Dominant Species

When they reached the bridge, it was still light enough to see easily. Working together, the men climbed the structure supporting the two-lane highway bridge over the river fifty feet below. Donald placed the charges at weak points for the girders. They strung detonation cord to connect the four charges together. The girders would shear, causing the center third of the bridge to collapse into the river below.

It had taken them twenty minutes to set the charges. Donald finished by attaching a blasting cap to the nearest charge and connecting the wires. Travis walked up the hillside on their side of the river, carefully unrolling the wire, while Donald buried the wire so sharp wolf eyes wouldn’t spot it. Travis found a sheltered space among the rocks with a good view of the bridge and valley below. There they wired the hand detonator and set it on top of a boulder. “Travis, I need you to be my eyes for this. Stay alert. They could come at any time.”

Travis nodded, eyes scanning for any activity as the night came in. “I’ve got it, Beta. I won’t let them pass.”

“Make sure everyone is kept informed. When the first Salmon wolf crosses the border at the center of the bridge, you blow the whole thing. Don’t stick around to see what happens. I want you back in the safe room.” He put his hand on the young man’s shoulder, knowing he was asking a lot of him. “Keep your head down.”

“Yes, sir.” He watched as Donald shifted back to his large wolf and took off for home. He still had a lot of work to do.

An hour later, Donald finished wiring his homemade Claymores in the streets when the warning came from Derek. “Everyone, I’ve got activity along the access road, about a mile from the bridge. I can see one wolf moving fast.”

The Alpha broke in. “This is it, folks. I want everyone in the safe room or protecting the safe room now. Travis, you’re up. As soon as you blow the bridge, you run back here.” The Pack knew this was coming, and they moved quickly to shelter. Donald finished his work and took his position up on the rooftop. He lined up the three detonators for the three different choke points in front of him.

“Donald, the first one is almost to the bridge. I can’t see anyone following yet.” Travis’ voice betrayed his nervousness. “You still want me to blow it for just one?”

“Yes, it could be an advance scout. You have your instructions; as soon as he enters our territory, you blast it.”

“OK, it won’t be long now. He’s slowing down. He’s just walking now and just reached the bridge.” You could feel the tension over the Pack bond. Few in the Pack had ever been part of a war, as the Alphas had maintained good relations for decades.

“He’s walked almost to the center of the bridge; he’s just sitting down, sniffing the air.” The wolf looked up and let out a loud howl, then shifted.

Travis was shaking as his thumb rubbed over the button. “It’s Tom!”

The news over the Pack link caused Alpha Calvin to freeze. “He shifted?”

“Yes, Alpha. He stopped at the border, howled once, and shifted. Now he’s just sitting there.” Travis looked down briefly, taking his thumb off the trigger for now. Looking back up, he saw Tom, a man he had known for years since he worked with some North Fork pack members at times, tilting his head and listening for a reply. “He’s waiting. That was a hailing howl. Should I answer?”

“Yes, see what he wants,” the Alpha replied.

Donald joined in. “Travis, don’t leave your post. Your orders haven’t changed. If he isn’t hostile, he will stay where he is until invited.”

“Yes, Beta.” Travis stood up. Keeping the detonator in his hand but his fingers off the button, he yelled back down. “TOM! REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE AND DO NOT SHIFT!”

Tom located him immediately and was shocked at the cautious reception. “Travis? What’s going on? I need to speak to Alpha Calvin immediately! Can you take me to him?”

“Why?”

“I have a message from Alpha Reggie.”

There was silence on the link for a few seconds before Alpha Calvin broke in. “Ask him what happened to Alpha Richard.” Travis passed the question along.

“He’s dead. Listen, a lot is happening now. Reggie and Josi are the Alphas, and they need your help.”

There was silence for a moment before Donald piped up. “What do you think, Boss?”

“I think you both need to stay put until I can talk to him. Travis, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Donald, keep everyone within a few minutes of the shelters in case this is a diversion. Eric, Derek, stay in place and send your mates home.”

Reggie had a lot on his mind, but concentrating was difficult while Josi had the change fever. He checked on her again, using a damp rag to cool her brow, knowing he should be elsewhere.

Sundown was rapidly approaching, and it was time to brief the messengers.

The five going to the southern Packs were easy; they would go from Pack to Pack, at least two of them always together for safety. Reggie handed each group a letter of introduction. The message summarized recent events and decisions and invited them to an Alpha Summit. He smiled as they said their goodbyes, then he went to talk to Tom.

He had the shortest run, but in some ways, it was the most crucial. They were sure that Alpha Calvin knew something about Richard’s feelings about humans, and he didn’t know about Reggie’s assumption of the Alpha position. The protocol was for the new Alpha to formally introduce himself as he visited allied Packs with his Luna, but that wasn’t happening. Josi and the other humans were still changing, and Reggie had to be here for their shifts.

“Should I get Abigail and Silvia to return with me, Alpha?” Tom’s eyes betrayed his desires; he liked the spirit that Abigail had brought and hoped he could convince her to stay in their Pack.

“You say they are welcome here, and we would love for them to return. In the end, it’s their decision.” Reggie looked out at the mountains, the stars coming out above them. “I know our kids will be disappointed if Autumn doesn’t return. Those three were thick as thieves together.”

“Yeah, I saw that. I’m glad that Autumn accepted she would change so well.” He watched as the northern lights danced across the sky; none of them had seen such a show. They covered half the sky, the colors swirling and dancing. “She should start getting the fevers soon.”

