Dominant Species

Reggie exited the bedroom, a smile on his face. So far, he looked like he would be able to get the support he needed. The Pack members were shocked by Marcus leaving them and again by the Alpha’s order to kill on sight.

No one believed Marcus was an immediate danger to the Pack. That was the only reason for such an order.

The story behind the order was spreading in the rumor mill like wildfire, helped out by his close friends. It didn’t take much in a pack of forty members, thirty-one of them adults, to spread the word. They were shocked at first by what he had done against Alpha’s orders. Once Reggie talked to them, their minds changed.

Salmon was a small town; most had lived here their entire lives. They had excluded humans from some things to protect their secret, but none of them hated humans. They were classmates, coworkers, and friends. They didn’t want them to die.

For those still reluctant, the knowledge of the Alpha’s disdain towards human mates was a shock. Marcus wasn’t the only person who had found a mate in the human world. That potential was just another great reason why they should be protecting the humans.

Eight people. Eight people were willing to stand with him for what was right, to stand against their Alpha, and risk everything on him winning the challenge. That was all he needed, but it was a hard thing to ask.

The Idaho Falls pack Alpha had survived a challenge by his Beta ten years earlier. One-third of the members had sided with the Beta, who later died in the challenge circle. Once the Alpha recovered, he punished everyone who stood in opposition for their lack of loyalty. Wolves were stripped of rank, exiled, and even beaten in front of their family. No one wanted to be the first.

Once Reggie had his eight brave backers, no more would risk it.

It hurt his wolf that he was even considering this move against his father and his Alpha. His wolf knew the Pack would be ripped apart no matter who won. It might take decades to heal.

Reggie looked at the clock; it was nearly time for the Pack meeting. The Alpha would hold the meeting in his house and broadcast everything over the Pack bonds to ones who couldn’t attend. Reggie thought himself lucky; he was at Marcus’ along with Tom, Mary, Rachel, their kids, and their human guests. Silvia and Abigail were awake, but they would hear about it later.

Five minutes to ten. Reggie had just enough time. “Josi? Baby, are you there?”

He felt the love as she opened up her bond. “Reggie, how are things?”

“Going well. I’ve been meeting with some friends, trying to lock down the eight people I need to stand with me. I know I have a few absolutes, but the rest want to wait until they hear what the Alpha says at the meeting.”

Josi sighed in worry. “You have to be sure before you make this move, Reggie. You know the stakes.”

“Don’t worry; I know what I am doing. I’m not going for the minimum; I want most of the pack to stand with me. It’s the only chance I have to make Dad see reason. If the Pack is with me, maybe Dad will change his orders, and I won’t have to do this.” He paused for a second, then blew out a breath. “Of course, Alphas aren’t known for questioning themselves. It’s more likely he digs in even further.”

“Just keep your head down, Reggie. Don’t make your move until you are ready, and don’t let him bait you into saying something rash.” Josi sat down in a chair, looking around at the patients. All were improving now; she could see the sores and the burns starting to heal. “You have to make it about the decision, not the person. These people are worth saving, Reggie. Make it about the humans, and you have a chance.”

“I have to go, honey. I love you. Stay safe for me. I have nothing if I lose you.” He closed the link and went to the living room.

The adults gathered there, the harsh outside light blocked by heavy blankets nailed to the windows. They had the windows open, allowing a little fresh air to circulate. After days in the bunker, this felt amazing. Rachel had interrupted her packing to be the hostess, bringing out snacks and drinks as they waited for it to begin.

Just as they were seated in their chairs, they heard a racket on the front porch, and the door opened. As soon as it closed, the blanket came off, the sunglasses came off, and Lisa smiled at them all. Rachel and Reggie jumped up and embraced her. “Mom, what are you doing risking the sunlight?” Rachel checked her mom over for burns, finding none.

“I had to be here with you for this. I need to make sure you two don’t do anything rash.”

“Mom, we…” Reggie started to plead his case but stopped when Mom glared at him. It was the Mom look that could freeze water at thirty paces.

“Sit down. Whatever you do, don’t react to his words. Give things time to settle down.”

They were about to react when Alpha Richard’s voice echoed over the Pack bond. “This Pack meeting is called to order.” Everyone sat down, and some closed their eyes to focus better on what was said. “A lot is going on in our town and our Pack. First, let me say how proud I am of how you’ve all responded to recent events. I’m thankful that no Pack members have permanent injuries, and our preparations for any emergency saved us. A massive solar storm caused an electromagnetic pulse event. The power grid is dead, perhaps never to return. Communications are out, electronics got fried, and few vehicles can still run. We think the storm is over, along with the radiation danger. Recovery will take much longer. The particles have wiped away the ozone layer, leaving us vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation after even short exposures. As such, we need to maintain our schedule of working during the night and sleeping during the day. Keep blinds down, don’t look in the sunlight, and don’t go outside unless it is an emergency. Even then, keep yourself covered and wear UV-resistant glasses.”

