13 comments/ 30084 views/ 45 favorites Madelyn Ch. 00 By: FaireSansa Dear reader, I hope you have enjoyed this story in its original submission. This is a new prologue to the story. It is richer, with more information, and I hope you enjoy the reworking of it. Oh, and the prologue is longer than it was to begin with. I'm sure many of you will like that. I've been reworking the entire story to some extent and trying to write new stuff, but school comes first, so it's slow going. Hopefully, with only online classes during the second half of the summer quarter, I'll be able to get some more writing done for your reading pleasure. Fingers are crossed, anyway!. sansa * As she passed the photograph in the hall, she tried not to pay attention to it. She kept it out for sentimental reasons but ignored it as much as possible. It was just a reminder of how alone she was in the world. It was a photograph was of herself and her parents, taken when she was a child. But they were gone now and she was alone. Madelyn Randell's life was a quiet one. She'd been alone for about 3 years. Her parents had died in an accident, far from home. They were adventurers, braving the wilds of Africa and the Amazon, to try to find lost civilizations, treasures, and people. They had written papers that were published in several magazines and a couple documentaries had been made of them during their searches. One even documented their triumph in finding a village of people thought to be long extinct. Unfortunately, they were killed in the Rocky Mountains on the way home from an investigation into reports of unidentified creatures not far from where their plane crashed. The wings of the small chartered plane they were in iced up. The pilot died instantly when the plane hit the sheer face of the rock cliff. The plane fell to a ledge and remained there for a few days, according to a recording found in the wreckage. Her parents, she was told, survived for a while, but died when the plane shifted and plummeted hundreds of feet to the ground. Both were severely injured and weren't able to get out of the plane while it was still on the ledge. Had they been able to, she was told it was unlikely they would have survived long enough for help to arrive. It was 4 weeks before anybody was able to locate and reach the wreckage, and another 6 weeks to return the remains of her parents and their belongings to her. The money they'd put into trust for her was enough to sustain her for the rest of her life, if she didn't make extravagant purchases, but she didn't touch much of it. She'd taken out enough to purchase a small house in San Francisco. It was sufficient for her current needs, and she was able to make it comfortable. She was fortunate that she was old enough when her parents died that she didn't have to go into foster care. At the time of their death, she had just turned 16. Over the next couple months, she lived with her parents' attorney, Brian Hemming, and he helped her with the forms for emancipation, and a few weeks before her 17th birthday, the court officially recognized her as an adult. Now, she was working from home, proofreading papers for English students at the University, and doing other odd writing jobs. It wasn't like she needed the money, but she did need something to occupy her mind and keep herself busy. It worked for her. Madelyn's little house on 18th St in San Francisco wasn't what she'd grown used to while her parents were alive, but it was at least a charming little place. She'd found it when Brian Hemming, her family's attorney and longtime friend, helped her become emancipated after her parents' deaths. The hall where the photograph sat on the antique sideboard led from her small office, which in yesteryear would have been a parlor, to the den across from the office, then further back was a staircase leading to the second floor. Beyond the staircase was her little kitchen. The kitchen in Madelyn's San Francisco house was a bright room, with walls painted a pale yellow and a window above the two-sided sink. Little touches inside reminded her of home, which is why she'd never updated it much. There were original hardwood built-in cabinets, and the floor was hardwood, also. The butcherblock countertop was marked with knife cuts from as many as eighty years ago, but she didn't care. She felt they added character to the little room. An old-fashioned table stood in the middle of the room, with a storage shelf underneath it to hold her large pots and pans. The only modern things in the little kitchen were the stove, refrigerator and a goose-necked faucet that had a pullout nozzle built right into the faucet, instead of sitting next to it. The phone rang as she stood next to the sink, thinking about her current house and reminiscing about her childhood home. Answering it, she was delighted to find it was exactly who she hoped to hear from. "Brian! I'm glad to hear from you!" she said excitedly, hoping he would have the news she'd been waiting to hear for so long. "Hi Maddie," he said gently. His tone didn't sound good. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath as she waited for him to say more. "They're not releasing it," she said when he didn't say anything more. It wasn't a question. "No, Maddie," he replied. "Not yet, anyway." "Why...?" "Wait, Madelyn, before you get upset, please hear me out," he replied. Brian wasn't just her family's attorney; he was so much more, and very dear to Madelyn. She called him Uncle Brian when she was a child and while she no longer called him Uncle, he was still an important person in her life. He knew her very well and this was sure to upset her. When he sensed she'd calmed a little, he continued, "This is just a little bump, Maddie. We will get your house released to you. I don't see why you can't have it by the end of the year." "The end of the year?" she repeated, in a little more forceful tone than intended. Sighing, she shook her head and tried to swallow the lump that felt like it was forming in her throat. "That's just, it's..." she fumbled for the right words for a moment. "I know, Madelyn." "It's ridiculous, Brian! They can't do this! Or, they shouldn't be able to do it. I want to go home!" The situation frustrated her so much she was on the verge of tears. Madelyn couldn't understand how a person could be forced out of her home at 16 then not allowed to return upon reaching legal adulthood, when her parents had owned it outright before they died. Their will stated specifically the house should go to her. She was emancipated not long after their death to keep her out of the foster care system. "Madelyn, don't worry. I have a few ideas. We will get you home." "Please, Brian, I can't stay here much longer," she said, dejected. "I need to go home." "Trust me, Maddie, I understand more than you know," Brian responded as he looked over the report he'd received back from the investigator for the fourth time since he got it. "We'll get you home, sweetie, don't worry." "I trust you, Brian, you're the only person I have left in the world, and if you say it'll happen, then I'll believe it," she said before saying goodbye. Hanging up the phone, she decided to go for a jog to clear her head. In his office, Brian continued looking at the report. Madelyn's parents had a lot of secrets. It was only now that they were starting to make themselves known. He just didn't know yet how he'd tell Madelyn of all the things he'd learned. *** Madelyn ran. The words of her attorney in her head clashing with the incident so long ago, both fueling her to push harder until she stopped, out of breath, in a park quite far from her little city house. Collapsing on a park bench, she leaned forward, forearms on her knees, head in her hands, and sobbed quietly as the incident played out in her head again... Madelyn stepped onto the elevator, not paying much attention to much of anything. She pressed the button and the doors began closing. Just before they snapped shut, a folder slipped between them and they slid back open again. Looking up, Madelyn let out at defeated sigh. The probate officer. Just the person she didn't want to talk to...not alone in an elevator, anyway. "Miss Randell," he said in his cool voice. "Mr. Price," she responded, equally cool. "Why, Miss Randell, aren't we a chilly one today," he retorted back. "Wouldn't you be, too?" she snapped back. "Why, I --" "No," she said icily. "I don't care to hear you prattling on any longer." She didn't care about having interrupted him. "You've denied me my home, Mr. Price. My home. I grew up there. It was there that I learned to walk, learned to talk, to ride a bike. It's where my dog is buried." She paused a moment for a breath. "Miss --" he tried to speak again. "I said no, Mr. Price," she again interrupted. "I won't listen to why you can NOT let me return home one moment longer. That property is my heart. My parents are DEAD, Mr. Price! Dead! What am I to do now? Where am I to go? I assure you, Mr. Price, I can look after myself. I've been well educated -- better, I'm sure, than your own children, who, by the looks of you, are probably at least 10 years my senior." The probate officer stood there, aghast, his face flushed slightly. "Miss Randell, as I've stated many times, your case is a unique one. We have not had a situation quite like yours before," he tried to soften his voice as he spoke, not quite achieving the goal, but the effort was there. "Frankly, Mr. Price, I don't give a rat's ass about the 'uniqueness' of my case," Madelyn fumed, yet was able to remain mostly eloquent with her words. "This is my life you're playing with. Not a game of chess or Monopoly. My life. And it's not a game, Mr. Price. You're so damned enthralled with the 'uniqueness' of my 'situation' that you forget you're dealing with a sixteen year old girl who has nobody left in the world save her attorney; a young girl who has lost the people who were her rock, her foundation: her parents. They were my world, Mr. Price! And now they're gone!" Tears were flowing freely now. "Dead, Mr. Price! Their bodies broken on that mountain, Mr. Price," by now, she spat out his name as if it were poison. She paused and turned away, only now noticing the doors of the elevator were wide open and a crowd was gathered, watching in shock as she spoke. She stood there staring at the crowd for only a few seconds before noticing Brian standing at the back of the crowd. She looked into his eyes then back at the probate officer. "Good day, Mr. Price," she ended their conversation without a question to its finality. With a flip of her golden curls, she rushed off the elevator, into her attorney's arms, the people all around staring as she passed. Together they left the probate officer standing alone on the elevator. When they exited the building, the people all turned to stare at him this time. Some faces were still clearly shocked by the scene they partially witnessed. Others bore clear disgust for the man who pushed his way past them to head home for the night. *** Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months following that call. Her 19th birthday came. She celebrated with Brian, and he'd brought her a Swedish Princess cake from Schubert's. It was a little bakery on Clement Street Brian frequented. It was one of his favorite bakeries and he would bring her pastries and breads from there from time to time, but this was the first cake she'd tasted of theirs. The cake was composed of layers of white sponge separated by raspberry and kirsch custard filling, with a whipped cream and marzipan icing. Madelyn was delighted by the delicate piping decorating the top of the cake and surprised by how good it tasted. It was so good she helped herself to a second slice that night. It was a nice birthday celebration, but shadowed by the fact she still couldn't go home. She took a long bath that night after Brian left then went to bed and dreamt of home. *** A few weeks later, she walked alone down the quiet San Francisco street after visiting Fenway Market, which was a little grocery store right down the street from her house on 18th. The light from the streetlamps was dim and a cool breeze played through the trees. It lifted her blonde hair, gently playing with the curls before setting them down, only to pick them up again from time to time. The moon rose above the tops of the buildings. Slowing, she turned her violet eyes upward to gaze at it with a familiar longing. It was nearly full, yet it wasn't all that impressive to her that night. The haze of the city sky dulled the beauty she once found in it. Picking up the pace once more, she noted that she was nearly to her house. As she approached her building, she pulled her keys from her pocket then ascended the steps to her front door with a soft, defeated sigh. Once inside, she closed and locked the door before moving down the hall to the kitchen. She put her groceries away then headed upstairs, stripping off her clothes as she went, leaving them in a trail on the stairs as she made her way through the house to prepare a hot bath. It was her nightly ritual, one she always looked forward to when she returned home from one of her long walks. Stepping into the old claw foot tub, she eased into the hot water and felt the tension in her body begin melting away. Turning off the water, she settled back, her golden curls floating in the water around her shoulders and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. *** "Maddie?" a voice woke her from her nap in the bathtub. "Yes, Daddy?" she called as she stepped out of the now cool water. "Everything ok in there?" "Yeah, just a moment, please," she responded. She'd fallen asleep in the tub again. It was a usual thing for her. She would climb into a nice hot bath and relax so completely that she'd fall asleep. She wrapped a plush robe around her dripping body and twisted a towel around her hair, then reached down into the water and released the stopper plugging the drain of the old claw foot tub. Opening the door, she found her father standing there with a half-grin on his face. She smiled up at him and gave him a hug with one arm before pushing past him to scamper off to her room. "We'll be leaving soon, darling," he said as she went into her bedroom. "Ok, Daddy," she responded as she started to close the door. "I'll be down in a couple minutes." She dressed in her usual attire: sweat pants, a tank top and a light long-sleeved zip up hoodie. She'd already planned to go for a run in the woods surrounding their home after her parents left for their trip. She walked down the hall and stairs to find both standing at a table with a cake and candles lit. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized they hadn't forgotten her birthday, which would be two days after they left. "Surprise!" a voice said from the kitchen. It was Uncle Brian. Laughing, she ran and gave him a warm hug then went and blew out the candles on the cake as everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to her. "You didn't think we'd forget, did you?" her father asked, smiling as he passed her a small wrapped package, gently kissing her forehead as she took it from his hands. "Of course not, Daddy, I just figured you planned to celebrate after you return from your wild goose chase," she laughed as she tore the paper from the small box. Her father rolled his eyes as they laughed at her teasing tone. She'd always called her parents' adventures wild goose chases, as they most often came back either empty handed, or nearly so. Madelyn gasped as she opened the box. Inside was a lovely golden locket set with gems that together formed a sprig of holly. She turned and held her hair up as her mother took the box from her and removed the locket from it before fastening it around Madelyn's neck. "We had it specially made, Maddie, dear," her mother said. "Oh, thank you, Mother, thank you, Daddy!" Madelyn exclaimed as she hugged them both. "I love it!" "And we love you, always remember that, my darling," Marie told her, pulling back to cup Madelyn's head in her hands. They looked into each other's eyes, both tearing up a little as they stared at one another. Marie's green eyes sparkled as she gazed into the violets that were Madelyn's. "Never forget how much we love you, Maddie." "I won't, Mother, and I love you, too," she said, moving to hug her mother again. They were interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing. Daddy went to pick it up and turned to say something to everyone. *** Madelyn awoke with a start as the phone rang, tearing her from her dream. Tears began forming in her eyes as she heard the digital voice of her phone's caller id saying it was the attorney. Perhaps he had news about her parents' home that had been tied up with legal issues since their death? Sighing, she climbed out of the tub, not bothering to dry herself off, and made her way to the hall to grab the wireless handset. Pressing the button, she put it to her ear and said, "Hello?" "Hi, Madelyn, it's Brian. I have some news for you," the voice on the other end said. Brian Hemming was an odd, but trustworthy and mostly pleasant, man. She believed he was well over 50 years of age. Standing 6 foot 7, with salt and pepper hair and the most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever seen, he'd been her parents' attorney since before she could remember. They had an interesting relationship, and he'd always treated her as if she were a granddaughter, or a niece. On Christmas and birthdays, he never failed to bring her a present. When he'd visit her parents for business, or even for a social visit, she'd always run to give him hugs and kisses on his cheek. As a small child, she called him 'Uncle Brian' and would sit upon his knee while he told her stories. When she got older, his gifts went from toys to perfume or strands of pearls, and when she went to the prom for her sophomore year of high school, he surprised her with a limo and paid for her and her date's dinner at an upscale restaurant. "Yes?" she replied as she returned to the warmth of the bath water, taking care not to let the phone get wet. "It's concerning your parents' home," he said, pausing a moment. Hearing the rustle of papers in the background, she was certain a decision had been made regarding her parents' estate, which had been tied up in probate since their death. The money she'd used to purchase this house had come out of her trust fund, which had been a couple million dollars to begin with, and over the years before their death it had doubled because the type of trust they'd set up for her was an interest-earning one. That combined with the investments that had been made over the years had put Madelyn in a very good position, financially. 'Oh please!' she thought. 'Maybe I can now go home, finally.' She held her breath and bit her bottom lip as she awaited his next words. "It's all settled. The court has released your parents' estate. You may return home just as soon as you're able to pack and sell your house in the city!" his excited voice told her. She knew he was just as excited for all of this to finally be over as she was. She sat there, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can go home?" she said hesitantly. "I can go home!" she exclaimed, without giving him time to say anything. "Oh, Brian, thank you! Thank you so much for all you've done to help me!" "You're welcome Maddie," he said, calling her by her parents' and his pet name. "Would you like me to arrange for your city house to be put on the market?" "Yes, please." She replied. "I'd like to get rid of this place as soon as I'm able, and go home." "Leave that to me," Brian told her. "You concentrate on getting your personal belongings packed up, and just go home. Everything is as it was when you left. Well...everything but the kitchen." Madelyn Ch. 00 She stopped, wondering what could have happened to the kitchen in her absence... "What happened?" she asked, concerned. "Oh, nothing a trip to the grocery store won't fix," he said, good-naturedly. "It has been 3 years, you know, Maddie, A week after you left, I had to empty the fridge and cupboards, to keep the food there from spoiling." He laughed, and she laughed with him. "Ok. I'll get everything packed and ready to go." She stopped and thought about what she had in this little house in the city that she really wanted to take with her. "You know, all I really need is my clothes, pictures, and books... I could care less about most of the furniture here, Brian. Please list the house as being fully furnished. I'll take the 2 or 3 pieces I really want, and the rest can go with the house." "Ok, Maddie. I'll make the necessary arrangements," he told her, "and don't worry about your house in the city, sweetie. I'll be sure you get top dollar for it." "Brian," she said reprovingly. "I know you will always see to my best interests. You've never cheated my family. I trust you to make the right decision for my house. In fact, I don't really care what I get from it. I have enough to live out the rest of my life, between my trust fund and the inheritance of my parents' estate." "I know, Maddie," he replied. "But I wouldn't ever let anybody take advantage of you. I love you as if you were my own...well, my own granddaughter." "I know you do, Brian. And I love you very much, too. You've always been so good to me and I appreciate everything you do." She paused a moment before continuing, "And, Brian...When the house sells, I want you to take 25% of the selling price for yourself." "Maddie, do you know what you're saying?" he said, not believing what he'd just heard. 25% was unheard of for a broker to earn from the sale of real estate. Her house was easily worth a few million dollars. "Yes, Brian, I know what my house is worth." A smile crossed her face as she spoke to the dear man. "You've never wanted to take anything from me in compensation since my parents died, Brian. I've always insisted you at least compensate yourself for fees, materials, and at least take a little for your time, but you've never taken more than what your cost is. Believe me, I've checked." "But, Madelyn...." He tried to object but she stopped him. "No, Brian. Not this time. This time, you take 25% of whatever my house sells for. No arguments, do you understand?" "Yes, I understand, sweetie," he conceded. "I'll be sure it is in the paperwork." "Thank you, Brian...now, I need to get off here and make arrangements to move back home. I'm so tired of San Francisco and the smells and noises and not being able to touch nature that I want to get the hell out of here just as soon as I can!" "Alright, my dear," He told her softly. "Have a good night and a safe trip home." "I will." She paused a moment before quickly adding, "And, Brian? Thank you. Thank you so very much." With that, she hung up, put the phone on the counter, and settled back into the water again. She rested there barely a minute before she burst into tears. A combination of relief, anguish, joy, and uncertainty washed over her all at the same time. Would she be able to do it? Could she really return to the home she'd shared with them all her life until they died? She didn't know. What she did know is that she didn't like the city and had to get away from here, right away. When she was finished bathing, she climbed into bed and drifted off into a deep sleep, dreaming of waking up to the sounds and smells of home. Madelyn Ch. 01 Dear Reader, Thank you for being so patient with me, below you will find an updated version of Chapter 1 of Madelyn. I have expanded it, as I'm reworking the chapters, to make them longer, with additional information. Also, I've moved the location from Oregon to Northern California, along the border between Oregon and California. I felt this to be better for me, since I am from California. I hope you will enjoy what I've done with the story. More chapters to come very soon, as I'm out of school for a short time and can concentrate on a few things I find enjoyable, such as writing. Enjoy! -sansa -1- Two days later, Madelyn stood in line at Henry's, a mom-n-pop grocery store in the little town not far from where her house was, her cart filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, cereal, a bag of steel cut oats and other miscellaneous items. She was looking over the meat section, amazed at the low prices of her favorite cuts. San Francisco prices were unimaginably high as compared to here and she picked out a few steaks and chops to eat over the next week. As she reached for a tri-tip roast, her hand bumped into someone else's and she gasped then turned to stammer out apologies. "I'm so sorry..." her words cut off as she looked up into the face of the man beside her. Annoyance on his face was plain as day but as their eyes met, his features softened. "No, please don't worry about it, miss...?" "Oh, um, Madelyn," she blushed as she introduced herself to the handsome man in front of her. "Madelyn Randell." "Randell?" he responded. "There used to be a family that lived not far from here with that name." "Yes," Madelyn smiled as she reached down and picked up the roast she'd been reaching for and held it out to him. "That was my parents and I. I've just returned from the city." "The city, eh?" he said, smiling as the blush on her cheeks deepened slightly. "Why would a young woman like you move from the excitement and glamour of the city to a back country town like this?" "I..." she started, faltering as butterflies fluttered through her stomach. "Um. After my parents died, I went to live in San Francisco until their estate came out of probate. I received news the other day that it had been settled and I could return home." She wasn't certain why she was telling this complete stranger all of this, but it seemed right to her. Their fingers touched as the man grasped the package. He looked at it for a moment then back at her, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You take this one, Miss Randell," he said gently, releasing it and reaching for another. "There are plenty here and I do believe you'd reached for that one first." Pausing, he looked back up at her and into her eyes. "I'm glad you've come home, Madelyn." "Thank you, it's good to be home finally," Madelyn said as she placed the roast in her cart, puzzled by his behavior, but too polite to question it. He was already walking away as she realized she'd introduced herself to him, but had been too flustered to ask his name. 