#but jayde is the type of dog that barks and growls at the mailman even when her human tells her its okay

[werewolfdays]

Taking Chances

Jayde tries to deal with a new person at the Lodge - 

“So we already have seven people volunteering for redirect.” Skye told me, showing me the names on her tablet as we walked towards the Den. 

I nodded, “I want at least a dozen, we’re gonna need numbers to get the attention of those hunters and spread them out.” 

“Yeah, you’re right, but people aren’t exactly jumping at the opportunity to throw themselves in front of a faction that big and organized.” My sister gave me a knowing shrug, “They don’t have a death wish like you do.”

I ignored her comment. “Well, staying here and doing nothing is just as much of a death wish. Might as well hand hunters the keys to this place.” It wasn’t that I didn’t understand their fear, I just didn’t respect inaction. 

Skye started tapping on the tablet screen, barely even looking where she was walking, “Might wanna work on your sales pitch, then. Your whole ‘The End is nigh’ thing kinda freaks everyone out.” 

“I’m hardly that dramatic,” I said with an eye roll, “Besides, the end of this place really is nigh if we can’t lead these hunters away.”

“I know, I know. I just meant that you could be a little more optimistic and inspiring. Like Nadya.” 

“Then she can do a speech.” 

“Maybe she should.” Skye mumbled distractedly. 

“Have you drawn up different routes we could lead them through yet?” I asked, craning my neck to see the screen. 

“Huh?” She looked up briefly, tilting the face of the tablet out of my view, “Oh, yeah I’ll get right on that.” 

My eyes narrowed, “What are you doing on that thing?” 

“Blueprint work. Floor planning.” My little sister replied suspiciously quickly. 

“For what?” I reached for the tablet, but she yanked it back, just out of my grasp.

When I went to grab it again, she skipped away from me and scowled, “Hey, mind your bee’s wax!” 

“I wanna know why your eyes are glued to that screen all the time.” 

“Oh, really, you’re gonna pull the Baby Boomer crap and say that it’ll rot my brain?”

I chased after her when she avoided my grasping hands yet again, “Please, you were born with a rotted brain already.”

She started walking backwards and pointed a thumb at herself, “This rotted brain was an honor student, so you really shouldn’t be talkin’ shit with your half-baked high school education.” 

While she was able to keep the tablet out of my reach, she couldn’t stop me from swooping my arm around and catching her in a headlock. Skye didn’t even bother to fight back, she knew she wouldn’t be able to break free. Instead, she went completely limp and sank down to the floor, dragging me with her until I was kneeling with a rag doll held in my arms. Like that would get me to let her go. 

“You suck.” She growled. 

“Give it up.” I urged, squeezing her a little harder. 

Skye squeaked and handed over the tablet. I snatched it from her, letting her go so I could look at what she had really been doing. It seemed to be a cartoon city. Colorful buildings were neatly organized with tiny people roaming about aimlessly. I frowned in confusion and realized that this was a game of some sort. That Skye had built this little town with its pink-bricked houses and bright flower gardens. 

I raised an eyebrow at her, “Are you fucking with me?”

“It’s my town, do you like it?” She asked excitedly, leaning over to tap on a house, “Look, I just got the materials for this new wallpaper that has stars on it.” 

I groaned loudly and tossed the tablet back into her lap, “Please do the important stuff before you play that, at least.”

The both of us stood up and resumed our walk to the Den. Skye had gone back to furiously tapping on the screen again, “Yeah, I’ll get to the routes after I finish harvesting coins.” 

My eyes rolled so hard that I almost tipped my whole body over. 

I wasn’t sure how I always knew where she was, but my eyes landed right where Nadya sat every single time I entered the Den. It was almost like an instinct, being immediately drawn to her. Today, she was sitting at a table by one of the tall windows and soaking up some sunlight with a steaming mug cupped in her hands. I smiled at the calming image of her until I realized she wasn’t sitting alone. 

Skye looked up when I stopped dead in my tracks and followed my line of sight. The company Nadya had shockingly made Skye completely forget about her game, “Holy shit, is that Elaine Reinhart? Like, Lone Wolf Elaine? The Elaine that turned that hiker into shredded meat?” 

