Gateways: The Guardians

Chapter 2: Photographs and Memories

The drive into town wasn't a spectacular one if you were a local. Years of the foothill views and distant mountain peeks became normal over the years. It was almost comical to the townies when visitors would stand in awe of the forest. Although, on a clear moonlit night they had to admit, the magic still vibrated through the trees like it had centeries before. And for a moment everything felt right in the world. It was almost as if in those early morning hours of misty dawn, that things were as they once were. Long before the hunts, trails, and massacres. A time when they were honored..or sometimes feared.

There were some who wanted to return to that, by any means necessary.

The sleepy mountain town had served as a safe haven for Lycans for centuries. They were far enough from any major city yet close enough to not seem too remote to entice adventure. Humans came and went regularly, completely unaware of the extracurricular activities of their neighbors. There was even intermarriage allowed in the clan, while not fully accepted most kept quiet about any objection they might have. After all, a human could and usually was turned later on. For those who chose to remain mortal, it was a boon to the clan to have a human contact. Someone that could run interference in times of trouble without implicating themselves.

As for relations with other supernatural beings...well that was a little more complicated. There was an unspoken expectation for Alphas to mate with Omegas, to create a pure and steadfast line that would uphold traditions and social norms. Among other species this hierarchy wasn't always the case and hybrids tended to be more trouble than they were worth.

“She's going to ask.” Lj said as they pulled into the gravel parking lot of the meeting house. The steady crunch under his tires was a soft welcome and reminder that they really needed to get on that black top project before winter hit.

Jasper sighed. “ Trust me I know, that's why you're going to keep your mouth shut about my visitors this morning.” He sent the other man a look daring him to test his limits. “I mean it, I'm not in the mood for a lecture.”

Lj held his hands up. “I saw nothing, but you know your Grandma has a nose like no other omega in the clan. That woman could smell a squirrel fart from a mile away.”

“That's weird and an over exaggeration!” Jasper groaned but also sniffed at himself. “You got any axe or something?”

His friend just laughed. “In the glove box, though I think that's just going to make you more obvious.”

“What am I suppose to do!” Jasper complained, spraying himself down. “Rub myself all over you? Plus, she'll just think I'm smoking again. I'd much rather be told what a nasty habit cigarettes are over my easy bedroom proclivities.”

Lj laughed and shook his head watching the other alpha douse himself in the strong smelling spray. “Suit yourself brother, lets just get the check in done and make the rounds. Claire is going into a heat soon and we decided its time to start trying.” he said puffing out his chest a little.

“Another little lindsey how cute!” I figured you crazy kids would start cranking out pups sooner rather than later.

Lj deflated slightly slamming the truck door. “Could you not say'cranking' when referring to my mate. This is suppose to be romantic ya know.”

Jasper grinned. “ ooo la la she touch your tra la la your ding ding dong” he sang out laughing wildly.

“You...your a child ya know that.” Lj couldn't help but laugh.

“That is true yet you still love me, it's ok. Let's get this over with.”

The meeting hall was an old and dusty building,it had been renovated a handful of times over the years. It's humble beginnings had been a one room cabin with a small sleeping loft. Then it expanded as the pack grew. Now it was a decently sized brick and wood ranch style with meeting rooms, a kitchen and library. Recently the old coggers finally agreed to put in a computer lab so that some of the omegas in the community could take some work from home courses.

As they say, time marches on and changes were happening faster than so many of them wanted to admit. Gone were the days of the family farms and general stores. The future was data entry and drop shipping.

“There's my handsome boy!!!” Mary Blackstone's voice sang out from across the meeting hall. The tiny omega might look frail to the untrained eye, but even at her age there was a feared warrior under that long silver head of hair.

Meanwhile, Jasper's grandfather just shook his head. Thomas loved his wife but she was a lot to handle even on her best of days. “He's not a child dear.”

“oh hush! I whipped his butt I can call him mine!” She said with an exaggerated pout.

Jasper cringed hearing her proclamation, followed by the snickers of several loler ogea who were having a knitting circle near by. “Can we not talk about my butt in those terms. Don't get me wrong I love to have my butt talked about just not by you Gran.” He joked trying to lesson the blow.

The old omega just rolled her eyes before sending a exploratory sniff in his direction. “Jasper....are you smoking again! Boy I ought to bust your tail. Do you think any omega what's that tar stink in her hair...my goodness..” She hemmed and hawed much to the amusement of the young ment. “You know that's why I stoped making the drive into the city to go to the fancy beauty parlor. That's girls would smoke and the lacquer would just seal that stench right in.”

