Nancy's POV

"Nancy, can we talk on the porch for a bit?"

My stomach flipped, my heart started pounding in my chest and my mouth got dry as my body warred against itself. Shay stood in the doorway, and he took my breath away. I'd never seen an Alpha who was so physically intimidating. He had to be six-foot-nine, he had to tilt his head a little to go through the doorway. He wasn't skinny, he was muscular, his shoulders so broad they touched the doorway on both sides. His black hair hung down to his shoulders, a leather loop pulling it away from his face. He had piercing green eyes, high cheekbones, a chiseled jaw and a nose that had been broken a few times in the fighting ring. He was everything a she-wolf could ask for, and I knew what was hidden under his basketball shorts and T-shirt was just as impressive as what was exposed. He had his arms crossed across his chest, causing his biceps to bulge out while he stood there nervously.

I couldn't find the words to even respond. My wolf was going nuts in my head, spinning around in circles and sending me images of him in the process of mating with me. She loved his power, his strength, and his loyalty to his Pack and his cousin. The story of his revenge had turned her on even more.

"I'll get you some drinks," Mary said as she ran for the kitchen.

I stood there staring at him, my mouth open. "Awkward, party of one," my wolf teased. "Go to mate, he is ours," she pleaded.

I let out a breath when he turned and walked towards the door leading to the front porch. I somehow got my legs to move as I followed him. When he held the door open, I scurried through, tingles rushing down my arm as I brushed up against him on the way past. He turned to follow behind me and I flinched a little, moving quickly to stay ahead.

I hated myself right now. Here was my mate, a worthy wolf, and my body's reaction to him was to behave as if he was just like the other men; the rapists, the sadistic bastards who would hit and hurt me at will. I snuck a glance back, and his face had fallen at my reaction as well. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

"It's all right," he said. I looked at the porch; there were several comfortable chairs, and a large hanging bench with cushions. My mind wanted her own space, but my wolf wanted him next to me. I moved to the bench and sat on the farthest edge while he looked at me. I smiled quickly and patted the cushion next to me. He sat down, the bench creaking under his weight.

I could feel the heat radiating from his body, it made me feel warm and protected inside. I hid my blush from him, looking out at the trees and the mountains while I tried to figure out what to say. I couldn't speak, I couldn't look at him, and eventually he took mercy on me. "Can I tell you a little about myself?"

"I'd like that," I whispered back.

"My full name is Shay Thomas Kirkpatrick. I'm twenty-two, and I have been Alpha of the Cascade Creek pack in Washington since I turned eighteen."

"Did you take over your Pack?"

"It was handed over to me by my uncle. My family is from British Columbia, my mother was the older sister of Uncle Seamus. He lost his mate in an attack when he was twenty and she was fifteen, before they could complete the mating under the law. With no heir, he turned to me; my older brother Patrick is now Alpha of my previous Pack in Jasper. As soon as I was of age, he turned it over to me."

"Why would he do that?"

His broad shoulders slumped. "His heart just wasn't in it. I can't imagine what it was like for him, he had all the responsibility of the Pack and he knew no one was there for him to share it with. Mom says a part of him died that day and would never come back."

I knew just what he was talking about, I could see it in the eyes of all the other Lunas. They told me it was like having a part of your soul ripped from your chest, a hole that could never be filled again. "I'm sorry."

He smiled a little. "He's better now. As a former Alpha, he's able to move around a lot. He's visited Packs all around North America, even Europe. He keeps busy mediating disputes, performing ceremonies and telling stories of the old days, even though he's only forty." He laughed, making my stomach flip again. "He acts like he's this wise old Elder, but he's my Uncle Seamus, who used to give me wolf rides and taught me how to fish."

My hand had fallen to the cushion between us as we talked, and somehow his did as well. I jumped a little as his thumb brushed against mine, the contact sending pleasurable shocks up my arm. I forced myself to calm, leaving my hand there. It was comforting, even though I was still jumpy at being so near a large male. "So you grew up in Canada, eh, hoser?"

He laughed. "Yep. The Cascades aren't that different from home. It's beautiful back there- the climate is a little milder, the forests are thick and old, the mountains steep and challenging. We have plenty of game, and we are isolated from humans. It's a winding drive on a two-lane road to our little logging town, and we don't get many visitors. We have to keep track of the hikers and campers, but we still have room to run as a Pack."

"How many in your Pack?" I swallowed as his hand moved over, my fingers almost moving on their own to interlock with his. I stared down at it, watching my smaller, pale fingers among his large, deeply tanned ones. His hand dwarfed mine.

"Two hundred thirty-eight, but I have eighteen women pregnant right now. Our Pack is doing well, we own a lot of land we harvest lumber on, and we do mail-order custom furniture and cabin furnishings. Our custom shop has always done well, and we are branching out into more mass production."

I looked down at his hands, they were the hands of a man used to working with them. "What... what are your Pack laws about women?" This was a deal breaker in my book, I could never be a part of a Pack like Alpha Kendrick's.

"Our women are respected and protected," he said. "I believe in giving every wolf the chance to be whatever they can be, to rise as far as their talents and will allows. You have seen my Beta and my Warriors, but there are others back home. I have female warriors, female Betas too, but most who choose to fight are men."

