Shrieking wind is ripping its voice through the trees leaving behind a wreckage of branches to trip and fall over as if nature is trying to stop my progress forward. On occasion, the Moon's almost full body peeks out from behind the bulky black clouds to shine a light on my path forward.

Alone in the darkened night, only the storm is here to keep me company, all other life hiding away secure in burrows to scared to come out and play in nature's fury. Flashes of lightning racing across the sky, a massive explosion of thunder creates a vibration in the atmosphere that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Propelled by a basic ingrained instinct of my nature, fighting against the storm with teeth and claw gaining inches towards the Far North Territory. The river's rushing water getting closer is overpowering the noise of the deluge of rain being dumped from the swollen dark grey clouds from above.

The river that's usually so calm is a raging churning propulsion of water that has overrun its banks in currents of danger.

Not allowing myself to get too close the edge, having to weave my path over fallen logs, through brush and bramble to cut a path forward. My body is taking nature's harshness against it; cut's lining my arms where the material of my shirt is slowly being torn away by snagging on branches that are too strong to snap with my momentum catapulting me forward.

It's a grueling slowing pace towards the Far North Territory. Nothing is easy; it's a tangle of nature I have to push myself through until when I step there is no soggy mud to cradle my step, just a steep decline where I slide down the small hill into the tumbling current.

Instantly swept away in the undertow, half submerged gasping for air as my head breaks through the waterline, only to be sucked back down to come back up to cough out water to be pulled again back down. Desperation is clinging to my soul that this is not how I want to end my time in this world. The moon is breaking through the skyline as if she's watching this with cunning eyes.

A log tossing upwards in the white tipped waves catches my eyes, nature fighting me forward but is offering me a lifeline, so drowning will not be an option. Wrapping my body around it, trying to hold on to the slippery surface with my resolve to live. It's the wildest ride in the dark down the snaking body of the river; I'm no match for this kind of nature.

There's no fighting against the body of the flood water; it will take me where it wills. Through the night the fight of life is real every time the log starts to slip from my weakening grasp, the September water is cool against my heated up body.

It's as if I'm driftwood going the way the current flows, during the night the storm relents it's pent up energy to calm itself down into just a drizzling rain until no rain at all. The night starts to come back to life; the river doesn't settle itself down. The violence is accelerating my rate forward as if the water is controlled by the Moon herself and I'm riding the tides closer to Odin.

The fibers of my arms are shaking with exertion from holding on to the log that has saved me from drowning. Taking an opportunity when the light of morning starts muscling its way into the darkened sky. With effort it's a battle towards the shoreline, swallowing water once again while kicking with the might of a wolf not wanting to sink into a watery tomb.

Catching an outstretched branch pulling myself up and out of the water to climb upwards in the tree top, the light of morning now strong enough I need to squint against it. Having a rest, allowing the cramped muscles some time to relax from the work they just went through.

There is no overwhelming fatigue that consumes the depth of me. Instead, there is a driving force of compulsion to move forward into territory that is unknown to me.

Unguarded with without caution I'm propelling myself forward, through tree lines that are not familiar. Wisps of alarms sounding that are ignored by my nature. The only singular thing important to me is finding Odin in a territory that is vastly bigger than my father's.

The Far North holds the most land but fewer wolves.

Stopping the movement of myself to adjust direction, letting senses guide me on a whim Odin will be this way. No scent trail, no footprints, no signs of wolves to track. When breaking out of a sparse treeline has a sickening feeling that my decision-making skills are questionable at the moment.

The tundra of the Far North that I have been told about is ahead of me, miles and miles of rock plains that rise into mountain further in the distance. Instead of dew clinging to the plants that are hugging the ground tight spreading out width wise instead of height is a melting frost that shimmering in the sun's rays.

Thinking soon this flora and fauna will be hidden underneath layers of snow and ice making the landscape look like a winter desert of white.

The material of my shirt hangs limply on my body; it's torn, the tattered fabric is garbage now, unsalvagable.

It's not long into the walk that the air seems to stir differently. No birds in the sky, nature stops it's breath, looking around nothing out of the ordinary. No sounds of being followed but I feel as if I am being watched.