The group looked around, waiting for the shoe to drop, and it didn’t take long. “As you know, the Alpha Council and this Pack have explicit restrictions on the turning of humans and the need to keep our existence secret. The punishment for this has always been death. Despite this, a Pack member has endangered all of us by his reckless action, not just once but THREE times. The first occurred while Marcus was visiting North Fork. Wolves under his command found and bit two humans, causing them to turn, and Marcus revealed his nature to the group of five young women.”

“Alpha, weren’t those women that got bit mates of the two North Fork wolves?” It was one of the elders.

“Yes, but we have a process for turning a human mate, and those wolves didn’t follow it. It wasn’t necessary to expose our werewolf nature to the others. Now, if I may.” There was a short pause. “The second time occurred on the road between North Fork and Salmon. Marcus came upon men who had killed a father and raped a mother in front of her kids. It was right for them to kill the bad guys, but they could have done it without revealing their wolf nature. As a result, we now have a human family with us that we have to deal with.”

“What about the child exposing her wolf to Abigail? Is that Marcus’s fault?” One of the young women this time.

“No, that was unfortunate; the child made a mistake, but the parents will still face sanctions after we know how it ends up. It’s another example of why we have these rules and why not following them can cause problems.” They could tell that Alpha Richard was starting to get exasperated by the questioning. “When Marcus and I went to the Clinic, we had a specific discussion about humans’ turning. He was told directly by me that this was not allowed. Marcus broke the law and Alpha command and changed them anyway. He went rogue.” Several people tried to talk; anger, outrage, and sympathy all mixed. Finally, a low growl from the Alpha caused them all to go silent again.

“It gets worse. Not only did Marcus expose our existence as werewolves to the townspeople, he bit with intent to turn every person in that clinic. We all know the problems that even a single human turn can cause if it goes bad. None of these people have mates or an Alpha to guide them. They will turn against us if we don’t stop Marcus first.” There was a general uproar at this news. “We are not a large pack. Only thirty of us could fight, while Marcus creates a personal army of over a hundred. In two days, they could wipe us out. Marcus will replace our pack with his. At sundown tonight, the warriors will gather by my house, and we will go to town and stop this madness once and for all. Wiping them out is the only option that preserves our secrets and safety. Thank you all for your attention. Now it is time to rest up for the coming night. That is an order.” They felt the Alpha Pack bond pull back from them, and they looked at each other in amazement.

“Holy shit.” Rachel looked at her brother with panic on her face. “He’s not just after Marcus.”

Reggie met her gaze. “He’s going to kill them all. Turned and not, he’s planning to wipe out the entire town.”

Rachel jumped to her feet. “I’ve got to go. I can’t stay here a minute longer than I have to.”

Reggie looked with sadness at his sister, but she was right. “Go to him as soon as you can travel. Whatever it takes, you get him and your family to safety.” She ran over and embraced him.

“I’m going too.” They all turned around to see Abigail standing. “I know when I’m not wanted. I’ll take my chances out there.”

“Me too,” said Silvia. She got up and hugged Abigail. “We can take my car. I’ll take my chances on the road. I can’t live in a place that would do this to innocent humans.”

Rachel joined their hug, tears streaming down her face. “Get the kid’s stuff ready. The car is in the garage, and we need it packed before dusk. As soon as the sun is below the mountains, we take off before anyone can stop us.” They nodded and went off to gather their meager belongings while their children kept sleeping. Rachel linked Marcus and filled him in on what happened at the meeting. “Marcus, love, I don’t even know who my father is anymore.”

Marcus sent his love back. He wanted to regret his actions, to make it all go away, but he couldn’t do that, and there was no point in wallowing in self-pity. They would have to suck it up and go with it because that was the way it was gonna be. “Drive to town as fast as you can. I’ll have Josi meet you in front of the bank. Reggie needs her safe, and she can help protect you guys on the road. She’s good at riding shotgun.”

“The car’s going to be full, Marcus.”

“Don’t worry about your possessions. Sit on each other’s laps if you have to. Just get out of town and stay safe.”

“What about you? How are you going to be safe? Come with us, Marcus.”

He paused. “You know I can’t abandon my patients, love. Don’t worry about me; I have a plan. I’ll be up at North Fork in a week or so. Please, love, do this for me. Keep Raven safe with you. I have nothing to live for without you.”