I moved my fingers, causing new tingles to erupt. "Why didn't any female warriors come with you?"

He squeezed my hand gently. "Because not all Packs are like mine," he said. "Especially not Kendrick's. When I heard Kirstens Pack had been attacked by him, I feared the worst. I couldn't bear the thought of a female being captured and used in that way, so I asked for only male volunteers. I took half of my warriors and rushed here, but it was too late." His voice broke a little, and I could see a tear forming in his eye as he thought about his loss. He may be big and intimidating, but I could see the caring, sensitive male he was underneath. "But, I found you, and that is enough. I've been looking for you since I was sixteen, and I finally found you."

Now I was starting to cry. Here was a great Alpha, a strong wolf, and what he had been waiting for his whole life turned out to be a used-up pack slave who couldn't sleep for two hours straight, couldn't avoid flinching around men and had taken more cock than a Bangkok whorehouse.

Luna must have made a mistake, he deserved so much more than me. He deserved someone strong, who could stand by his side proudly. Someone who wouldn't be whispered and joked about as she passed by. Someone who didn't have all my issues, fears and behaviors. I pulled my hand back from his, instantly missing the contact. I couldn't do this to him, I couldn't weaken him and his Pack. I jumped up like I'd been shocked, and turned to face him. "You're a good man, Shay. You deserve better than me."

"No, I..." He jumped up as well, the hanging bench swaying behind him.

"I, Nancy Anne Stone, re-"

"NOOOOO!" He dropped to his knees before me. "Please, don't do this to me, don't do this to us. Give me a chance." My wolf was howling in pain at the thought of what my human side was doing, she didn't want this, she wanted her MATE and she wanted him NOW.

"I'm sorry, Shay. I'm too broken to be your mate." I ran off like the coward I was, pushing through the door and rushing past a shocked Mary and Catherine. Tears were falling down my face as I opened the door to my room; I locked it behind me and threw myself on the bed sobbing.

"Why can't I have nice things," I asked my wolf.

"You hurt our mate," she replied. "He understands, he is what we need." I pulled my pillows around me and cried myself to sleep, just like almost every other night since that bastard had ruined my life.

Catherine's POV

I had been smiling inside as I ate a late dinner with Mary, everything was looking up. I would miss the twins, but they had a Pack and a Territory and could rule together. Nancy was making progress, I had worried she'd never be able to be alone with a man again.

"They're holding hands out there," Vivian said as she went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of juice.

"Give them space, they need time together," I said. "Luna knows she deserves something good in her life." Nancy was different than the rest of us because she had been unmated when her Pack was taken; the only male attention she knew was the worst kind. The rest of us could place sex in a better context from before, while Kendrick had taken her innocence in the most public of ways.

"I pray he can find a way through her defenses," Vivian said as she sat down with a few cookies left over from dinner. "It won't be easy." None of us were in good shape mentally and we knew it. Nightmares, phobias, we could keep a shrink on staff and still not have enough. I couldn't stand having a male behind me, and I couldn't sleep unless one of my friends was in bed with me.

Vivian had just gone to put her plate in the sink when I heard the commotion from outside. Nancy pulled the door open and raced through, tears falling as she ran upstairs to her room. We looked back at the door, and I could hear Shay crying out in pain. "Go," I told Mary who was already moving. I went outside to find Shay on his knees, his hands covering his face as sobs racked his body. I moved around him and sat on the chair next to the hanging bench, waiting for him to stop.

It took a few minutes, but he dropped his hands and pulled his shirt up to wipe his face off. "Is she all right?"

"She's a long damn way from all right, we all are," I said. "What set her off?"

He got up and slumped back into a chair across from me. "I don't know, I thought things were going well. She let me hold her hand, I could feel the bond and I know she could too. We talked about my Pack, my life, and I told her how lucky I was to have finally found her. Next thing I know she's crying and she starts to reject me." He looked down at his feet. "She told me I deserve better, that she's too broken for me."

"And what do you think?"

"I love her. I'd do anything for her, and I don't want anyone else. She almost broke me when she started to say the words."

"Then wait for her. Mary said she locked herself in her room." I got up and turned to go. "She does want you, she just puts others ahead of herself because she thinks she has no worth any more. She was going to reject you because she thought that would be the best thing for you. Your job is to convince her you love her, and her past doesn't matter to you. It won't be easy."

He sighed. "Good things rarely are."

I smiled as I left. "She can't help how she reacts to males, but wolves she is all right with. Use her wolf against her." I heard him pull his clothes off then the sound of bones changing as he quickly shifted. I held the door open for the huge black wolf who trotted past, giving his head a pat as he went by. He went up the stairs and curled up in front of the locked door, his form blocking the entire hallway.

Vivian, Mary and I had to carefully step around him as we made our way to bed. We showered and climbed into bed together, finding comfort in each other as we entered our broken night of sleep.

Shay's POV

My heart was breaking for my mate as I stayed outside her room. Every time she cried out in her sleep, every sob, every sniffle broke my heart. My wolf side hadn't been satisfied with the Beta, he wanted to be covered in the blood of every male who had dared to touch what was HIS.

