Dominant Species

The wolf pups tore through the open plan kitchen, the brown and white male chasing the black female as they yipped at each other. The black one took the turn around the island better than the heavier male. He skidded on the laminate flooring before slamming sideways into the big stainless steel refrigerator. “Michael! Raven!” Both pups froze at the sound. “No fur in the kitchen! Go change back and get ready for breakfast!”

The two pups changed quickly into naked little preschool humans. The young girl looked up at the adults; her hand clutched nervously to that of her playmate. “Sorry, Mom.”

The boy also looked up and said, “Sorry, Aunt Rachel.”

Rachel looked down from where she was grilling the pancakes and bacon for breakfast and smiled at them. “Go back to your rooms and get changed and washed up. Breakfast is in ten minutes.” They ran off, their sounds of “You got us in trouble” and “No, you did” echoing through the hallway as the four-year-olds went back to her room.

The back door of the dining room opened, and Mary walked in with her mate Tom. “Is Michael giving you any trouble?” She looked around then smiled, her werewolf hearing could make out their squeals in the bathroom as both got washed up.

“No more than normal. I swear I don’t know which one winds the other up, but once those two get going? They don’t stop until they collapse.” She smiled at her neighbor and sister-in-law as she walked in and started to wash up. Tom split off to see Marcus in his home office. “They have a good time, though. Too bad they are related; they are thick as thieves. I’d swear they were mates otherwise.”

Mary looked horrified. “Don’t you even TALK about mates yet! I’m not even ready for them to go to school, and you’re already trying to get them mated off!”

“They grow up so fast, don’t they?”

“Once they arrive, yeah.” Mary had gotten a late start on her family. A few months after Marcus and Rachel mated, she broke up with her long-time boyfriend and came to stay with them. Marcus did keep his sister in the dark about his new werewolf status secret for the first few months.

That stopped when Tom, a wolf in his new Pack, returned from a deployment as a Forest Service smokejumper. When he walked into their apartment, Tom’s eyes locked with Mary’s, and his wolf took over. Tom recognized her as his mate, rushed over, and grabbed her. She didn’t have a chance to react before he had her over his shoulder and out the door!

They didn’t return for two days. By then, Mary knew all about mates and werewolves and was sporting a claiming mark on her neck. When she saw Marcus again, she pulled down his collar to see where ‘Raven’ bit him. “She got you good, didn’t she,” his sister smirked.

“Not as bad as Tom scarred you up,” Marcus replied with a smirk. She smacked her older brother around for not telling her the truth.

The two humans soon settled into Pack life. Tom and Mary tried to have a child for over five years until she got pregnant with Michael. Luckily for them, Rachel got pregnant with Raven at the same time. The delay didn’t mean anything was wrong. Werewolves have long lives but low fertility rates; even healthy pairs are lucky to have babies closer than five years apart. “Do you need any help cooking?”

“Nope, it’s about done now. Can you pour the juice and milk while I plate these up?”

She nodded and moved to the fridge. “This new?” She pointed to a dent in the refrigerator at knee height.

“Yep, they were playing chase a few minutes ago. Raven is much more agile, and Michael’s fat butt couldn’t make the turn.”

Mary laughed. “He doesn’t have any fat on him. He’s not a skinny mini like your girl.” She shook her head while she got the orange juice out. “I swear these kids will break, dent, or stain every nice thing I have in the house.”

They heard an uneven set of steps coming into the kitchen, and Marcus’s strong arms encircled Rachel’s as he hugged her from behind. “Morning, love.” He kissed her cheek and buried his nose into her shoulder, taking a deep sniff while he sucked on the scar from his claiming bite ten years ago. She was a little older, her hips and breasts fuller after childbirth, but she could still take his breath away. Marcus was more in love with her every day. He moved his hands slowly across her rounded stomach to her side, then nipped at her neck.

Rachel turned in his arms and looked up at her mate’s face. She saw the glint in his eye as he looked her over and let out a frustrated moan. “Come on, honey, it’s time to eat. I know you think I’m sexy all barefoot and pregnant but wasn’t I enough for you last night?”

“You’re always enough, yet never enough. You should know that by now, love. You give me a look, and it’s like we’re like newlyweds again.” His hands moved down to squeeze her shapely butt, not caring about his sister a few feet away or his brother-in-law coming down the hall.

She smacked his hands away. “Yeah, well, you better be happy to get anything with the morning sickness and the weight gain. Once again, it’s all your fault.” He smiled at her; the bad scars on his face were much less noticeable after the change, but her bite couldn’t make him a new eye or leg. Rachel didn’t care because he was hers, and Marcus was more than she had dreamed possible. “Take the pancakes over to the table, and tell Tom to sit down before I eat his breakfast too. I’ve got a craving for bacon this morning.”

He did as she asked while linking Tom to get him to the table. “Rachel isn’t kidding about eating your bacon,” he sent him over the Pack link. As he walked in, the children ran down the hallway and climbed into their booster seats at the table. Mary helped them get settled, then helped cut their pancakes while the adults sat down.

