Chapter Two
The pack had stopped; Ivan and a large blonde wolf were having a staring contest. It was clear to Ivan that the blonde was the leader of the new pack and so bowed his head in respect, eyes still firmly on the wolf, in case he made a move to attack him. Gabe was at his right side and little behind him, but he was too preoccupied with trying to see if he could find the female. Esme stood proudly on his left side. Suddenly the blonde wolf stood causing Ivan and the males in his pack to crouch, ready for an attack. However the blonde transformed halfway to a human. He stood over six foot, his broad shoulders as wide a the oak trees behind him, his blonde hair was ragged hanging hazardously in his face, a scar swept across his cheek.
"Welcome." The blonde bowed his head in return to Ivan. Ivan felt he was safe and he changed as well, only halfway, followed by all of his pack and the sixteen others of the blondes group. There was another tense moment of silence as Ivan and the blonde stared at each other waiting for a reaction. Then the blonde smiled and, turning his head to the side, nodded towards one of the dark haired half-men next him. The man nodded in return and bowing in the direction of Ivan and the pack turned on his heels and left.
"You and your pack are welcome to our little clearing. I am Alexander, the leader of this pack." The blonde spoke, his voice like a chocolate kiss (smiles, had to put it in there!) as he spread out his hands. From behind him dozens of wolves crept from every crevasse imaginable.
Scattered throughout the clearing, high on top of rocks or down below on the forest floor, nearly eighty wolves stared back at Ivan. Each stared till the one that had left the group came to stand back next to Alexander. Suddenly in a fiery of pelts and groans, the other pack stood half changed. Gabe looked over every woman he could find but didn't see the girl from that afternoon.
'She has to be here I know I saw her today!' he screamed to himself beginning to panic at not seeing her.
"Come we have been expecting you." Alexander's voice broke through Ivan's wonder that seeing the new pack.
"You knew we were here? How?" Ivan questioned firmly.
Alexander smiled showing fangs, "I have my way as you do. You sent one of your wolves to watch us this afternoon. I know the sent of everyone in my pack by heart, his," he thrust his head out toward Gabe, "was new, so it had to be someone from another pack." Ivan was shocked to learn this, his pack had been watched and they hadn't known!
"Alex, the moon grows old with all this talking." An old raspy voice spoke up from behind the blonde man. Turning, Ivan could see an older man, his hair not yet grey but getting there, walking calmly over to Alexander, smiling shyly. Alexander nodded and turning back to Ivan raised an eyebrow.
"Would you and your pack like to come in?"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Ivan's pack had made themselves at home in the bowels of the outcropping that the new pack had made their home. Different assortments of animal furs were spread out on the floors and each inlet in the walls was a room for one of the families. The two packs, after some tense moments, had been mingling for hours, the woman discussing their husbands and children, while said children frolicked in the main 'den' area. The men were off wondering through the forest and some were talking, because they were bachelors, about who was unmated and who was. Ivan and Alexander had been sitting in his, Alex's, inlet periodically talking and watching the two packs. Gabe, who had yet to find the woman he was looking for, and Michael, the older man from before.
"So you're mated?" Alexander smirking at Ivan when he learned the fact. Ivan smiled gently in the direction Esme was. Alexander followed his eyes and examined the woman. Nodding his head he smiled at Ivan, "Good choice."
"And you? Are you mated?" Ivan inquired searching through the faces in the room. Alexander sighed, sliding back against the rock face that was his wall, and brushing his hand through his hair. Michael laughed as he did this, waking Gabe from his musings and pulling Ivan's gaze to Alexander.
"Far from it Mon Ami, he is love-struck but she has no desire to be anyone's mate anytime soon at least." You could tell from the accent that Michael was French, and proud of it. Ivan was confused about something that bothered him to no end.
"Why would she say no? She would be Queen Bitch wouldn't she? I thought that was enough incentive to mate with the alpha." Ivan pondered on it for a moment. Alexander sighed again.
"Ah but she is very different from any loup-garou female that I have ever encountered. And I have seen many in my life time." Michael announced sliding his gaze to Alexander's bent head. Gabe was intrigued by the thought of a woman who would refuse him, he scoffed at it.
"Why does she refuse you?" He asked Alexander, smirking secretly at the thought of the blonde leader begging for a woman's attentions.
"She swore that she would never mate any man, meat or wolf, unless they passed three tests, and no one in the four years she has been of age has ever even gotten past the first one. She has always been sought after, even before she was of age to dance the bitch's dance." Alexander replied half heartedly. Gabe laughed silently at Alexander's misfortune.
"Ah yes I was to tell you something but with all the excitement I forgot." Michael spoke, raising Alexander's head. "My dear daughter is going to go adventuring for the night, or as I can put it, sneak away from the pack so she doesn't have to be near anyone who apparently 'hits' on her." Alexander's head fell and then he stood, his fist clenched.
"I am sorry but I must go. We should get together again sometime soon." Alexander's words were hard and slurred with anger. Ivan and Gabe were startled by the huge change in his attitude. Michael just nodded his head and pushed Alexander toward the door way of the room. Alexander, turning his head back, smile gently at Michael then began to run and in mid stride transformed into a monstrous blonde wolf. Ivan and Gabe watched after him and then turned inquiring gazes toward Michael. Michael just smiled secretively.
"My daughter is how to put it, a bundle of trouble and has been since Annette and I found her in the French countryside when she was just a babe." Michael smirked. "She is the one who Alexander has been pursuing to court." He explained sighing. Slowly Michael rose from the pelt below him and stretched. "The dawn will be coming soon it is best if you all leave, when should we meet again?"
Esme who had come to Ivan's side spoke up, "We could have a party at the inn, couldn't we Ivan?" she looked hopefully up at him. Ivan sighed he come never say no the Esme and he doubted that he would ever be able to. Nodding his head, Esme's face broke into a huge grin.
"That sounds like fun. When should we be there?" Michael smiled at Esme as she thought carefully.
"Well come in about four days that should give us a good amount of time to get things together and feel free to bring anything you want!" Esme shouted catching many of the two pack's attention.
"What's this you're talking about?" Annette came to Michael's side as Michael bent to nuzzle her neck.
"You and the pack are welcome to come to a party that Esme has decided to throw in four days." Ivan explained, watching as the news fell through everyone's minds. Axel and the Five smirked at each other. All of the woman happily gasped and laughed excited at the opportunity to see each other again. The men slapped each other's back and laughed hardily.
"I will in form Alexander when he gets back from his 'quest' tomorrow morning and I can't wait to see you again in a few days." Michael bowed to Ivan and Esme as they and the pack made their way to the entry way to the cave.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The entire pack was safely home and in the inn all that is except Gabe who stood on the back porch facing the woods, his elbows resting on the railing. This is how Ivan found his as the sun began to rise in the sky.
"I don't understand Ivan, why wasn't she there, I know that I saw her. She would have had to be there!" Gabe groaned in agony. Ivan remained quiet watching the sun change the sky into different colors.
"I have no doubt that she will be at the party. Don't worry so my friend, you will see her again, I have a good feeling that she will be there. Now go and get some sleep." Ivan made sure that Gabe was in his room before he turned back to face the forest.
"Don't worry Gabe I can feel that she will be there, but I also feel that she will bring trouble. Trouble that will cost us all very dearly."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
A/N: hope you enjoyed! And like last time 10 reviews till I update again so hit the little go button and comment! Thank to all!