by Crystal Dawn
I stayed back so she wouldn’t blame me if it got away. I swear some days no matter what I did it was wrong. She leaped at the bunny who ran right between her legs and straight at me. I side stepped allowing the frightened little thing to get away. The look she shot me let me know this would come back to bite me later.
We continued deeper into the woods. I loved it here where all the scents of nature and the clean air mixed. I could scent the soil, rich with nutrients that fed the plants which were in turn eaten by the herbivores like the bunny, which in turn served as food for me and my kind. I could smell the trees, several kinds that offered shelter for all animals as they needed it. The different bushes, grasses, flowers and other plants like the moss and the mushrooms all added a scent to the mix.
I had dropped back to enjoy what was my wolf’s favorite place. The soft moist soil under my paws, the bushes and trees rubbing me as I passed and the sounds of the animals, prey and predator, filled my wolf’s soul with peace and contentment. But I wondered, where the hell had my mate taken off to? I shook my head as I thought about how she kept wandering off. I took a deep breath separating the scents until I honed in on hers. I panicked just for a second when I scented blood, but it wasn’t hers.
I trotted to where I determined she was to find her munching on a bunny snack. I wondered if she would feel guilty later. Right now she looked at me with triumph in her eyes. I decided I liked the look, it was sexy. Blood covered her muzzle but it would wash off. I waited until she was done eating and then I led her to a stream that ran through the woods. She looked in the water and saw her wolf for the first time. I could see she was fascinated with herself. It had to be weird to say the least, to suddenly see yourself as something you weren’t born to be.
She finally took a drink and shook her nose in the water to clean off the blood. She scrunched up her wet nose and shook it again sending water my way. I examined her face closely for signs that it had been anything but accidental. Her look was almost too innocent but I decided to overlook it this once. I turned away from her and I was once again hit with water. I turned back to her and she took off running. I took off after her running over the trail, jumping over fallen trees and slowly gaining ground. She was surprisingly fast for a newly turned wolf that was also a small female. Her shorter legs should have made her easy to catch and I did eventually catch her. It just wasn’t as fast as expected.
We’d been gone from the pack house some time now and the shadows were lengthening. It was time to go home, but my mate wasn’t ready. She ran from me again in the opposite direction we needed to head to go home. My Sherona was a handful and I would have teach her to listen to me. The wolf thing was new to her and she didn’t understand the dangers like I did. I would have to discuss with her our enemies from other packs, hunters and even other animal predators like the odd bear, coyote and even the unusual wolf that wasn’t a were.
I lifted my head and took a deep breath so I would go in the direction of my mate but a strange scent came to me. Hunters, more than one and they wouldn’t know Sherona wasn’t just a wolf and even if they did, they might not care. I heard the report of a rifle and my heart froze with fear. I took off running without a thought except for my mate’s safety. I tried to scent her but this close the gunpowder scent of a muzzle loader drowned out everything.
This was pack lands and no one had the right to hunt here. I morphed and hurried to find the hunters who were trespassing so close to our home. I stepped into a clearing where I saw three men all with with muzzleloaders and dressed in camo gear. The one that stepped out toward me was a big bastard. I scented him carefully but he was fully human.
“What are you gentlemen doing here?” I asked calmly hiding my near panic.
“We’ve been told wolves were sighted near here and came to have a look see. I know farmers don’t like them so we thought we’d help you out.” He said with a smile.
“If there are any wolves here, they are protected by the forestry service.” I replied.
“That may be but don’t you want them gone?” He asked with a knowing look.
“No, I don’t. If they are around here, they certainly don’t bother anything. They don’t make the loud sounds hunters do and they don’t leave trash laying around.” I said as I noticed paper and bottles lying on the ground near them.
“We pack out everything we carry in. We’d really like to hunt here if you’ll let us.” He said trying to look friendly.
“Sorry this is a no hunting zone. Maybe you missed the purple paint and the signs that say no hunting?”
“I haven’t seen any purple paint and no signs near here.” He said with a straight face.
“We’ll have to correct that. I’ll have my guys out here checking for signs and putting up paint. Anyone caught hunting out here usually gets a trip to town from the police, but since you didn’t know any better I’ll give you a warning.”
“Obliged. We’ll just get off your place then.” He gestured to his buddies who started packing things up.
I turned and walked away even though I wanted to watch them to make sure they left. I had a mate to find and I was pissed enough to spank her. I knew it was because of the scare I had gotten, but it didn’t calm me. I found her waiting on the path to the pack house in human form. She was subdued so she must have found out about the hunters too. I walked past her and she followed me almost running to keep up.
I saw Jasper as I entered and I told him about what had happened. I wasn’t sure how they had avoided our guards, but if it happened again there was a good chance someone would die. A head or a heart shot in the right spot would kill us just like a human. I hadn’t recognized any of the hunters so it was possible they weren’t local. Most locals knew to stay off our land anyway. It made me wonder if they had been sent here to decimate our numbers.
