Chapter 10

"Okay Wolf, you ready?" Red called from the other end of the field. The last rays of sunlight gleamed over the light tan grass, swishing in the wind. Red held up the stopwatch, lifting it high in the air. The human wolf crouched where he stood, eyes narrowing in focus.

"Go!"

Wolf ran. His long legs stretched out as far as they could, his legs pumping to gain speed. Standing next to Red, Jack stood with his arms crossed over his chest. "Definitely not as fast as he used to be," he observed critically. Wolf stumbled a little when he tripped on a rock. "Not as graceful either."

"Oh, leave him alone Jack. How would you feel if you were turned in to a wolf?" Red watched as the now-human bolted to the end of the field. He looked back to the other humans, calling for his time. Red answered loudly, preparing for him to run back.

Jack sighed, "Well, I guess I'd be a little freaked."

"A little? I think Wolf's taking it pretty well, trying to figure out what his situation is like until he can get turned back."

Jack frowned, giving a glare to the changeling, spine prickling.

He really didn't like him.

"How much longer are we going to waste time standing here?" Jack complained.

"We're not wasting time, Jack. Granny and Twitchy are scouting ahead. Tracking down a witch isn't exactly the easiest thing to do. And with Wolf out of the game, it makes it even harder. Twitchy is the only one who can really help in this area now."

"My nose works just fine, for your information!" Wolf called from the starting point.

Red rolled her eyes, smiling to Jack, who beamed back at her, encouraged by her response. He focused on the careful watch of her eyes, the mystery of her gentle porcelain face.

She was beautiful.

He wanted her.

He needed her.

Jack smirked to himself, shifting his position so he stood closer to her. Confidence grew in his chest.

Tonight. Red would become his tonight.

Running past the pair, Wolf stumbled upon seeing Jack's hard glare.

Night didn't come fast enough for Jack. He whisked his blonde hair from his forehead, eyes scanning, calculating, waiting for the fair haired brunette. He held the bouquet of flowers in his hands behind his back. He looked over nervously, waiting not-too patiently for Red. He asked her to come see him here, to confess his feelings for her, hoping she would feel the same.

Why was it taking her so long?

Jack shifted where he stood, licking his lips.

Wolf crouched low in the brush, controlling his breathing as he watched the blonde haired brat. He didn't trust this boy, not one bit. Wolf held a hunch about Jack's plans; it didn't take a genius to guess with the flowers he held behind his back.

The human shifted his strong shoulders, ears pressing against the side of his head, a low growl curling from the base of his chest. He could still do that at least, though it didn't sound as macho as it did when he was in his natural form.

He hated being human, absolutely hated it. How could the humans stand it? No tail, no rotational ears, not even a nose that could smell. Of course he could smell, hear, and see better than they could, but his senses just felt, dulled.

Something that brought him some comfort and fear was that he no longer felt the call from the forest.

He didn't find much comfort in being in the forest as he used to. He couldn't sense the life teeming all around him. Being in the open felt right and he felt almost desperate to fit in with Red and Granny.

This was because he was human now, the human instincts were beginning to grow in him; he hated it.

"The sooner I'm back to normal the better," he muttered, waiting for something to happen.

Wolf didn't need to wait long.

He heard Red approach before Jack did. He could smell her faint yet familiar scent, the pace of her walk, the strength and confidence she carried herself with.

In the dappling patterns of the moonlight flickering in through the forest, Wolf found himself thinking her beautiful.

Trying hard to suppress the emotions that crowded his heart, he watched the scene unfold.

Red stopped a couple trees from Jack. Wolf walked around so he stood about ten feet away from the humans, somewhere in the middle so he could watch both of their expressions.

Jack paled at the sight of her; apparently he too felt awed at her beauty.

"What's up Jack?" Red asked casually, leaning with one hand on her hip.

"Nothing much," he answered nervously, almost stuttering. Wolf rolled his eyes.

Noob.

The girl looked around, "So why'd you ask me to come out here?"

Jack approached her by a few paces. Red considered this, not stepping nearer or away as he came closer, now only a tree away. Wolf leaned forward in the bushes, glare beginning to deepen.

"I-I got these for you," Jack finally said, stretching his arm out, holding the multicolored flowers. Peonies, pansies, and some daisies, colors of mostly white, dark violet, pink and yellow.

Not Red at all.

"Oh, um, thanks?" Red asked, her thanks more of a question as she took the flowers. She looked over them, didn't really pause to smell them, then lifted her eyes to Jack. "So, what's going on?"

"Red I-" Wolf tensed, biting back the growl that rose in his throat. Keep it cool, keep it cool. Jack swallowed, meeting her eyes at last, "Red I really like you."

Wolf held his breath, watching everything in Red's reaction. She blinked, still a little confused. "Well, thanks? I really like you too."

Wolf felt something in his stomach fall, focusing more intently on the scene. Jack suddenly appeared revived. He grabbed Red's hands in his own small ones. "You do? Really? That's great because- you're really special to me, Red."

Red's eyes widened, as if suddenly realizing what Jack meant. Wolf blinked quietly, observing as she took a step back, holding up her hands, palms up. "Wait- wait. You like me in that way?"

"Yeah," Jack said, stepping closer. He gently grabbed her shoulders, pulling her gently closer. "I really liked you the second I saw you."

Red's face looked almost disgusted. "Why?"