“Remind them to stay near an Alpha, whatever they decide. A young child like that making her first shift, we want it to go well.” Reggie thought for a while. “Since we don’t know what they know of what has happened here, prepare for the worst. Josi said that they knew of the danger Richard presented humans. Treat this like we are at war, and approach under a flag of truce. Stop at the Pack boundary, howl, and shift until they speak to you.”

Tom nodded. “Works for me. I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt. What a clusterfuck this last day has been.” He started to strip, placing his clothes into the saddlebags he would wear in wolf form. “What’s the latest on Rachel?”

“She’s almost cleared to leave the bed. She’s not real happy with Marcus. He wanted to give her higher doses of painkillers so she could rest, and she didn’t want to be drugged up because it might affect the baby. Both are doing fine now, he said. He wishes his ultrasound worked, but everything with the baby still sounds normal.” Tom had finished packing and shifted, and Reggie put the bag in place. “Have a good run, Tom.” The grey and white wolf yipped once, then took off at a run for the north.

Tom settled into a comfortable pace, moving along the river as he passed through Salmon and continued north. Once the riverbanks got thick, he moved to the highway. There wasn’t much to see, but the smell of rotting flesh was bad. Humans, animals, everything that had died was putrefying. It made him gag. Breathing through his mouth, he focused on his pace and his surroundings.

It wasn’t that long until he was near the bridge that marked the dividing line between the Pack territories. He hadn’t smelled any other wolves yet, but the southerly breeze would keep him from picking them up until he was right on top of them. He slowed down as he got to the bridge, then trotted until he was at the center. He sat down, then let out a loud howl. In wolf language, it was a greeting; he listened and was disappointed he didn’t hear an immediate answer. Shifting, he opened the bag, bringing out shorts and a T-shirt and putting them on.

Nothing happened for a while, but then there was a voice. “TOM! REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE, AND DO NOT SHIFT.”

“I guess that answers the question on whether they think we are hostile,” Tom thought. He looked up at where the voice came from. In the moonlight, he could make out Travis on the rocks above. He told Travis the situation and waited a bit more to get his answer; Alpha Calvin was coming to talk to him. “Fine, I’m going to sit down and have a snack then.”

“Stay on your side of the bridge, Tom. I have my orders.”

He nodded and moved back to where the bridge started, but he would remain in sight. Pulling out a water bottle and some beef jerky from his bag, he sat on the guardrail and waited.

Silvia left the safe room with the rest of the Pack members, thankful that it was over because Michelle had dropped a bomb in her diaper a few minutes earlier. “Abigail, can you take Zach with you to breakfast? I need to get her changed.”

“Sure, Silvia.” She headed for the picnic area where the kitchen help was going to set up for a pancake feed, holding Autumn in one hand as Zach took the other. Silvia moved slowly towards the hotel room; she had a small flashlight since she didn’t have the night vision the wolves had. Silvia changed her daughter and put her in fresh clothes, putting her back in the baby carrier before grabbing her diaper bag.

As she left, her flashlight illuminated the partially-open door to the adjacent room. She watched as the wind banged it against the stop, then again. “I wonder who forgot to close this?” She reached for the handle just as another wind gust blew past her. A folded sheet of paper skittered across her feet before going outside. She stomped on it, then reached down and picked it up. Setting her daughter down, she took it to the desk inside and set it down. She was turning to leave when the flashlight caught the name on the outside.

“Silvia.”

Her hands trembling, she looked at the name for a few seconds before opening it up and reading.

“My dear Silvia,

If you are reading this, I didn’t make it. Do not grieve for me. I’ve lived a good life, and I died a warrior’s death. I’d die to keep you and your children safe.

I love you. I’ve loved you since I first got your scent on the road and recognized you were my mate.”

Silvia froze, dropping the paper to the ground. She slid her back down the wall, stopping when she was sitting on the wooden floor. Mate? MATE? She knew what it was, what it meant, but she shook her head. It couldn’t be. Picking up the paper, she continued.

“Luna blessed me with you, a woman of strength and beauty, with a family I would have been proud to call my own. I only regret that I did not tell you. It wasn’t the right time to let you know we were mates. Know that everything I did from that moment was with you in mind.

I regret I’ll never know what it feels like to hold you in my arms.

I want you to be happy. Raise your family and have a good life. I have no other family, so I want you to have my house and possessions. I hope you stay here; the Alphas and the Pack will take care of you now.

Know that I died thinking of you, my love, my mate.

Donald”

Her hand went to her mouth as she stared at the words. Donald, that big, scary, lonely man who was so upset about her story? THAT Donald thought SHE was his mate.

She sat there for a few minutes composing herself, then she stood up and put the letter in the pocket of her jeans. Closing the door behind her, she picked up her daughter and went to the park.

Luna Kelly was the first to note her emotional state as she reached the tables where the Pack was starting to sit down for breakfast. “Silvia, are you all right?” She almost ran over to sit by her, her arms reaching to hug her shoulders as her new friend broke down completely. Abigail came over and took her other side, taking Michelle out of her car seat as she started to fuss. They both waited until her sobbing started to slow.

Kelly talked her through controlling her breathing, and a minute later, she could talk. “Donald. it’s Donald.”