“Yes, I get it, thank you.” I growled through clenched teeth. “It is that Elaine.”

She let out low a whistle, “Man, you know, I gotta give your girlfriend credit. She really is good at making friends.”

“I don’t know what the hell she thinks she’s doing making friends with her though.” I grumbled and moved to storm my way over to them. Every cell in my body was screaming at that hazard being so close to Nadya when I didn’t have a clue. 

“Whoa, hey, wait a sec,” Skye caught my arm and halted my momentum, “Maybe it’s fine, they’re just having coffee.” 

I glared at my sister, “You’re joking, right?” 

Skye looked at me like I was an idiot. “I really doubt Elaine is gonna randomly lean over the table and take a chunk out of Nadya.” 

Sure, it was likely the chances of that were pretty low, but my instinct to protect was far too dominant to be comfortable with a potential threat being around my girlfriend. I ignored Skye yet again and continued forward. 

Elaine wasn’t in any formal wear like she was when I last saw her at Miranda’s gathering. Her brunette curls were tied up in a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her sharp features. The absence of makeup revealed a dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks that accentuated the gray of her eyes. Elaine looked a lot more relaxed than she had at the gathering, probably because there wasn’t any pressure hanging over her head from her pack. It eased some of my panic too see her look so easygoing as she chatted with Nadya, but I wouldn’t let that lower my guard. 

However, when Elaine saw me approach and noted my expression, her demeanor changed completely. She sat up straighter, her sharp jawline became set, and her hands balled into fists almost as if she expected me to deck her right then and there. I didn’t want to hurt her, I just wanted her at a safe distance from Nadya. A simple wooden table between them wasn’t enough to stop the violent images of Nadya being her next accidental mauling from flashing into my mind. 

“I thought you were smarter than this.” I barked at Elaine once I got to their table. “My mistake.” 

“Excuse me?” Her dark eyebrows raised at the accusation. 

“Hey,” Nadya beckoned, her hand fitting against mine as she pulled me closer to her. My eyes remained on Elaine, but the rest of my senses tuned into Nadya’s presence, “Relax, it’s okay.” 

“She knows better than to be around you when I’m not here.” 

“You’re right. I do know better.” Elaine said, holding my glower with barely a flinch, “I know when I can or can’t handle a situation, and having some company with my cup of tea isn’t exactly risky business.” 

“It is with her.” I snapped.

Her eyes narrowed and her upper lip gave a subtle twitch, “I don’t really think that’s up to you to decide.” 

My gaze traveled to Nadya briefly. She was giving me an imploring look with those warm brown eyes, silently asking me to back down. I felt her thumb caress the back of my hand, making my skin prickle. Elaine was right, I can’t take control of who Nadya wants to spend time with. I didn’t want to control that either, but the uncertainty of her safety was what kept agitating my fears. “I would feel more comfortable if you stayed away from her.” 

The way I posed my request was calm, thanks to Nadya, and I actually saw Elaine soften a bit in understanding. Then she sighed and shared a look with my girlfriend before meeting my eyes again, “I told you before that she isn’t in any danger with me, but—” 

“Then prove it.” 

Elaine leaned back in confusion, “What?”

“You said at the manor that you usually keep your word. Prove it. Give me a reason to trust you.” 

She stood up from her chair to be at eye-level with me. I didn’t sense any aggression, but there was still something challenging about the way her gray eyes bore into mine. The impulse to growl itched at the back of my throat and I felt Nadya’s hand tighten around mine, so I held it back to wait for Elaine’s answer. 

“I usually don’t waste my time proving myself to people I don’t have to, but...” She eyed Nadya again and then her gaze drifted back up at me, “What did you have in mind?”

The sun was beginning to set, but light rays still peeked through the trees and illuminated the small clearing we were standing in. My wolf could sense that I was about to set it free, becoming restless and excited under my skin. Both of us were eager for a fight. Even if it was just a sparring exercise. 

I looked to Elaine as she patiently stretched her limbs and prepared herself for a shift. “You’re absolutely sure you can handle being a wolf with her here?” I asked, glancing at where Nadya was standing with Toby and Skye at the edge of the clearing.

