Sandy felt a hand on his shoulder which brought him out of his hopelessness. He gave a weak grin to zamas who sat next to him. He came here to the library to be alone but of course zamas knew where he was.
"I know it not on me to do anything since this is bigger than all of us but i feel like I have to do something. And no you can't tell me not to worry cuz I always worry. I'm like..the worry king. I got an idea but don't know much about werewolves in human society." Sandy look at zamas with determination in his eyes.
"I don't think the ones in the army is being experimented on. More like they are hiding or maybe their friends is helping them out by pretending not to know. After all, what leader of the army wouldn't love having loyal werewolves on their side? Do have a cousin in the army and despite us not talking much, I do see him with his friends in the army. They have a close brotherhood which makes sense since their lives depend on each other. They are a pack themselves. A human pack." He bit his lip a bit before telling her his plan.
"Sandy. That kinda good but what if we just pressure them instead of using fear? Do know their leader and might as well erase their computers data. Since that is where they would store the info on us at. Guldo and I can do that part. Rest can distract the C.I.A agents cuz I bet they are the ones doing the blackmail. Also one of us might be the traitor since who else can know who a werewolf other than a werewolf? Bet you it is Dark. Makes sense since he left before they storm the club." Zamas' eyes narrow as she remembered the attack. Sandy let out a snarl as he remember how he and his followers left so nonchalantly before the agents storm in. There was no bet about it. Dark probably is helping the agents.
Emma saw them and ask them to gather their pack as audrey want to talk to all of them. Sandy gave a look to zamas before he alert everyone through the bond. Thought they didn't want to discuss about the agents, that isn't what audrey want them for. Emma told them before opening the door to the living room. Sandy heard running, saw the others and smile. He told them that audrey asks for them so that why he want them here. Despite it being late, no one was sleeping due to the news.
"Sorry for interrupting you guys but I need you to help ashley here. She came from the hospital after being bitten and since you guys are mostly bitten..." Audrey said as she gestures to ashley. Ashley had dirty brown short hair with brown eyes behind red glasses. She look nervous as she gave a wave to them. She is sitting in a chair since her foot is in a cast. What is it with werewolves aiming for the legs or feet? Sandy wonder as he gave a smile to put her at ease.
"Sure, we can take her in. You can take off your cast ashley. Your foot is fine." Zamas said as she walk towards her. After introductions, they can smell ashley becoming at ease with them. Audrey cut off her cast, ashley eyes widen at her foot since there was no bite there.
"I'm pretty sure this must be a dream cuz the wolf bit off a chunk of my foot. But it there. My heel was gone. So this means werewolves are real and everyone in this house is one?" Ashley look at everyone, waiting for someone to tell her it a joke.
"It's not a dream. Tomorrow you will become sick but with so many of us around, you will survive. On the third day...well night, you will change into your wolf form. I thought it was a dream too. I even fought the change and nearly died. So don't do that. Your human life isn't over...just enhanced." Ariel walk over, looking at ashley with a sad smile.
"It not all bad. After your first shift, you can learn to control it. And you aren't alone. Like I was when I first shift. Trust in the wolf for it just want you to survive." Dallas added in as he gave a little wave so not to overwhelm her with all the people in the room.
Chaos came in and audrey asks him to guide ashley to her room. Since it was late, she asks ashley to rest and they will help her tomorrow. Ashley agree since this was a lot to take in. She thank them for letting her know she wasn't alone and it made her feel much better. They said goodnight as she left the room. Sandy thank everyone for their input and left to go to his room. As he walk, he noticed the others following him. Stopping at his door, he asks what was going on.
"It just that cuz of our bond, we can't sleep unless we are all close together. It's why we all was there this morning. Can't you feel it?" Dallas asks with a confused expression.
It not like he didn't feel it, but he didn't know what it was. Dallas has a talent for feeling and understanding his wolf instincts and he knew he can learn from him. He felt more calm than he ever did but didn't think it was cuz of his pack bond. The others was staring at him and he knew he gone quiet again.
