Trust Chapter 1
I've been trying to hold off on this one until I finished my other two stories, but the thoughts keep spilling out of my head and on to the paper! So this is a story about two actual wolves that have been separated from their pack by aerial hunters (Shame on you, Sarah Palin!) One is a female and the other is a pup that she rescued when her pack was killed. The two somehow end up in Beacon Hills, where Derek takes it upon himself to be their guide. There'll be some twists, turns, and Stiles (I couldn't write a Teen Wolf fic without him even if I tried). Set at the beginning of season two but probably won't follow the show all that much. Thank you for reading and please review if you love, hate or want to offer some constructive criticism.
Early spring, 2012. Just outside of the village of Cantwell, Alaska…
The pack ran as fast as their legs could carry them, hearts pounding in their chests. Puffs of mist emerged from their snouts as their bodies exerted every ounce of energy they possessed. The machines were back. And with it they brought only death and destruction. She ran along the sides and front of the pack, trying desperately to protect her alphas. The snow crunched below her paws, her body moving purely by instinct.
The helicopter emerged above the trees. She didn't have time to look above her, but she already knew what she'd find if she did. The humans would be there, carefully aiming their weapons at her family. At her.
The alphas yipped and continued on their path, trying to find a suitable place to hide their pack from the bullets. They each carried one of their beloved pups in their jaws, as the baby wolves were way too young to be without the protection of their parents.
She obediently followed her leaders, using her body as a shield for her alphas and their two young pups. The pack ran and ran. She looked at her brother, who followed on the opposite side of the pack. He was strong and had managed to escape dozens of aerial hunts unscathed. She hoped that today would be no different.
However, her hopes would never come to fruition. The first bullet hit the snow just inches from her paws. A second grazed her, shaving her thick fur from her body. She felt the heat of the bullet so close to her skin and ran even faster.
She heard another bullet, and then another. She moved her body in a zigzag pattern in an attempt to avoid being pierced by the evil little instruments. She heard a yelp to her right as one of her pack took a bullet to the neck. Looking back, she saw her pack mate's spirit already escaping her body. A small part of her died with the fallen wolf. Yet, she continued on, her female alpha just to her right. She made her way closer, hoping any bullet meant for her alpha would hit her instead.
The pack made their way down a steep hill and rested there, thinking that the helicopter would never be able to navigate through the small area. They panted as their bodies tried to recover from the exertion. She went close to her alpha's pups and licked their heads, trying to soothe them. The alpha male bumped her with his muzzle to show his appreciation for her efforts. She responded in kind.
Her brother rested just feet away from her, his ribs expanding and contracting as he breathed heavily. All was quiet for a few long moments.
Just then, the helicopter split through the trees and two armed men aimed their guns at the pack. The wolves tried desperately to make their way back up the snowy hill, but it was in vain. She watched as the bullets pierced through the heads of her two alphas, spraying her fur with red blood. She instinctively jumped on top of one of the pups, the male, and prayed that her body would be an appropriate barrier from the deadly shells.
She cried out when her brother landed in front of her, his blood staining the pure white snow. The female pup that he tried to save lay dead in his mouth. Her brother's eyes were still open but he was gone. She looked around and saw that her entire pack was down. There were no more yelps of pain. There was only the sound of the helicopter, hanging as a horrid, stinging insect in the air. Only the helicopter. She looked out at the two humans who were responsible for her pack's destruction. They reloaded their weapons with uncaring eyes. Soon they would be aiming at her and the newly orphaned pup. She listened to the sounds of the magazines being inserted. Her heart stung with grief and part of her hoped that a bullet would soon put her out of her misery.
But there was the pup to worry about now. The little wolf's father and mother were dead and she was the only one left to care for him. No, a bullet couldn't hit her. Not today. She swiftly got to her feet and gently took the pup in her jaws. She bolted, not knowing where she was going or what she'd do once she arrived at her destination but she ran. She ran with everything she had.
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Six months later…
The pup nudged her impatiently. Her eyes slid open, and she lovingly licked the young male's head. He looked at her with wide grey eyes, having shed his puppy blue shade months earlier. She observed him, noting the dark color of his fur. He'd be either a slate grey shade or even black in his adulthood, which was still a year and a half away. She'd taken to calling him Miki for "little one". However, that name was unlikely to stick as the pup was growing by leaps and bounds.
