Fighting Fate

CHAPTER 6

June 20, 2022

Dear Mr. Drummond,

On behalf of the Yellowstone Pack leadership, it is with pleasure that I send this letter announcing your application for an extended stay has been accepted. Council members found your credentials appropriate and your mission admirable. We hope our operation here at Yellowstone will prove inspiring for you and we look forward to sharing our mission of wolf repopulation. It is our hope that similar works in Scotland will find success in the future.

Acceptance of your application initiates the second portion of your candidacy, in which you shall interview with each Alpha of the Yellowstone Pack. During the interview portion, housing and transport shall be provided for you within each pack.

Should you wish to move forward with the application process, our travel coordinator will reach out to provide guidelines to help you obtain the correct visa for your visit. Please respond on or or before August 1, 2022. Thank you for your interest in our work, we look forward to welcoming you to Yellowstone.

Best Regards,

William McInnes

High Alpha

***

Broc exhaled as he read the email again. Leaning back in his chair, he ran both hands through his hair and looked at the ceiling. Relief and elation washed through his body, taking with it the stiffness he’d noticed in his neck and shoulders.

Closing his eyes, he let out a bark of laughter and soaked in the achievement. He knew he was getting ahead of himself, but this could change the future of the Highlands.

His phone rang on the desk. Without even opening his eyes, he reached for it, knowing exactly who he’d hear on the other end.

“Aye mate.”

“We fuckin’ got it Broc! Can ya believe it!? Have ye heard from Einar?”

“Aye it’s a good day for the wolves brother.” he replied smiling, “but no word from Einar yet.”

“We’re callin’ that fucker right bloody now! Stay on the line, I’ll dial him in.” Kieran was easily the most enthusiastic of the trio. He never passed up a chance to be excited about anything, whether it was warranted or not.

And Broc had to admit, his high spirits were infectious.

After a few minutes of silence, he heard the line open to the three-way call.

“Hej Broc! Ya I also received the acceptance. So, aah, I guess I’ll be seeing you in America.” Einar’s voice was deceptively calm, but Broc could hear the amusement.

“Boys! We got it! This is gonna be absolutely lethal!”

“Ya ok though Kieran, when can we all get there? I already have my B1/B2 visa from previous travel. Do you two have your paperwork settled?”

“Aye, I’ve got the forms filled out, just been waiting for the green light to send them. You Kieran?” Broc replied.

“Oh I’m set boyo! I’m pressing the “submit” button right feckin now! Now we just gotta hope the Americans don’t take donkey’s years to push it through.”

“We’ll let you know when ours come through Einar and we’ll coordinate.”

“Ok, sounds good my friends! This will be a great adventure. I hope it can help get some wolves for you both in the future. For the future! I’ll be raising a glass to you tonight!”

“Hell yes! I’ll be putting one back for ya boys!”

“Aye fellas, but we’ve still gotta get through the interviews.” Broc reminded them

“Come on Broc, who could resist us?”

“I agree, I think our chances are good. But sorry my friends, I’ve got to get to work. We can’t all spend our days running around the glens.” Einar teased.

Kieran laughed, “Ah come off it Ein, we’ve got real jobs too! Just happens I took the day off, had a feelin’ I’d be wantin’ to celebrate. I just call that good foresight on my part!”

“Ok Einar, we’ll let you go. But let’s keep on top of logistics. I’m sure we’ll all get more instructions when we let them know we’re all in for the interviews. Talk soon guys.”

“Ya, bye. And congratulations again, I’m happy I can try to help.” Einar clicked off the line.

“Have a good one Kieran, dinna get too wrecked.” It seemed pointless to tell an Irishman to go easy.

“Never me! Ok though, see ya!”

Broc clicked end and let the phone drop back to his desk. This was it.

But, like Einar, he had a work day ahead so it wouldn’t be a day of revelry. Taking one more moment to let it sink in, he put his head in his hands and sent up a short prayer.

It may not have been God’s doing, but it never hurt to give Him some credit just in case.

***

“Just kill me Fio. Please.”

She had no response. What could she possibly say? Nothing would console him, not for a long time anyway.

“Fio! Did you hear me?! I don’t want to live without her. I can’t watch them take her!”

Taking a deep breath, she looked into her friend’s eyes.

“Yes, I heard you. I’m not going to kill you Nat. I’ll be right here. But we have to take her. You don’t want to just leave her out here right?”

Nathaniel hunched back over, pressing his muzzle into Samantha’s stiffening body.

“Nat…Nat, look at me.” Fiona said, nuzzling his side with her nose. When he lifted his eyes back to hers, she held them for a moment, willing him to take some of her strength.

“I can see the headlights, Alpha will be here soon. They are going to take care of Sam. You know that. You know they will look after her. You know it right?”

After a long pause, he nodded.

“Ok, I need you to breathe for me Nat. Just take some deep breaths. I’m right here with you. I’m going to get you through this night. I’m going to send Matt & Isaac back to the cars to meet Alpha when he arrives. They are going to bring us back some clothes so we can shift.”