"Sorry. Just thinking and feeling what you was talking about dallas. I do feel it but didn't know it was cuz of our bond. Guldo not here and I think it cuz she is used to this feeling while to us, it is new. I also suppress emotions to think more clearly which I know it a problem but it just how I am. So come on in guys." He gave a small chuckle as he went to get dress for bed.
Everyone was already ready for bed except zamas who left and came back. A knock sounded and they saw guldo with a small grin. Sandy sighs softly as everyone found a spot on the bed and fall asleep. In his mind he understand that he can't suppress the calm feeling he has with everyone around him. As long as everyone is safe, he can feel his wolf is relax. He is connected to his wolf but still uneasy when he takes over despite knowing it mostly for his protection. He look around, feeling happy that he was no longer alone. Zamas was on his left and it felt like she always belong there. He fell asleep feeling so at peace.
The next morning after breakfast, sandy went to see how ashley was due to being sick. Trix was the one looking after her since helen was busy with ron. Ron wasn't listening to helen orders so she had to sit on him to keep him resting. Sandy found the whole thing funny seeing ron being so grumpy. Guess he is a bad patient and didn't want to wait for his serious wounds to heal. The kids decided to hold off the fight tournment since they knew that sandy and the others needed lessons in fighting. After all it would be seen as bullying since they was highly trained. They wanted a fair and equal fight so they decided to wait. Sandy asks emma if he can have a teacher for fighting since ron is still on bed rest. Emma said she can teach them and to meet her in the fighting area. Guldo said she wasn't interested as she knows how to fight in wolf form so she decides to read a book in the library. The rest went to the area after shifting to wolf forms. Sandy was happy to get more lessons in fighting. He sat down looking at the others while waiting for emma.
"Sorry for the waiting. Had to get lupo and eric to help with my lesson." Emma said as she walk towards them with a red wolf and a silver grey wolf with a small blonde mohawk. She point her nose to the red wolf, telling them that is eric. Which means the grey silver one was lupo. Emma and eric went to the middle of the area as lupo sat next to them. Emma show them how to claw and dodge attacks. She then had both eric and lupo attack her, showing them how to slam them both into the ground. She then team dallas up with ariel vs sandy and zamas. Joe told them he had some lessons in fighting so he can wait.
After the fight started, dallas was too nimble and hard to grab while ariel slash at them. Zamas charge into ariel while sandy try to do a bite flip on dallas. Dallas jump over sandy, landing on his back before jumping again. Sandy quickly jump up, grab his back leg and slam him on the ground. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw ariel charging at him. He saw zamas slowly getting up, telling him that ariel won their bout. He dodge to the left, waiting for ariel to face him. Ariel let out a growl as he turn around, seeing sandy waiting for him. Sandy lower himself as ariel swipe at him, dodging all the attacks ariel threw at him. He snap at ariel paws but he dodge his attacks as well. Zamas just pin dallas so he can't interfere. Sandy smirk as he swipe with his left paw so ariel dodge to the right. Quickly he charge at him, knocking him off his paws mid dodge. He quickly pin him down so he couldn't move.
"That was quite a move sandy." Lupo said as he call the fight over. Sandy wag his tail a bit as he pant hard.
"I remember watching fighting movies and wonder if I was fast enough to attack while ariel dodging. After all werewolves are faster than humans and we can react faster too. Plus I saw how emma predicts your movements which is how she wins." Eric let out a small laugh since he at least last longer in the fight against her.
"Zamas you did good too. The way you was on defensive is excellent and how you make sure not to claw too hard." Eric said as he look over at her.
"So can we fight with the kids yet? I'm sure we can at least tied with them." Dallas asks as he shook out his fur.
"One lesson and you think you can take on born werewolves? Try fighting me to see how you fare." Lupo extend his claws, showing just how much he been holding back. Emma rub her fur on him to calm him down as she continue the lessons.
After an hour, she let them go relax. Sandy learnt a lot and he kept going over the lessons in his mind. He learnt how to not think and use instincts for fights while usually he thinks a ton on what move to do or how to expose the opponent weaknesses which makes him slower to move. Emma even told him to let the wolf spirit guide him. When he did, his movements was more fluid, able to see and react in a second. Soon he understood how dallas was able to do the moves he did as he was closer to his wolf spirit than anyone that was bitten. Zamas was a close second while ariel was third. He need to learn to be more trusting of his wolf but it just too hard.