My human side knew that vengeance wouldn't put her back together again.

I opened my eyes as I heard her scream for someone to stop. I whined, wanting to go to her, but knowing I couldn't. I hear her move in bed, crying softly, then she went to the bathroom. I kept my head on my front paws as I listed for her to get back into bed, but instead I heard the door lock click. My head looked up, my tail wagging as the door opened and my beautiful mate stood there looking at me.

"Come on," she said, "neither one of us is getting any sleep this way." She walked to the bed and got in as I moved through and nosed the door closed. "Just stay in wolf form, all right? I don't want to freak out if I wake up again."

She held the covers up and I jumped up on the bed, working my way in so she was curled against my back and shoulders. We both calmed as the bond worked, and before I knew it we were asleep.

Ch. 12

Catherine's POV

I woke up early, something that I couldn't seem to shake. Last night was rough; Vivian had a bad nightmare about 2 am and Mary and I spent almost an hour talking and hugging her through it before she finally slept again. I was tired, but I was always tired. Habits learned in eleven years in harsh captivity don't go away in a few days. I still slept lightly, waking at any abnormal noise or shift. I still clung to my girls for comfort. I still didn't trust men.

I went downstairs where I found Abigail making a bunch of food for breakfast. She had been the housekeeper for Kirsten's family before the attack, and now she was serving me. She was a kind old wolf, her husband was in charge of vehicle maintenance, and they lived in an apartment in the basement of the big house. I had taken to her immediately, she was like a grandmother and her food was amazing. "Come sit, Alpha Catherine, I'll make you a plate."

I was soon digging in to a big plate of pancakes and bacon as we talked about her old Pack. There were tears involved, many good wolves had been lost in the attack and afterwards. She and her husband weren't fighters, they had renounced Kirsten and felt bad about it. "You did what you had to do to survive, Abigail, don't feel bad about that. Kirsten did the same, she did what she had to do for you to survive. The blame lies with him, and we killed him."

She wiped a tear. "I know, but every time I look down the hall I expect to see that little girl come running down here for breakfast before school. It's hard with her not here, with Thomas gone. She was looking forward to raising a big family in these walls, and it's all gone now." She sat down in the chair across from me and took my hand. "I'm glad it is you now. The world needs a few women in charge for a while to get things right again."

"I hope so, but I'm worried that I may have one of the shortest reigns as Alpha ever." I sat back in the chair and thought about all the threats my small pack and large territory had.

"Not if I can help it," a deep voice said. I looked up and my jaw dropped; walking into the kitchen was the largest wolf I'd ever seen. He was older, grey streaks were in his black hair and his temples, and his hairline was starting to recede, but those were the only concessions to age. He had a well-trimmed beard that couldn't draw attention away from his sparkling blue eyes. He was simply massive in human form, bigger even than Moose or Shay. He was wearing a Husqvarna T-shirt that was stretched tight over his shoulders and arms, faded blue jeans, and work boots. My wolf was of two minds as she felt his power; part wanted to roll over and expose her belly while the other wanted to race up and sniff him deeply. My human side just gawked as I looked at him, my beta Craig could barely be seen behind him.

"And you are?" God, I'm awkward.

"Elder Seamus Kirkpatrick," he said with a smile as he moved over to stand next to the table.

By Luna, no man that big should be able to move that quickly or quietly, he's like a damn cat. My wolf was fascinated by him, so was I, so much I had to shake myself back into the moment. "Alpha Catherine Rigby." His hand reached out to shake mine, I hesitated for only a moment before I shook it.

A spark jumped between us and I felt a tingle rushing up my arm. For the third time in twenty seconds, my jaw dropped open as I felt him squeeze my hand a little tighter.

He felt it too, he must have.

It was a feeling I hadn't felt for eleven long years, and I dropped his hand like it was hot. My mind was racing, it couldn't be, it wasn't possible, and I sure as hell wasn't ready for what it meant. A little flushed, I fell back into the manners my parents had taught me. "Welcome to my Pack, Elder Seamus. Please, join us for breakfast." I motioned for him to take the seat next to me, and Craig took one across from us.

"Thank you, it looks wonderful." Abigail quickly made up two more plates, giving me a chance to get my thoughts together. Craig was staring at his food, not wanting to get involved as he could sense the tension between us and didn't want to interfere. All my girls were still sleeping, and Abigail disappeared after making sure we all had plenty of food and drink. I'm sure she didn't miss the interaction between us, and no wolf could mistake the scent my body was betraying me with.

Arousal.

My wolf and my subconscious were battling to see who could put the most lurid, depraved image in my mind. Thoughts I hadn't had since that day, desires long buried were pushing up at the breakfast table and I sure wasn't ready for them. It was time to divert and delay. "So, Elder Seamus, what brings you here?"

"You do." I dropped my fork, it banged off my plate and dropped to the floor, and I stared at it for a moment before picking it up and taking it to the sink. No one said anything until I sat down again with a new one.

"Why?"

