Wooly came from behind the tree, brushing off his jacket sleeve. "Phew, good thing that red head rabid dog is our friend." Carina whisks a fixed blade through the strands above his cartilage. He halted, wide-eyed, and searched back, seeing the knife through a crow's neck as it collapsed to the ground.

"Mind your tongue." Then she looked at me. "You're alive?" I thought they killed you. "That's what your parents said." Carina brought me in with a hooked arm, hanging it around my collar, touching temples. "Everything will be alright." Carina gave another squeeze before releasing. "Tell me, where have you been?" With a more pressing gaze. Confusion struck me as I tried to think. Dead, I supposed, lingered. That is the only obvious answer.

"Dead." Wooly reacted. "He's not all the way there." He tapped his temple as I eyed him, agitated.

"You're roaming the woods. How haven't you found anyone yet?" She had me glare up at her. Busted. If she senses my weakness within me, everyone else will, too. This is bad.

"If your senses were any good, you'll know I just touched soil." I stumbled away, lessening my limp, but she perceived right through it.

"That is what I've been telling him the entire time." Miska turned my course.

Carina cat eyed her. "I'm sorry, but who are you?" She cracked back at an attitude that fights lions.

Miska poked her chest, but I interrupted, knowing exactly what she was going to mention. Now is not the hour for making assumptions; we have many more important things. I wandered ahead while Carina caught all the ques, something I tried to avoid. She remained behind, trailing along to help me find her quicker. I can only pray that I get my strength when it counts. My dire isn't pulsing within. I hope I didn't demolish that part of me.

Miles in between the snow cap mountains, we traveled. "Do you smell her?" Miska stepped ahead of me while Carina kept eerily quiet, eyeing us.

"I -" How could I not detect her? I could catch her scent even at this distance. But I am ill. And if I don't shake it soon, I won't be able to protect any of us.

Carina clutched my arm as I glanced down at it and mugged her. "You should camp off the trail tonight and go in the morning. You coming back is a lot to handle, so perhaps let her get a good night's rest." She had a point but was so eager to see her as I stared into the distance, longing to leave. She can sleep in my arms. "I promise I will take you exactly where she is." She pushed the issue.

Do you mean she knew this entire time and said nothing? What is her reason? Wanting to probe her took its course, but I gave in and grabbed a broken log on the ground for the fire. "Whatever; I guess." It's been a year. Whether I go now or tomorrow, it won't make a difference. It fell to nightfall as we sat around the fire. I'm too worked up to sleep.

"How did you two meet?" Carina started the conversation, but only the churning wind was keen to answer the question.

"The Omega Princess saved him from a pack called the Seven Shadows. We found him buried in snow after the Loner Ark tribal defense ran them away." Wooly responded, chowing through a stomachless baked crow.

"And now?" She looked in between Miska and me, but I couldn't depict where she was getting at. "Are you guys a thing?" She reached the point of her attitude as though speaking to an idiot.

"Yes." Miska rebutted. "No." I backfired, irritated by her response.

"Which is it?"

"Nothing happened between us. The tribe leaders arranged for Miska to be my mate, but I declined."

"I see."

Miska blew hot air. "It is the wrong decision. He will know soon enough when that human girl rejects him."

"Don't hold your breath, honey."

"Humans replace each other like they change their underwear." She looked at Wooly. "Is that how the saying goes?"

"Yep."

"When their lover dies and they find a new one. Sure, she has moved on to another." Carina cried with laughter so loud it shook the brush. Miska rose from the disrespect of slapping her.

I stopped her by her stomach and made her sit down. "You'll learn to ignore it."

She took my words and sneered at Carina. "What is so funny?"

"You speak as if wolves don't do likewise. Even a month later, we don't waste time. Anyhow, that human is a depressed, clumsy deer. Not even the top gorgeous man can move her." Carina admitted, which brought a smile to face but still bitter to hear but, It is what I expected. I would feel the same.

Miska huffed. "What do you know?" She gave her a dirty eye for an answer. "You're nothing like the other she-wolves. You are nothing more of an abomination."

"Say what you want, girly. I've been knowing them two far longer than Bora knew you existed. He is like a big-headed brother to me," Carina mocked. "I do everything to piss him and his little lover off." Her laugh became even more belligerent but ignored it, concerned.

I gave her a disquiet gaze. "She's getting along, though, right?"

"Haha. Have you been listening? Malinda told us to stay away so she could recover. I waited for the day so I could swoop in to become her knight and shiny armory." Her disturbing laugh makes me want to take a pointy, sharp stick and shove it down her throat. This is Carina, alright. Constantly getting under my skin. There are many ways to show she misses me. There is nothing like a deranged friend reunion.

When I was a kid, my parents and I used to visit the gray wolves. She alone had a team of males following her. She made my life a living hell in front of them. It was unusual to see a she-wolf carry so much control. Like a male in alpha training, she was. I was scrawny and different from the rest, so she targeted me, but I gained her respect when I knocked her on her ass. The young males who were bigger than me couldn't do that.

So every time she saw me, it was a war for her gratification. As she grew stronger, the tribe ignored her more, beating her down into submission as much as possible. The more they disdain her presence, the more resilient she became, wiser, and now the Alpha of the gray wolf tribe. I have to say I am proud of her. I cracked a small smile to myself.

She fixed her bow around her neck. "Ha. You haven't changed, but you got a little more meat on your muscles. Still weaker than ever. What happened to you? This isn't good. You and I both know you can't protect her in this state. So I delayed seeing her because I wanted to ask. Do you need me to help?"

"I got it."

"He does not. That's why I am here, too." Miska butt in.

"This is my fight."

"It doesn't have to be," Carina pushed back. "What is more important, your pride or her safety?" I stared into the flames, thinking of a way to respond. She was right. Anyhow, It is my burden alone. Asking for help seems low.

Fire ceased at daybreak as I left to locate our former cabin. I was hoping the memories of where I last saw can spark my body to remember my dire transformation. The place of memories that we created. It was all too familiar. Home. Where she used to sleep. It never changed, and it never will. The closer I get, the more commotion in my heart pulsates.

Among trees, into the home's clearing. A woman with a high curly horse ponytail stood in front of it, staring at it. I detected a whiff of her aroma that heightened the excitement in my loud, beating heart. I stepped forward, snapping a twig, and turned as we stared at each other. Ten feet from her is no problem to close. But something is off. It's like her soul left her body - I can see the fire that burned flushed in her core. Am I scaring her? I guess the polar fit doesn't really seem friendly. Carina and Miska caught up to me as they settled side by side.

Despite her step back, I closed in, catching her before she ran, and looked into her eyes. This is her. "Breathe Gemma." I placed my palm on her elbow. She scissor kicked by reflex to my head while I blocked it, throwing her leg down. She swooped back up, flinging sand in my eye, and darted into the woodlands.

"You better hurry, boy! She's leaving you." Carina popped off at the mouth with her obnoxious laugh.

"I guess we are mates now." Miska's smug remark annoyed me. And I took off into the woods.

https://youtu.be/rIMKvXggrQE