For The Love of An Alpha

The Hunt

Jay moved silently in the still of the early morning. The sun had yet to make it's appearance and the cool dew still lingered about the ground. Asia walked with her, their motions intentional as Jay pulled her robe about her frame. The hood of the robe giving the appearance of debauchery. They came to a stop about twenty feet from the large clearing behind the pack house. The lights were dark and the pack members still slept. 

"Why are we here so early?" Jay whispered, as she followed the woman through the cool forest.

"You'll see." Asia smiled, the last hints of moonlight still reflected in her eyes. 

There in a very small clearing stood Mama Jones and her grandmother, Ezara. They were seated on a fallen tree stump, in a whispered conversation.

"There she is." Elder Ezara whispered, a smile shown brightly on her face. She rose from her seat as they approached, taking the time to embrace her granddaughter.

"I know it's early." Mama Jones began, "I wanted to give you a chance to get ready without the sound of the men making a hassle." She smiled sweetly.

"Thank you, but I still don't see the big deal in this." Jay whispered, pulling the hood from her head.

"Oh dear," Elder Ezara smiled, "this is Henri's chance to show how he can provide for you." She patted the space beside her on the log.

Jay took the seat, closing the front of her robe about her legs. 

"Henri's wolf has to show your wolf that he can provide for you. He will hunt for you, literally and figuratively." She smiled wistfully at her granddaughter. "You see, when he comes out of that house," she pointed in the direction of the pack house, "you will be long gone. You and Asia will stir up the wildlife and set the pace for the hunt. The greater the bounty, the greater the blessing. While the pack hunts, Henri will search for you." She winked at Jay, as she watched her face absorb the information.

"That's when you two will hunt together. Your first act in unity." Asia smiled wide. "It's a beautiful thing. Watching your mate take down their prey for you." Asia shivered at her thoughts, sending them all into a soft giggle.

"You're not allowed to shift, dear." Elder Ezara's hand rested on Jay's. "You must remain wolf the entire time."

"What if I have to?" Jay looked to them.

"There are allowances, but the rules are so that the two of you aren't off doing something that should wait for this evening." Mama Jones chimed in, making Jay's cheeks blush slightly.

"When do we start?" Jay asked, part of her itching to run.

"I think we can give these girls a good head start, don't you?" Ezara smiled to Mama Jones, the two of them quickly became friends.

"I think I just saw a flip on at the house." Asia spoke up.

"Well, you two better hurry." Mama Jones said, holding her hand out for their robes.

Both woman removed their shoes and robes, leaving them naked in the cool morning air. The last of the stars fought to remain as the hints of light could be seen in the distance. Jay relaxed her body and shifted slowly, allowing herself to take pleasure in the change from woman to wolf. She looked over to Asia, her dark gray wolf stood before her. The hints of brown under the coat gave her a look of pure satin or silk. Her wolf was gorgeous, with almond eyes that took your breath away. Jay was stunned for a moment in her beauty. 

Jay bowed her head toward the two older women, and then loped away. Splitting off from Asia to sneak a peak at the house. She'd been away for the night, staying at the cabin with her grandmother. The light to their room flickered on and Jay saw him briefly. Henri's outline stood in the window looking at the assembling of the packs in the space between them. She didn't know if he saw her, but it didn't matter. She knew what hunted her now, and she was ready for him.

With a great leap she took off into the forest, taking time to roll in maple leaves and dirt along the way, masking her scent. The hunt was on, and she was ready.

The morning dawned in a brilliant display. Hints of pinks and orange coming over the horizon in the distance. The sky looked ablaze with life and promise. Henri looked out the window of his bedroom, watching his best friends gather in the field behind the pack house. In the distance he could see Mama Jones and Elder Ezara returning from the woods. He smiled to himself, They must have been getting Jhera settled. Henri felt the grumble rise in his chest, how anxious his wolf was to be near their mate once more.

He slid his simple sneakers on over naked feet, the thought of how little he'd seen of his mate the last few days making the hunger for her that much more. It didn't take any prodding for him to rush from the room and down the stairs.

He walked out of the back door to a sea of cheering and whistles. Sebastian and Eli coming along side their Alpha quickly.

"Last run as a single man!" Eli taunted him.

"Don't drop the ball on this one." Sebastian teased him, nudging him in the side.

Henri smiled and laughed along with them. He expected this to happen, he didn't expect to see the Lunar Blood pack joining in.

"Alright boys!" Mama Jones had come over to them, breaking up their rivalry. "You know the rules of the hunt."

They all nodded to her, hoping she would skip explaining them and failing.

