2. Just 2. A male and female, both of whom sported Lycia's reddish brown fur. The little male though had four black paws and legs and was quite a bit smaller than his sister, but was significantly louder and already trying to howl. It was an easy birth compared to the turmoil that had surrounded Regina's own. Lycia hardly even screamed, just gritted her teeth and bore the pain. Then again, she had done this before whereas Regina was new mother at the time. The tired mother was nearly asleep while her mate dutifully cleaned the pups. Regina nuzzled her pups affectionately. They were so perfect, so wonderful already.
"We need to name them, Regina." Lycia said tiredly, nosing the pups closer so they could suckle.
Regina laid down in front of her, staring at their tiny litter. They hadn't even considered names. She was just overjoyed to have them. Then she got an idea. "Lycia, you said Seth had two more pups in his litter, yes? What were they?"
Lycia nodded. "A male and...a female." Her eyes lit up when she realized what Regina wanted.
"What were you going to name them?"
"Aries for the boy and Selene for the girl."
Regina nodded. "Aries and Selene it is." She moved her head closer so she could nuzzle her mate happily. Lycia chuckled and laid her head down to endure Regina's happy licks. A scuffling at the den entrance made them both look up as Ruby crawled in, her tail repeatedly slamming against the walls from her happy wagging.
"Hi, Godmother here to see the little ones." She beamed softly.
"Ruby, I'm the big brother, I should be first!" Seth called from outside.
Ruby ignored him. "What are their names?"
"Aries and Selene. The newest of the Lucas-Mills pack. By the way, why is your name first in our title?"
"Because the best come first. They're so cute!" Ruby whispered. "And they look just like you, Lycia."
"The male looks like Regina to me." Lycia said with a shake of her head. Regina licked her cheek, moving even closer to her mate.
"They're perfect." She assured her. "Absolutely perfect."
"Can we come in now?!" Seth yelled.
"Yeah, we want to see our siblings!" Natasha added.
"If Ruby moved her fat furry ass you could!" Granny said.
Ruby rolled her eyes and backed out of the den. "One at a time, you animals!" She snapped.
Regina and Lycia both snorted in amusement. Her mate was soon asleep and Regina resumed cleaning the pups while the other family members came down one by one to to meet the little ones. One person was noticeably absent.
/
All Alphas...are complete assholes.
Tala looked around until she noticed the small cave on the edge of her territory. She walked forward, leaving her guards where they stood and approached the stone dwelling, hearing screaming and cursing come from within. Emily and a young she-wolf she didn't recognize stepped out.
"She's inside. It's pretty bad." Emily said. "By the way this is Lauren. Lauren, this is Tala, Royal Pack Alpha."
Tala shook hands with Lauren before going inside the cave. Lucia was having a mental breakdown. The walls and floors had been scored by her claws and she was angrily shifting back and forth. "Lushe, what the hell is going on?"
Lucia shifted into human form and angrily raked the wall, leaving deep marks in the rock and filing her nails to the nubs. "He took my pack!"
"What? Who-"
"Cailan. That son of a bitch! He took my pack and my territory that I spent the last 6 months getting!" Lucia roared.
"Why?"
"Because he was tired of waiting for me to make him my partner." Lucia scoffed. "How many times did he need to be told that I don't give a fuck of about having a partner, and more importantly I don't give a fuck about him?!"
Tala knew the feeling her cousin was experiencing all too well. She went and wrapped Lucia in her arms, forcing her into a hug. Lucia growled, but returned it nonetheless. "I get it. You know I do. But what are you going to do?" Lucia sighed and ran a hand through her hair, pacing back and forth. "Royal Pack is always open."
"Thanks T, but I'm not going to let Cailan get away with this."
"Are you going to challenge him?"
"No, fuck that pack. If they aren't loyal to me then I don't want them." She said. "I'm going to build a new one. I'm going to take back what's mine."
Tala smirked at her conviction. "You're going to need some wolves then. I've got plenty of them who would follow you. Come to the training area tomorrow and check them out."
Lucia nodded. "That's great but young wolves aren't going to get the job done."
"I know!" Emily yelled, racing in. "We could ask a friend of mine. His name is Tyson but everyone calls him Big T."
