Chapter Two, "Eyes of Gold"
Author's Note – Picks up the morning after in "Wolven Behavior"
Brief summery – Sophia tries to deal with having flipped, while John edges closer and closer to his own demons, and the truth of Wolf Lake.
******
Dawn was breaking outside her room in Wolf Lake. The coolness of the passing night misting on her windows as the moon bid farewell in the wake of the rising sun's birth. Birds would be chirping soon. The town would be awakened. A new world was awaiting her that would be both frightening as well as liberating.
Luke leaned over Sophia as she slept soundly. He was still naked from the previous night. His clothes forgotten on some side of the road where he had left them, when he had flipped in order to track Sophia down quicker. Modesty wasn't exactly a virtue when it came to being a Skinwalker. His gaze heated briefly. He still remembered what her form looked like underneath that twisted sheet he had wrapped her in from Sherman's house.
He studied her facial features. Noting that she was no longer pale or drawn from the events that had taken place just a few hours ago. He watched her breathe. He could smell the Change on her. Knew that the moment she got around other members of the pack, that they would smell it as well. She could hide from herself, but not from him. And not from the Pack. Not anymore.
Luke reached out a hand to stroke her richly toned hair back from her cheek. Careful not to wake her. The previous night had been rough on them both. Sophia's destiny had been revealed to him last night, and it wasn't going to be easy for either of them when the rest of the pack found out what that destiny was.
The legend had gone back for hundreds of years, regardless of the location or time period. Legend of the white female wolf. They were a rarity among their kind. Only a few had been borne down through the ages. Always during a time of struggle. Always when there was an extreme danger represented to the Pack, did the white wolf appear. That had been why the Elders couldn't have allowed Ruby to pursue her life with a human. The white wolf was revered as well as prized. They were the strongest of their females. Not only physically, but mystically. It was destined that whoever was mated to the white wolf, would have a place in history as a Leader among leaders.
Which meant that when word got out that Sophia was white, she would have every unattached male, and then some, sniffing around her tail. Whether she liked it or not.
And Luke's life had just become increasingly difficult. She was his. She belonged with him. But there were others that wouldn't see it that way.
Luke came back to an even bigger issue. Never in the history of their clan, had two white females been born within the same century. This could mean that an even bigger danger was ahead for their Pack. Something bigger than any of them had every faced before…
******
Sophia grimaced as the sun shining through her curtains, hit her right in the face. Pulling her out of the thick fog her mind seemed to be wrapped up in. She squeezed her eyes tighter, and burrowed her face into her pillow. The events of the previous night coming back to haunt her.
Despite her newly acquired healing abilities, there wasn't a place on her that didn't ache. She couldn't remember having ever felt this sore. Every muscle cramped and protested, as she shifted uncomfortably on her bed. An unfamiliar sheet twisting and scratching against her legs. Despite how uncomfortable she was, it felt almost like relief. Anything after last night was damn well bliss after that pain.
Sophia remembered then what she had done. The memories of that… that dream, or whatever it was that Luke had shared with her was still very fresh in her mind. She could still feel the crushed leaves under her bare feet, the feeling of Luke's naked body pressed up close against the line of her bare back. Skin to Skin. The sight of their breath misting in the night air. The sight of the wolves circling them, brushing up against them…
Sophia moaned, and slid further down into the sheets, burying her head under the comfort. Noticing that she was still naked from the previous night. Luke must have wrapped her in the sheet, before bringing her home, or at least she hoped so! Heaven knew where her clothes were!
She thought back to that wolf that was her. The one made from the surrounding mist. She remembered the feel of her hand burying itself deep in its fur.
She remembered Flipping. The Change.
Sophia opened her eyes and sighed. Studying the imprint of her comfort's pattern from underneath it. Her life had just become even more difficult than it had been before.
Before, she had been the half-breed that probably didn't have enough Skinwalker DNA, to so much as resist the urge to eat red meat.
Now, she was the half-breed that had finally managed to Flip… and with Lucas Cates. Despite the fact that it hadn't happened in the way it usually did between a male and female of their species – yeah, she admitted it, species – it wouldn't make any difference to the rest of the Pack, or the "hill" kids. They would probably smell him on her, and automatically assume…
Sophia groaned, pressing her hand over her eyes. And the full-blooded humans thought their adolescence was hard!
