A Lycan's Return: Chapter 25

After witnessing the awe inspiring spectacle of watching the wrestling werewolf in the ring I couldn’t help but feel more certain than ever in my decision to join the ranks of his pack. I mean, come on! Who in their right frame of mind wouldn’t want to follow in the footsteps of such a powerful and agile leader? He was perfect, plain and simple. The ultimate specimen of the lycanthrope race.
He was the kind of guy who would laugh in the face of danger. The kind of wolf who would keep his calm and composure even under the most extreme pressure, no matter how badly the odds were stacked against him. He was simply flawless. Thick furred perfection. But most importantly…

He was the Alpha I was willing to go to the ends of the Earth for if it meant being allowed into his prestigious pack.

But thinking about it is one thing. Actually acting upon it is another matter entirely…

For in the time it took me to escape the clutches of the sold out crowd on their way out of the jam packed venue I had already lost sight of my target; the vast sea of eccentric fans, massive cutout signs and merchandise stalls scattered all across the entrance to the crowded warehouse having hindered my pursuit of the elusive lycanthrope as I look around the bustling carpark blindly in an attempt at spotting the signature red highlights of the black furred fighter’s hair. Only problem being, he was nowhere to be seen within the ruckus and commotion unfolding amongst the hundreds upon hundreds of fans in attendance. Well, that is if the undeniable scent leading deep into the nearby forest had anything to say about it…

*********

And indeed it did. Though despite how much I despised the lifetime of aimless trekking and cursing of the surrounding wilderness under my breath I couldn’t help but feel the alluring presence of the powerful werewolf getting stronger and stronger by the second, his empowering scent becoming more clear and attuned to my sensitive sense of smell as my lupine instincts take over in my quest to track down the mysterious thick furred fighter; digging my unsheathed claws into the soil at my feet before engaging in a full on sprint as I take to the woods like a feral wolf running on all fours, chasing down the image of my two unsuspecting prey with the thought of nothing more than confronting the influential Alpha on my mind as I all of a sudden stumble across the source of the scent originating from the muddy path ahead. That and the sight of the seemingly lost wanderers who were bickering away at each other as the blonde haired grappler lets out a sigh of despair at the extent of the pain emitting from his blistering feet. Regardless of just how much of a hardcore hiker he made himself out to be in the eyes of his amused werewolf friend…

“Well so much for taking the easy route out of town, hey Mike?” Eiji complains sarcastically before giving the confident lupine a stern looking stare, “Look, I know you said you wanted to park the tour bus somewhere secluded. But this? This is literally the middle of nowhere!” the exhausted wrestler barks out sharply as he continues to dredge hesitantly through the thick mud covering the path. “You could have at least parked it somewhere where there’s actually a road! Or, you know? Booked us in at one of those posh fancy hotels. I’m just saying…” the rather picky human says much to the humoured laugh of the bold lycanthrope leading the way as the determined young Sheriff follows hot on their heels, keeping his distance as a means of eavesdropping on their one sided argument as the jacket wearing wrestler gives his unimpressed colleague a reassuring smile.

“Hey, I’m sorry man. But you know how it is nowadays” Lycaon explains in response before placing his hand on his shoulder firmly, “After all, if we hadn’t of parked somewhere away from all of those fans we wouldn’t of been able to make it out of there alive” the broad werewolf jokes much to the disapproval of the unamused fighter as he simply retaliates at the thought.
“Oh yeah? Well I’d take drowning in an ocean of fangirls over drowning in all of this mud any day. I can tell you that now…” Eiji replies sternly before turning back to the topic at hand. “But seriously, this is just getting ridiculous” the blonde wrestler sighs out as he struggles to wade his way through the darkness of the surrounding forest, “Surely it can’t be much further now? I don’t think I can take much more of this walking…” the strained groan of exhaustion brings a smile to the face of his smug friend as the confident werewolf carries on leading the pack ahead of him. Only for the strenuous sighing and moans of discomfort to be replaced by an altogether more alarming noise as the protective lycanthrope suddenly turns around to the shrieking scream that emitted abruptly in his ears…