{Trust in me. If you die, I die. How was I to know human was sister? Change is hard and was hungry. No more mistakes like that. Now I protect our pack. She no longer needs to fear. But guy still do. Going to break that stick.}
He heard his wolf voice as it echoes in his mind. He rarely talks but when he does, sandy always jump a bit. Ariel saw this but didn't say anything as lupo,emma and eric left to go to the house. He told the others that he going to eat lunch and dallas went to join him since he saw zamas giving him a look to leave them alone. Zamas sat next to him since she can tell he was deep in thought. She wait silently til sandy blink his eyes and shook his head.
"Sorry. My wolf was talking to me. Anyway I am going to take a walk. I be back in time for dinner." Sandy said before realizing only zamas was there.
"The others left but may I join you?" She asks as she got up.
He nodded since he really didn't want to be alone but didn't want to look weak asking for company. After all werewolves should be strong yet he been going over his decisions as of late. He stood up, start to walk in a direction deeper in the forest, feeling zamas' fur brushing his side. It kept the dark thoughts at bay as he walk. He needs to be more confident, have more self esteem but he doesn't know how. Ariel should be leader since he actually got leadership skills. He felt like he was floundering around in the dark, trying his best to hold on to something that makes others want to follow him. He sighs deeply as he sat down.
"Do you think I should be alpha of our pack? I don't think I should be leader as I have basically no social skills and all I know is cuz I had to study them...like you could a test. Does that make me less human? I mean I manipulated ariel and feel so guilty but it was for his own good. But doing that is so awful." He let out a small whine.
"Listen to me. You are doing great. Look at us. We are safe. We survive and you are much kinder than you give yourself credit for. You are more human because you made effort to do things that comes normally to us. It ok to have doubt." Zamas told him as she look at him.
He can see the trust she has for him shining in her eyes.
"Thank you. You always know what to say. Do you have anything to discuss? Any worries or concerns? Sorry if I seem not to talk to you as much as I used to. Our life is crazy now and I know you must be panicking too." He gave her a nuzzle to comfort her, knowing she must be so worry about her mom. Zamas sigh, loving that she doesn't have to say anything, cuz she knew that sandy already knew what she was worried about. It one of the reasons why she likes him. She closes her eyes, loving the peace she gets when it just the two of them. They spent a few minutes in silence before they head back to the house. As they walk in, they smelt intense anger.
They walk in the living room, seeing helen and ron facing off.
"I told you that I'm fully healed. There no more cuts or anything so thank you but I'm done waiting around. There are hunters out there and we all can't be safe in a town we own!" Ron was snarling as he shift and jump out a window.
"That stubborn dog! It not just physical that he needs to heal from. If my pack didn't need me here, I would chase after him." She mutter to herself as she look at the window. She saw them watching at the entrance.
"Far be it for me to tell a watcher his issues. Sorry about that. Anyway, Trix told me ashley is peacefully resting after the soul merging. Anyway we are about to have dinner soon. Excuse me." She gave them a nod before leaving the room.
Sandy ran to the window when she left to see if he scent ron but his scent disappear due to the winds. Plus he couldn't find ron if he didn't want to be found anyway. He was hoping to talk to him alone but he knew as a watcher ron was busy cuz of the hunters. Sighing heavily, he went to the kitchen to see if dinner is ready. Zamas tap his shoulder, telling him she going to talk to helen about what she meant by soul merging. He nods as he saw that ivy was still cooking. He asks ivy if he knew when dinner would be ready and he said everything is done but the meat. Sandy smelt the corn, the potatos and the green beans. He can't wait for dinner, he thought to himself as he went to ashley's room. Knocking on the door, he poke his head in when she said he can come in.
"Hey was wondering how you doing. I know we just met but I also been bitten so know how bad the sickness is." He said as he sat on a chair. She was sitting on her bed, giving him a small smile since she felt touched that he visited.
