Dominant Species

“Mommy, can we get out of the car and play?”

Abigail looked back at the children in the back; Autumn gave her a puppy-eye look. Fitting, she thought, for a young girl who was in the process of becoming a werewolf. She was still wearing the soft cast on her broken arm. “How does your arm feel?”

“It throbs a little, Mommy, but I can still play. I’ll be careful.”

Michelle was still asleep in the car seat, and Zach was begging to get out. “Mom, we won’t go far. We can play on the grass right there by the creek.”

Abigail looked at Silvia, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. She was still recovering from her miscarriage and didn’t have the energy to get out. “If you can watch them, that will be fine. We don’t know how long it will be until Josi and Rachel are back, and they won’t want to be cooped up in the seats that long.”

Abigail nodded. “I’ll watch them.” She opened the door and helped the two out. “I’ll let you guys play, but there are some rules.” She knelt so she could look into their eyes. “No rough play, you have to be IN MY SIGHT at all times, and you have to stay in bounds.”

“In bounds? Where?” Autumn was confused, looking around at the grass and the woods behind it.

“We’ll find out. I’m going to tell you to run, and then I’ll count to ten. Wherever you end up, that’s out of bounds. And if I tell you to run back to the car, you RUN, got me? No arguing, no delays, or you can sit in the seat buckled up.” The children nodded. “Ready? Set! GO!” The two took off down the ditch to the other side, racing across the field as she counted. “Three, two, one, STOP!” They had made it about halfway across. “NO FARTHER, AND YOU COME IF I YELL.” The two nodded and ran closer, burning off some of their energy.

“There might be a ball or something in the trunk,” Silvia said. Abigail took the keys and opened the trunk, finding a soccer ball. She kicked it to them and closed the lid. The moon was coming up; it wasn’t easy to see, but it was better than nothing.

“What do you think will happen, Silvia?”

“I don’t know.” She reclined her seat as she looked up at the stars. The Northern Lights were incredibly bright since the solar flare wiped out civilization as they knew it. “I hope they find a way to stop it, but the werewolves are much stronger than us. They are predators; they are comfortable in the dark. I feel helpless against them.” She sighed. “Then again, I owe my life to them. Most have been nothing but kind to me, to my family. I could see myself staying if they weren’t planning to wipe out humans.” She closed her eyes. “I keep telling myself that you can’t judge people by a single person, so I’m trying to keep an open mind. This Alpha up in North Fork sounds like a good man.”

“And if he’s not?”

“Then I’ll take my chances. I’ll protect my kids first, same as you will. It’s not the same world anymore. Those men who attacked me were humans. As much as I hate it, I need to be with people to stay safe. It makes me feel vulnerable, but with David gone, I have to face my new reality.”

“I don’t trust her parents, but I do trust Rachel,” Abigail said. “Believe me; I gave them plenty of cause to hurt me if they wanted.” She told them how she found out about werewolves and how she had shot a can of baked beans in the basement. Silvia’s laughter at how she described it made them both feel better.

“Marcus is a good man; I wish they were in charge of the Pack,” Silvia told her about her first impressions of him. A one-eyed, three-legged werewolf was NOT what she expected to come to her rescue.

They stopped talking when they heard whistles repeated from different places in the town. Abigail froze until she figured it out. “KIDS! BACK HERE NOW!” The two looked up, then started to run for the car. They weren’t halfway back before there was a series of loud bangs.

“Gunshots!” Silvia brought the seat up as Abigail opened the door so the kids could jump in. Abigail raced around and jumped in, firing up the classic car. Silvia looked towards the noise, trying to determine what was happening. The shots stopped, then they heard pained howls coming from the center of town. “GO!!”

Abigail dropped it into gear and floored it, peeling out of the parking area by the creek and over the bridge. They headed north as fast as they could, leaving the war and death behind them.

Beta Donald Ross was working south from North Fork on his patrol. His group owned Security, and the priority was scouting the area for threats. They couldn’t afford to be surprised.

