As Dominic entered the meeting room there as a mix of ambient chatter among those assembled, Stacy greeted him as she did at all meetings with a coffee in a huge Steel cup, without words he nodded his thanks and made his way to the large oak table and took his seat, the others followed suit and he began.
“Right I'm sure by now you all know why we are here today.”
“Yeah, cause the panthers are scared we are gonna hurt them.” Micky chuckled his remark with the usual over confident grin that he wore almost all the time.
Dominic frowned and continued, “They just want to keep their town and their people safe, ask yourselves, would we do any different if the roles were reversed? Now I know they have an odd command structure with councils, a king and this thing they call The Company which lets face it, is a workers union, put their head guys from each will be here on Wednesday.”
“How many?” Interrupted Tyrone as he took a bite of a yum-yum that Amber had baked for the meeting.
“Five, Two from the council, Two from The Company and their head enforcer who you all know from the security tapes.”
“The one that couldn't stop staring at your junk you mean?” Micky remarked.
The group all erupted into soft laughter.
“Yes that's the one.” Dominic added.
“Steve, what can you tell us about them? Their eating habits, any particular customs we should be aware of?” Dominic asked before taking a sip of his coffee.
Steve shrugged his shoulders and offered “not really boss, they are a bit pompous, like rich kids in high school.”
The gathered enforcers chuckled lightly.
“So what your saying is they are up their own ass?”
“No Micky, they are not all like that,” Dominic stated, Micky scoffed at his comment and added,
“So your new girlfriend managed to pull her head out of her own ass,”
Dominic used every ounce of strength not to pounce across the table and beat Micky’s smug face into the wall which his wolf was more than happy to do at this moment.
“That’s Enough!” Bellowed Nick, every wolf in the room bowed their heads, the dominant vibes flooding from him almost landed Micky out cold like punches to the head. "I will not stand for this childish bickering from you Micky, get out of my conference room.”
Micky stood and tried to argue his point but everyone simply turned away from him.
“Get the Fuck Out!” Stacy added as she stepped towards him, she may be the youngest and smallest but her dominant vibes were nearly as strong as Dominic’s and she had the brute strength to back them up. Micky turned in a huff, the same way a scolded teenager might when sent to his room, once he was out of earshot Nick continued.
“Sorry everyone, I want the enforcers to keep the pack busy during the meeting, Dominic, Stacy, Myself and My mate will be attending the dinner, Tyrone, I would like you to be there too, the rest of you, it is your job to keep the peace, understood?”
All as one they nodded their agreement
“Stacy will give each of you your personal assignments, Micky is to be confined to quarters,” Nick gestured for them to stand. “Okay everyone, thank you and see you all later for the pack run.”
As the room slowly emptied Charlie stayed behind, he rested against the doorway his short frame dwarfed by the others, he was short to say the least, five feet tall and about 120lbs but he was a tactical thinker and he happened to be a pretty good medic.
“What can I do for you Charlie?” Dominic asked shuffling papers into a cardboard folder.
“We have been here for nearly six months! Why now?”
“I asked myself the same thing which is why this dinner is taking place, maybe we can get some answers.”
Charlie nodded agreeing “OK boss, I’ll make sure Micky stays in line from now on.”
“See that he does, brother or not if he steps out of line again I’ll beat him to a bloody pulp!”
“And he would deserve everything you gave.”
Both wolves left the room together leaving Amber to tidy up the various coffee cups and side plates.
Stacy’s room, well if you can call it a room, it was more like a suite in a fancy hotel, it had its own living room and bathroom it even had a small kitchenette, most of the room was pretty bare save for a few nicnaks and photos of her old pack. The bedroom is where her personality really came out, the walls were a mix of subtle greens and earthy browns, the bed was a grand four poster made from hand felled maple trees, it was her prized possession as she had made it herself just after joining Nicks pack shortly after its formation, unlike most packs that simply grew moving from alpha to alpha as the progression continued, this pack was different. Nick is what’s called an Absent Wolf, it is one of the rarest know preternatural conditions, when a shifter is born he or she has an animal spirit which binds with their very soul, Nick has no Wolf spirit, he has a wolf side, he can shift but unlike normal shifters he stays in full control.
He started the pack as a way of taking in all wolves who had been rejected by their previous packs, be it because they decided to mate with a different species like with Steve and his former panther wife, or they just didn't fit the pack.
Stacy was kicked out of her pack because she tried to assume command and challenged her alpha, rather than accept the challenge her alpha had her drugged and dumped in the Nevada desert which is where Dominic found her and took her under his paw so to speak.
She still remembers the first words he spoke to her ‘Never trust what you cannot beat, for any chance of loss is a chance of betrayal.’
Since that moment, Stacy has been the definition of loyal to Dominic and the pack he helped create.
Chapter 3
She ran, she ran faster and harder that she even thought possible, her paws pounded into the dirt with such ferocity that she feared it would register as seismic activity, guided by her preternatural vision and animalistic speed she darted through the great woods, north towards the Elana River, hoping, praying that the text message she sent before leaving the compound had been received, if it hadn't then she would surely be dead by sunrise.