The grumbling of my nature is sounding out, echoing throughout the landscaping bouncing back towards me in a rush of fading sound. The hairs on my arms standing on end senses prickling with unease that something is off in the light of day.

A flash of movement from my peripheral has my head turning to the right fast, but nothing looks out of its place thinking to myself if I understood the land I'm walking in.

Another flicker of a moment on my left catches my attention, ears straining for a sound that isn't the light wind that is rustling up the current of air.

Heartbeat quicking, while lungs pull in the air quicker. A flash of fang posturing out for hidden eyes to see. I won't go down without a fight. Another step towards the interior of the Far North territory has a growl rumbling out from behind me, turning quickly around nothing there while a menacing sound hits ears to the left, nothing.

"I know someone is there." Trying to keep any fear from a voice that just states an observation.

The breeze shifting brings several males distinct scents towards me.

"I can smell you." Again saying it for the sound to echo back into my chest. Nothing is answering my words.

Once again I start my projection forward one step is all I make it for the vibration of air to be ruffled in waves around me as the distinct voice of several wolves disturbs the stark silence.

Motion to my left turns my head in that direction, instead of seeing nothing like I'm expecting a male almost the size of Uncle Thomas is standing motionless with a spear tip pointed at my throat. A movement to my right causes my eyes to hold on the bare chest male that has a spear tip pointed at my heart, within a few breaths out; I'm surrounded by warriors of the Far North Pack. None talk all are motionless, holding their ground. Taking a step once again forward to the interior of their land, their movement mimics my own, the circle closing in around. Another step forward, they follow my lead, but the circle tightens.

It's then I pivot on feet search the strongest out. He's an older wolf, greying hair on the side, old tattoos lining his torso, a strong looking scar etched in the tight skin of his abdomen looks as if at one time he was gutted by something stronger than him.

This male is looking at my cheek, the mark that Odin gave me when I was younger. His spear tip angles downward away from my throat.

"You shouldn't be here, Charlie." A no-nonsense voice is holding a hint of disbelief that I'm standing in front of him on his territory.

I'm no mirage

"Take me to Odin." Shoulders back, head held high, posturing my intent of an order in a voice that holds no fear of these wolves. It's a simple request meant to be followed in my hazy opinion.

The older male is turning towards a younger male who has only one tattoo gracing his torso that still holds a dark tan from the fading light of the summer.

"Get Odin." The male's voice is hitting his younger subordinate in the chest, but the male does not move away instead he takes a step towards me with his nose in the air, taking great inhales of air. Another younger male is snarling with teeth towards the male that is making progress towards me.

Both of them posture against one another, stiff leg stances with intent to harm the other with lifted lip and flash of teeth.

"Stop." The older male who seems in charge of this small pack takes a frightening step towards these males that don't react to him. Instead, they take another step in my direction, one reaching out to touch my hair, that now is held in his fingertips before pulling myself out of his grasp. Lifting lip, flashing him my fangs with intent to harm with his unwelcome touch.

Outstretching my hand, it's a quick swipe to his cheek that open flesh up, letting his blood drip down his chest. My wolf expressing her displeasure at being touched, growls out of a chest that's giving her low warning signs out.

A young male from a distance is running in our direction only to collide with one of the non-mated males in a fight to get closer to me. Another spear is thrown at the aggressive wolves by another older wolf pinning one to the ground the shoulder tendon severed, but the wolf still tries with his other hand to remove the protruding spear from his bone.

It's instant another wolf pinned to the ground with a spear tip embedded into his hip; that renders him immobile with movement, his tendon looks severed, a true throw.

Choas, younger wolves, creeping towards me, fighting amongst themselves while the older mated wolves are taking positions in a defensive stance. They now have their back to me facing the encroaching unmated males who are looking to claim a prize.

More wolves are starting to come towards the group from a distance, running at full speed towards me. The leader wolf is pulling out his spear from the wolf who's crippled on the ground. Making another toss to immobilize another wolf with a whimper of pain to the ground.

"Get Odin." The leader of this small group saying to an older wolf who's skull tattoos surround his chest like an eerie necklace of bones.

"You should have never stepped foot on our territory; you're not welcome here." The deep voice behind me raises my neck hair. He's a big male with fading tattoos on his forearm, showing the malignant image of a snarling Wolverine.

