"Alpha One, what are your orders?" The biggest wilderwolf from the pack asked as his fellow pack member pulled the straps off, freeing their leader. Rubbing at his wrists he growled heading outside and a few seconds later he returned in his werewolf form.
"Make sure that no one follows me. I want that werewolf alive….for now." He ordered, stepping outside and after he looked down at Ric's motionless form he snarled grasping Ric around the throat with one paw. "You thought you had me didn't you, wolf? I'm the true Alpha One!" With a growl, he threw Ric at the ground before he lowered himself onto all fours. With a grin he watched as his two pack members headed inside the building, one heading into the hallway and the other heading for the security shed.
"Now for Alex." The new Alpha One growled, sniffing the grounds before he grinned picking up her scent. "There you are." With a snort, he followed the scent as it led him straight for the infirmary. While he searched for Alex his two pack members heard footsteps so they quickly ducked into the shadows, watching on as Pincus stepped out of her office.
"That's strange I thought I heard something." She whispered, not seeing a pair of red eyes watching her from a distance. "I'd better find Baxter and Maurice and make sure my students are safe. Keeping an eye on the Moonstone wouldn't be a bad idea. You can't be too careful."
Pincus had just turned her back to close the door to her office when something loomed out of the shadows. She turned just in time to see something staring at her, two red eyes glowing before it lunged.
"Ric!" Someone shouted and Ric groaned, eyes fluttering open before he found two members of the Night Patrol standing over him. "What happened?" Roxanne asked, helping Ric to his feet, and as he leaned against the closest wall he rubbed at the back of his head.
"I was interrogating the wilderwolf leader when something hit me." Ric groaned, gingerly touching a lump that had formed at the back of his head. "Wait...where's the wilderwolf?" He asked, seeing for the first time the wide-open door. "Is everyone safe?"
"We just got here and found you on the floor," David explained, looking on as Ric stared up at the building. Without another word, Ric bolted for the stairway leaving both werewolves confused. "We'd better follow him." He added, running after Ric as Roxanne brought up the rear.
"Alex!" Ric called out, pausing at the stairwell that led to the top floors, and when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent he froze. "That's the pack leader." He breathed, forgetting all about his aching head as he dashed up the stairs. Once he turned the corner he saw something that made his blood run cold; the sight of the wilderwolf leader stepping into the room where lay Alex asleep and completely helpless.
Snarling he dashed inside catching the wilderwolf just as he reached Alex who groaned in her sleep, not even seeing the wilderwolf raising his paw above her head. "For all the trouble you've caused me and my pack, it's nice to see you so helpless. All thanks to our former Alpha One so I guess I owe him a thank you." He growled, one claw delicately stroking Alex's throat.
"Get away from her!" Ric roared and when the wilderwolf looked back over his shoulder he saw Ric's eyes blazing red his teeth bared but before he could launch himself at the wilderwolf the new pack leader grinned.
"I wouldn't get too close if I were you. You might be too soft but I'm not. One false move and this pretty little werewolf might lose her head." The new Alpha One said and Ric growled, taking a step back toward the door before he stared at the wilderwolf. "That's better."
"You're calling me weak but you're the one threatening an unconscious werewolf? Pathetic." Ric growled, glancing at the only window in the room. "Even uses their pack to blindside me. You're the coward and not worthy of being called an alpha." Ric finished, baring his teeth as the wilderwolf growled at him, taking the bait.
"You were the one who abandoned us for this pathetic excuse for a werewolf. She's not even a pure werewolf just one who was changed by accident." The wilderwolf shot back and Ric snorted at him, a plan forming as he faced the wilderwolf. Hearing Ric chuckling softly he blinked, curious as Ric crossed his arms.
"Yet she bested you on more than one occasion. Not bad for an accidental werewolf." Ric countered and the wilderwolf narrowed his eyes, stepping close to Ric who glanced at Alex in time to hear her groaning in her sleep. As soon as the wilderwolf moved directly in front of the window Ric rushed forward and the wilderwolf tried to step back, his paw moving toward Alex but Ric was much quicker.
Slamming into the wilderwolf, Ric and the new alpha smashed hard into the window, shattering the glass before they tumbled out the window.
David and Roxanne, having discovered Pincus tied up in her office, were in the process of freeing her when everyone heard glass shattering. Pulling the gag from her mouth Pincus immediately started to head outside followed closely by the two Night Patrol members.
"What on earth was that?" Pincus exclaimed as she headed outside into the courtyard finding two werewolves sprawled in the grass both groaning. The wilderwolf pushed himself up first grasping Ric's mane before he yanked Ric to his feet.
"Ric!" Pincus called out once she saw who the werewolf was and with a growl she turned her moon-band. Grunting she rushed toward the wilderwolf transforming into her werewolf form before she knocked the wilderwolf back, growling at the wilderwolf who lurched to his feet.
Dazed, Ric groggily raised his head seeing Roxanne and David driving the new alpha back just as two more wilderwolves their eyes glowing rushed around from both sides of the academy. "Wilderwolves to me!" The alpha roared and as they charged at Roxanne and David the Night Patrol fought back. "Back off old wolf!" He snarled at Pincus who stepped in his path, blocking the alpha from reaching Ric who stumbled to his feet still woozy from the fall.
"This 'old wolf' knows a few tricks!" Pincus countered, raising her head before she let out a series of howls. When the alpha bared his teeth snapping at her Pincus dodged, diving at the alpha driving back each time he tried to lunge at Ric. Shaking off the dizziness Ric raised himself onto his hind legs before he tensed, diving forward before he knocked the alpha back. "Someone check on the students." She called and Roxanne nodded, hurrying back into the building. Before a wilderwolf could follow her Ric blocked its path.