"You're beautiful, gentle, kind," he gently touched her cheek. Red flinched back; he didn't notice.

Wolf held back a sigh. Idiot. He didn't know Red at all.

"I'm really glad you feel the same," Jack said softly, not noticing the plain rejection on Red's face.

"Jack, I really think you're getting the wrong -mmmph!"

Jack silenced her by placing his lips hard on her mouth. Wolf growled low, hair bristling. He twisted his hands, long nails itching for a fight. His instincts told him to go cut that brat to pieces, but his heart whispered for him to wait. If he interfered Red would absolutely kill him.

He waited, watching sickly as Jack kissed Red roughly, holding tightly onto her shoulders.

Gross, gross, gross. Why did humans so enjoy putting their mouths against others'? It was so disgusting. Wolves knew how to court much better than bleh humans.

"That's gross," he muttered, waiting irritably for Jack to finish.

Red looked shell shocked, eyes staring into space, totally confused. After Jack's mouth left hers for a moment, allowing her to breathe, she woke up. He leaned in to kiss her again, only receiving a strong punch to his jaw. Wolf chuckled softly, keeping the howl that built up inside him.

That's his Red.

Jack stumbled back a couple paces, holding the side of his throbbing face, staring in dumb shock. "Wh-What was that-"

"What was that for?" Red beat him to it, face crimson with rage. The pint-sized girl stalked up to him, getting right in his face. "I don't like you that way! I just met you like a week ago! You think I'm pathetic enough to fall for you just because you're the first guy to come calling? How shallow do you think I am! When I get a guy he definitely won't be this stupid!"

Wolf smirked. "Ouch. He asked for that."

Jack's face fell. He stared after her as she walked back into the forest, eyes glazing over as he ran to her, twisting her around. "But Red I-"

The bouquet she held smashed against the side of his head, petals flying around their heads like a storm. The girl flipped out of his hands, giving him a solid kick to the chest, sending him flying.

Red didn't go after him, knowing he had enough. "We are on a mission, Jack. We don't have time to focus on something as petty as relationships. The mission always comes first."

She began to walk away. Jack sat back up, staring after her blankly, spirit crushed.

The instant Red headed back into the forest, Wolf took off. He nimbly jumped over bushes, logs trying his best not to create much noise. This proved much harder than usual when he crashed, rolling on a pile of leaves before taking off back to camp.

Quietly cursing when a pain flashed up one foot, he jumped back into camp, sliding on the dusty ground as he grabbed a flexible branch he took from a tree earlier that day in one hand, taking his pocket knife as he began to whittle at the wood.

Red came to the fireplace less than a minute later, no bouquet in her hands, face still cherry red from rage towards Jack.

"Hey Hood. Perimeter secure?" he referenced to the excuse she had to leave for Jack. She was probably still shaken up and annoyed from Jack's ambush on her personal space.

"Yeah. Yeah its secure," she said darkly, sitting next to him. She crossed her legs, glaring intently in the fire. Wolf stared at her, speaking cautiously.

"Everything all right?"

"Just peachy," she growled, throwing a handful of dust in the fire. It hissed back to her, flames flickering, hands waving to the pair.

He blinked, careful to stray from the subject, "Okay." Wolf looked back to the fire.

Three, two, one.

"You know what I hate?"

Right on cue, "What?" he asked, averting his attention back to her.

"I hate it when people push things on you, things you're not ready for yet. Do you have any idea how much easier it is when I'm around you Wolf? You're so laid back, unlike the rest of those idiots."

Wolf didn't know how to respond; of all things he did not expect a compliment. "Uh, thanks? I'm glad I can be like that?"

"Good. Because I hate it the other way around!" she absently tossed a stick in the fire. Placing her head in her hands, she spoke to him more gently. "Thanks for being here Wolf, for listening. And sorry for venting on you."

"Anytime," he answered.

She smirked at him, curious as she studied what he held. "What are you making?"

"Oh, um, a bow," he showed it to her, a little embarrassed. "I can't really hunt now or act as much protection without a weapon, and I don't know how much use this pocketknife will due. I'm not that good at hand to hand combat, as you know, so I was thinking I could take a shot at sniping."

Red smiled, "I could teach you how to spar."

"Really?" Wolf blinked to her, moving his hair from his face in irritation.

"Yeah. Sure why not? We could start tomorrow night while everyone's sleeping."

Wolf felt a smile curl on his face, canines shining in the firelight.

Both looked over as Jack entered the small clearing, usually neat blonde hair now a mess. He looked between the two of them, the muscles in his jaw stiffening. "Oh, I see how it is," he muttered.

Wolf felt his blood boil. Red obviously didn't bear because she didn't explode at him. "You got something to say, blondie?"

"No. Nothing," he answered coldly, going back to his tent.

An awkward silence followed. Red looked up. "I'll keep watch tonight, Wolf," she volunteered.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, of course. You've been taking most of them this week and you need a break."

He smiled. "Thanks Red."

Grabbing a pillow nearby, he placed it on the ground, curling close to the fire for warmth.

"You're not going to sleep in the tent?" she questioned.

"I prefer the stars," he said, already a little sleepy. That, and he didn't think he could sleep in the same space with the brat. Ugh.

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Night."

In an instant he fell asleep.

Yay for ten chapters! :D right now im working on like chapter 21 so i'm still in the loop.