I am currently on covid quarantine for the next few days, so while my steroids are keeping me awake and my chest free from feeling like an elephant is sitting on it, I will continue to update and post chapters. LOL. Enjoy the madness. While I am reposting old chapters, I am also working on churning out chapter six. Please be patient with me. Thanks so much!

Disclaimer: All original characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Any events taking place are of my own imagination. Any similarities to actual people or events are strictly coincidental.

Chapter Three: Den Days

The morning was crisper than usual when the hanyou set out to find the missing miko. His silver hair whipped in the draft his body was creating. It had been two days since that old woman had practically begged him to go looking for her, but with Youka so far along in her pregnancy, he could hardly tear himself away from her. The protective instinct was strong, and long treks out into the snow like this just grated on his nerves more.

He couldn't believe that a little mark, the one he'd placed on the juncture of her neck, could have such a strong hold over his emotions like this, but maybe since he was a hanyou they overwhelmed him more than a full youkai's would. More power. More resistance to it.

Clearing his head of these thoughts he focused on the task at hand. The sooner it was done, the sooner he could return to her.

He made it to the marker and followed along her set path around the border of the village. It was the same route she'd taken nearly every night since the arrangement had been made. It smelled faintly of her from use alone. He followed the strongest trace of jasmine and lavender. The scent uniquely hers.

He'd walked almost two miles down the route, nearly giving up on finding anything, when he saw it. It caused his golden eyes to narrow. It looked like a battle had taken place.

He padded over quietly to the scorched earth laying his fingers against the black smolder left in the place of whatever had been there previously. Lifting his fingers he studied the blackened powder. It was finer than what any normal fire would leave behind. Then there was the rest of the area to consider. It wasn't untouched.

He gazed around the clearing. Trees were knocked over, the rock looked melted on sides, the ground was charred, and as he walked the perimeter..it was then he smelled it. Blood. Her blood. Golden eyes narrowed as he sprinted behind a mottled boulder to see dark brown staining its grey surface. One whiff was all he needed. It was hers. However, it was not the only scent he caught.

"The ookami," he said quietly but it left a bitter taste on his tongue all the same. He followed the trail behind another boulder that had a larger amount of blood coating it. She'd been wounded badly. Silently he cursed her inability to protect herself and his stupidity for not having the mind to check on her. He'd left her to die.

It wasn't his fault that she couldn't take care of herself. It wasn't his fault she was so weak. She should have known better. He growled as he picked up the scent of the other two ookami that traveled with the fleabag. Their trail spurred off from this direction, but Inuyasha wasn't done yet.

He saw the pool of blood that darkened the ground several feet away. He walked over to it and took in the scent curiously. It was different. It wasn't the ookami's and it wasn't Kagome's. It was tinted with hatred and malice. His brow furrowed. He could figure out what it was later, right now he had to go find her.

He looked over his shoulder toward the direction that they left. It was in the direction of the ookami's den. It would be nearly a two-day trip for him to get there. His upper lip raised slightly in a snarl. He would be gone from Youka and his unborn pup for nearly four days. The prospect was unsavory in the least, but she was still 'pack' as were Sango and Miroku as well as Shippou.

Turning from the scene, he took off toward the village. He had to inform Kaede of his findings. Then move Youka into Kaede's hut so she could look after her while he was away. She was the only one he trusted her with at this point. He growled softly in his throat in irritation. Stupid Kagome.

Her eyes fluttered open before blinking several times. The darkness of the cave inhibited her sight. From the faint light coming from the end of the tunnel, she could see it was either early morning or late evening.

Rolling over onto her back, she caught a glimpse of the den. It was empty. It was strange to her seeing the lack of ookami after seeing it so full the last time she was awake. How long had she been out?

She grimaced as her right shoulder shifted with her movement. Looking over at the wound she could tell it was nearly healed; however, still tender. She could heal it the rest of the way herself, but first, she needed food. Her stomach made that need very present.

She rolled over onto her stomach and used her left hand to rise to her knees, but she didn't think she had the strength yet to move to her feet unaided. She glanced toward the den entrance. She didn't want to be stuck here until someone came to check on her, which she assumed wouldn't be any time soon.

