by Strider, Jez
Taylor stood up, feeling around to gage the size of the room. He deducted it couldn’t be more than eight feet in length and width. “He told you all this?”
“The loser brags about it. He plans on luring the high pack away while I attack my parents. They’ll have to put me down or die themselves.” Mason stopped talking and Taylor could tell he was trying to keep from crying.
“Hey now, that’s not going to happen. You hear?”
“You’ll be the first victim. Usually all the male members of the pack are there for transitions to keep the new wolf in check. Fight with him. Hunt. I won’t kill you on purpose.” He choked up again. Now he was sobbing quietly.
Great. The last thing Taylor wanted to think about was being torn to shreds by a wolf when he needed to focus on getting out of the hole. “We’ll get out of here. Or they’ll find us. Mara will make them. I think. Not that I know her that well.”
“Mara?” He sniffled.
“Right, she was probably gone before you were born. She’s the mother of Kaden’s son.”
“Oh, I know who she is. She’s the chosen.”
“What?” Taylor asked.
“Kaden and Mara were born the same night under the full moon. It’s a sign. She’s the one meant to be the alpha female of the pack. They were to be bonded, but she left. Some of the pack members say she dishonors us, but others promised she’d return when the time was right.” Mason explained.
“What the fuck is wrong with you people? That’s crazy. I should have stayed in my cozy little apartment and never came here.” He grumbled.
“I’m not sure I believe any of it.”
Taylor rested his head against the dirt wall, realizing the pit was far too deep to climb out of. “Why is it so important to be mated or whatever?”
“Females are prized because there aren’t enough of them. The males that are chosen by a female have a higher status among us than the unmated. Bonded males are stronger, more stable. It’s like, from what I hear, you’re half a person until you find your mate.”
Slowly, after placing his back against the wall, Taylor slid down to sit and closed his eyes. “Sounds like how it is with humans, too.”
“It is, but magnified because of the animal inside us.”
“Well, I hope they work on finding us and forget about mating for a while.”
Marala rushed into the house and locked the door behind her. Immediately, she went to Kaden’s bedroom, fell to hands and knees, and grabbed the shotgun. She stood up, made sure it was loaded, and yelled for Jak.
He walked into the bedroom, freezing mid yawn when he saw his mud covered mother wielding a gun. “This is a weird dream, right? Why are you so dirty?”
She ignored the last question. “Taylor is missing. The wolves are going to try to find him. I have to keep you safe.”
“That sucks. I like that guy. He’s a better cook than you.” Jak frowned. “What do you think happened?”
Mara headed for the living room and Jak followed. “I hope he ran far away from here. If they find him….” She sat down on the couch, leaned the shotgun up against it, and put her hands over her face.
“You don’t think Dad would… kill him?”
“I don’t know.” She stole a glance toward the stuffed and mounted black wolf in the corner. “If he thinks Taylor took the boy. Yeah. They’ll torture him first.”
Jak gestured toward the long deceased wolf. “Who is that?”
“Your grandfather’s brother. Your uncle.” Mara had sheltered Jak his entire life, but being back home, she knew sharing the truth about the workings of the wolf would keep him safer.
“So… he died of like… rabies or something, right?”
“He challenged your grandfather for pack leadership. It was his right, but it’s a fight to the death. Out of respect for a worthy adversary, he was preserved.” Mara sighed. “I’m sorry about what you are, Jak. What you will become.”
“I’m not challenging anyone, so don’t worry. That is some morbid and creepy family history.”
“It’s not that simple. You won’t have to challenge anyone, but someone may challenge you when you’re leader someday.”
Jak rested his elbow on the armrest and propped himself up by it. “I don’t want to ever be pack leader.”
Mara crossed the room, picking up her purse from the table in the corner. She fumbled around for a few minutes before finding her cigarettes. With a shaky hand, she flicked the .99 cent lighter and lit the tip of the menthol. “You’ll change. Being alpha is in your blood. But, that’s a long way off unless…” She exhaled a puff of smoke. “Unless something happens to Kaden.” The thought alone of losing him nearly ripped her heart out.