"It is ok. I keep hearing a whisper in my head. That is normal right? Also I feel so hungry and can smell the food all the way from the kitchen. I'm worry about tomorrow night. Does it hurt? Of course it does. I'm turning into a wolf. The structure is very different than humans. Plus I know there going to be itchiness due to the fur growing. Ugh why did that wolf bite me?" She start going into a rant about the wolf when sandy quickly grab her hand to calm her down.
"Hey hey hey. You are going to be ok. Like dallas said, you aren't alone during this. Plus you are surrounded by others who are bitten. Nearly everyone in my pack is bitten. Guldo is the only one born in my pack. You can join us if you want to. We are all learning together. It ok if you don't want to. Just letting you know you don't have to go alone. Plus you still have your family. Though you can't tell them as it against the rules. Werewolves society have rules and big one is no humans should know about us. Unless you are sure they won't harm you. My sister only knows cuz she was there during my first shift and I tried to eat her but she never call anyone on me. She fears me but is working on it, change some things like getting tons of meat and understands when I'm out for a few days. But mine is a special case obviously. So think on it. No rush since we are going to be here for a few days." He stare into her eyes, hoping it help calm her down since he can hear her heartbeat going fast. Long eye contact was suppose to do something but he forgot what.
She begin to calm down, nodding at him to say she is ok. He let her hand go after realizing he been holding it the whole time.
{Must protect.} Was all his wolf said.
"Thank you. Just so anxious right now. When it happens, be honest. Is there a chance of me dying?"
He begin to back away to the door. She stood up and that when he saw how short she was compared to him. She seem to be around four feet and ten inches to his five feet and five inches. Made his wolf yearning to comfort her as one will do for a kid. He held back his instincts knowing it will be seen as an insult since she is an adult.
"Sadly yes. Though success rate is to be improved with how many werewolves are around. So no need to worry cuz you are in a house full of werewolves. Dinner is close to being ready..."
A bell rung before he can finish his sentence. Seems dinner is done. He heard a lot of noise since everyone rush to the kitchen. Ashley's eyes flash as the scent of food beckons them. Sandy grin as he open the door, allowing her to go first. He noticed her nose twitching, and that her eyes switch from green to brown. Reaching the kitchen, he saw his pack laughing and talking animatedly to each other. Emma, lupo, and eric was joining in as well. By listening, he can feel his wolf becoming calm, knowing his pack is safe and happy. Sandy sat next to ariel since helen is sitting next to zamas. She was asking helen questions about everything she can think of. He noticed ashley taking huge interest and sat down near them, asking questions of her own as Ivy pass the plates of food to everyone. Stacy was handling the drinks while stan is handing out the paper towels. Audrey is talking to chaos about the patrols and he heard the teenagers in the other room, laughing about a video they was watching.
After everyone was done, audrey did an announcement saying there will be a ritual for ashley so the shift will be easier on her. The ritual will be done as soon as the sun sets tomorrow since the moon is always in the sky. Even though we can't normally see it til the sun sets. Ashley asks if there was anything she need to do and audrey gave her a warm smile saying nothing was needed except for her to show up. Ariel gave her a thumbs up while zamas grin at her. Guldo gave her a nod as dallas gave a small wave. Sandy was finishing his drink as he gave her a thumbs up as well. He knows their support is much appreciated. The kids came in during the announcement, some looking disgruntled by this.
"Are we really going to hold an adult ritual for a bitten one?" Grace asks. "In my pack, we don't do such things for bitten ones. We kill them since they are the enemy. At least that what my mother told me when we found a bitten one on our borders." Sandy look at grace, knowing his thoughts was plain on his face. She is a kid but surely she has to have some empathy.
Suddenly an aura wash over them, and he saw that audrey is pissed.
"This is why you kids are here in my pack. To learn empathy and common sense. I will not have you pups disrespect my decision! Do we have an understanding?!"
The kids was down on their knees due to the pressure. Sandy's aura flare to protect his pack and even wrap around ashley so they are unaffected. He don't know what he did or how but glad his wolf reacted quickly. Audrey saw this out of the corner of her eyes but said nothing as she pull her aura back in.
