Alpha

by D. M. Turner

  The new moon rose over the horizon, chased by a rising sun. The heaviness of it weighed on Ian’s soul, but the wolf forced it back and kept it from completely overtaking his mind and heart. Brett had been right to suggest spending the day in the mountains in wolf form. It made the darkness more bearable.

  Partway to the backpack, a fleeting scent crossed Ian’s nose. He froze and flared his nostrils to capture it. It was gone. Maybe he’d imagined it. He tested the wind and turned into it. No, something was out there, watching them. Werewolf. Female.

  Brett waited beside him, head cocked in confusion.

  Ian closed the distance between them and a stand of trees. If a wolf had passed that way, he could pick up the scent from the ground. Before he reached it, a dark brown she-wolf stepped from the underbrush. The gangly, long legs and small, gaunt form marked her as young. A child. No threat to a full-grown male, particularly one his size.

  Where there was a youngster, there were bound to be adults though. He raised his head and tested the wind for more scents. Nothing. Had she wandered away from her family? Worse, had she been Turned and retreated to the mountains alone to survive? If so, it had to have been very recent. She appeared stable. Too much time in wolf form would’ve left her maddened.

  She approached with her head high, ears pricked forward, and a gleeful gleam in orange eyes. If she felt any trepidation at approaching a strange adult werewolf, much less two, neither her body language nor her scent gave it away. She flicked a glance at Brett then locked her gaze on Ian.

  Bold little thing. If he’d been human, he would’ve smiled in amusement. As it was, he could only watch to see what she did next.

  Large, floppy paws stopped a couple of feet away. She cocked her head without lowering her gaze, as though puzzled by his lack of action. When he remained where he was, she closed the remaining distance, reaching up to sniff noses with him. Her scent matched the one he’d detected moments before she’d appeared. Her coat carried the scents of others. She definitely wasn’t alone or abandoned.

  She licked his muzzle, nuzzled his chin, and whipped around to head back into the forest.

  Odd creature.

  At the edge of the underbrush, just before she disappeared into it, she halted and glanced back. With a flick of one ear, she invited him to follow.

  More curious than he probably should be, Ian trotted after her, leaving Brett to accompany them, or not, as he was inclined. His friend grumbled but soon fell into step at his shoulder.

  She made her way deeper into the mountains, breaking free of the forest in a small clearing a couple of miles from where they’d met her. Ian halted at the edge of the forest, watching her greet another large, gray male with cub-like enthusiasm and submission. Her father?

  The big gray greeted her then lifted his head to study Ian and Brett.

  Brett whined softly and bumped Ian gently with his shoulder. Probably wanting to turn and run while they still could.

  Should they stay or go? Had she led them into an ambush? Or was it something else entirely?

  Before Ian could decide, the young she-wolf dashed across the clearing, bowed playfully in front of him, and raced back to the other male. She flashed a canine grin over her shoulder at Ian, her tail waving low and slow.

  If she was leading them into a trap, she was really good at it. Everything about her behavior screamed “friendly” and “playful”, but the intense scrutiny of the big gray male held Ian back. He met the yellow gaze and waited to see what the other male would do. Though the gray wasn’t as large as Ian, he could feel the power around him even from that distance. Definitely a dominant male. The air of authority reminded Ian of a couple of the Army generals he’d known. The kind of men who led by example and earned the respect of those who served under them, rather than using force and fear.

  There had to be others. The young female wasn’t his only companion. Ian broke free of the gray’s gaze and lifted his nose to scent the wind, searching for the other scents he’d detected on the she-wolf’s coat. A couple of them were close, and closing in, he’d guess by the fact their scents grew stronger with each moment that passed.

  Still, the gray made no aggressive moves. The female continued to watch with a friendly, happy expression. She was either very good at lying with her body language and eye contact, or there was no threat.

