Chapter 11

Joy spent a few days sitting in the hut. She refused to eat, sitting with her eyes staring at the door. At times she would drift off into a light sleep, but awaken at the slightest sound. There were moments where she would drift off and dream of conversations between the four wolves. Reid, Jude, Krii and Jemima. Sometimes she would wake up and the conversations would continue, as if she could hear them from where she was sitting. Other days she could hear Khaya's voice near the river. She could hear the splashing of water, the chirping of birds and would shake her head to clear her mind. She could not tell if these were dreams, mind tricks or something else.

"Joy?”" Khaya walked in, treading carefully towards her. “"Are you full again?”" He glanced at the untouched plate in front of her. She nodded, looking away from him.

“

"Do you want to go for a walk? Or go to the horses?”"

She shook her head. “"I want to be left alone Khaya,”" she croaked. “"I'’m really upset."” She laid herself down on her side, a tear sliding across the bridge of her nose.

Khaya left the room, and returned in a matter of minutes. A transparent jar that contained something brown in his hand. He knelt down and tapped Joy’s shoulder.

Joy sat up, a frown on her face. “"Khaya please!”" She hissed and he whimpered. He placed the jar in her hands and ran out of the room. She examined it with her eyebrows still furrowed, opening it. Almost immediately, her nostrils were filled with the sweet aroma of molten chocolate. She stuck her finger into it and slid it into her mouth. Tears dribbled out of her eyes as she laid back down, hugging the jar. She stuck another finger in, then another, as more tears flooded her face.

"Why is it so good?”" She murmured.

The door creaked open and Jude walked in, glowering at her. “"I’'m sorry I betrayed your trust,”" he started in a low voice. “"But let’'s leave Khaya out of it. Let’'s not upset him.”"

She glared at him with her blood shot eyes then scooped another finger of the chocolate before hurling the jar at him. He ducked and it smashed against the wall, the chocolate and pieces of glass clattering to the floor.

“"You didn’'t just betray my trust,”" she spat, standing up. “"You-You kissed me,”" tears burned her eyes. “"And you said it wasn'’t an in the moment thing.”"

“"It wasn’'t."” His face softened.

“"I opened up to you like the stupid fool that I am and you took advantage of that in a matter of days.”" She wiped her face, but the tears continued to pour, her voice coming out in gritted screams. “"This sucks, because I knew it. I knew I shouldn’'t have trusted you. I don'’t even know why I did, I’'m so... stu-pid.”" She grunted the last word, feeling a sharp pain in her abdomen.

“"You'’re not stupid for trusting me, I'’m stupid for not telling you the truth in the first place.”"

“"Well, that doesn’t-”" She suppressed a groan, feeling more pain in her waist.

“"What’s wrong?”" Jude stepped close, concern etched in his voice.

She held her hand up to prevent him from moving closer, another grunt escaping her lips. She clutched her waist, her back bent forward.

“"You’'re shifting,”" he breathed and moved close to hold her, ignoring her protests.

‘'Jem! Reid! She'’s shifting. Come to the hut!’' He yelled into their heads.

“"Joy you have to relax. It will be a lot easier if you just give her control.”"

“"No,”" she gasped at a crack. “"Never, I don’'t want to.”" She fell to the floor, her arm twisting.

Jemima sped into the hut, with Krii right behind her, his eyes widening at the sight of Joy. “"Argh, what is she doing?"” He huffed, Joy’s other arm twisting back and forth. “"Stop that it’'s disturbing.”"

“"This isn’'t the time Adonis Krii,”" Joy grunted, feeling her legs break. Fur sprouted from underneath the skin on one arm and she gasped, then felt her entire being lose consciousness.

***

“"Is she coming back?”" Krii’'s voice sounded in the distance as Joy regained consciousness.

“"I think so,"” Jemima mumbled.

"“I had the weirdest dream,"” Joy yawned. “I was turning into a wolf.”

"“It wasn'’t a dream,”" Jude spoke next to her and her tail wagged.

At first, she tried to ignore it, thinking it would go away, but the tail only tapped on the ground harder and faster. It felt too real to ignore.

"Do I have a tail?"” She whimpered.

"“Yes,"” Jude answered. "“And it'’s beautiful."

She was a dark, reddish-brown wolf. Her fur a rich, deep chocolate.

“"I have a tail!"” She shrieked, shooting up only to fall back down. “"And fur. How is that beautiful?”" She wobbled up on her two front legs and stomped forward, dragging the other two on the ground. “"Give me my real body back.”"

She raised the other two legs and tried to move around. The movement turned to jumping up and down, and she knocked over the rocking chair.

"“This is really disturbing, but I can'’t look away,”" Krii chortled.