She rolled her eyes at me, “Yes. Believe me, I don’t want to put her in danger any more than you do.” 

“I guess we’ll see.” I grumbled, mostly to myself as I tried not to feel like it was a huge mistake to have the human here. Then I motioned at Elaine, “Whenever you’re ready to go.” 

Elaine nodded, “It will take me a few minutes to get it started. I try not to force it.”

“Sure, okay.” I said dismissively and returned to Nadya’s side, placing a quick kiss on her temple. She gave me a small smile for the affection that boosted some of my confidence. 

“This is just a spar, right?” She asked me quietly, “Not a reason for you to actually fight?” 

“I promise I’m not looking to spill any blood.” I told her. 

“Okay, just… be careful.” 

“I will.” I promised. Then I took a step towards Skye and Toby, looking them both in the eye seriously for a moment before requesting something under my breath, “Please watch her.”

Skye gave me a nod, followed by Toby. They both knew I was asking them to make sure Nadya would be safe if things got out of control. With that assurance, I directed my line of sight to Elaine again and waited for her shift to start. She sat cross-legged in the middle of the clearing, her eyes closed and her breathing purposefully steady. I’ve never seen someone summon their wolf in such a way. It was admittedly very interesting to witness. Elaine looked so serene, like a young woman meditating in the middle of the woods. And then the first crack of a shifting bone echoed throughout the trees and made her body jolt. 

Taking that as my cue, I began removing my clothing to change forms as well. It took a little while, just like Elaine said, but soon there were two wolves ready to face off with each other. 

I regarded Elaine’s wolf form. Her fur was a warmer shade of brown, perfect camouflage against the ground and the surrounding tree trunks. The color of it actually had a striking resemblance to my father’s fur. That realization made my careful stride falter, but I forced the emotion that awakened within me aside so I could focus. She was closer to Skye in size, a fair bit smaller than I was, but she made up for it in muscle mass. I noted how the sculpted shape of her body rippled under her thick fur when she shook her ruff. Clearly she spent a lot of time working in this form. 

I slowly circled her, taking her in and waiting for a reaction. Elaine allowed me to inspect her and regarded my form as well with her pale yellow eyes. It wasn’t until I cautioned a closer proximity that her hackles rose defensively, a warning growl sounding in the space between us. 

My body froze and tensed. I returned her growl with my own ferocious snarl, baring my teeth in a challenge. Elaine flinched for just a moment, allowing me to take that opportunity to strike. I slammed onto her and Elaine twisted her body out of the way to avoid my snapping jaws, but I continued to advance. My teeth found purchase and I bit down on her neck, holding back slightly so I wouldn’t break the skin or cause injury. I thrashed my head to the side, effectively throwing her down and pinning her. 

Elaine growled in her struggle, working her back legs underneath me to claw at my stomach hard enough to push me off. Once she was free and had a better angle for a counter attack, we engaged in a grapple. Elaine wasn’t that bad of a fighter, she was able to maintain a steady offensive strategy against me, but I could tell she relied too heavily on her strength since she lacked in tactical skill. Each blow from her teeth or claws almost knocked me off balance, and even did a few times, but I knew how to stay on my feet and go for weak points. She couldn’t figure out how to keep me down, which I sensed was starting to irritate her. 

We suddenly broke away from each other to catch our breath. Elaine was panting like a racehorse, giving me the impression that she was pushing herself too hard and getting overtaken by frustration. I caught the way her glowing eyes were burning at me. The intensity of her glare caught me off guard and when she charged, I didn’t have the time to prepare myself. Elaine’s attack was too aggressive for this to be just sparring anymore. My focus shifted with the scent of sudden rage. Clearly, this was the lapse in control that I feared. Her jaws clamped down hard on my shoulder and she forced me down like I did to her, only now it was more violent. I craned my neck around, biting down on her front leg and attempted to yank her off me. 

