The fear was easy to sense in the sacrificial women even though she tried to hide it. The wolves could hear her heart patter in her chest like a young rabbit being chased down by a fox. They could smell the fear around her as it leaked off of her in tendrils like smoke. The woman was terrified, but all those that had come before her had been just as scared.
Rafe disliked the fear that came from her. It felt so wrong and unnatural for her to be afraid. He had seen her when she was happy and excited over the little discoveries she had made by the forest. He had never truly seen her afraid before this and it made him whimper slightly. Red was delicate to him and he wanted to ease her terror.
The walk was longer than Rafe remembered until they broke through the ancient trees and came to a large clearing that held their small clan. The wolves quickly circled in around her and the fire before they all began to shudder and shift back.
The change back was always such a strange experience for Rafe. He could feel his bones break and shift as the fur was pulled back into his body. The tail grew shorter and shorter until it finally disappeared. His soft eyes warped into their dark counterpart and he coughed slightly as the change was finished.
The men moved in close and began to speak quietly in both words and soft growls. This was the part that Rafe never took part in. It was an auction of some sort for the sacrificed woman. Rafe had never wanted one of the women, but as he saw Rd stand where she was looking struck with fear he wished he could step forward and accept her as his own.
The arguing stopped soon and it was obvious which man would receive her. Rafe narrowed his eyes as he looked upon the man. It was the same that gave him the scar on his shoulder. Rafe had always hated the man even before their fight.
Rafe watched as Red was taken to the small structure that served to hold the human woman until it was seen fit to bring her out to finish the ritual with the man who would have her.
"Rafe you are on guard tonight. Make sure she does not try and escape from the cage. We will have you relieved later." One of the older men of the clan informed Rafe.
Rafe took in a breath. He had never been so close to her before. He stared at where she had disappeared behind the door and felt his muscles tighten out of instinct to run. He wasn't sure what to do. He moved over to the door and stood straight while keeping his gaze forward. He could hear her breathing inside and could still smell the stench of fear from her. The scent was much less now that he had shifted into his human form but he could still detect the faint traces in the air surrounding the cage.
"You're afraid," his voice was louder than a whisper but it could easily be heard inside. Rafe didn't know why he spoke in the first place other than the strong desire he felt to ease her fear. For years he had been her silent guardian in the shadows and he had succeeded in keeping her safe. Rafe supposed that this desire to ease her pain came from so many years of protecting her.
"Do not be afraid." His voice was calm and smooth as he whispered them to her. Rafe knew it was foolish to tell her to not be afraid. There was plenty for Red to be afraid of. Her village had sacrificed her to an unknown fate. Now her fate consisted of carrying the child of one of the wolves only to live until the next sacrifice came in five years. It was terrible and Rafe wished that perhaps the ritual was death rather than bringing in another life.
"I am sorry." Rafe murmured to the night.