Chapter 1: A New Beginning.
Six months had passed since the tragic day that had destroyed Aleu's dreams of a happy life. She was once again living with her parents, Balto and Jenna. She had never recovered from the loss of the only animal she had ever truly loved. Aleu still cried herself to sleep in the nights, her parents doubted they would ever see her happy again. She stood alone on the bow of the boat, looking at the spot where he had died. Tears dripped onto the wood under her. Her memories still haunted her dreams. Aleu was afraid to fall in love again, afraid it would end in the same way, afraid she would be left alone again. At his request Devon had agreed to lead the pack but Aleu couldn't stay with them. The pack reminded her too much of him, of what she had lost.
"This will be fun." The pale gold eyes watched Aleu standing on the bow of the beached boat as he laughed to himself. His voice full of lust as he spoke. "You're mine tonight bitch."
The silver animal walked away from the beach. He could have simply walked into the boat, slaughtered her family and dragged her out of the town. However he found more enjoyment in being sneaky. Luring her into the wild would be far more fun than simply kidnapping her. As he approached cover he lifted his head and began to howl.
"What!" Aleu shouted as she awoke.
Howling filled the air. She could only think of a few wolves that would wander this close to the town. She looked around the cabin for her father. Nothing, he was still at her mother's house. She had to find out what was going on. Aleu walked towards the frantic howling, she was worried, if it was one of the pack then something must have happened to them. She glanced around the area, the howling had stopped as soon as she got here, this unnerved her even more.
"Hehehe. You are mine." Tallon growled.
He prepared to leap at the defenceless bitch. As he began his pounce something stepped out in front of him. A white wolf dog stood in his path, staring at him with its mismatched eyes. The two animals stared each other down. Tallon ran at the dog ahead of him. It never even bothered to move, its life was about to end. He swung his paw at the mongrel, intending to cause a fatal injury in one slice of his razor sharp claws. Tallon's eyes were wide as he saw the albino smile at him even after the attack. He was unharmed.
"That attack should have been deadly." Tallon said shocked.
"It would have been, if I weren't already dead." It laughed.
Tallon stared at the albino in disbelief; even he couldn't kill a dead opponent.
"Listen, you will leave her alone." The white male ordered. "You wish to prove your superiority right?"
"Yeah." Tallon answered.
"Well why not use your power to do me a favour then." He asked.
"Like what?" Tallon sounded sceptical.
"I want you to protect someone for me." He answered without hesitation. "That bitch, Aleu."
Tallon thought for a moment before he answered, looking between the animal in front of him and the young bitch.
"Why should I?" Tallon finally asked.
"Think it a request from the son of a god." He responded.
"Who are you?" Tallon questioned the albino.
"Spirit. Son of Fenrir." Spirit replied.
"What if I agree to protect her?" Tallon asked, wondering what was in it for him.
"Well you'd be using your power to help others, and you'd have the Son of God owe you." Spirit answered.
Tallon stood still for a moment, contemplating his answer. Spirit was sceptical about trusting this creature but if he could kill Kage then it should be easy for him to protect Aleu.
"Fine." Tallon answered after a while.
"Great, thank you so much." Spirit couldn't hide his joy at the news.
"Remember you owe me. I will collect eventually." Tallon said coldly.
He began to walk away from the albino. He was making his way to Aleu, most likely to introduce himself.
"Wait." Spirit barked.
"What now mutt!" Tallon growled in annoyance.
"Don't tell her about me." Spirit whispered, looking at his paws.
"Fine." Tallon said.
Tallon walked towards Aleu, not caring what Spirit did next. He made his way through the bushes and out into the open. She turned to look at him as he closed the distance between them. Aleu took a couple of steps back as the mysterious animal walked towards her. A small growl escaped her throat as he neared her. She would have regretted that if he hadn't made that promise to Spirit. He forced himself to remain calm and not lose his temper.
"Greetings Aleu." Tallon barked as he neared her.
"Who…who are you?" Aleu asked hesitantly.
"Tallon." He answered as he took a step out of the shade of the forest.
Aleu looked at the animal. Her eyes widened as he stepped into the light. He was like nothing else she had ever seen.
"What do you want?" Aleu asked tentatively.
"I am here to protect you." Tallon said uninterested. "Lets go."
"Why do you want to protect me?" Aleu enquired sceptically.
"Because I was asked." He said in the same tone.
"What? By who?" The bitch asked impatiently.
He had to think of something. He had told Spirit he wouldn't tell her about him. He couldn't tell her about their deal. For once he couldn't think of anything. Wait Spirit mentioned his father, Fenrir would want his son's mate to be safe right?
"Fenrir." He answered eventually.
"What?" She was clearly unsatisfied with his answer.
"He wants me to protect you since his son can't." Tallon said bluntly.
Aleu winced at the thought, tears in her eyes from the mention of her lost mate. She nodded slowly, keeping her head lowered. Tallon studied her for a while, she wanted comfort but he didn't care enough to help. Tallon didn't want friendship or love, he wanted to get his job done and earn his 'reward.'
"Come on, I'm taking you home." Tallon ordered.
