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Well here you go chapter 2, I hope you enjoy! Please review. =]*
Chapter 2
A blood curdling scream pieced my ears. I'm positive my entire clan heard it also from the rage spike in the air. Somebody is undeniably being attacked and in desperate need of help. My guess; its rogue wolf's meal time and they have their sights set on a defenseless female just like the last. These attacks have been happening on my grounds a lot over the past few months. Seven to be exact, seven murders of vulnerable unarmed teenage girls all found gutted; literally eaten alive. Rouges' aim for the weak like the cowards they are. I have no idea how many dangerous wolves there are roaming my woods; I've never been able to track any of them.
All the assaults have been the same except the first, at least to my knowledge it was the first. Kurt is the product of an over eager rouge. Thank god for Harmony being so close to the attack sight or else Kurt would not be here today. He tried to fight but was obviously outmatched. He did partially save his life with his attempts to escape but Harmony was the one to fight the deranged wolf till it pulled a low blow and broke her leg with its teeth automatically giving it enough time to run away. The damage was already done though; the rouge had already taken a good few bites at Kurt causing enough damage to take his life. By the time I arrived his heartbeat was very dull and almost nonexistent so I made a choice; that night I claimed Kurt as my own, his wolf as my pack and not long after he became my trusted Third.
Changing a human can be risky because the transition is unnatural, unlike when a pup turns for the first time. Human is not built to change into wolf like a cub born; it's in our DNA to become what nature intended us to. The act of converting only happens so often because it doesn't need to happen. The only time it's recommended is when a mate is human like with Holly and Will. The mating bond will never be completed unless both parties are wolf. An uncompleted mating bond is unfulfilling but it is a human's choice to change; it would never be forced unless deemed needed like in Kurts case.
The oddest thing about the attacks is the fact I can't pick up on their scent, it's as if they don't have one. The only aroma left behind is pack which makes no sense because my circle does not feed on human flesh. Once a human is tasted out of hunger its marks the creature and stays with them forever as if that human is imbedded within the beasts' soul as a reminder of the cruel deed committed. A wolf loses its self this way; it turns from a protector to aggressor.
I take off full speed in the direction of the growing calls of distress. Leaping over tree trucks and offending rocks along the way. I have get there in time; I need to stop this attack. These woods are my own and it's my duty to keep order within the compounds. It is my obligation to protect my wolves but it's also my duty to protect the humans within the Lima territory. Other packs must know of these indiscretions. I am the black wolf, I am the strongest Alpha today and that means so little because of my inability to rule correctly. The enemy must be eradicated. Order must be restored.
The fear in the air has elevated. Another has become panic-stricken; one of my own is scared. Quinn's heartbeat is escalated from the fear that suddenly pledges her. A wolf does not get scared easily; some even come to their death without as much as a care. For Quinn to be on edge there's more to this attack then meets the eye right away. There's anger hidden beneath my Seconds fear. She wants a battle but is scared. Little makes sense. Quinn's pheromone release is causing the rest of the pack to feel uneasy.
"San it has Rachel, it's going to kill my mate!" I hear within the confines of my mind.
The situation just took a turn for the worst. When a wolf's mate is put to rest soon after its partner is also. A mate is not just a soul mate, it's part of you. They share a single soul and when one dies the other wants nothing more than the same. Pain is literally shared but felt equally. There is no greater bond than the one of mates. Cubs bond to their mother but on the level. Losing Berry means losing Quinn and losing a part of me as well. I marked her as my pack and I carry her with me just as she carries her Alpha. Quinn's fear is not for herself, it's for the life of her future.
"She's still alive and I'm not far from her." I inform
"I'll be there first Alpha, the rouges' life is mine!" Quinn conveys.
Fear shifts to anger in the matter of shear seconds. She's there; she found the rouge and Rachel and is now going into frenzy. The battle lines have been drawn and tonight blood will be shed even if it's my own. Growls fill the night and I tell my clan to stand down, this is not their place even if their instincts are to protect their Alpha and Second. This battle is Quinns or my own. The wolf challenged us both by killing on my land and going after my Seconds mate.
