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Under Their Protection

One With The Pack

By Blue DymondPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
1
Under Their Protection
Photo by Tom Pottiger on Unsplash

Alliyah's heart was beating loud enough to be confused for a drum. Her entire body was shaking so hard she was afraid that the tree she was standing on would begin to tremble with her. She'd been hiding in the high tree for hours and even though she hadn't heard any more noise she was still afraid to get down.

She'd climbed the tree as soon as they'd heard the sounds of crunching leaves and running feet. She knew that the pack was still close, staying hidden to protect her, but in her true form she was a walking target and a liability to them all. Clutching her swollen belly, she stood with her back against the tree trunk trying to calm her nerves. She knew she had to get down and start moving towards the barn as planned but every time she made up her mind to start her descent, she thought she heard someone approaching where she was hidden.

Finally, after a bit longer, she calmed down enough to lower herself down branch by branch until she was safely back on the forest floor. Looking around the thick forestry she tried to make out anyone in the darkness that surrounded her.

Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths before taking off into a sprint. They were already close to the barn before they heard the hunters approaching so she knew she didn’t have a long way to go. She ran and ran until she felt her lungs were going to collapse and her heart would explode. She could hear the pack running near by even though she couldn’t see them.

"Ali here!" A sharp whisper came from her left side causing her to gasp in fear. She stopped running and whirled around as her sister emerged from behind a large bush.

"Why did you shift?" Alliyah asked running to embrace her in relief. For miles they’d been traveling and while they could understand her, they couldn’t respond leaving her to her own company.

"The barn is up ahead. Alpha is about a mile out and wants you to rest a moment before we start the last leg of the journey."

Just as her sister finished explaining they heard the tale signs of the hunters getting closer. Four wolves emerged from behind the thick shrubs growling low in their throat in the direction of the hunters.

"We aren't far. Its right around the bend. He should be there by the time we arrive. He’ll want to take care of them before heading back out" her sister whispered right before her limbs started breaking and bending until she was back in wolf form.

There was no time to respond or to catch her breath. Alliyah started back running towards the barn as the hunters’ steps could be heard clearly now. This time the wolves were flanking her in plain sight more protective than before since the hunters were close.

As they approached the barn an all-white barn owl swooped down in front of them releasing a high-pitched cry before perching on the top of the roof.

Alliyah smiled up at it as it looked around keeping watch. She knew without a doubt now that she was safe.

Entering the dark dusty barn she looked around for a place to rest as the wolved trotted in slowly.

If she were able to shift, they wouldn’t have to remain out in the open and they would have already been at the safe nest where she could deliver her child without any outsiders attacking.

Her mate was not only the Alpha but also the only one out of the pack who could shift into more than just a wolf.

He'd taken three of their best betas to scout ahead to make sure it would be a safe journey for his mate and child. In his absence their pack was attacked causing everyone to start the journey before receiving the green light that everything was safe.

The Alpha shifting into the white barn owl had been the green light that she needed in order to know without a doubt that after leaving the barn her journey would be smooth and uneventful.

Alliyah sat down on the hard barn floor happy to finally get a moments rest where she wasn’t in complete fear. She knew that with her pack surrounding her and her mate keeping watch no one would be able to get through without a fight.

She longed to run and fight with them. Her muscles ached to shift and stretch beyond humanly possible. It wouldn’t be much longer before her child was born and she would have the freedom to do so once again.

A howl sounded outside making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Her mate had shifted into something she'd never seen before.

Even without being in wolf form Alliyah heard the sounds of leaves crunching and guns cocking. The hunters were here.

"They said they wanted her alive" A man whispered as they moved closer.

"I know what I seen. There were wolves with her" another whispered back.

"What do you think this is Jungle Book? We were paid to deliver her alive. That’s the mission. Don’t mess it up."

Alliyah stood as the wolves surrounded her, ready to attack. From their conversation she knew that the men didn’t know what they were. They were walking into the situation blind which gave her and the pack an advantage.

The barn doors slammed open revealing six men with guns pointed directly at them. Alliyah was nervous as the men took in the scene while watching the wolves close in rank so that they were standing directly next to her on all sides. They knew that the hunters wouldn’t shoot with her standing there.

"I told you Jim Bob, I told you there was wolves."

The men’s hands shook as they kept their guns aimed directly on the pack of wolves that seemed to be protecting the woman. They'd never seen anything like it.

A loud roar sounded outside the barn right before an enormous brown animal leaped over the men and landed between them and the wolves.

"I-i-is that a tiger Jim Bob?" One of the men cried.

"It’s a Sabretooth, like on that one movie Ice Age" another drawled in a thick southern accent.

"Sabretooths aren’t alive any mo' Jimmy” another answered.

Alliyah fought the urge to laugh as she watched the color drain from the men’s faces as they fell back. The wolves flanked the tigers’ sides in unison as it roared again showing off its two long claw-like teeth.

A few of the men dropped their guns and ran off in fear causing the others to follow.

The tiger looked back at her and Alliyah nodded in understanding. Using its fur as leverage she pulled herself up on the extra-large animal and straddled its back.

"Took you long enough," She teased her mate, just as he took off into a run with his pack following close behind.

She couldn’t wait to get to the nesting grounds to have her child so that she could run free as well.

Short Story
1

About the Creator

Blue Dymond

A little bit of everything from Psyche, to fiction, to poems. Come take a look around, we're all friends here!

Instagram: @thatgirlbluedymond

Facebook: Blue Dymond

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