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Peace and Quiet Ch. 02

By: Fantasyboy69



I was up at dawn like I was used to and I saw Amos wasn't around. I joined Jessup at the morning chores while Zeke went off to his morning classes. Nothing at all was said about Amos, but I knew the only reason was because Jessup was not one to pry. I'm glad too because I could not stand the thought that I hadn't gotten away from him.

Tommy pulled up about lunch time in a nice Hummer. Not one of those fake ones. Nope, this one was real. Actual metal. "Howdy all."

I was shirtless and chopping wood and waved when I paused. Jessup was out dealing with other things since I could chop wood. "Howdy Tommy."

"Glad you took my advice and stayed put," I nodded. "Listen, I put out an APB to the other Hunters to keep an eye out for your stalker. Would you be willing to give me more info on him? And if you think it's enough, just stop talking."

I liked that about the people around here. They didn't really expect more than you were willing to give. It was a nice change. "His name is Amos Zedekiah Burwell. He's from Oklahoma. He's my ex-boyfriend and the son of a bitch who turned me without my consent or foreknowledge. He's an abusive shit stain and I wish he would leave me alone. He wouldn't be here unless he had rented a hotel room. He likes his comforts."

Tommy blinked a few times. "Zeke got to ya, didn't he?" I laughed and nodded. "Kid's good at making people comfortable. That info is more than I will need. Do you consider him dangerous?" I nodded. "Erratic?"

"Name a cat who isn't." He nodded his head to that. "Tommy, I don't want him killed, just want him to go away and leave me alone. You gotta do what you gotta do, but if you don't have to kill, don't."

"You're too nice to be mixed in with guys like him. I..."

"Tommy! There you are!" Brigid had come out back. "When you boys are done c'mon inside. I got stuff for sandwiches and there is still some pie. Jessup! Lunch!" she bellowed and then went back inside. I grinned. One thing I can say about the Lone Wolf was it was loud, active and nothing changed.

"So, about tonight."

"I'm staying inside with Zeke." That seemed to shock him.

"That's not a bad idea. I was going to suggest staying with the family when you went outside, but inside is better if you can stand it."

We started back inside, me grabbing my shirt and washing my hands in the pump out back before even entering the house. "This would be my first full moon when I could go outside. Amos kept us locked in the cellar." I saw him flinch.

"So you're telling me that night with the deer?"

"Was one of the first times I had ever run around...as a Lycan." I had to swallow the lump of anger to say it, but I did. Tommy just shook his head.

When evening was coming around I was up in the room with the door mostly shut. I had asked to be left alone while I was changing and they looked at me like I was funny for even asking.

"When you're done, I'll be in the living room. It's about the only room large enough to hold me," Zeke said and Brigid beamed a smile of pride. Her son was a big lad and she was right proud of him.

I felt my change start and I stripped off the robe and crouched down, panting already. It was still painful and I know it was because I was fighting it. I didn't want to change. I didn't want my hair to grow out. I didn't want to grow that stub tail, or the paws, or the tufted ears and anything. The only part of it I liked was the senses. I could hear the smallest sound and scent the faintest odor on the wind. That was the only part I ever liked and even then I had been stifled in the cellar.

When I was done I stood and shook it off. I could smell the Whitebear family below and part of me cringed at the scent of large predators. It was like I knew that there were bears below me and I was smart to stay up here. Then one scent changed and dominated the others and I knew it was Zeke. It smelled big, but it did not smell hostile. I poked my nose out of the door and looked down the hall. No one was there, obviously as they would never fit in the hallway or up the stairs, but I could hear Zeke shuffling around below. I let out a small mewl and heard almost a chuckle in response. I left the room cautiously and went to the top of the stairs and I could see Brigid and Jessup shuffle out the doors for their night on the town. Then Zeke came into view and I have to say. The boy was a handsome bear. And huge. When he glanced at me I could swear he was telling me I could come down. Then he went into the living room and lay down to get comfortable. I padded down the stairs and looked around as I could smell Tommy was somewhere in the house still.

I made my way over to Zeke who watched me with interest and then scootched over to let me have some of the carpet. The part of me that still thought said it would be a bad idea to give Zeke any encouragement, but the rest of me knew he would be warm and comfortable. That side won out as I went and curled up next to him. Gently Zeke put a paw over me protectively and we nestled down to relax.

I must have dozed off because I came too when I felt Zeke move. He didn't just shift, he moved and very quickly. I hissed at him but then I saw why. Amos was standing in the doorway and hissing at Zeke. I cowered back and watched as Zeke stood to his full height. God above he was huge. Amos backed out of the door at the sight of that half ton of fury. Zeke swiped at him and backed him up farther and farther. Which was not the best thing as it gave Amos room to maneuver. He leaped at Zeke who was too shocked to react fast enough. He never thought a lynx would attack a polar bear. He got a scratch across his nose and the roar he let out made me run out the back door. I wasn't thinking any more, I just bolted.

I skidded to a halt when I saw two more polar bears running as fast as they could from the small lake on the property and I ducked as the female ran past me, her eyes filled with anger. The male stopped beside me as I hissed, my hackles up. He just wuffed and I calmed down. Then my mind took over enough to know it was Jessup and I ran and hid beneath him. His presence was enough to keep me from bolting even when I saw Amos taking off like a shot, but it wasn't Brigid that had him on the run as she had stopped at the gate. It had to be Tommy tearing off after him in full pursuit, a stunning Canis Lupus. I watched him chase Amos into the night.

My heart was pounding as Jessup gently nudged me back to the house. Brigid was staring after the chase but she turned and part of me knew she was worried about me. When I saw Zeke's torn up nose I mewled again and went over to see if he was okay. He lowered his muzzle to me and we sniffed each other for injury. Then I began to lick his nose to clean it. The first one made him pull back and snort, but he seemed to know my raspy tongue was not meant to cause pain and he came back. I cleaned it as best as I could and the two of us went back inside and I curled up willingly next to him. I felt safe here. For the first time in years I felt safe.

When I awoke I was still naked, but I was human again and under a blanket. Zeke was snoring softly and curled around me. His nose was healing well but something told me he would have a small scar there. I normally would have bolted right then, but I had given Zeke my trust last night, and I had not been betrayed, I had been befriended. My eyes caught movement and I could see Brigid smiling down at us. She put her finger to her lips as I slipped out from the covers and into the robe she was holding. We went to the kitchen. "How did you sleep?" she asked.

"Honestly? Better than I have in years. I don't remember too much about last night except Zeke." I sat at the breakfast bar as she spooned me up some oatmeal. "My memory isn't the best about what happens, but I remember seeing him charge Amos. Then I remember cleaning his nose and falling asleep knowing I would be fine." She grinned a smile of pride. "Brigid I can honestly say I trust your son with my life as much as I have any man I served with. While I vaguely remember Jess protecting me, it's nothing to what Zeke did."

"He's a gem. I hope he remembers more than normal. His memory is just bad after he changes back. I'm proud of the way he acted last night. I was not prepared for just how big that creature was." I looked down at my oatmeal and nodded. Amos was huge, bigger than I was. "There is no shame in running from something that much bigger than you. None at all." I looked up again to see her looking me right in the eyes, willing my shame away.

"It's more than his size." She nodded and gave me a motherly hug.

"I know, Quint. But you are still here. You didn't run away last night or even when he was here before. You stood your ground."

"I was out of that house quick as a fox," I said.

"After you heard Zeke roar. It was not fear of Amos that drove you out, it was sheer common sense. No stays around when an angry bear is there." I nodded.

Tommy and Jess came in looking tired and disgruntled. "He got away," said Tommy and I nodded. Amos was slick. He knew how to avoid getting caught. No one from the last place knew we were Lycan. "We'll find him," Tommy assured me.

"No, you won't." I was sure of it. The only time he would be found is when he wanted to be. I said as much.

"He's that good?"

"Yeah. Former Nave Seal." Even Tommy shook his head.

"We'll keep searching. I have his scent now and others will be joining me. Hostile nomads in our territory are not treated kindly." I nodded, but I knew they would not catch him. "Zeke got a good swipe in and he was injured so he's going to have to heal up some place." He would go to wherever he was staying, which would be some place nice. I told them to check all the hotels within fifty miles. "Good idea. When would you like to go home?"

"Honestly? As soon as I can. I don't want to bring trouble to the Lone Wolf." Jessup went to say something but I just looked at him. He knew his family could take Amos, but they would get hurt. He also knew it was my choice. In the end he nodded.

"You don't have to fight alone." Jessup was honestly worried about me and I was touched. I really was. Not too many people ever looked out for me.

"I don't want to fight at all. I've done enough fighting." He nodded. I told him a bit of what I had seen and it made him shake his head. "If he follows me, then I can fight him on my home ground where I know the land. He won't have enough time to even get his footing."

"That's sound. And the Homestead Pack won't tolerate a hostile nomad like that."

This was the first I had heard of the newest pack's name. "What's it like? This pack."

Tommy grinned. "Actually, it's just the pack for you, I'd wager. The alpha is a Canis Lunais." A Lunais alpha? I had never heard of one of those. "His mate is also Lunais and their adopted son and the pack's enforcer is a Solaris." I looked at him like he was pulling my leg. "It's the truth. I've known them since I was fifteen. I wouldn't be a Hunter if I hadn't met them one Halloween."

This pack sounded almost too good to be true. There had to be some catch, something that wasn't all what it appeared. Either way I would be in their territory and needed to let them know I was there. Most packs didn't care if a stray nomad lived within the borders so long as they weren't trouble. I might not have to join the pack at all, which would suit me just fine.

"We can go when you're ready," Tommy told me and I nodded and went upstairs to dress and get my things. When I came back down I looked at Zeke who was still out cold. I smiled down at him and knelt.

"You stay just the way you are," I whispered softly and kissed his brow. The slightest of smiles tickled at his lips and I walked out the door and to the Hummer.

"You're always welcome, Quint," Brig said with a smile. "Call us when you get to where you're going. Let us know how you are every now and then." I nodded as I tossed my things in the back. I got a sudden idea and ran back inside. I came back after a minute with a smile on my face. "What was that about?"

"Leaving Zeke a goodbye present." Jessup nodded like that I did the right thing.

* * *

We spent to rest of the night of the moon in a safe house before getting to my flight home. Tommy actually took the flight with me. Somehow he had gotten a private jet to come get us. It was sleek and shiny and kinda sexy. "One of the perks of being me," he said with a grin. I didn't question it. I was a bit nervous going up, but I shoved down that slight fear of flying as I could tell even the pilots were Lycans.

"So how did you get this jet?"

"Called the leader of Homestead. He'll be meeting us at the airport." I know my eyes went wide. Meeting the Pack Leader on the first day? "He's not a bad guy. Not even all that stern of one. He leads with fairness and equality. He's more like the big brother than the Leader."

I started asking questions. "His name is Jonathan Davenport. His mate is Patrick Farris and the enforcer is Dylan Davenport." I must have looked as shocked as I felt. "Yes, his mate is a man. You'll have a thousand questions for me, but most of them will be answered just by meeting Jon." In other words stop asking questions.

When the plane landed I got up and grabbed my gear. Before the door even opened I stopped Tommy. "Thank you. For everything. The advice, with Amos, the help getting here."

Tommy just smiled. "Hey, everyone deserves to find their place and some peace. I hope you find yours here."

As the door opened I got a nice cool blast of air. I could smell Montana like I never had before and it made me smile. I was home. At the bottom of the stairs was a man dressed in a simple business suit. Dear god, he was good looking. Not drop dead gorgeous, but seriously handsome. Great build, easy smile that was not fake at all. He also radiated power like no other Lycan I had met. This was an Alpha Male and I just stared.

"You must be Quintin Marshall." He stepped up with his hand out stretched. I shook it.

"Yes, Alpha, sir. I'm sorry if I don't greet you right. I've never been in any pack."

I liked the smile he gave me. It was genuine and understanding. "I've been told. You can just call me Jon." He looked over my shoulder and his grin got even larger. "Tommy? Boy you have gotten big."

"Hey, Jon. Six years will do that to a teen. You take good care of him now. He's got someone from his past that wants to keep him there." Tommy handed Jon a folder and I knew it had everything Tommy could dig up on Amos.

"We will. Say hi to your dad for me." And with that, Tommy was back on the plane and leaving.

I was at a loss. I was in new territory and I was being treated like I was someone important. "Alpha...Jon, I am really confused."

We started walking towards a nice truck where he put my stuff. "I bet. Not used to being treated like this." It was no question. "When Tommy called and said I would have a nomad and former soldier coming home to his family, I just thought little of it other than to welcome you when you came by. When he told me the rest, I knew I had to come here personally." He looked me right in the eyes and I could feel his power like a force. "You will be taken care of. If you wish to join Homestead, you are more than welcome. If not, you mom's house is in our territory and we'll keep an eye on it and your family. As of the moment you stepped off that plane you are under the protection of Homestead.

"Now, you hungry?" I could only nod. I was, but it also gave me something to do while I processed all this.

Jon drove us to a small cafe that made me smile. It was about five miles to my house from here and I use to work here during the summer for some spending cash. None of it had changed, not even the greeter. "Well I'll be. Little Quintin, bout time you come home. And welcome back, Jon."

"You know I can't stay away from your pies, Lilly," Jon said and kissed her hand. She was old enough to be his mother but I could tell that Jon was a people person. Unlike I had become. "Can we get a table? Quintin here is going to be working for me part time and I need to fill him in on the mondo torture he'll be put through."

Lilly laughed and sat us out of the way of the rest of the room. "I'll be back with some water and menus." She ruffled my hair and I grinned a bit.

"You use to work here, didn't you?" Jon asked and I nodded. "So, cover story aside there are some local businesses that could use a new hand. I know you want to get home, but think on it."

"How...influential are you here?"

"Well, when Pat and I moved here we discreetly bought up about half the town." I just gaped. "Most of it was going to be foreclosed or repossessed, so it was cheap. The people don't know who bailed them out of the tight spots, only that someone did."

"Rich?"

"Not really. My Pop and Pat's dad are and they helped out. Since you will be meeting them I will say that Travis Andrews is Pat's dad." I knew that name. He was the former leader of The Pack that controlled almost all of Eastern US and south through Arizona. He was counted to be a strong man and a fair one. "Do you have any questions for me?"

"Will I...be welcomed?" I was asking because I was starting feel already that meeting Jon was going to be a good thing. It was like the Lone Wolf all over again.

"Well, by most, yes. One of my edicts was no one is excluded based on type, only for being an epic douche." I snickered. "I welcome you to the territory and hope that your homecoming is a good one. Pat and Dylan will have their say if you wish to join the Pack. I do not exclude my mate or my son. And I listen to what my Pop and Travis have to say as they are also Alphas."

"Three Alphas?" I had never heard of such a thing.

"Yeah, it gets heated at times, but this is my pack ultimately. They speak for their own kind." He leaned forward. "I'm Lunais, Travis is Lupus and Pop is Solaris." I stared. I mean...how? Weren't Solaris extinct? Even I knew that from Amos' ramblings. "You'll meet them."

Lunch with Jon was interesting. He would slip up some times and I could tell he was from California. He used some cheesy surfer movie words like mondo and tubular. It was almost comical except he was filling me in on what I should expect living in the territory. Not much as far as politics; I was far from the border of another pack so I should never have to worry about disputes. As long as I kept to myself I would be left alone.

He was also charismatic. He just had a way to put people at ease, make them comfortable. Until he brought up Amos. "What do I need to know about him?"

"Ex. Turned me without permission. Navy Seal. Wants me back."

"Cut and dry. Good. Less pain that way. I'll read Tommy's report later, but I wanted to make sure you knew that if he comes around, don't fight him. If he's as big a problem as you and Tommy say, and that boy has seen problems, then I want you to grab your mom and bring her to the camp." The camp was an old camp ground that went under and Jon made it his home. Each of the leaders had their own cabin around the communal fire pit, although from what he says his dad split time between here and Australia. "We'll do our best to keep your Lycanthropy a secret from her, unless you plan on telling her, but in an emergency she will probably find out. If we can't keep him from taking you with words, we will use force and he would be no match for us. Not bragging, just stating the facts." And I believed him. He was the younger of the three Alphas, but he was powerful. Big, strong, abilities I could never hope to have. I didn't see I had much of a choice, really. This was his territory, but he was also talking sense. He didn't want anyone hurt if he could avoid it. "Let's hope he didn't follow you here."

"Yeah. I really appreciate you taking the time for me, Alpha...Jon."


Peace and Quiet Ch. 02



He smiled. "Never a problem to help out someone, especially one of our former Armed Forces." I could smell he was genuine. He respected me a lot for serving the country. "Once you're settled, if you want to come by just give me a ring." As we got up to leave he handed me his card. "That way we know you're coming and won't catch me and Pat...busy." The grin he gave me said he was often busy with his mate. "I..." he stopped when his cell rang. "Talk to me, handsome," he said with a sort of lovesick puppy look. "Seriously? Today? Shit. Infect him and stab him in the head with a silver spoon. Or have Dyl do it." He tried upset but he was grinning. "Yeah, I'll go pick his ass up after I drop off Quint."

"I can walk," I said but he waved away the suggestion.

"Sure, love. See you soon." He hung up. "That was Pat. My best bud and bane of my life has decided to fly in for the weekend." I nodded. I knew those types of friends. "Love him to death."

"Death by silver spoon?" I asked with a smirk.

"Probably. He's still completely clueless I'm Lycan. Even after seven years." To that I nodded. Something told me that this friend was to remain clueless.

Jon dropped me off and then waved as he turned around to go to the airport again. I looked at the old house and saw it needed a lot of work. Mom would not keep up on something like the paint or the fence when she had other things to worry about. Dad wouldn't care enough since he was a holier than thou pious prick who believed Jesus would provide everything they needed, even if the house fell down. He would pray and it would be answered. This would be hard because last time I had seen my folks Dad had kicked me out for being gay. Told me not to come home while I was with that man.

I hiked up my bag and walked through the open gate. My old dog Sadie lifted her head and then came trotting up. She took a good long sniff of me and then her tail wagged. Guess she remembered me enough to not care about the rest. "Miss me?" I asked her and she barked.

"What you after, Sadie," came mom's voice from inside. When she came to the door she stopped and looked at me. "Quintin?"

"Hi mama." She came down the steps quickly and into my hug as I dropped my bags.

"My boy is home. You...you didn't bring that man here, did you?"

"I left him. Long story, but we're not together and if he comes calling, call the cops." Her eyes got big. "Long story. Papa home?"

"He's working. What did you do to your hair? You come inside and put your things up. I'll fix you something to eat, you must be famished." I smiled as mom led the way into the house.

"I'm fine. I had lunch with my new boss." I would be working mainly on the farm, but Jon had arranged for a part time job at the market.

"Already have a job? Well, that's one less thing for your father to complain about." I kissed her cheek and went upstairs to drop off my things. My room was exactly the same, even had the same Pokemon bed sheets. Being in the room brought back a host of good and bad thoughts.

"So I'll be working at the market," I said to my mom, even though she had made little noise coming up the stairs.

"That's nice. Quint?" I looked at her, seeing the concern in her eyes.

"I'm fine, mama. Amos wasn't the man I thought and I came home to start fresh."

"Wanna tell me?" She put her hand on my arm in concern.

I didn't want to, but I found myself telling her almost everything he ever did. When I got to my Lycanthropy I told a small lie. "He...gave me something I can't get rid of." Her body shrank. "I'm fine. Healthy even, but there ain't no getting rid of what I got from him. So, if I ever get a cut, let me deal with it."

"You're a brave man to tell me this, honey. You're father won't be so understanding."

