AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1
Chase
My muscles tense beneath my sleek, midnight fur. My lips curl and eyes narrow as I glance back over my shoulder toward the West Coast wolf pack territory. The haunting moonlight glows silver as it filters through the dense canopy of trees. Long shadows dance across my feet as I evasively lope forward.
The land that I used to call home now feels foreign to me, the push of my father’s expectations propels me further and further away. My father, Brent, the Alpha of the West Coast pack, expects much more from me than I am willing to give him or the pack.
Each step I take is a calculated move, as the delicate padding of my paws barely whisper against the carpet of fallen leaves. Sinewy wolf legs propel me forward.
Although the terrain is uneven, we navigate it effortlessly. Sharp claws dig purposefully into the soft soil beneath me as I dart through the labyrinth of ancient trees.
I don’t believe I am ready to step into my father’s shoes as Alpha, I don’t want to lead the way he wants me to lead. My stomach twists at the thought of my father’s disappointment, slowing me down momentarily.
My mind fills with bitter memories of the last conversation my father and I had before I ran away; Capturing me in a momentary trance as my wolf continues to move forward gracefully not needing my mental presence to navigate the terrain.
“Dad, the more I come into my own as a man I realize that I don’t fit into the mold you’ve created for me, and I don’t want to. I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching, and I feel, Goddess help me, that there is another path for me. A path that I need to explore on my own.”
My father’s eyes narrowed; an involuntary snarl escaped his lips as one side of his lip rose exposing his barred fangs. His muscles tensed in his shoulders and his hands curled into angry fists.
“You think you are a man? You act like a childish boy with no respect for tradition!”
“I respect you as Alpha and as my father.” I intercede, “I know you don’t see me as a man yet and that’s part of the problem. How can I step up and lead when I am not allowed to be my own man?
I appreciate everything you’ve done to prepare me for a leadership role. But it’s like destiny is at my door begging me to leave and follow it into the dark night.”
I could hear my father’s pulse rise as I continued to speak my piece. Shifting nervously, I sucked in a deep breath, my own heart racing wildly.
“I hope you understand that I am not rejecting your values or guidance. But I need to figure out what I believe in and what I want to get out of life for myself. I can’t do that if I am always cloaked in your shadow.” I explain.
Through gritted teeth my father growled, “If you can’t be the leader this pack needs then you need to get out and never come back. I have no intention of supporting such selfish weakness.”
Selfish weakness…
The words stung but I’d been expecting them. My father has always simultaneously sheltered me and expected me to somehow be my own man. I rebelled a lot in my life, it was the only way I felt like I could find myself.
A twig snaps beneath my paw and brings me back to the present moment. The ghostly howls of our disagreement seemingly still reverberate through the ancient trees.
The path ahead stretches before me; uncertain and yet filled with promise. Guilt courses through my blood as I relish my newfound freedom. Though the guilt does not overpower my excitement when I see a glimpse of Ash up ahead.
Turning my head, I see Isaiah in his bear form lumbering through the woods in an attempt to keep up. Internally I chuckle, bear shifters are strong, but they are not nearly as fast as wolves.
We run without a plan. Moving quickly through the forest putting as much distance between us and the old pack. With each step forward the thrill of forging my own identity fills me.
This is a luxury I’ve never had until now. I am lucky that Ash and Isaiah felt a calling of their own to join me. They are my brotherhood, the only pack I need.
Isaiah is a bear shifter who can be ferocious, when necessary, but he has a gentle heart. His loss won’t hurt my father in the slightest considering his prejudices toward non wolf shifters.
Brent fails to see other shifters as equal to wolf shifters. The West Coast pack is hierarchical. Wolves are on top, and all others are beneath them. Much to my father’s disdain I never much cared to enforce this hierarchy and he was never pleased to see me running around with Isaiah.
However, I know that Ash leaving the pack will be a devastating blow to my father. Sometimes I think Brent would have rather had Ash as his son than me.
He’d make a perfect Alpha. He never shy’s away from a challenge.
The cool night air embraces us.
The night air smells of sweet wildflowers, earthy mushrooms, and cool running water. A distinct smell that reminds me of liberation.
Anything can happen, we can do anything we want and be whoever we want to be. The promise of adventure tingles under my skin.
