Jericho (The Strong Pack)

by Crystal Dawn

  It started getting dark but it seemed too early. It wasn’t long before sounds of distant thunder and flashes of lightening presented themselves. I looked around but there was no place to take shelter. I continued on hoping something would show itself. There were no hills or mountains to find a ledge or a cave on so I looked down hoping for a hole or a hollow log. One good thing about the storm was all the critters went to hide in their shelters. I saw a place where the vines were thick. It would be better than no shelter at all. When I went to check it out I found a family of raccoons nested there. While I could kill them, I would feel bad about the young ones and the mother was the biggest one I had ever seen. She was also the meanest and I didn’t need an injury. I decided to leave well enough alone and continue my search.

  The rain started falling more like a mist at first. I desperately looked for a place where I could stay warm and dry. Should I go faster and cover more ground even though I might miss something or go slower even though I might not find anything at all? The faster the rain fell, the faster I moved. Soon the rain was pelting my fur and I was at a dead run. I realized deep inside that it wasn’t smart to go so fast but the rain was hitting me hard and driving me faster. I don’t know what tripped me but I went flying through the air or at least it seemed that way to me. When I hit the ground I continued to roll several feet. When I came to a stop, I stared right into a hole in the ground. Not a sinkhole but a hole that had been burrowed out by some creature. I took a deep breath but it seemed whatever had dug the hole was no longer there. One of my legs was hurt in my fall so I limped into the hole. The remains of a nest gave me a soft place to lie and I detected the barely there scent of an animal I didn’t recognize. I relaxed and curled into myself for warmth as I drifted off to sleep.

  My dreams were chaotic which was no surprise. I had spent days in my wolven form. I wasn’t even sure how many days. I felt truly in touch with my wild side but anxious to get back to civilization so I could shed it and be human once more. I feared becoming wholly primitive and losing touch with my tamer side. Jericho had called it feral when he spoke of wolves that had lost all their humanity. Just one more fear I now had. My human half was too frail to survive in these woods and I could not let it free. I wondered once more as I often had, what was Jericho doing and how close was he to finding me?

  *****

  Jericho

  Today I ran across a native wolf pack. I wished that I could speak with them to ask them had they seen my mate. I felt closer to her than I had been since we had started this search. Was I truly near her or was it the wishful thinking of an aching heart? I found an old hollow log and signs that a branch had been dragged around it. Could I hope it had been my T.J. or would hope kill me when it died? I could almost imagine the faint scent of my mate drifting out from inside the log. I guess it showed how crazy I was becoming. I looked around me not sure which way to head. Rain was coming and it wouldn’t be long. I could smell the fresh, clean scent of it on the wind. It was late afternoon but once the rain came there would be no scent, no tracks to follow. Not that I had found either since the day she was taken. All the wolves out looking for her made it hard to believe she had gone undiscovered.

  The rain started lightly as a mist but would soon pick up until it came down in driving sheets. I turned back the way I had come and ran back to the access road I had parked my truck on. I would pick up my search tomorrow. I had made it five miles in from the road. I would move fast the first five miles then slow down once I hit unchecked territory. My heart ached with the pain of separation. I could feel her deep in my soul. She wasn’t far but without knowing what direction to go, she was unreachable. I prayed to the moon goddess hoping she would send me a sign or point me in the right direction somehow. I never prayed so that was an indication of how hopeless I was becoming. I hopped into my truck and headed back to the bar. I showered and got in the bed. The bed that still smelled like my beloved mate.

  I slept well enough but dreams chased each other through my mind throughout the night. I woke with the knowledge that I would indeed find my mate today. I checked my phone for messages and found my father had texted me. He had gotten approval from the council to forcibly remove Seymour and his wolves from anywhere in our territory. He had immediately done so. My well loved mate was out there in the forest fleeing from abductors who were no longer there. I could imagine her dirty, hungry, and scared hiding in a ditch or behind a tree. I could admit I was proud that she had escaped and evaded recapture but now my fear for her very survival peaked within me. Ten days had passed and she was without food or water. My alpha father insisted that her instincts would kick in and I fervently hoped that they would but what if…

  I hurried to shower and dress. I went downstairs to eat a large breakfast feeling guilty that I had slept in a soft bed and was now eating good food. I was sure she was barely surviving at best. I would know, wouldn’t I if she were gone? I rushed to my truck and drove way too fast to the spot I had parked yesterday. The forest smelled clean now that it had been washed by the rain. Drops of water hung on the leaves of trees and dripped from vines as my passing dislodged them. The ground was wet but spongy from the decaying leaves that littered the forest floor. Animals ran and hid as soon as they saw me go by. I ran all out until I made it to the hollow log that I had checked out previously. I slowed to a lope and then to a trot as I continued on deeper into the woods. I was hoping, praying that I was going the right way.

