Chapter 4- all the way from France
Disclaimer: I don't own Blood and Chocolate
Claimer: I own every pack member that is spoken of in this chapter that is from France.
VERY IMPORTANT SO READ THIS FIRST: Okay just to make some things clear here are the names of the French pack members:
(m) Aldric (38) (f) Anastasie (17) (f) Roxane (24)
(m) Blaise (26) (f) Daphne (18) (f) Hélène (19)
(m) Dimitri(22) (f) Georgiana (19)
(m) Edgard(31) (f) Ghislain (30)
(m) Martin (17) (f) Jacinthe (18)
(m) Nicolas(18) (f) Gwenaelle (35)
Part one- Family history
Aldric's pack had lived cozily in the countryside of France for many years; Aldric was the oldest and he had banded with the other loups in his pack to break away from a much larger one. Aldric and the others did not agree with the old leaders ideals of killing humans, it put them at too much risk for discovery.
The new pack they formed was all under 38 and they tended to argue on some things', but no one would challenge Aldric for his position. At 6 foot 5 he could stare any male down and ruled with teeth and brain. And yet he was respectful of other pack elders, knowing his place when it came to age hierarchy.
Aldric's wife, the Queen Gwenaelle was his for more than 4 years now. They decided that they too would have a child since the pack was settled and safe in their new location. Gwenaelle was a strong queen, often ruling just like Aldric. Gwenaelle is 2 months pregnant.
Because this new pack was broken off from a larger one, all of them had left their parents behind. It was a tougher decision for some of the younger women, but they were soon convinced it was for the best. All the older parents condoned the killing of humans for food and their children didn't. Aldric had acted like a father for the younger loup garrou as they adjusted to their new way of life.
It was easy to thrive in the area because few humans would pass their way. Only Dimitri, Blaise, Ghislain, and Roxane held jobs in the human world, the money they earned went to the pack. The younger of the pack members went to school, but traveled a good distance every day so their home would not be detected.
This pack had more females than males, and because most of the bitches were in their teen years, they were often unsettled and randy for other male loups. The two youngest males, Martin and Nicolas, were always after Anastasie, Daphne, Georgiana, Jacinthe, or Hélène. It was expected that Nicolas and Anastasie wouldsoon be mates, they spent the most time together, and often Nicolas would take her hunting, and would lay his kill at her feet.
Then there was Dimitri while he didn't chase around the younger bitches like Martin and Nicolas did he was close to Georgiana. Because he had a job, he took her out many a time, and soon the ceremony would come when they joined together as mates and the ritual of binding together under the full moon was a week away. Blaise and Roxane were already mates and expecting their first child, Roxane being 3 weeks pregnant. The single women were Jacinthe, Roxane, Hélène, and sometimes Ghislain.
Ghislain was an interesting woman. She and Edgard had a very off and on relationship. She never showed much interest in him, except to be a lover, and while he showed at times, more interest than that, he never expected much. Ghislain is the younger sister of Gwenaelle, and a little bit of a troublemaker. Before the pack separated she had always been the object of desire between all males.
The small pack owned a good size manor in the countryside. It was a brick edifice with a garden for food and ivy covering the walls. Everyone was happy with their lives.
Part 2- coming home from school one day
Anastasie, Daphne, and Jacinthe were walking home from school one day. Daphne and Jacinthe were in their last year and would not be attending college just like Anastasie wouldn't. It was their choice; they just wanted a basic education. Pack was more important as was their thoughts. Anastasie was not really looking forward to a year alone next year.
Loup garrou women tended to attract even meat boys, which made all the meat girls insanely jealous. There was a certain group of meat boys that had a fancy for Daphne and Jacinthe, since they were stuck up senior boys they didn't look at Anastasie who was just as pretty as her friends.
(A/N: I know that the grades are called a different thing than our high school terminology, but just go along with it please, I can't remember the proper French terms sorry. Also the last time I translated French was in her angel her monster, and I don't think I'll do that right now, so just pretend that they are speaking in French please)
The three girls were coming home one day and the group of meat boys were following not to far behind. The girls were aware of this fact and weren't too pleased with it. They rolled their eyes at the catcalls and decided to torture the boys with their looks a little bit.
