13. Mason

Chapter thirteen

Mason

I pulled into the old forestry car park, gravel crunching beneath the tires as I brought the car to a stop. The car park was a relic of a bygone era, a place where loggers and rangers once gathered before venturing into the dense forest. Now, it served as the starting point for our hunt, a gateway to the wilderness where we hoped to find AJ and, ultimately, a path to Shya.

I scanned the treeline for any sign of movement. Nothing. The forest was still. Watchful. I was a werewolf, fully at home here, but my wolf form was the undisputed king of this domain, the apex predator that ruled supreme over all other creatures.

Without a word, Derek and I began to strip off our clothes, leaving them folded in the car. The cool air kissed my skin as I embraced the familiar sensation of the impending Shift. I could feel the power stirring within me, my wolf eager to be unleashed.

I breathed in and let him out. My muscles rippled and reformed, bones reshaping and fur sprouting from my skin. The pain of the Shift spiked quickly, replaced by the exhilaration of my wolf taking over.

I shook out my fur, relishing the strength and agility that came with my wolf form. My senses were heightened, the scents and sounds of the forest flooding my consciousness. But above all, my wolf's mind was consumed by a singular purpose: finding Shya.

Derek's wolf stretched beside me, his unusual silver fur catching the last rays of sunlight.

Without a thought, I turned and loped toward the forest. Derek fell into step beside me, our paws treading silently on the soft earth. Together, we melted into the shadows of the trees.

Six days later, and we still hadn't found AJ. We'd picked up his trail late that first day, a faint scent carried on the wind that set our senses on high alert, and we had been following it ever since. We'd been relentless, pursuing him deep into the heart of the wilderness, far from civilization. The terrain was unforgiving, with steep inclines, treacherous ravines, and dense underbrush that seemed to clasp at our fur with every step. The weather had not been kind to us, with cold rain and biting winds chilling us to the bone, even with our thick fur.

The pursuit had taken its toll on us, both physically and mentally. We had little rest, snatching only brief moments of sleep when we couldn't go on any longer. Hunger gnawed at our bellies, a constant reminder of the energy we were expending in our chase. When we could, we took advantage of any small prey that crossed our path. Rabbits and squirrels became our sustenance, their meat providing the fuel we needed to keep going.

As we pressed on, the forest seemed to close in around us, the trees becoming denser and the shadows deeper. The sun struggled to penetrate the thick canopy, casting an eerie twilight over the landscape. My wolf loved it. This was his domain, his kingdom. He ruled here and had no doubt that we would find AJ soon.

We had picked up on the faintest traces of his passage—a broken twig here, a disturbed patch of earth there. Now, his scent grew stronger with each passing hour, and we knew we had to be close to closing in.

It wasn't long before my wolf stopped, his hackles raised. Next to me, Derek let out a low growl. He was near. Then, up ahead, a massive form burst through the undergrowth. Bear. AJ was a terrifying sight, his eyes wild and filled with a madness that chilled me. His eyes swiveled in our direction and focused on Derek and me. I snarled in warning. The bear roared, a deafening sound that shook the earth beneath our paws.

He wanted to dance? We'd dance.

AJ charged toward us, his massive form a mountain of heavy muscle and unbridled rage. The ground trembled under his weight with each step, the air vibrating with the intensity of his fury.

Yeah, I wasn't going to stand there and be run over by the big guy.

With a powerful leap, my wolf launched himself forward, closing the distance between us and the charging bear in an instant. I swung left at the last moment as Derek swung right, jaws snapping shut on the bear's thick fur.

The bear let out a roar of pain and fury, swiping a massive paw at me. I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, while Derek circled around to harry the bear from behind.

The forest erupted into a cacophony of snarls, roars, and the clash of claws and fangs. We danced around AJ, darting in and out, our razor-sharp claws seeking to inflict superficial damage while avoiding his massive paws and powerful jaws. Derek and I worked in coordination, our movements synchronized from years of growing up and fighting together. When one of us distracted AJ, the other would strike, leaving bleeding wounds on his thick hide.

Our strategy hinged on weakening AJ gradually, giving him numerous small cuts that would sap his strength over time. We knew we couldn't overpower him directly, but through precision and agility, we could wear him down. My claws found their mark again and again, leaving crimson streaks across AJ's fur. Derek followed suit, his silver form a blur of motion as he attacked relentlessly.

AJ roared in frustration, his massive form heaving with exertion as he tried to land a telling blow on either of us. But we were too quick, too coordinated in our movements.

Suddenly, AJ made a swift move, swiping his paw with unexpected speed. I felt a searing pain in my side as his claws raked across my flank, ripping through fur and flesh. I let out a sharp yelp of agony but didn't relent.

Derek lunged forward, sinking his teeth into AJ's hind leg. I seized the opportunity and darted in from the other side, my jaws closing around AJ's neck in a vice-like grip. The bear Shifter thrashed and roared, trying to shake us off, but we held fast.

Time seemed to blur, the world narrowing down to this moment, this fight for survival.

And then—a sudden stillness. The bear's struggles ceased, and we looked into each other's eyes for a moment. I didn't know if it was my imagination, but I could have sworn I saw something resembling remorse in his gaze before he went limp in my jaws.