Chapter 2

(Um, so OK I kinda got a little mixed up on the last chapter. Where it say's Northeast werewolf pack at the beging it is suppose to say Northwest I don't know why I got that mixed up, it just happened. And I do not know why or how I came up with Northwest. . .)

Hayo! I just wanted to say Happy Easter! :) And that this story is fiction. It is not based on real life experiances. It's a supernatural fiction story. Just wanted to say that if someone got mad because it wasn't all that much realistic. Well scientist can possibly come up with a way to create vampires or werewolves. So it's not all that fiction. . . (;

He was known for his lame old-fashioned views. Cristian had called him an ornery old man, though no werewolf looked a day over thirty-five. But Cristian and Ikuto were in their fourth century, born of the different era. Cristian had adjusted throughout the years, but Ikuto stuck to his little stubborn ways.

After all, his way was the right way.

The women could think they'd won for now. Besides, he had a feeling he'd need to take down the ringleader before they backed down completely.

As soon as the meeting ended, he caught up with Amu outside the ranger station.

Anger twisted his face into a scowl as he followed closely, and quietly, behind her-walking toward the center of camp. A bonfire roared, casting shadows on the ring of wooden cabins surrounding it.

Amu darted around the fire, her head down , hugging her arms. Bare arms. Nighttime just outside Yellowstone National Park in October was close to freezing. Amd she went out wearing only a button down cotton t-shirt?

"Good god, woman!" He grabbed her elbow and spun her around, facing him.

She gasped and he pulled his hand back. He hadn't meant to be so rough.

"Where's your coat?"

She looked at her arms then back to his, handsome, face. "It ripped."

"How?"

She bit her lip and didn't say anything for a moment. He narrowed his eyes, ready to sniff out a lie.

"Ranger work," she finally answered, then perched a hand on her hip. "Is there something you wanted?"

"Ranger work? What have you been doing? Wrestling alligators?"

Her gaze dropped to the ground and she mumbled, "Not bears." Her head snapped back up. "Look, it's getting late. Did you stop me just to interrogate me about my jacket?"

He squared his shoulders and gave her his sternest glare. "No, I came to tell you to convince the other women it's not in their best interest to fight vampires." Her eyebrows drew together. "Why would I do that? I just convinced the Council to give us a chance."

"Because I'm telling you to."

She looked down at the ground again, clearly considering how to respond. He had the sudden urge to kiss that cute wrinkle between her furrowed brows.

Now where the hell did that come from? He cleared his throat. "Do you know who I am?"

She nodded.

"So you know I am in charge while Christian is away?"

Though she nodded again there was nothing at all submissive about the fire in her eyes. She was working out her next argument. He found himself curious, and cautious, about what she would come up with.

He mentally kicked himself. He did not tolerant insubordination. Why should he allow this wisp of a thing give him lip? " I'm glad we're clear." He turned to walk away.

"Wait."

He closed his eyes and sighed before turning back around.

"The Council agreed to let us train. I know Cristian believes in some kind of amount of democracy."

He smiled without humor the clasped his hands behind his back as he strode toward her. "And who would train you? Do you really think there's a single male werewolf that would try to harm a female?"

Her lip curved into that devious smirk. " I'll train them."

He arched a brow. "You?" She was so small. The idea of her anywhere near the combat ring sent waves of anxiety through his chest, and head.

"Don't look at me like that!" She had the gall to order. "Size has nothing to do with skill."

"Care to prove it?" He would teach her a lesson. The she wouldn't go around putting ridiculous ideas into the other women's heads.

Her eyes widened a bit then she schooled her features with a casual shrug. "Anytime, anyplace."

"Now. In the training ring."

"Now?"

He grinned. "Unless you're bluffing."

She pursed her lips. "Now is fine."

Ikuto turned and walked straight to the other side of camp where a flat dirt clearing served as a primitive training ring. She trailed behind him, not quite able to keep up with his longer strides. Since most of the pack was either working or doing various chores, they had the area to themselves. He plugged the stadium style lights into the recreation room socket and lit up the circle.

"I'll make it easy," he told her. "If I pin you, I win. If you get even one hit on me you win."

"And what happens if I win?"

" I'll let you train the women."

"And if you win?"