She had been known as Sura to her pack. However, she felt nameless of late, with no other adult wolf to bond with. She felt the warm sun on her back and basked in its illumination. The four-year-old female was a true grey wolf, her silvery fur thick and luxurious. Her eyes were golden yellow and shaped like almonds. She had large paws and long legs. Those attributes, coupled with her unmatched speed and strong jaw made her a formidable hunter.
Miki and Sura's journey had been long and arduous, leading them from Alaska to northern California. However, it was worth it, as Sura knew that she and Miki had to get out of Alaska and away from the vicious killings suffered by her pack and many other wolves.
Miki was now old enough to move on his own without Sura's assistance. He was quickly mastering his hunting skills. Of course, his kills consisted of large insects and small rodents, while Sura always snagged something much more appetizing, but he was certainly coming into his own as a hunter under Sura's guidance.
The two wolves thoroughly enjoyed California, mostly because they were not hunted there like they were in Alaska. In addition, the weather was much more pleasant, allowing Sura and Miki to sleep outside and not have to be concerned with constructing dens to protect themselves from the elements.
And the hunting was fantastic! Sura and Miki enjoyed the California cuisine of several different kinds of rabbits, kangaroo rats, deer, opossums and a myriad of other tasty mammals to munch on. The area that they currently called home was a small California town with plenty of woods. The two wolves were content in their surroundings and planned to stay put.
Sura lifted herself up and enjoyed a long stretch before shaking off any dirt and sand that may have clung to her fur. Miki mimicked her as any normally developing wolf would. It wasn't long before they set out for the day.
Their first stop was a quick drink at their favorite watering hole. The humans called it Diamond Hill Brook, but Sura and Miki knew of no such names. They simply loved the cool, trickling water. It was crisp and delicious and always provided the wolves with much needed hydration. Next, it was off to scare up a few rabbits for breakfast. Sura knew just where to go.
Using their superior noses, the two headed east towards an old mine. The pair trotted along, with Miki nipping at Sura's heels in an attempt to keep up with her long legs. Of course, the female would never leave the young male behind. However, she did challenge him daily to toughen him up. After all, now that his father was deceased, he would be the new alpha of their very small pack. Miki would need to be able to play the role of leader in the near future.
As they passed the entrance to the mine, they hopped over a hill and saw their favorite meadow. The pair slunk down low. There, they would wait patiently for some warm-blooded creature to make its way into their path.
The day moved rather slowly, but Sura didn't mind. The weather was simply lovely and Miki was showing great patience, despite the rumble in his little belly. The two dozed in the sun, keeping their ears and noses attuned to their breakfast…or lunch depending on how long they'd have to wait.
After ten, Sura and Miki's ears perked up. They lifted their heads, both blinking in disbelief. A herd of deer was slowly making their way into the field. The wolves silently rejoiced and Sura was excited to show Miki how to take down a large animal.
The two began the first stage of the hunt…closing the gap between themselves and their prey without alerting their meal of any danger. They crouched down low to their bellies and moved soundlessly through the meadow, thankful for the long dainty wildflowers that concealed them.
Once close enough to the deer, Sura stood, allowing the animals to view her. At first, they froze. Sura became nervous of a standoff. They had to run for her to be able to attack. They had to bolt or all would be lost. Sura stood back and waited, hearing the rapid heartbeats of the herd. She eyed a doe in the front. The doe's nose nervously twitched and her legs trembled above her hooves. Just one little movement would cause the entire herd to spring into action. Sura locked eyes with the doe, urging her to run.
She wasn't disappointed. The young doe sprang forward, causing the rest of the herd to follow suit. Sura excitedly gave chase with Miki anxiously following behind. Sura's paws moved expertly along the ground, her heartbeat illustrating her fervor.
She locked on to her target, another young doe. Sura pushed herself just a little harder until she was snapping her jaws at the neck of the animal. However, she couldn't quite get her teeth into the doe's neck. The herd breathed heavily as they moved into the woods. Their bodies worked in conjunction with each other, a natural protective instinct driving them forward.
Sura once again leapt, successfully reaching the animal's neck but she bit down one second too late and the creature once again eluded her. Sura soon felt movement near her right. Another hunter was in her midst. At first she mistook the predator for Miki, but he was moving too fast and sported the thick musk of an alpha. She nearly stopped in her tracks when she finally caught sight of the being.
It was a man! However, the man ran on all fours like a wolf and his scent was clearly canine. His eyes glowed red and he opened his jaws wide. His intended victim was Sura's doe.
