Confrontation

Alice never tried to take human form. It would slow her down too much. She paced back and forth as Sucrose worked in the lab. Every second they were delaying could be costing lives.

And Justa's.

She forced her eyes shut to stop the train of thoughts. She wouldn't even give thought to that possibility. No, Justa would be safe until she got there. Mark wasn't about to just roll over and let the other wolves take over.

As she thought of Mark bloodied and too still and she winced. If anything happened to that wolf, it would be her fault.

Funnily enough, her wolf hadn't tried to interfere or make any noise at all since the reveal of the source of the bond. The creature was dazed and Alice didn't know how to handle it.

"Almost done," Sucrose called as she swirled one liquid into another. "This won't be the same scent he used on you. It will be an even stronger concoction. I don't know what will happen to anyone else that gets close to you. There could be side effects."

"I don't care, just do it," Alice demanded.

"As you wish," Sucrose replied as she narrowed her eyes and took a sniff from the beaker. "Honey, chocolate, and cranberries."

"Will that really work? That doesn't even sound good."

Sucrose rolled her eyes. "It's not what you think about those smells. It's not what smells good for you, it's what his wolf will respond to." She grinned. "And I know his wolf better than anyone."

Alice sniffed again. It didn't smell bad, but to her, it didn't hold much appeal. "Are you coming with me?"

Sucrose's eyes darted from side to side. "If you need me."

"You're scared." Alice shook her head. "You don't have to worry. You stay here where it's safe. I'll handle Harris by myself. Just hand it over and I'll be on my way."

Sucrose studied her before going back to her desk and searching it until she came back with a black harness. "All you have to do to release it is bite into the leather. I won't be using glass bottles for this, obviously. It'll release the scent all at once and he'll be your prisoner." She once again looked back and forth. "If all else goes well in any case."

"It could fail?" Alice raised a brow.

Sucrose had the grace to blush as she looked away. "It could, but I'm going to be hopeful. Let's not think about what if it fails. Let's just focus on saving lives."

Alice nodded and allowed Sucrose to tie the black harness around her. The scent from the plastic bottle tickled her nose. "I do need you to do one thing though. Can you create something to stop the fighting that's going on in my pack? I don't want to go rescue the humans and come back to a group that's killed each other."

"Oh, that?" Sucrose grinned as she turned and browsed through her vials again. "I have a solution for that too. I just hope you don't mind coming back to see everybody asleep."

"As long as they're not dead," Alice replied.

Sucrose giggled and pulled out a fancy vial that blossomed out like a flower and that smelled of peaches. "Here we go. All I have to do is throw this at anyone who is fighting and they'll pass out."

Alice nodded and paused before she readied herself to run. "But won't they be mad at you? Isn't it dangerous?" She should be running, but she didn't want this wolf dying on top of everything else.

"Everything has a level of danger to it. And this is worth it."

Alice nodded. "Thank you," she raced out of the cave and through the tight-knit trees. She pushed her body as hard as it would go. She didn't so much as stop for breath until she got to the middle of the arena of her pack.

Quiet.

Far too quiet.

Alice sniffed around the perimeter. It didn't take long for her to catch the scent of blood.

Mark's blood.

With a growl rumbling in her throat, she followed the scent back to her own house. Once she entered the tunnels the odor increased tenfold and the dirt walls looked as if they had been scribbled on by children with red paint.

A large puddle was in front of the entrance to her home. Alice looked at it and away. This was her fault for taking so long. She steeled herself and walked through the puddle letting it stain her paws as she entered.

"Whoever you are, I won't give up," growled Mark's voice though Alice wasn't able to make him out.

"It's me," Alice sniffed and followed the blood to the kitchen where Mark was curled up in a ball. For a moment she was reminded of her forest brother and her breath caught in her throat. "Mark?"

"Alice?" he lifted his muzzle from his paws then with a whimper rested his head again. "I didn't let them know where Justa went, but they're going to hunt every human they can find down. The pack sided with him, everyone was convinced. I couldn't get through. I failed."