“And I have nothing to live for without you.” She closed the bond and opened the door to their bedroom; she allotted herself one suitcase to carry the essentials. The rest would wait until she could get someone to deliver it, if ever.

Tears ran down her face as she looked around the room. The life they had built here was gone. Wiping her face, she steeled herself for what was coming up. She had to get her family through this, no matter the cost.

Back in the living room, Reggie was still pacing back and forth while his mother watched in worry. He was linking his friends, lining up those people he would need to initiate the challenge. The Pack meeting had spooked them. They knew what the Alpha had planned. People were coming to him asking how they could stop it. So far, he had over a dozen who pledged to support his challenge.

He cut off the latest mind link and looked back at his Mom. She was hunched over with her face in her hands, crying as she watched her family fracture around her. He walked to the guest room, hoping she would somehow talk her mate out of this madness before it was too late.

Reaching the room, he pulled off his shirt and looked in the mirror. He knew he was strong, but he would need to be ready and rested. He closed off all links and laid down on the comforter, hoping to get a couple of hours of rest before this all went down.

He was almost asleep when the door softly opened; without opening his eyes, he knew it was Mom. She walked over to the bed and sat down. Opening his eyes, he could see the dried tears on her face and the redness of her eyes. “Mom?”

“He won’t listen to me anymore, Reggie,” she cried. In a flash, he was sitting up, taking her into his arms as she broke down emotionally. “I can’t stop it!”

He hugged her tightly until her sobs stopped. “I’ve got it, Mom. I’ll do what I have to do. I’m sorry for what it is going to do to you. I don’t want you hurt.”

“It’s too late, baby,” she whispered. “And I’m only doing what I have to do.”

Reggie didn’t have time to register the meaning before he felt a sharp poke in his neck. His mouth opened in shock, but the fast-acting sedative was already flooding his brain and shutting it down. Lisa withdrew the hypodermic needle and tossed the injector into the corner of the room. “Shhh…” She caught his weight as his muscles gave out, laying him gently back on the bed. The last thing he heard before blackness took him was his mother. “Sleep, baby. I can’t let you do this.”

She got up and locked the door as she left.

Josi paced back and forth in the front office of the clinic. The sun was going to be down in another thirty minutes, and she hadn’t heard a thing from Reggie. His link wouldn’t respond to her, no matter how hard she pushed on it.

Marcus had been gone for most of the day now. With each passing hour, the humans he had bitten were improving, with a dozen that had already woken up: she was busy caring for everyone and explaining what had happened. So far, no one freaked out. They grabbed the lifeline Marcus tossed at them.

Finally, Marcus pushed through the clinic doors, tossing off the blanket and putting the sunglasses in his pocket. He smiled as Josi ran to him and hugged him tightly. “Easy, little one, your mate might get jealous.”

“I’m not worried about that; he knows you’re an old man, even if you are my brother-in-law now.” She looked at him, noting the changes from when he left. He was carrying a Glock 19 on his hip and was wearing a mesh hunting vest with a half dozen thirty-round magazines stuffed into the pockets. She could see two barrels sticking up from the rifles on his back, recognizing the flash hiders from AR-15 sporting rifles. “Marcus? Are those for the trip to North Fork?”

“In part.” He took off one of the rifles and handed it to her, it had a Trijicon illuminated reticle scope that didn’t need batteries, so it was still working. He pulled three more magazines out of his pocket and set them on the table. He removed a 9mm Smith and Wesson M&P compact semiautomatic from his other pocket. “These are for you. As soon as the sun sets, Rachel will drive here with my family, Silvia’s family, and Abigail’s family. They will pick you up at the bank on the way through town. Get them to North Fork safe and sound for me.”

She looked down at the weapons, but then she picked up on what he didn’t say. “So what are the rest of the weapons for?”

“I’m staying here, Josi.”

“NO! He will KILL you!” She pushed him onto the couch, anger coming off of her in waves. “Reggie told me they are coming for you. You HAVE to leave.”

“I can’t, Josi. But I won’t be alone.” As he stood up, other townspeople started to make their way in the door. Dozens came in carrying duffel bags full of weapons and ammunition.

“Doc, what do you need us to do?” Deputy Robert Stevens was the highest-ranking law enforcement official left in town, but he deferred to Marcus.

“Start talking to those people who can fight or shoot. Figure out what they can comfortably do, and arm them up. When the rest get here, we will set up a defense plan. We don’t have much time.” The men nodded and started laying the armaments on the appointment desk. Patients had overheard the Alpha was coming after Marcus wanted to help. Some started picking out things they had used before.

One thing about Northern Idaho was that everyone knew how to shoot, and many had military experience. While getting weapons issued, Marcus gathered the Deputy and other experienced men around a map to talk tactics.

