Red and the Wolf

Night’s Angel

“My name is Rex. But everyone calls me red because of my hair. But today is a great day I get to go to my grandma’s house today. She lives in the woods. And I get to show her much of a big boy I am by getting there all by myself” I said to the large male wolf I met on the road to my grandmother’s house. I was six at the time and overly friendly for my age. From what I knew at the time, there was a world gate in that forest that lead to what everyone calls the Lycan Earth.

Their world is the same as ours, aside the fact there are no humans in there world and the closest thing to human is the wolves. But I’ll get to that later. The wolf I was talking to was a timber wolf who was heading back to the gate with his daughter when I met him. “Well then Rex the Red, a journey can be quite lonesome would you care for company till we reach your grandmother’s house” he asked. “That’s nice of you but my Mommy told me never to go with strangers” I said.

“Your mother is wise Rex the Red” the wolf said “but as a father myself I don’t feel right letting you walk the wood alone.” “That’s ok Daddy said all I have to do is stay on the path and I’ll be fine” I said. “Oh how rude of me I forgot to tell you my name” the wolf said pulling himself up to his full height. I tilted my head and watched the wolf. “The name your people have come to know me as is Max” he said with an odd twist of his head.

“If you have a daughter where is she” I asked. “I see” he said and called out with a howl. He was answered by what I thought was a puppy learning how to bark. Soon after a much smaller wolf darted out of the woods. She was almost the same size I was. She had the coloring as Max. Her eyes were a deep sea blue that I had almost lost myself to. “Is it common for your people to change color like that” the wolf asked when he saw me blushing.

“I … don’t know” I said shuffled my feet. I held out my hand to the younger wolf to change the topic. “Hi, I’m Rex” I said. She looked at my hand and up at me. She back away and hid behind her father. She said something to him that I didn’t understand. He reassured her and said to me “please forgive her she is as you people would say shy.” “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare her” I said. I kept my hand out and gave her my friendliest smile.

She sniffed at my hand. For a moment she just stood there. I jerked my hand away when she snapped at me. She thought it was funny. The older wolf tried to hide the smirk on his face but thought it was funny. She tilted her head when I backed away. She looked up to her father and back to me. Her tail curled back behind her leg as she lifted her paw hand and held it out to me.  Slowly and with a lot of caution I took her hand in a firm grip for a six year old.

Well for a human six year old. Her gripe almost broke my hand. But when I shook her paw hand I said “hi, I’m Rex. Would you like to be friends?” She looked back up at her father who told her what I said. She looked back to me again and smiled. “Friends” she said in her little bark of a voice. I smiled and was happy that I had made a new friend. We quickly started walking again. Max was happy that his daughter could meet a human her own age.

I was talking up a storm but somehow Max was keeping up with me. The wolf pup thought humans were funny that they can talk so much and so quickly. She only knew a hand full of words but made the best of it. And she was quickly learning more as we spoke. It felt like we had talked for a long time but we reached my grandmother’s house soon enough. My grandmother was sitting on the front porch wait for me.

Max’s face turned grim when he saw my grandmother sitting there. “Ma’am” he said “I bear dark news of your son and his mate.” I didn’t know what he meant at the time but something in my heart broke. “There was an accident involving one of my people and they both lost their lives” he said “my people will atone for this event to their hire when he comes of age.” She knew about it already and was sitting with Granpa’s shotgun in her lap.

“Then you best get gone before I make you atone for it right now” she said hate her eyes. I ran inside. I locked myself in my room and cried. I cried till I fell asleep and didn’t leave my room for days. They weren’t coming home. I’ll never get to see them again. They had said good bye to me and told me how much they loved me. They got to say everything they would have wanted to say. Like somehow they knew it was the last time they would ever get to see me.

It hurt for a long time. I turned that pain into a resolve, I was going to be like my father and become a boxer and the champ. I worked for the next ten years to build myself into a championship boxer. But I was too small for the heavy weight. But what I lacked in size I more than made up for in speed. I study other types of fighting and used them to better my skills as a boxer. But one other problem I had. No matter how much work I put into it, I still had a weak punch.

I won’t run from a fair fight but when half of the football team liked to use you as a punching bag, made you get some good leg work going. I was used to running through the forest around my grandmother’s house and gave me a home field advantage when being chased. My line of thinking was if they waited to beat me they had to work for it. When one of them did catch up to me they were met with my fist.

I have a weak punch, but not a slow one. My dad had shown me a trick to throwing a rapid set of blows without slowing down. The boxing couch calls it the full-auto punch. But today was different. Something had scared off the team just so they could chase me. In school we learned the wolves hunt in groups call hunting packs. There about five or six wolves per pack and learned at young ages to think and work as a team.

The first one that had shown itself tried to jump me thinking I wasn’t going to fight back. And I got him good the first time. “You got to do better than that” I said taking off for home again. It felt like they were just toying with me. But then I knew what they were doing when I found myself in a part of the woods I didn’t know. “Crap, how did they get me lost” I said turning around to find my way. The second one caught me and learned from their friend.

This one made sure not to stay to close to me but wasn’t attacking. It was like it was trying to slow me down. Two more dropped from the trees closing off any means of escape. This was a bad place to be. And they knew I was trapped. “You want some of this,” I said dropping all of my things on the ground and put up my fist “then come at me bro.” the other three of their group showed up locking me in a ring of death.