"Now is not the time." The leader wolf is looking towards his older pack mate.

"It's without honor if done now."

"I will not help to guard his seed." The male is spitting toxic venom all over me while taking a step back from the line of protection. A male shuffles towards the now empty space while a hungry wolf hurtles himself into the weakened line. More males are gathering around our group. The mated ones are coming to the circle of protection keeping the unmated held back.

"Odin is just over the next ridge; he'll be here shortly." The leader is looking at all the gathering non-mated males in the eyes. It deters them momentarily until they take more of my scent into their lungs.

The basic instinct of nature driving the Wolves forward once again.

The soft breeze barely brings the scent I have been searching for to the forefront of my olfactory center. It's without thought taking a step out of the circle towards Odin who is on a war path hurtling himself towards me.

Tunnel vision

He's all I see as his presence gets closer, face becoming clearer with how close he is now. His chest heaving, breath coming out in great gasping sounds as if he just ran as fast as his nature would allow.

He's shirtless like the rest of the males in his pack, carrying a spear. If hormones have been affecting my physical body with more curvature of hips, coloring of lips, making my body much fuller and receptive for a male to notice.

His composition is also changing.

A solidness has added dense flesh to bone, defining his characteristics as a male who's mate is transitioning to her later stages of heat.

His head angling upwards, nostrils flaring. It's visible the tremor affecting his whole body while he steps in my direction, my resolve is hammering into my nature to take what the Moon has so graciously given me.

Deep forest green eye regards every inch of me in; nothing is missed by those keen eyes. Just like I'm taking all his details in.

"Charlie." The name falling from his mouth is a tone that holds blatant desire.

"Odin." My sound is meeting his on a head-on collision course of action.

"You shouldn't be here Charlie." His eyes are closing slightly while taking in my scent again. Canines are making a quick show.

"I know, I just needed to see you." Telling him my truth which causes a tug at the corner of his mouth until he graces me with a quick smile that settles itself again into his more recognizable straight mouthed look.

"How did you make it so deep into our territory without being stopped?" He's looking at me as if he underestimates my abilities to seek him out the way he has always sought me out.

Debating what I should tell him, I could say I tracked him, he got sloppy, and it was easy for me to find him.

"I don't like lies, Charlie." Odin is seeing the wheels of my imagination spinning.

"I fell into the river last night; it swept me here." A look of horrification drains the coloring of his face.

"You could have died?" Once again sweeping me up in his arms, burying his nose into the hollow of my neck. Claws are coming out to grip into my flesh. As if he needs to hang onto me for a second.

"I didn't." Trying to set the color back into his face.

"I give thanks to the Moon for that." Words muffled sound breathing against my neck.

"I need to take you home; your mother will be worried about you." The heat of him affecting every crevice on my skin as if he's taking his fingertips and running it along the flesh of me.

Goosebumps are ascending without inhibition.

Odin's rich scent starts to tendril around my body; the wind has no strength to take his smell away. It's anchoring in deep, on all level, so my nature rolls around in the nature of his.

Dilating eyes, the palm of his hand now resting on the bare skin of my side. It's quick when it happens one moment there is space between us the next I'm wrapped up in his arms as he growls his displeasure to the encroaching nonmated wolves into our space. Odin's lips pressed firmly against the soft base of my neck, a scrape of teeth that will leave the lines of him on me.

The un-mated males around have gotten closer, the bravest ones forming a group posturing towards Odin who does not take to kindly that I am being sniffed at, neither does the wolf inside me.

"We need to leave, now." Odin's body is moving my own the way he wants to lead in the direction of my pack land.

More wolves are arriving, older males chasing younger ones, lines being drawn as the mated males surround us in a circle of defense. No real fighting yet but teeth are getting closer until Odin nature has had enough of the encroaching males who think they have the power with sheer numbers that are starting to gather.

"Asher, run to the border send word we have Charlie, and we are bringing her back. Have their healer there, I need to have her there." The male nods his head shifting to fur form and races with the wind that is helping his speed forward.

Whispering compulsions walking slowly up my back, creeping around my neck to place ingrained words to find a place for my male and me to den up and ride the rest of my heat out in. Somewhere above the waterline, in an area protected on all sides, one way in one way out, so there is no surprise attack. The wolf is scanning the area to find any crevice that might be able to hold two fur forms inside it.