Mary looked at her brother. “Today is clinic day up in North Fork, right?”

Marcus nodded. “Yep, every other Tuesday.” The North Fork pack was smaller than most at thirty members. Their allied Pack was located north of their neighborhood in Salmon, Idaho. “I’ve got a pregnancy to check on and the routine appointments.” Marcus’s life as the new Pack Doctor was a little more exciting than most. He served five packs in the area in addition to his own.

(Flashback)

Rachel led her mate to her father’s office in the big house on the southern outskirts of Salmon. “Come on, honey; it won’t be bad. He likes you, and he’s happy we are mated now.”

“He is, but my wolf is always nervous around the Alpha. Richard’s got five other Alphas in there with him right now. What’s going on?” He nervously squeezed her hand as they got near the double wood doors.

“I guess we’ll find out.” Rachel knocked before opening the door and pulling him inside. Her father gave her a quick hug and shook Marcus’ hand before gesturing for them to sit at the conference table.

“Alphas.” He bowed his head in submission to the gathered leaders of his new species. Marcus knew all five men, as their Packs cooperated in all things. Part of his introduction to Pack life was to visit the nearby packs.

The werewolves of the Idaho panhandle were renowned for their cooperation and conflict resolution. None could remember the last border war. It was that spirit that had brought them here today. Marcus pulled out Rachel’s chair before sitting next to her at the opposite end from her father; the other Alphas filled the chairs along the sides.

“Marcus, Rachel, we have a proposal for you.” Alpha Netters was the oldest Alpha in the group and often took the lead in discussions. “My Pack Doctor died last week, leaving only your Pack’s doctor in the area. Unfortunately, Doctor Robers already informed your Alpha that he intends to retire when he reaches sixty-five. None of our Packs have a replacement in the pipeline, and the closest Pack doctor would be up in Montana if we do nothing. That’s too far away when we have an injury or birth.” Everyone knows we cannot depend on the human medical system without risking discovery.

“We need to grow our own,” Alpha Richard said. All the Alphas looked to Marcus. “We would like you to replace him.”

Marcus looked at Rachel, then back to them. “But how? I’m a combat medic, not a doctor. I don’t know the first thing about werewolf physiology.”

“Not now, but that is something we can fix. We want to send you to medical school. With your veteran benefits and our support, a mid-tier medical school is doable. Finish your residency in the human system. When time allows, you’ll work with Doctor Roberts. He’ll teach you werewolf medicine.”

“I’m flattered, but it will take me eight years to become a Doctor in the human system.”

“We know. That is why we want you to start now.” His father-in-law, Richard Wolfe, stood and came around between them. “You know that every Pack member has a job, something that makes the Pack stronger and keeps us self-sufficient. Saving lives is in your blood. It doesn’t require two eyes; it doesn’t require you to fight. It is an important job, though. The Pack doctor ranks only below the Alpha pair and my Beta.”

Alpha Wilson nodded his head. “We will share the cost of your education among the six Packs. Each Pack you travel to will maintain a treatment room for your use. Since this is your home pack, we will use the existing clinic and surgical suite here for more serious cases.” He looked at Rachel. “Your mate will need an assistant, as Doctor Robert’s nurse is going to retire with him. Rachel, we’d like you to study nursing in the human world. You’ll be done quicker, so you can spend more time training with them before he retires.”

Marcus looked over at his mate. They had only been together for a month, but he knew he couldn’t answer for them until they had talked this out. “May we have a few moments to talk about this?”

His Alpha smiled. “Take all the time you want to talk, but give us an answer after lunch. You must apply and get accepted to medical school, and time is running out.”

The seniors of Girl Scout Troop 887 in Pocatello, Idaho, were heading out for one last hurrah. All five girls would be turning 18 in the next few months, making them too old to continue participating in Troop activities. That meant this would be the last Scout adventure together. The younger scouts were going to another site, as the river guides said conditions were too extreme for the younger ones. Josi looked around; as the leader of this rafting expedition to the North Fork of the Salmon River, she wanted this trip to go perfectly. Her mom was driving them in her Ford Excursion to the guide base. She would pick them up in two days at the downstream exit point of their camping and rafting trip.

Josi worked with an outfitting company out of North Fork on this trip; the company provided the raft, guides, and equipment. The cargo area of her Mom’s big SUV carried their clothes, packed in waterproof bags which they would tie to the center of the raft. Josi had been on this trip once with her parents, and it was a blast.

With all the snow the past winter, the river conditions were excellent. The canyons they would raft through were sheer and high as they cut through the remote area. The river was wild, hitting Class 5 rapids in some places.

Josi was looking forward to the challenge. She was athletic in build and a tomboy who loved the outdoors. Josi had shoulder-length, straight black hair she kept in a ponytail that pulled through the back of her Minnesota Vikings ballcap. Her body was toned and tanned from a life spent outside fishing, hunting, and hiking.