“First off, boys, it’s worse than I thought. I told you they were coming for me, but that’s not all.” He paused and looked down before looking him in the eyes. “I told you earlier that werewolf law was not to turn humans and not to let humans know we exist. Alpha Richard plans to kill all the people I’m turning, plus everyone in town who knows about werewolves.”

“That’s all of us! Why? We’ve known your family for generations, Marcus!” Stanley Drummond shook his head.

“It’s how things are, or at least how things used to be. Look, I told you we were a small Pack. Humans still outnumber wolves in this town, and hunters kill wolves. It may be paranoid, but it’s consistent.” He looked around, making sure to make eye contact with each one. “It’s not all Alphas that are like that. Alpha Calvin bit every surviving citizen of his town, just like I bit everyone here. We don’t have a central authority we can go to right now to resolve this, and no one is coming to help us. It is us against them, and they are coming to kill us.”

Deputy Stevens nodded. “Then we’ll be fucking ready for them.” Using the map and Marcus’ military experience, they identified likely attack lanes and defensive emplacements. Men and women started arriving at the building, all heavily armed and with serious faces. By the time everyone had assignments, they had fifty shooters to deploy on and inside the clinic and six surrounding buildings.

Marcus called them all together just before sundown. “My friends and neighbors, thank you for standing up for your town today. The people coming mean you harm, and you must fight. Humans and werewolves need each other, now more than ever.”

He waited for the murmuring to die down before continuing. “There is still a chance to fix this, to stop it before we kill each other, so I need you to give me that chance. When you are in place, get the word back to me if you spot men or wolves coming. NO ONE is to start shooting until Deputy Stevens orders it.” He looked over to the Deputy, who had an air horn in his hands. “When you hear the air horn, you shoot. Keep firing until the threat is gone. Don’t worry about me or anything else. We won’t have anyone outside. If it moves, shoot until it doesn’t. Got it?”

A chorus of “Yes, Marcus” yells came back. “One last thing. I’m going out to meet them and try to stop this.” The murmurs started up again until he raised his hand. “If they shoot me or kill me, let them. Deputy, don’t give that order to save me. I’m going to do what I have to do out there. I’m still a Werewolf, so it’s not your business. If they come past me to attack the Clinic, stop them. Got it?”

Deputy Stevens nodded and walked forward to shake Marcus’ hand. “Got it. Take care of yourself out there, Marcus.”

“You too.” Looking at the fading light around the door, he smiled at everyone one last time. “Time to take your positions, everyone. Good luck, and may God bless you.”

The people covered up and moved out of the room. Some headed back to their sniper positions in other buildings, the rest protecting the clinic. Those who couldn’t walk were still arming themselves and taking defensive positions inside. Soon Marcus was left with only Josi.

“You can’t do this, Marcus. Don’t sacrifice yourself.”

“I have to do anything I can to stop this, Josi. All of these people, all those in the Pack, they are all my friends. If I die to keep my friends from killing each other, so be it. I need you to be with my family.” He pulled her to his side. “If I die, I need you with Rachel and Raven. You’re family now.”

She pulled a towel over her head and put sunglasses on. “You get your ass up to North Fork in one piece, Doc.”

She walked out the door, not looking back. She didn’t have time to cry, no matter how much she wanted to.

“Ready?” Silvia was behind the wheel of her classic car, wearing Ray-Bans, a hooded sweatshirt, and thin gloves. Abigail was behind the driver holding a 12-gauge pump shotgun. Zach had Michelle on his lap on the other side, with Raven in the middle. The kids huddled under a thick blanket for protection from the remaining sun.

Rachel stood by the garage door, her skin covered and a Glock in a shoulder holster at the ready. She had an AR-15 waiting in the passenger seat. “Ready. As soon as the garage door opens, you fire up the engine, and I’ll jump in. Don’t stop for anyone or anything! We have one chance to make it out of here. Don’t kill them if you don’t have to. They are my friends and family, even if they will be trying to kill us.” She had the door unlocked and gripped the handle. “Three… two… one… GO!”

The door flew open as the V-8 engine roared to life. Rachel jumped in just as Silvia was flooring it. They peeled tires out of the garage and tore down the short driveway to the main road.

The Pack members gathered in the covered porches of their homes reacted instantly. Some shifted and ran towards them, while others stayed in human form but raced to cut off their escape. Silvia turned with her foot on the gas, the back of the car swerving onto the dirt road. It knocked a grey wolf into the ditch. “GO, GO, GO!” Rachel grabbed her AR-15 and shot into the ground, stopping a group of four wolves in their tracks as they started to chase them, but more were coming from every angle.

“RACHEL! We’re not going to make it to the highway!” She could see people had almost reached the cattle grate that separated their rural housing development from the main road. If they got it closed, all was lost.