"Well, when I heard about the attack on Kirsten's pack, I was in Alaska. Beta Kurt called me after they arrived and told me she was gone and what had happened. I'm sorry for all that has gone on here, Alpha. I can only help those who ask for it." I nodded, it was the way of Elders- they could only go where they were invited. "I was coming to pay my respects to Alpha Jackson and Kirsten, she was my niece. I was thrilled to hear my nephew found his mate here, so I have that as well. And now, it appears, I have every reason in the world to stay."

"Only if I ask you to," I growled. "Of course, family is welcome to pay their respects. So much damage was done by that man, so many good wolves lost. We can never adequately mourn their passing." I thought for a moment. "You knew Kirsten, did you also know Luna Vivian?"

He smiled. "Of course I did. What happened to these women, to you, it goes against everything Luna wanted for us when she gave us her gift. I did what I could to help, even though it wasn't much."

A new voice joined us. "You did what you could, Seamus. No one was strong enough to stop him." We all looked up, Vivian and Mary were coming down the stairs, both dressed in shorts and T-shirts with bare feet. Vivian rushed to the table as Seamus stood, and she jumped into his arms and hugged him tight. "By Luna, I've missed you," she said.

"And I've missed you, but not all the trouble you cause!" He spun her around and set her down, and she sat on the other side of him. Abigail appeared from out of nowhere, piling more food onto plates and setting it down for the two. "How are you holding up, Vivian?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm alive, he's not. I'm going from there." She grinned at him as she gobbled up a strip of bacon. "Are you here to help?"

"I'm here as long as I am welcome," he replied with a smirk before he winked at me.

"We can use his help, Catherine. With him and Shay here with us, we can put up enough of a fight that the other Alphas will think twice before attacking."

Seamus looked at me, so I explained what was going on around us- how Sheri and Tandy had taken over the Black Death pack, how all the lands Kendrick had held were now virtually unprotected, and the surrounding Packs- including the Bighorn Pack which I was most worried about. "Word is getting out, and you know how Alphas think. Unprotected territory is vulnerable, and female Alphas are weak and easy pickings. They'll be lining up to go against me, if they aren't already coming. I've barely got enough wolves to defend this area, much less the whole territory."

"You're right," he said as he put his fork down. His chair creaked a little as his huge body sat back from the table. "That's exactly what they will do, unless you show them you are not to be trifled with."

"How? Do we challenge them like Sheri and Tandy did?"

He laughed. "By Luna, I wish I could have seen that fight. Zane always had an ego that was too big for his body. No, you'll never win this one on defense, and you can't beat them all. You have to do this politically, with allies and the Law behind you."

"Politics? How the hell will that save us, we don't have time to wait for all the Alphas to agree on something." I looked at Craig, he was staring at his food like it was the most interesting thing in the world, and Vivian and Mary were focused on eating. "What can I offer politically other than land?"

"A narrative." I looked at Seamus like he had a horn coming out of the middle of his head. "Think about it. A cancer among our people, this Alpha who ruled by fear and intimidation, who desecrated everything Luna stands for. None of them could stand against him, and fear- fear of him and of what would happen to THEIR mates- fear kept them from doing anything for over a decade. Somehow, from the lowest position anyone could be, you ladies wiped out his whole Pack and took over. You're turning it back to what it was supposed to be, and you've taken out his closest friend and ally as well. You're fucking heroes, that's what you all are, you're LEGENDS. All you have to do is get your story out, and the good wolves will rally to your cause."

"And how do I do that?"

"You're Queen of the Lunas and you don't even know it. There isn't a she-wolf in this Continent who wouldn't do everything in her power to help you. Most of the Alphas will too, they owe you." He put his hand on my shoulder, I wanted to flinch away but I wanted to lean into it too, especially when the tingles started. "And I can help with the political side. I know most of the North American Alphas, I can help you arrange treaties and alliances. There are more ways to hold a Pack and a Territory than just brute force."

I picked up my last piece of bacon, chewing on it slowly as I thought over what he said. When I was done, he offered me one of his. I was a little shocked, but I bit from the end as he held it for me. The significance of his offering and my acceptance was not lost on the others, it was something mates did for one another. It was the first thing I had done to indicate I was willing to act on what I felt between us, and he smiled as I took another bite.

I really didn't have time for this right now. "So what would you suggest I do?"

"Invite all the regional Alphas here and solidify allies before enemies can act," he said. "Send messengers immediately, and invite each Alpha and one Beta here at noon tomorrow. Invite their mates as well, this is a new world."

"Will they come?"

"To see the Luna who took out Kendrick? You're goddamn right they will. They will want to meet you and size you up as a friend or enemy."

I stood, and Craig and my girls stood with me. "I've got a lot to do then."

He reached up and took my hand in his, sending those shocks thought my body. "You'll have help. Shay and I will do whatever it takes, we both want you to succeed." He brought my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on it, causing my wolf to swoon in my head. "And I just want you to be safe and happy."

Ch 13

Shay's POV

I woke up, still in wolf form, and stayed still as my eyes opened and my nose sniffed the air. The light was streaming through the gaps in the draperies, one line had hit my eyelid and caused me to wake. The air was filled with the smell of my mate, and I felt her cuddled up behind me, her paws near my shoulders as my tail whapped on the bed. Paws...

