The heat of the little

Chapter 30

Lore knew something was wrong when she saw the worried looks on everybody’s face and felt it in her bones when she saw David and Caleb running of into the Coven, getting help from an elder.
As Lily and Ireen were worriedly discussing the situation, trying to get Lore involved in the conversation as well as lead her back upstairs to lay her down. But Lore was resistant, not even trying to listen because she felt something that wasn’t part of her own. One of her pack members was hurt and rushing home. Lore pulled her arms from her mother and Lily harshly when she finally found the one that was trying to reach out to her: CJ. Lore! Alisha is hurt, I’m dragging her back but it’s not going to well. I’m not strong enough.

 Lore let out a roar, as she ran to the door and shifted while she jumped forward. As soon as her paws hit the ground she started running, followed by Jason who had responded to her calling immediately. Where do we go? Jason asked, but Lore just shook her big head, just follow me, I know where he’s at. I can feel them. They ran faster and faster, soon followed by two more wolves who had been on patrol but abandoned their posts to come with them. No one else leave their post! We still need to make sure we’re safe! A feeling of determination and anger flooded through the Pack link, but she also felt a few member that were scared for Alisha and for themselves. Finally, Lore and the three members who had followed her saw CJ. Alisha had shifted back to human form, but was unconscious and blood was leaking from neck onto CJ’s dark brown fur. Lore shifted, not even noticing the pain this time or that she was naked. She lifted Alisha’s eyelids and saw nothing but the white of her eyes. Lore pick her up gently clenching her as CJ collapsed on the grounds, exhausted.

‘Jason,’  Lore whispered and she felt how he, one of the biggest and strongest wolves of her pack crept up next to her. His back almost reached her shoulder, which made it a little harder to lift Alisha on his back . One of the other wolves brought her some rope, and after Lore secured Alisha and Jason walked up and down to make sure she wouldn’t fall, Lore whispered: ‘be fast.’ Jason and one of the other wolves ran faster than Lore had ever seen them run. She turned to the last wolf that had ran with her and told him to patrol the spot Alisha and CJ had patrolled. Lore shifted back, nudging CJ when she was a wolf again. He lifted himself and ran back to the pack house with Lore. When they came in, Ireen and Lily handed them both robes but they didn’t even stop walking until they were at the spare room where Alisha had been brought to. She laid still but an elder lady was whispering words and rubbing Alisha’s hands with a green substance Lore didn’t recognize. The woman, Elma, looked up as they walked in and smiled lightly. ‘She’s going to be okay.’ A weight was lifted from Lore’s shoulders as CJ ran over to the bed and got hold of Alisha’s hand. He kissed it and didn’t let go.

 Jason came in behind Lore, and looked at the scene that was unfolding in front of their eyes. ‘ CJ,’ Jason’s voiced broke the silence that had developed more and more since the lady had spoken those anticipated words, ‘we need to know what happened.’  CJ looked angry and wanted to speak up to Jason but Lore nodded in agreement with Jason. ‘But-‘  CJ looked at Lore, mad that they didn’t respect the pain he was feeling in the moment. ‘It can’t wait. Was it an attack?’ CJ mockingly nodded. ‘ One of the black bark pack’s members. He said it was a warning, that we should expect them tomorrow to claim back their territory and lands.’ CJ swallowed harshly, ‘I bet he didn’t even mean it. It was just an attack to bother us and-‘  ‘No. Every threat from them is one to take seriously.’ Lore looked at CJ, who shrunk in his seat this time, ‘being in a Pack means more than being a group. Every threat towards us is towards us. In situations like this the Pack comes first to your personal things. You should learn that.’