"I know. Also found out I have an allergy to silver." She made a quirky face. "Makes me break out."

"Then I'll make sure you don't use your grandma's silverware." I chuckled and gave her a hug. "I'm glad you're home, baby."

"Me too."

I was up on the roof with some shingles when dad got home. I heard his truck coming down the road, but I just kept working as if I didn't dread the moment he realized the blond guy was his son. When I heard the door slam I could smell his aftershave on the slight breeze. "Lenore, who is that on the roof?" Ever the suspicious one. I turned and looked down at him with as blank a look as I could. I saw his face go from confusion to disbelief, shock to anger, and finally to resigned. "Is he with you?"

"No, Papa. I left him." He nodded and went inside. No welcome home, no happy to see you...didn't expect one really. At least he didn't yell at me to get off his property or tell me I was going to hell for my sins. I went back to work.

We stayed away from each other, mostly, unless we had to be in the same room. Then we didn't speak at all. Mama tried to get us to talk, and we would talk to her, but we never said a word to each other if we could help it. I knew it would be like this, so I was prepared. The biggest thing I was not prepared for was working in the market and the people I would have to be around. I was supposed to be the stock boy. I was, but I wasn't told I would also have to fill in as cashier when told.

"I was told you got some PTSD, or some thing wrong with you, so as to keep you from being around the customers too much," said the manager. It was a good cover story for a guy who needed some time to just get his feet back under him. "But the cashier called in sick, so you get to do it today." I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Good. Now get hopping."

I went out to the register and forced a smile on my face. "Hi there," I said cheerfully. Most of the time I got some polite conversation and others I got people who knew me from school years past.

But one guy stood out from all of them. He was massive. Like bigger than Jessup massive. I ain't never seen anyone that big in my life. He had to be seven feet tall and his arms had to be close to twenty-five inches around. A strawberry blonde, hazel eyed giant who looked about eighteen in the face. A very handsome face, almost too perfect. He had the same shoulder to waist ratio of one of them comic book heroes. When he saw me his eyes narrowed a bit like he was taking my measure. He wasn't Lycan, I could tell that much, but he sure seemed to know I was one. "Howdy," I said as he put his purchases on the counter.

"Who are you? I've never seen you around the town before." His voice was deep, but not too deep, and resonated like huge bells.

Blunt and to the point. "I'm Quintin. Just moved back from the south. Folks live just out of town." The answer didn't seem to satisfy him at all.

"I'm gonna keep my eye on you. If you're trouble, you'll answer to me." With that he paid for his things and left. I got a chill up my spine that as strong as I was, he would still be stronger than me. I had done nothing to him, said nothing bad to him, yet he seemed to hate me on first sight. The rest of the shift was iffy because of that one meeting. Then I got to actually stock the shelves and clocked out after eleven.

My dad was waiting up when I got home. "Coming in late?"

"I was at work."

"The market closes at nine." I heard the accusations in his voice.

"I stock shelves, Papa. That means I'm there after the customers." I walked past him and up to my room where I shut the door. What a horrid way to end the day. Something clicked in my mind and I grabbed my phone and dialed a number.

"Lone Wolf house," came Brigid's voice. She sounded a bit tired, then I remembered it the Wolf was in the next time zone east.

"It's Quint. I made it home okay."

I swear I could hear her mood improve. "Great to hear it. You know Zeke has been on cloud nine since you left. I thought he would have been more upset. He...is tapping his foot and glaring at me. I think he wants to talk to you."

I chuckled. "You are an evil man, Quintin." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Found it?"

"Uh, yeah. You set it as my background on my phone." I could hear him walking through the house, probably to his room. When I heard his door shut his growled softly. "That was the sexiest picture I have ever seen." I had left a picture of me in my underwear flexing for him and the caption "something to remember me by" at the bottom.

"I owed you at least that for pulling my ass out of the fire. Never did get a chance to thank you."

"Trust me, that picture was thanks enough. I may get carpal tunnel, but it will be worth it." I laughed into my pillow. Here was something I could do to end my days. I missed him. "So you all settled at home?"

"Yeah. Mama was glad to see me. Papa...well, he wasn't thrilled but he didn't tell me to leave." I told him about my day and about the guy at the market.

"He sounds hot." He was probably salivating.

"He was good looking, but did he give me the creeps." We talked for a few more minutes before I went to bed. Being in a much better mood, I fell asleep quickly.

Twice more that week I saw that big guy. Each time he was glaring holes in my head. One time he was in line with a well built man who, when he got close enough, smelled of Lunais blood. He was a bit shorter than average but built like a truck. Good looking, but then I was coming to see that most Lycans were at least decent if not hot. I didn't give my normal happy smile, I just kept my head down.

"You must be new in town," said the older man with the giant.

"Yeah. Just moved back." The guy got the hint that I was not wanting to talk and said nothing else.

On their way out, the giant said, "That's the one I was telling you about. I don't trust him." Out of the corner of my eye I saw the man look back at me.

"He's harmless. If you push him you may find trouble, but I see nothing to worry about." The giant went to open his mouth but closed it when the man raised a brow. "He's probably had enough stress in his life, so don't go adding to it."

"Fine, but I'm keeping an eye him." They got into their truck and drove off.

The second time I was just leaving the store after work and he was standing across the street and looking right at me. I averted my eyes and hurried home. Thankfully he didn't follow me, but this guy was seriously giving me the creeps. The worst part was he was so...hot. I mean it was intimidating, and I had my fill of intimidating relationships, but I could not help but feel attracted to him. Which scared me. I called Zeke, which was a nightly thing for me. If nothing else I could be in a better mood just listening to him natter on.

It was the next day when I saw the guy across the street from the house that I really got freaked out. My dad was at work and Mama was in the laundry room. "Mama, can I borrow your car?"

"Bring it back in one piece," she said and I could hear her smile. She always said that to me.

I jumped in the car and was out of there before that guy could even think to follow. I drove, following directions I had been given, and came to the camp. While I knew I was supposed to call ahead, this was getting to be too much for me. I did stop on the road about a mile away. "This is Jon."

"Jon, it's Quintin. I'm dropping by."

"Cool. Travis is here, Pat's in the shower, and Dylan is in town, but you're welcome to come say hi." I hung up and drove. When I pulled in I saw Jon and a very good looking gentleman in his later years seated at the picnic table.

"Sorry to just drop in, but I've had someone following me." Jon's welcoming grin fell away and the other man, a Lupus by his smell, turned. He looked very familiar to me, but I couldn't place it.

"Travis Andrews, this is Quintin Marshall." My eyes widened a bit and then man smiled kindly as he shook my hand. I had just shaken the hand of the Former Leader of the largest pack on the east coast.

"Welcome home, Quintin. Tell us of this person." I described him perfectly and they were trying to suppress grins.

"What?"

"Your stalker...is he walking up the road now?" I looked back and I know I squeaked out something. He was staring right at me, right in the eyes. I shrunk back. They laughed at me. "That's Dylan, the pack enforcer. My son." I looked back at him. "Dylan, didn't Pat tell you to stop pestering Quintin?"

The giant, who I now realized was a Solaris, looked a bit red now. He looked at me and flushed even more red. "He said something like that."

"Son, Quintin is the one I told you might need help from someone following him. Stalking him. Hunting him." Jon's tone was just a bit reprimanding, but not harshly so.

"So I messed up?" he asked and I could see he was young. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at me. "I am sorry. You were new in town and they told me to keep an eye on anyone I didn't know." His handsome face was red from embarrassment.

"You are seriously creepy, you know that?" Jon and Travis just laughed.

"Yeah, been that way most of my life." He stuck out his huge hand. "I won't bother you like that again, especially since you're the one I'm supposed to help out if you need it." I looked at it and shook his hand. Mine was dwarfed. When I touched him I felt a surge of power shoot up my arm and we both jumped back like we were shocked. Travis and Jon looked mildly concerned.

"Ah, our mystery man has come by." I was jolted out of my trance. It was the man who was with the enforcer...who I now realized was the mate to the Leader. "My name is Patrick. You must be Quint." I nodded dumbly and rubbed my hand against my leg to get feeling back in it. "Did I eavesdrop correctly?"

Jon kissed him. "You did. Dyl was stalking the guy who is not to be stalked." The color rose higher into Dylan's cheeks.

"Yeah, yeah, Dad, laugh it up. Like you never made a mistake."

"I've made plenty. You don't do it very often, but when you do, little dude, you really fuck up." Dylan laughed and looked down. God he was gorgeous when he blushed. I stamped that thought down as soon as I thought it. I did not need someone who both scared the shit outta me and made me want to jump in his lap to know I felt that way. "So, since the problem seems to have solved itself, do you want to stay for lunch? Pat makes a great sandwich."

"I couldn't impose, Alpha," I started, "sorry, Jon." That was something I would have to work on.

"It's no imposition," said Patrick. "We share the meal making around here. Jon cooks breakfast, I do lunch and Dylan does dinner. If either my dad or Jon's are here, they chip in with pretty much anything."

The Alpha cooked? Wasn't that the job of the mate? But Pat cooked too and so did the enforcer. I really wasn't ready for such a strange place. Amos...Amos told me a bunch of shit by the look of things 'round here. "Another time," I said, looking at the enforcer out of the corner of my eye. "Mama probably has lunch made and waiting."

"Sounds like life is pretty good so far?" Jon asked and I nodded. "Awesome. You're welcome here anytime and if you ever get around to telling the folks, and they don't take it too badly, bring them by too." He stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"I doubt you'll be seeing Papa. If he kicked me out for dating a guy, wonder what he would do if he found out I get all hairy at night."

"Might be a personal question, but can you change outside the moon? I've heard the cats can do it more often. I know Dyl can, but he's Solaris and doesn't count."

"I can only change at night, but I can do it any night." I smelled Alpha Andrews get a bit jealous. "But heck, what is a lynx like me going to do? Take down an angry Pomeranian?" I smiled to let them know I wasn't really putting myself down. A lynx the size of a pony was not small. I might not match the other guys present, but I'm glad I was a good size.

"Heaven forbid," Dylan said with a smile. "I would hate to face down even one. It would kill me...by getting stuck in my throat." I couldn't help it. I had to laugh.

Back at home I was getting ready for work and thinking about what life had been and what it was now. I mean I had changed so much when I left that shitstain. I'd walked half way across the US, met some really good people and was now in a new pack territory in my old home. If only Amos had stayed in the past this would have been a very good life to be living. Yeah, Papa wasn't too thrilled about having me back home since he still knew I liked guys, but I wasn't dating.

That of course led me to the pack enforcer. He was by far the most amazing creature I had ever met. Tall, gorgeous, scary as shit, built like a tank...a big blonde scary tank of walking sex. And what was that thing when I touched him? Felt like I got shocked. I heard of the spark of attraction, but nothing like this. It was creepy. And didn't he say he had been creepy most of his life? What was that supposed to mean? I knew one thing, I was not too keen to see him again, hot or not.



Peace and Quiet Ch. 03



Life was simple. I got up, worked on the farm, worked at the store, ate a few times when I could grab a bite, and slept. There was nothing stressful in my life and I loved it. Peace and simple living...I missed it. I made sure to call Mary Beth like I said I would and I called Zeke every night so I could make sure I went to bed in a good mood. He would natter on about anything and I would just listen and a few times let it lull me to sleep. I would wake up when he paused to breathe, about every hour or so, and he would chuckle and tell me to go to bed.

I saw one of the Pack leaders a few times a week. Sometimes it was Jon doing some shopping with another Pack member. He would introduce us and it was simple. Slowly I was getting to be known by the Pack and in turn I was getting to know them. There were a few other nomads like me who settled in the territory and they had nothing but good to say about the Alpha and his family.

Other times it was Pat, who would always greet me as if I truly mattered. It made me feel good to know someone thought I was worth more then just a whipping boy. He had a very mild manner to him. I could see why he was such a good mate for Jon. They were utterly devoted to each other and only each other. Part of me knew I would never be that lucky to find some so perfect for me.

Dylan would always greet me with a big smile and it was one such day that he came by the store that I wondered what was going on with him. He wasn't his normal creepy self. Something was on his mind.

"Hey, Quint, how are you today?" I was once again filling in for cashier. Thankfully it only happened once or twice a month, but I was getting use to it.

"Not too bad. Busy."

"I can see that. Got a question for you."

"Shoot."

"What would you like to get from someone special to you?" I blinked. Did he just ask me... "I mean, what would be a good gift idea to get someone you liked. A lot."

I thanked God it was that and not what it sounded like. It would have been too easy. As much as he creep me out, I knew I would go at the crook of his finger. I was lonely and he was hot. "Um...man or woman?"

"Woman." There went the rest of that. I had no chance now. He did not play for my team.

I looked around and saw no one was close enough, so I whispered, "Human or Lycan?"

"Lycan. Lunais born."

"Well, I would say something nice like perfume as long as it's subtle. Maybe a nice necklace. I don't really know. It's been too long since someone got me anything nice."

"Really? Not even that ass I'm to keep watch for?"

"Yeah, well, he was never one for gifts. Too...macho. An alpha in his own mind." I shook my head to chase away the thoughts. They were better left in the past and forgotten.

"Dropping the subject. A necklace sounds good. Platinum with a pendant. Thanks, Quint." He paid for his groceries and left with a bounce in his step. Now that he wasn't stalking me, I could really see the charmer in him. Still creep me out a bit too much just from the touch. Then he came bouncing back in like the biggest kitten in the world. "Did you wanna grab some lunch? You have lunch in ten, right?"

I didn't even want to know how he knew that, but then he was the enforcer and it was his job to know what went on in the territory. "I...I guess. I only got a half hour until I start my actual shift."

"Good. Reuben, extra sour kraut, and spicy mustard, right? With a Mountain Dew no ice? Seasoned fries with yellow mustard?"

"Stop being creepy...and yes." He laughed and went skipping off towards the diner. I wish he would stop being so hot and so durned weird. Honestly, it was more frustrating than anything. How the hell did he know my lunch favorite?

When I did get to the diner the sandwich was just being served. "There you are, Little Quintin. When Dylan was ordering I knew that one was for you." I chuckled and sat across from the walking bane of my life.

"So...how did you know exactly what I wanted?" A huge part of me was very suspicious.

"Dad said you ordered this when you first got here. When someone requests something this specific, it means it's a favorite." So he did his homework. Not totally stalker creepy, but close enough to make me wonder. "So, first week aside, how has your home coming been?" I watched him take the biggest bite out of his burger...it was almost as big as my sandwich. Being he was seven feet huge...made sense.

"Not bad. Getting use to being around people. Amos...didn't encourage socializing and truth be told I didn't want anyone to find out about anything." His face was very expressive. He even smelled unhappy.

"I didn't read the file Dad has but I'm going to say this was not your idea." I shook my head. "One more reason to kick his ass ten ways from Sunday if he shows up."

"I would say don't underestimate him. He's vicious." He looked ready to ask what I meant and then stopped himself. I'm glad he did. I didn't want to think about all the nights of abuse.

"I won't. So, how's working at the store going?" Bless him for changing the subject. We chatted while I ate and he didn't seem to find it insulting when I would lapse into silence either. He would just wait until I talked and then would continue on as if the pause had only been a few seconds.

When I was heading back to work and going to pay my check, the cashier said it had been handled. "You didn't have to pay," I said, a bit touched that he did.

"Hey, a lunch isn't much. I still feel like crap for making your first week hell."

"Yeah, well you're still creepy." He laughed and went walking back towards his truck. "Just not as creepy." Lord help me, I did not need this in my life right now. I did not need to get some crush on the pack enforcer. I was in no shape to deal with a new relationship. It wasn't healthy. Even I knew that and I'm no durned expert on love. "Crap." I went back to work.

When the Alpha invites you over for the evening on your day off, you don't say no. It would be insulting to even think it. The only problem is I didn't know anyone other than Jon, Pat and the Creepy One. The excuse was a company picnic. The reason was there was going to be a big announcement in the pack. It was a really big thing too else I wouldn't have gotten the invite.

I pulled up to see over a hundred Lycans I had never met...and this was just the ones gathered in the parking area of the camp. I could hear and smell twice as many scattered around and I almost got back in my car and left. It was too much. Too much noise, too many new scents, too much going on here that I was not ready for. Yet I was stuck because I saw Alpha Andrews standing with a very large man, and they had seen me.

"Quintin, would join us please?" asked Alpha Andrews. Like I could say no. I walked over, jumping at every new sound that came from all angles. "Quintin Marshall, this is Alan Davenport."

The big man, Jon's foster father and the Alpha Solaris, stuck out his big hand. I felt dwarfed again and I could see where Dylan got his size. "A pleasure to meet you, Quint." I heard the accent of an Aussie and couldn't help but grin.

"And you, Alpha Davenport."

I watched his mouth twitch in amusement. "Just call me Alan. I may be an Alpha, although Solaris don't quite see it the same, but I'm still just a man." I bowed slightly, hoping to not give offense. I was standing with two of the strongest Alphas on the continent and I felt so insignificant. "I have heard a lot about you from my grandson."

"I...uh..."

"Grandpa, stop teasing Quintin. He thinks I'm creepy enough without your help." I yelped a bit when I heard Dylan was right behind me. The glare I gave him made him step back. "Sorry. I figured you would hear me, but you're not use to so many people, are you?"

"Creep. And no. I almost didn't come, but no one in their right mind ignores an invitation from the Alpha...or all three."

Said third alpha came up with his mate. Here I was, not even pack, the smallest guy here except I was a tad taller than Pat, and I felt so dwarfed it wasn't funny. Ever have that feeling? Like you're in such august company that no matter what you've accomplished in your life you would never measure up? That was me right then.

"Hey Quint. Glad you did come. You didn't have to and you don't have to stay. The pack is loud and obnoxious, especially if you're not use to it. It was an invite only, not a command. I technically cannot command you anyway since you're not pack, and I don't like ultimatums. I might request strongly, but most of the pack know they can tell me to stick it if they have good enough reason."

I could only stare. People could say no to the Alpha...and live? "I...I need some air." I fled. I knew the creek was just a short hike away and I headed there. No one followed immediately, although Dylan did after a few minutes. I sat on a rock that was out in the water and hadn't been hard to reach in a single jump. All this was too much. How many lies had Amos told me to keep me controlled? How many things had he made up about pack life? How much was true? I didn't know and it was making my head spin. Too many ifs and maybes. Too much I didn't know, and...

I caught a scent on the wind and I turned my head slowly in horror. Amos. He was standing right there not fifty feet from me and he had the scariest grin I had ever seen. "DYLAN!" I screamed and leaped back to the shore with all the speed fear can grant. I almost crashed into said enforcer.

"What is it?" I ran into his arms, damning myself for my fear. "Shit, where is he?" He knew there was only one thing that should put this much fear in me.

"Right over..." I pointed but no one was there. "He was...god let me just be seeing things, please." I heard another sound right behind us and spun to see the three alphas and Pat, all of them having come at a dead run when they heard me scream. It was then that I felt that strange charge coming from Dylan and I stepped back. "I saw Amos right over there." Dylan nodded and jogged around the creek bend to the spot, sniffing, and I waited with the others.

"Calm down, Quintin, and let me know exactly what you saw." I dully looked over at Alan and just began to talk. About everything. I don't even know what, it just spilled out. Everything I had been told, everything I had seen...all of it and I couldn't stop. I felt like a whining brat, but they were all looking on as if what I had to say was the most important thing in the world. When I started to wind down, Alan turned to Dylan. "What did you find?"

"Foot prints leading there and away. I got a brief scent, but it was heavily masked. Might be something for you, Papa Travis. You got the best nose." He nodded and trotted over to the spot. "While it may not make you feel better, you're not hallucinating. Someone was there and took off quick. It may not have been this Amos guy and the few I asked to look for him will tell me what they find."

