10. Ryan

"Can I go for a run?" Tucker jumped up from the table, dashed to the full-length window, looking out into the woods, and pressed his face up against the glass.

Camille laughed. "He always does this after a meal. It's like he can't stand being in human form longer than a couple of hours." She turned to her son. "Yes—"

"Whoop whoo—"

"After, Tucker! After you have helped your brother and sister clear away the dishes."

Tucker grinned at me, then came to take the plates to the kitchen, following his brother. I had a feeling he would be out the kitchen door and into those woods before Henry had the time to come back and get the rest of the dishes. Mason and Sam stood up and helped clear the table, Mason hovering close to Shya as she moved plates into the kitchen.

I looked out of the window into the woods, and my wolf stirred inside me. Tucker was not wrong. A run right now would be good for all of us. I glanced at Mai. Her leg was bouncing under the table. Derek was staring out the window, his fingers tapping against the tabletop. Mason and Sam came back from the kitchen, having a very stilted conversation, their voices devoid of their usual cheerfulness. We needed something familiar and untamed.

"Why don't we go for a run as well?" I suggested. Derek, Mason, and Sam immediately perked up.

Mai grinned, a spark igniting in her eyes.

"There is good running ground in the east woods," Michael said. "Just head into the forest and turn left when you reach the first stream."

We said our thanks to Michael and Camille and headed outside. The scent of earth and pine welcomed me, my body responding instinctively to the call of the wild.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the connection to my inner wolf, the fierce and free spirit that resided within me.

I set off toward the woods. I didn't want us to Shift out here, not until we got to the safety of the trees.

Mai sprinted past me, yelling, "Race ya!"

I broke into a run just as Derek zipped past me.

I don't think so.

I sped up, overtaking Derek and then gaining on Mai. My heartbeat quickened from the anticipation of what was to come. The forest was getting closer, its familiar embrace calling out to us, promising freedom, even if it was only for a short time. Mai kicked harder and nipped ahead just as we reached the shelter of the trees. I slowed down, allowing the others to catch up. My wolf was wagging his tail. This might not be our territory, our Pack lands, but the forest was our domain, our connection to something primal and untamed.

We headed deeper into the woods, the terrain changing as we went further in. Tall pine trees stood like guardians, their needles carpeting the ground, releasing a rich, earthy scent with every footfall. The undergrowth was a mosaic of greens punctuated by wildflowers that added a dash of color to the dense foliage. Birds serenaded us from the canopy, their melodies intertwining with the whispering of the wind through the leaves. Occasionally, the rustle of a small creature in the underbrush reached our ears, hinting at the life that surrounded us. Old animal tracks crisscrossed our path, each one telling a story of the forest's other inhabitants. The sharp tang of a fox's trail mingled with the musky odor of a deer's recent passage.

The further we went, the more the forest embraced us. The constraints of the human world seemed to peel away, layer by layer.

Mai glanced back at me, her big brown eyes sparkling with delight, her wavy dark hair catching the light as she moved. I stayed close to her. My wolf didn't want to lose sight of Mai.

I stopped when we reached a small clearing, and looked around, scenting. No one else was here. "This'll do."

I stripped and focused inward, feeling the power of my wolf stir. It was a sensation I'd never grow tired of, that moment when human and animal merged into one.

With a deep breath, my body contorted and reshaped, the sensation both painful and exhilarating. Bones cracked and rearranged, fur sprouted from my skin, my face elongated into a snout. My senses expanded, and the world took on new dimensions.

I let out a joyous howl, now fully in my wolf form. By unspoken agreement, I'd Shifted first while Derek kept watch over us. Now it was my turn to make sure they could all Shift in safety. One by one, the others followed, their Shifts a raw dance of transformation. Mai was the last, her dark fur shimmering in the dappled sunlight as she changed. I stood between them and Mai while she Shifted, but as soon as she was done, my brothers' wolves surrounded Mai, all wanting to greet her. Sam rubbed his muzzle against Mai's cheek. It was his way of saying "hello," but it was too much for my wolf. I growled, low and serious. My brothers bounded back away from my mate.

Better.

With a wag of my tail, I led the way, my paws thundering against the earth as I ran. The wind rustled through our fur, the scent of the forest filling our nostrils. I snarled at my brothers when they got too close to Mai. Part of me knew it was the effect of the mating bond, but I didn't care. Mai was mine and mine alone.