Chapter 8
Hunters
I had felt the worst fear and I knew it was my wolf’s primitive fear of hunters when I had heard that gunshot. I worried that it might be Ari even though I was sure he was behind me and the shot had gone off ahead and to the right. I understood when he came back to me that the anger was generated from fear since I had felt that same fear down to my paws. He was worried too because something was wrong when a piece of property marked against trespass and hunting was filled with hunters.
He told me there were three and it agreed with what I had scented. Three hunters could do a great deal of damage in what was basically a preserve. That it preserved the two formed werewolves was beside the point. As we reached our home, I knew he would be taking action to prevent the hunters from being found on our land again. He stopped and talked to Jasper and the little I overheard was about what had just happened. He finished and grabbed my arm leading me to his office.
He immediately got on the phone and put it on speaker. He put a finger over his lips in the universal don’t talk sign. I was quiet as the person he called answered and they began to talk.
“Paul.”
“Alpha it’s an honor. Is something going on?”
“It’s sad that you think I would only call for trouble, but understandable and correct. We found three hunters using muzzleloaders on pack property.”
“Did they say why they felt justified in crossing clearly marked property?”
“Yes, they said they’d heard we had a wolf problem. They were willing to help rid us of the pests and thought we’d be grateful.”
“Who sent them?”
“I suspect the pure blooders.”
“Is this because of Jericho’s mate?”
“That or mine.”
“You’re mated? Another white wolf?”
“Yes.” He whispered as he looked at me with love blazing in his eyes for all to see.
“You lucky old dog!”
“Yes yes I am.” Ari replied with obvious amusement.
“How about finding one of them for me?”
“Talk to T.J., she’s a bit of a matchmaker.”
“I
might just do that. Getting back to the hunters, I will let all the rangers know to look out for them and have a couple of the guys make rounds near the pack lands. If we catch them, they won’t be back for years.”
“I can always count on you.” Ari praised.
“You bet you can.” Paul agreed. “You come by and see me sometime and bring that new mate so I can meet her.”
“I’ll do that, and Paul?”
“Yup?”
“Be careful, those are dangerous men.”
“Will do. You just take care of the new alpha bitch.”
“I will.” Ari said as his eyes swung my way. Maybe he thought I’d be offended but T.J. had explained some things to me because she feared Ari would be too busy. She’d been right.
“So I see being called an alpha bitch didn’t surprise you.” He said raising his eyebrow in a questioning manner.
“T.J.” I explained.
“I’ll have to thank her for explaining things to you. I’ve been a bad mate, I’ll have to do better.”
“Who was that on the phone?”
“He’s pack and he’s in charge of the Ranger’s office. He doesn’t come here often because it’s best if no one suspects he’s a wolf and a member of our pack.”
It seemed the pack had people hid everywhere in positions that would help afford them safety and security. It helped that many wolves lived to be hundreds or possibly thousands of years old. You learned to hide in plain sight and to put your people where they did the most good. Several of the businesses in town, most of them probably, were pack owned and operated. Now that she could smell the difference between human and various types of supernatural, she had realized most of the key people in town were wolf. Some had to avoid the pack because of their positions and that had to be hard for a social animal. Others like political office holders, could visit as often as they liked under the guise of trying to gain votes.
“I have a list of calls I have to make. I’d like you to wait, but I’ll understand if you find it too boring.” Ari requested.
Too boring? She’d get to find out about all the hidden wolves and she needed to know. It was part of her position and she intended to give it all she had. “I’ll stay and learn.”
Ari smiled his approval and it was very nice to have. She felt their bond tighten and it sent waves of warmth through her. She was completely in love with her mate and the love just continued to grow. Her appreciation of his quiet strength had expanded when she feared she’d lose him. It had given her a reality check she had needed but hadn’t wanted. Her willingness to accept her fate had finally kicked in at the possibility of losing the gift she was being given.
Maybe it was the stubbornness alphas described as being a big factor in the personalities of all white wolves. I was undeniably stubborn and so was T.J. but if a poor male ever tried to claim Adeline, watch out. Ari and Jer had lucked out by getting the easiest of the family to deal with. I sat quietly listening more carefully at some times than others. He was going through a list of police leaders and politicians. He was weaving a web of important local officials that would help protect the pack from this outside threat. It was clear this wasn’t the first time and I doubted it would be the last time he had to take these measures.
As female alpha, I would be his back up and his support system. I could do this and he would see how much help I could be. I saw the lines on his face showing how tired he was. I would take over the calls, but I didn’t really know these people yet. I felt so bad for Ari, he was tired and needed rest to fully recover but there was no rest for the alpha.
I jerked awake feeling startled but it was Ari’s hand on my shoulder that had shook me awake. I felt guilty slipping into sleep when I knew he was so tired. He held out his hand and I took it allowing him to help me up. He was so considerate and protective of me I felt guilty because since he had recovered, he seemed to be the one doing everything for me. I felt the need to do something for him or why would he want me? I knew I had some self worth issues. It wasn’t just the mess with her father, but I had been engaged once and he had forced a decision between him and my career.
