THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

Curtis pried his eyes open for the first time, but they shut down again, unwilling to forgo sleep. He agreed with them. He needed to sleep a little longer, and his body felt all sore all over. What had he done all through last night? He thought, his head pumping wildly against him and he thought of aspirin. He sighed. He never believed that in this inhuman life of his, that he would ever think of aspirin, a human drug, used to curb headache and its symptoms. Of course werewolves had something similar to that, but on a stronger level.

“Are you awake?” A deep voice asked him, but he didn’t respond. He laid still as his now keen senses picked up that the owner of the voice was approaching him fastly. Should he run or attack? No, he would wait. He thought it best that he should.

“You should be…” The voice stated with a sough.

Curtis was sure that the male was staring down at him this time around.

“The run must have worn him out.” The male muttered to himself.

“It’s his first run, Maru. Quit kicking around.” The male mumbled.

Curtis wondered who was Maru. Was there someone else? But he couldn’t feel the presence of another. It was just the two of them that were in the region.

And he talked about a run? What run? He thought, trying to see into his head, pass the deep headache that was assailing it.

“Curtis, you have to wake up. We have to get back to the Pack, or else Maya would be so worried, and might leave her duty post, to come find us.” The male said, more like a plea, while tapping him slightly on the shoulders.

And like that he remembered.

He remembered the events of the past night. Neither the headache nor his aching body could stop the awakening of the memories this time around.

He remembered his arguments with his father, then the shouts, then his almost death and the wolf which had saved him. He remembered his turn, and the run.

Sitting up, as he held his head, now feeling the headache subside fastly, he could swear that the voice that had been speaking sounded familiar.

“Thank God, you’re awake. We have to be going. Pick up your clothes and put them on. I will just take a small walk around, to give you space and time to assemble.” The familiar male said, before walking away.

Curtis could sense him do so. His senses have gotten sharper and keener. He could hear buzzing of insect wings, and the slight drops of the mildew, the croaking of faraway frogs and the breaking of tree barks by nature.

Lifting up his head after a while, he saw his clothes by the large tree beside him. He gingerly stood up, noticing that his body was healing up from all the sores and tiredness at a fast rate, and stalked his way to the giant oak tree.

In a fluid movement, he had his clothes on him. Now, he had to find his saviour and thank him. As an afterthought, he thought he knew who had saved him, even though he didn’t want to believe it. But then seeing is believing. He thought, as he remembered that during the run with the big black wolf, they had hunted down a buck, and had eaten to their fill. No wonder he wasn’t feeling hungry. He mused to himself.

He followed the scent of the male to a stream. He saw that the male squatted, close to the bank of the small stream, scooping water to his lips.

Naturally, he felt thirsty too, and a but disoriented.

By the body stance of the male, and his mass of black thick hair which cascaded down his shoulders, he already knew who he was.

He was his cousin, Derek.

Derek had saved him.

And he had been anything but civil to him.

Could things get any more weirder? He mused, before walking up to the bank of the stream, all the while knowing that Derek was already aware of his presence.

He squatted close to him, as he got to the banks, and scooped the fresh water with his right hand, into his mouth; sighing deeply as the liquid slide into his mouth, gushing down into his system, and causing a feeling synonymous to that of new life and rejuvenation overwhelm him. Water is life. He thought.

“Are you feeling better now?” He heard Derek ask.

“Yes. Thank you for last night.” He stated, without looking at the former.

“You’re welcome.” Derek replied, standing up from his squat position, having already drunk to his fill.

He stood by the side, watching, waiting, until his cousin had too, drunk to his fill.

And when the latter had stood up, he wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Derek understood why.

They have been hostile to each other since time immemorial, for reasons he couldn’t even fathom.

He wondered if this singular act of his would change anything.

“Why did you come after me? I was sure that there was a huge fight raging in the pack. And then, there is the fact that we don’t see eye to eye. Why did you save him?” Curtis asked suddenly, as he had walked a bit towards Derek, and now stood beside him, looking into the forest.

“Well, we are cousins, and no matter what happens, we are still family. And besides, Maya was already going crazy with worry. She couldn’t think straight. I knew she wouldn’t be able to fight well in that state, so I had volunteered to search you out, and see how you were doing, also promising her to stay and watch over you, while you turned. That had been the only way to keep your sister calm and focused on the battle. You’re one of her weakness. Although, you should know that already. So when we get to the pack, you should thank her better, not me.” Derek finished, already lifting a foot to start the small journey that would lead them to his cousin’s pack.

“I will thank my sister to the fullest when I get to the pack. But thank you too for looking out for me. I hadn’t expected it. Thank you for being family.” Curtis stated, grasping his arm tightly like an ancient warrior would greet a fellow warrior, an act of camaraderie, while looking at him intensely with eyes flushed with gratitude.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“You’re welcome Curtis.” He replied warmly, before walking off first, knowing that his cousin would be right behind him.