Thank the Goddess she always kept a change of clothes at the office, Ry reflected, having scratched and whined enough to get herself let in by her assistant. Changed back, and dressed in her emergency clothing, she had just finished a meeting with her client, and was giving instructions for the liquidation of White Wolf Investigations. Alaric hadn't followed her, at least not closely. She trusted him not to mistrust her. Her word was given that she would come back to him, and she intended to keep it. Even if she truly had no idea where he was going to take her.

True to his word, Alaric had remained in the Glen. He had spent the morning swimming in the lake, catching fish in his massive jaws. His fur shone like black diamonds when he crawled to shore and shook the water from it. A soft, loping gait took him towards the woods. His appetite was voracious and a few meager fish were not enough to sate him. He had lost the taste for human flesh and blood years ago. He stalked and killed a wild boar, lavishing the taste upon his tongue, the blood dripping from his maw.

The only thing Ry chose to take with her was what was pinned to an old collar that she set about her neck. A silver pendant, shaped as the triple crescent. It had been used to mark her skin when she was a cubling, and she had never forgotten that pain. It had been shortly after her marking that she had fled from her pack. But no matter to that, she had a new pack now. Setting her clothes aside, she Changed, licked her assistant's cheek in a friendly manner, and loped out of the offices, heading with unerring instinct for the Glen once more.

By that time, Alaric was back inside of the den. His stomach was full and he was taking a nap. The sun filtered in through the opening and he lay in it's light, absorbing the warmth. His lips curled in a smile when her scent wafted his way.

She paused at the entrance to the den, lowering her snout as she scented his Changed form. An enquiring yip and whine left her, asking permission to enter once more. After all, he was vulnerable to her when human while she remained wolf, she did not want him thinking she had changed her mind about not harming him.

Alaric woke and rolled to his side. Languidly, he sighed and nodded, waving her in. "Come, Crystal." he slowly sat up, stretching. "The deed is done, yes" And you're ready to tell me your secrets?" He scratched his head and sighed again.

She trotted in, pushing her face to his and licking him in greeting. Then she backed up a couple of steps and Changed, kneeling in front of him as a faint blush touched her cheeks. It was the first time she had Changed to human before him without there being a fight to preclude it, and for some reason it made her more aware of her nakedness. "It is done," she said quietly, doing her best to hide her body from him unconsciously. "And I do not have so much to tell, truly."

As she licked his cheeks, he closed his eyes and gently placed his hand aside her jowels, caressing the soft, white fur, softly. He watched her change and saw the flush to her cheeks, and knew it embarassed her to be nude before him. Alaric was far from ashamed or embarassed, but he was sympathetic to her needs. Reaching over, he grabbed his bag and pulled out a light jacket from it. He pulled the jacket around her shoulders then left it for her to figure out how she wanted it placed. "So tell, Crystal. Tell me everything."

Sliding her hands into the arms of the jacket, she was a little startled to find herself holding the collar high to her nose, breathing in deep of his scent. Amber flecked brown eyes lifted to his, and she nodded slowly. "I was approached several weeks ago by a man named Redfield," she told him quietly. "He paid me in advance to know your movements, who you were in contact with. He also paid me to disrupt that first attempt at an investors meeting you tried to hold in the city." Her head lowered, the wolf in her ashamed to have been a part of disrupting her Alpha's plans. "The last thing he wanted was to know if your meeting had been a success. He knows this now. His money has been returned to him. I know nothing more that could harm you."

He listened and watched her intently. "Thank you, Crystal." He spoke softly and smiled. "This Redfield has been a thorn in my side before. The 'breeds are losing many of their ranks because they are stupid. They think that by taking out the leader, the rest will fail." He reached over and touched her cheek softly. "Do not worry. He's not a threat to me, or our pack."

