Soul of the Pack

by Jenny Frame

  She had brought Ripp to a first date spot. What was she thinking?

  “Yeah, I thought you’d like it,” Kyra said.

  Kyra busied herself arranging the containers of food. She took off all the lids and was sure she heard Ripp growl. She looked up quickly, and Ripp was staring at the food, nearly drooling. How long had it been since she’d eaten properly?

  “I’ve got chicken, ribs, and roast beef. I hope you don’t mind it rare.” Kyra handed her a plate with a bit of everything on it.

  “The rarer the better for me,” Ripp replied as she eyed the plate as if it was prey.

  Again Kyra had to remind herself that Ripp was a human, even though everything about her behavior screamed wolf.

  She opened up the last container and piled the contents on a paper plate. “This is Storm’s plate. I took all the meat off the bone, so he wouldn’t choke on anything.”

  “That’s so sweet,” Ripp said. “Storm? Kyra’s made you your own plate.”

  He responded with an excited bark. Kyra went to put it on the ground for him, but Ripp stopped her.

  “Hang on a second.” Ripp took a tiny piece of meat from Storm’s portion, and then handed it to him. “I know it might seem strange but I always—”

  “Take first bite? You’re his Alpha,” Kyra finished for her.

  Ripp narrowed her eyes. “You know a lot about wolves.”

  Kyra thought maybe she’d given too much away. “Just what you pick up growing up around here. Let’s eat!”

  They both tucked into food, and after a few minutes Kyra said, “What are your plans, Ripp?”

  “I was only going to stay a few days, but to be honest I never expected to like Wolfgang County so much.”

  Kyra gave Ripp a hopeful smile that slipped passed all Ripp’s defenses. “Wolfgang County is like nowhere on earth. I missed it so much when I went away to college, so I’m glad you appreciate it too,” Kyra said.

  Ripp took a big breath and enjoyed the feeling of vibrancy and excitement in every cell in her body. “To be honest, I’ve never felt more alive than I do here,” Ripp said. “It’s like the forest, the mountains, the lake, everything is connected and giving you energy. I know that sounds stupid.”

  Kyra reached over the table and covered her hand. “No, it doesn’t. That’s how we feel. We try to live in tune with Mother Nature here, and she looks after us in return.”

  “Sounds like a wolf pack in their ancestral land. Take them out of their land, and they don’t do as well.” Ripp thought of her wolf pack. Apollo and his family, displaced, confused, and scared.

  “What’s wrong, Ripp?” Kyra said.

  “I told you that I worked with wolves. Well, it was at a wolf sanctuary called Willow Creek. Since I was eighteen, I worked and cared for the wolves. I was part of their pack—I grew up with them, helped them learn to hunt, slept out with them.”

  Kyra squeezed her hand. “What happened?”

  Ripp felt tears coming to her eyes as she recounted the story and felt like a weak idiot. She scrubbed her face with her hands, trying to control the anger growing inside her.

  “The owner of the land sold it to a property developer. I can still see the look of fear in the wolves’ eyes as I helped get them crated and ready to leave.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Kyra said.

  “They were torn from their home.” The anger in Ripp surged through her, and she smashed her fist down on the picnic bench, cracking the wood, then immediately got up and walked over to the edge of the lookout.

  Kyra was astonished. Ripp was strong for a human, and she obviously had so much unresolved anger inside her. Both Caden and Xander had told her about Ripp’s aggressive incident in the library.

  She looked at Storm and he whimpered, as if asking for her help, so she walked over to stand silently beside Ripp. She was breathing heavily, as if trying to calm down.

  Kyra was used to angry outbursts when dealing with dominant teenage wolves going through the rush, the werewolf equivalent of puberty. There were angry fights for dominance all the time at school, but normally the teens learned to control their anger in a few years. Maybe it was different for humans, and maybe she could help, as Kyra got the impression Ripp was all alone in the world.

  Kyra remembered that when Ripp had been facing up to Caden, her touch calmed Ripp, so she slipped her hand into Ripp’s and stroked her thumb tenderly on the back of her hand.

  She could hear Ripp’s breathing slow and her body relax.