"Big T?" Tala frowned. "Of the Mapogos?"
"Who's that?" Lucia asked.
"The most powerful male wolf coalition this side of the Alpha lands." Tala answered. "Comprised of the strongest and most deadly males I've ever seen. They started out with like 100 members and no pack could stand against them."
"They only have 12 members now." Emily said. "But they're still the best."
Lauren looked up. "I could head to river wolf territory. See if I can find some good members."
Lucia nodded. "I have to go home, but after I visit the Royal Pack, I'll head to the city. Sura might know of some other wolves that could join up. Everyone head out. We meet back here in a week." The others moved off but Lauren touched her arm.
"Be careful, yeah?"
"You too."
"You too." Tala mocked softly, hiding a grin. Lauren arched an eyebrow at her before leaving. "So you're not gonna-"
"We are not talking about this." Lucia said.
"No wonder you wouldn't give Cailan the time of day. He was missing a vagina! This explains so much-" Lucia quickly covered her cousin's mouth until Lauren and Emily were out of earshot.
"Tala, what the hell?"
Tala snickered. "She's gorgeous. You should keep her."
"It's not even that serious yet." Lucia said, running a hand through her hair.
"So there's an 'it'?" Tal wiggled her eyebrows. "Okay, Lucia. I see you. But you better get home. The pups were born and they're so cute."
Lucia smiled. "I'll be at the training area in 3 days." She shifted and took off running towards her mothers' territory. It took most of the day but she arrived around sunset and made her way to the birthing den where her mothers were. They were the only ones here which she found surprising, but she wasn't about to question it. Lycia exited the den and shook herself, stretching cramped limbs after spending hours laying in the den nursing the little ones. She noticed her daughter and both shifted back to embrace.
"Lucia, we've been waiting for you. Why'd you leave?" Lycia asked.
Lucia sighed. "Cailan took my pack."
"What?!" Lycia stepped back, frowning at her child. "When?"
"Emily came and told me the night you gave birth. That's why I had to leave. I spent the last 6 months getting that territory and creating that pack and in one night it was gone. All thanks to that son of a bitch because I wouldn't mate with him." Lucia growled.
"What will you do now?"
"Make another pack, a better one, a more loyal one and take back what's mine."
Lycia smiled and nodded. "Good girl. But come see the babies!" She said excitedly, shifting back into wolf form to go into the den. Lucia did the same and followed. The den entrance was small, only just big enough for Lycia to get through but the den interior was much more spacious. Regina was curled up near the nest where two little wolf pups were sound asleep. "Aren't they precious?"
Lucia ducked her mother's wagging tail until she had laid down. Regina raised her head and looked around, her own tail wagging when she spotted her daughter. Lucia came to lay down with her and watched her new brother and sister as they woke up to nurse.
"How've you been, dear?" Regina asked, grooming her daughter's neck.
"Cailan took her pack." Lycia answered for her.
"I'm assuming you're going to kick his ass?"
"Damn right." Lucia nodded.
"Good girl." Regina nuzzled her cheek. "Anything I can do to help?"
"No, I have everything under control."
"You know if you need anything you can call us right?" Lycia asked her wayward daughter.
Lucia nodded. "I know, but thanks guys. Anyways, what are their names?"
"Aries and Selene." Lycia said, giving each tiny pup a lick.
Lucia ducked Regina's tongue. "Mom, will you cut it out?"
"No. You should visit more and I wouldn't have to do this. Besides, your neck fur is filthy." Her mother continued to fret and for once Lucia didn't mind it. She missed her mothers, more than she thought she did.
"So, about this ass kicking you're going to give Cailan…" Lycia looked up. "Are mothers allowed to participate?" Regina paused to hear her answer.
"I got this, Moms. But don't worry. You'll probably be hearing about it soon." Lucia promised.
"Good girl." Her mothers said in unison.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was night, but it was far from dark. The moon was full in the sky, showering the forest in its pale light, giving Lucia sight as she trotted through the territory that was supposed to be hers. It was perfect: full of life and prey. There were meadows and forests and a great river that fell from the mountains, full of fish. Situated on the mountain was an old castle, one she had been rebuilding for her pack. It was perfect, but the stench of Cailan and his traitorous pack was everywhere. She would rectify that very soon. She had barely broken through the trees when her former pack started coming out of the castle, Cailan at the head. There was a new female at his side, one who was already pregnant.
