The doors opened as Maria holding Banri stepped outside, followed by Boudicca, Colleen and Katrina, holding the sleeping Haruue. The air smelled of wolves, an intimidating aura hung in the dark. Colleen smiled, bringing her finger up to her lips guided Katrina away from Boudicca. Katrina furled her eyebrows, Colleen shook her head. Something concerning Boudicca, Katrina thought, following Colleen's lead. Boudicca, an elder wolf was no fool, her centuries of being alive trained her well. The vibration in the cool night air told her something was wrong. An argument, possible, a fight this close to birthing would mean death. Boudicca smelled the air, no blood. She looked across the ground, it was smooth and level, no signs of a fight. The elder wolves rose from the ground, walked slowly towards them. The grass crunched under paw, the air fogged around their muzzles with each breath. "Asuna." Boudicca, nodded her head in greeting, Asuna lowered her head, closed her eyes, acknowledged. "Freya." She spoke, eyes thinned and annoyed. "Boudicca." Freya smiled, cocking her head, "always good to see you." She said sarcastically, appearing out of the darkness like a body rising from beneath the surface of a bog. "You brought gifts." She said grinning. "Ooops." Maria spoke suddenly, her voice catching. "I'm sorry." Banri quickly spoke, her eyes wide and worry, her ears bent to the side, "did I hurt you?" Maria slowly shook her head, seeing the kindness in the little Wolf, looking at her with worried eyes, her hands held out, her fingers trembling. "So, beautiful." Maria spoke, letting out a soft sigh. "Maria." She heard Boudicca call her name. The air became heavy, chills ran across her skin. The queasy feeling in her belly. She knew, but she hoped she wouldn't see Boudicca until after. She closed her eyes, taking a very long breath, clamping her teeth. She could feel Boudicca's hand reaching for her, moments away from touching her, knowing what she tried to hide. "Maria." She said, reaching over, her heart cracked, "wwhat did you do?" The big black Wolf said apprehensive. "Don't!" Maria quickly turned, snatching Boudicca's hand, gripping it tight. She could feel Boudicca's hand trembling, see she knew the answer in her watery eyes. Maria knew she had hurt Boudicca in a way no sword or claw could do. Pain filled her heart but her face showed no emotions. Her eyes thinned, lips tensed, "touch me." She growled digging her fingernails into Boudicca's skin. Boudicca's eyes went cold, slowly opened her lips, her oversize canines slipped over her lower lip, "tell me." She wasn't asking she was telling, no she was demanding. She easily pushed her arm forward, Maria struggled over the power of an elder wolf. "What did you do?" Boudicca asked again, her tone harsh and hard as her expression. Her fingers slipped underneath the collar, across the skin of her throat. "Stop it!" Maria raised her voice, "I know you wouldn't dare_" leaning her head away. "what?" Boudicca stepped forward, "cause you pain." Maria felt her growl trembling her chest, "you should be proud, you're a Wolf right. So why hide_"
"enough!" Maria's grandmother interrupted. She huffed, a loud sad breath, raising her head up off the ground. "She's with pup." Her voice rough, eyes rougher, "you know the law." Boudicca quickly interrupted, "law" she spat the word out like a bad piece of meat, "I helped write them."
"I, I am sorry…" Banri's voice trembled. Maria and Boudicca looked over at the little elder wolf. Her eyes wide and wet, her ears folded against her head, holding her hands out like she was feeling her way through the dark. "I didn't mean to…" They glared, neither one backing down, despite the obvious difference between the two of them. More human than Wolf, more Wolf than human neither one cared. But it was odd that someone or some wolf had interrupted. You stood strong, you stood your own ground. It was an unwritten law. It may look scary, it may look dangerous but very few fights erupted between wolves. Well, maybe except elder wolves or the pretty young wolves but never between the two. They knew it but the little black elder wolf, Banri didn't. Boudicca's eyes were harsh and hard, glistening like the edge of a blade, so were Maria's. Banri may be look like an elder wolf but she needed to be taught the social roles. "Banri…" The big black Wolf spoke with heavy words, "you don't_"
Freya laughed as she swept in like a superhero saving the day or a Hawk taking prey. "Gotcha." She whispered into Banri's ear with a voice smooth and gentle. "Don't worry little one." She sighed, picking Banri up, hoisted her like a small child. Which she was, compared to the large gray Wolf. Banri instinctively buried head into curve of Freya's neck, smelling her hair. Freya glared, eyes thinned like razors, her grin malicious, "you forget…" She said softly, softly like a baseball bat hitting a tree, "she's still young." She cocked her head, slowly slipped away, her tail swinging in the air. She was right. Banri didn't know. She had said something. She asked if Maria was hurt. She had bent over just a little, to let Banri down. She grunted, her face tensed with pain. Banri heard it, felt the quick flinch of her body. She looked over her shoulder, turned, with large dark eyes soft filled with worry. Such a strange look from an elder wolf, Maria thought. She smiled a smidge trying to hide the pain. Her heart thumped against her breast, she caught her breath when Banri asked, if she was all right. "I'm sorry…" She said, "did I hurt you.?" She asked but Maria stayed silent, hearing Boudicca walking across the ground quick then slow. She knew she had already figured it out.