"Hey sweet things, why are you walking so fast?" the oldest called, he was muscular, but had too thick of a neck and an even thicker ego. In response the girls slowed down and then turned around. The four boys caught up and towered over the girls and they stared at them as if they were constellation prizes. The youngest of the four cupped himself at Anastasie and she shifted her purse, as if ready to slug him in the face with it.
"How about you girls come out with us tonight?" The third boy said as he rounded them, his hands rudely grabbing their butts. They jerked away, growling under their breaths so the meat boys couldn't hear.
"Why don't you go screw a waitress instead? I hear that's what you usually do." Daphne replied acidly and spit in the groping boy's face.
Jacinthe turned to the oldest one and sauntered up to him, her sly movements made him smile and she tugged at his hand, he moved it to her chest, but suddenly she bit his hand, wanting to sink her wolf teeth into his flesh for his insolence.
'Thick neck' screamed and pulled his hand back; she had broken the skin and now spat out his blood. Down the road came Nicolas and Martin at a fast pace. The meat boys didn't notice until Martin had his hand around 'Thick neck's' throat and threw him to the ground. Nicolas grabbed the third boy who was unfortunate enough to be near Anastasie and tossed him ten feet through the air away from her. She smiled happily at her prospective mate and the women stepped aside as the two males took on the meat boys with great ease.
The meat boys had the worst ass kicking of their life and staggered away as Nicolas and Martin stood in triumph beside the women. Nicolas put his arm protectively around Anastasie's shoulder and kissed her on top of her head. Martin turned to the other girls. "Did they touch you?"
"Yes, nothing to serious though." Jacinthe said to him, she took his hand and squeezed it. "Thanks." And with that they walked home. Trouble wouldn't be far behind.
Yes things would lie dormant for a week but we all know how large egos can't leave with their asses beaten and not do anything about it.
Gwenaelle and Aldric were taking a stroll around the house and into the garden when the younger ones returned from school. The two alphas watched the teens go in the house then continued their walk. Aldric tucked her arm underneath his and pulled her into the gardens. As of late habit he would reach with his free hand to touch her stomach.
He kissed his mate sweetly and took her to the flower part of the garden. He picked her a handful of flowers and arranged them for her. She remarked how beautiful they were and pulled her husband's face to her own, kissing him slowly and passionately.
Ever since she had become pregnant Aldric had calmed down and was able to not be paranoid that the old pack leader would come for them in revenge. After a while the alphas returned inside and were informed of the past half-hours events, which did not please Aldric in the least.
Part 3- drunk
Meat boys are bad enough, but when they are drunk and staking out a house that's even worse. So there the four of them sat a hundred feet away from the house, waiting for 'thick neck' to give them orders. Beside them were stones to throw at the large windows.
Finally they stood and picked up the rocks, then adorned ski masks. The third boy threw the rock up and down in his palm as they approached the dark house. It was around three a.m. and everyone was asleep inside…
Aldric lay awake in his bed he rolled over and wrapped an arm around Gwenaelle. Ever since the younger wolves told him about the little problem on the way home, it had been on his mind. For the past fifteen minutes he thought he could here movement outside. Their room was on the first floor towards the back of the house. He tossed over again and got out of bed, moving towards the open window.
He heard distinct male voices outside. Intruders on his land, this he would not allow. Looking back to make sure that his wife was still asleep he let the Change sear through his body and he jumped out the window, landing on the soft earth.
The scent of the intruders rushed up his nose as the wind swept by him. Aldric let loose a low growl and slunk across the ground in the tall grass towards the meat boys. His eyes glowed red in the moonlight, his dark blonde coat mixed with the dead grass.
The second boy stretched his arm back and as he lunged it forward a rock the size of his palm was hurtled towards the living room window. CRASH! One pane of the window shattered and that was soon followed by three more rocks in separate windows. They were about to lob more when a snarling beast jumped at them from out of the grass.
