Hearts Unleashed: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by C. D. Gorri

  The moment Echo, Smoke, and Largo escorted Cadie up to the hill where the rest of the pack was waiting a hush fell over all of them, even the youngest and most rambunctious paused stock still to look at her.

  She was so gorgeous many of them wanted to give her the nickname, ‘Angel Wolf’.

  She had a proud full tail, her fur was luxuriant and shone in the moonlight like quicksilver. As the Alpha, Echo introduced her to the pack, and reiterated her status as the female Alpha.

  Cadie’s wolf was treated affectionately by the pack, in particular the males. At first everything was copacetic, and then, without warning, it became apparent that something had occurred.

  Echo silently communicated with Smoke and Largo, announcing,

  “Arcadia is in Estrus, guys. Stay close!”

  Cadie could hear his pronouncement also, though she had no idea what Echo was referring to. There hadn’t been enough time to explain everything before that moment, and above all other concerns Echo didn’t want Cadie to have to go through any kind of commotion.

  When a female Alpha is in heat all the available males who are old enough to breed are alerted through her pheromones. As Echo well knew, he couldn’t stop them from becoming aroused by her current state.

  The other problem was knowing that it was going to get worse. Wolves traditionally mate in the open and often male members of the pack will attempt to hone in on the action, attracted beyond their capacity to resist by the pheromones released by the Alpha female.

  Fortunately, at least in Echo, Smoke, and Largo’s minds, there were three of them, and while the call of their wolves made mating with their Alpha female mate imperative, they were determined to keep it orderly, with two of them keeping control of the pack while one of them mounted Cadie to fulfill the biological imperative demanded by their nature.

  Cadie, though she hadn’t expected any of it that particular night, was a trooper. She was still sorting out the difference between human society and the society of wolves. She discovered that her wolf form was much more matter-of-fact when it came to mating.

  After all, the atmosphere was celebratory. It had been too long since pups were born to increase the pack, and with this immediate onset of Estrus.

  Only occasionally did one of the Winterborn’s wolves need to snap or growl at their fellow pack members to keep them at bay.

  As it turned out it was a very productive pack meeting.

  *.*.*.*

  One gathering of the pack soon afterward was called to say farewell to Cisco and his fated mate Kibu. It was a tradition in which a pack member leaving with the blessings of the acting Alpha wolf was wished good luck and Godspeed by the entire former pack. It took the form of much nuzzling and affectionate play among the wolves with the departing member, followed by howling at their moment of departure, and then throughout the night.

  It was bittersweet. On one hand, Echo was glad for Cisco. The quietest of the Winterborn brotherhood, he had waited a very long time to find his fated mate.

  Since all three of his brothers had found their fated mate in Arcadia, he had been the odd wolf out. Echo, Smoke and Largo realized that this was the only way that Cisco could procreate and increase his line. It was an added bonus that they would always have both family ties and loyalties between them, and, with any luck at all, Cisco might be able to find unclaimed territory not too far away.

  The National Park consisted of over 265 thousand acres. It was rumored that if a wolfpack wasn’t too greedy, they might find some unclaimed territory within it. Of course, they could count on the best areas for breeding and hunting already taken, but turf wars were a normal thing and territories often changed proprietary ownership through skirmishes between packs.

  Long into the night the Winterborn pack communicated with Cisco and Kibu, their howls of goodbye echoing through the valleys and canyons, never fading until dawn came.

  Chapter Fourteen: The Passage of Time

  It was an early spring that year. By then, Cadie had found a buyer for the family offices on the East Coast and no longer had to travel back and forth. This was a good thing because Echo, Smoke, and Largo had all agreed that she should never travel alone without at least one of them acting as her bodyguard.

  It was a true sacrifice on their part, because as it turned out Wolfshifters do not travel well apart from journeying on land. Even in human form their wolves tended to need the airsick bags on takeoff and landing—not only unenjoyable for them but for their traveling companion Arcadia.

  That part of Arcadia’s loose ends tied up at last, it was time to concentrate on the next big upcoming event.

  Her wolf had predictably gotten pregnant, and her wolf was ready to give birth. This event would require a certain amount of time spent in her wolf form, tending to her newborn pups and being waited on hand and foot by pack members, who would be responsible for hunting and providing fresh kills for her to eat as she nursed her young.

  Explaining to the Winterborn human staff that they were going away on hiatus for a few weeks, they made arrangement for the lodge to keep going like clockwork, doubling up on security and relinquishing their human activities for a time.

  They had allowed seven weeks after the birth of the four pups that Arcadia’s wolf gave birth to, for the pups to be slowly weaned. At three weeks the pups’ teeth began coming in and they were able to eat some of the fresh kill that the servant wolves brought to her den.

  During that time, as spring lengthened into late spring and then summer, there was never a single moment when she didn’t have at least two of her fated mates with her. Three of the wolf pups bore an uncanny resemblance in coloring and even the timbre of their howl to Echo, Smoke, and Largo.

  The fourth was a wild card of a shaggy pup, though personality wise it seemed to have Smoke’s sunny and playful disposition.

