Chapter Three

-An excerpt of Alsander’s journal-

I was only thirteen when it happened, me and the other lads from me hometown made up a game we called ‘hunter’. We’d sneak out at night and ‘hunt’; some o’ us would be the wolf, the others the hunter. That night I was the hunter. I thought it was one o’ me friends behind me when I turned about. It warn’t. I managed ta get away by climbin’ a tree, but nay afore ‘e bit me.

I remember that night well, I stayed in that tree ‘till mornin’ came. I was scared, and alone. I had heard me friends lookin’ far me but I didn’t answer their calls. I couldn’t return home. Me family would be shot when they discovered what I had become. I made up me mind then ta run, run ta America where I would never be found--

Cody was back in his place at the front of the cave. The others had decided to stick around for the day to keep Cody company.
“Hey Cody, I need to talk to you a minute” Elizabeth said as she came up to him but didn’t stop, she kept walking knowing Cody would fallow. “Of course” Cody stood as he said this and fallowed.

Liz lead him out to the forest far enough away so the others could not hear them.
“Cody, I know something is bothering you, I need to know what it is Cody” Elizabeth said looking Cody in the eye, she was the only one in the pack that could hold his gaze. “I’m fine Elizabeth” Cody insisted. “Stop lying Cody, tell me” she said more firmly this time. “We need to move Elizabeth, the humans know we are here and they will hunt us” Cody said though he wouldn’t tell her of his dream or of Prue, that was something he was going to keep to himself, at least for now. “We can’t leave here Cody, this is our home now” Elizabeth folded her arms, still keeping Cody’s gaze. “Then I will, at least I can lure the humans away from you” Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “Cody, don’t be ridicules, you are staying here, you are part of this pack weather you like it or not, and if it comes to it we will fight, together” Elizabeth’s words were firm and decided. “Fine, then I will stay and we can die together” Cody growled then looked away from Elizabeth.
“Alright then, no more talk of leaving, come back to the cave now with the rest of us” Elizabeth instructed. Cody nodded his big wolf head.

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Cody sat at the front of the cave while the others talked and joked behind him but he paid no attention to them until Duke came and sat beside him. For a long time they sat in silence just watching and listening to the forest before them.
“Cody, why don’t you join us, there is no more need for you to seclude yourself” Duke said without even looking at Cody. “I prefer to be left alone” Cody stated.
“No you don’t, I know you’re just afraid of losing us and vise versa. Don’t be a grumpy pup, you have a long life ahead” Duke said this time glancing at Cody. Cody did not reply.

Cody abruptly let a low growl escape “Someone is at the house” He informed Elizabeth. Elizabeth quickly came to him “Quickly, take me there” she said climbing on Cody’s back and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Cody took off running into the trees, not even having to pause to avoid trees. Before long a tall stone fence came into view, Cody hardly slowed, clearing the fence in a single bound. Behind the fence was a large house, the house was on of the few left built of wood and stone, Elizabeth and the others had refinished it and renewed the old building. “He’s at the front door, you should hurry” Cody said as he came to a stop. Elizabeth nodded, getting off Cody’s back she ran to the back door and hurried in. Liz got to the front door just as the man was about to turn and go. “Sorry Charles, I was just about to get in the shower” Elizabeth said with a polite smile allowing the man in, behind him was Prue. “I hope you don’t mind I brought my daughter along” Elizabeth smiled at Prue “Not at all, please make yourselves at home” She said as she lead them to the living room. Prue went right to Alsander’s large bean bag that sat next to the sofa, flopping into it she smiled as she sunk.

“Elizabeth, I know how you and your family are, but I think you should consider moving into the city. There have been sighting’s of werewolves around here” Charles got right to the point, just as he always did.

“Charles, you know we don’t fear them” Elizabeth said simply “Yes I know, I’m only concerned for your families safety” Elizabeth nodded in understanding “I know that Charles, I’ll talk to the rest when they get home” she assured him. Charles nodded “I guess that will have to do” he simply said “Well I will let you get back to your shower, Prue come on” Prue rolled out of the bean bag and got to her feet. “Thanks for your concern Charles” Elizabeth added as the two of them left the house and headed back to the city.

