Black Ice-Completed

Nyota cried loud and long as she pleaded to the Wolf God and into the abyss to bring Syn back, “I love you!” she cried, “Please come back!” she sobbed out. She wasn’t able to stay there for long as she felt the ice shift and crack underneath her. Getting up and running for thicker ice, she just barely remembered to grab the sword before more ice collapsed where she had been sitting.

A sob worked up her throat as she mourned for Syn and all the possibilities that could have been. Nyota had not really known much about her mate. All the years that he had spent with her had been wolf with little information passed between the two. Then there had been all the years of separation as Syn had looked for the sword and she had watched over Skotadi’s creatures.

Nyota knew she had to go on, she had goals that needed to be achieved, but the grief tore all that down, making her feel so weak that it was almost impossible to move. Her whole body just felt so numb.

But deep in her mind, the wolf moved, it stalked, trying to seek the path to break through to survive. Nyota sucked in a deep breath and allowed her wolf to take control. As she transformed, a howl rushed out of her. The wolf mourned her loss as well but had to be strong for the pack that needed her.

Nyota felt the strength of the wolf move through her and with that strength she picked up her pack with her teeth and started moving towards the abandoned barracks that had the road that would lead to the pack.

…..

Nyota’s eyes glowed in the darkness of the forest as she hid in shadows, already she had dodged three scouting parties, she couldn’t be sure which wolves were loyal and which were Lyosha’s bullies.

She had to find that cabin. There would be the wolves she could hopefully trust. Nyota felt a stab of despair as the thought of Syn flashed through her mind. He was supposed to be her guide through the forest and now he was gone.

Nyota shook herself with a growl. She could mourn afterwards! As of right now, she had to find her way through the woods. As she took a step towards the north, she had to jump right back into the shadows as two wolves came around a bend of trees.

“Wait!” one of them growled, “I think I heard something!” Nyota ducked down low as they came closer, so close that she could make out their human features to the extent she could see one of them had their nose broken several times.

“C’mon Luka!” another whined, “I have a bite that I want to get home to!”

“Quit your moaning. You’ll get that delicious morsel when we get back!” Luka snapped as he took a deep sniff, “Lyosha wanted us to check this section again. He says something feels off!”

“That wolf is becoming more paranoid as time goes by. Have you noticed he has been keeping his pet near him almost constantly now?” the second said as he too began to look around and sniff, trying to pick up any scent that didn’t belong.

Luka growled low as he sent a sharp look at the other wolf, “Keep your mouth quiet unless you want to end up like that pup that opened his mouth the other day. I’ve never seen Lyosha go after another with such viciousness. He was barely alive when the Alpha finally stopped.” Luka sighed as he looked at the ground. Wolves moved through the area so much that new tracks were not really discernible from others. Something was still making his hackles raise though. He just couldn’t pinpoint it.

“Yeah,” the other wolf said nervously as he looked around, then thought back to the fight, “If it wasn’t for the pup’s sire and several others in the pack who came forward to stop Lyosha, I’m sure the pup would be dead!”

“Foolish of them,” Luka said as he spat on the ground in disgust, “now Lyosha will pick them off one at a time as he did before!”

Nyota narrowed her eyes as Luka began to move closer to the bush and trees she was hiding in. She didn’t want to cause a fight with these two, they weren’t who she was after right now, and their fighting could draw other wolves.

Luka was just breaking through the brush when there was a crashing and snapping of twigs and bushes as another wolf came bursting through into the clearing. He was much smaller than a mature adult as he gave them a grin and came to a halt.

“Damn it to Eshere, Elias don’t fucking do that you stupid pup!” Luka snarled as he turned away from Nyota’s hiding spot.

“Yeah,” the other wolf rumbled as he sidled up to Luka, “What are you doing over here anyways? Didn’t Lyosha put you on cleaning duty?” he sneered.

Nyota peeked through the brush and saw the young wolf and felt relief. His dark blue eyes with lighter specks would have been enough to recognized him, but the scar that was on the side of his face was an even bigger give away if Luka hadn’t said his name.