With a confident smirk, he answered, "If I win, you go back to the kitchen and laundry room like a good little girl." He swallowed back a laugh at her thinned lips and raging eyes.

"I am so going to enjoy beating your ass."

"Ditto."

She stepped into the ring and crouched into a defensive position. Ikuto threw off his coat and followed her.

Wasting no time, she attacked with series of kicks and strikes which he managed to dodge, but not without effort. So the wanna-be slayer had some experience? At the next strike, he caught her fist and tugged her into his body.

"You're not very harmonious, Amu." She pulled back on her arm but he held tight. "Your parents should've named you Major, middle name Trouble."

"And yours should've named you Pain, middle name, In-the-ass." With her other hand she yanked back on his thumb and twisted away. She circled him once, staying on the balls of her feet, before launching into a cartwheel and landing in a crouch in-front of him. Her foot kicked out for a decent attempt at a foot sweep, but he was faster and jumped back.

"You have some skill, I'll give you that," he said, dodging a roundhouse kick. "But you're sloppy. You lack experience."

She stilled, pushing the wispy hair from her face. "Then teach me."

Now wasn't that an interesting thought. He pictured her sweaty, her cheeks rosy, her chest heaving as he-

He shook his head. "Not a woman."

Nostrils flaring, voice tight with anger, she said, "So what would you have me do? Sit around and wait for a big strong man to save me? Or maybe, the next time I'm in trouble, superman will fly in at the exact right moment to kill the bad guy and save the day."

So the little hellion had a smart mouth too?

" I'm not some childish girl, I refuse to be a damsel in distress."

He didn't wait for her attack this time. Catching her off guard, he feinted left then snatched her arm from right. He spun her so her back was against his chest, and captured bother wrists behind her. With his lips at her ear, he whispered, "What you should do is stay within the safety of the pack."

She snorted but stayed still in his arms. "Safety is an illusion. Grow up."

He spun her around roughly to face him but kept her wrists captive in a tight grip. "Don't tell me to grow up, little girl. I'll bet I'm more then twice your age."

She smiled sweetly. "Yet only half as smart."

Her foot shifted behind his and she threw her body into him, toppling them both off balance. They fell, Ikuto landing under her. But the advantage didn't last long. He flipped her over and straddled her hips, shackling her arms above her head in one of his large hands.

He smiled. She was good and pinned. "Yield, little hellcat. I think we know who won." She struggle against him, her face reddening in frustration. "Come on, you lost. But you put up a good fight. I'm impressed."

Her body froze except for rise and fall of her chest. His gaze locked on her breasts, only now noticing how perfectly sized they were for his hands.

"You like hurting women, don't you?"

That snapped him out of his daze. Fury built in his chest and he didn't hide it. "Excuse me?"

"You get off on it."

He lowered his head so they were nose to nose. His lips formed a snarl adn he bared his teeth. "I don't hurt women."

"You're hurting me now."

He blinked then released her as if he were touching a flame. He opened to apologize but she sat up and slammed both elbows into his chest. Next thing he knew, teh clever girl had the pointy end of a dagger at his neck. And the little witch nicked him with it.

Her mouth turned up in a lopsided grin. "Sucker."

She sheathed the knife in her belt and pushed him. He was to stunned to stop her from crawling out from under him. Gathering his wits - and ego and pride, which lay crippled on the ground - he watched her saunter away, a spring in her step.

Her firm ass was just to tempting in the form-fitting khaki ranger uniform. And she was sassy enough to deserve it. So he jumped up and slapped her backside.

She spun around so fast he was curious if she'll get a whiplash, and fixed him with an icy glare. But her twitching lips betrayed the offended front she tried so hard to maintain. "That was a cheap shot."

"You deserved it." Feminine pride be damned, he'd never regret touching that fine ass.

He waited, more eager then he'd like to admit, for her response. After a cold, calculating stare, she spun back around and tossed over her shoulder, "Let me know when you get a schedule for our training settled."

And she walked away. Though he'd never felt so disrespected and frustrated, he couldn't seem to wipe a really ridiculous grin off his face.

Okay there ya go! Hope you like it and I hope it's good. So review please and tell em what you think. I have to get to bed so I'll be posting Chapter 3 tomorrow sometime after I get home from school, do my homework. . .Just whenever I have time. M'Kay so I'm going to go and get to bed. :) Bye bye