In the seats behind Josi and her mom, twins Britney and Bethany were texting each other despite sitting two feet apart. They looked like stereotypical California girls. Each had long and straight blonde hair, curvy bodies, and bright white smiles. They were in T-shirts and shorts, making the simple outfits look effortlessly hot.

In the third row, Cheyenne and Willow were sleeping. Those two had proven they could sleep anytime and anywhere. Cheyenne was one-quarter American Indian. She was the tallest girl at five-foot-eleven, deeply tanned, with glossy black hair that ran to the middle of her back. Cheyenne was quiet and shy, never one to lead, but was loyal and hard working. Her best friend Willow was her opposite in looks and personality. Willow was a Scandinavian blonde, only five feet tall and barely a hundred pounds. She was one of those bubbly people who knew everyone by name and got invited to all the parties. They were a terror on the volleyball courts, where they had bonded over countless seasons on school and summer teams.

The girls would return to high school in a few more weeks, where conversations would center around sports, fashion, and boys again. This weekend was about the sun, the rafting, and the fun. Josi was practically bouncing in the seat as they got closer to the river.

Her Mom pulled into the parking lot of North Fork Excursions, and Josi made sure everyone was awake and ready to go. They unloaded their gear, and the hot young guides loaded and secured them in a large raft. Mom wished them a good trip and took off for home.

The lead guide gathered them for their safety brief. Chip’s presence made the girls swoon. He was tall, deeply tanned, and had a toned chest and abs that he liked to show off. A college senior, he had spent every summer on the river since he was fourteen. He knew every rock and eddy. The girls were whispering about him, talking about how fun it would be to sneak him into the tent until their OTHER guide walked in. Rose was a buxom redhead who walked over and kissed Chip as if she owned him. Chip introduced her as the other guide and his girlfriend.

You could almost feel the mood deflating. “Oh well,” Josi said, “At least we won’t fight over him.”

The brief was comprehensive, and Josi helped keep the girl’s attention on it. River rafting was a dangerous activity, and Josi was the only one in her group with previous experience. When you go over the side in Class 4 rapids, you start to appreciate things like safety gear and throw lines. Finally, they donned their life jackets and helmets.

Most of the girls chose to wear nylon shorts and swim shirts over their bikinis, but “Killer B’s” Britney and Bethany treated any time outside as a chance to work on their tans. Rose glared at them as they stripped down to their skimpy bikinis, making sure to bend over in Chip’s direction as they put their clothes into a waterproof bag.

The girls double-checked their gear before walking the raft out to the deep calm water of the landing and climbing in. Chip gave lessons on how to paddle as a team and what commands he would be using as they floated in the calmer waters. Working together was a must to navigate the river hazards. The guide picked a line down the rapids and steered it so the raft stayed pointing downstream. The others needed to paddle forward (or backward) as he directed. They would be safe and hit the best waves if they did it right.

The late summer sun warmed their young bodies as they paddled hard to the first small set of rapids. Soon, the river dipped into a canyon, and the waves started to pick up. Josi was beaming as she looked around. The scenery was magnificent, her friends were all having a great time, and they had two more days of this left. She looked back upriver and caught a glimpse of a log home before the river dropped, and she had to focus on her paddling.

Their first afternoon was a total blast. The water raged through the canyons with insane drops and rollercoaster rapids. In the smoother water between rapids, they would talk and swim and generally find ways to annoy their guides with their antics. In one calm stretch, Britney teased Cheyenne about a boy they both liked, bragging that he’d ‘obviously’ ask her out first. Willow took offense, and without warning, she leaped across the raft and shoved Britney backward. Britney screamed as she fell into the water, then got mad when some of the girls started to paddle away. “Sorry, Brit, you looked like you were getting a little worked up.”

Willow started laughing at the edge of the raft, so Bethany grabbed the back of her life vest and pulled. She screamed as she flew out of the raft to the sound of the Killer B’s laughter. Cheyenne jumped up and tackled Bethany, taking them both into the cold river water.

Josi and the guides were the only ones left out, although Josi had taped the whole thing on her iPhone. The girls were splashing each other, and then they were teaming up to see who could dunk the others the most. Their laughter echoed in the canyon until Chip’s voice stopped it. “Girls? You might want to return to the raft before this next set of rapids.”

The girls looked downstream as the current moved them towards the next canyon entrance. The sound of the pounding river lit a fire under them. As they reached the raft, Josi linked arms with them and pulled them up into the raft. They got back in place with time to spare.

Rose had their attention now while Chip focused on lining them up for the run. “Girls, this next run is Class 4, with some parts approaching Class 5. Do EXACTLY what Chip says when he says it, and hang on with your legs. If you fall out, keep your feet downstream and your head above water, and look for a thrown line. Remember, this is the adventure you signed up for!”