Odin for his part is starting to posture his raging displeasure to all the males that keep trailing us with nose lifted in the air. Another larger group of wolves from the Western direction are cutting into our path so we will be meeting up with them shortly.

"That's my father's group." Odin is taking a deep breath, shoulders going back, it looks like he's preparing for a confrontation.

"Why are you all out here?"

"We were doing out fall hunt; the herds are just down the slope if you would have walked a few more miles you would have seen them heading towards their winter grounds. We need those animals to sustain us throughout the winter, and they provide everything we need to survive." Odin is saying this while turning on the males once again because now I can feel their breaths on my neck.

"I'm sorry for ruining your hunt, Odin."

"You didn't ruin my hunt Charlie; you ruined my father's. He's the Alpha; he's the one that decides when and where to hunt. All success or failure falls on his shoulders." Odin is now turning and stepping towards the males who are inching closer.

It's fast, a blur of movement, eyes tracking him as if he is a tracer in the night that just whizzes by your eyes, leaving a light trail behind.

The closest wolf gets Odin's administration of his shortening temper. Confronting the wolf with a hard shove to the chest that has the male fall backward, while more wolves try to crowd around me. One succeeds on grabbing my hair from behind which the wolf inside Odin rises within himself.

Skin rippling with a current of wattage, sizzling outward heat is felt on my face, warming it with his temperament.

The male who touched me drops back with the realization of what he just did, this is not a fair fight. Odin is much bigger than the unmated male who doesn't hold many tattoos on his skin. The sheer size of Odin is intimidating enough but looking at all the ink upon his skin where there is hardly any places left to put new pictures up is terror-inducing. When Odin lifts the wolf by the neck off the ground, it's with a deliberate slowness that the male's throat is crushed in his hand. Odin doesn't release the male instead his hand keeps squeezing until the sickening crack of neck bones vibrates into my spine. The body falls limply at my feet, while the head is thrown to the wolves who take a few steps back from him. The mated older males flanking around us but none help Odin.

He seems to be on his own now with the approach of his father and the rest of the warriors.

"No male will touch my female!" His voice is an octave of turbulent sound that reaches upwards into the sky. When going forward again, the larger group cuts into our path to my territory.

Odin's breathing is increasing slightly while he straightens himself out to meet his father head on.

Odin takes the point, while he shuffles me behind him. If I wanted to, I could hide behind Odin and not be seen by eye's that are sear into my flesh with unabashed hatred for me.

Without a thought as if naturally my nose presses into Odin's arm who's veins are engorged with blood, the scent of him calms the rushing beat of my heart. A brief graze of lips to his flesh has a pool of pleasure saturating deep inside my lower abdomen. Lifting my hand up, resting fingers at the base of his neck, where the edge of his tattoo meets unmarked flesh. Another smell of his skin while my fingertips feel the down along his spine, one ridge at a time. The quality of sound that muffled out of Odin's throat would have me concerned it's painful for him. So I stop my hands downward progress letting my fingers splay out at the base of his spine. Feeling flesh that is jumping and twitching as if electricity is firing off inside him and he's being electrocuted silently.

Reaching behind him, pulling my hand into his. He brings it up to his lips kissing the tender flesh on the inside of my wrist.

That elicits my own electrocution of bliss.

Pupils are fighting the irises in a battle of submission.

"Odin!" Alpha Borson's uncontained wrath pummels Odin's body with his voice. Odin stands strong shielding me from an Alpha who is enraged.

"I need to get Charlie home." Odin is squaring up towards his father.

"She came on my territory without consent." Odin's father pointing his spear tip towards my throat, Odin steps into its path.

"The spear will go through me before it has time to reach her." The calculation of Odin's voice is angled towards his father to understand what will happen. Odin's tone is even without threat towards his Alpha.

"Charlie fell into the river; she was swept into our territory. I'm going to bring her home." Alpha Borson is taking in my appearance that's half hidden behind his son. A breath felt at my back turning around a male is there, pupils are blown out, black as night orbs while a clawed hand reaches for me, and when looking behind that male much more are making creeping progress towards us, in fur and skin form.