Rachel spun back around and sat down. Placing the rifle down, she closed her eyes and focused inward. In her mind, she found the links connecting her to the Pack and her Alpha. She cut them.

Her scream shocked everyone in the car. Silvia looked over to see if she’d been shot, and even Abigail poked her head out quickly to see what had happened. Rachel was breathing heavily, eyes closed with the pain of the broken pack bond.

Silvia looked back to the gate. Whatever Rachel had done had affected all the other wolves as well. They were on their hands and knees, holding their heads. They did get up, but they had lost precious seconds. Those seconds made all the difference.

The old convertible caught air as it jumped over the concrete of the cattle gate. Silvia locked the brakes and spun the wheel, power sliding on the dirt road until the tires found pavement. The tires screamed out as the engine roared, and they quickly left Rachel’s home and life in the rearview mirror.

Back at the main house, Richard watched as his daughter sped away. The warriors of his pack ran back to the safety of the shade. His Beta, Ron Johnson, knelt in front of him. “Alpha? Should we pursue?”

He shook his head. “Leave her. She made her choice, and she can live with the consequences.” He looked at the setting sun was now behind the mountains. “Gather the men. We will shift and head to town to finish this.”

“NOT YET.” The voice of the Pack Elder, Diane Moonbeam, rang out over the yard. She walked across the yard, the men parting for her. Pack Elders had no official rank. They were impartial arbiters of Pack laws and traditions, and even Alphas deferred to them for certain things. Stopping before Alpha Richard’s imposing form, the five-foot-nothing great-great-grandmother looked up at the man whose diapers she used to change. “A formal challenge to your leadership as Alpha has been filed. Call the pack together, sir.”

“Very well, Elder Diane.” He sent out a mental communication, and all but one of the thirty-nine remaining members of the Salmon Pack gathered in the yard. They made their way as a group to the challenge circle. It looked like a circular oasis of grass in a formal garden. Werewolves knew better; none would walk into that circle easily.

Alpha Richard took Lisa’s hand as he walked, scanning the group for his son and not finding him. When they reached the edge, he looked around and saw no one standing opposite him. The Pack was just as confused, the young men were looking around in panic and frantically trying to mind-link with Reggie, but he was not answering.

“Elder Diane, do I have a challenger?”

“Yes.” She looked around the group. “Challenger, enter the circle.” No one moved at first, and then Lisa dropped Richard’s hand and walked to the center.

“LISA! What are you doing?” Richard fell to his knees, the realization hitting him of what she was doing. “Stop this foolishness, please!”

She looked at him with disdain. “My mate, that’s EXACTLY what I have been saying to you all night. Stop this foolishness! You can’t make your daughter a widow and order the deaths of an entire town. MADNESS! They are not our enemies, Richard. Right now, you are.”

“You are my mate! You can’t challenge me; you are our Luna, our Alpha Female!” He was starting to panic; she wasn’t bluffing.

“Actually,” Diane said, “Pack Laws contain no restrictions on who can challenge, as long as they have the support of at least 25% of the adult members.”

Lisa smiled. “Who stands with me? We can’t attack our friends, coworkers, and innocent humans. Everything changed with the solar storm, and our laws must also change. We know three wolves found their mates among the humans in the past few days, including my son. How many wolves will lose their mates if we wipe out this town?” She looked around. “Are you willing to risk our future on fears of what MIGHT happen? Or should we focus on helping the new wolves get through the change and strengthening our Pack?”

The members started to move as they talked and linked amongst themselves. Slowly, six people lined up behind her.

“Six isn’t enough,” Richard said. “Please, baby, withdraw the challenge and go home.”

“You know I can’t, Richard. Now that I am in the circle, I can only fight you or die.” She looked around. The realization slowly hit the Pack; if two more didn’t stand up for her, their Luna would die.

Four more people quickly moved behind her.

“Requirements for a challenge to the Alpha have been met,” said Elder Diane. “Alpha, you must step in the ring to fight to the death, or you can concede the challenge and the position and put yourself at her mercy.”

His shoulders slumping, Richard looked into the eyes of his mate. She met his gaze, anger blazing in her eyes. “So be it.” And he took a step.

It was just getting dark as Silvia’s car entered Salmon. They had been able to put the blanket away and take off the sunglasses. They could see what was happening.

The town was preparing for war.

Rachel scanned the rooftops; she counted over a dozen firing positions, most with scoped hunting rifles. As they approached the clinic, she could see more on the roof, in the yard, and behind vehicles in the parking lot. Marcus wasn’t responding to her link. Her eyes found Josi standing outside the bank. “Up there,” she said, pointing at the bank parking lot. A heavily armed Josi ran to the passenger door and quickly hugged Rachel. She returned the embrace, then pushed her back so she could look at her. “Where’s Marcus?”