The girls screamed as they hit the first hydraulic, a standing wave about five feet high that almost folded the raft in half. The bow bounced back up as Chip yelled, “Strong right, right, PULL, PULL, PULL,” as they worked to set up for the next big one. Their backs hurt, and they didn’t quite get there in time. The left side of the raft caught on a rock, causing the raft to spin and enter the rapids sideways.

It was the worst thing for Josi and Cheyenne, who were now on the lower edge. Their side of the raft dropped quickly and then stopped, but they didn’t. Josi flew off into the water, her paddle clenched in her right hand as she reached for the raft with her left. It was inches away, but it might as well have been a mile. The rolling current grabbed her and pulled her under, spinning her like she was in a washing machine. She lost her paddle as she fought to catch a breath as the waves tossed and rolled her around.

Cheyenne was tossed out but managed to grab the rope on top of the raft. She held on with a death grip as she bounced off rocks. Britney and Willow stopped paddling to pull her in.

Rose saw that Josi was still stuck in the hydraulic, the current pushing her back upstream until the falling water dunked her again. Chip frantically tried to turn the raft to point downstream again. Rose yelled out the danger, then grabbed the rescue rope. With a strong throw, the line made it.

Josi popped above water for a second, coughing out the water as she fought to breathe. When her right arm touched the rope, she grabbed it for dear life. Rose held on as the raft continued downstream and let the raft pull Josi clear of the standing wave.

Chip got everyone on the paddles again while Rose held onto the rope. Josi was coughing, but she held on to the rope while keeping her feet in front. Josi bounced off a few rocks along the way, but her head and face didn’t hit them first. The river was too wild to do anything but hang on and ride it out. She couldn’t even sit up. When a rock went between her and the boat, she let go rather than get dragged back upstream. The raft disappeared around a bend as she was carried along, her arms working hard to keep her feet pointed downstream.

Finally, the rapids ended, and she exited into a deep and calm pool. The other girls were screaming her name, watching for her to appear again from the surging rapids. They cheered when she popped out and waved that she was all right. She leaned forward and started to swim to the raft.

Then the girls started to laugh like maniacs when they saw what the river had done to her.

The tanned globes of her ass were mooning the world as she swam to the boat. It wasn’t until she was in the raft that she realized that the rapids had torn her bikini bottoms clean off. Mortified, she sank to the bottom and covered herself with her hands. Her face was beet red. Cheyenne opened up a gear bag and tossed her a pair of shorts. She quickly pulled them on as the rest of the group paddled closer to the shore.

“We’re going to stop and set up camp; it’s the best spot.” Chip aimed them towards a sandbar, above which there was a raised sand and grass area against the base of the canyon wall. The girls jumped out and helped pull the raft clear of the water as Chip tied a line to a big log caught in the rocks. While the rest of the girls were getting their gear out, Rose was checking out Josi for injuries.

“I’m all right. I’m just a little beat up.” She looked at the bruises covering her thighs and hips. Anything not protected by a helmet or lifejacket had banged off the rocks in the strong current.

Rose checked her back and head, then used a flashlight to check her pupils. “No sign of concussion. You will be sore for a while. I’d recommend staying inside the raft next time.” They both laughed. “And no flashing your ass at my boyfriend.” She walked away as Josi turned beet-red.

Twenty minutes later, the girls had the tents set up, and their guides were getting the fire started to cook dinner. The Killer B’s walked by, clearly not caring that Chip was on thin ice with the nubile young women on this trip. If Rose caught him staring at the gorgeous twins again, he’d have a long, lonely night sleeping under the raft.

“We’re going to get some tanning time in. Can you give us a yell when dinner is ready?” The twins left the campsite in the broken shadows of the canyon wall and walked into the bright sunlight closer to the river. The two set up their towels on a flat rock, and after applying more lotion, they started to take advantage of the high-altitude sun.

Josi limped over to the fire and nodded to Rose as she lowered herself to the log. “I’m sorry about them. They feed their egos on the lusty looks that guys get around them.”

Rose smiled as she used her knife to sharpen a stick. “It’s all right. Chip knows better than to touch with anything he doesn’t want me to cut off.” Chip grimaced but didn’t say anything as he fed the fire with more driftwood. Cheyenne and Willow joined the group as the dinner, hearty meat and potato stew, simmered over the fire.

“WOW, CHECK THIS OUT!” The group looked over at Bethany as she pointed up at the sky. The clear sky was no longer blue. Glowing greens and blues of light danced from horizon to horizon, at least the park of the sky they could see between the canyon walls. It was the most amazing Northern Lights display anyone had ever seen, and it was in the late afternoon sky.

“What the hell?” Cheyenne had her sunglasses on and was looking around. Our group moved closer to the water to see more of the sky. The light display was unreal.

Instead of going away, the display got more colorful and intense over the next twenty minutes. None of them could look away from it.

Then they heard Britney scream in pain.

“What’s wrong?”

“My skin… it’s burnt. I’ve never had a sunburn this bad!” The girls got up painfully and started to make their way back to the rest of the group, but they weren’t moving fast at all. Bethany had a death grip on her sister. “What’s wrong, Bethany?”

