The Unlikely Mate

Chapter 32

It didn't take long for William to succumb to the injuries, and he was soon gone. Jennifer limped away, feeling the pain from the many bites and wounds she had sustained during the fight. She slowly made her way over to Lennox who was sitting on the ground, and she rested her wolf head on his leg, panting and trying to catch her breath, too tired to shift at the moment.

At some point during the fight, other wolves from the pack had come to see what was going on. The kept their distance, but many had arrived to see, each telling others what was going on, and by the time the fight had ended almost the entire pack was there, watching.

"Your leader is dead" Jackson shouted for all to hear. "Keep your distance. I'm Jackson, Beta of the Black Shadows pack and I've already communicated with Alpha Dante what has been going on here. If any of you attack, you will be subject to his method and choice of justice."

"Sir" came the timid voice of one someone standing near the pack house. "We're not sorry to see him go. He's been almost as ruthless as Luther. We just ask that you would see fit to give us the opportunity to have an audience with Alpha Dante, so we can contribute in the conversations about who should lead us."

"Where is the Beta?" Jackson asked, looking around the crowds for someone of rank.

"William killed him" was the reply from the same man who had spoken before. "It was about a week ago."

"What a mess" Jackson muttered under his breath, and then his eyes glazed, making it evident that he was likely communicating this information to his Alpha.

Jennifer was slowly starting to feel better and began to shift where she lay, of course completely naked from having been in wolf form. Just as she had finished her shift back to human form, a young girl ran up gave her a blanket, which she readily accepted.

"Thank you" Jennifer said softly.

"You should go inside miss," the youngster whispered. "You can cleaned up and find some clothes inside. I can show you?" The girl suggested, pointing toward the pack house.

"Thank you, I think I will" Jennifer said, getting to her feet and wrapping the blanket around herself. She extended her hand to Lennox, who she then helped to his feet. Jackson looked at them and nodded for them to go inside, and he stayed outside to continue his conversation with the large gathering of wolves who had all come closer during the last few minutes.

"Please, we don't want another dictator" the conversation continued outside.

"We need a strong leader!" came from someone else.

"Would we be allowed to join another pack?" yet another voice chipped in.

Jackson has his hands full trying to hear what everyone had to say and listen to their complaints. He hadn't expected to find this level of disarray within the pack. William was spoken highly of by the Council, and everyone for miles had felt he was an appropriate choice to get this pack organized after Luther had been killed, but obviously William only brought in more problems and fixed nothing.

Inside, Jennifer was getting cleaned up, and the little girl who had brought her in was washing the wounds and had found some clothes that would fit. Lennox was in the adjoining room, giving Jennifer privacy as she dressed, but not willing to be very far away from her.

"You were amazing" the young girl said to Jennifer with awe in her eyes.

"Thank you" Jennifer said. "But it's never fun to take a life" she added sadly.

"He deserved it for sure!" the girl responded emphatically.

"Yes, I think he really did" Jennifer responded softly. "More so than most."
"But you showed him!" The said excitedly. "I've never seen a she-wolf fight so well before, and you're so strong! It was amazing!" she continued to gush.

"I actually had help" Jennifer said, a twinkle in her eye.

"You did? From who? You looked like you handled him all by yourself!"

"Well," Jennifer said with a smile, "That man in the other room, he helped me."

"How?" The girl asked, seeming confused. "I mean, right there at the end, he helped a little" she conceded, "but you were the one fighting the whole time."

"Yes" Jennifer confirmed, "but do you want to know a secret?"

The girl nodded her head eagerly.

"He's my mate, and he helped me in my mind, to fight that other wolf."

The girl's eyes grew to the size of saucers, and she covered her mouth when she gasped. And then she leaned in very close to Jennifer and whispered softly, "but he's human!"

"I know, crazy, huh?" Jennifer said with a smile.

The girl shook her head, "I don't know, she said, that seems pretty unlikely."

"Yes" Jennifer said, and she leaned back and closed her eyes with a smile, and she could feel his smile as well, pushing through to her.