“What? Did something happen?” Luna Kelly asked over the Pack link for Donald; he said he was fine on top of the roof. She told him to get relieved and get his butt down to the park. His mate needed him.

“No, I need to talk to him. He said some things. They CAN’T be right. It’s not possible.” She started to cry again. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a photo of her family from Michelle’s baptism. Silvia was in a long dress with her Zach on one side and her husband David on the other. Touching him with her finger, she started to wail again. Kelly held her tight and rocked her.

A few minutes later, Donald ran into the park, stopping near the picnic table as he took in the scene. His gut twisted as he felt her pain and saw her distress. Donald was a warrior for thirty years, a veteran of battles large and small, a man with no fear of death, yet watching his mate cry was ripping his heart out of his chest. He stood there, looking at his Luna and wondering what the problem was. Finally, Silvia turned and looked at him.

As soon as her watery eyes met his, the mate bond pulled him to her. Abigail got up, and Donald went to her side. She didn’t move closer but didn’t move away. He fought off his wolf’s desire to carry her away to his house and make her his.

She needed a gentler touch.

Donald extended his hand to her, both of them looking at it. It took a few seconds before she placed her hand in his. Silvia almost pulled away as a tingle moved up her arm. When she realized it was a pleasant sensation, she left it there. Somehow it felt right, even though it was so wrong.

She wasn’t over David’s death, and this felt like a betrayal of his memory. “We need to talk.” The four words every male hates to hear, the warning of an emotional minefield in a relationship.

He gulped down his thoughts and forced a smile. “Walk with me?” Silvia looked at Kelly, who promised to watch Michelle. He stood up, still holding her hand, and she looked into his eyes again before standing up with him. “We can’t go far from your children. We can walk along the river here. The Luna will keep everyone else away so we can have our privacy.”

She nodded as he led her along the path. The moon had just risen, making it a little easier for her to see. She was jealous of his wolf vision; she knew he could see everything. When they reached the river, she stopped and faced him. Dropping his hand, she almost grabbed it again, feeling a loss when letting him go. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter. “What is this?”

His eyes bugged open as he recognized it; taking a deep breath and letting it out, he took her hand back in his and looked deep into her eyes. “It’s the truth.” She looked down at the letter again. “I’m sorry, Silvia. I didn’t mean for you to find out like this. I wanted to tell you myself after I’d had a chance to get to know you.”

“Why write it at all?”

“I didn’t know what would happen tonight. If there were an attack, I would die before I let anyone hurt you. I couldn’t go into a battle without leaving the letter. I wanted to tell you how important and loved you are.”

“You’ve seen me for what, thirty minutes? We’ve barely talked. How can you be so sure?” She looked at his hand; his callused thumb was rubbing gentle circles on the back of her hand, causing a heat she’d never felt. It went all the way to her core.

“You are destined to be with me. I knew it as soon as I smelled you on the road.” She shook her head no, but he squeezed her hand and continued. “You were there when Josi found her mate, right? What happened there?”

She closed her eyes and thought about it. “They just knew. Reggie comes up and starts kissing the hell out of her.”

“That’s how it works for us. I’d have done the same if I hadn’t known about the attack. I knew you weren’t ready, so I held my wolf back.” He led them to a bench by the river and sat her next to him. “You’ve been through so much in the past few days. You’ve lost your husband, your life, and your world. I know it will take time to adjust, and I promise I’ll give you all the time you need.”

She looked out at the river for a few minutes. “What if I don’t want you?”

He froze, his wolf howling in the back of his mind. “You can reject me; it is always your choice. I will do whatever is necessary to get you to love me back.” He put his hand under her chin and gently moved her until he could see in her eyes. “I’ve waited my whole life for you, Silvia. All I ever wanted was a mate and a family. With you, I will have both. All I ask is that you give me a chance.”

“I don’t know if I can love again, Donald.” She stood up and turned away from him. “My husband’s funeral pyre isn’t even cold yet. I can’t do this.” She walked back up the path, leaving him alone on the bench. He held back until she couldn’t see or hear him, then he put his face in his hands and broke down.

Kelly had been nervously waiting for Donald and Silvia to reappear, but the waves of despair she could feel from him crushed her. When Silvia returned from the trail alone, she knew it hadn’t gone well. She tried to put on a friendly face as the mate of her close friend came to her. “Silvia, is there anything I can do to help you?”

Silvia sat next to her with a huff. “You can help me get home.”

Kelly’s mood instantly shifted, but she knew she had to maintain control. “Where is home?”

“Missoula.” She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, Kelly could see how determined she was. “My parents and brother are up there. If I can get some gasoline and food, I should be able to make it there by tomorrow night.”

“Silvia, when you came here, we promised we would help you, and we will.” She closed her eyes and sent out directions via the pack link. “We will have your car filled with gas and put a couple of extra cans in the trunk, plus we’ll pack some food and water for you. If you want to leave, you can. I don’t think it’s safe for you to be on the road alone, though.”

Silvia snorted. “I’m not taking Donald with me. I don’t need that man trying to force his way into my life. I need to get away from this for a while.”

“Is it so bad you have to leave right now?” Kelly looked around at the park. “You are safe; you have help with your baby, and your son is playing with other children. We have food and shelter, and you are welcome to stay as long as you want. Why be in such a hurry to leave?”