"God, I wish I was just seeing things. All of you must think I'm a coward."

"Not at all." Jon led me by the shoulder over to a fallen tree and we sat. It wasn't lost on me that by doing this said we were equals, just two men sitting on a log and talking about our troubles. "I have no idea what that dick put you through and I have very little idea of what seeing combat will do to a man. I can sympathize and tell you a bunch of words, but I'm not you. I don't know. I do know that you had the courage to leave a bad situation, to get out. A strategic withdrawal. That takes guts.

"You're a person who's been hurt and you're dealing with that. It's only been about a month, right?" I nodded, which made me realize that the full moon was only two nights away. "Give yourself time. I still get sweats when I think about how the leader of the East Coast Pack tried to have Dylan sacrificed. It scared the shit out of me to think that someone was going to cut out my son's heart for their own personal gain. Still does. I still lie awake at night and wonder if forming my own pack was the right thing to do for them. I'm not great leader, I just try to do my best and it seems they're willing to forgive my stupidity. The thing I realized and that you will too, is that you're surrounded by folks who want to see you get your head on straight and get over all of this. Pat, Travis, Pop, me, and especially Dylan."

I made a face like I didn't quite believe that. "Hey, the little dude is loyal as a puppy. If he thinks you're worth his time, he'll make time for you. He asked me to invite you here today. I think he sees a lot of what he use to be. A person who felt like they didn't quite belong anywhere. A freak, a mistake, a scared boy just wanting to find his place in the world." I looked down. I was all that and a twenty year old kid, who had a bad past too, it seemed, had seen all that and was right now looking at me like he was so durned worried about me. "It takes time. Give yourself that time to heal. If Amos is in town we'll find him and per your wish...impress upon him the need to leave you alone. If he doesn't take the hint, I'll rip his head off personally for messing with someone I respect."

"This...is all so durned weird. You're nothing like Amos said an Alpha is supposed to be. None of you are. The only one that seems to fit is Pat." Jon grinned.

"The homemaker?" I flushed a bit and nodded. "He does it because he likes to. He use to be my office assistant...guess he just likes to help out. And I let him...he makes damn good food." I laughed. "That's better. And I'm not your typical alpha. I don't lead by an iron fist. Mine is more like a Nerf bat. It don't hurt unless I really want it to. Travis, he's more like the diplomatic type. He will listen to all sides and judge as he sees best. Pop...he's the independent type, which is why he adopted me umpteen billion years ago. He likes that people think for themselves. I learned a lot from them over the years and settled pretty much into the role of adviser and older brother. Not that I will stand for someone trying to take over, I'll knock some skulls as will the others. I just prefer to do it another way."

Travis came back. "If this guy, as it is a male, feline, around late twenties to early thirties, close to three hundred pounds and almost six and a half feet tall," I blanched at how well he had gotten the general stats of Amos from a sniff and examination, "if that's him, I have his scent now. He is good at masking it, but Lupus noses are better than the rest. I will be organizing a few things with and for Dylan and we'll find him."

I nodded. "Thank you. All of you. Isn't there a barbecue going on?" They smiled and saw that while I was still scared, I was wanting to put on a brave face.

"That there is. We'll head back, give you a few more minutes. Little dude, hang back with him just in case." The rest went back.

"Feeling better?"

"Better, but not good. He's here in town already and I don't know if I can even go home. I already told the folks to call the cops if they see him, but now I'm really worried about them." He sat next to me and bumped me with his shoulder, which sent that shock through us. "And stop, creep. I don't need to feel that jolt every time you touch me."

"You feel it too? I thought is was just static or something." He grinned and nudged me one last time. I shoved him, which was as effective as a child shoving a two thousand pound bull, and he laughed. "You do have some fight in you."

"Just because I don't like to fight doesn't mean I won't. Seen enough to last me the rest of my life, but I'm done." I stood. Maybe it was something about Dylan. Something about the alphas making me feel so welcome. Right then I felt braver than I had in a long time. "I'm done running away. Running for help...I'll do that. I'm not stupid." He laughed and stood up too. "And you're too durned tall. What is it with you alpha types? Just...corn fed and huge."

"Yeah, well, from what Grandpa says about Solaris, I will never be an Alpha." We started walking back. "I'm too aggressive. Solaris leaders can't feel like ripping off people's head for being dicks more than once a day. You laugh, but it's true. I know Dad said something about me...and my past." I nodded. "I don't trust people easily. You should know that by now." I did. From our first meeting he hadn't trusted me, but then I was not the type to trust either. "I'll be honest, I've had to fight the urge to question you about this Amos guy. To know how he thinks, to find out what makes you tick. I'm doing it for my dads because they asked me not to pry. It's hard because I don't want another knife plunging towards my chest." It hadn't been a lie either. I could see the haunting thoughts behind his eyes. "So I'm trying here, Quint."

"Wait...Alphas aren't born? And why do you want to know about me?" We started walking back slowly.

"Most are, but Dad became an Alpha. All of his experiences when newly born, having to deal with Angus and all the stuff with me, he became something more. He wanted more than anything to protect me and to help the Lunais and I guess he was just made to do it. I don't know how it happens, only that it does. You would have to ask Grandpa or Papa Travis about it.

"As for you, well...you're only a few minutes away from where I live and you've got someone following you. You also look like you need a friend. You don't want one, but you need one, and I would like to see if I can't get you wanting friends."

"Yeah...well...you got me there. I'm no longer the social type."

"I could tell, Quint. Just...smile and make nice and you may find our Pack a good fit for you. And be sure to ask the Alphas about it, if you're curious."

I wouldn't, it would be a bother, but it was something to think about. Was Amos an Alpha? He was an alpha dick, that was for sure. I doubt he was, but if Alphas could be...forged, he might be one. We walked back to the barbecue and I grabbed a soda from the cooler, feeling a bit easier now with all the noise and scents as it made me feel safer. I could hide among them and Amos would never find me, or if he did, I would be surrounded by people who would keep him from taking me.

"Hey, Quint, over here!" I looked over at Dylan who towered over everyone else, and waded through the crowd. He stood next to two people. One was a stunning young lady I could smell was a Lunais. She was a ginger blonde with a killer figure and the way she stood, she could probably kill me easily but would rather tickle me to death.

The other was a man with blonde hair that had some odd coloration. I knew what becoming Lycan could do to your looks, but he...he was handsome with his grayish blond hair and slightly pouty lips. I knew he was as young or younger than Dylan by the way he held himself. A bit unsure and wanting to look more impressive than he felt. His eyes were kind of wide spaced, but it was not unattractive.

"Hey, Quint. This is Colton Matthews, one of the other hunters for the pack. Just relocated over from Toledo, Ohio a few months back."

"Nice to meet you," he said and offered his hand. I shook it. "Welcome home." I smiled. His scent was pleasing and honest.

"And this...this is Heather." Even the tone of his voice said he was in love with her. His scent went through the roof and I had no doubt that she knew exactly how he felt.

"Hi. Has Dyl really been stalking you?" We all laughed at how red he turned.

"Not so much any more." So this was the special girl he wanted advice about. "He's still creepy though."

"Has been since I met him."

There was a bell sounding somewhere nearby and I saw Jon was ringing a triangle, one use to call folks in for chow. It got everyone's attention. "Okay. So, everyone is here who said they would be here. I could offer a huge speech, but I won't." Dylan clapped me on the shoulder and led Heather up to the front. "You all know the little dude." Which of course was the worst nickname for someone that huge. "After a lot of ceremony, and believe me I'm not exaggerating, Dylan has finally proposed to Heather." There was a huge uproar and applause from the crowd, but part of me fell. It was a small part, but it fell hard. "The actual wedding is going to be held in a few months. We're just hoping the drugs won't wear off and she realizes she's marrying him."




Peace and Quiet Ch. 03



"Dad! You're not supposed to tell her."

There were more words, but I tuned them out. I just made my way to the side while trying to seem like I wasn't. I knew I never stood a chance and I'm glad the situation was taken out of my hands altogether. Still, he was the first guy I had ever found attractive enough to even think about anything.

"Long day?"

I looked up at Colton and nodded. "I'm still not use to all of this."

"Me either. I was not prepared for how much I would be taking on when I accepted the job as hunter. This isn't Ohio." I nodded. "Still, the guys are a great bunch to work with and Jon is the best Alpha I've served. Just don't tell him I said that last part."

"I won't. How many have you known?"

"Three. I was part of the East Coast Pack growing up. Dad was a Hunter under Mr. Andrews and I was going through training when the split happened. Mr. McLeod is not a nice man to serve and since I'm not Canis Lupus, I was not well received." My brow furrowed. I could smell he was a canine, but never having smelled too many, I wasn't able to tell what he was. "I'm Latran Lunais, a werecoyote. That and being Lunais...I had to leave. I'm glad that Jon accepted me."

"I'm finding out a lot more about...our race than I ever thought possible."

"Why pause? I'm just being curious." I started talking and he listened. It was a quiet talk within the loud din of the betrothal party and somehow I ended up crying on his shoulder. It didn't mean to, I just couldn't help it. Yet Colton just held me and made sure I was going to be okay.

"And now your shoulder is wet. I'm sorry to unload."

"It's cool, Quint. You can always come to me with a problem. You may not be pack yet, if ever, but that doesn't stop us from becoming friends." I grinned. "And besides, you're kinda cute when you've got snot running down your face." He took off like a shot and I chased after him, threatening dire consequences when I caught him. Which didn't happen because he got lost easily in the crowd and I could not filter out his scent from the rest. I was a bit glad he got away. I didn't want him to see the small smile on my face.

"Kinda cute?" I whispered to myself. Part of me liked that...the rest wondered if Dylan hadn't just found someone to be nice to me so he didn't have to. "That sounds like Amos talking," I chided and stamped that thought down. It wasn't Dylan's way to do that. I at least knew that much about him. Maybe...maybe Colton does think I'm cute, I said, but then I felt a huge wash of reality. I wasn't cute, I wasn't some catch. I was a freak among people who had accepted their own beast. Looking around I saw that no one was looking at me, so I hopped in the car and drove home. I was in no mood to party anymore.

When I got there, I saw the cops were parked outside the house. I pulled up and jumped out of the car and ran. "Mama!" I called out and bolted through the door and past some sheriffs. I saw her on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hands. "Mama, are you okay?" I ran to her side.

"Quintin, I did just as you said I should. That man came here looking for you, and I called the cops." I sat down hard. Son of a bitch!

"Did he hurt you, Mama?"

"No. Scared me, but he didn't hurt me." Letting out a sigh I turned to the nearest officer and told him to garb something to write with because I was going to tell them everything they needed to know about him to put a bullet through his head. I didn't care about him living now. He had scared my Mama. The gloves were off.

After taking my statement and my accounts, they said they would be coming around to check on us once a day for a week. If anything else happened we were to call them. Yeah right. I was going to call someone who could do something about him. It was getting dark and I knew one thing. If he came here tonight he would find one pissed off lynx waiting to tear out his throat. Once they were gone, Mama came running over and hugged me.

"Oh, honey, he was so mean to me. With your father out of town for the weekend, I just don't know what to do."

I had forgotten he was going to be out of town. I made one decision I almost regret to this day. "Mama, sit back down. I...need to tell you everything." She sat, looking more worried than before. "That thing that Amos gave me...it's not like HIV or AIDS." Her hand started to shake. "It's better and worse at the same time. It won't kill me or anything, but it is contagious, which is why I said to leave me be if I bleed."

"Honey...you can tell me. I'm scared enough that it won't shock me now."

"Then...the thing is...I'm a Lycan." She looked blank. "A werebeast."

"You're a werewolf?"

"Not a wolf. Lynx." She almost laughed outright. "I'm serious, Mama, dead serious. He is too. I need you to know because night after tomorrow is the full moon and I will get hairy no matter what I do. He may be back and he's a lot bigger than I am."

"Quintin James Marshall, you best not be lying to me."

"Mama, I have never been more honest with you than I am now. I could change right here, right now, but it would scare you something fierce."

I saw the look on her face right before she said it. "Then change. I won't believe you until I see it. You know I'm from Missouri." I stood and looked at her one time. "Get on with it. I don't want to think you're a liar, Quintin." So I changed. I stripped off my clothes right in front of my own mother, watching her protest, and then I felt myself start to get heavier. The fur grew out as I was panting, still wishing this never had to happen again. I fell over on my side, smelling the fear from my mother and it was making me apprehensive, but I was already turning and couldn't go back now. When it was done I lay there a moment and wished I didn't have to let her know this. I wish Amos had stayed gone so I could just make some excuse to leave for the night of the full moon. When I did look over at here Mama was slack jawed. "Heavenly Father, what did that monster to to you, baby?" I looked at her like it was silly to even ask me to answer. One thing about changing outside of the moon, I kept more of my mind. "Do...do you still understand me?" I nodded. "Good Heavens! And he turns into this?" Again I nodded. "I'm not going to call the sheriff. I'm going to call animal control if he shows up." I couldn't help but laugh, which came out more of a purr than anything else. "Your father will not like this at all."

I knew that. I knew it very well. Waiting a few minutes, I changed back and got dressed. "There is more. A lot. There are hundreds of Lycans around here, which is how I got a job so fast. The company's owner is a Lycan and the pack Alpha."

"Is he a lynx too?"

"He's a wolf. Good man. If it comes down to it, I am going to take you to him and he will assign people to protect you from Amos."

"You can't?"

"No. Mama, I'll tell you he scares the crap out of me and on top of that, he's bigger. If you don't like the idea of going to stay with Lycans around here, I know of one place you can go and they would fight for you with every ounce of power they had." I told her of the Whitebears. I knew I didn't even have to ask, Bridget and Jessup would open their house to Mama in a second.

"Is that who you talk to every night?"

"Yeah. Zeke got me smiling and got me some peace back. Good folks. Bigger hearts than the rest of them, and they're polar bears." She smiled.

"Sounds like it. I...this will be a big shock to your father when he finds out. Honey...I know it must be hard to hear this but you may want to find some place else to live." It hurt but I knew she was right. "Your father...and then that monster coming around."

"I know, Mama. I've thought about it and tonight, with him showing up, it is time that I did get out of the house. You might be safer then." But I didn't believe it. Amos would use them as leverage and bait to get to me. "I'll start looking around for a place. Might not be close, but I'll find something. For now, I'm gonna call Zeke and you can talk to Brigid. If you can, and if you think it best, you can get out of town until after the full moon." She nodded, still a bit shaken.

I dialed the Wolf instead of Zeke directly. "Lone Wolf, this is Zeke."

"Hey kiddo."

"Quint! Hey, why call the house and not me?"

"Actually, I wanted to talk to your mom for a bit. Let her talk to mine as Amos showed up here and scared her a bit."

"MOM! We're going to Montana tomorrow. Quint told his mama and that shit stain went by their house." It was loud enough that even Mama could hear it and she smiled.

After a moment the phone was transferred. "Quint, how are you? How's your mom holding up?"

"You can ask her yourself. I just told her about me and what Amos did." I handed the phone over to her and went to my room to grab my cell phone. It was new to me and a gift from Jon. "Just in case," he said and wouldn't take no for an answer. I called Zeke.

"So, you want us to come out there? Dad is thinking about it."

"Nope. I was hoping I could send Mama there. Let the moms talk it out and see what's best, but I don't want Amos anywhere near her again. If he comes over I'll tear out his fucking throat."

"So it's kill on sight now? And FYI that was the sexiest thing I have ever heard you say. All stern and stuff...hot." I laughed and rolled over on my bed. "So...wanna talk about the day?"

"Actually...no. It's been stressful, but I just want to talk to you about anything other than Amos. So...you like it when I talk sternly?"

"Oh god yes. I have a bit of a thing for dominant males."

"A bit? Sounds like more than a bit. Tell me what you did when you saw that picture of me."

"You don't want to hear..."

"I said tell me." I heard him shudder. I could play this game for him.

"God...I woke up and went into the bathroom and jacked off to it. Twice. Each day you've been gone." God, really? Had I made that much of an impression on him? "I would do more...if I had more pics."

I laughed as I could hear the smile in his voice. "If you're a good soldier, I might email you something."

"Yes sir!" Did he just mock salute like I could see in my head? If so it was so adorable. I spent the rest of the evening teasing with Zeke. It was nice to know I could be this person again, at least with him. Made me wonder why I left. Made me wonder when I would be going back.

Morning came and with I could hear a lot of activity down stairs. I pulled on some pants and went down to see Jon and Dylan were in my house and Mama was grabbing some last minute things. "Um...Mama, I guess you met Jon and Dylan."

"Yes. Wonderfully polite men. They're taking me to the airport to fly to the Whitebears' house for a week." So Brigid had been able to convince her that it was safer. It was a lot safer.

"You're going along on the flight," Jon said and I almost heard a command in his tone. "Jessup said he and Zeke would be there to pick her up. Thought you might want to see them again." A good reason, but there was still that tone that said I would be going to fly there for some reason. This did not bode well.

"I'll shower then. When do we leave?"

"We leave the house in twenty minutes."

"Yes, Alpha," I said and bounded up the stairs. I realized what I had said, but when I glanced back he was calmly toting a bag out to his truck. Good enough.

Once we landed I could see Zeke there looking a bit stern, but Jessup was just looking like he was there to pick up a long lost friend. Dylan went off first, followed by Mama and Jon and then me. When Zeke saw me, his facade melted and he waved a huge paw at me. "QUINT! They didn't tell me you were coming." He ran up and pulled me into a massive bear hug...har har har. When he did I almost melted. It felt so good to be back with him, to know that I would always find shelter in these massive arms.

"I missed you too, Zeke. Mama, this is Jessup Whitebear and his son Zeke."

"A pleasure to meet you, ma'am. Quint has had nothing but kind words to say about you and by how anxious he was to get home, I know you'll like it at the house. Brigid is making peach cobbler and it should be done by the time we get there." He grabbed all of her bags with no effort. "I know it ain't much time, but we gotta get going, Zeke."

He groaned and went to put me down, but I stopped him when I gave him a kiss. His arms just stopped and then pulled me in closer. Mama just gawked and it lasted until Jess wuffed at him. Zeke let me go with the biggest grin on his face. "Yeah, you need to come back more often. Phones are great..."

"Come back with us," said Jon. "You can see Montana, get out of the house for a bit, get to spend time with Quint, and hopefully help us catch that asshat as you have his scent in your memory better than anyone save Quint." Zeke looked back at Jessup with the most hopeful look. He was silently begging him to let him go.

"Don't eat them out of house and home," was all he said and Zeke whooped it up like he was getting paroled or something. "You take good care of my boy else you'll have to face his mama."

"We won't get him killed," said Dylan. "I got some stuff that should fit you."

I went over to Mama. "You're safe now. There are a lot more friends around down here with big guns to kill that thing should he show up. That's the new order of business. Kill on sight," I said to Jess and Jon. They nodded. "No one scares my Mama but me." She looked worried but still she laughed a bit. "We'll see you in a week."

"You take care, baby. Don't be brave, run for help. And keep that boy close to you. If he drove that animal off last time, looks at you like you hung the moon, and blushes like that from just a kiss, he's yours for life." It was my turn to blush and the sideways glance I sent Zeke said he was clearly not going to refute her claims. Mama looked Zeke up and down. "Yes. This is the type of man for you, baby. Respectful, happy, big enough to make you feel safe when you need it and a good head on his shoulders to know when to let you be. That's the last I'm going to say on it." Jessup nodded like he agreed with everything Mama said. They hopped in the truck and were gone.