Lucia sat down, flattening her ears. "Hello, Cailan, dear."
"What are you doing here, Lucia?"
"I'm here for what's mine. You and the rest of these traitors have 10 seconds to get out of my territory or I will throw you out."
Cailan shook his head. "This territory is mine and this pack is mine. I won all of it fair and square. Maybe if you had accepted my proposal-"
"Fuck you and your proposal.
His mate nudged his shoulder. "Cailan, maybe-"
"I got this." He growled sharply, making the she-wolf cower back.
Lucia growled and rose to her paws. "You know what, what's your name, dear?" She asked, looking at his mate.
"Shari." She whispered.
"Well, Shari, if you go back to the castle right now, I'll give you a spot in my pack. You won't have to suffer the same fate as these bastards, because clearly you're too good for the asshole you're with."
Shari swallowed visibly and started to back away. Cailan growled, launching himself at Lucia. She quickly sidestepped and threw back her head, howling long and loud. The shadows around them gave way to the pack of wolves that emerged from within. Almost 30 in all. The largest were rugged and powerful Mapogos. The next were those that Sura herself had sent to Lucia and finally, the white and silver pelts of young Royal pack wolves who had decided to follow the young leader. Cailan and his pack paled when they saw Lucia wasn't alone. She didn't give him time to process this new information. She attacked, ripping into his flesh and biting down to the bone. All around her were the sounds of war. They shattered the night and splintered the silence with roars and cries of pain. Cailan ran and his pack followed, but so did Lucia. She refused to let him get away without marking the base of his tail with deep wounds that would scar and be a permanent reminder of all who crossed her. Her pack forced the enemy to the river where they turned.
"Lucia, wait, please. We're sorry!" It was a young male who had come with her after she parted from the Royal pack.
"No, you betrayed me, for that son of a bitch. You took what was mine, and dared to raised a claw to me to stop me from taking it back!"
"Lucia, please." Cailain pleaded. "Please. Forgive me. I was wrong to try and force you to be my mate. I was wrong about everything. Please, don't kill us."
Lucia scoffed. "I'm not to kill you. I'm just going to hurt you...really badly." She lead the charge forward, forcing Cailan's pack into the river. Beneath the river was Lauren and about 10 river wolves she had recruited on Lucia's behalf. They leaped out of the river and dragged down some of Cailan's pack. The others struggled to reach the other side of the river. Lucia lead her entire pack on a rampage. She ran Cailan and the others out of her territory and even onward. The neighboring pack was small and caught off guard, running away when Lucia set upon them as well. She circled around, capturing the territories of two more packs and expanding her borders. After that was a frenzy of scent marking, marking the new border and reclaiming her new home. It was almost morning when they returned to the castle and proceeded to clean that out as well, throwing out Cailan's stuff and scent marking again. With that done, Lucia stepped out of the castle to address her new pack.
"Thanks, guys." She smiled. "This is a new beginning for our pack. The Druid Pack. One day, when the Royal Pack and the Shadowpacks have all but faded from memory, ours will still spoken of, in reverent tones and hushed whispers. We've only just gotten started." She surveyed the crowd before pointing to Lauren, Emily and Tyson. "You three will be my betas. For the next couple weeks, we're going to have to be on high alert. We've claimed our home, but now we have to defend it. Cailan isn't going to let it go that easily. This I know, but we'll be ready for any new threat. Today though, let's celebrate. Welcome home, Druids." Cheers erupted around her and she smiled as they congratulated her and ran around playfully. They had only just been assembled and hadn't properly formed the bonds a pack should have. That was her next challenge.
"Hey." Lauren said, coming to her side. "Relax for a moment. You won a great victory tonight. The first of many, I'm sure."
Lucia smirked. "You were pretty amazing. That underwater ambush was beautiful."
"It's an old river wolf trick."
"Either way, I'm glad you're on my side."
"Always." Lauren smiled.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Read and Review!
A/N: Okay, this is probably a pretty terrible filler chapter, but I just wanted to get something out there because I got a review asking for it and because I'm gearing up for something big. Next chapter is gonna be crazy, I promise.