章 14: C13. Trusted Red Wolf
Jossie's POV:
Father's voice echoed from downstairs, 'Jossie'. He called for me and it must've woken me up. Sometime between running back to the city and running from Casimir... I must have fallen asleep. Did I make it back to the motel? Did I change back human? I don't remmeber how I got back. I opened my eyes to find I was at home curled up in my velvet purple bed sheets. Tucked under my arm was a rainbow lama plushie. Was this a dream? I stuck the plush under the blanket for security before throwing the blankets back. I crept out of bed as my head throbbed from a morning headache. 'Jossie,' his voice echoed once again.
Why does this feel familiar? I walked downstairs and paused when I hit the last step of the staircase. 'Jossie.' His voice was there again. I couldn't help but to feel de-ja vu. "Dad?" I asked as I eyed down the kitchen. My heart raced in my chest. 'Jossie,' he whispered out. "What is it dad?" I wondered as I walked towards the kitchen. There is was again... I've done this before.
'Don't go in there.'
I should have listened to the warning.
I passed down the hall leading to the kitchen. I wanted to see what was there. The kitchen seemed to grow farther away. I kept walking towards it but never reached it. My feet began to ache and I had to pause as I came across the hall's decorative mirror. There in the reflection...
'Jossie.'
My mouth arched with a gasp as I looked at the girl in the mirror. My hair was done up with a fancy red bow to hold it together. I was in a silver cocktail dress. Red lipstick stained my lips. I was in matching high heels that stabbed the floor like needle work. My eyes shined my father's blue tint back at me. But despite my new features... I was holding a kitchen knife. No... no... this is not me. This is my sister.
'Dearest Jossie...'
My lips parted as I talked to myself.
"What did you do?"
The lights flickered on and off. On and off. On and off. The hall began to change to the kitchen. There in front of me the mirror changed to my father's appearance. He stood in front of me now. His blue eyes widening as tears filled them. He lowered his eyes to look down. I looked with him. His hand touched mine as I realized I was pushing a knife into his chest. I could hear a scream from the archway to the hall. My eyes scanned the empty space and found myself staring back at me. My screaming echoed.
'Bloody fucking Cromwell,' my sister's voice echoed in my head. "Why don't you die like dad?"
"Murderer," my mother's cold hearted voice fell faint in the back of my thoughts. It wasn't me standing in the archway. It was mother.
I didn't kill father.
My heart skipped a beat. A skip that woke me from my sleep as I coughed for air. I glanced around as I felt utterly lost. I recognize my surroundings. I was in the burrow again. I've been here before, that much I was certain. This is where Casimir left me. This is where I had my first trasformation as a wolf. I could smell blood. I could feel a cold draft from the entrance seeping down. I guess my nightmare will be postponed for another time. I'll ignore it again for now. I shivered as I glanced around for my clothes I left here.
Blood.
Everywhere.
I screamed and held my mouth to silence me. The smell of a rotton corpse hit me as I breathed in the scent of a dead owl. It was fowle and made my stomach turn. I quickly puked. Something came up and lodged in my throat. I began to struggle to breath as I stuck my fingers down my throat and pulled out a long feather. I dropped it on accident as my fingers trembled.
"Do you mind telling me what happened?" I asked as I waited for an answer. I could feel Jude's tired presense nearby. She was still waking up. I don't remember anything past asking her to take me back towards the motel. I got to my feet as I tried to steady my breathing. I was dizzy... dehydrated... I really need to pee. I watched my step as I collected my clothes and slipped them on. I feel like I made this my den last night.
Did something change my mind about going home? Think Josephine... what happened last night?
'Someone was following us so I decided to take over your body. I lost them amongst the snow. You fell asleep so I decided to make the night the most of it. I brought you back here for safety. We should be able to leave now.' I heard her try to explain.
'Take over?'
'Yes, I took control. You were very exhausted, Jossie.'
'Take over how?'
'What? How can you not understand? I took over your body like posession.'
I shivered at the thought of her having some form of control over me. It was a little disturbing to think about... I mean she made me eat an owl last night! I might serious go vegan if I get any of those memories from her.
'Did you recognize who was following me?'
'I thought I smelled Casimir but I wasn't positive.'
