The Cursed & Bald Siren!
{THE RIVER PACK}
It started out as any other morning for Alpha Zephyr.
The morning sun trying to make its way to the sky warmed his fur as he sprinted through the forest. His powerful legs carried him effortlessly over fallen logs and through thick underbrush. Behind him, his beta, Ralph, and his gamma, Zeeb, struggled to keep pace. Alpha Zephyr was a force of nature, his movements were swift and calculated yet fluid and graceful.
He was focused on heading further in to the woods when a strange and unfamiliar sensation suddenly washed over him. It wasn't hunger or thirst, but something deeper, a primal yearning that pulsed through his veins. The scent of wildflowers, usually a pleasant aroma, now seemed to mock him, each sweet petal a reminder of something missing.
Zephyr skidded to a halt, his ears twitching. Ralph and Zeeb, panting heavily, stopped as well.
"What is it, Alpha?" Ralph asked using the mind link.
Zephyr didn't give an answer, mostly because he could not explain what he was feeling. It felt like a powerful magnet, pulling him towards an unknown destination. He turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, his two companions scrambling to follow.
The pull grew stronger, guiding him towards the river that marked the border of their territory. As he neared the bank , the yearning intensified, a primal urge that threatened to consume him.
With a low growl, Zephyr dropped to the ground, his body trembling. He began to shift, his bones cracking and reforming. Soon, the thick fur receded, replaced by smooth, toned human skin. His claws retracted, and his sharp teeth softened.
Standing tall and beautiful, a human male with dark eyes the color of storm clouds, Zephyr gazed at the river.
The pull was strongest here, emanating from the water itself. He knew, with a certainty that defied logic, that his mate was waiting for him in the river.
Ralph and Zeeb had just gotten to where he stood and they transformed with questions running through their minds. Just as they thought of voicing their thoughts, the Alpha Sprang in to the river with one single splash that swallowed him.
The Gamma and Beta Froze in utmost shock.
The Gamma was the first to break the silence.
"Has he gone mad?!" He voiced out with his brown eyes threatening to pop out of their sockets.
"Caution your tongue, Zeeb!" Ralph warned and he moved closer to the edge of the river bank peeping at where their Alpha had just disappeared in to.
"You're not thinking of going in after him, are you?" Zeeb asked coming from behind.
"What choice do we have?" Ralph asked with a hint of exhaustion.
Then noting Zeeb's disapproving look, he cracked a mocking smile at the gamma.
"I didn't know you're scared of water." Ralph said with clear mockery in his voice.
Zeeb grunted. "I'm not scared of water, I'm a river wolf for howling out loud! But this is the Silveren. I can't just hop in." He explained throwing a scared glance at the river.
Ralph chuckled. "First of all, this is not the river of whispering souls so there's no need to be scared. Secondly , the Silveren stories are just stories! What are you, a cub?"
With that, Ralph turned around ready to leap into the water when the Alpha emerged.
Ralph and Zeeb jumped back in surprise which was further intensified by the sight before them.
Sending drops of water flying everywhere, Zephyr burst from the water, his muscles rippling as he heaved a small form onto the riverbank and then knelt beside her.
The being was unlike any he'd ever seen. Her skin was pale and smooth, her head devoid of a single hair. Her eyes were closed, her face serene despite the ordeal. She was dressed in drenched shimmering fabric, the color of blood, adorned with what looked like rubies.
"What is that?!" Zeeb always the first to break silences said in amazement.
Ralph was intensely looking at the petite figure crumpled on the ground. He walked closer with his eyes focused but just as he crouched, Zephyr stood up.
"Get Channe immediately and meet me in my chambers!" He said in a gruff tone with his eyes directed at Ralph who nodded eagerly.
"Alpha, the meeting…" Zeeb started to say.
"Handle it!" Zephyr said curtly and with that, he transformed back in to a wolf carrying with him the motionless being and disappearing in to the trees.
Again, Beta and Gamma were submerged in a moment of deep silence.
"Flying Fur!" Zeeb cursed in shock and confusion. Then he turned to Ralph. "Was that a siren?"
"Sirens aren't usually bald." Ralph said absent mindedly.
"Well it's not a Golem either!" Zeeb argued.
Ralph didn't speak, he was in deep thought.
"This is why you don't just jump in to the Silveren! Now what's that creature?" Zeeb went on saying. Then he seemed to notice that Ralph was very distracted, he shook his shoulders lightly.
"What is it?" Zeeb asked.
"Nothing." Ralph Shrugged but Zeeb didn't believe.
"You know something that I don't ." Zeeb pressed.
Ralph sighed. "I thought I saw the royal mark on the creature's arm, did you?" He said.
Zeeb's eyes widened even more.
"I didn't see a bloody thing! The Royal Mark?!" He exclaimed.
"I'm not certain!"
"Why didn't you tell the Alpha?!"
"You saw how fast he acted ! He barely let us speak!" Ralph retorted.
Zeeb was silent and Ralph sensed his fear and discomfort.
"I am not sure that it was the royal mark. I didn't have time to look closely." Ralph tried to calm his friend's nerves but Zeeb still looked uncomfortable, in fact he looked very serious which was an unusual thing.
"You have to hurry. If that's the Royal Mark then it may be a cursed bald siren or something from the Dark King. Maybe they know about our plans, maybe the Alpha is in danger!" Zeeb said taking Ralph's arm in a firm grip.
"Calm down, Zeeb." Ralph said and he was speaking to himself too.
"Did you not see the way he acted? He just stopped his morning run, headed for the Silveren and Jumped in to it. Is that not strange?" Zeeb demanded.
Ralph said nothing but after thinking briefly, he gave Zeeb an assuring nod.
"We should hurry." He said.
Then they both transformed and ran together until they went opposite directions, each to their respective orders given by the Alpha.