NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60: Chapter 60 - Becoming Alpha Again...
As Kaulder and Sam ate, The Alpha's thoughts drifted to his pack and his home, a sense of unease knowing at him.
"Do you sense it, too?" Kaulder asked, breaking the silence.
They both placed their unfinished rabbit legs on the ground, unwilling to continue eating when the mood was shifting ever so subtly.
Sam looked at Kaulder, his expression troubled. "Yeah. There's a change in the air. I can feel it in my bones."
Both men rose as if they had been partners for a lifetime.
Sam had the instincts of a hunter… and a hunter was not often used to being hunted.
Kaulder, on the other hand, was experienced as both a prey and a predator, an undying one at that.
They continued their journey, the forest closing in around them as they neared Sam's home.
Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes alerted Sam to the imminent danger.
Kaulder had long had his hand on Hexenbane's hilt, ready to kill whatever reared its head.
Luckily, Sam was the first to react… something primal, knowing, and alarmed resonating within him as soon as he saw Kaulder was ready to take action.
He could not allow that to happen…
It was an ingrained instinct for the protection of the pack…
Sam leaped in front of Kaulder at the same time Paul and Jared, shapeshifted into their six-foot wolf forms, and lounged at them from the deep vegetation, their eyes wild with aggression.
"STAND DOWN!" Sam commandeered, but his voice no longer held The Alpha connection it once did.
Sam, reacting instinctively, leaped into the air, his body heating enough to scorch the surrounding air as his clothing ripped apart, replaced by a towering, midnight-black spirit wolf.
Three figures of power and authority clashed…
Kaulder, who was originally prepared to dispatch the threat, calmed and withdrew some distance as three massive wolves broke through tree trunks in a battle for dominance.
Sam stabilized himself first, larger than Paul and Jared, The Alpha batted them away with a comedic ease.
But they would not be easily deterred.
Sam had been an Alpha for a couple of months, while Paul and Jared were recent additions, one more recent than the other… in some ways, they still could not distinguish themselves from the primal instinct of the wolves in their spirit.
A low growl emanated from Sam's throat, a warning that reverberated through the trees.
But Paul and Jared, driven by an inexplicable urge, ignored it, circling Sam with coordinated precision.
The fight began in earnest, each movement a blend of raw animal instinct and human intelligence.
Paul, always the more aggressive of the two, lunged first, aiming for Sam's flank.
However, Sam had anticipated such a move, being the one to teach it to the young wolf, pivoting on his hind legs with a speed that belied his size.
Sam met Paul head-on, their massive bodies colliding with a force that shook the ground.
Sam used his superior height to his advantage, rearing up on his hind legs to swipe at Paul's head with his massive paws; he pointedly did not use his claws, given how deadly they now were.
The blow sent Paul sprawling, but he quickly regained his footing, snarling defiantly but weakly.
But Sam was ready…
With a swift, almost graceful turn that utilized a fraction of his ability to reduce his size, Sam caught Jared mid-air, his jaws clamping down on Jared's shoulder.
Jared yelped in pain but twisted free, his claws raking across Sam's side.
The scent of blood filled the air, heightening the ferocity of the battle.
Despite the fury of the fight, there was a strategic dance to their movements.
Sam, even amidst the battle for dominance, found himself proud of Jared and Paul, their teamwork putting him in a pinch a couple of times.
Sam, utilizing his superior size and strength, pressed the attack with relentless precision.
He used the terrain to his advantage, pushing Paul and Jared towards a cluster of trees where their larger forms would struggle to maneuver.
Paul and Jared, realizing they were being herded, adjusted their tactics.
They began working even more in tandem, exchanging thoughts in real-time using their shared telepathic link.
Jared feinted to the left, drawing Sam's attention, while Paul circled to attack from the right.
Sam, sensing their plan, countered with a surprising maneuver – he leaped over Jared with a powerful burst of energy, landing behind Paul and driving him to the ground with a crushing force.
Pinned beneath Sam's massive weight, Paul struggled, his claws scrabbling at the earth.
Sam's growl deepened, a command for submission.
Jared, seeing his brother defeated, hesitated.
In that brief moment of hesitation, something Sam now profoundly understood should never happen in a battle, The Alpha spun, knocking Jared off his feet with a powerful swipe of his paw.
The fight ended as abruptly as it began.
Paul and Jared, recognizing Sam's dominance, ceased their struggle with soft whimpers.
Panting heavily, they lay on the ground, their minds once again linked telepathically with The Alpha's.
The adrenaline of the fight ebbed, replaced by a profound sense of connection and loyalty.
Kaulder, having watched the battle with a mix of fascination and respect, stepped forward as Sam shifted back to his human form, his breaths still heavy from the exertion.
