Beyond the Were War

"The dogs of war don't negotiate

The dogs of war won't capitulate

They will take and you will give

And you must die so that they may live "

-Pink Floyd, "The Dogs of War"

Gila Pack Territory

Near the northern border

Maria woke up quickly from her sleep, her muzzle rising from where it had been resting on Caleb's lap. Her ears were up, and she was searching about. The movement woke Caleb up and he shifted into wolf form, her alarm through the bond had been enough to wake his protective instinct.

"What is it?" Caleb was also searching but heard nothing.

"Small engine, too small to be a car, probably all terrain vehicles. Coming our way fast." Maria's eyes were focused to the south, but Caleb didn't hear anything. "Come on, let's get away from the cliff and get a better look." They both moved off silently to the southwest, heading for a rocky crag with plenty of places to hide. They shifted to human form when they reached his backpack and changed into clothes; Caleb turned away from her, knowing she would be self conscious over her body and its scars. When they had shorts and T-shirts on, he grabbed the pack and they walked up until they found a good spot to sit and wait.

Caleb mind linked with the Pack members that were stationed around them, but no one knew anything or heard anything. It took ten minutes for an ATV to appear in the distance, with two riders. Caleb glanced at his mate. "How the heck did you hear them that far away?"

"I spent two years in a basement with occasional light and nothing to do. My only defense was my hearing. My wolf couldn't develop other things but our hearing is outstanding. I could hear everything that happened in that house."

"Didn't they know you were listening?"

"I never let on I heard anything. Most of the times, I would lie there and not move, because moving meant I was healing and healing meant I could be used again. Focusing on what they were saying became my way to keep from going nuts. I would hear, catalog and remember everything. I knew if I ever got out I needed to be able to bear witness to what these guys did. Along the way I learned their deepest secrets."

"I just can't believe they would be so unconcerned with you."

"Well, they really didn't understand just how much I heard because they couldn't hear it. The house was a safe house and party house for upper level Cartel members. They said a lot of things they shouldn't. I don't think they thought I would ever leave there alive so they didn't guard themselves or what went on there."

"So what did you learn?"

"Everything. Names of members and their duties. Phone numbers. Addresses. Safe houses. Distribution centers. Smuggling routes and timing. I heard it all and I kept it up here." She tapped her head. "I know more about their operation than Juan does."

Caleb recognized the ATV just as the scouts mind linked with the info. "Our Alphas are coming. Robert and Renee Hastings. They are good people, you are safe with them. Robert was the wolf who came down the stairs to get you out of that place. Come on, I'll introduce you."

Robert had just stopped as they made it off the rocks. He got off and gently lifted Renee off and set her beside him. Caleb waited for them to brush the dust off before he approached, his hand gently urging his mate forward. "Alpha Robert, Alpha Renee, may I introduce my mate Maria."

Maria stayed close by his side, nervously shifting from foot to foot as she felt the power of the Alphas before her. She didn't look up, her mother once told her that looking senior wolves in the eyes was a challenge and she didn't want to get in trouble. "Thank you for bringing me to your Pack." When nothing was said, she looked up nervously. "I'm sorry, I didn't grow up in a Pack, I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

Renee walked up to her, slightly limping still, and put her hands on her shoulders. "Welcome Maria to the Gila Pack." She gave her a hug, leaning in to get a good sniff of her neck. "Since your mate is Pack, you are too. I'm so happy you are healing up and for Caleb, I just didn't expect you would have claimed each other so quickly!"

Maria's face turned deep red as she pulled the T-shirt over the mark that was at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. Caleb spoke up first. "Yeah, Alpha, I didn't mean to do it so soon either but it happened and I couldn't be happier to have my mate at my side."

Robert stayed back, he could smell how nervous she was and with everything she went through he didn't want to stress her more. He'd let her come to him. "Congratulations you two. I'm happy to see you up and about, you gave us quite a scare."

"Thank you Alpha. I don't remember much of you, but I remember how my wolf settled down and felt safe when you got to me. I hadn't felt that since my father was alive." Robert smiled at her, sending warmth over the pack bond that was now formed since she had mated Caleb.

"Well, I meant to get you back home, and Renee can't run yet so if you can go with her, I need to speak to Caleb for a bit while we run home." Caleb went to say something but stilled at a look from his Alpha- there was something else going on.

Turning to his mate, Caleb smiled and said, "That's a good idea, Maria. You can get to know Renee on the way back and see the pack doctor to make sure everything is OK. I will be an hour or so behind you."

Maria thought about it, she WAS hungry and Renee made her feel safe too. The run out here had been painful, riding back sounded better. She needed some time to think about this whole mate thing too. "OK, I like the idea of being back before sunset. Will you come see me when you get back?"

"Of course, I will be there before you get to bed. I love you Maria."

Maria blushed, and turned to Renee who took her to the ATV and started it up. A minute later, they were on their way back.

"I'm sorry about this, Caleb, but I have to get her back to the Pack lodge and I needed time to speak to you without her around. She's been targeted by the Cartel, and they know she is here. Juan wants her back."

