Born of Two

Pack Lands

Lochlyn's POV

We have been driving for so long. The car ride has been quiet, with the occasional stops to check on Rosie in the back. Helena was making good time back to the pack. Chase had Jo asleep on his chest, and we set an IV and bed system in the back to make Rosie comfortable. Finally, she looked at peace. She was beautiful when she slept. I caught Chase staring at me. I knew he felt like he was in the dog house with me. I have never been this big of a d**k with him… except when he told me he mated with my sister. That time I came pretty close to darn near killing him… but putting him through a few walls and him putting me through a couple of doors helped a lot.

"For what it is worth… I am sorry, man. I have never felt this way before about a girl. Yeah, I had my flings and my moments but with her…. It's different. It's like this whole new gravitational pull to her."

"I know, man. It is like your whole body and brain are rewired in a second. Hers too." He says as he puts a hand on Jo. "I mean, one minute you were my world man," He says in between smiles, "I would worship the ground you walked on. You would say jump, and I would ask how high. But the moment she walked into that room… the whole world shifted. It was unbelievable. I know you are her mate, man, but this thing with Rosie.." He trailed off for a second like he was trying to say the right words, "It's about to get really hard. I don't think this will be the normal story where she is madly in love with you right away. We essentially just kidn*pped her, drugged her, and took her into a whole new world. You need to prepare yourself for a possible rejection."

"Your wrong," Jo said, stretching out her body. "Ros won't reject him. It's not in her nature. The first time she saw you, Loch, her eyes changed colors after you left. She couldn't stop talking about you. She feels the mate bond; she just doesn't know what it is yet. However, Chase isn't wrong either. We did just rip this girl out of her life. I think she will adjust, but it is going to take time."

I sit in silence, taking in what they are saying. I know they are correct; this girl will freak out when she wakes up. Yet, I also know her wolf is in there, and if we can get the wolf to come out, she will want to stay. She will enjoy the life I can give her, which is powerful and a force. A place where she can dominate and run as a Luna, not as an ordinary person in an everyday world. I can't wait to see her wolf… I have never seen yellow eyes. Most of them just turn black. I think her wolf will be small but quick. What will she be like as a Luna? What will she be like as a mate? I wonder what will her body be like? What will her kisses be like?

"Jo, Chase, and Loch. Welcome home, permanently." Helena said as we crossed the border into our pack lands. Home. I haven't slept in my own bed in like six months. I have been cooped up in that tiny apartment in Omaha with Chase and Jo for months, and I am glad to walk into my house and not have to leave again. This drive is beautiful but so long. We all stared out our windows, looking at the pack lands go by.

Our pack lands were different than most. If you were to drive through unknowingly, then you would see a small town that was basic and easy. However, the most intricate part of the buildings is underneath the ground. My father found that defensive strategies were the best. We could hide our women and children better and lure enemies into the underground tunnels and the ambush in the confusion of the maze. In fact, to enter our warrior training camp, you force into the tunnels for three days with rations and have to find your way out. It is intense, but the tactic works for us. We drive through town, seeing all the little clumps of bungalows and two-story homes. Then I see children and families running to the end of their driveways, waving and hollering. I didn't realize how many people were excited to have us home and meet the new Luna. Boy, were they in for a surprise when she comes out of the car looking like she has been hit by a bus. I watched as pups ran down the street chasing and hopping fences to get to the main building.

"Just a question… did anyone call my folks and tell them the future Luna is currently topless and unconscious?" I leaned forward into the front seat. Helena slammed on the brakes sending me into the console. "Son of Bi- Helena. I didn't say slam on the brakes. Just asked if anyone called ahead. This is already a delicate situation. I will call my folks and tell them to disperse the crowds. We will just go in a back way. Chase, can you call the doc and have him meet us."

"Yeah, man. Does the doc need to look at your head too?" Chase said, laughing and cracking up. He held his and made a face like he was to mimic me. It's Jo's favorite thing when Chase makes fun of me or some action I do.