Another nod. He had taken a few deep breaths, but each exhale still held an involuntary whine. She sent off the other two, telling them to bring the clothes and some extra blankets.

It was dark enough to shift now, but she knew Nat wouldn’t leave Samantha’s side and sitting out here human and naked wouldn’t be ideal. They sat in silence together for a long while.

“What am I supposed to do Fio?” Nat whispered, not looking at her.

Her heart ached for him. In a matter of moments, his entire life had shifted irrevocably.

“You’re supposed to keep breathing. And when it’s time, you’re going to get up and put one foot in front of the other. And you’ll let the Alphas handle the details right now. I’ll get you home.”

“I meant for the rest of my life?” He shuddered.

Fiona was at a loss. She had no idea what she could tell him.

She’d never lost a mate; she didn’t have one to lose.

Generally, honesty was best, so she went with that.

“I don’t know Nat. And you don’t have to know either.” They lapsed back into silence and soon she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle.

Turning, she watched the truck slowly navigate the valley. When it stopped, she was relieved to see both Alphas step from the cab and approach. Alpha Heather carried two canvas bags.

“Fiona, I’ve got clothing for both of you. I’ll set yours here. If you could shift please so we can start preparing Samantha for transport?” Heather’s voice was calm and soft, but very authoritative.

“Yes ma’am.” She left Nat’s side, passing the Alphas as they approached him.

She shifted and dressed quickly. The night was chilly and she was eager to get her layers on. The shearling lining of her jacket brought her body warmth, but it didn’t seem to reach her heart.

Walking slowly back to the group, she saw Alpha Mac’s arm around Nat’s lupine form.

“Come now Nat, it’s time to take her home. I need you to shift so you can lift her. I know you’ll want to carry her yourself.”

Nat shifted where he sat. Without taking his eyes from Samantha’s still form, he robotically pulled on the clothing Alpha Heather passed to him.

Coming into the circle of lantern light, Fiona knelt across from him. He reached his hands out, but hesitated to touch Samantha's fur, as if afraid the feel of it on his skin would break his heart all over again.

Fiona linked with Alpha Heather “Did you bring any towels or blankets?”

The Alpha pointed to the second bag. Fiona reached in for a towel and one of the water bottles.

“Here Nat, let's clean her up ok? She gently rubbed the drying spittle from Samantha’s muzzle. Working down to her flank, she poured water over the wound, cleaning as much blood away as she could.

Finally, she closed Samantha’s eyes, seeing Nat flinch as she did so.

“There. Shall we wrap her in a blanket Nat?” Alpha Heather asked gently

With a stunned look, he nodded. Fiona pulled the wool blanket from the bag and draped it over the body.

“Ok Nat, it’s time to take her back to the truck. Can you do that?”

He nodded again. He uncovered Samantha’s head and stroked her face, hands shaking.

Then, placing the blanket back over her, he picked her up and rose to his feet.

The sob that tore from his chest made her bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying with him.

“There you go Nat, we’ll get her home safe now.” Alpha Heather placed a palm on his back and gently encouraged him forward. Alpha Mac stayed a few paces back with Fiona.

“Well done today Miss Malcolm. I’m glad he had a close friend by his side.”

“Thank you sir. What happens now?”

Mac sighed, running a hand over his face.

“I call her parents. And I do my best to get my Beta through the worst pain he’ll ever encounter. I hope I can count on you to help with the latter. He’ll need his friends around him.”

Sitting in the truck bed with Nat was worse than she could imagine. He cradled the small she-wolf to his chest, eyes glassy, seeing nothing. He looked like a zombie.

“Everything feels so heavy Fio. I can’t see a way to keep moving.”

“I know. I know it hurts. But we’re all here to walk you through it. Anything you need….”

“I need my mate!” He snapped loudly, silencing her.

“I need Samantha! I need her breathing! There’s no “getting through it” Fio, so please stop with your placative bullshit! NO ONE can give me what I need because what I NEED is dead in my lap! She’s f*****g GONE! I’ll never have what I need again!”

***

Fiona’s eyes shot open and she sat up in bed. Placing her hands flat on the bed, she gulped in deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.

It was a nightmare she hadn’t had in years. What the f**k?

Her breathing was still rapid. Looking up at the ceiling, she willed the tears to hold off.

Nat sleepily shifted beside her. His hand slid up her back and rested on a shoulder blade.

“You ok?” he mumbled, still not really awake

“Yeah….bad dream.” she said back

“It’s ok baby.” He moved his hand to her arm, gently pulling her down toward him.

Wiping her eyes with her free hand, she let herself be brought back down. Snuggled against him, she threw an arm over his chest.

Eyes still closed he kissed her head and rubbed her back.

A gnawing feeling crept through her guts. What would drag this back up? Memories of Samantha almost never appeared in her dreams.

Why would she suddenly turn up now? And over a month after the day it happened?

It unsettled her. Squeezing her arm more tightly over him she voiced words she rarely said out loud.

“I need you Nat.” whispered so softly, she thought he wouldn’t hear.

“Love you too babe.” He murmured in response.

The feeling clawed again. She hadn’t said “love.”