My brothers slept for about two days after being bitten. Griffin told me it was because it takes a while for their 'wolf to form'. I couldn't help but to be worried about them. Had I made the right decision? I had Griffin but I felt so lonely without them and also Flame still hadn't returned. I was so worried about him but the Alpha wouldn't let me go out to find him, saying it is too dangerous and I was too valuable. Still, he didn't send anyone out to look for him. I just couldn't understand the lack of concern for Flame, was he not part of the pack? I'd had enough of being worried so tonight I was going to sneak out to look for him. I would do it during the day however I'm never left alone. There is always a werewolf there watching over me. I'm a little creeped out by it honestly. So the night was the only time. Though it was far more dangerous, the vampires came out at night. I was immune to the vampires' bites and I could run, so I liked my chances of finding him before the vampire could catch me.

Even though I'm not really the violent type I agreed to let the pack teach me to fight. I figured it might help me protect my brothers and I didn't want to be useless. Also, I'm bound to get in another fight with the vampires since they are everywhere. However, all this training exhausted me. I was so tired. I just wanted to go to sleep but I had to find Flame. There wasn't much choice in my mind.

I got up and pulled on some black jeans and a black long sleeve shirt. I was grateful for my dark skin and black hair, it would make me harder to spot. Although werewolves would probably just sniff me out instead of using their eyes anyway. Oh well. I was sure I could outrun them anyway.

I grabbed my sword and threaded the belt through the loops in my jeans. Just in case I ran into some vampires. I really didn't want to have to use it but I dreaded what would happen if I didn't bring it. I walked up to the window and opened it. The cold air rushed into my room and I shivered. The cold bit into my body like hundreds of snakes. Maybe I should put a coat on?

All my clothes were still at my house so I had to borrow Summer's. Hers were so brightly coloured, it was so hard to find the black clothing that I was wearing. I looked around. The only coat she had given me was hot pink. It truly was pushing my luck to think that she had a black coat. There was no way I was going to wear that now, it would be super easy to spot me. I grabbed a cobalt blue scarf instead. It would blend into the darkness better. I wrapped it around my neck and started to feel a little warmer. It was ok if I were a little cold it would keep me alert. I looked back out of the window into the darkness of the forest. He was out there somewhere.

I jumped out of the window, expecting to hurt myself as I jumped from the second story but I landed gracefully like a cat and the adrenaline rushed through me. I felt alive and ready for action.

The night was dark the moon hidden away but I could see perfectly fine. Everything had just lost its colour. I ran into the forest as fast as a cheetah determined to find Flame but also to make it harder for the vampires to find me. As I ran everything was a blur and the icy air numbed my skin but running like this made me feel so alive. It must be what it is like for a bird to fly.

I jumped over a small river with a single leap. Wow, I really felt like a cat tonight. Nimble and graceful, I landed perfectly on all fours every time. I was starting to think that my new powers might have something to do with cats. Though It could really be anything though. I didn't know anything about myths. I couldn't even guess Flame was a werewolf. And I trusted Flame himself to tell me if I was right? Right? I couldn't even confirm that for myself despite how much I cared for Flame. I wanted to believe him but a huge part of me also knew that he wasn't telling the whole truth.

I started to smell something in the air that reminded me of Flame but I couldn't quite pinpoint which direction it was coming from. Looking up I could see the sky was cloudy, it made the night look very eerie. The moon was covered by clouds making the night almost black. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the scent of Flame. It was strongest behind me. I had found him. I wanted so badly to be hugged by him. To feel his warmth soak into my cool body.

I turned around so sharply a cascade of dirt sprayed over the trees behind me and started running again. I kept my eyes closed and focused on his scent. I didn't want to lose it. It felt as if I'd lose him forever if I lost his scent again. I ran faster than ever dodging the trees which I could somehow smell all around me. Did I even need my eyes? It was amazing how I was doing this but I didn't think that much about it. I wanted, no needed to find my Flame.

His scent became stronger and stronger but something was wrong. I could smell other scents too. Scents that were far too familiar. The scents of vampires and fresh blood. No! He has to be ok!

I opened my eyes and forced my self to run faster. It felt as if I was going to lift up off the ground. If that would push me toward him faster I would do it.

I could see movement in front of me. Faster than lightning I drew my sword jumped into the air and stabbed the thing that moved. My sword tore right through them and I flipped over their head and landed perfectly on the ground with my back to them in a couching position. Blood splattered my back. I didn't even know who I had killed. I only knew it wasn't Flame. So it didn't matter.

Something moved in front of me. Without even thinking I pounced jumping high into the air and brought my sword down on it. It was a vampire. Its blood splattered the front of me. I pulled my sword from it.

Flame's scent was so strong. I looked up and he was laying on the ground covered in vampire bite marks. I ran over to him and fell to my knees beside his body. He was breathing. That was a good sign. Surely. I looked at a bite mark on his neck. It was slowly healing. He was going to be ok.

I just needed to bring him back to the mansion. I sheaved my sword and grabbed his arm. Wrapping it around my shoulder I stood up. His body was so warm it warmed me almost instantly. I just wanted to melt into him but I needed to get him back to safety. I started to walk, carrying him. Surprisingly, I didn't find him that heavy. However, I couldn't run. Which made getting back very slow. I needed to move quickly or else the vampires would find us. I tried to move as fast as I could.

