Endangered Species

Everyone either froze or raised their rifles at the sound of the gunshot.

The only other motion was by Alpha Edward. He dropped the rifle, his hands going to his throat.

“Was that us?”

“Almost, but no,” Bruce replied.

Alpha Edward dropped to his knees, the blood from the gunshot pouring through his fingers. The movement exposed the gun in the Beta’s hand.

I heard howls from inside the fence, answered by howls of my Pack from behind me. I had to stop this before it became a bloodbath. I shifted back to my human form. Standing tall in the face of hundreds of armed defenders, I raised my hands above my head and let my Alpha power loose. “HOLD!!!”

My people immediately froze, along with most of the Quinalt Pack wolves. “REFRAIN,” the Beta yelled out. He was straining to remain still, with his pistol gripped tightly in his blood-spattered hand. “I don’t know how long they’ll resist the Alpha Command to kill you,” he said.

I walked up to the self-titled Supreme Alpha, lying on his back with his lifeblood draining into the ground. I projected my voice all around me. “You murdered three Alphas and refused a lawful challenge,” I said as I stood over him. “For your crimes, I sentence you to death.” I held my hand out to his Beta, and he handed over the Glock. Raising the pistol, I put a single shot through his forehead.

I heard the screams and the shock as the thousand-plus werewolves inside the fence lost their Alpha. It had to happen.

I handed the pistol back to the Beta, who took it and placed it back in his holster.

I heard a howl from behind the warriors, her vocalization filled with rage and pain. “The Luna,” someone whispered. I watched as wolves stepped aside to let a black wolf charge through. I shifted to my silver wolf, my hackles raised as I prepared to meet her challenge.

I’d had a total of maybe two hours of training fighting in my wolf form, while she might have decades. It didn’t matter; her grief and rage fueled her leap straight for my neck. I ducked under the attack, my teeth grabbing her front leg and holding on. She slammed face-first to the ground as my jaws broke her leg. I reacted quickly, moving to close my jaws on her exposed neck before she could respond. I growled for her to submit as she tore at my stomach and chest with her paws. She didn’t, and one hard shake tore her throat out.

I dropped the chunk of flesh and stepped back, watching the hate in her eyes disappear as they glazed over in death. I closed my eyes and became human again. My torso was bleeding as I faced the gathered wolves looking between me and their former Alpha pair.

The next few moments would decide if there was war or peace. I looked in the Beta’s eyes, my wolf seeking to dominate him. If he resisted my Alpha power and challenged me, I’d have to fight for my position. Since the Beta looked to be the size of a defensive end for the Seahawks, I wouldn’t stand much of a chance.

And if he didn’t challenge me, three other former Pack Betas could. They were all standing behind him with other ranked wolves.

He looked into my eyes, then lowered them. Dropping to a knee, he placed his right hand over his heart. “I, Beta Theodore Alan Lazard, pledge my allegiance to Alpha Angela Summers of the Renfro Pack.”

A dozen senior wolves behind the former Quinalt Beta dropped to a knee, submitting to me as their new Alpha. Like a wave, the Pack leadership, warriors, and lower ranks took a knee before me until all the wolves inside the base had submitted. As each joined the Pack, I felt the connections form in my head.

Just like that, it was over. Two shots, two dead, and I was in control of the Kitsap Submarine Base. “I welcome you to the Renfro Pack. Open the gate to your new Pack members. Lead Warriors and other ranks, return all weapons to the armory, then wait in the dining area. All Beta-level wolves gather around me.”

“YES, ALPHA!”

Werewolf medics came forward, cleaning the shallow wounds and super-gluing them together until my natural healing could take over. I used the Pack link to order the men and women I brought along to return their weapons to the trucks and enter the base unarmed. They were to follow the others to the dining hall. There were many smiles as they hurried to obey. Everyone knew the best fight was the one you didn’t have.

I reached out over the link to the driver of the command vehicle; it was safe to bring the Colonel up here now.

Melanie came up, carrying the bag with my clothes. When the medics finished cleaning the blood, I quickly dressed. The Beta-level wolves formed a semi-circle around me, waiting for direction.

I had to establish the chain of command early on, especially since it went Colonel to Alpha to Beta to Pack. “These are not normal times, and this will not be the type of Pack you grew up in,” I said to the gathered leadership. “I am an officer in the United States Navy, and this is a Navy base. The United States Military will not tolerate a Pack occupying a base that may contain nuclear weapons. I am pleased to retake control of this base without bloodshed. The alternative would have been your death.” I let that sink in for a moment. “Colonel Tester is on his way up to take command of the base. Per my agreement with General Payne of US Northern Command, the Pack members remaining here will operate under the Colonel’s authority and command.”

There was some grumbling at this. “We’re not in the military,” one Beta grumbled.

“You are if you remain,” I replied. “Your Alpha has sworn to obey him. You have a choice, but only until sunset tomorrow. If you cannot accept the conditions for being on this base, you can return to your homes and re-form your previous Pack. As long as you live in peace with me, I won’t bother you.”

“None of us are Alphas, ma’am,” another Beta said. “How are we to function with our Alpha pair dead?” That was interesting. The Lunas must have been killed or committed suicide after losing their mates.

I couldn’t answer that. “Perhaps the Pack lands could be auxiliary sites, run by a Beta but still reporting to you,” Melanie suggested. “It’s been done before when we lacked Alpha-blood wolves after a war.”

It was a good idea. “Those wolves who wish to return to your old Pack lands have the option of remaining in my Pack. A Beta can run the settlement under my authority. If at a later time you wish to be independent, I will cede your group to your new Alpha. That is the choice you and those who would follow you will take.”

“Can we return with the things the Alpha had us bring here?”

I nodded. “You can return your possessions, but not the weapons or supplies gathered here. Those are now the property of the United States Military.” There was some grumbling at this; the submarine base’s value derived in part from the stockpiles of weapons, food, and supplies. “This base will support the military and the submarines who return here. The Pack will provide support, security, and labor. Eventually, we will establish farms and fishing fleets needed to make this a self-sustaining base. We will do this within the military structure.”

I let them consider this for a moment. I’m sure the wolves thought they’d be replacing a despotic Alpha with a young, malleable Alpha Female who would listen to their wise counsel. That thought survived just long enough for the last of our vehicles to drive through the gate.

I noticed the Humvee command vehicle approaching. I checked my uniform, making sure I was presentable. I had the senior leaders form up in the ranks behind me. I kept Melanie on my left, as she was the only other Alpha-blood wolf remaining. Major Pullam was just behind me on the right.

The Humvee pulled to a stop in front of us. Melanie started growling, breaking ranks. “What is going ON? Stay still!”

She didn’t. The passenger door opened, and Colonel Tester stepped out.

He barely had a chance to brace himself before Melanie jumped up and wrapped her legs around him. “MATE,” she growled out possessively.

I looked over at Major Perriman, and we laughed.