Alice touched her snout to his. "Thank you. Mark, I have to go, I have to stop them." she shook her head. "But, will you be okay? There's so much blood."

Mark grinned. "It's not all mine. Go, get our cook back. Just be careful. Come closer so I can whisper it in your ear. There could be spies around. I wouldn't put it past them."

Alice whimpered herself as she pressed her cheek against his. "I'm so sorry, Mark," she whispered. He could lie to her, but she saw through it. He might not make it once she left this room.

"Don't worry about me," he chided her as he licked her cheek. He whispered where she could find Justa's settlement and her ears perked up. "Goodbye, Alice. I'll be waiting for you when you guys get back."

Alice refused to say Goodbye. The lump in her throat was too hard to swallow down and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She ran from him. She couldn't watch him. She didn't want to think about the worst.

It could be the last time she'd see Mark. The last time that their fur touched. The next time it could be a funeral. She had to hurry.

If Harris hadn't used that damnable collar on her, she could have at least used some of her magic to help him. But no, she didn't have that opportunity now. Now the only chance Mark would have was if she could move fast enough.

Was it a blessing or a curse that the settlement was so close? Too close. If Harris searched he'd find them so easily. And humans would be no match for a full pack of wolves.

Alice pushed her body to new limits. When she got to the human settlement she was wheezing. Screams greeted her ears as she arrived. Her wolves and Harris's were everywhere. Humans were being chased and hunted like prey.

Alice lifted her head and using the power of the wind once more, or what she could reach of it since it was so small, she howled letting her voice echo.

For long moments nothing changed. The screams continued. The crying of women as they tried to save their children by using their bodies as barriers.

A lone howl echoed back and the killing, the chasing, everything stopped as if the world had paused. It took not even a minute before Harris appeared. His coat was streaked with blood and his golden eyes glowed with an almost religious fervor. "Alice! How did you escape, love? No matter, join us!"

"No," Alice replied as she took a few steps towards a mother and child that were huddled against the wall. "I've come to stop you, Harris. I will not let you take over my pack like this. They are my wolves, not yours."

Harris scoffed. "But they came to me because they know what these beasts are capable of. They must be taken care of. These weeds grow too close to the pack, you know that. Now come, let's pull them all up together."

As he got closer the apples and cinnamon scent wafted over her. Alice's eyes rolled as it threatened to overwhelm her. She shook herself out of it as the child cried again and one of her wolves growled at the boy. Alice growled back in return.

Harris frowned and came closer until he was but a foot away from her.

Almost.

She needed to convince him to move a bit more. He wasn't close enough to spring the trap yet. She only hoped it would work.

"Alice, I'm surprised you're here. But I wanted to show you something." Harris howled himself now and an instant later another howl split the air. "I have a surprise for you."

Alice's heart beat against her ribs, threatening to break them from the force. Just a little closer. She took a step forward herself but froze. There in the distance being dragged by his hands by a pair of wolves was her Justa.

He was bloody and bruised but still the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen. Alice whimpered as soon as she saw him. her wolf wagging its tail once again. She'd make them all pay for hurting him, but he was alive.

Justa was alive!

"You're going to make a choice, love," Harris announced with a smile. He continued to stand but a few feet away from her. "You can keep your pet, and I will not be shedding his blood today, or you can choose to fight me for the lives of these vermin, and lose him in front of your eyes."

"You promised you wouldn't touch him," Alice growled.

Harris chuckled and took a single step closer. "You were the one that was such a bad girl when you ruined the pretty necklace I gave you. You're going to have to let me know who helped you, though I have my suspicions. And if it's who I think, we're going to have a very bloody trial when we get back to our pack."

Alice growled again. He was still too far away. She needed to convince him to come closer but focusing on the matter at hand was too hard.

"Alice," the husky whisper forced Alice's attention away and she turned to Justa as one of the wolves dropped his arm, and then went in for a bite to his gut.