Helena pulled into the next turn. We could see disappointed faces as we turned off the route my family had planned. All of a sudden, we see Rosie start to move. I jump in the back seat, but Chase grabs my shoulder and sits me back down. "Jojo's turn, man. She knows Jo." I sit down in frustration and get low so she can't see me. Jo moves into the back seat slowly. She grabs a cold rag and places it on Rosie's forehead. We could still feel the intense heat coming off of her. Chase jumped in the front seat to avoid the confusion she would feel, as Chase was supposed to be visiting family right now and know where near Omaha. I lay in the backseat but position myself to see through the cracks in the seat. I just wanted to see her awake. I could see Jo washing her face and checking her over. She was so careful when lifting her arm. We could see the IV bag of fluids was getting really low, and soon she would start to feel the full effects again. I mindlink Helena

"Any chance you could go faster? We need to get her to the main building."

"Stepping on it, Alpha."

I felt the car pick up in speed as we went down the street. Every bump moved Rosie and made her wince and moan. It killed me to hide and not hold her through this, but I knew I had to be reasonable and work with Jo. I hate it when my sister knows more than I do.

"Guys, we really need to hurry. Her fever is back up to 106 for a mere human that is a death sentence, and she is, for the most part, is still human."

I felt Helena really step on it and heard people yelling as I assumed they jumped out of the way for the crazy lady driving down the road. Helena took a hard left and sent me flying into the side door, but Jo could brace and hold onto the bar and keep Rosie relatively still. The closer we got to the house, the more uncomfortable Rosie was getting. Helena was driving like a bat out of hell. I see two wolves start running at full speed next to the car. I breathe a sigh of relief; it's Marco and Finn. They are two warriors who fight alongside me. I mindlink with them.

"Marco and Finn, we need you guys to clear the way. She is in terrible shape, and we can't let anyone from the public see her. She is still human for the most part, so we need a scent block. Can you go ahead and try to stay ahead of us and push people back and away from the back entrance?"

"Yes, alpha. Tell Helena to drop her speed, and we could do it better, though."

"Gamma's, you know we don't have the time. You need to go as fast as you can, or I will make you race Helena in a car and you on foot for the next month."

"Finn wouldn't last, Alpha."

"Shut up, Marco," Finn comments, "I can do this, Alpha."

When in doubt, pit these two against each other, and they will battle. Both boys race past us.

"Lochlyn, did you just pit Finn and Marco against each other to make them do something faster."

"Yup."

"Brilliant." Chase threw his head back in laughter. He knew exactly what that meant; those two wolves would duke it out for the week.

We take the next turn. Fast. "Holy s**t, Helena, you're going to roll us," Jojo pipes up from the back of the car. We even out again, and there in the back driveway are my parents. I thought I was the most excited about my bed, but I got excited seeing my mom. I missed her and her hugs so much. My mom was so loving and kind. It was a great thing to come home to. She was also the best cook; her brownies could probably unite the pack until someone took the last one, then all war would break out again. Man, I really hope she made the brownies. Oh my gosh, what if Rosie doesn't like brownies. "Lochlyn… she will like mom's brownies. She loves brownies, especially the middle. So now you guys can finish the pan since you love the edges."

"She is definitely my mate," I say with a giant smile across my face. Then Rosie jerks again, and I remember how non-normal our story is. We pull to a stop in the driveway, all the doors fly open. Doctors and nurses were helping Jo get Rosie out of the car. My mom motioned me to get out and get a hug. My father, the gentlemen, helped Helena out of the vehicle. Chase was running after the doctors with my mate on a gurney. Her clothes were dripping in sweat, and her skin was pale. Please, oh, please live through this. I am begging, please live. My mom gives me her classic hug and ushers me into the house where they have set up a makeshift hospital room in the back away from prying eyes. They transferred her onto the bed and switched out saline bags, clothing, and belongings. They take off her necklace, and Jo grabs the nurse's wrist. I knew she had mind-linked because the nurse gave it directly to Jo instead of placing it in the bag with everything else. Jo then put it around her neck and held on to it. They start taking the rest of the clothes off my mate when Jo shoots me a look.