"No shifting! Bring back enough for your pack to feast." Her eyes turned to Henri, "There is a twist, gentleman. The girls are on the hunt as well, and..." she paused looking to the men with a large smile. "You'll have to find your mate, Alpha, cause the girls left an hour ago." Her laughter rumbled through the clearing loud enough to be heard over the sound of shifting.

Henri didn't bother to disrobe, he shifted as he had watched Jay do so many times. He'd been working so hard on shifting faster and this was just the incentive he needed. His clothes broke away from his body and his four paws had touched the ground and got traction before the others had finished shifting. Kicking up clumps of grass behind him, he tore out of the field they had gathered in, leaving the sound of laughter behind him. He was on the hunt for his mate. Jay was out there, and he would find her. 

He took off through the trees with lightening speed, his senses on high alert as he searched for her scent. Eli and Sebastian had caught up to him as he paused in a clearing, it only took a moment's time before he found it. That all too familiar scent of bitter carnations and cinnamon. He howled with delight and took off after her. He was spurred on more then ever before, he didn't just want her, he hungered for her. His wolf was alive with euphoric anticipation in chasing the one they both delighted in.

Jay and Asia heard the howl in the distance and turned to each other. They both had been hard at work, stirring up the wildlife in the area. Her grandmother's explanation was clear, drive the hunt. She was to go out and awaken the wildlife and draw the large game toward the hunting zone. Asia and her had already sent several large buck back toward the house. Jay lifted her nose as she watched a boar they had been tracking take off with great speed back toward the home as well.

A capture howl rose from the area around the house. It was the first catch of the day, the howl was familiar and Jay saw Asia's wolf puff out her chest. That howl was Sebastian. Jay took off deeper into the woods, the smell of boar filling her nostrils as she took delight in stirring the hunt. This thrill was one she had missed, but delighted even more in the sharing of it. More howls were lifted, three in quick succession. Jay moved slowly, circling about a boar that had become distracted rooting around in the dirt. She crawled slowly toward, a low rumble releasing from her chest. The boar's head turned, catching the faint glints of her deep red coat. He left his quarry and took off through the forest, just as Jay moved to lunge. Her feet smashing hard into the floor he had been searching through as she came to a stop. The boar was off toward the house.

Jay scanned her environment. It had grown quiet about her. She lifted her nose to the air, Asia's scent no longer near her. She looked about, she no longer saw her either. Shaking her fur to relax her muscles, she gave a quick stretch with her head lifted high and arching her back downward. Then she saw it, the blue eyes staring back at her. She glared briefly, then she felt it, the all too familiar tug at her soul, Henri.

Jay turned quickly and ran, she wasn't ready to stop having fun. Henri burst from the bushes and gave chase. He'd never felt his wolf so alive as he was in this moment. They were gaining speed and nearly on her. It was a collision of fur, as Jay had come to an abrupt halt.

Foreign words filled the air around them quickly. Jay's mind tried to process the words, but she was terrified as she watched Henri's body lift from the ground. The whimpers leaving his mouth, as blood began to drop from his nose. Jay looked for the caster, that's when the smell filled her senses. It was rancid and sour, it was faint but it was there. She cursed herself for missing it, but only for a moment. She moved to run after it, but her body was frozen. She looked to her feet then to Henri and then to the direction of the caster. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed her body and allowed the shift to fill her. It was against the hunt rule to shift, but she knew she had to.Jay's body glowed under the sunrise sky. It was cloudless and beautiful, the howls of the hunt coming off in the distance. Jay lifted her head, struggling to move. She was bent low, with a knee on the ground and one to her chest. It took all she had to move just her head, as she took one more deep breath. 

Her voice was a whisper, but her energy still moved. "Petó."

The wind behind her picked up behind her and the trees bent hard in response. The sound of trees cracking and several falling to the ground filled her ears. Henri's wolf laid on the ground beside her. His whimpers had stopped and he begun to rise from the ground. Jay turned in time to watch the warlock rise up from the rubble of fallen tree limbs. He was a good ways off now, but Jay's eyes were on him. She lifted herself from the ground and took to a run. This was her mate, her family, she wasn't going to sit idly by and not defend them. 

She was halfway to the warlock when she shifted, this was a hunt and she was going to this the traditional way. She felt Scarlet smile as they closed the distance. The warlock hadn't gathered his footing before Jay was on him. Tearing at limbs and taking joy in the screams that came from his mouth. She ripped at his throat, waiting for the satisfying crunch. It came quickly, but so did the pressure she felt to her side.