I saw what took three of them so long to catch up to their friends. The one I caught off guard had a busted lip black eye and a nose bleed. I looked around as one of them spoke. “You attacked one of our pack needlessly” one of the males said. “He attacked me first” I answered. “They clam you attacked first” the male contoured. “You’re the ones chasing me, you’re the ones attacking me” I said. “You have no proof of this clam” he answered.

“And I challenge your clam” I said. HA, I knew I could find a way out of this. Only one of them was not hunched over and she wasn’t the one talking. I don’t think they knew I picked up on the little fact till I stopped turning. I stopped and only looked at the lead wolf. She was a beautiful creature. Her tricolor fur was dark and looked almost black. Her eyes were a dark deep sea blue. If I couldn’t see a murderous hate in them I would think them loving.

“Well babe, you want a go” I asked. “I’ll take your challenge, human” the male wolf said. “I didn’t challenge you small fry” I said “I’m talking to your lead.” I nodded to the female before me. She regarded me with a small grin. The male started speak when the female raised her paw. The male paused and took a step back. “Foolish and wise at the same time” she said her accent thick when she spoke. “Sorry I’m aiming for the top babe” I said.

She laughed. Had I not been ready for a fight I would see how long she could hold that cute laugh she had. “I accept your challenge, human” she said and stepped into the ring of wolves. She undid the bands around her arms and legs letting them hit the ground with a heavy thud. “Begin” she said and charged me. She was fast, almost blinding fast. I barely had time to block her fist and was still pushed back. Her attacks were controlled. She was reading my moves. She knew to watch out for my full-auto but this was not a boxing match I could use more than just my fists.

She swung with a wide kick that I matched with my own. Felt like my leg was going to break afterward. One thing she didn’t know was I could use my full-auto with my feet as well. But she learned as soon as I caught an opening and took it. Three kicks to her leg slowed her down. The two kicks that found her side put her down. One of my kicks was good enough to knock the wind out of her. Breathing hard she pulled herself up as far as her body let her.

“Damn human finish me” she said. “No, I won’t take a life” I answered “but that was a great match.” Her brow curled in misunderstanding. “You beat me, it is your right to end me” she said. “I won’t do it” I answered. “You’re a damn fool” she spat. “Babe I don’t know your ways, but I’m not a killer, and I thought that was a great match, and would love to go again sometime” I said and held my hand out to her.

She looked at my hand and back up at me. She slapped my hand away. “You won but you dishonor me by letting me live.” She said and sat up. “We’ll just call it a dept to be paid later” I said. She glared at me. “Ok, tell me your name and I’ll call it even” I said. “That will not restore my honor and I already have a dept to pay” she answered. “Ok, how about we use some sort of middle ground” I said “I guess you can say I’m giving you a right to a rematch.”

Her brows touched again. “You know like, I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself, by letting you live to fight me some other time” I said rubbing the back of my head. Fighter or not, heck human or not, she’s still a cute girl. And knocking someone out is easer then trying to hook up with someone. Ok, I have a hard time talking to girls. And even if we’re not the same species she’s still a cute girl. “If you will not end me, then it will have to do” she said pulling herself to her feet.

“I’m Rex by the way” I said and held out my hand again. She took my wrist in her paw as I did the same. “You had best make yourself stronger for the next time we met in battle” she said “Rex.” She let go and turned away. She spoke to her pack who understood some of what just happen. But when she gave an order to return home none of them moved. The one that had spoken before dropped to his knee and speaking to me “Alpha, we are yours to command.”

“Woh, I’m no one’s Alpha bud” I said putting my hands up and taking a step back. “Alpha, you have beaten our Alpha in a challenge and now we answer to you” he said. The others matched him by dropping to a knee. “Well, crap” I said I covered my face in disbelieve “this cannot be happening.” Their first Alpha had done the same as the others. “I can’t do this I’m not an Alpha” I said “hell, I’m not even good enough for my school’s boxing team.”

None of them moved when I told them what a loser I was. “You guys take this honor thing to a new level” I said and there go the odd looks “I’m an outsider, I can’t do the whole alpha thing.” “Outsider or not, our law does not change, our alpha was beaten and now the one who has beaten her is now alpha of our hunting pack” the second said. “well crap” I said “is there any way around this were I don’t have to do the alpha thing and she can save face and no one has to know what happen?”

The she-wolf shot me a dirty look. “Alpha I do not understand” the second asked “what does save face mean?” “Oh, umm, it means that she can recover some honor till we have a rematch” I said. “I’m not sure if I understand fully but as Alpha you have the right to choose your second, regardless of rank” he said. I’m not sure if the others understood what we had said but they seem to understand the second had meant.

The other growled at the remark. I put my hand up and the growls stopped. Well most of them stopped. The fallen alpha was still growling at me. “Ok, let me get this straight” I asked “if I made her my second and left her in charge like she was before, you will follow her like you did before?” “If those are your orders Alpha” the second answered. “Um, I guess” I said “I’m really not a leader.” I look over to the blue eyed wolf.

When our eyes met she looked down and away. “Ok, um so I don’t misunderstand something, you don’t look each other in the eye” I asked rubbing the back of my head again. “To meet an alpha’s gaze is to challenge an alpha” the second answered. “Ok, good to know” I said “um ok so your former alpha is my second and will stand in for me till we have a rematch.” “Understood” he said and said something in their language then repeated it for me “For the good of the pack.”