Sophia tossed back the comfort, and looked at the clock next to her bed. It was close to 11:00 a.m. She didn't remember the last time she had slept that long.
She could smell the fragrance of bacon cooking, and realized that her Dad had already figured out that she was awake, and was preparing breakfast.
Sophia smiled at the image. She might as well go on down to see him. She figured he had to have been half out of his mind last night with worry. And truth be told, she was kinda hungry. Well, actually… she was ravenous.
******
(Soundtrack Suggestion – Jerry Cantrell, "She Was My Girl" on the album Degradation Trip or Spider-man Soundtrack. I don't know, there is just something about this song's chorus lines that reminded me of John and his thoughts of Ruby. Don't ask me to explain it! It seems a good song for the frustration that John is feeling in this next part.)
The door going out of John's motel room slammed shut behind him as he exited the room. Throwing his black leather jacket on over the white polo shirt and jeans stretched taut over his form. He stalked over to his motorcycle and paused a moment before swinging a leg over, and revved the engine.
He sped out of the small parking lot, leaving tread behind. He had to get out of this town for a while, just so he could breathe around the frustration that was building within him to the breaking point. He would head up some of the twisty deserted roads he had seen. Where there was little traffic, and he could escape his demons with his bike underneath him, and nothing but the speed to occupy his thoughts.
He made a rather quick exit out of the town. It wasn't quite lunch hour yet, so there wasn't much traffic. Really the only vehicle he passed on the way out was a battered old navy blue van entering into Wolf Lake. John briefly acknowledged that he had never seen it before. Before ignoring it altogether. The cold wind whipped and lashed at his body, penetrating the thin layers of his clothes. But oddly, he didn't feel cold at all. If anything, the weight of his leather jacket was starting to become heavy and cumbersome. He wanted to take it off, but that would require coming to a stop… he didn't want to stop. He felt like riding this thing for the rest of his life. Better yet, he felt like going back over to Tyler Creed's place, smashing that punk's face in, and demanding that he tell him where Ruby was. John's jaw tightened as a felt a swell of unspent aggression swell up. Tyler was going to get what was coming to him sooner or later. John just had to be patient, find Ruby, and come up with a plan. Not necessarily in that order.
Soon John was out of Wolf Lake, and it was almost like he could feel a weight release from around his chest. The frustration eased, even though his heart grew heavy. He wanted Ruby with him on that bike. The memory of her still haunted him like ghosts of an old realm that he could never completely leave behind. It was an ache that had only increased since he had arrived in this god-forsaken town. Every day he spent there was more frustrating than the last. He knew he was getting closer, pulling nearer to his goal. He could feel it in his bones. But every day he spent in Wolf Lake was becoming more and more dangerous. Granted he was a cop, and was quite used to getting shot at. But since coming here, there had been more attempts on his life than he cared to think about. And his dreams.. they were becoming more powerful now, As if something or someone was calling to him. And that desire to go was getting stronger by the minute.
When was it all going to end? Or better yet, how was it going to end?
John pushed the treacherous thoughts out of his mind, and hitting a rather breakneck speed on the deserted highway, he left those thoughts buried in the dust kicked up behind him.
Alone with his bike, the speed, and the ghosts of Ruby's memory…
******
Sophia sighed as she slid into place at their dining room table. Leaning her elbows on the table to rest her chin on her hands, as she watched her father scurry around the kitchen. Humor turning up the corner of her mouth as she watched him burn his finger on the frying pan in his haste to get the bacon and eggs off before they became too blackened. Matt turned around to grab an oven mitt, when he noticed that Sophia had come down.
"Baby, hi." Matt smiled a little nervously. Not too sure how to go about this. He hesitantly walked over to Sophia, and knelt down at her side. Bringing himself eye level with her.
"How are you feeling?" Concern filled his eyes, as well as a little fear.
Sophia smiled reassuringly at him. "I'm fine, Dad. Or… as well as can be expected."
Silence descended uncomfortably in the kitchen, as Matt searched for the words to say to his daughter. What she had gone through last night, had to have been hell. It had driven him crazy… not knowing how she was doing behind that locked bedroom door.