  I scented them before I saw them. It was the pack of wolves I had seen yesterday. They seemed to have their prey cornered. Only the alpha stood in front of his pack ready to claim whatever creature hid before him. A familiar scent came to my nose. T.J., my mate is close. Was she there or simply hiding nearby? I hurried toward them knowing I might have to take on the whole pack. Wild wolves were unpredictable so I had no way of knowing how they would react. I was near now and members of the pack that I passed stepped back to let me by. Among wild wolves there was only one alpha. It looked like the rest were going to step back and let me fight it out with him.

  I suspected they were reacting to the waves of power that rolled off me telling them that if they made a challenge they best be prepared to die. I was close enough now that I could see it was my mate trapped in a hole in the ground with the wild alpha wolf waiting for her to come out. I don’t think he intended to hurt her at least not in any serious way. He only planned to inflict the mating pains that sometimes could get out of hand with a feral creature. Had I not been looking for her and almost given up hope, I might have found the situation funny. I certainly hoped some day we would look back on this occasion and share a laugh. I stepped closer and the alpha growled at me as he watched me intently. He wanted her and wasn’t letting her go easily. I was larger as werewolves tended to be and I had power in me he could not hope to match but I felt sorry for the poor lovesick wolf.

  Not only was he about to lose his chosen mate, but he was going to force me to kick his ass before he would relinquish her. I growled back at him in a menacing manner. I let my eyes glow as only werewolves can. Every part of my body strained with barely held aggression waiting on his next move. The fur on my neck stood straight up making me look even larger and alpha power poured through my veins and vibrated through me. He was tough, I’ll give him that. The rest of his pack backed off further as if fearful they might get embroiled in this disagreement. I stepped closer to see if he would back off but he refused. I moved like lightening trying to get ahold of his throat to put a quick end to this but he jumped back and evaded me.

  I pursued quickly jumping on his back and digging in my claws. I didn’t want to hurt this magnificent creature but I had no choice. He howled in pain and tried to fling me off his back. I had done serious damage so I dropped off to the ground. I had hoped he would retreat gracefully but he was stubborn and intent on the prize. He had no hope of winning yet he chose to battle on. We circled looking for weak points and gauging strengths. From the corner of my eye I saw that T.J.
had left her wooden prison and now sat on the sidelines with the others watching the fight. We exchanged bites, scratches, and rolled end over end delivering bruises but he guarded his throat well and I couldn’t reach it. We circled, snarled , growled, and in the end it was time, patience, and my endurance that won the day. He was tired, I could tell.

  I lunged and rolled noting that his reflexes were much slower than they had been at the beginning of the fight. I moved back as if I intended to get some distance in order to rest. He let down his guard wanting a short break too. I ran at him with super speed faster than he could ever have anticipated. I barreled into his side knocking him down, pounding the air out of his lungs, and momentarily stunning him. It was a brilliant move if I do say so myself and gave me the advantage long enough to get my jaws wrapped around his neck. It was all over and he was beaten. He pulled himself up once I let him go and walked off with his head held high. He was still the legendary warrior, beaten but never truly defeated. His pack looked at me then back at him. They turned as one and trotted after him as if they had been on a casual run through the woods.

  Chapter 5

  Back to Basics

  I turned and morphed to human as I ran to hold my love in my arms. I needed to convince myself that she was real and that this whole event hadn’t been conjured up by a mind unwilling to let go. We hugged, each anxious to hold the other as close as we possibly could. She finally whispered with a voice hoarse from being unused, “It really is you.” Once said, she promptly passed out. Once again I was terrified. I hoped she was just fatigued by the hardships of living as a wolf and overwhelmed by her rescue. I was still unwilling to chance it and I picked her up in my arms and ran like a horde of demons chased me. I finally got to my truck and placed her in the seat. I had to take a calming breath before I could drive since my heart was trying to beat its way out of my chest and my breath came in ragged gasps. I wasn’t winded, I was panic stricken. I drove like a madman and made it to the bar which was the headquarters for our effort to find her. I rushed inside and my father met me by the door.

  His presence was instantly soothing as all alphas could be. “She’ll be fine.” He assured me after giving her the once over. I hoped and prayed to the moon goddess that he was right. “The doctor’s on his way.” He told me which calmed me further. The pack doctor was an older wolf. He was fourth in the hierarchy not including the alpha and he was quite a fighter. It was unusual for someone who was a doctor and the pack scholar to also be a capable warrior. He thought himself a bit of a comedian or at least it appeared to be the way he saw himself. He often said and did things that was reminiscent of earlier times which was not surprising as he had lived through many. It was true of many of the older wolves. Their speech was riddled with sayings and terms from times long gone. While I waited for him, I took T.J. to her bathroom where I cleaned her in the shower as best I could. I put her in one of her sleep shirts and put her to bed. I got in next to her and held her in my arms.

  The next thing I knew was the doctor shaking me awake. “Looks like you’ve had a rough time of it too. You look like the ass end of hard times.” The doctor chuckled at his own colorful description of my condition. I had to admit I had not been keeping up with shaving, eating, or anything else that wouldn’t help me find my mate. The doctor began to look her over and my father and his second wanted me to recount all I knew of her condition based on the circumstances I had found her in. I knew she wouldn’t appreciate my sharing the story but not only did the doctor need the information, my alpha had just issued a direct command.