“

"Shut up Adonis Krii!"” Joy hissed, falling back onto the ground with a loud thud. She could feel something else deep within her, wanting to be set free. She was fighting it, pushing it down.

"“Joy you have to stop fighting the wolf,"” Jude instructed. “"You'’re both supposed to be in harmony. That way you’'ll be able to walk and not do... that."”

"“As if I’'ll listen to you after all the lies that come out of your mouth.”" She was still lying on the ground, willing herself to get up.

'‘Joy.'’ A deep voice sounded in her head. She felt her heart flutter and float. The voice sounded familiar though she knew she had never heard it before. For a moment, she felt safe. That voice was made to protect her. It was hers just as much as it was his.

‘'You feel the bond too, don'’t you? Don’'t fight it,'’ he said, snapping her out of it.

"“Who said that?"” Her head shot up, and she narrowed her honey coloured eyes at each of them.

'‘My name is Ash.'’ The voice said. '‘I’'m Jude'’s wolf. May I speak to her please.'

’

"“No,"” she responded out loud, glaring at Jude. His eyes had turned their deep blue. "“I'’m not letting this get any weirder than it already is."”

'‘Please, I'’ve been waiting for her forever.'

’

"“And I'’ve been waiting for a guy I can trust forever. We can'’t always get what we want,"” she retorted.

'‘We'’re mates. Soulmates. You can’'t do that.'

’

"“Hold up there wolfy, let me give it to you straight. There is no such thing as soulmates. You just think you'’re in love, but you'’re not. Take it from me, I know.”'

"“Who is she talking to?"” Krii whispered to Jemima.

"“Ash,"” she answered.

"“She should say it to his head. We don'’t wanna hear all this.”" He tried to cover his ears.

"“We have a problem.”" Reid stormed in, his face a mask of cold, hard seriousness. His eyes which were normally a shade of deep blue had turned cloudy grey.

"“Tell me about it,"” Krii scoffed.

“

"Enough of this, Rollin'’s minions are here and I need the three of you to come with me."” He commanded, sounding more like the Alpha.

"Jude tell Khaya to come here and stay with Joy. You,"” he pointed at Joy. "“Stay and don'’t make a sound."

”

"“What? I refuse to be ordered around,"” Joy spoke from her position on the ground. “"What’'s going on? Who’'s Rollin?"

”

"“Alpha of the Blood Moon pack and a very dangerous wolf."

”

"“Why is he here?"”

“"We need to go meet them at the gate, let'’s go,”" he signalled the others, ignoring Joy’'s question.

"Why are they here Reid?"” Jemima asked when they were all outside.

"I think they’'re here for Joy."” He answered causing Jude to growl. "“I don'’t know how, but I think they sensed something the minute she shifted. Whatever happens we can'’t let them come near this hut. I'’ve informed all the pack members. Krii, I need you to watch this hut from a safe distance. Tell us the second you see anyone moving around. You two are with me.”"

"“No, I have to stay here."” Jude'’s eyes flashed a blue flame. “"I have to stay near her so I can protect her.”"

"“If you stay here they’'ll know something’s up and they’'ll start to poke around."” Reid spoke through gritted teeth. "“I need you to focus, Beta. And... if things get out of hand, we might have to send her back to the human world.”"

"“No- no- no-”" Jude shook his head.

"“Just until we deal with Rollin, it is the safest place for her since they can'’t go there."

”

"“Dad!”" Khaya ran to his father and uncle. “"What'’s happening?"” He panted.

"“Pup, we need you to stay here with Joy and take care of her, okay?"” Jude told him as Jemima handed him a small bottle.

"“Listen pup, tell Joy to shift back into a human and spray this mist on herself. It will block out her scent. Then spray it near the door and window.”"

"“Okay,"” he shook his head and ran into the hut. Joy was still trying to get up from the ground. The boy shut and locked the door behind him, spraying the mist all over it.

“"Joy, auntie Jemima said to shift back and spray this on yourself."

”

"“My love if I could I would have shifted back by now.”" She heaved herself up, wobbling on her feet.

"“Just tell your wolf you want to shift back."” Khaya sat on the floor cross-legged, staring at her.

"“She won’'t listen to me," she whined. "“Come on. Give me my body back.”"

"“You have to be nicer to her,"” Khaya instructed.

"“Just give me my body,”" she hissed, and Khaya gave her a look. “"Please,"” she gritted. "“Please give me my body back, you nice, nice, wolfy.”" She spoke a bit softer, a forced smile produced by her new set of teeth.

"“Maybe she can'’t hear me Khaya."”

'‘I can hear you perfectly.'’ A smooth voice sounded in her head.