How did I ever live without him?
“Mom, you need to chill. Nothing is going to happen to Dad and they’ll find Taylor. That Mason kid, too.”
“I wish I was a wolf already so I could search. I’m useless at night as a human.”
“A wolf already?” He repeated.
“Nothing.” Mara said.
“Are you going to become a wolf, Mom?”
She cleared her throat. There was a half full bottle of whiskey on the table next to the recliner. It wasn’t her wine, but it would do. She poured a small amount into a short glass. “Maybe.”
Jak went a little slack-jawed. “Did you make up?”
“Your father and I have come to an understanding and forgiven each other the trespasses of our youth.”
“Wow. That’s awesome.”
“Yes, it is.” She slung back the shot of whiskey.
Awesome? Only if he doesn’t do something stupid and ruin it. She thought as she poured another drink.
Kaden let out a howl, signaling for the high pack. His nose was to the floor, sniffing around every inch of Nashoba’s home when the others showed up. Nash explained the situation, unable to effectively shift while still reeling from the effects of the drug that had knocked him unconscious.
“We should have killed him in the street earlier today.” Levi said, more hostile than usual. Kaden listened quietly to the conversation of his pack outside.
“I dunno. A human is not going to get the jump on Nash.” Blake said. His brother agreed in a hushed mumble.
The sound of Levi’s boots splattering the mud under his feet told Kade the beta was pacing. “He could be a warlock or a different type of shifter.”
Nash snorted at that. “I would have noticed. His scent was one hundred percent human. And, don’t get me wrong, I don’t approve of Kaden backing down to Marala in front of the pack, but Taylor seemed alright for a human.”
“What do we do if our world keeps crumbling around us?” Levi asked quietly.
“Make a move for a change in leadership.” Nashoba said, not keeping his voice low, obviously unconcerned if Kaden heard the threat.
The Dakota line had led the pack since it spanned north into Kentucky, east into North Carolina, and south into Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Now, only a handful of wolves remained. Fading rituals, pack members refusing to acknowledge the shift and living as humans, and low birth rates all attributed to the decline. Kade couldn’t blame the wolves for their lack of faith in him. He was failing on all grounds.
Kaden lifted up onto his hind legs and returned to his human form in one motion. He dressed, but sat down in a chair to think about his course of action. There was almost no trace of the human. His scent started at the doorway, circled the couch, and went to the bathroom and back. Nothing out of the ordinary lingered. If a trail had been outside, the rain had washed it away.
He thought about his high pack. Kade knew he could defeat any wolf out there one on one. Even Nashoba. But if they ganged up on him, as dishonorable as it was, he was in trouble. Then, the new leader would claim Marala as his trophy mate. That thought had him growling out loud.
Not happening.
He knocked the chair over as he stood and walked to the front door, jerking it open. “There’s no evidence o
f where he might have gone.”
Luke cussed. Blake frowned. Levi and Nashoba exchanged glances. “Due to recent events and the lack of brotherhood among the high pack, I’m revoking everyone’s status.”
“You can’t do that.” Levi said.
“I just did.”
Kaden pointed at them all, starting at the right and moving left. “This does not work without trust. I am Dakota. I am this pack. On the full moon, all of age males, civilian and former high pack, will fight for their ranks. Including me.”
“As you wish.” Luke said and Blake bowed his head in obedience.
“Sounds fair to me.” Nashoba said.
Levi’s face was bright red. “But I’m your second in command. The position was given to me by your father.”
“Not anymore.” Kaden eyed the wolf firmly, waiting for a challenge. It didn’t come. “You can earn your title back.”
“You’re making a mistake, Kaden.” He said, unusually unrestrained.
“It wouldn’t be the first time. The full moon is soon. Until then, find yourselves, remember what it means to be brothers and pack, and keep an eye out for the town.”
