Werewolf Pride

Werewolf Pride2

The instant the sun rose fully above the horizon, I felt an ancient primal urge rise and fill my body. Everything seemed stronger, sharper, and more definite. Ethan's scent grew ten times stronger, and I felt a strange urge to run away from him and persuade him to chase me. He took a deep breathe through his nose and turned to face me.

You've entered your heat. Every unmated male within our Gather will converge on you and the three other females. The two Alphas who are in wolf form are both male, and both unmated. If you show the males who come around that you are willing to fight, most of them will leave you alone. One or two of them might persist and make you fight. If you want to choose a mate, either temporary or permanent, you actually have to mate. From what I've seen of your personality, you might want to find a place that will protect your back and sides.

I whirled and ran through the woods, following an instinct. I heard Ethan running behind me, and sensed several other males joining the chase. I ran toward a stream and leaped, trying to lose some of my pursuers. It didn't work. I found a small cave, big enough to shield most of my body, leaving my head and shoulders free to attack. Ethan arrived and sat down ten feet away, watching. By this time, six other males had entered the clearing. I felt the dominance of two of them, but they walked to the edge of the trees and waited. A young, gangling male walked up to me, prancing around and showing off. I growled at him and lunged, biting his shoulder. He fell back, yelping. He ran from the clearing, taking most of the other wolves with him. There were three males left- Ethan and the two dominant males. Ethan sat quietly, waiting for the battle to start. The smaller of the two other, a gray, black, white and brown mottled wolf, walked up to me. As he grew closer, I noticed the patchwork of scars covering his body. He raised his tail, trying to dominate me. I raised my tail and snarled. He growled back and threw his body at my scruff, intending to flip me over and dominate me. I evaded the lunge and sunk my fangs into his side, missing the vital organs, although not for lack of trying. He coiled his body and sprang at me again. I dropped and rolled over, grabbing his right foreleg and jerked it backwards, toward his tail. I heard a sickening pop and the leg hung, useless. He limped back and jumped toward me again, and I decided to quit playing games. I grabbed him by the neck, in the same location that I bit the elk. I yanked his head backwards and kept pulling. I felt his neck give while the snap of a breaking bone filled the air. He slumped, lifeless. I jumped off of him and his body fell to the ground as his lifeblood leaked out his mouth and nose. I looked at the other male and asked, Do you want to try anything?

No, young one. I have nothing against you. You have earned the right to live in peace, although being the new Leader of a Pack is anything but peaceful. I hope that a long life filled with happiness lies before you.

He turned and faded into the forest. I looked at Ethan. What did he mean about me being the new Leader of a pack?

When you killed that wolf, you proved your dominance and your worthiness as an Alpha. When he died, you became the Leader of his Pack. As such, you are a very powerful wolf. I feel sorry for you, though. Your pack is small, and they recently went through a battle. They sustained many losses. Your work is cut out for you. You must keep your pack afloat. Do you still wish for company, or do you want to go your own way?

Companionship would be pleasant, although if you need to do something you are free to go. He smirked at me and we walked off, leaving the dead wolf in the middle of the clearing.

Ethan's POV

As we walked away, I looked back. The death of an Alpha is a terrible shock for any wolf, but that Alpha wouldn't be missed very much. He had led him pack in many fights, including an attempt at an inter-Gather war. Bringing the remnants of the pack together and keeping the pack alive was a task that no youngling should have to undertake. Jaeda was tough, but a young werewolf, especially a young female werewolf was not an ideal candidate for leadership.

We found a small hollow deep in the woods and curled up to sleep. By that time, my body was used to the intensity of her scent, and my instincts no longer screamed for me to take her as my mate. She was asleep very quickly, and unconsciously she snuggled closer to me. Her mind and will might not want a mate, but her hormones and body wanted to touch a male. She wasn't ready to mate, but my instincts were pleading with me, begging me to show her that I was the best choice as a mate and a life partner. I licked her neck fur, smoothing down a patch that was mussed because of her fight. I sighed, laid my head down, and went to sleep.

In the morning, I woke up and Jaeda was gone. I felt panic for a few seconds, until I picked up her scent. She had wandered toward a stream, evidently needing a drink of water. I followed her trail and found her basking in the sun, her eyes closed and her head relaxed. I padded up to her and her eyes opened lazily. She smiled a gentle, calm smile. What do you need?

I woke up and you were gone. I was worried about you.

You didn't need to worry. I woke up thirsty and decided to get a drink. The lure of the sun was too strong and I went back to sleep.

I laid my body down beside her and yawned. I was still tired. We slept peacefully for a few more hours, then she jumped up. I'm hungry.

So am I. Do you want me to go get something, or do you want to hunt together? Inside, I was hoping that she'd ask me to hunt for her, ask me to provide for her. Getting food for someone else is one of the first stages of courtship for us.

Jaeda's POV

Even though I was perfectly capable of hunting for myself, for some reason I wanted him to hunt for me. I felt like it was his job to hunt, so I sent him a thought. Why don't you hunt? I'm still tired. He bounded off into the trees and I went back to sleep.

I woke up ten minutes later to a gentle nose nuzzling me on my cheek. I looked up and saw Ethan, panting proudly and standing beside two carcasses- one of a small doe and the other of a large moose. I stood quietly while I took a large bite of the meat and said, Thank you. You can eat, if you're hungry. He walked over to the doe- I had chosen the moose- and started eating. When I had eaten my fill, I walked back to the stream and drank for several minutes. He joined me at the stream and, when he finished drinking, I said, I bet that you can't catch me! I took off running, laughing over my shoulder at his startled face.

Ethan's POV

When Jaeda ran from me, it proved that her heat was getting stronger and her instinctive drive to find a strong mate was setting in. A female wants a strong male, one who can provide for her and her pups, and one who can protect her when she's large and awkward. I ran after her, lulling her into a sense of false security by never quite catching up, until she started slowing down and looking at me. Her body language was asking, Are you so weak that you can't even keep up? I lunged at her and rolled her into the leaves. She opened her mouth in a wide wolf laugh, then pushed at my chest with her nose, trying to make me get up. I smirked at her.

Well, I caught you. What prize do I win?

The satisfaction of knowing that you caught me. Please let me up. I climbed off of her and she clambered stiffly to her feet. She raised her nose and said, There are humans coming. They smell...wild is the best word that I can come up with.

They are the members of your pack, coming to meet their new Alpha. It would be best for you to meet them alone, although you don't have to do it.