Maria stood strong, her back straight, glaring at Boudicca, as she cocked her head, lifting Maria's hair. A slash along the side of her neck, she raised it higher, another just barely visible underneath the layers of bandages wrapped around her body. "Why?" She spoke in a low angry voice, "why?" Her jaws tensed. "Because." Maria answered, steeled her eyes without remorse, "I am the last, last of my grandmother's line. The Wolf is almost gone. Another few generations and we're just athletic woman." She said regretfully, "I am not blessed like you." She said. the elder wolves cringed. The air went electric. Asuna squeezed her eyes tight, Colleen slowly, silently shook her head.
Boudicca thinned her eyes. "Blessed?" she answered back, slipping her hand away, her long dark nails disappeared as she curled her hand into a fist. "Blessed you say…" She tensed her mouth, growled a deep throated growl. "How can you say that knowing."
"The stories." Maria interrupted, cocking her head, "of course I know the stories. I'm a teacher." She said letting out an annoyed sigh. "I am unable to shift, unable to have ears and tail, the basics of a pretty young Wolf." Her voice cracked filled with anger. "Nothing." She raised her voice, behind her narrowed eyes, sadness peaked out of the dark browns. "I could bear 100 pups and maybe just maybe one might be able to but…" Her nose and mouth slowly twisted, getting angry. "Asuna…" Boudicca quickly spoke, "did you?"
"Fuck no!" She snarled, bearing a full set of wolves' teeth, quickly raising off the ground, "you think I would allow?!" She rushed over, head lowered, ears back, heckles raised. Maria raised her hand, tapping her grandmother's nose, pushing it towards the ground. The massive wolf yielding its head, eyes looking, glaring at her granddaughter. The ground shook, the air became hot and heavy. Banri trembled in Freya's arms as she rocked her back and forth, "impressive?" Freya spoke, "so ferocious yet she yielded so easy." She looked at Banri. "Why?" Banri whispered. Freya smiled a mischievous smile, "she is with pups." She spoke. "Is that bad?" Banri quickly asked. "No." Freya nuzzled Banri's cheek, "it's who and how is the problem."
"Freya!" Maria snapped, raising her voice, holding her hand on her grandmother's muzzle. "You're taking on two." Freya spoke, not looking, not really concerned, nuzzling Banri, "don't try for three." She said, licking Banri's cheek. Banri giggled, her cheeks blushing bright red. "You don't…" Maria's voice waned. "Oh, but I do." She looked up, shooting her glare, "she doesn't know." She referred to Banri. "She needs to be taught the ways of an elder wolf." She smiled maliciously, "so the three of you should provide a good example for Banri and Haruue. So please continue." She sighed as if bored, "do not bother me, little Wolf." She said condescendingly. Maria tensed her face in anger, looking at grandmother then Boudicca. The tension thick as a molasses in wintertime, "why." Boudicca spoke, "who?" Maria closed her eyes, gritting her teeth tight, "it doesn't matter, it was my choice, my decision." She spoke, quickly paused, slowly opening her eyes, "so I fucked a brood male." She cocked her head unapologetic.
A brood male, a large male wolf, like a shewolf, have the ability to shift from human to animal. But the brood males are more like werewolves. Tall, covered in hair, fangs and claws, walking and running on two legs. The females use all four legs and more wolf like in appearance. Human characteristics are consistent, Tall, over six feet in height, large chest and strong arms. Selectively bred to ensure the breed. During breeding with wolves and human females to ensure a male child they would shift into their wolf form, to increase their testosterone by violently slashing the females back, as he takes them from behind. Human females do not survive a third birth dying shortly after the birth of the third child. Brood males are the only ones who can get an elder wolf pregnant. Human males are not viable. But shewolves, not elder wolves, can breed with human males. But it will diminish the breed.