With a last hurdle I'm at the area of attack. My eyes first land upon the offender; a large brown wolf hovering over a horrified and slightly cut up Rachel Berry. She appears to be unharmed from how little blood I can smell. The rouge was playing with her, enjoying her cries. He was playing with his food. The thing standing in front of me isn't a wolf, this is a wild animal. A wolf wouldn't take joy out of ones suffering.
The beast knows we are here and it's apparent it doesn't care but likes the attention it's receiving. It licks one of Berrys cuts and Quinn snarls but doesn't lunge. Making the wrong move right now could easily cause Rachel's death. The creature fires of an almost mocking growl in return and nips at Berrys neck but doesn't bite, it clearly wants to taunt us. The animal wants to play games so that's just what we'll do.
"You distract it by running in its line of sight catching its attention while I round in on it from behind then go in for the attack." I transmit to Quinn.
"No. I will take down this thing, you can distract it." She argues while Berrys lets out cries as the beast makes a new slice into her arms.
"You'll kill it Quinn and I need it alive, do as I say Second." I ordered.
Before I can get a response I see the animal go to strike Rachels shoulder. Everything turns slow motion while I watch helplessly as the beast goes in for the kill. This was a meal to the rouge now its become a statement. There's no emotion but hate radiating off animal, my guess; self-hatred more than anything else. The sight before me is one of which an eye never wishes to see. Howls of pain come scattered throughout the forest. This stopped being my fight the moment the rouge bit into another weres mate.
The gray wolf acts quickly and lunges at the attacker efficiently knocking it to the ground. With the rouge pinned beneath her, Quinn snap her jaw around the beasts neck. The mutt cries out in pain and my Second only digs her teeth deeper and pulls ending in ripping its neck open spreading a red sea along the soil below. The gray wolf walks away leaving the rouge to slowly die lying beneath the midnight moon. The battle is over almost too soon.
During the altercation I see to Rachel. The wound is deep and bleeding out. She's still conscience and staring up at me frightfully like I've come to finish the job. I nudge her hand with my paw to indicate I mean no harm to her but she still looks nervous. Her eyes are unfocused and seem to travel between myself and the fight behind. Her heart beat is off the chart which is resulting in her blood flow escalating; meaning its making her bleed out faster. I have to get her to calm down so I lie down beside her and cuddle into her. She doesn't respond at first but then she sinks into me while breathing deeply almost like she's trying to will her heart to rest.
Quinn's wolf starts to run our way but by the time she got to us she was in her own skin. With me blocking Rachels view she didn't see the transition take place. I would have shifted myself but it is Quinns place to reveal our kind to her mate not my own.
"Rachel, are you okay?" Quinn says while kneeling on the ground.
Berry goes stiff then peaks over my back.
"Quinn? What are you….you're naked." Rachel states with wide eyes and I huff.
"You're bleeding; let me see your shoulder." Quinn ignores the previous statement.
Quinn takes Rachels arm and inspects her shoulder blade, growling as reviewing the damage. Her rage picks up once more and she jumps to her feet startling the injured girl. At inhuman speed she runs back to the now convulsing animal; takes it by the head and snaps its neck in three second flat. I forget Quinn can be that fast when she pissed.
I hear a gasped and Rachels heart beat has spiked again.
"Qu..Quinn." Berry says shakily.
I stay put and listen intently to the scene playing out before me. This should be interesting. It just needs to be fast, choices must be made. Too much blood has been lost at this point. Pretty soon Rachels going to pass out and then her choice will be taken from her. If she says no then we will be forced to let her die or try our best to get her help which the chances are highly unlikely. We are in the middle of the woods during the unholy hours, nobody is around to help.
"Quinn you need to ask her, ask her if she wants to change and if she doesn't there's nothing we can do, understand that. Now do it and fast she's growing weaker by the moment. Inform her of the mating bond also so she has a choice on me or you change her." I order and she stares at me for a moment then returns her sights to a timid Rachel.
