The whoops and hollers we could hear had Dad smiling as we got out of the truck. When we were close enough to see the bonfire, he laughed and gave me a push to join my friends. It was the last all-out gathering before school resumed, and probably the last time I would see my friends for a while. I was leaving tomorrow.It had been strange with Dad; good, but strange. We had talked, really talked, long into the night after we got home. I asked him all those questions I wasn't going to ask, and heard all the answers I wasn't sure I needed.It didn't stop there. Early in the mornings, we talked about food and finances, domestic household stuff. Every day after we ran together in the woods, and often during our runs, we'd discuss the wolf. During workouts, we shared ideas about fighting and shifting. I found myself motivated to work out with him. I didn't mind the soreness or the fact I had more bruises than our workouts had ever given me.We filled our nights with stories of Mom from befo
The wind whipped at me as I indulged myself for a few miles. I had taken my helmet off and allowed myself to be as much wolf as I could while controlling the motorcycle. This is the sort of brainless thing my dad would chew me out over, and something I'd always dreamt about doing. Right now, I couldn't resist. I had a clear, empty stretch of back road with no parent in sight.I couldn't wait to start my first day of work. I was looking forward to putting my education to good use. My new job suited me. There was an extensive range of chores involved. I'd enjoyed doing most of them at one time or another around the reservation.Dealing with the public is something that was also part of the job description. I worked seasonally at the old lava tubes back home and often did tours there; that's probably one of the things that helped me get this job. Being a Forest Ranger wasn't the highest paying or most glamorous job in the world, but it was hard to be a wolf and not appreciate the beauty
We took Derrick's car into town the following night after work. The two of us seemed to be working out well. It didn't take long before the new microwave was in the back seat; we stowed the mower in the trunk.Derrick pulled in at a coffee shop that had some tables outside. "One of my favorite haunts," he grinned. When I ordered a cup of tea, Derrick shook his head. "Aww, come on, Rick. Tea? Honestly? Real men drink coffee," he teased.The way he ogled the barista gave me an idea of why he liked the place. We sat down and got a bit of background on each other."The one thing I can't find around here is stuffed flounder," Derrick complained. "I could always find a decent seafood dinner in Maryland.""I'll have to catch you some mountain trout. Otherwise, it's elk for me," I told him."Elk? Don't tell me- mighty hunters, right?"We both laughed as I nodded."You got siblings?" Derrick asked. "I have two younger brothers and a sister. My brothers were happy when I moved out; it meant they
The guy in charge had one hand on Derrick's shoulder, stopping him from moving forward. He motioned with his other hand."Henry, Ed, give him what he's asking for. No weapons."Both guys threw a few knives off to the side. I grinned again, ready for them.The taller, lankier guy was built a bit more than me and came straight at me. I had a slight height advantage on him, but not much. As he took a swing at my head, I stepped into his embrace, ducking in under his arm. I latched my arm around his shoulder, lifting my feet to use all of my body weight to throw him off balance. As he stumbled, I swung my feet up over his other shoulder, making the tall guy land heavily on his back.I turned my momentum from the fall into a backward somersault that I didn't quite get to finish. The tall guy rolled after his fall and was practically on top of me. In my current position, I was able to bring my knees up, shifting my hips slightly to make my legs come in faster than usual, into a position tha
Over the next week, I began to settle into a routine of sorts.mDerrick and I ran a few miles every morning. He never understood my penchant for running barefoot. After work, we'd tussle in the back yard occasionally. Derrick spent a few hours at the gym house every weeknight, often coming home so sore I wasn't sure how he would get through work the next day.I only went twice a week for Ed to teach me about knife battles. I focused on my lessons and didn't do any other fighting. I often went home with shallow lacerations from Ed's attacks. I was in awe of how fast Ed wielded a variety of blades as we practiced with everything from shivs to my hunting knife.Mac, the big guy in charge, kept an eye on me. I could feel his eyes following my movements, watching my practice matches. Mac had something on his mind; he just wouldn't say what it was.I became familiar with most of the faces of the guys who worked out and practiced there during my lessons. They grudgingly tolerated me because
Oddly there weren't too many cars around.Derrick said a few of the guys ran taxi service bringing in small groups. Too many cars here would bring too much attention.Mac was at the kitchen table with a notebook, scribbling intensely, setting up the bouts. He faced a bunch of guys lined up across from him."Go meet the Doc," he hollered when he saw me, barely looking up from his notes.The doctor was an older guy about in his fifties. He was going through the inventory of medicines, prepping needles. I wondered what was in them, why he did this gig. I wondered how much he got paid for his services. I knew better to ask anything as I cleared my throat in the doorway."Hey, I'm your helper tonight."He turned around and gave me a look I couldn't decipher."Are you legal?" the doctor asked.I gave him a confused look."At least tell me you're twenty-one."I wasn't going to tell him I wasn't, not when my birthday was so close."I'm legal," I said with a grin.He just shook his head. "Why