Levi paced around, his boots making a clomp clomp on the ground again. “What will I tell Elle? I can’t give her children, now I disappoint her by losing my position within the high pack.”
Kaden reached out to give his longtime friend a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, but he jerked away.
“I’m going out to hunt for the kid again. Maybe if I bring him home I’ll get some respect.” Levi walked off into the night.
Blake, the sensitive young one, spoke up. “I think he’s having a hard time because he feels responsible. He was in charge at the time of Mason’s disappearance.”
Nashoba crossed his arms, glaring in Levi’s direction.
“We’re all responsible.” Kaden said. “I don’t know what the hell we’ve been doing, but it’s our job to protect our people.”
“We’ll keep you posted if we see anything suspicious.” Luke said reaching out to shake Kaden’s hand before walking off with his brother.
Nashoba brushed by Kaden, letting out a gruff grumble as he entered the house and slammed the door behind him.
Kaden sighed, staring up at the sliver of moon. “Help me.” He bowed his head and headed home. For once, he would have a warm body he loved against him after a shitty night.
The spare key to Kaden’s house was hidden in a secret square nook in one of the logs of his cabin. He ran his hand over the seemingly perfect wood until his fingers touched a slight indentation. With one fingernail transformed into a claw, he tugged the block of wood out to reveal a secret compartment big enough for a set of keys.
On most days, Kaden left the door unlocked. He’d trusted his pack and there wasn’t much he cared about going missing. No one else had lived there besides him since his parents had met the moon. Wolves tended to lose their clothing and along with it keys and wallets. Unexpected shifts could be a real pain in the ass.
He tried the knob and exhaled a sigh of relief when he found it still secure. His family was safe inside. He walked into the house, noticing the light in the living room was still on. Jak was sprawled out on his stomach with one arm dangling off the couch. Carefully, not knowing what he was doing, Kaden lifted Jak’s arm and placed it in what he thought was a comfortable position. Then he covered his son up with a quilt made several generations ago by his great-grandmother. He briefly placed his hand on Jak’s head and smiled. It was strange and overwhelming to suddenly be a father after hiding from his responsibilities for a lifetime.
Mara sat in his recliner. The shotgun had been leaned against the wall nearby. Mud still covered her, only now the smears were dried.
Kaden headed for the bathroom and started the bath. The village had come a long way in regards to amenities even from the time of his youth. Though the power was finicky, his pack had most conveniences people in the city did. Though not having bubble bath or even body wash made him frown. Bar soap would not make a suitably relaxing bath for his mate. He grabbed the shampoo and squirted a large amount into the bath until suds began to form.
He went back into the living room and picked Mara up out of the recliner. At first, she appeared startled, so he whispered, “It’s me.”
She relaxed immediately when she heard him speak. “Did you find him?”
“No.”
Kaden lowered the toilet lid and placed her on it so he could take off her dirty clothing. He tossed her shirt toward the hamper. It landed in a small pile where his clothing had missed before. He started to remove her necklace, but Marala clenched the paw pendant in her palm and wouldn’t let him. She looked down at her hand, tears leaving streaks of mud along her cheeks.
“It’s my fault.” She said as he took her hand, standing her up to remove the rest of her clothing. He scooped her up and sat her in the warm bath water. It almost looked like a bubble bath and smelled fresh.
“He came looking for you. You didn’t ask him to. It’s not your fault.” His tone wasn’t particularly soothing, but firm. He undressed, climbing into the tub behind her. It was an awkward fit at first. The large man always showered instead. He was nearly too big for the bathtub.
“Two people missing, Kade. What does it mean? How did it happen?”
Unsure about bathing a woman, he wet her hair. The water made it a deeper shade of red. Then, he filled his palm with shampoo and lathered the locks. Gently, his fingertips massaged into her scalp.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” She said, moving back a little, closer to him.
