Chapter 10

You Scratch My Back….

"This is unacceptable!"

"How could this have happened?"

"What does it matter? We missed our chance and now that up-start will reap the benefits!"

"Well, what do we do about it?"

And, so it began again. Taro never considered himself an ambitious male but, hearing the Elders shout over each-other to be heard, the quiet hunter was thankful he wasn't Shiro right then. The Northern Alpha had enough on his mind without the Elders' panic grating on him.

Taro had done as his Alpha commanded and went to gather what information he could about the war. What he brought back had been more than the tribe ever expected.

"What did I tell you?" Kiyoshi snarled as he glared openly to all present. "I warned you all Koga couldn't be trusted. And, look what happened? He snatched our prize from our own claws and has secured it at his side forever!"

"That jewel was the key to ultimate power and now it is lost to us," Toshiro groused in a huff. "We should have ripped it from that woman's body when we had the chance."

"You know, as well as the rest of us, why we didn't," Old Taiso replied. "Now, we must decide what to do about it."

"What is there to do?" Another elder boomed from across the cave. "Koga had taken the human woman as his own. No-one can separate a mate from an Alpha."

"If that is the case," Taiso answered smoothly.

The white-furred elder had the whole cave go eerily silent as they weighed his words.

"What do you mean, Old Taiso?" Shiro asked, finally able to get a word in with all the chaos. "Are you doubting Taro's words?"

The possibility had the hunter bristling with indignation. He was an honored warrior, practically a beta in his own right amongst his people. Taro was above the dishonor of lying, especially to his Alpha. However, the Ancient Elder merely shook his shaggy head.

"Quite the contrary, I take his words as absolute truth," Taiso answered calmly, causing many within the cave to cock their heads in confusion.

"Are you growing senile in your final years?" Kiyoshi snapped.

"I learn to listen, pup," Taiso responded with a chilling calm. "Taro, you say you spoke with Koga."

Taro nodded in affirmation, head high with pride.

"He met me not far passed his territory's borders," the hunter informed.

"So, you saw him," Taiso repeated directly, causing the hunter to cock a pale brow in confusion.

What was the Elder getting at?

"One of his men, a beta that came with him here, was with him," Taro clarified cautiously.

"But, the woman, Kagome, wasn't," Taiso replied.

Taro's brow furrowed slightly as he nodded in agreement.

"I assumed she was back at their den," Taro answered. "As the Alpha's female would be."

"And, you didn't go to said den when Koga offered you hospitality," Taiso added, causing the hunter to suddenly go on alert.

"Say what you mean, Taiso," Shiro commanded softly. "For all our sakes."

"I mean, we only have the young Alpha's word that he took the human female as his mate," Taiso informed as he shook his head again. "If the mating hasn't been completed, then there is nothing to stop us from taking the woman back. She served her purpose there. There's no point for her to stay.
'We can easily order her return…..and finish what we should have in the first place."

"And, if it is fact," Kiyoshi challenged. "If Koga has made her his, there is nothing we can do."

"But, we don't know," Taiso replied calmly. "We need to discover the truth on if this is fact or merely the bragging of an over-eager Alpha."

"And, how do you suppose we find out?" another grey wolf asked, blinking weak eyes to focus. "Taro has already turned down the one chance we had."

"Koga denied needing help this winter," Taiso informed. "He is feeling higher than the clouds on his victory over the Birds of Paradise. Soon, the cold will remind him of hungry bellies and he will come to us."

"That could take too long," Toshiro argued. "The human will definitely be his by then."

Taiso chuffed in a scratchy chuckle before he swallowed a possible cough.

"The woman has been with us for so long and still none of you know what we deal with," the elder laughed. "If any female could hold that male at bay, it is her. We just need to wait… Do you not agree, Alpha?"

Taro's eyes joined the Elders as they focused on the silent male seated like he wished he was anywhere else. Did Shiro agree with this?

Taro found himself struggling on if he believed that. The Alpha was as hardened as any warrior but, there was no denying the miko had endeared herself to him, not to mention the Alpha female.

Aiko's condition had the Alpha struggling to keep up with her needs to prepare for the birthing and freezing cold. Already, the first snows had covered the peaks in white and started to creep into the valleys. Add Shiro's father's now failing health, there was no telling what the Alpha was thinking.