"“Oh, so, you'’re just ignoring me?"” Joy questioned her, involuntarily looking around.

‘

'You started this when you refused to let Ash speak to me.'

’

"You'’re mad about that?”" She said out loud. "“I was doing you a favour. He'’ll break your heart before the end of the year. You should be thanking me."”

'‘Not everyone is like that stupid Mandla of yours. And you'’re the only one who couldn'’t see his true colours. At times I wonder if you’'re blind or stupid.'

’

"“How dare you talk to me like that?"

”

Khaya'’s eyebrows were furrowed, his eyes staring at her with concern. "“This is weird,”" he muttered. "“Do you have an imaginary friend?”" He asked.

“

"No, I'’m talking to the wolf."” She glanced at him.

"‘My name is Rieka."’ The wolf'’s voice echoed in her head.

"“I don'’t care, just give me my body back-"

”

"“Joy shhh,"” Khaya whispered, glancing at the door. He stood up and tiptoed towards it, craning his neck to hear better. "“Someone’s coming,”" he gasped, tiptoeing back to Joy. He sprayed her all over with the mist, in a bit of a panic.

"“Stop it Khaya,"” she hissed and let out a sneeze.

"“Shhhh,”" Khaya hissed back. "“He’'ll find us if you make noise."” He sprayed some more of the mist on her, then proceeded to cover her with the Thomas blanket, spraying some more mist on it.

Multiple footsteps sounded outside the hut, moving around the yard. Khaya leaned himself against Joy’'s wolf and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. He felt around for Joy’s paw and took hold of it.

"“There'’s just a kid sleeping in here, let'’s go,"” a voice sounded right by the window and Joy felt herself tense.

“

"We should check inside,”" another voice sounded by the door.

"“No leave it. If we disturb the kid he'’ll cry and it'l’l turn into a whole thing. "Let'’s go look somewhere else.”"

"“Wait,"” the voice by the door said. "“That smell."

”

"“Sorry.”" The voice by the window said. “"That rabbit did not sit well.”"

“"Not that you pig,”" he growled. “"Over here. It smells like..."…”

“"Thomas,”" the window voice said and the door swung open. “"Thomas no!”" A white haired, lean man cried. Window voice.

Khaya remained in his position though Joy could feel his hand, which was still holding her paw, tremble and squeeze tighter.

“"Shhh, don’'t wake the kid,”" door voice spoke. A black haired and bulky man.

“"These monsters.”" White hair sniffed, stepping closer to where they lay. He yanked the Thomas blanket off Joy causing Khaya to tumble forward.

“"Oops, did I wake you?”" He snickered, an evil glint in his eyes. “"Who’'s this?”" He kicked Joy'’s wolf.”

“"It’'s her,”" the bulky man snarled. “"Nice trick. Jemima'’s been busy.”"

‘'You’'ll have to let me take control now Joy.’' Rieka said. ‘'I’'ll give you your body back when Khaya'’s safe.’'

'Where’'s Jude?’' Joy mumbled.

‘'Now, Joy!’' Rieka demanded.

'Fine,’' she responded and exhaled. She felt herself fall back, losing control of the body.

***

‘'You made it sound like giving you control would be a good idea,’' Joy trembled as her wolf stepped back. Ensnared by the two men who had shifted. A white wolf and a black one. Khaya was curled up in a ball in a corner. Trying to communicate with his father, aunt and uncle.

'I thought I’'d be able to fight them both.’'

‘'You have no experience in fighting, what were you thinking. What was I thinking?’'

‘'Now is not really the time Joy. We need to get Khaya out of here. And where is Ash? Where are all of them?'

‘'Okay, give me the body, I have an idea.'’ Rieka let go, and Joy felt herself being thrust forward and the wolf plopped onto the floor.

‘'Not this body. My body.’'

'Oh, just think of shifting back.'

Joy breathed deeply and her bones shifted, the fur disappearing under her skin. She didn'’t give herself time to think or recover, though to her surprise, she was still fully clothed in her Lyssa dress. She crawled under one of the wolves’ legs and bolted for Khaya. She grabbed his hand and they sped out. The two men went after them, being slowed down by the wall and door they had to break past.

“"Swap! Let’'s swap!"” Joy yelled to Rieka and her body shifted mid run. A very uncomfortable transformation which caused her to slow down. "“Khaya jump on!"” She panted and he obeyed. “"Where'’s your dad?"

”

"“The Enclosure. Go straight."” A few villagers began to shift as she sped past, the two wolves close behind.

One of the villagers tackled the black wolf, rolling with him on the ground. Two grey wolves ran on either side of Joy, protecting her as another wolf tackled the white wolf. Three wolves appeared from nowhere, two attacking the grey wolves as the other began to chase Joy. It shoved her, sending her to the ground, Khaya rolling off her.