  “Yesterday when I searched for her I came across a pack of natural wolves. I thought I could almost smell her lingering scent. Today when I searched for her, they were there again. Only this time they surrounded her and the alpha had her trapped in a hole that I think she had slept in. I didn’t think they hunted her for food.” The doctor nodded. He had a knowing look on his face.

  “It is a rare thing but not unheard of for a werewolf to go so feral, so deep into their wolf form that the natural wolf mistakes them for one of their own kind. Since she is alpha too, he probably intended to claim her as his mate. It is remarkable.” I could see the wheels turning in his mind as the scholar in him took note of the unusual occurrence.

  My father commented too. “The farmers have been saying that the forestry service has released wolves north of here. They must have migrated south and settled down. I guess I will have to eat some crow. I didn’t believe them. Actual proof beyond sightings and signs has not been shown, not even a picture. I told that old farmer that lives down the road, Jonston, that I’d sooner believe he saw a UFO. He didn’t crack a smile but at least he didn’t get mad. He only told me I’d see them soon enough if their numbers climbed.”

  His second added to the conversation. “It’s not your fault the forestry service denies that they released them. They don’t want to have complaints filed and they fear it will draw hunters in search of glory. They did say that even though they didn’t release them if they were harmed they would pursue charges against the transgressors. They didn’t deny their existence only their part in their presence in this area.”

  “They work for the government. What do you expect, full disclosure?” I said with a snort. Everyone knew the government was full of half truths and downright lies. I turned my attention to my mate. Her eyes fluttered as if she struggled to open them. They remained closed.

  The doctor said, “She is fatigued and dehydrated. It is not severe enough to use an IV, but push her to drink as much water or the fortified drinks our warriors use as she will take. Once she feels a little better I want to follow up at the clinic.” I shot him a panicked look. “She is fine. I just want to be thorough. Both you and she need to get plenty of rest. Take good care of your mate, she is a valuable member of our pack.” The situation must have thrown the doctor off his usual comedic routine. He was being reserved and professional. It was a rare thing for him.

  He left us first then everyone else made their way out to leave me alone with my weary mate. I wasn’t really tired but I didn’t want to leave her side. I changed into something more comfortable and got in bed beside her. I held her close just thankful that she was back with me. I sent thanks to the goddess of the moon and also to the earth goddess that had nourished her. I just held her and kissed her. I must have dozed off finally because it was morning when I woke.

  T.J. woke with me and we were able to take a shower and I helped her get really clean. I wanted her, but I held back because of her weakened condition. I helped her downstairs where I fixed her breakfast and nagged her to drink a lot of fluids. I know she got a little annoyed at me but I was concerned about her recovery. The bar would open soon and everything would be like normal, just like nothing had happened. No one had been captured and nothing had changed except the council directive to T.J.’s ex boyfriend, Seymour, to leave her alone.

  A few days passed quietly and T.J. recovered quickly. We spent time talking and enjoying each other’s company until I felt certain she was recovered enough for love making. I wish I could have let myself loose then but I held back so I could be gentle and careful with her treating her as if she was made of the most delicate glass. She had been harmed and treated roughly so I wished to make up for that as much as I could. I kissed her as I stroked her gently. Every move I made was slow and measured. My heart raced with desire and hers beat with it. I was filled with the scent of her desire which ate at my control. She still wanted me even though my world had ill used her. My spirit soared with delight.

  I sucked her lower lip into my mouth. She moaned a low sweet sound. I slid my tongue between her lips as they slid open allowing me in. I explored her mouth tasting her sweet flavor much like honey. My tongue invaded every recess eagerly rediscovering every hidden corner within. She clung to me weak with need making soft noises of encouragement. I stepped back to undress hoping she would do the same. She did as quickly and eagerly as I did. Now we were on equal ground, both naked
and needy. We rushed into each others arms ready to find the love and release we ached for desperately. I picked her up carrying her to the bed. It was time to resume lovemaking and build new memories that would supplant the recent ones of terror and possible loss that clung to us even now.

  I placed her in the middle of the bed and slid in next to her. Such a beautiful body and it was all mine to do so many naughty things with. What would I do first? I smiled to myself as my mind whirred with possibilities. It was my intention to make her scream with delight. I lifted the leg nearest me and began using my hands and my mouth to drive my mate wild. She immediately started to squirm. She writhed with pleasure and laughed when some of my touches tickled her. I watched her face for her reactions and had never seen a lovelier female and I knew I never would. As she dissolved into a fit of giggles I touched her more firmly. Ah, yes. Now she writhed but it wasn’t because it tickled. I moved up her leg until I almost touched her glorious pussy. I knew my hot breath rushed over it and her eyes closed enjoying the contact and her body released a wave of moisture that I could scent. I let out another wave of heated breath and once I detected another wave of moisture, I moved on to her other leg to repeat my actions.