We ran together, darting between trees and along old tracks, enjoying the pure joy of movement, and I knew this was exactly what we all needed.

We were crossing another stream when I caught a whiff of something on the wind. The scent that was familiar yet tinged with alarm. It made my fur stand on end.

Tucker.

My ears perked up, and I slowed, signaling to the others.

Mai came to my side, her eyes questioning and concerned. She had picked it up, too. Derek, Mason, and Sam gathered around, their bodies tense, alert to the change in our dynamic.

There.

I sprinted forward, leading them in the direction of Tucker's scent, my instincts screaming that something was wrong. I picked up speed, the joy of our run replaced by a sense of urgency.

We ran for what felt like forever, but must have only been ten minutes or so. Jumping over fallen logs, zipping through the underbrush, ignoring the thorns and spikes that jabbed into my fur. As Tucker's scent got stronger, I slowed. We couldn't afford to go rushing in. Then I picked up another scent, and all thoughts of slowing down fled.

I dashed forward, Mai at my heels. I rounded an oak tree and saw Tucker, his small wolf form backed against a rock, his body quivering, blood dripping from a wound on his flank. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable, and his whimpers reached into my very soul.

Between him and me stood a male grizzly bear. He was bigger than any bear I'd seen before, with a torn ear and scars across his back. His mouth dripped drool and blood, and a gash down his face told me that plucky little Tucker had fought back. As he turned his head to me, I saw his eyes were filled with madness. This was not a normal bear. The bear growled, the sound resonating through the forest, a deep, angry rumble. My eyes caught Sam and Mason's, then flicked to Tucker.

They would protect him.

I snarled at the bear, warning him away. He charged forward quicker than I would have thought possible. I barely had time to react as his massive body slammed into me, knocking me sideways. I tumbled across the forest floor, leaves and dirt swirling around me in a blur. Pain radiated through my body as I struggled to regain my footing.

The bear loomed over me, his paw poised for another blow, just as Mai leaped forward, fangs bared and claws extended. The bear swiped at her. She danced to the side, but not before his massive paw swatted at her side. Mai went flying through the air. I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the pain pulsing through my body.

With a deep growl of rage, I lunged. The bear met me head-on, and we rolled and tumbled across the forest floor, each trying to gain the upper hand. His claws raked against my fur, tearing through flesh and muscle. Blood sprayed across the leaves as I fought back. I could hear Tucker's whimpers nearby, but I couldn't spare him a glance.

My jaws clamped down on the bear's throat, feeling the warm gush of blood filling my mouth. He shook me off and staggered back. I couldn't let him regroup. I charged. Mai and Derek flanked me, their eyes locked on the bear, their movements synchronized with mine. Mason and Sam circled, keeping themselves between the fight and Tucker, but ready to provide support.

The bear reared, his paws slashing the air, his teeth bared in a fearsome snarl. He veered left, swiping at Sam, who dove out of his way. Mai went right, and Derek leaped in front of the bear, Derek's body taking the brunt of his weight. Mason launched himself forward, hitting the bear with the full force of his mass as the bear's teeth tore through Derek's shoulder and back.

The bear's ferocious attack on Derek sent a new wave of fury coursing through me. The sight of my brother's torn flesh, the scent of his blood mingling with Tucker's, added fuel to the inferno of my anger.

I lunged at the bear again, my fangs sinking into his hind leg, tearing flesh and muscle. The bear roared in pain and frustration, his paw swinging at me, but I darted away.

Mai charged back into the fray, her dark fur a blur of motion as she leaped at the bear's face, her teeth snapping at his eyes. The bear shook his head, trying to dislodge her, but she was relentless, driven by a primal fury that matched my own.

There was something very wrong with this bear. He didn't smell like a normal grizzly.

Derek and Mason rammed into the bear from opposite sides, their jaws trying to break through his thick hide. The bear struggled against them, his movements growing more frantic, more desperate. Sam darted in and out, nipping at his flanks, distracting him, keeping him off balance. The bear stumbled, fell, then scrambled to his feet. He roared in anger, the noise deafening. Then he turned and lumbered away into the trees.