"Arrf!" He exhaled explosively when she landed upon his chest. And then his face was being licked clean! He wriggled beneath her and his snout wrinkled up in protest. Paws went to her shoulders, but only gave a half assed push. He was truly loving this. That one that had completely distrusted him just a few hours ago was so into the play and willing to go along with him, at a whim, was amazing. Especially one of her caliber. He was sure she had no idea, still, just who she was. Rolling to his side, he gave her snout a return lick before he jumped to his feet and then pounced onto her, lowering himself but not crashing down on her. He was feeling....amorous and meant to take her, right then and there. Crouched, he pushed forward and took her scruff in his teeth.

She hesitated again, her muzzle swinging around to look at him uncertainly. She could scent his intentions, and both human and wolf braced herself for what was to come, submitting to his hold on her with barely more than whine of protest.

It wasn't an act of lust, love or anything more than the biological need to reproduce. As a human, he'd have been gentle and careful to keep her from having any discomfort. But his human side was buried deep within the wolf. Only the mentality of keeping the pack strong and that of the purest blood, was what was driving him. Only after several minutes, heavy panting, did he finally withdraw and roll to the side.

For her part, she was still and unmoving as he mated her. The human inside curled in on herself, fearful of him in this setting, afraid that now he had taken her as wolf, he would choose to be as rough with her human form should he wish it. But she remained still, patient and quiet, settling to her stomach only when he had rolled away.

When he finally regained himself, he moved to be behind her. Gently licking and cleaning the area that he had just been inside of. Always careful to cover the scent of a mating, the female was always at risk following such things. Once he was convinced that their sex no longer threw a scent into the air, he lifted his head and howled loudly and plaintively. Luna was not in the sky, but he gave her the edification and thanks that she so truly deserved for placing such a treasure within his paws. Then he turned and gazed down upon her laying form. Whimpering softly, he lowered his head and nudged her snout, then licked her nose.

She lifted her snout to him, hoping the human's fear did not show in her eyes, for her wolf accepted the way it must be without question. She nudged back at him, her own tongue lolling out to lick his nose, and brought herself to her paws, limping a little at the strange ache inside her. She nuzzled at him, a little confused. She did not understand how their play had become a mating, but it seemed normal, he did not seem unaccustomed to it. Perhaps it was just one of those things she would have to learn to accept completely.

He accepted the lick with an affectionate nuzzle of her snout before turning away. He jerked his head, indicating for her to follow as he started towards the edge of the Glen. There was a portal there that he used quite frequently. When he came upon it, he stopped and sat back on his haunches. Looking from her, to the portal, then back, he nodded his head as if to say, "after you."

She followed trustingly, her head tilting in curiosity as they came upon the portal. She had never used one before, though his familiarity with the area seemed to show that he had. It was an honour that he would allow her to step through first, though, and she gathered her muscles, leaping through the swirling portal in one bound, to land gracefully in a landscape wholly unfamiliar to her.

She followed him closely, loping and bounding up the rocky incline, and into the den, following her nose as she acquainted herself with the various new scents within and without the dwelling place. Finally, she turned to face him, head tilted with an enquiring yip and snuffle. What happened now" Her human cringed at the thought of a repeat of their mating, in either form, but the wolf howled her down. It was natural, it was his wish. She belonged to him now.

Once inside, he turned and watched as she became acquainted with the den. They were in the front living space, and there were several larger rooms that were linked through tunnels. For now, this was convenient. He Changed, once again and sat cross legged upon the floor. It had been carpeted for his comfort and there were several large pillows. "Please, be comfortable. You have many questions for me?"

She, too, Changed, curling up near him on the carpeted floor. In this form, her uncertainty was even more pronounced. "You have a loving pack." It wasn't a question; more an envious statement of fact.

He curled his arm around her, sensing her insecurity and trying to belay it. "That we do." He nodded, making sure to put an emphasis on the "we." She was part of the pack, as well. "How are you feeling, little one?" He caressed her arm and continued to hold her close to him. It was possessive, yet gentle.

She glanced up at him before answering, pushing closer to rest her head against his shoulder. "Uncertain," she admitted softly. "I am not accustomed to seeing a pack at peace, or being welcomed by any of our kind. It is strange."