Caleb let out a strangled growl before shifting into his wolf form and taking off after his mate. Robert expected this, so he shifted as well and chased after him. He let him exhaust himself in a sprint, then pulled alongside when his pace dropped to something more sustainable. "We got information that the Cartel is planning to attack our Pack in the next 48 hours to get her back. They won't succeed. She is Pack and we protect our own."

Caleb growled. "Why would they care about her?"

"We don't know, but he's spending a lot of money and hiring a lot of mercenaries to get her. It's a kidnapping plan, not an execution. He wants her alive."

"He will never get her. She will kill herself first."

"Why do you say that?"

"When she saw me this afternoon, she thought I was one of them at first. She turned around and tried to jump off the cliff." It was silent for a while.

"So how did you stop her?"

"I didn't. Her wolf took over because she knew I was her mate. I grabbed her neck just before she fell. I came so close to losing her, I'm still shaking when I think about it."

"Hell of a way to stake your claim on her."

"Yeah, she's scared and thinks she doesn't deserve love, that she has done terrible things. I'm making progress, but it will be a long time before we fully mate. I think she will freak if I go to my human form in bed with her again. She doesn't mind my wolf form, though."

"Keep using that then. Trust takes time to build, her wolf is on your side so that should help." They loped along in silence for a while, eating up the miles back to the house.

"Alpha, there's something else you should be aware of. She heard a lot when she was held in that basement, far more than they would know or suspect. If they knew she had that kind of information, they would kill her on sight." They could see the lights of the pack house in the distance. "Where am I moving her to until this blows over?"

"You aren't. She will stay at the pack house, and when the attack comes she can go to the safe room."

"Why wouldn't we hide her somewhere?"

"Well, we can't protect her anywhere else with the numbers we can here. And the second thing is we WANT them to attack us, at a time and place we know, rather than when we don't. We know who the mercenaries are, what they are bringing and when it will be. We're taking those fuckers on, and they are dead men as soon as they cross into our territory."

"What about the leadership?"

"Let's get past this attack first. I promise you though, if we capture anyone who was in on the abuse of your mate you two will get first crack at justice."

Gila Pack House

New Mexico

Renee helped Maria off the ATV and walked up from the driveway to the house. "This is the main Pack House, it contains quarters for the Alphas, Betas and other senior leadership in the east wing. The west wing is administrative offices, meeting rooms and the like. The north wing contains bachelor quarters for the unmated wolves, guest rooms, and recreational facilities. The center portion has a dining hall and kitchen, along with the Pack meeting room. Since your mate is a Beta, you will have rooms here."

"This place is HUGE! How did you hide it during the war?"

"In plain sight. It was a private timeshare resort according to all the paperwork and tax records. They just didn't know that all the timeshare owners were wolves. The Pack stayed out of the war as much as they could, and we are remote enough that we escaped notice." Renee wished their pack had been able to do that, but there were too many ties to the community back then and they were found out. She gave her a quick tour, ended up in the gardens behind the house. "This is my favorite place to relax." Renee walked around the cactus garden that bordered a large pond hidden under a Japanese pagoda structure.

Maria caught movement in the pond, moving to the edge she saw dozens of brightly colored large fish swimming about in the shaded waters. "They are so beautiful!" She watched as different ones swam by, some red and white, others red white and black, yellow, silver, black and white... no two were alike. The smallest were the size of her hand, while the largest were as long as her arm.

"They are koi, Japanese carp. Bred for their patterns, but I find them to be very relaxing to sit and watch. Here, take a handful of food and toss it in." Maria took the pellets and tossed them in the water in front of her. Immediately every fish in the pond made a beeline for her, fighting with each other in their haste to get the evening treat. Some almost came out of the water as they tried to climb over each other to get at them. "Take a few pellets and hold them in the palm of your hand right at the water level." She did, and a huge yellow koi swam over and started to eat out of her hand, his mouth almost big enough to suck her hand into it. "That's Sunny, she's my favorite. She'll give you a kiss if you lean over."

"I'm not going to get mated and then kiss a fish!" She pulled her empty hand back out and took the disinfectant wipe Renee handed her. "They are so beautiful."

"Come on up here, we can keep an eye on them while we eat dinner." She led her to a platform in the back which had a half dozen round tables, one of them was set with two dinners. "I figured you would be hungry so I had dinner brought up here. We can sit and I can answer any questions you have." Maria was so hungry, she didn't speak for the first five minutes as she devoured the Tex-Mex spread before her.

When she looked up at the amused face of her Alpha Bitch, she realized that she had been stuffing her face and ignoring her hostess. Her face turned red. "I'm sorry, I was just so hungry..."

"It's all right. I imagine this is quite a change for you." Maria looked scared for a moment. "You don't have to go through what happened, the DEA sent over files and we have a good idea already. I just wanted you to know that our Pack is here to help you through this any way we can. If you feel like talking, come to me or any of the friends you will make. I know some things will be difficult to talk to your mate about, talking to another woman may help."