What nerve! He was stealing her kill! Sura pushed herself even harder, now intent on getting that doe first. And when she did, she'd be damned if she shared, especially with a human! Sura grunted as she leapt in the air, now sinking her massive jaws into the doe's neck. However, she wasn't alone. The man/wolf had a firm grip on the doe as well. The deer fell to the ground, it's killer's staring each other down as the animal twitched in the throes of death.
When the doe finally ceased her movements, the two predators released her. Fresh blood clung to both their mouths. The man/wolf's face was strange. His brow was sloped and his ears were nearly as large as Sura's. He had huge fangs and sharp claws. She watched him with her ears facing forward, letting him know she wouldn't back down, despite his scent clearly indicating that he was an alpha male. But how was that possible? Humans weren't wolves and vice versa. Something was clearly very wrong with the creature.
Miki approached to the left and made a whining sound to signal his curiosity. When the man/wolf saw Miki's smaller form, he suddenly shifted. His ears, claws and teeth retracted. Sura jumped back in shock, her fur prickling. She growled in warning, moving her body protectively in front of Miki.
However, the pup was decidedly fascinated by the man and tried to edge closer to him. Sura yipped at him and offered a low growl, letting Miki know that he would not be allowed any closer. She snarled at the man, retracting her tongue and keeping her tail high.
The man wiped the blood from his lips. "It's okay," he said. "I was just trying to help you catch the doe," he said backing away. "She's all yours." He moved a few feet away and sat down.
Sura and Miki cautiously ate the kill, the man watching them the entire time. Occasionally he'd speak to the pair. "Why aren't you shifting back?" he asked them.
Sura was unsure of what he was saying. She didn't know what shifting meant. Perhaps it meant to change, like he could, which to Sura sounded utterly fantastical and impossible. When the two wolves were done with their meal, they sat on the ground, grooming themselves and each other. The man continued to watch them quietly.
Once their snouts and paws were cleaned of blood and meat, Sura stood up. Miki stayed close by her side. He whimpered in protest as Sura turned to go back to their home beyond the mine. She stopped and looked at the man. She rather liked his green eyes and dark hair. And he seemed to have a kindness to him. However, humans could be so dangerous. It seemed as if all they wanted to do was kill. She'd worked too hard and come too far only to fall into some human's trap. She turned again.
"Wait," he said. "If you're afraid to shift because you're naked it's okay." He took off his coat and shirt and threw them towards the two wolves. "Here. You can wear my clothes. I don't mind."
Had she the ability to laugh, she would have guffawed until her stomach hurt. A wolf wearing a human's clothes? That would be downright hysterical. She simply cocked her head to the side in confusion, as did Miki.
Sura observed the man's bare chest. She often wondered why humans insisted on wearing clothing. Their bodies were so much more beautiful when they were naked. And it was easier to get their scents without layers of fabric masking them. She took his gesture as one of kindness, even though it thoroughly confused her. Not wanting to insult him, she stepped forward and sniffed his clothing. His scent was pleasant, although she could have done without the powerful fragrance of deodorant.
Satisfied that she'd appeased him, she again turned to leave. "Still won't shift, huh?" he asked.
He was back on that again. Why would he want her to shift when she clearly couldn't? She looked over at Miki who seemed just as befuddled as she was. Despite their growing interest in the man/wolf, they both decided it was best to retreat. The two took one last look at the green-eyed man before trotting back to the woods.
"Nice to meet you too!" he called behind them. He sighed at their retreating tails. He had a hunch that there was another pack in the woods but their chance meeting was surprising. The older wolf was a female and obviously an alpha if she could shift to true wolf form. The pup was alpha too, perhaps the female's son. The thought alone fascinated him. His sister, Laura, was born alpha but never made the complete Change until she was in her early teens. The little pup could be a child as young as even six.
He wished they'd shifted for him, but it was understandable that a female would be somewhat bashful in front of a male, especially one she'd never met before. Perhaps she would begin to warm up during their next meeting. He reveled in the thought of seeing them both again, maybe even to shift into wolf form himself and run with them. The excitement began to bubble inside of him. He took his phone from his jeans and suddenly frowned. He had a lack of contacts to share his exciting news with. He sighed, dialing the number of the only person he knew with childlike enthusiasm. He held the phone to his ear. "Stiles? Hey, it's Derek."