“He’s in the Clinic.” She looked back at the building surrounded by townspeople. “He’s staying. He plans to walk out to talk to Alpha Richard. If that doesn’t work, the townspeople will stop them.”

Rachel’s face paled. “It will be a massacre! Wolves can’t fight against rifles!”

“Yes, it will be.”

Rachel looked at the young girl with concern. “What about Reggie? Have you heard from him?”

“No, he won’t answer. Why? Is he all right?”

“I don’t know, Josi. He was going to challenge the Alpha.” She looked around. “If the Pack comes, that means he lost. Marcus asked me to keep you safe, so get in.” She opened the door and motioned for her.

“No. Marcus needs me here. If Reggie loses, I have nothing left to lose. You go on; I’ll be all right.”

“No, YOU go.” Rachel grabbed the girl by the shoulders. “It’s MY mate who is in trouble here. If he stays, I stay with him. I need you to take these people to North Fork and wait for me there.”

The argument went back and forth until Silvia had heard enough. “STOP IT!” She looked at them. “We all stay. We have time; it doesn’t take that long to get there. We will go to the other end of town. We’ll leave if you don’t arrive by the time the moon is high. It’s not like we’re going to get lost! It’s the only road.”

The two women nodded to each other, then to Silvia. “I’ll be back soon,” said Rachel to Raven and the others.

“I’ll be back,” Josi added. They smiled as the car pulled away. “Come on. Marcus will be pissed, and I need you to calm him down.”

Josi was right on both counts, but it was too late. They let him think the others were already gone for North Fork, so he couldn’t force them to leave. He didn’t have authority over Josi. She took up a defensive position on the street corner.

It didn’t take long until the wolves arrived. Running in a single column, they came into town and spread out into a line, surrounding the clinic on two sides. Their sharp vision picked up the townspeople on the roofs and in the yard, and they were in no hurry to get killed.

“Marcus, what do you want us to do?” Deputy Stevens had runners going between their command post and the buildings and got reports on what they saw.

“I’m going out there. Hold fire unless attacked.” He took off his rifle and vest, unbuckled his gun belt, and left it on the table. He looked over in shock as Rachel’s rifle and pistol were set by his. “Stay here, baby. Please.”

“No.” She put her hands on his cheeks. “We get through this together, or we die together.” Her eyes dared him to disagree, but every mated male knew the look she gave him. No man was immune from it.

Dropping his shoulders, he took her hand in his and led her out the door. He looked around at the people on the rooftops, silently reminding them of his orders. The pair started walking towards the parking lot. Two wolves trotted out from the trees to meet them. One held a white shirt in its mouth and was waving it. They recognized the two wolves coming his way.

It wasn’t Reggie.

When they were across the road from them, they ducked behind some shrubs and shifted. Lisa came out with the shirt covering her to her knees, then Richard walked out next to her.

Marcus looked Richard in the eye. “Good evening, Alpha.”

Richard shrugged. “I’m not the Alpha now, Marcus. Lisa is.”

Marcus’ jaw dropped while Rachel squealed with happiness. “Mom! You found a way!” She rushed forward to embrace her mother. She was almost there when the first shot rang out.

“DIE DEMONS!” More shots rang out from a building to Marcus’ right.

Rachel dropped to the ground holding her leg, while Richard grabbed Lisa and turned to run for cover. The shots followed him; one, two, three into his broad back as he ran. He pushed her behind a stalled vehicle as he fell to his knees.

Marcus reacted instantly to the shots, running across the road and scooping Rachel up in his arms. He jumped the sidewalk just in time to see a round take his father-in-law’s head off, splattering them with blood and gore. He kept moving behind the car until they were next to his mother-in-law.

A single shot rang out, but not towards them. The next sound was a body hitting the sidewalk.

“CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE!” The Deputy’s voice yelled out from the clinic.

Marcus could hear the howls and the sounds of the wolves running to their Alpha. He looked over at Lisa; she was in shock, and her eyes were wide open and unfocused. “MOM!” She didn’t respond. “MOM! Tell them to retreat!” She didn’t move.

He looked back to see Deputy Stevens with the air horn raised above his head. “NO! CEASE FIRE!”

The wolves were closing in fast. “MOM! Stop them NOW!”

She shook her head and looked at him.

Lisa’s eyes rolled back, and she fell to the side. Marcus grabbed her, and his hand went into the mess of an exit wound below her shoulder blade. He had seen this before; he knew there was no surviving a shot through the heart. “MOM!” He pulled her to him as the bond snapped in death. The pain hit the entire Pack. Some stumbled, and many howled, their fury forward as they moved to avenge their Alphas.