I couldn’t hear anything else besides her furious growls. Even when I bit harder, tasting some of her blood in my mouth, Elaine still wouldn’t let me go, so I went with a more direct approach. She might be stronger than average, but she wasn’t stronger than I was. I let go of her leg and forced myself to stand, bucking hard enough to throw her off of me. I could feel her fangs tear through a few layers of flesh on my shoulder. I knew right away that it was more than likely I would need some stitches. 

As soon as I was free of Elaine, I glared as hard as I could at her, barking loudly to remind her this was just an exercise. She continued to snarl in defiance, pacing around me to look for another opening. I held my ground and stared her down, my second warning an even deeper growl, loud enough to drown hers out. If this didn’t work, then I would have to force her submission physically, and I wasn’t eager to do that kind of thing to a wolf like Elaine. Thankfully, I finally seemed to get through to her. Her snarls quieted and she bowed her head, ears flattening as she backed away from me. My growl slowly tapered off in an effort to calm everything down. 

My ear twitched at the sound of a couple footsteps moving in our direction behind me. I quickly turned my head, giving Nadya a small bark to let her know she needed to stay right where she was. Elaine’s control was very questionable in her wolf form, just like I expected, and I couldn’t allow Nadya anywhere near her right now. It seemed like Elaine understood this, so she stayed where she was, flattening her body against the ground with an apologetic whine. Confident that she would remain there, I went to Nadya. She kneeled in front of me, parting my stained fur carefully to get a look at the wounds on my shoulder.

“Are you okay?” She asked. I gently nuzzled my head against her in reassurance. Then she glanced over my shoulder at Elaine, “Elaine, are you alright?” 

The wolf only huffed in acknowledgement. 

I gave Elaine a purposeful look and started to shift into my human form, hoping she would get the hint and shift back too. There wasn’t any need for more sparring. The excitement was enough for today and I had seen all I needed to see.

After finishing my transformation and getting dressed, Nadya continued to fuss over me, putting pressure on my wound to staunch the flow of blood. I patiently allowed her to work on me while I watched Elaine carefully. The chocolate brown wolf stayed still on the ground, her eyes closed, and she took slow and steady breaths like she had when she was activating the change earlier. My eyes narrowed curiously, wondering if she had to perform some zen yoga crap every single time she shifted forms. Others have their own way of doing it, I guess.

I waited until Elaine was fully dressed to gently push Nadya away so I could approach the other werewolf. I didn’t get too close, just in case I agitated her into losing control again, but I didn’t try to hide my anger either. 

“Really glad you have control now.” I jabbed with bitter sarcasm. 

“Jayde.” Nadya quietly scolded behind me. 

Elaine scowled, “You frustrated me, that’s all that was.” 

I glanced down at the torn flesh on my shoulder and casted my glare back up at her, “Oh, clearly.” 

“Look,” She snapped, taking a step towards me, “If I really had lost control, this would have been a lot bloodier. Keep pushing and maybe it will be.” 

The look on her face was the same burning expression I saw in her wolf form. I fixed her with a hard stare and said each word in my next sentence incredibly slowly, “Take. It. Easy.” 

“I will when you stop treating me like a bomb that’s about to go off.”

“Then stop acting like one.”

“Jayde, come here.” Nadya commanded. 

Her voice took on an assertive tone that I rarely ever hear from her. One that I hadn’t been able to disobey before, so my feet took a few steps backwards before my brain caught up. I turned to Nadya, seeing that she wasn’t pleased with me, but couldn’t figure out why she thought I was in the wrong here. Part of my job is making sure she’s safe, making sure others at the Lodge would be safe. Any werewolf that can’t control themselves is a recipe for catastrophe. 

“Don’t look at me like that.” I said, “You saw her behavior.” 

“Well, yours isn’t exactly helping the situation either.”

I raised my hands in exasperation before dropping them at my sides, “Then how should I be acting? She could have come after you. You do realize that, right?” 

“I never would have done that. I don’t go after humans.” Elaine chimed in. 

I threw a look over my shoulder, “Except that one time.” 

“Jayde, Nadya’s right, you’ve been instigating.” Toby said. His words were careful, but no less firm, “It’s like you want her to lose control just so she can prove you right.” 

I gave him an incredulous blink, “You think I would manipulate the situation just so I could kick her out?” 