  Ripp let out a long breath and said, “I’m sorry Kyra. I’m sorry if I frightened you. I don’t handle anger well.”

  Kyra squeezed her hand. “You didn’t frighten me. I understand that you’re angry and upset. The wolves were your family, and they were taken from you.”

  Ripp turned and looked at her, her face full of emotion. “How do you…? Most people wouldn’t understand that wolves could feel like family.”

  Kyra smiled at her. “I’m not most people.”

  A smile erupted on Ripp’s face. “No, you’re not.”

  “You know what I find is the best thing when you feel emotional, angry, frustrated?” Kyra said.

  Ripp shook her head. “What?”

  “A walk through the trees. Why don’t we pack up everything and take Storm to find some wolves.”

  “That sounds like the best idea ever.”

  * * *

  Ripp wasn’t even concentrating on following any signs of wolf activity as she walked. She was just hanging on every word Kyra said. Back at the lookout, Ripp thought her angry outburst would bring their nice day to an end. She felt like an idiot, so weak for letting herself lose control, and the thought of Kyra feeling frightened of her was horrible.

  Most people in her life recoiled from her when she displayed anger and frustration. She couldn’t remember how many times she’d been kicked out of schools or foster homes for fighting or aggressive behavior. No one ever took the time to help her or find out why she was so full of rage. But no, Kyra was quite the opposite. She took her outburst in her stride, and when she touched her, Ripp felt all her anger disappear.

  It was so weird. She didn’t feel like Kyra was a stranger, or she was in danger by letting her guard down in front of her. Somewhere inside she knew Kyra would never use anything she said, or emotions she showed, to hurt her.

  Ripp listened as Kyra told her all about her life. Her family, her friends Caden and Lena, and most of all about the strange and wonderful Wolfgang County. It was almost too good to be true, but they were so suspicious of her. You needed, like, a CIA clearance to even get in the library. There must be something wrong with this place, something it was hiding. Maybe if she could find out about Ansel Wolfgang she’d understand.

  “So Dante runs Venator,” Kyra said, “and Caden runs the ranch and the cattle side of the business. She’s like Dante’s second in command. It all works…” Kyra paused and shook her head, seeming embarrassed. “Sorry if I’m boring you.”

  Ripp smiled and shook her head. “I love listening to you.”

  “What about you, Ripp? Where are you going after you leave here?” Kyra hated to ask, because she didn’t want Ripp to leave, but she had to know.

  Ripp threw Storm’s ball, and he barked and ran to get it. “I don’t know. I need to get a job, but my skills are kind of limited. I work with wolves, all I know is wolves, and there’s not too many jobs that need that skill set.”

  Kyra had an idea. “I could ask Caden if you could get a job at the ranch.”

  Ripp raised an eyebrow. “I doubt she would want to help me out with a job. She didn’t even want me near you.”

  “But I explained who you were and everything. It would be okay.” Kyra really wanted more time with Ripp. She felt like she had to know her.

  Ripp silently considered it for a moment, then said, “Nah. I think I need to move on and find what I’m supposed to do with my life.”

  Kyra’s head dropped. “Oh, okay. Just a thought.”

>   Storm came running back with his ball and started barking and spinning around.

  “Calm down, buddy. Later, okay?”

  “Is Storm all right?” Kyra asked.

  “Yeah, it’s just we’re going a bit slow for his pace. I normally run with him through the forest. We both love it.”

  Kyra laughed. “Why didn’t you say? That’s my favorite thing to do.” She set off running and shouted back to a bemused Ripp, “Catch me if you can.”

  * * *

  The run through the forest quickly turned into a chase, as Ripp felt the need to show off and try to outrun Kyra. Funnily enough, Storm stuck by Kyra up ahead.

  Despite Ripp’s longer stride, Kyra’s local knowledge was keeping her ahead. To be honest, Ripp had lost her, and she didn’t like being beaten by a woman much smaller than herself. She decided to stop running, close her eyes, and listen and breathe to try to pick up on the sound and scent of her prey. This was the most fun she’d had in…well, she couldn’t remember when.