'How impolite he must think me!' she thought to herself as she started after him, only to find he'd disappeared. Shaking her head, she continued her shopping, wondering what other surprises her return home might bring for her. *** He watched as she loaded the cargo space of the small car with her groceries. Picking up his cell phone, he searched through the contacts then called one. "She's back," he said excitedly as his call was answered. "What? Who's back?" the man responded, clearly confused. "Madelyn Randell." "Oh." There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment before the other man continued, "Do not approach her, let her be, we'll have a meeting with everyone and we'll figure out how to handle the matter, ok?" "Um, well..." he stumbled over his words as he confessed that he'd already approached her, but quite by accident. "We were both reaching for the same tri-tip roast. I was rather annoyed when someone else was trying to take the cut of meat I wanted, but when I turned to deal with whoever it was, it turned out to be her." He went silent for a moment, remembering her rare and beautiful violet eyes, and he could still smell the scent of lavender and vanilla surrounding her. "Ok," the man responded, interrupting him from his reverie. "Just do not approach her again until the Council has a chance to meet and we can decide how to proceed from here." The command was met with silence as the first man watched Madelyn climb into her Scion xA and leave the parking lot. "Connor!" the second man said sharply. "Are you hearing me? Leave her alone, don't do anything, stay away from her completely. There are things you don't know yet that we've learned. The Council will meet and we'll let you know when you may approach her again, do you understand?" "Yes," he sighed as he responded reluctantly. "I understand." The line went dead and he sat there a moment, upset he could not speak with her again until the Council told him he could. But perhaps there was something he could do. Nodding to himself, he turned the key in the ignition to his old truck and started formulating his plan as he drove home. *** Madelyn awoke with a start. She looked around her, not knowing for a moment where she was. It all came back to her then, and she smiled faintly. She was home. It had taken her nearly two weeks to finish all the papers she'd already agreed to proof, pack, clean the house she'd occupied for the last couple years and find a car that got good gas mileage for the trip to Northern California. Her first impulse had been to just fly up, but she changed her mind over the course of those two weeks. She knew she'd need a car but didn't want or need a large one. When she saw the little xA, she knew that was the car for her. A compact car with four doors and a hatchback, it was neither too big nor too small for her. After loading the car, she'd left the city for good two days ago and arrived at the house just yesterday evening. When she arrived, she found her room as she had left it. The white furniture stood out in a lovely contrast to the lavender-painted walls. The hardwood floor was covered with her custom rug, white with lavender flowers woven into the pattern. She had explored the entire house, finding everything as it had been left, except the kitchen and the laundry room. As Brian had told her over the phone, the kitchen had been emptied of all food, and the laundry that had been left in the hampers in the bedrooms and bathrooms of the house had been washed, dried and placed on the beds. She got out of bed, put her robe on, and went to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. As she passed her parents' room, she sighed sadly, but kept moving. That was the only room in the house she hadn't yet explored since she'd returned. It was still just too painful to go in there. She would, eventually, and perhaps one day she'd feel comfortable enough to move into that room. But for now, she was content to occupy the room that had always been hers. Pushing the thought of her parents and every other thought other than satiating her growling stomach from her mind, she got busy preparing herself a hearty breakfast, then sat down to eat. Eggs, sausage, and oatmeal disappeared in no time, and she cleaned up then ran to her room to change into shorts and a tank top. Pulling on her running shoes, she grabbed the backpack she prepared earlier then left the house to take a run through the woods. A smile spread across her face as she moved through the trees. The forest was always one of her favorite things about this place. Her parents had owned several hundred acres up here, with the house being secluded enough that it was hidden from all roads, though it wasn't far from the Western-most boundary of the property. It was all hers now and she loved that she could run through her woods, without another person for miles. She ran for 30 minutes solid before coming to one of her favorite places, a small opening in the trees, with a tiny grassy meadow, and a stream running through the center. She'd have arrived there sooner but chose a more circuitous route today. The call of the wilderness was one she'd felt for too long. Impossible to ignore, she'd done her best to get into wilderness areas during her time in the city, but it was difficult. Her little house on 18th had been almost in the center of the concrete jungle. While Madelyn knew she had forever and a day to explore her woods again, it was hard to resist staying out here for hours. Pulling off her shoes, she sat down on the pebbly shore of the stream and put her feet in the cool water. She sat there, listening to the sounds of the forest, for quite a while before hearing a twig break behind her. With a start and a low gasp, she froze, her heart beating faster. She waited there, mouth open slightly, hardly daring to breathe as she listened for sounds of movement behind her. Taking a deep breath, she whipped herself around and came face to face with the largest wolf she'd ever seen. Terror gripped her, and before she could get a grip on her mind and senses, she fainted. *** She woke with a start. Her whole body tingled. She sat up abruptly and looked around her. The wolf she was sure she'd seen was nowhere to be found. Getting to her feet, she realized she wasn't in the same place where she was certain she fainted. It'd been over at the stream, and now, she was at the wood's edge. A chill ran through her body as it remembered a touch between her legs, even if she wasn't conscious of it. As she suddenly found herself strangely aroused, she gasped. Her pussy hadn't been this wet in a very long time. It scared her, yet piqued her curiosity. Why on earth would her body be reacting like this immediately after having awoken from fainting after seeing that wolf? Sitting there, she noticed she wasn't where she thought she'd fainted. Cautiously, she arose and looked around. Everything was still. Birds were chirping and flies were buzzing all around. Nothing seemed amiss, yet as she walked to the place she remembered putting her feet in the water, she looked on the ground and saw the prints. Where the canine prints ended, human prints began. Bending down, she examined the prints. The feet had been bare and they were large, like a man's. She followed them and was startled to discover they led to where she'd awoken. Even more disconcerting was not far away, canine prints appeared again. What did it mean? She had to get home, and go into her parents' study, perhaps into their room as well. She had to find out what kind of wolf that was, and ask Brian if he knew why her parents had chosen this particular place for their home. She also needed to see if she could find the man that had carried her from the water's edge. *** Connor watched as the heat spread from her loins throughout her body. He could smell her arousal and smiled as best he could in wolf form. He had done that to her, by touching her where he instinctively knew nobody else but she herself had touched before. She was his, already, but didn't even know it. He would be certain she remained that way, but wasn't yet sure how he would finally make her his, officially. When she finally left the meadow, he followed her to be certain she made it home without incident, then took up watch on the house until sundown. Before leaving, he raised his head to the sky and let out a long howl, announcing in it his intent to take the human woman for himself, and warning any other who might try to court her not to tread on what he was now claiming for himself. *** In the safety of her home, a fire blazing in the fireplace, even though it wasn't exactly cold out, she curled up on the couch with a big mug of hot chocolate. She sat staring into the flames till well after she'd finished the chocolate. She'd heard the howl at sunset, and knew it wasn't a coincidence. In the morning, her search of her parents' room would begin. The search of their study had led her just about nowhere. There were books on dogs, wolves, and coyotes. None of those showed her much of anything useful, even the books on wolves. But, in a turn of what some might call luck, she found one of her parents' notebooks in the study. It talked of larger than usual wolves. The notes said this wolf has no fear of humans, and is often aggressive toward them. It also mentioned that this particular type of wolf is a shape shifter. It went from human form to wolf, as well as forms in between which were unknown to any who researched this subject. As she read this, the hair on the back of her neck rose. Not long after she'd began reading about this kind of wolf being a shape shifter, she heard that long howl. The sound spoke to even her. She didn't know how, but she knew this wolf wanted something. She did not know what he wanted, though. That fact scared her, but, to her surprise, she again found herself mysteriously aroused when she heard the eerie sound of that lone wolf's howl. The flames seemed to take on the forms of wolves. The fire wolves scampered through the coals, playing with one another. Her eyes drooped sleepily and before they closed, she thought she saw a familiar wolf there in the flames. In her dreamlike state, she thought she watched the flame form approach slowly, then transform from flame to a solid body. Her brain didn't register it as being anything more than a dream, but it was more real that she realized, only he was never composed of flames. That is what he wanted her to see. As he approached, whispering soothing words, her eyelids closed and she drifted off to sleep. He stood before her, slowly shifting from wolf to man, and took the sleeping form of his woman into his arms. He carried her through the house to her parents' bedroom, laying her gently on their bed. Moving to the window, he closed the window he'd entered the house through, and then laid down beside her and pulled her close. "You are mine" he whispered to her before falling to sleep beside her, an arm holding her firmly against him. *** Madelyn woke with a start. Her dreams had been filled with wolves, one in particular, who told her she was his. In her dreams, she slept in his arms and he held her tight before they made passionate love. She sat up, looking around, surprised to find herself on her parents' bed. She didn't remember coming in here and lying down. Looking around, she saw it was much the same as she remembered it, only their smell was long gone. It saddened her that their smell no longer lingered here. After taking a moment to reminisce on stormy nights spent between them in that very bed, and watching them packing to leave for that last trip while she was perched on the corner of this bed, she started searching the room. The closet still held much of their clothing. Daddy's suits were still within the garment bags. Mother's wedding dress, wrapped in blue tissue, sat in its' box on a shelf. Her shoes lined up along the floor of her side of the large walk-in closet. Daddy's were in the cabinet on his side of the closet. She mulled for a few minutes over the thought of packing some of this stuff away for the children she may have one day to see, and sending the rest away. Right now, though, she knew she could put that thought aside. She had more important things to do. She searched the cabinets of the closet, finding only more clothing, some jewelry, and Mother's perfume bottle collection. Daddy's baseball cards remained in their boxes on the top shelf of his side. Under the bed, she found several binders. One of them in particular was labeled "Werewolves of Northern California" and this one she took with her as she left the room. As she settled with a cup of fresh coffee and a bowl of oatmeal, she thumbed through the pages of the binder. It contained clippings from newspapers detailing eyewitness accounts of the local wolves from the past century. It also contained stories the local Native Americans told of the wolves of these mountains. All mentioned larger than usual wolves, howls that spoke to them, and disappearances of humans that led people to believe the werewolves in the stories might be true, and that those humans were victims of the werewolves. Putting down the binder, she retrieved the phone and dialed Brian's phone number. "Hemming and Associates," a pleasant female voice answered on the other end. "Hi. Cindy?" Madelyn said. "Is Brian there?" "Um, no, Mr. Hemming is not here," the voice on the other end said hesitantly. "He has, um, gone to Northern California to visit friends for the week." "Oh. Well, do you know where he went?" she asked the woman. "No, he only said he was heading North, and that he'd be gone a week. May I take a message and have him call you when he returns?" "Yes, please. Please tell him Madelyn Randell called to speak with him. It's about my property here and some questions I have about what my parents knew about the history of it." She hoped she hadn't said too much, but didn't want to be too cryptic to Brian. "Of course, Miss Randell - I'll be certain he gets the message the minute he steps into the office." "Thank you." "Oh, and Miss Randell, Mr. Hemming asked that if you called, I was to tell you he has three prospective buyers of your house in San Francisco. One is a couple who like the house, but are asking a $50,000 price reduction, so they may carpet the entire house. The second is a student, like you were, and she is asking to waive inspections so she can move in as soon as possible." "Ok...and the third?" "The third has an offer of $30,000 less than the asking price on the table. He has no demands, but the offer will expire the day Mr. Hemming returns to the office." The secretary paused. "Mr. Hemming was going to accept the third offer without consulting you, Miss Randell." "That's fine. I trust Brian's judgment." Madelyn was sure she left the poor woman flabbergasted, but that's ok. "Thank you...goodbye," she said before hanging up the phone. Brian was in Northern California? 'I wondered why he would come here and not say anything to me about taking a trip all this way,' she thought to herself. Sighing, she took her bowl to the sink, cleaned up her mess, and went to get dressed for another run. There was no sense in holing herself up, when she had always known she was safe here. Perhaps they were why she was safe? She didn't know, but if they were going to harm her, she figured they'd be able to get inside the house to harm her, no matter what she did to keep them from gaining entry. She pulled her tank top over her head as she came down the stairs, and stopped in the kitchen to grab a sport bottle then filled it with ice and water. On the way out, she pulled the door closed, then took off down the path she knew so well. About halfway to her destination, she felt another presence, and she stopped running to stare into the woods around her. "Come out and show yourself" she said loudly. She watched the shadows closely, looking at each one as turned around. "Look, I don't have all day, and I know you're there. I can hear you." She looked around and listened before she began walking toward the house again. *** 'She can hear me?' Connor thought she must be trying to trick him into showing himself, which he wouldn't do. He watched as she started walking. Her path took her past his current hiding place, but there wasn't any way for him to move, so he crouched down and remained perfectly still. In the distance, he heard a wolf howl. Carefully, quietly, he lifted his head and sniffed the wind. It was someone from his pack. He hadn't paid very close attention to the voice, so he wasn't sure who exactly it was, but when he heard the howl again, he could tell they were coming closer. Madelyn Ch. 01 She'd stopped, stiffened, when she heard the howl. The second set her walking much faster, then jogging. Connor carefully emerged from his hiding place and trailed her. She was running by now and her fear was growing. He could smell it all over her. He knew if he could smell it, the other wolf could, too. He had to get her to safety then drive the other wolf away from his mate. Madelyn Ch. 02 Dear Reader, Continued thanks for being patient with me during this revamp of the story. I'm trying to get it all done and write new material for it as well. I'll have it all posted and hopefully a new chapter following soon after. Please bear with me, as while I am off school for a time, I am also getting to see my kids for the first time in several months in a few short days after I submit these revisions and the new chapter. Spending time with them is difficult, at best, right now, while I'm in school, so every moment counts. Please continue to comment and let me know what you think. Thanks again! -sansa -2- The howls were getting closer. Madelyn's heart beat faster, fear pushing her forward. She wasn't far from the house now, but the sounds behind her told her the wolf wasn't far from her, also. Her legs moved faster and in a moment of curiosity...or perhaps stupidity...she chanced a glance behind her. Seeing nothing behind her, yet still hearing the sound of something chasing her, she turned back forward, but still missed seeing the root. She hit the ground with a grunt, pain searing through her ankle. The sounds in the underbrush behind her stopped, as well. Turning to look toward the direction from which she'd just ran, she gasped as the wolf she'd seen yesterday stood there. He looked at her a moment before they both heard another howl, this time even closer than before. His head turned toward the direction of the howl and before she knew it, he leaped, turning in midair as he did so, and stood between her and the source of the howl. Hackles raising, he started growling low a full minute before the second wolf burst from the thick brush. "Rolf, she's mine," the first wolf said. Madelyn blinked in surprise, gasping and scrambled backwards from both of them. "Fight me for her, Connor, and then you can take her," Rolf told the first wolf. "If I win, though, I claim right to mate with her." Mate? Did he just say mate? Her pulse quickened and she looked from one wolf to the other. She kept moving backwards as best she could, with her ankle in the condition it was in, but found herself blocked by the trunk of a rather large tree. Connor looked back toward her. She looked into his eyes. In them, she thought she saw a look of apology, but she couldn't tell because before she knew it, his head turned back and lowered. Growling, he crouched low to the ground, waiting for Rolf to make a move. Madelyn watched as Rolf also crouched, and then the two wolves began circling one another. She screamed as the two slammed into one another, fangs and claws sinking and tearing into one another, fur flying. Going onto all fours, she crawled further back, away from the fight, though had she understood what was happening, she'd have known neither would harm her. The two separated and circled one another again. Both had blood soaking their muzzles and Connor had a patch of fur missing on his shoulder, blood dripped from a gash there. Madelyn was amazed as she watched what she thought was the gash suddenly stop bleeding and the flesh begin knitting together again. "Rolf, she's mine to court...I claimed rights to court her before the pack when she returned. You heard me yourself, and you heard Elder Brian agree and support my claim," Connor spoke to his rival as they circled one another. "You are defying the Elders, and you are defying the Alpha by challenging my right of courtship in this way." Rolf wouldn't hear of this. "I have every right to challenge you for her, Connor," Rolf growled. "Aye, Rolf," Connor replied. "But not here, not like this, and you know it." Connor glanced at Madelyn, concerned. "Look at her, Rolf. Madelyn is terrified. Do you think she is in any mood to be courted by either of us now?" Rolf looked over at her and for a moment Madelyn thought she saw contrition in his eyes. But, that only happened for a moment. In the next moment, he lunged at Connor once more, knocking the wind out of his rival. "I will have rights of courtship, Connor," Rolf growled. "And you will forfeit your life for trying to keep me from courting her. She will be my mate," he cried, then sank his teeth into Connor's thigh. The other wolf yelped with pain, but he wasn't finished, not yet. He would defend his right to court Madelyn, and he would protect her from Rolf with his own life. The other wolf was dangerous, and too many females had been damaged by his attempts to get them to mate with him. Madelyn was too special to risk that kind of harm. He could not allow it, and if need be, he would kill Rolf to protect her from it. It was not to be. Just then a pack of 5 wolves burst from the forest and placed themselves between Connor and Rolf. One of the newcomers approached Madelyn slowly. He was a huge sleek wolf with silver and black fur. As he sniffed her ankle, she heard a low growl coming from his throat. He turned abruptly and went to Connor, fur round his head rising in anger. "She is injured, Connor," the wolf told him angrily. "You were entrusted with her safety, and she is injured." "Please, Elder, I was attempting to protect her from Rolf, who has challenged me for the right to mate with her," Connor told the black and silver wolf. "That is no excuse," the Elder said to Connor. Madelyn couldn't believe she was doing this, but she suddenly moved closer and chimed in. "Wait," she said, and all eyes turned to her in surprise. "He's telling the truth." The black and silver wolf looked at Connor again before turning to Madelyn. "What happened, Maddy?" he asked her. She looked at him curiously before relating the story of what had just happened. Each of the 5 that had burst upon the scene growled low when she related that Rolf had challenged, even as Connor stated it was not the right time or place, and had pointed out her terror at the scene that had played out before her. Madelyn was shaking by the time she came to the end of her tale, both from pain and from fear. Six of the seven wolves present began talking amongst themselves. The only one of the seven that noticed her condition was Connor. Slowly, unthreateningly, he made his way over to her. She watched as he winced every time he put even a little weight on the hind leg Rolf had bitten. It wasn't healing like the gash on his shoulder had. When he got to her, he laid next to her, placing his head in her lap. She looked at the group that was talking then back down at Connor. Still trembling, but not quite shaking like she had been, she reached slowly to rest her hand on his neck. Her hand sank into the thick fur