Sighing, she crawled forward on her knees toward the light. It wasn't very long after that soft footfalls reached her ears. Then tufts of white and black fur met her vision. Hikari and Youru. The ookami looked puzzled as they entered the den Youru even cocked his head to the side in curiosity. He'd probably never seen any of the youkai in this predicament before. She laughed softly at his bewildered expression.

"A little help?" She tried not knowing if they'd be able to understand her. Hikari moved first.

He seemed to understand her disability as he moved to her left side as she slid back to her knees. She felt his body tense as she grabbed onto his fur to steady herself before bracing against him to stand. Youru was by her side in seconds to nudge her legs from the other side so they wouldn't give in.

"Thanks," she voiced once she was standing, albeit, a little unsteadily. Hikari exhaled sharply through his nose as he turned to walk back out of the den. Kagome slowly followed him out with Youru trailing behind her.

Once reaching the end of the tunnel she had to shield her eyes. The light was bright even though it was only early morning. She blinked several times before her eyes adjusted glimpsing a pale blue sky with swirls of clouds painting the expanse. More snow. She sighed slightly. It was never-ending this winter.

Glancing to the right, she saw several fires scattered around the shelter with ookami youkai placed in varied spots trying to stay warm. Hikari walked toward the closest one and glanced over his shoulder to make sure she was following him. A small smile graced her features at his actions. However aloof he may be, he still was a kind ookami.

Thankfully the fire wasn't really occupied. Not that she didn't want to talk to any of the other youkai. She just didn't know them nor how they would react to her presence there. It wasn't long before she felt eyes on her from all directions. It made her shift uncomfortably in her seated position. Sensing her unease Youru nudged her palm with his nose. Kagome scratched behind his ears absentmindedly as she peer into the flames. Kouga often talked of how rowdy and rambunctious his pack could be, but right now a stifling silence nearly suffocated her in the cave. They didn't trust her.

Not that she could blame them. She was an outsider. A miko nonetheless. Her kind killed theirs daily. Who wouldn't be a little on edge? She chanced a glance around the room and noted a specific pair of eyes burning holes into her person. When she looked up nearly every set of eyes looked away. Not these. Brilliant amber orbs held her gaze unwaveringly. The message sent was clear: she wasn't welcome here. Kagome, however, wasn't one to back down from a threat, and so she stared right back into those amber orbs, holding her ground. It wasn't until she heard familiar voices that she broke eye contact.

"Sis?"

"Hey, Sis! What are you doing up?" Hakkaku bellowed from the cave entrance.

Kagome felt the tension in her shoulders ease and the atmosphere in the room became more peaceful. Turning her head she took in the visage of Ginta and Hakkaku approaching her bearing food.

"Hey guys," she greeted warmly as they shooed the ookami from her sides and took their places.

"We didn't think you'd be up for another few days at least," Hakkaku started.

"Yeah, Kouga hasn't left the den much," Ginta replied handing her what looked like a bowl of rice, "Hungry?"

She opened her mouth to speak when her stomach spoke for her. Ginta snickered and it seemed to echo around the entire cave. Kagome looked up to see humored expressions or smirks on all the ookamis faces. Well, at least they were relaxed enough to find humor at her expense.

"You've been out for a couple of days. I don't doubt you're hungry," Hakkaku added handing her a slab of meat. It was slightly warm at least.

She laid it down in the bowl of rice and took some sort of utensil that Ginta offered her, "Thanks guys," she said as she forced herself to take slow bites of the rice. She was starving, but she didn't want to overdo it either. "How are things around here," she said slightly fishing for information.

"Quiet for the most part," Hakkaku noted warming his hands by the fire.

"Yeah no sign of anyone suspicious," Ginta said eyeing her with a raised eyebrow. Kagome noticed. So he was on to her.

"Suspicious?" Hakkaku questioned. "Who would be suspicious?"

"No one," Ginta covered for her but he held a knowing look, "We've not seen anyone Sister. There is no need to worry."