As she lay her head against his shoulder, he relaxed more and began to play with the ends of her hair. "I can only imagine what a pack of half breeds did to your self confidence, but you'll see, here you'll be loved and adored. We all look out for each other. You'll be protected and watched over. And you'll fit right in with the other mothers of the pack."

Just in time, she remembered the collar, stopping herself from nuzzling further against him. Instead she leaned back, unhooking the collar and setting it to one side, before pushing back into his arms. "Must I be a breeder?" she asked softly. "I know nothing of raising pups."

Watching her remove the collar, he frowned slightly. He only just noticed it. Not saying anything though, he settled back into their nice, cozy snuggle. "You already are, little one. We've mated and you'll bring me beautiful and strong cubs." he smiled and sighed happily. "The others will teach you what you need to know, and what doesn't come naturally to you. The mothers all look out for each others as their own as well. So you'll be in good company."

"Will I be settled to sleep in their den with them?" was the next question. A nose could tell you an awful lot, and in this case, she had already picked up that the den mothers had their own set. That no female shared this den with him, though they visited often. "Or will you set me alone until I am good enough to sleep among your mates?" It cost her a lot to say that, and she knew jealousy would be her biggest opponent in this new life he had given her.

He gave her a reproachful look and canted his head. "You will be sleeping in our quarters, little one. The pack understands that you are to be by my side until you become heavy with child. Even then, you are to sleep in our quarters. I have given orders that a birthing chamber will be dug for you. This has never been done before." He hugged her to his side then and kissed her soft brown hair. "As I have told you, you are special."

"Alaric, little one." he smiled warmly. His hand rested on her shoulder and his arm tightened, pulling her yet closer and upwards. Lowering his head, he placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. "My name is Alaric."

"Alaric." She whispered his name easily, feeling the strange thump of her heart in answer to his gentle kiss as her hand crept tentatively against his chest. "What would you have me do until I have pups to tend to?" she asked curiously. "I do not need to be held back and protected, I could help you."

He closed his eyes as she whispered his name. Another kiss placed and then he drew back slowly. "I was hoping on that, little one. I do not intend for you to lay around the den and become fat." He chuckled softly, in that playful tone he had found when he met her. "No, you'll be with the mothers for part of the day, with me the rest. Though, if I have to go on missions or to meetings, you will remain here. You will not be put into harm's way."

"And if I choose to follow?" Yes, he would certainly have his work cut out keeping her in line. It was part of the reason she had been shunned by so many before; a willful refusal to do as she was told unless a good enough reason was provided. She did not consider the preservation of her own life a good enough reason, evidently. "Surely if I am as blessed as you say I am, I would be an asset to you in such situations."

"Depends on the mission." He canted his head slightly. "You carry my blood within you, now, little one. Not just your life is at stake. You'll kindly remember that." His gaze told her there would be no further discussion on that subject.

"Then what use am I?" she sighed, looking away with a frown. "Just a brood mare to lie obedient for your pleasure and producing litters." Her tone said plenty. Though the wolf had accepted that mating, the human certainly hadn't, feeling violated and used. Being told it was the Goddess's will had not helped her opinion of the act rise any, either.

"Now, we'll have none of that." He lifted his hand to gently caress and cradle her jaw in his palm. "There will be plenty for you to do. You have many responsibilities as Queen of this clan, and my mate. You will be in charge of making decisions, along side of me. There's the pups to watch out for. The other mothers and adolescents to keep an eye on. Daily patrols with the guard. Oh yes, I do all of that, so you will, also. And, you have a lot of sisters to meet and get to know. They have already accepted you, Arianwen. It is time for you to accept them."

"It will take time." That was all she could say; no promises to try harder, or to be the best mate or Queen he could ask for. She knew her own limitations. All she could say was that to be what he wanted of her would take time. And, of course, she could not help her physical reaction to his touch. Again her eyes fluttered shut, her lips parted in a soft whisper of his name.