"humph!" Asuna jerked her head away, turned, walked back to where she had been laying. "I'd appreciate if you show some respect." Her grandmother spoke as she curled her massive wolves body, laid on the ground, facing them, her eyes cold, harsh and narrowed. "Who!?" Boudicca spoke, shaking the air, "no, approved brood male would do that to your back, none!" Her lips spread showing her teeth.
"I didn't go through_"
"why!"
"I wasn't about to beg another shewolf, to crawl on my knees, humble myself to get their approval to use their male!"
"Why!" Boudicca yelled, " they would've said yes." She heaved a deep breath, her heart pounding in her breast, her blood burning through her veins. "That's easy coming from someone like you…" She raised her voice, "someone blessed like you. You have the strength, the cunning and the looks, so don't_"
"Blessed!" Her voice shook the air as she said it letting it slip inside. Maria took a breath, realizing she had made a mistake, in her word choice. Boudicca's muscles tensed, she shifted a little. Her shoulder stretched, long hair rose like stiff grass across her chest and back, her nose and mouth stretched, her voice grew harsh and hard. "Boo..." Maria whispered, calling her nickname.
"Blessed, she says." Boudicca nodded her head, cutting her off. "I was blessed when I was 13." She said, "they yanked me from the stalls, dragged me kicking and screaming. The brood wolves laughing, pawing at my little naked body. They slammed me against the stand, tore the rag I wore as a dress." She growled, the night air vibrated, the ground shook. "A Wolf pushed himself against my ass, while the others strapped my arms and legs down. They laughed, shaking their heads, smacking their hands in the air." She shifted, her muzzle taking shape, getting larger, "he wasn't gentle." She shook her head, "by no means. He slammed himself inside me, punching the top of my uterus. The pain shot through me, I screamed, "she stepped closer, "so you know what they did? They pushed a bit into my mouth, so I wouldn't bite their cocks off. They would shove their cocks into my mouth to keep themselves hard. They didn't care, thrusting themselves in my mouth choking me over and over."
"Please…" Maria whispered, her eyes glistening. "over and over, I was, we were raped. But of course, they couldn't resist dragging their claws across my beautiful skin. Oh no. They tore and ripped into me like prey, slashing, tearing my flesh, until I felt nothing." She sighed softly, her eyes getting wetter, her chest heaving, a wet growled gurgled in her throat. "The ground soaked with sweat, blood and other fluids, my body wracked with pain, hours it went by. Five maybe more to ensure birth." She said, her voice cracking like stone, "do you know why, to guarantee a male child. We are shewolves, built for battle and to bear young. No matter what they did they couldn't guarantee a male. But guess why? they did it anyway for fun but of course, it was a beautiful blessed event." She growled, yelled, "So, you decided it was a blessing to walk right into it, tell me… Maria." Her arms flexed like thick ropes, "did he wine you, dine you, hold her hand while he small talked, slowly undressed you, make you feel all tingly inside." Maria was rigid, thinned eyes glaring but her fingers tremble. "No, she said, gritting her teeth." Did he make you wet, maybe help rub a little lotion across you to ease the moment."? Boudicca softened her voice a little, "maybe took your hand and lead you to the soft comfortable bed."
