CHAPTER 2
Age of Wolves
BY: WOLFA MOON
SUMMARY: Shifter AU/OW. Chris and Buck Come across a wild pack. Wanting their members to be apart of their pack, but how. Vin & Ezra Have other plans. What is a lonely alpha Chris to do? SLASH/HETRO, you'll see.
Disclaimer: Own Nothing. So many ideas so little time.
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Knocking on the door he hears nothing. Worry fills him. Chris opens the door. A weight jumps on him pinning him to the ground. Looking up into an angry jaguars jaws.
"I suggest you don't move." The room is semi-lit. Animal eyes seeing more than human. The voice stilling him. For he had heard it and fell in love with it before. Light fills the room. Ezra lay on the bed naked. A blanket haphazard thrown over his waist. Gun in hand aimed at the alpha. "It is polite to knock before entering. Especially another packs, mild, territory." Chris eyes glaze as he sees the human flesh. The jaguar growls at him. Smelling him arouse at Ezra's presence.
"Sorry, you gonna call, um…" he didn't know who the jaguar is.
"Ms. Ricos." Ezra patted the bed. She gets off to jump up behind Ezra. Securing her place in the pack. Ezra stroking her under her cat jaw. Most vulnerable. Trusting. Especially when she learned that the female wolf is actually a very male human.
"So you had pack here?" Chris asked confused. He had known Inez for a while and never suspected her.
"No, she just recently joined." Ezra yawned. The day's exhaustion and remedy to heal draining the energy out of him. Chris stares at the two. Sees Ezra fading. Moving to a chair, taking a seat. "You don't have to stay. I assure you Ms. Ricos is quiet able to protect me." Chris huffed.
"Yes, well I don't want anything happening to a royal on my turf."
"I am not royal." Ezra gritted out with some venom.
"You have land eyes." Ezra looks away.
"I do at that. But I was breed to be a breeder. Nothing more than a prize to be sold to the highest bidder. To make their pack stronger with royal green eyes. That is all I ever was to them."
"So you escaped?"
"Yes, and I took my path." A path that lead away from that frightful reality. Something still running from. Making himself more comfortable on the bed. Wanting to wipe the nasty nightmares from his mind. Safe here and now with his mate.
Chris bristled. His inner wolf wanted to rip apart anyone who has hurt this creature before him. Something so beautiful, sold like a bullet. Buy now to load up and use later. To bring life. Looking out the window he hears the wolves howl. Guess they are enjoying themselves. Sweet musical howling came from inside the room. Turning to the bed, Ezra had reverted from human to wolf. Howling to her love.
Inez placed herself by her pack mate. Roaring also to let them now. She is safe.
Chris changed. Howling with them. The animal pulling himself out of human skins. Proud black, midnight alpha. Howling to the night letting it know that she is not alone. That the moon will always have stars to frame her in the sky.
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Josiah sat on the roof of his church. Looking this way and that. The howling having the affect to wake every shifter up within howling radius. Himself included. Flapping his wings catching the moonbeams. Hearing howling from inside one of he saloon rooms he puffs up to swoop over. Wings out soaring to the wild packs room. Swiveling his head to see inside. Spotting his alpha in wolf with the other packs mate and jaguar on the bed. Interesting. His inner thoughts seeking revelation.
Nathan had told him about the new pack and the royal female who belonged to it. Staring at her he sees why people would kill for her. Majestic red with twinkling green eyes. A worthy prize amongst any packs or pride. Just what their pack needed. Having seen their alpha paw after her. Realizing that he has found pack. Not enough courage yet to speak what he wants. Betting he would still do whatever he can do subtlety to encourage them to stay. Hooting to make the room's occupants know he was there.
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Chris quits his howling to listen and learn Ezra's, NO Fendoir's call. Watching as she stretched her neck long, exposing. Howling on winds to carry her song from here to eternity. Singing his blood aflame with want. A worthy mate.
A hoot alerted him to his pack mate arrival. A man so big people would think of his shift as a great bear. With his human hands as powerful as a bears. Yet they beat hard and fast in his shift. The great wings of an Eagle Owl. Just as hard as paws. Yet his talons grip just as tight.
