Blood. Meat. Standing hurt, but hunger pulled me forward. I devoured the cool flesh. Tastes better hot. Still squirming. I licked my muzzle clean and searched for an escape. A box that smelled of Pack. Alan. Mickayla. Angus. Mine.
"Ellie." My ears swiveled toward the door. Alpha. I answered with a yip. "Stop pacing or you'll hurt yourself."
He was out there. I wanted out. I scratched at the door. "Ellie, calm down." He was closer. I could smell him. He smelled so good. Like home. I threw my good shoulder into the door to show what I wanted. Sharp twinges ran down my sides in protest.
"Stop," the Alpha said sharply. I whined and pawed at the door again. Light flooded in when it opened. He crouched to look me in the eye. I stared for a second before shoving my head into his chest to inhale his scent. Mine.
"You are beautiful," he whispered and buried his fingers in my ruff, quickly finding all the itchy and good spots that soon had my tongue lolling out of my mouth in sheer bliss. "Who knew you'd be more biddable as a wolf?" He laughed when I gave a cursory growl, my thumping tail giving me away.
"Well, you did eat all your dinner. Are you going to be a good girl?" He chuckled when I pulled away from his wonderful hands to stare at his nose in disdain. "Remember, no eating the humans." He stood and I bumped his leg with a hip in agreement. My stomach was full anyway.
My Alpha patiently slowed so I could limp up the stairs, leaning on him as needed. The pack was playing a card game in the living room. I pressed my unhurt side against him when they fell silent to stare at me. Someone gave a long whistle that sent my ears back. My Alpha glared at the offender.
"Hey gorgeous," Mickayla called out. "Come sit by me." I glanced up at him. He nudged me towards her with a knee. "We should put your name on your collar as 'Comet'." She drew a line down her nose.
"Or Pepper," someone suggested.
"She's silvery grey with a teardrop of black on her nose and some on her rump like someone dumped pepper all over," Tom explained to the witch, who laughed.
The pack smelled different. More scents. Couldn't sit still. It was like I'd never met them before. They laughed, ignored, nudged, or petted me as I circled to sniff everyone in turn. Even the human mates. Mickayla and Alan taught me that belly rubs are wondrous things. When I carefully rolled to my feet again, I looked for my Alpha.
The witch was touching him. Her hand was on his arm. He was mine. A snarl lifted my upper lip and my legs tensed under me. A hand grabbed my ruff firmly. So tight I couldn't turn to snap at it.
"Stop it," Mickayla hissed. "Unless you want to go back in time out?" I lowered my head and rolled my eyes up to her in contrition. She held my gaze until I looked away, then released me.
The witch was no longer touching my Alpha. I yawned, but didn't fully relax until the witch and her mate left.
A vibration in my pocket notified me of an incoming call. One glance at the caller ID and I quickly strode outside. Not that I was concerned with the pack overhearing the conversation. I was more concerned with Bran being subjected to the game of Cards Against Humanity that was happening in the living room.
"Good evening, Marrock," I answered respectfully.
"Charles and Anna tracked the Lone out of the mountains, where he appears to have taken a vehicle," he said without preamble.
"You believe he's following Ellie," I said, trying to ignore the ice quickly filling my veins. Sometimes, in the beginning, wolves are drawn to the people they Change. The strength of the bond can vary according to the strength of the people involved and any pre-existing relationship between the two. If John was using this connection, then it wouldn't be difficult to trace her steps until within range to sense the link and find her.
"They're following the route that she took," Bran said in echo of my thoughts. Some believed him to be a mind reader. I preferred to think of it as clever deduction. "It would be foolish to assume that he hasn't heard of the new wolf simply because he's been in the hinterlands." The online message boards and email lists were full of this latest gossip. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if news of the day's events were already circulating.
"I'll put the pack on alert," I assured him. "But not Ellie."
"You think she might run again?"
"Quite frankly, she's difficult to anticipate," I said dryly.
"Such as doing donuts with a blind witch behind the wheel?" the Marrock asked in amusement, confirming the speed of the rumour mill. "Colin's recovered from his fit of pique after hearing of her escapades. I believe his exact words were 'Good luck to the poor bastard.' Perhaps it was best if she came to Montana after Charles finds the Lone." That manipulative old wolf wanted to use her as bait to catch John. My hackles bristled at the thought.
"She's settling in quite well, despite her impulsive nature," I replied as smoothly as I could manage. "After all, she's hardly climbing giant cranes or 'borrowing' Lamborghinis."
"But she is growling at humans." I was going to dock the ears and tail of whomever spread that tale.
"I believe it was protective instincts coming into play as I was escorting Moira to her seat." At least, that was what I hoped was the case, yet there was no way of knowing for certain until morning. "You know how the smell of magic can trigger these sort of things in those who are unaccustomed to it."
"I see." Although his expression would undoubtedly be impassive, I desperately wanted to see his face to try and determine what was going on behind those two words. "Keep me updated," he said before ending the call in his customary, if abrupt, manner.