So far, the trip had been a bust. The road coming north from Salmon didn’t have a lot of traffic before the flare. He’d passed a dozen abandoned vehicles so far and found no survivors. Some people were dead in their cars, others had tried to get to the hills, but none made it far. The radiation blinded them, and they ended up going in circles or falling. He was collecting useful items in the bag he carried on his chest while in wolf form. He hadn’t hit any jackpots yet, but he had a good collection of road flares and other items.

He could still make out the faint scent of Marcus along the ditch on one side of the road, along with the human Josi he had taken with him. He had to smile when he thought of the young woman; she was a real spitfire. The whole Pack had taken to the girls after Britney and Bethany became the mates of two of their Pack. He was trotting down the road when he suddenly stopped, realizing the scent had left. He circled back, tracking Marcus as he climbed the hill.

When he got to the top, he was more confused. The scent of Josi was strongest here, so he followed it. He found the empty shell casings when he got to the cliff edge. Worried, he followed her scent back to the road and carefully moved forward, expecting the worst.

When he got down there, the wind shifted and blew the smell of blood and rotting flesh his way. It took a few minutes to find the bodies and verify it wasn’t them. Two men had been shot dead, and one with his throat ripped out, but that wasn’t what made him growl. It was that the three men shared the scent of a woman. From the blood mixed in, she had not been with them willingly.

Rape did not happen in his society. They respected their women, and their equipment wouldn’t work for anyone else. If he ever found his mate, he vowed to protect her from bastards like these.

“WHEN we find our mate,” his wolf said to him. He shook his head; he was fifty years old, well past the age that werewolves found their mates. He had visited other packs and traveled the world, but his other half wasn’t there. He kept wondering if she had died. When he turned forty, he had given up on the search and devoted himself to protecting his extended family in his Pack.

He went back up to the road; sniffing around, he could tell there was a car involved that was no longer there. The scent of Marcus and Josi mixed with other humans, but it was faint. They had gotten in the car, he concluded.

He sat on the road and thought for a while. His joints ached; patrol was a young man’s game. It was clear to him that he would have to go to South Fork to get answers, but it was too late in the night to run there and make it back. He was about to get up when his ears picked up a noise he hadn’t heard in a while.

An engine.

Donald shrugged off the bag and shifted back to human form, his six-foot-four body slowly standing and looking down the road. He muscled from a lifetime of training and the blessings of his parent’s lines, but it wasn’t a bodybuilder’s physique. Grey hair on his temples and chest betrayed his age, along with the scars from dozens of fights and injuries. He pulled a pair of shorts out and put them on, then a shirt. Finally, he put the bag over his shoulder, keeping his right hand inside where it could grip the .44 Magnum revolver.

He smiled as he gripped the old Model 29; it was the gun you carried when you didn’t want to worry about how many shots it would take to put a man (or a bear) down.

He stood tall in the center of the road as the car approached. He linked the Alpha, who promised to send help if needed. A usable vehicle was a valuable commodity, and you never knew who would be the one to take it.

He held his left hand out in front of him in the universal signal to stop as it came closer. It slowed, then stopped, but stayed thirty yards away from him. “Smart,” he thought to himself as he let his senses seek out the danger. He could make out two women in the front seat. Two kids and a baby were in the back seat.

The baby badly needed a diaper change.

He felt himself relax, this wasn’t the threat he expected, but he forced himself to stay alert. “IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!”

The occupants didn’t move, so he started to walk forward. He stopped when he heard the slide racking on a pistol. He could see the passenger was leaning around the windshield, holding the gun with a two-handed grip. “NO, YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF!”

He let go of the pistol and brought both hands up in a position of surrender; he could smell their fear. Something else had his wolf sitting up and taking notice. “Donald Ross, from North Fork. And you?”

“Abigail and Silvia. Josi told us to come here and request asylum with Calvin.”

With that, he relaxed and gave them a huge smile. “Josi’s friends? Is she all right?” He started to walk towards them when his wolf sorted through the smells and found the one he had been looking for his entire adult life. He stumbled momentarily, they were human, but one was HIS. Dropping his bag, he ran forward to find her. He’d finally have her in his arms.

BANG!

The round hit the road just in front of him. The sound of the shot echoed through the canyon. He froze.

“NO CLOSER!”