I lifted my head and looked behind me. She had shifted during the night, her wolf must have taken over. It wasn't unexpected, I knew her human part was resisting me still and her wolf and mine were already head over paws in love with each other. My wolf was restless, he wanted to 'wake her and take her,' but I knew she wasn't ready yet.

I looked over at her, admiring her red coat mixed in with the white and the black. She was striking in all ways, she was perfect for me, and I couldn't wait until she was mine in all ways. My wolf just wanted to take care of her, so he took a little more control and moved me over so I could groom her face and neck. She almost purred as my tongue bathed her fur around her ears, dipping inside to clean them out, then down her neck to her shoulders. She rolled onto her back, her head stretching to expose more of her neck to my ministrations.

I got on all fours and moved over her, straddling her body. I realized my mistake almost immediately; her growl matched the fear in her eyes, and she scrambled out from under me as I sat back. I whined softly, my head down as I apologized. She sat up at the head of the bed, shaking, so I jumped off the bed and went to the door to give her space. I'd check on her in a few hours, I thought.

Her soft whine stopped me in my tracks. I looked over and she was crawling to the edge of the bed, her head cocked to the side as her tail flicked back and forth. Whatever fight there had been in her head was over. I could tell from her eyes that her wolf was in full control, and her wolf wanted to play. She yipped at me then jumped off the bed and moved over next to me. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling as she smelled my body and rubbed herself down each side, spreading her scent thickly on me as mine transferred to her. It was a wolf means of claiming, warning other she-wolves that he was taken and she would fight to keep him. Only a mating bite was more powerful in our world.

She moved to the door and lifted up a paw, opening the door and trotting out. She looked back at me and yipped, and I bounded after her. My mate wanted to run, and I was game. I followed her down the stairs, and stilled as a familiar scent came into my nose. I looked to the kitchen table to see everyone, including Uncle Seamus, staring at the two of us. My mate opened the door and bounded out, and with an apologetic glance back at them I tore out the door after her.

Nothing revs up a wolf's libido like a good chase, and I was game. I could smell her trail easily; her pheromones were in overdrive after our night together. The Goddess had given us these instincts so we would claim and mate with each other. It was a deep, primal force that was almost impossible to resist. It didn't matter that I couldn't see or hear her with her head start, her scent was like a beacon to me. I was as helpless before it as a moth to a flame.

I tore across the grass and into the woods, following the trail. My huge wolf was on a mission, and she was smart; she was using every trick in the book to slow me up or trick me. My chest fur was matted with blood from small cuts I got from crashing through thickets and thorns my smaller mate could avoid easily. She doubled back, she laid false trails, she used the creeks to hide her scent. I even found a patch of mud she had rolled in to try and hide. Against most wolves, she had done enough.

But not for me. I was an Alpha, I had better senses, I was stronger and faster than any other. If she wasn't an Alpha female, the chase would have been over in minutes. It was easily the longest chase I'd ever done, and I finally had her in sight.

She was running through a high meadow, having to jump as the native grasses were taller than her head. I chuckled, I could easily see and I ran hard and fast until I was right behind her. She heard me, and took a glance back as she gathered herself to jump again.

I pounced.

My front paw swatted her back legs, stopping her leap before it began. She crashed to the ground, rolling a couple times in the soft grass. I pushed my human side forward, warning my wolf that what normally happened here, couldn't.

After the chase, the male would normally submit the female, pinning her down with his teeth on her neck as he moved in behind her. The receptive female would raise her back end, move her tail to the side, and let him climb on board to take her on a one-way train to Pupsville.

Her wolf half was receptive, but I knew if I did this to her now, if I claimed and mated her in wolf form, I'd never get her human side to accept me. So, as hard as it was to hold my wolf instincts in check, I didn't pounce on her. Instead, I circled around her as she lay panting hard on her side, her tongue hanging out.

When I was near her head, I dropped to the ground and licked her nose and face again. She perked up, relaxing a bit and started licking me back. This time when I stood, she stayed relaxed as I sniffed and licked my way down her body.

I couldn't get enough of her smell or her touch. The mate bond was pulling hard, and every touch was like a firework going off in my head. Her scent was getting stronger as her body responded to me, driving my arousal even higher. Her body was preparing for me; blood was flooding her organs, her sense of touch and smell was heightened. She was almost purring under my touch, and when she rolled on her back for me, I almost lost control.

My nose went to her swollen sex, and my tongue took a lick from one end to another. She shivered in pleasure as I finished, and opened wider for the next one. Werewolf tongues are incredible organs, capable of being firm or soft, long but still flexible. Over the next ten minutes I used every means at my disposal to give her the best experience she could have, at least until I completed the mating in this form. I didn't even try to count how many times she came, I just kept pushing her to the next one until she had collapsed in exhaustion.

I sat up, feeling rather pleased with myself, and looked around. I didn't smell anything near, but I had a mate to protect. I moved to the edge of the meadow and went from tree to tree, scent marking along the way to warn other wolves and predators that an Alpha was here and they better turn around. When I had made a circuit, I moved to the top of the nearest hill and caught the scent of deer below. I looked back at my mate, she was still sleeping peacefully, but she would be hungry when she woke. I needed to provide for her.

