Through Thick and Thin

Chapter One: The Pack Emerges

Why can't he just realize i'm his mate, and make this easier on us both...

Nikki sat beneath the mossy rock in the pack clearing, her fur slicked back with dew. She and Caleb had just gotten back from hunting with the pack, and they were now waiting for the others to return. She looked to her right and saw Caleb was bored as well, but he had a anxious look on his face that she didn't have on hers.

Nikki let out a sigh.

He was probably waiting for his mate, Tabitha, to return. If only that could be Ryan, waiting for her. She had realized two months ago he was her mate, but he had yet to find it out. She had told no one, as far as the rest of the pack knew, she was still in 'search' of her mate. As far as she knew, no one else even suspected she knew who her mate was. There were well over 50 members in her pack, but she only knew a handful of them from school.

For starters, there was Caleb. She had known him since she was little, they were just never close. She often felt jealous of him nowadays, because he and Tabitha were so happy together. She and Tabitha were good friends one year, but the following school year drew them apart, and Tabitha showed no signs of wanting to re-kindle their old friendship.

Then there was Dallas, the one person she felt like she could trust besides her father. She and Dallas had met at a school carnival one year, and they instantly became great friends. Their mother's were good friends also, so they automatically approved.

Finally, Ryan. The sole purpose of her life, ever since she had found out about their 'bond'. He was handsome, athletic, and smart. Three things she adored about him, and noted to herself every time she saw him. She had never been in a serious relationship before, so this feeling was new to her. He made her heart beat faster, and her ability to think or speak slower. Time seemed to stop when she was near him, it was only them and nothing else mattered....

"NIKKI? Nikki. Snap out of it!" Nikki opened her eyes, breaking free from her daydream. "Jeez, Tabitha, sorry. I'm tired, and sometimes I start to doze off.." Tabitha's fur was slightly bristled, and a snarl was barley forming at the edges of her mouth. "Well, Nikki, then I guess you wouldn't care about the attack we're planning on the wolf pack over in Olympia.." Tabitha leaped down into the clearing. "I'll let the others know you don't wanna come." She started to stalk away, when Nikki took an enourmous leap and landed beside Tabitha. "Who said I wasn't coming?" Nikki didn't know what was wrong with Tabitha today, but she never acted this rude. Maybe the attack had her nervous..

Tabitha nudged Nikki's flank, and looked down the trail. "Ready to go then? We're having a meeting to discuss the plan right now." Nikki nodded, and the two wolves began to run down the slope, silently, and quickly. As they neared the meeting meadow, they slowed their pace to a steady trot, as to not set off any alarm in the pack. Nikki felt her fur prickle with anxiety, this would be her first battle she could actively participate in. She rounded the corner to enter the meadow, and ran straight into Ryan.