'What do you mean by that?'
'I just said I thought so but I wasn't postive, Jossie. Gosh, will you listen?'
We growled together at each other. I changed into my comfortable outfit I managed to save. I looked around and found a backpack with a few bottles of water inside. I took the bag and threw it over my shoulder before taking a bottle and started to suck it down. I started out of the burrow- having to eventually grow into a crawl to reach the surface. I dug my way out of the snow. The forest was still dark from the arctic hours. I felt Jude catch up to my side as I began to walk away from the burrow.
'Town is in the opposite direction,' she sounded like she was amused with me. I spun around on my heels and let her scent guide me as she got ahead. I made sure to be careful to avoid the burrow.
"Did you HAVE to eat a live animal?" I asked softly. I kept my voice low as I searched my surroundings.
'You rather starve?' She sounded amazed with me. 'We're predators, Jossie. You should get used to killing.' I winced at her voice. There's no way I would kill anything without a good reason... Why would I kill an animal when I could wait for my next meal when I get back home? I don't have to kill... and I wouldn't kill for fun period. 'Last night you were thrilled to chance anything for a snack.' I stopped walking as I balled up my fist.
"If that's true then I don't want to be a wolf anymore. I won't ever trasform again, Jude. If being a wolf means I will switch off my humanity and kill over an instict of hunger... then I don't want this!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. I heard a few hares run away from the sound of my voice. I heard Jude snort as she held in a laugh.
'You knew perfectly well what you were doing,' she told me. But, I couldn't believe her. It just doesn't sound like me.
"No I didn't!" I yelled at her. Although I couldn't see her I knew she was in front of me. I stepped through her strong scent and started marching away from her. I tired to think about what happened last night. I know I woke up in the burrow... I know I had my first trasformation... I remember something connecting the rogue and Casimir together. They were the same person? I think I was running from Casimir... I must've been running from him last night. I think I was trying to find the city and get back to Nathalie.
That's right! I was supposed to meet up with Nathalie last night because she wanted to help me with my first trasformation. I guess I let her down in some way? What if she went looking for me and didn't find me? What if she thinks something bad happened to me? Surely she would have smelled Casimir all over the front entrance of my motel room. Damn this is really bad... I'm making her worry! I wish there was a way for me to tell her I'm ok and I'm coming back now. "Nathalie must be so worried about me. This is your fault. You should have took me back to the motel. There's no telling what she's doing trying to find me."
'Jossie there was someone after us last night. It wasn't safe to go back to the motel. It would have just lead the hunter straight to our little safe place. This was a perfect way to hide away for the night someplace safe. Sleeping underground was an advantage to blind that tracker. I made sure to run him all over the place before slipping into the burrow for a night cap.'
"Sure," I growled. "But, I'm still mad at you."
'We seem to be getting off on the wrong foot...' she went silent.
The wind picked up and ran through my hair. I felt a shiver run down my spine as my hair hit my face. It was freezing out here above the ground. I wrapped my arms around my body. I could hear the wind howling like a wolf through the trees... it began to sound like an actual pack was out there. But, it was too early. They should be all sleeping right now. I tripped up suddenly and fell face first into a pile of snow. Something sharp cut into my legs and I realized I was caught in something... I picked up my head and turned over in the snow to look down at my legs. Rope was wrapped around my legs. But, there was no clear sourse as to how it got there. It was like it had been thrown towards me.
'Jossie,' Jude barked a warning as I heard footsteps approaching me fast. I glanced up at a large man coming my way. It didn't help he was wearing an extra thick fur coat. He towered over me like a giant. But, under his coat I could still tell he was built like an armory. He was a natrual red-head with beautiful freckles kissing his cheeks. His eyes were green like the grass from the southern pack. He wore a white fur coat to give off a more human approach... but I could smell wolf under all the fabric. His scent warned me he was of alpha-bloodline but he wasn't an alpha... maybe a beta? He was a little older then me, but I wasn't sure by how much. He was defintely... 'Deepfur's beta. Bow out of respect! He might pity us if you do. Then when the moment is right... we attack!'
'Do you have a bloody death wish?'
I asked her as I lowered my head to take some of her advice.