“My eyes! I can’t see! Everything has gone black!”

“Megan, this will feel a little cold at first, but it won’t hurt you, alright?” Marcus spread the lubricating gel over the internal ultrasound probe while he smiled at her. Megan was a young werewolf, only eighteen and newly mated. She was lucky enough to get pregnant right away. Like any first-time mother, Megan was nervous, anxious, and every other “-ous” you could think of.

Marcus looked over at her mate, Al. He was seated behind her on the examining table and was holding her head in his lap. Marcus always tried to keep the female between him and the male mate; it kept the mate calmer and kept him from getting hurt as often. Males could be overly protective, especially if their females were in pain or pregnant. Marcus left the examining blanket over her stomach and thighs, her legs spread in the stirrups as he worked the probe inside her vagina.

The portable ultrasound machine kept the focus of all three as he did the exam. “See, that is your bladder… and here,” Marcus pointed to a jelly bean-like thing on the screen, “is your baby.” Megan started to cry as she watched, and Al stroked her face as he told her how much he loved them both. Marcus worked quickly, taking the needed measurements and printing a few photos. He turned on the audio. A rapid ‘whooshing’ sound filled the room. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat. Everything looks fine, you two. I’ll see you again in four weeks for your next checkup.”

He removed the probe and shut down the machine, tossing the thin plastic cover and his gloves. Reaching down, he tore off the photos and handed them to Megan. “I figured you’d want these.” She nodded, tears still streaming down her face as he took her legs down and pulled her dress back in place.

“Our little peanut is going to be a strong one.” Al helped her sit up, then moved her so her back was resting on his chest and her head was on his shoulder. He kissed her cheek, then moved down and nuzzled the mating mark where her neck met her shoulder. She shuddered; mating marks were sensitive, and the sensations were sexually arousing. She leaned her head back for a kiss, and then the lights went out.

“Stay here, please. We must have tripped a breaker.” Marcus walked out of the small exam room alone. There was almost no light since the concrete walls had no windows, and the shade covered the exam room window. He walked out of the room and noticed that all the lights were out. Walking to the desk at the front, he picked up the phone.

There was no dial tone, no clicking, no nothing. Marcus pulled out his cell phone, but it didn’t turn on. It was completely dead, yet he knew it had a full charge. He tossed it on the desk and walked to the front door. Pushing the door open, he looked around in the bright afternoon sun and froze.

The northern lights were so intense they lit up the daytime sky.

His mind revisited one of the documentaries he watched late one night while Rachel rested between rounds of sweaty, energetic mated sex.

It was a “Top Ten Extinction Events” program on Discovery Channel. You might call it “All The Ways Life Can Come To An End, And You Can’t Do A Damn Thing About It.” Supervolcanoes, comets, magnetic pole shifts, Global Thermonuclear War, Asteroid Strikes, and EMP attacks were all featured.

The section on Electromagnetic Pulse events came to mind. Whether from a natural event like a solar flare or a high-altitude nuclear attack didn’t matter. The electromagnetic pulse wiped out power plants, electric lines, and electronics in a millisecond. Without power, society would be tossed back to the days before electricity, without the knowledge or equipment to live that way. It also destroyed the ozone layer, the shield protecting us from solar radiation.

A sudden loss of power, destruction of electronics, and a sky like this? It all fit, even though his mind struggled to accept it. He ran back inside.

This wasn’t his Pack, so he didn’t have the Pack bond to talk to the Alpha.

Rushing back into the room, he looked over at Al. “Contact your Alpha. Tell him our country may be under attack. He needs to get everyone underground RIGHT NOW and stay there.” They all rushed out of the room, heading for the Pack safe room in the basement of the clinic and town hall. Marcus grabbed his medical bag, then followed them to the stairway.

He could see people moving towards the building through the windows. The Alpha kept his people well trained and disciplined; no one panicked, and the families stuck together. Some had even grabbed “go bags” from their houses before making their way here. He watched as Luna Kelly Pierce helped move the young ones down the stairs. Alpha Calvin made one last circuit of the small town, ensuring everyone was moving to shelter. He was the last one down the stairs before the hatchway was closed and locked down from the inside.

“What’s going on, Marcus?” Alpha Calvin’s eyes almost glowed in the near darkness. A single candle illuminated the cavernous basement room. Those with cell phones were frustrated as they tried to get them to work; none would even light up. The LED lights in the room were also dead, despite the batteries meant to keep them going for days.

“In a moment, the power is out, electronics have stopped working, and we have aurora borealis displays in the middle of the day.” He raised his voice so all could hear. “All are signs of an electromagnetic pulse. It could be a huge solar storm or a nuclear warhead that exploded hundreds of miles above us. In either case, we need to stay underground for a while.” He looked over at Megan; she was sitting on a bunk in the back. “No young children or pregnant women should leave here unless necessary. They will be more affected by radiation. Until we are sure it is safe, no one should be allowed outside during the day.”