"Uh, Dad?" Sophia questioned, bringing Matt back to the present, smiling wryly at him. "I think the kitchen is on fire."
"Hmm?" Matt looked back at his daughter. What she had said not fully registering, until he followed her line of sight to the flying pan filled with what was Sophia's breakfast, smoking and small flames having erupted within it.
"Geez!" Matt jumped up and ran back into the kitchen, still looking for the oven mitt. He gave up on that, when the flames suddenly shot high, hitting the cabinets above it. Matt made a grab for the fire extinguisher sitting by the stove, and white foam erupted all over the cook top. Smothering the flames, and making Sophia's now-burnt beyond belief breakfast, completely covered in the stuff.
"Of all the…" Matt tossed the fire extinguisher to the side, and sighed. He turned around to see Sophia crack up and start to laugh. Tears of mirth shining in her eyes. Matt put his hands on his hips and glared back at her, not amused.
It just made Sophia laugh harder.
The corner of Matt's mouth started to turn up when he realized just how funny this scene must look like. He could feel a few flecks of foam dribbling down his face and clothes. Matt started to chuckle at the sight of his daughter barely able to keep from falling out of her chair.
"All right, All right!" He laughed. "Quite making fun of your old man." Matt looked around the kitchen to figure out what to do next. "I'll just make some toast or something."
"Fine," she chuckled, "But let me call the fire department first." Sophia teased. Glad that they could go back to being a normal father and daughter couple, if only for a little while.
"Very cute." Matt glowered. "Tell you what, I'll run into town and pick something up that doesn't need to be prepared, and be back in about 30 minutes. Sound safer?"
Sophia nodded. Still grinning. "Fine, it'll give me a chance to take a shower and dress." She had just thrown on her big terry cloth robe before coming downstairs. Not even wanting to exert the strength it would take to get dressed. But now… she wasn't feeling as weak as she had when she had woken up. Her body didn't feel as battered as before.
"Alright, I'll just go then." Matt grabbed the keys, but Sophia stopped him before he stepped out of the kitchen.
"Dad? When did Luke leave?" Sophia's voice was a little bit more timid than a few minutes ago. She knew her Dad still had a hard time, dealing with Luke.
Matt turned back around to look at his daughter and sighed. He had wondered how long it was going to take her to ask that question.
"I don't know. He crashed on the couch after putting you to bed, and then he was gone when I was up early this morning." Matt didn't ad that he had been grateful that the kid had left. He hadn't wanted to deal with him when Sophia had woken up.
Sophia nodded at his words. A little disappointed that Luke had left without saying goodbye. She noticed that her dad was still standing there, as if uncertain to leave her.
"Are you sure you'll be okay, if I run into town?" Matt asked. Studying his daughter's face. Knowing what she was thinking.
"Yes, Dad." Sophia answered, pretending to be exasperated. "I'll be fine. Go on."
Matt smiled at her, before exiting the room. Sophia heard the front door quietly open and then close. She leaned her head back against the back of the chair and sighed.
******
"Would you mind telling me, Tyler, how you managed to lose Ruby, yet again?" Vivian Cates sat calmly at her desk. Her eyes at the brink of glowing in contradiction to the almost civilized and cool way she spoke her words. She smiled humorlessly as Tyler swallowed nervously from across the room.
"I told you, it wasn't my fault. That human ungulate interfered yet again!"
"Oh of course. Forgive me." Vivian's tone was mocking. "I guess you and your buddies, who are all of the Blood, couldn't possibly control a single female, that you yourself took as a mate! From the human who is currently searching for her! She should be in your bed, Tyler! Not running around God knows where, doing God knows what!" Vivian slowly stood. Her stance threatening and dominant as she continued.
"If this human male succeeds in finding Ruby, then I'm going to have a lot a questions that are going to need answering. And I don't want that, Tyler. I am not the ruler that my husband was. I won't just turn the other cheek and let Ruby run wild. She has to remain in Wolf Lake, with her own kind. I told you if you didn't get things under control, I would take matters into my own hands. What the hell do you think is going to happen if Ruby reveals herself to that human? What then? You know the Law, and Ruby has broken it time and time again. I will not stand for this kind of threat posed at the Pack."