"Lets get going. I'm technically only supposed to come to the fringes for an hour and that is nearly up." We loaded onto the plane and Zeke whistled low when he saw the interior. "Semi-formal intros. I'm Jon Davenport, Alpha for the Homestead Pack. Just call me Jon. That is Dylan, my son and the pack's enforcer."

We sat and prepped for takeoff. "Nice to meet you. Quint has said a lot of nice things about you guys. I don't see the creepy part though." The rest of us laughed. It was going to be a very interesting week. Alone...with Zeke.



Peace and Quiet Ch. 04



It was the night before the full moon and I was restless. I knew that any moment Amos could come out of the shadows and make my life hell. It was a constant dread, really. Yet...I was happy. Zeke lay on his stomach in just his underwear, a tight pair of boxer briefs with the words "Everything is AWESOME!" across the butt, and he was reading one of my favorite books. It was the quietest I had ever seen him unless he chuckled at some of the bad jokes in the book.

On the sofa was Dylan, also in just his underwear, a very loose fit pair of boxers. He was watching TV, keeping up on the sports he always wanted to play. I wasn't openly ogling him, but I was looking and I found out on thing. I wasn't nearly as attracted to him now as I had been even last week. A lot of the mystery had been stripped away and the rest was blown up when he got engaged. Not that he wasn't easy on the eyes. He was almost too good looking and still creepy.

Colton was also watching the game, but he kept his shorts shorts on. Mainly because he was wearing a jockstrap under as we had been playing football earlier. He was leaner than the other two, and not nearly as tall, but he was fast. Faster than all of us and almost too quiet to hear. I had to admire the lines of his body. Still a bit of baby fat, he was only eighteen. I was the oldest, yet I didn't feel it. They didn't make an issue that I was almost a decade older than them.

I did notice and like one thing about them. All of them were hairy. Colton had the least with a small trail on his stomach and a decent patch between his pecs but his legs and forearms were very hairy. Then came Dylan, with his golden curls all over his chest and stomach, his legs and arms. Zeke...he was a hairy bear. Chest, the small of his back, across his shoulders, there wasn't much of him that wasn't hairy. So different, so appealing...so out of my league. And I shouldn't be thinking about them like that anyway. Dyl was getting married in a year, Colton was still just an acquaintance, and Zeke...he lived too far away for me to invest anything more than friendship. And I was in no shape to think about dating anyone...except here were three guys who all had my eye.

"You seem too quiet," said Dylan to someone.

"I can be quiet. Just takes effort," responded Zeke. He looked up from the book he was reading with a big grin. "Like not running out to the creek to skinny dip. Takes a lot of effort." I laughed and nudged him with my foot.

"Stop trying to see us naked," I joked.

"Nope. I will have satisfaction!" he exclaimed and grabbed me by the ankle, pulling me on the floor with him. I screamed murder when he dug his fingers into my sides. Dylan was laughing his ass off, but Colton just joined in the tickling. I could fight them off a bit, but not not two of them, especially when that big bear decides to put his weight into it and pins me down. "Get his shorts." I began to kick, getting Zeke in the side of the head and Colton in the ribs. Then I was able to slip out of their grips and I jumped on Zeke. I was under no delusions that I could ever hold him down without resorting to evil tactics.

Except when I landed atop him he just stopped struggling and a low, throaty groan come be heard from him. His eyes instantly dilated and it was almost frightening how submissive he became. "Oh god," he whispered. I rolled off him and watched his chest heave a few times. "Um...could you not do that again? Please?" he asked in a whine.

"Seriously?" Colton asked. "All he has to do is turn the tables on you and..." He gestured to Zeke's covered crotch. He nodded. "Wow. You're easy."

"I thinks it's sweet," said Dylan. "Reminds me a lot of my dads. I..." he trailed off as I walked out back to the porch.

Holy crap. I knew Zeke liked me and was attracted, but I had never seen anyone react like that. It was a bit scary. And I knew that leaving right then was probably not the best thing but I had to get some air and clear my head. I heard the door open, felt the thud of heavy feet, smelled that unique and somewhat intoxicating scent that was Zeke. "Quint..."

"I like you. A lot. I can't be what you want me to be." I turned to look at him. "I can't be dominant, Zeke, not really. I can act it, but I...I want to be the one held. The one protected. The one that..." He silenced me with a finger to my lips and leaned in for a kiss. It was gentle but full of passion. More than the kiss at the airport earlier that day. Those massive arms pulled me off my feet and I could hear him growling in contentment. This is what could have been between me and Amos if he weren't such a douche.

We heard it at the same time. A small twig snapping behind me. Zeke dropped me in time to avoid getting hit. Amos came rushing at Zeke, punching him across the jaw and I heard it shatter. So did Dylan and Colton and they came tearing out the back door and crashed into Amos, shoving him off the porch. "He is mine!" Amos roared and came at us again.

Colton dropped down low and tripped him up just enough for Dylan to get in. With a strong hit to Amos's chest, that shit stain went flying again. "Quint, you take care of Zeke. Stay down." I nodded, willing to take orders from Dylan, and went to Zeke while he was trying to get back to his feet and get back to the fight.

"Let them handle it." I could see Zeke was livid and he tried to stand but I stared him in the eyes. "Stay down," I said fiercely and he went limp with a shudder. "Do not move from here unless your life depends on it." I ran inside and grabbed the rifle. I had always been a good shot with a rifle. I came back out to see Colton and Dylan were pushing him farther from the house but were not able to land any real hits. Amos kept dodging them or using their force against them.

"Down!" I yelled, and the two enforcers dropped to the ground as I squeezed off a shot. The .204 Ruger ammo was what Papa used to kill bears and anything else that may come too close to the house and it dropped Amos to his ass. I had hit him in the shoulder, not the heart, but it was enough to get the point across. He clutched at his wound and ran off into the night. "Next time I won't miss, you son of a bitch." I handed the rifle to Colton and then went to Zeke. "Are you okay?" He looked up at me with such adoration that I smiled. "You can get up now, cub." I looked shocked at what I had said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't call you that. I hated when he called me kitten."

He sat up slowly, keeping his jaw clenched. "I like that. Call me that any time." I shook my head.

"That was some hit you took. You were not kidding when you said he is dangerous." Dylan helped Zeke up. "I can't take him alone. Not this close to the full moon. Thanks for your help, Colton."

"Hey, it's what I was trained for. Glad I was here. Ever break your jaw?" Zeke shook his head. "Just don't talk too much. You'll heal well enough with the moon so close and finish it tomorrow night. I'm calling Alpha Andrews and the other hunters. If they can't catch him no one can." He pulled his cell phone out.

Zeke plodded in and sat on the sofa. I went to get some ice as it was the only thing I could think of to do as my medical training was not for broken jaws and he would metabolize any pain killer too fast. "Thank you for listening, Zeke. I don't want to lose you."

"I didn't have much of a choice." I could understand him, even with the clenched jaw. "When you get all stern like that..."

"Hey, time to be serious. You're strong and big, but he's stronger and bigger and has military training." He nodded. He knew he was outmatched in human form, but tomorrow night he would have the advantage and Amos knew that. Having seen an enraged bear, I doubt he wanted to tangle with Zeke on the full moon.

"Therein lies the problem. We're not trained enough to handle this." Dylan came over and looked down at us. "I know you have basic hand to hand training and you're a fine shot with a gun, Quint, but it's not enough. I can't stick to you like glue." I nodded seeing where he was going.

"We need better training. I haven't fought in a few years and Zeke has only had to fight a cold before." Zeke nodded. "Who can I get better training from?"

"We," said Zeke. "I won't let him take Quintin from me. He will have to kill me to get to you," he said and I felt a huge flush of heat. God...when he got serious it was such a huge turn on.

"I know just the man to call. Former hunter, showed me a few tricks. If anyone can help it's him."

Colton came back in. "Alpha Andrews in on his way here with three trackers. The four of us are going to the camp. Alpha Davenport's orders." Which it was probably a strongly worded request. "Um...I mean Alpha Alan's orders."

"What about Dad?" asked Dylan

"He's coming to escort us back to the camp while Alan arranges for place to sleep for you two." It was the best thing. I don't know why I didn't just go there when we got back. It would have stopped Zeke from getting hurt.

"Good. Any complaints?" Neither of us had any say really. I was not pack, but I would do anything to keep Zeke from harm. "Then Quint, pack a bag. Enough for a week."

"Is this a bad time to bring up the fact that I'm looking to move out of the house?"

"Actually, it's a good idea. For now, you can stay at the camp. It's safest. After the moon we'll see what might be open around the territory." It was as good as we were going to get.

I heard two vehicles pull up and some heavy foot falls. I could see Alpha Andrews through the open door along with three others, already in pursuit. After a brisk knock, Jon came in. "Sorry to not wait for the invite, but we need to get you boys some place safe. I got a van out front with two armed snipers." I looked a bit spooked.

"Quint will be staying with us for awhile, Dad. He needs to move out of the house. His folks might be safer that way."

"Fine. Zeke, you okay?" He nodded and stood. Jon came over to look at the injury. "That son of a bitch is strong." We all nodded. "Pack. We move out in five." I responded to the brisk commands with the programming of a soldier. I was up and packed in three minutes, even remembering my toothbrush and hygiene products.

At camp Pat met us with a sad smile. "Sorry about accommodations, guys, but you'll have to bunk up. With the betrothal party we still have a few guests." I looked over at Zeke and could see he was not unhappy with this at all. "Dylan, take them to cabin six. Alan is there already airing the place out a bit. If you're hungry we still have plenty of left overs from the party."

Cabin six was small, quaint, and had only one bed. Alan, Zeke, and Dylan could not all be in the room at the same time without bumping elbows. "Sorry about the cramped space."

"It's fine, Alpha Davenport. Really."

He smiled at me. "You don't deserve this hell, Quint." He patted my shoulder on the way out.

I looked over at Dylan. "Thanks, creep," I said and gave him a hug. "Damn shock."

"I hope it stops."

Alan came back in. "What was that?"

"We shock each other each time we touch." His face went from curious to guarded and then to a bit...happy? "Grandpa...what is going on? Share with the kids."

Alan was silent for a time. Zeke sat on the bed, still holding the icepack to his face. "It's something good. A bond between the two of you." Zeke's scent got a bit worried. "Not romantic, that would be a different sort of reaction, but a strong bond nonetheless. In the morning I will tell you what I remember of the old histories. They are not Solaris histories per se, but I do recall a few. Travis would know more. I know it will be difficult, but try and get some sleep. We will have a few people patrolling the camp at all times. Once Travis gets back, we will know more about this threat." He left with a nod.

I dropped my bag in the corner. I would deal with it tomorrow. Right now I was tired and wanted to sleep. "I'm right next door, guys. If you need anything just holler." Dylan gave us each a smile and wink. "Don't stay up too late."

"Out, creep." He left with a laugh and shut the door behind him. When I turned back to Zeke he was already stripped back down to his underwear and looking at them like they were evil. "What?"

"I normally sleep nude." I saw him blush a bit. He set the icepack aside since it was mostly water anyway.

"You take the bed, I'll take the floor..." His face looked a bit crestfallen. "Or...I..." I couldn't say it. It was too soon. He was too young for me and I couldn't be what he wanted. He slipped under the covers and held them open for me. "Are you sure? I mean I don't want to lead you on. I'm not ready for anything..."

"Just strip and get in bed." Before I even knew what I was doing I was down to my underwear, my good old white briefs. I looked down, in awe that I hadn't realized I was stripping, and then shrugged. I slid into bed next to him and he pulled me close, wrapping his arm around me. "No commitment. We take it as it comes and if it doesn't work out, we can't say we didn't try."

"So...just two friends who happen to cuddle and sleep together?"

"Yup," Zeke said and he began to fidget. Then I saw him dump his underwear by the bed. I whined. "Did that turn you on?" he growled in my ear. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it was no use to lie. He could smell me getting aroused. "Isn't it a bit funny. Here we are, two guys who find the other attractive...and we're both submissive."

"How would this even work?" I turned enough to look at him. I could see his face clearly even though the curtains were drawn and there was little light.

"Take turns being dominant. Or just go with the flow. You may want something and I may want something. If I give you what you want...and you let me give you what you want, then we are both submitting." He yawned and then winced, clutching his jaw. "Ouch." 

I grinned and kiss his lips carefully. "So we play it by ear." He nodded and I rolled back over to snuggle deeper against his furry chest. This was where I wanted to be. In the arms of a man I trusted.

I awoke when I heard someone touch the handle on the door. Zeke did too by the way he his eyes looked glassy but becoming alert. We nodded and slipped out of the bed, me going to the door to hide behind it and Zeke going right in front and lowering himself into a football crouch. The handle slowly turned and the door opened without a sound. I got a good sniff of who it was and then waved Zeke to stand down. "Oh! Jeeze, Zeke put some pants on. Sorry to catch you on the way to the bathroom."

"Colton, you nearly got jumped right now for coming in like that." Zeke went to the bed and grabbed his underwear.

"I could take you, big fella."

"But not me," I said, moving up behind him and he jumped forward, turned mid air, and landed on his butt on the bed.

"SHIT! Quintin you scared the crap out of me." Then he started to laugh. "So you had this planned out? Good. Breakfast is in ten minutes. And Alpha Alan says you'll be going on a hike with him and Alpha Andrews." I nodded. "Oh, and by the way...you both look cute as hell all sleepy eyed and ready to fight." He left with that remark.

Zeke and I shared a look. "Is he..." Zeke asked. I shrugged. I didn't know Colton well enough to even make a guess, but if he wasn't into guys he was sure comfortable about it. He was cute too, but I couldn't do it while Zeke was worming his way into my heart deeper than he already was. I bent over to pull my bag out from under the bed and then found myself flat on my back on the bed, Zeke having manhandled me there. I was about to attack him, but the smile on his face and the scent of him as he climbed atop me kinda stopped all thought. God he felt good there. "Good morning." He kissed me. All I could do was smile. His face went slack. "Wow."

"What?"

"You are freaking gorgeous when you smile. It makes your eyes shine and...I need to get up before I do naughty things to you." He went to get up but I wrapped my arm around his neck and kissed him, which made him lay right back down.

"We have six minutes," I whispered in his ear. We spent it making out like high schoolers. If this is what it was supposed to be like in an actual relationship then I liked this. I liked this a lot. While we dressed, Zeke pulling on some clothes that Dylan loaned him, we just smiled over at each other. Before we left I took his hand. "Thank you."

"For..."

"Being a complete chatter box and pulling me out of my shell a bit." He grinned. "And for being here. This whole thing is shit, but I'm glad I have someone I trust to keep me safe, sane, and smiling." It was the durned cutest thing to watch him blush.

"You...really trust me that much?" he asked, a bit in awe.

"Hey, you already protected me twice from Amos, both times getting hurt. If not as a friend, then I trust you as a brother in arms." He grinned and gave me a mocking salute. "At ease, soldier," I quipped, which made him laugh.

After a very hardy breakfast, Jon did make one mean country breakfast, the Alphas started us on our hike. Alpha Andrews spoke first. "Your ex is proving to be every bit the amount of trouble you said he would. We tracked him to the stream behind your house and lost him. We checked up and down the banks for miles and nothing." I nodded. Tonight would be the best tracking time, but by then Amos would be healed enough to pose another threat. Dylan and Colton came jogging up from dish duty. "Glad you could join us, boys, as some of this you may wish to hear. Alan has told me of your connection with Dylan and I may be able to offer some insight." This was some news and something I knew I was very curious about. "Dylan did some digging himself last night into the few things I have forgotten. He is our resident Lycan fan, with Colton being a very close second." The grinned at each other as we began our hike.

"The quick history of Lycans starts with Bast and Wepwawet. Solaris are her children, Lupus are his. Civil war relocated the Solaris into hiding all over the world, which is where your Lycan origins come in. We will start in Greece and the Solaris who fled there. This information comes from Alan as to their travels, but the tale is almost legend." I nodded even though I was behind Alpha Andrews. "When the Solaris got to Greece they approached the people for sanctuary, which the Greeks granted even after knowing about the magic of Wepwawet and his infectious brood." Strange to hear about the Canis Lupus referring to his own species as and infectious brood. "When the Lupus came and stormed the places they were hidden, the goddess Artemis was infuriated. She transformed her most faithful follower Callisto into a bear, something that can fight off the wolves. Callisto was given the power to turn her own troops into bears." This was already fascinating. "Callisto and her troops held off the wolves long enough for the Solaris to escape with a small contingent of Lycan bears. Their travels took them across the country that is now Russia and then back south through Mongolia and to the Japanese archipelago where they were stopped by a pack who had come up from the south."

That was very disheartening to hear. All that way and they were killed. "The bears did what they could, but only two of the Solaris survived along with one of the bears. The Ainu peoples of the area saw the mighty bear and believed it was their god and called him kamui. It later..."

"Became the name of a tribe of werebears," said Zeke. "My ancestor was a Kamui. Course this was a long time ago and since I look nothing like the Kamui, I have never thought much about it. So you're saying that I can trace a direct line to one of these Greek soldiers, maybe even Callisto herself?" That took Zeke's fancy. Imagine him...direct descendant to Callisto.

"She died without having children once turned, so no." Zeke sighed dramatically. "But yes, you are a direct descendant of one of that remaining Greek soldier. Your Lycan genes adapted to the cold and while you are not a true polar bear, the resemblance is close enough. Because of this, werebears have been known to be very protective of those dear to them. It is literally in your genes to protect others." Zeke nodded like he was okay with this. "A few other types of so called bears went to China and down here to America."




Peace and Quiet Ch. 04



"Werepandas and weregrizzly?" Alan and Travis nodded. "Something to write home about. Mom always said I was descended from warriors."

"Walking walls, maybe," said Colton and grinned.

"The others went to different areas. There was another factions of Lycans that came from Egypt. The followers of Anubis, the Jackal god, knew of the plot against the Queen and her Solaris, but could do nothing to stop them. He was a god of the dead, what cared he for the living? But Bast appealed to her fellow god and he decided to break his neutrality because he was unable to guide the number of souls to the underworld. Too many were dying because of this war, most of them humans. Anubis brought his own followers in and they became the first Lycan jackal, what we call coyotes here in America." Colton looked like he was impressed. "Those of his order were known to be guides and the werecoyotes guided the followers of Bast north to the Mediterranean and across it to Sicily and beyond. Those few journeyed into the court of King Lyncus in Scythia."

This was like one big mythological mishmash. Bast, Anubis, Artemis. "Wait...is this the story of Demeter and how she turned the King into a lynx for killing her follower?" I had some interest in mythology growing up.

"Precisely, but that is not the precise truth. While she did turn him into a lynx, it was not for punishment but to save him. Triptolemus, in the guise of teaching him art of agriculture, had come to kill the king, and in defense, the king did kill the follower, but it angered many other people because the king had not shared the knowledge before killing Triptolemus. She turned him into a lynx to save him from the masses and he joined up with a few Solaris as they escaped. While he never had to deal with the Lupus, Demeter did instill a wariness of other Lycans into the species."

"Which might explain why the Creep still creeps me out. All of you do, a bit. Except Zeke. He creeps me out a lot too." I grinned over at him and he just smiled back and nudged me into the dirt. "Durned bear." Alpha Alan helped me up, me getting a lesser shock from him. "Hey...must run in the family."