Elizabeth sighed and sat in the sofa “Cody, what did you do?” she asked, knowing Cody wasn’t far. “I just took back what is ours” Cody responded simply. “Cody, you can’t just do that, you’re going to blow our cover” Cody growled in annoyance though Elizabeth couldn’t hear him. “It won’t happen again now will it” Elizabeth said asserting her authority as pack leader, again. “No” Cody growled. Elizabeth sighed and headed back outside to find Cody waiting patiently by the back door. “Who is this Charles?” Cody asked upon seeing Elizabeth coming out. “He’s a friend” she answered simply “And a hunter” Cody pointed out. “Yes Cody, but all the humans are friends with the hunters, they would suspect if we weren’t” Liz explained. Cody nodded, accepting the explanation, “We should get back to the cave now” Cody nodded again, allowing Elizabeth to ride him again as he ran back to the cave where the others waited.

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As they got back the rest the pack stood expectantly watching Elizabeth. “Charles came by” she told the group in front of her. “The humans are alerted to our presence now, we have to be extra careful” she glanced at Cody as she said this.
“Good goin Cody, getting us in trouble” Alsander said folding his arms. “Leave it Alsander, this is not Cody’s fault, it was bound to happen sooner or later” Elizabeth said, meeting Alsanders eyes, Alsander looked away. “The way I see it, we have two options. We stay here and hope we don’t get found out, or we leave and find a new place to settle down” Elizabeth said, leaving the subject open for discussion.
“Vhy leave, zere is nozing to vorry about. Ve von’t be found, so many people like us and trust us” Anastasia pitched in first. “True, but trust doesn’t always save us” Duke said without looking at anyone in particular, only two of the group knew that he spoke from experience.

“I say we stay, people in other city’s probably will have a hard time adjusting to new comers, especially one’s like us. We may not even be able to” Alsander said, earning a surprised look from Anastasia. Elizabeth nodded to the conversation, glancing at Cody “What do you think?” she asked him. “You know what I think Elizabeth” Liz sighed and nodded “And you know that’s not an option” Cody said nothing else. “It’s getting late, we should all sleep on it and decide in the morning” Elizabeth said as she glanced at the sun that was beginning to set now.

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The dream had visited Cody in his sleep again, only now he could see it coming true more vividly then ever, that disturbed him. He waited till the others had gone before he took his morning run, staying farther away from the city then usual.
Cody wondered aimlessly all day till he ended up on the shore again, he stopped to stare out over the black water. The moon had long gone and the sky was beginning to lighten around the edges as the sun ever so slowly decided to wake up and light the world again. Cody let his eyes close as the cool breeze washed over him. A second later his eyes flickered open as he smelt the air Human he snarled to himself. A second sniff told him all he needed to know gun powder. Cody turned to face the forest he knew it was too late to run. Sure enough there he stood shadowed by the trees behind him. Cody, vividly reminded of his dream, stood his ground. He bared his teeth a low growl escaping. Cody wasn’t going to wait for the barrel of a gun to be at his face, instead he lunged. Cody heard the crack of the gun split the air and felt the bite of the bullet. He ignored the pain as he knocked the man to the ground his head slamming to the ground hard enough to render him unconscious. Cody stood over him one large paw on either side of the mans head. Cody knew he could easily kill the man and that would be one less hunter to worry about, yet he hesitated. Something was familiar about the hunter even the scent. He stood over him still ignoring the blood that stained his white hair as it trickled down his right leg. Still staring down it hit him, The girls father. Cody didn’t move undecided weather to kill him or let him live.

Cody’s ears twitched to the sound of crunching leaves, the hunter hadn’t come alone. Cody only had seconds to make up his mind. “Charles! Where are you?” he heard a male voice call from the trees. Cody turned and bolted down the beach just as two men emerged from the trees not far off. “Don’t let him get away!” he heard one shout, more gunfire split the air, but either Cody was to fast or they where bad aims.


Cody ran in the opposite direction of the cave, he knew the hunters would fallow his trail and the last thing he wanted was for that dream to become real. Cody ran till his injured leg gave out, it was nearly noon by then. He couldn’t smell the stench of humans any longer so he relaxed and licked his injured leg, lucky for him the bullet wasn’t entirely silver, only silver coated. Even so the throbbing pain had already spread through his entire leg. A drop of water landed on Cody’s snout causing him to look up at the darkening sky Rain that will hide my trial he thought to himself. He laid his head down across his good leg and let the rain fall on him, the tree he sat beneath was thick enough with leaves that he only got sprinkled by the falling rain. He soon drifted off into sleep.