/Corneille, / Chris/Mitternacht greeted. Josiah/Corneille swoops from the windowsill to perch on the end of the feather bed.
/What do we have here? / Looking from the jaguar to the wolf.
/I am Fendoir. / The wolf introduces herself. Josiah looks to the jaguar.
/I am Bailarin, / Inez says proudly after being alone for so long. And to now have a place. She raises her head high.
/I am Corneille. / Fendoir laughs at this.
/You're namer must have a real sense of humor. / Corneilla/Josiah laughs back. Nodding,
/He does. / Translating his name to understand it means, crow. Fendoir sniffs the air. All turning to see a shadow at the door entrance.
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/What is up with all that racket? / Vin looks up at the crow in the tree.
/Sorry to have disturbed you mam. /
/Mam? Ain't you a polite wolf? / Salbatic/Vin looks shyly down then back. The crow swooping down to be more on eye level. /You loose someone? /
/Know just making sure she knows I'm safe. /
/Ah, I see pup. / Both laughing at the crow's words. Buck comes sauntering up to the crow.
/Howdy Povestea (Romanian: Story), / Buck says.
/Not changing side on us Lieben (German: Love)? /
/No mam. Just wanted to show the new pack around/. She looks at them suspiciously. Watching the young pup walk up behind his alpha yet nip at Buck's swaging tail.
/I see. So who are you? / Vin looks at the crow in wonder. Sensing a longing there of something lost. Strange what you find on one's path.
/Salbatic, / the wolf bowed. Buck watched the alpha bow courteously to the crow. Wonder at this action. Is it a wild thing? Or a door opening for the crow to join their pack. This pack acting so unlike normal packs. Who was he to say what is normal. Come on, humans shifting into animals. Could things get any stranger? Shaking his head he simply watches. And watched as the crow turned into the human she is. Turning from a old crow into an old woman. Vin moves in to smell at her.
"Well boy, am I gonna get to see the human you?" The wolf backing up changing into his human self. JD looks to his alpha following suite. Leiben looking hungrily at the naked human JD before him. Alone to his thoughts but not to be uncivilized. Shifting so all stood in the moonlight in their birthday suites. Vin moves toward her extending his hand. She takes it. In a gesture learned from Ezra he bent down to kiss her hand. Respect to the old ones. For they have paved the path before them for them to follow in right.
"Vin Tanner." Turning to his fellow packmate, "That there is JD."
"Mam." The pup says moving in to do the same gesture as his alpha.
"Nettie Wells," blushing at the formal and generous greeting. "So how many in your pack?"
"Four." Stating proudly of their newest requisition.
"And where are they?"
"My mate was injured in a poachers trap. She is in town resting with another of ours."
"And Chris is watching after her too." Nettie watches as Vin growled at Buck's information. In animal stating he could protect his mate not needing anyone else's help.
"Then they are sure to be safe. Don't worry boy, Chris knows his limitations."
"And are you of his pack?"
"I am on occasion." Vin nodded. Sorely tempted to make an offer for her to join his. She can see it too. But her old wings have flown over many of wolves in her days. And seeing this wolf and how others react around him she can only guess at what Chris is thinking and yearning. They could be a strong pack. If the two would stop nipping at one another. Yet there lay his mate. Which is what it really all comes down to. "So Vin if you ever need shelter while on my land you may seek it out."
"That is very kind of you mam." Looking to the moon. He had been away longer than he wanted. "Good night, Ms. Wells." Reverting back, he sprinted away. JD smiles at her.
"Mam." He had seen the way his alpha keened toward the old woman. A longing there. The lost mother. Elder mother of a pack. Shifting he runs after his alpha.
Buck looks at them then to Nettie.
"Interesting pack there." Buck nods. "If you want him you should make yourself known. For they are wild, Buckling. Forward always the best approach." Understanding the wisdom of his elder. "They will be a great addition to our pack or us to theirs." Buck looks at her. She smiles all knowingly. Understanding he shifts to catch up.