"No…"
Boudicca raised her head, she was now bigger a mix of Wolf and human, moments away, shaking the air and ground around them, shifting. Maria worried what would happen. Her grandmother, Freya and Colleen looking on. They weren't interfering. "Then tell me?" Boudicca asked Maria, looking down at the young woman, "did you just walked to the door, head held high, undressed and bend over the bed." Maria remembered, stepping into the room. The door shutting. She walked over, undressed bent over. She was about to get ready, when_"
Boudicca continued, "did he shift before or after he pushed himself inside you. Do you remember. The sound of his heavy footsteps, the heat of his hairy body, the way his claws felt across your skin." Maria's eyes teared, head raised up like staring at the moon as Boudicca towered over her. Boudicca's eyes burned, looking down at Maria from such a great height. At 8 feet tall the black wolf dwarfed Maria at just under six feet tall. Her massive chest heaving, taking in vast amounts of the night air, the fog of her breath circling around her head, drifting off the points of her ears. a steady deep growl thrummed. she tilted her head just so, her eyes softened. "Do you know what happened to us when we tried to escape being blessed?" she slowly blinked, her face slacked, "they would run our sisters down." Her lips curled into an approving smile, "they would use ten to twenty males." She chuckled softly, "because half would only return. The first time, they would clip your ears, the second they'd cut your tail off. the third, they would throw you on the rape stand and skin you alive." She closed her eyes, tears gathered at the edge. Maria nodded her head, she had read the stories. But Boudicca had been there. "but I swore that would never happen. When the third time happened, we knew what would happen. The shewolf who tried and been caught would be dragged in. she'd look at us, smile raise her head and we charge towards them and one of us would sink our teeth into their throats." Boudicca and the others bowed their heads. Boudicca let out a soft growl, shaking her head and spoke softly, "even my sister…" she said, exhaling a long dead breath, "Do you know what it's like to take your sisters life?" Boudicca's voice broke, tears slipped across her face, "to see her beautiful black hair drenched in her own blood." She squeezed her fist tight, "to see those beautiful green eyes fade." Maria caught her breath as the air went thick. Colleen's eyes watered, quickly covering her mouth, knowing the memory. She saw Maria's grandmother, head lowered stalking in the dark. This was trouble. "Too beg for forgiveness, holding her in your arms, but she just stares at you and smiles because her throat has been ripped out by her sis_" Boudicca raised her head up, looking at the starry skies, "she was always looking toward the mountains…" she said, her massive chest squeezed at long breath out her mouth. The fog encircling her muzzle. She looked down at Maria, with a faraway gaze, as if she were a bug on the ground. "This is what it feels like to be truly scared." Maria thought. Boudicca's black eyes so dark that moonlight couldn't escape, her massive teeth, saliva dripping like a soft rain, her hot breath rushing across her face and body, claiming her soul. "Did you enjoy the soft caresses of his hand slipping across that beautiful flawless skin. Or the pain as he tore into your back over and over and over until the smell of blood filled your senses. Did he lay with you afterwards, tell you that he loved you."? The edges of Boudicca's mouth curled, sarcastically. "Enough…" Maria whispered, bawling her hands into a fist. "
"Did you say that?" She asked.
Maria remembered grabbing the sheets in pain. She struggled but he wouldn't stop, too late, she thought as her back went numb, the violence getting worse. His claws sank into her hips, slamming against her ass, tears flowed from her blood-soaked face, then nothing. She collapsed on the bed, breathing heavy, her body sticking to the blood-soaked sheets as she curled into a ball. She didn't hear him leave. "Were your sisters there."
"Huh?" Maria's eyes went wide, catching her breath, "I said, were your sisters there to stop him from ripping you apart. Did they witness it. Did one stand behind him with her claws at his throat." She cocked her head, "Maria, you are Wolf so answered."
"nnoo..."
"Liar." Boudicca quickly replied.
"No." She strengthened her voice. Boudicca's narrowed eyes opened wide, "why would you?"
"bbecause, I wanted to_" she stopped, her eyes were wet, the tears and saliva drifted down her cheeks. "I wanted to surprise you." She said to herself, dropping her head. She shook her head, hating this feeling of submission rising in her belly. She made her decision, she would live with it. She balled her hand, tensing her jaws, "really!" She took a stepped forward, "coming from someone who kept hers hidden. What pack_" she thinned her eyes in a hard expression, glaring. "I didn't give birth to them." Boudicca dropped her voice. The night air stilled, silence was overwhelming. "What?" Maria's throat tightened as she looked at Banri, to Haruue. The anger disappeared, her eyes went wide. "bbut?"
"But." Boudicca raised her chin strengthened her voice, "they're of my blood, mine." The edges of her lips curled ever so slightly. Freya, Colleen and Asuna saw the proud little smile in the angry Wolf, despite her large ears been folded back in anger, her thinned eyes glared, a spark shined. Maria clutched her hands, held them between her breast. Her heart stopped, "you lie." She whispered, "you're lying." She tried to her best to convince herself. She couldn't breathe, her brown eyes glistening, as the tears fell. She knew Boudicca never lied, wouldn't lie to her. She helped raised her, train her, even held her when her heart was broken. They ran together with her on her back, even laid with each other. She wouldn't lie. It was easier to bear the weight of the truth, than carry a lie on your back to the rest of your life. Boudicca would always say.