Quinn wasn't ready for this; none of us are. She wanted to wait build a friendship with the girl first before saying, "hey I'm a werewolf and am in love with you now let me bite you so we can spend eternity together". I feel my Seconds confliction; it's either turn or die at this point and her hearts breaking. Who knows if Berry would even want to be one of us? Quinn only found out today who her mate is and now she has a good chance of losing her. How did this even happen? Why would Berry be in the woods at this time?
If Quinn is the one to change Rachel then she'd complete the mating bond skipping right over imprinting which is rare but not unheard of. Imprinting is a simple bite to break the skin, it marks them and informs other wolfs that you're taken but the mating bond is almost the same as changing a human. The mating bond is a deeper bite and a lick to the wound to seal the deal, only one party must to do but both can if so chosen. The changing process is normally only performed by an Alpha that's way the mating bond doesn't occur. An Alpha has to mark a newly turned wolf as their own so during the process of the bite instead of claiming as my mate, I claim as my pack. When the bite happens the were gene is released into the blood stream and starts to break the human structure down right away causing extreme pain. They have their first change right away. Also the mating bond bite must be directly over the heart, a symbol of sorts. It's been that way since the beginning of our kind.
"Rachel, listen to me I don't have much time because of how much blood you're losing. You have a choice to become a wolf like myself and Santana who you are currently laying on. You are my mate which means you're my soul mate. That's why you've been drawn to me all day. If I change you then the mating bond will be complete and I will be yours forever. You can also have Santana change you and the mating bond will not be able to be performed for some time due to you being a newly changed and still partially human. That would drive the both of us insane. You can also choose to not be changed which would result in your death. I am so sorry Rachel I should have been here sooner." Quinn rushes out with tears streaming down her face.
I remove myself from under Rachel and transform while she watches on. Her eyes bulge at the sight of my deforming figure. Showing is the only way to really prove Quinn's words.
"Berry you don't have much time, either have Quinn change you and live happily ever after, have me change you and need to wait till your full wolf to mate or you could let yourself die." I say bluntly. This is no time to sugarcoat things. She's dying.
"A werewolf? You want me to be a wolf? This isn't real; this is a dream….. Speaking of dreams I'm tired." She says and her eyes drop.
"Rach!" Quinn shakes her awake.
"Quinn, Me, or No? Choose now Rachel!" I shout to keep her awake.
She's now lying limp in my Seconds arms and her heartbeat is descending. She's not answering the question and I can't let her die so I let my wolf teeth descend. As I'm about to bite into her arms I'm stopped by a jerk of the wrist.
"No." She says so quietly.
Quinn breaks down and loses it. She screams into the night. My pack follows suit and howls in irony at the moon. Rachel choose death over being one of us. She'd rather die than be a creature of the night. My heart breaks for my best friend and I'm scared for what's to come after this. I can't lose my Second, my best friend, I can't lose Quinn.
The tears start to drop from my own eyes and I can't help thinking how things will never be the same after this. We're still pups, this is all too new for all of us. Half of my pack only turned over the summer, including myself. We're too young to lose not one but two of our clan. Even if Rachel is human she's still a part of us because she's a part of Quinn. This is all so unfair. Why would Berry want to die? I'm knocked out of my thoughts by another wrist jerk
"Quinn." Rachel says suddenly and I can't believe it.
Quinn lets out a watery laugh and I follow suit. I want to jump for joy. She wants the mate bond. She wasn't rejecting the wolf she just wants her mate to do the honors.
I step back and give Quinn room. I inform the rest of the pack to go home expect for Kurt who I need here to take his rightful place as my Third while greeting a new pack mate. It also will be good to have him here seeing as though this is almost exactly what he went through and I need his insight.
Without a second to waste Quinn brings Rachel's limp body to her lips and breaks the skin on the left side of her chest. I see Quinn's eyes roll to the beck of her head as she releases the wolf gene into Rachels system. The brunette instantly starts to convulse in her arms. The bite is complete as well as the bond. I quickly nip her skin and mark her as pack. Quinn releases her and gently lays her on the soil to let the transformation begin.