Moving silently down the hill, moving from shadow to shadow, I got closer to a group of five deer who were grazing the soft grass. I watched them for a while, picking out the weakest- a juvenile with a slight limp. My target in sight, I moved closer until I was ready. I waited for the doe to look the other way, then I burst from my hiding place.

The deer scattered as I closed in on my target with long, powerful strides. She tried to turn and run but I was on her too fast. My jaws closed on her neck, her blood filling my mouth, and there was a loud snap as her neck broke. I sat back and howled in victory, before grabbing our hot lunch around the shoulders and starting back up the hill.

Nothing like fast food to show a woman how you feel about her, right?

My wolf was almost prancing as we carried the doe back to our mate. I dropped it and used a claw to rip the belly open, then dug in and pulled out the liver. She had awoken to the thud, and watched with her tail wagging as I removed her treat. I carried the liver over to her, and she grabbed the hanging end and tore off a big chunk that she gobbled up. I tried to give her the rest, but she pushed it back. I tossed it in the air and grabbed it again, swallowing it whole. She stood and licked some blood off my muzzle before walking with me to it, and together we gorged on the tender flesh until we could eat no more.

I heard a wolf approaching, and was instantly alert. I stood over Nancy, growling my warning to the intruder until I saw who it was. Uncle Seamus was in wolf form, and he looked at the two of us for a moment as if to make sure things were all right. He shook a satchel bag off his neck, then gave me a chuff and turned around to go home.

I watched until he disappeared, then backed up a little so Nancy could get up. She licked at my face, and seeing her face I knew we needed water. I ran and grabbed the satchel in my teeth, then we both went downhill towards the creek at the base of the hill. The creek was cold, and we found a spot deep enough we could both submerge. We used our paws to rub the fur clear of blood and dirt, then shook our coats and I moved us to a large rock in the bright sun.

The warm rock felt great, and I laid on my side. I felt the tingles as Nancy laid behind me, her head resting on my neck as we dropped off to sleep together.

I woke up a few hours later from the angle of the sun in the sky. Moving out from under her slowly, I trotted off into the woods to do my business. (The answer to "Does a wolf shit in the woods" is yes, don't step on the pile.) When I returned, Nancy was in human form, and was pulling a grey T-shirt over her torso, athletic shorts already on. "Get dressed, Shay, we need to talk."

Oh shit. The dreaded "WNTT." Few good things EVER came after that phrase. It was never "you're right, we need to buy a motorcycle" or "this television isn't near big enough to watch the game on." It usually ended with "but we can still be friends, right?"

I grabbed the satchel and removed the clothes. Thank Luna Seamus had thought to pack mine, normal size shirts would rip before I could get them over my shoulders. I pulled on the shorts and the sleeveless T-shirt, then put on the sandals. I joined my mate on the edge of the rock, our legs hanging out over the churning water below. I decided to go for the pre-emptory attack. "Nancy, I know your history. I want you to know that there is nothing you can say, nothing that can be revealed that will make me love you or want you any less. I don't care about anything that happened before the day I tackled you in the river."

She wouldn't look at me as she answered. "You wouldn't say that if you knew what really happened. If you did, you'd accept that my rejection is the best thing that can happen right now."

I reached over and took her hand, she was trembling but didn't pull away. "You underestimate me, my love and this bond, Nancy. It's strong. Strong like you. You're the strongest she-wolf I've ever met."

She laughed out loud. "Strong? I'm strong." She shook her head. "I crawled under dinner tables and gave blowjobs to strangers so I wouldn't be beaten again. I fucked hundreds of men, sometimes dozens in a day. I wished for death every single night, and I didn't get it. I failed my Pack, I failed my parents, I failed my MATE."

I'd had just about enough of this. I picked her up and pulled her onto my lap, my arms pulling her into my chest while she cried out her pain and loss. I rocked her for an hour as she got it out; I listened to the story of that day. I wept with her as her Pack members died, as she watched her parents be executed. I clenched my fists and barely kept my wolf under control as she told me of how she was brought back in a cage before being gang raped. She described the pain of watching her Pack members reject her so they could live, each bond ripping more from her soul. I ran my fingers through her hair as she told me about her captivity; the depravity of the men, the cruelty of the jailors, the daily humiliations she endured with her sisters. I could see now how critical Catherine was to keeping them all sane though the years, she truly was a special woman.

The sun was low in the sky by the time she was done. She was exhausted, she didn't even move as I picked her up and started to carry her in my arms home. I had a lot of time to think along the way.

My mate had been hurt, but not healed; abused, but not comforted; fucked, but not loved. Her wolf was right, she needed me like I needed her. My job was to give her those things her life had missed.

I would not fail her.

Ch 14

Catherine's POV

I was about to leave Seamus behind and go clear my head when I heard the wolves coming down the stairs. We normally stayed in human form indoors, so I knew it was Shay and Nancy. I smiled to myself as I realized she was in wolf form as well, that would help her get past her fear of contact with him. She didn't look back, but Shay stopped and looked at us apologetically. I waved him off, he had a mate to woo, he didn't need to sit around and talk.