They all answered the same. “For the good of the pack” I said. I didn’t feel right giving orders and I knew she didn’t want to have anything to do with me. “Ok, you’re free to go” I said. Their heads tilted and eyes blinked. The blue eyed wolf spoke and the others took off. “I hope to reclaim my honor soon so be ready” she said looking me in the eye. “You can bet on it” I said “would you please tell me your name?”

“When next we meet” She said “Alpha Rex, till then you may call me second.” She turned away. Her head turned back to me. “Thank you” she said and took off after her pack. I waited till I could tell they were gone before I let the pain catch up to me. Wincing I made my way home to spend another night with my grandmother. Her mind was starting to go and she would forget who I was. Last time she almost shot me in the head with grandpa’s shotgun.

We didn’t have the money for her to see a doctor or even pay for her to have assistant living. I’ve been trying to find a part time job but it seems no one will hire someone who ends up in fights most of the time. “Rex the school called” my grandmother said as I walked in the door “what did you do this time?” “Grams, I didn’t do anything” I answered putting my things away. “Oh and you got a package in the mail,” she said “maybe you mother sent you something from their trip overseas?”

I open the package when I found it under a tower of bills we couldn’t pay. All of the bills at this point were past due and the shutoff notices were stacking up.  But in the package was a wolf fur coat died red. On the arm of the coat there was what looked like a tribal marking. I have gone one of these coats every year after I lost my folks.  I set the coat aside and started looking through the bills. “Wait a letter from the state?” I asked looking the envelope over. And it was address to me.

I open it and read a few times before I understood what it said. “You have been selected to act as ambassador to the Telro clan of wolves. Duel notice of reimbursement of third-six hundred dollars a month will be paid to you for serves to the state.” It read. “What the hell” I asked myself. “Watch your tongue before I wash your mouth out with soap” my grams said as she went to the kitchen. “Grams, this letter says I’m going to get paid a lot of money to babysit some wolves” I said.

“They can keep their money, I will not let one of those things set foot on my land” she said. “Grams we need the money, and it didn’t say anything about them living here with us it just says I have to babysit them” I said. “Bullshit, you will do no such thing” she said “those monsters just need to go back to their world and die off.” I shook my head and went to my room. I understood what happen that day. It was no one’s fault but my grandmother didn’t see it that way.

I’m as human as the next guy but all that night I couldn’t get her out of my head. I couldn’t help but think about her in every way. I tried shaking it off. I even tried a shower but nothing could get her out of my head. And I knew why. She was the first girl to really see me. I wasn’t just some loser to her. Even if she hated me, she had a reason. And now I just want to get to know her. Most of all I just wanted to know her name.

Chapter 2

I was sitting in the lunch room by myself as always when someone tapped my on the shoulder. I was wearing the wolf fur coat because it had gotten cold. “Hello, you must be Rex; the teacher told me where I could find you” a girl said with a very thick assent “I’m Rachel of the Telro clan.” I knew that voice she was the same one I fought yesterday.  But was she acting like she didn’t know me or did she really not know it was me.

“I hope we can be friends” she said almost shyly. The way she said “friends” reminded me of the female wolf pup I met when I was little. I turned around. Lucky for me I had the hood up. “This is not going to end well” I said. “No, no, you can’t be him” she said sitting down at the table anyway. “Yes, sadly I am, now the question becomes are we going to fight here and now or” I said slipping the hood off “are we going to make nice for now?”

She seemed mixed up about something. “Look I’m sorry about yesterday,” I said “and I do want to be friends.” “The clan Alpha knows about what happen yesterday” she said “and the deal I think is the word you would use, we made.” “So I put you in a bad spot, and” I said and she cut me off. “He thinks it works out for the better for both of our peoples.” She said “under one condition, you have to yearn rank in the clan to keep place as an alpha.”

“I did not want to this, I did not want disrespect you or your people” I said dropping my tone “but I’m not cut out to be an alpha or a leader or anything, all I wanted was to become a boxer and even that I can’t do.” “That’s part of why we’re here, to learn your ways and take that back our people” she said “and I’m here to teach you our ways so you may yearn a place with our people.” “Wait you said we” I asked “who else is here?”

“Just your hunting pack” she answered “to save you from having to fight others for respect.” “But that doesn’t change what I did to you” I said. “No” she said and shook her head “it does, the Alpha told us that to your people, choosing me after you beat me, as your second was a sign of respect and trust.” “Yeah, I guess” I said “I did that so you didn’t look bad to your people, getting beat by a weak human and all.”

She had started eating and did her best to act human. She looked at me as she ate. “I’m sorry if I’m being rude by eating in front of you if had not eaten yet” she said. “No you’re fine” I said trying to hide the fact I hadn’t eaten all day. “Have you even eaten” she asked. My stomach answered for me.  She slid her tray in front of me. “No you don’t have to” I said. “First lesson of the Telro” she said and tapped on the tray “For the good of the pack.”

I don’t know which was worst, being the bum mooching off the new kid or being the loser who was be pitied. “No, I really can’t” I said. “For the good of the pack means if the alpha is weak than the pack is weak.” I’m not sure if she was being nice or following orders. “Our people care for each other to make sure the pack is strong” she said “and you still have to keep your end of our deal and that means you must be at your best.”

It was ether eat or get smacked. So we ate. “That’s Telro mark but why do you have it” she asked. “It’s a long story” I said “but in short, I’ve gotten a coat every year after I lost my folks.” She looked the coat over. “Everyone calls me Red because of my hair and when I was six I met one of your people” I said “I think he said he was called Max by humans, he started calling me Rex the Red.” “Yes I remember one of the elders dying some furs red but I didn’t know what they did with them” she said.

