by D. M. Angel
She went to the closet as she wrapped the towel around her head after drying off and grabbed a pair of black jean cutoffs. Pulling her panties and shorts on she looked in and decided the black camisole would be good for working in. Taking the towel off, she brushed out her hair hitting the spot on her head ‘ouch!’
She stopped for a moment then carefully, felt for the lump on her head remembering what had caused it. Sighing she continued brushing out her long locks, mindful of the bump on her head she continued. Looking in the mirror she set the brush down, loosened, and styled her hair from her head with her fingers. Satisfied she turned and walked out the door and froze.
She vaguely remembered the two men from last night, now sitting at her table eating. Kyla set a fourth plate down as she sat at the table,
“Come eat, you look hungry.” As Kate moved forward slowly to sit at the place left for her, Kyla continued,
“Feeling better?”
Brought up by her military father, Kate hearing the warm commanding involuntarily responded, “Yes Ma’am, thank you.” She looked questioningly at the three sitting there and just as a question popped into her head, Kyla told her.
“Eat first we will talk later.” Kyla spoke as if reading her mind. Kate picked up her fork and scooped up some eggs put them in her mouth.
She looked down at her plate as the flavors exploded in her mouth, surprised she was so hungry, started clearing her plate. She had planned on eating when she finished late last night, when she decided on a swim first, then the wolf, then...
Kate’s halted her fork in mid-air and her head jerked up. “The wolf...There was a wolf last night. Where did it go? Did you find it? You didn’t hurt it did you!?” she rambled urgently looking from one to the other with each question landing on Jacob last.
Kyla stood and gathered the empty plates, putting them in the sink. She grabbed the coffee pot, filled everyone’s cups in the silence, and set it back down on the stove. Sitting Kyla told Kate to eat as she looked over at Derrick patiently waiting for him to lead the conversation.
Derrick lifted his cup took a drink and settled into his seat. “The wolf is fine,” He said in a deep strong voice, “I am Derrick,” laying a hand on Kyla's shoulder adoringly continued, “You met Kyla my mate,” nodding the other way, “This is Jacob; your mate.” Indicating the other man sitting at the table.
Kate looked at him in recognition from last night, taking a sip from her coffee and blushed remembering they were nude when they met. Kyla was just placing her hand over her face when what Derrick said hit Kate. Choking coffee, “WHAT!! MATE?” Kate slid her chair back. Derrick laid a hand on Jacobs shoulder to keep him from rising.
“Well, that was subtle.” Kyla said exasperated. Kyla spoke soothingly, “Hmm, I’m sorry your name is?” She looked at Kate waiting for an answer.
It remained quiet as Kate gathered her thoughts, ‘What the hell?’ “Umm, Ka… Daniella.” She caught herself, “Daniella Casey.” She looked cautiously at the three of them hoping they thought she was going to say her last name first.
All three noticed the ‘deer caught in the headlights look’ but did not show it on their faces. “Dani,…”
Kate interrupted, “Daniela.”
“Yes, thank you, Daniela,” Derrick continued cautiously, “we have a small settlement down the road from here. We live there as a group, we welcome you here to our community.”
“Umm, Thank you, and thank you for helping me last night.” She said slowly. “I, um, really appreciate all you have done, but I came up here to be alone.” She continued hurriedly, “Really appreciate all you have done for me.” She repeated nervously. “I just…..” She whispered unsure how to finish. She looked over to Jacob and noticed he was becoming agitated and seemed to; growl? In fear of the rapid change in his mood Kate stood from her chair and started to back away staring at him confused.
Jacob jumped up abruptly at her movement, his chair flying back from the force, “NO,” he growled deeply, “you are mine!” he started to step toward her.