The werewolf's reactions stymied me. I tried to figure out how to get him alone. I came up blank. Mac came to my rescue."I gotta lock up. Don't go nowhere," Mac said as he headed back in to lock up the clinic.I threw Derrick my keys, glad I had parked my motorcycle in the back. "You wanna bring it around?"That gave me the briefest moment alone with the other wolf.He spoke before I had a chance. He had dropped to his knees again with head bowed. The stink of fear rolled off him."Forgive me, Royal, for invading your territory.""What the hell dude," I hissed. "Stand up already and stop that shit. This place belongs to Mac, and you should know that. All these guys are human. They don't know about us. We need to go somewhere and talk. When we do, you're going to explain your behavior. Meet me at the gas station by the interstate after we leave here. I gotta take Derrick home first, so I'll be a minute. I hope you'll be there when I get there."Thankfully he got to his feet before Der
He followed me back to town. I debated but finally drove to my place. I told him to go clean up in the kitchen while I took a super quick shower. I slid on some jeans and a tee-shirt before I came out.He was still in the kitchen.I grabbed two of Derrick's beers and led the way out the back door. I chose a seat on the curb on the far side of the empty lots. As long as we keep our voices down, we should be safe to talk."Here you go," I said as I held out a bottle toward him. "It might be wee early in the morning, but I think you and I both need this."He didn't say anything as he took it, still not looking directly at me."I want you to know I'm not mad at you or anything. You don't have any reason to fear me."I had a feeling I could say that a hundred times, and he would still piddle on himself."Why don't you start by telling me what a royal is and why you think I am one."He took the cap off his beer and took a long draught. He looked like he was about to cry. It was so stupid. T
Jacob hung around for a while. When I had a few moments he and I would discuss the different moves the fighters used. We were interrupted by some shouts from upstairs.Someone opened the door to the basement to holler for Mac when a big dog snuck down. I had to laugh when I saw the yellow wolf with the black back. He sniffed around, easily avoiding the hands that tried to nab him."My fault," I laughed, "I bet he heard me howl earlier. I'll get rid of him for you Mac.""If you can catch him," said Jacob as he watched the four legged intruder make a circuit around the basement."Easily done," I said. "Clear the steps please," I hollered out, "and every one hushed."I stalked him, giving some playful whines and barks, acting like I did at storytime. I huffed, moved toward the steps, then added some more wolf sounds. Lobo came over and I herded him up the steps with another playful growl."I'm surprised to see you here," I told him once we were outside and out of view. He shifted in the
I was going through life with a permanent smile on my face these days.Winter had set in. Everyone had gone home during the holidays, spending vacation with their respective families.Derrick had flown home to Maine, complaining because he wouldn't be able to bring back a suitcase full of seafood. I think he was getting tired of elk. I did laugh helplessly when two big boxes full of frozen seafood arrived. We split the cost of a small chest freezer as a Christmas gift to each other. He was looking forward to a clam bake in the fire pit.The wolves had long gone their separate ways. They stayed in contact. Arctic was now the proud father to a set of twins, one boy and one girl, the mother doing fine. Old Grey often came to visit dad. Our living room became his winter home when he wasn't out and about. Lobo ranged around, unable to not travel. Businessman had left us his card, and I had promised to come visit him in the spring.Cherokee actually invited dad and I to come to their pow-wo
I stirred from my spot stretched out in the back of Mahina's car. Derrick was driving my bike back."Hey, how are you doing up there?""Good."Uh-oh. I had the impression Mahina wasn't thrilled with me right now. I climbed over the seat, stretching before buckling myself in."I really appreciate you putting up with me this weekend.""It's ok.""Nice of you to say so, even if it really isn't ok. I mean you come out here because you're worried about me, then I foist you off on my cousin and you get cornered by my grandfather."Anna said he was kinda brusk with you," I said sympathetically. "You should see him with my dad. Sometimes I think Grandfather doesn't realize it's different from me, even though it's the same," I finished thoughtfully."What do you mean?""Hmm, it's the part of my family history no one really talks about, and to be honest, part of it is a conversation that normally would wait for that moment in a relationship where someone asks the other how they feel about havin