His arms were crossed defensively and his eyes fell to the ground, “If you thought it would protect Nadya… yes.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Skye answered for him, making me feel even more ganged up on by my own pack. “It means that you’re not willing to give anyone a chance if there’s even the slightest possibility that they could hurt someone you love.” 

“I can’t believe this.” I growled, staring at all of them until I had to turn away, “So she tears some innocent human apart and then I find her with my very human girlfriend and suddenly I’m a paranoid asshole for not being comfortable with it?” 

Nadya sighed, “No one is calling you an asshole, but you can be out of line sometimes. Just like you are right now.”

“Out of line is this,” I pointed at my shoulder, at the blood still staining my tank top, “Not calling someone out for how unpredictable and dangerous they are.” 

Her eyes stayed on mine for a few more moments before they fell as she took half a step towards Elaine. My hand instinctually clamped down on her arm to stop her, “What are you doing?”

“I need to check her, Jayde.” Nadya said in a calm, but stern tone. That look she gave me just a couple seconds earlier landing back on me. “Are you really not going to let me do my job?” 

“Nadya, you saw—”

“I’ve dealt with wolves far more dangerous than Elaine at the clinic.” Then Nadya motioned to herself, “I’m still alive. Still human.”

I frowned at her in shock, “What do you mean you’ve dealt with wolves more dangerous?” 

“Not the conversation we need to have right now, Jayde.” Nadya said, sounding more than a little annoyed with me. 

She pulled herself free from my grasp and went towards Elaine, though I still followed close behind just in case. I wasn’t about to risk even the smallest chance that Nadya could be hurt, even if she believed she wasn’t in any danger. Her offhand comment about the dangers she’s experienced in the clinic ate at the back of my mind. It horrified me, but maybe that meant she knew what she was doing in this situation just as much as I did. Some of my anger dissipated, but I still knew that I was right. 

“Let me have a look at that arm.” She said. 

“Nadya, I…” Elaine’s expression was guilty when she looked at Nadya. 

“It’s okay.” Nadya reassured her softly. The tone of her voice calmed my nerves as well. “Things happen. Just try to be more careful next time.”

Elaine glanced at me before offering Nadya her wounded forearm and she carefully examined the bite I left there. Blood seeped out of Elaine’s puncture wounds, but I hadn’t ripped her flesh like she had with my shoulder. I clenched my jaw when the frustration started boiling back up. 

“She’s not too mad at you. Otherwise it would’ve been a lot worse.” Nadya said to her. I just scoffed and shook my head. “Both of you need stitches though. Let’s get you to the clinic.” 

Everyone was quiet all the way back to the Lodge. Toby and Skye peeled off to gather some drinks for everyone in the Den as a way to break the tension. I didn’t really have any interest in that currently, I was trying to get over the mild betrayal I felt. Maybe they did make some points, but I didn’t see how being extra cautious was such a bad thing when it helped to keep everyone safe. All I wanted was for people to be safe and that meant taking no chances. If that made me the bad guy, then so be it. I just wish that it didn’t sting like it did. 

The awkward silence lingered further once the three of us were in the clinic. Nadya patched Elaine up first, since her injuries were easier and quicker to dress. I didn’t like how close Nadya was to her, but I was encouraged by the sense of calm I felt from the other wolf. Despite the fact that my emotions still rose and fell, hers had gone on a steady decline since we left the clearing. I might not trust Elaine, but I was confident she had regained control of herself for now.

“Thank you.” Elaine said to Nadya. 

“You’re welcome. I hope I won’t have to patch you up again.” She replied. 

“I hope so to.” Elaine stepped away and moved towards the exit. She didn’t bother giving me any acknowledgement. I didn’t mind.  

Nadya became extra quiet as soon as Elaine left, but I knew she was preparing for some sort of scolding.

“Go on,” I told her while she worked on cleaning the bite on my shoulder, “Say it.”

“Say what?” 

“You think I was overreacting.” 

Nadya pursed her lips, trying to think of the right words. “I know you were just trying to keep me safe. I’m not mad about that, but you don’t have to be so hard on her.”

“Yes, actually, I do.” I snapped.