She paused, thinking about what I told her. “You have met the Alpha” she asked. “I’m not sure I just met a wolf and his pup, walking home” I answered. I thought back on that day. “The wolf I met said his name was Max but I didn’t get his pup’s name, the most I can really remember about her was her eyes, they were blue like yours but lighter and they were just playful.” Something about her mood changed.

I’m not sure if I have it right but it seem to make her happy and sad at the same time. She said something to herself before turning back to me. “I’m sorry I have to go” she said quickly picking up after herself “I’ll introduce you to the rest of the pack later.” She was gone before I could say another word. I hope this is not how the rest of my day is going to be. But it was just lunch. My next class was history and Rachel wasn’t going to have to introduce me the whole pack in one go.

“Ah, prefect timing Rex, we have a new student with us and your grades make you the best person to help get her caught up with the rest of the class” my teacher said right as I walked in the room.  The new student was a wolf with light brown fur and green eyes. I recalled her face the minute I saw her fat lip and black eye. She was the one that met with my full-auto punch. Her ears shyly fold back when she saw my face.

She was dress in human clothes just like Rachel and both had a red band with the same mark that my wolf coat had, on her arm. The other students watched whispering to each other. The wolf had a fearful look on her face. I shook my head and went over to the wolf. I set my stuff down on the desk next to her and held my hand out to her. She looked at my hand then I think she looked at my chin and back to my hand.

I nodded when she looked back at my chin. Slowly she took my wrist and gave it a small shake. “I’m Rex, and I’m sorry about yesterday” I said and sat next to her. She was cute for her kind but just way to shy for her own good. Class didn’t start yet and trying get the wolf to say anything to me was like pulling teeth. “Do you understand anything I’m saying” I asked. She nodded. “I know few words, I am as you say slow in the head” she said and pointed at her head. I shook my head.

“I don’t think so; you’re doing your best” I said “you’re just taking in a lot a little too quickly, to keep up.” She tilted her head and almost made eye contact. “You smell the same but you are not the one from the past day” she said. I showed her my knuckles that had bruised. “How about we start fresh, here in this place we’re equals” I said trying to make her more comfortable around me. “No, I far from equal, I lost to you quickly and dropped rack in pack” she answered.

“Because you lost to me you lost rank” I asked. She nodded. “Don’t feel bad about it” I said “my second didn’t last much longer then you did.” Her ears perked up a bit. “Don’t let her know I said that” I said “I’m trying to get back on her good side.” I think I was starting to get through to her because her tail was wagging a bit. “Oh, I didn’t get your name” I asked. “I am being called Shia” she said. “Good to meet you Shia” I said just as the bell rang and made the poor wolf jump out of her fur.

Once class started Shia made short work of coping everything on the bored. I think she was just coping before trying to understand it but she may also only know how to speak English and not reading it. But I think that is where I came in. The teacher’s lesson was short so I spent the rest of the period helping the wolf understand what she had copied. I had her take her time and shocked me when she started picking up on it pretty quickly.

After class as we were leaving for the next one. One of the football players came over. “Oh look Red is so bad with women he has to go for animals” the jock said. “Don’t start, she did nothing to you” I said. I looked him right in the eye. “Don’t forget Red, you’re just a bum” he said “you will always be a bum, and their just too stupid know how much of a loser you are.” “Yeah you would know about not having a brain to get by” I shot back.

“Come on, be a good girl and come” he turned to Shia “be a good little dog and come along.” Shia started growling at the jock. I stepped between them facing the jock. “Frank, get lost before someone gets hurt” I said. “Are you threatening me” he asked. “No just a warning” I said “even the females of their race are strong and fast, you don’t stand a chance against them.” “Oh, you do” he asked. “Their wolves they work in groups” I said “they hunt in packs, and they are never alone.”

“This one is alone, so much for that idea” he said. “Are you sure about that” I asked turning my sleeve to him. He looked at the mark and the band around the wolf’s arm. “Like I said we’re never alone” I said. “They can’t be that strong if they made you part of their side show” he spat. “Shia, let’s get out of here, I don’t want you being late to your next class” I said picking up my backpack. “Understood Alpha” she said collecting her things.

Once we were out of the class room and down the hall the wolf next to me spoke up. “Alpha you didn’t have to stand up for me” she said. “You’re my friend right” I asked. She thought about the word and then nodded her head. “Then I did what I needed to do” I said “he was looking for a fight, he wanted to make the pack look bad.” I used terms I thought she would understand. I realized what I said and cut her off before hand.

“In this place fighting like that is seen as a bad thing” I said “and that guy, male wanted to make the pack look bad to the teachers.” She nodded with understanding. “I will not fight unless you say so Alpha” Shia said. I nodded. I walked her to her next class and had to run to my next class. Outside the science lab door I crashed into to someone. We both hit the floor. Whoever I just hit felt like a brick wall. They started speaking things I didn’t understand.

“Watch where you’re going mor…” they said in English “oh, Alpha I’m so sorry I didn’t know it was you, I didn’t mean to get in your way.” “No, you were right I should have been watching where I was going” I said and pulled myself up “the name’s Rex by the way, you don’t have to call me alpha.” “I’m sorry, alpha, I mean Rex” he said “it’s just this place is so, busy I got lost trying to find where I was going.”

