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Just Don’t Die
Last Updated:
2024-12-21 19:33:54
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Alpha of Smoke Drawn In
*Chet*I know that my cousins and younger brother will chastise me the moment we step away from the beautiful girl in the shop, and I am not wrong. Hell, they started the moment she looked in my direction, shouting out their rude thoughts in a language I was thankful she doesn’t understand.We head outside, and it’s my brother, Mowanza, who is the first to make a snide remark, speaking in our native Shaconage tongue. “She was pretty, but she won’t make it fifty miles.”I turn and glare at him. “Watch it, Mo.” I am in no mood to put up with his nonsense at the moment as I go over my conversation with the girl again and again. Why do people take such stupid risks? Why would guides act so foolishly?“Yeah, Mo,” our cousin, Howahkan agrees, but I know he is about to switch sides. “Don’t speak ill of the dead.”I turn and give Kan a playful shove, making him laugh. He is two years older than me at twenty-three and has always been thin as a rail until about a year ago when he finally starte
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Alpha of Smoke Throwin’ a Plan Together
*Isabella*The sound of my sister and brother slurping on their candy rubbed me the wrong way as I navigate the dusty walkway outside. Ma and Pa had told us to just come on home once they had their candy, assuming they’d be done with their meetin’ by then. But when we walk outside of the general store, I see our parents a few paces ahead of us and rush after them, draggin’ Robert and Alice along.“Keep it in yer mouth or else it’ll get coated in dirt,” Robert advises Alice.“My mouth ain’t as big as yours,” she replies.“Come on. We gotta catch Ma and Pa.” I give her arm a tougher yank, and she yelps. Recognizing the sound, Ma turns her head. “What’s the matter, Alice?”“She’s got lead for feet,” I answer. “Pa, I need to talk to you.” All the information Chet shared with me gets tangled in my brain as I try to remember all the important facts. Pa probably don’t need to know how he smelled like an endless field of golden grain, but he does need to know about the game.“What is it, Izz
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Alpha of Smoke Let’s Make a Deal
*Isabella*“You know that ain’t a fair price, Mac,” Harry says from the other side of the fence that acts as a corral. Behind him, a whole buncha cows are mooin’ and rushin’ around, stirrin’ up clouds of dust. Pa and him would be nose to nose if he weren’t so much shorter than pa. The negotiation seems to be breakin’ down.I don’t like to listen to people haggle. Always makes me feel a little desperate and cheap, like maybe if I can’t afford what the fella’s askin’, I shouldn’t be buyin’, so I wander away, leavin’ Joseph and Uncle Tim with Pa. I see a young calf followin’ behind its mama, and it makes me smile.“You like the baby cow?” a warm tenor voice says over my shoulder. “Think he’s cute? That’s what most girls think about, right? Not eatin’ ‘em.”I turn to see a pair of cattle hands who
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Alpha of Smoke Dawn’s Early Light
*Isabella*Broad strokes of soft orange light brush along the horizon, filtering through the trees and illuminating the world in a golden haze. I blink a few times, stretch, and then remember what today is. Arching my back, I bump my sister, who moans in protest.“Sorry, Alice,” I tell her, not even tryin’ to whisper. “It’s mornin’.”She reaches up to scratch her nose without even openin’ her eyes. “Let me be.”“Let you be?” I chuckle, climbin’ over her to get my day started. “Don’t you know what today is?”Robert’s voice is chipper as he announces he’s awake. “We’re leavin’ today, Alice. Gotta get up and get a move on.”With that, Alice comes around, sittin’ up in bed with her hair all tangled, her doll clutched to her chest. “We’re leavin’ today!” It’s no
Last Updated : 2025-01-01Alpha of Smoke Endless Trail
*Isabella*Over the last week or so, I’ve gotten used to the gentle rocking of the wagon back and forth as we slowly make our way across the prairie. From time to time, we’ll pass by a small town, and sometimes a few people will ride their horses in to see if there’s anything to trade.But for the most part, we’ve broken away from civilization already. It’s hard to imagine. We’re so far away from everything I’ve ever known, and in front of us sits a vast ocean of waving grass, the bright sun, and lots a critters that wanna kill us.Most of the day, I’m in my wolf form, runnin’ with the cattle. But Pa likes for me to stay with Ma and the younger kids whenever we get to a part of the journey that is a bit more dangerous. I tried arguin’ with him about it the first time he tried to run me off, but one thing I learned a long time ago is that it don’t make no sense to argue with Pa. I ain
Last Updated : 2025-01-02Alpha of Smoke Something’s Not Right
*Chet*“We thank you, Moon Goddess, for the blessing of this animal who has given its life to feed our people. Mighty bison, we thank you for the gift of your life, and we will honor you by using your strength as our strength.”My hunting party says, “Let it be so,” together in our Shaconage language, and then we open our eyes and prepare to move the mighty bison I’ve killed back to our village to be cleaned and processed. It is the fourth bison I’ve killed this week, and along with the kills from the other hunters from my pack, we have already claimed enough meat to feed our people through the winter.It’s a good thing, too, because this herd will be moving out of our lands soon, and then we will have to wait for another herd to come through, which might not be until next spring.With the crops we are growing that will be harvested this fall, we should be set for the harsh winter.&ldqu
Last Updated : 2025-01-03Alpha of Smoke Rogue Rescue
*Isabella*The rogue’s a grinnin’ at me like he just found his next meal. I stop dead in my tracks and stare at him, sizing him up. He’s way bigger than me, but he’s scrawny. I bet he ain’t as fast as me, and I bet he ain’t even that strong.Still, when he bares his teeth and growls at me, I think twice about going at him. Instead, I take a step back. He starts to chuckle a bit in the back of his throat, like he knows somethin’ I don’t.That’s when I smell another rogue somewhere nearby, and I have to wonder if he ain’t comin’ from behind me.Backing up is probably a bad idea. But I can’t go forward neither.‘Pa?’ I say through the mind-link. ‘I gotta problem.’‘Where are you, Izzy?’ he says back in that tone that tells me he’s annoyed. ‘Ma said you was on your way.’‘I was.’
