Chapter Five
Kara
Sophia was in and out of consciousness. Her wounds weren’t that bad, but she needed to see a doctor soon to determine how far along she was. Depending on which trimester she was in determined her chances of survivability. Only a small percentage of human women survived going into the third trimester.
As I waited for nightfall, I stepped outside to gather a few things from our garden when I saw a wolf running in the distance toward the cabin. I stood up and watched him run into the invisible boundary, becoming trapped. He changed into a man as if his shifting would help him to escape, but it was useless. I couldn’t help but sneer. This wasn’t one of the wolves I had seen earlier, and I wondered if they just sent someone else to try my patience.
“Well now,” I said as I approached him.
He glanced up and watched me with pleading eyes. I raised my hand toward him, whispered a few words, and watched as he bent over, yelling out in pain as the boundary zapped him with electricity. I could also hear his wolf whimper. This spell was equally harmful to both animal and man so, they would remember the boundary was here and know not to trifle with me.
I moved my hand down, releasing the spell. “Why are you here? You can’t have her,” I spat out, wanting him to feel my rage.
He tilted his head as if he was curious about what I had said. “I only wanted to check on her well-being,” he said softly.
I raised my hand and chanted the same words, watching him writhe in pain. “Nice try, wolf.”
“I’m the new alpha,” he groaned as another electric spark zapped through him for a brief moment. “The temporary one until my cousin shows up.” I began to repeat the words, but he shouted, “Please, believe me when I say I have come in peace.”
I lowered my hand and said sternly, “I don’t believe you.”
“I know, but I simply came to talk peace,” he said, and as I raised my hand to zap him again, he shouted, “My brother killed the alpha and the Council has sent us to make changes. Please, I don’t mean you any harm.” His words came out rushed as if he needed me to hear him before I zapped him again. I knew he was in pain; I could smell it, as well as sense it.
“Killed the alpha, huh?” I wondered why the alpha didn’t come for the woman herself or his second in command. “And his second?”
“Yes, my brother killed both.”
“Your brother must be a powerful alpha.”
“He is very strong. Please, I came because I want to make peace with you. I don’t wish you or the woman any harm. I want to help.”
He flinched as I leaned closer and sniffed him. He smelled different. “You want to help?” I asked in a sharp tone. “Were you the one who forced himself on her? Or did you watch?” I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear him say it.
“I didn’t know about her till a half hour ago. I simply came out here to check on her. No ill intentions or harm will befall her. You have my word.”
I sniffed the air again, but deeply this time, and could sense he was being genuine. He also didn’t smell like the pack I was dealing with. His scent was nowhere on Sophia.
“I feel as if I can trust you, but only for a moment. You try to pull anything wolf and you’ll soon regret it.”
He chuckled and massaged his head after I released the boundary’s hold on him. “I already got the feeling I would, quite painfully.” He extended a hand toward me and said, “I’m John Trenton.”
“I’m Kara,” I replied, shaking his hand.
The moment my hand touched his, my wolf stirred. She was quite taken by this man and could sense he was good. He was certainly not lying when he said he was new to the pack as I had gotten a visual that he was from much further away. I was intrigued by him along with my wolf and wanted to know more.
“Where are you from, temporary alpha?” My intuition picked up West Coast, but I needed him to be more specific.
“Washington state.”
“And your brother isn’t here to take over? I thought the one who killed the alpha took his place?”
“Tricky thing about that. He’s already the alpha of the Washington Territory so, the Cforced him to name a replacement.”
“You called yourself temporary. Someone else planning on taking over then?”
“Yes, my cousin Vince. He’s making his way here. I know things between you and the pack aren’t that great, but you have my word that things are changing. They can’t harm you anymore.”
I scoffed, “Oh, but they will try.”
“They would have to answer to the Council if they tried.”
“Please excuse me if I have a hard time believing you.” I knew the wolves that came here earlier. They would certainly hold to their word and would be back. It was a matter of when.
“I know it’s hard, but you’ll have to trust me at least to try and fix things. I heard that you are a powerful witch, and have experienced that myself,” he laughed. “My wish is for you and me, the pack, to become friends.”
“I will have to think about that.”
“Okay. That’s a start,” he chuckled. “May I please see the woman?”
“You may, but if you try anything—”
“I know,” he interrupted with a soft laugh, “you’ll hurt me.”
“You’re going to need clothes before you see her,” I pointed out.
“Oh, right,” he said, finally realizing that he was in the nude. He rubbed the palms of his hands against his legs and seemed as if he was a bit embarrassed, which was awkward for a werewolf. “Uh, I left my clothes back at the house.”
“I have some sweatpants that might fit you. Why did your brother put you in charge? You don’t seem like alpha material.”
“That’s because I’m not.” I held my hands up and he flinched. “I’m an omega,” he blurted.
I couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh. “Wow! I haven’t seen one of you in a while. I thought that’s what you were. You’re submissive.”
“Not completely,” he winked, and I got the impression he was trying to flirt with me.
“I’ll take you to see her,” I said, shaking my head in amusement.
I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I had seen an omega wolf. I think I was little and it was actually a woman. She had come to this sanctuary for help. She was one of the few who survived giving birth to another werewolf simply because she was one. Not many women shifted into wolf form. I was one of the few who could. Too many of us had blurred DNA that prevented a lot of things.
The only way you could become a werewolf was to be sired by one through breeding. When males began mating with human females, genetics began to thin out and pack numbers began to dwindle. It was one of the reasons why the New York pack’s alpha was trying to grow his numbers.
If the two-natured kind — shifters and weres — didn’t save their species, they were going to go extinct. In my opinion, that would be such a bad idea.