by Crystal Dawn
I hoped he was right because hunters could do so much damage in a wolf pack.
No news of the hunters came that day, but the next day a young one that Ari said he hadn’t known was part of their group was caught by the forest ranger Paul, that Ari had told about them. The young man had been found guarding a camp the hunters had set up. Paul would set up surveillance on the camp hoping the hunters wouldn’t know it had been discovered.
The young hunter was brought to the pack house for questioning. If Paul kept him, too many would know and the questioning would be much tamer than what Edward had in mind. I shuddered to think about what that might entail but I forced myself to think about what they were doing to my pack. They had nearly killed a young one and were trying to kill whoever they might find even after being warned that they were trespassing. They had malice in their hearts and I wondered if they suspected they were dealing with werewolves. It wouldn’t surprise me if they did and didn’t care that the life they took was partly human. The wolves they said they were after were protected and endangered and they didn’t care about that either.
Edward came to find Ari hours later. He looked tired and disappointed so I suspected the boy either refused to speak or knew nothing valuable or worthwhile. I felt for Edward even though he gave the impression of being aloof and cold. His job required him to keep his feelings tightly under control and I thought having few emotions would make the job easier still. I think he felt more than anyone else saw, he just hid it well. He put the safety of his pack above everything, even his soul that must cry out against some of the things he was forced to do. Everyone sent him those cruel and horrible jobs thinking he didn’t mind while I believed he had hardened himself to the point that his heartache simply didn’t show. He might even be the most sensitive of them all. It was even possible that he refused to mate because his burden was too horrific to share with someone he cared about. He might even feel that love would fade in the face of what he had to do daily. Such a sad and lonely existence and no one, not even Ari, seemed to realize his suffering.
Maybe that was part of the role of female alpha, to help soothe those agonized souls. The question was how did you comfort someone who refused to acknowledge they needed it? How did you befriend someone who kept a shield of ice around their heart and refused entry to all? No one could be so at ease with the tasks Edward was forced to do so often. No one that was good could go on with what he did and not need someone to reassure and calm his troubled spirit. How had he made it all this time alone? I would have to try to befriend him in whatever way I could.
The hunt for the hunter’s, ironic yes, went on until finally one of the leaders was caught. Once again Edward was called upon to do his best or worst depending on how you looked at it. He wasn’t gone as long this time making me wonder if he’d been harder or easier on the young man they’d captured first. I tried not to think about it. These hunters had chosen their path but I was certain they hadn’t realized torture and possibly death would be the wages they would receive for what they had done. The wolf world was harsher than the one I’d been raised in and they were from my old world not this one.
This new world was both wondrous and deadly, the emotions harder, sharper and life both more valuable and worth less. It depended on the life and right now that of the captives had little value to the wolves they had hunted. Two more hunters roamed free, unless they had brought in more like the young man languishing in a cell. Edward whispered to Ari, clearly whatever he’d found out wasn’t for the whole pack to know. We were sitting in the private dining room, but the table was full and servers ran in and out.
Ari nodded at me and left my half empty plate to follow him to his office. Jasper and two others followed as well. We went into his office and he shut the door. He and Edward had a serious look on their faces which made all of us keep quiet and wait for what must be bad news. Ari nodded at Edward, he would inform all of us of this news.
“The hunters are being recruited by pure blooders. I think they hope to decimate us as punishment for the recent white wolf mating’s. Paul is sending out an alert to hunter organizations telling them that there is not a pack of wolves here and that hunting of any kind in this area will be dealt with harshly. It should help, but in and of itself, it will not solve the problem. These hunters we have are part of a large group and more will follow them if we don’t find some way to dissuade them.” Edward drew in a deep breath after he finished talking.
A large well publicized death with a hunter victim as well might do it. “If we said the young one died and the hunter was shot and killed by the boy’s father, it might discourage others from coming. Armed locals ready to kill any trespassers would even scare avid hunters.” I said.
“What do we do with the boy and the hunter?” Ari asked suddenly interested in my line of reasoning.
“The young one isn’t a problem. Make up an identity and say he’s a minor so information can’t be given. Even a crazy reporter won’t leak information on a minor. The hunter, well I’m sure you won’t let him go anyway. I don’t know your intentions with him.” I felt bad about the hunter’s fate, really I did, but the fate of my new pack was paramount.
“We wouldn’t harm them. Witches can spell them and make them forget or give them entirely new memories.” Ari explained.
That sounded better to me than killing anyone, but it left the problem of what to do with the hunter. I listened as they discussed my suggestion since I was all out of ideas now. They talked, argued and tried to work around every possibility. They finally decided to check out the man’s background before deciding.
The meeting came to an end until Jasper’s hunters found the information needed to make an informed decision. We killed some time but we were summoned back quickly. Jasper’s researcher was one hell of a fast study. The information was presented and a decision made. The hunter in charge had no immediate family and he gave his all to his passion which was killing. It was hard to feel sympathy for the man when all he did was destroy life. They wouldn’t kill him, it seems they rarely did that and only in extreme cases. He would be remade into a new person. The witches spell would bring to the fore his best qualities, whatever they might be. His hunter’s instincts would be hidden deep beneath the spell. He would be relocated far from where he once lived and get a new life. Maybe it would be a better life than the old one and he would find love and acceptance in it.
