Chapter 1

Hetty

Pain. So much pain! Why are we in pain? Searing and all consuming.

Where are we?

'Honour?'

Nothing. Just like before. Crap!

What's that sound? Sounds like a voice, it's low, like Kraufts, but I don't recognize it. I can't quite make out the words he's saying. I blink a few times as my surroundings rush in.

I'm surrounded by trees. All I hear is blood moving behind my ears aside from the low muffled voice. I blink again and I see a face. I look around again.

There's trees. A road. On the side of the road there's a car. A jeep. It reminds me of my brother's, open back and all. I push those tear forming thoughts away as I try to move.

That's when I notice it. I'm not on my body, this is Honour's form. What in the world?!

I look around again and find the man's face. He's older, probably about the same age as Krauft. His hands are held up, palms facing me as a sign of passivity. His dark brown curls tucked up in a beat up baseball cap and his bright blue eyes flooded with concern.

I can't talk to him in this form so I have to find another way to communicate. I think of how Honour conveys docility and try to copy it. I'm already laying down so I pull all four legs under me and inch forward slowly. Head lowered and ears back I look up to see the surprise on his face. I keep inching till our nose touches his knee on the grass as he kneels in front of me.

"Well hey there pretty girl." His words barely a whisper.

I look up at him as I feel our tail start to move.

"Are you hurt? I saw you collapse while I was driving by."

I move to look over our body. I don't feel any injuries. What happened? The last thing I remember was pushing Krauft off of Eli and dodging Carla as she tried to corner me with a sedation syringe.

I look back to the man and he stiffens back up. I cook our head to look at him from the side. He cocks his head to match. My instinct is to laugh but all that comes out is a little chuff sound. We both cock our heads the other way and I roll to my back sticking our tongue out. The man laughs, relaxing his shoulders a bit as he drops his hands.

I feel happy and safe with him near us. I stick our tail up in the air and wag with my tongue still hanging and the man stands up.

"You're definitely a wolf, but you act like a domestic puppy." He sounds baffled. I move to sit while looking at him. I'm still young, so Honour's not full grown, yet we are larger than the average wild wolf. Our head comes up to his sternum as we sit in front of him. He reaches his hand out with his palm down and fingers towards our nose.

I sniff his fingers, his scent floods us. It's warm, like fire, yet comfortable, like the blanket Carla gave us for our birthday. I lick his fingers and he smiles. I feel our tail wag again.

"My name's Leonder, but my friends call my Leo" He starts rubbing the sides of our face. There's nothing in his eyes but adoration and contentment as he stares into Honour's dark blue eyes. He glances back over at his jeep, it's still running and the driver side door is wide open towards the road.

"Do you… want to…" he sings, "I don't want to leave you here. Will you follow me?" He looks deep into Honour's eyes before he turns and walks towards his car while looking back at us over his shoulder. He takes two steps before I'm on our feet following close behind him. He stops and smiles at us.

He lowers the tailgate on his jeep and I hop in without a second thought.

He chuckles as he shuts the tailgate and climbs into the driver's seat. I move to lay our head to rest between the headreats of the two rear seats and he drives us out and away from the forrest.

I don't remember when, but I must have drifted off to sleep as my dream starts to take over my consciousness.