Doug

When I became conscious, I was aware of four things.

Lights.
Bright.
Pounding.
Pain.

I rolled over, wincing. The trail of bloody spatters indicated that Dylan fled in mad haste. Funny how he always leaves me with a nice trail to follow.

I looked over my gray pelt. Scratches laced my sides and my left ear was torn. Blood was pulsing from my paws where the claws had been ripped out. My human form was unscathed, but is less able to stand up to a wolf, even an injured wolf than this form.

My lip curled with satisfaction when I remembered the wounds I had inflicted. Dylan had gotten away with half his tail, one eye, and a pint less blood he originally had.

Maybe I should head to the house and call Stella. I lurched to my paws and took a shaky step. My leg gave, and I toppled clumsily to the floor.

I lay there, wondering why Dylan, a former gentleman, could inflict all of this death, this pain and still want more. If I had to guess, I would think it was because of Caroline.

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Dylan

I limped into a stand of trees, my legs shaky with blood loss. My right eye was numb and dead, and the remainder of my tail hung as limp as a wet sock. I collapsed under an oak tree, panting. My dark red fur was even darker with blood, and every bone and muscle in my body screamed with exhaustion, pain, and the desire for vengeance.

"I must avenge Caroline and our unborn child. If it's the last thing I do, somebody will pay."

I closed my eyes and was soon asleep. Every night, my dream is the same. Or rather, my nightmare.

I hugged Caroline's belly, which was swollen with Mason, our unborn son. She was eight months pregnant, and I couldn't have been more proud if I tried.

She turned to her brothers, Doug and Ryan. "Y'all better watch out! My Mason's gonna be a fighter!"

Doug laughed and Ryan grinned. I put on my best annoyed face. "Very funny! Laugh until he kicks your butts!" I wasn't really mad, though. Lately, it's hard to be upset.

Caroline walked to the refrigerator. "Dylan, we're out of mangoes," she informed me.

"We can go to the store now, if you like," I replied.

"No way. You are staying here," she countered. "You look like you're about to fall over. Go take a nap."

She was right. I had been doing all the yard work and cleaning since she became pregnant, and it was wearing me down. "Fine," I sighed, giving in.

"I'll come with you, Caroline." Ryan came into the kitchen, and his powerful frame seeming to absorb the light.

"Thanks." My soulmate ran a slim hand through her blonde hair. The instant they walked out the door, I staggered over to the couch and collapsed. I was out like a light.

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"Dylan, wake up. Ryan and Caroline got into a car crash and are in the hospital," Doug's urgent tone shattered my much-needed sleep."

I sat bolt upright, my eyes flying open. "What? Why? I should never have let Ryan go with Caroline!" I thought, stricken. Fear pounded through me as Doug and I climbed into the car. We took off in the direction of the hospital at breakneck speed. Every red light seemed to take an eternity. Sweat trickled down my back, and my fists clenched and unclenched on their own accord.

When we got there, we learned that Ryan would make it, but Caroline was already gone. Her face was ashen and cold, her eyes glassy.

"No! Caroline. Don't leave me. Remember our future? Remember how we were going to raise Mason to be a kick-butt replica of me? You have to wake up! Wake up!" I fell to my knees beside her, tears streaming down my face. I slumped over, burying my face into her pillow.

"I'm so sorry, Dylan. It's not your fault." A voice whispered behind me.

I froze. It was Ryan! I turned to him with a detached, icy calm. "No, Ryan. It's your fault. I should never have trusted you." I sprang at him, shifting into Kazvar, my wolf, in midair. My claws buried into his throat. His terrified eyes met mine and I saw true, raw fear. Satisfaction scorched through me. "EVERY ONE OF CAROLINE'S FAMILY MEMBERS WILL PAY!" I howled, letting go of Ryan's newly killed body. It fell to the floor and I ran. I ran from the two bodies, and a death scene I knew I'd never forget.

I gasped, waking with a start. Churned leaves fluttered to the ground as I calmed my pounding heart.

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Ava

It's beautiful, I thought, staring at the fountain.

"I'm getting in!" Borealis yelled. He flew over my head and landed with a huge splash.

I recoiled. "Yeah, you're not getting me in there."

"Why not?"

Arria's voice cut through my mind. "I'm not so sure..."

"Oh come on, wimp. It'll be fun!"

I hurled myself into the pool, but the rocks were wet from the spray of the water, and I slipped and landed right on top of Borealis.

"Sorry Bo."

"Bo?"

"Get used to it," I purred, splashing him with my paw.

He let out a joyous bark and dove below me. I stared below me, trying to find his dark fur by only moonlight.

Suddenly a powerful force pushed me up out of the water. I sprawled to the side, letting out a surprised yelp.

An hour later, Bo and I crouched, shivering, on the bank. "That was fun. You wanna come back sometime later?" He asked.

"Of course! And what should we call the place?"

He paused. "Rose Falls, after Stella's sister."

"I like it."

He licked water off my ear. "Now the real problem. Clothes...?"

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-Vexwolf