Alpha Calvin nodded, then looked at his Pack. “No one leaves without my or Beta Donald’s permission. I want the women and children to stay near the back, where we have the most dirt and concrete above us.” He and Luna Kelly walked among them, comforting those who were scared. “We prepared for this; we practice hiding out for days in case of attack. We will get through this together. Luna Kelly will organize a kitchen and child care schedule, while Beta Donald will be in charge of setting up a rotation for lookouts and patrols. If you have any concerns, bring them to your Betas or me.” By now, he had touched or looked at every one of his forty-one Pack members. “Let’s stay busy and make the best of it.”

Once everyone had settled, he motioned for Beta Donald and Marcus to join him at a table near the stairway. Calvin looked directly at Marcus. “How bad is this going to be?”

Marcus sighed. “I don’t know. Whatever happened was bad enough to turn every computer and electronic device into a doorstop. We have these chips everywhere, from refrigerators to cars. Anything dependent on them is junk now.” He looked up at the lights. “I doubt you’ll get power back easily. Focus on simple stuff, like portable generators and well pumps. Maybe you can get something to work. Water and food are priorities. After dark tonight, you should send people out to gather all the food and water they can find. Anything perishable, cook and eat it soon. You’ve got 24 hours before stuff thaws out in the freezers.”

Calvin looked at him. “What about you?”

He grimaced. “Something like this… it’s not a local thing. It’s regional, national, and maybe even worldwide. My family is in danger, and I have to be with them.” He looked around. “You don’t have any significant medical issues here. With your permission, I’ll leave after dark tonight. I’ll see if I can find a vehicle that runs.”

Beta Donald scowled at him. “And if not?”

“Then I run.”

Donald laughed. “Blinky the Three-Legged Wolf is making a run for it?”

Marcus punched his shoulder lightly. “Yep. You didn’t see my new toy, did you?” He reached into his bag and pulled out an artificial limb made for a dog but scaled for his wolf’s size. “I’m not the fleetest of foot with it, but I can manage.”

Donald looked it over, smiling as he did so. “Knobby tire… so you’ve got four paw drive?”

“Yep. I can’t sprint, but I can keep up a good pace, especially on level ground. I’m still getting used to it.”

Calvin looked off for a moment, then smiled as the Becker twins walked up. There was a silent conversation between them before their father walked up to join them. Marcus waited patiently for the Pack conversation to end.

Finally, Calvin turned to him. “I can’t let you go without an escort. We need you to stay safe, and I don’t know what is out there waiting for you. Eric and Derek will travel back to Salmon with you; they can also carry some of your gear. They have relatives in your Pack, so they can stay there for a day and then run back.” He paused and looked at the pair of 19-year-olds. “With no other communications, runners are the only way to ensure our Packs stay safe and keep in communication. I’ll write a letter for you to take to Richard for me. It’s critical we stay united during this uncertainty.”

Marcus nodded.

After dark, several men left the shelter and spread out among the small town. None of the vehicles in town worked, so running was the only choice. Marcus went to the clinic, packing what he needed and moving supplies to the safe room. He stripped down and removed his artificial leg, stowing it all in his backpack. He then explained how the artificial dog leg worked before shifting. Eric placed it on his leg and tightened the Velcro straps before Marcus tested it in the hallway. Once he shifted into his wolf, he didn’t have any communication that didn’t involve physical gestures or wolf vocalizations since he wasn’t in their Pack. When Marcus was satisfied with the leg, he moved to the front door. The boys let him out, then stripped and shifted into their wolves- dark grey with black masks and feet. You could only tell them apart by smell or their markings, thicker on Eric’s left side and more even with Derek. With a chuff, the three started at an easy pace down the road.

Next stop, Salmon, Idaho.

“I can’t see!”

Bethany’s scream jolted Josi into action. She ran out on the sandbar, Cheyenne right behind her. Taking Bethany’s other hand, she led her back to the tents they’d set up. “Willow, open the tent and open up a sleeping bag!” She watched as Willow ran into the tent, tossing other equipment out as she made room. Bethany was crying as she walked across the sand; Josi could see she had a severe sunburn, and some areas were starting to blister already.

“Oh God, oh God, it hurts!” Brittney was just ahead of them. Since Britney could still see, they were going faster. Cheyenne helped her lay down in the tent on the right side. The whole front of her body was lobster red.

“How the fuck did this happen? They were only out there for half an hour!” Willow was looking at her in shock, carefully removing the bikini from her so it wouldn’t irritate the burns.

“I don’t know. Move aside; we’re coming in.” Josi carefully led a sobbing Bethany in the large tent. Making sure she was only touching her back, she removed her string bikini and then helped her lay down. Josi couldn’t even grab her arm because of the pain; she had to keep her hand under her armpit.