Kagome nodded as she took another, what seemed to be, a spoonful of rice into her mouth. She glanced at the ookami on the floor that layed on either side of Ginta and Hakkaku. Their ears twitched to the flow of conversation, but they seemed relaxed nonetheless. Perhaps she shouldn't worry too much about those amber eyes.

"Is something wrong," Ginta pried noticing her tense posture.

"Hm," Kagome started glancing over in the direction the amber eyes had been to find them gone, "Nothing. It's nothing."

Ginta looked in the direction of her gaze, but he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. In any case, he'd be more vigilant. Otherwise, Kouga would kill him. He sighed at the thought.

Kagome finished the rice, but she couldn't find the stomach for the meat. Glancing at the two ookami on the floor she spoke to them. "I can't cut it, but I want you two to be fair about it, alright?" She said eyeing them both, holding the meat back just out of their grasp.

Youru sat up immediately while Hikari just opened one eye before exhaling heavily. "You don't want any?" Kagome questioned the white ookami that only turned his head at her reply.

"Don't worry," Hakkaku spoke up looking at Hikari, "he doesn't take meat from anybody but Kouga."

"Ah," Kagome said feeling her heart fall slightly, "oh well. Here you go," she said handing it to Youru. Hikari glanced up at her feeling her emotions shift, but closed his eyes again and relaxed.

Izuma hadn't seen anything like it. The Ningen was interacting with the ookami as she belonged here. Feeding them. Scratching their ears. She even had the audacity to go and sit at one of the fires placed around the cave.

He watched her from the side of his sleeping mate near the back of the cave stewing in his anger. It wasn't natural. It wasn't normal. She wasn't supposed to be here. She could pose a threat to their pack and by default his mate and unborn cub. His claws tightened in his fisted hands. She needed to leave soon. He stole a glance at Yuri, his mate, who was sleeping soundly in her presence. He knew if it weren't for his aura she wouldn't be sleeping at all.

He gritted his teeth a soft growl emanating in his throat. In a couple of days time, if she wasn't gone, he'd make her leave. He didn't care if his alpha wanted her here or not. She would go.

Kagome scratched Youru's ears after he was finished and offered him a smile. He licked her palm in thanks. He was just too sweet. It was hard to believe that any of these ookami had eaten humans before. Once you got to know them, they really weren't all that bad. Not unlike a certain ookami prince she knew.

She remembered when she first met Kouga. Hot-headed, cocky, arrogant, smug, and slightly selfish, but maybe that wasn't entirely fair. The reason he'd kidnapped her, after all, was in order to protect his pack. A pack that in time she'd grown to love too.

"Say Ginta," Kagome asked quietly, "where's Kouga?"

"Oh right," he replied breaking from whatever thought he'd had, "He went out hunting again. We will have several females pupping here soon. We'll need all the meat we can get then. They'll be feeding their young and need nutrition. It's why we've been working overtime to make sure we have enough," he finished.

"Yeah to Kouga, every life here is important. None of the cubs will be his, but he knows that he needs to provide for them nonetheless. The stronger they become the stronger we will be," Hakkaku finished.

"I see," she said looking at the empty bowl feeling slightly bad for eating their food. Hakkaku seemed to catch on to this, "No need to worry Sis. We have plenty. Kouga just likes to be extra careful."

"Yeah," Ginta added, "We tend to like to have cubs birthed in the Spring or Summer when hunting grounds are plentiful, but you know how it goes. It happens when it happens."

Kagome glanced over at Ginta curiously, "Spoken like someone who knows."

"Uh," Ginta said scratching the back of his neck rather embarrassed-like, "well."

"Don't let him fool you," Hakkaku said with a hint of humor, "He's mated."

"Hey!" Ginta said his face flushing red.

"It's not like she wasn't going to find out," Hakkaku stated smirking over her head at his friend.

Kagome just giggled at their antics. "Congratulations Ginta."

"Wai! I'm not-she's-we haven't-I'm not a father yet!" His face changed several more shades of red as he flailed his arms around trying to prove his point.

