Chapter four

It was nearing hunting time. The lingering light of day was obliterated by the rapidly falling night, the once salmon and purple sky transformed into a vast expanse of jet-black that made the endless forest turn even more morbid. Amongst the ocean of blackness, luminous stars materialized, some however were dull, merely flickering into existence every so often. The lake just outside the walls of the pack, glistened, mirroring the dazzling of glittering stars, ripples in the once still water formed as strong wind gusted across the surface.

The coolness of the wind made Luka shiver and tense as goosebumps formed along his arms. He had just left his cabin, prepared to hunt along with a few other pack members. Amelia had watched him leave their room from their bed, sadness in her eyes as he kissed her goodbye and stroked her hair. "I will be back before sun rise." Luka had tried to reassure Amelia, but he knew she would still wait up for him, worrying as she gazed out the window watching for him.

Arriving at the pack camp fire, Luka frowned when he didnt see it lit. Raising an eyebrow at Jasper, who was sitting on a log seat, his head bowed. Jasper didnt need to look up to know Luka was staring at him.

"Alpha just announced theres going to be a downpour, but most of us knew that. Can you not smell it?" Jasper questioned and sniffed the air, looking to the sky. Luka did the same and frowned as the wind picked up.

"Maybe we should call off the hunt."

"Like hell would the all-almighty-Alpha agree to that," Jasper huffed and scowled, "He's so fucking stubborn-"

"He knows whats good for the pack, we need food Jasper." Luka reasoned and took a seat beside his friend. Luka hated the fact his friend had to hunt four days a week, two of them were in a row. It was risky, especially since he would be sleep deprived, but Jasper was one of the more skilled hunters, he was as fast as Logan, which compared to the rest of the men, was very fast and he always seemed to pick up sound better than Luka.

"I know he's your friend Luka...but sometimes even he is wrong."

"Be quiet, he's coming over." Luka warned his friend and turned his attention to Logan who was quickly making his way over to the group of men. Luka frowned at Logan, he looked tired, the bags under his eyes adding age to his young face and it unnerved Luka. Deciding to ignore it for now, Luka concentrated on readying to hunt. Tonight there was five of them hunting, normally there would be three or four but the need for more food was becoming desperate. The hunt the day before was successful but soon the pack will be unable to hunt due to the intense snow storms they had to endure every winter. They didn't hunt in large groups for the simple fact it would put them in more danger of being seen, whether it be by rogues, other animals or even...humans. They had to remain cautious.

Once Logan stood before his hunters, they quietened and turned their attention to him. Looking over the men briefly, Logan crossed his arms and raised his head, "As you can all see and smell, there's going to be a storm. I do NOT want to hear any of you complaining, you are all skilled hunters, and nothing should prevent you from trying," pausing Logan locked eyes with Luka, "However I also sense thunder, and as you can feel, strong winds and it will only get stronger as the night goes on. I have come to you all to simply say don't be reckless. Don't be arrogant bastards thinking you can catch a male deer alone in a thunderstorm...the pack is short on numbers i need you all to return safely."

"Alpha..may i speak?" A boy no older than seventeen raised his hand timidly, he was scrawny for his age. Logan raised an eyebrow in reply, "I think...we should call off the hunt, if the storm is as dangerous as you say it is, then I don't think its right for us to hunt in it." The boy gulped as Logan glowered at him.

Stepping towards the boy, Logan coughed deeply, "Are you a man or a boy?"

"A-A man Alpha, but-"

"But nothing. As i said, do not be arrogant and you will be fine. Ceasing the hunt due to a storm is not something i will allow, unless it becomes very much a life risk, then i expect you to hunt. If the storm becomes too dangerous then come back, but I will not have cowardice in my pack. Do you understand me?" Logan watched the boy shake and felt a pang, he knew he was doing the right thing, they needed food, hunting was important and soon they will be unable to. It was then Logan remembered the boys name, Jamie. At that moment, rain poured from the sky, leaving the men soaked within minutes.

Stepping away from Jamie, Logan nodded to the hunters, "On with the hunt, good luck."

The hunters ran to the only opening of the pack, it wasn't very wide, around two people could fit through it at once but Logan still felt like the opening was still too revealing, however they needed to leave the territory somehow. Logan watched as Luka transformed into wolf form, he knew the pain was excruciating and as he watched Luka hunched over, gritting his teeth as low growls escape whilst his bones began to reshape themselves, Logan held back a flinch. Logan then turned his back as his friend leapt into the forest, howling as he went to join the other hunters.

/

Luka's view - during transformation

The pain...its excruciating. In my opinion there is no other way to describe it. You think, after years of transforming into wolf form, I'd feel nothing anymore, maybe only an uncomfortable feeling but no, it feels exactly how it did the first time, every time. They say you'll get use to it, each time it happens it gets quicker and yes that is true, but fucking hell it hurts. What happens to my body...no normal human could bare it.

When I become my wolf form, my internal organs shut down and reform, i go through kidney and liver failure, I can feel my heart stop beating. And just for that split second, I feel fear. I can't describe it, other than I just take one breath, hoping it won't be my last and urge my heart to begin its rhythm again. I don't scream anymore though, I use to, for the first few months but i learnt to bare the pain, I learnt to control my fear. I now merely grit my teeth, clench my jaw until I feel it snap. And then, just as I do feel the urge to scream from the intense pain, a howl will escape as my throat and vocal chords tear and rip and reform something capable of making such a haunting sound.

I feel my skin rip off my body, in its place is brown fur, covering my entire body. My teeth grow unbearably long and sharp. My nails grow into claws, but not quite sharp enough to pierce the skin unless the intention is there, and my hands and feet extend into massive paws. I stand on my legs as a human would, my normal height being near six foot, I am now at least six foot and six inches. My skull and face reform to create the wolfs snout, causing me to release a final howl as my spine grows. By this point my eyes are no longer emerald, but are an luminous yellow.

The pain then goes...I'm left standing, staring at my Alpha once again before I snarl and leap into the forest to begin the hunt. Once the pain is gone, I feel free in my wolf form, I feel myself, at home. I love the feeling of the wind flowing through my fur and being able to leap up a tree using my claws to help me keep my grip. The ecstasy of feeling your prey quiver beneath you as you sink your fangs into them, tearing their throat out and watching the life leave their eyes...its blissful, satisfying. I am proud to be a hunter, a dominant. The taste of fresh meat and blood always lingers in my mouth, it almost makes the pain I go through, worth it.