Blood for the Pack

Just because my wolf mom scratched Ava Shaw's favorite dress, Noah Potter called a butcher.

He punished her seriously.

I found her dying body and screamed at him.

"I told you before—I was raised by wolves. What you did to her is no different from killing my mother!"

Noah stayed cold. He covered Ava's eyes and stared at me.

"You are just a stray kid my stepmom picked up. Stop trying to fool me."

My wolf mom was still bleeding as she dragged herself toward me. I crawled to her and held her tight.

"I stayed here to repay Noah's family for helping the wolf pack. You chased me for miles because you could not let me go. I never thought I would end up hurting you instead."

That night, I held my wolf mom and knelt in front of Aunt Wendy's memorial.

"Aunt Wendy, the Potters' Zoo are everywhere now. They do not need my gift anymore. I should leave."

I was about to blow the bone whistle on my chest when my wolf mom stopped me with the last bit of strength she had.

The wolf pack always paid back kindness. The Potters had taken in the sick and the old and gave the wolves a home.

I knew she did not want me to destroy the Potters unless I had no other choice.

The vet looked at her injuries and shook his head.

"There is nothing I can do."

"She used to be the fastest wolf in the forest. She shouldn't die this way!"

I screamed through my tears. My wolf mom wanted to wipe my tears for me, but she didn't have the strength. Her body curled up in pain and shame.

I stayed with her all night. I cried myself to sleep.

A loud bang woke me. The door was kicked open. The butler dragged me into the grand hall of the Potters' estate.

Ava lay weakly on a soft chair. She had even put on makeup to look more pitiful, like she was barely hanging on.

I tried to stand up, but Noah slapped me hard across the face.

"Ava went into the wild for research and got attacked by those animals you protect! Tell me—did you order them to do it?"

He pointed to a metal cage nearby. Inside, I saw a few wolf pups. They were barely breathing.

I held back the pain and crawled to the cage, trying to open it, but the butler dragged me back several feet.

Noah's voice turned ice cold as he said, "All you care about are these beasts but not the person who got hurt by those? Fine. I’ll punish them."

I dragged myself back toward the cage. One of the pups had a band around its leg—one I had made myself.

I was there when they were born. I helped deliver them in the forest.

Their soft paws touched my hand, as if to tell me not to worry. Still, their quiet, hurt whimpers broke my heart.

I clenched my teeth and glared at Noah. "They didn't hurt Ava! They told me Ava was kidnapped, and they scared the man away and saved her!"

Noah froze. Doubt flickered in his eyes.

Ava's tears suddenly flowed. She stepped forward and grabbed his hand.

"They hurt me, Noah. Why would I lie to you?

"She's lying again! Nobody can understand what animals say!

"If she could, would she let her snake bite you? That only proves she wanted to hurt you!"

Noah looked at me with rage, then ordered people to carry the whole cage to the back of the mountain.

I had been bitten by that snake while trying to find a cure for Noah. My body was covered in wounds. Still, every test showed the snake was not poisonous.

That snake had always been gentle. Why did it suddenly attack him? I still had no answer.

Before I could speak, Noah grabbed me by the throat. He squeezed like he wanted to kill me.

"Then how did I get poisoned? Even your lies should make some sense! If Ava hadn't brought the antidote, I'd be dead by now."

I broke free from his grip, arched my back like a wolf, and leaped onto the cage, baring my teeth. Everyone stepped back in fear.

"You want to hurt them? Over my dead body!"