Derrick and Kyla moved fast, so fast they were but a blur. Derrick had a hold of Jacob while Kyla stood in front of Kate, before Kate even knew what was happening. Everything happened at once, Kyla moved back putting Kate in a protective circle against the wall, while Derrick and Jacob struggled with each other. Seconds in which seemed like hours past when Derrick boomed out in a commanding voice,
“JACOB!” Jacob stopped and lowered his head. Derrick continued, “It is time for us to leave!”
Jacob nodded once angrily, turned abruptly toward the door. YankingYanking the door open roughly and flew out the door allowing it to slam against the wall.
Derrick relaxed and spoke to Kyla who sighed, as the tensionseemed to have calmedcalmed now that Jacob was gone. “I will go with him. You can handle thingsthings from here?”
Kyla walked over to Derrick leaving Kate frozen against the wall confused and pressed against the wall. “Yes, go help him. I have already called and informed the council of the situation, they are sending the women here. The men are waiting for you at the common house.” Kate watched as Derrick placed a hand on Kyla’s face and kissed her gently. Looking into each other’s eyes for a minute, he turned and left. Kyla walked over and closed the door gently, stood silently gathering her thoughts.
Kyla turned and saw Kate stunned still in shock, standing against the wall. Taking a deep breath she sighed and walked to the stove and retrieved the coffee pot,
“I hope you will listen to what we have to say, before you judge us.”
Kyla requestedrequested as she poured more coffee in their cups, removed the other cups and walked back to the sink. Kate stood speechless staring at KylaKyla, not moving, as Kyla emptied and remade another pot of coffee setting it on the stove.
Pulling together her thoughts, Kate spoke the first words that came to her,
“What did I do?”
Kyla turned slowly and looked at Kate. Motioning to the chair, she told Kate to sit down, and sat in her chair.
Kate took a tentative step forward then stood immobileimmobile looking toward the door. When she felt sure the men wouldwould not be coming back, she moved forward again sitting down slowly and hugged her coffee mug for strength. Looking at the coffee within the cup, she took a sip to clear her head. Kyla took a slow sip as well watching her for a few seconds over the rim of the cup. Both were quiet as thethe minutes ticked byby. Neither knowing who would break the silence first, enjoying their coffee, deep in thought.
Kate looked up to Kyla for answers when she could not find a coherent question within herself to ask. Something about Kyla was warm and welcoming. Her dark hair and eyes seemed to see you even if you thought you were hiding. Her face was young, yet she seemed wise beyond her years. She was not tall and slender like some prize wife, but athletically built like a runner. She seemed confident and commanding of the company around her, like an old grandmother she had. A matriarch, which is the feeling Kate got when looking at Kyla.
A wolf howled pitifully outside somewhere in the distance. Kyla tilted her head listening,stood and walked over towardtoward the cabinets.cabinets In silence, she washed out two of the dirty cups sitting in the sink, dried them and grabbed another cup setting them on the table. Kate watched her quietly move round the kitchen area, trying to mentally sort all the information she had already heard, out. Hoping to have some hint, some understanding of what was going on. Kyla moved over to the stove and laid her hand against the coffee pot, just as Kate heard someone pullingpulling up outside the cabin. Kyla nodded once as if something she had been pondering, had finally cumulated to a decision, then turned andand moved to open the door.
As Kyla held the door open, threethree women walked into the cabin.Kyla greeted them each in turn like old friends. Closing the door and following them into the main part of the cabin, turned as all four-faced Kate sitting at the table seeming lost and confused. Kyla cleared her throat gaining Kate’s attention and pointing to
the oldest, she started introductions.
“Daniela this is Emily, the eldest of us.” she spoke as she pointed to a stout elderly woman with her grey-silver hair piled up in a bun on her head. Her matching eyes wrinkled at the corners showed a smile on her face came from deep inside her soul. Turning slightly she continued pointing toward the next woman who looked about 20 years younger,
““Jasmine,” then gestured to the next woman, tall and slender but full of inner strength,
“and Leisa. Ladies this is Daniela Casey.”
All four looked at Kate and she spoke softly,
“Hello. Ummm…..What’s going on?” KateKate continued feeling as though she was still losing ground on her sanity.