Marcus let her go, then crawled to where Rachel lay on the grass. She clutched her thigh in pain. Looking past her, he saw the Pack was almost on them. Their wolves were in control, a killing machine of frightening efficiency as they thundered closer. He looked back to the clinic; the Deputy was running for the cover of their fighting positions, finger on the air horn as he prepared to unleash hell on the Pack as soon as he was out of the way.

“STOP!” The command almost shook the ground; the power behind it was a thing to behold. The Pack responded instantly; it was as if their legs no longer worked. They collapsed to the ground, exposing their necks in submission as the Alpha command blasted their ears and their minds at once. Marcus couldn’t feel it because he was no longer Pack, and neither did Rachel, but every other wolf sure did. It was the kind of raw Alpha power they had not seen before, and it came from a most unlikely source.

Josi stepped forward, dropping her rifle to the ground as she walked away from the clinic. She was almost regal in bearing; her nascent wolf had surged forward with the transfer of the Alpha position. Her eyes glowed as the new Alpha looked at her Pack. She met each of their eyes, accepting their submission to her as their leader. When done, she ordered them to retreat and sit in the woods.

As the wolves moved away to defuse tensions, Josi turned her attention to the humans. “WE ARE BETTER PEOPLE THAN THIS,” she thundered. “THERE WILL BE NO KILLING TONIGHT. WE WILL BURY THIS CONFLICT WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED OVER IT TONIGHT.”

“What about them? How can we trust the wolves,” one of the men shouted.

“How can they trust you?” Josi looked over the two groups of people. Moments before, they were ready to wipe out each other. “Haven’t enough of our friends and neighbors died already? There is nothing to be gained by fighting each other. Life will give us enough challenges on its own. Now, put down your weapons and come down here.” Turning to the Pack, she glared at them. “Take Richard and Lisa home and prepare them to meet the Moon tonight.”

“Luna? How many men should I leave to protect you?”

Josi smiled. “I don’t need protection, Ron.” She looked at her Beta. “Where is Reggie? I expected to see him.”

“He’s still sleeping it off, Luna. Lisa drugged him last night to prevent him from challenging his father. Lisa challenged him instead. Richard ceded the Alpha position to her rather than fight his mate. We were coming with her to help the humans, not kill them. She risked her life for them.”

A tear escaped Josi’s eye for a mother-in-law she’d barely known. “Return home, Beta. I will be back before dawn.”

“Yes, Luna.” He called forward a dozen men who shifted. One of the wolves at the back had run up with shorts, so they didn’t freak out the humans too much. The men gently lifted the bodies of the former Alpha pair and carried them off.

Josi turned to Marcus, who had placed his shirt over Rachel’s leg wound and was tightening a belt around it. Deputy Stevens sent their medics out with a stretcher, and Rachel was on her way into the clinic within minutes. Marcus ran ahead to prep for surgery. Rachel would heal quickly from the wound if blood loss didn’t kill her first.

When the area was clear, Josi turned and waved the humans over to the picnic area on the dried-out lawn. Deputy Stevens sat across from her as her wolf finally retreated, her eyes returning to normal. “What the hell was all that, Josi?”

“My mate is Reggie, and he is the new Alpha, the new leader of our Pack. As I am his mate, the power and authority of that position passed to me as well. It’s a shock to me; my wolf wasn’t supposed to come out yet. He bit me last night, and I haven’t had the fevers yet.” She pulled down her shirt and showed off the mating bite. “My mind was suddenly full of power, full of links to the Pack. I didn’t know what was happening, but my wolf did.”

He nodded slowly. “It’s a good thing too.” He looked around them. Many people were nervous, others shaking as the adrenaline dump started to wear off. “My real question is why? Why did Richard hate us so much he was willing to kill us?”

Josi held up her hand, closed her eyes, and entered the Pack bond. Elder Diane was the one to answer. When she had finished talking over the link, Josi opened her eyes again. “Richard has never trusted humans, even as he had to live around and among them. At ten, he was out with his parents, some other Pack members, and friends. They were learning to track and hunt, running through the woods when a shot rang out. His mother dropped instantly; the bullet hit her in the front shoulder. The wolves scattered; Richard hid in a thicket and had to watch his Mom bleed out as the rest of the Pack surrounded and killed the hunter who did it.”

“Louie Baskett?”

“Yes. Louie was a poacher. Hunting wolves was illegal, but there was a black market for their pelts.”

One of the older townspeople spoke up. “I remember they blamed it on a bear, but his family knew it was wolves. When Tristan Baskett learned that werewolves were real, he put it together. That’s why he shot them tonight; he was getting revenge.” He looked over to where men were picking up his body. “Who stopped him?”