“Eiji?! EIJI?!” Lycaon calls out in concern as he struggles to locate his fallen compadre amongst the dark and dungy pathway, “What happened?! Are you alright?!” the alert werewolf howls out in a blind panic as he backtracks hesitantly in his quest to save his one true friend; even his sensitive lupine sight struggling to make out the faint outline of the distraught wrestler who had fallen at his feet as he shouts out aggressively in response.
“What do you think?! OF COURSE I’M NOT ALRIGHT!!!” Eiji barks out sharply before giving the concerned wolf a cold unforgiving stare…

“I got water in my new pair of shoes…”

And with that faint outcry of despair the amused wrestler can't help but laugh at the misfortune of his overly fashionable friend as he effortlessly pulls him out of the muddy puddle he found himself entrenched in, the look of disdain on the face of the traumatised human who had quite literally been left in the dark by his so-called 'friend' having told the apologetic werewolf all he needed to know as he places him gently on the softly padded grass by his side. If only he had been so kind as to guide him through the dirt in the first place, he wouldn’t have to face the wrath of the stern looking blonde staring coldly into his eyes as he looks down at himself in disgust…

“I swear to God. When I get my hands on you…” Eiji growls much to the humoured interruption of his broad muscular friend as he chuckles silently to himself under his breath.
“Oh, come on Eiji. You know you love glamping with your best buddy, admit it!” Lycaon laughs out boldly as he nudges the unimpressed grappler, almost sending him flying backwards into the huge puddle for a second round of dunking as he helps with brushing off his fortunately intact clothes. “Hey, it’s not like we’ve got much longer to go now. Look” the reassuring werewolf says firmly as he directs his attention towards the carefully parked tour bus just behind the trees before them, the pristine six-wheeler having lodged itself deep in the ocean of mud clamping it down to the ground as the two wrestlers eagerly make their over to the source of their salvation in an attempt at rescuing their only means of escaping this cursed town. That and the curious lycanthrope that watched them from the shadows as the black furred fighter looks over his shoulder intently…

For despite all of the protection and security his precious tour bus brought him, the cautious werewolf couldn’t help but feel a sense of danger alluring deep within the forest. It was as if he could actually sense the fact that he was being spied on; the cautious growl and subtle snarl escaping his maw more than confirming my initial suspicions as the makeshift human unleashes his claws out of view from the unsuspecting grappler that made his way inside their mobile motel. Closing the door on the potential engagement unfolding just outside as the protective guard dog quickly notices the leaves rustling in the bushes. And the pair of bright glowing eyes staring deep into his soul as he exposes his fangs in a threatening display…

“I’m warning you… Just back away now whilst you’ve still got the chance” Lycaon growls coldly as he confronts the intimidating figure watching him from the shadows, “I don’t care who you are. If you come anywhere near me and my friend, I won’t hesitate to kill you…” the alert lycanthrope responds to the somewhat sadistic chuckle ringing coldly in his ear as the owner of the unfamiliar laugh steps out from his hiding place with a sly smile on his face.
“Well it’s good to know the feeling’s mutual then…” the elusive spectator says cruelly before stepping slowly into the open. Revealing the polished police badge that shone brightly in the moonlight cast from the treetops as the Sheriff of Old Pines chuckles slyly at the look of confusion on the concerned werewolf’s face…

“Hey, what’s the matter Lycaon? Don’t you recognise me?” I say much to the surprise of the unnerved lupine as he merely growls in response.
“No, I guess not…” the alert lycanthrope admits hesitantly as he clenches his clawed fists tightly, “Just who are you exactly? What do you want from me?” Lycaon asks of the unamused young werewolf as I can’t help but chuckle disappointingly at his response.
“Oh, come on Mike. Don’t offend me like this” the mysterious newcomer responds sternly as I let out a strained sigh of despair under my breath; the thought of the supposedly loyal lycanthrope not being able to pick up on the scent of his previous Alpha coursing through my veins having made me question the true extent of his commitment to my Dad’s cause as I step forward hesitantly in what appeared to be a futile attempt at a peace offering. The overly protective wrestler growling sharply at the seemingly hostile approach as I raise my hands as a means of showing I meant no harm. Not that the aggressive snarling and intimidating growls made it feel anymore welcome on his end…

“Look, the name’s Woody. And no, I’m not expecting you to know who I am” I say reassuringly as I shrug my shoulders in a patronising manner, “But let’s be honest here. You’ve got something that I need, and we’re both in a position to benefit from it. So let’s get straight to the point, shall we?” I explain firmly before giving him a sharp unnerving glare. “You owe my family, so the way I see it, it’ll be in your best interests to repay the favour you promised my father all those years ago when you last saw him. After all, from what I’ve heard you two were more than just simple friends…” I say much to the confusion of the concerned looking werewolf as he growls at me sharply at the thought.