Emily moved to the head of the table and spoke first.
“I am the elder in this group and therefore lead even though Kyla is our alpha,” She stated matter of factly, “she leads in all other things.”
The other two, Jasmine and Leisa,sat on either side of her reminding Kate of an inquisition squad. Emily looked into the empty cup then up at Kyla smiled then, she continued to stare at Kate as though analyzing a bug. Kyla nodded in confirmation, turned and grabbed the pot off the stove and poured the coffee for everyone in the silence, then sat next to Kate. Emily continued to starestare at Kate studying her. The next words out of Emily startled Kate and the rest of women when she asked Kate,
“What is your real name?” The women’s full attention turned to Kate, the room so quiet you could hear the birds singing outside the cabin.
Kate’s mouth opened to say Daniella Casey but closed without a response. The aura around this woman boded no lies would be accepted from her; she would tell none and expected none in return. Kate looked down at her mug compelled to tell the truth yet, for her own safety, she could not. Fear rolled around her stomach like an old friend as she tried to think of something to say. She looked up at Kyla and the other women finally resting on Emily, whose eyes waited patiently for her answer. Kyla put a reassuring hand on Kate’s arm and looked at her questioningly. Finally, lowering her eyes to stare at her fingers twisting in uncontrolled motionmotion, in a whispered tone filled with fear she said,
“Kathleen Bentley.”
Kate looked up with apologetic and fearful eyes to the stillness in the room at the faces waiting patiently for an explanation. No one said anything just sat waiting for KateKate to explain why she had changed her name; why she was hiding. Emily drank a sip of coffee watching Kate over the rim of the cup, one eyebrow raised in question when Kate’s eyes met and held hers.
“He wasn’t the man I thought I’d married, he changed; becoming more violent the longer we were together.”
She looked to all the women, praying for understanding. Hoping they would forgive her lies. No oneone showed any hint of a judgmental expressions, patience met Kate’s eyeseyes as they waited for her to continue. Kyla patted her arm soothingly, encouraging her to continue. Unable to tear her eyes from Emily as though compelled to continue, a calmness seemed to fill Kate and she continued.
“A friend from college had a brother who had died as a baby; it wasn’t hard for us to change a few things on his birth certificate and get a Social Security card to becomebecome the new me. She supported me mentally, a shoulder to lean on, hiding me for a while, helping me get through the divorce. Garret refused to let me go and fought me the whole time. He threatened her and had me followed constantly throughout the divorce. He told me I would never leave and he would always find me.” Kate pleaded for understanding. “So we planned everything, getting my ID changed, buying this place, getting a truck here and then sneaking away in a large crowd to disappear.” Kate finished looking back up hopeful at the women’s expressions.
Emily’s look had gottengotten her attention when she first spoke, she looked almost ferocious, but it softened as Kate continued explaining, to a look of concern. “You are protected here and only those in this room will know your real name, as well as the alpha and those on the council. They must know for the protection of the pack. All the women nodded in agreement, as Kyla patted Kate’s hand in support.
“There the worst is over now we can talk about your future here.” Emily continued that matter settled in her mind ending the subject.
“Umm, Emily?” Kyla started as Kate said, “What are you talking about, my future, where?”
Emily looked at Kyla with growing suspicion as Kyla confirmed, “She doesn’t know.” Emily bowed her head as the other three looked to her and Kate looked at all of them for an explanation.
Kate stood whispering, her memory of a conversation she had barely understood when she was in a semi-conscious last night came to the fore of her mind. “Pack, Mate, Alpha…Wolf” around her, everything went dark, as everything made sense, and yet did not. Kyla caught her before her head could hit the floor causing more damage.
Kyla looking up to the others surrounding her, “Well the wolf is out of the bag now.” and sighed.