I helped pick up his things. “I’m Edward by the way” he said. We got to class just before the bell. “Mr. Redward, I’m glad you found time to make it to class on time” the teacher spat “and you have already met your lab partner, I see.” We took our seats and listen to the old man run his mouth about how stupid we all were. “Now then, because of our guest I pose a question to the class as to how the gates work” he said “if anyone can answer the question correctly I will give them twenty points on the next quiz.”

I put my hand up. “Mr. Redward, what’s your question” he said. “The leaning theory about the gates is that they are wormholes that created bridges between worlds. However, leaning scientists have not found what had caused the gates to open even after ten years of research” I said putting my hand down. “And on an added note, the lycan world was classed as earth like three days after first contact with the Lycan race. And research has also shown that lycans and humans do have compactable genetics making hybridization likely with low chance of ill side effects.”

No one in the class had known me speak up in class, and the teacher didn’t like me because he thought I was a wiseass. He had even said so after class one time. But it didn’t change the fact I had answered his question. The class just thought I was showing off. “Mr. Redward see me after class” he said and dropped the matter. I knew why he didn’t want me to answer. I study a lot. But one girl in class had made it a point to work the teacher over in other ways.

And the old goat had set it up for her to answer the question by giving her the answer. Edward did the same as Shia but he had also rewritten it in his language. The class ended after more of the teacher’s mouthing. After the bell rang I didn’t get up and Edward didn’t move for whatever reason he had. “Mr. Edward you may leave” the teacher said after the rest of the class had gone. I nodded to him. The wolf left without a word.

The teacher came over and stood over me like his fat rolls were something to fear. “You have disrespected me every day this year and I have had enough” he said “you pull something like that again I will fail you from this class, regardless of your GPA.” I looked up and past him. “Sir, my father taught me that respect is yarned not given and every day this year you have done nothing but belittle the whole class and not just me” I said “now I’m just saying she has no plains on putting out for you she’s just using you to get a good grade, and if you did try anything it will be on your head not hers.”

Before he had time to think I tacked on “and yes I know if I fail this class I will lose my GPA and have to drop boxing so yeah I know what I’m getting into but I’m not going to let someone disrespect me just because they think less of me. So go ahead and fail me.” I looked him right the eye as I spoke. “But that will not change the fact you’re doing something far worst then putting me in my place.” He knew what I was talking about.

“We both know that if you fail me now they are going to look into why you failed me this late in the year” I said “and no I’m not making any threats because I have no poof.” It looked like the vain in his head was about to pop. “So go ahead and fail me if that gets you what you want” I said and got my stuff. “Redward, you’re a wiseass, but a good kid” he said “I know you don’t need the points.” “So keep them” I said.

“Thought about giving them to your wolf friend” he said “but I’m guessing that would be rude.” “Yeah, crap I got run going to be late” I said and bolted from the room. Edward and another wolf kept up with me in ease. “I hope you’re going to the same class I am cause I’m running late” I said to the other wolf. She nodded. Edward took off for his next class. The white wolf next to me was holding some papers in her paws before stuffing them in her bag.

“Edward translates the notes for everyone” I ask opening the door for her. She didn’t question me holding the door and just walked into the room. “Miss Jessie nice to meet you I’m your English teacher” she said “I’m Mrs. Recworld, and I believe Mr. Redward will be here today.” I had just stepped into the room as she said my name. Recworld was one of the youngest teachers in the school and hit on every boy she could.

“Good meet you too” Jessie said taking the teacher’s arm by the wrist and shook it once. I could see why Edward made copies. “Oh, Red, this is our new student I hope you don’t mind helping her get caught up to the rest of the class” Recworld said pushing her bust out more. If her top wasn’t tight enough already the way she squeeze them threaten to blow the buttons off. Jessie made no attempt to hide her growl to the older female.

Recworld smiled knowing she made another girl jealous of her. I tapped the wolf on the shoulder and lead her to one of the desks. “She has mate, she don’t need other” Jessie said. “Just let it go” I said “her pack has a different way of doing things.” “But why she look for other mates when she has mother’s scent” she asked. “Are you saying she smells like a mother” I asked. The wolf nodded and said “then why she look to other mates for children?”

All heads turn to see where the loud smack came from. I know there was no reason for me to do it but my hand acted on its own. And I was going to have a big red mark on my forehead for the rest of the day. “Humans can’t smell as well as wolves can so she may not even know that she is a mother now” I said keeping my voice low. “Are you mated” Jessie asked coping everything I wrote. “No, females don’t like me that way and Recworld just does things to get others worked up” I said.

“Why not like you” she asked “you are alpha, smart and fast, you make good mate.” Her head tilted with a questioning look. “Humans change colors” she asked. “We need to get back to the lesson” I said changing topics. We went back to taking notes but she wasn’t watching me anymore. She was watching Recworld and the way she moved. But Jessie’s pen was keeping up with mine only stopping when mine stopped.

I looked at her page and it matched mine right down to the way I dot an “I”. And well before anyone knew it the bell rang and everyone made a break for the door. “Prayers to a healthy birth” Jessie said before leaving for her next class. I got a questioning look from Mrs. Recworld. I just threw my hands up and walked away. “Ok, first we’re in a high school humans tend to mate a lot, so you’ll smell it a lot” I told her after we were well down the hall.