"You take all of the time you need." He sighed softly. When her eyes fluttered closed and she sighed his name, he could no longer resist. Lowering his head, he claimed her lips in a hungry, possessive kiss. He wanted so much more, but knew that the mating earlier had frightened her. He did not want to frighten her, only to ....He pulled back rapidly and Changed. He didn't even glance back as he skulked off into one of the tunnels that led into a larger chamber of the den.

She moaned just barely as his lips claimed hers, her instinctive reaction to press closer, wanting something she could not define. But then he pulled away. She watched him leave, confused, afraid she had displeased him with her reaction to his possessiveness. Sighing softly to herself, she, too, Changed, and padded quietly after him, lingering in the tunnel, unsure of her welcome.

"Anywhere?" Emboldened, and not wanting to lose her nerve, she did just that, letting her hand run over his skin curiously, learning the textures, the strength hidden beneath. And then, swiftly, as though she was afraid if she didn't do it now she never would, her lips brushed lightly against him, following the trail left by that wandering hand. Exploring, learning her new mate in the most basic of ways. He had had her as a wolf, now she would have him as a man.

He held her, guided her, taught her what instinct and desire could not, and when they were done, she relaxed bonelessly back against the floor of the den, slick with sweat and breathless with that confusing mixture of pain and pleasure. Her eyes, half-lidded with satisfaction, lifted to him, one hand rising to brush his hair from his face.

When she finally relaxed, he withdrew from her. Falling to the side, he curled his arms against her and pulled her to his chest. He didn't utter a sound, just held her close and attempted to get his breathing and heart beat under control. It'd been a very long time since he'd done the act as a human and it exhausted him.

Shaking still in short stops and starts, she pressed into his arms, nuzzling close and affectionately. "Thank you," she whispered softly to him as her hands stroked against his skin. It wasn't quite so scary as she had thought it would be.

"Thank you?" He laughed softly, expecting just about anything but that. "What for?" His chest rose and fell in a huge intake and exhalation of air. "If anybody should be thanking anybody, I should be thanking you. You've given me a precious gift."

"You gave me a place in your pack, without questions or reservations," she murmured against his skin, still a little breathless as she spoke. "You welcomed me, made me your mate. You didn't have to do any of it. And to spare me the pain of being forced until I submit ..." She couldn't finish, pressing her face to his throat with an incoherent mumble of thanks.

"It was the right thing to do. Everything pointed in the right direction, that this was to be." He whispered quietly and held her close. "Shhh, now, none of that. Only happy thoughts. No tears, little one. You are safe now, welcome and part of a pack. Nobody will ever take that from you."

Her face lifted to his, eyes wide and trusting and warm with some as yet unindentified emotion. Her lips moved soundlessly for a moment, before she gave in and pressed them to his mouth, sliding her arms around him tightly. There was a possessiveness in her now that had been lacking before. As she had said, he was her choice. She would kill to keep him hers now.

He felt the emotion and possessiveness in that kiss and he came back with the same amount of fervor. They were bonded now, mated in both human and wolven forms. There wasn't a bond in nature that was stronger, nor was there a force in nature that could break that bond. Continuing to hold her close, he allowed his hands to roam her body, exploring every curve and line, even delving into her belly button.

And discovering along the way her one big weakness. She squirmed under some of those touches, suddenly breaking their kiss to giggle helplessly, trying to grab his hands away from those places where she was most vulnerable.

"Ah ha!" He laughed softly and, of course, his hands went right to the places that made her squirm. "Look at you, strong, tiny little one, squirming at just a touch."

"Alaric!" She whined through her laughter, wriggling back just far enough to catch his wrists and push him over. "Don't do that, I get violent when people tickle me!"

"Violent?" he chuckled, a dark, deep evil laugh. "Perhaps one day you will show me this violent side. So far, all I've seen is this soft, delicate little flower of a girl." Even with her holding his wrist, he brought his hand up to the side of his head where he'd been elbowed the day before.