3
Jacob ran in his wolf form trying to get the rage that was building inside him and the agitated impatience out of his system. Derrick followed close behind giving him space. When Jacob turned to head back to the cabin, Derrick was there to stop him. Jacob growled to get Derrick to move out of his way, but Derrick stood his ground and growled back. This was not going to go down easily; Derrick knew this as they stared each other down. Finally, Jacob hung his head in defeat. Hearing a car coming down the road he ran in that direction and howled when he realized it was the elders going to the cabin to help Kyla with Kate.
Derrick sat next to Jacob and waited until he was sure Jacob had calmed down then nudged him toward the pack. They changed into their human forms as they got closer and walked back in silence neither acknowledged the other. As they approached the grounds, there were five men waiting on them. When they met up, they all looked to their alpha and accompanied them to the pack house. Derrick closed the door after they entered and addressed the room as Jacob paced restlessly.
“Although it is taught to us what to expect, at an early age when the mating happens,” Derrick responded to questioning glances as he looked at Jacob, “it is actually different than what we think it will be, for each of us.” Derrick continued, “The need to mate is stronger in some and not as bad in others; they are the lucky ones. For Jacob, this has come on too fast; it is going to be very rough on him.” Stating this decisively, Derrick let the others know they ‘would all be needed’ in order to help Jacob get through this.
Caleb lowered his head in thought, “First I think some clothes are in order for our alpha and his second.” Snickers broke the silence and James left to get them clothes. None was modest being both men and wolves, but it would be more comfortable talking. James returned with sweat pants for the both of them and a t-shirt.
Jacob had his pants on and one arm in his shirt when the alpha asked Michael about security, “We will need to be more vigilant, so increasing security around the perimeter is required at this time.”
Jacob stopped looking a little incredulous, “I am not going to do something stupid!”
“We know that,” Michael replied, “it is just a precaution we take with every mating.” He finished a little confused at Jacob tone. “You know this.” Jacob nodded, as he finished putting his shirt on and slumped down in the chair closest to him.
Caleb continued as all but Michael sat watching Jacob curiously, “Your emotions are going to be all over the place, you’re gonna be like a small boat on very rough seas.”
“I know this,” Jacob answered as he leaned forward his elbows on his knees, “I do teach the young ones as part of my duties.”
“Knowing and experiencing are two completely different things.” Caleb admonished, “This is why we will be with you twenty-four hours a day until this reaches its conclusion.”
Mark looked up at the alpha asked, “When did this Start?”
Jacob looked at the alpha, then to Caleb and the rest of the group as he admitted,
“Twelve hours ago.” The room exploded in denials.
“Twelve Hours?”
“What the heck?”
“What is going on? That’s impossible!”
Were some of the chaotic questions and statements shouted when the alpha roared, “Enough!” taking control of the sudden chaos in the room. The room went silent.
Caleb spoke after a few minutes of silence, “I think we need Jacob to tell us what happened from the beginning.” Everyone looked to Jacob for an explanation as to why his irritability was coming on so fast and hard. They watched as he had stood and was now pacing.
Jacob stopped looked at everyone waiting for him to say something, raised his right hand to run his fingers through his hair and sighed confused himself.
“It was last night during my run.” He started, “I’d come across her swimming at the lake near the property the pack had been trying to buy. I had the smart idea of maybe trying to scare whoever had bought the place back to the city. Ummm…” Jacob stalled, “it didn’t work out that way.”
He scoffed nervously and smiled his tension needing a release. He continued to give details leaving out portions he felt ‘were not necessarily needed’ in the conversation, at this time. How he had frightened her, then fell and hit her head. The more he talked about what happened, the more he realized his mating was not the normal mating; it was moving faster than it should.
“I had not noticed at that point there was anything different. It was not until I was running back to get her help did my wolf called her my mate.” The more he talked, the more he realized what he had over looked. The intensity of the wolf’s feelings, of his feelings toward Daniela. “I was shocked of course, at the realization, but I did not think anything about it, knowing the length of time the mating usually takes.”