“Forgive me, alpha if I was out of place” she said. “No, you’re fine you didn’t know” I said “and who knows she might stop now that she might have a kid.” “Why change colors” she asked changing topics. “We call it blushing, and that happens when we feel different things” I said. “So I did bad, make alpha blush” she asked. “No, no, no, I reacted to what you said because you said good things about me” I said “Oh, I think this is your stop.”

She went to class and I ran for the gym. And that was where I met the biggest of the pack. Bruce was the biggest wolf in their pack and built like a wall. He had more than a six pack cut across his gut and with the dark gray fur that showed off his build made him one guy I didn’t want to fight. But greeting him for myself I could tell he might as well be a big old pup. He was just that friendly. The football jocks trapped me in the locker room just to try and beat me up for getting way yesterday when I first met Bruce.

The jerks pinned me to the wall trying to hold me down. Something big tapped on one jock’s shoulder. “If you are fighting someone Why dishonor yourselves by holding him down” the wolf said as clearly as he could. “Stay out of this freak” one of them said. “Don’t worry big guy, next to the second these guys hit like pups” I said. “Alpha” he asked. “Alpha, this little red haired rat” one of the jocks asked grabbing what he could of my hair “is your Alpha?”

“Guess we can’t call him the big bad wolf if he answers to this trash” another said. The giant dark gray wolf picked one jock up clean off the floor. “You dishonor the pack, you dishonor Alpha, Bruce will take back honor” he said balling up a fist. “Stand down” I said “it just shows how weak they are if they can’t face me in a fair fight.” Bruce relaxed his fist still holding the jock in one hand. The other jocks back off. “Drop him” I order.

The wolf let go of the jock half his size. The poor guy fell into a heap on the floor. I felt bad that everyone thought I was using Bruce as an attack dog to get respect. But I will have to talk to them about how to act around humans. But it was nice to have a spotter who didn’t forget I was there for once. And that had made my day that much better. That and with Bruce cheering me on, I broke my maxes that day.

Chapter 3

With classes over for the day I had the gym all to myself. After some warm ups I started running drills. I was half way through my first set when Bruce found me. The hunting pack of six wolves stood waiting for me to finish. Run, turn, drop, jump and run. All I thought about was this simple drill. Run to the wall, turn before I hit the wall. Drop to the floor, push off and jump to my feet. Run to the other wall.

“Two minute break” I said to myself and hit my timer. “Alpha” the six wolves said as one and dropped to a knee. “Oh, crap,” I yelled and jumped out of my skin. “Good lord” I said holding my heart in my chest “it’s just you guys.” Six unsettled faces watched me. “You guys can relax, I’m just doing some drills” I said and checked my time. “Forgive us for startling you” they said all at once. “You’re fine” I said and set up for my next set.

“Alpha may I ask what you are doing” the smallest wolf asked. when I say small I mean next to the others he was the smallest but he was about my height with a light red-brown color to his fur and ghost gray eyes. “Training, and you can call my Rex” I said and started my next set. None of them wore shoes but had to wear something to cover the claws on their feet. The red wolf joined me by my third lap and was keeping up with me.

“Run, turn, drop, jump, run, turn, drop, jump,” we chanted picking up speed as we went. We killed the set sooner than planned. “Two minute break” I said and stood up. “Alvin, you were out of line” Rachel said turning to the smaller wolf. He dropped his head and waited for her to hit him. “Alpha, Alvin has acted without orders how should he disciplined” she asked turning to me. “You’re not going to hit him are you” I asked.

She shook her head “it is not my place anymore.”  “If you’re talking about him asking a question, I don’t have any issues with that can’t learn if you don’t ask” I said “and if you’re talking about him joining me for a set, I don’t see an issue with it.” “I don’t mean to question you Alpha but” she said and snuffed her nose. “Ok I think I know where you’re going with this” I said “he was out of line for not asking if he could join in because it looked fun to him?”

She nodded and rubber her nose. “Are you ok” I asked. The other two female wolves were doing the same thing. All three females backed away from me holding their noses. “Do I stink or something” I asked. “Alpha, Rex, I mean no disrespect but you do but not in the way you’re thinking” the full tricolored wolf, Edward said “this is the first time any of us got the full blast of your scent and yours is the strongest right now.”

“Think he try to say” big Bruce said “strong scent draw strong mates.” “Oh, oh, OH” I said taking a step back “then maybe we should meet back up after I take a shower.” They all shook their heads. “We just have get use to it” Edward said. “Ok, well than um, Alvin was it” I said “do two more sets of fifteen of that drill as discipline, Edward, I know it will take you some time to deal with everyone’s notes so if you need to go ahead and work on that.”

I stopped and turned to the three females. I thought over carefully “Rachel, Jessie, and Shia, go ahead and work on anything you need to do” I said “and Bruce mind helping me with my next sets of drills?” Alvin jumped up and went over to where I was doing drills and started. Edward gave me his best salute and got to work on the notes and homework. And race doesn’t matter when it came to girls and gossip.

“Don’t understand how holding paws up like this will help” he asked holding his paw like hands up like punching pads. “I need to work on my punch and you big guy look like you could put a hole in a brick wall” I said. “Thought fighting was bad here” he asked. “It is but we’re not fighting, we’re training” I answered. He nodded. I told him when I was starting and fired my full-auto punch into the palm of his furry hand.

I stopped after a minute and the big wolf had to shake his hand back to life. “If I may, Alpha” he asked. I nodded. “I can feel the speed and strength in your fist but it has no power” he said. “I know I’ve been working on it.” “Understand that, I think I see why it has no power” he said. “I’m game” I said. “Punch once, but don’t pull back” he said and threw a punch at the air to show me what he meant. We could hear the three wolf girls giggling.

