Spirit Wolf - New Beginning (Book One)

Chapter 4

CALEN'S POV:

'How the hell did I end up in this by Goddess’s forgotten place.' I complained to my wolf Thoth. 'Stop whining. We are here to check the location if it’s a good place to move our pack.' Thoth scolded me back. He was right. Since human cities are growing rapidly, they need more space and cutting down a huge amount of woods. We had a big territory but the city borders are closer every month and we already had to be more careful showing our nature.

A few months ago, there was an accident when one of the human hunters was close to our territory and just out of fear shot one of my pack members in his wolf form. Thank Goddess, he thought it was just a regular wolf so he didn't use any silver bullets so my warrior healed in a matter of minutes. But because of that, we decided to move all our packs. I sent scouts to different parts of this country and even neighboring countries to check the location that looked deserted on the map. This location is one of three with only a few small cities around and very far from any highway. It would give us plenty of space for our wolf forms to run around without being worried to be seen.

As you guessed I am the Alpha of my pack. My name is Calen Auburn. I am twenty-six years old currently single. I would say I am pretty handsome with my ash-colored hair, icy blue eyes, and with my six-pack. “Don’t be too cocky, you moron.” My wolf commented. “Don’t be jealous just because I am not talking about your wolf.” I laughed at him. So, as you could see I am very sexy and for sure when I finally get my mate she would be on her knees, I am sure about that. “When you meet our mate, you would be on your knees and scared to even talk to her.” Thoth snapped at me back. Well, he was partly right. Till now, I actually even didn’t date any woman, not like I couldn’t. As I said I am a sexy guy and many women and girls offered themselves to me but I didn’t want to.

I already checked myself the previous two locations for our new home and this was the last one. My warriors were now checking the surroundings of this tiny city and the woods north from here looked promising also. So far this is the best location to choose to move my pack. 'We could buy the land north from here. And as it shows on the map, we could get hundreds or even thousands of square kilometers of land. It's completely intact. We could even grow as a pack.' Thoth informed me in our mind link. 'Yes, you are right. So far this area is the least intact and it is huge enough to give us space to grow in numbers.' I agreed with him. As I was roaming the city a very vague scent hit my nose. It was the most beautiful scent I smelled but it was mixed with something that masked the essence of this and made it feel weird. At the same time, I wanted to follow it but also turn and leave. Does it even make sense? It was alluring yet I couldn't catch it properly. 'It's a werewolf' Thoth informed me, 'but somehow it's very confusing. It’s masking itself.'

'What do you mean masking itself?' I didn't understand what Thoth meant. 'But does that mean there is already a pack in this area?' I was confused. So far there was no registered pack in this location. 'No.' Thoth confirmed my information. 'I smell rogue. He doesn't have the pack and by masking, I mean he uses something to change his scent to not be seen as a werewolf and also make you feel you want to run the opposite way. By the sweetness in the scent, I assume it is a female.' Thoth explained to me what he was able to read from the scent. He was also curious about this especially since we couldn't identify it properly. I could sense that for him it is now a game of a cat and a mouse. He loved to hunt and the owner of this smell now becomes our prey.

I followed the smell to the shop nearby called Madam Rosewoods. I opened the door and entered. "Good evening madam." I greeted her politely. It was a lady I would guess about fifty or maybe a bit over fifty. Her shop smelled sweet from fruits and I could see different jars full of jams I assumed by the smells and syrups. But the previous scent was stronger in this place despite the sweetness of fruits. 'It is not her. Ask who was here.' Thoth almost ordered me. I could feel his impatience. "Good evening mister. How could I help you?" She answered politely to my greeting. I took one more deep breath to smell all the scents here. 'Some herbs. They don't belong here.' I commented when I smelled the air properly. "There was someone with herbs not long ago." I tried to ask by putting together the small pieces of information I had. Either there was someone like that or not but worth a try. "Yes sir. You just missed her." She answered me but not before she checked me properly from head to toe.

Surprisingly I got it right. "You could tell me more about her please?" I asked politely. 'Well let her speak about her more.' My wolf approved the tactic. "She is coming to this city twice a month to sell her herbs, medicine, and cosmetics. She is better than any modern doctor nowadays." She explained to me. "Ah, sadly I missed her. I guess I would use some of her herbs and medicines." I tried to encourage her to say more. "Well. You could either wait two weeks to catch her here or if you are a good hiker you could go directly to her cottage north from the city. Just follow the stream." That was way easier than I expected. "But I need to warn you, sir. Some residents here believe she is a witch. Well, she is very good with herbs and all those things so she might actually be one." She laughs for herself at that comment. "You believe that she is a witch?" I asked her directly.