  Her heart was beating fast, her body was full of energy, and she didn’t feel lonely for the first time since she’d left Willow Creek. Kyra Wolfgang lit something in her that she didn’t quite understand, a need, a want, to catch her prey and claim her.

  She crouched down and tried to become aware of every little noise, no matter how small, and then she heard it. Breathing, coming from a big ancient tree up ahead.

  Ripp had always had better hearing and a better sense of smell and been more athletic and strong than those around her. She had never questioned it, but her schoolmates had, especially the boys who didn’t like the idea of a girl being stronger than them.

  She took a deep breath and then had a second clue—the scent of Kyra’s beautiful perfume. Ripp nearly growled but that would have given her position away.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw some wildflowers growing by the side of the path.

  * * *

  Ripp was better than most humans at tracking and hunting her prey, but Kyra had the advantage of super senses. To give Ripp her due, Kyra had only felt her presence within ten feet of her position behind the old tree. She looked down at Storm, who had become her partner in crime, and mouthed, “Shh…”

  Ripp was just a few feet away now, but Kyra didn’t use her speed to her advantage and run. For the first time in her life Kyra wanted to be caught. Her heart was beating fast, and she couldn’t keep a smile off her face—it was exhilarating.

  She looked around to her right, anticipating Ripp’s attack, and suddenly she was against the tree trapped by Ripp’s arms. Ripp really was good. Kyra hadn’t anticipated the attack coming from the left, or maybe she hadn’t wanted to anticipate it.

  “Caught you,” Ripp said with a half snarl, half smile.

  “Only because I let you.” Kyra kept staring into Ripp’s eyes, challenging her.

  “I would always find you, Ky.” Ripp moved a few inches closer, and Kyra submitted by looking to the side.

  Ripp rumbled her approval in her chest, and then said, “I got you these.”

  Ripp had gathered her a bunch of wildflowers. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever given her.

  “Thank you.” Kyra wrapped her fingers around the stems of the flowers and smiled when Ripp didn’t let go.

  “Why do I feel like I’ve known you before?” Ripp said.

  “I don’t know.” Their faces inched closer together. “Ripp? Don’t leave Wolfgang County yet. Say you’ll stay if Caden will give you a job.”

  Ripp’s eyes searched hers, and then she nodded, “Okay, just for a while, if I can get a job.”

  Kyra was sure they were just about to kiss, as Ripp was pulling closer to her. Kyra felt her claws lengthen and hid her hands behind her back. She just couldn’t control herself around Ripp. Kyra could only hope her eyes were not flashing yellow, as every other wolf sense was on fire and telling her to partially shift, drag her nails across Ripp’s chest, and challenge her.

  Kyra licked her lips, and then Storm barked, and Ripp looked to the side.

  “Ky? Don’t make any sudden movements, okay?”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” she whispered.

  “Wolves, to the right.”

  Kyra turned her head slowly, expecting to find some of the native wolves. Instead she saw one large dominant werewolf and a smaller dominant juvenile, both in aggressive postures.

  She sighed audibly. Damn Xander and Nix!

  To stop any kind of trouble, she said out loud, “Let’s just leave and go back to the lookout point.”

  “Shh, Ky,” Ripp said, “no sudden noises.”

  Xander and Nix relaxed their postures and started to run away from them, no doubt happy that she had promised to go back to a public area.

  “Wow! That was awesome.” Ripp walked toward where the wolves had been standing, their near kiss apparently forgotten.

  I’m going to kill them. Slowly.

  * * *

  Ripp and Kyra walked back to the lookout, simply enjoying each other’s company.

  Ripp still couldn’t believe that they saw those two wolves up close. They were bigger than any species she had seen before. The white wolf she had seen in the forest had been bigger than a normal female, and the two they saw today were even bigger.

  The adult wolf was the biggest wolf she had ever seen. Bobby had said he’d heard some strange things about Wolfgang County when he’d encouraged her to go and find her father, and these wolves were certainly strange.

  She had contemplated asking Kyra if she knew Ansel Wolfgang—it was a small town, after all—but she decided she would rather take her own time finding out the truth, especially since everyone apart from Kyra was so suspicious of her.