I matched his movement and he shook his head. “Punch me like that” he said. “Ok, I just made a fool of myself” I said being clear that I did on my own. I got ready as did he. He put his arms behind him and waited for me to hit him. I threw a punch as hard as I could. The wolf didn’t even move when it hit him right in the heart. “Punch is too long” he said and moved his paws to show me “you punch to here when you should punch to here.”

He showed me, I was throwing a punch to my knuckles and I should be aiming to hit with my wrist. So he had me throw punch after punch to understand what he meant. He nodded at one point and took a step closer. “Punch again but do so like I’m step back” he said and pointed at his feet. Before I took the shot, Rachel came over and said “use the world to punch don’t just throw fist.” When the big wolf heard what she said he locked himself in place and braced himself.

The dark wolf threw a punch and sent the bigger wolf flying across the room. I shook my head. “Here I show you” she said and moved my feet and set my back, turned my head and said “feel the world around you, feel it under your feet, feel it with your heart.” I didn’t move and tried to do what she said. Bruce somehow got back to his feet and rejoined us. “Draw the world in” she said and guided my arm back.

I felt like something was tickling my feet and it was crawling my legs. I saw the big wolf block his heart with both hands. My arm tightened and twisted before it released and shot out at the wolf. Bruce grunted and was pushed back a few feet. Rachel was still right behind me when a felt her nose touch the back of my neck. It sent chills down my spine as she took in my scent. “See, you can do it,” she said “you’re body is meant for speed not strength, but does not mean you can’t use both.”

My mind started racing. “No, she doesn’t see me like that” I said to myself “I’m just sweaty and just knocked the biggest wolf in the group back a few feet. Things like that are like a turn on for them so it’s not really me.” “I’m guessing that wasn’t bad for a human” I asked. “Do it again, and don’t stop till you can knock him over” she said “Alpha.” I nodded. After a few tries I learned two things. One Bruce was holding back each time, and two, I was nowhere near as strong as he was.

“Use both” I said to myself. The stands they showed me gave my punch power now I just had to get my speed behind it. With a deep breath I loaded to go full auto and let loose as soon as the wolf was ready. First punch did nothing. Second pushed his hands back. Third smashed into his chest. Fourth pushed the wolf back. Fifth knocked him back again. Sixth broke his foot hold. Seventh forced him back. Eighth dropped him to a knee. Ninth laid him out.

I don’t know when they all turned but the first thing heard any of them say in English anyway “NO WAY!” Bruce grunted as he sat up. Shia was the one who shouted and the others had jaws on the floor. “Not bad for human” Rachel said “better if you did one punch.” “It’s a start” I said. “Nine strikes in under five seconds and he took him down” Edward said sliding across the floor over to Bruce. “That’s far better the most humans could do” Alvin said losing his footing and slide across the floor into the wall.

“Alpha is not most humans” Jessie said as she looked me over again “strong mate in deed.”  It took longer to get the pack of wolves under control then I would have liked and it was getting late. “Grams is going to kill me if I’m late I again” I said when I checked the time. “Someone wants to kill you for being late” Alvin asked fallowing close behind me. “No, not really my grandmother doesn’t like it when I’m late getting home.”

“HEY RED!” someone called “HEAR YOU GOT THE ALIENS FALLOWING YOU AROUND LIKE SOME LOST DOGS.” “Crap” I said. Charles was the quarterback of the football team, and a stuck up rich kid. No idea why he hates me. Charles and his football thugs came over and blocked the only way out of the hallway. “So red what’s like having the freak show following you around” he asked. “By your standers these freaks as you call them are my kind of people” I said.

Standing up to Charles was never the hard part. It’s always stay that way is. “Oh, feeling like a big man now that you have some wild dogs following you” he said getting right in my face. “Wolves” I said “Wild Wolves and no unlike you I don’t need to hide behind them.” “What was that runt” one of the jocks asked. “Alpha called your Alpha weak” Bruce said stepping up to my side but not passing me. “Weak, ha, you can’t even make towel boy for the boxing team and you’re calling me weak” Charles laughed.

“And a coward” I said and used my arm to move Bruce back “but little rich boy never has it easy does he?” “Are you trying to start something punk” he asked. “Hey, what is going here” one of the teachers asked finding the small crowd standing the hallway. “Nothing Sir” Charles jumped “we’re just heading to the locker room to change out for practice.”  “Redward, what are you doing here” the teacher asked.

“We were just finishing for the day about to head home” I answered “Sir.” Charles and I keep our stand off as the wolves and the jocks went around us till it was just me and him. “This isn’t over, bum” he said and pushed past me. Rachel heard what Charles said and growled back at him. Had they all not agreed not to get into any fights they would have beaten the football team into tile floor. Once everyone but the wolves and myself, Rachel turned to me and asked “if he thinks so little of you then why does he pick fights with you?”

“I wish I knew” I said “come on let’s get out of here.” The walk to my house was filled with the pack’s stories about their fist day. Jessie was not to happy that Alvin got a girl’s number. His only answer was the girl said he was cute like a puppy. Then again I don’t think they understand what a phone is. We slowed down when we reached my Grandmother’s house. There was a cop car parked out front and an ambulance next to it.

