answer tonight.
Sandy knew he wanted to talk but he was never good with conversation so he rather avoid it. Plus he don't know ariel outside of work so no clue what to talk about. For once he was glad that he can shift again so soon. Sitting next to him in wolf form, he lean into him to share his body heat to stop ariel shivering.
"Werewolves are hot. Guess twilight was right about one thing. So I get you can't talk but just nod for yes and shake for no. Bet you thought you was getting out of answering questions." Ariel said with a grin to sandy.
Sandy smile back as he got up and walk back to the cave. "Wait! Come back! Come on. Ok I will save it for tomorrow." He heard ariel said knowing that the cold hit him as soon as he left. He turn around and sat by him again. He bump his head on ariel shoulder, letting him know he was playing with him. They spent a few minutes outside before going into the cave where sandy push him to a bed of leaves and feathers. He can smell ariel's scent changing and know that it was going to happen once he falls asleep. He lay outside the cave entrance, listening to ariel trying to be comfortable in the bed. He look at him as the noise stop.
"Well thank you for showing me my...bed. Do you think I will survive?" He said that last word in a whisper and he look down at the ground. Sandy look back outside, knowing that ariel must be terrified of what about to happen. Anyone would if they was in his shoes. Sighing deeply, he got up and lay besides him, letting him know that he was here for him. He watch as he fell asleep and felt zamas coming back by the bond. Standing up, he crept to the cave entrance as she climb up with a backpack.
"Did you think I wasn't coming back? Just need clothes for two days. How is he?" She ask as she place her bag down and start to shift as she put her clothes on the bag. Sandy closed his eyes, turning his head away. His nose twitch as her scent envelop him and his tail begin to wag. He can feel his wolf perk up as he heard the voice say mate. Nope. Just friend. Only friends. He open his eyes when he felt her brush fur with him. She was holding her bag in her mouth as she look at him with a question in her eyes.
"Sorry. Ariel is fine but he is scared of course. Hope he survives. But then what do we do if he does? Sorry ariel you will have anger issues and will want to fight everything. Also don't get too angry or hyper cuz that will cause a shift. Shifting around humans is forbidden. You will get killed by the watchers if you reveal us. How do you say that without causing him to freak out?" He asks as he walk with her to her bed.
"Just lay it down like a list. Or maybe he won't have as much problems as we did. Because we are here to help. And we have help. There two packs out there. My friend guldo and a lone wolf. So chin up. We got this." She grin at him as she put her bag away and laid down.
"Wish I can share your optimistic mood. But I just can't help but think of all the issues and problems and prepare for it. I can take first watch. The sickness is just beginning." He went next to ariel, lay down next to him and lick his forehead to cool him down. Seeing zamas watching, he just shrugs.
"We don't have a wet towel. And my other half said licking him helps. Just listening to instincts."
"It not that. Just nice seeing this side of you. Remembering that you care for animals when we was younger. You befriended a goose in high school. You tame a feral cat, you save a pidgeon and squirrels. Even pick up worms on the sidewalk and put them on dirt. Yet you ignore people. You barely talk to others, just greet them and do your job. Why do you hide yourself? Don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Zamas lay her head down on her front paws.
"Animals are easy. Learn their body language, learn what they want, and they will love you. With people, it is subjective. They need money from you or things and even after you do everything for them, you still might not get their love or loyalty. So I gave up on people and decided to deal with animals instead. Nothing but the bare minimum and never give more than you are getting. My life been peaceful....well til the whole werewolf thing. With people there can never be true trust, not like trust between an animal and people. Animals who are respected and treated well will never betray you. While people will for nothing more than paper. So yea I will be the kind one, the one who never gets in trouble and is so helpful but there must be a wall between them and myself...except you. I trust you." Sandy put a paw on ariel to hold him still as he begin to roll around.