They screamed in surprise, seeing the red-eyed wolf. The wolf landed on 'thick neck's' body, pushing him to the ground. Aldric's teeth sunk into the raised boy's arm, causing another blood curdling scream. The other boys threw their stones at Aldric causing him to jump off the boy and charge after the others.
Lights came on in the house, Dimitri, Blaise, and Edgard jumped out of their own windows on the second floor in their pelts. They too charged the meat boys chasing them away. The boys ran crying from the snarling jaws of doom. Blaise and Edgard caught up to them quickly and jumped them, tearing only at the boys' clothing, but scarring them none the less. And then Blaise and Edgard jumped off of them and ran back to the house, searching for other meat-boys. The ones that lay on the ground now, crying and shaking with fear slowly got up and then continued running.
The oldest boy was left there, all alone. When Aldric and Dimitri returned they circled him, snarling and snapping viciously. The ski mask was off; his hair was wild, his cheeks tear stained, and the front of his pants soiled.
Aldric drew closer towards the sniveling boy who turned and ran as fast as he could. His screams could be heard for a few hundred yards. When the male wolves were sure that all the meats were gone they changed to their human skins. As Aldric stood he spat the boy's blood from his mouth.
"I don't like this situation. If they come back with animal control or something like that, we are screwed." Aldric turned back to the house, the other males following him. All the women and the rest of the men stood in the foyer and on the staircase with tired, but alert stances waiting for the news. Gwenaelle wrapped her robe tighter around her and moved to her husband.
"What happened out there?" she asked worried as she took her husband's hand and saw the blood on his mouth.
"Four meat-boys were outside stoning the house. I believe they are the ones you three told me about." He looked at Jacinthe, Anastasie, and Daphne. "This could be the last we've seen of them, but if they approach you at school tomorrow do not talk to them, but listen to what they say. Then one of you is to call me immediately."
"Maybe you should call the police and have them arrested for trespassing?" Ghislain offered as she sat on the steps.
Aldric stood and pondered on this for a moment. "If we do it can only be for breaking the windows and we saw them being attacked by large dogs."
"What if the police start a look out for our wolf forms?" asked Edgard.
'That's a chance we can take, besides there was a report of a pack of wild dogs a few days ago—"
"That's convenient." Ghislain cut in, "just tell them that you thought it was the strays and then all that's left is to bust those idiots."
So the men dressed themselves back in their nightclothes and called the police. The blue car arrived without sirens to the estate, and two officers approached the door. Aldric had been waiting in the living room with Blaise, Dimitri, and Edgard as the police knocked on the door. Aldric answered and ushered them into the living room.
"What's the problem?" the gray haired sergeant asked to Aldric.
"Just about forty minutes ago these four boys came and stoned our house. I was the first to wake up—" Aldric paused as the younger police officer pulled out a notepad to copy Aldric's words. "I'm not sure which window they started with, but I happened to be awake and I heard a crash coming from here in the living room," Aldric pointed to the large window facing the front of the house.
"Did you see these hoodlums?" the sergeant asked of Aldric.
"Yes, these three were awoken too by the noise and we met at the window here. We were about to go out but a pack of dogs appeared and they began to attack them. The boys ran away, and I know the dogs persuade them."
"Maybe it was that stray pack that was reported in the newspaper the other day?" Blaise piped up, but was quieted by Aldric's look. Yes, Aldric was being on edge, but he didn't want the pack discovered. The police sergeant picked up on Aldric's silencing look at Blaise.
"Can I have your names?" the sergeant asked. Aldric calmly told him their four names, and it was when he was asked about the relations between the members of the house that it set Aldric even more on edge. He took a quick breath to steady himself for the lie.
"Edgard and Blaise are my younger brothers. Dimitri is our cousin."
"Is there anyone else in this house?"