When I was about half of the way there Flame stirred. I stopped walking and looked at him. He opened his eyes.

"Victoria?" He asked sleepily. I smiled at him

"Yeah, it's me."

"What happened?"

"Vampires were drinking your blood and I stopped them," I told him.

He smiled weakly, "Thank you."

"Can you walk on your own?" I asked him.

He nodded so I let him stand on his own. His knees wobbled a bit.

"Lean on me for support," I told him

He leant on me gently and we started to walk together. I was so glad that he was ok.

"I was so worried about you," I said softly.

With his wolf hearing, he heard me and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Why did you leave?" I asked.

"I couldn't stand to watch," He told me, I could hear some pain in his voice that wasn't there before.

"My brothers getting bitten upset you?" I asked and he nodded, "Why?"

"Victoria I didn't have a choice, they did but you took it away from them," he told me, disgust tainting his words.

"What do you mean didn't have a choice? And I did this to protect them!"

He looked pretty upset and I regretted sounding so harsh.

"I was bitten by a werewolf one day when I was out walking in the park at night with my parents. The werewolf killed my parents that night and I was left on my own and left a werewolf. I don't want to be a werewolf. I didn't choose it and if I had the choice I would say no." He explained and I fought back tears.

No wonder he was so upset. I had never thought to ask him how he became a werewolf I had assumed he was born a werewolf. I should have thought about him a little more before I did this. I didn't know anything about his past, I guessed this was why he kept it a secret from me. He must know what I was going through with my own parents being dead more than anyone else. Although I suppose I didn't know how any of the other werewolves became wolves either.

A tear fell from my eye, "I'm so sorry Flame."

"No don't cry Victoria," he hugged me but his arms were weaker than I remembered. I hugged back.

"I didn't even think about you," I whispered trying not to cry.

"You didn't know," He whispered on my neck then kissed me there.

After a long walk, we finally got home together. We didn't encounter any more vampires and thank goodness. I don't think either of us was in the mood for fighting them.

I knocked on the door and one of the werewolves that I didn't remember the name of opened it. "Flame you're alive?" He said seeming not to believe his own words.

"Yeah as you can see," Flame growled and pushed the werewolf out of the way. We walked into the living room and the Alpha was standing there. He looked and me and did his 'trying to smile' face but then he looked at Flame.... the look on his face was hard to describe but it looked like he didn't want Flame to be here. Like he wanted Flame to die out in the forest. It was so cold and so cruel. Flame looked at the ground shamefully. What was going on?

***

A week later and Flame was perfectly fine. We were training in the backyard with my brothers. They were having a lot of fun for the first time since it happened. Much like their old selves. I kept thinking about Flame and who had no choice. I believed that I made the right choice for them though. Now Flame wanted to help my brothers become better werewolves. I was grateful for that. I was scared initially that he would hate them or something.

Griffin was leaning against the fence next to Kara watching us. It was a surprisingly warm day for winter and we were all wearing brightly coloured T-shirts.

I tackled Jake to the ground, "Got you!"

He giggled and squirmed under my grip, "Let me go!"

"Never!" I yelled and started tickling him. He laughed and struggled even more.

Summer walked out of the house and over to us. She had a serious look on her face. I stopped tickling Jake and let him go.

"The Alpha wants to see you," She told me in a harsh tone.

I stood up, "Just me?"

"No Griffin and Flame too," she said looking at Griffin who was playing with a lock of Kara's wavy blonde hair clearly not knowing that Summer was there. She didn't look at Flame, however. He seemed somewhat in disgrace since I had saved him. Aside from Griffin and my brothers none of his other pack mates would look at him in the eye.

I looked and Flame and we both stood up.

"Griffin!" Flame shouted and Griffin looked up, "Get your blonde ass over here!"

Griffin walked over to us "Just so you know my ass isn't blonde it's the same colour as the rest of my skin."

Flame glared at him, "Does it look like I'm caring?"

I giggled.

"So what did you want me for?" Griffin asked.

"Talon wants to see us," Flame answered and I could smell a little bit of fear.

"Ok then," Griffin said and they both started walking towards the house, I looked back at Kara.

"Take care of my brothers while I'm gone!" I called out to her. She nodded and walked towards them.

The door to the Alpha's office was open by just a crack. Griffin pushed it open and we all walked in. Talon was sitting in his usual chair but he had three boxes in front of him.

"Hey," Griffin greeted him and smiled nervously.

Talon looked up at us and 'smiled' at Griffin and me. He didn't look at Flame and Flame looked at the ground in shame.

The Alpha stood up, towering above us, "Victoria, you are not a werewolf but you are part of this pack aren't you?" he asked me looking me in the eye.

I tried my best to hold his gaze but he was too scary, "Yes."

"And you are closest with Flame and Griffin, that's why I have decided to," he picked up the boxes, "Give you these."

He gave the boxes to each of us.

We opened them to see a golden locket necklace in each of them.

"This is a symbol of the friendship between the red sky pack and you," he told us.

We put the necklaces on.

Edit - 16/2/2021

Published - 19/12/2014