  Ian stepped into the clearing, despite a growling complaint from Brett, and slowly closed the distance between himself and the other male. He kept his body relaxed, his ears soft, and his gaze slightly averted, so there’d be no miscommunication of intent. He didn’t want a fight.

  When only a few feet remained, Brett bumped Ian’s hip with a shoulder and grumbled. Ian glanced around to see what his friend wanted and froze. Several wolves had stepped into the clearing and surrounded them. Five in all, not counting the gray and the young female. Great. If there was a fight, the two of them weren’t likely to come out on top. Not with that many wolves on the other side. What had he gotten them into?

  One of the males from the circle, a slate gray with flashy white markings, stepped closer and lowered his head, the look in his eyes hard and hostile as he stared at Ian. A growl rumbled up from his chest. A quick assessment suggested pride and arrogance rather than strength and skill were all he had behind his bluster.

  Ian snarled, baring his teeth. The big gray might or might not want a fight, but Ian wasn’t about to stand there and let a strange male threaten him, regardless of the odds. He and Brett would go down fighting the whole group before they surrendered to intimidation, particularly from a wolf of inferior size and strength. Inferior intelligence, too, apparently. Only an idiot would threaten a strange male he knew nothing about without need. Ian had killed his share of such idiots over the past century.

  A deep growl from the big gray leader stilled the approaching enemy. He backed up a step. His gaze returned to Ian, but he made no move forward. He might resent being stopped, but he’d at least heeded the command from the larger wolf.

  At least he’s not a total idiot. Ian dismissed him and turned back to the leader, making sure not to meet those yellow eyes.

  The big gray studied him for a moment then turned and walked away.

  The young female returned to Ian, nuzzled the side of his head with a soft whine, and followed her leader.

  Ian fell in behind them, trusting Brett to keep an eye on the others on their flanks.

  Brett followed along, grumbling softly under his breath, much to Ian’s amusement.

  A mile or so later, a house came into view. A cabin more than a house really, though not small. Probably five or six rooms.

  The gray leader trotted in the open front door, and the young she-wolf stopped on the threshold to glance back.

  Ian kept moving forward, so she entered. He paused just outside the door. Was he out of his mind? Brett probably thought so. Then again, if the big gray intended harm, wouldn’t he have taken action in the middle of the forest where a body could easily disappear rather than bringing them into his own home? Ian’s nose assured him this truly was the gray’s home. His scent wafted through the front door in a strong wave.

  Ian trotted through the front door and looked around.

  The gray leader waited at the far side of what appeared to be a living room then padded through a door.

  The she-wolf trotted down a hall in another direction.

  After a moment of hesitation, Ian followed the leader. He entered the room to find the wolf gone.

  A fair-skinned man with a slim build around six feet tall with dark brown hair and blue eyes pulled on clothes he retrieved from a closet without any apparent hurry. Then he turned and tossed two pairs of sweatpants on a chair close to the door. “Feel free to Shift and get dressed. Preferably before that nosy daughter of mine turns up.” He grinned.

  Ian glanced at Brett, who glared at him then sighed. Ian called forth the Shift, knowing his friend would do the same. He’d barely had time to Shift and pull on sweatpants be
fore a growingly familiar female scent came through the door behind him.

  A girl of probably thirteen or fourteen smiled up at him as she passed to join her father. Dark brown hair framed a face that would be lovely when she reached adulthood. Startling blue eyes brimmed with interest and humor. “Momma wants to know if the strangers plan to stay for a while.” Though she was obviously speaking to her father, her gaze remained on Ian.

  The longer she watched him, the more he had to fight the urge to squirm. It had been a very long time since anyone, much less a woman, had dared to stare at him so intently. Didn’t she realize how dangerous such behavior was, particularly when dealing with a stranger? Perhaps her parents hadn’t taught her any better?

  Then again, maybe it’s not accidental. She’s not staring at Brett. Have I done something to deserve that degree of study?

  Brett cleared his throat in a way Ian was far too familiar with. The man was trying not to laugh, but about what? The girl’s bizarre behavior?

