The Fall Ball
Chapter 29

(Rose)

We walk out the door and walk to the edge of the woods. As we get closer Craig stops.

“I’m about to head behind the tree and shift. We won’t be able to communicate. So if you need to get my attention, just say something and I will stop so that I can shift back and we can talk.” Craig says.

“Okay yeah, that sounds good,” I tell him, turning my back to the forest to give him his privacy.

Wolves are not very self-conscious, but with me not having one I get more uncomfortable than others. I like my modesty.

A few minutes later a large white wolf walks up to me and touches my hand with his nose. I look and smile.

“I assume you’re Craig’s wolf, Isaiah?” I ask him. He yips in excitement and licks my hand.

“If you’re ready my Queen, you may step on.” I hear in my head as Isaiah lies down.

I gasp in shock. Who was that? No one else is around, and why did they say Queen? She is with the King right now.

I look at Isaiah, and he is lying there watching me. Looks like he is grinning at me.

“Yes my Queen, it was I. Due to your abilities and how special your wolf is, you can communicate with any one of us that you choose.” He says to me laying his head down.

“Well that is new! So um, Isaiah why are you calling me your Queen?” I ask him.

“That would be because that is who you are! Your wolf is the most powerful. You are our Queen!” He says.

“Okay. Well this is freaky. Does Craig know that you can talk to me?” I ask him.

“He just found out, just as you did. He is very surprised and asking me lots of questions that I’m not able to answer. I also cannot answer any of your questions. It is ordered to us by the goddess. You have to replace the answers on your own,” he says.

“Okay, well then, I won’t ask any questions. Let’s just go for this run. Please take it easy on me, I have never ridden a wolf before, or any other animals for that matter!” I tell him.

Isaiah just rolls his eyes at me.

“My Queen I will take care of you. You will be fine. I am sure you will enjoy this just as much as I am. Soon you will have your own wolf and you won’t need to ride one,” he says.

I giggle as I climb on his back. He slowly stands up with me on his back. My legs are tightly wrapped around his body, and I grab his neck. I am now lying on his back, with him standing up. I feel him huff under me.

“You don’t have to hold on so tight. And you can sit up, just keep your legs tightly wrapped around my body.” Isaiah says to me.

I giggle and sit up.

“I’m sorry, I was just startled.” I said.

He huffs again as we walk through the forest.

“So my Queen, any special spot you wanna check out?” He asks me.

“Ohh… I think there is a waterfall. Can we try to replace it?” I ask him.

“Yes, I think that would be nice. But can you try to determine which direction we should head in?” He asks me.

“How am I supposed to do that?” I ask him.

“Use your senses, my Queen. They are heightened now. You just need to focus.” He says to me.

So I focus. Listening to all the sounds is my favorite part. I can hear the sound of rushing water coming from the right of us.

“Isaiah I think we need to go to the right. I can hear rushing water coming from that direction.” I say to him.

He replies, “Very good, my Queen.” and turns in that direction.

I sigh and say, “Could you stop calling me Queen? It feels strange.”

“Yes my Que… I mean Rose. I can do that. It may take time though,” he says.

I smile.

“Well, thank you for that. The sound of rushing water is getting closer.” I say.

“So my Queen, do you think the waterfall is upriver or downriver?” he asks me.

I listen closely to the sounds.

As I am listening we make it to the edge of the river. I look up and down the river while listening. The water downriver seems to get quieter and calmer.

“The waterfall is upriver,” I say with a smile.

“I think you are correct.” He turns and walks upriver.

We are walking along the river and a strange smell hits my nose.

“Oh, what is that smell!” I ask.

Isaiah stops walking and sniffs the air.

“I smell nothing.” He says. “Can you step off for a moment? Craig wants to talk to you.” He says.

I climb off his back and turn around.

“So, you can turn around if you want to. But the only thing covering me is my hands.” Craig says to me.

I turn around and instantly blush.

“I warned you,” he says with a smirk.

“Anyways, what did you want to talk to me about?” He smiles at me.

“So, first off, congrats on gaining another power from the goddess herself! Rose, you are one special being. But secondly, can you describe what you smell? Because I can’t smell anything other than the forest and the wildlife.” He tells me.

“Oh that. Give me a second and let me see if I can still smell it.” I walk around a little bit with my eyes closed and focusing only on the smells around me.

“It smells like death. It is coming from down river. It is a nasty smell. I can smell fresh b***d, but I believe it is not animal b***d when I smell the smell of death. “It smells like human b***d.” I explain, concentrating on the smell.

Craig becomes pale. “Rose, along with the smell, does it kind of give your body a strange feeling?” He asks me.

“Um, yeah, now that I think about it yeah. My whole body feels itchy.” I reply.

“Okay Rose, I think you are smelling a vampire. They are still around, but normally avoid wolf packs. I think we need to head back to the castle and tell the King about what you are smelling.” He tells me.

“Okay yeah, we can do that. We will explore the waterfall another day. But what if I am wrong?” I ask.

“Do not doubt your senses. You are new to them, but always trust them!” He says as he shifts.

I climb onto his back and we turn around, heading back the way we came. As we walk back, the smell gets stronger. So Isaiah turns and walks further away from the smell and to the pack house.

As we get closer to the pack house. We can see the King and Queen sitting out back with Alpha and Luna still. So we head to the back of the house.

“How was your walk?” the King asks us.

I climb off of Isaiah, and Craig shifts back. Aliana comes out with shorts for him.

“Thought you could use these.” She says with a smile. She turns around and walks back inside.

“Well the walk was well. We were headed to the waterfall, but Rose caught the scent of something strange. Therefore, we decided to come back and discuss it with you.” Craig says while looking at me.

Everyone is now watching me.

“I smelled death and b***d. Craig told me it was the scent of vampires.” I tell them all.

The King lets out a growl and jumps to his feet.

“Get the warriors to check the perimeter, and see if they can pinpoint where the smell is coming from!” He yells out to the nearby guards.

“Yes sir,” they say and take off running.

“My King, why did you not question me and what I was smelling? I am still adjusting to my enhanced capabilities and I may not be correct.” I ask.

He smiles at me. “Because, my dear Rose, you are more special than any of us realize.” He says.