"You need to leave."

"She is my mate, Jo."

"Remember what we said in the car. This isn't normal. You can't see her naked for the first time without her consent or awareness. You will take something away from her on top of everything else that has been taken. Go. Now."

Chase grabs my arms and pulls me out into the hall. It was only a few moments before we were called back inside. They had her all hooked up, and in scrubs, so she didn't have to be in a gown. Doc motioned for me to sit on the chairs with everyone else. Boy, what a mess we were. The three of us had cuts and scrap from Rosie's seizures, we smelled of the car trip, our hair was disheveled, and our bodies ached.

"OK, so good job and bad job. Good job on getting our Luna here in time, and good job to Chase with the quick thinking on the Propofol. A bad job is directed at whoever was driving the car and took out a mailbox on the way."

"Helena." All three of us said at once. The doctor nodded.

"Alpha Lochlyn, she is going to pull through. It is going to take some time, and she will be fragile, but she will heal and be OK," He paused. "That doesn't, however, give you permission to never leave her side. I am under direct orders from your father that you are still to carry out your Alpha duties. You need rest and food, not sleep deprivation and starvation. If I see fit, I will bar you until she comes to. That also means you to Jo. Chase is going to be the mode of communication for you guys. He is the only one that is allowed to come and go as he pleases."

Both of us protested this decision, but we were so tired that we couldn't argue. We needed sleep and something more than sandwiches. I took a deep breath, and we all smelled them together… mom's brownies. We finished hearing what the doctor had to say. It would be about three more days till Rosie wakes up, and then she would be good to move into the Alphas house. Jo and Chase lived in their own condo up the road. I will have to set up an extra room for her; I don't want to pressure her. I will have to ask for Jo's input on the room design later. As we leave the room, I take one long look at her, curled up in that bed, looking nothing like she did on the street. She still had her Disney band-aid on her elbow and A tattoo on her bicep that I had never seen before. Three outlined circles, then a rose followed by three more circles. I wonder what that meant to her; it is such an obscure tattoo. I caught up with Jo in the hallway… I knew she was walking faster to get the first piece of brownie and the best chair in Mom and Dad's house. "Hey, Jo."

"What's up, bro."

"OK, so I can't see her undressed, I can't be affectionate in any way, I have to go slow, and then I have to give her space…."

"Yeah, what's your point?"

"If I can't do the normal mate things… can you tell me about her?"

"I suppose what do you want to know?"

"Everything. Her favorite color, animal, hobby, the reason for existing, why tuxedos…. Tell me all of it."

"I will tell you some. You also need to get to know her by talking to her."

"OK fine. Where can you start?"

"Blue. Her favorite color is blue. Not just any blue but the dusty darker blue. Like a grey and blue combined. She always said it makes her feel warm, like right before a terrific rainstorm. Dude, you're like drooling over that, and I only gave you her favorite color."

"She likes rainstorms…."

"Kinda… She hates storms like where there could be tornados. But a little thunder and lightning are OK. Honestly, she just loves it the most when it's just straight downpouring. If it's summer, she will go and run in it. If it's fall, she will simply sit on the couch with a good book and blanket and watch it fall."

"Do you think she will want to run in the rain?"

"Probably."

"Can you tell me more?"

"She has always wanted her own cat or cats."

"Cats? Really?"

"Yep. But don't worry about looking for one right now. She is actually extremely allergic."

"OK. Hobby."

"OK, Mr. demanding. She like quilting. Loves it, actually. A month ago, she went to a fabric store with a check from the insurance company for her car being hit and spent all $800 on fabric. She walled herself up over the weekend and then quilted and loved every minute of it."

"Does she have her own machine?"

"She does, but if you want in her good graces maybe a butt-load of fabric and a huge workspace and if you want to put a price tag on it all… something called a longarm machine."

