Dorothy's POV
The restless energy pulsing through my veins has become unbearable. Ivy, my wolf, claws at the edges of my consciousness with increasing desperation.
It's been months since I've allowed her the freedom to run wild. Between my demanding course load at university and the grueling schedule I maintain, finding time for basic necessities like eating has become a challenge, let alone giving Ivy the release she craves.
But I can't ignore her needs any longer. The confinement is driving her to the brink of madness.
"These humans bore me to tears. Their lectures drag on forever. I need to feel the earth beneath my paws," she growls inside my mind, her frustration bleeding into my own thoughts.
"We're going for a run tonight, Ivy. Just hold on a little longer."
"Don't you dare make me wait this long again."
She's absolutely right. Months of suppression have been cruel to both of us. My reluctance stems from the very real danger that lurks in these woods. The territorial wars between packs have escalated recently, and the last thing I need is to stumble into a bloodbath or worse, have Dean track me down.
"I'm faster and smarter than that brute could ever hope to be. Besides, he has no clue we're living practically under his nose," Ivy scoffs.
Her definition of distance amuses me. Two hours of driving might seem far to humans, but for a wolf running at full speed, especially one driven by bloodlust, it's practically next door. When wolves hunt, nothing stands between them and their prey.
My strategy has always been simple: run in the opposite direction from Dean's territory. Technically, the pack belongs to his father, Alpha Harvey, who has ruled for as long as I can remember. But Dean, his heir, is a completely different beast. Violence courses through his veins like an addiction. He thrives on conflict and shows no mercy in battle.
We couldn't be more opposite if we tried. Where he destroys, I heal. Where he takes life, I fight to preserve it.
For reasons that continue to baffle me, Dean decided I was worth pursuing. I'm nobody special, just an orphan without rank or status. My parents served as warriors before they were killed, and while I inherited their fighting instincts, I prefer using my intellect over brute force. Dean, blessed with Alpha genetics that make him naturally larger and stronger than most wolves, never had to earn his power. He doesn't value what came so easily to him.
Everything I've achieved required blood, sweat, and determination, with Alpha Harvey's guidance making it possible.
When pack warfare claimed my parents' lives, Alpha Harvey stepped in as my guardian. Maybe he saw in me the daughter he never had, or perhaps he recognized that I shared more of his values than his own son ever would. Either way, he protected me throughout my childhood.
When he realized Dean's obsession with me was growing dangerous, Alpha Harvey made the difficult decision to send me away. He knows his son's true nature better than anyone and refused to let me become another victim of Dean's twisted desires.
At our usual running spot, I pause to scan the area thoroughly. The forest air carries no trace of other wolves, but I need to be absolutely certain.
"Ivy, do you sense anything?"
"Nothing but trees and small animals," she responds, though I detect disappointment in her tone. Despite everything, she misses the camaraderie of pack life.
After one final sweep of the area, I venture deeper into the woods. My clothes go onto a high branch where casual passersby won't spot them. A spare set waits in my car, just in case some desperate soul decides these are worth stealing. I choose to believe such incidents stem from genuine need rather than malice. After all, they're just fabric and thread.
The shift hits harder than usual after months of suppression. My bones crack and reshape with painful intensity, but soon Ivy emerges, shaking out her reddish-brown coat with obvious relief.
She takes off through the trees with pure joy, her powerful muscles finally getting the workout they've been denied. Though I remain in the background during her run, I feel every stride, every leap, every moment of freedom she experiences.
The forest embraces us with its peaceful silence, broken only by the whisper-soft padding of Ivy's paws against the earth.
The metallic scent hits us without warning, stopping Ivy mid-stride. Blood, fresh and abundant.
"There was a battle here recently," she says, raising her muzzle to catch more of the scent.
"Do you hear anyone nearby?"
"Something's moving through the underbrush. Sounds like a wolf in distress. Can you hear it?"
She tilts her head, ears swiveling to pinpoint the source. I focus on the sounds filtering through the trees. There it is, the unmistakable sound of a large animal struggling against something.
"Ivy..."
"I'll be cautious, I promise," she says, reading my intentions perfectly. My medical training won't let me ignore a creature in pain, even if helping could expose us to danger.
We approach with careful stealth, every step calculated to avoid detection. As we draw closer, the soft whimpers confirm my suspicion, this is definitely a wolf, and he's in serious trouble.
When the wind shifts direction, Ivy's entire body goes rigid. The rich scent of teakwood floods my senses, sending an electric shock through every nerve ending.
"Mate," she whispers with absolute certainty.
"No, that's impossible."
"Our mate is hurt, Dorothy. He needs us."
This complicates everything. Walking away from an injured stranger would be difficult enough, but abandoning my mate is unthinkable. Yet I can't risk him dragging me back to his pack, not when I have school to finish and Dean still hunting for me.
The struggling sounds suddenly cease.
We freeze, barely breathing as we wait for his next move.
A soft chuff reaches our ears, not threatening but almost pleading for assistance.
Ivy creeps through the undergrowth until we have a clear view of him. My heart nearly stops. A massive bear trap has clamped down on his leg, the metal teeth buried deep in flesh and bone.
"How is he not howling in agony?" Ivy wonders.
She's right. The injury looks excruciating, his leg clearly shattered where the trap grips it. If he shifts to human form now, the transformation will tear the limb completely off.
"We have to help him, Dorothy. He's our mate. We can't leave him here," Ivy pleads desperately.
"I know. I will, if he'll allow it."
Despite my embarrassment at being naked in front of a stranger, even if he is my mate, I have no choice if I want to communicate and offer assistance.
I shift back to human form, standing before the magnificent midnight-black wolf whose intelligent green eyes watch my every movement.
"Easy there, handsome. I can see you're trapped, and I want to help you. I know you can't shift without losing that leg, and it looks incredibly painful. Your bones are probably completely shattered, but I have medical training. Will you let me try to free you?" I keep my voice gentle and soothing.
I extend my hand slowly, allowing him to catch my scent and assess my intentions.
"I'm studying to become a doctor for both humans and wolves. I won't hurt you, I promise. Will you trust me to help?"
He sniffs my offered hand carefully, then presses his muzzle against my palm in acceptance. I stroke his fur gently, stopping when I encounter matted patches stiff with dried blood. The metallic smell mixed with other unidentifiable substances tells a story of recent battle, and I suspect bits of flesh and bone are tangled in his coat.
Looking up at the moon's position, I calculate the best angle for examining the trap mechanism.
"Can you shift slightly to your right? I need better light to figure out how to spring this thing and get you free."
He complies immediately, keeping those mesmerizing green eyes fixed on me as I study the trap's construction.
"Barbaric piece of equipment," I mutter under my breath. "Wolves shouldn't be doing this to each other."
Meeting his gaze again, I prepare him for what's coming. "I think I understand how this works. Before I release you, you need to know this is going to hurt severely when the pressure comes off. But then you'll be free, and I can assess the damage properly."
The bone fragments I can already see protruding through his skin paint a grim picture.
I position my hands on the release mechanism, knowing I'll need Ivy's strength combined with mine to overcome the powerful spring.
"Try not to bite me, and if possible, don't howl. I have no idea who else might be in these woods, and we can't risk drawing unwanted attention."
He chuffs his understanding.
"On three, ready? One... two... three!"
I throw all my strength into the release, feeling Ivy's power surge through me. The trap springs open with a sharp crack. He yelps but cuts the sound short, immediately pulling his mangled leg free and hobbling away from the deadly device.
After a moment of assessment, his bones begin the familiar crack and pop of transformation. Within seconds, he's shifted into his human form, and I'm staring at the most devastatingly handsome man I've ever seen.