Tyler glared back at her. "She is not a threat! Ruby wouldn't do anything that would endanger us! She's proved that time and time again." Tyler sighed, rubbing his forehead in agitation. "I'll find her, I swear. And this time she won't escape from me."
"She better not," Vivian shot back. "It isn't going to be very nice if I have to plan a double execution, Tyler."
Tyler's eyes glowed gold at that rather obviously veiled threat. Without saying another word, he stalked out of the room. The door slamming behind him.
Vivian let out a sigh as she sank back down into the chair. Shaking her head. She had become the Alpha of the pack to protect her son, and to keep someone like Tyler from completely destroying what the Alpha Leaders before them had created for their kind. They had it good here in Wolf Lake, if she could just keep it all together.
Willard had been an amazing leader for his time, but that time was past. They were sinking back into the dark days, when the Alpha Leader had to rule with the bite of his teeth, and the rip of his claws.
It was becoming a dangerous time for them all. John Kanin had brought in some unnecessary exposure to the humans living in Wolf Lake, and the rise of technology was becoming an increasing threat to them all. That werewolf hunter had almost succeeded in exposing them all. And heaven knew what he had filled John Kanin's mind with.
And then there was Ruby… Beautiful, head strong, in love with a human, Ruby. If it wasn't for her significance to the pack, Vivian would have either killed her, or allowed her to marry John Kanin a long time ago. There had been others that had married into the human race, obviusly. There had even been some that had left Wolf Lake and their heritage behind.
But that was before the survival of the pack became paramount. Ruby, because of her significance, had to remain with the Pack. Dead or alive.
Like it or not, there numbers had dwindled, and they weren't as strong as before. If the humans found out about them, they would lose everything. Their homes, their families…their lives. And there were so many threats posed to them at this time, that Vivian didn't know which one to tackle first.
And she didn't know that, once things had started down that path… if they could even be reversible.
******
Sophia turned on the shower head, and slowly pulled off her robe. As her bathroom started to fill with steam. She studied her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't like she had always done before. She wasn't checking to see how much her breasts had changed, or how tucked in her waist had become, or how smooth the curve to her hip was. This time, she was looking for other differences. Differences that had occurred last night. Differences that she could actually see.
Her skin almost seemed to have a glow to it now. The muscles along her stomach, arms and legs were more defined. Rippling under her skin, like she worked out at the local gym everyday, even though she had never even stepped foot inside it. Her hair was thicker. More luxurious in texture as well as color. Her fingernails, which she had never been able to grow out very much, were now long and rounded as if she had had them professionally done. Her mouth was fuller, a golden flush filled her cheeks, and her eyes… despite the fact that she could no longer wear her glasses, her brown eyes had lightened slightly. Where they were now almost a honey brown, then the chocolate color from before. Sophia tested herself as she willed them to change. Watching as they flared brilliant gold before receding back to normal.
Something told her that the rest of the Pack wouldn't have a very hard time figuring out that she had flipped. Assuming of course, that Luke hadn't already told them.
Sophia frowned at that thought, and turned away from the mirror. Stepping into the shower.
******
Ruby didn't know where she was going. She was just running.
She had remained in her wolf form since last night. Unwilling to change back into a human body. Things were less complicated that way. Less real. Pain of the heart was muted. Memories of the mind were dulled.
Her strong pants rang in her ears as she kept running. Twisting and turning underneath the underbrush. Darting under and between fallen trees, as she fought to keep the speed going. Things were simpler this way. This was who she was. What she was.
She didn't want to go back to Wolf Lake. She wanted to find John and get out of here. Run far, far away so they could never be found. But she knew that was just a dream. She knew what would really happen.
Humans were afraid of what they couldn't understand. And her greatest fear would be that John would be the same way. She loved him with every fiber of her being, and she knew that he loved her. She clung to that. It was the only thing that had kept her alive since returning to Wolf Lake. But her greatest fear was that, if she revealed herself to him, that he would hate her, revile her. Find her a freak of nature. Lock her up in some cage like that twisted human Arthur Van Halen character had done.