Maria felt weak, her legs wobbled as she stepped back, her stomach trembled. "What are they?" Her voice disappeared with the fog of her breath. Her eyes widened, "they can't be…" She swallowed. They'd heard the rumors of what was going on in Academy city. The splicing of animals with humans. A Dragon someone had said. Is it possible, could they really? Maria looked at Banri, held tightly in Freya's arms, nuzzling. Haruue curled sleeping in Colleen's arms, her head lying on her shoulder, eyes closed, ears folded. She cleared her throat, raising her chin, "they're biologicals." She whispered, "they're manufactured." She spoke," they are…"
"They are mine. They're of my blood. My children, my pups." Boudicca spoke, pulling her shoulders back, raising her head becoming larger, proud, she had announced it. That is who they are." She growled, glaring at Maria.
"Boudicca." Colleen spoke, her voice calm as a gentle breeze. Boudicca quickly looked over within tear filled eyes, "what!" She spat the word, it's edges like a sword, "do you want?!" Her voice broke, "what are you doing? She raised her head in surprise as her ears pricked tight, "you're marking her! Who said."
"You were busy… So…" She grinned, slowly licking Haruue's face, basically slobbering across it. Strands of her hair stretch from Colleen's grinning mouth. Haruue was lying backwards, her arms and legs splayed out, despite the wet attention she still slept, a weird expression on her sleeping face. "Why is her hoodie split open?" Boudicca spoke. "The better to run my tongue from here…" Colleen slapped her tongue below her belly button, "to here…" She licked her belly, between her small breasts, up her throat and chin and raised her head, ran circles across Haruue's face like a lollipop. "Colleen…" Boudicca drew her name slowly. "Not just me…" She said with a grin as she jerked her head past Boudicca. "Huh?" She looked over her shoulder. Banri was enjoying the attention. Freya licked her smiling face, cheeks blushed, her hair wet. She nuzzled Freya as Freya peaked at Boudicca, grinning, drool dripping from her mouth, slipping down Banri's exposed breasts down her belly. Freya raised her head up, licked her lips, kissed Banri on the mouth. The little wolves tail quickly fluffed, like static electricity. Freya slowly pulled away, saliva stretching from their lips. Banri's cheeks flushed, her eyes wide. She grinned, quickly nuzzled. "You were busy." Freya spoke, "so we stole your pups." Boudicca closed her eyes, sighed letting out a deep breath as the heavy tension on her shoulders disappeared just a little. She shook her head, whispered, "I hate you guys."
"We know." They laughed, "we love you too."
Boudicca heard the gentle whimpering, the hairs on her neck rose, Haruue squeaked. Katrina was taking her away from Colleen, who wore playful pout on her face, "time to go." Katrina said, adjusting her grip on the sleeping elder wolf, "great," Katrina sounded really enthused, "I stink of wolf, might as well be dog." She shook her head crinkling her brow, looking a little sad. "Oh please, you should be so lucky, stinky vampire." Colleen grinned. "Half vampire," Katrina quickly nodded. "half Dragon." She quickly grinned. Colleen gave her one last lick, across her breast of course. She is a shewolf. She grinned mischievously, pulled the fabric over covering her breast. "A little modesty is good."
"Says the pervert." Katrina said. "Not yet, but will be." Colleen wiggled her eyebrows and laughed, "in a year or so." She cocked her head to the side, looking calm and serene, "sister." She said looking at Boudicca. "I am glad you found your pack, forget this little inconvenience and go the other realm and enjoy them like a mother should." Boudicca nodded, listening to the truth in Colleen's words and seeing it in her face. The past was the past and nothing could change it. Maria was pregnant with a brood Wolf pup. She couldn't change that. She growled, thinned her eyes, "Freya! Are you done yet.?!"
