Heart of Lamar

Chapter 2

William walked down the street, fingers fiddling with his gun-belt as he contemplated. He was surrounded by his most trusted pack members, namely his beta and the several warriors who had proven themselves competent and useful. They had just returned from a trip down the valley to visit a carriage way-station, the perfect area to gather the latest news and gossip. He anticipated learning about the other local packs that called the Yellowstone Basin their home. Unfortunately the carriage drivers available were tight lipped, unwilling to sell out their respective packs successes or failures.

The only thing they offered was information on a sighting that had occurred roughly a week prior of a strange he-wolf that didn’t belong to the valley. They claimed he was surely from the far north, hailing from a pack of dire wolves by judgment of his size alone. It was troubling news, as far as wolves went dire wolves were larger, meaner, and more competitive when it came down to resources and territory. If there was a pack moving into the valley it could really muddy the waters and cause strife amongst the locals.

“What do you think Leonard?” He paused, turning to observe his beta who had just lit his pipe. The man was around William’s height with dirty copper colored hair shaved close to his head and a thick burly beard covering the rest of his face. He had piercing green eyes and was built like a bear, his buttoned up plaid shirt barely surviving the strain of his flexing muscles. He puffed, a thick cloud of gray smoke ascending quickly.

“I figure it ain’t nothing but a rogue passin’ through. We’d a heard somethin’ if a pack was movin in.” Leonard spoke with a relatively thick accent. He puffed on his pipe with a bored expression, hardly concerned with the sighting. William had to chuckle, if Leonard wasn’t worried he’d let it go too.

“Well, rather than weigh on what may very well be a non-issue, how’s about we get some grub? I’ve been starving since Adder Creek.” Adder Creek was a common meeting place for the local shifters, it originated from the surrounding mountains from what William had been told was a hydrothermal spring, though he wasn’t entirely sure what that meant other than the water was warmer as one headed up the mountain. The creek flowed down into the valley before meeting up with the Yellowstone River, though it was many miles before the creek ever met the river.

“I can hear that damn piano goin’, must be a heck of a night if ol’ Tom’s letting Jossiah play the blasted thing again.” Leonard grumbled under his breath as they advanced on the tavern. William chuckled, Tom hated the boisterous noise of the piano, he claimed it caused such a racket that no one would want to patronize his establishment. But from what he could see, old Tom wasn’t hurting for business in the slightest.

Stepping inside, William was immediately overwhelmed with the loud bustle of customers enjoying a quiet evening with good drinks and better food. The sound of conversation, busy cutlery, clinking glasses, and boots on the floor was enough to send him into overdrive trying to weed through it all. But much to his surprise, through the heavy scent of earth, metal, and sweat, there was a softer, more elusive scent. It reminded him of a damp forest, with rain moving through but the sun was still shining. Closing his eyes he drank that scent in deeper, carnal instincts flooding forward as his mouth began to water with desire. The scent was unfamiliar, wild, inviting, carnal…

“Alpha, there’s a strange woman in here tonight.” One of his warriors piped up, pointing out a dark haired woman sitting at the bar scarfing down a plate of food like she was on the brink of starvation. He was immediately star struck by her, and by the way Tom was watching her he knew he wasn’t alone. Suddenly, without warning, he felt a feral growl slip out from his lips. Tom’s head shot up and he quickly made himself scarce, though apparently the woman hadn’t noticed at all. She was still eating as if there would be no food tomorrow.

“What’s the play, boss?” Leanord asked from his right. His men would expect him to order her dragged off for interrogation, but somehow he couldn’t picture doing that to her. Frankly he didn’t get a single feeling that she was a threat, instead he had a keen sense that she was weary. If it was a fight she was after she’d have come in guns pulled and teeth bared, but that wasn’t the case.

“Give me some space, I’ll handle this.” He wanted badly to sidle up next to her, introduce himself, and wait for her to turn so he could see her eyes. From behind all he could see was her raven black hair braided down her back, her leather vest and pants, and her black button up shirt that was turning red from the clay. Her face was angled softly, her skin was sunkissed and looked surprisingly soft despite the harsh environments he was sure she’d endured. As he moved forward he wondered what her voice sounded like. Would she speak softly? Or would she be loud and confident?