“Ya know...Mrs Mary.” LJ began “ I think the humans stopped allowing people to smoke indoors for ….well maybe a few decades now.”

“Are you sayin I'm old?” She challenged

Jasper of course couldn't be happier since the heat was off him for a moment. “Careful there Bro, remember she can call your mama at any time.”

“No ma'am!” Lj back peddled. “I was just saying...”

Thankfully Thomas Blackstone had had enough of watching these young bucks struggle under his wifes iron gaze. “That's enough.” He interrupted with a warm grin. “You've given them a run Mama just let the boys rest huh?”

Mary smirked softly and settled back into her seat, “I guess, ya know someone has to keep Jasper on his toes from time to time...since he still hasn't found an omega.”

Thomas just shook his head at the comment, already noticing how his grandsons poster changed at the mention of his unmated status. “Finding the one takes time, not everyone is as lucky to find their soul bond so young.” He spoke fondly, reaching over to give her hand a squeeze. 75 years together and they still loved like teenagers. Tom truly wanted that for his family, it had been so bitter sweet to watch Jasper grow up. While he loved raising the boy he only wished Jaspers mother could have been there.

“Yeah..well anyway....”Jasper pressed onward trying to get down to business before the conversation could trip down the road toward his social life. “We just wanted to stop by and see if anyone had come in this morning needing anything. Just making the end of the month rounds ya know.”

“Rosemary came in I think it was yesterday afternoon.”Tomas said leaning back in thought. “She's having trouble keeping that boy of hers in line. He's getting to that age you know.”

Lj was as already adding notes in his phone and Jasper just shook his head. “Yeah no problem, trust me I remember those days.” He said sagely.

To this his grandmother snorted. “Why because it was yesterday?”

Another snicker from the knitting circle.

Thankfully, Lj intervened before Jasper could be a smart mouth. “We'll get it done. Anything else? I noticed that the Perry boys have been quiet lately and that's never a good sign.”

The Perry's were an out lying family that were farther into the backwoods. They tended to get nto trouble frequently , nothing too major. Mostly some disorderly conduct or the occasional bar brawls. However, the eldest two Perry brothers had a tendency to escalate things. They liked to push the boundaries... literally. Leaving the safety of the gateways to go on ….as they called it “Adventures.” Which usually ended with someone in the community bailing them out of jail from a few counties over. Or worse...the bureau getting involved. Thankfully it hadn't come to that... at least not yet.

“Not that I can think of..” The elder Blackstone trailed off. “Saw their father the other day, said he got them a job running supplies up the mountain. They seem to be doing well. Ya know Jon is getting mated to that Simons omega. Think it calmed him down, and Elroy...well... he just follows along.”

“Cause Elroy couldn't find his butt with a map...”Jasper muttered. To this Lj glared, you never knew whose sister or auntie might be in the meeting house and the last thing they needed was two angry Perry brothers breathing down their necks.

“Speaking of mates...” Mary chimed in. “You know Elsie Mcnally has that pretty niece, you know the one Jasper! With all that curly red hair...she's just a doll.”

Jasper groaned and covered his face. “Artn' t the McNally's like our 2nd cousins or something Gran?”

Thomas was quick to intervene before his mate could start in. “Why don't you boys get going, i'm sure you have a long day ahead of you . Remember to pick up the donations for the school outside my office on your way out.”

The younger men quickly stated their goodbyes and made their way out, much to the amusement of those present in the meeting house.

End of the month visits went as well as they usually did. Morning at the meeting house then out to make the rounds at the shops and community locations. Dropping off donations and handling a few petty grievances and mild concerns. The pediatrician was frustrated with his receptionist bringing her son to work. Not because he was disruptive but because young pups had the tendency to shift without warning. They did have a few human families from neighboring towns that came in. Thankfully no one had seen anything yet, but they still had to have a talk with her.

Lj smoothed it over by calling his wife who was more than happy to extend the offer to watch the child for her.

Come afternoon they hit a few houses close to town and excepted a lunch invitation from Mr. and Mrs Wilbanks. They made some of the best jams and jellys in town.

Afterward, they headed out to the farms and tourist spots and it was during one of these drives...just after 4:30 that things took a turn.

The radio in the truck crackled to life, disturbing the light conversation the two where having over this years college football standings.

