Part 11

Shawn stared opened mouth at the little pup as she bounded up the wooden stairs leading the deck. Her claws clicked along the polished wood as she finally scrambled her way up the final step. Yapping with delight she headed straight for the alpha pair, the little pup showing no fear or hesitation as she went up on her hind legs and pressed her paws against Shawn's jean-clad knees.

"She's a wolf?" he asked incredulous glancing from his mate back down to the little pup quietly chewing on the folds of his jean.

"Yep, she did her first turn last night. Seems she's inherited her father's precocious nature."

Shawn gave a snort of laughter then bending down he scooped Alanna up cradling her in his arms as the little pup yapped her delight at being held.

"Oh you are so precious" gushed Shawn, all attempts at keeping a manly façade gone in the presence of the delightful little pup.

Hunter rolled his eyes knowing he wouldn't be getting any sense out of his mate for the next few minutes at the very least.

"Alanna behave," growled Randy as he finally caught his daughter up. Evan wandered up the steps after him grinning at the way Shawn was cooing over the yapping bundle of energy in his arms.

"Not sure who's the bigger kid right now," chuckled Hunter shaking his head fondly at his mate.

Randy offered a tight smile but there was no mistaking the tensions radiating oh him. Evan glanced up at his mate then at Hunter before caressing Randy's forearm a moment murmuring, "It'll be okay."

Randy fixed him with a cold glare, one that had been known to floor lesser men but Evan was used to his mate's looks. He held Randy's gaze a moment then very pointedly he lowered his eyes, tilting his head slightly, showing the on edge wolf that there was no challenge in his words. For a moment Randy stared at him, then with a low rolling snarl Randy snapped, "I'm taking the bags to our room."

He turned and brushed past Evan, forcing the smaller man to take a step back to avoid being knocked over.

"He'll come around," soothed Hunter moving to stand beside Evan, both of them watching Randy storm towards the car.

Evan didn't answer for a moment; his eyes were glued to Randy, he knew his mate was hurting and he knew too if Randy was this badly affected now when the pack met for real in a few days the tension would be a thousand times worse. As Hunter moved beside him, he finally turned around and looking at Hunter, he asked hesitantly, "Does it have to be a full pack run? Does he have to attend?"

Hunter glared at him, growling.," Are you questioning my orders?"

Evan shook his head, horrified that his Alpha should think such a thing. Without hesitation he quickly barred his neck, replying, ""No Alpha. I'm just trying to protect my mate." He faltered then looking back to where Randy was standing with John, he added sadly, "I trying to protect him from himself."

X x x x x x x x

"Need a hand?"

Randy didn't bother looking round as he huffed, "I've got it. Shouldn't you be worrying about that cat making a move Josh?"

"He's not making a move!" exclaimed John sounding far from convincing.

Turning around Randy sank down onto the edge of the trunk and folding his arms over his chest he looked at his best friend and shook his head rumbling, "John, open your eyes. Even i can see there's something between them and you know I'm hopeless at seeing these things."

"There's nothing to see," sulked John ignored the look Randy was giving him.

"John," rumbled Randy half kicking John's shin with his foot, "Tell him how you feel."

"What if he doesn't want me?"

It was said so softly Randy almost missed the half whisper. Shaking his head he sighed sadly and rolling his neck out, he rumbled, "Then you'll know and you can move on. But at least it would mean you stop acting like a fucking girl and..."

"I'm not acting like a girl!" protested John, slapping Randy arm, "Don't you call me a girl."

"Why not?" growled Randy, his wolf bristling at John's slap, "You're acting like one."

"I am not," replied John, shooting him a blinding grin.

"Yes you are," countered Randy, coming to his feet and squaring off against John.

"Take it back," demanded John matching Randy's fighting stance.

For a moment they stared at each other, both of them grinning with anticipation. Moving almost as one, they both pealed their shirts off, loosened their belts and then there the sound of jeans ripping and suddenly two large wolves were having a much needed play fight.

X x x x x x x

"Are they okay?" asked Alex craning his neck watching as the two large wolves rolled round a few feet away from them.

"They're fine," replied Josh softly apparently unconcerned about the fight, "They're just letting off steam," he explained as he lifted the last bag out of the trunk, "It happens all the time round here. Best thing to do is ignore it and hope they don't tag you in."

"Tag you in?" asked Alex absently taking the last bag from Josh, so he ended up carrying all of them, leaving the smaller man with nothing to do but close the trunk,

"Yeah sometimes they get bored of fighting each other and they look for someone else to pounce." He flashed Alex a look, confessing, "And they normally tag in a lower ranking wolf."

"You mean you," clarified Alex, for some reason his tiger not enjoying the idea of the larger more powerful wolf picking on Josh.

"Normally," nodded Josh then seeing Alex's look he soothed, "Its okay. They never use their teeth and they are always really careful with me. It's kinda fun when they do."

He gave a wistful little smile, his eyes glued to the way John was currently pinning down the black wolf, the blonde wolf nipping playfully at the back of Randy's neck. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, least of all to Alex, but he would give anything to be the one pinned down by the big blond wolf. He was half lost in a daydream involving him and John when a shout broke the moment.

"Randy watch out!" shouted Evan from the deck pointing frantically to the little black streak heading down the deck steps and straight towards the fighting wolves.

Randy looked over and saw Alanna heading straight for them, the little pup yapping her head off. Showing no fear at all she launched herself at John and latching onto the big blond wolf's tail, she planted her little paws and started to pull, looking for all the world as if she as trying to pull the massive wolf off her pinned father.

Randy instantly shifted back calling, "Al! It's okay! Alanna! Princesses, stop it! Come on leave Uncle John alone."

John's wolf gave a bark, looking down at Randy in confusion. It was obvious his wolf wanted to get the little pup off him but was unsure how to do.

"Get off me!" growled Randy forcing the large wolf off his back. Once free he reached over and carefully prized Alanna of John's tail. Gathering the snarling pup into his arms he ordered, "Alanna shift back." When the little pup ignored him he used a little power, ordering, "I said shift young lady."

Within in moments Alanna was sitting on his lap glaring at John. As she realised she was human again she exclaimed angrily, "Meanie! You 'ttacked my daddy. No one 'ttacks my da..."

"Alanna!" rumbled Randy subconsciously tightened his grip around her, "Uncle John wasn't attacking me, we were..." he hesitated searching for a word Alanna would understand, before huffing, "...playing."

"Playing?" repeated Alana looking up at her father, "Like when we play?"

"Just like that," nodded Randy soothing her hair away from her face.

"Oh," she gazed up at him, then fixing John with a deadly smile, she cooed, "Sorry Uncle John."

The big blonde wolf padded closer and licked her face nudging her shoulder with his head before sinking back onto his haunches. Alanna giggle with delight and reaching over she petted his muzzle, chiding, "No 'ttackign my daddy."

Then snuggling into her father's embrace she yawned and without a care in the world simply closed her eyes and fell asleep.

TBC