Ursanthropy
44. Change of Scenery

Jack

There was no possible thing that I could have said to get her to change her mind. Everything she just explained to me, was without question, the most logical thing I have ever heard anyone say. Her intelligence is something to be reckoned with and her strength and stubbornness won’t ever let her deter from her decisions.

She was going to step into that tank again, for as many times it was necessary to get her destined creature to come out. We had waited for two more days, for her to be at her renewed strength again, before this dreadful moment came again.

Twenty shifters from Maxwell’s pack were gathered around the tank, Giselle was applying the last things to the red fire and said some words which finally made the fire turn blue. Doreen was now standing next to the tank, talking things over with Giselle, for one last time.

Doreen

“This time I think you will be ready to do this.” Giselle said and I nodded.

“I hope so, because everything you had explained to me the first time, didn’t occur, as all I had been seeing was darkness, doubt and fear.” I said to her.

“Yes I know, but this time you come here with a more calm aura around you, as if you have decided to do this for a different reason. The right reason.” She said and I smiled.

It was definitely for a different reason compared to last time I was standing next to this stinking tank. Of course it would help me and Jack to get back our pack, but I did it mostly for myself now. I wanted to experience what every other shifter experienced, to make me complete, to fulfil my destiny.

“Remember what I told you? You have to get through this, face your fears but become peaceful with what you are. Embrace the creature within you.” Giselle explained.

“But how do I do that?” I asked her.

“That’s something you have to figure out yourself.” She slightly smiled and nudged me to get to the tank. I sighed but did as she wanted, I know that I have to figure it out for myself but it would have been handy to at least have some pointers!

My feet dragged me on top of the little steps and I let my robe drop to my ankles. Jack growled as I was now butt-naked in front of twenty other men, again, and I chuckled. I motioned for him to get closer to me and he did.

“I don’t like this either, but don’t worry love, once I’m through with this, I will be all yours.” I said seductively and he growled again. “Be safe.” He whispered and gave me a kiss before stepping away.

“Well, furry friend inside of me, let’s see if we can do this.” I whispered and reached for the edges of the tank.

Again, the smell of the blue burning herbs, almost made me gag. Again, I let my left foot dip its toes in the blue flames and again I felt it burn my skin and screamed in horror. I closed my eyes and focused on my goal, trying to keep my screams inside of me, making my eyes drop their tears as there was no other way to keep the pain outside.

“Please let this curse be gone, please let me complete my soul.” I asked in my mind, to whomever wanted to listen.

My foot went lower, my leg submerged, my other foot and leg joined in as well, but with each passing inch, the pain of the burn seemed to subside more and more. I slightly opened my eyes, to see if the spell of the blue flames had been broken, but they were still simmering wildly. My legs were also blistering in burns, but I couldn’t feel a thing!

Heads up! It’s Dennis' point of view!

Dennis

“What do you mean, not enough funds?!” I yelled towards one of the financial secretaries.

“I- I’m sorry Alpha, but, but… here you can see, that there is only about two thousand dollar left in the Alpha’s account.” She stuttered and showed me the screen of her computer.

I couldn’t believe what I saw on that screen of hers! She showed me a list of accounts, of which each had a destination to keep up good balances. There was one for the pack’s hospital, one that showed the income of the lumber company, one for food supplies and protection, the list went on and on and showed plenty of resources, but the last one, that was meant for the Alpha, had been drained!

That asshole had managed to transfer the money that was meant for the Alpha, towards a different account, while I had no knowledge of it! Of course, as the good Alpha he had been, Jack had blocked the other accounts, so that it was only possible to take money from, if it was going to be used for their rightful purposes, so I couldn’t transfer any money from there either!

“Fuck!” I cursed loud enough for half the packhouse to have heard.

How can I possibly keep up my end of the deal now? I needed that money to supply the King with the rest of the funds as he had lost a lot of his men due to the attacks! I had practically bought their lives, saying that I would provide him with more money once I became Alpha.