“I never planned to stay, Kelly. I belong at home with the rest of my family. I need to know they are all right.” She spotted Zach playing with the other children, some in each form. “Zach, we’re going back to Grandma’s. Go back to the room and pack our stuff up.” He nodded and ran off, and she got up to follow.

Kelly walked with her towards their motel room. “If I can’t talk you into staying, can I at least send someone along to keep you safe? Not Donald, but someone else?”

Silvia shook her head. “You don’t have to; I’ll be all right. I still have the firearms I brought with me, and there shouldn’t be that many people left on the road now.” She walked off to her room.

Kelly sent a mental link to Calvin, who was running down to the southern border. Getting his concurrence, she called for Mitch, one of the younger Pack warriors, to meet them. They reached the motel as Silvia knocked on Abigail’s door. She stayed outside while Abigail invited her friend in to talk.

Kelly used the time to talk over the bond. “Donald, Silvia has decided to leave tonight. She’s headed up to Missoula. She’s leaving within the hour.”

Donald’s reaction was fast and furious. “WHY? Oh, Luna, she can’t go back on the road! It’s too dangerous! Luna, you have to convince her to stay!”

“It’s too late for that, Donald. She’s going, and you’re part of the reason. The letter spooked her.”

Donald ran up to her, panic in his eyes. She moved away from the door and around the corner so they wouldn’t see him. “I know it’s dangerous, and that’s why I’m sending you. She won’t let you drive with her, so I’ll send Mitch to drive her. Meanwhile, you need to gear up and get on the road. We haven’t pushed beyond our borders to the north, so you can tell us what is out there. Run in wolf form and make sure the road is clear of danger. Whatever you do, don’t let her know you are out there. She’s scared, Donald. I can see it in her eyes.”

“She’s my MATE. She has nothing to fear from me. I’ll never hurt her.”

“She will figure that out eventually, Donald. Right now, she needs to get over the loss of her husband. Your job is to keep her safe until she’s ready.” Kelly gave him an encouraging hug. “Stay safe out there, Donald.”

“What about the Salmon Pack? I can’t leave with our Pack in danger.”

Kelly shook her head. “There is no danger. Calvin just linked me; he’s talking with Tom. It’s a long story, but Reggie and Josi are the Alphas now. They aren’t our enemy.” Kelly looked back at the parking lot; she could hear Abigail’s door opening. “Now go.” Donald ran off to pack supplies and gear and get going. He was fast, but he needed a head start over her convertible.

Kelly walked back to the front, where Silvia was opening her door. “Is Abigail going too?”

“No, she’s staying. She knows Autumn will need the Pack to help with the change.” She held up a key and a note. “She did ask me to check on her house and her family in Corvallis. I can at least let them know she is all right and where she is.” Opening the door, she grabbed the first suitcase that Zach had finished packing.

As she was packing the car, Mitch ran up. He had just turned twenty and had the rugged build of a lumberjack. “Silvia, this is Mitch.”

“Hello, Ma’am.” Mitch held his hand out, and she looked at him before shaking it.

“I’d like you to let Mitch ride shotgun with you,” Kelly said.

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I know, but an extra pair of eyes and a rifle won’t hurt if you run into trouble. You’re doing us a favor.” She looked around at the surrounding mountains. “You see how isolated we are here. We don’t know what is happening in the bigger cities or the Packs to our north. We planned to send messengers out to them anyway. He can catch a ride with you to Missoula, then run back.”

Silvia looked at them both, then nodded. “Fine, but you do what I tell you. If you don’t, I’ll leave you by the side of the road.”

“Fair enough,” Mitch said. “I need to pack my gear, and we should probably eat an early lunch before we hit the road. Leave in about an hour?”

“I suppose.” He ran off to pack, and Kelly returned to the picnic area to help set up for lunch.

After a quick lunch, they said their goodbyes. Surprisingly, it was Zach who was having the most trouble leaving. He had made friends and was sad to leave them behind. Silvia could see him holding back tears as he got in the back seat with his sister. “Mom, do we have to go?”

“Yes, baby. We need to check on Grandma and Grandpa.” As she finished securing Michelle in her car seat, Mitch came to the driver’s door. “What are you doing?”

“I’d like to drive.” She glared at him. “It makes sense. I know the roads, and my wolf vision can see better. It also leaves you free to take care of your family.” He watched as she considered it, then tossed him the keys.

“Don’t scratch it, or David will…” She froze, tears coming to her eyes as she remembered her husband and his love for this car. Choking the emotion down, she moved to the passenger side and buckled in without looking at anyone. “Let’s go.”

The classic car fired up, and Mitch pulled out of the parking lot and onto Highway 93. The Pack members waved at them as they passed, hoping she would return and take her place next to Donald. The Luna had explained things, but born wolves couldn’t understand why anyone would deny the mate bond. Who could walk away from the person made just for them?

Mitch reached out with his link. “Donald, we’re just leaving town now. How are the roads?”

His response was weak; he was near the edge of their range. “So far, so good. There are a dozen vehicles along the road, but nobody is alive. Warn Silvia to keep Zach from looking around too much. After a few days in the sun, the bodies aren’t pleasant to look at or smell.”

“I’m surprised the vultures and varmints haven’t gotten to them already.”

“The radiation did a number on more than just humans. I haven’t seen an animal alive yet.” There was a pause. “I’ve got a good pace going for an old man. How the hell did I get stuck on road duty while you get to ride in the car?”

“I guess I’m less threatening.” He felt Donald’s irritation over the link. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them.”