Lifting tired eyes, the large male looked at all the expectant faces focused on him. Despite his hard expression, there was no missing the fatigue in Shiro's face. Heaving a heavy sigh, the Alpha leaned back against the flat stone behind him.

"If Koga knew about the jewel already, he would have already used it," Shiro responded wearily. "Whether she is his mate or not, doesn't change that. The jewel had to leave us to ensure our people's safety, my son's future.
'Koga doesn't know. And, we will use that to our advantage. We will not betray our own but keep ourselves united. The opportunity will present itself and the jewel will make us unstoppable. Till then, we make our tribe exactly what we need to be; an unquestioning and necessary ally."

Suddenly, Shiro's eyes focused on Taro, causing the hunter to straighten sharply.

"Taro," he called harshly. "You will keep watch. If anything changes, you will tell us immediately. Kagome does not leave the mountains, you understand?"

A quick nod, and the hunter turned on his heel and headed out of the cave. This would mean long days on frozen monotony but it was better than what waited within the Elder's cave.

By the Kami, he never wanted to be Alpha.

SSS

Koga was over the moon.

The trails the kit had found had been more than successful. The large sow currently resting on his shoulder was proof of that. The sounder had been huge and would easily feed the tribe for many days, maybe even for years, if they could keep the numbers stable enough to replenish for the next seasons.

His tribe would eat well this winter and Koga had a fine prize to present to his woman. It was the perfect way to start his courting. Nothing could possibly ruin his day.

"Koga!"

Or, so he thought.

Looking over his shoulder, the Alpha watched the little kit scamper up to him, a small basket in hand. Koga cocked a brow, waiting. What did the squirt want now?

"Koga, I found these for Kagome," the little guy announced as he lifted the woven container for the Alpha's inspection. "Here."

Koga blinked in confusion. What was he supposed to do with that?

"You can give her these too," the kitsune responded with a huff. "You know, along with the….uh, kill."

Koga sniffed with amusement as he shifted the large pig on his shoulder and continued to walk on his way. He didn't need any help in his gift to Kagome. Koga was a great hunter, a fierce warrior. His strength was unsurpassed and he could handle anything. Including wooing his woman.

"Keep your roots and seeds," he chuckled with a smirk. "I only need the glory of my kill to impress my woman."

"I'm sure," the kit muttered as he tottered quickly after the Alpha. "But, every little bit can help, right?"

Koga shook his head with a chuff.

"I know what my woman needs," he announced as he made his way towards the central tunnels leading towards his and Kagome's cave.

It had taken him all afternoon to hunt down the meat he brought and he wasn't about to share in his victory. Perhaps it was selfish but, Koga wanted to see Kagome smile up at him and it be for something he did. The kit got plenty of attention from her as it was.

Koga had promised to show his woman how much she meant to him and a display of how well he could feed her was the best first step. He could provide her comfort and safety and that would endear him to her. That would then leave her open for other gifts: a warm cloak of fur, some trinket to decorate her beautiful neck, maybe something from a village to impress her.

Either way, this was something Koga had to do. The kit meant well but didn't know anything about what grown-ups wanted. He would only get in the way.

Before the kit could argue further, Koga spotted Ginta in the same spot he was posted from that morning. Good, at least the male could take some of his orders to heart.

The bitter thought had Koga feeling a twinge of guilt in his chest. However, the Alpha quickly tamped down the reaction. Ginta had made his choice and was now exactly where Koga needed him to be. He wasn't about to question that choice now.

Nodding sharply in greeting, Koga forced himself to ignore the lightening of hopeful recognition in the ex-beta's eyes as he entered the cave.

Both women snapping their gazes in his direction had Koga's chest swelling with pride as he swiftly dropped his kill at his woman's feet.

"We have found good hunting grounds," he boasted with a wide grin. "The first kill of the season is yours."

While he was planning on his woman being dazzled by his gift, Koga wasn't sure what to make of her dazed expression as she stared at the large pig laid out before her.

A quick glance towards the other human's stunned gaping had an unwelcome suspicion creeping up the Alpha's neck. Had he done something wrong?

Any female would be squealing with delight at the offering and rushing to embrace him. Kagome, however, looked like she might be sick on the spot. Why wasn't this working? Why wasn't she responding like a regular female?