Unknown to them both, luke was outside, giving ariel his alpha energy so he won't go insane due to the sickness. It took a long time but he stop as he heard ariel sleeping peacefully, his heartbeat and smell was normal. This was the least he can do to help out the pups. He quietly jump down, knowing that they will never know he was there. As alpha, he has the power to get rid of his scent completely. Heading to his pack's den, he saw lisa sitting outside waiting for him.
"Sam and mike are both on omega duties. Sally and tom are out on a walk together and riley is enjoying having free time." She report as she stood up.
"Good. The pups are doing well. I'm going for a walk. Don't wait up for me." Walking through their den, he saw mike and sam cleaning out dens while riley was watching them closely. Probably to make sure they don't slack off.He smelt tom and sally scents together, which means sally must be helping tom. He never heard of any plants needing to be pick at night and with help but it is good to have backup. He remembered ron coming to him, asking him to look after the pups without them knowing. Saying to help them with things they can't do. He knows that watchers are very powerful and if they ask for something, to always give them whatever they want. He remembered his father telling him this as a pup but never thought he would ever meet one. Especially one from his favorite legend. He wish he could ask if those stories his dad told him was real or not but thought it would be rude. Besides no one else in his pack knows about ron visit and thinks he just being nice to the pups. He went to his favorite tree and jump into it. Climbing to the highest branch that can support his weight, he look up into the sky, smiling as he saw the moon and stars. It was nice just to relax away from the pack, letting go of his reponsibility for a few hours. He check his bond and feel his pack about to head to bed. He loves the nights knowing his pack was safe, and that he didn't make any bad decisions. He needs to talk to sam, he can smell the anger coming off of him whenever they come across meats, knowing if he leaves sam alone, he will go down the rogue path and it up to him to keep him on the right path. He knows mike was trying to help by picking fights but he should have came to him first. He would think of a plan to get sam's aggression out. There was alex little invitation to join his pack in a sparring match but he don't trust it. All packs got unique ways of fighting and he doesn't want to reveal theirs.
"Luke? are you up there? The pack is sleeping but you know they won't rest easy til they know you are safe. Told them not to worry but after the hunt, they going to worry no matter what." Lisa said as she start to climb up. She sat on a branch below his, looking up with concern.
"I was thinking of taking up on alex's offer for that fight club he told us about. Sam's anger is getting out of control and as you can see mike doesn't do well with peace. Plus riley do need to learn how to fight better than he does and it will do well for his anxiety. We never live close to other packs before so it will help teach everyone how to socialize."
"But? I'm hearing a but in there luke. It is ok to be cautious but I think alex is just lonely."
"Lonely? He's an alpha of a pack. And you are right. The But is that I don't want to reveal our fighting techniques to a pack that we might have to fight someday."
"I hate to be the one to point this out but the only way our packs are fighting is if you are planning to take over the city territory. You aren't planning to fight alex for his territory, are you?"
"Of course not. But my father install in me, better safe than sorry. What if this friendiness is a way to get our guard down? We are the last of the eastern pack. We need more members but I'm not sure we can stay...as my mom said pure. Look at sandy's pack. A grey wolf and what smelt like a red wolf. He's a mackenzie wolf type. I'm not my father so if you have anything to add, let's hear it." He look down at her with his ears down.
"Good. Fuck your father. I'm glad you aren't like him. Did you know he always has the scent of disgust whenever he look at mike when he was a pup? He was find when snowflake join us from another eastern pack but mike? Pup never stood a chance when he found him outside the barrier. Felt bad for him too. You treat everyone as equal. You might hold your father in high esteem but don't you dare think he was the perfect alpha. Just do you. That all everyone expect from you. So I think we should take up alex's offer." She jump down, waiting for luke to join her.
"Alright fine. I will ask sandy to contact alex's offer for the fight club. After they settle things with their new pup. We have time." He jump down and they ran together to the den. He let out a yawn as he went to the bush that was in front of everyone and lay down to sleep. As alpha he knows his presence in front comforts the others. He fell asleep, for once feeling at peace.