5. Bunnies and Mates

Osric’s POV

“What are we doing out here?” Embry’s voice floods through the link as I shift into a large black wolf and walk through the forest following a strange pull on the mate bond.

“You don’t feel it?” I link Embry knowing he stayed back to ensure a safe perimeter around Adaline and Jyrki’s home while Gideon and his family are near Blood Moon.

“I feel something, but it shouldn’t be possible,” Embry replies as I stop when I catch a glimpse of a young red pup stalking a bunny that is eating roots near the base of a shrub.

“It is, I see her,” I admit watching our young mate move down wind and begin to crawl quietly towards her prey making me chuckle.

I don’t know how old she is, but she is much younger than any wolf I’ve seen shift.

I could feel the power radiating from her, she already has the aura of a full-blown alpha, stronger than anything I’ve ever felt let alone from anyone so young.

“We have another mate?” Embry’s questions when I sniff the air and her scent hits like a brick wall me making my mouth water at the rich smell of vanilla and roses.

“We do, she’s young we’ll have to wait,” I chuckle through the link hearing her yip right as she jumps onto the bunny instantly killing it like she’s been hunting her entire life.

“How young?” Embry growls as I watch our mate tosses the bunny up into the air in my direction only to pounce on it again in avid fascination.

“It’s one of his girls, she’s young and her wolf is red and powerful,” I answer through the link then begin to chuckle as she wanders straight into me bouncing of my furry chest flat onto her ass in the snow.

“I… I…” She stutters through the link making me smile inside watching my fearless little mate look up at me with bright red glowing eyes and a bunny hanging out of her mouth.

She is small, barely up to my chest with sleek red fur the color of blood and brilliant red eyes rimmed with black.

I slowly lay down watching her grip the bunny tighter as she begins to cower and pull her tail between her legs.

“You don’t have to be afraid Little Bunny, I know your family,” I connect with her link effortlessly recognizing that she is like me, she is a Lycan Alpha.

I can’t help looking around for her twin sister noticing that she managed to wander out her all by herself.

“How?” She links while laying down in front of me with about a ten-foot gap between us.

“Gideon was in my pack before you were born; you must be Raven where is your sister?” I question looking around again knowing Liliana is the timid one between them.

“Yes, Liliana didn’t change, something else happened. Who are you?” Raven questions as my head tilts in shock, knowing that she and Liliana are both Lycan.

I also know that if Liliana manifested magic differently than Raven she must be a Lycan Healer like her grandmother.

“Alpha Osric, you’re very brave wandering all the way out here alone. I see you’ve made your first kill,” I mention watching her slowly move closer dragging her bunny with her.

“Want some? I caught a bunny,” Raven sounds proud as she drops the bunny next to me and gets comfortable sharing her prey with me.

“What do you mean something else happened to Liliana?” I question while sniffing her fur finding myself becoming more relaxed in her presence.

“She didn’t shift because she got magic, she can heal,” Raven replies watching me as I get up and nudge her so she stands.

“She’ll be running around out here with you soon enough, she’ll just shift when most wolves do,” I reassure knowing that only Lycans can shift younger than thirteen and Raven is the youngest I’ve seen.

Her young shift has me wonder if her Lycan form would come sooner than her 18th birthday.

I can’t help my slight chuckle at how adorable she is as I watch her tote around the half-eaten bunny.

Raven’s ears perk up and she begins to whimper when Rebecca begins to howl in order to get Raven to respond making it easier to find her.

“It’s ok,” I reassure her knowing her parents are only wanting to make sure she is safe.

Raven drops the half-eaten bunny then howls back signaling her position; I can’t help howling with her as our voices naturally harmonize perfectly.

“Alpha?” Embry questions through the link as I hear his howl in the distance.

“Her parents are looking for her, she’s safe,” I reassure with a deep chuckle as Raven playfully jumps on me knocking me to my side as she giggles in the link.

“Why are you here?” Raven links after a few minutes of wresting around. I smile down at her laying in the snow next to me while chewing on my neck covering my black fur in drool and blood.

“To check on Gideon he’s a good friend,” I answer while nuzzling her little body with my head nearly covering her completely.

“Raven! Get over here now!” Rebecca panics through the link when I look up to see Rebecca and Gideon’s large grey wolves running towards us.

“What? I met Osric he said Daddy was in his pack?” Raven questions with a lot of confusion in her voice so I nudge her towards her parents sensing Rebecca’s unease.

“What are you doing here?” Rebecca demands with a snarl making me stiffen seeing her anger make my mate crawl on her belly in fear of her own mother.

“Rebecca calm down, you’re scaring Raven it’s ok. Osric only came to check in,” Gideon tries calming his mate who is now growling at me clearly not liking me near her children who Gideon knows I’ll protect with my life.

Gideon was my Beta before his children were born and I will always ensure their safety when they visit his mother, my mother’s best friend Aunty Addy.

“Raven, go home,” Rebecca tries to command her daughter making Raven whimper as she trembles afraid to move closer to her mother.

“Rebecca!” Gideon growls stepping towards Rebecca before I get the chance knowing I’d be very harsh with her.

“Raven it's going to be ok just head home, we’re going to talk to Alpha Osric,” Gideon reassures her when she looks up at him for guidance on what to do before starting to run away from us.