Chapter 28
Adam.
Adam led them into the woods and prompted them to remove their clothes. He lifted his own shirt over his head. He glanced over at Ella, who hesitated. Adam lifted an eyebrow.
“You okay?” he asked, walking over to her half-naked.
“I’m just a little nervous, I guess,” she answered. “I didn’t expect this moment to come so early.”
Adam’s face softened, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You know pups here participate in their first hunt by their first birthday. The twins should have done this ages ago.”
Ella’s head fell in shame.
Realizing what his words meant to her, Adam quickly lifted her chin. “I didn’t mean to insinuate that it’s your fault they haven’t had this experience yet. You are a wonderful mother and you’ve done what you thought best for Aaron and Emme.”
He looked deeply into her eyes, ensuring she knew his words were true. Ella nodded, and Adam lowered his hands.
“You can change your mind if you want to. We can just play instead if you’re uncomfortable with this.”
Ella shook her head. “No, you’re right. They need this.”
She took a deep breath before stepping back and pulling her shirt off. Adam grinned and took the rest of his clothes off. Aaron and Emme hopped up and down eagerly.
“Remember, communication and relying on your natural senses are the keys to a successful hunt,” Adam told them.
Their bright eyes stared back up at him as they nodded in understanding. Adam shifted first, setting the example for everyone to do the same. His black fur sprouted and his legs shortened, sending him careening forward. He caught himself on strong front paws. His green eyes sparkled as the transition ended.
Aaron shifted into a near-carbon copy of his father while Emme looked almost exactly like Ella did when she was a pup. As Alpha-born pups, they were larger than most wolves their age, but still small enough that taking down the usual prey - a deer - would be hard, and likely discouraging for the twins. Adam and Ella had discussed beforehand that they would find something smaller - perhaps a fawn, a pheasant, or one of the many hares found within the woods.
Adam let out a small yip, asking if everyone was ready. They nodded, and he turned around, bounding off into the woods. Aaron and Emme flanked him on either side, ready to follow his lead.
He slowed as he sniffed out the perfect prey for two little pups. It was a Flemish Giant rabbit, scavenging for something to eat. Seemed like this would be its last meal. Adam turned to Aaron and Emme, communicating the target and the goal. Aaron yipped excitedly, but then covered his face in his paws when he was shushed.
Luckily, there was no wind that day, so surrounding the hare would be a breeze. Adam and Ella flanked the rabbit, making sure to be in a position to turn the hare toward the twins if it tried to turn and run. The twins remained low to the earth as they crept up on their prey. Coming around a bush, Aaron grinned as he saw the large rabbit. It was easily 13 pounds, if not more. Surely its size would slow it down.
The bunny's ears perked up as it sensed danger closing in. Its nose twitched and then its eyes widened in fear. It darted off quicker than Aaron thought possible. The furry evader dashed to the right, away from Aaron, as his paws passed through the empty air where it had just been. Emme was ready though, and she lunged at the hare, sinking her teeth into its hind leg.
It only stayed there briefly, though. The rabbit yanked its leg from her grasp, a pool of blood falling to the grassy ground. It limped away, much slower now, but still fast enough that the twins had to chase after it.
They lost sight of the rabbit, but easily sniffed out its scent - freshly wounded, its red blood glistened on the green grass, bright and pungent. They wound through the trees, forgetting completely about the parents they had left behind. Following their noses, Aaron and Emme quickly caught up to the rabbit as it tried its best to speed away, trying to lose them in the dense brush. Emme spotted it first, flitting through the underbrush, a flash of white and brown fur catching the sun’s rays through the leaves.
Aaron swerved wide, picking up speed to get around it. He bounded until he had passed the hare. Turning to cut off its retreat, he stood firmly in front of it and bared his teeth at the hare with a growl. Frightened further, the rabbit turned back towards Emme, who trapped it under her powerful paws.
It struggled to break free, but with a quick bite to its neck, severing the jugular, Emme finished the kill. Aaron hopped over happily. Their first hunt was a success!
Aaron was about to tear a chunk out of the rabbit when Ella stopped him with a sharp growl. Aaron had forgotten to defer to the Alpha. Emme bowed her head and backed away as Adam came over to assess their kill.
He praised their good work. The twins pounced on the large rabbit as soon as Adam backed away, nodding his head to signal they could eat.
Adam walked over to sit next to Ella, his eyes gleaming with pride, and they watched their kids tear the rabbit apart with their powerful canines. Ella snuggled into the side of Adam's soft coat, glad he had talked her into allowing Aaron and Emme to do their first hunt. She was pleased their first-ever hunt went so well. The kids were natural hunters. Ella wished she had let them hunt sooner, but at the same time, she was glad Adam got to share in this moment.
Adam welcomed Ella's touch, nuzzling her back. He smiled as she continued to nuzzle into him. Adam leaned his head on Ella's, giving her a small lick. As the children continued feasting, Adam and Ella enjoyed each other’s warmth and company, completely living in the moment. Ella closed her eyes, relaxing into the strength and comfort of Adam’s body.
When the twins' stomachs were filled, they wandered back over to their parents, happily and lazily snuggling up to them. The four of them lay down together, resting in the warm afternoon.