Oidn's quick with his spear tip, a quick jab and the male crumbles holding his leg where his tendon has just been severed, no movement from that extremity will happen for a few days. Another unmated male takes his place.

"Father I need all the mated males to form a ring around us, while I bring Charlie out." His father meets Odin's plea with a hardness.

"You'll get no help, she unworthy of protection."

"Father she's my mate." A flash of hurt coming from Odin's eyes while looking at his father.

"I told you to kill her, but you chose not to listen to the good advice of your father. I told you when you arrived home; you are on your own with her. There will be no support from me or the pack. You are a good son Odin, but she will ruin our pack. She should have never been allowed to live. You understand this, deep down you understand this." Alpha Borson's voice holds dueling qualities inside the sound, a hardness of what he believes his truth to be and a softness for his son to hear.

"I told you that she's my mate and that I would never kill my mate, father. Just like you could never kill yours." The older mated males are looking from father to son, shuffling on feet slightly.

"Odin, you're on your own. There really isn't anything to protect; there is no virtue left on that female."

"Charlie's not like that; it was a misunderstanding that happened. She's not like that." Odin's voice doesn't hold the same passionate belief that his father holds, a little doubt edging into his sound.

"If that's what you have to believe, than believe it to get you through your day. We've discussed this over and over again that she will try to lie to you, make you believe her untruths, Odin. Don't be surprised when you find out the truth about her." Odin turns quickly to hurtle his spear into a male who is approaching too close to his comfort level.

Canines down flashing all males his war.

Encroaching males keep getting closer, Odin taking a step towards his right only for males to lunge on his left. Odin looking on at a pack of wolves circling while the mated wolves regard us taking in the sight.

"Father, I need help. I'm asking as your son for help with the protection of my mate. Many deaths can be avoided today if you allow your warriors to help me with the protection of my female."

"No, Odin. I told you that you are on your own, you understood what that meant. I don't go back on my word." A raw look of hurt, pain, in wounded eyes Odin has no hopes of hiding from anyone until he blinks it away.

"She's no better than her father and mother." Alpha Borson is shouting out. His face getting redder. My mouth is opening up, Odin putting a finger against it with a shake of his head not to speak.

"You will find her to be just like her mother without any virtue. This is breed into them, Odin. They respect nothing and consume everything with no regard to anyone but themselves."

"That's not true." My words are hitting against Odin's finger.

"Not true? What's not true Charlie? That you are locust that consumes everything or that you pack breeds their females to have no form of honor? When the females come to My pack, we need to teach them everything over again. Starting with the basics. When you come to My pack, you will be taught just how unhonorable your father is."

"Father enough." Odin is taking a step towards his father.

"Enough? What's enough Odin? Does Charlie not understand who she has come from, a father who has taken half of our females virtue or a mother who should have been killed right at birth, an Abomination to the Moon herself. All the Moon has ever asked of us is to kill all female Alphas at birth. You follow the Old Ways Odin; you should not have gone against your beliefs. You had an opportunity to rid yourself of this filth, but you chose to accept her. Now you hold the consequences of your actions. None will help you defend the undefendable." His father's voice sounds as if he has regurgitated that line over and over again. It holds no outward effect on Odin, but it holds all the outward effects on me.

"My mother is not an Abomination," defending my mother with a crack in my voice.

"She is a good mother to you Charlie and a very capable wolf; she has her own honor about her" Odin's voice in my ear.

"Her own honor? Odin, Victoria holds no honor, that was torn away by Greyson." That has a staggering effect on me. Odin is there to keep me steady.

"Liar." The word from my lips causes the Alpha to bristle towards me, a flash of fang revealing his war towards me.

"My father doesn't lie, Charlie," Odin says it softly as if trying to soothe the blowdown.

"It's not true. My mother and Uncle would never have done that to my father." Taking a step towards the Alpha in a threat. They would never do that, to my father. Thoughts are starting to fester inside me, the way Dad acts towards Uncle Grey if he stands too close to mom, the way mom keeps her distance from Uncle Grey, they are best friends but don't touch the way Shamus and I do with slaps on the back or a trip here and there. They don't make skin contact. But Uncle Thomas can touch mom without any outward affect on Dad. It's only Uncle Grey that affects dad at times, but never the other brother. Pieces of a puzzle starting to fit where I never wanted a puzzle to be in the first place.