“You better. My family is in your hands.” Donald reached the top of a hill and started down to the river valley again after a quick sniff and scan. “How is Silvia doing?”

“She’s kind of withdrawn right now. She slipped up and mentioned her husband’s name when talking about the car, and she’s been avoiding looking at me since. Michelle is sleeping, and Zach is trying to.”

Ten minutes later, Donald made it to the next mountain pass. “Mitch, I’m just about to Sula. Have you made it to Gibbonsville yet?”

“We’re two miles out. Why?”

“Don’t stop. Tell them not to look.”

A few minutes later, Mitch understood why and was glad for the warning. The small mountain town only had fifty residents, but in the summer, tourists doubled that number. The hotel and restaurant had burned to the ground. Dead bodies were everywhere on the roads and in the parking lot. They were blinded and didn’t get far. The smell was intolerable. Mitch drove as fast as he could through the no-stop-sign town and told them when it was all right to look.

Silvia took a glance behind, seeing the destruction. “No survivors?”

“No.” Mitch squeezed the steering wheel. “I had friends there. The kids from this town went to our high school. The ground is solid rock, so none of the houses have basements. here was no place to hide when the radiation came.” He looked back at the kids who were still sleeping. “That’s the last civilization for fifty miles until we get out of the Bitterroot Mountains. If you need a nap, go ahead.”

“No, I’m good.” She looked back, verifying her kids were asleep before she looked at him. “Mitch, can you answer some questions for me?”

“Sure, I’d love to.”

“Do you have a mate?”

He looked down before his eyes went back to the road. “No, not yet. There was a girl I knew in high school. I prayed to Luna that she would be my mate. When I came of age, there was nothing. I’ve searched the other packs since then, like the others my age.”

“You have to be a certain age to recognize your mate?”

“Yes. You know we have our wolves from birth, but until you hit puberty, you don’t gain the ability to recognize the scent. The lucky ones find their other half right away. Others wait and wait. Donald had been looking for thirty-seven years; he’d given up before finding you.”

She looked at her feet and thought for a moment. “How can Donald be so sure? I was in love with my husband. He was supposed to be with me forever.”

Mitch tapped his fingers on the wheel as he thought of how to respond. “Your wolf knows immediately. It’s a gift Luna has given us so we can find each other.” He looked at her, catching her eyes. “Luna doesn’t make mistakes. Donald IS your mate. All that other stuff? I don’t know. Maybe we don’t get to know. Human love is different; you get to know someone before you love and marry them. We love our future mates because we know they will be perfect for us.”

“Other than the smell, how do you know?”

“You feel drawn to them. You and your wolf become extremely possessive and protective over them. When you touch your mate, pleasurable little shocks go through you. Your mate can sense your emotions and calm you down with a simple touch. Watching my parents, you see how connected they are. It’s what I dream of having someday, that woman who is everything to me.”

Silvia closed her eyes, thinking back to when she took his hand. Tingles had run up her arm, and she had to force herself to let go because it felt so good. Even now, she felt guilty for leaving him.

Maybe, she thought, maybe there was something to this. Then she thought about everything else going on. Silvia didn’t have time for this.

“Donald said that if I wanted to, I could reject him as a mate. What happens then?”

Mitch let out a breath slowly. “IF you were to reject him as your mate, the pull you now feel for him would go away. Since you are human, you could go on with your life as it was before.”

He didn’t say more, but she could tell he was hiding something. She thought about it for a while, then figured it out. “You said since I was human. What happens to a wolf whose mate rejects him?”

His eyes got wide, and he shook his head.

“No, Mitch, you tell me. What would happen to Donald?”

“Up until you meet your mate, you have that drive to find them. If they reject you, it’s like your mate died. A part of you dies with it. The pain of the loss can be too much; many cannot go on with no hope. If they don’t kill themselves, they waste away and die.”

Silvia mulled it over. “So I’m pushing him to suicide?”

“NO… not yet. You haven’t rejected your mate; you just haven’t accepted Donald. He and his wolf hope you will come back to him. It’s not easy, though. What you feel, it’s a thousand times stronger for him. The Alpha had to order him to stay away because his wolf didn’t want you to leave.” He looked over at her again. “Please, I’m begging you. Give him a chance. He’s a great man. He wants you and your children to be his; he will never hurt or leave you. We all know that your life has gone to shit recently, but Donald will be there to help. He’ll always be there for you.” He put his eyes back on the road, hoping she would stop talking about rejection. It pained him and his wolf to see someone tossing aside the gift of the Goddess.

It was a few minutes before Silvia spoke up again. “Would I have to become a wolf to be his mate?”

“No, you’re already his mate. I don’t know of a human who hasn’t taken a bite after finding their mate. There are many advantages; better health, longer life, strength, and sharper senses. Also, you can’t get a Pack link or mate link without being a wolf.”

“Link?”

“Yes, mental communication. It’s what allows us to communicate with each other in wolf form. With your mate, it’s more than just being able to talk into their mind and hear them. You can feel their emotions and send each other mental pictures. It’s part of what makes mates so close. Knowing their feelings means no miscommunications.”

It was a shock when Donald linked him. “OK, you guys just passed me. Don’t get too far ahead. Maybe you should stop before coming out of the mountains.”

Mitch linked right back. “You’re getting slow, old man.”

“Yeah, you try running fifty miles through the mountains when you’ve got thirty more years on you, pup.”