'He's a red wolf, Jossie. You cannot trust him.'
He knelt down slowly by me and slowly untangled the rope from my legs. He kept silent as he wrapped it around his hand and put it away in his pocket. "You're the missing daughter from Rabidcrest pack?" He asked quietly as he looked up for our eyes to meet. I blushed as I found him immediantly attractive. I couldn't help but to glance away before I fell in love with him. "I know you are."
"I am," I whispered.
"Are you staying somewhere in this pack's territory?" He asked and I could feel him looking my appearance over. It didn't feel like he was being perverted... just observant. Should I tell the truth? I have to tell him the truth... maybe he will grant me an audience with his alpha.
"Yes... I... please... I need to speak to Alpha Camren. I know who killed my father. He's somewhere in this area and he's trying to kill me next. I need to call my mother..." I trailed off as I dreaded that call. I don't want to go home. I know nothing will change when I do go back. It will only be worse for me. I won't have father there to protect me. I might have a wolf now but mother will still never accept me. I'm not a monster... but I am in her eyes. "I need to tell her so I can-" He nodded as he cut me off.
"Did he try to hurt you?" He asked as he looked for any injuries on me.
"No... he didn't hurt me... I got away from him. He brought me to a burrow last night nearby here... But, nothing happened. I ran away from him."
"So he kidnapped you," he whispered and looked worried for my safety.
"Yes," I whispered as I thought back on what happened. He really did kidnap me! That wasn't helping me... that was kidnapping me! I felt my breathing shake as I started to panic. I'm still in the same woods he took me to. He could be nearby plotting how he'll kill us. "He was here last night," I muttered as my breath shook.
"My pack's known about that rogue since he was spotted in your pack the day your father was murdeered..." he trailed off as he looked to be thinking. Well... looks like I don't have to give away Casimir's appearance. He's got that all covered. But, how would they know? Does Deepfur have spies in my father's pack? "Your Uncle put out a police report of your disappearance. We figured the rogue would come after you next. I'm glad you're fine but... he's going to come back to try to finish the job. We better get you someplace safe."
"What's your name?" I asked softly.
"I'm Beta Ethan of Deepfur territory. You're in good hands now, I promise." He helped me stand up. "I'll get you an audience with Alpha Camren. You can come back with me to the manor. The omegas can set you up with a warm bed. The security at the manor will be enough to protect you. My pack will continue searching for your father's killer. You have nothing to worry about now."
'Nathalie...' I heard Jude think in a sad tone. It rememinded me Nathalie is still worrying about me. I should find her first before anything else.
"Beta Ethan... I have to confess about staying here in the territory unnanounced... I also asked someone here that I find very special to... hide my presence from her beta and alpha's awareness." Nathalie might get in huge trouble for it... but it was bound to be exposed eventually.
"Don't tell me her name..." he trailed off. "But, if she's important to you then you'd only bring her up if you're worried about her."
"We were supposed to meet up last night... and that's when I got kidnapped... I want to find her and let her know I'm okay."
"How about you go back alone. Find her and let her know she has orders to bring you to the manor. I'll make sure she's pardoned for her crime. You can tell her that escorting you to the manor is her punishment for keeping silence about your presence in the pack."
"You're not coming back with me?"
"If the rogue is around here still I think it would be better if I take a look around... alone." He gave me a smile and I felt calmed down. I knew he could handle the rogue without help... I would just be an easy target. "Promise me you'll go straight to the manor," he warned. I nodded quickly.
"As soon as I find my friend and explain everything. It'll be the next priority on my list," I explained. He gave a small chuckle as he found something funny about what I said. I backed away from him and went to turn around and head in the direction I was first headed in.
"Goodbye," he said in a teasing tone. I heard him take off running like he was on a mission now.
"Goodbye," I said over my shoulder.
'Jude, he was really nice... how could you tell me to try to kill him?'
'What? Everyone knows not to trust a red wolf,' she snorted out as she went back to leading the way. 'But, he seems like an exception.'
When I meet Alpha Camren I am going to ask for asylum. I can't go back to my father's pack. The pack doesn't see me as a person... I want to ask to be granted permission to remain in this pack. I'll have to work on many reasons for them to want me here... But, it's a start somewhere.
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