Chapter 4- pups and play hunt

When they arrived at the forest in Nick's 4x4 Stephen could smell Lester there already in his wolf form. Nick and Stephen pulled their clothes of quickly and folded them in the car. Becker and Connor had gone in separate places to change. Becker didn't completely trust them, so he didn't wish to change in front of the two alphas.

Connor was too nervous. In public Connor was always covered completely by clothes, barely showing any skin. If he did take them off, you would see the multiplitude of scars decorating his skin. He had four claw marks running vertical on the outside of his left forearm, and a gash running diagonally across his front, from his right shoulder to the top of his left hip.

When Stephen had told Nick of the scars, seeing them when he first went over to Abby's when the mosasaurs attacked, both were filled with a deep fury. They vowed they would protect the insecure boy from further arm. When Connor had changed, he ran back to the shifted pair, happily rubbing against them in a greeting.

From the opposite direction came another wolf, smaller than Nick and Stephen, but larger than Nick. His fur was mostly black with slivers of white and silver. He was slim like Connor, but had a bit more muscle than him. Stephen was the bulkiest of the men, he was of a more stockier build, but that didn't make him slow. Nick was a good mixture of muscle and slim. Stephen may have been stronger than him, but Nick was more intelligent, and his kindness and courage had earned Stephen's respect.

Nick looked at Stephen, and realizing what his alpha wanted, Stephen tilted his head back and howled. Another deeper howl replied from deeper in the forest. Everyone looked at Nick, letting the alpha decide where to go. Nick nodded at them and raced towards the sound, Stephen, Connor and Becker behind him.

Stephen knew Becker and Connor could easily outrun them, but they stayed behind as the alpha was meant to stay in the lead. This was a sign of respect in other packs, it was the same in theirs but Nick had another reason for wanting to be in the lead. He wanted to be the first to face any danger that came across them, so his other packmates would not get hurt.

Stephen was happy Becker was obeying the pack rules, maybe after tonight Nick would make him a member.

They found the location of the howl and came upon a bulky wolf, black with white on his underbelly, legs, and the tips of his ears and tails. He was laying on the ground as two small pups, they were big enough to hunt, but smaller than Connor. The pups, a white male and a black female, moved around him. The white one was on his head gnawing on his left ear, while the female laid against his side.

"Ah, you look kind of cute Lester." Nick commented as they sat in front of the black and white wolf.

"Don't you dare tell anyone or you're fired." Lester growled out shaking his head so his son stopped gnawing on his ear. He stood up and trotted over to them, his pups following. "I want you to meet my kids, the white one is Olivia and the black one is Jake. Jake, Olivia these are my co-workers, Nick, Stephen, Becker and Connor.

"Nice to meet you." Olivia said with a bow of her head.

"Yeah. Hey do you want to play a game of tag. We rarely get to shift, I want to see how fast I've gotten. Dad say's if we exercise and train our human bodies, out wolf forms get a boost as well, and vice versa." Jake rambled on excitedly like an overactive puppy.

"Jake." Lester warned.

"Oh it's no harm Lester. The deer are miles off, we can afford to relax. Plus if we play a game of hide and go seek, it's a great way of learning how to use our senses, and hiding from prey better." Nick said.

Jake turned towards his father and leaned down, so that his head was on the ground and his tail and hindquarters were in the air. "Please dad. Please, please, please, can we play? I promise I'll be good." Jake pleaded. Stephen could tell the young wolf talked a mile a minute very often.

"Ok, fine. But only if no one gets hurt." Lester said, sending a pointed look at Nick.

Nick nodded, then turned towards Jake. Okay rules are if you get found you must run and hide again before one of us gets you. If we tag you, you howl and we'll know you're the next seeker. Got it."

Jake nodded his head enthusiastically.

"Whose first." Nick asked.

"I'll go." Connor stepped forward.

Stephen stood in front of him and shook his head, walking over to Becker. He looked him over for a moment. He was standing a little away from them and his eyes occasionally shifted away, or his ears and nose twitched at the slightest sound. He was sitting, but his muscles were tense as if he were close to fleeing at the slightest danger. Stephen wondered why the soldier was always on his guard, and perhaps by playing this game the older man could relax more around them. He turned his head towards Connor. "You'll find us too easily. Plus, I want to see how well Becker can hunt us down."

A few moments later Stephen watched as Becker stood about a foot away from him. Stephen's black fur made it perfect for hiding during the night, and in the shadow the moon cast from a large oak tree. Becker was completely still, his eyes closed, nose and ears twitching in the slight breeze.

Stephen wondered how much control Becker had over himself. He turned his head in Stephen's direction. Stephen wondered if he had been spotted and prepared to flee when Becker suddenly turned and ran towards the river. Stephen had made sure to rub himself against every tree he wondered past until he reached the river. The current was slow, the water not too deep, so he waded in and washed most of his scent away. Then very carefully he traced his footsteps back before slinking to the side, careful not to leave any noticeable tracks.

Stephen contemplated moving, and seeing if he could find Becker when he heard several twigs snap behind him. He was on his feet immediately and sprinting across the forest. He looked back to see Becker hot on his heels. How did I not hear him coming? Stephen thought as he focused on shifting between the trees.

When he looked back again Becker had disappeared. He slowed down to a light jog, and hearing no sound again he stopped, but still on alert. There was no sound, only the rustling of the breeze through the leaves and the chirping of crickets.

The next thing he knew he was tackled to the side. He quickly shook of the attacker and wheeled on them, growling with teeth bared.

"Gotcha" the attacker said. He knew the voice belonged to Becker but he could hardly see him until he stepped forward. The silver and white in his fur was better camouflage than his as the moon's light was the around the same color.

Stephen nodded and Becker slunk back into the darkness. After a thought on the possible protection Becker could provide them, especially Connor, he tipped his head back and howled.