“Come in! Lj Come in!” It was Margaret Wilson's frantic voice coming in from dispatch. The old omega had seen her fair share and to hear her so unsettled was a bad sign.

Jasper snatched the CB receiver and replied. “Margie what's going on? Somebody hurt?”

“It's bad Jasper..Real bad. Someone was seen, Kenneth Perry. He's hurt real bad but managed to get home. His mama's losing her mind can you get to him?”

Jasper felt his blood run cold and soon Lj was pulling the CB from his hand. “We're on it, we just passed the Morgans farm, we'll flip around and scoop up Doc Morgan. Can you call it into him so he can kit up Margie? Eta 10.”

“Rodger that LJ!”

The radio went silent and Greenfield hurried to turn the old truck in the middle of the road, gravel peeling out from under the tires as they sped back to pick up the doctor.

“Kenneth...he's what...15?” Jasper's voice broke the silence in a thick rasp.

“Somewhere around there” His friend said, eyeing the other man's distant eyes. “ We're gonna get there Jas. We are.”

Jasper was already miles away in his own head. Thinking about how no one was able to get there for his mother.

1987 Summer .

Jenna Blackstone had mated to Mac Luna for love. She had been the beauty every alpha chased, the daughter of the clan leader and yet....Mac, the outsider had won her affections. It was true he game from a good family from the northern gate but he'd left after fighting his brother for clan control.

He'd lost.

It wasn't a shameful thing it just panned out that way. Maybe he had a chip on his shoulder, maybe that explained his constant need to be the center of attention and a risk taker. Then again, maybe that's what she loved about him.

They had Jasper the spring after they got together, a beautiful bouncing baby boy that was the apple of his grandfathers eye. It had made it a little easier for Thomas to accept his wild son-in-law.

But Mac still couldn't settle down and play the role of father, he was still looking for that next big rush and pulled Jenna along with him.

It was a balmy summer evening and they had asked Jenna's parents to watch then six month old Jasper. Of course they obliged. Any reason at all to spoil their only grandchild.

Jenna and Mac headed out for a run in the moonlight, a quick hunt and maybe a romantic swim in one of the mountain lakes. The perfect way for a young couple to reconnect after nights of lossing sleep to a teething child.

Or at least it would have been had Mac not insisted they go just a bit further. There was never enough for him to stay within the Gateways safety. He wanted more, he wanted adventure, but he got that night turned into a nightmare.

They had ran and ran into the early hours of morning, stoping to sleep for short bursts or make love.

Jenna had already suggested they turn back more than once, to this Mac pointed out that her parents wouldn't mind if they were a bit late.

It was then in the fog of morning as they shifted that a shot rang out.

A hunting party, they'd seen the large wolves and thought they would make a beautiful trophy piece but then, just as they had them in cross hair..the creatures changed.

Monsters. Only one of the men got past his terror and amazement to pull the trigger.

One was enough.

Jenna was struck in the side and in their fear the mated pair shifted again and ran. She couldn't keep up and soon more shots followed. Mac...didn't turn back, his heart was pounding in his ears to Run Run Run! When he did turn his omega wasn't in sight. He could hear the sounds of hunting dog and guns. He tried to howl and draw them away but them the fear came again.

“She's already dead”...he thought. “Then if I die what good is that?”

The thing was Jenna wasn't dead. She managed to limp through a creek to dilute her scent and and make her way into the safety of the gateways borders. But she couldn't keep going, her battered body was spent and she collapsed there under the loving arms of a willow tree. This would be her final resting place.

Mac..would be to afraid to go back once he doubled back later and smelled the old blood and felt their bond fade into nothing. Jenna was dead and he...he was a coward. So just like when his brother pinned him down like a milk toothed pup....he ran away.

A forest Witch would find Jenna after the clan sent out a search party the afternoon the pair didn't come home.

For weeks Thomas and Mary mourned thinking they had both been killed. The bureau sent out investigators, the fear was that if Mac had been shot in Wolf form and taken by the hunters they only had a limited amount of time to collect the body before it shifted back to human.

Yet, there was no body.

It didn't take long for them to find out what happened. They eventually tracked Mac back to his clan. His brother refused to hand him over stating that his clan would handle matters on his end.

Thomas of course wanted blood but had to to settle for exile. His only child was dead, and now he had his grandson to raise. As much as he wanted to live in that hate he could not. That didn't mean he forgot. Or that in his pain he'd make sure Jasper knew what a gutless coward his father was.