Hakkaku and Kagome just laughed and it soon became infectious to the rest of the ookami youkai in the cave. Kagome sighed as she smiled.

Ginta had started chasing Hakkaku around the cave who was, surprisingly enough, dodging every punch thrown by his best friend. It only made her laugh all the more, and she noticed the atmosphere in the cave had shifted entirely feeling warm and pleasant. Kagome was about to reach for Hikari when small yipping sounds filled the cave.

Kagome's eyes narrowed slightly and she leaned back from where she was sitting to see, what can best be described as, a herd of ookami youkai cubs charging through the cave. They were all different colors and sizes. It made Kagome smile. They were rambunctious and energetic, and they were coming straight for her.

"Um," Kagome vocalized garnering the two ookamis attention. Youru glanced over his shoulder and immediately stood and Hikari mirrored the motion. Kagome looked at Hikari questioningly and she could have sworn he was smiling at her. "What are you-"

Then it hit her. The entire herd of ookami cubs. "Oof!" They had pounced her knocking her flat on her back and boy were they strong. She had, she didn't know how many she had all tugging at her kimono and hakama.

She noticed several youkai rose to their feet. Maybe they thought she was going to hurt them, but how could she?

A brown-headed cub with striking green eyes and a white tail was latched to her chest. He was nuzzling under her neck which made her giggle. She placed her hands on either side of his torso and lifted him off of her, "You're so cute," she said as she nuzzled his nose with hers smiling at the cub who just licked her nose in response.

Several of the other cubs had tangented off wrestling and biting each other honing their playing skills that would, in the end, only make them stronger. She released the cub in her hands to let him play with the others when another one jumped on her.

This time a blonde one with blue eyes and a brown tail. He was yipping at her madly about something. "And what exactly is your deal?" Kagome inquired raising him up much the way as she had with the other one. This was her mistake as he bit her nose. "Ow," she said feeling the liquid run down her face, but never once did she drop him or make to hurt him.

Tears sprang to her eyes from the pain. This seemed to reach the cub in her hands who whimpered slightly. She could tell he felt bad and had to smile. Putting him down on her chest, she held her right hand against her nose to quell the bleeding. The cub looked like he wanted to run away but she held him there. She wanted him to see it was bad, but with a room full of youkai watching her disciplining the cub was a risky situation.

She looked for the white ookami who stood some feet from her, "Hikari," she voiced. The ookami looked at the wave of cubs apprehensively but came to her side. Switching the cub to her right hand, after wiping the blood on her hakama, she used Hikari to raise to a sitting position. "Thanks," she said eyeing the ookami, "now," she said looking down at the cub in her grasp. She raised her hand that probably still held the scent of blood and put it in front of him so he could smell it. Her eyes held his the entire time. Her stare was serious and she hoped it conveyed what she wanted to the cub before she lightly with the index finger of her right hand tapped his nose ever so slightly, "no."

The cub blinked several times before a wave of semi-understanding passed through his eyes. Kagome was about to release him before he made to bit her had. She flinched slightly but was surprised when the skin just below her thumb was latched onto...with merely gums and tongue. She smiled warmly at the cub and stroked his cheek with her index finger.

Kouga had watched the entire exchange from the entrance of the den that he leaned against with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. She truly was meant to be a mother. That thought only stirred his beast more inside his chest. Ever since their conversation it had given him nothing but grief over mating her. However, Kouga knew he'd have to take it slow this time. She was still recovering from Inuyasha's hot-cold attitude after all.

His upper lip lifted near his fang slightly exposing it. Stupid mutt. Although, perhaps he should be thanking him. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be here. He watched as the dark-headed cub from before, Ryo, jumped into her lap eager for her attention. He smiled, his father always said that a cub was a good judge of character, and from the way, Kagome was surrounded by them he didn't need to guess.

He glanced around the cave to his pack that was observing the peculiar behavior. Normally, cubs never approached strangers. Nor did they interact with them if placed in close proximity. Cubs, by nature, were programmed to seek comfort, protection, and love from pack members only. This display before them was very unique and unheard of especially since Kagome was a miko. The cubs should have been scared senseless by her aura alone, yet it didn't seem to bother them. It was a good sign. And maybe it would relax the pack to see the cubs interacting with her like this. They really had nothing to fear from her.