He nodded, still holding his hands up. “I mean no harm.” It hurt to know she was so close, but the women were scared, and he knew he couldn’t push it now. “You know what we are?”

“Yes, we all do,” the driver replied. “My daughter is becoming one of you.” He sorted through the scents and could verify that.

“All right. I’m going to shift and lead you back. Follow me into town, and I’ll take you to Alpha Calvin. Please, change your daughter before we go.” He moved forward to where they wouldn’t see him naked, then shifted to his wolf and trotted back. The passenger had a baby in her arms, and he smiled as she made a face when she checked the diaper. He sat down in the center of the road, the moon casting shadows on his tan and grey fur, his eyes almost golden in the light.

Once ready, Abigail put the car in gear. Donald let out a yip and started to run. He was in a good mood; he had finally found his mate, and she was coming home.

Reggie’s first task as Alpha was somber. He stood at the entrance to their subdivision with the mates and children lining the road. They all stood as his parents came home for the last time.

The warriors who had gone to Salmon to wage war returned carrying two bodies. Reggie could see the bloodstains on them in the moonlight. The men bearing the load paused before their Alpha, eyes lowered and necks bared. No one knew what to expect from him.

Reggie pulled the first sheet down, exposing his father’s face. A sob tore from his throat as he covered him up again. He hadn’t liked what his father had become, but he was still his Dad. The loss struck him hard.

He moved to the next bundle. His hands shook as he pulled the sheet down and exposed Mom’s face. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he cupped her cheek with his hand. “Why, Mom? We were so close to having peace.” He fell on her, his arms squeezing her for the last time.

The rest of the Pack had looked away, giving him a moment of privacy. Finally, he stood and addressed them. “Richard and Lisa died for the sins of the past. There will be no vengeance, the person responsible is already dead, and it is no one else’s fault. It was the Moon’s will.” He waited while the pack settled; it wasn’t natural for werewolves to leave deaths unavenged. “My mate and your Luna were right. We are better than this. Their deaths will be the event that launches a permanent peace between our race and the human race. The Moon Goddess could not make things more obvious to us; my sister and I have found mates among humans. In the North Fork Pack, two men have found human mates and are turning them. We need each other. We will respect all people and live at peace with them.”

One of the elders stepped forward. “And if they choose to turn?”

“The Goddess gave us the power to change them if they choose. It is already happening here, and it is a good thing. Marcus saved over a hundred with the healing properties of our bites. Our Pack will grow and become stronger as a result.” He waved his arms at the mountains. “Things will never be the same; technology and government failed to save us. We can choose what comes next. Our Pack will be the start of the next society.”

He knelt back down, lifting his mother’s body in his arms and nodding to others to bring his father. “We burn them tonight when the moon is high. I need the men to prepare the pyre while the elders prepare them. Tonight, they fly to the Moon.” He walked to their house, the Pack falling in behind him as he went. “I must return to town and bring my mate home for this.”

“Alpha, do you need an escort?” The warriors gathered around him in support.

“No, there is no threat remaining. I’ll be back in an hour.” With that, he shifted into his wolf and took off to the north.

"Josi?” He sent the mental link out to her. He was uncomfortable since he wasn’t there when she came into her powers as Alpha. He had been shocked to hear it; her wolf must be strong to push forward so early in the change.

He felt her anxiety as the bond opened up to him. ”Baby, what’s wrong?”

"They’re gone.” He could feel her sadness as she gathered her thoughts. ”Abigail and Silvia and their children. When Rachel and I went to the clinic they didn’t want to be too close so I told them to wait at the edge of town. They aren’t here anymore.”

“Are they hiding somewhere?

“No, they left. I found a man who lived nearby; he heard the car driving off just after the shots fired. They must have gotten scared, figuring the battle was on."

He continued to eat up the flat ground along the river with his long strides as he neared town. ”They will be all right. They probably are heading up to North Fork. Alpha Calvin will take them in.”

She shrugged her shoulders and forced herself to accept they were gone. ”I know they will, but I had promised to keep them safe. Now I don’t know if they are.” She turned back towards town. ”I’m heading back to the Clinic. Where are you?”

“Just reaching town, love. I’ll meet you there at the Clinic. I have to check on my sister.”