An unmarked wolf is rouge. Mike and Artie were both rouge at one point but they never hunted human, just small forest animals. I don't want Rachel coming into her new skin as unpacked wolf which is why I bite her right after Quinn.
Kurt arrives shortly after the first cries of pain escape the changing human. I can feel the hurt but not like her mate, she feels everything Rachel does. When the pain really started to kick in Quinn gently placed Rachels shacking body on the forest floor and curled right up next to her to endure the shared pain. I know it's a little messed up of me to be thinking but I can't help myself, this has to really suck for Quinn. It's like experiencing you're first shift all over again. That pain was something I didn't even think I could make it through the first time but just imagine doing it a second. Oh hell no, my mate; if I even have one; better be a wolf.
"It shouldn't be long now Alpha." I nod in agreement
I hear the snap of Rachels back bone and Quinn screams. She's shifting. Her face is contorted and her cloths start ripping. Her hands are no longer her own, they are wolf. Her eyes shine an almost reddish color and with one last snap and light brown wolf lies where once was human flesh. Quinn sighs in relief and whips her tears while the wolf sleeps. The hard part is over.
"She'll wake up soon and when she does she'll be disoriented and on the verge of frenzy. As her mate you must never leave her side. She'll look for you first." I inform Quinn and she nods.
An incubation period is the process in which a humans completing the transition. I've only seen this happen once because I was an early adolescent during Wills change. Rachel may look like one of us but she's not, her DNA is still human and needs to modify into wolf. The transformation has only thus far been external; she lacks the abilities that come with her wolf. Her light brown fur is common amongst our kind but it does single she's strong, the red eyes are something to watch out for though. Red eye wolfs are known for being too clever for their own good; they get themselves into dangerous situations easily because they think they can't be wrong. Of course Berry would be a red eyed wolf.
Two hours have passed when Rachel finally begins to stir. She wakes with a start knocking Quinn to the ground during the swift move. The cub is understandably confused. While the light wolf is taking in the surroundings Kurt takes the liberty to help Quinn to her feet. A huge mistake. As soon as his hand touches Quinns there an angry growl released from the pup. It was an instinctive act just like how she next hurls herself in his direction. He's thrown to the dirt easily. He should have known better than touch a newly mated wolf, even if it was only for helpful purposes.
"Pup, release him now!" I let my Alpha show through. She knows who I am, when I marked her as pack the knowledge was passed to her; it's in her blood.
She back turns and looks at me with shocked eyes like she can't believe she just attacked Kurt. Her thoughts are still hers, she knows us, it's not like she got replaced by an animal. No, she's still Rachel Berry but just now with a new twist. She looks back down at the boy beneath her and shakes her head slowly backing away from him.
"I can't believe I just attacked Kurt." She says in her head, she doesn't know that we all can hear this, even pack that isn't here can. She'll need to learn how to block them from being heard without her wanting them to, the only ones she can't block is Quinn and I. The other wolfs will just have to block her thoughts from invading their minds for the time being.
"It's alright pup, he touched what's not his, and he should have known better, right Third?" He bows his head in shame.
"How did she know what I was thinking? Wow everything is so clear. What is that enchanting aroma? God it's hypnotizing." She continues to herself while sniffing the air.
"We can hear you; the entire pack can hear what you're thinking. You'll learn to control it in time; as for everything being so enhanced that's going to take some getting used to pup. That smell you're thinking about is a rabbit or some other forest like inhibiter, it could also be Quinn. I don't know I don't have your nose." I inform her a bit sarcastically.
"You can hear my thoughts? Why? How? And I feel empty and guilty, why?" She thinks frantically.
"You're a wolf Rachel, just like myself, Kurt, and Quinn. You're pack which means in a way we're family. You'll always be able to reach anyone of us just by thinking. It takes some time to learn to control. I am your Alpha, Quinn our Second, Kurt our Third. You already know that though, it's built in your DNA. The next few weeks are going to be a lot for you but the clan will stand behind you. You're one of us and that bond can never been broken. Feelings may not be your own, we share feelings. What you feel I can also on some level. There are some things that your mate will need to explain to you, it's not my place. My place is to show you the way of the wolf, your mate will teach you anything else." I give the long winded speak. It's fairly similar to the one I gave Kurt; besides the mate part.
