The Red Wolf's Mate novel Chapter 5

I couldn’t really argue with Lela. In my old pack, I had to be very careful with shifting. I typically did it alone. Mom was always so concerned about others seeing a red wolf. She never really explained why, but she always insisted. I was able to run with my brother so long as he ran through the forest first. I did get out on my own a few times, but I always kept to myself. I haven’t let Lela go for a run since we arrived here. A run could help clear my mind and get rid of some of the leftover emotions that were nagging me.

“We need to get to the forest line first, but let’s go.” I started off, walking along the open field towards the back of the houses. Although there was some wooded space behind the houses, the trees were not thick enough for me to feel safe shifting.

Lela and I keep bantering back and forth. After I lost my family, Lela was my companion. Wolves were always our companion, but Lela’s support helped pull me through the dark times. I enjoyed these conversations. They helped take my mind off all the other negative things that haunted me.

After walking for about 20 minutes, I came along the end of the forest. I was not far from the spot of the bonfire yesterday. I walked about 50 feet in and away from the tree line. I knew that there were patrols in the area, but most were much further within the forest, protecting the parameter.

‘This looks like a good place,’ I said to Lela. ‘Let me take my clothes off first. I like this outfit and we need to have clothes to get back to the house.’ I quickly took off my clothes and allowed Lela to come forward and shifted.

“Damn that feels good!” Lela yelled in my head. She shook out her fur and started running. I have always found Lela’s wolf form to be beautiful. She has deep red fur. It is the same color red but a shade darker. There is the hint of white along her paws which is a striking contrast to the rest of her red fur.

“Where should we go?” She asked as she continued running.

“Don’t go too far out, maybe just run parallel to the tree line. I don’t know where they do patrols, and I don’t want to deal with that.” I told her and I could feel her shake in agreement.

She ran and ran and I enjoyed the feeling. She turned around a bend and I heard running water.

“Let’s go to check that out,” I urged her and she veered off to the running water.

Lela ran for only a few more minutes before she was upon the water. A small creek ran through the forest. Lela padded over to the water, walking through the creek before turning around and taking a drink. I enjoyed the feeling of the water on her paws and encourage her to sit along the water. The running water was peaceful.

“Let’s sit for a while.” I told Lela. She didn’t complain. I knew that she liked the water as much as I did.

“I am going to go over to those rocks. You know I like sitting in the sun.” She walked over and jumped on to the rocks.

We sat in silence for several minutes, enjoying the last bits of the sun before it completely sets.

Lela perked her ears at a sound coming from about 50 feet away, further up the creek.

Relying on her enhanced hearing, I asked her, “What is it?”.

“I can’t see anything yet. There appears to be something moving along the creek. Wait! I smell something.”

Just as she spoke, I could see a strikingly beautiful black wolf come into view. The fur was the darkest color black I have ever seen, with just a hint of silver fur along his chest. I had never seen a wolf with such dark colored fur before.

The black wolf looked up, eyeing me closely.

“What should we do?” I asked Lela. Running was not an option. This was clearly a very powerful wolf.

“I don’t recognize him.” Lela peered at him. Wolves can identify each other if they have met in human form first. We hadn’t met many people from this pack, and this wolf wasn’t anyone that we had met before.

Sniffing the air, the black wolf padded over to us. He sat down along the side of the rock we were sitting on. Sitting next to us, I could see the true size the wolf. Sitting on the rock, I felt large, but my size paled in comparison. Sitting on the ground, the black wolf was still taller than me.

Titling his head, the black wolf continued to look at me intently.

“I don’t think he is going to hurt us.” Lela whispered to me.

“Do you see his eyes? They are so blue that they are almost black. I have never seen a color that is that dark but still blue.”

The black wolf appeared to relax. He opened his mouth slightly and let his tongue hang out to the side.

Lela has a puzzled look on her face, as do I. “I wish I knew who he is.” I look again in his eyes. Gold and silver specks swirled in his eyes.

The black wolf stood and leaned over the water, taking a drink. He then lied down at the base of the rock.

“Should I lie down?” Lela was puzzled.

“I think so. I don’t know what else we should do.” She nodded in agreement and laid down on the rock.

We sat like this for what felt like at least an hour. The sun had gone down, making the forest quite dark. I found it peaceful sitting with the black wolf. It was as if I could feel his energy. I have never felt this with another wolf. I could feel the energy in my chest, radiating throughout my entire body.

“What is that feeling? I have never felt that before.” I ask, puzzled. Lela shook her head. She didn’t know either.

We looked down at the black wolf again. His eyes greyed over slightly and I knew that he is communicating with someone in the pack, which I assume is this pack.

He stood up with a huff and whined slightly. Using his snout, he nudged Lela’s snout with his. Lela rubbed her head along his in response, equivalent to how two people would hug. He seemed reluctant to leave but dropped his head and trotted back the way he came.

“What was that?” I asked Lela, still looking at the direction that the black wolf left.

“Raina, I don’t know what to say. That energy feeling was so….strange. I have never felt that while interacting with any other wolf”. Lela was clearly as confused as I was.

“Let’s head back. It is getting late.” Lela headed off back to where we left our clothes.

After ten minutes, we were back at my clothes. Quickly, we shifted back and I got dressed. We walked back to the house in silence. Both of us were in silent contemplation about the interaction that we had with the black wolf.