Hearing him leave, she waited, almost certain he meant to harm her bloodline. She, too, Changed, running from the den and out, past the camp's perimeter. Unlike the scouts, she knew where the trail to her father's pack could be found, taking steps to conceal her trail as she ran. She zigzagged back and forth, wading through water, even swimming where she could, seeking to throw off any hunters as she hunted for her family. Alaric would be angry with her, certainly, but she would not begin life as his mate with her father's blood on his paws.

The scouts on patrol alerted Alaric to her departure and soon all three were on her trail. While the others had a hard time keeping on her, Alaric had her scent from their sex to go on and even through the water, the oily substance stood no chance against his nose. He followed, at a far enough pace to make sure she was safe, but not to alert her to his presence. Was she truly going to make this that easy on him'

Of course she wasn't. She knew he was trailing her, an unfortunate turn of the wind had alerted her to that, and she knew she would have to do something pretty interesting to throw him off the trail. Not many wolves will jump onto a speeding train, you know, but she did, landing with a thump and Changing quickly to avoid being thrown off. She wriggled down into one of the bunks, raiding some unnamed woman's bags to cover her body with a sweater and jeans, and made her way through the train to take a seat, counting the miles as they went by.

He came to a skidded halt when he heard the train approaching and seeing that she was in a collision course with the train. When she leaped, he lurched forward, howling loudly, His eyes closed and he fell to the ground, captured by the two scouts to keep himself from trying to kill the train for taking his mate from him. Once the train was gone, the scouts nudged him to get up, that her body was not around the tracks. Get up, he did. Slowly he walked to the tracks and sat down beside them. Miky white eyes looked in the direction that the train had gone. With a deep sigh, he got up and silently lead the two scouts back to the camp. He didn't utter a growl, a whimper, a bark. Sullenly, he disappeared into his den. The scouts he'd sent to find her father would be back. He knew it. And then he'd have his vengeance.

The journey was fairly quick. It wasn't long before she recognised the country through which the train was speeding, carefully bagging up her stolen clothes and boots to carry on her back. She Changed and leapt from the train, stumbling a little on landing. An enquiring howl brought back the news that her father's pack were listening, and she lifted her voice in the lone wolf's howl, one of information, of warning. She was cut off, however, by the scent of Alaric's scouts nearby. As the answering howl came from her father's pack, they pounced, and she went down under their combined strength, snarling and biting for all she was worth.

Through howls and barks, the news of not only the father, but of Arianwen's capture as well. Alaric was quick to leave his burrow, nodding to five others to follow him. Racing through the brush and forest, he was nearly out of breath when he came upon the scouts that he had sent to track her father. A feral growl and slashing of sharp teeth had the two scouts falling back with wounds to their shoulders. With a menacing snarl, fangs bared, white eyes tinged with red, he advanced on her, next.

She crouched low, unrepentant though submissive, trying to keep her left out of his sight. A chance snap of jaws from one of the scouts, and that paw was now crusted with her blood, the wound still oozing uncomfortably as she crouched in front of her mate, defiant yet obedient.

The scent of her blood was sharp in the air and he did not have to search to see it. Narrowing his eyes at her, he snapped his teeth in her direction. A direct order to stay in place. Then he turned on the scouts that were already crouched low. The one trembling. Alaric lurched forward, jowls wide. With a sharp bark, then silence, he had broken the neck of the scout that had brought injury to his mate. But he wasn't done. Not by a long shot. He turned from the body before him and gazed into the eyes of the other scout. A nod as silent communication told the scout to lead Alaric and the others to the den where her father lay.

It didn't take a genius to guess what his next plan would be. Though she flinched and whined when he killed the one that had harmed her, she was still loyal enough to her blood to risk one further action. Obeying, yes, staying where he had ordered her to, she lifted her head and howled again, the sound harsh and urgent. Warning them to get out, get out now before death came to them on black paws.