She had been flanked and tackled by another wolf. The impact taking the air from her lungs, Jay hit the floor with a loud thump, a whimper leaving her mouth. She had just lifted her head from the landing, when Henri's wolf burst through the bushes and debris. He wasted no time, going for the throat of the new wolf. Jay watched as the gray wolves entangled themselves, but it wasn't long before there was a loud crunch that came from the entanglement. She rose quickly and watched as the pile of fur moved.

Henri shimmied out from under the attacking wolf, blood on his chest and a subtle limp to his front paw. Jay ran to him, licking his face and nuzzling him. Henri's nose lifted to the air, a howl trembled through the air. The birds in the distance scattered. Jay's voice joined in as she howled alongside her mate, one more victory howl before they returned to the hunt.

It wasn't long before they were on the prowl, Jay followed just behind Henri as he searched for the perfect prey. The scent was strong and Jay knew what he was after, a large boar lay waiting just ahead. His tusks were large and his nose was busting rooting about the damp earth. Jay watched as Henri took off, wasting no time in engaging his prey. With great skill he gripped onto the boar, catching it before it could turn on him. It was only a breaths time before Henri had downed his kill. 

Jay came along side him, nuzzling him in approval, as they both gripped the boar tight and began to drag it back to the pack house.

Jay broke off from Henri, as he prepared to shift to bring the large boar he had taken down for his mate. His fur was matted and blood was dried about his body. He watched closely as Jay disappeared into the woods, every part of him wanted to follow her and make sure she was safe. Henri shifted once she was out of site, hoisting the boar on his shoulder he walked across the familiar yard. The sun was ascending the skyline and the last warm day of fall was settling in. Bright orange leaves were scattered about the green lawn, the site of the two packs gathered in the yard, cheering each other on. Henri moved silently, he wanted to hurry to find Eli and Sebastian. 

Shouts and cheers rose from the field as Henri entered the crowded yard. Jay watched from the tree line as he shifted the boar across his shoulders. His smile warmed her heart. She quickly wrapped herself in a robe and through on a pair of shoes. Asia came running to her as she exited the forest, pulling the hood of the robe up about Jay's face.

"Come on, quickly." Asia whispered, trying to not draw attention to her.

Jay smiled, this was Henri's moment, one he almost didn't have. She shivered at the thought of what almost happened to him. Asia ushered her into the passenger side of a large SUV. Mama Jones slid into the backseat, along with her grandmother. Jay took notice that Ezara moved with more finesse then when she first saw her. Her cane at hand, but she moved easier.

Asia took the driver's seat and they rolled out. Not more then five minutes down the road when Asia's phone rang through the car, stopping the soft laughter from the women.

Asia sighed and then answered the phone, "Yellow?"

Sebastian's voice came clear through the speaker, "Asia? Is Jay with you?"

"Of course. We're heading to the cabin now to start her day of pampering." Asia smiled to Jay, causing her eyes to roll as she accentuated the last few words with a posh accent.

"It's not safe. You can either return to the house or we're sending Jacob and his team out there."

"Those are the only two choices?" Mama Jones yelled from the back seat, causing Asia to burst with laughter.

"Sorry ladies, that's it." Sebastian had a tone of annoyance about him.

"We can go back, I don't mind." Jay spoke softly to Asia, watching her brow furrow with frustration.

"No! You are going to enjoy this." Asia protested, "Send Jacob and his team, we aren't far, they can run and catch up."

Sebastian's muffled voice came through the speakers as he shouted to someone near him. "Ok. They are on their way. Stay in touch."

"I will. Love you." Asia hurried to end the call.

"Love you." Sebastian spoke quickly before ending the call.

Sebastian turned to watch Jacob run from the clearing, shifting and howling as he went. Quickly five other wolves joined alongside him as they ran down the road as fast as their legs would carry them. Henri stood with Jacob as they discussed security for the day. Even with the increased pack sizes, the mystic activities didn't let up. Today was too close. Eli and Sebastian exchanged a glance and a subtle nod, before Sebastian excused himself. Rushing from the dining area, where Asia's head chef was overseeing the tear down of the morning's kills. He moved with skill to the front yard, his clothes tearing away from his body as he shifted. His toes gripping the gravel as he lurched from his position before the home and took off down the path. He would guard his mate and Luna with his life. No matter how he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling they were in danger. With great finesse he caught up with Jacob's team. Jacob Smith was Sebastian's go to man for patrols. One of the pack's strongest and most skilled fighters, he'd earned respect from many.

Jacob nodded to Sebastian as he took lead on guarding the SUV. The team of 6 wolves quickly falling in around the vehicle, watching to keep the precious cargo within it safe.