The Things Love Can Do

BANG! CRACKLE! The thundering paws of a pack of wolves made the thunderstorm much more frightening. As they ran through the dark forest, their speed caused the trees to sway. Today's thunderstorm was rare. They don't usually occur in winter, let alone create snow, which added additional fear to the already disturbing night. Huff, huff! Alpha! Slow down, the rest of us can't keep up anymore! We can't stop now! We are almost home! They need us! Said the big black wolf, his voice booming in their heads. If we stop now the Rogues will take our land and we will be forced into another tribe's territory! Its bad enough we are asking for help from the humans. The ones that have hated and feared our kind since the 1600's! Oh! That reminds me! Alpha Jilian, are you going to go through with the whole marriage thing? I mean who knows what kind of woman you have to marry, let alone share with a vampire... Ugh! Did you have to remind me of that? I was hoping to avoid that! I'd rather not marry until I find my mate, but I don't think that's an option right now... I just hope whoever she is, she doesn't expect me to consummate the marriage. But what if she is your mate? Those things do happen right? She could be the late of either one of you... I hope that if she is my mate that the filthy bloodsucker keeps his hands off my woman. But if she isn't I hope she doesnt expect me to stick around. Bang! Crackle! The thunderstorm raged on all night. The pack trudged on hoping to get to their home in time. By the time the got there, any wolves that were home seemed to be almost gone. There were strange wolves and bodies amongst their own. Many of the women had been beaten or r***d. The children seemed to have been traumatized but unharmed. Why? Why hurt the women but leave the children unharmed?it was as if the Rogues had some sliver of a conscience, but Julian knew better. Being left unharmed was their intention. The children would want to avenge their mothers and fathers and would blame the pack for not being able to save them. But the kids that were old enough to understand would want to seek their vengence upon the Rogue pack that attacked their home when it was at its weakest. "Al-pha" a greying sandy wolf croaked. "Al-pha, y-you're back!" "Old beta Jocqe! What happened!" Jilian knelt beside the old beta. "Th-they came almost out of nowhere. By the t-time we were able to sound out the d-distress call, it was almost too late..." Jocqe groaned in pain. Blood seeping from wounds that never seemed to end. "Do you think you'll make it Jocqe?" "I'm afraid I've got a gash too *wimper* close to my heart. It won't heal before I bleed out. Stay with me a while longer, please Alpha?" "Anything for my father's Beta and best friend. I shall sit vigil while you join him in the Great Hunting Grounds. You would have done the same for anyone else." As Jocqe lay there blood seeping into the ground, a strange whimper came from the other side of the clearing. "Alpha, what do we do about the injured rogue?" Yelled Jilian's beta Christophe. "If he'll live, bind him in silver! We'll question him in the morning. Tend to the wounded, and bury the dead. That includes the rogues. Any wolf-brother or wolf-sister deserves a proper burial even if they betrayed their pack..."