Last Updated : 2025-01-04Alpha of Smoke Thank You Will Do
*Isabella*I lay on my back near the campfire, looking up at a thousand stars above my head. Behind me, I hear the lap of the river as it creeps up the shore and then retreats. I should be sleepin’; we have an early start again tomorrow, trying to get across this river before the sun climbs above us and turns uncomfortable to unbearable, but I can’t. My mind’s runnin’ wilder than a pack of stallions out on the range, and I can’t seem to rein my jumbled thoughts in.After Pa killed the rogues, we all rushed back to the cattle. Joseph and Andy had managed to keep them together, and we finished runnin’ ‘em to the river without any problem. I waited for Billy to come over to me to rub it in that he’d had to help me, but he hadn’t. I hadn’t said nothin’ to him either, even at dinner time when we was all gathered around eatin’ together. Now, I’m tryin’ to figure out what there is to say.Thank you seems like a good start, but I’m afraid when I open my mouth to say the words, somethin’ rude
Last Updated : 2025-01-04
Latest chapter
Alpha of Smoke Courting Trouble
*Isabella*St. Louis is amazing! I can’t believe all the sights and sounds. It’s what I imagine a county fair would be like, not that I ever been to one of them. Our family walks together down a crowded street, smellin’ all kinds of savory and sweet treats from street vendors. Shop windows are full of beautiful fabric and other trinkets. I see expensive jewelry and high end musical instruments. I pause to look at a violin in the window of one of the stores. I always wanted to learn to play the fiddle.“Come on, Izzy.” Robert tugs on my hand. “Pa said we can get some candy.”“Oh, you and yer candy,” I say with a laugh. I remember what it was like to be young and always wantin’ somethin’ sweet in my mouth, though. Now, Chet’s sweet enough for me. Still, I let my little brother tug me along.“Let’s go in here and look at the fabric,” Ma says to Pa. She kno
Alpha of Smoke Meet Me in St. Louis
*Isabella*I ain’t never seen nothin’ like St. Louey. We got some big cities back closer to home, but this is amazin’. I can see so many big buildings on the other side of the river, I can hardly contain myself.“Are you feeling well, Unega?” Chet asks from beside me on the wagon. “You’re smiling so big, I’d think your face would be sore.”I giggle. “I’m fine. I’m better than fine. I can’t wait to get over there and see what they’ve got to trade. I bet Alice and Robert will beg Ma and Pa for some candy, and I’d love to see if I can find some new fabric.”“I’m sure they will have a lot of interesting items,” he says with a nod. “But be careful not to trade away the items you will need for the packs out in the wide plains.”He’s not wrong, of course. I nod. “I know. Still… I wanna go in all the
Alpha of Smoke Moving Right Along
*Chet*I am filled in about what happened by overhearing Mrs. Mackenzie shouting in the back of the wagon to her husband as Unega serves all of us a nice breakfast. My friends are thankful for a woman’s good cooking. She says it’s the least they can do since we’ve been so helpful.Robert and Alice eat in near silence. It seems they haven’t quite woken up yet. I like to watch Unega interact with them. She will make a good mother one day, a mother to my children.After Mrs. Mackenzie is done telling him about how Sanders and Burns tried to make everyone go off without waiting for us, she tells him about how Unega and Takoda got the wagon train to stop. Takoda’s absence is felt, but I’m not surprised he’s with Genevieve. I can see the two of them ending up together.Eventually, Mac comes out of the wagon. Unega wordlessly hands her father a plate of warm food, and he nods his thanks. His wife stays insi
Alpha of Smoke This Ain’t Over
*Isabella*Ma’s been sittin’ up all night with the shotgun clutched in her arms. She’s on the seat of the wagon, starin’ out at the distance to her right as I get up and start tendin’ the fire. I know she’s watchin’ for Pa.Last night, she was afraid Sanders was gonna come cause trouble while Pa was away. He didn’t, but then, who would mess with my ma when she’s sittin’ there, armed, ready to unload.I get some coffee and bacon going before I approach her. “Ma? You wanna go rest?” I say quietly, not wantin’ to alarm her and end up accidentally shot. “I can manage.”“Yer pa will be here soon,” she says, her voice hoarse from bein’ up all night. “He just told me they’re movin’ the wagons out. They’re only a half a mile or so away.”“Good. Rest up. Ain’t no one gonna mess with us now,” I assure her, but we both turn our heads in the direction of Sanders and Burns’s wagon. I see smoke, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire, but he has to