He wasn’t even a wolf, or at least I didn’t think he was, but he had the male making the decisions for the poor little female down just like many of them did. Ari was different, he wasn’t threatened by my independence or my desire to have a career of some kind. He’d proven he could compromise, at least a little bit and allow me some latitude when it came to what we would do with our life. He held my hand and led me to our room. I wanted to make glorious love to him but I saw the signs that he was too tired. We stripped out of our clothes and fell into bed together. Ari wrapped his arms and his body around me and he was asleep in a moment.
I lay awake thinking entirely too much and feeling a need for my mate that I had to repress so he could rest. I tried to sleep, but failed to so I carefully slid from his arms and dressed for a walk. I went outside where I slowly walked about in the moonlight. In the distance a lonesome wolf howled, either a natural one or one disobeying his alpha’s orders. I had no way to tell and I hoped nothing bad would come of it. I turned back to the house and made my way in, down the hall to my room and back to bed with my mate.
I slipped into bed and wrapped myself around my sleeping mate. He moved closer to me seemingly without waking. I was now able to fall into a deep sleep from which I didn’t wake for hours. When I did, it was to an obvious catastrophe of some kind. There was no other reason that they would ring my mate’s phone. Ari clearly felt the same way as he leaped out of bed to grab the phone so he could check the message.
“A young wolf has been shot at the edge of our lands.” He explained.
“I heard a howl last night, I should have sent someone after the wolf but I thought or hoped it was a natural one.” I said feeling ill over my oversight.
“If you heard a howl, others heard it too and did nothing.” He meant to ease my guilt but it didn’t work.
“Others aren’t in charge of the care of each and every wolf here. Is he dead?” I asked holding my breath.
“Not dead, but seriously injured. I don’t know how it will go for him. He was found quickly and they used your sweating treatment since he wasn’t healing properly. Hurry and dress so you can come with me.” Ari said as he waited.
I dressed hurriedly hoping the young wolf would be okay but feeling the need to try to help if I could. There was guilt, but there was also a sense of responsibility as well as the value of life especially for one that young. Once I was ready we headed to medical. I had a love/hate relationship with the place. I hated being here, but loved that being here had saved my mate and I hoped it would save another who was now in need.
As we entered I saw a couple and suspected they were his parents. Grief and guilt battled for room on their expressions. The mother had stopped trying to be brave if she had ever shown less than the complete breakdown she now showed. The father was trying to hold it together and support his wife but he was having a hard time too. I guessed that meant the news wasn’t good. I saw the doctor heading toward the waiting room and assumed he was coming for the parents but I was wrong.
“Thank the goddess you’re here. You have to come and see what you can do for him.” He said as he drug me along with him.
Ari followed as we went to the young wolf’s room and stood next to the bed looking at a teenager. His color was gray, an unnatural waxy color that bespoke of illness. His lips were a pasty color that made me think his blood poisoned much as Ari’s had been and it hadn’t all gotten out. I wasn’t sure that he would survive but I remembered something I had read in Aunt Daisy’s book.
“In old times the wolf healers cleansed the blood like a transfusion. They found the strongest blood they could get to purify the patient’s blood. It’s too late to sweat out the poison, it has to be cancelled out.”
“You, you’re the only one that has any real magic in your blood. Sit.” The doctor said as he pushed me into a nearby seat. He left the roo
m and came back moments later with a bag and a needle. I hated needles and I hated to give blood but this man/child needed me and even that might not be enough. I had to try or I would never forgive myself. I felt a sick feeling in my stomach as the needle sunk into my vein. At least the doctor did a good job, I only felt the pinch as it entered but it continued to sting as my blood filled the bag.
He hooked the other end up to the young one but didn’t drain the tainted blood. He had a lot of faith in the strength of my blood. The nurse brought me OJ to drink as my blood flowed into the bag and drained into the patient. It wasn’t long before a slight improvement was visible. I hoped he would get better soon since I didn’t know how much blood the doctor would take if he didn’t. I was in luck because there seemed to be slow but steady improvement and the doctor finally came and removed the IV from my wrist. I shivered with relief. It really made my stomach roll to have that thing in my arm.
“His name is Thomas Johnson and he is his parents’ only pup. It’s a good thing you did today, my Sherona. A sacrifice that I will not forget nor will they.” Ari whispered into my hair as he leaned in and pulled me to my feet.
“It was something anyone who could would do.” I insisted.
“We both know that isn’t true. People often fail to act when they should.”
I didn’t answer, that might be true of some people but most of the people I knew would save someone if they could, at least I thought they would. The fact that it looked like Thomas would be alright, made me feel much better. If something seemed wrong to me, like the howl of a wolf last night had, I would never fail to take action on it again.
“So what now?” I asked wondering what would happen to the hunters that had shot the youngster.
“The sheriff will find them. He will tell them that they shot a teenager and not a wolf. The shooter will be charged with whatever he comes up with while the other two will be arrested for trespassing. Unless they are mercenaries, which I don’t think they are, that should discourage them from coming back.” Ari answered knowing exactly what I was asking.