“I did.” Josi looked up, not regretting killing the third person in two days more than the first two. “Richard moved on; he never let on how much he blamed humans, not just the hunter. He was good at hiding his true feelings, even from his family. It was only through recent events we learned of his hatred and mistrust, not just of humans but of turned wolves. He considered Rachel to have a mate who wasn’t worthy of her in Marcus, and he helped guide him into being a doctor because he didn’t think he was strong enough to be a true son to him.” She paused, and another tear escaped. “When he found out his son and daughter were both mated to humans, he realized his bloodline would dilute.”

“Are all Packs like this?”

“No, Deputy, most don’t differentiate between turned and born wolves. We believe our mate is chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, and how could she make a mistake?” She looked at the men and then looked down. “Richard was furious that Marcus broke his command and turned all those people, even though it would save them. I’m sure Marcus told you about the dangers of new turns?”

“Yes,” said the Deputy, “He said that without a mate or Alpha, the wolf becomes unstable and can go crazy.”

“There is that, but Richard was also paranoid. Our Pack isn’t huge. If all the people Marcus bites make it through the change, you will be more than twice the size of ours. Richard didn’t like that threat coming up in what he considered his territory, so he moved to wipe it out before they became wolves.” She looked around at their faces; she could see the gears turning. “I’ve talked to Reggie about this already, and we don’t look at it the same way. You are friends, neighbors, coworkers, and new Pack members. We will make this work so we can live alongside our human friends.”

Deputy Stevens reached across and offered his hand; she shook it with a smile. “I’d much rather do that than fight, Josi. We need to recognize what we have in each other; if we hadn’t had wolves around, we’d be burning another hundred people tonight. We owe Marcus for saving our family members and friends.”

“And if we didn’t have humans, we’d lose something we need- new blood and ideas. The Goddess created us to live with humans, not in place of them. As a former human, I’d rather we work together.” At the thought of ‘former humans’ her face fell. “SHIT! Abigail and Silvia are still waiting for me on the north end of town.” She stood and looked around. “I have to get them and return home; we have a lot to do. Let’s meet again tomorrow over how we can cooperate and live together from this night forward. Agreed?”

“Agreed. We can meet two hours after sunset.” Deputy Stevens gave her a quick hug. “You did a good thing here today, kid.”

“Alpha.” Her eyes flashed in irritation. “I will send more people late tonight to help those undergoing the turn with the fever. Reggie will come tomorrow night as I’ll be undergoing the turn. Good luck, my friend.”

She made her way through the crowd and into the clinic; Marcus was coming out of the treatment room and was tossing the disposable gown away, then wiping the blood off his body with a towel. He felt her Alpha aura approaching before he smelled her. He turned and kneeled, exposing his neck to her. “Alpha Josi, I’m sorry it came to this.”

She put her hand on his chin, lifting it to her. “I am sorry for your loss. Is Rachel all right?”

“Yes,” he smiled. “She won’t be walking for a day, but it should heal without permanent damage.”

“That’s good. A Pack needs a good doctor for times such as these. Have you had enough of the rogue life, Marcus?”

“I have, Alpha.”

Her wolf pushed forward again, and her canines started to elongate. She used one to slice her palm open as Marcus did the same. They clasped their hands together as Marcus pledged his loyalty to their Pack. When Josi accepted him, they felt a zing through their hands, and the bond snapped into place. Marcus sat down, smiling. His wolf was pleased to be back. “And Rachel?”

“When she’s ready. I need to get the rest of the humans and return home. I need you, Beta, to stay here and look over our new Pack members. I’ll send Reggie up tomorrow; he can supervise the turns after we send our parents away.”

Marcus sighed. “Rachel and I should be there.”

The Beta nodded. “I know, Marcus, but this can’t wait. It’s tradition to burn them when the moon is high. You concentrate on your mate.”

Marcus laughed. “Yeah, that won’t work. You know how they say doctors are the worst patients? Well, nurses with doctor mates aren’t much better.”

Josi gave him a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re back, Marcus.” She turned and headed north, walking quickly through the small town. She smiled as she felt Reggie awaken, his love pushing through the bond as the Alpha power rested with him. ”Good morning, my love. Sleep well?”

“Josi? Where are you? What’s going on?”

“So many questions.” She filled him in on what had happened since his Mom hit him with the sedative.

"Holy shit, Josi.”

“I know, my love. I don’t know if we’ll ever know all the answers, but there is one that has been bothering me all night.”

“What’s that, love?”

“If I scratch you just right, can I get your back leg to whap up and down on the floor really fast?”