The point was, if he wound up hating her for what she was, she would never be able to live with herself. It wasn't possible for a member of their species, to not share both of their skins with their mates. In order to be with him, he had to be with all of her. Not just the part she wanted him to see.
Ruby felt a small wail well up in her wolven throat. She suppressed it. Everything was so screwed up. She didn't know which way was up anymore. There was only one thing she was certain of… Here and now, if only for a little while, she could be free of those chains wrapped so tightly around her. Here and now, she was only aware of the pounding of her paws on the carpeting of the earth, and the sound of her heartbeat in her ears.
******
Luke hesitated before stepping into the opening of the still messed up front door, of Sherman Blackstone's house. He could hear the older man banging around in the kitchen, as he prepared his lunch. The smell of turkey wafted into his nostrils, and his stomach growled. He just realized that he hadn't had anything to eat all day. He had been too wrapped up in his thoughts on Sophia to be concerned with food.
Sherman must have realized he was standing there, right inside the doorway, because he spoke up from inside the kitchen.
"Well, just don't stand there. Come on in and have something to eat with me."
Luke sauntered on into the kitchen and sat down at the breakfast nook. Smiling his thanks as Sherman set a turkey sandwich in front of him. Luke took a few bites, trying to figure out how to broach the subject that was weighing heavily on his mind.
Sherman just watched him, before speaking up himself. The boy was about as obvious as he could be as to why he had come. Something bigger than Sophia's Flip had happened last night, just like Sherman had realized it would. The girl was too special, to have not been someone gifted strongly in the ways of the Skinwalker.
"How is Sophia doing?"
Luke looked up at Sherman for a moment before answering. "She's fine. Physically. Something tells me she's going to find it very difficult to adapt to her 'lifestyle' ."
"That 'lifestyle', as you put it, was always there. She just now has uncovered it." Sherman corrected softly. Smiling as he pulled a bit of lettuce from his own sandwich. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. She's stronger than she thinks."
"I know that." Luke said sharply. Staring at Sherman as the older man made no more comments. Just sat there eating. Luke wanted to shake him. His eyes narrowed, as he suspected that Sherman knew more than he was letting on.
"She's a white wolf." Luke voice was hard as he dropped the bomb. Sherman just stood there, nodding his head and eating his sandwich as if Luke had only just mentioned the weekly forecast.
Luke felt a growl of frustration rise in his throat. Sherman just smirked. The boy's emotions regarding the young girl were painted all over his face. Those two would make a very entertaining couple to watch.
"You know, it's a funny thing about legends and myths." He finally spoke up, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin as he made sure he had the young boy's complete attention before continuing. His message cryptic in the fact that it wasn't just pointed at Sophia, but at another head strong individual that would be experiencing some changes of his own pretty soon. "They always tend to "pop" up at the oddest times, in the oddest situations – and in the people you would have least suspected."
Luke shook his head in frustration as he watched Sherman finish his sandwich and start on an apple. Crunching away like there was nothing of importance being discussed here. It was only Sophia's future!
"I'm not a seer, Luke." Sherman stated seriously, as if reading Luke's thoughts. "I don't know what is going to happen in the future of Wolf Lake. No one does. I only have the backing of the history of your people to go by, and sometimes, even that isn't enough. The path is darkening, for all of you. And it just might be that Sophia might be the way out of it. For all of you." Sherman sighed as he took another bite from his apple. "Then again, I could be wrong. Like I said. I'm not a seer."
"No, you're just a Keeper with a hell of a lot more information than you're sharing." Luke said back. Rubbing the back of his neck tiredly as he raised his eyebrow at Sherman, waiting for his answer to that one.
Sherman chuckled, "I would be out of a job if I didn't keep a few things to myself." He became serious again. "No Luke, I can't inform you of what I know yet, because I don't know what path Sophia will take. That is a decision completely up to her, and to you, if you decide to take her as a mate, And," Sherman's voice rose a bit when Luke would have interrupted. "The destiny of the couples in this town are just that. Destiny. I cannot interfere any more than I already have."
"Oh, really? And what have you done that would be considered interfering?"
Sherman just finished his apple. Refusing to answer that question.
Luke sighed in annoyance. "Right, well." He stood up, "I guess I'll leave then." He wasn't going to get any more answers from Sherman today.