“I think we have a traitor. Either someone wants to out me as leader or they want to destroy the pack.” He rinsed her hair with fresh water from the faucet as he spoke, trying to be careful. Though, if he hadn’t broken her during sex, he figured she could certainly survive a bath.
“That’s hard to believe, but I have been gone a long time. I can see that things have changed.”
“Yes, as pack leader I have been a failure.”
“No, Kade. I didn’t mean it like that!” She started to apologize further but he shushed her.
“Stop.” He used a cloth to wash along her shoulders and neck, down her arms. The man didn’t own a loofa either. He made a mental note to take her shopping after life returned to normal. If it returned to normal. “I’ll make the pack whole again. To do that, I’ve broken it apart.”
Mara lightly rested her hands on his legs. “How?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning in to hold her. “I disbanded the high pack.”
Her gasp was audible. He could feel her stomach suck in at the shock of his words. “Kaden….”
“I know, but it had to be done. I don’t trust them.” His chin rested against her shoulder. “After you and I finish with the bonding at the full moon, fights for rank will be held. Maybe it’ll help me figure out who’s doing the kidnappings.”
“I hope so.” She hesitated. “About the bonding….”
Kaden released her from his embrace and leaned back, dreading her words. “You’ve changed your mind.”
“No, no. Not at all, but I don’t want a big ritual or anything. Just us, in this house. It’s not right with everything that’s happened to make a huge celebration so soon.”
“You’re right. That’s fine.” He relaxed again. “I don’t want you or Jak leaving the house without me. Don’t open the door for any wolves.”
“I want to help, Kaden.”
“Unacceptable. Please obey me with this one thing and I’ll try never to ask again. For all I know, Nashoba or Levi could be the culprit.”
Mara bowed her head. “I’ll do as you ask, but this will not become a habit. I’m only obeying because I need to protect Jak.”
Kade ran his strong, calloused hands up her back and massaged her shoulders, easing some of the tension away. Running around on all fours was not only hard on the paws, but the hands as well. “We will.” He promised.
; Mara awoke and reached out to squeeze Kaden in an embrace, but he was far too soft. With a groan she opened her eyes to see the large pillow in her arms. She propped herself up on her elbow and thought about the night before. So much had happened.
Making love with him again had been one of the best moments of her life. She didn’t want to know where he learned all those moves, but she was glad he knew them. The smile on her face faded when she thought about Taylor. While she was out being ravaged in the woods, someone had taken him. The guy was crazy and unpredictable, but she regretted the unwitting part she’d played in his disappearance.
She slipped out of bed and opened one of the Hefty sacks that held her unpacked clothing. After rummaging around for a minute, she found all the apparel needed for the day and carried the clothes over to the dresser. The surface was cluttered with Kaden’s possessions. It was a man’s mess, through and through. Mara extended her arm and raked the items aside far enough to make a place to set her clothing. A half-filled can of soda toppled off and began leaking onto the hardwood floor.
“Shit….” She grabbed a roll of toilet paper sitting on the dresser next to a bottle of lotion. It wasn’t hard to guess what those supplies were for. Using the tissue paper, she dried up the spill and sighed. The place needed a womanly touch.
She poured the rest of the soda that hadn’t spilled into the bathroom sink and tossed the can in the trash. Her eyes went to the bathtub. At least that much was clean since he’d bathed her last night. She closed her eyes, remembering his caring touch. Kaden wasn’t the monster she’d told herself he was for so many years. Nowhere close.
Mara shook herself from her thoughts and went back into the bedroom to dress. She lifted her hair, examining the scar on her shoulder. The mark had been a badge of shame for so long, now it filled her with pride once again. This had her thinking about the bonding.
Bonding was one of the most sacred and respected ceremonies in wolf society. The most important to a she-wolf. A female lycan reached maturity at her eighteenth birthday, but unlike the males, girls did not shift automatically at the full moon. The tradition was a bit different for her since she’d been promised to Kaden on the day of her birth. The basics still held true, though.