{No one makes our pack bow down but us. She needs to watch herself.}
His wolf snarl in his head. We aren't fighting the one alpha friend we have. He growl back at his wolf in his head. His wolf snort but became quiet as sandy sighs softly. The kids just went to their rooms since there was nothing else to be said. Sandy aura went back at the same time as audrey since it wasn't needed. His pack stare at him since they felt it but he gave a small shake of his head since he didn't want to draw attention to himself.
"Sorry about that ashley. As you can tell, our kind is not kind to what we call the bitten ones. These kids are here to learn how to integrate into human society since humans population is growing faster than us. They seem to do much better than when they started but still have a way to go." Audrey gave a warm smile to put ashley at ease over the fury she displayed.
"I think they need to get their ass kicked by them. Oh it going to humble them real quick. Tomorrow afternoon we should have our little match. Then when night fall we can tend to ashley. " Trix spoke up as she look at them with a sly grin.
Sandy look over at everyone and saw their eagerness. "Who am I to say no? Besides it will be a friendly match and we did learn a lot in our hours of training. Emma, Lupo and Eric did say we all improved and we might stand a chance."
"Before tomorrow, I want to gauge your process myself. If that is ok. The pups been training way longer than all of you so how about right now? Show me your skills. I will make sure the pups won't be watching so go all out." Audrey said as she look over at emma, eric and lupo.
They gave her a respectful nod to show that what sandy said was true. Everyone but chaos, helen and the omegas follow behind them to the training area. It may be night but they can see like it was day. They quickly undressed and shifted into their wolf forms. Audrey climb a nearby tree to make sure she can see every move they make. Ariel went first against emma and audrey was impress by how close he came to hurting her. One by one audrey saw that they was fighting like born werewolves instead of bitten. They move flawlessly, ducking, using their noses, and puffing out their fur as a defense. They extend their claws, intimidate in a way that if she didn't know them, she would assume they was all born. She call it off before sandy had a chance to fight, saying she seen enough. Sandy wag his tail, being proud of everyone. He bump shoulders with ariel and nose dallas side. He gave a playful shove to guldo, and nuzzled zamas neck. He gave a playful nip to joe as he was the last one up. He noticed ashley silence, knowing she was taking everything in. He met her eyes, nodding to let her know his offer still stands. He can't wait to show everyone what he can do.
Audrey jump down, telling them to shift back as she want everyone to rest up for tomorrow. They did so, got dressed and went back inside. Ashley went to helen, asking her if she can learn how to be a healer. She knew of the pack roles, decided that to be helpful, she can be the doctor. She didn't want to be useless to sandy pack. She was surprise that she chose to take up sandy offer. She will let him know tomorrow. She saw how much respect sandy has from his pack and how he protected her from whatever it was that made everyone but them bow down. She watch how he carried himself, making himself smaller and into himself so others won't notice him. But she saw him. How he puff out his chest in pride during the fights, how he show concern for others when they got hit, how he had to dig his claws into the ground so he won't interrupt. Even the voice inside her whine when watching the others fight. Despite not knowing them, her wolf want to be with them. There a connection there that she don't understand. Maybe it cuz most of sandy pack is bitten. She should join the avon pack since she live in avon but something tells her she wouldn't feel right. She saw trix look excited when helen told her that she will join with the healer classes.
"Finally I won't be alone anymore." She exclaim as they went down to the medic bay. She will join sandy once she becomes a full fledged healer. She going to learn everything she needs to first. Helen gave her a book, a notepad and a pencil. The book is titled so you want to be a healer. It was by helen herself. They spent only thirty minutes before she start to yawn. Helen told them class was over and to get some rest. She ran into zamas as she went to her room.
"Zamas! tell sandy I accept his offer but first going to stay at the avon pack so I can learn to be a healer." She manage to say through the yawns.
"We be glad to have you. Good luck." Zamas said since sandy told her that he invited ashley to their pack while they was heading to his room.
Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day. She thought to herself as ashley went to her room, closing the door softly. She went to sandy room, seeing that sandy left a spot by his side on the bed. Seems the others knew that was her spot too. She felt so peaceful as sandy put an arm around her, cuddling her as they fell asleep.