"Almost." She spoke a little loud, a little muffled, as she smacked her lips slowly pulling Banri's hair out of her mouth. They both giggling. Freya took one last lick, one last breath, kissed her slowly one last time. Banri, being a shewolf, kissed back, her lips pressed tight, the edges curling. Boudicca's eyes softened, seeing both, accepted by the elder wolves. Too bad one of them was Freya. She wanted to close her eyes, but if she did no telling where Freya would put her mouth. She chuckled inside her belly. Freya winked at the big black Wolf, letting the kiss linger a little longer. She licked Banri's lips as she pulled away, "ready!?" She said as she crouched, hoisted her high into the air. An electric tingling rushed through her body. Banri thought she'd hold her high above her head but the gray shaggy wolf let her go as she threw her into the dark night sky. Banri's body was weightless, rising like a baseball tossed into the air. Freya laughed, her laughter echoed across the night, her sharp eyes shining, "mine…" She said in a voice like thunder, cocked her head, looking over her shoulder at the big black Wolf. Boudicca sighed, rolling her eyes, "fine." She said, not sounding to enthused but inside she reveled in the acceptance of her two pups. Freya turned as Katrina opened the portal. Small magical arrays appeared in front of Katrina as she held her hands out. The first one the size of a quarter the second one half dollar each one getting larger and larger like a telescope being pulled apart. The air twisted in a clockwise motion as the colors vanished turning pitch. The black pitch shimmered like oil rising to the surface of a lake. Then split and tore like an old shirt, revealing the other realm. The wind whipped across their fur and hair and grass as it rushed towards the open door, filling the vacuum. Across from them were wolves both in their animal form, in human form standing waiting with excited looks on their faces. The smells and odors of both sides mixed as the wolves began to walk towards the doors. Many of them inhaling the familiar fragrances paid no attention until soft scent, a soft familiar yet unfamiliar scent filled their noses. Freya put her hands on her hips and pulled her shoulders back, raising her head, glared at the wolves inside the portal watching a little elder wolf rising, arms and legs splayed, her eyes open wide in surprise, her tail popped, her black nails stretched, her fingers curled. "There she is." Boudicca whispered, seeing the final change.
A young elder wolf pup hung in the air, hung in the dark. Her mouth opened, her dark eyes deep in her brow revealed the change. Freya took a deep breath yelled again, "she is mine!" Her body changed, her muscles shifted, her arms and legs stretched. She dropped to the ground on all fours. The earth cracked, the air forced out. A large shaggy grey elder wolf stood, thinned her eyes, opened her mouth and roared, "this is Banri Edasaki, elder wolf, blood of Boudicca, claimed by me, Freya of the mountain clans. She is mine." Her voice roared into a howl. The little elder wolf peaked, dropped like a stone, landing in the thick furry back of Freya. She laughed, raised her head, howled, grabbing hold of her thick mane. The ground shook, the earth broke as Freya crouched, burst forward, rushing through the portal, past the shocked wolves. Boudicca grinned, a malicious elder wolf grinned, her black eyes thinned, "might as well." She shrugged as she spoke. She took a deep breath, felt the change as her body stretched, arms extended outward and legs grew thicker, dropped on all fours shifted and chased after Freya. Colleen shook her head in disappointment, looking a little smaller standing next to Katrina. Katrina holding Haruue, her eyes fluttering in sleep, her green eyes clearer, sharper than any emerald could. Colleen raised her hand, gently placed it between her folded black ears, a slight twitch. Colleen grinned. "This is Haruue Erii, a little sleepy but still," her eyes steeled, glaring at the elder wolves smelling the air standing in shock, some walking through the portal, heads looking over their shoulders as Freya disappeared, Boudicca giving chase. "An elder wolf," she kissed her cheek, "blood of Boudicca," she chuckled, her chest swelled, lifting her head up, "claimed by me, Colleen of the Arctic packs of the East." Her bright blue eyes shone, "she is mine." She sighed, "but…" She shrugged her shoulders twisting her lips a little disappointed, "Katrina will be with her until it's my time." She raised her voice, not too loud because of the expectant wolves but loud enough for every Wolf to hear her, "I have marked her…" She said, opened her mouth, running her tongue across Haruue's cheek. She stirred, smiled, giggled in her sleep. "I pity the one who tries to usurp me." Katrina laughed, shaking her head, "do you really think_" Colleen interrupted, "oh please… It gives it a little dramatic flair." She closed her eyes, waving her hand in the air as if she were brushing something away. "Take care of her for me." Colleen asked. Katrina nodded, and started walking to the portal.