Lore turned her back to CJ and walked out, followed by Jason. ‘I need you to gather everyone, Jason. Every single person in the pack-‘ ‘But the borders-‘ ‘I don’t think it matters anymore. We need to get everyone here. Send a message through the pack.’  Lore looked at the elder lady that had followed them out. ‘We needed to speak as well, didn’t we?’ Lore nodded, and lead her into the living room.
‘I want everyone to go outside except for Caleb, David and Ireen.’  Lily looked confused and Luke looked insulted. ‘I am your beta-‘  ‘ That means you follow orders. Go with Jason, help him. Leave.’ Lore’s was fuming with dominance. No one even tried to speak up anymore, they just left.
Lore turned to Elma, as she gestured her parents and Caleb to sit. Which they all did, to Lore’s surprise. ‘ What can you tell me about my pregnancy? Why am I already feeling him or her?’ Elma put her hand on Lore’s stomach and whispered a few words in a language Lore didn’t quite understand.  ‘She feels danger,’  Elma said after she had whispered the words,’ she feels the need to come out but they’re not developed enough.’ ‘She?’ Caleb whispered at the same time David grunted: ‘Of course she’s not developed enough. She’s only been carrying for a few days..’ Elma looked at David, surprised. ‘Ireen had a normal pregnancy with Lore?’ David looked stunned, but Ireen nodded. ‘ Nine whole months.’ Elma tilted her head a little, thinking and again whispering the language Lore didn’t know. Caleb started feeling uneasy as Elma’s hand was still on Lore’s stomach. He didn’t know whether he like the woman, let alone trust her. ‘Ah,’ Elma then continued,’ that’s why.’  Elma looked Lore right in the eyes at this time,’ Do you know how rare it is to have a female Alpha?’ Lore shook her head, she hadn’t even given it a single thought. ‘Well, it is rare. It almost never happens. I guess you developed as a girl naturally because your parents were no longer part of a pack. There was no need to make an Alpha male, like it usually is.’ Elma whispered a few new words, and then looked at Lore: ‘You pregnancy is different because you’re an Alpha. You can’t vulnerable as an Alpha, and so your body and your little baby are rushing this carrying. I think she’ll be fully developed in about two weeks.’  ‘But tomorrow-‘  ‘Yes, your baby feels that. She feels the danger coming closer and wants to protect you. By getting out. That’s why she’s kicking.’  Ireen stood up now and walked over to Lore, laying a hand on her shoulder. ‘How many weeks would a doctor have given this pregnancy?’ ‘About twenty weeks I suppose.’ ‘ So, she could survive if she was delivered now?’  ‘She could but-‘  ‘No.’ Silence fell as Lore spoke those words. ‘I couldn’t recover before tomorrow. I already have a plan. Thank you, Lady Elma.’ She smiled a toothless smile, which gave Lore the shivers. ‘You should come by when this all blows over. You need to be taught the ways of the ancestors and spirit.’ Elma walked out simple as that and Lore turned to Caleb and David who were still on the couch, stunned by the recent discoveries. Lore sighed, she felt that the whole pack was standing outside the house, wondering what was going on, she felt them being scared and she felt that some knew exactly what was going to happen. Lore sighed. ‘Let’s get out there.’ 

When Lore stepped out the door she saw Alisha sitting in a chair that set up just for her. She looked a lot better and awake. She smiled at Lore as CJ held her hand tight. Elma had come up beside Alisha and laid her hand on her shoulder reassuringly. Lore looked at each and every face that was part of her pack and imprinted them in her mind. Ireen and David stood on one side, Caleb directly next to her and held her hand. She felt his confusion and she couldn't help but still wonder if she wasn't overreacting to Alisha's attack. Whatever your instincts say, I know you will do the right thing. We believe in you. Both Caleb and Jason said these sentences through their link, which made them smile understandingly at each other. Lore felt more secure seeing these two were behind her in every step she took. She swallowed and then started her speech: 'First, I want to thank you all for coming. I bet it wasn't easy leaving your jobs or even the borders you were protecting.' All of the pack was staring at her in deepest concentration. 'I need to make a change to the ranks in the pack. The events of the day have showed me that my first decisions weren't wrong, but made with my heart instead of my head. As a result I feel I haven't had the Pack's wellbeing as my number one priority.' She looked at Luke, who already seemed to understand and smiled at her as to let her know he  was okay with it. 'Luke as my beta is something that could've worked if our Pack wasn't in such a troubled state. I need someone next to me that has experience and has been devoted to the Pack always.' Lore turned to Jason, who seemed surprised that she meant him. 'From this day forward, Jason will be my beta. In mine and Caleb's abstinence he will be the one to lead you.' A small applause flared up but died down as soon as opened her mouth. 'Then there is the main thing I called all of you here. Alisha's attack was a warning. We expect another attack tomorrow- but this time it won't be a single attack. We,'  she looked at Jason who nodded sternly,' expect a war over the lands and Pack.'