"O…Ok." Aleu sobbed, failing to hide her sadness.
They walked in near silence back to Nome. The only sound was Aleu's crying as she thought of him. The sound of her sobs was beginning to grate on Tallon's nerves.
"Only a little further." Tallon thought. He lost his temper as they neared the edge of the town. "SHUT UP!" Tallon screamed at the bitch by his side. "I'M FED UP OF YOUR WHIMPERING."
The shout instantly silenced Aleu. Tallon smiled at her compliance and carried on walking into the town in silence. Aleu followed, scared of the animal that was leading her, his outburst had shocked her. Even though he had said he was going to protect her, his scream had terrified her. She could feel the power behind his words. He turned to look at her as they walked the streets together.
"You're scared of me." Tallon said, in his usual uninterested tone. "Don't be, I'm here to protect you."
"It's hard not to be when you scream at me like that just for crying." She told him, trepidation in her voice.
"Fine. I apologise. Happy?" He asked, glancing at the crowds that gazed at him as he passed.
"You don't sound very sorry about it." Aleu spoke hesitantly.
"Ok I'm sorry you lost your mate. I'm sorry, but there's nothing anyone can do about it. Crying about it constantly won't help so move on." Tallon barked harshly.
Aleu's head dropped as he spoke. She knew crying couldn't bring him back, she wasn't stupid but the way Tallon had spoken about it, as if it meant nothing had hurt her. She felt more tears sting her eyes as they carried on walking.
"Lets just go." Aleu whimpered.
"Great I made her cry again. What the hell does she want me to say?" Tallon thought to himself. He was trying to make her feel better, he was honestly. He didn't know how to comfort anyone he had never needed to. Before he had only needed to take care of himself, that was much easier. Even when he was trying to be nice he still sounded like a heartless monster, why? Why couldn't he help anyone? Why was he feeling like this now? These thoughts had never bothered him before. He glanced around the street, every human an animal around was staring at him.
"What the hell is everyone looking at?" Tallon asked Aleu as they reached the beach.
"Well you are a little…unusual." Aleu answered.
"Oh? How?" Tallon mused.
"I've never seen a silver animal before, grey yeah but not silver." She told him.
"Ok some my furs an odd colour, so what?" Tallon was not satisfied with her answer.
"That's not the only reason." She added. "You're body shape is a little strange. You've only got three toes and you have horns. As far as I know you're the only one of your kind in Alaska."
"What?" Tallon asked immediately.
True he had never seen another animal that looked like him but he didn't think for a second that he could be the only one anywhere.
The two animals walked the rest of the way across the beach in silence. Aleu led Tallon up the ramp and onto the boat. She had expected someone to be here, obviously not. She lay down in the cabin, her eyes were heavy, she had been woken up early by the howling, her body wanted sleep. Tallon noticed her lethargy.
"Go to sleep." He told her. "I'll wake you if you're parents turn up."
She nodded slowly and closed her eyes. Tallon watched her chest rise and fall slowly as she breathed gently. Tallon thought over what he had been told by Aleu. Thoughts flashed through his head. He could leave, or even continue what he had originally planned. She was asleep it would be easy.
"No." He said to himself. "Never again. I won't carry on that life. Bodyguard sounds better than murderer and it would be nice to have some company for a while."
The noise of footsteps outside alerted him to the approaching animals, Aleu's parents.
"Maybe even a friend." He added looking at the sleeping bitch. "Oh well, here we go."
Aleu was awoken by a gentle nudge. She opened her eyes slowly, her eyes met those of her mother. She looked around the cabin. Balto and Jenna stood over her, while Tallon stood near the door staring out to sea.
"Ok, who are you." Balto questioned the strange male.
"Tallon." He answered with his usual indifference.
"Why are you here?" The half wolf asked him, his tone still severe.
"I was keeping an eye on Aleu." Tallon didn't care for these questions.
"Why?" Balto asked.
Aleu and Jenna simply watched. Aleu wanted some of these answers just as much as her parents did.
"I promised." He answered again.
"Promised who?" Jenna asked slowly.
Tallon considered the question, if he wanted these animals to trust him he should tell them the truth.
"Spirit." Talon answered. "Damn you!" Spirit's voice shouted in his mind.
"What!" Aleu shouted at her protector. "You said..."
"I lied to you because he asked me to." Tallon explained.
"What are you?" Balto asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Tallon paused for a while before he answered the question.
"I am Tallon. I am Aleu's bodyguard." He answered slowly.
Balto took a step forward; he was unsatisfied with the answer he had received.
"That tells me who you are not what you are." He said calmly. "What are you?"
Tallon looked confused. His face no longer showed his normal calm, collected attitude. This was the first time Aleu had seen him show his emotions, even when he lost his temper earlier he had not showed any emotion.
"I…don't…know." He confessed slowly.
"Maybe I could help with that." Someone laughed from the bow of the boat.
The voice startled the animals in the boat. None of them had heard the approach of the owner of the voice. Even Tallon hadn't sensed him.
"Who are you!" Tallon growled, staring up at the silhouette of the mysterious animal. The detail of his body hidden by the setting sun behind him.
"Challis."