He drove on, leaving Silvia to her thoughts. Mitch was shocked when the driver’s side front tire blew. Hitting the brakes, he fought to steer the car to the side of the road. There wasn’t much of a shoulder, and it dropped off sharply. He let out a breath when they came to a stop, the right front tire nearly off the road. “Everyone all right?” Silvia nodded, checking her kids, and Mitch started to get out of the car.

BANG!

The shot startled them all. Mitch fell backward, blood spraying from his shoulder as he rolled on the road.

The gunshot spurred Silvia into action. Bailing out the passenger side while yelling at Zach to get down, she moved to the rear passenger door. Pulling it open, she grabbed Zach and pulled him along the floor until he was out, then popped the release for the car seat carrier and pulled Michelle out. She quickly checked both over. After satisfying herself that they weren’t hurt, she handed the seat to Zach. “Go down this hill and hide. Don’t come out until I get you. GO!” His eyes wide, he nodded and started to move down the slope.

Looking left, she saw Mitch had moved behind the car. He was still drawing fire, and his hand clutched the wound in his left shoulder.

“Can you fight?”

He nodded his head. “I can’t move my arm; shifting won’t help much.” He pulled his shirt off, wadding it up and holding it to his injured shoulder.

Silvia to the open passenger door and took the shotgun from next to the seat. She also grabbed the Glock and the extra magazines from the glove compartment. She grumbled to herself as she crawled back to Mitch. She wished they had Rachel’s AR-15 instead of the two short-range weapons she had now.

The muzzle flashes of the shooter were about fifty yards away, slightly uphill on the opposite side of the road. She handed the pistol to Mitch, knowing the shotgun was too much to use one-handed. “You protect my children. I’ll be back.”

Moving down the slope, she started to move closer to the shooter. Her ears were listening for any sound of movement, and she wished she had those enhanced wolf senses now. The shots had stopped, so she had to guess when she had gone far enough. Crawling up the hill, she hid as best she could while taking another look.

The moon dimly illuminated the roadway. She was about a hundred feet in front of her car now. She saw the man, rifle in hand, moving along the other side of the road towards it. His focus was still on her still-running car with the doors open and lights on. “COME OUT NOW, AND YOU WON’T GET HURT,” he yelled.

“Like hell,” she thought to herself. Taking the shotgun, she carefully aimed and waited for him to get close enough. When she knew she could hit him, she opened fire.

The first blast of buckshot hit him in the hip and leg, spinning him around and down. He fired a shot as he fell, but Silvia racked the action and fired again. The bright muzzle flash ruined her night vision, but she fired two more rounds where she thought he was. After four shots in five seconds, she was startled when a bullet hit in front of her face, the asphalt bits spraying her as it dug in. It was another shooter!

Silvia moved down the hill and ran towards her family to protect them. She was almost there when a man screamed in pain. A moment later, the scream was cut off by a loud growl. Ignoring the sounds, Silvia scrambled towards where her son and daughter were hiding. Hugging Zach tightly, she picked up her daughter as tears rolled down her eyes.

“Silvia, are you all right?” Mitch called from up by the car. “They’re dead.”

“Good.” She stood up, shouldering the shotgun and taking her son’s hand so she could take them back up the hill. “Thanks for taking out that second guy.”

“That wasn’t me, Silvia.”

She was shocked when a large black and tan wolf licked her arm, causing tingles that traveled to her shoulder. The giant wolf sat down, and she could see blood on his muzzle. “Donald? What the hell are you doing here?”

He started to change, so she turned away. A few seconds later, the noise of the change stopped, and he stood behind her. “I’m keeping you safe. You are all right, aren’t you?” He could smell some blood on her.

“Yes, just some cuts and bruises.” She was starting to shake from the adrenaline dump. Silvia’s mind wanted to tell him to go away, but she wanted him to comfort her too. Her mind fought the warring impulses as she set her daughter in the car, and her son got back in. Closing the rear door, she looked back at Donald, thankful that Mitch had tossed him a pair of shorts.

Tears started to flow. Donald moved to her, gathering her into his arms as her body stopped listening to her mind. His strong wrapped around her and pulled her closer. “I’ll always protect you, Silvia.” She nodded and buried her face against his broad chest.

There was nothing he wanted to do more than hold her like that forever, but Mitch couldn’t wait. “I have to help Mitch first.” He set Silvia in the car’s passenger seat, then moved to Mitch. “I don’t see an exit wound.”

Mitch nodded, gritting his teeth in pain. “I think it hit the joint. I can’t move it.” Taking his belt off, he used it to hold pressure on the shirt that was applying pressure to the wound.

Donald could see he was starting to go into shock. “Zach, step out of the car, please.” When he was out, he laid Mitch down on the big back seat, lifting his legs over the baby carrier. Going to the trunk, he pulled out some duffel bags and used them to ensure his legs stayed elevated. He covered him with a blanket as he was going into shock. “Silvia, I need to change the tire. Can you keep an eye on Mitch?” She nodded.

“Come on, Zach. It’s time for you to learn how to change a flat tire.” He led him back to the trunk, where they moved things around until they had the spare and the jack out. Donald was happy this was a classic car. The spare tire was full-sized, not the thin ones modern vehicles had.

Zach was glad to be helping instead of sitting. He was scared, and this was too much like the night his father died. Donald explained everything he was doing and let the boy do some himself; his natural curiosity and mechanical aptitude showed through. In ten minutes, they were ready to go.