It's clear the Quinn feels guilty for what happened to Rachel. She has yet to say anything; she's just standing there watching with a slaking face and arms wrapped tightly around herself. She's near frenzy from being too far from Rachel, but she's not showing it at all. Of course now she'd learn control and not when it really mattered like earlier.
Even though the rouge deserved to die I still needed it alive. I could have used it to track the other murders walking my woods. The crazy thing is that the creature was drenched in Quinns scent before we even got there which explains why I only smelled my pack after each attack. The beasts were stealing our smells as their own. I didn't even know that was possible. I must speak with my father about it during a later time.
Rachel's wolf turns toward the blonde and doesn't even so much as hesitate in approaching her. The pup stops before her mate and stares like she's just found the secret to life. Her feelings are going mad, her adrenaline is high. She may have known Quinn for years but she really hasn't met her till now. Theirs eyes remain locked as the blonde lifts her hand and brings it to her mates head. She strokes her fur and the wolf whimpers in enjoyment. I see tears form in Quinn's eyes.
"I'm so sorry Rachel; it wasn't supposed to be this way. I should have gotten here sooner; I should have stopped the rouge faster. I'm supposed to protect you and I didn't. I understand if you hate me." Quinn says and I can't help but feelings like I'm intruding on their private moment.
"The empty feeling is gone." Is the only reply she gets and Quinn gives a slight laugh while continuing stocking behind the brown wolfs ear.
"Rach, I got cloths if you want to change back. I really think you should call your fathers before they send out a search party and find their wolf daughter." Kurt reasons. He's right that would be bad.
"I don't know how to do that." She thinks while still focused on the hand still running behind her ear.
"Quinn instead of petting your new pet why don't you teach her what she needs to know, come on we don't have all night." I huff out, honestly I'm tired. We had school yesterday and we have to school in about another 4 hours again. I really need some sleep.
"Okay Rach, just breathe, picture yourself. Picture your skin, your hands, feet, beautiful face and breathtaking eyes. It will come. Just do it. I'm right here." Did she really have to flirt with her while explaining that? It's bad enough I can't take joy out of making her life hell anymore, now I have to watch this. Who am I kidding? I know I'm happy for Quinn. Welcoming Rachel into the pack will be easy even if she is annoying as hangnail.
After a few sort moments I see the lone wolf form start to contort and become replaced with the nude figure of Rachel Berry. She's shaking slightly not from the cold but from the work she just did. Shifting back the first time is draining. Quinn's cheeks tint and her heart beat goes wild as she averts her eyes out of respect to her mate. Rachel dresses quickly and reaches for Quinns hand needing the contact.
"I can't not touch you; it hurts to not be touching you. Is that normal?" She asks and Quinns looks to me not knowing the answer and she probably has the same question.
"Yeah it is, from what I've been told it'll always be that way; you just have to learn to live with it. Have you never noticed how much the mated pairs in our pack touch Q? Our parents have to work together for that reason, just like Will and Holly." I inform and watch the realization take over them.
"Now that everything is settled down I have a question for you Berry." I pause and she turns her attention back my way.
"What the hell were you doing out in the woods in the middle of the night? You could have gotten yourself killed, nearly did and you have no idea what would have happened if you didn't live!" I'm angry with good reason. I could have lost Quinn and now I have to watch out for Rachel to.
"I followed Kurt earlier; I saw his car and tailed it. Everyone was acting weird today and then I see him sneaking into the woods and tried to follow him, in the process I found myself lost and walked around aimlessly for hours before the wolf found me and you know the rest." She rushed out; it's good to see becoming a werewolf hasn't changed her. She can still talk a mile a minute with one single breath.
"Look Rachel, you're my wolf now and it's my job to protect you just like the rest of my wolves. I didn't mean to yell but I'm not going to lie you scared me and Quinn nearly lost it back there." I huff while scratching the back of my neck. It's embarrassing to admit I was worrying about Berry. Like I said it's going to take some getting used to.