"Yes. My wife is asleep upstairs. We are all extended family, except for Anastasie, Daphne, and Georgiana my wife adopted them into this family and I. Edgard's fiancé is Ghislain. I would have had them down here, but they needed sleep, and I didn't think it would be necessary to have the full residents down here. Only the four of us witnessed the stoning of the house." Aldric stared at the two police intently, waiting for them to speak. After a moment the sergeant spoke again.
"And do you want to press charges on these boys?"
"What I want is money for my windows. I can have them installed myself, because I do not want them near my house, nor near my adopted daughters, they were harassing them earlier, which leads me to believe that is why our house was stoned—"
"May we speak to your daughters?" the younger cop asked. Aldric paused and agreed, making his way to their rooms.
He knocked on their doors and pulled the three of them out. He had them assemble by the farthest door from the staircase and talked to them in hushed voices.
"Now listen to me. The police are here and I told them all that happened: a pack of stray dogs got those boys, and the reason the boys were here was because they were bothering you earlier, right?"
All three nodded their tired heads.
"This is important so listen. You three are my adopted daughters, all separate, Gwenaelle and I adopted you Daphne when you were 4, Jacinthe at 2, and Anastasie when you were 6. Jacinthe you came first, Daphne second, and Anastasie you last. Can you remember that?" again they nodded their heads and continued to listen.
"Just tell them what they did to you after school. And mention casually that Martin and Nicolas got rid of them. I'll go get them, you go downstairs and tell them what I told you to." He got Martin and Nicolas up told them what to say and brought them downstairs. The kids lined up for the police officer and answered their questions.
"So have these boys always bothered you or just recently?"
"Only recently, but this is the first time they followed us home." Jacinthe said as she sat down beside Martin letting him wrap his arm around her.
"And did they touch you in any way, that would cause you to react. We believe that the reason your house was stoned was because they were angered that you didn't comply with their gestures, am I assuming correctly?" the younger office asked.
"Yes," Anastasie said as she stood beside Nicolas. "They made grabs at us and we told them to back off, that's when Nicolas and Martin came up and got rid of them."
"How exactly did you two get rid of them?" the cop inquired.
"We thrashed them." Martin said, obviously proud of himself.
"And you were up against four. Can I have the name of these boys?"
Aldric was watching in silence the whole time, his fingers folded against his mouth. He listened vaguely as Jacinthe told the cops the names and only when addressed did he snap out of his daze.
"We can bring them in for harassing your daughters, and I assume you still want to have them pay for your windows."
"Yes. I assume you won't go to their houses tonight since its so late, but the way those dogs attacked them I suppose you will find them in the hospital."
"Well all that leaves is calling animal control, and tomorrow we'd like to do a search of your yard to see if they were intoxicated and left any drugs or bottles around your property."
"Why do you need to call animal control? Certainly that pack wouldn't be around here still would they?"
"We have to contact them, all they will do is scout the area for them and they won't even bother you monsieur."
"Fine, I suppose they will be contacted in the morning?" Aldric responded coolly. The last thing he needed was their wolf tracts identified, they were a different shape than dogs, and larger than a wolf's. And with that the police officers left and Aldric retreated upstairs, the other pack members going back to their rooms.
Nicolas and Anastasie walked back to her room his arm around her tight. They walked in and sat on her bed. Tomorrow was Saturday, and as in France they went to school for a half day.
"I wish Aldric wouldn't stress over this so much." She said as she curled up onto the pillows her hand on her boyfriend's back. He turned to look at her and tangled his fingers in her hair.
"Well he's right to worry, I don't know how extensive the animal control would be, if they are at all, but Aldric is only worried that if they find paw prints someone will make a big deal about it."
"I guess we'll find out." She said and pulled him down to the bed, "Why don't you stay with me tonight? I don't want some meat boy to get me." She looked up at him with puppy dog eyes.
"Yes, we can't have that ma cheré." He wrapped his arms around her as they snuggled under the covers.
She pulled at his shirt him, "You know I just don't think I an sleep right now." She kissed his neck making her shift closer.