"What's that?"

"It's a thing that quilts it, so she doesn't have to do it by hand. They run upwards of fifteen thou."

When she said that, I almost yelp and tripped. Fifteen thousand is easy for me; that is nothing compared to what we have. However, I don't think my dad will sign off on a 15,000 dollar gift.

"One more thing….. please tell me one more thing."

"No."

"Sis, come on."

"No."

"Wow. Stubborn. Omaha changed you."

"Yup."

Just then, Chase ran by. "One, you guys are the slowest people on the planet. Two, I will eat the whole pan before you get there. Three… I will help you out, bro…. farming. She is super into gardening and growing her own stuff."

"Really? And no, you are not." Jo and I take off running. We grab onto him and yank him behind us. Then it is a to the death race between Jo and me.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS, BABE!!!!! I MARRIED YOU!"

"ALL BETS OFF WHEN IT COMES TO BROWNIES!"

All three of us continue to run down the hall as if nothing has changed. For a second, my worries and dread are behind me. I know they will catch up, but for now, it is all about the brownies then the next step.

Three days later.

Lochlyn's POV

I stuck to the doc's rules, but on the third day of Rosie being here, I told my dad I wanted to be there when she woke up... if she woke up. Dad agreed and let me suspend all my duties after 10 am, training the Elite warriors. I grabbed my coat and ran to the house. I waited outside her door all afternoon and well into the evening. Finally, Jo and Chase joined me as well as my parents.

"When is she going to wake up?"

"Sweetie, the doctor said this was going to take time." My mom said, putting her hand on my shoulder.

"Guys…. Guys," Jo blank face walked into the room. "Rosie, it's OK. It's OK."

Rosie's POV

My body hurts, and my head burns. Everything around me is so bright. The last thing I fully remember was not feeling good at work and then seeing a mysterious figure walking toward me. Since then, I have had a fuzzy memory of being in a car. I have a clear dream of the guy I met walking into working carrying me somewhere wooded. Jo was there, and her boyfriend was there as well. They gave me something in the dream, and that's all I remember. I reach my arm up to rub my eyes, and I feel a pull and pinch. "Oh my gosh, there's an IV in my arm… Am I in the hospital…. This doesn't look like a hospital… where am I….. Oh my gosh, where am I…." I sit up, and my eyes dart around the room. I am in a house. I can see outside into the woods, but I am in a hospital bed in what looks like a library. I continue to scan the room in a panic when my eyes lock with a familiar person in the doorway. Jo?

"Rosie, it's OK. It's OK"

"Jo….. Jojo, what is going on. Where am I…. Jojo… Jojo." My eyes fill with tears from the fear I am feeling.

"Ros, I need you to calm down." She ran over to my bedside and put her hand on mine. "Ros, breathe. This isn't how you were supposed to find out, but I need you to breathe so I can explain."

"Explain what…. WHAT IS GOING ON!?"

"Rosalynn." Chase appeared in the doorway.

"Chase? You are supposed to be in Michigan with family….."

"Please listen to Jo. She would never hurt you."

"Chase, you're scaring me."

"Guys… is she OK?"

"Who is that….. whose voice is that….. I know that voice."

"That doesn't matter. Rosalynn, I need to explain what you really are. What we really are." Jo grabbed my hand and placed it on her heart. "It is a lot to process, though."

"Chase?"

"Just listen to Jojo, hun."

"You called me hun. You never call me that unless you or Jo is about to tell me bad news."

"Just listen to Jo." He said as he pulled up a chair next to me. I look at Jojo with fear in my eyes.

"OK, remember those scary stories I told you about werewolves and stuff."

"Yes, but those are just stories. Silly stories we shared when we were drunk…."

"Honey…. They aren't just stories."

"Yes, they are. Stories like that aren't real. Jo…… they aren't real."