Thinking he'd waited long enough to approach her he made his way over to where she sat, covered, with ookami cubs. "Making friends I see," he said humorously as he stared at the many cubs littering her lap.

"You have no idea," Kagome said as she played with one of the cubs' tail. It was very unappreciative of such an action and growled softly. Kagome only giggled. Kouga's smirk widened. She chanced a glance up at him. His hands were on his hips, he was smirking, and his tail swished back and forth slowly. He looked happy. That is until now.

"Hey!" He said as a cub wriggled its way up his leg and was attempting to claw its way up his side. Raising an eyebrow Kouga picked up the cub by the scruff of its neck but placed it in a cradled arm. It was a red-headed, blue-eyed male with a brown tail. Kagome couldn't help to think if that's what his and Ayame's cub would look like, and for some strange reason, it unsettled her. She quickly pushed those feelings away as Kouga smirked at the cub, "Some audacity you have," he chided but the smirk was telling. He pointed his finger at the cub and seconds later it was bitten, or she thought the cub bit it.

Kouga glanced at Kagome's confused expression before explaining, "Right now, these cubs are maybe six to eight weeks old. The den mothers could tell you better than I. Anyway, their fangs aren't fully developed and they are teething. So, chewing on things," he said pulling his finger gently from the cub's mouth, "helps with that."

Not fully developed my ass. Kagome thought feeling a distinct throbbing sensation in her nose. She didn't care what breed they were, those were fangs.

Kouga chuckled as he spotted her scrunched-up nose. "He got you good."

"You think," she retorted as a red-headed female cub pounced on her right shoulder. She winced slightly. She was falling and her right hand at this point was out of use from the pain, but she didn't want the cub to get hurt so she held onto it with her left leaving her with nothing to break her fall. The jarring sensation of the cave floor sent another shot of pain through her. She opened her eyes to see the red-headed female cub none the wiser of her actions. However, a low growl from Kouga sent the cub shivering. "Don't be so hard on her," Kagome chided stroking the cub's back, "She didn't know."

"I know that," Kouga said picking her up by the scruff of her neck staring her in the eyes. She wagged her red tail slightly looking pitiful but Kouga was unphased, "but she has to learn. Otherwise, she never will." His gaze was stern and she lowered hers with a whimper. Satisfied Kouga set the cub beside Kagome along with the one in his arms. "Alright, play time's over."

He reached for Kagome's hand which she offered to him and in seconds she was on her feet, sorta. She glanced at the floor not wanting to step on any of the cubs that suddenly swarmed her rising body, and suddenly there was no floor to step on.

Faltering in her step she felt her body slam against a rock-solid, warm wall. Better known as Kouga. She glanced up into his blue eyes apologetically. "Sorry."

He just smiled at her, "No problem, come on." Once she found her footing he released her, but the warmth of her body pressed against his hadn't been released. His beast was acting up now more than ever, but he'd have to cool it. He knew what Kagome wanted...what she needed. It was patience.

He glanced behind him to see her following him with a flushed face. He grinned. At least he wasn't the only one affected by their brief 'connection'.

Kagome was mortified. She'd been pretty much pressed up against his chest like a damsel in distress in front of the entire pack. She could feel their gazes on her back even now. How embarrassing. She was brought out of her thoughts by a nudge. Her eyes refocused to see Youru beside her with his nose in her palm. She smiled down at him gratefully and scratched his head in thanks. He rumbled lowly in his chest. She noticed that Hikari was on her left and pet his back a couple of times garnering his eyes in her direction but nothing more. He was still a mystery to her.

Coming back to her senses, she noticed that Kouga had stopped at the entrance of the cave and leaned against it surveying the valley before them with concentration. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. Was something wrong?

The mutt had yet to show up, but that didn't mean he wouldn't. Surely he wasn't that low. He'd come to check up on her as soon as he found that clearing, right? He glanced to his right to see Kagome staring at him with concern. Great now she was worried.