  They wouldn’t be shifting for the first time until 8 weeks old. All of the Winterborn pack enjoyed watching their antics as they learned to walk, play, and eventually mimic wolf behavior destined to assure their future survival. The wolf pup most resembling Echo was given the name Silver, the one that resembled Smoke was named Singer because of his melodious howl, the one resembling Largo, the one with the darkest fur, had been named Midnight.

  The youngest and smallest would be called Totem.

  Cadie enjoyed her confinement with her pups with a sense of wonderment and awe. Her wolf was very nurturing and patient with the pups and the sense of mutual joy that she shared with her three mates was continuous and fulfilling.

  She became so used to existing in wolf form that she almost forgot how to be human, but when it was time to return to their lives at the Winterborn Cascades and she at last shifted for the first time back into human form both she, and her Winterborn mates were in for a shock.

  It was obvious that she had also become pregnant in human form before her departure to go into the wild to produce the pack offspring. A quick check with the Winterborn Staff Physician estimated her pregnancy to be heading into the second trimester.

  An ultrasound confirmed that she was carrying a girl, and the fetus looked perfectly normal.

  “What were you afraid of?” Echo asked her after the test results came back, “Did you expect to see that the baby had a maw and a tail? My darling Cadie, I think I—I think all of us actually, told you that it would be fine!”

  “Yes, you did, and I should have believed you, but this is overwhelming on top of overwhelming,” she confessed to him, “I miss being in wolf form and I miss the pups.

  How soon will it be before they transition?”

  Smoke came up to her as she sat with her hands resting lightly on her belly and kissed her on the brow gently to reassure her.

  “You know that the pups had to be weaned and are being protected and cared for around the clock. You will always be recognized by them as their mother, Cadie. But it isn’t the same as giving birth while in human Shift.

  When you see your sons next, they will be in their earl
y teenage years as humans. Having been Wolfborn they will always prefer taking the form of Timberwolves.

  By the time fall comes they will be adults, Cadie. Right now they are exploring and learning from other pack adults and hunting for the first time. It will not be any time at all before they make their own first kills. Always a landmark moment in the lives of any young wolf.

  I was hoping this wouldn’t be an issue yet, but because I sense you are missing them and also missing letting your inner wolf emerge, I will arrange for you to have some time with them soon, I promise.

  But I need to warn you about something…”

  Cadie sat up looking immediately animated.

  “What is it?” She asked.

  Echo turned to Largo, “Largo, I think you might be able to explain Wolf Motherhood better than I ever could—mind having a go at it?”

  Largo laughed lightly.

  “So Cadie, motherhood for Wolves is not the same as it is for humans, or even Wolfshifter Mothers,” he told her, “It is much briefer because they grow up before you can so much as blink.

  They will love with you, bond with you, and be your wolf sons. But even as we speak, they are becoming their own wolves. They are currently big enough to howl at the moon with the rest of the Winterborn pack.

  Since you gave birth to them, your status in the pack has risen. You have increased our number from inside the pack, and all of us are grateful. They are progressing quickly into strong warriors, and we will need strong warriors in the future, as we must always be prepared to defend our turf.

  But for all intents and purposes, you must let them go. I have heard the expression used for human babies that parenthood is just “One long letting go…”

  The baby you are carrying in human form is the one you will have more Mommy time with. Remember that if you feel a little wistful over the pups. Right now, they are rocketing into their future as warriors.

  …All of us are grateful to you for having them and being willing to turn your life inside out to be with us!”

  Chapter Fifteen: War Among Wolves

  It was finally the summer season, and the hunting was easy.

  It was a banner year for abundant populations of large game like moose and deer, and smaller prey like rabbits and mice were practically running up to them, begging to be eaten.

  Cadie’s wolf had given birth to four pups who were now nearly grown and all of them had learned to be proficient hunters. So much so that they often were sent to forage for the older, weaker members of the pack. Echo, Smoke, and Largo were proud of them, and delighted in watching them mature and learn the ways of the pack.

  The rumors were coming in from several sources that challengers for the Winterborn territories were coming in. Some were being discussed in forums that H.O.W.L. uploaded on their private link to the Wolfweb, a global consortium for Wolfshifters.

  Another warning came through more primitive means—the age-old telegraph systems of howls that were heard and transmitted from mountain region to mountain region, the message repeated and passed on from Wolf Pack to Wolf Pack.

  Just like the game of gossip in the human world, often the message would arrive garbled or be partially lost in the process, but it was used prominently in areas where Wi-Fi was spotty or unavailable.

  The gist of the Wolfen messages seemed to be that a fairly recently formed pack was moving from East to West, making territorial challenges along the way, led by an Alpha with cunning and experience that showed no mercy and took no prisoners.

  That information, together with the internet intelligence the Winterborns were able to gather, convinced them that their greatest fears were coming to fruition…

  Their old nemesis Scar was coming, and this time he was no lone wolf. This time he was coming with his own army of offspring and stragglers like himself that had decided to join his ever-growing pack. His pack was rumored to be larger than any pack in the Colorado Rockies, estimates of their numbers running to 30 members and more.