and her fingers began to move gently, feeling the fur. Picking up her hand, she placed it a bit higher on his neck, then slid it down, stroking his fur gently. He sighed softly, enjoying her touch. "Thank you, Connor," she suddenly said in a soft voice. His head raised and he looked at her. "For?" he asked. "Stopping him," she said. The black and silver, hearing her voice, turned to listen, but she had already gone silent again. He watched as she stroked Connor's fur softly. Turning to the other Elders, he conferred with them before each head raised, ears turned toward nothing Madelyn could see or hear. Connor's head rose and he stared in the same direction as the others. A moment later, a jet black wolf appeared along the path she'd been running. The appearance of the last wolf wasn't a shock to Madelyn. What shocked her was when four of the five that arrived before he did began changing. When they were finished shifting, a man crouched in the place where a moment ago a wolf stood. Fear once again rose in her. Sensing it, and seeking to soothe her, Connor started licking her hand reassuringly. He looked up at her, licked her cheek, then said calmly, "Madelyn, there is nothing to fear. These are my people." He nodded to the one on the left, a dark-haired older man with scars on his left shoulder. "That is Elder Raoul." Elder Raoul nodded to Madelyn with a soft look on his face. The corners of her lips twitched up slightly, as if she was trying to smile politely, but was uncertain at the same time. "Standing beside Elder Raoul is Elder Connall." The man he referred to had red hair and bright green eyes. His smile was friendly and he lowered himself to sit cross-legged on the ground. She assumed he was hoping that doing that would help her to find him less intimidating, which she did. "The next two are Elders Aatu and Aatto," he said, indicating the final two men who were shifting themselves to sit cross-legged like Elder Connall. "They are twin brothers." Both of them had dark hair, black eyes, and were the same height. The only difference between them was that one of them had a terrible scar on his left chest, and the other did not. "They, and Elder Brian, comprise our Council of Elders, which advises the Alpha," Connor told Madelyn. "And the Alpha is the black one who just appeared," Madelyn stated, it not really being a question, as she could see it plain as day. She noted Rolf had sunk into the shadow of a nearby tree, but had not left the scene. Little did she know that he knew better than to flee in this situation. He was in serious trouble, however he knew he'd be in worse trouble if he were to flee from the consequences of his actions rather than face them. "Aye," Connor said. She glanced down at him and smiled faintly. He took that as a good sign. Though she was still very uneasy about the other werewolves in present company, she was relaxing toward him. Perhaps this courtship would go more smoothly than he thought it might? Only time would tell. Just at that moment, the Pack Leader approached. He did so slowly, and while Connor noted Madelyn looked up when the Alpha started moving toward them, he was pleased when she dropped her gaze, her body language showing her to be respectful of his position. He glanced to the Alpha and his head bowed in respect momentarily. "I apologize for not standing, Ulric," Connor said to the powerful black wolf standing beside them. "I would if I could, but my leg hasn't yet healed." "Rest easy, Connor," Ulric said quietly, in a powerful, yet gentle voice. "I have heard what has happened here. You acted honorably, with the well-being of the female you intend to court in mind. I will see to it you and she are returned to her home and are attended to until you both recuperate." "Thank you, Ulric," Connor said, his head again dipping in respect. "We would appreciate that, very much." "She is very beautiful, Connor," Ulric said to the injured wolf. "You are very lucky to have her. Take very good care of her." "I will, for certain," Connor replied. *** True to his word, Ulric saw to their return to Madelyn's house. Though, it was more along the lines of Madelyn was returned to her house, and Connor was brought along with her. Madelyn noted that neither Ulric nor Elder Brian shifted to their human form. It puzzled her as to why Elder Brian called her Maddy. He couldn't be her attorney, Brian Hemming, she was almost certain of it. Almost. She did know he was supposed to be somewhere in Northern California today, but...could he be Brian? Her thoughts were interrupted by a sound outside her bedroom door. She stiffened and held her breath as she listened. The doorknob turned slowly before the door swung on quiet hinges, opening to reveal a man she'd never seen before standing on the other side. Gasping and scrambling further up on the bed, her back pressed tight to the headboard, she started to scream, but stopped when he came in quickly, sat on the bed beside her and looked into her eyes. The steady stare and calm, reassuring smile made her pause, wondering... "Connor?" she said, hopeful she was right. The smile spread wider, and she knew she was right. "Yes, Madelyn," he said, his voice similar to how she remembered it from earlier, yet slightly different. She visibly relaxed as he took her hand in his. "How is your ankle feeling?" he asked her after a moment of silence. "Oh, um, it's feeling a bit better, thank you," she replied to the unexpected question. "Connor?" "Yes?" "What's going on?" she asked quietly. "The other one, Rolf, he..." she paused, uncertain she really even wanted to know. "He mentioned...mate...with me...that I would be his mate." Connor sighed. He knew she would ask. That idiot Rolf had just made his task harder, in many ways. "He was speaking truth. He wanted to take you for his mate," Connor told her plainly, before saying, "I want the same." She looked up at him, unsure what to say or think. "No, love," Connor said as he saw the struggle in her face to find something to say. "Don't worry on it just now. You have an ankle that needs mending. I have brought our healer to take a look at it." "But...what about your thigh?" Madelyn asked. He stood, showing her that his thigh had already mostly mended. "How..." she started, but he interrupted her. "I'm Garou...or, in mainstream terms, I am a Werewolf," he told her. "We heal much faster than humans do." He smiled softly to her and continued, "and that is why I brought the pack Healer here to look at your ankle. You're human and not only do you heal slower, but healing for you is more complicated and needs more attention than Garou healing needs." Just then, there was a soft knock at the door, and they both turned their attention to the entrance to the room to find a lovely brunette standing there. She was tall, with shoulder-length hair, olive complexion, and the most beautiful hazel eyes Madelyn had ever seen. "Aha, and speak of the wolf," Connor said as he rose and walked over to the newcomer to invite her into the room. "This is Vela. She is the pack Healer." He motioned Vela to enter the room and invited her to sit on the bed beside Madelyn. "Hello Vela," Madelyn greeted the...woman?...Madelyn was at a loss as to what to consider the female sitting beside her. "Hello Madelyn," Vela smiled pleasantly. Her voice was pleasant and slightly exotic. She smelled divine, her perfume a mixture of vanilla, blackberries and spices. Connor could see Madelyn relax even more than before and quietly excused himself from the room to prepare something to eat for Madelyn and himself while the two females conversed. "So, I understand you had a bit of a shock this morning," Vela said as she reached for Madelyn's ankle. Madelyn just smiled wryly and nodded. "I understand, dear. I really do," she told the young woman as she felt around the ankle. Madelyn winced when Vela's fingers found a sore spot. Reaching into her satchel, Vela brought out a mason jar and opened it. A sweet scent filled the air. The smell was soothing and all at once it invoked a memory from Madelyn's past... ...She was 6 years old. She dropped a toy she'd been carrying with her then stepped on it and tripped down the two steps leading to the lowered den they'd had in their old house in California. Her ankle twisted and she was left crying while Daddy came and scooped her up to soothe her. Mother came with a mason jar of salve. When she opened it, the child's cries slowed, and then stopped altogether. Mother rubbed the salve into her ankle gently and Daddy laid her in her bed. She slept the rest of the afternoon and night and awoke the next morning feeling as if her ankle had never hurt Vela paused as she rubbed the salve into Madelyn's ankle. She thought she'd heard a sob. Looking up, she saw tears streaming down the young woman's cheeks as she stared at her ankle. As concern crossed her face, she heard a noise behind her and turned to see Connor standing there with a tray of food, his gaze moving between Vela and Madelyn and back again. Setting the tray aside, he entered the room and pulled Vela from the bed, looking into her face as he spoke in a low voice. "What happened?" he hissed. "I left her in your care and now she's crying." He waited for Vela's answer. "I don't know," she replied. "We were chatting pleasantly, then I pulled out the salve and began rubbing it into her ankle. She never said anything, she didn't act as though I'd harmed her. She was just fine one moment, then I looked up and she was in tears the next." They both glanced over to Madelyn again and noted she'd fallen asleep. "Come," Connor said, taking up the tray and leaving the room. Vela gathered up her satchel and followed, closing the door quietly behind her. Once downstairs, he set the two plates of food he'd prepared on the table and motioned Vela to one of them. Setting the tray aside, he sat with her and they ate in silence. He mulled over the scene he'd come across. Why was Madelyn crying? If it wasn't pain, then what was it? Or was it pain, but of another kind? He had to find out more about this girl and her past. He knew some about her family, but not much. "What happened back there?" he asked Vela. "I honestly do not know, Connor," she replied as she finished her last bite. "As I said, one moment I was putting the salve on her ankle, and then I thought I heard a sob, so I looked up and she had tears streaming down her face." She paused, thinking back on the scene. "She didn't give me any indications that what I was doing was causing her any physical pain, or even discomfort, save for one small wince when I pressed on a specific place on her ankle. That is when I brought out the jar of salve and opened it, then rubbed some onto her ankle." Her face took a thoughtful look. "Connor, do you suppose she's had that salve applied to an injury before?" she asked suddenly. "I don't know, but we can find out." With that, he rose from the table, leaving her watching him curiously as he began his search. Not one cabinet escaped his search. He rummaged through them all, kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets. Finally, he returned with two small mason jars and handed them to Vela. "I think this might explain her reaction, Vela," Connor said and Vela opened one of the jars. As she smelled the contents, she looked at Connor in surprise. "They knew?" she asked him. He shook his head. She looked at him curiously. "They knew someone?" "I think so," he replied. "But, I don't know if they knew their friend was Garou. He either didn't want them to know, or he hadn't yet found an opportunity to tell them before they died." "Wow," Vela breathed disbelievingly. "I would never have guessed it. Who do you suppose their friend was?" she asked Connor, who was starting to explore the ground floor of the house. It wasn't long before he returned to the kitchen table, looking through a photo album he'd brought back from the living room. "Oh, I think I have an idea," he said as he paused and turned the album around to show Vela his discovery. "No way," Vela said as she looked at the photos of Madelyn sitting on a man's knee. It was Vela's father, Brian Hemming. "This is where he'd go when he'd disappear? And Madelyn? Is she his?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she considered the thought. "I don't think so, Vela," Connor said soothingly. "He was never one to do anything with another without your mother's knowledge and approval. Had he sired this girl, you and your mother would have known." He paused, thinking. "Also, she'd have undergone the change at puberty. She'd know of us if she were his daughter." He looked back at the photos. "No, Vela, she's not Garou, not even half. Her parents were human. She's human." He looked back up at Vela. "But not for long," he said with a knowing smile. She smiled back at him, shaking her head softly while murmuring something about unmated males and their mad inner drive to mate when they've found a female they want. Connor made a face at Vela before leaving the room to continue his explorations of the house. The office was his first stop. He flipped through photo albums, smiling when he'd come across pictures of Madelyn as a child and young teen. He read reports Madelyn's parents made when they'd return from their adventures. Madelyn Ch. 02 The computer in the study wasn't set up with a password, so he did some digging there. One file was named "Werewolves" so he opened it. Among the many folders was one dedicated to Northern California. There was a Word document in that folder. Reading it, he began to understand why her parents moved here. "Brian's recommendation that we move to this house was a good one. We have already found there is a large pack of wolves nearby, and they seem to be quite docile. We've been approached by four or five, but not closer than a dozen feet or so from us. Madelyn has seen a few, though she has not mentioned it to us. We have watched her include them in her drawings. One even came as near as the opposite side of the meadow she loves to hide in. She thinks we don't know of that place, but we follow her whenever she takes off alone. "He [we believe the one that continues to approach Maddy is male, though haven't made the attempt to verify up close] has come as close to Madelyn as about 3 feet, but she was unaware of his presence. He held himself perfectly still and more than quiet as he came near her. Marie was nervous when she witnessed this, but kept her distance downwind of the two, so as not to alert him of her presence. She watched as the wolf inspected our little daughter as she played with her dolls in the grass of 'her' meadow. Marie reported back to me that an odd feeling came over her as she watched this wolf. He seemed to desire our daughter, she said. I have not yet explored what exactly Marie meant by this, but I can only guess that it did not mean for dinner. Perhaps this is our first evidence that Werewolves really do exist? "More research needed. We will continue to monitor the situation and record our findings here. "Richard E. Randell "August 1, 1999" Connor mulled over this for a bit. 1999. That would have put Madelyn at about age 10. She'd been 5 years old when they moved here. He'd already watched her for 5 years, and they knew he'd watched her. How? How could they watch him without him knowing of it? Yes, they were adventurers, but he was Garou. He was wolf. Surely he was cleverer than they. This troubled him. He had to speak with Elder Brian about this. *** Vela shifted the minute she left the house. It hurt her to believe her father wanted to spend more time with Madelyn as the girl grew up than he ever spent with his own daughter. What was so special about this girl that he'd neglect his own flesh and blood? Grasping her satchel handles between her teeth, she ran at as hard a pace as possible, wanting to get back to their home before her father had a chance to leave. Questioning him about this was foremost on her mind at the moment. Upon reaching the house she and her father shared, she shifted and took the satchel from between her teeth. She hurried inside and found her father sitting at his desk, speaking on the phone. "Yes, Cindy? ... She called? When? ... Ok ... Yes ... No, go ahead and accept that offer. The sooner that transaction is done, the better. ... What? Why? ... Ok ... Yes, 25% ... Well, that is what she said, so be certain it is in the documents. It must be disclosed to the other party. ... Yes, Cindy, do it. ... Thank you, Cindy. I will miss working with you, but it's for the best. ... Yes, begin transferring my current caseload to the other partners. They'll be very happy to receive my accounts. Make certain the clients are aware, and agree with the choice of partner to take over their case. If they do not, assist them in finding new attorneys, please. ... Yes, that's right. ... No, Cindy, I will not reconsider. I'm way past due to retire..." He sighed, running a hand across his face. "No, Cindy, I was very specific about this: I will keep Madelyn Randell's case for myself. Hers is one of the few I will not pass off to another attorney. ... Yes, hers is a special case. ... No, I'm not sleeping with her, she's much too young for me. She is like family to me and I will not pass her to anyone else." Vela listened to her father's call, wondering exactly what it was about this girl that had her father so captivated with her. She was about ready to leave when he turned and saw her standing there. "I suppose you heard the entire call," he said. "More or less, Father," she replied. She walked into his study and sat down in a chair he had against the wall near the entrance of the room. After a few minutes of awkward silence, she looked at him and spoke, working hard to keep her tone even. "Who...or what...is she, Father?" He sighed heavily, his head dropping, one hand raising to rub his neck. "Her name is Madelyn Randell," he began, his head still lowered. "She is the daughter of Richard and Marie Randell." "Yes, Father, I know that much," Vela replied. "There's more, my darling daughter." He looked at Vela, then got up and walked to the kitchen. Pouring himself and his daughter some coffee, he returned, handed a mug to Vela, and settled back into his chair. "Richard, Jr. was the last male of the Randell line," Brian began. "He is the only son of an only son of an only son." He paused to take a sip of coffee before reaching into a desk drawer to bring out a file. "This details his family tree. Decades ago, I did extensive research on the Randell line." He paused to open the file to the last page. Vela moved closer to note that Madelyn's name was the last left there. Richard, Jr., was next to last. His father, Richard, Sr, was immediately before Richard's name. Sure enough, there were no male siblings listed for neither Richard nor his father. The same situation existed for both Sr's father, Ralph, and his grandfather, Wolcott II. Wolcott's father, Wolcott Randell, Sr, had had one other son, who died in a fire when he was just 4 years old. His wife died in the same fire. "These names," Vela began. "I know, I noticed the same," Brian said to his daughter. "They are all names that have similar meanings. Richard is outside the naming scheme. The others, though...well, look here. Their surname, Randell, means 'shield-wolf.' Richard Sr's father, Ralph, his given name means 'wise wolf,' while his father's and grandfather's names mean 'wolf's cottage.' And this is not a coincidence, daughter." Vela looked at the book as he showed her the line going back as far as he'd been able to trace it. He continued his explanation. "Randell is a variant of the name Randall. Both of them happen to be traditional names among Garou of the British Isles." "Are you saying what I think you're saying, Father?" Vela asked. "I am, Vela-dear," Brian replied as his daughter sat there, dumbfounded. "Madelyn is descended from the first European Garou to inhabit the Americas." *** Connor sat staring into a cold cup of coffee as he went over and over everything he'd read. Something wasn't adding up. He just couldn't figure out what the missing pieces were. Finally, he sighed and shook his head. He was getting nowhere with this, fast. His thoughts turned to his mate, sleeping upstairs in her parents' room. A familiar feeling stirred within his heart as he thought of her, coupled with a stirring in his pants. With a soft groan, he stood up, shaking his head yet again, and made his way up the stairs. Intending to just go and watch her sleep, he stopped at the doorway to the large room. She lay on her left side, one arm flung across her pillow. Her right leg was bent and pulled up to lay across the bed in front of her, the left stretched, her foot pointing toward the end of the bed. Madelyn was a vision of loveliness as she laid there, her side rising gently with each breath she took, golden curls framing her face. She slept with her mouth slightly open. A half-smile turned up the right corner of his mouth as he watched her, slightly amused that she slept with her mouth open, and he found himself glad that she was a side sleeper. All the better for spooning, he thought, as he stripped his shirt and shoes off and climbed into the bed behind his sleeping mate. Moving close, he tucked an arm around her waist as his right leg rested over her left. Connor's last thought as he slipped into a deep sleep was how wonderful she smelled. Madelyn Ch. 03 -3- Her eyes fluttered open as she awoke to find Connor asleep behind her, his arm holding her protectively. She lay there perfectly still, listening to him as he slept, his breath warm on her neck. 'What am I doing?' Madelyn thought to herself. 'I'm allowing him to lay here, with me, though I really don't know him.' She took a deep breath, and realized she could smell him. He smelled good, earthy, like wood, and grass, and soil. She smiled softly, relaxing without immediately realizing it. Those smells were some of her favorite. She'd always enjoyed gardening with her Mother. She and Mother would gather their tools, get the soil ready, then when Daddy got home, he'd help them plant the tree or shrub he would bring them from the nursery. Or they'd prepare a plot for a small kitchen garden, together. There was another smell on him, though. It was one she couldn't quite place. She didn't realize it, but it was his arousal, and her body began reacting to it, and to his nearness to her. Her breath quickened slightly, her nipples hardened, and heat began building in her belly. Wetness formed between her legs and as she tried to calm herself, she felt something hardening against her backside. As she felt him begin stirring behind her, she came to the realization she actually wanted to mate with him. It both scared her, and excited her. "What am I to do about this?" she whispered to herself, almost wishing he'd just take her. It'd be so much simpler. She stilled as she realized the direction her thoughts were going. Her arousal spiked as the thought of just being taken went through her head. A thrill of pleasure erupted through her body, almost a mini-orgasm, at the thought. "What is happening to me?" Madelyn thought as Connor tightened his hold around her waist as he woke. Her thoughts didn't seem to be anything she'd ever thought, feelings didn't seem to be anything she'd ever felt before, yet at the same time she felt they were completely hers, and it scared her a little. "Why would I want to mate with him?" she asked herself silently. "I don't even know him. But it feels like I do." It was then that she finally realized that Connor was fully awake behind her. She couldn't control the gasp when she felt his lips against the back of her neck before his hand slipped under her shirt to start kneading a breast. A soft sigh slipped past her lips and she melted into him a little, all thoughts vacating her mind, leaving one single thought behind. "Mine." *** The smell of female arousal filled the room, pulling him from a deep sleep. His cock stirred first, hardening between them, his consciousness following close behind. Taking a deep breath, his head turned slightly as he drank in her scent. She gasped when he pressed his lips to her neck. He could feel her trembling slightly, but she didn't stop him as his hand moved on her belly, reaching under her shirt so he could feel her skin. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as she leaned into him slightly. He moved his hand up to cup a breast. It wasn't small but not overly large. His hand couldn't cover the firm orb completely. Two fingers moved to brush against the nipple. It was already hardened from her arousal, but tightened even more as he played with it. Connor moved backwards slightly and pressed on her shoulder, coaxing her to turn onto her back. She looked into his eyes, uncertainty in hers, but it was accompanied by something else. He gazed deep into her eyes then kissed her, sweetly at first, then more firmly, with a gentle passion that took her breath away. She moaned softly as his hand again began exploring her body. Flashing a smile to her, he pulled her shirt up till it was gathered above her breasts. He lowered his head and took a nipple between his lips. One hand massaged her other breast. Switching between breasts, he gave both equal attention before beginning to kiss down her abdomen. Pausing at her navel, his tongue explored it. Madelyn gasped and giggled as it both tickled and aroused her more. Every touch of his hand, his mouth, his tongue caused her skin to tingle, her belly felt as though it were on fire. By the time his hand made it to her lower belly, she was gasping. Raising himself, he grasped the waistband of her shorts and panties together and tugged them down. She raised her hips slightly, giving him room to remove the barrier that kept his body from hers. As he pulled them down her legs, he glanced between them. One hand tossed the clothing aside while the other slid up her thigh. The flesh was soft and smooth. She gasped as his fingers touched the wetness forming between her legs. His eyes on hers, he slid a finger between her lower lips. Sitting up, she pulled her top from her body, before laying back again. She lay beside him, fully exposed, vulnerable with her belly and neck in easy reach. Her legs parted, he could see the pink slit between them, wet and ready to be taken. Reaching down, he dipped his finger inside her, causing her to gasp. He slid the finger inside her slowly, gently, until it reached a point of resistance. Inwardly, he cringed. He'd known she was still a virgin, and while he was proud to know he'd be her first, it pained him to know he'd have to hurt her in their mating. She was gasping, soft moans escaping her lips as he pulled his finger out. Kneeling up on the bed beside her, he pulled his shirt over his head then removed his pants. Pushing her legs further apart, he knelt between them and gazed down upon the beauty spread out before him. Taking his time, he drank up the sight of her. Blonde curls spread out round her head like a halo. Violet eyes looked him up and down, every now and then resting on his hard shaft before moving back up to look into his face. Leaning forward, Connor pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with a tenderness that took her breath away. She looked into his eyes then reached up to press the palm of her hand to his cheek. His eyes closed for a moment as he savored her touch. Her hands were soft and gentle against his skin. Her hand moved to the back of his neck and she pulled him down to her again and kissed him deeply. One arm slid beneath her, raising her slightly, he pressed her body to his before lowering her back down to the bed. He trailed kisses across her cheek and down the side of her neck. Pausing at her neck, he took it in his mouth, biting down ever so slightly. He heard her gasp and hold her breath as he did this, felt her pulse pick up as her heart beat faster. A throaty growl was heard as his canines elongated, pressing gently into the tender flesh. A moment later, he released her and pulled back. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, returning his canine teeth to their human form before reopening his eyes to look at her again. Looking into her eyes again before taking a deep breath, he spoke gently to her. "Madelyn," he said, pausing a moment, his face taking on a slight bit of concern. "Do you want to continue?" he asked her. "I..." she started to reply but he shushed her for a moment. "I want you to understand, Madelyn," he began, his voice serious, "This is not 'just' sex, if you choose to continue." He searched her face as she looked up at him. "I won't just have sex with you. I won't do it, love. If you choose to continue, this will be me staking my claim on you. You must decide whether to allow me to take you. If you allow this, you are mine." Her eyes opened slightly wider at his words. "But, there is another element to this, as well, Madelyn." He paused a moment while she considered his words and waited for his next words. "If you let me claim you, you are mine," he repeated. Looking into her eyes, he continued, "and I am yours." He leaned in, kissing her neck tenderly, letting this sink in before he continued. "Garou mate for life, Madelyn," he told her between kisses. "There is no turning back, and no way out, save the death of one mate, which results in grief that often kills the other mate." He raised his head again, his eyes locking on hers and he continued. "I waited for you to return, Madelyn. When you and your parents moved here so many years ago, I knew I was looking at my future mate. I waited for you to mature, and when your parents died and you moved away, I waited for you to return." Disbelief etched across her features as he confessed it all to her. "Yes, love. It's true. I have had many females try to entice me into courting them over the years, but I always knew none of them were my mate. Garou mate for life. Had I given up the wait and mated with one of them, when you came here, I would have realized I'd made the biggest mistake of my life in not waiting." "But how do you know I'm 'the one,' Connor?" she asked, not certain she believed his words to be true. "How do you know I am to be your mate?" "Your eyes, love," Connor replied. She looked at him quizzically and he explained. "We once had someone in our Pack...she was what some might call a seer, or a prophet. When I was very young, my parents brought me to see her and asked who my mate was to be. After spending several minutes meditating on this, she replied that I would not mate for many years, but when I did, I would know her by her eyes. She said my mate would be a human who would come to this wood as a child. She said this child would have golden curls and eyes the color of violets. She told me to expect to lose her for a time, but to have patience, that my mate would return to the wood as a full grown woman, ready to be mated." Smiling at her, he continued, "But that's not all. It was only the confirmation that showed you to us as my mate while you were still underage, as there isn't a mating pull until both mates are of age. Not all mate with one who they feel a pull to, as sometimes it's not possible to find one's mate within their lifetime. So, they find someone they're compatible with. That's not how it is for me. You are my one true mate, Madelyn. I feel the pull to mate when I'm near you. It's a feeling deep down that tells me I couldn't live without you. You were intended for me, and I was intended for you, love. That's how I know." He quieted and watched her. Madelyn closed her eyes, allowing it all to sink in. She wondered whether she should trust what she'd just heard. It was all so fantastic. But even so, she felt an attraction to this wolf-man. She felt safe in his arms. She felt loved and needed and wanted. It wasn't a feeling like she'd felt from any of her boyfriends over the years. It wasn't what she felt from Rolf. To that one, she was just a piece of meat, and she knew it. His attitude was that she was either to fuck or to eat. It wasn't that way with Connor. She could sense it, and she felt something stirring deep inside when she thought of this wolf who'd scared her senseless two days ago. "Connor," she began. "I...I'm uncertain. It all is so fantastic...so..." she paused, trying to find what to say, without saying something that would be taken the wrong way. "But what about the differences between us, Connor?" she asked him, still trying to work through the uncertainty. He looked at her and smiled. "Do I look that much different from a regular man, right now?" "N...not really," she stammered, her cheeks blushing a soft pink color. He smiled at the blush. She looked sweet and innocent with that blush painted across her cheeks, even as she lay beneath him, naked. "I mean..well..." she paused and blushed a deeper pink color, causing him to smile even bigger. "It's not like I've seen another man naked before..." her voice trailed off as she glanced down and turned her face slightly away from his. Cupping her chin, he pulled her face up again. "Look at me, Madelyn," he said, waiting till her eyes met his. "I'll never harm you, my love. The first time will hurt a little, but after that, it will be all pleasure." He watched as the uncertain look on her face softened. She did nothing but stare into his eyes for what seemed like an eternity to him. In a moment, she knew the answer. She realized she felt the mating pull he'd described, too. It was there, deep in her heart, telling her not to miss this chance. She knew what she wanted, and for better or worse, she was ready to accept it, to accept him. Reaching up with both hands, she pulled his head down to hers again and kissed him then pushed him away with a glint in her eye. Before he knew what was happening, she sprang up from the bed. Quickly testing her ankle, she found to her delight that it wasn't hurting anymore. Twirling around, she smiled to him then took off running, shouting back at him as she ran from the room, "If you can catch me, I'm yours." Smiling, he shook his head, wondering how she knew how Garou mating happens. Walking calmly to the window, he watched as she darted out of the house and gave her a moment before he shifted and took off in chase. *** She cursed herself for leaving the house naked, and barefoot. That would slow her down. 'But, then again,' she thought, 'it'll make it easier for him.' She knew it wouldn't take long for him to find her. She was slow, and on two feet. Plus, she was making all kinds of noise as she moved through the brush. Still, she made it to the meadow in record time, stopping there to catch her breath. Looking around, she saw a thick patch of grass and hid in it. *** Rolf watched as the naked woman ran from the house. Smiling inwardly, he started off in chase. If he could beat Connor to her, she would be his after all, and Connor would have to accept that he was the superior wolf, and Connor was nothing but second-rate. *** Connor slowed slightly, picking up a scent on the wind. Rolf. 'Dammit,' he thought. That one was wishing for an early demise. Somehow, he had to reach Madelyn first. If he didn't, he knew he'd lose her. Picking up the pace, he arrived at the meadow, where his nose told him Madelyn had gone. She was nearby. He could smell her. But she'd gone several different directions when she arrived here. Clever woman. But that didn't help either of them right now. He had to get to her first, before Rolf got here. Stopping for a moment and standing perfectly still, he listened, turning his ears every which way. After a moment, he pinpointed her, but before he could make a move, Rolf burst into the meadow. Connor swore to himself for taking so much time finding her. It was going to be a fight to the death now, he was certain. Rolf wouldn't take no from Madelyn if he were to try to court her now. He'd take her, in the literal sense of the word. "So, you arrived here first, did you, Connor?" Rolf said with a laugh. "No matter. After I kill you, I'll take Madelyn. She will be my mate, Connor!" "No, Rolf," Connor said calmly. "Madelyn has already accepted me as her mate. You are interrupting in our courtship. Leave now and I will spare your life." Rolf laughed, then lunged. He caught Connor in a flurry of fangs and claws. He could smell Madelyn's arousal turning into cold fear then heard faint sounds of brush moving as she retreated. He hoped Rolf hadn't heard her. Even if he had, the challenge had been made mid-courtship. All that was left for Rolf now was to die trying to challenge Connor for the right to mate with Madelyn. Connor wouldn't allow Rolf to win. He couldn't. *** Madelyn saw Connor enter the meadow and stifled a giggle. She hadn't waited long, but it still felt like forever. As she watched, Connor seemed a bit agitated. She wondered what could have caused that. It wasn't long before she saw the second wolf enter the meadow and she knew exactly what caused it. She stopped herself from screaming, knowing it would just alert Rolf to where she was and he would likely try to get to her first, before Connor could mate with her. She couldn't let that happen. Madelyn backed out of the grass as quietly as she could as the two wolves came together. As they fought, she hurried away from the scene, following the stream as best she could, to keep Rolf from being able to track her as well if he realized she'd left the area. She couldn't let him find her. That was foremost on her mind as she fled from the scene, hoping Connor would come out on top, but not wanting to stay near just in case. She continued for what seemed forever before stopping to get her bearings. Connor had never told her where the pack lived. Her only hope would be to get back to the house and wait there. 'Come through this ok and come for me, please, Connor,' she thought as she picked her way through the thick brush. It was rough going, but she made it back to her yard. When she emerged from the brush, two men stood up. She didn't even stop to think she was walking out of the woods, bare-ass naked, into the arms of two men, but she knew one of them and instinct told her who the second was. The first was Brian and the second was Ulric, the Alpha of the pack. Brian ran and met her halfway. She nearly collapsed into his arms. "What the devil is going on here, Madelyn?" he demanded. "Brian, Ulric, it's Rolf," she said. "He's come back, and is back in the meadow by the stream, fighting Connor to try to take me from him." The two shot a look between them, before both shifted. Ulric sprang into motion immediately, disappearing into the trees. Brian paused just long enough to instruct Madelyn to await Connor's return inside the house. *** The two wolves fought on, each taking minor shots at the other. Both were bleeding, but not severely...yet. "Come, now, Connor," Rolf jeered. "I'm going to win and you know it. Just bare your neck to me know and I'll make it quick." "Not gonna happen, Rolf," Connor said calmly. "She is mine and always has been. It was forseen by Ralla the seer." "Pfft," Rolf spat at the statement. "Ralla was just a crazy woman. She was nothing," he screamed. "Madelyn is mine, Connor, and you'll be nothing but a corpse rotting on the ground by the time I'm done with you." With that, he lunged madly, seemingly without thinking. Connor took this opportunity to catch Rolf by the neck. Sinking his teeth deep inside the other wolf's fur, he found flesh and clamped down. Yanking hard, he tore out a chunk of the other wolf's throat. It was about then that a pair of wolves burst into the meadow. Connor spat out the furry chunk that polluted his mouth then trotted over to the stream. Lapping at the cool water, he rinsed his mouth out, not particularly enjoying the taste on his tongue. Stepping into the stream, he rolled around in it, rinsing his entire body clean before shaking the excess water off. He watched as Ulric and Brian checked Rolf. The foolish creature was already dead. Under normal circumstances, Connor might have savored the victory. Not this time. This time, it was tainted with the poison of jealousy and lust. Rolf's refusal to back off was evidence enough of his jealous, lustful drive to destroy himself. He'd never been a match for Connor, and now, he was dead. 'What a waste,' Connor thought as he watched the Elders. Brian looked to Connor and nodded almost imperceptibly before saying, "Go to her. Finish the courtship and take your mate. We will handle this." "Yes, Elder Brian," he replied before taking off at a run. He knew where he would find her. Madelyn Ch. 04 Dear Readers, I hope you've enjoyed the story, in its original form and in the revised form, thus far. Thank you for being so patient with me as I've gone through so many changes in my life over the past years since I started this story. As I have said many times, Madelyn will be complete. I just cannot promise a time frame for when it will be complete. Until the day the story is complete, though, I hope you find enjoyment in what is submitted. Yours, sansa -4- Madelyn paced back and forth across her living room floor. She'd returned to her house and nearly threw herself, naked, dirty, and terrified, into Brian's and Ulric's arms. They told her to go inside and stay there until Connor returns for her. Then they shifted and took off at a fast run. She went inside as she'd been told. After a moment of waiting at the window, she'd become conscious of exactly how filthy she really was and ran to the bathroom to get a quick shower. She didn't stay in the shower long. She was too preoccupied with what might be happening to be able to concentrate on much, but she made certain to wash her hair, then lathered her entire body with body wash, shaved her underarms, legs and pussy more quickly than she thought she ever could, then rinsed and stepped out of the shower. Nobody had returned yet when she came out of the bathroom, so she took to pacing the floor. A few minutes later, she heard the eerie sound of howling coming from the wood. First two wolves, then another joined the cry. More and more took up the mournful sound. Gasping, she knew one of the two were dead. 'But...which one?' she thought. Moving to the window, she stared out toward the edge of the wood, wishing she'd see something -- someone - moving there...wishing she'd see Connor. As she stood waiting, it took her mind back to a time when she was, once before, waiting anxiously while standing in front of these windows. The phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Maddy?" the voice on the other end said. It was Brian. "Yes?" she said, anxious for some news. They'd been gone so long. The weather report told her they would have snow soon. They needed to come home. Why weren't they home yet? "I'm sorry, Maddy," Brian said. "They've not been found yet." "When will we have some news, Brian?" Tears streamed down her face...again. It seemed like all she'd been doing was crying lately. It was all supposed to have gone just fine. They'd get on the plane, a chartered one since there were no commercial planes that serviced that part of the Rockies, they'd arrive and start searching for the creature. Then they'd come home in time for Christmas, and everything would be normal again. "Please, darling, please try to stay calm..." he paused. "I'm sending my assistant, David to get you, Maddy. He's going to bring you here, to my apartment in San Francisco, until we learn more. Now, please don't be alarmed. I've spoken with social services about this. They wanted to take custody of you until we learned more, but I've talked them out of it. Madelyn, we must begin planning for the worst case scenario. I have faith that we won't need those plans, but it's better to be safe than sorry, right?" "Yes, Brian," she replied, unsure of anything anymore. Something told her everything was going to change... The memories of standing here at this very spot, staring into the woods so long ago faded again. She watched the edge, thinking. "...begin planning for the worst case scenario...it's better to be safe than sorry," Brian had said back then. Nodding, she went to the kitchen and selected a knife. Whatever happened, she'd be ready to do what she felt necessary. "Please," she whispered. "Let Connor be alright." She said this several times as she waited, watching out the window for signs of movement at the edge of the wood. She held the knife in her hand, unsure what she'd do if he hadn't made it out of the fight. "I'll die before I let Rolf take me," she whispered as she moved away from the window to pace the floor again. The minutes ticked by, feeling more like hours. After a moment, she noticed the howling seemed to be moving closer. Before long, it ceased altogether. Looking out the window, scanning the edge of the wood frantically, she wondered what it could mean. Taking a chance, she went to the back door and opened it. Stepping onto the patio, she looked around then stood at the rail of the porch that wrapped around the entire house. She stood there, watching, waiting. Her eyes scanned the forest across the lawn from the house. Her house was situated in the largest opening in the trees for several miles. The forest was thick in this part of Northern California, and the area where her parents had bought this land was seldom visited by anybody that didn't belong here. Foresters didn't come up here, as her parents owned much of the land, and Brian owned a larger chunk that nearly completely surrounded her property. All was quiet in the wood...too quiet. It reminded her of another day long enough ago to warrant it being called an old memory, but recent enough that it was still fresh in her memory. She'd stood in this very spot... "Miss Randell, are you ready?" Madelyn stood at the railing of the porch. She was looking at everything...committing it to her memory. She was certain she'd never return here. A tear trailed down her cheek as she looked toward the picnic table that sat under a single white oak tree in the yard. The tree stood, its' branches spread out over a huge area. The table sat near the trunk. Daddy had built it the year they moved to this house. She could still remember holding the nails and bolts for him, watching with big violet eyes as he took all of those pieces and built the beautiful table from scratch. The aspen lining their drive stood bare. Thinking back, she smiled as she remembered how she and Daddy had walked the entire length of the drive, and she'd given each tree a name. Later, he made wooden plaques bearing the names of each tree and drove stakes into the ground a foot from the base of each, the plaques screwed onto each stake. They still stood there. "Miss Randell?" She ignored the voice of the annoying young man who'd come to collect her and take her to live in the city and moved down the steps into the garden. Glancing to her left, another tear rolled down her cheek. She and Mother had covered each flower bed with thick layers of moss and straw not long before the first signs of winter made their appearance, to protect their precious bulbs during the frozen months. The rose bushes were pruned and made ready for winter the same week they'd prepared their bulb beds. Walking slowly around the house, she stopped at each place that held meaning for her. There were many: the small pet cemetery where her cat Lucy and her lovebirds had been laid to rest. Each had a grave marker. Mother's puppy Roxy's grave had a marker as well. The pup had come to them when she was 10 years old, but wasn't long for this world. At 9 months, she'd fallen victim to parvo. Even with good veterinary care, she was too young to survive it. They didn't get another dog after Roxy died. It was too painful for Maddy. "Please, Miss Randell, we must go soon if we're to catch the plane out," Mr. Annoying, as she'd quietly nicknamed him, said in his nasal voice. Whenever he talked, it sounded like a whiny child who wasn't getting his way. It annoyed Madelyn to no end. "We'll go when I'm ready, David," Madelyn replied and said no more to the irritating man. Moving toward the wood, she took a few steps along the path toward her meadow, but stopped. The tears began to flow free now. Turning around, she returned to the house and collected the few things she hadn't allowed David to touch and left with him. "Where could he be?" she whispered to herself as her mind again slipped back out of the past and into the present. The wood surrounding the house was quiet...almost too quiet. Her eyes scanned the wood once more, hoping she'd catch a glimpse...growing just a little more nervous, she turned to go back inside. She'd only just reached the door when she heard something behind her. Holding the knife ready, she turned around. Her fear was quickly replaced with delight and she dropped to her knees, tears of joy running down her face. Tossing the knife aside, she opened her arms and flung them round the neck of the wolf sitting there. "Connor!" she breathed, holding him tight, digging her fingers into his thick coat. Nuzzling her, he whispered soothing words into her ear. "I was so afraid for you, Connor. I hid in the grass, and when he came into the meadow behind you, my heart skipped a beat. I didn't know what to do, other than to get out of there as quickly as possible." "You did the right thing, Madelyn." Connor sighed, enjoying the moment. He didn't bother to tell her what happened after she'd fled. It didn't matter now. What mattered was his mating with her. He'd been challenged for her once already and after what happened to that challenger, he was certain nobody would challenge him for her again. She pulled back, looking him over. "You're not hurt, are you?" she asked softly. "No, love," he responded, "I'm fine." "Well, then, in that case..." she said, a coy smile playing across her lips. "I said if you could catch me, I'd be yours, Connor," she said to him. "Aye, love, you did," he replied. "I think you have an unfair advantage now, though, don't you?" she said. "Oh no, Madelyn, I don't think there is any unfairness. I have caught you, no doubt about it. And there is no escape, darling." He watched as her breath quickened. She thought she saw what could be a smile spread across his wolf face. "However, we can't do this here, in the doorway. Run, Maddy," he said to her. He smiled slyly before continuing, "but don't expect to get too far." Her eyes went big, her mouth opening in a silent protest, but he growled. Gasping, she complied, springing to her feet, and ran across the porch then down the stairs onto the lawn below. Running toward the wall of trees ahead of her, she skidded to a stop when three wolves stepped calmly from the wood. Turning quickly, she ran toward the path to her meadow. More wolves emerged from the trees. All were excited, some howled, others growled when she ran toward them. Tripping over her own feet, she rolled across the grass, and before she knew it, he was atop her. She lay on her back beneath him, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Before she could say or do anything, he flipped her over. Wrapping his forelegs round her waist, he reached down with his head and whispered a soft apology into her ear then sank his teeth into her shoulder, the taste of her blood flooding his mouth, he plunged his cock into his mate. She screamed in pain, both from the bite on her shoulder, and from the invasion of his cock into her body. Through the pain, she heard the sound of a wolf howl. After a moment, another took up the cry. More joined in, until more wolves than she could count were howling in unison. She didn't yet know it, but it was their way of acknowledging the mating. Connor's initial thrust got him as far as her hymen, it slowed his entrance into his mate's body, but Connor was not to be denied. Biting slightly deeper, he thrust again, harder, and tore through her maidenhead, causing her to cry out in pain once more. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep from crying, but the tears came anyway. She felt as though she were on fire, the searing pain in her pussy and shoulder nearly overtaking her. Connor, sensing her distress, paused, keeping her pinned beneath him. It wasn't long before the pain lessened and she felt a glimmer of something else bubbling inside her. She moaned as the feeling spread over her, warm and welcome. It built, slowly but steadily, as Connor thrust, a knot in his wolf cock pressing against her entrance as he mated with his female for the first time. She began trembling, thinking him to be way too big for her. She feared he'd tear her before he was done with her. He stopped thrusting as his knot grew slowly, and began pushing gently against her flesh. She cried out and closed her eyes as her sex began stretching around him. Just as his knot slipped all the way in, her muscles clenched around him and she screamed as the first of a series of orgasms overtook her. Her cries were now cries of pleasure, the pain but a faint memory. Muscles deep inside her spasmed again and she came around his cock once more, this time another sensation built up in her, one even more foreign than the one before, and she heard a sound in her head she'd never heard before. Something, somewhere inside her began growling. Wildly, it snarled as it demanded freedom. It was overtaking her. Her body shook, pleasure and this new sensation overwhelming her. During this moment, nothing existed but Madelyn and Connor. Connor held still within his mate as he watched her begin her transformation. The muscles deep inside her sex did the work of pulling him toward his pleasure. He watched in awe as she experienced her first shift beneath him. Fur the color of spun gold grew as the rest of her body rearranged itself. Before long, he howled as his own orgasm finally took over his senses, his seed surging forth from his hard shaft to be planted deep inside his golden-furred mate. She didn't know it yet, but this would be the first, but not the last, time she would shift into wolf form. Panting, his head lowered to rest gently on her back, his cock still buried deep inside her, his knot preventing them from separating for a time. Panting heavily from the exertion of both the mating and her first shift, she lowered herself to the ground, her mate moving with her, but he didn't allow his weight to rest on her. He knew he was too heavy for her, so he supported himself with his long front legs to await the reduction of the knot that prevented them from separating until his seed had a chance to finish spilling from his body and move deeper into her womb. A moment later, he pulled out and moved to her side, licking her newly-formed muzzle. Her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted, and she panted heavily from the events of the evening. Hearing someone approach, he raised his head then quickly moved to ready position. His head dipped low as the other wolf approached them. He began growling low, a gentle warning that this was his mate, and he wouldn't relinquish her calmly but quieted quickly as he realized it was Ulric, their Alpha Male. Madelyn's eyes opened as she smelled something she'd never smelled before. Looking up, she saw Ulric standing before them. She looked to Connor a moment before her eyes crossed, opening wide, as she looked down her muzzle for the first time. Her mouth dropped open from the shock of it. Gasping softly, she scrambled to stand, head moving frantically as she looked herself over. Both males watched, amused, as she stumbled over her own paws. She took a few tumbles as she looked herself over, amazed, yet also confused. "Madelyn," Connor said in calm, quiet voice after the two watched her for several minutes. "It is time for you to come meet your new Pack and our Leader." Awkwardly, Madelyn walked over to them, settling herself close to Connor. "Madelyn, meet the Alpha of the Pack, Ulric." He looked to Madelyn and urged her forward, whispering into her ear, "It is time to learn your place in the pack, my love...go to him and roll onto your back, baring both your neck and belly to him." She looked at Connor quizzically, but did as she was told. Ulric's head lowered to sniff her before gently taking her neck between his teeth. She trembled softly as he did so, unknowing his intentions. When he released her neck, she thought she saw a smile on his lips as he instructed her to do the same with every other wolf present. She started uneasily when she noticed the circle of wolves sitting around them. Looking to Connor, she saw him nod gently and whisper to her, "Go on, my love, it's ok. You'll be fine." She moved from wolf to wolf, crouching low as she approached each one. By the time she'd approached all of the members of the Pack, the fur on her neck was soaked from the saliva of the wolves who'd accepted her into the Pack. As she approached her new mate, she realized she hadn't done this with him, and though he'd not instructed her to, she did so anyway. Crouching low, she approached him, rolling onto her back, moving her head so that her neck was exposed to him. Gently, he took her neck between his jaws, biting down ever so softly, then released her and licked her muzzle. Regaining her feet, she moved beside him as the pack gathered round. Ulric howled, his voice deep and...joyful? Madelyn listened in awe as she heard emotion in the wolf's howl. One by one, other wolves took up the happy sound, until every wolf present was howling in celebration of the new addition to the Pack. It was only a moment before she succumbed to the urge to howl, as well. One by one, the wolves began to shift to their human forms, starting with Ulric. They came over to the couple, offering wishes of happiness to them. A few of the females looked at Madelyn almost jealously, but the majority seemed genuinely happy for them, and a couple even offered to help her adjust to her new life. She laid there quietly, still in wolf form, her golden fur shining in the midday sun. Connor shifted, as well, and went to talk with a few of the other males. They were clapping him on the back good-naturedly, congratulating him on his new mating. Before long, though, he started feeling something he hadn't a moment before. Fear. Turning, he noticed Madelyn remained in the same spot she'd been. Softly cursing himself for leaving her there, he returned to her side. She hadn't yet shifted back to her human form. As he pressed close, he felt what nobody else could see. She was trembling softly. Her head moved toward him and he was sure he heard a faint whine. "Madelyn?" he said softly. "What's wrong, my love?" Her eyes opened and she looked up at him. Connor blinked and looked into her eyes, surprised they'd remained violet. He hadn't noticed that until now. Her golden fur and violet eyes would make her stand out among the other pack members, whose fur ranged from jet black all the way down to tawny and blue. She didn't say a word, but he heard her nonetheless. 'What has happened to me, Connor?' He smiled softly to her, stroking her fur gently. He was again surprised as his hand ran down the back of her neck. The texture of her fur wasn't coarse and almost rough like his and the rest of the pack's. It was soft, almost silky, to the touch. Shaking his head almost imperceptibly, he resolved to ask Vela about this. Madelyn was an oddity, for certain, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered was he loved her and she was finally his, after all his years of waiting for her to appear and mature. 'Don't be afraid, my love,' he said in her head. She jumped as she heard his voice, but his lips didn't move, and he smiled soothingly to her. 'It's ok, love. This is one way mates can communicate. You won't be able to do this with any other wolf, and neither will I. We can only do it with one another.' He felt her relax slightly at his words, apparently reassured by his words. 'How do I get back?' she asked him, laying her head in his lap. 'Think of a happy moment in your life, my love,' he told her silently. 'Now, grab onto that thought, remember what it felt like to be human during that moment.' With Connor's patient coaching, she finally shifted back to human form. The other Garou of the pack already shifted hours before she did, and most had left the area, eager to return home. They were all aroused from having watched the mating and while matings were usually very public, most of the Pack was somewhat private about their sex life, though nobody thought twice if they came upon mates enjoying one another in full sight. Madelyn Ch. 04 Madelyn's return to her human form was much more difficult than most. It hadn't helped her that she didn't know how she'd shifted to begin with. To her mind, it'd simply happened, but she didn't know how it happened. It was also a surprise to everyone that she changed during the mating, but nobody wanted to alarm her, so nobody had said anything. When she finally changed back, she was exhausted and slipped into a deep sleep as she lay with Connor in the yard. He carried her inside and laid her in what had once been her parents' bed. Madelyn Ch. 05 Dear Readers, I'm sure you'll be tired of reading revised chapters by now, and I don't blame you. However, I felt the revisions were necessary to help with flow as well as to keep the story fresh in your minds. Please be certain to read them all, there are changes to all of them, and some start and end in different places than where they used to. Unfortunately, I have not improved on chapter lengths. That is the bane of my existence, I think. Oh well. I hope you can all forgive me for that one. Anyway, here is another revised chapter and part of what was in this chapter will be posted with a new chapter soon. Thanks for reading! -sansa -4- Connor reluctantly left his mate's side. While he didn't want her to wake alone, he knew she needed rest and figured she'd sleep a while, after everything she'd been through today. When he returned downstairs, the kitchen table had two sitting, sipping coffee as they talked quietly. Without saying a word, he looked in the refrigerator for something quick he could whip up for everyone to snack on. There were many questions he had for Elder Brian, and he was definitely hungry, and was certain everyone else was, too. Madelyn would be hungry when she woke, as well. He would definitely be certain to have something made for her when she was ready for it. Finding a can of biscuits, and some leftover sausage gravy, he arranged the biscuits on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven to bake, then emptied the gravy into a saucepan and set the burner to the lowest setting, adding a bit of milk to thin the gravy slightly. Everybody smiled as they watched him. They all knew this was likely going to be a long tale, and the food would be welcome. "So," Connor said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and joined the others at the table, leaving the biscuits to bake. "When did you plan on telling her about us," he said to the Elder he sat beside. Brian looked into his mug, thoughtful. "Her parents were adventurers," the Elder began, not looking up. Connor and Ulric watched him as he spoke of his dear friends. "We met when they came to my office one day when Maddy was still an infant. They wanted to be certain Maddy was looked after if anything happened to them. They walked into my office, holding this beautiful baby girl with golden curls and lovely violet eyes." Pausing long enough to take a sip of his coffee, he looked up at the two watching him. "That is when I knew this girl was special. She was the one my dear Ralla spoke of so many years ago, Connor. She was your mate to be." He paused a moment. "But that's not all...there is more to this girl." "And that is when you befriended them; when they came to your office when she was an infant, isn't it," Connor said. It wasn't a question. "Yes. I had to be certain of the girl's safety," Brian looked at them both seriously. "She was...is...more than just a girl, and more than just your mate, Connor." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "I have looked into their family history. It's become sort of an obsession of mine for almost two decades now. The family name, 'Randell,' is an old name. It comes from the English 'Randall,' which means 'shield wolf'...and also happens to be the surname of the first European Garou to come to the Americas." He paused again and looked at Ulric. "I befriended them because they were the parents of a girl who would become something more, once her potential was unlocked." They all sat in silence, watching Brian and waiting for him to continue. "What more do you know of Madelyn?" Ulric asked. Brian's eyes closed as he considered his words. It would not be easy to let on what he knew of this girl. So far, he was the only one who knew even what little facts he'd been able to dig up about this girl. 'Ok, Brian...no sense in prolonging it,' he thought to himself as he took a long drink of coffee and opened his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he started from the beginning. "Madelyn Randell was born December 20, 1989. My calculation leads me to believe she was conceived on or around February 2, 1988." He paused to take a sip of coffee. "That's Candlemas...or Imbolc, as the Pagans call it," Connor said. "Aye, Connor," Brian replied. "It is a time of initiations, a time of new growth, new life, fertility. I believe Madelyn's conception was planned, though not necessarily by her father." He looked at everyone a moment before continuing. "I began searching through some of Richard and Marie Randell's paperwork not long after they came to me that first time. Maddy was just a baby. They left most of their important documents with me. Birth certificates, marriage certificate, and a few other papers. One of these papers was a vital clue to Madelyn's ancestry and it was what began my search into Maddy's history." At that moment, the timer for the biscuits began sounding. "Please excuse me a moment," Connor said, as he left his seat and fetched a hot pad. Pulling the sheet from the oven, he slid them into a basket he'd lined with a soft terrycloth towel, then grabbed plates and the saucepan of gravy. Taking it all to the table, he returned to the kitchen for knives and forks, and a ladle for the gravy. They all served themselves as Brian continued. "Richard and Marie Randell were married December 25, 1989," Brian said, causing Connor to choke on the bite he'd just put into his mouth. Ulric lowered his fork and looked at Brian. "Are you certain of this, Brian?" Ulric asked the Elder. "Aye, Ulric," Brian replied. "I'm very certain." "That would mean Madelyn was conceived out of wedlock," Connor said. "Yes, if you're speaking of Richard and Marie's marriage, but not if you're speaking of Richard and Madelyn's mother's marriage," Brian said as the others stared at him in shock. "But Marie was Madelyn's mother, Brian," Ulric said. Connor just sat there in silence. "Her adopted mother, Ulric," Brian replied. He explained to them that Madelyn had been adopted by Marie on the same date of her wedding to Richard. Madelyn was one week old at the time, and grew up never knowing that Marie hadn't given birth to her. Even so, Marie raised her as her own child. She and Richard never had any other children together. Marie was infertile. "But if Marie wasn't Madelyn's mother by birth," Connor said, "then, who is?" *** She tossed and turned in her sleep, her dreams not allowing her to rest, but holding onto her, not letting her wake, either... She lay in the grass at the small meadow, watching the fluffy clouds drift by at their slow pace. Her bare feet were planted flat on the ground, knees raised, and her hands cradled her head with fingers laced. This was her favorite place here already. Mother and Daddy moved them all up here a few months ago and she was having so much fun learning about her new surroundings. Madelyn Randell was 5, nearly 6, years old when they'd moved here. She quickly showed her parents that she was big enough to run around the yard alone. They would let her play in the yard and woods around the house without much worry as to her safety. She'd often leave the house in the morning and not return till lunch. Mother would be waiting for her with a ham or turkey sandwich, or sometimes even peanut butter and jelly, when she returned to the house. The jelly was homemade. Mother made it from blackberries they found growing nearby. She was lost in the clouds at the moment. Her mind was a million miles away from anything around her. Usually, she could pick up on changes in the forest, but today she ignored everything. Hearing a rustle in the leaves nearby, she sat up and froze. Standing between two large trees on the other side of the meadow was a huge wolf. He was watching her silently. Somehow, she could feel he was more than just an animal. It scared her, but she also felt a little bit of curiosity about the wolf watching her. She sat there staring at it till she heard someone calling her. She turned her head to look toward the voice. When she turned it back, the wolf was standing directly in front of her. She stared at him for a long time. He stared back at her. He was huge. She could tell that if she were to stand up, he'd stand nearly as tall as she was. His amber eyes looked into the deep violet of hers. She thought she heard him talking to her. No, it was all in her head. "What was that?" she said very softly. 'I said - Who are you?' he responded. It puzzled her that she didn't hear him with her ears, but in her head. "I'm Maddy. Who are you?" 'Nobody you want to know.' "Why?" she could be a very precocious child. 'Why, what?' "Why don't I want to know who you are?" she whispered. She cocked her head to one side, puzzled. He didn't respond. After a moment, he turned and began to walk away. She watched him for a moment, puzzled, and then started to get up as she heard Daddy's calls growing louder. All of a sudden, the wolf wheeled around and came at her in a flurry of fangs, fur, and claws... Screaming, she woke, the voice in her head echoing over and over, 'I'm your worst nightmare...' *** Hearing first screaming, then frenzied growling, they sprang up from their chairs, dinner forgotten, and all three rushed up the stairs, toward the sound. Bursting into the room, they found Madelyn, changed to her wolf form, crouched, ready to strike. The fur on her back and shoulders stood on end. Her eyes, wild with terror, alighted upon them as they entered. Knowing they could do nothing, Ulric and Brian backed away slowly, without uttering a sound. Connor inched forward cautiously. She was in her complete wolf form and he was the only one who had any chance of calming her, working her through the shift back to her human form, and learning what happened here. *** Connor approached his mate cautiously. Reaching out to her with his mind, he whispered calming things to her in her head through their mate connection. He spoke of his love for her; he reminded her she was safe; told her he was here and would protect her from whatever it was that threatened her. Gradually, she relaxed and allowed him on the bed with her. "Shhh," he whispered as he moved his hand close. "It's alright, my love. I'm here, nothing will harm you. It's time to shift back and talk to me, Maddy. Reach deep, grab onto your human self, and change back, please." He talked her patiently back to her human form. As her form returned to a human shape, Connor took Madelyn into his arms and held her close. Their lips touched in a soft kiss. He noticed tears on her cheeks. Her kisses turned from soft to needful, her breasts pressing against the soft fabric of his t-shirt. 'Make love to me, Connor,' she said in his head, her hands pulling at his clothing. 