"That is actually where this starts. Lyncus fathered many children after being changed, but none of them had his Lycanthropy. For ten generations the genes lay dormant until one daughter wed and mated a Solaris." I had a suspicion I knew where this was going. "Half of them were Solaris, the other half Lyncus. The thing is, the siblings seemed to have favorites among them and never one of their own kind. Always Lyncus and Solaris. Always." I looked over at Dylan and he had a serious look on his face. It showed he was wondering just freaky his life could get. "Throughout the rest of time the blood lines would diverge and then converge when these pairs got together. Sometimes as bitter rivals with profound respect for each other, others as siblings, and a few times as lovers. Always though, they were warriors."

"So Creepy and I are distantly related?" Alpha Alan nodded. "Huh. Good..." I suddenly stopped. Something had caught my eye in the distance.

"What?" asked Dylan.

"There is someone standing there looking in our general direction. Older man, kinda of like Sean Connery a bit."

There were smiles all around from the pack members. "Where?" asked Dylan. "I don't see him." I pointed and he squinted. "Wow, you can tell that detail from here? Neat trick. Over here, you old gossip!" Dylan called out. I saw the man look in our direction and then come trotting over. As he got closer I could see he was a Lunais and one handsome man for all his years. When he got close enough Dylan ran over and scooped the man up in a huge hug. It would take someone his size to lift this well built man off the ground so easily. "I have missed you!"

"I have missed you too, Dylan. You have grown so much since the split." Dylan carried him over like it was nothing and set him down, both grinning. "Been a long time since I was manhandled so easily." He bowed at the waist to the Alphas. "Nice to see you again, Travis. Alan."

"Welcome to Homestead Territory." There was a note of respect from Alan. "Jon and Pat will be thrilled to see you, but why are you here?"

Dylan's face got a bit serious. "I called him. We need your help." The gentleman nodded, not even questioning what the help was. What did he know? "Quintin, this is Gene. He's a former Hunter for the East Coast Pack and the liaison between the Lunais and the Lupus for that Pack." I raised a brow. "Long story. He'll tell you later." That brought a sort of merry twinkle to Gene's eye. "Gene, we have a situation and I'm not equipped yet to handle it. So I called in the best I know. Since he was busy, it fell to you." Gene laughed loudly and I liked the sound. This man was someone worth knowing.

"Anything for you, Dylan, you know that. What do we have?" I told him. As we walked back to the camp he was silent, nodding that he was listening to everything. I had no doubt he could repeat the entire thing back word for word. "I see. And you want some additional training." There was no question about it. He knew what he was here for and knew he would not be asked to fight Amos. "I can do that. With the moon tonight, I can work on some things, but it will mostly happen afterward. It's good you called. If Travis cannot track him, this man is good. Probably one of the best and Lyncus are known to be stealthy to begin with." His entire demeanor changed when we entered the camp. He was now just one more visitor. "I need to pay my respects to the Alpha Pair."

"DAD! STOP BANGING PAT FOR LIKE TWO SECONDS AND GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!"

"NO!" I heard in reply which then was followed by a laugh from all around.

"I do that all the time...since they do it all the time. I swear those two are always..." Dylan stopped when he saw my flat look. "Well they are."

"Kinda hot," Zeke murmured and I couldn't hold the look. It was a hot thought. The Alpha Pair were handsome men.

After a moment Jon came out wearing just a pair of basketball shorts, showing off the last bit of a chub...and a rather impressive one. All in all, he was what Alpha men should be built like. Just...wow. "So why do I have to stop bang...Gene!" Jon came over and pulled the man into a fierce hug which was returned with the same intensity. "How are you?"

"Good, and glad to see you. Were it under better times I would be overjoyed for the new pack." Pat came out in a sarong, another perfect specimen of manliness, and gave Gene a far more sedate hug. "I'm here to train these boys up. Give them a chance at this Amos guy."

Pat smiled then shot a look at Dylan. "Couldn't handle it, little dude?"

"No." The simple statement made them all become serious. "He's too much for me right now. Full moon and he's better trained. It took everything Colton and I had to just to keep him busy and away from Quint while he grabbed the rifle and kept watch over Zeke who took him on first."

"He's easier to take on in his lunar form," said Zeke. "Not as easy to hip toss someone without hands. He's faster, but I was able to hold him off by myself until my Mom chased him off. That's it, call my folks, they'll kill him for you." Zeke grinned.

"They're protecting my mom." He nodded like he had forgotten.

"Then she's safe. Believe me." I looked at Zeke and wondered how such conviction could come from someone so care free seeming.

"So, with your permission, Jon, I'll be taking the boys for awhile. Keep them moving so Amos will have a hard time keeping track of us." This suddenly sounded a lot like boot camp all over again, which wasn't too bad all things considered. I needed to get back into shape since Amos kept me all but prisoner for those years. This might be just the thing that gets me back into fighting form.

"You have mine, but you only have one week until we take Zeke back to his family."

"Or we could all go back," Zeke said with a smile.

"Not possible. If I send my enforcer and a crack team of insurgents that close to the ECP border, Angus will not take kindly to it. Gene being here is technically a breach, but we called him in." Jon had to make sure he did not anger the ECP any more than he had in the past. He had people to protect now and could not just go piss Angus McLeod off.

Zeke nodded. "But I thought the Wolf was neutral territory."

"It's in neutral territory, yes, but only eight miles from the border. Too close for comfort as the buffer zone is supposed to be ten miles. Quint can tell you how small that seems when you're traveling." I could. There had been times when I had to skirt dangerously close to a territorial boundary and twice I had to pass through another territory. It makes for very tense living.

"That sucks. I mean it really does. Can someone just, I don't know, shoot the bastard in the head with a silver nitrate bullet with silver shrapnel and just call it a day? Maybe get some silver grenades?" We all looked at Colton. "I thought it was a good idea."

"No one other than a Solaris could use it," Dylan pointed out. "Friendly fire would be a bitch."

"Oh yeah."

Gene spoke up. "I'll have your boys back with whatever I can train them in. Get what you think you'll need for a week long trip. We'll hunt for our suppers." Dylan snagged Zeke and they went off to his cabin for clothing. Colton went off to his. I was about to head back to the cabin I was using when Gene shook his head. "I need more info about this guy. What you've told the pack has been pretty cut and dry. I need more."

"What do you want to know? His favorite cereal? How he takes his coffee? How many times he hit me? How many nights I lay there wishing I was dead because he fucked me like a cheap whore?" I was getting angry and frustrated. This close to the full moon my emotions were not fully mine to control. "How my life was a fucking hell for the past years because that son of a bitch never told me I would become a Lycan?"

Gene put his hand on my shoulder. "You just told me more than I needed. This guy will not stop until you're his again." I shook my head. "Then we'll make him stop." I took a deep breath, then ten more, and nodded. "And you just told me more about yourself. You're pissed, and rightly so, but you're no coward and know when to relax and let the emotions go. I needed to know that more than anything."

"Combat might be different, especially if it includes explosions."

"Combat vet?" I nodded. "Then you can really help things along. You do guerrilla tactics?"

"Not much. Camouflage, yes, but I was not on the front lines. Still saw some fighting."

"Even better. The only way to find this guy is through stealth. Now, put the last anger out of your mind and go get ready. If you need a few minutes after that, I'll send in that big bear of yours to hug you back to happiness." Despite myself I grinned.

"Guess we do smell like each other." The men nodded. It was a cheerful thought that I smelled like Zeke...and not Amos. "I think I'm going to like you, Gene."

He laughed. "You say that now. Wait until after you're put through the wringer." That laugh and those words made me like him more. It was almost like being back in the service. Truth be told, being here was like finding a niche where I finally belonged.

We made some good distance away from any sort of civilization before we set up our camp for the night. My eyes had been scanning everywhere for any sign of Amos, but of course I saw nothing and the others scented nothing. I knew he was out there. He wouldn't give up that easily and the gun shot wound would be healed by now or it would be after tonight. My body itched something fierce as we dropped our bags. "I'll set up camp. You guys guard my back." Dylan, being a Solaris, did not change during the full moon. He could not change during the moon at all. Alpha Alan found it very difficult to change, but he could if pushed, but he was an Alpha.

"Gotcha, big guy," said Colton and stripped right then. Zeke and I checked him out and grinned at each other. Not bad. Still a bit of baby fat, but not bad at all. We followed suit and it felt almost...liberating to be out here, nude, with other people. I had never run with a pack. Cats didn't form them, and rarely did they even go in pairs. But right now, with these guys, I felt I could belong to a pack. "Gotta say you two make a very handsome pair."

"Checking out our butts?" Zeke asked.

"Maybe," Colton said and was about to say more but the moon rose high enough. He began to scratch at himself while Gene, Zeke and I changed. It seemed faster now than ever and far less painful. When I was done I looked at Colton. "My change takes time. I'm always be...hiiiind." I watched him double over and begin to pant. His change looked far more painful than any other one I had seen and by the heavy breathing he looked to be fighting it.

"Relax, Colt. You've been doing this for years."

"Not...w...w...with th...eeeeem arou...ou..." his word trailed off into a sort of howl as his face became a muzzle. I watched in almost horror as his change took its toll and he lay there panting. None of mine had been that rough, not even my first. Something told me there was a back story to this, but I wouldn't pry. He'd tell me if he wanted me to know.

When everyone was able to move about freely Gene stood. He was no Alpha, but at that point he was the highest ranking person. It was subtle, very subtle, because at that point I know I was not thinking along the lines of human thought. It was a scent thing. I smelled that Gene was the leader of this hunting pack and we all fell in line. "I'll hold down the fort. You four go hunt. If you need me howl or whatever."

"We will," said Gene, and I would have envied his ability to speak had I remembered what that was. Gene growled and then hissed. He spoke a bit of Felis; not much but, I knew when he meant. We followed his lead. We all took off silently into the night. My eyes were still scanning, but this time it was for prey. Colton and Gene made a good pair and I almost envied how well they worked together. Different species altogether, really. Cat's were stalkers, dogs were pack hunters. Bears...well...they were solitary hunters, but Zeke seemed to understand to stay with us.

We found a stream and we all drank, Zeke sliding into the water and almost immediately beaching a few fish. I watched as Gene and Colton snatched them up and ate with relish, but I waited even though there was a few still flopping around. Zeke came up and dropped a large one at my paws and when I didn't eat he pushed it towards me.

"Why not eat, Quint?" asked Gene.

I have not been given permission, I hissed and growled back. Felis is almost a language of body posture with the sounds being the accent and emphasis.

"I don't know what that Amos taught you, but in this pack, you eat when hungry and don't have to wait for the hunt leader."

It took a moment for the words to trickle into my brain, but when I did I leaned down slowly, keeping my eyes on Gene to make sure I had understood him. When he nodded I took the fish Zeke brought me and settled down to eat. Zeke's happy wuff told me I had made him happy by choosing the fish he brought me personally. He then grabbed a few of the smaller ones and ate them down quickly. This was not the main meal or purpose of our hunt, just a snack in case the hunt didn't go well.

I was the last one finished and I hated that I ate so slowly, but I had learned to never eat fast with Amos. It made him angry if I burped or farted or did a million other things he found uncouth. They waited though. Not impatiently either. They weren't put out that I took my time to eat a rather large fish. When I was done though we were back into the fields of Montana, searching for something that Gene seemed to know about.

It didn't take us long to get to an old building out in the middle of nowhere. When we got within a hundred yards of it I pulled to a halt and my hackles rose. I smelled Amos. His scent permeated the area and I felt my insides clinch. Zeke smelled it too and let out a different type of wuff, one of warning and anger, but his reaction was to come and protect me. I shouldn't feel this way, but I was grateful for him and his protection.

"The target has been staying here for the past few days. When Tommy said there was a problem I hoofed it out here to Montana and began looking around. Jon and Pat know I've a knack for finding things and I found his hiding place, but not him. This could be a ruse, a place he's set up to throw a false trail, but that scent is fresh, made just an hour ago."

Gene's words were a bit hard to deal with in such long sentences, but he waited for our no longer human brains to catch up. Colton growled something and Gene nodded. "You're right, his injury wasn't fully healed when the moon rose. You've a good nose, pup." Colton seemed to preen under the praise of the older male. "By now it will have healed, so don't think he's going to be hurt if we find him. This cabin was our target tonight. I know Colt's memory is pretty good when he changes back. How about you two?" I shook my head and Zeke followed suit a moment later. "Good to know. Keep your senses open while we head back to camp. We can find more evidence of Amos and maybe some dinner."

We didn't find Amos, but we found two mule deer and brought them down easily. Gene had paused the same moment I had. I saw the herd feeding and knew the wind was in our favor. They hadn't seen us yet so we could probably get a few. Gene motioned for us to go in different directions. A hammer and anvil strike, my mind told me, with Zeke as the hammer. He would drive them towards us and we would bring them down. It had been almost too easy. Zeke was quiet for a huge bear and went around the whole heard before they even knew he was there. Once they caught scent of him they perked up and began to mill about. Then he charged and they ran right to us.

Gene nodded his approval when we had our kills, and picked up both and started back to camp. I marveled at not only his strength at the age of seventy, but also how much simpler it was to have thumbs. You never think about how your life would be difficult without thumbs. I might have been less ashamed had I been a Lunais...

Zeke nudged me and I looked at him, wondering what the big bear wanted. He lay down and wuffed at me. At first I was confused, but then he wuffed at me while nosing towards his back. Did he...want me to ride him? I put a paw on his back and he nodded. Then I climbed on, feeling the amazing warmth of his body and I basked in the scent that was unique to him. When I was settled with my head on my paws he stood gracefully and the hunting pack walked on. His gait lulled me into a doze which ended as soon as he stopped.

"Two? Well, we are growing boys," Dylan said. "I'll start prepping them. You have a few hours to sunrise. Chunks or carcass?" he asked.

"Carcass is good enough. Will you boys be fishing?" Gene asked of us. We nodded. "Want back up?" Zeke shook his head. "Roar if you need us." Zeke went meandering back to the stream so we could eat our fill. I knew he didn't like red meat much and I did like fish. No big compromise for me. Plus I got to relax and be outside. It was nice to not be cooped up in a durned cellar. And I was finding out that Zeke was a good person to be around both in and out of fur.

After a large portion of fish for us both, I felt very drowsy. Zeke flopped onto the ground next to some large rocks and lifted a massive paw. Six months ago I would have run in fear of being hurt. I went willingly and curled up beside him. I didn't know that after we fell asleep Gene came to keep watch over us. All I knew was that I felt safe and loved. Peace and quiet.



Peace and Quiet Ch. 05



Waking that morning was one of the best in recent memory. I woke when the sun hit my eyes and I saw a lady bug crawl over the leaf next to me. It got to the tip and then flew off. I watched it and rolled to keep my eyes on it. Then I saw something more beautiful and my breath caught in my throat. Zeke was looking at me with half lidded eyes and a gentle smile played about his lips. One arm was under my head as a pillow, the other draped across his broad chest. With the northern morning, we were glistening with dew and it set his soft blond chest hairs aglow. A small, cool breeze that hinted at a winter not too far away made me snuggle in closer. I remembered where we were and enough of what happened last night to know we were naked in the middle of a field and the middle of nowhere.

"Do you want me to move?" I asked him in a whisper.

"No. I want you to crawl on top of me and kiss me." With a bit of a shy smile I did as he told me to. I didn't straddle him, I curled up on him and kissed him gently. His arms came around me and held me close, secure. These arms, the way I felt in them, the way I knew I would never be intentionally hurt by him...That was the moment I told myself I never wanted to lose this man. I didn't care about the age difference or the fact that we lived in different states or that we both wanted to be bottoms. I knew. 

"Zeke?" I asked softly as I pulled away.

"Yeah?"

"Is that a gopher trying to burrow into my butt or are you very happy I'm laying here?"

His grin was slightly mortified. "Um...sorry. I can..." he stopped as wiggled my ass against his morning wood. His eyes rolled back and his mouth fell open in a gasp. "Quint...I am not a strong man. I don't have infinite will power."

"Are you saying if I keep teasing you, you'll take it?" I was biting my lip a bit. I had never tried this tact before: Aggressive Submissive. I wiggled more, feeling my body responding to what it wanted.

"Quint..."

I leaned in and whispered in his ear. "You want me to be dominant?" He swallowed and nodded, his cock twitching. "Then you will do as I say, right?"

"Yes sir," he whispered back. I could scent him getting so aroused right now.

"Then take that big dick and shove it where it wants to be." His eyes went wide. "I didn't stutter and I know you heard me."

"Quint..." I sat up and looked down at him. His pulse was racing as I positioned his dick right at my hole. "Are you..." I sat back and it went in. Both of us groaned and I know my entire body felt like it was on fire, the coal burning from where his dick was embedded in me. He wasn't huge, but he was big enough to make my ass throb. One thing about being Lycan was I was virginal after every session, having healed back to tightness. He wasn't nearly as big as Amos, but I was so grateful for that. "Oh god, man you are tight. Holy fuck! Are you sure..."

"Shut the hell up and fuck me, Zeke. That's an order." His entire body responded to my direct order like I knew it would. He thrust forward and I had to grab his chest to keep from being bucked off. I stayed where the top of his thrust moved me so he could get a good rhythm and depth and I just stopped thinking because Zeke was having none of this. He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back as he thrust forward and I whimpered. It hurt a bit, but he just barely bottomed out with full penetration. Seven and a half inches is still something to work with. He would let me bounce forward and then push me back with each thrust. "Zeke...this is what I want from you right now. Take...my...ass and claim me." I growled this into his ear.

"You want this?" I nodded as I moaned. He stopped and looked me in the eyes. Both of us were horned up and wanting to rut. "Quint, tell me plainly what you want. I need to hear it."

"You. I want you. I don't care about age or distance. I want these arms around me every night. I want to wake up to that beautiful smile every morning. I need you with me. And not as friends. I know this is fast but..." This time he shut me up with a lip mashing kiss. There was nothing to misconstrue, he was fine with this. I couldn't help but whimper as he slid deeper into me and pulled me against him. I knew he was strong but oh god I never knew he was this strong.

Then we both paused as the wind shifted. We stopped and looked over our shoulders to see Colton sitting there watching us with his head cocked to one side. "Don't stop now, it's just getting interesting."

"How...how long have you been there?" Zeke asked, his face turning red but his dick getting harder.

"Since about two in the morning when Gene told me to watch over you two sleeping idiots. But please, continue." He gestured to us.

I looked at Zeke who had the biggest grin on his face. "Oh..." was all I got out before he flipped us over and pinned me to the turf, never pulling out. It was the most aggressive thing he had ever done and it sent chills all the way down my back to my balls and they emptied themselves. It was almost painful how hard this one hit and having him inside was making it even more powerful. "Zeke! Fuck!" And he did. He fucked me through the orgasm and then I could hear him growling and he buried it to the hilt. Then he bit into my shoulder, the growls resonating throughout my body. He had done it. He had claimed me right there and Colton was watching...and I was so turned on by that. I'm no exhibitionist, but right then I was, and damn, I didn't care who watched. 

Zeke's breathing was labored but slowly calming. It had been fast but I felt so good right then. It was him, the young man I was seriously falling for too quickly. "Am I too heavy?" I shook my head.

"God...that was it? Need to work on that stamina, Zeke," said Colt with a chuckle and he walked away. "Oh, before I forget...Nice man tackle. Both of you." He hadn't turned back, just kind of said it over his shoulder.

Zeke looked at me and I shrugged. We still didn't get if Colton was serious or just messing with us. "I should get up."

"You should stay right there," I said and kissed him, toying with the nape of his neck.

"For how long?" he asked and rolled us back over so I was atop him.

I leaned over to his ear. "Until you're ready for round two." He shivered and chuckled. "But we should get back to the others. We have training to get to. After we bathe. I left evidence," I said and sat up to swirl my cum in his body hair.

