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And I’m not sure I care anymore.
The growl builds into a snarl as I push myself to my feet, hackles raised. Something stirs in the distance, a rustle of leaves and a familiar scent cutting through the crisp morning air. Without a second thought, I take off, paws pounding against the loamy earth as I give in to the call of the wild.
Chapter 3
Barrett
It only takes me a moment to undress when I reach the woods surrounding Whispering Pines. I fold my clothing into a neat bundle and stash them beneath a fallen tree trunk. Traveling as a wolf is faster but not a good idea with so many humans about. Now that I’m here in the forest, it’ll be easier to move through the undergrowth as my beast. I stand for a moment, letting the setting sun and the light breeze touch my skin before the change begins.
My body tenses as the familiar sensations start rippling through me. I grit my teeth, steeling myself for the transformation. It’s not painful, not anymore – I’ve done this countless times before. But it’s still an intense experience as my very cells realign themselves into a new form.
My muscles spasm and elongate, bones cracking and reforming into those of my beast. Fur sprouts rapidly across my skin, covering me from head to toe. My face contorts, jaws jutting outward into an elongated snout. My ears migrate up the sides of my skull, becoming pointed and swiveling to catch every sound. I drop heavily onto all fours as my hands and feet become paws, claws extending into the dirt.
With a final shudder, the metamorphosis completes. I shake out my thick pelt, powerful wolf muscles rippling beneath my mottled gray and silver fur. My senses heighten – scents and sounds sharpen into vivid clarity. The world takes on new textures and hues through my lupine eyes. I stretch out my limbs, relishing the raw power coiled within my new form.
God, I love this.
There’s nothing quite like feeling at one with the wild.
Sniffing the air, I pad silently through the underbrush, my paws barely disturbing the dry leaves scattered across the forest floor. As I get closer to the facility, the scent of the rangers drifts on the evening breeze, mingling with the earthy aroma of the pines surrounding the sanctuary.
My ears prick as I hear voices coming from the main building.
“You got the new feeding schedule?” A rough voice. Male.
“Yeah, right here.” Softer, higher-pitched. Female.
Papers rustle. “They’re increasing the meat quota again. Swear these wolves eat more every week.”
The woman chuckles. “Can you blame them? I’d be cranky too if I was cooped up all day.”
Their voices fade as they move further away. I inch closer to the perimeter fence, my nose twitching.
I pause in the thicket, my fur blending with the dappled shadows of the trees as I watch the last of the rangers depart through the sanctuary gates. Their voices carry on the evening breeze, casual chatter about weekend plans and family barbecues.
It’s not long before the silence is broken. I swing my head around as I pick up the rumble of engines approaching. A pack of motorcycles roars into view, kicking up clouds of dust on the gravel path.
Now, this is different…
Rough-looking men astride the bikes whoop and holler, their raucous laughter echoing through the trees. Leather jackets creak as they dismount, the metallic jingle of chains and studs announcing their arrival.
These aren’t rangers.
Tattoos snake along exposed forearms, harsh symbols and leering skulls inked into tanned skin. One man spits a stream of tobacco juice onto the ground as they swagger toward the entrance, all bravado and menace.
What are they doing here?
Unease prickles over my skin, raising my hackles as I watch them disappear inside the sanctuary gates.
They’re not gone for long.
I hunker down in the brush, my fur bristling as the men emerge from the sanctuary, dragging a massive wolf with them.
Not just any wolf…
It’s clearly a shifter, towering over even the largest of the natural wolves in the nearby enclosures. As it passes them, a chorus of howls and yips rend the air.
The beast thrashes, powerful muscles rippling beneath its tawny pelt as it fights against the chains binding it. Its muzzle is clamped shut, but furious growls still rumble from deep within its chest. The men jeer and laugh, prodding the wolf with electrified batons whenever it tries to break free.