“She’s going to be fine, Reggie. The shot went through and through on her leg. How are you holding up? I know how much you loved your parents, especially your Mom.”

Reggie stopped in the woods just outside town and shifted into human form. Pulling the clothes from the bag around his neck, he quickly dressed in jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers and walked into town. ”It hasn’t fully hit yet. I’ve got so much else going on. I suppose when we burn them tonight, it will seem more real to me. I’m still having trouble accepting that I’m Alpha, much less your wolf showing. It’s a lot to deal with.” He started walking past the barrels with fires lit that cast shadows on the street.

"I’ll be there in a few minutes, and I have a plan to distract you from your troubles. It’s a lot of fun, and it will take HOURS before you are panting in exhaustion at my feet.” She mentally smirked as she felt his lust coming over the bond; he wanted her again. She did too, but she wasn’t about to show how badly she wanted him inside her. “I have a Frisbee! Try not to chew it up while you’re playing fetch!”

Marcus walked out of the clinic treatment room and pulled the plastic protective smock off, wadding it up and stuffing it in a hazmat disposal bin. Most of their blood came off with it.

Not all.

He walked to the loading dock area, pulling out two pairs of fresh scrubs before returning to the treatment area and stripping. He used some wipes to clean the remainder of the blood off his body before he got dressed again. It was a reminder of how he hadn’t been able to protect his mate and how he couldn’t save his mother. He hated the feeling, but it was a feeling of helplessness he had worked through before. Sometimes, people will die, and it doesn’t matter how hard you try.

He walked back into the room where Rachel lay on fresh sheets, her leg heavily bandaged after the emergency surgery. The bullet had blasted through her thigh and nicked her femoral artery. Marcus knew that if he hadn’t been there to save her, Rachel would have died.

He sat by her head, gently moving the hair out of her face as he cleaned her face and neck of the blood that had sprayed in the air as she lay on the ground. She was still out from the surgery; the dose of sedative would wear off in an hour or two. Now that he was Pack again, he knew what would happen tonight. He had to get her home. Her parents were being sent to the Moon tonight. He had linked with Reggie and updated him on his sister’s condition. The Alpha was on his way.

Marcus sat Rachel up and finished cleaning her torso, then pulled the scrub top over her. Holding her up, he pulled the bloody sheets out of the way so he could lay her down and repeat the process on her lower body. A few minutes later, he set her on a stretcher just as Reggie arrived.

“How is she?” Reggie was a little out of breath and was still pulling on the scrub top he’d grabbed.

“Good, she’s ready to go. She should wake up in time.” Marcus moved to take one end of the stretcher while Reggie took the other, and together they moved through the deserted hallways.

“Where is everyone?” Reggie had expected to see the clinic packed with people again, but it was quiet.

“The fevers have hit, and with the threat gone, they decided it would be best to take them all outside. It’s much easier to keep them cool with the night air and the breeze.” Two men rushed to open the doors as they moved to the front. Many concerned friends and neighbors surrounded them.

“Doc, is she all right?” Deputy Stevens moved to the front of the group. He was effectively in charge of the townspeople now.

“Yes, she’ll be fine in a few days. We will take her home so she can be there for her parent’s funeral.” They set the stretcher down on the grass. The townspeople walked past, some praying over her, others comforting Marcus and Reggie.

When they finished, Deputy Stevens pulled them aside. “I’d like to speak to you about that in private with the two of you. Gladys will watch Rachel for a moment.” They went back inside the clinic where they could talk. “Doc, Reggie, I’m not sure what the protocol is on this stuff, but many of us would like to pay our respects to your parents if you would allow us to come.”

“Why?” Reggie was a little shocked at the request.

“They’ve been leading citizens in this town for decades. Everyone knows them. I know your father tried to start trouble, but they got killed trying to bring peace. We respect and honor that.”

Reggie thought about it for a moment; werewolf funerals were secretive affairs, but things had changed now that humans in the town knew about them. It was time their traditions changed as well. “We would be honored to have their friends attend. The problem is that the ceremony is in about two hours. We do it when the moon is high, so it can’t wait. I don’t think they will be able to make it out to our place in the dark in time.”