But, how am I going to get that money now? I had given all I had to him already!

“Alpha?” One of my warriors asked for permission to come into my office.

“What?” I yelled as he came in.

“Sorry Alpha, but the men were asking where we were going to have lunch, now that Bertha’s has been closed. And the human community have been complaining as well, as also the town’s motel isn’t running properly.” He said and I growled at each word he said.

Not only has Jack managed to make me the most broke Alpha on the planet, his sister and Bertha have gone with him too, so now everything is a mess! My head started to burn with all these problems and everyone from the pack kept asking me questions over the link as well!

I don’t know how Jack managed to do all these things, but if I don’t replace a solution quick, I will lose my title as fast as I had gained it!

“Fine! Get all the important people in one room, I have some things to get in order!” I shouted towards the warrior.

“Could you please clarify the important people, because Alpha Jack always-

“Mention him one more time and you’re dead!” I interrupted him and growled displeasingly. “Just all the leading warriors, managing secretaries and someone who represents himself towards the human community!” I yelled and he nodded, but lifted his finger to ask me another question, but was hesitant to do so. “What?!” I yelled again and he nearly collapsed in fear.

“Well, uhm, the one who I can’t name, used to be the one that represented himself towards the humans.” He whispered and I growled even louder!

Jack had indeed always been the one that talked to every shop owner, went to every town’s party to show himself and what not more, but I had always thought that he had someone that organised everything for him. Shit! Another problem to handle myself!

I told the warrior to organise the meeting and he left my office, leaving me with a growling headache.

Besides all these problems, I also had to organise another thing, because whatever had happened in that barn in the north, it had been splattered with blood, but there were no bodies to be found.

That day, when I had become Alpha, I had heard a lot of noises and noticed several trucks going into in that direction, thinking that they were filled with more of those hunters. But the next morning I had found out that Bertha, Erol and also Vic, had left too. Had they all been killed? Or did something else happen there?

Suddenly, my phone started to buzz and I took it out of my pocket. Shit, it’s the hunter King himself!

“Hello?” I asked, but didn’t get any response, other than the heavy breathing on the other side.

“It’s Alpha Dennis, who is this?” I asked.

“Oh, congratulations are in order I hear.” King Damien suddenly spoke.

“Yes, thank you for the opp-

“Not that I’m going to congratulate you, before you tell me where my general is.” He said with the most calm voice, yet I could hear that there was some stowed away anger as well.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“WHERE ARE MY HUNTERS!” He suddenly yelled through the phone and I dropped it on the floor.

For a few seconds I watched in fear how my phone laid on the ground, not daring to pick it up, as if it was burning lava. But I have to face this thing, if I ever want to start getting into my role as Alpha. I picked the phone up and took a deep breath.

“My King,” I started off, hating to commit that he has leverage over me, even though I’m an Alpha now. “there was a lot of blood at the agreed upon place of pickup, so I assumed that they had killed the former Alpha and that you have your daughter in custody now.” I said and waited for a response.

I heard a deep sigh, but then he started to talk again. “You know, I already knew that you were stupid, but your level of ignorance is beyond reasoning.” He said, using his calm but very angry voice again. “I haven’t heard of any of my hunters yet, and if I replace out that they are dead, then I’ll claim my prize by skinning you alive.” He said and hung up the phone.

My hands were shaking, my eyes had grown wide… but then a smile appeared…

Some good things will happen at last! The King just made sure to me that his men were dead, otherwise they would have been back at their headquarters already. And even though the King’s threat should terrify me, it didn’t.

Jack must still be alive and he would never let his pack get massacred by the hunters, so he will be coming back soon, to make sure that the pack members are safe. And when he does, I will make sure that the King is aware of Jack’s appearance, so he can come to collect him.

And this time I will make sure that the King himself will come as well… This time I will put in more effort to kill the one who is responsible for all those things that happened in my life.

A/n: So, what is going to happen now?