Mate

Chapter Four: PART TWO

       

       

((Jake's POV))

          This place sickened me, it had been two days since the raid and the air was tainted with the sweet smell of rot and dried blood. Alpha Delvon had been in no position to deal with the clean-up of the raid whilst his newly found mate was in critical condition. As Beta of the pack I was in temporary command of the situation. Taking prisoners, overseeing the transport of freed wolves to our pack's medical wards, and burning the dead.

Barking orders at a group of Runner Thetas to come help me I stomped over to a dead hulk of a wolf sticking out of a wall. The carcass was in mid shift making him larger than normal and his crushed scull was jammed so hard into the wall that his feet hung a full three inches off the ground. You had to hand it to some of our Warrior Theta's, they could dish out some major punishment. A bubble of pride swelled in my chest as I grabbed one of the dead wolf's legs and heaved with the Runners. With a sickening squelching sound, the dead wolf was pulled free. I watched the Runners drag it over the growing pyre.

As I turned to look at another group of our wolves a glint of something in the exposed wall caught my eye. Leaning closer I squinted at the gore filled hole. I swore profusely.

"All wolves to the cars now! Leave the dead! Grab the last of the wounded and haul ass! NOW!" I barked through the pack link. Heads snapped up and movement exploded as the pack followed my orders without question. "Ray, Steve, and James get over to me now." three tall gangly men came loping over, all of them had the same dark brown hair and green eyes. The brothers where the fastest Runners in the pack.

"Yes Beta?" James asked, his green eyes flashing with apprehension at my urgent tone.

"The walls are laced with silver wires." All three wolves' eyes widened at the statement. "Ray and James I need you both to run to the Elder's Council house and inform them of this. Steve you'll be running farther, I need you to go to a place about three days from here. A small pack that roams the Grey Mountains. Find them and wait for mine or Alpha Delvon's call. Go."

Three dappled brown timber wolves raced away at top speed, two veering north while one kept west. Turning away I sprinted to the cars. One of the Warrior Theta's informed me that my orders had been carried out and everyone still alive was in the cars.

           "Let's go! MOVE OUT!" I got into the driver's seat of the front car and pulled out of the drive. In the rear view mirror, a column of smoke still rose from the burning pyre, casting an ominous shadow over the ruined manor house. The drive home was silent as the cars turned down the final road leading to the wrought iron gates that guarded the entrance to the pack's lands. After punching in the six-digit code to open the massive gates the long line of cars trundled up the road.

Parking in the large separate garage that sat like a squat toad on the edge of the little town I turned over the unloading of prisoners and wounded to the Head Warrior Theta. Tom was a capable wolf and took his job very seriously. I had to go find Delvon.

((Delvon's POV))

I hovered over Doc Terence's shoulder as he did a final checkup on my mate. Taking her vitals and removing the IV drip from her foreleg. My poor mate didn't even flinch as the needle was removed from her though she did sniff at the band-aid Doc put on the puncture. Her clear blue eyes, like chips of autumn sky, watched Doc as he did his thing, with a hint of curiosity.

"Well, all the aftereffects of the overdose are gone." Doc Terence said in a weary voice. I knew he had been up for the past few days. Doc was overworked after the raid; tending to all the injured pack mates and doing simple check-ups on the rescued wolves. Most of the rescued wolves needed IV drips and some R&R but a few where in need of social rehabilitation before they could join any pack. His mate Julie was his assistant but there was only so much she could help with when she was five months pregnant with their second pup.

Speaking of mates, mine kept glancing at me like she was afraid every time she looked away that I would disappear into thin air. I placed my hand on her soft ruff giving her a comforting squeeze.

"Can I take her home now Doc? Or does she need to stay another night?" I asked with some trepidation. Doc Terence just shook his head.

"She's well into the clear, just make sure to keep her hydrated and warm and she'll be fine to take home." Doc handed me a small bottle of pills. "Give her one of these at dinnertime for the next few days. They will help her body get back into a normal rhythm." Doc smiled kindly at my mate. Taking the bottle, I tucked it into my pocket and clapped the Doc on the back. 

With a soft huff my mate hopped off the bed with delicate grace. Her inky claws clicked on the lament floor and her plush pelt rippled as she stretched out her muscles. My eyes raked over her beauty, even the pink patch of skin o her foreleg Doc had shaved for the IV drip did little to mar her. Her whiteness was seamless in its uniformity save for her claws and nose which were black as night. A true White Wolf.

Of all the wolves that prowl the lands none are rarer than a white wolf. Their origins are said to be from the union of flesh and moonlight itself at the dawn of time. In all of recorded history only a few dozen have ever been confirmed. It is said there is a pack of them hidden away in the far northern lands. From that pack all White Wolves come from but no one has ever heard more than rumors of whispers of its existence.

I quickly shed my clothes and shifted into my wolf to join my mate, I could tell from our bond that she much preferred her wolf form. Her eyes raked my form from nose to tail with much appreciation. My chest swelled and my tail wagged with enough force to make a slight whistling sound through the air. Doc laughed and opened the door for us. Looking at my mate I bounded out the door with her at my side.  

Down the hall of the medical ward we went, in the lobby of the whitewashed building a General Theta she-wolf rushed to open the double doors for us. The bright sunlight washed the threshold with brilliant gold. My mate slowed as we approached and I looked back with a little confusion.

"what's wrong?" I whined softly. I pressed my nose into her shoulder in a show of comfort. Her blue eyes where wide as she placed one paw into the smooth cobblestones that made the pathways. Lush strands of grass swayed in the wind and the apple trees that lined the track to the medical ward lent the air a sweet crisp smell.

"I... I don't remember much from... before. But I remember the forest." My mates head drooped down her eyes swirling with many emotions. I pressed my pelt against hers and we stood there, side by side. The wind ruffled our fur and the sunlight warmed us. A few clouds chased each other across the sky. The medical ward was set a little way away from the main village but the sounds of everyday life could still be heard.

Wagging my tail, I hopped forward and spun around arching into a play bow. My mate's ears perked and she took a step forward. I turned and raced off away from the path towards the deeper woods. She followed, her paws making hardly a sound as we raced. The trees flashed past and dapples of sunlight illuminated fallen trunks and spurs of stone. Ferns waved in our passing breeze.

The woods here were made mostly of birch and black pines. The pale green leaves of the birch made the solitary pines stand out like drops of ink. Moss covered the forest floor amid the fallen leaves of seasons past. Bursting forth into a large meadow filled with tall grass and wild flowers we tussled about in playful fun.

Panting we finally flopped into the ground as the midday sun beat down upon us. Turning my head to her I pressed my nose to her muzzle. She leaned into me and licked my cheek. So many emotions rose through me, love being foremost. Getting to my paws I faced her, my head and tail held high and proud.

"I am Delvon, Alpha of the great Dawn-Star Pack. I accept you as my Mate and Luna."

My mate stood up her head bowed in acceptance and placed her muzzle under mine. "Delvon mine, I am... Lana. I accept you as my Mate and Alpha."

We stood there for a moment before I buried my face into her fur, happy. Lana hummed deep in her chest as she groomed my fur. The afternoon light felt good and the wind brought with it many wonderful scents. The tall grass around us sung its ancient whispering song. Everything was perfect.