'Please, Connor, I need you in me. Make love to me, deep and hard and Now!' He pulled his clothing from his tall frame, she watching him before moving into position on her knees, her ass raised high in the air as her head lowered to rest on her forearms. His fingers caressed her soft folds, a thumb moving to rub her clit gently. She gasped softly, hips tilting slightly as two fingers slid into her, seeking her g-spot. Finding it, he rubbed it and her clit in tandem, causing her to moan from the pleasure. Connor's other hand reached to his hardening cock, stroking it firmly. His mate wiggled and writhed as he stimulated her. Her breath became slightly ragged as she moved toward orgasm. Smiling, he pulled his hand from her and placed it on her hip. Positioning the head of his cock at her entrance, he gripped her hips and thrust forward, filling her quickly. Madelyn cried out, her muscles rippling around his cock; she hovered on the edge of her pleasure as he thrust deep inside, the head of his cock hitting her cervix each time it moved into her. He wasn't going to last very long, after their mating earlier, but she felt so good. Her tight walls clung to his cock; it felt as though she was milking him. Connor hovered almost at the point of no return for a few moments. Just as Madelyn began showing signs of tipping over the edge, he growled lustfully and thrust deeper into her, holding the head of his cock against her cervix as his orgasm overtook him. Thick streams of cum erupted from him, flooding her channel. She screamed and shook, bucking against him as her orgasm had her soaring in a sexual high that no artificial high could ever hope to match. Panting, Connor maneuvered them so that they lay on their sides, he still buried in her as they came down. His right hand moved across her body, caressing her soft skin, massaging her breasts. She moaned softly, her hand moving to stop his and intertwine her fingers in his. As his cock softened, Connor held her tight in his arms till she fell asleep again. His cock slipped from her and he eased her head onto the pillow. He sat beside her for a short while and watched her as she slept. Once, her face contorted slightly, as if she were in pain, but softened again when he brushed the back of his hand against her cheek, whispering soft, comforting words to her. Easing from the bed, he dressed quietly then padded silently across the room and returned downstairs, leaving the bedroom door open this time, certain they'd hear her if she stirred anytime soon. The two men awaiting him downstairs smiled knowingly to him, Ulric sniffing the air before shaking his head. The smell of fresh sex was all over Connor and he just shrugged slightly to the two men, not bothering to say anything about it. He knew they'd understand. Instead, he returned to the topic they were discussing earlier. "Elder Brian," he began formally as he reached the living room, where Brian and Ulric were sitting and talking quietly, "What is going on? What is she?" "Ralla once told me that we're not the only creatures in this world that aren't human, yet can look like we are," Brian began. "She told me that there are several other species that live among humans, or live separate from them, taking great care to stay unknown to the human species. She left it at that for many years until just after you came to visit her with your parents as a child." He paused to take a sip of his coffee. "We're not alone?" Ulric said thoughtfully. "Oh, no, Ulric," Brian replied to the question that was more a statement than a query. "We're not alone. Yes, there are humans we share this world with. But, there are several other species that live here, too. There's the Mer-folk." He paused, smiling as the other men's mouths dropped open. "Yes, as in mermaids and mermen. They truly do exist, and there are several races of Mer-folk. There's the Equatorial Mer-folk, they live in the region of the Atlantic Ocean near the Equator. The South Pacific Mer-folk are not to be messed with, according to Ralla. My only experiences with any of them are with those of the Caribbean, and they're more peaceful than most other races of Mer-folk." "So, mermaids aren't a story concocted up by sailors with active imaginations?" Connor asked. "They certainly aren't," Brian replied. "The same goes for dwarves. There are three races of dwarves that I'm aware of. Mountain dwarves are just plain mean. I had one run-in with them and from that moment, I resolved to avoid them at all costs. Valley dwarves are calm and peaceful, not at all like their cousins. Island dwarves..." he paused, thinking a moment. "Well, Island dwarves are a completely different subject." He didn't say any more on the subject of dwarves. Connor resolved to speak with him more about the species later, as he was now certain he'd seen some Mountain dwarves nearby recently, but at the time he'd mistaken them for humans with bone growth disorders. "Then we come to elves." He chuckled when Ulric and Connor looked at one another, disbelief etched across their faces. "You know, some have looked like that when told of us. Did you happen to notice the look on your mate's face when she saw you talking in your wolf form, Connor?" Connor looked at Brian, his mouth hanging open, eyes blinking. Brian smiled, nodding, and continued, "I didn't think so. I wasn't there when you first spoke, but by the time I arrived, she was nearly pinching herself to see if it was all real. Now, then...yes, elves are real. They are very real, and very powerful. Four races of elves exist, to my knowledge. One is the everyday elf, and no, I don't know the true name they call themselves. This race of elves is usually associated with leprechauns and Santa's elves. They're very short, about the same height as dwarves, and prefer to be left alone. They generally dwell in very sparsely human-populated areas. And before you ask, no, they do not have pointed ears. That is a part of the human myth associated with them." "But, what does all of this have to do with Madelyn?" Connor asked. "Patience, my boy," Brian replied, smiling softly. Though he understood Connor's need to know more about this mysterious young woman he was now mated to, he was going to explain things as fully as possible before he gave them any more information about Madelyn herself. "You'll know all I know in a few minutes," he said as he rose and went to the kitchen to refill his mug. "The second race of elves that I know of is the Darkling elves." He paused while returning to his seat and took a sip of the hot coffee. Putting his mug down on the side table, he continued, "Darkling elves are dangerous. They pursue the Dark Arts, using Dark magic proficiently, even their young use Dark magic instinctively well." "Do 'everyday elves' use magic also?" Ulric asked his friend. "Oh, yes, they most certainly do: an innocent, playful kind of magic," Brian replied. "Why do you think the legends about leprechauns and Santa's elves got the reputation they did? You see, that race of elves is fun-loving and while they prefer to keep to themselves, they love to play, and they adore human children: the innocence and merry nature of the human child appeals to them. "The legend of Santa Claus is based on these little creatures. You see, they saw children suffering a few hundred years ago. The little ones had few things to occupy their time, other than chores. The elves in Holland were the first to fill the children's wooden shoes with goodies. They'd give them nuts and dried fruit, and little toys they'd make throughout the year. That is where the legend of Santa Claus came from. The elves exist, and they did make the toys, but the man at the center of the legend is pure legend, conjured up by adults who wanted to put all of this on a human man who would end up being the benefactor of all little children everywhere around the holidays." The other two men shook their heads in wonder over this bit of information. It made sense that the humans would want it to be one of their own who got credit for the phenomenon, but it saddened them to think another creature was relegated to such a less important role than it truly played in the phenomenon. "And the third race of elves?" Ulric asked. "The third race is one of light," Brian replied. "They are the keepers of grey magik. The Grauguri, as they prefer to be called, neither work for good, nor for anything else. They keep to themselves, mostly, and only interest themselves with happenings among the other species when absolutely necessary." He paused and glanced toward the stairs. Sighing, he looked at Connor. "I believe that may be the situation in Madelyn's case," he paused, glancing toward the floor before continuing. "But we will discuss that more soon enough." At that moment, they all heard a sound and turned to find Madelyn standing at the bottom of the stairs. Shocked that they hadn't heard her come down the stairs, Connor rose and went to her, hugging and kissing her tenderly before bringing her to sit with them. Madelyn Ch. 05 She looked uncertain and confused as she cuddled tight to Connor's side. "Brian, what do you mean when you say in my case?" Madelyn asked in a soft voice as Connor pulled a blanket onto her lap before wrapping his arm round her shoulders. "Maddy," Brian began, "you are a very special being. You are a combination of species that nobody would have thought might occur, mainly because we all stay to ourselves for the most part." He smiled gently at her when her brow furrowed, clearly disbelieving what she'd just heard. "I was nearly finished with some explanations. How much did you hear as you were standing there?" "You were speaking of the legend of Santa Claus and how it's the elves that are truly to thank for the custom, not the human," she replied. "I heard everything about that, and the Grauguri elves." Nodding, he quickly explained how humans and Garou weren't the only sentient species on Earth. She sat listening, stunned by this new information. "This brings us to the fourth race of elves," Brian said, looking at Madelyn as he continued. "They are the White Elves: your grandfather's people." "My grandfather's people?" she paused a moment. "Elves?" she looked at Brian incredulously. "How can that be? I...my parents..." she stopped, tears coming to her eyes as she realized her whole life had been a lie, either told to her by her parents, or by others who came before her parents. Brian smiled gently in understanding. She hadn't been present when he'd informed the rest of her father's ancestry. Calmly, he related the information of her paternal ancestors. She stared at him, not knowing what to make of this, even though it did make sense in a way. Her father had gone through his life feeling like something was missing. That is what led him to become an adventurer after he left the service. "But," she said after thinking a moment, "if my father's heritage comes from the Garou, does that mean that my mother, Marie, was White Elf?" "No, she wasn't," Brian replied, Madelyn looking at him confused. "Marie was not your mother. She adopted you when you were barely a week old." "What?!?" Madelyn shook her head. "No..." Tears began running down her cheeks. "No! It can't be! She was my mother!" Brian rose and went to fetch some documents from his briefcase. Handing her two of them, he returned to his seat and let her look them over. She sat there, staring at the two, her face wet with tears. Shaking, she handed the documents back to Brian before cuddling into Connor, who held her tight, stroking her golden curls gently. "Why did they lie to me?" Madelyn finally asked Brian. "I don't think they meant to lie to you, Maddy," Brian said soothingly. "All of the information I can see indicates your mother died when you were born. She was in labor. You were born healthy and safe but she ran into complications with your twin brother." "A brother? I would have had a brother?" Madelyn shook her head. This was very overwhelming. The suggestion of her being a twin almost made sense, though; she'd always felt like part of her was missing. Maddy took a deep breath, looked at Brian, at Connor, and then rose from the couch, leaving the room with tears slipping silently down her cheeks. She slipped outside, stripped, and shifted into her wolf form before taking off at a full run into the woods. After a moment, she howled; the sound was mournful as she loped through the woods. It was all too much for her to take and she needed a bit of time alone. Meanwhile, Connor watched her through the window as she disappeared into the trees. His heart was heavy for her, but he knew the run alone would do her good. Returning to the couch, he resolved to go searching for her if she hadn't returned after a while. "Brian," Ulric began. "If you knew this all along, why didn't you tell her? At least you could have told her about her biological mother and her brother; especially after her father and adopted mother died." Brian sat silently, clearly thinking carefully over what he was going to say in response to Ulric's query. The mournful howls in the distance resonated in his head. He might not have been the reason for her pain, but ultimately, he knew he had not helped her much at all by delaying telling her for so long. That they'd never told her hurt her deeply, he knew. That he could continue on, keeping her in the dark as to who and what she was, he was certain she'd feel very betrayed and untrusting for a while. "I was clearly wrong not to tell her," Brian finally said. "In my defense, though, I was trying to learn more about the whole situation." "What more did you learn?" Connor asked. As Brian related the additional information he'd learned, the other two men sat in wonder, not sure whether they believed it all. *** Madelyn ran. She ran from them. She ran from the knowledge her parents had lied to her all her life, never telling her that her mother wasn't her mother. When she got near the edge of her property, she slowed. The river was just up ahead. Her parents had owned this property before they died. Brian found it for them. Or, perhaps it was more like he provided it to them. She'd never asked about the previous owners of the property. Perhaps she should find out about them. She stopped at the riverbank. Crouching down, she dipped her head low and took a drink. The cool water was refreshing after the hard run she'd just taken. When she'd had her fill, she moved a few feet away from the water's edge and settled herself under a tree, laying her head down on her crossed forepaws. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of nature. Birds sang and flitted from branch to branch, no doubt eyeing both the ground and the wolf that rested not far from some choice-looking bugs. Squirrels ran and chattered on the far bank. As she rested, she thought back to before her parents died. Or, to when her father and her stepmother died. Sighing heavily, she pushed those memories aside and slipped into a light sleep. *** "Maddy!" "Yes, Mother?" Madelyn called back to her mother as she was playing with her toys in the sandbox. "It looks like it's going to rain, please come inside!" "It's still warm out here, Mother," she said. "Please let me stay outside. If it starts to rain, I promise I'll move to the porch to play." She watched as her mother slowly smiled and knew she'd won. "Alright, but only for a little while," mother responded before turning to go back into the house. The 7 year old girl was nearly finished with her sandcastle when she felt the first few drops hit her head and hands. She tilted her face to the sky and felt another one, two three drops hit her forehead and cheeks. Giggling, she stood up and ran for the covered porch and sat down in her chair by the window to her parents' study to watch the rain fall. She'd been watching the rain for about 10 minutes when she heard voices in the study. Slipping out of her chair, she knelt below the window and stretched to look inside. Mother and Daddy were there, as was Uncle Brian. They were arguing about something. A sound behind her made her turn, causing her to come face to face with the big wolf that was always following her around the woods. Gasping, she backed up against the wall as the wolf came closer and sniffed at her before his ears moved to attention. He was listening to the voices coming from the study. "No, I don't think you should send her away," Uncle Brian was saying. "She needs better schooling than the local schools can provide, Brian," her mother replied. "And we have the resources to give it to her." "I will get her tutors, Marie. She needs to stay here," Uncle Brian said. "Why?" Daddy asked him. "She's safest here, Richard. You know that." She could hear Uncle Brian going through some papers. "Here are some references to some of the best tutors I could find. Richard, Marie, you both know why she needs to stay here. She should not go anywhere else for any reason, not until the danger is past." The room was silent for several minutes. "Danger?" Maddy whispered, confused. She'd never known there was any danger for her, anywhere. What weren't they telling her? She looked at the wolf, who was still listening to the adults talking. "Do you know what they're talking about?" she whispered to him. He looked at her, cocking his head slightly, his eyes attempting to speak to her of things her young mind could not comprehend. "Yes," Mother finally conceded. "She is safest here, I will grant you that." There was a long pause. She could hear pieces of paper being turned. "Brian," Mother said haltingly, "how about a compromise? "I'm listening." Uncle Brian replied. "If we hire two of these tutors, we will also send her once a month for one week for instruction by this school..." her mother paused a moment. "It is a boarding school, and they modify according to each student's needs. She can spend one week every month there, getting more hands-on instruction by several more teachers, then come home for three weeks for instruction by your tutors. Madelyn looked at the big wolf and whispered, "Why am I safest here, boy? I don't understand it." She noticed the rain had stopped. For a moment, she thought about going inside to give Uncle Brian a big hug, but decided against it. Instead, she moved to her hands and knees and crawled slowly past the wolf, watching him the whole time, and then made her way quietly down the stairs. Once down them, she took off at a full run into the woods, knowing her wolf was behind her, as always. She ran until she was panting, slowed some to catch her breath, then ran again till she reached a small clearing beside the stream that ran through their property. This was at the far edge of the property, further than her secret place was, and was a place she was sure her parents didn't know she visited. Plopping down on the cool grass under a tree, she sat for a bit until she finally dozed off. The wolf had followed her here and was watching over her from the far edge of the clearing. He sat as he watched her sleeping, wondering what she would look like one day, and how she would react when he came to claim her. He was so lost in those thoughts that he nearly missed the scent. Madelyn awoke to the sound of the wolf growling. She could have sworn he'd called out her name and told her to run, but she figured she was just imagining things. Sitting up, she stretched a little and looked around for the wolf. Her eyes alighted on him finally and went wide as she took in the sight. There was a boy on the far side of the stream. He was just standing there watching her, ignoring the wolf's advances on him. She gasped softly as two men stepped from the woods behind the boy. The wolf moved between her and them and she took that as her cue to leave. She ran through the forest, not slowing till she reached the clearing that contained her home, running straight into her mother's arms. *** He watched her from the shadows. The little wolf would be easy to take, with her senses pulled so closely around her. He could tell she wasn't monitoring her surroundings very well. 'Perhaps she's hurt?' he wondered quietly, to himself. He hoped it wasn't the case, but he wasn't going to take any chances and walked very slowly and quietly toward her. Rinion stepped lightly around the golden wolf, quickly administering a small puff of a drug that would set her into a much deeper sleep. Taking her into his arms, he quickly made his way off Madelyn's land, his ears listening intently for any sounds in the forest around him, especially for the sounds of the other wolves taking chase. Madelyn Ch. 06 Dear Readers, Finally! Something new! ...er Kinda... Ok, it's not entirely new. I will tell you, though, that all the chapters leading up to this one have been revamped. This chapter contains parts that were previously in Chapter 5. Also, each chapter holds anywhere from a little to a Lot of new content. I would encourage each and every one of you to re-read the entire story from the Prologue. Also submitted is the story of Madelyn's conception and birth. The name of that story is "Richard." I would suggest you all read it as well. Perhaps even read it first, if you didn't read it before now. Some minor details in each chapter are different. You'll notice in earlier chapters that I have changed the location from Oregon to Northern California. This is because I actually live in California so a lot of things are easier for me, personally, due to knowing the state personally (for the most part...). Also, Madelyn's birth date has been changed to reflect the additional information that is contained within the pre-story "Richard." Again, I would encourage you all to read it. It might help you to understand some things. Ok, now, back to writing. :) Thanks for reading! -sansa -6- "She'll come back when she's ready, Connor," Brian said softly to him. "But, why can't I hear her?" Connor asked. "I could hear her when she slept earlier, her mind was a jumble, but she kept calling out to me." "They'll do that when they're first changed, Connor. It's like they need their mate with them constantly." Brian paused, considering. "Connor, you can't hear her, but can you feel her?" "No." Brian's face paled slightly. "What, Brian?" Connor asked as he watched his Elder, and his friend. "Richard and Marie used to talk about how Madelyn wasn't safe. They wanted me to find them a place to make a home for themselves, where Maddy could just be a kid, play and run free as they did when they were children. A place where she could grow up without them feeling she needed to be watched 24/7." Brian paused before moving to the study to rifle through some papers he'd found. "Ah, here it is," he said, holding out a binder opened to a list of names. "This is the list of tutors I'd gathered for Richard and Marie to teach their daughter. I presented it to them one day when they were insistent upon sending Maddy away to a boarding school." Connor took the binder and looked at the list. "I know." "You know?" Brian asked Connor, stunned by the admission. "How?" "Madelyn was just 7 or 8 years old when you gave them this list, Brian. I know because she was outside on the porch, listening to the rain, when she heard you and her parents arguing. I happened to be at the bottom of the stairs when I heard her move, so I went to investigate. She was kneeling outside the study, beneath the window. Her focus was on what was going on inside the house, so she didn't feel or hear me approach. She turned and saw me, then backed against the wall as she watched me before her attention finally turned to the argument inside again." Connor looked over the list of names, noting that all of the people on the list were Garou. 'Clever of Brian,' he thought. "They had me convinced someone was after her, Connor," Brian said. "I readily believed it, and felt that if she was to stay here, she would be safest. There was also the thought of my wife's vision. If she were to leave, there was a chance you would lose your mate, and I wasn't going to let that happen to you." "Thank you, Brian," Connor said softly. He silently looked over a few other pages in the binder before continuing, "Madelyn listened until she noticed the rain had stopped, then she took off running into the woods. I followed her, of course, until she came to a small clearing by the stream near the edge of the property. She sat there, listening to the sounds of the wood, and playing with blades of grass, and I watched her while she was there. Eventually, she dozed off. When she did, I came close and as I did, a boy came out of the woods on the other side of the stream." "A boy?" Brian asked, frowning. "Yes, a boy. He looked to be about Madelyn's age, with the same eyes and hair as she had. He was dressed strangely, his clothing made from a very light and flowing fabric that might have been fluttering in the breeze had there been enough of it. But his clothing wasn't cut to do so, except that his sleeves were cut very full, almost like a peasant blouse. I growled a warning and it was then that Madelyn awoke. She looked across the stream at him and two men stepped from the wood to stand behind the boy. They were dressed similarly to the boy, and wore their hair long and tied at the backs of their heads." Connor was known as an observer. He could be at full alert, fur raised, growling, yet notice the tiniest of details. So, it did not come as a surprise to Brian that he had noticed all of these things. What surprised him was that he remembered them after so long. "Did you notice anything else?" Brian asked him. "Not until Madelyn ran and was back at home," he replied. "Marie was at the edge of the wood, calling for Madelyn to come home. She seemed agitated when Maddy finally burst from the trees, and scolded her for running off. It was not something she'd ever done before. I watched from the cover of the trees for a while and not long after Marie took Madelyn inside the house, she came back outside and went to the far side of the clearing. There, two men emerged from the wood. They were dressed very differently than the two who were with the boy. Their clothing was harsh and heavy. Their hair was cut short, and their eyes were black. Marie spoke with them for a bit, and I caught bits and pieces of the conversation, but the wind was not in my favor, so I did not hear anything relevant." "What did you hear?" Brian asked, very interested to learn all he could about Marie and her visitors. "They were talking about Madelyn, and I heard one of them say 'she's not dead, is in Sa Sakor," and that's all I heard them say." "Sa Sakor?" All color left Brian's face. "Yes, Sa Sakor is what they said, but I don't know who they were speaking of, or why they spoke of her. And I've never heard anything more of this place since. I didn't know who to ask or where to begin looking for it, and I didn't know why Marie would have any interest in anyone from there. I've never learned why, either." He looked at Brian questioningly. "Do you have some answers for me?" "I may, but not at the moment. I will have to do some research and make contact with someone I never thought I'd speak with again in this lifetime." Brian stopped, looking down at his hands. When the silence seemed like it was an ending to the conversation, he said quietly, "I think Madelyn's mother and brother may be alive, Connor." He paused again. Sighing, he continued, "And they may have Madelyn." The room went silent. The men looked at each other. Connor paced. "It's been long enough. I'm going to look for her, Brian," Connor said finally. "I'll stay here, Connor, and watch for her. If she returns before you do, you'll know," Brian replied. Connor nodded as he stripped his clothing from his tall frame and changed to his wolf. Charcoal grey fur emerged from smooth skin to cover his powerful frame. His eyes changed to the color of raw honey as his bones and joints rearranged themselves. It only took him a few minutes before he reached the small clearing at the edge of Madelyn's property. He took the time to sniff around the clearing. It wasn't long before he located the place where she'd taken a drink from the stream, and the place where she'd laid down for a nap. While taking in the smells around where she'd lain, he detected another scent. This scent jogged something in his memory, a time when he and Madelyn had been here once before, when she