Sheep made a slow, thoughtful nod."Ok then. Here's an amazing thing. The omega can have a special relationship with the alpha. See, the omega isn't going to attack his leader. If it's just the two of them, the alpha can let his guard down, be himself, not be vigilant one hundred percent of the time. Same with the beta. They can relax and be friends with the omega. They'll keep him in his place but might tolerate more from him than others will."I watched him, but more I smelt him. This had long been my specialty, gauging emotions."You've seen this?" I asked, knowing he was comparing what I said with the human interactions he had seen."Yes."His one-word answers slightly amused me."That's not all an omega does. The omega is usually the one who instigates play. Among wolves, what purpose does play serve?""Teaches skills."I smiled. Two words! We were working our way to a conversation."The omega will also break the tension. He might try to play with the alpha to distract him. If a
A domestic! Sheep didn't disappoint me. I could have laughed.I didn't wait, especially since I knew roughly what he was going to say and had given some thought to how to handle his ignorance. It was one reason I made sure the shy one didn't bolt.I lunged across the fire, knowing neither Sheep nor Lone Wolf would expect it. The force of my body slamming into Sheep moved both of us away from Lone Wolf. I kept myself completely human. I soon had Sheep pinned where he couldn't move.Sheep needed to have his alpha's hold over him broken. He needed to be overpowered by the authority of another alpha, or he would never be able to stand up to the warped alpha who controlled him. Most of all, he needed to understand the driving dynamics of his city pack.Sheep shifted under me. If he thought I hadn't fought this way, then he was crazy. I don't know how many times as a kid, mainly when we fought during my early teen years, Dad had me pinned no matter how I shifted. I learned.I put leverage o
We ranged around our kill for a little while, even after allowing the other pack to come in and finish it off. I wanted those who had never encountered real wolves to see some in action."Don't pay attention to the alpha right now," I told Sheep. "Watch the ones off to the side."I pointed out how they were jockeying for position, hoping to grab a bite from the carcass. The alpha was dominating it right now, gorging himself."He has a pregnant mate holed up in a den somewhere," I explained to Sheep. "He'll eat until he can't hold anymore, then go back to her and regurgitate so she can eat. Not my favorite way to eat a meal, but she'll eat without risking the future of the pack."We watched them for a while. Businessman was intent on listening and watching. Lone Wolf laid down relaxing, but his ears stayed up, testifying to his attention.Fake dawn had me leading everyone back toward the Pointe. I felt tired but good. I gave a wolfish grin to Lone Wolf running at my side. He grinned ba
"Think of your motorcycle," I told Lone Wolf. "When you drive you remember what you see and keep looking ahead. More to remember as a wolf, but same concept. No, keep your head up, focus in front of you."Lone Wolf was trying. The true wolves and the shy one had gone off to see if there was any prey nearby. The rest stayed back with me, ranging in a large field, waiting for the true wolves to herd anything they might find our way. Old Grey was lounging around somewhere.While real wolves would chase prey to weaken it for days if needed, I had a human life that didn't allow for a prolonged hunt right now. I had Mahina waiting for me. If they didn't find anything nearby they would just come back.Real wolves also grew up learning how to work together. The businessman, Lone Wolf, and the young wolf Sheep had never hunted before.I was still laughing over Sheep. He stayed away from me. He kept to the outskirts, away from any conversation where anyone would address him.Old Grey had risen
Everyone reacted at the same time. There were growls and bared teeth. Dad moved to one side, Cherokee to the other. Arctic and Lobo were also moving to take points to surround the odd couple.The shy one had been too caught up in the joy of the group howl to realize what had happened. Old Grey merely sighed and moved to block the shy one so he couldn't leave the pointe in a panic without pushing the old wolf out of the way.Businessmen were actually the only ones who shifted to humans."What the hell are you doing that for?" he asked the young wolf in confusion. He looked around at the reaction from the others, at a loss for what to do.I couldn't react at first. I knew Lone Wolf wasn't in any real danger. I finally stalked over to center myself in front of Lone Wolf and his companion. I rolled my shoulders, trying to decide whether to stand as man or stay wolf.My intense gaze caused Lone Wolf to make a decision of his own. He moved. It took me a moment to figure out what he was doin
It was fun running with Dad again, shoulder to shoulder, along a path we'd scratched out of the forest over the years. Even wild wolves followed this path on occasion. The pointe had a great view and the sound from there, well, you could hear and be heard for miles.Dad and I weren't the only wolves in the woods tonight.I could tell from the scents in the area that the wolf sent to represent the Arctic Wolf had been around for the last few days.The old grey was laying on the stone of the pointe. When I looked at him I saw only a wolf.There was another smaller wolf, friendly and unafraid, sitting on the trail. His coat was more yellow with black on its back and tail."A Mexican wolf," said Dad in surprise, shifting to speak. "Rare in the world these days. Hola, Lobo," Dad said, greeting him in Spanish.When I looked through Spirit Wolf's eyes I could see others gathering.The shy wolf I had seen hiding, not wanting to be found, had come despite his fear. He was ranging at the edges