Watching them go. The future is going to be an interesting present soon. Spreading her wings to meet it.
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Chris growls at the door.
/Who's there he orders? / Snarling at the intruder. The door jiggles. Then a scratching at the door. /Answer me. /
/It's me, / the voice spoke. Chris shifts to open to the door. There is his other pack mate. The cheetah walks into the room. Shutting the door to quickly charge and pounce on his pack mate.
/Why didn't you answer me? / Showing his power and rage.
/Sorry, there was a smell on the door. Something I have only smelled once before at a master's house. / People are still cruel no matter what form you are in. Slavery and war still amongst the dark patches that littered their history. /Sorry Mitternacht. It just rattled me. / Chris nods in understanding. Sometimes he forgets that humans are cruel. Also he is one too. Having lost himself to the animal when his pack was murdered. Fighting with tooth and claw. A gun no match for the vicious blood vengeance that has seated inside the alpha. Finally calming and dealing. His blood once again boiling with the new pack near. Calling for them to join and be a strong united front.
/What is the smell? / Fendoir/Ezra Asked.
/I never learned it but it makes me frightened. / She nods in understanding. /Do you know the smell? /
/Yes, shifts use it to protect their young and injured. The smell is vial to those of the unwolf shift. Mundane humans will even detour form the door. Unsure of the reason why/.
/So you placed it there? /
/No./
/I did, / Bailarin/Inez spoke. /It is an old magic. And I wanted to protect my pack mate. / Nathan looks guarded at the jaguar. Having not seen one in their territory before.
/Who are you? /
/Bailarin (Spanish: Dancer). /
/I mean in human. /
/Inez. / Nathan shocked looks to his alpha for guidance. Watching him move to the bed to lay down. His alpha laying down at the paws of another alpha's mate. Old fear building. Scared at his powerful alpha submitting to the unknown.
/What have you done to our alpha? / Growling at Fendoir.
Tilting her head she looks at him.
/Who is it to say I am the aggressor? I did not tell your alpha to come here. Nor did I ask your other pack members to enter my abode… what is your name? /
/Messer (German: Knife). /
/A powerful name. As I said I did not let them in. They trespassed. So who is in the wrong? /
/This is his territory. /
/Yes and this small room in neutral territory. And since we occupy it is ours till we depart. / Chris vocally whined at this. He didn't want them to leave. He had overstepped his borders. Realizing now.
/Back off, Messer. / Looking to his alpha and his words.
/We are all shifts here, / the owl spoke. Messer looks to Cornille.
/You just want one big congregation. /
/We are all one in the lord's eyes. / Fendoir huffs at that. Yawning and stretching what little she could.
/And on that somber note, good night/. Snuggling back down to get some sleep. Bailarin's long form taking her post behind her pack mate as before. Eyeing the other pack. A pack she could never see herself with. Until now.
Chris/Mitternacht lay down on the floor. A lot on his mind. And not yet willing to leave the room of the ones who lay so heavy on his thoughts.
Corneille/Josiah looks at all them. Things are just beginning to get interesting.
Messer/Nathan sniffs at the door in distaste. Walking over to smell at the leg. Smelling his herbs doing what they can. Looking at his fellow feline he turns to lay behind his alpha. Curling up into a tight circle. Looking up to Josiah. Josiah may be a big man but he fit himself into the fur nest that Nathan made for him of himself. People on the outside would see them as close, mated, lovers. But they are not. They both have been wronged and found salvation in the other. A brother bond. Besides the cat was already chasing a very female tail.
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Vin arrived to the room to see both packs there, asleep. Hopping up on the bed he lay down resting his head on his mate's neck. Breathing her in.
Home
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They remain wolf when the sun comes up. Salbatic/Vin helping Fendoir/Ezra gets out of the room and out for a walk. Bailarin/Inez stayed on the other while Braz/JD took the other. People stopped to look. A pack of shifters coming through is no big deal. Well it is.
Then there was the gasp when Fendoir's emerald eyes would catch the light of sun. People backed up and bowed. If only they knew. But you respect your royals. So they did. Vin stepped closer to his mate. Feeling eyes linger on his mate.