Alpha of Smoke Floating Baby
*Chet*Getting the wagons across the river at the place I’ve shown to Mac is no trouble whatsoever. It’s the second day of our journey away from the smaller group of wagons when we hit the shallowest point, and I tell him, “This is where they should cross,” through the mind-link.He nods and looks to the sky. “We’ve got a couple more hours of daylight. Reckon we can get everyone across?”Before I answer I take a few steps into the water. It barely covers my paws, so I wade deeper. The river is wider here than it was at the point where Sanders had the other wagons cross, but it’s not deep, and by the time I’m in the center of the body of water, I’m able to stand on the bottom of the riverbend and keep my head above water. “Yes.”I come back to meet Kan and Mo on the shore while Mac steps behind a tree to shift and get dressed. When I am close enough to my friends, I shake
Alpha of Smoke We Can’t Go On
*Isabella*On the second day of our traveling separate from the majority of the wagons, I’m growing restless. Ma made me sleep most of the day before, or try to, anyhow. It wasn’t easy to sleep in the back of the wagon with all the ruts and whatnot. I have no idea how my brother does it so well.Today, I’m sittin’ right next to her in the wagon as the sun is startin’ to go down. We should be seein’ the others soon enough. I know we’re in mind-link range because Ma’s been talking to Pa, and I’ve checked in with Chet a few times. I don’t wanna be a distraction. He’s got an important job to do, makin’ sure everyone goes the right direction. Still, I’ll be excited to see him again soon.“We should be just about to where they’re gonna cross, once they reach this spot,” Ma says, lookin’ way ahead of us. “Yer pa said they’ve cut back to the we
Alpha of Smoke Rolling Out
*Chet*The sound of my friends moving around what’s left of the campfire rouses me, though I’m not yet ready to open my eyes. I spent too many hours speaking to Unega through the mind-link last night. Even though I’ll be exhausted today, it was worth it. A smile spreads across my face before I even open my eyes.In our language, Kan says, “You’ve got it bad, Alpha.”He calls me that sometimes, even though I’m not the Alpha yet. It’s just another way he can try to get a reaction out of me. But not today. I blink a few times and look into his face as he hovers near me. “I know.”“Well, at least you admit it.” He laughs and finishes putting out the smoldering embers.“Her mother was very angry last night,” Mo reminds me. “Are you going to speak to her today?”“Her mother? No.” I don’t have any plans to. I sit up and lo
Alpha of Smoke Mates
*Isabella*Ma’s voice is shoutin’ in my head. She’s a yellin’ at me to head back to the wagon. She don’t want me out here with these “wild men,” not because she’s afraid they’ll hurt me. Hell, Chet already done saved my life. No, she’s afraid of what the others will say.Well, to hell with them.I ignore her and hone in on what Chet has just told me. I feel my stomach tighten up in a knot and a funny feelin’ lower than that, like parts of me are alive and on fire I ain’t never paid much attention to before.“Are you going to say anything?” he asks in that quiet, even voice that always makes me feel so calm.“I would, but I reckon I ain’t sure what to say,” I admit. “And my ma’s screamin’ at me in the mind-link to get my ass back to the wagon.”He chuckles softly, shaking his head enough to make his long
Alpha of Smoke Speak the Truth
*Chet*The stares from the people whose group we’ve infiltrated grow more intense as the sun begins to set, like they are afraid we are really here to rob and butcher them in the middle of the night. Mr. Mackenzie, who insists I call him Mac, but I can’t wrap that amount of informality around my mind yet, has told them all we are there to help. Some of them seem to believe him. Others not so much. After all, they just met him not long ago, and while I’m certain he’s proven himself trustworthy, these people have left oppression from Alphas in foreign lands to come here, so they are a bit skeptical.I look at Kan and Mo and know that they are skeptical, too. They do not want to be here, but they are here because they are my friends.Takoda, on the other hand, has a different problem. He’s so love sick and worried about the girl, Ginny, as they call her, that he has hardly blinked for the last hour. He sits near the fire, staring at the flickering flames as if he might see a premonition