Paul and Jared followed suit, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and reverence.
As soon as the skirmish ended, a rush of thoughts flooded Sam's mind.
The telepathic link with his pack mates reestablished itself, their emotions and confusion mingling with his own.
"What's happening to me?" Sam whispered, his eyes narrowing with tension.
Kaulder placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're stronger… much stronger. But you don't have to worry too much since these are innate traits. Things in the bloodline hardly harm those who possess it."
Anyone else would have been disturbed at being in a forest with three large, naked men but Kaulder was much more interested in why Sam's clothing did not shift with him as it had during the battle.
'I may need to introduce him to a witch capable of enchanting his clothing,' The Last Witch Hunter pondered.
Paul and Jared, now calmer and respectful, got to their feet. "Sam, we're sorry," Paul said, his voice filled with guilt. "We didn't recognize you. There's something different about you."
Jared nodded in agreement. "We felt compelled to attack. It's like we were drawn to your power."
Sam shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "Let's go home. We need to figure this out."
The group moved as one, Paul and Jared flanking Sam protectively while Kaulder followed closely.
Just before exiting the forest, Paul, Jared, and Sam each split to find their respective stash of clothes.
It was common to stash clothing in various places throughout the forest so that nobody would complain about naked Quileutes in the woods.
Not that such a complaint would be out of the ordinary.
The sight that greeted them as they approached Sam's house left him speechless.
Emily, his beloved fiancé, stood surrounded by an array of creatures – rabbits, deer, and even a fox – all seemingly at ease in her presence.
"Looks like we found the local druid," Kaulder observed, aware of the tingling on his finger. "And she is a reasonably strong one at that… perhaps because she is still tuning."
"Emily?" Sam's voice was a mixture of awe and concern.
This was definitely not what he was expecting upon his return.
What shocked Sam the most was Emily, herself – she stood taller than before, an observable change from her previously 5'7" to her current 6'2".
Emily, upon seeing Sam, felt a wave of relief wash over her body, and without meaning to; she threw herself into his arms with unmatched excitement.
What was concerning was the ten-foot distance she jumped to reach him.
Even then, Sam, with his peak human strength, found himself on a back foot as soon as he caught his wife, something that was usually effortless due to his unique physique.
"What… what…" Sam was confused.
Emily chuckled, pressing a finger to Sam's chest. "You want to ask me? I should ask you," She said accusingly. "I know who caused these changes… you!"
Sam furrowed his brow. "I think we need to have a long talk with Xavier," He growled.
Emily shrugged. "I figured," She twirled out of his arms. "—I have been visiting Angela recently. Apparently, her house is a supercomputer that can analyze anything. We have been collaborating recently…"
That was way too much information for Sam to unpack immediately.
His eyes were naturally drawn to the creatures relaxing in the yard, even a turtle paddled leisurely in the nearby pond.
Emily's expression grew incredulous but knowing. "Well, the change was weird. I started growing, I was stronger than Jared and Paul, and then… animals started showing up… I can understand them, somewhat."
"Understand them?" Sam frowned. "They talk?"
"No," Emily shook her head. "I can tell when they want to relax, when they are hungry, and when they ask for favors like finding their cubs. In return, they bring berries and notify me of danger?... I am not sure of the rest."
Kaulder stepped forward, his eyes narrowing in contemplation as he took Emily's hand, pressing his ring against her skin. "This is now interesting. Deep magic, psychic bond, and a bit of druid in her bloodline."
"Of all the mutations I have seen in my time, you are amongst the most interesting…" He voiced.
Sam had to contain himself when Kaulder touched Emily without his permission but even as protective as he was, The Alpha understood he was no match for an Immortal.
Especially one that had lived for nearly a millennium.
Sam moved closer to Emily, placing himself between her and Kaulder, taking her hand in his. The warmth and energy that flowed between them was palpable. "What's happening to us, Emily?"
Emily smiled softly, her other hand caressing Sam's cheek. "I don't know, but whatever it is, we'll work it out. Besides, I am pretty sure I can get Angela to force Xavier to help us." Her eyes narrowed conspiratorially.
Paul and Jared exchanged looks of wonder, feeling an inexplicable connection between their Alpha and his mate.
At this point, Kaulder had seen all he needed to see… druidic magic was not one that emerged; it could only grow when nurtured by a heart truly at peace.
And a heart at peace would not be taken to a Shapeshifter that interrupted its tranquility.
Kaulder stayed for the day, touring the tribe's immediate vicinity and taking note of the number of Quileute descendants who had not awakened their innate talents; then, The Witch Hunter departed in the dead of night.
He had seen all he needed to...