"I was thinking the same." He pulled at her pajamas, kissing every inch of her body that was uncovered. She pulled him into a passionate embrace trying to stay quite so they wouldn't wake the household as they made love rather vigorously. Afterwards he lay against his mate kissing her neck and rubbing his hand across her arms.
Nicolas and Anastasie out of all the young ones were the closest. They had always been playmates as pups and Nicolas only pursued her among the females. When Anastasie left her parents as Aldric formed them into a separate pack, the separation was hardest for her. Nicolas was with her the whole time, and had not abandoned her side since.
The next morning at school the four boys were not there, but instead all bandaged and beaten up at the police station. The thing left was animal control. And they were a little too investigative.
Part 4- an investigation
Animal control arrived early in the morning as Gwenaelle was reading the morning newspaper. Apparently the real pack of dogs was spotted that night on the other side of town. And apparently the animal control had read this as well.
So they did a through search around the land, all the while Aldric, Blaise, and Ghislain following them around "to help." As the animal control people were searching the woods, Ghislain found the men's paw prints and called over Blaise and Aldric.
They dragged their feet over the dry mud and unfortunately got over only a small section of the yard when the workers came back out of the woods.
"Did you find anything?" Blaise asked.
"Only tracks, none that I've ever seen, and certainly too big for a dogs, so that rules out any other wild dog story possible."
"Well if there is nothing else you gentlemen can do, then I bid you good day." Aldric sent them off and went back into the house.
"I don't like this one bit." He sat in the kitchen eating the breakfast he had been interrupted from.
And he was right to be worried, there are superstitious people, and then there are the people that believe in the supernatural. One just happened to work with the animal control team that was on Aldric's land. This particular worker came back two nights later, camera in hand, and the full moon high.
Pascal, the man, had set up a little harness in a tree deep in the woods, camera in hand he sat there an hour before night fell. He was certain the tracks belong to Loup-garoux and now he would have evidence of their existence.
The pack formed outside underneath the full-bellied moon. They shed their clothes on the porch and all doubled over with the sweet release of Change. Soon they all leapt forth in their furs yipping and howling pleasantly unbeknownst that they were about to be watched. They all stayed together as they hunted for rabbits, hungry for the kill.
Pascal could hear a thunder of paws, his heart rate excelled, and here was his chance! He poised his video camera, and Canon digital. The video camera was rolling for two whole minutes before the pack showed up. Amazing how the sound of their feet carried, he started to take as many pictures of he could. But being stupid, he didn't realize that the flash would give him away. The flying fur halted, their heads turning towards him. Pascal turned his video camera as they surrounded the tree, snarling and barking.
Pascal tried to move higher in the tree, fearing the deadly jaws before. Aldric was absolutely furious, some human, no less the man from animal control had found them out! He took ten steps back, growled to his pack and they made him a path.
He charged the tree and made a flying leap and jumped into the tree close to Pascal's foot trying to bite it. Pascal screamed in fear, regretting being there.
"Please! I mean you know harm! Don't kill me!" he pleaded. The other wolves jumped into the tree snarling and one bit his ankle jerking him from his spot. He dangled from the tree by his harness, blood spurting from his wound. Edgard always more lithe bit into the harness rope and it separated with one snap. Pascal dropped out of the tall tree and landed on his legs awkwardly, feeling them break. He fell on his stomach sobbing as the wolves circled them.
Aldric transformed back to his human form. Pascal looked up at a naked man, crying in pain and fear.
"Why were you taping us?" he growled.
"I knew that loup-garou existed I just wanted evidence…"
"To do what with? Sell to millions? Let our lives be ruined? I don't think so."
"What are you going to do with me?" he asked warily.
"I wonder if we should kill you, now why did you want evidence?!" he roared at him.
"I was going to…post it, I'm sorry, you can have the tapes, the card, I won't tell." He watched as the other males transformed, but their fangs were still long and ready to tear.
"All these men and I say you won't tell." He snarled and wrenched him from the ground. "I should kill you, you insolent bastard." And Pascal believed it would happen as he saw the long fangs.