/Easy Salb. My heart is yours. / Vin licked her then. Growling in content.
Someone though dared to step up before them. As still a human even. Everyone around stopped to see what would happen. Vin bared his teeth at him. Tail held high. Crouched ready to strike. The rest of the pack following suite. The man stares at them. Mostly at Fendoir.
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Chris watches the unknown man step before them. His animal spiking inside him. THis can't happen. The man obviously a shifter. The man doesn't dare shift. Just continuing to gaze down at the female wolf. Salbatic/Vin growls as he places himself between the intruder and his mate. Chris moving over. Knowing the wild mate would shred the man dead. He would have every right to. The man though held his head high.
"I wish to speak with you my lady. Dinner perhaps?" Fendoir glares at him before rubbing herself against her mate. She bares her teeth before turning from the nuisance. Rubbing herself up against Bailarin. Purring in content. Then continuing to walk and lick at Braz/JD. Sure she can have pups of her own. For now though she is content to have the surrogate.
Vin maintains his stance between them. Chris moves to stand beside Salbatic.
"She's not interested." The man looks Chris up and down. Eyeing the man. Seeing the animal and his hierarchy.
"So she is yours. I did not mean to intrude." Salbatic crouched down lower growling growing louder. "Her brother?"
"Her mate. I suggest you leave them alone."
"I will once I make her an offer."
"Your funeral." Chris looks to Vin and nods. Vin stands straight before going back with his pack. Watching them gather together again. Keeping their injured between them. Buck whistles as he approaches to stand beside him.
"What the idiots want?" Chris eyes still on the pack. Putting two and two together. "I see." Braz nips at Salbatic as he returns to his pack. Salbatic nipping back at the pup. Hearing a big sigh, Chris turns to his best friend his beta. Sure he fawned on most women in town. Sure he had set his eye on a few. Never like this.
"So you are leaving me?"
"What?" Looking to his alpha.
"Braz, I see the way you look at him. Have you made your intentions know yet?"
"He's just a kid. I'm an old man. He probably has never been with a woman before."
"There is always a first time."
"Chris, I would be just content for him to looks at me as an older brother. If someday happens."
"It won't until you make a move." Buck just looks over at him. His eyes telling him to heed his own advice. Smirking they look at the pack. The man steps onto the boardwalk slowly following them. "He's gonna be trouble."
"No doubt."
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Nettie Wells is the very uniqueness of the wild frontier life. Coming to town in her wagon she lets it sit outside the livery. Parking it beside a wagon. Getting down she eyes it. Looking at the cages in the back. Smelling blood. Moving around it she heard men talking.
"Land eyes are you sure?"
"Positive."
"What's a royal doing all the way out here?"
"Maybe being taken to a higher pack nearby." Nettie hates gossip but it does pass the time. Also a little unnerving when non-shifters try to get into the affairs of their world.
"Not if that wild one has any bark to say about it." The men laughing at their crude humor at a wolf. Especially one out of earshot.
"Well if he ever does bark it will be the last thing you hear." Nettie smiles as Josiah walks past separating the two men. 3 long pieces of wood resting on his shoulder. People knew that Josiah is a man to be wary of. Projecting shifter but everyone thinking the most unlikely. Nettie like the big man. Nice to have a fellow flyer around. Passing the men he passes her.
"Ms. Wells."
"Josiah." She walks with him fro a it. "Do you know where the wild pack is? I would like to talk with them." He stops to look at her.
"Thinking of joining their pack?" It was strange to learn of more shifters in their mist. Also to see them join the wild pack so quickly.
"Don't know. The wolf I met last night has something I haven't seen in a long time. Want to meet his mate. She must be a mighty fine lady." Josiah smiles at that. She is a mighty fine wolf if he says so himself about the wolf. But the man who is the wolf. That is another can of worms.
"Well they should be in the saloon." Nettie nods in understanding. Neutral territory.
"Thank you Josiah. How is Chris doing with all this?"