Donald checked on Mitch again as Zach climbed into the center of the front seat, telling his Mom about all he had seen. Donald frowned; the bleeding had not stopped. He could see the pale skin and hear the weakness of his heartbeat. He moved around and opened Silvia’s door. “Silvia, may I have a word with you in private?”

Silvia’s heartbeat had slowed, and she no longer had the scent of fear from earlier, he noted as she got out of the car. He held out his hand to assist her, and his wolf was pleased when she took it. They both sensed the mate bond’s effect on the sensation, and although neither would mention it, they both craved it. Silvia avoided staring at Donald as they walked away from the car. His powerful chest and potent male smell were causing flutters in her stomach, feelings she wasn’t ready to deal with right now.

They stopped when Donald reached down to pick up the saddlebags he’d carried while running in wolf form. Keeping her hand in his, he knelt to be less threatening. “Silvia, Mitch isn’t doing well. He needs medical care soon. He needs to go to Salmon so Doc Marcus can see him.”

She looked out at the road ahead. “My family is out there, and so is Abigail’s. Can’t we push on and find help there?”

“We don’t know what or who is out there, Silvia. There could be more ambushes. The people may not be friendly. People will kill to get ahold of a car that still runs, and who knows what other evil is out there. Hell, the towns might not even exist.” He looked back at the car. “Mitch may not make it if we don’t find help tonight.” He could see the disappointment on her face. “We know the road is clear between here and Salmon. If we go now, we can make it to the clinic before sunrise.”

“And then what? Donald, my family needs me! Our families don’t even know we are alive!”

Donald sighed. He didn’t want to do this, but he knew it might be the only way to keep her safe. “I’ll find them. Give me what Abigail gave you for her family, and write down the name and address of your family in Missoula. I’ll run up there and do the scouting our Pack needs along the way. Meanwhile, you get Mitch back to safety in Salmon.”

“Salmon? Is that even safe?”

“Yes. Josi is now the Alpha Female of that Pack. You will be protected there.”

Silvia closed her eyes for a few minutes as she thought. “Fine. Find my family, let them know I am safe.”

Donald squeezed her hand. “I will. If they are alive, I will bring them to you.” Her eyes widened. “I don’t know what things are like for them, but we are building something good in North Fork. They are your kin, and I will treat them like my own. If bringing them to your home will keep them safe, I will do that.” He stood up and started to lead them back to the car.

They passed the man she had killed, and Silvia kicked him. “Bastard.”

“I imagine this attack has been difficult. I’m sorry you had to go through this.”

She looked back at him. “This time was different; I’ll never be a victim again. I’m not sorry about a damn thing.”

The two told Zach and Mitch the plan. Donald opened up the driver’s door for her, and she moved to get in. Just before sitting down, she looked up at him. “Donald?”

He smiled at her. To his surprise, she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.

“Thank you, Donald.” She sat down, one finger going to her tingling lips.

“Drive safe, my love.” He stood still as she turned the car around and headed back towards the mountains. When the engine sounds were gone, he packed his clothes, put on the saddlebags, and shifted into his wolf. Letting out a long howl, he continued his journey north.

Back at the Salmon clinic, the turns were starting to shift. Those who showed signs moved to a business on the outskirts of town. Reggie picked it because it was hidden from view and surrounded by an eight-foot-tall chain-link fence. Reggie walked around the grounds. There were two dozen people there now, with more coming soon. Most of the adults in his Pack were here, encouraging and monitoring them. No one went through it alone.

It took around twenty minutes for each new wolf to shift, more if they fought the change. People called Reggie as each wolf completed their first shift. He would go to them and use his Alpha influence to gain their submission. After accepting them into the Pack, they could learn how to mind-link with other Pack members. Soon, the werewolves would move around the grass, figuring out how to use their new bodies. As they did, they left out the gate to the next station where “Werewolf Boot Camp” classes were.

Reggie responded to where a small female wolf, tan with white and black mixed in, was lying on her side and panting after the change. He ran over and brought her into the pack, and when the bond opened, he realized who it was. “Welcome to the Pack, Tammy Cordoba!”

Her tongue hung out the side of her mouth as she looked up at him. She licked at his hand, and he scratched her behind the ears. “This is so cool,” she thought as she looked around with her new vision. He spent a few minutes with her until the next person shifted and he had to go. He was smiling now. There was always a risk with the change, and he was happy Marcus’ good friend had sailed through it. She left through the gate as he continued with his work.

Tammy was practically bouncing as she followed her new pack mate to the park in town where boot camp was in progress. Spotting her friend Rachel sitting in a chair, she raced for her. The stop wasn’t graceful. She didn’t slow down fast enough and ended up face planting and sliding under Rachel’s legs. Sitting up, she pressed her face to Rachel’s shoulder as her friend hugged her neck and stroked her fur. “Rachel! This is SO cool!”

Rachel laughed at her antics. “Oh Tammy, you and your wolf will be a handful! I’m so happy you are one of us now.” She pulled back, looked into her eyes, then giggled as Tammy took a wet swipe of her face with her new tongue. “Now go on, you’ve got a lot to learn, and if you stay here with me, you’ll lose your place.”