“That’s not a problem, Alpha.” He gestured at the tractor parked by the loading dock. “If you don’t mind, we could bring them out on that. It would be an easier way to get Rachel home than carrying her home in a stretcher.”

It took about fifteen minutes to get everyone loaded up; they had moved spare pillows and cushions onto the trailer so people could ride comfortably. Reggie had volunteered to drive since he could see better, and Marcus was sitting up against a hay bale with Rachel leaning back against his chest. She hadn’t awoken, but her body was starting to twitch. He knew it would be soon. Josi had joined them just before they left and was busy introducing herself to the people who had come along. The trip to Pack grounds only took them thirty minutes.

Josi and Reggie told everyone to stay put for a moment. Marcus got off, carrying his mate in his arms. His Alphas led them to the back of the house and down to the river where the pyres were. Raven broke free from her minders and ran to his side, crying as she hugged his leg and held her mom’s hand. He whispered to her as she started to come around. Instinctively she cuddled close to his chest as they walked. The humans followed behind them quietly as they walked through the Pack. Werewolves in human form that were waiting for them.

Marcus sat on a chair, holding Rachel in his arms. Reggie stood where all the guests could see him. “Tonight, we celebrate the lives and mourn the deaths of our Alpha pair. They died tonight while on a mission of peace. The man who did this is dead. There is no blame to assign or vengeance to be found.” He waited for the murmuring to quiet down. “Joining us tonight are friends and neighbors, here to pay their respects and mourn with us. As we live in peace, we will show them our traditions. Tonight they will see us honor those joining the Moon Goddess in eternal rest.”

Rachel stirred at his words. Marcus comforted her while Reggie continued. “Werewolves have always burned their dead; in part, this was a way to ensure our secret existence did not reveal itself to you, but it has a spiritual component as well. We believe that by burning the bodies, we release their spirit to the sky and start their journey to join the Moon. That is why we do it when the moon is high. We wrap their bodies in cloth, leaving their faces visible to their loved ones. The Pack members say goodbye as they come forward, placing flowers or keepsakes on their platforms to burn with them.”

Four men moved out of the garage at this time, bearing two wooden litters with the wrapped bodies. People lined each side as they slowly walked the stretchers toward the pyres, each saying their goodbyes. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as they finally reached the front, where the family waited.

Marcus sat Rachel up as her father’s body stopped in front of them. Tears flooded her face as she laid her head down on his broad chest, saying a prayer before she sat up. Marcus grieved for the man he fought with and loved deeply in their time together. Richard helped him to adapt and find a place in the Pack. For that, he was eternally grateful. Raven was sobbing as she kissed her grandfather on the cheek and whispered that she loved him.

When she sat up, her father moved to where Reggie was standing with Josi at his side. Lisa came in front of Rachel and Marcus. Emotions reached a peak as the women wailed their loss. When they sat back, Reggie came over and said his goodbyes. With a look, he told the men bearing the litters to place them on the pyre.

“Tonight, our loved ones journey to the Moon. Their spirits will forever watch over us in the night. May Luna bless and keep us all.” The pack elders came forward with lit torches, passing one to each family member and Beta. They surrounded the pyres and tossed the torches into the kindling. The wood was dry and quickly caught. The flames towered into the air, causing everyone to move back due to the heat. Pack members made their way behind the shed to disrobe and shift so as not to offend their guests, then took their places around the raging fire again as wolves.

Reggie lifted his head to the moon above and let his grief break free in a mournful howl. On his next howl, the entire Pack joined as the humans let their tears fall.

The pyre collapsed in the center as the sound echoed off the mountains, a plume of glowing embers rising towards the moon as their spirits went home.

Donald Ross was practically prancing as he led the vehicle back towards the town of North Fork. He finally found his mate! Though she was human, they would soon be together. Donald couldn’t wait to introduce himself formally, but first, he had to get them safe and relaxed. He ran his mind through the events of the last few minutes, trying to sort out what had happened. Her smell was unique but somehow familiar. His brain picked through it, isolating it from the surrounding smells, and then he realized where he’d smelled it before.

His body reacted like he’d been electrocuted.