A local witch was summoned who was younger than the one that had searched for T.J. when she had been lost in the woods several months back. Her name was Tanisha and she was not only beautiful on the outside, but lovely on the inside. We instantly became friends and I was glad I had met her. Her skin was flawless and the darkest of browns. Her hair was long, curly and black as a raven’s wing. Her lips were full and pouty the way male’s like. Her eyes, those were her most incredible feature. They were a greenish gold that I had never seen the like of. The wolves were restless when they saw her.
“Don’t mind them, they’re just horny old wolves.” I said.
We laughed together over the way males were. “Seriously, wolves fear witches. They say it’s only cautious watchfulness but if I said boo, they’d all run.” She shared conspiratorially.
“I’d heard magic made them suspicious, but was it really that bad?” These big tough wolves were scared of a little witch? Ha, ha! It was hilarious.
“Girl you’ve no idea.” She said with her hands on her hips nodding enthusiastically.
“Too bad. I wanted to set you up with a wolf.” I admitted.
“Ha! Find one brave enough to go out with a witch.”
“Challenge accepted!”
“Naw, I didn’t mean…”
“Too late. You’re as good as set up.”
Ari had gathered his wolves and he didn’t act as leery of Tanisha, nor did Jericho. That told me wolves could learn to control their inner witch hater. Magic was an amazing thing, but it was to be respected not hated and feared.
The hun
ter had been brought to us to get bewitched, or at least that was how I saw it. He was a tall man at well over six feet. He was broad and in decent shape. Ari said he was only in his mid-thirties, although he looked over forty. He had a touch of gray hair at his temples that made you think he was wise, but we knew he wasn’t. He was scared, I saw it in his wild eyes and my wolf smelled it coming off him in waves.
He tried to fight when his eyes fell on Tanisha. She whispered a spell and he became docile as a lamb. She continued to speak and it sounded like a humming more than individual words. The hunter started to glow, not brightly, just a dull glow. The wolves jumped away from him as if a deadly disease spread by touch had suddenly consumed him. Even Ari and Jericho stepped back slowly which was probably prudent so they wouldn’t get in the way. I’d admit I was fascinated and wondered if I could learn magic like this.
A breeze blew around the room and magic swirled like a mini cyclone in the middle of it. Flashes of light were centered there and the scent of a thunderstorm hit my nose. I hadn’t expected such a sophisticated and showy spell. It ended with a loud bang that made most of the wolves jump and then the hunter seemed to wake as if from sleep.
“Where am I?” He asked confused.
Jasper led him out of the room explaining as they went. The other wolves left and it was just Tanisha and me. She had explained to all of us that whatever the hunter was told upon waking is what he would believe.
“That was very different from what I expected.” I admitted.
“The wolves expect something like that or they don’t think I’ve done my job.” Tanisha said with a giggle. I had to laugh too.
“I can’t believe you do all that for show.”
She winked at me. “I do that and sometimes more. I guess I’d better go its getting dark.”
“Come back and visit soon.”
“I’ll give you a call.”
She hurried out to her car and was out of sight in moments.
I had to hurry, they were waiting for me. It was the day after the hunter had been dealt with and now we all felt like we could get on with our lives. I had set this up over the last few days and I was unbelievably excited.
“But why do we have to go to the pack house to see it?” T.J. asked irritably. I had used the excuse of looking at samples for her new house. They were moved in but hadn’t done all the finishing work. Everyone knew how that would work out. It was rare anything got finished once you moved in.
I held the door open for her and we entered the pack house. The living room was full of male wolves which was unusual this time of day. It was when we hit the dining room that T.J. finally saw why we were here. The table was covered with food and a gigantic three tier cake that would rival most wedding cakes. It was white and baby blue with a little boy and his dog on top. The words announced it was a baby boy to the world. Balloons were everywhere and the floor was covered with festive packages most in many shades of blue, but some red and yellow was thrown in too. A streamer along on wall designated the party as a baby shower.
T.J. took a look and burst into tears. Everyone looked at me as if they thought I had a magic cure for her baby blues. I took Joe from her and handed him to the nearest she wolf who immediately started fussing over him. Other she wolves crowded around her and T.J. was temporarily forgotten. I pulled her over to the seat at the head of the table that had been left empty for her and sat in the one next to it.
“Those better be happy tears.” I growled.
“They are. I can’t believe you guys did all of this for Joe. He’s got so many good people in his life it just overwhelms me.”
“It’s okay sis.” I stood up and announced, “Let’s eat everyone and T.J. can open presents after we cut the cake.” I was amazed when everyone did what I’d instructed. Everyone was eating and the baby was being passed around so all got a turn to hold him and everyone had their chance to eat. He was giggling and enjoying himself a lot.