"OH GROSS! Quint, that takes forever to get out!" He squirmed but I tickled him, mashing it all into his fuzzy self. He laughed and tried to fight me off, but I just kept it up until I heard a cleared throat from behind. "Um...hi Dylan."

"Go get washed up, boys. We have training." He at least wasn't staring at us like Colton had been. He did smell very amused though.

"Go away, Creep. Bad enough Colt had to watch." Dylan turned his head.

"He...watched?" I nodded and stood slowly, Zeke sliding out of my with a plop. It was durned gross feeling it slide down my leg. "Hot. Now get washed." We did as ordered, a stream not too far away.

"Zeke?" I said softly. "Thank you. For everything." He just smiled at me. Ever seen that look of pure joy and love? That feeling you get that those eyes will only look at you like that? That was Zeke's eyes right then. "Why do you look at me like that?"

"Like what?" He looked down in embarrassment.

"Like I'm the most wonderful thing you have ever seen. Like I'm The One for you." I have never had anyone look at me like that...or really seen that look at all really.

We walked back in silence. I knew he was thinking about what I asked, but I'll be durned if it wasn't annoying. He stopped us about a hundred yards from the other guys who were looking at us like we were taking our sweet time. Gene whispered something to them and they nodded, finishing the camp break down.

"Quint, I know you think I'm too young for you, and yes, I'm 6 years younger than you are. I'm still in college and you've seen the world. I'm still learning what it is to be an adult in both the human and Lycan worlds and you got one down and will have the other very soon. I'm from South Dakota originally and you're from the South. I could go on about our differences...but when I look at you...I see who I want to be with. Not just that but who I want to be. You're strong, brave, caring, independent, handsome, witty, charming, and fucking sexy as hell. I know you are still having to get over Amos, but I will be here when..."

I shut him up with a kiss.

At first he was shocked and stock still, but then he enfolded me in his arms, lifted me from the ground so easily, and held me up while I told him without words what I could not say with them. My mind said I shouldn't date again so soon and should not date someone so much younger than me, but what he was saying...6 years wasn't that much. He was in college and preparing for adulthood and he could teach me a lot of what it really meant to be a Lycan. My mind said I needed to get right in the head before dating anyone again. My mind needed to shut up for once because my heart didn't care. My heart wanted Zeke. Not someone like Zeke. I wanted him. This man was what I wanted and needed, and I put all my feeling into my kiss.

When I pulled away he started to smile. "Okay then. I'm stuffed." I laughed and he put me down. We got dressed very quickly and no one said a word. I don't know if they could think of anything to say at that point. I couldn't think of what to say either. I didn't trust myself to talk. I would say something stupid and talk myself out of what my heart wanted.

We were well into the wilderness of Montana without a single sing of people when Gene stopped us. "Okay. The things I will teach you are nothing fantastic, but they are suited to you as a group. It seems that most of this is going to come down on your heads whether or not you want it to. I'm going to do my best to turn you into a unit. Guerrilla tactics, stealth, combat maneuvers...all tailored to you."

I looked at the rest and we could see this would be good. "Ranks or wing it?" I asked. I had military training, but never officer training.

"Equals, but with a voice in their matters. I've known Dyl since he was 13, I know what he can do and what he can't. He's a scrapper in a fight. Leads with his heart." Dylan nodded at that. I did notice he was not one to back down from fighting toe to toe with someone. "Just needs to analyze situations. That's Colton's area. He ain't much of a fighter face to face, but he'll hamstring you if you're not careful. His area is cut and run." Colton kind of nodded, blushing a bit. Something in his past made him tackle things from an odd angle. One of these days I was going to pin him down and make him talk.

"Now, I don't know much about Zeke, but I do know bears. They're lazy and slow to anger." I glanced at Zeke who was nodding. "Until you find that one thing they want to protect. Mess with that, you piss them off. Zeke's found his thing, now all he needs to do is learn to control that anger and not block with his face." While Zeke laughed, it had an edge to it. How close was Gene to the truth? "The wild card in all this is Quintin. The cats are unpredictable, but you're best asset for stealth. You won't see the coming until you're dead." Didn't I know that. Amos had an unhealthy habit of showing up in odd places and at the worst time...without warning. "Quint knows he take Amos on directly.

"Your adversary is highly trained in combat, stealth, and has no problem killing to get what he wants. Get that through your heads, kids, because it the truth." Gene was one crafty old wolf. He knew what was up. "This is not some high school bully. He's not your run of the mill Feral infringing on the territory. He's a killer and he will kill you to get to Quint." I saw Dylan's face was blank. He knew what he was up against. Colton was a bit scared, but he nodded like he wasn't going anywhere. Zeke...he was livid. He would be the loose cannon. He would go after Amos with everything he had and may wind up with his head torn off. "I'm here to make sure you have the best chance possible. And for that reason, we start now. Lets see what you can do as a unit against me. I will not try to kill you, but I will make you hurt so badly you will wish for death for an hour or so. You have five minutes to make a plan and get ready." Gene ran off south.

"Is he for real?" Zeke asked.

"Hunter training 101," said Colton. Test what you got to see what needs working on. Gene is a wily one, and probably one of the best in recent history. We'll need to find a defensible place."

"Guide us," I said and Colton nodded. We trotted after him, knowing we would be leaving scent trails. "When we get into those trees, everyone up in them and down them as often and quickly as you can. No straight lines."

"I'm no good with trees," said Zeke.

"Then lets play a little game of cat and mouse." We got into the tree line and I started to explain my strategy. They nodded, getting their parts. The three of us went up the trunks and into the branches, jumping and swinging to make tracking us by scent harder. When I went far enough, I dropped into Zeke's waiting arms and he carried me for a half a mile and then I was back up in the trees with a rock.

I was hidden when I was Gene coming in, his nose finding my trail up the trunk and then along the path I used. He dropped and then he was a bit thrown off. My scent never touched the ground and the other trails were so crisscrossed that he didn't know where I was. But he knew where Zeke was and made a line for him, following his trail without fail. It would be what Amos would do. He knew I would be with Zeke.

I followed Gene while I was in the branches. I was so surprised how little sound I made and I didn't knock a single leaf off. I never knew I could be this stealthy. Gene stopped and looked to his left. I winced when I saw Dylan's head drop down behind the brush. That was not part of the plan! He was supposed to...then I saw the other half. Colton was wearing some of my clothes and was hiding poorly. They were supposed to cause a diversion...this would do it. Gene played his part well. Amos would be very single minded, and Gene went after Colton. The coyote ran quickly away, his scent covered up by my own clothing.

Gene was moving quickly through the trees, aware of Dylan coming in to flank him, but still going after Colt as his target. When Colton burst into a clearing, Gene got his first good look and saw it was not me. He tried to skid to a halt to confront Dylan, the obvious threat. Dylan was closer than he thought and body checked Gene hard enough to send him flying into the clearing...and right into Zeke's massive arms. Zeke grabbed him and held on, falling forward to pin Gene to the ground. Gene, wise to this, wriggled out of the hold, out from under him and grabbed him by the leg and tossed him. I was wide eyed and in awe that someone Gene's age could do that so easily. Zeke landed heavily and lay there for a moment. Dylan was up and moving, but Gene was ready. He did forget about Colton who rushed in and took him out at the knees before running away again. Dylan was there, but Gene was already rolling back to his feet. He kept his sense on all three of them...

...Then my rock hit him in the head. Gene blinked and then looked all over for me. I dropped from the trees where Gen had run directly under me. "If that was a bullet, you would be dead." He looked at all of us and then started laughing.

"Well done! Amos might find the four of you more than he expected, if you know he's around. Not a bad strategy, using Colton as bait to lead him into a feint and ambush. It might not fool him long, but it will be enough to keep him guessing. So...who carried Quint?"

"We all did. Where all three trails crossed is where we did the hand off."

"That was Colton's idea," I said.

"It was a good one. And the decoy?"

"Dylan's. He said that Amos never once took his eyes off Quint during their fight." Zeke had been on the ground at that point and couldn't watch it. "He's very oriented."

"Good. Now, was it part of the plan?"

"Not as far as I knew," I said, a bit upset they didn't tell me. "Their job was to get me a clear shot in the clearing. Keep him wondering where I was and too busy to come look."

Gene nodded. "Plans change in the middle of the fight, you know that. They completed their objective..."

"But put Colton in harm's way. Amos is a lot faster than Gene was going and would have caught you," I said as I turned to Colton. "I don't want anyone hurt on my account. If we can avoid getting hurt, that's what I want." They nodded, seeing it meant a lot to me that they stayed alive and unharmed. "Still, this time it got the job done. It was a good idea." Dylan grinned, happy to hear I wasn't truly upset with him for the idea.

"Good. It's nice to see you guys know the value of camaraderie and how to compromise. Now, lets talk about this plan." And we did. Gene spent the rest of that day going over strategies for wooded areas, but there were not nearly as many of those as there were plains. The plains, though, would not hide him as well as the woods. Dylan and I seemed to have a good affinity for the open plains and were throwing out strategies.

"How come they have all the ideas?" Colton said with a grin.

"They're cats. Lions hunt the plains. Lynxes hunt in all areas from mountains to forests to plains. From what I saw last night, he's closer related to the Canadian lynx than some of the others. Quintin would be a good asset in the cold, right there beside Zeke." So I would be a general troop, good in most areas but not specialized in any of them. All because I was a lynx.

That night's hunt was a different type. This time we hunted for a more elusive and hardy prey. One that would feed the small pack for a very long time. We hunted bison. They would be resting and not expecting an attack from anything larger than maybe a wolf. Definitely not a huge polar bear and a bipedal wolf. Colton's nose was the best and he would find them for us. He disappeared into the tall grass as soon as he was able to move after his change. They were painful to watch. I almost wished he would talk to me and tell me why us being here was so different. "When he gets back, go for the old or the sick. Do not hunt the healthy." We nodded. I was not really that interested in the meat, I preferred fish and small game to something that could step on my head and crush it. I know Zeke also liked seafood over red meat, but he wasn't as picky as me.

It didn't take long for Colton to come back. It seemed too short actually. He began to growl at Gene and then began to whine. "Really. Damn. Dylan, run as fast as you can and get the rest of the Hunters." Dylan pulled out his cell phone. "Or that. We got five Ferals that have come south from Canada." Dylan's eye narrowed as he dialed.

"Dad, bring the Hunters. Ferals north of Malta. We can keep them busy until you arrive." Dylan seemed to be itching for a fight. I had no desire to take on a Feral. "Okay, Dad, will do. Yes, we're still down wind and Gene won't let them get close enough to hurt us. Dad...Dad...DAD! I'm the damn Enforcer and I can't do that if you keep me out of combat. No, for once this is up for debate or find another Enforcer. Yes, this is a direct challenge to your authority if you want me to remain as your Enforcer. Fine, come in person then because I am going to go my job." Dylan hit the off button and pocketed his phone. "Lets go." Gene stood stock still. "Gene, I would like your help. I've never dealt with a Feral, let alone five. Colt, you know your job." The coyote nodded. Dylan looked at us. "If you wish to help, please come. If not, then stay here. I cannot order you around." He stalked off.

Something was very wrong here. I padded up to him and pawed at his leg. He looked down and then sighed. "Dad means well and he doesn't want me to get hurt, but I'm not a cub any more. How am I supposed to do my job if he won't let me?" He started walking again, the rest of us falling in step. "And since Amos showed up, I need as much training and practice as I can get. He doesn't get it."




Peace and Quiet Ch. 05



Are you sure this is not from Amos beating Zeke and then holding you off? I asked in a hiss. He glanced down. It was. He needed to release some anger. A lot of it. If you charge off as angry as you are, you will get hurt.

"I know that, but...sometimes I look back over my past and wonder what it would have been like had I not been a Solaris. I mean right now I am at my weakest. It's the height of the full moon and I can't take on my Solar form at all. It just pisses me off, ya know?" After it all sunk in, I hissed an affirmative. "You know, for someone who doesn't like being Lycan at all you speak Felis very well."

Amos made me learn and very quickly.

"Ah. I would love to rip his head off just for what he did to you." I rubbed my body along his leg, as much of a hug as I could do right there. He grinned and ruffled my fur. "Thanks, Quint. I feel calmer now." I nodded and padded back to Zeke who wuffed in approval.

We found the Ferals chasing the herd of Bison that was migrating through the area. The herd seemed to be afraid but not unduly so. Yeah they ran, they weren't stupid, but it was as if they knew Ferals and knew they were not as big a threat as I would take them. Gene held his hand up for us to halt and we watched. Yes, the Ferals were hunting, but they were being selective. They hunted the weak ones that kept lagging behind. "Dylan, how would you take them?"

"Quietly. They're strong and fast, but Zeke is far strong and Quint and Colt much faster. Right now I am the weakest and I would be hard pressed to take on more than one."

"Good assessment. I agree. Zeke, can you get their attention and make them come at us for us to ambush?" He, of course, nodded. "Colt with me, Quint with Dyl. Does that sound right, Enforcer?" Dylan seemed a bit surprised he was being asked, but I understood. It was a matter of rank and Gene might be our teacher, but Dylan was the ranked member of this pack.

"Yes. Quint is stronger than Colton and just as fast. Balance for the attackers." Gene nodded. We took our places and hid in the tall grasses. Gene was the bigger of the other attackers, but I couldn't see him. Yet Zeke somehow got the signal because he stood to his full height and let out the loudest roar I had ever heard. I cowered for a moment, not only remembering the night Zeke protected me last moon, but also some memories of the nights I heard explosions and gun fire.

Dylan touched the top of my head and I snapped out of it. His eyes flicked to the Ferals that were now coming at us, the herd having bolted at the sound of the large, unknown predator. "That's the past, this is now." I nodded and got into a crouch, my hind wiggling to ready for the pounce.

The lead Feral collided with Zeke and we moved. The others were not ready for the ambush and were caught by surprise, but not for long. I hit one squarely in the knees and began to rake my claws along his sides and up to get to his neck and go for a kill. Yet this foe had hands and grabbed me to pull me loose. Good luck, I thought, and latched my claws into his thigh, side, and shoulder. He would have to rip me off to get rid of me, and that would hurt a lot. I heard the sounds of combat all around me, but I was focused on this prey. I did take some claws to my back, but he knew he could not get a good hold without getting wounded and instead fell to the ground. I was ready and use his body as a running ground and clawed my way around to his other side. That exposed the soft underbelly to my raking hind claws and I shredded him in little time while I took his throat in my jaws and clamped down as hard as I could, tasting the blood spill into my mouth and making me sick to my stomach. It was rancid tasting to me. When he struggled no more, I ripped his throat all the way out and then turned to help Dylan who was grappling with his foe.

Dylan had a few gashes across his arm, but nothing serious. I waited for a good time to pounce and while I saw a few good ones, I waited. My mind was very clear tonight. Somehow I was not as feline as I had been in the past and I could almost read what Dylan was doing. He was as strong as the beast and was biding his time until he could get it in the position he wanted. Each moment brought him closer to that one thing he was looking for, and when it came even I saw it. The Feral pulled free on claw and swiped for Dylan's throat, but Dylan was more than ready and bent backwards, pulling the Feral off the ground and over him. Dylan didn't let go though, and he used the momentum to put him atop the Feral and he wrapped his mighty arms around the thing's throat and squeezed. The Feral scratched at his arms but he was not letting it break his hold.

Zeke roared out a warning and I turned to see the Feral he was fighting, while bleeding from a nasty bite around his thigh, was heading for Dylan to go for the kill while he was distracted and helpless. Not while I was there. I crouched and launched, my claws extended already. I grabbed the Feral in the chest and spun around to latch right on to its left arm, raking deep gashes from his chest to the right side of his back. With my sudden appearance, knew he would not get his kill. He would not see another day because Zeke was back and his massive paw literally took the head off in one swipe. It twitched and fell with my weight pulling it left. I landed hard and heard a snap. It made me flinch and my body lost feeling.

Zeke pulled the body off me and nuzzled my face, licking the blood from me. Feeling returned and I saw Dylan standing up, the Feral's neck broken. His eyes were a burnished gold and filled with almost a righteous blood lust. He let out a primal scream that was more roar than humanly possible. When his eyes fell on me, that gleam left them. I realized the fight was over. Colton and Gene had done their part, and we had done ours. We were hurt, bleeding, and would need some rest, but we were alive. Zeke took a step back when Dylan gestured and I was lifted into Dylan's arms. "You saved my life, Quint. No walking for you, you broke you leg." It took a moment to realize he was right. With all the adrenaline in my system, and the other various hurts, it was one more thing I just didn't notice. "Zeke, is it okay if I carry your mate?" Zeke nodded with a wuff.

The Hunters arrived about twenty minutes later with Jon and Pat jumping out of the cab of the truck. They looked at the Feral corpses and us while we licked our wounds. "Hmm. Looks like we missed the fun," said Jon evenly. "Dylan, please come with me." Dylan set me down gently and Zeke came to stand over me in protection. The Alpha and the Enforcer made their way out of most Lycan's ears, but mine seemed to hear just find. "You did something monumentally stupid tonight, Dylan."

"Which part? Taking them on against your orders or essentially saying fuck you?"

"Both. I know you are my Enforcer, but I worry Dylan. I have faced Ferals and I know they could kill this group, even with Gene here. Wait, let me explain before you start getting angry at me again." Dylan nodded and crossed his arms. "When I took this land, there were some Ferals here. You know that. I never told you we lost ten Hunters in three days to them. Men and women who knew what it was to hunt these beasts and were armed with guns and silver ammo, silver knives, and even shrapnel grenades with silver. Ten people killed by two Ferals." I almost felt Dylan's body get cold. "So, it was not an idle worry. I would have lost both my son and my Enforcer at one time had this gone differently. I couldn't stand that thought."

Dylan pulled his Lunais father into his arms, even though Jon was four feet taller. "I'm sorry, Dad, for being a dick and for challenging you. It's just...I needed this experience if I am ever to know what it is to be the Enforcer in all but name. I can't do this job you have given me without knowing what it is to fight threats." Jon pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I also needed to blow off some steam. Amos is pissing me off and hurt Zeke last time, and I couldn't best him even with Colt's help."

"You don't have to prove you can do the job, Dylan. I hope you feel calmer now." He nodded. "Good. Now, if you ever try this shit again I will kick your ass out of the house for a month and you better come back with knee pads for groveling," Jon said with a joke that was also a statement.

"Sure, Dad. Just...let me have the experience I need." Jon nodded. "I'm not ready to take them on alone, I know that, but I had my friends here. Quint had my back."

"I see. Then tell me what happened and then go see the doc to get patched up."

I blinked when I felt someone touching me. I hissed at them but stopped when I saw the pack's physician. Pat acted as their doctor in the field. "Let me look at your leg, Quint, please." I stuck out my leg and he did a thorough but gentle job of wrapping it after setting the bone. It hurt, but not badly, yet it would have healed at a bad angle had he not not set it. "There. Now, can you tell me what those two talked about? I speak Felis well enough."

They dealt with the problem. Dylan was angry for not being able to take on Amos and needed to get it out. He also needed to learn how to fight Ferals sometime. He took one on by himself. Pat nodded like he was impressed.

"And what else happened? How did you break your leg? Actually, Dylan can tell me the rest when I patch him up. You rest. Thank you for saving my son." I wondered how he knew I had done that. He smiled and went over to his mate and son. Zeke lay back down and curled around me.

I was awakened when I heard Gene talking to the Alphas. "Those boys work well together. It is as you say, the old blood is strong in them. The old bonds are there. I almost got in the way."

"How so?" asked Alpha Alan.

"Colt and I have fought together before, so we knew what to do, but it was as if Colt and Zeke were in rapport with each other." Rapport? What was that?