Once she settled, Josi took command as she always had in their group. “First off, everyone finds your sunglasses. WEAR THEM, even inside the tents, or cover your eyes with a shirt. Put on shirts and pants if you can, and cover as much skin as possible. Whatever happened today, that sun is something fierce. Stay out of it as much as possible.” Everyone nodded in agreement. “Willow, get water from the river and a couple of shirts. Use them to help cool off these burns. Don’t pop the blisters, and keep away from any open sores. Cheyenne, you find something to cover their eyes and then look in their bags for their sunglasses. I’m going to talk to our guides.”

She reached into her pack and grabbed her poncho. Unfolding it, she put it over her clothes with the hood over her head. Unzipping the tent, she stayed in the shadows of the canyon wall. Their guides had set up their tent well away from the girls. As she approached, it was clear why they had picked an isolated location so far away. She heard it well before she got there.

“Oh God… fuck yes… pound my ass hard! Yes! Yes!” She could see movement inside the tent as she approached. They’d left the rain flap open to give the air a chance to circulate inside. She got a great view through the mosquito netting of Chip’s muscled ass driving his dick into Rose. He had her legs wrapped around his waist while his hands held her ass off the ground.

Josi froze in place. She wasn’t innocent, but she was a virgin. She’d done some heavy petting with her previous boyfriend and watched porn on the computer, though. Seeing a live sex show wasn’t something she expected on this trip! Josi watched in fascination, taking in the horny and fit young couple just ahead of her. Despite the situation she was in, she felt herself getting flushed. She couldn’t bring herself to interrupt them, so she watched as they continued to go at it just ten feet away.

He was straining as they moved to a finish. Rose’s moans became almost continuous as she frigged herself to a climax. “Oh God, Chip! Fuck my ass harder! I’m cumming! I’m CUMMING!” She started to spasm as he pounded her faster. Finally, Chip let out a groan and drove forward hard. Holding her still in his arms, he listened to her scream as rope after rope of hot jizz shot into her ass.

Josi was at their tent now, but she moved to the side, so she wasn’t in direct view. “Guys? Get dressed. We need help.”

Rose screamed and scooted back on the sleeping bag while Chip turned around, his cock still hard and proud. He looked at Josi with lust. “Why? Do you want some of this too?”

“No.” Josi turned away from his dripping cock. “Britney and Bethany are hurt. Both have serious sunburns, and Bethany’s lost her vision. I need the first aid kit, and we need to get help here fast. Pull your shorts up and help because we haven’t much time.” She waited while the guides got clothes on, discussing how to get out of here quickly. The canyons were steep, and people were scarce. They hadn’t seen another group on the river today. Soon Chip was out of the tent, a small first aid kit in his hands. “Let me see that.”

Josi opened the kit; a glance told her it was practically useless. A collection of band-aids, an ace bandage, and a quick-ice pack. It was suited to scrapes and bumps but did nothing for burns.

Chip started to walk towards the girls’ tents. “Come on; I’ll see what I can do. I got first aid training.”

Josi laughed. “Really? We all had that in Brownies. Between us, we have plenty of experience, and the girls aren’t going to be seen this way by any man who isn’t a doctor. I’ll take care of them, but I need help. None of our phones work, and I don’t know this area.”

Rose had made it out now and was next to him. “My phone didn’t boot up; the battery must be dead. We’ll have to go get help.” She put her arm around Chip’s waist. “How far back to the landing?”

Chip thought for a moment. “We’re about eight miles downstream right now. There is a road up there on this side. If we can climb out of the canyon and get to it, we can make good time back to base. It’s four o’clock now; we should be able to jog back and make it before dark.”

Josi looked at him with concern. “Something is wrong; look at the sky! There’s no way the girls should have gotten so badly burned in so short a time.”

Rose laughed. “Girl, we’ve been out on this river all summer. We don’t burn. You girls stay together, and we’ll get help. Come on, Chip.” She returned to the tent and started to fill a backpack with bottled water and dried food.

Josi stepped in front of him. “I’m serious. Something is wrong.”

“Just take care of the girls, Josi. I got this.” With a smirk, he walked downstream a few minutes later with Rose, looking for a place they could climb out of the canyon.

Josi’s gut told her she wouldn’t see them again.

They wouldn’t listen to her, though. She turned back, first aid kit in hand, ready to tend to her friends.

Rachel was mixing brownie batter while Mary cleaned up the dining room after a late lunch. Their pups were in Raven’s bedroom for their afternoon nap. Both were exhausted after swimming in the above-ground swimming pool all morning long. It was common for them to nap together; they had been best friends for as long as they could remember. They often cuddled up for naps in human or wolf form.

“So, what do you have planned for dinner,” Mary asked. Ever since they had kids, the two families had eaten together, alternating days in each other’s kitchen. It kept the amount of cleaning down, and since they were all family, it was fun getting together. Even with their adjacent houses, they behaved like one big family. The Pack owned an expanse of land just south of Salmon that backed up to the mountains and national parks. They weren’t the biggest pack at 21 members, but they were strong. Their Alpha pair, Rachel’s parents, lived in their midst in a big Victorian house with a white picket fence. Marcus and Rachel lived across the road from them on a half-acre lot. There were now seven houses along the dead-end street.

