Barely Breathing

A huge black wolf was in front of me protecting me like a shield. He hissed at the cream she-wolf who currently had her fangs on
the black wolf's shoulder. The black wolf, though injured, didn't fight back instead he whimpered.
I know this wolf!
"Carter!" I almost shouted unbelievingly. He had defended me against Ehren. But why?
Ehren removed her fangs on his shoulder and hesitantly stepped back. She growled at him, a warning to step away from me. I
lowered my gaze to the ground and noticed blood tainted the trimmed grass into red. Carters!
He growled back with the same fervor and totally hide my view from Ehren's cream wolf, pacing a short distance. She didn't take
it nicely though and prepared to attack the black wolf.
When they were both about to lunge at each other, I didn't think twice as I shifted mid-air and jumped towards them which
definitely was a bad move but it was too late.
Just when I thought I would be hit by them, a red wolf, scarlet fur as blood came on top of me and growled terrifyingly that even
my wolf felt coward by the mere sound of it. Momentarily stopping the two from attacking each other and me.
I tried to get out under him but he growled at me and nudged my side. For once, I obeyed him which surprised me a lot but
thought it would not be best to anger him more.
I sneak a glance at Ehren and noticed she was now in human form dressed in a plain big shirt and kneeled at the ground with
head leveled low. Xyrus must have ordered them to shift back.
Gabbiel came to view and push Ehren towards the packhouse rather roughly. She narrowed her eyes at him but obeyed
eventually. Carter too, followed them inside. Even the pack members were walking away one by one. What was happening?
When they all left, Xyrus let me go and nudged me to follow him. Having to see Xyrus' scarlet wolf with eyes the same as his
human form was a privilege since he doesn't shift often.
I let my eyes wandered from the fur in his head 'til his paws. I was awestruck by its beauty which in my opinion was the largest
wolf ever. Compared to him, I was like a little kitten.
You would think purple wolves are weird, but red wolves are the rarest of them. From what I've heard, they've come from the
royal bloodline of werewolves before the revolution. Nonetheless, they were just like us, nothing different.

"You coming?" His mind linked. He looked angry. I followed him into the forest, keeping my distance.
"What about the challenge?" I can't help but ask.
"It's finished."
I followed him until we were surrounded by enough trees. He went behind a tree and got a shirt. He tossed it in my direction.
"Change. Now." He emphasized each word. I went behind a tree and change.
I cautiously got out of the tree but was shoved back, my back hitting the trunk gently. My breath hitched as I gazed at the stormy
eyes of the alpha, standing too close to my liking.
I shrieked, surprised when he suddenly punched the tree I was leaning on and my heart thudded crazily.
"What were you thinking!"
"I... I..." I stuttered.
"How could you be so careless! You could have hurt yourself! Hasn't anyone told you jumping between two wolves is
dangerous?!"
He wasn't holding back. He was furious and I was struck speechless.
"I... Uhm..."
"If I hadn't interfered just in time who knows what might happen to you! How could you be so stupid?!"
He didn't just dare call me stupid!
"I was in a fight Xyrus! ...you know I would hurt myself one way or another." I almost shouted.
"That doesn't justify anything!" He snapped.
"It does!" I laughed bitterly. "Besides, I could have survived it even without you inter--"
Another punch above my head cut off my rant. Xyrus was breathing hard. He closed his eyes and leaned his head onto my
forehead. I gasped.

"Stop the act, Willow. Stop all of it." He said in a painful voice.
"What act?" I asked breathlessly.
"Of you being, 'I don't need you, I can do it myself, I don't need anyone, I'm fine being alone' crap. All of it... All of it Willow." He
cupped my face with one hand. "Stop doing it to yourself."
No... I am not like that. Or am I?
"Everybody has been scarred by their past one way or another. Nightmares aren't the real problem Willow." He opened his eyes
and I saw the frustration in them. He was so close, too close.
"It's the fear of facing those nightmares alone every time."
My sight blurred from tears. He got me. He was right. There was nothing more painful than having to face your nightmares every
day without anyone to help you endure them.
I felt his lips touched my right cheek and lingered a soft sweet kiss there and then he was gone fast as the wind. I was left cold,
baffled, hurt, and missing his warmth.