"He is," love sick, puppy love. " Dealing."
"I see." Nettie carriers herself proudly as she enters the saloon. Looking around she spies the wild alpha. He is sitting at a table with a young man who is trying to inhale his drink. Buck is sitting with them.
"How are you doing alpha?" Vin stands, as he knows the voice. Turning to see the old woman he had felt a place in his heart. A place reserved for matriarchs.
"I am fine, yourself?"
"Came to see this mate of yours."
"Well, mam, he is right there." Vin would never lie about his mate. Damn proud of his mate. Turning to where he is pointing is a gambler who is surrounded by fellow gamblers. Yet his man sticks out like a sore thumb. Bright red jacket and big devilish smile. Looking at him would never picture these two together.
"The peacock?" Vin wanted to growl at her. Yet Ezra had instilled upon him people want to see what they want to see. And if the visage we perceive to them is not in their favor then we are doing our jobs in remaining unmemorable. And we don't need them around us.
"Ezra ain't no peacock. He's a mighty fine gambler and is getting money to help us restock our wagon. He makes more then someone sweeping dirt back onto dirt." The two elders look at the pup. Buck just smiles that the boy has fire. Vin is proud of their pup. Then he turns to Nettie who has set her hands on her hips.
"Well youngling what I see is a man taking other men's money."
"They went to him not the other way around. They knew what they got into so who is the fool. The fool who asked or the one who sees without knowing." JD has had enough. She may be something to Vin yet to him she was a stilted woman who is judging before meeting. JD goes to the gambling table to stand behind his pack.
"I would say excuse him but you did speak unwell of my mate."
"I am sorry. He just doesn't look like one to be your mate."
"And that is what makes him perfect. You see the gambler. I see the man who is earning money for his pack to eat and have shelter. All I'm doing is sitting and eating and doing no work. So am I a bad alpha?" Nettie watches as Vin moves to his mate.
"All be."
"Great aren't they." Buck says watching JD take money from Ezra to go get a drink.
"You are in puppy love." Buck turns to Nettie. He can only nod at the truth.
"You need to watch what you say." Larabee looks to Nettie.
"Vin likes you but if you push he will bite back hard."
"You should follow your own words." She exits. Larabee huffs at the old crow. Then he looks to Vin who has moved to stand behind his mate. JD coming back with drinks for all of them.
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"Everything ok?" Ezra asks while shuffling the cards. Vin just gives him a look. "Told you, perception."
"You gonna deal or what mister?"
"So eager to lose your money, sir?"
"I'm gonna win."
"Optimism is a good thing to have." Ezra began to deal. "This shall be my last game good sirs."
"Aren't you gonna give us a chance to win back?"
"Gentlemen I am in town till the end of the week. If you care to play now or tomorrow I shall be here till then." One of the men stands up. He tips his hat.
"I will see you tomorrow sir." The man leaves. Ezra smiles toward the man. The man played with little he had and left with the same amount. Maybe enough for a drink or two. He knew how to play but knew a superb player. Played to be around people, not alone.
"Ok deal," the youngling spoke. Vin wanted to growl at the man. But Ezra just looks at his mate. The look speaks so much.
They play, Ezra wins, and the boy gets upset. Then there is an all muscle wolf snarling at him.
"Hey call him off," the man whimpers.
"The I suggest you remove your hand from your gun," Ezra spoke nonchalantly while drinking his drink.
"He's a damn shifter," another patron spoke.
"You got a problem with shifters?" JD barked.
"Calm down." Ezra spoke calmly. Getting up he limps to his mate. Resting a hand on him. "Let's go." the wolf backs up. Vin doesn't change back but rubs against his mate.
"It has indeed been a trying day."
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The man from earlier, who asks to dine with Fendoir, had sat and watched the play. Keeping his eyes on the pack. Smiling at the wild. Then grinning when he figured out the gambler is the female wolf. A very nice prize indeed. Yet the trouble is the feral mate and the town's pack. Looking at the alpha Larabee. The lovesick loner. Guess everyone wants a piece of the royal. All he needs are the alphas to get in a tussle and he can nab the royal. Smiling at figuring out this royal is just a breeder, wonderful.