But, Kagome wasn't a regular female. She wasn't even an ookami; she was human.

Once again, Koga felt the weight of just how little he knew of humans and felt like he wanted to smack his own skull in frustration. How could he have possibly messed this up?

A soft clearing of a throat had the Alpha jerking his gaze behind him to see what looked like a rock with a fluffy tail behind it jiggling the basket the kit had offered him.

"Here," the stone pleaded in a strained whisper. "Take it."

Before the Alpha had a chance to comment one way or the other, Kagome's eyes darted towards the basket.

"What is that?" she asked in startled curiosity.

Koga struggled with what to say in explanation of a rock talking to him but, with amazing quickness that startled even him, the large eyes shut and the fluffy tail suddenly tucked under the stone's round surface, shoving the woven container into main view, just under Koga's hand.

"This….," the Alpha stuttered as he scrambled to follow the interfering kit's plan. "Is something for you and the other human to enjoy."

Swallowing low, Koga carefully picked up the basket and offered it towards the two females, feeling more out of his element than he thought possible. If the kit was deceiving him again, Koga would skin him alive.

However, Kagome's eyes widened with delight when she spied the variety nestled in the basket, much to Koga's relief. Even the other woman looked grudgingly impressed.

"Matsutake," the human healer breathed in awe.

"And, ginko nuts," Kagome added with glee. "And, Kanzo and Daio. Koga, these are perfect. Thank you."

The bright smile Kagome threw to Koga had the Alpha's breath catching in his throat as he struggled to respond to her praise.

A warmth he'd never felt before started to bloom in his chest and it took everything the male had not to stare like a pup as he watched his woman dig through the basket of roots and nuts like he'd presented her with the finest silks. If this was how Kagome reacted to such things, Koga was willing to fill the whole den with them.

Snapping himself from his reverie, Koga quickly flashed a bright grin and puffed up his chest with pride.

"Of course," he pronounced proudly. "Whatever you wish, you only need to ask."

The warming of his woman's face was a reward Koga cherished as she ducked her head slightly. Looking towards her friend, Kagome gave a slight, shy smile that had Koga wishing desperately to know what was going on in her mind. Was she going to thank him again? Did she think of anything that would please her? Would she test him?

Koga felt his blood rushing in his veins at the prospect. There was nothing an ookami loved more than the challenge to prove themselves. And, he relished whatever his woman wished to place before him.

"Koga," she sighed softly, her voice brushing against the Alpha's ear like a caress. "This….is so much. You don't have to trouble yourself for me."

Koga huffed with playful censure. "It is no trouble. I will do anything to please my woman."

This pronouncement only caused Kagome's face to grow warmer and Koga could feel his victory being that much closer. Truly, it was too bad the other human was still in the cave. He could probably gain far more progress without her presence.

Unfortunately, Kagome had yet to send her away and Koga didn't see that happening any time soon. So, he forced himself to be content with what he could get.

"Well, if you are pleased with your gifts, I will head back out to check the rest of today's kill," the Alpha announced as he rose to his wrapped feet, fist securely placed on his armored hips. "We'll have to divvy up the meat before bedding down the main den."

"You sleep with the men?" Kagome asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Koga just shrugged with a playful grin.

"It's nothing new," he replied. "I've done more times than I can count in the old den."

"But,…"

"You needed to heal," Koga stated, his eyes warming at the worry on his woman's face. "I'm more than happy to give you the best to help."

With a gentle smile, the Alpha turned on his heel to leave, fully prepared for another crowded, loud night. However, Kagome's shy call had him freezing mid-step.

"Perhaps,….you could stay here tonight."

Koga's heart pounded against his chest-plate as he forced himself to calm him breathing. Had he just heard correctly?

Glancing slowly over his furred shoulder, the reddening on his woman's face showed him he had in fact heard right. However, Kagome quickly shook her head.

"Don't misunderstand," she rapidly added. "I just….see no reason for the Alpha to sleep out with the others when….this is your room. So, if you want, you can sleep in here tonight."

Unable to do anything but nod, Koga silently turned back on his heel and headed down the dark tunnel towards the den. He didn't know how he could have gotten this lucky but he wasn't about the waste the opportunity.

Perhaps the kit knew what he was doing, after all. It would be best to keep him close and learn whatever he could.