“Marcus said he would be back late, so I’m making a venison roast and potatoes.” Rachel looked out the window and smiled wistfully. “I love him, but I sometimes wish his job wouldn’t take him away so often. You’re lucky; Tom’s firehouse is close enough that he can come home for lunch.” She smirked a little, then looked at Mary. “Or a nooner.”

Mary blushed and looked away. Busted! She had hoped Rachel wouldn’t notice that Tom had eaten lunch so fast today. They had been alone for twenty minutes before he went back to work. “Let she who has never snuck a quickie in my kitchen cast the first stone.” She tossed the washcloth over to Rachel, who caught it and rinsed it in the sink.

“Hey, that wasn’t my fault. And it worked! I got Raven out of it.” She laughed, and they were just about to their living room when the power went out. “Shit. I’ll check the breaker.” She went to the basement and found every breaker in the panel tripped. The whole thing was giving off an acrid smell. Leaving it alone, she went back up the stairs where Mary was waiting. “Let’s take the kids to your house. Maybe you still have power.”

Mary nodded and turned towards the stairs, but both froze as their Alpha’s voice blasted across the Pack bond. He had tried to call his daughter when the power went out, but when his house phone AND cell phone didn’t work, he assumed the worst. “ATTACK PROTOCOL, EVERYONE TO THE BUNKERS. ALL PACK MEMBERS REPORT HOME IMMEDIATELY. NOTIFY ME OF ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR.” The defense strategies were known and regularly practiced; although they had good relations with their neighbors and the humans, it may not always be the case. Mary and Rachel rushed upstairs, each grabbing their child. They hugged them tightly as they ran back down the stairs to their hall closet. Mary handed off Michael and pulled the hatch up that led to the bunker below their house. Once it was up, she climbed down the stairs and raised her arms to take Michael. Mary ran to a bunk, set the still sleeping boy down, and then came back to take Raven. As soon as Rachel was in, she secured the heavy steel hatch with cross bolts.

Mary retrieved a flashlight from the storage box under the bunks and placed it on the small table. Rachel contacted her father with an update. “Alpha, Mary and our boys are secure, Marcus is at North Fork, and Tom is at work.” It was too far away for Rachel to mind-link with her mate, but Tom reassured Mary he was fine. The kids cuddled up to each other on the bunk.

“Thank goodness for battery-powered LED lights.” Mary didn’t like being in the shelter; as a born human, she did not find them to be as comforting as her wolf side did. She pulled out her cellphone, figuring she could play Candy Crush to soothe her nerves, but it wouldn’t power up. “That’s funny; it was just working before I came over.”

Rachel pulled her phone out, and it didn’t work either. “Alpha, something happened to the phones. We weren’t using them, and now they won’t even power up.”

Alpha Wolfe replied, “Mine either. Can anyone get a cell phone or radio to work?” A few minutes later, the answer was a resounding NO. Tom even checked their fire department communications; none of their phones, cell phones, or radios worked. Their fire trucks would not start, nor would their garage doors open.

“Mary, I’m coming home. We can’t do anything here.” Tom kept the link open to the rest of the Pack.

“Tom, what do you see out there?”

“It’s a mess. Cars are stalled all over the roads, no one has power, and people are standing around looking up. The sky is weird. It’s like the northern lights, but it’s the middle of the day. The sun hurts my eyes, even with sunglasses on.” He paused. “Some guys think we may be under attack, a high-altitude nuclear burst or something. I’ve never seen the sky look like this; it’s freaking me out.”

There was a pause before the Alpha spoke. “Grab anything you think will be useful and get in the bunker with your family. I want everyone underground until further notice.”

Ten minutes later, Tom was at the hatch. He had grabbed a cooler out of the garage, tossed in some ice, and put all the perishable food he could into it. He lowered the cooler to Mary and then came down the ladder and embraced his mate. “I love you, Mary. I don’t know what is happening or how to keep you safe yet, but I will.”

She kissed him deeply, then took the dark sunglasses off him. She looked at him, her mouth open, trying to figure out what was happening. “Tom… how long were you outside?”

“Maybe fifteen minutes.” He looked at her quizzically. “Why?”

“You’ve got a little sunburn on your face.” She poked his cheek and watched how it took a while to return to its normal color.

“That’s impossible; Werewolves don’t get sunburnt. We heal too fast for that.” He walked over to the sink and looked in the mirror. “Huh. That’s never happened. It’s all right; I can already see it healing.” Using the bond, he warned the Pack. “The changes in the sun caused me to burn in under fifteen minutes. Alpha, we need to stay underground until it is dark.”

“Agreed. After dark, we’ll send a few out to patrol.” He cut the communication to just Tom. “Tom, if it did that to you, what is happening to the humans right now?”

He sighed. “Pain.”