“You need a second plate?” Those were the first words he spoke as he took the bar stool next to her. She had been staring forlornly at her empty plate, not a single morsel of food was left. In fact, he was pretty sure she’d licked it clean. Just as he was about to crack a joke she turned, and a set of piercing glacial green-blue eyes met his gaze. He was frozen in shock, never before had he seen such a color. It was as if the deep blue ice of the mountain glaciers had met the rich green thermal pools of the plains blending perfectly into the most striking pair of eyes he’d ever had the pleasure of gazing into. He was so captivated he didn’t even take the time to observe the rest of her features, not even as she opened her mouth to reply.

“You offerin?” Her response sounded like a challenge, her voice was foreign in its accent, and despite her tone being soft he could distinctly feel an iron backbone beneath that deceiving exterior. She was a woman who, if challenged, wouldn’t back down. Deep inside he felt an excitement he’d never felt before, and with his close proximity and her intoxicating scent that excitement was only growing more ravenous.

“Hell, if I get you one I should make it two right?” He waved a hand and Tony immediately disappeared to the kitchen. A coy smile curled at her lips and suddenly he was captivated in an entirely new way. Her lips were sumptuous and red, slightly dark possibly due to sunburn. Her cheeks were high, and her nose straight and proud. She was clearly from Native blood, but she didn’t look like any he had seen before.

“Are you trying to go after my heart, dear Alpha?” Her tone went from soft and inquisitive to playful in an instant and he immediately felt the room in his trousers rapidly shrinking. He wanted her to call him ‘dear’ a dozen more times, and then scream out his name afterwards. Quickly he shook those thoughts free from his head, he’d never been so smitten with a woman before in his life. It was an unfamiliar, almost startling realization.

“Well, you know what they say.” He managed to choke out, praying desperately to the goddess that she hadn’t seen his blush. She laughed, a shrill innocent sound that reminded him of the bells that carriage drivers fastened on their sleighs in the winter. It was a comforting sound, and with it he felt his heart fluttering.

“It’s fortunate that your chef is such a master at his job. I’d eat a thousand more of his dishes, and pay for every single bite with gold if I could.” William couldn’t help but chuckle at her response, Tom was a man of many skills and he’d be tickled to hear he had another avid fan of his cooking. The man approached shortly after with two heaping plates and a questioning expression as he looked to William. William offered him only a shrug and a smile, ‘keep your mouth shut’ was clearly displayed in his body language. The plates were placed, and then Tom pulled an unopened bottle of whiskey.

“Need a top up miss?” He held it forward and the woman snatched it eagerly before digging through her pouch. Tom shook his head, denying her efforts to pay him. He offered a few excuses, each one of them frustrating the woman.

“A man such as yourself surely can’t go feeding and slaking folks thirsts with no payment.” She bit out through her teeth, her frustration oozing off of her tangibly. William couldn’t help but feel even more delighted, everything she did was a rush of new emotions for him. Tom smiled broadly once he realized that his Alpha was utterly enraptured.

“Darling, it ain’t no skin off my hide. For a pretty passer-through, I’ll be happy to give you some grub that stick’s to yer ribs a bit and some drink to wash away the wears of your travels.” The woman offered him a smile and a nod of acceptance. William glared at Tom, and silently warned him to bugger off or else. The old man needed no further warnings, he tipped his head to his alpha with a coy smile before departing to tend to his many other customers.

“You’ve got fine folks in this town, Alpha.” The woman’s eyes slid over to meet his gaze and he once again felt that electric zing that had struck him before. He didn’t know what to do or say, but he couldn’t just sit with his mouth hanging open either.

“I do try to keep the good ones around.” He was being completely serious when he said it, but for some reason the woman found his response hilarious. She burst into laughter again, and he felt his cheeks warm. She wiped a tear from her face before grabbing a fork and digging in once more. He was impressed with her ability to pack away food. How had one wayward creature so quickly captured the strings to his heart? He was bewitched, confused, and excited. All emotions he wasn’t particularly familiar or fond with.

“So tell me, what’s your name?” He finally managed to ask after quite some time had passed, enough for her first plate to empty. She paused before digging into her new plate just long enough to respond.

“Kora.” That was all she offered before stuffing her face once more. He mulled the name over in his head a few times. Kora. It was perfect. She was perfect. What else could he ask her?

“Where are you from Kora?” He had given it some thought, but he couldn’t come to a clear conclusion. She was a shifter, but from where he wasn’t sure. North seemed most likely, the spring had settled in nicely over the last few weeks but she wasn’t dark as if she’d seen much of the sun over long days. That gave him the impression that she’d been riding along mountain trails more than in the plains. Luckily she’d prove him relatively correct.