"Yes, they are. Chase isn't my boyfriend; he is my husband and mate. We take both human and wolf forms. We live in packs all over the country. You are a wolf too. It's why we brought you to our pack up north. You are also a werewolf."

"NO!!!! NO!!!! I am a human. Jo, this isn't funny. We are humans. HUMANS!!"

"Jo… we need to show her."

"SHOW ME WHAT??!!"

Chase stood up and took off his shirt. There on his neck was a bite mark, like a battle scar. How have I never noticed that scarring before? He moved behind this curtain, and suddenly where Chase entered, a wolf came out.

"F*** this!!!" I started trying to run. When he appeared, Lochlyn was in the doorway.

"Rosalynn, please calm down." His body took up the whole doorway.

"F*** you…. F*** this….. I am done." In my adrenaline, I ripped out my IV. I pushed Jo to the floor and made a break for the door. Lochlyn tried to stop me, but I shoved him out of the way. He looked devastated, and I think he let me run out the door. I saw two older people in the hallway; they looked concerned and wanted to help me. I turned to go down the hallway, not knowing where I was, but I saw a doctor running toward me with meds. I took off running in the opposite direction. I saw the first door I could get through, and I took it. I was so happy I was outside. There were people everywhere staring at me. A few of them tried to approach me; they saw the blood running down my arm and wanted to make sure I was OK. No, they don't know me, and I don't know who they are…. I need to run. I spin around in the driveway and see a straight shot with no people. Before I could run, I felt a hand on my wrist. It was Lochlyn. I yank my wrist out of hand and take off into the woods. I run, and I don't look back.

Lochlyn's POV

"She doesn't understand." I stand outside in the drive, watching my mate run as fast as she can into the woods. She was bleeding pretty bad, so she won't run for very long. I would send Chase out for her in a few minutes. I sit down on the driveway. Life was so easy when I met her. It was fall and beautiful, she was so confident in herself, and now her whole world has changed. Chase comes behind me.

"Give her time. No fatalist thinking like you always do when things don't go your way. Do you want me to run after her?"

"Like you said, give her time. Maybe her wolf will come out."

"Dude, her wolf is so suppressed. I wouldn't hope for that."

"Let's give her an hour in the woods. Maybe she will come back and be clear. Just chill with me, and then we will go get her together. How's Josephine."

"Josephine… wow. She is OK. Heartbroken. I left her with your guy's parents. She was crying on mom when I came out, and I let her be with them."

"I know, that was a smart plan. Do you think Rosie will be OK?" I said, not making eye contact anymore but looking out into the woods where Rosie had disappeared into. By this time, I couldn't see her silhouette anymore.

"Yeah, man… she will be OK."

"Man, this isn't what I had planned…. I thought mating was easy."

"It is Loch…. For everyone but you." He nudged me with his elbow. I looked at my best friend. This was the first time I had just hung out with Chase in years. Just the two of us. I kinda wanted to get a beer to take my mind off of everything. We sat in silence for a long time, just watching the clock. It was about thirty minutes since she had runoff. I couldn't handle it anymore.

"Nope, can't do this anymore; I gotta go after her."

"Yeah, I was surprised you lasted this long."

"Can you phase Chase to track her better, and I will stay in human form?"

"Yeah, man," Chase went into the trees and phased into his wolf. I walked into the trees while he was phasing. I could follow the blood that had dripped from Rosalynn's arm. I started growing more concerned and doubted my decision to give her time. Chase's wolf emerged next to me; I forgot how big he was when he was next to me. We followed the trail of blood into the trees. We kept going into the woods; I was getting more and more anxious to find her. The deeper we got into the woods, the more predators there were; bears, mountain lions, even worse, other wolves. We stopped; Chase made a hard right turn and took off running. I had to follow behind. We ran for about 50 yards before Chase came to a halt in the middle of some pack tree circle. There was barely enough room for us, but I could hear Rosie. She was crying, sobbing really, could feel her fear, I could smell her as I got closer. Chase went to move first, but I held him back. It was my turn to comfort my mate.