I watched T.J. like a hawk and as I had put on my list, I had sent her a teenage helper and ordered groceries and necessities for her. It was almost like she and Jericho had forgot how to think and take care of the basic necessities for themselves since they had taken Joe home. I wondered if that happened to everyone when they had a newborn. I had been going by once a day to put on some food, either in the oven or the crockpot that the Treva, the teenager that helped them out, would serve and put up the leftovers. They could eat at the pack house, but they had developed a hermit mentality and neither seemed to want to leave. It had been difficult to convince T.J. to accompany me here today.
Now that we were here, she seemed to be having a nice time with the other females. I would make her leave the house more, for her own good. I fixed her plate putting all her favorite foods on it. I had to make sure she ate because even though she had some appetite, a nursing mother needed to eat more than usual. I set the plate in front of her and she just picked at it.
“Eat so you can make my nephew something good to eat.” I commanded. She ate because she knew I was right. I ate quickly so I could claim Joe since he had made the rounds by now. Sandy went to cut the cake giving T.J. the top part with the little figurines so she could keep them. I saw tears in her eyes again but she blinked them back.
Once everyone had cake and T.J.’s piece was eaten, the gifts were brought to her. Mine was first, I had found a handmade baby quilt. It was lovely with little squares covered with baby animals. It was in numerous pastel colors but no pink or blue. It had a small quilted pillow case with it. Everyone oohed and awed over it and I was glad that she liked it as much as I had hoped she would. By the time we were through with the gifts, Joe had a large collection of toys and T.J. had everything she needed for the nursery including the paint and a couple of volunteers. It was being painted while we were here but she didn’t know that. While I didn’t care for surprises personally, I loved giving them. What can I say? I’m a complicated girl!
“How will we get all this in his room?” T.J. wondered out loud.
“I’m not sure if you will,” I replied looking at the pile of baby things. “That’s what the extra bedroom comes in handy for. Put it there until you find a place for it.”
I was just happy she was interested in something and bouncing back a little from her baby blues. I went to get a couple young wolves to move all the gifts to their spare room. T.J. made signs that she wanted to go home, but I made her stay at least for a little while longer. I wanted to be sure the painting was done. She thought I disapproved of her keeping to herself since Joe was born which was also true. She agreed to stay a little longer. Some of the females had to go but several, including Sandy, stayed and we had a lot of fun talking and joking around. When T.J. and little Joe both drifted off, I knew it was time to take them home.
We headed back slower and more carefully. I carried little Joe and his favorite new toy while T.J. carried the cake toppers and a few of the decorations that she’d really liked.
The smell of paint hit us at the door. It was really strong, much stronger than I’d expected but I’d never smelled fresh paint as a wolf before. We went in and looked at it and the room looked perfect, it just smelled too strong to stay in long. I opened both windows and we closed the door to the rest of the house. I wondered how long the room would be unusable. I called Jericho and he said it would be fine by tomorrow and that wolves went through this whenever they painted a room or a house.
I felt relieved that I hadn’t made it to where they couldn’t stay in their home. I settled T.J. in so she could take a nap. Jericho was busy playing with Joe so I put on something for supper and left. I worried that I would react to having a baby the way that T.J. had and I decided I would discuss it with Ari. I headed back home and looked for him. He was in his office doing paperwork.
“Come in Sherona.” He said when he looked up and saw me. “What’s wrong?” It seemed he knew me too well.
“I’m worried about T.J., she never wants to leave the house and she’s always ti
red.” Ari smiled which kinda annoyed me.
“It will pass in a week or two. We have the protective instincts of our animal sides. They are just guarding the pup until he’s less vulnerable and they feel more comfortable. She wolves have this instinct to different degrees. You might not have it at all, but T.J. has it the strongest I’ve ever seen. Does this help you to understand?”
“It’s normal for a wolf and it will only last a little while longer? Yes I can live with that. I was getting so worried about her. Is the tiredness she’s feeling usual too?”
“That sounds like a human thing. Being a wolf can be a wonderful experience, but one of the down sides is that while you have benefits from each, you also have weaknesses from each.”
Ari escorted me to the dining room for supper and I thought about what he had said. It made sense that there would be some consequences from a change that gave you so much. Everything couldn’t be all wine and roses. Things had settled down since the trouble with the hunter’s but it seemed the pack was always alert.
Chapter 9
Here’s hoping
The hunters had been dealt with as well as we could. There was a possibility of more but the plan Sherona had come up with had been good. It had been the best anyone had managed to think up. Maybe it was because of her time in the human world. Thinking like a human could benefit us when we dealt with humans. I’m not sure if it was a sixth sense, a gut feeling, or just a logical reasoning, but I knew we weren’t free of our troubles just yet. I couldn’t begin to guess what form the next problem would take, only that it was on the horizon. I hoped it would just happen so I could deal with it before Sherona and I had our mating ceremony.
It was a small thing to ask for, so I hoped the goddess would grant me this one boon. I wasn’t asking to be exempt from the troubles coming, only let them come now and not later. I didn’t want anything to ruin the special day for my mate. Hope was a funny thing after all. It could make you stronger or the loss of it could steal your strength. I was caught somewhere in the middle, I had hope but only a small amount. Sometimes it seemed we lesser beings were just toys in the hands of the greater ones. If my mate was in danger from this threat I sensed, I was likely to shred whoever brought the danger to her.