“I’m from the north, I believe they call it Canada now. Though as for what they call the land where I hail from specifically, I cannot say for I do not know. We called it Valley of Eternal Winter, or rather, my pack did.” He was surprised to get such a succinct answer from her, he was expecting to get the runaround. Perhaps the many glasses of whiskey she’d imbibed was working to loosen her lips and lower her guard. So he thought he’d keep up his gambit and learn all he could about her.

“So did you never experience a spring up there?” He was genuinely curious despite the fact that the question didn’t necessarily define her at all. She smiled softly, her eyes grew cloudy and distant as she thought of past memories.

“Spring was a rare visitor, and so too was summer. The land is almost always covered in ice, but still the green grass and wildflowers found a way to persevere and persist. Despite the frigid unyielding ice, there was a form of spring. Not like here, where the world becomes so vibrant and alive, but it isn’t entirely dissimilar either.” He was fascinated, how could a land be both frozen and yield to the delicate life of spring? How fascinating that it was that very land that had given rise to the vexing creature before him. He wondered what such a world looked like, would it still be gripped in heavy snow and ice?

“What about you, dear Alpha, were you born here? These valleys are unlike any I’ve ever seen, where the water pours from the earth scorching hot and the wind carries a distant smell of sulfur. It is as if the very earth itself is boiling sometimes, and I find it fascinating.” Kora’s words slurred slightly as she finished the last of her meal and drink. Her eyes grew heavier, though she wasn’t entirely sheets to the wind just yet by William’s judgment.

“No, I was born farther south and towards the east. Where I was born had a lake so large the other shore couldn’t be seen and the storms that came through could tear the trees from the earth as if they were naught but twigs.” He didn’t recall those memories fondly, the screams of his parents and packmates, the sound of the wind deafening him as it pressed them to the ground or tore them from it. In comparison the Yellowstone Valley was far more amicable and peaceful, save for the occasional bandit or Native raids that rolled through. Though in recent months the Natives had calmed down, and they had agreed to more peaceful trade options and treaties. The bandits however were not as willing to negotiate.

“Hmm. That sounds awful.” Kora said, but he could see the sly smile spreading across her face. He smiled in return and waved Tom over,

“Pour us a few drinks would you?” He asked softly, sliding the old man a few gold coins in exchange for his discretion. Tom obliged, bringing forward a bottle of champagne and a bottle of rum. Kora eyed the goods with interest and William found himself wondering if she’d ever had either drink before. He poured the champagne into her empty glass first, the pale blond color quite contrasting to the deep amber of whiskey.

“This is a fruitier drink, the wealthy folks from the east like it quite a lot. We ship it in occasionally to cater to those people’s tastes.” Kora looked up at him from the glass as he held it forward, her eyes glittering with a mixture of mischief and curiosity.

“Do you think I’m quite wealthy?” Her voice was husky, laced with barely bridled lust. He chuckled and shook his head.

“No, but I figure when you’re in town, why not explore a little right?” She grabbed the glass from his hands with a nod of thanks before taking a sip. At first her nose scrunched and her eyebrows fell in a look of disgust. But then she sipped it again, then a third time. Eventually her looks of disgust turned to an expression of mild delight and he knew she was hooked.

The night carried on in that manner, they questioned each other lightly though never enough to discern any real characteristics about each other. The conversation flowed well, and William found himself completely enamored with her. Along with the flow of conversation came the flow of drinks, later on he would thumb Tom for intentionally getting them drunk, though he couldn’t be held as completely innocent either. The old man never let the well run dry, even after William had taken a full leave of his senses. It was because of that, he was sure, that he asked the woman if she’d tolerate him following her to bed. And he was quite sure too that it was the only reason she had obliged.

In the end, whether Tom had drunked them up or not was irrelevant. They both shared an almost carnal attraction, and they both eagerly committed to frolicking in bed. He followed her out the doors and into the dark, chasing that elusive wintery scent as if his life depended on it. Every time her hazy green-blue eyes met him his heart would race and his skin would heat. He didn’t even care that she was leading him to Mary’s Inn, the old she-wolf would probably get a kick out of seeing him besotted with a woman. Though, to be fair, he really couldn’t bring himself to care about anything but what was coming.