“Oh really now? And who exactly is your so-called 'father' then?” Lycaon asks somewhat hesitantly at the look of disappointment on the blatantly annoyed Sheriff’s face as I close my eyes deep in regret; the hatred I felt towards the self-centred werewolf for his oblivious arrogance towards his commitment to my dad having boiled my level of forgiveness to its tipping point as I resort to guilt trip him with a shot at his pride and precious memories of his longtime guardian and role model.
“Ohh, you know. He’s nobody special…” I growl sarcastically before staring coldly into his eyes…

“Just the man you looked up to as the father figure you never had.”

And it was at that very moment that the distraught lycanthrope suddenly found himself overwhelmed with emotion over his fond memories of the past, the reminiscent image of the grey furred werewolf bringing his heart to a stop along with the breath in his lungs as he holds his hands close to his heart where the only remembrance of his true Alpha had been laid to rest with the grief that had been drowning within his very soul. The soul of which had been lying to itself ever since he said his final farewell to his one and only protector in life…

“L… Logan… I-” Lycaon cuts himself short all of a sudden as he closes his eyes tightly in despair, “I swear, I didn’t know… I thought he was lying when he said he was… leaving forever” the distressed werewolf dwells hesitantly in the past at the memories of his last encounter with his beloved teacher; the harsh reality of the final words before his inevitable prediction having raised the question of exactly what happened following that night he left him. The night he said he was never going to return…

“Wh… What happened to him? Please, I need to know!” the determined young lycanthrope barks out desperately as he almost grabs the unsuspecting bearer of bad news out of sheer denial at the thought running through his mind; wanting nothing more than for the bloody end his protector had entailed for himself to be a mere oversight on behalf of his only father figure in life as he shakes his head in refusal at the look of despair staring back at him. Placing my hand on his shoulder as a means of comforting him through the excruciating truth as I whimper faintly under my breath.
“I’m sorry Lycaon. But he’s gone” I admit half-heartedly before hanging my head low in shame…

“Logan’s dead.”

And with those cold words, everything around the black furred fighter came to a complete and utter stop. All of those years spent training and bonding with his Alpha. All of those ups and downs endured under the protection of his one true guardian. It had all vanished in an instant; erased from memory along with the name of the saviour whose inevitable death had brought his precious student down to his knees. Collapsing to the ground in a state of denial and refusal at the agonising pain that the truth brought upon his soul as the distraught lycanthrope roars out akin to the beast that mourned the loss of its beloved Master.
The name of which had been repeated over and over again under the breath of the disheartened werewolf as he grieves over the memories that broke him down into tears of despair…

“No… NO! He can’t be! HE CAN'T BE!!!” Lycaon howls out aggressively as he pummels the ground under his fully unsheathed claws, “Why didn’t you let me save you Goddammit?! I could have protected you! YOU COULD HAVE STILL BEEN ALIVE!!!” the infuriated lupine barks out sharply at himself in sheer self-hatred of his inner emotions boiling up inside him, filling his heart with a hole devoid of all hope and happiness as he cries profusely at the realisation that he would never see his mentor ever again. A thought of which had reduced the once proud and noble werewolf to a shivering wreck of despair as he whimpers loudly to himself with his eyes shut tightly in grief and misery…

“I swear to you Master… I’ll do anything to make this right. Anything at all…” Lycaon growls somewhat sharply in determination before looking up at the previously unknown Sheriff with a new show of respect for the wolf he had promised to look after and train in the absence of my father; the likeness and similarity to his deceased role model having gave the determined werewolf a new goal in life as he swears to uphold the promise he broke all those years ago. Regardless of how much it pained him to take on the living memory of Logan under his arm as he gives me a stern yet reassuring smile in return…