Why would my mother give her virtue to my father's brother when she has taught me to hold it sacred for my mate? That to give it away to another just causes unfathomable problems.

"All you have to do is ask your mother, Charlie and you will know I speak words of truth. Odin, I have told you they will try to twist their truths up, make you see what they want you to see. I don't lie Odin. But I fear for our pack when you become Alpha; your judgment is off."

"Enough father." Odin is dismissing the Alpha while turning towards the mated males that have converged behind the Alpha while the unmated are circling a little further away, their natures have taken completely over.

"I need your help." Odin's voice holds no begging quality to it. A simple fact he states out. None move to help Odin, they stand where they are with spears gripped tightly in hands behind their Alpha.

"She's my mate; I told everyone this. No matter who she comes from, what she is, Charlie is my mate, and I have accepted her, just like you have accepted yours." Finger pointing accusations fall without Odin needing to lift a hand.

An unease is shifting through the gathered hunters. Eyes are going from the Alpha to his son who stands a few inches taller than his father, now.

The first spear drops to the ground a moment later another spear drops, no males move but spear after spear drops. There are some that hold the spear with white-knuckle grips, they will not let the spears go.

Odin's face flashes thanks. Pulling me behind him, he picks up all the dropped spears. Handing me the bundle when it's too big for him to carry. Each male who has dropped a spear, Odin, squeezes on the shoulder, some faces I recognize as the Warriors Odin had with him when he made me the line of Tribute on the Southern Pack territory line that divides the Far South that is empty now of bodies.

The males that keep their spears clutched in grips of death, Odin eyes these males with a flash of fang but moves on until he stands face to face with his Uncle. I recognize him as Alpha Borson's brother.

Odin's eyes hold untold hurt when the spear does not drop, but when his Uncle takes a step towards Odin and flanks him on his left facing the males that are circling at a greater distance now Odin's eyes flash a sheen of tears before it's blinked away.

"Brother!" Alpha Borson is stepping into his brother's space. There is no turning of neck, no rolling of the shoulder. His brother meets his Alpha head on.

"It's not right Borson. This is not how it's done; you know this." The quiet agitation in his whispered words is not lost on the wind.

A few more warriors step out of their ranks to come to Odin's side. They are all faintly familiar to me, all Warriors that came with Odin to the Southern territory for Odin's war with the Far South.

It's a tiny group; the unmated males hold the numbers.

"Charlie we run." Odin is giving me my own spears. With the strength my arm possesses I hurtle my war towards a wolf in fur form that is in the distance. Pinning him by his neck to the ground, it's not a death blow, but it does incapacitate. The males that were approaching taking cautious steps back while all the Warrior's eyes are on me. A flash of fang meets eyes that understand I won't go down without my own outward fight.

Odin's smile graces his features while looking at my display of posturing.

When Odin says to run, we run. The small group being chased by wolves that are significantly affected by my scent. Odin is barely hanging on himself. His eyes will lose focus when looking at me, dilating to midnight black before the green pushes back in. If it were not for the wolves giving chase, I think he would be lost to his nature. It's unfortunate for him that my self-control is slowly losing its battle. Now and then the need to brush against his side, touch the bare flesh of his arm is to consuming. The compulsion to rub my scent into every pour he has is almost unbearable, now. But the wolves nipping at our heels make focusing much easier.

Odin's spears are hurtling through the air; the difference is he's always going for the kill shot while mine is for incapacity.

The afternoon is spent running hard, and for once I am thankful for my father's training. His iron education in conditioning is paying off. Not only can I keep up with these warriors and Odin himself if I focus I can outpace them if I wasn't so tired from last nights efforts to live.

The small band of Warriors that flank us will fall back to fight the oncoming wolves, a twist of the neck has them crumbling littering the ground in the wake of us.

Odin's father following close behind but not helping; he's bearing witness to Odin's fight along with the rest of the mated males. Some have dropped out of the Alpha's rank to join with Odin in defense of me. Our group slowing is getting bigger the more Odin fights a battle that looks to any unknowing wolf hopeless.

The borderline coming into view late into the afternoon, the muscles of my legs shaking with the exertion they have been put through.