“OH CRAP, GRAMS” I yelled and bolted for the door. The officer had just opened the door and stopped me. “Rex Redward” he asked. “Yeah, what’s going on” I answered “what happened to my Grandmother?” “She’s sick and has to be moved to the hospital” he answered. I dropped into the rocking chair next to the door. I knew it was going to happen and I thought she would have made it till I had some money coming.

We didn’t have the money for this. “And who are your friends” he asked looking at the wolves. “They’re from the Telro clan, they started at my high school today” I answered. Rachel took one look at me and waved the others into a line. The door open again and they rolled my Grandmother out on the stretcher, and she was ranting like nothing was wrong. She saw me sitting there and called me over. I got up and did as she asked.

“Rex, I’m going out for a few days take care of the house and thank that nice young lady for me” she said and toned down to a whisper “you know I don’t think much of them but they can do more for you then I can.” “Hunters salute” Rachel order and in motion the six wolves dropped to a knee and crossed a fist over the chests. Even Rachel lowered her head to my grandmother. And she tried to hide a smile from seeing the respect they had for her.

She point to Rachel and asked me to call her over. And as I did the wolf open her eyes and looked up at me. I felt something move inside but didn’t think much of it. Rachel jumped clear from where she was in almost the blink of an eye and land a step or two from where we were. My grandmother waved her closer. “I’ll make this clear,” my grandmother said “I hate your kind for taking my son away, but he wouldn’t want Rex to hate anyone, so I’m asking you proof this old hag wrong and take good care of him for me, will you?”

“My people owe a debt to you and him and till it has been paid, we shall do all that we can for him” Rachel answered. “A simple yes would do sweetheart,” Grams said “break his heart, I’ll break you.” she hugged the wolf and laid back and smiled. “Alright, I’m cold let’s go” she yelled “I’m not getting any younger.” And with that only me and the wolves were left in the dirt drive of my home. “What the hell is going” I asked rubbing my face.

The small pack of wolves came and stopped on the porch as I headed inside. “You must be Rex” I heard a women say. “Yes ma’am,” I answered turning on the spot “and you would be?” “I am Doctor Richwell, and I’m the local researcher on the lycan world and people” she answered. There was something about her that I recognized but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I was still wearing my red wolf hoodies with the Telro mark on it when she saw me.

“And I see, you’re the one the lycans call Rex the red,” she said “the first human to join the Telro.” I shook my head. “If I did no one told me” I said. “They did, otherwise you would not be wearing their mark” she said and point to mark on the sleeve. “No I have been getting a coat like this once a year for the past ten years” I said. She nodded and agreed “yes because you’re a member of their pack.” I had to pinch the bridge of my nose to keep from getting a headache.

“I have been working with the Telro for the past ten years as you know and they still to this day see me as an outsider, but you are different and went I asked” she said recalling what was said “and I think I have this right, the Telro will honor a debt and care for those left behind.” “That is why we had moved your grandmother to the hospital and have set up funds to care for the both of you at the Telro’s request” she added.

I took the hoodie off and hung it by the door and saw the wolves just standing outside. “Am I being moved as well” I asked. “No far from it” she answered “I have spoken with your Grandmother in great detail on the matter. And this comes from the Telro Alpha himself. If the boy is taken from his home for any reason other his own it will be taken as an act of war.” I paused when I heard her say “war.”

“So, he signed their deaths” I said. “That’s the funny thing” she said “as you have seen, they are a lot stronger and faster than a human and being hunters they learn fast. And using bombs would do just damage the lycan world, that is if they can even make it through the gates.” She paused and peeked out the window at the wolves. “And their ages aside, your pack are the Telro’s best hunters” she added “and as I have been told, their mission should we even try to move you is to take you with them back to their world at all costs.”

“Great, what’s next I’m going to be used as some pawn for the government” I said. “Nope, not the government, they are taking no part in this as of yet” she said. “But you just said the Telro made it clear that if the government tries to take me they will go to war” I said. “That is why the government doesn’t know about that part” she said “however, the Telro debt is known worldwide on both sides and that is leaving many to think war won’t come because of the honor of the Telro.”

“Huh” I asked. “As long as the Telro see you as one of theirs, other clans will keep the peace on their end” she added. Great, and here I thought high school was bad enough. Now I have the weight of two worlds on my shoulders. This is a lot to dump on a sixteen year old. The pack of young wolves kept themselves busy by studding the stuff Grams kept on the porch. But Rachel seemed a bit off. She was the only one who was not on the porch.

It was almost like she couldn’t move closer to the house and would want to move away from it had it not been for the rest of the pack. But some part of her wanted to learn about my home and see more of where I live. I could see it in the way her eyes glowed as the odd things caught her attention. “But keeping the peace is not your job, right now your job in all of this will be to help teach those six about our world and how think and act in it” Dr. Richwell said “and theirs is to teach of their world and their ways.”

She set some paper down on the table and picked up her coat. “Another member of the Telro clan will be coming by here to check on your pack and drop a few things off for them” she added heading out the front door “oh, and your grandmother told me what rooms they can use and asked me to mark them off for them.” “Wait, what, whoa whoa whoa, what was that” I asked. Dr. Richwell turned to face me and said clear as day “part the agreement is that this hunting pack stays together.

And that mean you have six roommates learn about, so please try to get along.” And without another word she left. I stood in the living room my jaw still hanging on the floor. “What in the hell have I gotten into” I said looking out the front door at the six wolf faces of my new roommates. My first thought after that was. At lease their all house broken.