  Ian straightened to his full height. “Um, we didn’t realize we’d come into anyone’s territory. We have no intention of lingering, if that’s what you’re concerned about. We’ll move on as soon as we retrieve our things from the forest.”

  “No need to worry.” The man put a hand on the teenager’s shoulder and turned the girl to face him when she still kept her eyes on Ian. “How many times have I told you not to wander off on your own? You left our territory again, didn’t you?”

  She frowned and lowered her gaze. “Yes, Daddy.” Without raising her eyes, she motioned toward Ian and Brett. “I smelled them. I wanted to see who they were.”

  “And you had no way of knowing if they were decent men or total scoundrels.” The man’s frown tightened. “What if they’d been the latter? They could’ve done serious harm to you.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Tell your mother they’ll be here for lunch at least. Beyond that, I’ll discuss it with them.”

  She glanced up and opened her mouth.

  “Without your input.”

  She snapped her mouth closed, sighed, and left the room. As she passed Ian, her gaze rose to his, and a smile lit her face.

  “Close the door on your way out.”

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  Ian glanced back and watched her leave. The door closed behind her.

  “Please excuse Alison’s boldness. Sometimes I think she forgets not all wolves are safe for her to interact with like those in our pack.” The man cocked his head to consider Ian. “Then again, I’ve never seen her be quite this bold with anyone. I think perhaps she’s developed a crush on you, stranger.”

  Great. Just what he needed. A she-cub hanging around giving him puppy-dog eyes. “She’s a child. I have no interest in being mated with a child. You have nothing to fear from either me or Brett.”

  The leader glanced at Brett. “Is that true?”

  Ian chuckled. “Brett doesn’t like women, so you’ve definitely nothing to fear from him where your daughter’s concerned.” He shot an amused look at his friend, who glared at him before turning his gaze on their host.

  “I mean you and yours no harm.”

  The man considered him for a long moment then smiled and nodded. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled. My name is Brady Dolan.” He stepped forward and offered his hand.

  “Ian Campbell.” He shook the man’s hand then motioned to his side. “This is my friend, Brett Mitchell.”

  “Please, have a seat.” Brady waved to two chairs then circled the desk and sat in the big chair behind it. “It’s not often we get strange wolves through here.”

  “We were traveling through. The area looked inviting.” Ian frowned. “We never meant to encroach on anyone’s territory.”

  “So you’ve already said.” The man waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. As long as no harm comes to me or my pack, I have no squabble with transient wolves. You’ll find I’m very much live and let live. Threaten one of mine, and the rules change dramatically.”

  “Pack?” Ian cocked his head then glanced at Brett, who shrugged.

  Brady frowned. “Surely the two of you have a pack.”

  “No. I can’t say either one of us ever has.”

  “The two of you are one obviously.”

  “No, sir, we’re just friends.”

  “Really?” The man chuckled. “If that’s true, why does Brett bow to your lead?”

  Ian raised his brows. “I wasn’t aware that he did.” He turned to look at his friend.

  Brett shrugged. “Sometimes it’s easier to let you make the decisions without my input.” He glanced around. “Other times, I think I need to open my mouth more.”

  “Hasn’t anyone ever taught the two of you about pack structure and behavior?”

  “Until I met Brett a number of years ago, the only other wolves I’d met wanted to kill me, not invite me to join some pack.”

  “Same here,” Brett said.

  “How’d you two meet?” Brady asked.

  “We ended up in the same tent for Army boot camp.” Ian settled more.

  “Was that before the two of you were Turned?”

  “No. We were both wolves by then.”

  The man’s brows rose. “And you joined the military?”

  “Sure.” Ian shrugged. “The military needed all hands for the war. I figured I could help out.”

  “Exactly how did you expect to hide your wolf self, particularly when the full moon came around?”

  “I didn’t give it much thought. Figured I’d work it out once I was there and knew how things were.”