was a child. He'd watched over her as she slept. His reliving of that scene was interrupted as he caught a scent, fresh, and turned his head at the sound of branches being pushed away. It took him only a second to follow the sound and scent. Whoever it was, they were running as fast as they could, and he had to grant, they were fairly fast on their feet. But, they were not too fast for him to follow, and he continued after them, silently, as they made their way to their destination. The sounds stopped as the forest around him began thinning and he slowed just in time to keep from emerging into a small clearing. A man dressed in flowing blue garments ran across the clearing toward a boulder formation at the other side. As the man disappeared into an opening at the center of the formation, Connor was sprinting across the clearing, entering the formation right behind the man. *** Madelyn's mind awoke before her eyes would open. She tried to lift the lids several times before she gave up and just relied on her ears and nose. Her surroundings had changed while she was sleeping. Using what limited experience she had with smelling so much more, she determined she was no longer in the forest, but she was not at home, either. The room smelled of freesia and rose, the two delicate scents played with her nose as another nagged at her. She'd smelled that before, but place when or where she'd smelled it. Frowning, she tried her eyes again. This time, the lids lifted slowly, her vision blurry, but she could make out that the room was bright, with big arching windows. The light sheer curtains were moving in the cool breeze that also ruffled her white fur. As her violet eyes came into focus, she could now tell that the walls weren't white, as she had originally thought. They were muted shades of very light blues and pinks and tans, so light that before her vision returned to normal, she couldn't make them out. Scenes were delicately stenciled with shades ever so slightly darker than the others. There were scenes of oceans and mer-folk playing in the waves. Another scene showed unicorns galloping through a meadow. Still another showed a little girl sitting in the grass by a stream, a wolf nearby, standing guard over her. She focused on that scene, wondering how it came to be part of the images on the walls around her. Hearing a noise outside the room, she closed her eyes quickly, slowing her breathing to try to make herself appear to still be asleep. The person came into the room, setting something on the table beside her. She felt a hand on her neck and resisted the urge to snap at them. "It's no use trying to pretend you're asleep, Madelyn," a gentle feminine voice said softly to her. "I know you're awake. Open your eyes now, please." Madelyn complied and looked up into the face of her captor. The woman had long, curling blonde hair and violet eyes. Her face was soft and gentle, with a slight smile turning up the corners of her lips. "I would appreciate it if you would change back now, darling," the woman said to her, in her gentle and soothing voice. Watching the woman warily, she moved into a crouching position on the bed, not changing just yet. She'd prefer to stay in her wolf form, the form she knew she could protect herself better than she could in her human form. The woman sighed softly. "I guess you're not quite ready to know more about why you are here," she said quietly. "When you are ready to change back into your human form, Madelyn, we will tell you why we have brought you to Sa Sakor, but not until then. In the meantime, I have brought you food," she indicated the tray on the nightstand. "You're welcome to eat it at your leisure. Please do not fear about it being laced with anything. We are a peaceful people and I was not pleased when I learned that you were drugged to bring you here." Madelyn's ears perked at that. 'Drugged?' she thought to herself. 'No wonder they were able to get me here so easily, without my waking from my nap.' The woman turned to leave the room, but paused at the door, as if she wanted to say something more. Changing her mind, she continued through the doorway, the door having retracted into the wall on its own as she approached it, and now returning to its original place after the woman moved through. Madelyn realized she was hungry, so she sniffed at the food. It was mostly fruit and vegetables, but there was also cheese and a large portion of grilled fish. The cheese and fish both smelled delicious, but the fruit and vegetables didn't seem all that appealing to her. It surprised her. She'd always loved fruit and vegetables. Maddy supposed it was all part of her change into the werewolf that she had become, and started debating whether to eat in her wolf form or to change back to her human form. Looking around the room for the first time, she noticed a wardrobe in the corner. It was colored much in the same manner as the walls were, s it didn't surprise her that she'd not noticed it before now. Moving off the bed, she padded over to the wardrobe and nosed it open to find several long, flowing dresses in light, airy fabric. Backing away from the wardrobe, she decided to go ahead and change back to her human form. It took her a moment to remember how to do it, but finally she stood on human feet, trembling softly. Moving back to the wardrobe, she selected a dress in a very light lilac color and was surprised to discover that it fit as thought it were made for her. "I wonder..." she started to whisper, then stopped herself, not sure she really wanted to wonder anything further. Returning to the bedside, Madelyn took the handles of the tray into her hands. She'd noticed a pair of French doors leading to a small veranda off the room. It had a table and three chairs positioned around it and she took the tray to sit in the sun while she ate. Everything on her plate was simply divine, from the fish to the cheese and she even ate some of the fruit, the first bite of which tickled her sweet tooth as it was very ripe and very sweet. She remained on the veranda after finishing her meal and just stared across what she could only describe as a city. Only, it wasn't like any city she'd ever visited. The buildings were flowing works of art in and of themselves. All of the entryways were arched and one could never call any of the lines on the buildings angular. They flowed with the forest that not only surrounded the city, but also stood within it. It was like she had stepped into a Mediterranean village, but in the middle of a forest. It had been about a half hour when she heard the door slide open and someone move into the room. The one who entered was not the woman who visited earlier, but rather was the one whose scent she smelled earlier. Distinctly male, though she wasn't sure how she knew that, she could hear him approaching her. "And the sleepyhead returns to the land of the waking," he said jovially. "So, how is the elusive Madelyn doing?" She looked up at the man and was startled to find herself staring into what could be her face, if she were male. Madelyn stared at him, her mouth open slightly, disbelieving what she was seeing. Brian had said her brother was dead, but this man couldn't be anyone but her brother. How could it be? A tear slipped from an eye as she sat there, uncertain of what to say or do. He helped her with that. "Hello, Madelyn," he said gently to her as he went to one knee beside her chair and took her hand gently between his. "I have been watching you for a very long time, with my Grandfather's approval. We wanted to come for you much sooner, but circumstances took that beyond our control, and we were forced to wait for you to return to your former home in the wood before we could fetch you and bring you to where you have belonged your entire life." He paused to allow her to take that in before continuing, "Madelyn, I am your brother, Rinion." "No," Madelyn said suddenly. "No...no!" she didn't know what else to say and it took her a moment to gather her thoughts. "My brother is dead, Brian told me so. Our mother gave birth to him and she died, and he did, too." "No, Made..." he started saying gently. A rustle behind them made him stop and look toward the doors to the room she'd awoken in. He rose to his feet and backed away, still smiling gently to Madelyn. "No, Madelyn," a soft voice said. Madelyn turned to look upon the woman who was here earlier. "We are not dead, my love. We are very much alive." Madelyn stood up, pushing the chair away as she moved to stare between the two people standing before her. Could it be true? They looked so very much like her. She opened her mouth to talk once, twice, but no sound would come out. Her breath became short as her mind spun with everything that had happened to her in the past several days and before anyone could react, she blacked out, falling to the floor. *** On the other side of the portal, Connor found himself at the edge of a great city. There were trees all around. A great many strange scents assaulted his nose, but there was one familiar one among them all, and terrible fear washed over him. It was not his own, though, he could tell that much. It was Madelyn, she was terrified about something, but he didn't think she yet realized he was near. Hearing foot steps coming his way, he quickly ducked into a grouping of hedge plants, hiding himself from sight. Two men neared the hedge, talking quietly. His ears perked as he heard the word "wolf" from one of them. "...found her in the same clearing." "The same one? I wonder why she'd return there after seeing you there so many years ago?" "She was fleeing something...or perhaps someone. I don't know why, though. She hasn't told Mother anything, but Grandfather is with her now. If anybody can get her to talk to them, he can." "He sure has his ways, doesn't he?" "Aye." They continued talking but resumed walking away. Connor didn't like the sound of the conversation. He knew they were speaking of Madelyn, but didn't know why they wanted her, and whether she was truly in any danger from them or not. Either way, he was going to get to his mate. *** She awoke in the bed, covered by a light sheet. The room was empty except for her and she could tell it had been a while since she'd passed out. 'They're alive?' she thought to herself. 'But, how can that be? Brian told me my mother was dead, died while trying to give life to my brother.' She sighed softly and moved to sit up, shaking her head gently. She heard a noise outside her door. Startled, she stood and moved out to the veranda. Looking over the rail, she noted that it was more of a balcony than a veranda, with a drop of about 45 feet. She'd survive it, but her legs would likely break. Madelyn knew she had to leave here, had to get back to Connor, but just didn't know how. They likely had a guard on her door, and if not, they had someone watching her to be sure she didn't try to leave. She figured her only chance would be to change to wolf form. At least then, she'd have speed on her side. Her only question was how far would they go to keep her here. "Are you so frightened of us, Madelyn, that you'd consider jumping to escape?" a man said from behind her. Madelyn turned to see someone she had seen before, that day when she first saw the boy, in the clearing. "Who are you?" Madelyn asked him. "I am your grandfather." "I don't understand any of this," Madelyn said softly. "My biological mother is dead. Brian told me the story as he'd learned it." "Brian told you the story that Marie was sent to spread. She was the one who told your father his son and your mother were both dead, and she was the one who seduced your father into marrying her when you were but a week old. All of your legal documents were altered to reflect Marie as being your mother, but for all that she learned to love you, there was always the ulterior motive." He moved out onto the veranda and sat in one of the chairs, waving to another as he did so. Madelyn Ch. 06 Madelyn felt compelled to sit, but she resisted, choosing instead to stand. Her resistance brought a smile to the man's face. "You're just as strong as your brother is, granddaughter," he said gently to her. "He resists my suggestions on a regular basis. It's a game between him and I now. Most of the time, he wins it, too." Madelyn turned away from him, the urge to change to her wolf form hitting her hard as a wave of longing for Connor washed over her. Thus far, he was the only person in her life to have ever given her a choice. Even though that choice was very limited, he gave it to her. And she'd run with it. Quite literally. Grabbing onto the thought of that run through the yard, how happy she was as he chased her down, she reached up to caress the scar on the nape of her neck. "I want to go home," she said simply, tears coming to her eyes as she tried to reach out with her mind, tried to feel Connor, talk to him, tell him she was ok and she was coming home, no matter how she had to get there. Wiping the tears away, her face hardened as she turned back to the man sitting by the table. "I want my mate, I want to go home to him, now!" "Your mate?" he glanced to the scar on her neck. His face paled as he saw it and felt the wolf within her, and realized how close she was to losing control of it. Rinion had a lot of explaining to do. Standing slowly, holding his hands in front of him, palms up to show he meant no ill will to her, he began approaching her with slow, careful steps. "Madelyn," he said softly. "We need some time to talk, to tell you of what you are, to teach you." He stopped and sighed softly. "But your mating with a Garou has complicated everything, granddaughter." "How?" "You will not be content to remain here for your teaching," he explained as he finally reached her, one hand moving up to gently caress her cheek. She flinched as his skin came into contact with hers. He could feel her mistrust, her longing for her mate, and behind it all, the wolf, ever present, always watching and waiting to be loosed. It had always been there, but was always asleep, until Connor had woken it with his bite. Pressing his hand to the side of her face, he closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly. Madelyn gasped as she relived her entire life all over again, in the span of a few seconds. When her grandfather's eyes opened again, she stumbled backwards, against the railing, tears falling as he stared at her in wonder. His little granddaughter had come through all of that, and still stood here before him today, a strong woman in her own right. With or without the Garou, or the Elves, she was a very strong woman. "Please," she whispered. "Let me go home." "We will let you go, Madelyn, but not to that house," he said finally. "You are not safe there." "How can I not be safe there when Brian and my parents said I was?" she said, agitated. "Marie was not your mother, Madelyn," he countered softly. He sighed softly before taking her hand and leading her to the table. This time, instead of impressing the desire to sit upon her, he said softly, "please sit, Madelyn, we have much to discuss, and you would be much more comfortable sitting than standing." She sank into the chair slowly as he began his tale. "Twenty years ago, on a cold winter's night, a man entered into a circle he had no right to even be near. The woman was to have conceived that night, but not by that man. It was to have been a single son, one child who would be very special, Madelyn. That child was conceived. The child was to have united the Elven people one day. Unfortunately, the first child conceived inside the circle was not a son, and was to become even more special than the son was to have been. You see, your father is the only remaining descendent of the first European Garou to immigrate to the new world. That particular Garou was very special in his own right. He had managed to unite the Garou and the Elven people through a mating. His mate was Elven, turned Garou through the mating ceremony. "Through the years, each male descendent of that Garou has had one son. He might have had a daughter or two as well, but none has had more than one son. This went on through the centuries, until your father mated with my daughter." Madelyn listened, unsure whether to believe any of it, or to write it, and everything, off as one big bad dream. Then the longing for Connor started again, and she knew it wasn't a dream. If he was real, then all of this surely was, too. "All of your ancestors' first born children were sons, Madelyn. Each one gave life to a son before he gave life to a daughter, until you. You shared a womb with your brother, but you were first conceived, and you were first born, as well," he sighed softly. "Had your mother's intended arrived, you would not have been born, granddaughter." "Who was he?" she asked. "Who was her intended?" "He was Marie's brother, and he was killed in the snow on his way to perform his duty," he said softly. "His duty?" "Yes, granddaughter, his duty," he replied. "You see, the Elven do not see marriage and babymaking as you might. It is a duty to marry and mate. It is not a right or a privilege. Your mother's duty was to lie still. His duty was to plant a son in your mother's belly. Once it was there, his duty ceased, yet your mother's would continue, as she would raise the boy in seclusion, away from her family and friends, alone by the Lake of Silver, where she would teach him all he needed to know to perform his duty." "Seclusion? I don't understand why she would have needed to be secluded," Madelyn said softly, shaking her head sadly. "That, I'm afraid, is another story, my dear," he paused. "And your mate is searching for you, to take you back. If you return to that house with him, your life will be in grave danger, Madelyn. If you return there, there isn't much I can do to help save you from them." "What do you mean?" she said, feeling an urgency to know the story of how her mother and brother came to be here, alive and well, instead of dead and buried. "Who is 'them' and why do they want me?" "'They' are the Grauguri Elves, and they want you to breed you," he said simply. He watched as her face went through the stages of shock and disbelief to uncertainty to anger and fear. "Why? Why me? And with whom?" Madelyn's mind was a jumble as she went through the questions, not stopping to let her grandfather answer each question. Her wolf's defenses were raising and she was so close to changing in that moment. "Granddaughter," he began softly. "You are very special. You, and your brother, are a combination that was once thought impossible. With the mingling of your father's and your mother's genes, something has been created that should never have existed, but does, for," he hesitated slightly before continuing, "for better or for worse." Madelyn looked at him, curious about that last statement. He was not to answer it, though, for at that moment, a large charcoal grey wolf burst into the room, teeth bared as he moved between Madelyn and her grandfather. *** Moving from the hedge, he returned to the place where he emerged from the haze and took in the scents. Quickly finding Madelyn's, he moved in the direction it went. It wasn't long until he found himself at the door of a tall building. A panel slid aside as he approached it, startling him at first, but he padded through the opening. He heard it slide shut behind him as he sniffed the air, seeking out his mate's scent. Quickly finding it, he rushed in the direction it led him, until he heard voices. Stopping, he listened and heard her voice, and a man's. Hers was frightened. The other was calm. Not waiting a moment longer to be with his mate, he rushed through the door in a flurry of fur and fangs, quickly placing himself between Madelyn and the man in the room with her. "Connor!" Madelyn cried as he growled at her grandfather. He didn't seem to be paying any attention to her, so she spoke silently to his mind. 'Connor, please! No!' 'I'll handle this, Maddy. Run, Now!' he responded to her, eyes not moving from the man, hackles raised as he readied himself to jump into action. 'No, Connor, you don't understand,' she said before saying aloud to him, her eyes moving to meet those of the man in front of them. "He's my grandfather." The man looked between him and Madelyn then slowly rose and moved toward the exit, saying he would give them some time alone. As the doors closed, Connor quickly changed into his human form and took Madelyn into his arms. "Oh, Connor," she sobbed into his shoulder. "She...they..." she stammered as he held her quietly. "They're alive, Connor, my brother and mother are alive!" "But why did they bring you here, Maddie?" "My grandfather says I'm in danger. He confirmed that Marie was not my mother. She was of the Grauguri elves, that they want to breed me. But why they do, I don't know." "Breed you?!" Connor raged. "That Will Not..." He was interrupted by the soft sound of the door sliding open. They both looked to the door at the soft swish as it opened to admit the tall, ethereal-looking woman who entered the room, two men following her into the room. "I believe Madelyn's grandfather was about to explain that to her when you burst into the room," she said as she took a seat at the table on the balcony, plucking a few grapes from a platter to pop them into her mouth. She sat, savoring the sweet juices as she nodded to Madelyn's grandfather to continue. "I, um..." he uncharacteristically stammered. "Well, perhaps we should have some introductions before we continue." Taking a seat alongside the woman, he gestured to the remaining chairs at the table and waited for Madelyn and Connor to sit, as well. The other young man remained standing, just behind the woman. Madelyn looked at Connor and nodded, prodding him to sit, then sat beside him and pulled her chair close to his as he slipped an arm around her. "You all know who I am," Madelyn said softly before turning to gaze at her mate with a gentle smile and placing a soft kiss on his cheek before looking back at the others. "This is Connor. He is my mate." The older man let out short, heavy and almost indignant breath at the announcement. "Yes, well, that can be taken care of..." he started when Madelyn interrupted. "If you're about to say what I think you're about to say, you can just abandon that thought this instant! Connor is my mate and that is that, I will not allow anyone to speak any ideas to the contrary," she raged on, anger fueling her words. "He is my mate and wolves mate for life. If you remember, I was brought here in wolf form. The mating is complete and my wolf is awake." "Oh, Madelyn, please calm yourself," the woman said gently. "Your grandfather will not do anything to come between you and your mate, I swear it, darling." "I won't...?" Madelyn's grandfather started, before being interrupted again, this time by her mother. "No, Father," she said firmly. "You won't. I will not allow it. Madelyn has found her true mate, as I did one fateful night. While I was not allowed to remain with him, for reasons beyond my control, I will not allow you to do to her what you did to me and to Richard." She glared at her father before turning away from him, her violet eyes closing as she took a few calming breaths before turning to Madelyn again, a small, sad smile gracing her lips. "Madelyn, dear," she began. "Ours is a sad story, one that has not been told in many years, but I will tell you what happened all those years ago, on the night of your birth, and will tell you of what has happened since. But first, you and Connor need rest. The journey here seems short, but is actually a very long one, and is very taxing on those who pass through the portals. Your grandfather, brother and I will leave you both now, to rest." She emphasized the last two words with a smile, a twinkle stealing its way into her eyes, as if she knew what her daughter might consider as they left the mates alone again. Madelyn Ch. 07 Hello again, my dear readers. Yet another chapter after yet another long wait. But, it's here, and the next one will be here, well, when it's here. They're getting written, it's just slow going. The story is unfolding in my head as I write it and that's partly why it takes so long for me to write, I can't ever decide which direction it's going so I write a few words and set it aside. This time, I wrote for a while, then set it aside, wrote for a while again, then set aside again, then on the last day of writing for this chapter, I wrote and didn't set it aside until I knew where Madelyn and Connor were going. While I don't know what is happening past this point, I do know that I am committed to finishing the story, no matter how long it takes. Please have patience with me and enjoy each chapter as it's presented to you. Well wishes to you all. sansa -7- As soon as the doors slid shut, Connor took Madelyn into his arms, holding her tight. Her arms slipped around his waist for a moment, until he leaned down, scooping her up to move to the bed, sitting on the side with Maddy