I walked to the front door and closed it, then waved Vivian and Craig with me. Maria looked at me quizzically, until I told her to make sure Seamus had a guest room and to move Shay into Nancy's room. We went down the main floor hallway to the Alpha's Offices, a pair of adjoining rooms that had been used by Kirsten and her mate. The smell of her was more intense in here as her belongings hadn't been moved out, like had been done in my bedroom. I said a little prayer for them before I gathered the girls in front of a Pack Boundary map on the wall. We marked up the map with what we knew about the Packs and the Alphas.

"All right, let's divide this up a little. I'll take the Packs closest to us. Vivian, you call those in the second and third levels who are friendly to us, and Craig, you take the ones that may not like a female Alpha. If they ask, Alpha Rigby will explain everything to them at the meeting. Emphasize this is a social event, it is being done under a truce supervised by Elder Kirkpatrick. Alphas, Lunas, Betas and Beta mates are invited. We will be holding talks and having a barbecue dinner, lodging will be provided for those needing it, but we expect to end the talks by six PM. Got it?"

We went to work, using the multiple phones and the Alpha's phone list to contact each of the Alphas. I started with Tandy and Sheri, mostly because I wanted to make sure they were settling in. They were, and although there were challenges, they were making progress together. They would attend, of course, as they needed allies as badly as we did.

The other calls were widely divergent. Some Alphas recognized the number and expected to be talking to Kirsten or Jackson, and were shocked when they found out they were dead. These calls took a little longer, as I had to explain the events of the past few days first. Alphas who knew the Packs had been taken over were curious as to who had done it and why. Others just said they would be there, giving no indication of how they felt about the events.

When we finished the calls, I was wiped out. I went down to the kitchen, where Abigail was sitting with a roomful of women who were dividing up responsibilities for food preparation. I had seen a number of wolves heading out to hunt game for the feast earlier, and others were out preparing houses and rooms for guests. It was a frantic time for the rest of the day, as we were still dealing with the families who had lost some or all members. I was going to move everyone not involved in the talks back to the Black Dawn territory, where there was more single housing at least.
"Where did Seamus go?" I couldn't smell his scent and it bothered my wolf.

"He went to bring Shay and Nancy clothes and water," Abigail said. "He said he would be back for dinner." She saw my expression. "Go. We got this, Alpha."

I went outside, wondering if I was that transparent and if everyone knew what he was to me. "Yes and yes," my wolf said. "Now let's shift, I'll take you to him." I grabbed a satchel, then put some beers in an insulated pack and stuffed it in. Walking outside, I pulled my summer dress off and folded it, putting it inside, then shifted with the satchel over my head. I shook out my fur, then walked towards the woods. I picked out their scents, Seamus' being fresher than Shay and Nancy, and trotted off into the forest.

It took an hour, but I found him in a mountain meadow, eating off a deer. He looked up as I chuffed at him, and moved over on the kill to invite me to join him. My wolf was all for it, and soon I was tearing into the carcass after the remaining good meat while he crunched bones and lapped at the marrow. We left little for the scavengers as we headed downhill. Seamus avoided the trail Shay and Nancy had used, giving them the privacy they needed. We went upstream a little farther and found a decent spot with deeper water and a rocky overhang.

I walked into the cold water with him, both of us cleaning the blood off our fur. He licked the back of my neck, getting the spots I couldn't reach, and I returned the favor. My wolf was spinning in circles as we groomed each other, she was happier than she had been since I was mated. Somehow Luna had given us a second chance at a mate, and she wanted him badly. I could feel the blood rushing to my privates as the intimate contact drove her desire. I needed answers, though, and my little horny wolf was just going to have to wait. I didn't care how impressive his wolf was, or what that body looked like.

OK, I did, but I would still wait.

I moved out of the water and shook my fur, sending droplets everywhere before I moved up to the rock shelf. The sun was beating down on it, making it nice and warm, so I shifted to human form and laid on my stomach to let my long hair dry. I moved the tangles out, vowing to hack it back to something manageable as soon as we got back. The length was a result of Kendrick's desires for how he wanted us to look, and his influence was gone from my life now.

I looked over to where Seamus was coming out of the water. With his fur wet and matted, his size and musculature was even more evident. I'd never seen such an impressive wolf, and my body was responding already. He shook off, some of the water reaching me, then shifted to his human form. My eyes drank in that form as he stood there naked, his hands squeezing the water out of his long hair. That was the only thing I didn't like, at his age ponytails were restricted to bikers and hippies. I'd get him in the chair after me.

He smiled at me as he caught me looking at him, and I didn't look away. Instead, I checked out all the places on his body I hadn't seen before. He was truly a mountain of a man, and I was happy to see things were, well, proportionate. I just hoped he really meant the stuff he said about me and the girls. The last thing I wanted to be was a disappointment, and I don't know if I'd survive rejection.