The wolves slowed, parted as Katrina carried the sleeping elder wolf. They sniffed, tails wagging excitedly, fanning the new smell of an elder wolf, all of them stopping, getting a peek at Haruue sleeping soundly, her face flinched as her knuckles popped. She sighed, her nose quivered in her sleep. Her brow poked out just a little, her eyelids slowly opened, the green of her eyes slowly revealed a new elder wolf. She growled softly like a purring kitten. "Stay asleep." Katrina whispered, seeing the wide-eyed expressions, nose smelling excitedly around her as the wall of wolves waited for her to pass. "Or not…" Grinned Katrina mischievously.
Colleen waited and watched Katrina until she disappeared behind the slow-moving packs of wolves, heads raised smelling the air. She grinned, turned around, walked over to Maria. She was watching, her eyes wet glistening, her arms across her chest. Colleen reached out, put her hand softly on Maria's belly, spoke in a soft comforting voice. "She will be fine." She said referring to Boudicca and the pup in her belly. "She hates me." Maria said, twisting her lips.
"No."
"Yes. I could feel it."
"Don't confuse pain of the crashing down of expectations as hate." Colleen cocked her head. Maria put her hand on Colleen's hand, still on her belly. "She was at your birth, held you, smelled you, licked you. You might as well have been her own."
"But…"
"She didn't claim you because she knew what she was, what she became. She didn't want you to be tainted like she was." Colleen's eyes went soft, the memories flashed across. "I'm glad you stepped in." Maria spoke, looking over at her grandmother who was pretending to look into the portal. She'd often steal glances every now and then. Colleen was silent, swallowed and spoke. "Maria, I didn't just step in to protect the new pups." She paused, looked at Maria, glanced at her grandmother, "I did it to protect my pack."
"Why?"
"Don't think it was between you and Boudicca. It was between Boudicca and your grandmother. She would've allowed you to speak your mind, even yelled a little louder." She chuckled. "We are elder wolves. You're not." She saw the pained expression in Maria's eyes. "Nothing can change that right now." She referred to the organic micro machines. "But the pain was driving Boudicca. She saw the subtle changes with the new pups around." She stopped, shook her head. "They would've fought to the death."
"No, they wouldn't." Maria spoke in a level tone, looked at her grandmother. The answer laid in her eyes. "Why?!" The thought ripped at her heart. "Why? Her voice spiked, "would you_"
"because your grandmother would have to protect her pack, violence at a birthing is to bring death on yourself."
"But…" Maria whispered.
"Pups have been hurt, even killed. The anger from being alive during those times, the guilt of surviving can eat away at us." She spoke from experience, her eyes watered, "it is why we have the rules. That elder wolves hold over the others. There is no forgiveness for brood males that did this to us. None. Boudicca and others, like myself set them up. To protect you so you wouldn't go through what we did. But you willingly broke them and it broke Boudicca's heart. She loved you like a daughter. She had no one, all of her pack is dead."
"But…" Colleen raised her hand to stop her from speaking. " You saw how she allowed us so close to them. Normally, there, "she smiled softly, "would've been a little growling, but she was so excited."
"And I ruined it." Maria sighed. "She could've yielded." She foolishly suggested.
Colleen arched her eyes in surprise, a soft growl came from Maria's grandmother. She was shaking her head as she laid on the ground. "Unless a member of her pack interrupts." She continued.
"she doesn't have any except for those two." Maria spoke, her vision getting watery.
"I still would've." Her grandmother spoke as she laid her head across her paws. "To the death. She was losing herself in anger."
Maria closed her eyes, tears drifted down her cheeks. She felt the pup kick. She sighed, smiled a little. "Don't worry." Colleen patted her belly, "I would've had Boudicca's back. It's not the first time, I've interfered on the side of the big black Wolf." She said, laughter peppering her words. "Besides I think Katrina would've stepped in first." Colleen rolled her head side to side, cracking her neck, thinned her eyes, looked hard at Maria. "Don't…" She spoke with an edge that caught Maria by surprise, "ever do it again." She held her in her gaze like a predator eyeing the prey. "We will look into these organic micro machines but for the next two years, that is, if you really are truly a Wolf, you'll never leave the side of that beautiful pup in your belly. These rules will not be broken." She softened her gaze, "understand."
Maria quickly nodded her head, looked at her grandmother, as she lay in a soft cool grass, her tail sweeping along the ground. The area around the mansion was beginning to fill with the smells and the low chattering about the new elder wolves. The wolves from the other packs paid their respects to the elder wolves and disappeared into the darkness. Colleen and Maria walked to the door as it slowly opened. The warmth of the excited faces waited for them to step inside.