Before I know it I'm engulfed in a bone crushing hug. I quickly return the gesture despite the growl I receive from Quinn. She won't attack me; no pack member would dare do that. It would only end in sudden death for them. I take comfort in the closeness of my new clan member.
"You called me Rachel." She says into my hair.
"That's your name, I told you, you're family and I'll treat you as such. No one will dare mess with you anymore, we have your back. Welcome to our pack." I sigh out and continue, "By the way Quinn cried like a baby when she thought you didn't want to be changed." I whisper the last part knowing full well Quinn can hear me and way.
Rachel loosens her grip and lets me go than swiftly turns on her head and takes determined strides in the direction of a shy looking Quinn. She walks right up to her and before Quinn has a chance to say a word her lips are captured in a heated kiss. I'm not sure which but one of them just moaned. Pheromones are released in the air and I'm dizzy from their kiss. I cough trying to get their attention but nothing, they just keep kissing. Don't they need to breath? God this is so weird. I cough again a little louder this time and still go ignored. How rude can you be?
"You guys do know kurt and I are still here right? We really don't need to be seeing this. I think this is considered eye rape or something." I yell out them and they break apart breathing heavily.
"It's nearly four, we have school in morning. I'm sure your fathers are losing their mind right about now too so we should really head out. Quinn came with me so I don't know if you want to give her a ride or what but I'm tired and want to go sleep." I tell them.
"My father's think I stayed Tina's last night. She only lives a block from the school so they let me stay there whenever I want." She informed me.
"Okay you can either come with me or you can stay at Quinn's, I'm more than sure she wouldn't mind right Q?" I tease and they both blush. This is too easy and going to be so much fun. I turned to see Kurt trying to hold back his laughter.
"Want to get started on making them pup don't chu?" I tease further and Kurt loses along with myself. We bust into a fit a laughter while the two girls blushes only grow deeper.
"Don't be an ass S, it doesn't fit you...much." She throws back and Rachel giggles. That wasn't even funny. I can see how their relationship is going to work. Quinn makes unfunny jokes while Rachels laughs and sits there talking in paragraphs about how "funny" the joke was.
"If it's okay I'd like to stay with you Quinn, I don't think I can go without being close. Just no funny business, Finn never lis….oh my god Finn! Finn guys!" She stomps her foot and Quinn growls at the name.
"I'm his girlfriend and…" She cut off by two arms wrapping around her mid-section and pulling her in.
"No, you are my mate. Not his, my mark is on your skin, your scent mixed with my own. Your soul is with my own. I will end him!" She snarls.
I stand by and watch the scene play out before me. I forgot about Finn, what can I say he's just so darn forgettable. This is going to be a problem. He makes rocks look smart. I really, really dislike him and Quinn knocking him off wouldn't be so bad now would it. No Santana stop, killing is bad even it is Finn Hudson.
"I know I feel you under my skin, I feel nothing for him. I feel nothing for anyone but you. I am yours. I stopped being his to moment your lips touched my skin. There's a problem, he still thinks I'm his girlfriend." She explains and Quinn tenses than pulls Rachel into another heated almost desperate kiss. Great I'm dizzy again. Breaking apart they rest their foreheads together.
"Ladies can you please stop doing while I'm around. I don't even like girls any you two are getting me all hot and bothered. It's just plain rude. I'm sure our Alpha isn't enjoying it either." Kurt rolls his eyes while fanning himself with one hand.
"I'll fix it first time in the morning." Rachel says out of breath after the finally mange to break apart thanks to Kurt.
We all go our own ways with goodbye hugs from everyone but Kurt and Rachel. Lying in bed I can't help but think of my own mate and how I'm going to find her. Unlike Quinn I've always knew my mate was female but I just don't want to share that information until needed; it's no one's business right now. I wonder what she looks like and what she'll be like. I soon drift into sleep with thoughts of my future running through my mind. My last thought before I lose myself in my dreams is. I can't wait.
