Why hello there! I do appreciate your feedback! This is un-edited due to my beta being off on winter vacation still.

Chapter 2

Three Days Earlier-

(Alfred POV)

I couldn't help but smile, though winter still caressed the forest and prey was sure to be scarce, the feeling of success nipped at the air. The wind opposed us, choosing to press east. Bare trees were scattered about, never aligning in some sort of pattern or shape, randomly dotting the landscape, our path thinning when the trees became denser, widening when they backed off. Thinner trees dangerously swayed, the last remains of snow falling from their branches, the force of hitting the ground carving small pockets into the thin layer below. The sky had not dropped frozen flakes in a few moons, allowing fresh tracks to be made, giving us the advantage during our 'outing' as you could say.

Once a decent ways into the forest, small groups split off into all directions, not a sound could be heard, wolves slinking towards no particular destination. The hunt was on, it was too bad that I didn't realize how much of a change would have started while I was out.

.

(Matthew POV)

No, no, no, no…

My mind screamed at me, panic settling itself in my stomach. Where was I? How long ago did I get off of pack territory? Every wolf was supposed to have the pack's area memorized at a young age, but from my knowledge of long ago, I was not in any know territory of my pack. The light bounced off the whiteness still piled on the branches and on the ground floor of the forest, small bits of leaves protruded out, obscuring the blanket of snow.

This wouldn't be a problem if you could sense it.

"I know." I mumbled back. "It isn't my problem that I can't." What is the use? That voice is never helpful with anything, always sitting back and watching me fail, criticizing every step I took. As if I didn't get enough of that from my pack members. "You know, you were quiet."

Yes, I was, but you messed up, so here I am. Great job.

With a sigh, I glanced around, all familiarity supposedly lost somewhere back along my tracks. My tracks. I turned around, small prints sat punctured into the snow from where I had previously walked. Just as a glimmer of hope decided to shine, a proverbial sledgehammer shattered it, who knew that fluffy pure snow could be so horrible? Large clumps of flakes floated down to the ground, quickly filling in the tracks. I glared at the sky, nearly unrecognizable due to the downpour.

Well isn't that nice.

"When will you ever shut up?" I dropped my head, blonde locks falling in front of my vision. Beneath the cloak, my fingers shook, twitching in annoyance. "Don't you have anything helpful to say? Any suggestions on how to get out of this situation?"

You want me to be helpful? Well, first off, you are incapable of smelling the scent of your territory, even if you could, you cannot transform, therefore you cannot run and get back to the pack house before morning, you cannot see through the blizzard of snow, so you won't know where you are going anyways, and did I forget to mention how you lack a sense of direction? You would get lost even if you did know which way to go, hell, even if breadcrumbs were left for you to follow, you would still get lost. You cannot hunt for food and without being near any form of civilization you will die. Your only chance of getting anywhere would be to choose a direction and start walking, you will die anyways. So as I see it, you are screwed.

The words that the voice said sunk in, my mind processing the facts and situations it brought up. "You are right." I wouldn't get far, but I might as well listen to what the voice says. I could not see more than a foot in any given direction, the light fading, rendering me nearly blind.

Start walking, I hope you make a good meal for birds.

The voice taunted. With one last look towards the sky, I began walking to whatever direction was to my left.

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*-* This is a time break *-*

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"Merde… You trees all look the same…" It had proven to be quite dull not knowing where I had been going. The receding area looked just the same as the new land that I had encountered. All just snow and trees, but darker, still illuminated by the moon that still had a chunk missing. The fear of dying had passed long ago, it was supposed to be human nature to do all you had to do to survive right? Well it didn't seem that way for me, there wasn't anything I could do but keep dragging my feet forward. Though the snow had stopped, there was no way of getting back now. Shouldn't I just stop now, there is no use.

Accepting defeat now? Already? You are just as pitiful as I thought.

"Not you again. It hasn't even been six hours!" I glanced to behind me, jumping slightly, a branch had fallen, leaving a crunched echo in it's midst. "Don't scare me like that."

Talking to trees now, eh? Isn't that entertaining. Got some imaginary friends to talk to? Oh wait, not even they want to associate with someone like you.

"Oh you seem giddy." I sarcastically replied, annoyed it had come back. "I am in the middle of something." I dragged my fingers along the bark of a tree as I passed by. The frost hardly affecting my already numb skin, I did not even feel the nipping of the night's wind. My lips cracked, a small trickle of blood seeping itself between the other various crevices of dry skin before sliding down my chin and onto the snow. I brought up my sleeve and wiped off the red, it blending into the cloak. My hands seemed to be in better condition than my lips, they being hidden beneath the folds clutched close, the wind searching but never reaching them. I could not feel them anymore than I could feel my feet, both still controlled by movement, yet the chill had thoroughly laid itself across my bones. My eyelids hung heavily, my eyes itchy and dead feeling, wanting to close and relish in the blissful darkness of sleep. A yawn blew out from between my clenched teeth, puffs of warm air clouding.

