Every Were Gets A Mate

Chapter 11

What we were up against was very complicated. I wasn't sure where to start. I wasn't sure what Cade might know already. "Have you ever heard of Fury Pack?"

It took just a second before a spark of recognition lit Cade's eyes. "Yeah. The Council has sanctioned them for turning large numbers of humans. I've heard some of my pack mates saying we should go do something about it, but we don't go where we aren't requested. Besides, they're somewhere in the East."

"Virginia, near Shenandoah National Park."

"Why? Are they the ones after you?" Determination filled his eyes as I imagined it did whenever he scented an enemy.

"Yes." I took a breath as I reviewed what I wanted to say next.

"Why? Why would you have had any interaction with them at all?"

"They were my pack."

Shock and horror caused Cade's face to pale. "Did they change you?" His grip on my body tightened to an almost painful degree. "They could have killed you!" A partial shift expanded and tilted his nostrils and ears.

I got distracted by overwhelming attraction, desire to know what he looked like fully shifted, and sexual need. My recognition of his panic was delayed; it had escalated quickly. "No, I was born a were." I kept my words slow and calm. "Cade, your emotions are going crazy now too. I'm okay. I'm here, safe in your arms right now."

His breathing slowed, and he kissed me. One second our mouths were at least six inches apart; the next his mouth was pressed to mine. His lips didn't move. It felt more like he was making sure I really was there. Several seconds passed before he moved his mouth and nose over my cheek to my neck and spoke softly. "Sorry."

I smiled. "Don't be." I felt better knowing I wasn't the only one who hadn't been strong enough to avoid the panic.

He nuzzled into my hair and neck for a minute and pulled away to look at me cautiously. "Fury isn't the pack you want us to go live with, is it?"

A laugh escaped me at the absurdity. "No! Absolutely not."

He gave me a fleeting smile. "I'm sorry. It seems I'm okay with danger to you in the present and future because I believe we can protect you, but not in the past where I wasn't with you."

"It's okay."

A self-deprecating smirk came to his face. "It's absurd since you're here and healthy now."

I smiled. "But I understand it. And now you know, and that helps. I know."

We stood there smiling at each other. He snapped out of it first. "You were going to tell me your story."

"I'm not sure where to start."

"The beginning." He grinned.

I smiled but shook my head. "To understand everything, I'd have to start before the English came."

"That's okay. I want to know everything about you and your history, and we have time." Without letting go of me, he brought us back to the bed and sat us down, me on his lap. It felt nice and right.

"All right." At least I knew I could get through this part quickly. My father retold it hundreds of times while I was growing up. "Before the English came, we were called Mountain Clouds Pack because of the way the mist hung in the valleys like clouds come down to earth within our territory. We lived in peace with many other small packs in the area and with the human tribes farther away.

"When the English came, they fought with the tribes off and on, but not enough for us to get involved. Eventually they pushed the tribes back away from the coast. It was clear the tribes were losing. Humans were coming too close to pack lands for our liking. The pack alphas gathered and decided to fight alongside the tribes. The tribes painted and decorated themselves with sticks, bones, fur, and grass so our warriors could fight shifted and not be noticed.