Yet he only had to the end of the week to in act his plan.
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Ezra hated being injured. Hated being the damsel in distress. But the worst thing he hated was his other side. For it that form, female and wolf. Meaning that he would go into heat. Feeling the burn begin in his gut. Vin came over to rest his wolf head on Ezra's human legs.
"You can smell it can't you." Rubbing his mates head. "I think we should leave tomorrow." JD looks at them from his bedroll on the floor.
"What's going on?"
"I am a bitch, JD."
"No, you're not. You a wonderful wolf." Ezra smiles at the young pup.
"JD, since my biology is different when in wolf I still have to adhere to those rules."
"Meaning?"
"I am going to go into heat." Ezra spit out hating that part. He had tried before to remain male during heat but it didn't help. Being in the wild helped that. Always running.
"So can't you take something?"
"There are things," which he has tried. "But they don't really work." Vin had changed to human.
"I'll get the wagon ready." Vin left the room.
"I thought we were leaving at the end of the week."
"Is there a reason you want to stay?" Ezra is the most observant of anyone. But even a young pup could see Buck's eyes fawning. But to understand the notion.
"Inez?"
"She'll come. We won't be far for a while but I can not stay in city limits."
"Because of Larabee."
"Because of the male population."
"Will I want to?" giving him a look. Ezra smiles.
"Possibly. But you are to stay here. Make it seem that I am here, resting."
"How bad can it get?"
"Bad. Vin will kill anyone who mates with me that is not him."
"Great." Ezra laughs.
"You'll see."
"I hope not for a long time." Ezra ruffles his hair. JD leans into the contact.
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Vin carried another bedroll to the wagon. Seeing this Chris approaches the other alpha.
"I thought Ezra said you were leaving at the end of the week?"
"Something came up." Vin lifted another bedroll into the wagon. Chris shifted from foot to foot. Vin sees this but he does not have time to play games. His mate is about to go into heat. This is why they stay in the wild. Why they stay away from cities.
Challengers.
Not liking the alpha so near he bumps Chris as he throws a bag of supplies in the wagon.
"Traveling light?" Vin grunting moving something else into the wagon. Chris took on the small amount of living. "You don't have to leave."
"We do."
"Is it because of me or her?" Vin turns to look at Chris. The wolf inside him eyeing him up.
"I have my loyalties."
"She's royal. I can lock you up."
"Why would you do that?" Vin huffs. "You want her that bad. Want to treat her/him like the people who breed him for one purpose. Ezra ain't royalty. She is my pack. And an alpha can challenge but can't take her unless they get through me. Besides you can't arrest me because of royal blood. She has a pack. So you can't lock up her mate."
"When you talk you are direct."
"I only need to say what I need to. Excuse me." Chris watched Vin move to the store again to get another bag.
The man who was indignant earlier moves to watch Vin grab another bag. His timetable had to be moved up. Growling he turned into his shift. Heading up the back stairs. Then he smelled it. Like sweet chocolate and the grandest tasting wine. She was entering heat. Perfect.
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Ezra had a bag in hand when he smelled something different.
"JD," Ezra warned before the door burst open and an albino wolf growled before them. JD instantly went into wolf mode. The albino laughed. Ezra wanted to change but knew she would be no match.
Engaging his derringer Ezra shoots the albino before turning to jump out the window.
Inez hearing the disturbance jumps over the bar. Shifting as she crosses the bar and up the stairs. People backing away. Then there is a crash of glass. Running through the open door to see JD squabbling with an albino wolf.
Albino wolves are as rare as land eyes. They are of royalty. They are of fire. Yet this fire wolf messed with the wrong pack. Inez jumps in growling and slamming her claws into the white wolf.
Ezra jumped through a window. Landing poorly and reinjuring his back leg. Cursing, Vin ran over.
"Ezra?" Ezra grabbed him. His hands digging into him. Panting hard his green eyes look to his sky.