Tired are we now? Why don't you just lie down against one of those trees, fall asleep, forever. Your body would be frozen over when they find you, maybe you won't be found, some creature or another would have your body as a nice meal to get them through the winter. Wouldn't that be nice? A random animal does deserve life more than you right?

"No. I have to live." As strong as I tried to sound, my voice cracked. The hole where my heart would have been ate even more away at itself. Like the rest of my body, my emotions must have gone numb, the endless torments of the voice chipping away at my resolve once more.

Oh? Why is that? Why would you need to live?

The voice had a hint of curiosity, just barely there, still, the mocking tone stuck. "I... I have Alfred, he cares."

You mean the Lycanthrope King? He has responsibilities, they will have to give up on the search for you, if there is one. He has no time to deal with a weak waste of air and space. Like I said, wouldn't it be better if you just forever slept? Alfred would be better off, he wouldn't have a distraction like you in the way.

"But..." The hole in my chest only widened further, becoming heavier and heavier the bigger it got.

I am right, I can tell you agree. Leave this world.

My legs gave out, the snow caressing me, as if it was an advocate to the voice, trying to lull me to the never ending blackness that tempted me so. I clenched my eyes shut, tears leaking out, falling from my cheeks and onto the frozen snow. My mind tried to direct itself to one course, but a looming haze sat like a blanket over my thought process. Fatigue pulled at my shoulders.

"No." I whispered, opening up my eyes to glare at the area around me. "I won't give up so easily. I can't."

Yes you can. Just lie down.

"Shut up." I barked out, the paralanguage coming out in a roughness that surprised me. Once again I snapped. "Shut up. I said no. That means no amount of your persuasion can lead me towards something that might as well be suicide. I don't care how nice it sounds, nor how right you may be. I may not even have a proper reason for continuing, but I won't fall to your words. Never. I will not die until I cannot walk anymore, speak a wisp of plead, and my lungs collapse. You will not be my downfall." I pushed myself from the ground, snow falling from my shoulders, my legs shook, I dropped once more. Biting deep into my lower lip, I pushed up once more, stabilizing myself against a tree.

How brave. It is not I that draws you to your demise. You do.

"Now is not the time for riddles." I dragged myself through the dense forest once more. "Why do you haunt me?" I challenged the voice, if I was going to die, then I might as well get a few answers.

An interesting question. But before I answer, amuse me. Why do you keep talking to me? You could have just ignored my existence. You always answer back when you could choose not.

I paused, the voice seemed truly curious. Though I didn't have an answer. Why did I talk to him? Wait, what am I thinking? The voice is an it, it doesn't exist. "You are annoying, you always put me down. You mock me." The wind sped up, flurries wisping about in endless circles and erratic patterns.

Mock you? Why shouldn't I? You are pretty entertaining. Am I just the only one that talks to you?

Only one? I shook my head, stumbling. "No, I have Alfr-"

Alfred doesn't count.

The voice cut me off mid-sentence. "Then I have-"

The trees? Well you have thousands around you, have fun.

I stayed silent, wishing not to admit again that it was right. I really did have none other than it. Alfred hardly had time due to his duties, and the rest of the lycans looked down on me, never daring to speak up in my direction other than demeaning words that left their own scars. As overbearing and annoying as the voice was, it kept me busy. I had grown used to that same taunting laugh that showed up behind every step I took. With a sigh, I readied to answer, in return, getting one of my own.

I stopped my tracks. I squinted my eyelids, trying to convince myself that I was still awake. Between the clusters of whitened trees, a small flicker of light peeked out, pulling itself from behind the branches.

You got lucky.

Stumbling forward, I raced as fast as possible towards the light, weakly pushing away branches and twigs, I had slowly made it closer and closer. A soiled path of snow left behind me, like a large crack in the scenery. The forest had cleared, myself ending up at the edge of what looked like a nearly empty market. I rarely was allowed to any wolf driven villages, but when I was I was kept close to Alfred, seeing very little of where I was. Foreign sights put me on edge, the unknown land sent a shock through my still-numbed mind. I pushed the hair from my face, drawing my vision in a wider arch around the area.

Small shops sat scattered about, barely illuminated by a few torches slowly dying outside of them. One or two villagers passed, causing me to flinch back. I had no idea where I was nor did I know how far I had gone from home. Stones crunched underfoot, displacing when my weight shifted from one foot to the other.

Pressure placed itself onto my shoulder and I spun around, facing a shadowed figure hidden beneath a large cloak. With a step back, I clenched the cape further to myself. He flicked back the hood that had withheld his identity. Hair as silver as the moon messily sat atop the head of one of the most beautiful men that I had ever seen. The crimson of his eyes, matching that of blood, a rim of gold haloing his iris, stood out, complimented by the gentle paleness of his skin. I had to look up at his taller stature, feeling lowly to his firm standing. My heart hammered in my chest, out of fear or panic, I would never know.

And like draping silk over words, he spoke. "Hallo, my name is Gilbert."