“So you really do want to join my pack, don’t you?” the black furred fighter asks firmly of the eager lycanthrope awaiting his command as he merely sighs under his breath in acceptance. “Well… I guess I’ve got no other choice then” Lycaon replies firmly before slowly standing to his feet, “After all, I did promise your old man as much” the reminiscent wrestler admits much to the look of surprise and delight on the face of his new addition to the pack as I hold out my hand in offer to formally greet and thank the proud muscular lycanthrope…

That is if the meeting of the two wolves hadn't have been broken up by the eccentric blonde haired grappler as he all of a sudden bursts out of the tour bus in a blind panic at the sight of the law-enforcing policeman interacting with his precious client.

“Yo Mike! What the hell do ya think you’re doing?!” Eiji barks out sharply before quickly rushing to the lupine fighter’s side, “I thought I already told you that I’d deal with the police, alright?” the young looking wrestler says somewhat sternly before turning towards the unsuspecting Sheriff with an alluring sense of confidence radiating from his smug looking smile.
“Hey there officer. And what brings you out to these deep dark woods on a night like this?” Eiji says much to the disapproval of the agitated werewolf as his friend’s usual antics start to get on his nerves the same as always. “Look, if this is about the tour bus, I swear we can move it. I know we don’t have a permit to park here but you should jus-!”

But before the obnoxious grappler could say anything else in his defence he suddenly finds himself cut off short by the abrupt hand placed firmly over his mouth as the embarrassed lycanthrope silences him before he could humiliate himself any further in front of his new pack member, giving him a stern glare of frustration before sighing faintly under his breath as he looks back at me with a seemingly apologetic smile in response.

“I’m sorry about my friend here. He can be a bit on an idiot at times” Lycaon replies to the unamused outcry of the bold blonde he unfortunately called his manager as he shouts out sharply from the muffled grasp of the patronising werewolf in retaliation.
“Hey! Who are you calling an idiot?!” the egocentric grappler calls out loudly before abruptly being silenced once again by the stern looking werewolf as he completely ignores his loud mouthed friend with a humorous grin directed at his new found companion in return.

“As I was saying. Woody, this is Eiji Chojin. My best friend, tag team partner and current manager for the tour” Lycaon introduces the eccentric grappler accordingly as I can’t help but smile at the smug grin on the face of the cocky fighter as he raises his eyebrow slyly.
“And that’s Eiji 'The Power' Chojin to you” the overly confident wrestler replies to the amused chuckle of the humbled policeman as I accept his handshake with a sarcastic chuckle of my own.
“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t forget it” I reply with a firm grasp before proceeding to change the topic from the werewolf-to-werewolf conversation as I look back at the black furred fighter with a smile of delight.

“But enough about me. Seriously Lycaon, that was one helluva match you had back there!” I admit much to the surprise of the obviously grateful lycanthrope as I stare deep into his eyes in awe. “I mean, I’ve seen a lot of fighters in my time. But you? Ohh, you’re one of a kind. Truly the greatest I’ve ever seen” I say in wonder before chuckling somewhat humorously at the thought, “No wonder that other guy wanted to take you out of commission. Hell, he REALLY must have hated you if he tried using a steel chair like that” I joke at the extent of the unscripted violence following the wrestling werewolf’s sold out show as he simply laughs to himself in agreement.
“Well what can I say? When you’re as irresistible as I am…”

“You’re bound to make a lot of enemies.”

But just before any of us could even laugh out at the humour of the moment the friendly vibe is suddenly cut short by the rather abrupt voice that echoed coldly from the shadows as if in response; the source of the unnerving threat taking the two alert lycanthropes by surprise as we quickly turn towards the mysterious figure that stood before us in his smartly dressed suit. A look of which failed to hide the seriousness behind his unforgiving smile as he chuckles coldly under his breath…

“Ohh, that’s an understatement if ever I’ve heard one” the sinister brute replies sternly before flexing his clenched fist in an intimidating manner. “Let's just say you've made more than 'a lot' of people angry…”

“People who are willing to do anything to see The Wolf Maverick taken down once and for all…”

“Even if it means having to kill him in cold blood in front of his beloved friends and family.”