Tammy let out a yip, then spun around and raced back to the first station, which was shifting. Born wolves aren’t shy about nudity, but with them being newly turned and humans watching, they did this part within tents. Since shifting was a skill young wolves mastered, Rachel put the children to work on this station. Tammy followed Raven into the female tent, where she learned how to shift to human form and back again. Tammy was surprised it didn’t hurt after the first shift. Once she could shift at will, she went to the next station.

The rest of her night was a blur. She learned how to use her new eyesight, trained her nose to identify specific scents, and learned basic tracking skills. Mixed in were lessons on Pack hierarchy, laws, and the other Packs in the area. Lunch was amazing. Raw meat in bowls was served, which her wolf loved. It tasted better than the best steak dinner.

It was a lot to take in. The newly changed wolves had instincts that were pushing forward. As the new wolves met and interacted, they were already starting to position themselves for rank and dominance within the Pack. Rachel kept things from getting out of hand, but some fights had started. Since Tammy was a healer, the other wolves automatically granted her that status within the Pack. Her wolf preened herself a little, she may never be a warrior or a leader, but she was respected and valued for the unique skills she had. Healers were a separate line of authority, and her wolf automatically slotted herself under Rachel and Marcus.

By the end of the night, she was exhausted. All the wolves were gathered around Rachel and took their turns by rank at the water trough. Helpers brought in hunks of meat, courtesy of all the freezers in town that lost power. Everyone was chowing down. The change and the training had taken a lot of energy from them.

Now that things were calm, Rachel had allowed humans in town to start interacting with the wolves. She had ordered them to remain in wolf form to get used to it, but soon the wolves were jumping up to greet friends and family who hadn’t changed. It was fun watching the humans reacting to the new wolves. It wasn’t always easy to figure out who it was unless a Pack member let them know.

Rachel was walking with a cane along the park’s edge. Deputy Robert Stevens moved next to her, and they looked over the hundred wolves in the park together. “Rachel, it looks like everything has gone well.”

Tammy’s wolf popped her head up at the voice. Her nose sought out the source of the delicious scent that made her wolf shiver in excitement. She took another deep breath; the smell caused her to leap forward as arousal bloomed in her belly. She raced across the park, bearing down on the man as her wolf screamed “MATE MATE MATE!” in her head.

Robert had no idea what was going on. He heard the pounding of paws on the ground and reached for his Glock as the wolf charged him. He didn’t have time to clear leather before Tammy was on him. His left hand came up to protect his face, but she ducked her head under it as she knocked him on his ass. He pulled his pistol out, preparing to shoot, when he realized this wolf had something far different in mind for him.

She shifted on top of him, her naked body rubbing against him as her lips crashed down on his. He froze before something clicked in his mind. Holstering the pistol, he brought his arms around her and kissed her back with a passion he didn’t know he had. The two were oblivious to their surroundings until the whoops and catcalls got too loud to ignore.

Tammy pushed herself up, finally releasing the kiss, and with a low growl, she practically shouted, “MATE.”

Rachel laughed as she tossed a robe on top of her friend. “I kind of figured that.” She laughed at Robert as he blushed. “I think you guys should take this somewhere more private, don’t you?”

Tammy pulled the robe on and hugged Rachel. “Thank you!!” Turning back, she pulled Robert to his feet and into a hug. Kissing him deeply, they eventually turned and walked together to her home. She took the key hidden under a rock in her garden and opened the door, pulling him inside and slamming the door behind her. Tammy dropped the robe, and a feral look came in her eye as she sized up her mate. Robert was strong and handsome and wearing WAY too many clothes.

She hugged him as she pushed him into the wall, surprised at the strength she now had. Her hands were busy as her tongue plundered his mouth, undoing his belt and pants. They dropped to the floor with a thud, and his boxers soon followed. Her hand gripped his cock, gently stroking it as it strained against her. His hands were busy, unbuttoning his shirt so she could push it off his shoulders. Dropping to her knees, she continued to jack him off with her right hand while her left started to caress his swollen balls.

“Oh GOD, yes,” Robert moaned as she took him into her mouth. She sucked hard on the tip, then swirled her tongue around it before pushing it to the back of her mouth. It was long enough that Tammy could continue to move her fist along his base while her mouth ministered to the rest. She alternated long licks and swirls with taking him deep and sucking hard, and he was rapidly losing control. “I’m going to explode!” He caressed her face with his hand, looking down into her eyes. She grinned around his length and looked back down. Letting go with her hand, she gripped his firm ass cheeks and pulled forward.

“OH SHIT!” He watched in amazement as she pulled him into her throat, his cock disappearing inch by inch until her lips touched his stomach. Her throat squeezed him as his cock swelled wider, then his orgasm hit hard. Tammy let the first jet of cum shoot down her throat, then pulled back and allowed the rest to fill her mouth. She looked up at him with pride as she tasted his essence.

His legs could no longer hold him up, and he slid to the ground. Tammy released him with a soft ‘pop’ as he collapsed. Looking at him with bedroom eyes, she wiped the stray trail of jizz off her chin and brought it back to her mouth, sucking it off with a low moan. Robert was looking at her with a mixture of love, lust, and amazement.

“Come on, stud. I’m not done with that.” Pulling him up, she led him to her bedroom and pushed him onto her bed. Climbing up, she straddled his chest as he cupped her ass to pull her closer. “Get me ready while you recover.”

Smiling, he pulled her sex down to his face as she leaned forward and grabbed the headboard. It was going to be a long night.