  “Are you okay, Ripp?” Kyra said as they neared the end of the forest path.

  She had been lost in her thoughts for too long. “Yeah, thanks for today, Ky. I had the best time,” Ripp said.

  “Me too,” Kyra replied shyly.

  Everything about Kyra’s reactions made her feel like she was interested in her. Normally Ripp was hopeless about reading women’s signals, but with Kyra, everything was so clear. When she caught Kyra at the tree she’d felt every cell in her body tell her to kiss Kyra and was sure she wouldn’t be rejected if she did. But why would a beautiful girl like Kyra be interested in her?

  When she imagined kissing her it both excited and scared her. It scared her because she knew what she was capable of, and the thought of hurting Kyra was…unthinkable.

  Her fears won out, and Ripp knew she had to make it clear to Kyra she couldn’t get involved.

  “Ky, about what happened…”

  They had reached the end of the forest trail and were now walking into the lookout parking lot.

  “Oh, what a surprise,” Kyra said sarcastically.

  Standing by a truck across the lot were a large woman in jeans and checked shirt and the teenager, Nix, she had seen at the diner.

  “What’s wrong?” Ripp asked.

  “Nothing, it’s my sister-in-law Xander and my niece. We better go and say hi.”

  Ripp gulped, feeling nervous all of a sudden. As they approached, Xander stood up even taller and crossed her arms, which made her look even more intimidating. She was really big.

  Ripp had never met people who were so easy to read. They behaved just like wolves would—they didn’t hide their feelings. And usually Ripp stood out among other women. People would stare, children would whisper to their parents to ask if she was a boy or girl, but here she was just one of many gender nonconforming women, and a lot of them were taller or stronger looking than her. It was just one more strange thing that felt right about Wolfgang County.

  “Xander, Nix, what a coincidence meeting you here,” Kyra said.

  Kyra couldn’t believe Xander had tracked her in her wolf form. Couldn’t she just enjoy one day out without being constantly paranoid about the Lupa threat?

  “Ky, introduce us to your friend,” Xander said.

  Sto
rm took a few paces back and hunched into a growl.

  “Storm, stop. It’s okay.” Ripp stroked his head. “I’m sorry. He’s been really anxious about strangers since we got here.”

  Kyra sighed and knelt beside Storm. “It’s okay, Storm. This is part of my pack.”

  Then she looked up to Nix. “Nix, come and show him you’re not a threat. He’s part wolf.”

  Nix smiled when she said that and crouched in front of Storm, turned her face away, and held out her hand. Storm was soon licking her palm. “Hey, Storm. It’s totally awesome to meet you.”

  Kyra smiled. Nix was at least making friends with the newcomers. Xander was another matter. She hadn’t taken her eyes from Ripp. Kyra appreciated her sister-in-law’s concern, but she was a bit fed up being treated like a cub.

  “Xander, this is my friend Ripp. Ripp, this is my sister-in-law, Xander.”

  Ripp slipped off her backpack and offered Xander her hand. It hung there for the longest time while Xander stared at her, but then she took it, and Kyra sighed with relief.

  “Ripp, good to meet you,” Xander said.

  The handshake was being held too long and turning into a dominance exercise, and Kyra had lost her patience. “What are you doing up here, Xander?”

  Xander finally let go of Ripp’s hand. “Well we heard a rumor that a white wolf was seen in the forest. Thought we’d take a look.” Xander grinned at her.

  Oh, very funny, Xander, Kyra thought.

  But her heart sank when Ripp said, “I saw a white wolf on my first day in Wolfgang County.”

  She was going to get such a lecture from Xander and Ava about showing her wolf to a human.

  “Oh, really? What happened?” Xander asked.

  “I heard it first, then I crouched down, kept really still, and it came out from behind the tree and came over to me. Then a noise startled it. It was beautiful.”

  Xander gave Kyra a hard stare. “Imagine that. It’s not like a wolf to take such a great risk by showing itself.”

  Kyra bit back, “It must have felt it could trust Ripp. She’s a wolf expert—aren’t you Ripp?”