"Make sure you take your sandwich." Sherman ordered around chewing the last bite of his apple. He watched as Luke stalked rather unhappily out of his house. Leaving the shattered door open behind him.
Sherman rolled his eyes in exasperation as he tossed the cork of his apple down the garbage disposal.
What else was going to happen today?
******
(Soundtrack Suggestion – Tara MacLean, "If I Fall" from the album Passenger . It seemed like the perfect song of what Sophia is feeling in the next scene.)
Sophia wiped away the fogging on her bathroom mirror, after stepping out of the shower. It was amazing how a bath could make you feel so much more civilized.
Sophia grabbed a comb and started to detangle her hair. A dark red towel wrapped snugly around her body.
She was emotionally trying to sort out the happenings of last night, while at the same time, come to grips in regards to Luke. Last night had been terrifying, dangerous, even deadly. She honestly believed that if it hadn't been for Luke, she wouldn't have survived the night. She knew that the mental link he had created between them wasn't something that was done very often. She would have heard about something like that from the other kids on the 'hill'.
She also realized that whatever it was that he had done, had been dangerous for him too. But he had risked that, to come in after her, and pull her out of that hell she had found herself in.
Sophia knew that something had changed between them. It wasn't some heated chemistry thing anymore. It had become deeper. More intense. She didn't know how to handle that. She knew she had feelings for Luke, and she hoped that his feelings for her ran deeper than just wanting to screw her. Somehow, she just knew they did. But how could she be with him like her body was crying out for, if she couldn't feel like she could trust him? When the image of him with Presley was burned into her memory like a disgusting brand that would never go away?
Whether he had meant to or not, he had torn her heart out that night. And she wasn't to sure about handing it back to him again.
But then she remembered that mind link of theirs. Realized that he had risked so much to save her. And she just became even more confused than she was before.
******
John slowly pulled over on the side of the road. Pulling his helmet off, and shaking his hair loose. Feeling the strands of hair sticking to his forehead.
He had gone farther than he had intended, into a stretch of roads that he wasn't that familiar with. Not a very smart move, but at the time, he had only been focused on riding. Clearing his head from all the cobwebs by getting as far from town as he could. He figured though that with a little back tracking, he could head back the way he came, and get back to that town. He had to get back to work. Figure out some way of tracking Ruby down. Then they could leave for good.
Despite all of his training as a police officer, he had neglected to notice that the navy blue van that he had seen entering Wolf Lake, had been following him from a safe distance. Waiting…
******
Ruby came to a stop. Panting hard. Her fur bristled slightly as she caught wind of a familiar scent. A human.
Her own human consciousness rose to the surface, pushing down that of the wolven. She knew that smell. Had bathed in it. Worshipped it.
What was John doing out here, Now? At this time?
Ruby tracked him. Locating him at the side of a deserted road. He looked like he had just stopped for a moment to take a breather. His arms were folded and resting on the handle of his bike. He seemed deep in thought.
Ruby crouched down low. Not wanting him to see her. Knowing that she was far enough away, that so long as she didn't make any sound or sudden move, he wouldn't spot her.
She didn't care how many times she saw him, he still stole her breath. She wanted to shift back into a human skin, run over to him, knock him to the ground and make love to him. Right there in the middle of the road. She wanted to run with him in the forest. Wanted to share her world with him. Reveal who she was to him. Leave this world behind them forever.
It was the thought of the look of fear that would surely fill those eyes so precious to her, that kept her from doing so.
So she settled for this. Watching from the woods like the wolf she was.
She noticed the vehicle before he did, and she became alarmed at how aggressively it was moving towards John. She felt a moment of panic as it slid to a stop in front of him. The passenger door popped open, and the long barrel of a rifle presented itself, aimed squarely at John.
Ruby let out a howl in warning, as she shot up from her position, darting as fast as she could towards the vehicle. She had to stop them! Her instincts took over, and she became the dangerous, primal female that she was, as she watched her true mate's life being threatened.
******
Sophia opened the door of her bathroom, and walked into her bedroom. The towel still wrapped firmly around her. Another towel in her hands, absent-mindedly rubbed her still damp hair with it. Looking around her room for a rubber band to fix it back with.