"Has there ever been coyote/bear rapport?" Jon asked. "I know Quint and Dylan have it." We did? Was that the bond thing they talked about? I feigned sleep and listened.

"Not to my knowledge. Travis?"

"It is possible, but only just. Those two would have to have a very close relationship in their family lines. Perhaps their ancestors had formed a bond. Coyotes rarely form lasting bonds with mates, but bears do and their...presence is strong. If one of Zeke's ancestors had mated one of Colton's, perhaps on the way East, then there could be a small residual rapport. Tell me more, Gene."

"That's the only thing I can say it was. I was squared off against one of the Ferals and Zeke had his. Colton was keep one busy in a chase, but he would dart in, take a cheap shot at one I was fighting or Zeke and...Zeke knew when he would pass because that bear just lashed out like swatting a fly by your ear. Almost lazily. And he would connect, knocking the beast to the turf. Colton would then rush in, bite the throat, and move before he got hurt." I marveled at how this sounded. Zeke and Colton had done a number on them then. Perhaps the one that had tried to go for Dylan had been fed up with being mauled by a bear and went for weaker prey. "And I saw it happen with Quint and Dylan. Quint waited for Dylan to make his move and then protected his flank. Those two have rapport and it is strong. Never tell one of them something you don't want the other to know. They will know within moments."

"That strong?" Alan sounded shocked.

"Yes. He eavesdropped on Jon and Dylan after the fight and he did it without thinking. Just like he's listening to us right now, faking like he's asleep."

I snorted and opened my eyes. "Snitch," I said to Gene. I sat up, doing my best not to disturb Zeke. I was naked, but then all but Alan were too. It didn't mean too much in this company, but I was sincerely in awe. Jon was hung, Gene was decent, Travis was a beer can...and Alan's scared me. When I got to my feet, the few pains I still had screamed at me. Especially the arm.

"How are you feeling?" Jon asked.

"I'm not dead, but I'm hurting. This rapport thing...is that the shock?" Alan nodded. "So why do you shock me too, Alan?"

"It's in the blood. Literally. Dylan is my biological grandson. While you and I would have a rapport, yours with him is far stronger." I nodded and joined them when they motioned me over. "So, how much do you remember about last night?"

"Ferals, blood, pain, broken arm, Jon being worried about losing Dylan, and me hissing at Pat while he set my arm." I left out a lot, but that was enough for them.

"That's more than normal, isn't it?" Travis asked and I nodded. "So what aren't you telling us?"

"That's between me and Dylan." Travis smiled wryly, knowing I would saying nothing else and he could not order me to do it without dire need. "I will say that having me near him will keep him calmer, Zeke will keep him at pique condition, and Colton will keep him grounded."

"How do you know that?" Jon asked, curious.

"That can't tell you as I don't know how I know. As a unit, we're a good group. That I do know. I...I'm considering petitioning the pack for acceptance. Thinking still, because...Zeke."

Jon nodded. "If you do wish to, you will be accepted. You have proven a strong fighter and would be a wonderful addition to the Hunters, if you wanted to be one." The other Alphas nodded. "So, once you decide where you stand with Zeke, know that you have a place with us."

I bowed. "You honor me, Alphas." For once they didn't even smirk when I used their titles. To think, I could be in a pack. One where I would be welcomed and given a place that I knew what would be expected of me. Not a loner, not a nomad...a family member.



Peace and Quiet Ch. 06



Our training was like all of boot camp rolled into one week. One thing Gene had us do was split up into teams, and we had to find each other without making any noise. It was me and Zeke with Dyl and Colt on the other team. Zeke and I had to go hide while Gene dosed the guys with something to deaden their noses. No fair sniffing. We ran off into the woods and back towards town.

"Isn't this cheating?" Zeke asked as we hitched a ride in the back of a pickup that happened to be driving by the country road.

"Nope. Let's see them follow our trail now."

When we got to town, the old man gave us a wave and continued on. We slipped into the cafe to wait, getting free lemonades simply because Lilly said I looked thirsty. "You're amazing, Lilly. You really are."

"Little Quintin, you are such a charmer. You know that I got a granddaughter near your age. You remember Samantha..." and off she went extolling the virtues of her single granddaughter. Zeke even marveled on how clueless she was, and I think she could give him a run for his money in the nattering department.

Zeke and I looked out the window with a grin. "They found us," I said to him.

"I know. How, I don't know, but I know Colt's out there." It was getting to be late, so we gave Lilly a couple of big hugs and went out to met up with the fellas.

After leading them on a merry chase.

We were fresh, rested, hydrated, and having fun. It would be to their annoyance when they caught up. I could almost hear Dylan raging in his head when he felt us running from the cafe towards my folks house.

What are you doing? I could hear him ask in my head. I actually heard him.

Having fun at your expense, Creep. I said back and felt him startle enough to trip up a bit. Yes...this rapport thing was getting creepier, but I could see its uses. I would always know where Dylan was, at least it looked that way. Maybe the range was limited, because I could only feel him, and I knew he was just getting to the town's northern most part. That was about two miles out.

Well, stop having fun. It's getting late. 

I knew that, hence why we were hoofing it out of town to my house to change. We still had at least an hour until fur time, but this way we could relax into the change. I knew I preferred it, and from the way Colt changed, he may need all the relaxation he could get. When it looked that painful...it made me glad I eased into my lunar form so effortlessly now.

When we got to the house, my father was just coming out looking pissed. "Where is your mother?"

I stopped. "She left a note. She didn't feel safe here by herself since I'm going to be moving out soon." This place wasn't safe to change. I had hoped he would be gone at least tonight.

"What's this about HIM being here?"

"He came by looking for me, scared Mama a fair bit. She's staying with friends for the rest of the week. Probably eating cherry pie right now." The Wolf always had cherry pie on Mondays, regular as clockwork.

"Why aren't you at work?" Like always, my father was a sour piece of work.

"I had the day off, and I have been spending it with some friends. Papa, this is Zeke Whitebear. Mama is staying with his folks."

Zeke offered his hand, but my father just ignored him. "I don't want you bringing your friends over here. The last time you did that, you ran off with the most unsavory person I had ever met."

"Well, Dylan and Colton will be here soon to help me move some things. We were just on our way back to Dylan's house to grab the truck." 

Papa nodded. "Good. What's the number where I can reach her?"

"Papa, it's in the note."

His eyes narrowed. "That number is out of state."

"Yeah. The Whitebears live in another state. I thought you were going to be gone until tomorrow morning."

"I needed something the contractors didn't ask me for. Why is my wife out of state?"

Durned single minded. "She didn't feel safe. The Whitebears put me up for almost a month in exchange for working around the house. They're good people, Papa. I know Zeke's mama is probably picking her brain for recipes." I was getting edgy because I could feel the moon starting to pull at my senses. "Now, you get back to work, I'll get packing."

"Why is she scared?"

"Fine. You want to know the answer?" Zeke placed his hand on my shoulder calmly and let out a nearly silent wuff. It calmed me down a bit. "He came by here looking for me, and it made Mama scared. Since then, she's been out of state and out of reach. Once I move out, he won't have reason to come calling."

I watched his eyes narrow and his fist clench. "He didn't get the hint that you wanted nothing to do with him?" I shook my head. "Well, good reason for her to be gone. Zeke, right?" Papa turned to him. He gave Zeke the once over and nodded. "Well, if your folks are as big as you, then she'll be fine."

"Yes sir. Both Mom and Dad are six feet huge, and I know for a fact that Mom would go after someone like a mother bear if they tried anything at the house."

Papa nodded. "Good. I have to get back to work. Get your stuff out as soon as you can. That way we can get some peace around here." With that, he got in his truck and left.

"That's my father."

"Ouch." I nodded, and we went inside. We stripped out of our clothes, and I plopped into his lap, pulling his arms around me as I lay against his massive chest. There was a momentary stirring beneath me, but it subsided when Zeke smelled I was not in the mood for anything other than being held.

"Want me to talk to him?" asked Dylan as they strolled into the house a moment later. Colton looked at us and nodded like he liked what he saw, while Gene locked the doors and windows.

"He won't change. At least he doesn't really blame me for all of this, which is a step away from his normal." He nodded. "We're staying in?" I asked.

"Yes. I know you and Zeke can stay inside without too much problem, but Colton needs to get out, and I'm not fond of being cooped up even though I can stand it. Dyl, if Colt gets out of hand, you know what to do."

Dylan nodded as Colton and Gene stripped. I looked at the coyote. He was such an enigma to me. Well, no time like the present. "So, Colton, care to share a bit about you?"

"Not really," he said and then looked over his shoulder with a cheeky grin. "What's on your mind?"

"Honestly, a lot. Some of it is the fact that I know next to nothing about you except you came from Ohio."

"Ah. Well, I can tell you a bit about myself. Not much with the moon coming up, but enough to still some questions." He sat in the chair and leaned back for a moment to gather his thoughts. "First thing is I wasn't born a Lycan. I've always had a fascination with them. Not like Dyl, who could spot them from across the world." He grinned at Dylan who winked back. "I was a jock in school. Football, baseball, wrestling...I liked keeping fit. Which is probably why I am the way I am now." He looked out of the window. "I guess...it comes down to me making one wrong choice."

When he stopped talking, I realized he was just done sharing, which was frustrating as all hell. "Tell me something I couldn't figure out just by looking."

"As much as I love being Lycan, I hate it as much." That was something I didn't know. "So, if you ever want to talk about hating your furball, let me know." His grin was the same one he always used when he was being insufferable. 

I couldn't press because I felt the change happening, and after that, there was no sense in mewling like a kitten at a coyote. Still, when Gene came over, he kicked back against the sofa and set his hand on the coyote's head. I padded over, batted at Colt's muzzle, and then curled up next to Zeke.

"Ever feel like we're babysitting a bunch of animals, Gene?"

"All my life, Dyl." They shared a laugh.

Morning came without incident, and Gene had us back out side and on the run. Today's hell was avoiding detection by a group. Namely the other Hunters the Homestead Pack had in residence. "It's a capture the flag style mission. Zeke is behind enemy lines and you have to get in, get him, and get out with as little stir as possible. The men will be acting as normal humans except for one unknown who will use his full senses to find you. You will have until sundown to rescue Zeke." That would be harder. We didn't know which one was going to be the one not acting. Avoiding all of them would take too much time, and if we're seen, then it would be a failure.

"No going easy on us, guys," said Dylan.

"Maybe a little easy," said Colton with his cheeky grin. The eight of them smiled back.

I turned to Zeke, and he took my face in his hands, kissing me soundly in front of all of them. I forgot how to think right then, and my arms alternately wanted to wrap around him and fall limp at the same time. When speaking was possible, I stuttered out, "I'll find you and get you back."

"You better," he wuffed. They hopped into the truck and drove off.

When the appointed time for us to leave came, the three of us took off after them. Gene was ghosting us, meaning he could not interact with us or the guards in any way unless it was an emergency. Our plan was solid as all of us were pretty darn stealthy, me more than the others. The only thing we had to worry about now were the paint balls they were using as ammo and that one Lycan. Their trail was easy to follow really, but then, we knew roughly where they were headed. We had the wind at our backs, which was not ideal, but it would take too long to circle around to get into position, and by then, the wind could have changed directions.

The wind did change, and faster than I would have liked really. Because all we smelled was smoke and blood. It was subtle at first but then got worse. Cloyingly worse. We topped a rise and we could see the trucks used to transport the Hunters were totaled. One was stuck in a huge hole in the ground; the other was nearly cut in two. I could see bodies on the ground and my panic mode kicked in. I scanned the ground for one body. I didn't see him. "Zeke..." I whispered and then ran over the rise.

"Quint!" Dylan yelled after me, but I was no longer listening.

I was first to get down there, and I pulled the Hunters to safety. None of them were dead. Two were unconscious from the explosions that were probably caused by landmines. The others had been darted. Still no Zeke. "He's not here. Gene, is this part of the plan?"

"No." I nodded. Gene sniffed one of the darts. "Yeah. This was no random job."

"I know," I growled. I got down on my hands and knees and began to find a scent. 

"This way," said Colton, pointing south by southeast. 

Dylan, who had been calling the leaders, came up with a grim set to his face. "The alphas are on their way. How old is the trail?" he asked Colt.

"An hour at most. Zeke is not bleeding, which means they darted him."

"They?" I asked.

"Yeah. Amos and ...one other." I looked at Colton. He looked visibly shaken

"Talk later. Track now."

"Don't need to track them." He pointed. "Fifteen miles that way is the border of the Homestead Pack. The one that it shares with the East Coast Pack." 

Dylan growled. "Damn. Gene, can you scout ahead? You can come and go there without too much problems still, right?" He nodded. "Good. Find them." Gene nodded and took off at a run.

Minutes later the Alphas came in via chopper. We had gathered the men together, easing their waking however we could. I say we. Colt and Dyl did it. I could do nothing but stare off in the direction I knew Zeke to be. Zeke was in Amos's hands. How could I let this happen? I knew what he was capable of. I knew he had been too quiet lately.

"It's not your fault." I briefly looked over my shoulder at Dylan. "We'll get him back."

"And don't contradict him," Jon put in with a smirk. "I know that look."

"How? Last I heard you and the Alpha of the ECP weren't on the best of terms."

Jon nodded. "True. Still, I must follow procedure." I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He dialed a number and then put it on speaker.

"Angus McLeod's office, whom may I ask is calling?"

"Molly, it's Jon from Homestead." His voice was chipper, and I heard her small intake of breath. "Pleas put me through to Angus." 

There was hardly a pause at all. "Jon." I heard the accent and the tones spoke volumes. Angus did not like Jon in the slightest.

"Angus, I'll save of the niceties. Some kidnappers have crossed over into your lands from mine and I am letting you know that I will be in pursuit. This is not a grab at territory, but I am bringing my Enforcer, Travis, Alan, and two others."

"The three of you aren't enough?" Such bitterness in his tone.

"One of them is the mate of the one taken. You try and talk a former serviceman out of going after his mate. The other is one of my Hunters specialized in tracking. Better than Travis." I looked out of the corner of my eye at Alpha Travis who nodded.

"I see. Knowing you, you would do it anyway. Still, you have followed our laws and you haven't bothered me in ten years or so. You have two weeks." Angus cut the line.

Jon nodded. "I have everything we need in the chopper. The only problem is we need to be on the ground."

"Gene is scouting ahead...or rather coming back this way." We looked to see him coming over at a trot. "Anything?" I asked hopefully.

"They have taken a plane." I felt my knees weaken. There was no tracking them now. "The flight control front desk there was nice enough to tell me when the next flight to Lancaster, Ohio departs."

I smelled Colton start to get upset and wary. "Rickenbacker International is not too far from there." His tone said he would have liked for the plane to be anywhere other than Ohio.

"Good. We can use the chopper once it refuels and we take our Hunters home."



Peace and Quiet Ch. 07



One thing about flying is it allows you time to think. Too much time for me, really, but by the look on Colton's face, he was trying to do anything but think about what was to come. After five minutes in the air he sighed and looked over at me. "Stop wondering so loud." I blinked in confusion. "You're worse than my mom when it comes to the silent question."

I smiled slightly. "Talk," was all I said and he nodded. We were relatively alone, as alone as one could be in a transport chopper full of people with super hearing. Still, they gave us privacy. Perhaps they had heard it before. "I told you about my one big mistake. His name was Ashton."

Bad for me to think at that moment, but all that went through my head was He's gay. That settles that.

"I was in high school. I told you I played sports. I was heftier back then and they loved the fact that I could take a hit. Yet I wasn't much of a social person. Kept to myself mostly." I knew that part well. "One guy had his eye on me. I didn't know. I was oblivious." Colton stared out the window, trying to hide the feelings that these memories brought...

* * * 

I never knew Ashton ever looked at me as anything more than a blocker during practice. He was a senior, me a Sophomore. He was the Varsity QB, and I was a lineman on JV. How was I to know he even knew my name? I had the smallest of crushes on him; nothing really, just a bit star struck. I knew I never stood a chance since it was well known that he had a girlfriend and had a posse of friends who would kick anyone's ass if they said the wrong thing about him.

I would never let on that I liked him. I barely showed that I liked guys at all. Small town Midwest boys did not like other boys. It was the day after a really good practice that I got the shock of my life. I was in the lunch room when Ashton and his boys came and sat next to me. "Colt, right?" Ashton asked.

I looked up from my food and stared blankly for a moment before nodding. "Yeah."

"That was a nice block you put up yesterday. Stopped me cold."

Oh my god, he's talking to me! "Thanks. I got lucky." I couldn't believe he was sitting here, complimenting me on my block, and he even knew my name.

"A bit," he said with the cocky grin he had. He had reason to be cocky. He was big for a QB, muscled in a way that showed he was strong, but I knew he was stronger than he looked. Dark, black hair with a bit of highlights, almost feral green eyes. Always seemed to have a 5 o'clock shadow even after he shaves. So, he was basically a stud. "Still, you got some skills. Just don't get too cocky or I'll knock you on your ass."

"Me? Cocky is something I am not."

"I know." His words held a tone that he liked that I wasn't cocky. That I wasn't trying to be a better baller than him. He liked that I wasn't trying to be number one. "Hey, Mikey, get Colt a soda."

The jock in question rolled his eyes, but he got me a soda. He was...cute. Not like Ashton, but he had this thing about him. I liked him in an instant. "Here, Colton. And call me Michael. Something Ash never seems to remember."

"I remember, Mikey, but you'll always be Mikey to me. Don't you forget that." I looked at Ashton, seeing a force in his gaze that held Michael's for a second. It was almost eerie.

"Whatever." The laugh they had dispelled the tensions, but I was seeing something I wouldn't know what it was until later. I was so blind then. I didn't see it.

I told you I like Lycans. It's no secret, and it wasn't much of one then either. Wolves were my favorites, but I liked bears too. I guess high school jock cliques were a lot like pack mentality. There was an alpha and he had his enforcers. Only, I didn't realize that Ashton was feeling his own need to assert dominance over everything. That included me. "So, what are you doing after practice?"

"Homework. Chores. Babysitting my little brother."

"After that?"

Was he asking me to hang out with him? "Um...nothing, I guess."

"Good. We'll pick you up at nine." With that, he and his crew just got up. Michael did spare one glance back at me, a slight shake to his head.

I had to make up some excuse to hang out with the coolest guy in school so Mom wouldn't freak out. I chose study group for calculus as I knew I needed help in math. "Okay. Just be home by eleven."

I ran out and jumped in the truck with the guys, feeling on top of the world. I was hanging out with the cool guys! And I was sitting next to Ashton in the front. "Seat of honor, Colt. Just for you." He slung his arm across the seat back and ruffled my hair. God I was so stupid. I didn't see what he was doing. I was too caught up in the feeling of being popular, being noticed. He was pretty much marking me as his own.

We drove out to the pond where everyone liked to hang out, and I was given the seat next to Ashton. I felt so...accepted. I should have had red flags pop up when he offered me a beer. I didn't drink more than a sip on occasion, but he gave me my own beer. "There's more where that came from," he said as he put his hand on the back of my neck and gave it a squeeze. A not so subtle gesture that saying no thanks would not work. I had two beers that night. Not enough to get me drunk, but enough to get me loose.

Near eleven he took me home. I didn't believe this night had happened. Then I stopped thinking about it all when Ashton, right in front of his boys, turned my head and kissed me full on the mouth. I was stunned. His kiss was hot, his lips supple, and I knew I was going to be showing some major chub in a second. "After the game tomorrow night, you and I are going to hang out. Alone."

"S...sure thing." Mister Straight, His Royal Jockness, had just kissed me and wanted to hang out with me.