  Nevertheless, the Winterborns were confident that, especially since they had added new members recently, and because their line was physically bigger and more powerful than other pack family lines, they could take on any challengers and defeat them.

  Unfortunately, they were wrong.

  “If war comes, I will fight,” Arcadia declared in front of the entire pack at the next Moonlight Pack meeting, “And we will defeat the usurpers, as we always have!”

  Echo’s wolf felt unsettled, as did Smoke’s wolf, and Largo’s wolf. Their first instinct was to hide Arcadia and their pups away from the conflict, keeping them safe in case the enemy numbers turned out to be too large.

  But that was not the Timberwolf tradition. The tradition called on all members of the pack to attack the enemy and defend their territory, all including females and every male member old enough to leave the den.

  They were shifters, but if their wolf died, so did their human selves. They were nevertheless bound to follow the Wolfen Creed of their Species:

  We are Masters of both Winter and of Wind

  Fearsome Hunters, Loyal Kin

  Pledged to bring our enemies to their ruin

  And sing our praises to Mother Moon

  The day the Winterborn pack knew Scar and his pack were coming, echoes of their impending descent filled the valleys and mountains of Colorado through the Wolfen Telegraph system.

  Echo’s Alpha wolf was anxious, even with Arcadia’s Platinum Alpha female at his side, his brothers and Beta wolf Smoke and Gamma wolf Largo and the nearly grown warriors that Cadie had birthed, Silver, Singer, Midnight, and Totem.

  He was concerned at the reported sheer numbers of Scar’s Pack that had reached his ears through H.O.W.L—even with their superior strength, their territories might still be in jeopardy.

  When the full moon rose and Scar’s army arrived at last, he was astounded by their numbers as they gathered to face the Winterborn pack on opposite ends of Cobweb Hill.

  Even Scar seemed to have bulked up since the last time Echo had seen him. As the two Alphas left the line of their packs that stood snapping and growling across the space between them, the Alphas trotted toward the middle of the expanse for acknowledgement and last words before the battle began.

  Scar shot Echo’s wolf a confident look.

  “We meet again, and under much difference circumstances,” Scar said in a haughty tone, “And I want you to know that this battle might be avoided, if only you would make the right and reasonable decision, though I know Winterborns are not known for being reasonable…

  …I don’t really need or want your territory; I was rather aiming for the territories belonging to the Blufang Clan further West. But there is only one thing I will accept to leave your territory and pack alone, only one bequest I make of you in order to avoid bloodshed…”

  “And what would that be, Scar?” Echo wanted to know. Behind him he could hear the deep timbre of the collective growls of his pack members, now on full danger alert and ready to rumble.

  “I would take your mate Arcadia. My pack and I live by our own rules, and refuse to bide by those of the High Council of Wolves. I would have her as my trophy, proving the superiority of my pack.”

  Echo felt the blood surging more quickly through his wolf veins as he snapped back,

  “Absolutely not! She is MY MATE! She belongs with us, not YOU!”

  “Oh, I would not want her as a mate. I happen to already have one. I would establish her as my Omega WHORE. I know you are aware we heed no ancient statutes! I do as I please!

  So, what say you, Winterborn?”

  “I say THIS!” Echo growled, propelled forward by his fury.

  And that began the battle of wolves that would eventually become the stuff of Rocky Mountain Legend.

  The massive bodies of the two Alphas collided in midair as they engaged, each aiming for the others most vulnerable places on their fearsomely muscular torsos.

  All around them the other members of their resp
ective packs likewise engaged, and the air of the alpine mountainside was ringing with their deep growls, snarls and sharp high yelps as fangs sank into flesh. One after another met their demise defending their pack.

  As preoccupied as he was with countering Scar’s charges, Echo was shocked and elated to see Cisco and his pack of twelve emerge over the crest of the nearby Western ridge. Their fur ruffled by the breeze and their stance indicating that they had come to battle Scar also and were anxious to join the fray.

  The death match between Echo and Scar continued, each one attempting to get the upper hand. What Scar lacked in bulk and strength he made up in speed, and it was all that Echo could do to avoid Scar’s dagger-like fangs as he snapped and roared, trying to find purchase and cause fatal damage to Echo.

  Finally, after one lunge for Scar’s throat, Echo found that he and Scar were belly to belly and rolling down an embankment, turning over and over. Instinct took over and what happened next seemed to happen in slow motion.

  One full roll and Echo thrust himself closer up on Scar’s torso.

  With a second full roll, he gained inches toward his objective, with his wolf still engaged belly to belly with Scar’s Wolf.

  By the third full rotation as they tumbled downward, he managed to thrust forward and position himself strategically so that he could plunge his fangs deeply into Scar’s skull, breaking through and killing the marauding Alpha.

  As their entwined bodies hit the bottom of the hillside, Echo jumped back, the taste of Scar’s blood in his mouth and his maw wet with the crimson liquid issuing from the other wolf. Scar’s body lay motionless in the grass, not even twitching.

  Echo’s wolf threw back its head, howling in triumph. What was left of Scar’s pack tried to flee, their Alpha having been killed. The only two remaining lowered their heads in submission, begging to be taken in by the Winterborn pack.