in his lap. They sat there like that for a while, just holding one another. Maddy marveled over how she felt about him today, after having only met him a few days prior. She couldn't imagine her life without him. The hours she'd been apart from him were the hardest she'd had to live in a very long time. Leaning into his chest, Madelyn pressed her forehead to his and sighed softly. She let the moment continue in silence a little while longer before speaking. "I don't know which way is up, Connor," she said softly. "Mother..." her voice broke, a soft sob escaping her lips after as the name passed between them. Swallowing heavily, she continued, "Marie. She lied to me, right up to the day she died." "I know, love," Connor said softly, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts, but also wanting her to know he was listening, he cared. Madelyn nuzzled his neck with her cheek, reveling in his scent. It was earthy and masculine, and very comforting. Yet again, she realized how much he was a part of her already and all of a sudden, another realization washed over her. She had a family again. Connor was her family. She'd grown so used to being alone over the last few years. With the exception of Brian, she'd had no one. But now, she had Connor. *** Brian sat at his dining table, an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air. Connall, Raoul, and the twin brothers Aatu and Aatto sat with him. Brian Hemming hadn't been born a wolf. He'd been changed at the young age of 17. A rogue wolf bit him. This, of course, was decades ago. Brian was 178 years old now. It had been a hard road for him to get where he was, but he was here, an Elder on the Council of his pack, because of his perseverance and loyalty. Today, however, he questioned his place on the Council, and knew those with him questioned it as well. "How could you have kept this from us, Brian?" Raoul said simply. Aatu and Aatto listened quietly, characteristic of the brothers. Both were unusually quiet for their kind, acutely attuned to one another in a way most did not understand. While all in the pack were more attuned to their pack-mates more than humans could ever be, Aatu and Aatto surpassed that by leaps and bounds. They sat with almost stoic expressions on their faces, as impossible to read as ever. "It's not like he planned it that way, Raoul," Connall said, giving Raoul a sour look. Connall was always unpredictable in how he would react to things, and this reaction was no exception. Turning to Brian, one dark eyebrow raised, he continued after a moment's pause, "am I correct, Brian?" "You are correct, Connall, I did not plan to keep this from the rest of the Council," Brian said softly. "It was a matter of every time I thought the time was right to bring what I knew to the Council, something else popped up that I needed to help them with. When I came to you all regarding their taking this portion of my personal lands, I knew something was different about them. I didn't mention that to you then because I knew I needed more concrete proof of it before I did. The only thing I knew was that Connor's mate had been found. While she was just an infant at the time, I knew we must protect her for him. It was my hope that as she matured, her parents would grow close to me and to the pack, coming to trust us, and open up to us about their secrets. Unfortunately, I underestimated their desire for isolation and secrecy. There were many things they kept secret, even from me, no matter how hard I tried to show them they could trust me with anything." "They trusted you with their daughter, Brian," Aatu said softly, speaking for the first time during this entire time. "In time, they'd have trusted you further. Their deaths were untimely." "Aye," Aatto said simply, not adding anything more to his brother's comment. It wasn't necessary, he knew, as he saw the lights flicker to life in Brian's eyes as his friend listened to Aatu's words. "Are you saying what I think you are, Aatu?" Brian sat back in his chair, realization spreading through him like a wildfire. The crash was no accident. Someone killed them, and he was certain he knew who. It was just the why of it that wasn't fully understood yet. Aatu simply nodded in reply. "They were in the way," Aatto said so softly his comment might have been missed had they not all been wolves. Brian's attention focused on the second-born of the twins. Aatto said nothing more. He just sat there, staring into Brian's eyes knowingly. After a moment, he nodded. The sound of the clearing of a throat snapped their attention toward the doorway. Vela stood there, arms crossed in front of her chest as she stood, leaning against the doorframe. One brow was raised as she stared intently at her father, clearly irritated. Brian sighed softly as he watched his daughter, but it was Connall who spoke first. "Hello, Vela dear," he said with a smile as he turned in his chair to gaze upon the exotic female behind him. "It is, as ever, wonderful to see you." "Thank you, Elder Connall," she said respectfully - mostly. "I..." "I'm sorry to interrupt you, dear," he replied, still smiling, though the smile now was slightly harder, his eyes daring her to challenge him as he continued speaking. "It is very rude of me to do so, but we do not have the luxury of much time for niceties at the moment. The Council is in a meeting and we would appreciate some time to finish our meeting." Turning back to the table, he dismissed her without another word. "Now, where were we?" "Oh, no you don't!" Vela exclaimed. "You five are not going to get away with just turning your back on me in dismissal. I want some answers, more than the little bit Father gave me a few days ago." She stood, glaring at them as they sat in silence. When none made any move to say anything, she huffed angrily then moved to turn, running face first into a chest. Looking up, she met the eyes of the Alpha. Her mouth dropped open with a gasp escaping from between her lips as Ulric smirked at her. "I always took you to be a rather patient one, Vela," he said, slightly amused by the female's behavior. "Ulric," Vela stammered out. "I apologize for my behavior, Alpha. It was unacceptable." She stood there, seething as she spoke, clearly not feeling her apology very deeply. Ulric stared at her thoughtfully, she staring into his eyes as he gazed down at her. Finally, unable to take his scrutiny any longer, she dropped her gaze, an exasperated puff of air escaping her lips, her face flushing as she realized how much her huffing and raging made her sound like an obtuse teenager rather than an almost 115 year old mature female. She pushed her way past him and stormed out of the house, stripping out of her long sleeveless dress before shifting and running into the woods. Ulric looked to Brian as he entered the room and sat next to Brian. "What's gotten into Vela?" he asked his longtime friend. "I told her some of the story of how I became so close to Madelyn," Brian replied, eyes firmly planted on the mug of long-since cold coffee between his hands. "Vela understands, deep down, why I needed to get close to her. She just doesn't understand why I spent almost the last two decades basically ignoring her in favor of Madelyn." "Ah, yes. About that," Ulric said, pausing and staring at his friend for a moment before continuing. "She found her mate, you know that, don't you, Brian?" Brian looked up, surprise clearly evident across his face. "Ah, you didn't know. I should have guessed," sighed the Alpha with a slow shake of his head. "Yes, she did. While you were off doing this research and bringing these people close to you, your daughter found her mate, Brian. She found him and let him slip through her grasp. He is a human and is married now, with three children, to a human woman. The last Vela knew, he'd moved to Idaho. She's not tracked him, gave up long ago, knowing he would be unwilling at this point to leave his family for his true mate." Ulric shook his head, saddened for his pack member, and for his friend, who sat there stunned. "I...I..." Brian stammered, stunned. "Why did she never tell me? She could have called to let me know she'd found her mate, I'd have..." "She tried, Brian," Ulric said gently. "She couldn't get through to you. She found him 17 years ago. You were in San Francisco, or somewhere else, I don't know. You weren't reachable at the time. We got through to your receptionist and no further, for weeks." The rest of the Council sat, listening, already knowing everything Ulric was telling Brian now. "He was here to get married, my friend," Ulric explained. "Vela saw him as she was in town, shopping for some supplies. The wedding was to happen not far from here. She knew immediately when she saw him, followed him to the diner by the grocery store, where she saw him meet with his fiancée. They'd lived in Redding at the time and were visiting to finalize some plans for the wedding. For the next two weeks, Vela was desperate to get through to you, for help with figuring out how to separate him from his fiancée. It was not to be." Everybody jumped as Brian slammed his fist on the table, making their mugs jump, coffee sloshing out of his mug as he listened to Ulric. His wolf was near the surface, furious with him for not being there for Vela. "Why not?" Brian said angrily. "Why would she not go for her mate and stop at nothing to get him?" "She was unwilling to approach him on her own, not knowing how to come between him and his fiancée, and she did not want to do it in a cruel way. You know how Vela is, she has great compassion in her, perhaps more than is good for her. She kept her distance. When they returned and married, she thought perhaps it wouldn't last, so she watched them for a few months, tried inserting herself into locations where he'd be. It was turning into something akin to stalker behavior and I spoke with her, convinced her to watch him from a greater distance, tried to get her to travel to San Francisco to speak with you in person, but she wouldn't. She was already bitter by then." Ulric paused and looked down at his hands, swallowing back the memory of the pain he'd felt for Vela, a pain he always feels for his pack members when one is hurt. "It was a near miss with her, Brian. We almost lost her. She nearly went rogue." "What?!" Brian raged, standing up furiously. "Calm down, Brian," Ulric said calmly. "It is over and done now. Vela is fine. She has moved on, content to live alone. Or, she had until now. I came just now because I could feel her pain building and wanted to make certain she's ok." Brian sat, fuming silently as he realized how great a mistake he'd made. While he would never consider getting close to Madelyn and her family a mistake, not being there for his daughter certainly was. This was an error time would not heal. He had to make this right for his daughter, but needed to figure out how. "Go to him, Brian," Ulric said softly, pulling his friend out of his silent brooding. "Hmm?" Brian said, looking to his Alpha. "Go to Vela's mate, Brian. Talk with him. I have it on good authority his wife passed," Ulric said, hoping the distraction would be of use. So much of Brian's time had been spent with matters revolving around Madelyn that he feared Brian might have lost sight of the other important things in his life: his daughter; his pack. "I know what you're thinking, how can I know this?" Brian just stared at his lifelong friend, mouth agape, for a moment before shaking his head suddenly, to clear it. Looking around the room, he blinked a few times and ran his fingers through his hair before sighing. "Ulric, I trust you..." "I know you do, my friend," Ulric responded with a slight smile turning up one corner of his mouth. "Otherwise I would not still be your Alpha. Now, do I need to make it an order or will you go?" "I will go, but yes, I am curious," Brian replied, still shaking his head slightly, ever amazed by the pack's Alpha, who always seemed to have things figured out, even before anyone knew they needed to be. "How do you know?" "I have contacts all over, Brian, as you well know. You've used some of those contacts in your own fevered search for information about the Randalls," Ulric began, the other Council members leaning in to listen raptly, certain this would be an interesting tale in itself. "When Vela broke down, and her mate left the state, I sent word to other packs. I told them of the situation and most of the packs were very sympathetic and watched for him in their areas." He paused and got some water, drinking half of the glass before he continued. "One day, about 5 years ago, I got word that one pack in Idaho had made contact with him, quite by accident. It seems his teenage daughter was in the same class as one of the pack cubs, and not just any cub. She was the daughter of the Alpha, and they were best friends, to the point that she shared the nature of what she is with her friend and turned her. It was done before any of the pack adults knew. They had to go to her parents." "But children can't be turned..." Brian began, to be cut off by Ulric, who'd anticipated this. "They can be turned, but there have to be certain circumstances in place first. It can't be an unwilling turn, which helps, or we'd have rogues going out and attacking children all the time. We've kept it very quiet that children can be turned for several reasons, first being the rogues. It's kept the human young from harm for centuries." Ulric continued explaining, with the Council looking on in various stages of shock and anger. He explained to them that children were kept safe from rogues through this misinformation because they'd found rogues often attack and bite to turn their victim out of a need for community. It was the rare rogue that would attack a human or other shifter out of sheer vengeance and a need for violence. Those were the ones who were put down as soon as they were caught, which was luckily pretty quickly. That kind of rogue was always the most dangerous. "The second reason this has been kept very quiet is for the reason of preventing what happened to Vela's mate's daughter. She was turned willingly after her friend explained to her what she is and the daughter decided she wanted to be like her friend, because she didn't want her friend to watch her die centuries before she would, she wanted to be friends for the duration of her friend's life. It was a good reason to be turned, and that is another reason children generally cannot be turned," Ulric looked between his council members, the corners of his mouth turned up in a wry smile as he shook his head slightly. "Children don't often have enough conviction to live with their decision," Brian said, figuring that part of it out himself, the rest of the Council nodding in understanding, "which is one of the reasons they aren't legally able to make decisions for themselves in this country until they're 18 years old." "Exactly," Ulric nodded as he responded to Brian's comment. "They don't have the conviction to live with the decisions that impact the rest of their life, they don't have the life experience, either. Also, they are immature emotionally and mentally. Until they mature emotionally and mentally, even if they are physically mature enough to handle a change, they will not be capable of being turned. A wolf could bite them a hundred times and it would not work. Once they've matured enough mentally and emotionally, though, the bite will be effective. It's as if the virus that causes this is aware of whether the bite victim is capable of handling it physically, emotionally and mentally." "That would suggest that the shifter virus is sentient itself," Connall said. "Aye," Ulric responded, "it would. We're not entirely certain of that but it's neither here nor there at the moment. In the case of Vela's mate's daughter, she was mature enough, all around. She was also sincere in her desire to be turned, to be able to give the gift of not losing a friend to the cub she was friends with. I've kept informed of the outcome. She was turned, as was her entire family." At that, all eyes turned to Ulric then to Brian. "What?!" Brian exclaimed. "All were turned, beginning with Vela's mate and the younger two children, who were turned as they became mature enough," Ulric said softly, staring at his hands. He paused, lips pursed. His mouth opened then closed and opened again, only for him to sigh and shake his head. Finally, he continued, "Vela's mate's wife didn't survive the change." Brian's heart broke for Vela's mate. He knew the agony of losing someone you love so dearly as to mate with them. "The woman didn't tell anyone, apparently she didn't think it important to say something," Ulric said, his voice breaking. "She was pregnant." "But, that shouldn't have..." Connall started to say. "I know, it shouldn't have had a bearing on this, but what nobody knew was that she was having an affair, and little did she know, her lover was a vampire. Garou and vampire blood doesn't mix, it is poisonous to the other being." "The child's blood shouldn't have mixed with the mother's, though," Aatu looked confused. "When in utero, the placenta is supposed to act as a barrier, isn't it?" "Aye," Ulric responded. "But in this case, the difference was that the child was the offspring of a vampire. She sensed that her mother had been turned and her nature, as a vampire, is to attack." The men sat, horrified, as they thought of the implications. The silence in the room was deafening. Brian shook his head slowly as he sat and mulled over the entire situation before something came to him. "Ulric?" "Yes?" "Have you told Vela any of this?" "I told her some, but she refused to hear any more past the daughter being turned and that the family would need to be turned, also," Ulric replied quietly. "Well, then, I think my daughter and I are going for a drive." Brian rose from the table and left the house to go find his daughter. *** Connor was aware of a presence in the room where they slept. Someone was watching them and his wolf didn't like it. Connor lay on his side, Madelyn cuddled up in front of him, her back to his chest, his arm around her protectively. He kept his breathing even, as if he were still asleep, and listened for anything that might identify who was in the room with him and his mate. After a while, his patience was rewarded as he heard a soft sigh and the rustle of fabric as the person stood and walked to the door. The whispered swish of the doors opening preceded a light gasp. "You startled me," the woman whispered, apparently unaware Connor was eavesdropping. Madelyn Ch. 07 "I know, Mother," a young man responded in an equally hushed voice. "Grandfather wants to see her, though, says it's important we begin immediately." "No, we will not," the woman's voice had an alarmed sound to it, though she still tried to keep it quiet. "We will wait until she's ready. It can't happen without her cooperation." The voices started fading until he couldn't hear them anymore. The doors whispered shut. It was then that he dared to open his eyes, pulling Madelyn tighter to him as he did. She sighed softly in her sleep, turning to face him, her arm slipping around his waist as she slowly woke. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he said, keeping his voice soft and light in tone. "Good morning, love," she replied in a soft whisper. "How'd you sleep?" "Well enough," Connor lied. In truth, he'd slept lightly, his wolf constantly aware of his surroundings, the man in him not far behind, only fully unconscious for a short time until his wolf alerted him to the presence of the woman. "You're a bad liar, Connor," Madelyn said, a hint of a laugh in her voice as she spoke. Then she sighed and tried to snuggle closer to him. "What am I to do, Connor? They say I'm not safe if I return home, but I don't know if I feel safe here, either." "I'm here, Maddy. You're safe with me," he said in soft, measured words, trying to reassure her even though he wasn't exactly certain of them himself. "Always." "I know I am, love, but that's not the problem." Madelyn rested a hand against his chest, forefinger absently outlining little shapes on his skin as she sighed and they slipped into an uncomfortable silence. Finally, taking a deep breath, she continued. "So much has happened so fast, Connor. No more than a month ago, I was living in San Francisco, in a tiny house that I liked but it wasn't home. I was longing to just go home. It was so hard to live there for so long and to listen to prattle from idiots such as Mr. Price and the other probate clerks who couldn't care less about a girl such as me. The next thing I knew, I was home, I could hardly believe it and almost thought I was dreaming at first, but it was real. I was home. It had been so long." Connor lay listening, running a hand up and down her back in a tender caress, lips pressing to her forehead from time to time. He felt her emotions through their mating bond, his wolf whimpering in sorrow for their mate as he listened to her talk. Madelyn started to continue but paused and listened for a moment before resuming, this time speaking to him through their bond. 'They're listening to us, Conner,' she said silently, looking up into his eyes, hers darkening in anger. He could feel her wolf coming dangerously close to the surface. His wanted to join hers, and was bristling and begging to be let out, but after so long, he had more control over his wolf than Madelyn did. 'I know. I believe your mother was in here watching us sleep earlier,' he responded to her, sighing audibly and continuing to caress her gently so as to appear that he was just comforting her. 'Continue speaking to me out loud as you were, love, but guard your words, don't mention the pack or how we were mated or even when, they're not happy about our mating.' 'No, they're not, Connor,' Madelyn told him. 'They want me to allow them to reverse it. You were there when my grandfather said what he did, but what I haven't mentioned is that last night, while we were sleeping, I was somehow able to hear him speaking with my brother. They're planning to try to coerce me into reversing the mating so they may mate me with one of them. They wish me to take my mother's place, to do as she was meant to the night my brother and I were conceived, only with one of their kind, not with one of the Grauguri. They believe that the combination of my wolf and elf heritage combined with another of their kind will result in something more than what they originally intended.' 'And what is that?' Connor asked. Madelyn was silent for a moment before she looked up at him and into his eyes to speak in his mind again. 'A new breed of elf. Their original intent was to mix two kinds of elf to elevate both above the third. Now they believe that adding a small amount of shifter will breed one capable of taking them to the next level of evolution, raising them to almost godlike levels.' A hint of a smile played at one corner of her lips, her eyes shining as she stared into his. 'They have just one problem if that's their plan.' "How can I help you through this, my love?" Connor said softly, aloud, trying to break up the silence in the room, concerned that the lack of discussion between them might cause one of the elves to check on them. He wanted to be alone with his mate, or, at least, retain a bit more of the illusion of being alone with her, for a little while longer. "You've done so much for me already, Connor," she replied in a hushed tone, so as to make whomever was listening in on them have to listen especially carefully to hear their words. "Loving me as you do is so much more than anyone could ask for. It's been a whirlwind, so many things piling on top of one another, but I wouldn't change anything for the world, least of all our bond." She said the last part a bit louder, smiling happily up to him, her wolf beaming smugly at the thought of their eavesdroppers reactions to that statement, then continued speaking to him, this time privately through the connection they shared as mates. 'This one problem they have is something they cannot get around. It would be impossible for them to try,' she said to him, eyes sparkling with mischief. 'And what, pray tell, is that, my sweet mate?' he replied through their bond. 'I hope you're ready for this, Connor,' she said. 'I only realized it as I was sleeping, my wolf told me the moment she realized it herself.' 'You're killing me with the suspense, Maddy,' Connor responded. 'I know. Steady yourself, darling,' she said slowly. 'If we don't want them having any more information than is absolutely necessary, we certainly do not want them knowing this just yet.' Her heart skipped a beat as she steadied herself to say the words. Taking a deep breath, her eyes closed, hoping it would make him happy, as there had never been any time to really discuss this before their mating. The doors to her chamber slid open and her eyes opened to look into his as she spoke the words silently to him, alone: 'I'm pregnant.'