I should have seen it coming. I knew it was all too good to be true. The next day I was almost following him around, which he liked the attention, but he firmly turned down any advances as far as closeness. "Wait. Chill out, Colt, you'll have time later. All night in fact." His voice dropped down and the rumble made me get hard almost instantly. Then he jogged off to PE while I had to go to Math.

"Don't go over to his house, Colton, you'll regret it."

I turned to see Michael there. "Why? He likes me."

"Yeah...now. You're not the first boy he's seduced and then let go." I should have listened to him and not my dick.

"Whatever," was all I said.

"Then don't come crying to me when he tosses you aside." He left after that.

* * *

"Except I did go crying to him. Ashton...took that time to mark me, infect me, and otherwise make me his sycophant. Michael...he held me that first night. He didn't say I told you so. He didn't hold me again either." Colton looked at me with tears in his eyes. "I was so mean to him. Even after the first moon, seeing Ashton as the jackal that he was and seeing all his boys as Lycans too, I was still so mean to Michael. That was my big mistake. Not Ashton...how I treated Michael. My first real crush. The first man I actually loved. I tried finding someone else, and I thought I was happy, but no one would replace my brown bear.

"I have a thing for bears. I...know what they're feeling. What they're thinking. Too late really." He looked down at his feet and wiped his eyes. "That's why I took to Zeke so fast. He reminds me of Michael. I'm not moving in on your mate, Quint, so don't worry about that. It's...hard to know he's out there." He seemed done talking for now.

"Why tell me this now?"

"Because. Amos was not the only one to take Zeke. Ashton was there too. So was Michael."

It hit all of us in the chopper hard. I looked around at the Alphas and Dylan to see they found this turn of events to be just as durned depressing as I did. They knew Colton better than I, knew what this might do to him. "I can't let that get in my way though. Zeke needs to be rescued and Amos put down. I know my path...and no one will stop me from making another mistake." The steel in his voice was something I was not used to in the seemingly lighthearted Colton. His past coming back must have shaken him pretty bad, but he was not backing down. I never took Colton very seriously until now. He was young, a bit ornery, and never seemed to take much seriously. Was it all by choice? Looks like it.



Peace and Quiet Ch. 08



When we landed, I was confronted with the most tense scene I think I have ever witnessed. Worse than being in combat. Worse than seeing my best friend squaring off with the enemy, both holding guns and readying to fire. Worse than when my Father met Amos.

Jon and an absolutely huge man stood glaring at each other. I knew instantly who the man was: Angus McLeod, the ECP Alpha. The one Jon had beaten him in combat. Neither was giving an inch in their staring contest, as open a challenge as there could be in their world. My eyes were darting between Jon and Angus because if one twitched wrong, the other would attack, and it would be one nasty war. Still, Angus nodded his head, which was as much of a surrender as he was going to give. "Jon, welcome."

"Thank you Angus. You didn't have to come all the way out here for us." His tone said he was not happy to see the man, even though he had won.

"I didn't. I came out here to give you this." He handed him an envelope. "Remember this for the future, Jon." He looked at the other two Alphas. "Travis, Alan, good day." He went towards his car, but stopped. "Which of you is mated to the bear?" I raised my hand. His looked was measuring, looking for God knows what. "Quite the laddie you got. Took four of them to drag him into the truck." With that he left. 

"And you beat him?" I asked, unable to stop myself.

Jon only nodded. "When someone tries to sacrifice your son's heart, you kind of get pissed." Jon looked over at Dylan who was white knuckled and just as angry. "Son," he said, trying to calm him.

I reached over and touched his arm, the shock making him jump and look at me. His expression cleared of most of the anger, and he nodded. "You're right. He's not worth another thought. I'm fine, Pop. Let's just find our teddy, skin the cat, put down the mangy mutt, and get the hell out of this place."

Jon opened the packet and handed it to me. Inside was a picture of the truck, Zeke being dragged into it, and more importantly...the license plate, owner, driver's records...everything I would need to know to find them. "Ashton...Burwell." I looked up slowly and looked at Colton. He could see the surprise I felt.

"That's him. Why are you so shocked?"

"Because. I've met him before. At the one family reunion Amos took me to before he infected me. Cousin Ashton was there." The two of us held each other's gazes and nodded. "Kill 'em both?"

"Slowly and painfully?"

"Yep."

"Mmhmm."

"We have an address to check out, but knowing Amos they won't be there."

Colton looked at the address. "That's his mother's house."

"Good ole' Aunt Gin. So sweet, so loving, so blind to her insane family." Colton could only agree with me. Aunt Gin, or Virginia, was a wonderful woman, but the lights were dim inside. She never saw anything but good in people, and she doted on Ashton at the reunion as if he were her master. It was a long shot, but she might know where they were or where they were going. "Now, are we going to go after them now and risk losing the light, or track them in the morning when our Solaris are strongest?" I looked to Dylan, who seemed a bit shocked.

When he looked at Jon, the Leader smiled. "It's your call, Son. I leave the enforcing and hunting to those who are trained."

I felt Dylan's unease, but then I felt the pride he felt at having his father defer to him. "Both. Grandpa, Pop, and I will come in the morning. Papa Travis, Gene, and the two of you will track them and get them out if you can do it safely. No risks. No hotheaded maneuvers." This he said as he looked at Colton. The man nodded. "We're splitting because the four of you are the best at stealth and tracking. The three of us have the morning as our strength."

"I'm being dense about something, I know it, but ain't Jon a Lunais? I know Solaris change in the daylight better, but he's still a lunar Lycan."

"I change when I want," said Jon. I gaped. "Pat does too, but not all the way like I can. I should call him to let him know what is up."

We split up and us trackers went to the address listed. It was a nice little house in the suburbs, nothing fancy and perfect place to raise a small family. Dylan had left Gene in charge as senior Hunter. I wondered exactly what Alpha Travis's role was. I knew he was a powerfully built man, and I knew he could do some damage in a fight. I pondered this as we walked up the driveway and knocked on the door.

After a moment I saw Aunt Gin open the door. She hadn't changed all that much. Still lovely, still motherly. "May...Quintin Marshall! Oh my stars! Come in, come in." She ushered us in and shut the door. "Look at you. It's been years and here you show up on my door step so soon after Amos. I bet you're looking for him."

I couldn't help but smile. "Yes, ma'am. He said to meet up at the airport, but he wasn't there. I remembered you and Cousin Ashton lived around here, so I thought I would check in."

"The boys went fishing up at the lake yesterday. Probably forgot to tell you. I swear, they would forget their heads if they didn't have a minder. Can I get you boys anything? Water...Colton Matthews?" She registered the shock so plainly. The classic hand to the heart.

"Hi, Gin." 

"You...have grown so big. I haven't seen you in, well since then, really. How did you boys meet up?" she asked, looking from me to Colton and back.

"We work together, ironically enough. Aunt Gin, this is Gene and that's Travis. They're our mentors. We work at a camp up North and I invited them along."

"A pleasure," said Travis as he bowed over her hand.

"Believe me, it is all mine." I could see that Aunt Gin was captivated by Travis's good looks and charm. "Now, how about that water. I have lemonade too."

"As much as that sounds delightful, ma'am, we need to meet up with the boys." Travis bowed over her hand in a very gentlemanly way, making her go all red in the face and flushing.

"Oh my word. Such a gentleman. You boys have fun. I know that Ashton and Michael are having fun. You should have seen Ashton's face when Amos showed up. Said he had bagged a good one and wanted to get another. But you boys run along. Give my love to the rest."

I had to force a smile. "Sounds great. I'll give them all the love." We left with a good bye and got into the truck we rented. Something tells me it was a good thing we got the insurance on it.

I knew where the cabin was, and so did Colton since he never corrected my admittedly faulty memory. It wasn't that long of a drive in miles, but backroads didn't care about miles, only potholes, runnels, and crumbling terrain. Good thing we did bring a truck. I was awash in memories of the time Amos brought me up here. It was probably the most romantic time for us. Looking back...it was the last fond memory of him...that last night before he raped away my humanity. The candle lit dinner, food perfectly prepared, freshly showered, caresses before the fireplace. 

Then he bit me.

I didn't know what had happened until the next night. We had always enjoyed passionate sex, and this was no different. I knew something was different when I changed that next night. Amos changed. He became controlling, violent, possessive. I became his property held by fear and rage. This would not be a good time for me...and Amos knew it.

We parked the truck a few miles away and set off through the woods at a fast pace. It was near enough to night for me to change, and I did. I also felt something massive beside me and looked up into the piercing, yet comforting, gaze of Travis in his lunar form. Gods above he was a glorious beast. He may be middle aged, but he was a wonder sight. He licked my nose once, and I batted his playfully. He accepted my limits, my fears, my lack of everything and gave me respect for being here anyway. I didn't speak his howls, but I understood all of this.

We went swiftly through the woods, Travis taking the lead with Gene at the rear. It was a fast trek, but we had to stop when we smelled the fire from the cabin. I could see two guys were sitting on the porch with shotguns, and I could smell them. Lycan. Lupus. Not even worthy of being betas but far from omegas. I could smell Amos and my stomach turned. I could smell Zeke. I knew he was here or had been within the past fifteen minutes because he had taken a piss less than ten feet from me. 

Gene motioned for me to move around to the other side with Colton. I didn't get it until I remembered one thing. Colton could find the spot they could not sense us. He was a good pathfinder. I was also coming to realize I was much better at stealth than I knew. We moved off. I looked into the cabin's windows for any sight of Zeke. Nothing at all until I got to the higher ground of a hill covered in trees. I looked into the bedroom and saw him tied down with chains, a pained look in his eyes, and I knew the chains were silver. Even laying against his skin would be agonizing. Amos was his guard. Ashton was below in the kitchen and I smelled Colton getting angry beside me. I nudged him and he hit me. He actually punched me in the rump. I glared but then I felt why he did it. He was pissed. Thoroughly and completely pissed off..and it made his change that much swifter.

He could change outside of the moon? Was his change fueled by rage? Could that be why it always looked so painful, because only when he was angry did it not hurt him? Something to talk about later. We stared down at the two people we hated the most and waited. There was no way we could get to Zeke with Amos there. He was way too strong. There was no way we could get to Ashton with four other guys in the cabin. We could only watch...and that made us even more angry.

Dude, calm down. They will smell your anger. I heard the Creep loud and clear this time. No distortion, no wavering. This time it was as if he were right beside me with his hand on my head. I felt the anger leave me like a leak in a bucket. Slowly, but it was gone. Colton was not so fortunate. He was growling in the back of his throat almost too quietly for me to hear, but it stopped when Zeke turned his head and looked us right in the eyes.

He knew we were here. He could tell exactly where we were. Some of the pain left his face as he closed his eyes.

"Passing out, are we?" Amos taunted, then he hit Zeke enough to break his jaw...again. Zeke just laid there with his eyes closed. "Fucking punk can't even handle that. Ash, send Mike up to take care of this. I need to piss."

Colton flinched. The other guy was here too? Well... "He's getting supplies, Am. He won't be back for a few hours." Colton relaxed somewhat. One less problem as far as I was concerned, but one for another day. 

Another person entered the room, armed with a rifle, which was undoubtedly loaded with silver bullets. Still, he wasn't Amos. One Lycan was no match for the two of us.

Nothing rash, Quint.

For once, I am not following orders. You can yell at me later. I looked at Colton who nodded. He smelled my resolve.

A piercing howl split the air, one that could only be issued by a massive wolf with stunning blue eyes. It was a challenge of leadership. I saw Travis come stalking out of the woods as Ashton and Amos came running out. "Holy shit he's huge!" said the other men with guns.

"A challenge? Old man, walk away," said Ashton. It was all the distraction we needed. We charged down the hill and were on the roof without a sound. We changed back, which was painful looking to Colton, but he nodded when I looked at him. I grabbed his ankles when he gestured, and lowered him upside down to the window where he quietly opened it. I was a bit distracted by the sounds of a scuffle from the front of the cabin, but I knew what was going on. Travis was fighting Ashton. Taking his time too. Giving us all the time in the world.

When the window was open, I heard a gasp and then a gurgle when Colton twitched. What had happened? He signaled to let him go and I did, looking over the edge to see him shimmy into the window. There were some hissed of pain and a few gasps, but when I saw Zeke practically tumble from the window and land on the grassy turf with Colton hot on his tail, I knew that we had better run. So we did. I had to trust that Travis could take them all.

Then I didn't have to as I heard a triumphant roar from the huge wolf's mouth. He had won. He had beaten Ashton. It was no doubt, really. He was still an Alpha Wolf. Might not be in his prime, but that didn't matter because Ashton would be no real match.

We ran, Zeke breathing hard as he struggled to keep up, but we stopped when we saw Jon, Dyl and Alan with someone I had never seen. Jon and Alan took Zeke. "It ends now," said Jon, and he handed me a rifle. I knew what he meant. I took it and turned around.

"No," whispered Zeke.

"Yes. He will not stop coming back until I end this. Plus...I cannot go against the wishes of my Alpha." Even Jon looked shocked. "Especially when it's exactly what I want to do." I spun and marched. "Hurt my mate...I don't fucking think so. Colton, stay here and protect Zeke. Dylan, you're with me. Jon, see if Travis needs anything, although Gene probably is doing that. Alan, round up the stragglers."

I heard a small chuckle from Jon. "Listen to him. Finally giving orders. You heard him." I didn't even turn around to apologize. I heard the joke in his tone, and knew he would never accept an apology when the course of action made sense. "Still...such language." At that I chuckled. I didn't cuss much.

When I rounded the corner of the cabin, I stopped to see Amos was staring right at me. Ashton was being tended to by his friends, and Travis was back in human form with Gene and Jon by his side. Jon was in his lunar form...how the heck did I get into a pack with such hot men?

"Hello, Kitten." I shot him in the leg. He looked so shocked too.

"I told you, I ain't your kitten, Amos." The other guys raised their gun, but Dylan was right there as he shifted into his solar form. Yeah...his fiance was going to be sore. He was the biggest beast I had ever seen. A massive lion in the budding of his prime. God he was hot. "You better lower your guns. Silver don't hurt Solaris. Just pisses them off. Travis, you okay?"

"Fine, lad. This young one...well, he won't be attempting to breed for a few months." I grinned at the words.

"Good. Now, Amos." I shot him in the other leg. I knew torture was not the best thing, but I didn't want him getting away this time. "You hurt me for years. You hunted me across states." I shot past his head. He hadn't moved, barely flinched whe I shot him. Damn Seal training. "I was going to be a nice guy and just let you be if you let me be. You came after my mate. That," I said and pulled the trigger one last time, "was where you messed up." He dropped to the ground in a heap, the bullet in his head meaning he would not get back up. "Ashton," I said coldly and he glared. I shot him in the dick. When he howled, I knew I had hit a literal sore spot. "That is for Colton. Good luck finding anyone to fuck without a dick." I had eleven shots left. "Anyone else want to get on my bad side tonight? I'm a good shot, have PTSD, and my mate was taken from me and tortured. You tell me if you feel like being uppity." No one, not even my friends and pack, made a move. "Good. Ashton, I'll leave you to take care of the trash." I turned when I felt Zeke right there.

He just looked at me with mixed emotions. He could not really understand why I so easily put a bullet through his head. He could not understand why I shot Ashton's dick off. He could not understand...but he could accept it. He held open his arms. I shoved the gun into Dylan's paw and leaped into the arms of the man I loved. I know he felt me shaking. No words were exchanged. They weren't needed. Maybe now, after all of this...there would be some peace and quiet.



Peace and Quiet Ch. 09



I woke with a start, sweat pouring down my body and panting. It was early in the morning, too early for me to really be out of bed, but it was for the best that I got up. Slowly and silently I got out of bed, doing my best not to disturb my mate and husband. It was almost a year since I killed Amos, and I still had nightmares. Some were vague and only left me feeling uneasy. Some were like this one, waking me from hell. I paced the floor a few times, wincing when I saw Zeke stir from the creaking floorboard I always mean to fix.

Stepping outside, I leaned against the railing. We had moved into the camp when Jon officially welcomed us into the Homestead Pack. Both of us, and the Whitebears could not be more proud. Their strapping son had a husband who tolerated his chattiness, had a good job as an Enforcer and a degree in anthropology, and was finally out of the house. My mom was thrilled for me to find a man I could trust who loved me more than life itself. While she would have preferred a girl for grandkids...maybe a human...she loved Zeke and her new inlaws. Papa...was quiet about it. I think that as long as Zeke wasn't another Amos, he wouldn't raise a stink. That, and he was scared to death of Zeke since he found out about our inner furballs. 

I had called back to the few people down south I knew who would want to know. Mary Beth Sutter flew up for the wedding. Tommy came out for the welcoming to the pack. I even got an email of congratulations from Angus McLeod for both. Seemed he respected Zeke's tenacity quite a bit. 

"Bad night?" came the question from Colton. He was on rounds tonight and stopped by when he saw me out.

"Yeah. How's duty?"

"Boring. Not even a rabbit to chase. I like it that way." He smiled. I knew what he meant.

"I hear you. It ain't even a challenge anymore. Praise god." He grinned and nudged my arm.

"Back to your rounds," said Dyl as he came over.

"Aye aye, Captain Creep." Colton saluted and marched off with a jaunty step.

"If I didn't know better I would say he was sweet on you, Quint."

"Not me. Zeke." Dylan cocked his head to the side. "Yeah. He's got the hots for Zeke."

"Really? That doesn't bother you?"

"Nope. I told Zeke that if he ever did anything with Colton, I would hurt him." Dylan grinned. "Not that way. Colt likes him and can't have him. If Zeke did anything, he might end up hurting Colt. Then I would hurt him."

"Huh." Dylan came up behind me and set his chin on the top of my head, using my as a leaning post. That shock was still there, but it was a familiar thing now. An almost intimate connection that only we shared, although I think Zeke and Colt had something like it too. I could never be sure. "So...they have permission to dally?"

"Yeah." Dylan just shook his head, which shook mine.

"You are a strange man. I could never let anyone near my wife. Heather thinks it's cute when I get protective." I remembered more than one guy getting the look from him when they flirted with her at the bar. Never the same guy twice.

"It can be charming as long as you're not a dick about it. Zeke just laughs when anyone asks me to dance. Even when I do, he knows I'll be home later."

"And I don't get jealous when sexy lions drape all over my husband." Zeke came up behind Dyl and poked him in the side. It was a subtle gesture, one Dylan grinned at. He did step back and I went to Zeke's arms. "Because I know. Even if he said yes to your charms, he would come home to me."

"Charms? Wait...does he have permission to...with me?"

Zeke looked him dead in the eye. "You are the only one. As Colton is for me. I cannot fight the fact that you have a spot in his mind and his heart, in your own way. It's fate. All I can do is realize that you are a man worthy of his affections. We're pack. We're family. We're more than that, and you know it." Dylan didn't acknowledge that last one. He knew it too. As close as our minds were, he knew I found him freaking hot. He knew I would sleep with him. I also knew that the thoughts were curious coming from him.

"Huh. Well, I'll leave you two freaks alone. No seducing Colt, Zeke. I don't want to find you dead when you break the man's heart." He left and slipped back into his cabin.

"Wonder if he believed us," I said with a chuckle.

"Maybe. So...does Colton really like me? I don't share the same mind link you and Dyl do."

"Yeah, but he said he would keep his paws to himself. Now, the question is...do you like Colton?"

"I plead the fifth." I laughed and led him back inside.

"Looks like I'm not giving you enough attention."

He wuffed as he grinned, his instant arousal obvious. "I could never get enough of you."

"Then I should do my best just to wear you out," I said as I shut the door to the cabin.