He heard her howl and picked up the pace. The scuffling and barks that ensued from the camp before them told him that her warning had been heeded and they were on the move. Alaric snarled visciously and overtook the lead scout. He knew exactly where to go from there. Cutting around wide, he then turned quickly and headed straight into the middle of the pack. His scouts were right on his tail and the fight ensued. Teeth were bared, hackles raised, blood spilled.

Unguarded, she waited in the clearing, listening as her pack, her parents, her brothers and sisters, were torn to pieces by the pack of her mate. She should never have told him, she knew. Her family's death was blood that stained her fur, covered her hands. Though she had not run with them for years, she still felt the duty that bound her to them, and the shame that she had caused their deaths. It never occurred to her that Alaric might not succeed. Whimpering, she limped away slowly, following her nose to a stream nearby, where she doused her injured paw in cold water, cleaning off the fur, waiting for her own punishment to fall down on her.

She sniffed the water vaguely, and turned her nose away with a soft whine. It couldn't have been clearer. She had come to the conclusion, left alone with her thoughts, that she was more of a curse than a blessing. A curse that would be better off dying than continuing to cause pain and death simply be existing.

"I spared their lives." he whispered as he continued to hold the water in his hands out to her. "Please, do not wither away, I cannot lose you. I just found you, I cannot bear to lose you. Please, my heart, my love, drink."

Dull amber eyes lifted to his, barely able to believe what he had said. He had spared their lives where they had not spared his scouts? Bitterness welled up in her for sending his pack members to unnecessary death, but it was stayed by the nagging acknowledgement within her of his attachment to her. My love, he called her, my heart. Gradually, her muzzle lifted, and her tongue lolled out, tasting the water cupped in his hands, drinking slowly.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, he kept his hand to where she could reach, the other pulled the small tub of water over to be within her reach. "That's good, yes." he sat back then, and directed her snout to the tub. Reaching over, he grabbed the collar that she had abandoned that night. Holding it up before her eyes, he took a deep breath. "I branded them, as they branded you. Now the entire world will see them as they intended the world to see you." He tossed the collar aside.

She drank thirstily, slowly regaining a little of herself as he spoke. She Changed, though her eyes remained more amber than brown, and huddled against the wall of the chamber, her face crumpled with pain and guilt. "I'm so sorry ..." It was breathed out, barely audible as she pressed her face into her knees.

He watched her drink, grateful. Sitting back, as she changed, he nodded slowly. "You've nothing to be sorry for. They hurt you, your pack hurt them. That's how it works. The brothers willingly died for the pride of the pack. When one of us gets hurt, the entire pack retaliates. That's all there is to it. And they hurt you, so they and theirs were hurt, some killed. Pack life."

She drew in a deep breath, not bothering to lift her face from the darkness she had created for herself. "If I had not come to you, if you had not seen that mark, they would still be alive," she rasped unhappily. "You would never have been harmed. I brought harm to my pack and my blood by simply being. I should have been killed at birth."

"Stop it." he shook his head. "For every creature born, there is a purpose. Yours was to fulfill your destiny of Luna's calling. And she called you to me." He directed her back to the tub, to drink more. "My purpose is to be the Alpha, to lead this pack, to take care of all in it. That includes you. Your parents needed to pay for the sins they commited against you and against nature. Luna knew this. This was just part of the reason you and I were brought together with her blessings." he reached over to the fresh kill. Sharp claws dug into the flesh and he tore the heart from the beast. It was still warm and steamed in the cool air of the den. "Eat."

She Changed back, lowering her snout to the tub of water and drinking obediently, slowly coming back to herself as her wolf receded, coaxing her human mind to apply the logic and reason that had helped her survive alone for so long. She growled hungrily as the scent of warm blood touched her nose, and tore into the heart. It was not pretty, not even particularly clean, but she was eating, and that in itself would be a relief, not just to Alaric, but his pack as well. The last thing they could possibly want would be to welcome a white wolf and then watch her die.

Another sigh of relief as she changed and started to eat. He sat quietly and watched her. "I'm so sorry, I should not have left you with the other matrons. It was so hard, this past week, without you. Please, forgive me."