Had I known that Elaine didn’t have as much control over herself in her wolf form as she said, I never would have let Nadya anywhere near that clearing. Of course, that’s what I get for trusting a stranger’s word. Endangering my human mate and a bloody bite on my shoulder. If the situation had slipped away from me… well, maybe I would be the one treating a bite wound on Nadya. The thought made me shudder.  

She let out a sigh while she got the stitches ready, “I’m sorry if it felt like we turned our backs on you or something. It wasn’t my intention to make you feel singled out.” 

“Just tell me what it is, then.” I urged impatiently. 

Nadya paused to look me in the eyes before she started stitching. “The problem is you think that anyone who isn’t pack is an enemy. It won’t kill you to have a little more faith in people.”

“And what if it kills you?” 

“That’s the thing, Jay.” She said, reflecting some of my impatience, “Not everything is out to get us. If you open yourself up a little more, you might find that you have more friends than enemies.” 

I sometimes envied her for her optimism. For how much she believed in people. A part of me wanted to have the same outlook that she had. But that just wasn’t how things were. “I wish the world was how you see it.” 

Nadya softened and smiled sadly at me. “You let me in. That didn’t end so badly, did it?” 

“I didn’t let you in.” I corrected with a sly grin. “You broke through the walls I spent years building up like they were made of paper.” 

She focused on stitching me up for a few quiet moments, that knowing smile across her lips. “I trust her, you know. She’s my friend.” 

“You’ve only really hung out with her once.” I pointed out. 

Nadya shrugged, “I only knew you for, like, a half hour before I took you home like a lost puppy on the side of the road. I think I have good intuition about these sorts of things.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, “Touché.” Then we fell into another silence, though this one felt slightly more comfortable than the last. “I’m sorry too, you know. For being an overprotective freak again.”

“No, you’re not.” 

“I wanna be, okay? Just pretend that I am.” 

Her brown eyes flashed playfully, “I wish the world was how you see it.” 

“Alright, I get it.” I told her with a chuckle. 

“You think you could give people a chance?” She tilted her head and asked with a special look in her eyes and a gentle, urging smile. 

I honestly didn’t know. Didn’t know if I even had it in me. It seemed like that part of me was ripped out and burned in front of my eyes years ago. But Nadya was the one asking, and she had a knack for finding things that I thought were long dead. “I’ll try.” 

That answer seemed good enough for her. After Nadya carefully placed a bandage on my shoulder, she cupped my face and leaned in. Her gentle kiss told me that she was proud just because I was willing to try. The soft way our lips moved against each other mended any hurt feelings between us, reminding ourselves of the love and trust we shared. Nadya’s thumbs brushed against my cheeks in a soothing caress and I felt the last bit of stress from the day melt away with her touch. 

My forehead rested against hers when we pulled away and I enjoyed the last bit of comforting silence. Then a crooked smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, “So, you wanna tell me about those dangerous werewolves you’ve treated?”

Nadya scoffed, leaning back to look at me in lighthearted exasperation, “Being in pain can make anyone a little crazy sometimes. Nothing too bad or you would’ve heard about it, trust me.” 

My eyes narrowed, but Nadya wouldn’t lie about her safety. Not like I would. “Okay.” I said, pressing another quick kiss to her lips. “Guess, I just have to stand guard here more often.”

“Come on, Jay.” Nadya laughed, pulling me with her out of the clinic. “Try not to forget what I told you immediately after I’ve said it.” 

Nadya was right. I couldn’t hover over her forever. Despite all of the fears I had about her safety every single day, I still trusted her enough to look after herself, and to come to me whenever she really needed my help. Just like she trusted me to come to her aid. I could keep her safe a lot easier when we were working together. 

“I won't, my love.” I told her, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

#ocs #original characters #original story #original writing #werewolves #My writing #my ocs #ok im not saying that jayde is that type of dog that barks and growls at the mailman even when her human tells her its okay #but jayde is the type of dog that barks and growls at the mailman even when her human tells her its okay #also Skye and Toby 100% took bets on the spar #Toby won 20 bucks #Jayde #Nadya #Skye #Toby #Elaine #Jayde pov