  “That’s pretty risky.”

  “Perhaps.” Ian half-grinned. “But it worked out. We met a lieutenant who figured out right quick what we were. Turned out his father had been a werewolf, prior to getting killed a couple of years before we met at boot camp.”

  “Which war was that?”

  He met the man’s gaze and gave him the unvarnished truth. “World War I.”

  “You two fought in the first World War?”

  “Yes.” Brett stretched and settled more comfortably into the chair. “The second one as well.”

  Brady shook his head and laughed softly. “Wow. I was born in 1922. My father served in France in World War I and Japan in World War II. Where were you two?”

  “France and then Germany.”

  The man shook his head with a thoughtful look. “I’m sure you’ve seen a great deal.”

  Ian lowered his gaze, closed his eyes for a moment, and sighed. “More than I care to remember.” The weight of the dark moon crept closer, encroaching on his mind. Don’t think about Germany, or Dresden, or Marie. Just don’t go there.

  “I’m sorry.” The sincerity in Brady’s voice raised Ian’s gaze. “It sounds like you carry a lot of pain.”

  He nodded. “You can’t experience some of the things I have without a lasting mark on your life.”

  A long silence followed. Finally, Brady cleared his throat. “If you’d like to stay for a few days and get to know us, you’re welcome to do so. Our pack is always open to new additions.”

  “Won’t that cause turmoil?”

  “Until the two of you fit yourself into the pack structure, things could be tricky, but we’ve done it before. We’ll do it again in the future. You’re welcome here.” He grinned. “Why? Do you have designs on my position as alpha of the pack?”

  Brett snorted but said nothing.

  Ian chuckled. “Absolutely not. I saw the size of your pack. I don’t want that responsibility.”

  A speculative look passed over Brady’s face. “You know, very few wolves I speak to even see that aspect of being alpha.”

  “How can they not? It’s like being a military general with responsibility for the lives of those in the rank and file below you.”

  The man smiled and nodded with satisfaction as though Ian had answered some unasked question or passed an unseen test. “You’ll do.”

  “For what?”
>
  Brady shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. For now, feel free to get to know me, my family, and the pack. The members of the pack come and go throughout the month. Today was a special run to ward off problems from the dark moon. We lost a pack member a few days ago.”

  “A friend?”

  “To some of the pack, yes. Me and the others who weren’t close to him took the vulnerable ones for a run.” He got up and came around the desk. “Let me show you to the guestroom. I hope you two don’t mind sharing a room.”

  “Not at all.” Ian stood.

  “I’d like to retrieve our things.” Brett glanced from Ian to Brady and back again.

  Ian glanced at their host, who smiled.

  “Feel free to come and go as you please.”

  Brett made the Shift and trotted out of the room. Ian followed him and opened the front door to let him out then closed it as Brett trotted back in the direction they’d come.

  “A man of few words, your friend.”

  “Sometimes.” Ian half-grinned. “Other times, he doesn’t shut up.”

  “Let me guess. When he feels you need chewing out?”

  “Pretty much.” He chuckled.

  Brady laughed. “My wife’s the same way.”

  That made Ian laugh all the harder. How would Brett take being compared to their host’s wife?

  * * *

  Thursday, May 29, 1980

  “Are you sure about this?”

  Ian chuckled. The irony of Brett asking the very same question he himself had asked a couple of weeks before didn’t elude him. “Yes, I’m sure. We’ve gotten to know these people the past couple of weeks. This feels right. Doesn’t it to you?”

  “Yes, and no.” Brett frowned and stripped off his shirt, tossing it on one of the twin beds.

  Given there was a child in the house, Brady had asked them to Shift in their room prior to joining the pack. He’d prefer she not be exposed to naked human men yet, if it could be avoided. Since she’d spent the better part of the past two weeks hovering to the point Ian kept tripping over her, he had no problem complying with that request. The door to the room had a lever-style doorknob, so it was easy even for a canine to open.