Mated warriors are flanking all sides of me, I didn't get as far into their territory as I thought.

"I thought I was deep in your territory?"

"You didn't get far; you just made it in further than I thought possible. The river has many eyes that watching it." Odin's words to me while our run starts to come to a halt.

My father is meeting me at the border of our territory.

"Charlie, go to your father." Odin's gentle voice is coaxing me to leave him.

I have to walk the rest of the way with my head held in shame.

"If she were any other wolf we would have killed her on the spot." The Alpha's voice is ringing out loud and clear from the forest edge.

My father, mother standing side by side is looking like a wall of impenetrable strength. Uncle Grey is flanking my father's left along with Uncle Thomas.

All of our female warriors are standing behind my parents looking in front while others have knives of silver pointing behind them. The mated males are making a giant half ring around us with their faces watching the woods. I can see only a few un-mated males of our territory just out of reach of the throwing arms of our best masters of silver.

"I'm sorry." My whole body is on fire, the world in heating up with every step away from Odin. There is a deep ache of desire that I have never felt before. A whistle of silver follows a heavy thump of a body on the ground, looking behind me, Odin is pulling the spear out of a body that's withering in pain. Its blood is staining the wooden pole.

He's pacing back and forth losing his mind as more and more wolves start to become braver with the real scent of opportunity in the air.

Odin finds Lana, the healer in the forefront. She holds a small pouch for him that he takes, watching as he opens it up, taking something from it putting it in his mouth to chew on.

"Charlie get into the truck." Mom's voice is giving me direction on what to do. But my focus is failing because Odin is walking away from me.

Shamus and Paley are flanking my sides, trying to herd me into truck doors that are open just waiting for me to get in.

"Odin." Can he hear the distress in my voice?

"Charlie, get into the truck." Mom again commands me as my father walks on Alpha Borson's territory without care or fear, looking at all the males there.

Mom, Uncle Grey all tense up.

"If any of you wolves have a problem with me, say so now!" Dad is puffing himself up, and when looking at the Alpha of the Far North, he holds his tongue. It's a clarity I see that the focus is sharp and clear. My dad can beat Alpha Borson, I'm not sure how I know, but I do. At this moment he could challenge for Alpha title and win. No blinks of the eyes, no words towards my father, nothing is said, and I think the Far North Pack is cowards at this time.

Odin walks in my father's direction, everything about Odin seems amplified, even the air around shuffles out of his path.

When Odin's shadow falls across my father's body, it completely covers it up with his darkness momentarily. Looking from my Dad to Odin another clarity strikes hard, that brings a shine to my eyes, Odin has the capability to beat my father now.

A scenario of unimaginable consequences domino's into my head, each thought turning over another. If Odin takes out my father, my mother's wolf will avenge him, Odin takes out my mother, Uncle Grey will try to take out Odin not succeeding, Uncle Thomas will fall at his feet as well. That leaves Aunt Meela to try to hold the pack, with Shamus, Paley, and Keegan. They are not that strong yet to keep it from the hoard of wolves that will strike as one completely tearing them apart leaving our pack to anarchy until the giant pack is split into smaller more manageable ones for the strongest of wolves to hold.

With one last look towards Odin, I get into the truck with my cousins who can't hold their rolling gags in. Water coming down their eyes as Paley heaves the contents of his stomach out on the grass. Windows are rolling down while pulling away.

"Charlie, you smell so bad." He's' telling me this while wiping his mouth.

Smelling myself, I might smell like river water, but I think I smell good.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Eastern territory, there's a secure location that we can guard you against males. The house has too many windows. Your mother said that nothing could get in once you're locked inside. They are just behind us. Lana said that she is treating all the unmated males with that special plant you talked to me about. I went to her asking for help yesterday after you left and she thought of an idea to medicate all the males with the plant you told me about."

Before I have time to respond the truck shudders as if something heavy just dropped into the back of it. Turning around Odin is in the back of the truck breathing heavily looking at me through the window, nails extending out, making deep grooves in the glass.

Our eyes locking together and I don't think it would be that bad to be alone with Odin all of a sudden, after all, I am his mate.

Nature's instincts are creating a pounding desire that has me breaking the glass of the truck window so I can feel Odin.

Skin to skin