Sophia started with surprise, dropping the hair towel to the floor, as she saw Luke casually sitting on the edge of her bed. Watching her.
Heart pounding, she took a small step back, as he quickly stood. She was tempted to head back to the bathroom in retreat, when Luke spoke up.
"Sophia, wait! Please."
She turned back around cautiously, as Luke looked at her. His eyes flared gold for a moment, as he acknowledged the fact she had nothing on underneath that dark red towel. Ascertaining for himself that she was physically alright, before answering the question that was on the tip of her tongue. He swallowed. For the first time in 24 hours, he felt really unsure as to how to precede.
"We need to talk."
******
John had only one second to react, as he saw the barrel of that rifle zoom in on him. He threw up his arm in reaction to the shot surely coming, and leapt to the side and off his bike. He felt a sudden, hard sting hit his arm, as he body collided with the pavement. He rolled back up to his feet. And was surprised when he felt his balance start to alter. He looked down at his arm, and realized that he had been shot with dart, not a bullet.
Trying to struggle to his feet, John watched two men exit the vehicle, coming towards him slowly. Guns drawn. He couldn't make out there faces. His sight was becoming too blurry. He couldn't focus.
He more heard than saw the white wolf come barreling out from the trees. Snarling and snapping at his attackers. Her growls were intense and would send shivers down any grown man's spine.
******
Her eyes were glowing a brilliant gold from her hatred and the need to feel the sensation of the attackers skin ripping underneath her teeth. She wanted their hearts, and she wasn't going to settle for less till she had them.
She acknowledged for one brief moment in time that John was down. They had shot him.
Ruby felt the animalistic scream rip from her wolven throat as her instincts to kill those that had killed her mate took over. Overwhelming any human consciousness still present. They had taken her mate's life away from her, and she was going to escort them straight to hell.
******
John struggled to stay conscious as he watched the white wolf tear into the man closest to her. Her snapping jaws aimed straight at his jugular. The man went down beneath her, blood pouring crimson over the pavement, as she tore into his neck.
A sickening gurgle sounded in what was left of his throat, as she abandoned him, and charged at the second man. Aiming straight for his chest. Planning to tear right through the skin, muscle, and bone to the pulsating organ beneath it.
John heard a scream, and realized it was his own, as he watched the man bring his real gun up in panic, pulling the trigger.
The shot threw the white wolf clear across the road. She landed with a sickening thud. Red crimson beginning to spread across her snow white fur.
The last thing John saw was a third man grapping the white wolf's body and throwing it into the back of the vehicle. Then coming to assist his last remaining partner with John's semi-comatose body.
John fought to stay awake. Fought to keep his hatred alive at those that had done this to him. To that wolf, who for some reason had come to his rescue. He had a sudden flashback to his dream. The one where he was running in black wolf form alongside that white female, underneath the moonlight in the forest. Pants misting in the air.
Only this time, the wolf's form was replaced with one even more precious to his heart. She slowed and turned to him, a smile spreading across her face as she laughed. The expression on her face almost embarrassed. Her dark hair flowing out behind her as she looked back at him. Love filling those crystal gray eyes. Her expression teasing, as she beckoned him to come join her.
"Ruby…" her name escaped past his lips in a whisper, as he finally succumbed to the surrounding darkness.
The last thing he was aware of was the pain-wracked whimpers of the wounded wolf….
******
To Be Continued.
*************************
I hope you enjoyed Chapter Two, Ep. 11 – Eyes of Gold.
Don't worry! There's more! The next chapter will be entitled "Blood Moon" and will be coming soon! Please review, and tell me what you thought of this chapter! Tell me what your favorite part was, and feel free to e-mail me with any questions!
I'm going to try to come out with a new chapter at least once every two weeks, if not more often. As I'm also working on another fan fiction series for Earth: Final Conflict, I'm going to try not to burn myself out! (grin)
Thanks to everyone who is enjoying my story, and has been so nice in their reviews! Remember to keep them coming! They fuel my muse! LOL
I would also like to hear if anybody likes my whole "Soundtrack Suggestion" thing? Please let me know what you think!
I look forward to hearing from you on the review pages!
(Sapphira)