Nyota saw Elias flick his eyes over her hiding spot then looked at the other two wolves with a big goofy grin, “Yes, but when the good Alpha tells me to go get his scouts that have been taking their sweet time to update him, I go where I am told!” he said with obvious sarcasm in his bite but he kept smiling at the two wolves as they swore.

“Alright, we’re going! Come on Gabe!” Luka growled and started away from Nyota’s hiding place. They stopped though when they realized Elias wasn’t following and turned back around, “You coming, pup?” he grunted.

“Nope! I did as I was bid, now I’m going to visit my uncle!” Elias said as he took a few steps away a grin hidden on his face as he knew Lyosha was going to give the two hell for making him wait on their report.

Gabe glared after Elias and called out, “Your uncle is a traitor! He should be put down for killing Tasha!”

Elias took a step forward, a growl rising in his throat, his hackles raised, but just as fast, he flicked his tail and sat down, “Better get going, Lyosha was already in a mood when I left. He’ll be even more out of it the longer he has to wait on you two.”

There was a stare down between Elias and the other two wolves before Luka grunted and started to move away. Gabe continued to stare at him but then took a glance to where Luka disappeared, a growl of frustration rumbling deep in his chest before he too turned and trotted after Luka.

Elias stayed completely still for several more minutes before he came over and acted like he was going to pee on the bush where Nyota was hiding, “Nyota,” he rumbled, “Alpha, what are you doing here? The cabin is further north. Where’s Syn? He should have known that!”

Nyota slowly came out of the bushes, her ears perked high and her tail sticking straight up and out, alert for any rustling of bushes before she turned to Elias, “I’ll explain at the cabin. Can you guide me there?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she saw the telling signs of him getting ready to ask more questions, “It’s important to get there and its not exactly safe to stay here in the open.”

Elias nodded and turned towards the other bushes, “This way, Alpha,” he murmured and started into the trees and brush, ducking his head as several branches were in his way.

Nyota felt a small burst of happiness at seeing Elias. He was such an exuberant pup and was a much needed surprise. She felt foolish though when they finally came upon the cabin that sat in the shadows a half a mile away. She could have been searching everywhere for it and could have been found by the wrong wolves.

Elias came up to the door, glanced back at Nyota with a mischievous grin, and scratched three times, paused, then scratched once more before he stepped back so the door could open up.

As the door closed behind Nyota, she dropped her pack to the ground in exhaustion. But hearing several gasps and murmuring, her ears perked up and looking around she saw several men staring at her with one or two women peeking around the men that stood in defense.

“Elias, is this…” one man asked in awe, his eyes roving over Nyota as if she was a revered goddess.

“Yes! This is Nyota, daughter of Braytek!” Elias said as he emphasized daughter to the group.

“In all my years I never thought I would see a female Black Ice wolf!” another wolf breathed as he stepped forward to look closer at her.

Nyota felt embarrassment before a rumble of displeasure surfaced. She would not be placed in a position of Goddess. She wasn’t one and she’d never be one. Nyota was an Alpha and that would be where she would stay.

“None of this was something any of us would imagine, Hiro. Now move so I can see my daughter-in-law before I make you move!” one man growled and Nyota’s heart clenched as Rush came forward slowly and looked at Nyota, “Please, shireane, shift so I can embrace you fully!”

Nyota felt compelled to shift as soon as she had heard Rush speak, but as she looked at him, it was obvious in where Syn had gotten his own looks. He was an exact image of Rush, though this wolf himself was bigger and his voice was a little deeper.

Gulping down her heartache, Nyota shifted and a blanket was wrapped around her with Rush’s arms hugging her close. Nyota closed her eyes as warmth and joy flowed through her limbs. She wasn’t alone, her mate’s parents would be there to help if needed.

As Rush set her back down, he grinned and then laughed, “I knew my son would have good taste! Where is that wily pup? I need to throttle him for leaving you lost in the woods!”