Her hind legs began to ache, miles of forest behind her but still miles to go, driven by the need to survive the black panther forced on, she could not hear anyone following but that didn't mean they weren't coming, her father would send the elite Enforcers after her, she may be strong but she was no match for white panthers, bread purely for their enhanced speed and aggression, Valaria was the first black panther to be an Enforcer in decades and the only female ever, the only reason she was Head Enforcer is because her father was King.
She saw the clearing ahead, she bounded forward pushing her body beyond its limits, as she broke through the treeline was met by darkness and silence. 'FUCK!'
So utterly exhausted from the seemingly endless run, and emotionally drained by the betrayal she had just committed not to mention the fact her message went unanswered, she slumped to the floor, cold earth and dead leaves fluttered from the force of her bodily impact, her panther was done.
Valaria opened her eyes. She used every ounce of energy to raise her hand to her head, the splitting pain hiding the fact that she had shifted back, the pain wasn't from exhaustion, it was a light, spot lights from an ATV.
“Valaria!” The voice seemed distant to her as if under water, “Valaria, it's OK, we're here!” her eyes refocused as the figure came into view, she breathed a sigh of utter relief, he got the message.
“Spread out! Check all routes!” Demanded Tyrone, with his words the Enforcers deployed with military precision, each of them was clad from head to toe in black tactical gear carrying modified assault rifles, the rounds were a special tranquiliser designed by Predtech, a company that on the day of enlightenment, the day all preternatural creatures revealed themselves to the world, changed their goal from finding ways to cure the fatal ailments of the preternatural to prevent rouge shifters, vampires and witches from harming others, Tyrone worked for the militar
y research department and helped to design the tranquiliser rounds, they do not kill and have no long term side effects.
Stacy was the first to reach Valaria after Dominic, she dropped to one knee and covered the treeline.
“Is she Okay?” she glanced down and saw Valaria's grey eyes, “What happened to her eyes?”
“I don't know, but it can't be good!” replied Dominic as he wrapped his arms around the naked form.
“Clear!” yelled Tyrone as he moved towards the Humvee.
Dominic lifted Valaria and made his way quickly to the waiting vehicle, Stacy followed closely, never taking her eyes off the tree line, once Dominic had laid Valaria in the flatbed he joined her, covering her body in a thermal blanket.
“Okay people! Move out.” Stacy, the last to embark the Humvee decided to ride in the back with her Beta and the unconscious panther calling out her command before taking her seat opposite Dominic.
“Her eyes Dominic, look at her eyes!” Stacy of course referred to the now dull grey orbs where once there were shimmering amethyst.
“I know Stacy, the message she sent said that she was in trouble with The King and we were all in danger! Hopefully once she is rested, we can get some answers, until then we go into full lock down, contact every pack member and get them to the compound, I want all the Enforcers armed and on patrol!”
“Isn't that Tyrone's job?” Stacy asked nervously.
“There's a reason he has been training you so hard Stacy,” Dominic's face saddened “He has Lymphoma”
'FUCK' the one thing the wolf shifters are susceptible to is lymphoma, no one knows why but if a wolf gets it, they have months to live, Tyrone found out about four months back the Doc' gave him three months to live and only Nick and Dominic knew.
“Oh my gods! What the Fuck! Does Amber know?” Stacy couldn't prioritise her thoughts at this point so she asked the one question she thought might have a satisfactory answer.
“No, and he wants it to stay that way, they haven't bonded, he fears if he tells her she will start the bond and die along with him.”
Stacy nodded, she was completely knotted inside, but she portrayed herself as the hard ass she was.
“I'll see the preparations are made.” she immediately pulled out her phone and sent a mass text telling everyone that there was a code red, meaning that they had to return to the compound no questions asked, she ran a code red drill every few months so when one actually happened no one would panic.
She then called the other Humvee and gave her orders to Micky “Once we reach the compound I want perimeter details at all hours, four-hour shifts and no less than three Enforcers at once, I will come check during each shift, this is not a drill but don't tell the pack members that, they will only panic, let them think it's another drill and once they are all home Nick and Dominic can tell them.”
“Sure thing squirt!” a pet name that Micky had used for Stacy since she joined the pack, she was a rather short girl around five feet tall, slim too, but she trained harder than any of the Enforcers and they all knew it, which is why they happily took orders from her.
The Humvee pulled into the parking garage which was already full, it seemed everyone had already made it home from their jobs and various errands, Stacy jumped down and directed the Enforcers to work before cradling Valaria's head as the two moved her from the vehicle to the elevator.
Once down on the infirmary level Dominic placed Valaria in a private room, he stayed with her, playing some tranquil music to ease his wolf, it didn’t really help, his wolf paced in his head as he stared at the magnificent creature that slumbered before him.
Chapter 4
Wave music? Fucking Wave Music? Valaria's first thoughts when she woke from what felt like a month long sleep, she opened her eyes to the dimly lit room, there were candles everywhere and a dark figure slumped in an armchair in the far corner, she could smell rosemary, most likely from the candles, she could smell something else too, mmmmm Dominic, she only met him for a few minutes but his scent had left a lasting impression on her and her panther who by the way was very happy to be swimming in his scent right now.