"“Run Khaya!”" She screamed, trying to get back up. “"Let'’s swap,”" she said to Rieka and turned back to human form.

"Someone get the kid!"” The wolf hissed as it stalked towards Joy.

A silver wolf was about to chase after Khaya when a golden-brown wolf, Krii, jumped on him, taking him to the ground. A black and white wolf appeared in front of Joy, snarling at the wolf that was approaching.

"It'’s about time,"” Joy mumbled.

'I'’m sorry baby,’' he spoke into her head and proceeded to attack the wolf in front of him, biting into his neck. He ripped his throat out in a matter of seconds, the body plopping to the floor. Jude shifted to human form and ran towards Joy, holding her in his arms.

"Are you okay?"” He checked her for injuries.

She clutched her stomach and winced, indicating an injury there. "“Come on, we need to go."” He helped her up. "“I'’ll take you somewhere safe.”"

"“The only safe place is home,"” she hissed.

'You are right,' he sighed in her head.

"“I am?”" Her eyebrows rose.

‘

'Yes,'’ he breathed, trying to control the sadness in his tone. 'I'’ll take you home.'

’

"“What?"” Her eyes and heart expanded at the same time. “"Seriously? Right now?"

”

'‘Yes, right now and use your head.'’ Jemima hissed telepathically as she jogged towards them. 'I don’'t know how long Reid can hold the others off for so you have to hurry. It'’s all a big mess and Rollin could show up any moment. We have to get rid of every single one of these wolves.' She ran a hand through her raven locks.

That was the first time Joy had seen her frazzled. 'And we stick to the plan.' Jemima finished, her gaze landing on Jude who gave a brief nod.

'‘Can you run?'’ He asked Joy and she gave a continuous nod as she looked around.

'‘Where'’s Khaya? I need to say bye.’' Joy spoke into Jude’s head.

'‘He’'s gone with Krii, there'’s no time. We need to go.’' He grabbed her hand and led her to the waterfall, a few wolves covering them from behind, making sure that they were not followed.

"“What'’s the plan that Jemima was talking about?"” Joy whispered as they approached the cliff.

"“She'’s taking your clothes and is going to try and lead them in a different direction. Then they’'ll try to get rid of them from there.”" He pushed a rock in the wall and a staircase appeared.

A smaller, plate-like, piece of the rock appeared from where Jude had pressed, in it a light blue key and he took it out.

"“Key only the Alpha uses huh?”" Joy scoffed.

"“Let'’s go,"” he took her hand and they jogged up. They stopped at the top and Joy could see the forest beyond.

"“Careful,"” Jude mumbled, taking hold of an invisible doorknob. "“Go through here,"” he pointed at the invisible door, “"the rest is a rock wall."

"“Yeah right,”" she snorted, letting go of his hand. She stepped towards the wall and hit her head, bouncing back a bit.

"“It hurts that you don'’t trust me."

”

"“It hurts that you lied to me."” She rubbed her forehead and stepped through the area he had pointed at.

Memories came flooding in of the time she was limping towards the cliff, to the time Tanya let go of her. She shook her head and they continued forward.

"“There'’s a truck coming,"” he took hold of her shoulders, gazing deep into her eyes. "“You can get on it and he'’ll take you to your house."

”

"“My family is going to ask where I was this whole time. What do I say?"

”

"“You lost your memory. And stayed in the truck driver’'s cabin. He didn'’t know who you were and you couldn’'t remember so he just took care of you up until now."

”

"Of course, I should lie,"” she rolled her eyes. “"Silly me.”"

“

"Would you rather tell them the truth?"” He raised an eyebrow.

"So, the truck driver’s a wolf?"” She asked as a truck roared down the road, headed towards them.

"“Yes. He'’s Krii'’s cousin. He'’ll make sure you get home safely.”"

"“You'’re not coming?"” She tried not to look disappointed.

"“I can'’t. I have to stay here.”" His eyes flashed blue, and he shook his head, changing them back to green.

"“Okay,"” she mumbled.

He took a tiny step forward, completely closing the distance between them and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling weird about leaving. It felt wrong for her to leave him, but she couldn'’t bring herself to say it.

"“Bye Jude."” She pulled away and hopped to the front of the truck that was now parked in front of them. Jude closed the door for her, giving the driver a nod.

"“Take good care of her,"” he told the driver who slightly bowed his head and they drove off.

'‘You couldn’'t let me say bye?'’ Ash grumbled to Jude.

'‘You wouldn’'t have been able to let her leave.'

’

'‘Then you should have at least told her you love her.'’

'‘Then I wouldn'’t have been able to let her leave.’'