"Thanks, Pincus! You're outnumbered, wilderwolf!" Ric told him, dodging the alpha's paws before he kicked the alpha hard in the stomach, and when the alpha roared he followed up with a strike to the alpha's jaws. "Backup's on its way." He called out hearing howls as more members of the Night Patrol headed for their location.
"That's what you think, wolf. My wilderwolves are on their way to intercept your Night Patrol." The alpha chuckled, rubbing his stomach before three wilderwolves raced to his aid, knocking David back. "More are on their way so what will you do? Let me go or risk more wilderwolves showing up and destroying your Night Patrol?"
Ric narrowed his eyes at the wilderwolf his eyes momentarily glowing red before Pincus placed a paw on his shoulder. "Ric, Flasheart, and the rest of the Night Patrol won't make it in time. We need to retreat." Pincus suggested and Ric snarled, eyeing the alpha who lifted his head letting out a howl.
"But Imogen, we have them." Ric insisted until Pincus, ignoring his use of her first name, grasped his chin making him look up toward the broken window and after a long pause she lowered his head releasing his chin. "Darn it. You got lucky, wilderwolf." Ric snapped at the alpha who laughed in his face before he signalled to his pack to retreat. As they darted off into the surrounding forest Ric started to follow only to stumble, wincing before he shook himself.
Broken glass, dislodged showered the ground and he snorted, wincing once he saw a piece of glass sticking out of one of his front paws. "Didn't even see that." He muttered, grasping the glass, and with a tug, he pulled it free immediately gasping from the sharp pain.
"Ric, you're hurt. Come on, let Flasheart and the Night Patrol deal with the wilderwolf pack. You need first-aid." Pincus suggested and Ric looked up again at the infirmary before he finally nodded looking down at his paw with a grimace. Seeing the blood dripping from it he let Pincus guide him toward the building though not before he glanced back at David who gave him a nod, keeping watch over the academy.
"There you are," Pincus said, finishing wrapping Ric's paw with a gauze. "How on earth did you end up in the garden?"
"I fell through the window in the infirmary. Might need to get that repaired." Ric explained and Pincus stared at him until Ric chuckled weakly.
"For my second question, why is the window broken?" Pincus asked and Ric winced, looking over at Alex who slept soundly nearby. "Ric, does this have something to do with Alex?"
"The alpha used Alex to get to me, Imogen. If I hadn't knocked him out the window he'd could have...tried to…." Ric trailed off, looking directly at Alex who sighed in her sleep oblivious.
"Then it's a good thing that you managed to stop him, Ric. Hopefully, the Night Patrol catches up with that wilderwolf pack soon." Pincus said, noting with a smile where Ric's attention was. "Alex will be just fine after some rest. Besides she slept through all the excitement."
"If I hadn't given her that medicine Alex would have had a chance to hide herself away. Because of me, she could have died." Ric argued and Pincus sighed to herself, lightly patting his shoulder.
"Try and get some rest, Ric. I'm sure you'll feel better in the morning. I'm going to get in contact with the Night Patrol and see if they've made any progress with the wilderwolf and his pack. Thankfully Roxanne found Freddy and his friends and they're safe and sound. For once they stayed in the rec room." Pincus told him and Ric nodded though once Pincus left the sick bay he climbed from the bed moving close to Alex before he gently placed his paw on her hands.
Staring at her Ric hunched his shoulders, yawning heavily before he grinned. "Probably should listen to Pincus and get some sleep," Ric muttered, looking at Alex before he curled up on the floor between the beds. "But I'm going to keep my eyes on you just in case." He added with another yawn, resting his head on his paws as he focused on Alex.
Groggy I opened my eye, my vision clearing so that I got a good view of the ceiling a few feet above me. After spending more than a few minutes trying to remember where I was I heard a noise, what sounded like someone breathing and I tensed. Taking my time I finally turned my head enough to find Ric, still in werewolf form, lying between my bed and the next closest one.
"Ric?" I whispered but when he didn't react, his head resting on his paws I sighed. Very carefully I sat, giving myself time to adjust to being upright after hours of lying down before I pulled back the blanket covering me. Breathing out I placed both legs on the floor, my hip aching the moment I pushed myself upright but I was so worried about Ric that I ignored the pain.
Taking two steps brought me to Ric's side and as I knelt my legs wobbled, causing me to grasp the nearest thing to steady me. Which happened to be Ric's side and when he felt something tugging on his fur Ric's eyes shot open blinking in the dim light a snarl curling his lips until he saw me leaning against his side, gasping. "Alex?" He whispered, looking at me as I panted beside me.
"When did you get here?" We asked at roughly the same time and I managed a weak laugh as did Ric who grinned back at me.
"You shouldn't be walking around, Alex. Hang on I'll help you back to bed." Ric said, about to stand but when I snugged into his fur he froze. Seeing that I had a faint smile on my lips he smiled back at me. "Are you sure about this, Alex?"
"I'm more comfortable here," I muttered, enjoying the warmth of Ric's fur and he chuckled giving up on moving with me curled up against him. When he didn't make any attempt at rising from the floor I sighed, closing my eye before I felt an arm wrap around my back. "Thanks, Ric."
"Get some rest okay? No wandering off." Ric whispered, yawning before he rested his head against mine closing his eyes.