“Dominic?” she managed weakly.
The dark figure stirred and looked towards her, all she could see from the shadows was the tell tell golden eyes of that man, that sweet wolf man that she couldn't stop thinking about.
“I'm here.” He said gently as he rose from the chair and walked towards her bed, “You've been out for a few days, you were both exhausted.”
Valaria's eyes grew wide as she suddenly remembered how she got here, “Oh god, The King!” she exclaimed trying desperately to get up from the bed, Dominic eased her back and replied.
“It's Okay, we're on lock down, right now we're safe.”
She shook her head and said, “No, you really aren't!”
As Dominic realised the fear in her dull grey eyes they were interrupted by a knock at the door, without waiting for permission Amber entered, food trays in hand.
“Oh you're awake,” she said near a whisper but still with such excitement in her voice, “Both of you are awake.”
She placed the trays at the foot of the bed and left without another word, Valaria never once took her eyes off of Dominic and he never took his eyes off of her, each of them felt a pull like magnets to a pole, neither of them wanted to fight it, even if they did it would be useless, what was now happening was beyond anyone's control, and in an instant they both realised just what it was, in unison they both said, with confusion in their voices “Soul Mate.”
Soul mates are exactly what they sound like, they are the ones destined to be together, but it has never crossed the species border before, other species have matted obviously but to find your Soulmate in another species Did NOT Happen, EVER!
“How?” Dominic asked with such a bemused look on his face it almost made him unattractive.
“I... I don't know, it isn't possible...”
Before she could continue Dominic interrupted, “Well clearly it is, this isn't just sexual attraction, this is our souls, our animal spirits destined to be together, they, we were made for each other.”
Each word echoed in his own head, he knew that soon the bond would begin to take hold, it wouldn't be complete until they mated but the emotional connection and the primal need to be together starts almost immediately, as he shook his head trying to understand his own words Valaria cupped his head in her hands and drew him close, resting her forehead against his, a few moments passed and their breathing synced each breath they took was perfectly in time with the others, She placed a soft kiss on his lips, such a soft embrace, he pulled back with a soft smile, “This is going to take some getting used to.”
He could already feel her emotions as the bond began to take hold, at first it’s like an empathic feeling but soon they would have a strong psychic connection, they would literally be able to talk to each other without words.
Valaria stood from the bed her naked body basking in the candlelight, “My Panther needs a run to heal, and we both need space to come to terms with this,”
Dominic agreed, but he wanted to taste her, all of her, he wanted to stick his tongue in her mouth and his cock in her pussy, he wanted to bite her and mark her as his, and his wolf wanted the same, however he knew she was right, this was something that they needed to accept but they wouldn't be able to think clearly in the same room, not until they consummate that is.
Valaria walked through the living quarters hallway still baffled by the recent discovery, she and her Panther needed out, she needed to run but everywhere she turned she was met with concrete, her Panther was growing restless, not only was she pulled away from her soul mate but now she couldn't escape this maze, she turned once more and there it was, a sparkle of hope, at the end of the hallway was an open door, visible through this door was a saviour in green fatigues cleaning what looked like a sniper rifle, Valaria would recognise that dirty blonde hair and perky butt anywhere, “Stacy!” she didn't mean to s
hout, she was just so relieved to find anyone that could help her get out of the building.
Stacy looked up from her Modified Barrett 50 Cal. To see a very naked Valaria running towards her, she didn't know whether to be happy she was awake or raise her gun, she chose the former, “Val! You're awake.”
Valaria entered the room and wrapped her arms around Stacy, “Gods I'm happy to see you, I need to run, how the hell do I get out of here?”
“Run? Mind if I join? Kinda going nuts being on lock down.
Valaria smiled and said, “If you can get me to the surface, you can ride on my back.”
Stacy actually entertained the idea for a moment but resigned herself to just running with the She-panther.
Once the two were out in the woodland Stacy began to strip and pile her clothes next to a picnic bench, Valaria watched her shift, 'so beautiful' a graceful pure white wolf with the most piercing blue eyes. Valaria then calmed herself and began to shift, a Panther shift was different to that of a wolf, no cracking bones and tearing flesh to reveal fur, it was more phantasmal, she knelt beside Stacy who at this point was sitting, with no pain or movement, pure black fur began to sprout all over her body, but it didn't stay black it began to turn grey with black markings Valaria was in complete shock a panther never changed their colouring, as she continued her shift she landed a paw next to Stacy and realised she was bigger than before, she was as big as the wolf beside her, twice her normal size. 'What the fuck?'
Valaria went into a panic, as did her panther, to Stacy it looked as though Valaria was trying to chase her own tail when I fact she was trying to look at herself, Panthers are usually around the size of a normal everyday panther, unlike their wolf counterparts who are nearly double the size of the average grey wolf, Valaria thought it must be because of the Soul Mate bond, something unseen was happening and it had changed her on a cellular level.
The All Kinds Pack: The All Kinds Saga Book 1 Page 2