I rolled onto my side facing him, causing his eyes to widen as he took in my form. I knew I didn't have the tight bodies of my younger Lunas, I had a lot more wear and tear on my form, but I thought I had held up well. My stomach was still flat, my boobs sagged a bit more but were still impressive. I moved one leg forward, causing my sex to rub and send a little thrill up me. My arousal was heavy in the air as he walked up, and his arousal was becoming obvious. He laid down in front of me, grinning at me before he leaned forward and his big hand brushed the hair away from my face. I closed my eyes and leaned towards him, and our lips found each other.

Tingles exploded through my body and I moaned into his mouth. His hand moved around my head, pulling me into him as our tongues explored. My leg found its way over his, and he pulled me on top of him as he rolled onto his back. I was rapidly losing control, so I broke the kiss and laid my head on his chest. "How is this possible," I asked quietly.

"It is Luna's gift to us," he said into my ear as he kissed the top of my head. "Wolves think that there is only one person out there for them, but that isn't always the case. We think there is one person you are born to be with, but that doesn't always work out. People die, like my mate did, and Luna gives us another."

"So why don't we wait? Kirsten killed herself, she was so young."

"Mainly because the pain and loss of losing your mate makes death seem preferable. There are no guarantees you'll find your mate again either. Look at me, I've spent decades alone. I had given up hope of finding you."

"I was tied up," I said. We both burst out laughing, and we kissed again before I settled back onto his broad chest. "How does that work with me? I mated out of choice, to save my Pack. Does that mean you are my true mate?"

"No, because I had and lost mine. When you mated another, your true mate would get another, at least I hope he would. The mating bond is sacred to Luna, so once entered it is the same whether it is your true mate or not. The feelings you develop are the same, and so is the loss."

I kissed his chest, moving up to his neck as he moaned in pleasure. "So this is just as real as our first matings?"

"Yes. And do you know what I think about it, Catherine?" I shook my head. "I think the wait was worth it. You're amazing and strong, and I'm the luckiest wolf in the world right now."

I felt Seamus Junior against my leg, and giggled. I reached down and touched its length, my hand couldn't reach around it. It wasn't overly long, with my fingertips at the base it reached a few inches past my wrist. It was wider around than a Coke can, and this made me smile. I'd touched many cocks in my life, but this was only the second that I couldn't wait to feel inside me. I made a decision, I wasn't going to fight it any more, I was going to live and love as long as my life would last- even if that was just until tomorrow.

"Mark and mate with me, Seamus." I moved my hand up and down his length, teasing him to full hardness.

"Are you sure, Catherine?"

"I've never been more sure of anything. You're mine, and I'm not facing the other Alphas without you by my side."

He pulled me up his body, my nipples dragging against his chest as our mouths found each other. We kissed hard and long, then I reached down and positioned him at my entrance. I was sopping wet by now, my body had been preparing since I left the water for this moment. I pushed myself up with my other hand, sinking back as his length split me.

I didn't feel pain, I felt unspeakable pleasure as I felt him push deep inside, so I moaned loudly. His hands moved down my body to guide my hips, and when I wiggled a little to fit the last inch inside we stopped and just looked at each other. "MINE," he said.

"YOURS," I replied huskily. I had my knees on each side of his body and I sat up straight, both of my hands moving to his stomach and feeling the rippling muscles underneath. I kept him deep inside, moving my hips in small circles as I got used to his size. I was stretched so wide I had trouble squeezing him with my channel.

My wolf urged me to take him, and I watched his face as I slowly raised myself until only his head was still inside. I leaned forward, letting my nipples drag on his chest, before I sank down again with another moan. I set a slow pace, and his hands moved up my sides until they were cupping my hanging breasts. I was lost in a fog of pleasure as he worked me over; I couldn't keep track of all the places that felt so good. I came hard when he sucked on a nipple, it was so unexpected, and the first time in over a decade I'd come with a man. He pushed up into me as my legs locked up and my body quivered, sending me through one peak and to the next.

When I collapsed onto his chest, he was far from done. He held my hips as he slowly thrust up into me, building the fires again in my needy sex. I recovered enough to start moving with him, and this time he wrapped his big arms around me and held me close to him as he picked up the pace. The next peak was building, and this was going to be a big one. I nipped at his chest, urging him to take me harder, and he did so. My teeth partially shifted in anticipation, my wolf was claiming what was hers.

He was swelling inside me as the motions quickened, and I knew we were both close. I sat up a little, moving my hair to the right side so he had a clear shot at my neck. I was slamming down on him now, each thrust pushing me higher and higher until he grabbed my hips and pulled me all the way down as he came.

He lunged forward and bit down hard on my neck, sending pain and pleasure to my head that caused me to come hard as well. I waited until he released my neck, then while my body still quaked in pleasure I opened my mouth wide and bit down on his. I licked the blood clean as my body was rocked by waves of pleasure.

I collapsed onto him, now a mated woman. We just laid there in the warm sun, enjoying each other in the pleasurable fog of mating. He finally softened enough to pop out, causing our combined fluids to gush out onto our legs and the flat rock. I went to get up, but he held me close. "Leave it," he said. "I'm not done with you yet."

I reached down to see that he was right. "Come on, let's get off this rock next time," I said as I led him back to the water.