His legs stopped working for a second, but at speed, it was enough to send him tumbling. He rolled a few times before getting up, ignoring the pain in his knees and ribs from the impact. He let out a pained howl, then started running again. His wolf wanted them back with their Pack as soon as possible.

His mate had been the one raped. It was HER blood he smelled, and somehow the decay of the men’s bodies had masked it enough that his beast hadn’t recognized it immediately.

He could sense the car speeding up as they approached the scene. It made sense that she didn’t want to be there any longer than they had to, and his wolf agreed. He started to sprint, and they kept up. When they were safely past, he slowed to a more manageable pace as he reached out over the link to Alpha Calvin. “Alpha? I’ve found people on the road. They know Josi, and she told them to request asylum with you.”

“That’s fine. Bring them in, and I’ll be waiting. Do you sense any danger?”

“No, Alpha, there are two women and three children, and they have a working vehicle. I’m leading them back now.”

He could sense Alpha Calvin’s excitement. “Working? What is it?”

“Classic convertible.”

“What kind?”

Donald laughed. “I have two families, and you’re interested in the car. I’m not sure. They wouldn’t let me get close enough to tell. They are frightened, Alpha. They were on the road last night. I came across three dead men who had raped a woman before being killed by Josi and Marcus. They must have come upon the scene when they were traveling. The women in the car didn’t let me get within ten yards of them. I got close enough, though, for the important part.”

“What was that?”

“The one they raped is my mate, Alpha. I found my mate, she’s human, and she’s hurt.”

There was silence on the bond as it was processed, then Alpha Calvin sent a wave of love and support to him. “She’s still your mate, Donald. Whatever she needs, whatever YOU need, you’ve got it. You’re going to have to be patient, though. Be her friend first.”

“You’re right, Alpha. We’re five minutes out.”

“All right, pull up in front of the motel. Luna Kelly will bring a few girls to help get them settled. Keep your distance, be friendly but not threatening, and keep your hormones under control for Luna’s sake. The last thing she needs to see is an old man with an erection following her around like a puppy.”

Donald chuffed; he knew it would be hard, but he had to control it. Literally. “Thanks, Alpha.” Cutting the link, he had a talk with his wolf about how they needed to behave to keep her from being scared. His wolf wasn’t happy; he wanted her marked and living with them but understood that she wasn’t ready. No matter what, he wouldn’t hurt their mate or her cubs.

Calvin had walked to the park they used for their nighttime meeting and eating place. Kelly came to his side; she had felt his unease over their bond. She kissed him hungrily. “What’s going on, baby?”

Alpha Calvin looked around until he spotted Willow and Cheyenne. They watched the younger children while their parents worked. He called them over, and they all sat at a picnic table. “Ladies, I need your help. Donald contacted me a few minutes ago. He found two women and four children on the road here. They said Josi sent them to me to request asylum.”

Cheyenne’s eyes got wide. “Is she with them?”

“No, but there is something else you need to know. One was raped. Donald found the bodies of the men that did it, and he verified Marcus and Josi killed them.”

Kelly’s eyes had started to glow with anger, but it muted when she heard there was no one left to kill. “Oh, Luna, the poor women.” She looked at the two human girls. “I need your help. They won’t be as threatened by you two as by werewolves, and since you are Josi’s friends, they will trust you. Come on.”

She got up, and as they started to move, Calvin took his mate’s hand and held them up. “One more complication. The woman assaulted is Beta Donald’s mate.” All three of their eyes got wide. “It’s not our place to say anything about that, but you need to know.” With that, he led them back to the parking lot just as the convertible came into sight. Donald trotted to a halt in front of his Alphas, and Kelly scratched his ears and handed him a pair of shorts she had grabbed on the way. He took them in his teeth and went behind the motel to change as the car stopped.

Alpha Calvin held his mate’s hand tightly as he smiled in welcome. The driver was looking around nervously. She hadn’t shut the car down yet, and he could see a pistol in her right hand. The passenger was just as nervous, also armed, and he could smell blood on her. There were three children in the back, a toddler was asleep in the car seat while a boy protectively held his arm over her, and a young girl with a bandaged arm was busy sniffing the air. “Welcome to North Fork, ladies. I’m Alpha Calvin Pierce, my mate Kelly, and Josi’s friends Cheyenne and Willow. My Beta has informed me you wish to have asylum here, and I grant you that. Any friend of Josi is welcome to stay here under my protection.”