"Help, JD. Fire wolf." Vin growls. He begins to go but is stopped. There on the wood sidewalk of the salon stood their feline pack mate. Braz beside her. He looks a mess of fur and blood.
Vin walks over toward them. Kneeling down he accepts them. Braz moves in to rub himself against their alpha. Vin looks to Bailarin.
"Thank you." He bows to have the feline move forward and sniff his hair.
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Ezra moves to sit on the boardwalk. Braz moves over to lick at his pack.
"Thank you, I don't know what would of happened if you were not there."
"I reckon its time we moved on." Vin spoke coming over with Bailarin by his side.
"Good idea."
"How's your leg?"
"It is well enough to get us out of here." Reverting to wolf, Fendoir makes her way to the wagon. Braz and Bailarin flanking her on both sides.
Vin looks up at the broken window. Remembering a time when he almost was not there to rescue his mate. His mate had it harder than anyone. Sure he dressed well. But those damned, beautiful land eyes that caused a menagerie of critters to come calling no matter what she thinks. Heading in he gathers what can be salvaged in the room. The neutral territory that was theirs while here. Kicking the red snowed skin to get into the closet. Pulling out a bag to fill with the meager belongings that they had brought to the room.
Chris stood in the doorway. His heart plummeting when Ezra came crashing to the ground. Then to see the others come out bloodied yet victorious. It still changed everything. They are leaving and he can't stop them. What right did they want to stay? He could enforce some laws but they are mated. He is losing because of some other wants what he wants. Seeing what must be a common thing amongst them. The curse of being what Ezra is. No choices but what others think they have the right to chose for them. That is not a life. That is a constant tragedy. They finally get to settle and another wolf makes a play.
Picking up a shredded handkerchief he stairs at it. This could have been what would have happened to Ezra.
"This isn't the first time this has happened." Chris states to the room.
"Very observant." Vin throwing what can be saved in the bag, quickly. "We should of gone the moment your healer mended her but…" Vin tosses the bag hard on the bed. "Everywhere we go. Every time we begin to get life underfoot. " Vin glares at Chris. "This is why we can't stay. We can never be a normal pack."
"If you wanted to stay."
"What reason do we have to stay?" Chris wants to move forward to tell Vin. Tell him that he wants to be pack. There is that fear. That fear of being rejected and left behind. Chris would rather bypass and go right to left behind.
"Well, I'll leave you to it." Chris left the room. Life was continuing to move on down in the saloon. A future is about to walk out of his town.
Heading out into the night he breaths in the dark. The dark is where he belongs. The dark is where he shall remain. Buck joins him as he strolls through the night.
"So what did I miss?"
"A fire wolf tried to take Ezra."
"What? What happened?"
"JD and Inez demolished the wolf. Ezra is okay just reinjuring his leg. They are leaving."
"What? NO! They're pack. Chris did you say anything?" Chris continued walking giving Buck his answer.
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In the morning Chris woke to a note on the bedside table. The scrawl is legible. But he only knows one person with that terrible writing ability.
Chris,
I know you want to be the martyr. But I cannot anymore sit by and watch tails swagger by and think of the one that got away.
It's sunrise and they are leaving to follow their path. I aim to follow with them. JD may never feel the same. But I need pack. Sarah and … they're gone.
Sorry Chris.
I will always be your friend. If you change your mind follow the path to the Seminole village. From there follow your nose.
Till then,
Buck
Chris sat there alone in his bed rereading it. He had time. But did he have the courage. Shifting he howls out his heart.
The End
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Mitternacht (German: Midnight) Chris
Salbatic (Romanian: Wild) Vin
Fendoir (French: cleaver) Ezra
Lieben (German: Love) Buck
Braz (polish: brown) JD
Messer (German: knife) Nathan
Corneille (French: Crow) Josiah
Bailarin (Spanish: Dancer) Inez
Povestea (Romanian: Story) Nettie
AN: I don't know how to end this. I wrote this a while ago and have been sitting in my computer. So I added a little more to kind of wrap it up. But I had no clue how to truly wrap it. So hope you enjoy. May touch back on it at a later date or if the muse strikes.