She stopped laughing and her face features change from amused to serious and I could see she is deeply in her thoughts. "Well, as you could see sir this city is very old, and we have our myths and legends. We believe in witches, werewolves, and even vampires. Our city has a legend about a spirit wolf that appeared once every five hundred years to lead all magical creatures and fix whatever problems they have. These woods are sacred for us." I believed her about what she said and especially the part about the spirit wolf caught my attention. My mother used to tell me stories about him also.

At the town hall, I saw the crest of our royal werewolf’s pack which was a golden wolf. Their other crests contain the ornaments from the oldest witch coven. Both mean that this city has a history of both species. It is very interesting. "Do you think she is a witch," I spoke directly about the conclusion I got from her answer. She gave me a smile. "Witch or not all is just folklore and legends made up by our ancestors. But that girl is definitely skillful. If you need medical help or herbs, I could only recommend her." She avoided my question completely with a smooth answer. I could say she knows something and my wolf only confirmed that. I gave her a smile as I softly bowed my head and turned to leave. "Thank you for the pleasant conversation misses?" "Rosie, you could call me misses Rosie." Her smile widened. "Thank you misses Rosie." I think the name of the shop was Madam Rosewoods. Don't tell me her name is Rosie Rosewoods. 'I bet on that' Thoth answered to me as we both smiled mentally.

As I left the shop, I mind linked with my warriors. "Guys I would be off in the woods for some time. There might be an interesting present for me." I said amused and excited. "Yes sir. We should stay here and wait or should we follow?" Andrew, my gamma asked. "No. Wait here. I don't sense any danger and if something happens, I would call you directly." I ordered Andrew and he didn't push more. So far, I am the strongest wolf in our pack so they know I could protect myself. "Park the car out of the city. Make it look like we left for the night and go a few kilometers north-east. We would camp there overnight." I instructed them before I took over to the woods. "Roger Alfa." I heard their unison in our mind link.

I tried to follow the already faded scent of this mysterious wolf but to my disappointment, not even Thoth was able to get the hint of it properly. 'The lady said to follow the stream to the North.' My wolf reminded me. 'Yeah, you are right.' I stopped for a second so I could listen where the water stream was. After I found it, it was just a piece of cake to follow the stream up to North. In our wolf form, we were incredibly fast. Soon enough we got the strong hint of that scent mixed with something that I smelled in the city. Her scent was like a private drug to my wolf and me. The hint of lilac mixed with lavender but for some reason, the scent of lavender was stronger in the air now. 'I guess she is using lavender soap.' My wolf commented and now when I thought about that, it made sense. But there was something else, something so unfamiliar to my senses which blocked the smell of her wolf. It was fading already and here not so strong. Considering this place is her home it is understandable that her scent is strong here. The closer we were the stronger her smell was.

We slowed down our pace and moved quietly to the edge of the clearing. I saw a natural pool from where the stream started and up above it was a small waterfall. I smelled her everywhere but I didn’t see her. Just when I was looking around, she appeared at the water surface, took a deep breath, and went back underwater. It was already several minutes and she still stays down there. “Is she trying to drown herself?” I asked my wolf. “I don’t think so.” Was his plain answer. “Should we go to save her?” I asked quietly. “Nope.” He popped the p. “She is fine.” It took like ten minutes but she really appeared again. She dove like that one more time before she swam back to the banks and stayed there sitting looking down at the water. She was beautiful. Her black hair was incredibly long. How it was possible as she was a wolf, I have no idea.

I took one deep breath and like with magic her full scent hit our muzzle. 'She washed away that weird smell from her completely now.' Thoth noticed. 'Yes. I guess it was some kind of masking scent or something like that.' I agreed with him. 'She is our mate.' My wolf said it was nothing special. It made me mentally gasp at him. Like seriously man? 'WHAT? How could you say that with such a cold face?' He should be happier, excited, maybe even jumping up in my head but for some reason, the fact she was our mate left him completely cold. He just shushed me away as we continued to watch her.

A few minutes ago, her hair was completely black but now as she was washing them the black color started to dissipate and it slowly changed color to silver. 'I never heard about the wolf with silver hair and not even a single woman in our pack has hair this long. Who is she?' I asked, confused and eager to know more about this strange woman. There was no moon today yet even in this complete dark her silver hair shined like diamonds making her skin shined pearlescent. She was mesmerizing and beautiful. I couldn't turn my gaze from her.