"Don't--" he gasped.
"Then I guess we'll just keep you here until I can believe it." With Aldric's declaration the other males started to protest, they didn't want a human in their household.
"Fine." Aldric growled at his pack's protest. "Let's say we took you to the hospital, what would you tell them?"
"That I fell out of a tree and one of the stray dogs attacked me." He whimpered.
"That's good, and do you know what would happen if you told anyone about us? I would hunt you down and kill you so slowly you would wish you never heard about loup-garou." Pascal stared into the red eyes of death, nodding slowly at the words.
"BLAISE!" Aldric shouted, even though he stood right behind him. "Take him inside. We will all get dressed and I'll call the ambulance."
Pascal was lifted from Aldric's grip into Blaise, who was gentler with the broken human.
"Edgard get the cameras. I want the tape and the memory card…destroyed."
Pascal laid limp over Blaise's shoulder, in true fear for his life. The leader had told him that they would call an ambulance for him, but what if he was lying? He didn't want the die, not like this. Soon the pain from his broken legs was so great that he passed out, the last thing he saw was them leaving the forest.
When the pack moved inside they placed the unconscious man on the couch after laying down towels.
"Everyone go get dressed." Aldric barked then he and Gwenaelle moved to their own room to get dressed. Gwenaelle closed the door behind them and went to her husband. She wrapped her nervous hands around his shoulders, her pregnant belly against his back.
"Aldric, what are we going to do? Do you think he'll really talk?"
"I don't know, I think we all need to move far from here, or at least kill the bastard." He turned around to be met with her hand against his face.
"How dare you say that!" she hissed. "You are starting to sound like the old leader. Since when did you become so blood thirsty?" She stared her husband down and he looked away in shame.
"I'm sorry. I…I can't let our pack be found out. I won't kill him."
"Damn right you won't." and with that she moved away to get dressed, Aldric doing the same. He watched as his wife stormed out of the room to call the ambulance and wait on the human.
Gwenaelle ran a washcloth under the water and took it to Pascal. She draped it across his forehead, and woke him up. He woke with a start, his eyes wide with fear.
"Shh. I won't hurt you, my husband is not really a violent man." She continued to wash the sweat from his face, then turned over the washcloth to lay a clean side on his forehead. "No one is going to kill you, I just called the ambulance and they will be here shortly." Pascal nodded in response. He relaxed the best he could against the couch.
"I swear I won't tell, I won't tell a soul." He whispered. Gwenaelle just looked at him and as she heard the siren in the distance and stood going to the door, opening it so the paramedics could help.
They gently placed Pascal on the stretcher, Gwenaelle walked out with him and the paramedics, relaying the false story of Pascal's condition.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," she said and took his hand kindly, "I hope you make a quick recovery."
"You are truly the kindest." Pascal said and laid back onto the stretcher. It turns out one of these beasts had a heart, and because of the queen he met, he would not betray the secret of the loup garrou. Gwenaelle put his camera's into the ambulance and watched as it sped away, sirens blaring in the dead of night.
Slowly she turned back and went into the house, the pack appearing in the living room.
"Our secret is safe." She stated.
"Even so," Aldric stated, still ashamed that he had become so "blood thirsty" as his wife claimed earlier, "I believe it is time for us to leave. Our lives could still become jeopardized. I know of packs in America, we will move there."
The pack didn't argue with their leader, the queen just looked at her husband and went to bed, to tired for an argument. In a month they left for America, their beautiful house sold off as a summer home to some rich mogul.
The pack members looked at their dear house for the last time as they loaded the cars to take to the airport. The younger wolves knew English, but still this change would prove larger than when they had formed their own pack. How would they survive in America?
A/N: So that's the new pack for you, sorry it took so long to update, but hey 15 pages! I really appreciate the reviews I got for the last chapter, and I hope you all will review again. Now what's left is to see how certain female members of this pack go after Bucky and the other males of Gabriel's pack. Please review and I hope you enjoyed!!!!
Dahlila