The tension disappeared as he gave his promise. Abigail shut off the car.

She got out, then helped her daughter out. They walked forward and stood before the group. “Thank you, Alphas. My name is Abigail Dawson, and this is my daughter Autumn.” She shook the Alpha’s hand before Kelly pulled the two girls into a hug.

Kelly tilted her head as she took a good sniff of Autumn. “She’s been bitten?”

“Yes, there was an accident. Autumn was out playing with Raven and Michael in the yard and broke her arm. It was a compound fracture.”

Autumn held up her arm with the removable cast. “It still hurts, but Raven licked it and made it have many humans going through the changes, and we will help her through it.” The girls then introduced themselves.

While they were talking, Silvia had gotten her daughter’s car seat and was walking up with her son. Calvin repeated the introductions, then Silvia introduced her family. Calvin could tell they were all human, but the smell of blood on her was disconcerting. “Silvia, do you require medical attention? I can smell your bleeding.”

Silvia looked to the ground. “No, thank you. Rachel said the bleeding would continue for a couple of days after.” Kelly moved forward and took her in her arms as she started to cry. “After those men attacked me, I lost my baby.” She began to cry into Kelly’s shoulder.

Cheyenne moved over and took the car carrier while Willow gathered Raven, Autumn, and Zach. “Silvia, Abigail, we can take the older kids to the park. We already have a bunch of kids playing, and we’re watching them along with a few more moms.”

Silvia nodded, still sobbing, and Abigail looked at the two. “You behave! Autumn, be careful of your arm.” Willow held their hands as they walked to the park and introduced them to the other children. Abigail watched long enough to see them start playing, then turned to the Alphas. “I think we all need to talk. Can we go somewhere?”

Calvin nodded. “There are a few people I’d like to include if it is all right.” He made a mental call, and two people approached. Silvia started to shake a little, and Kelly rubbed her back to calm her down. “This is Beta Donald, who you met on the road. He’s in charge of Pack security. Beta Candice is in charge of Pack support, so anything to do with food, shelter, and clothing is her responsibility. Donald, Candice, this is Silvia and Abigail.”

Silvia stood back and nervously shook their hands after Abigail had. Donald didn’t seem as scary now as he had on the road. “Sorry for shooting at you, Donald.” She shook his hand and looked down; pleasurable tingles ran up her arm at the contact. He held on just a little longer than he should have, and when he let go, the feeling disappeared.

“It’s all right. I know you were scared.” They moved to the park to sit at a table. Using the bond, Calvin asked the Pack to respect their privacy. A few people casually moved away. “Why don’t you tell us how you came to be here and how you know Josi?”

Abigail smirked a little. “Well, I don’t know Josi as well as Silvia does. Her mate snapped Josi up and made her his when she arrived in Salmon.” The wolves’ eyes got wide. “Reggie recognized her as his mate when he got to the house. He took her into the mountains, and she came back a few hours later with a mating bite and a big smile on her face.”

“Holy shit!” Calvin sat back in shock. “That is wonderful news. Do you mind if I share it?” She shook her head no, so Calvin stood up. Everyone stopped and gave him their attention. “We have news! Our Josi arrived safely at Salmon Pack, where she met her mate- the Alpha’s heir, Reggie Wolfe! She is now mated and making the change!” There were cheers and howls from the Pack members at this news. All matings were gifts from Luna, and both people were well-liked. He sat down, and Silvia started to laugh.

“Yeah, she’s a handful, that one. They are so happy together, it’s amazing. Last I saw her, Josi told Reggie that licking his balls once didn’t mean she was taking over the job from him.”

Kelly laughed out loud. “I can see her doing that. Now, how about you start at the beginning? It’s important to us as we try to catch up on what is happening outside this town.”

With that, Abigail told her story, then a hesitant Silvia told hers. Everything was good until she got to the attack on the road and her rape.

Donald finally snapped.