"Is something wrong?" She asked him. He could smell the worry and concern in her scent and feel it in her aura. It was like a cloud of smoke that marred her scent.

"No nothing is wrong," he said flashing her a smile. She knew that smile. She used it often. It was meant to hide something.

"How about the truth this time," she tried almost smirking at him as she placed her hands on her hips.

He glanced at her again and had the decency to look sheepish. That side smirk-grimace that he did when he was caught overtook his features as he scratched the back of his neck. He sighed, "Nothing that you can help, Kagome. Just sometimes, being the alpha tends to be a little more than you bargained for."

Kagome could understand that notion and she laughed a little crossing her own arms before looking at the valley, "Tell me about it."

He smirked her way. He loved how she understood him. He'd not had to say much of anything and yet she knew how he felt. It made his heart leap a little in his chest. It was a connection that was rare even for youkai. "So when should I expect the rest of your 'pack' to be arriving?" He questioned.

The absence of the slayer, monk, and kitsune had not gone unnoticed by him. In fact, he thought about it often for the past two days. She'd mentioned dogface, but she'd hardly said a word about the other three.

"Oh," Kagome said her expression slightly falling, "well, I don't think they will be coming."

Kouga smelt the shift in her scent. It was sorrow. An aching sorrow but not strong enough to be death. "Are they okay?" He asked chancing a glance at her. She sighed.

"Yeah, they are fine. Shippou is in a pack with other kitsune now. He's been training with them and going through 'trials' to become stronger. He looks up to Inuyasha and wants to be just like him," she heard Kouga scoff and mutter something about 'not-treating-women-right' and 'unwieldy-sword-habits'. Kagome just laughed softly, "Sango and Miroku have married and they moved into her old village. She wants to restore it," she sighed again, "but that means they are extremely busy. Especially since there is a baby on the way," she paused for a moment, "I just don't get to see them much anymore."

Kouga nodded. He could understand that. After he had become alpha of the Eastern Ookami Tribe, his parents had moved on to create a new one saying, 'Too many alphas and not enough omegas.' At first, he'd missed them, but he could understand why they did it. In their wake, he'd grown stronger, smarter, and a far better leader once on his own two feet. It had all been for the best.

"I'm sure you'll see them again, Kagome," he comforted. She looked over at him and smiled.

This was good. He didn't have to touch her in order to gain her heart. Although, ookami youkai were very...touchy. It was in their nature as well as his. He'd break sometime. For now, though, he could hold off if it meant he'd get her in the end.

Izuma was enraged. His alpha was actually interacting with the Ningen. He even acted as he cared for her. His teeth were bared in anger as his right fist's claws dug into the floor of the cave painfully. This had to stop. He'd nearly lost it earlier when she was playing with the pups.

Once his alpha had shown up, he thought he'd right the situation. Instead, he encouraged it. Couldn't he see this woman had bewitched him? She was toying with him. Ookami mate for life. She was a mere human who wouldn't understand that kind of dedication and loyalty. She couldn't possibly know what that was like, what it felt like, what it meant. He'd be damned before he'd let his alpha fall to such trickery.

And that was when it began. The seed of hate rooted in his heart was fed by his blinding rage. At that moment, a plan was formed. And he'd wait patiently to put it into practice.

Tsuki peered down on her cub smiling. This would work. She saw the image of Kouga's hair blowing in the breeze from the valley outside as he stared at the young miko, Kagome. It was warm and loving. A smile like he'd had for her.

Her blue eyes went to Kagome. She was unsure, but in time she knew that she would grow to love her cub. It made her happy to see such things. However, with light there was darkness.

Her eyes drifted to one of her other cubs. Izuma. Auburn hair and amber eyes burned with hatred. He was mistaken in his thoughts about the young woman, but there was no stopping him once his mind was made up. He was a stubborn cub. She sighed.

She wanted to make sure that the decision was the right one before they went through with it a couple of nights from now when the moon would be full, and she would be at her strongest. Seeing what she saw now, she knew she couldn't falter. It had to be done.