Maria sat there thinking for a moment. "My mother died before we could talk about what it meant to be a wolf. As a half-breed, a null, my Dad says she didn't know if I would ever shift. We stayed isolated during the war, and you are the first werewolves I've met outside of my Mom. So now.. I don't know anything. I don't know enough right now to ask questions."

"You will have them, though. Your mate is a good man, he will help you through the changes."

"I don't even know what it means to have a mate. This," she said touching the scar on her neck, "happened when he grabbed me. I thought they had caught me again, that he was one of them, and I was going to kill myself. My wolf took over right before I could jump. She didn't want to die, she grabbed on to him and he saved her."

"Of course he did. Your wolf is also you, but your wolf sees things a little different. She recognizes her mate by his scent, and her instinct is to claim him and to be with him. Your human part was being self destructive so she took over to save you."

"So now he owns me or something?"

"Well, he will be very possessive and protective of you, but it isn't ownership. He and his wolf love you and want to make you happy. He would cut his heart out before he would hurt you. And do you know what? You are starting to feel the same way about him."

"I am not!"

Renee laughed. "I suppose that's why you only settled down in the clinic when he was with you. Your nightmares were so strong while you were out he had to climb up on the bed with you and hold you to stop them. Your wolf recognizes him, and is comfortable with him because she knows he is her other half. It's why you didn't freak out when he pulled you up, and why you were calm enough to fall asleep in his lap today. Search your feelings, you know it is true. Deep down, you trust him and you want him. That is the nature of the mate bond you have formed."

Maria sat back and closed her eyes for a moment. "He makes me feel warm inside, and safe. Other men make me nervous and afraid, but he doesn't." Renee just smiled. "And... he's hot. I couldn't help peeking when he changed." She giggled and her face blushed as she thought about how her eyes had been so close to his privates when she was had her wolf head on his lap. He smelled so good, and it was all she could do not to stare. Or lick it to see what it tasted like. "So how does mating work?"

"Well, for two werewolves it is pretty simple. You recognize each other by smell, then mark each other by placing a bite on each others neck. That allows you to communicate by mental bond. The final step is to bite each other during sex. That opens up the full bond, you will be able to sense each other's thoughts, emotions and feelings. You will in effect merge minds with him, and for the rest of your lives you will be together."

"I don't know if I can love someone... you know, physically... after all I've been through. Every time I think about it, my mind is overwhelmed with memories, with pain, with humiliation. They've ruined me." She looked down at her half-eaten food, the tears coming to her face.

"It won't be easy, but you will never heal without the bond being complete. Your wolf will help you, she knows what you need. Your mate is patient, he will wait for you."

"I don't deserve him. He deserves something more than... this." She looked down at the scars that covered her body.

Renee reached over and held her hand. "Luna does not make mistakes. She gives you not just the mate you deserve, but the mate you need." Reaching up to wipe a tear away, she continued. "The last two years for you has been horrible, but you have your whole life ahead of you. You can't let your past ruin your future. And he," she said while looking out to where the two wolves were making a rapid approach, "is your future."

Maria felt her insides warm as she watched the pair of wolves running towards them. The larger wolf shifted into human form at the edge of the garden and rushed in to pick his mate up bridal style. "I have something to give you before you leave in the morning," Robert said with a grin. He said, "Excuse me Maria," then turned for the doors.

Renee reached a hand down just enough to cup his balls. "I don't think my gift is ready yet."

Robert didn't even slow down as he captured her lips with a short kiss. "I'm pretty sure it will be ready by the time I get my gift unwrapped." Maria giggled at the Alpha pair as he carried her inside. They were clearly in love with each other and it made her long for someone like that. Her stare was interrupted when a cold nose pressed against her neck.

"Aiiee! Caleb! That's cold!" Caleb tilted his wolf head to the right, his tongue lolling out as he panted from the exertion of the long run home.

"Marie, I'm going to go inside and get something to eat, maybe some dessert for us both. Will you wait for me here?"

"Yes... can you bring out a juice for me? I just want to sit and watch the fish for a few minutes." Caleb trotted up to the house, changing into human form at the doors. She checked out his firm backside as he reached into a box containing clothing to get himself a T-shirt and shorts. Yes, she had a fine man right there.

"You know I can hear your thoughts now," he said with a grin. Marie blushed and turned away, walking to the side of the pond and finding the container of food. Maybe the fish could distract her from the feelings she was getting, feelings she wasn't comfortable in acting upon yet. He returned five minutes later with a huge sandwich, two pieces of cherry cheesecake and two large glasses of orange juice. "Will you join me, love?"

Maria got up but couldn't bring herself to get closer than across the table from him. She set herself down in the chair, sitting so far back she had to lean forward to get the juice. "I'm sorry... I just..."

"It's OK. I'm just happy to be with you. Would it be easier if I changed back to wolf form?"

"Yes, but not yet. I'm doing all right, I'm just skittish. Men around me haven't been good for me lately." She drained her juice and then picked up the cheesecake. "Oh, man... this stuff is good!"

"Julie has been on a baking kick lately. She ran the kitchens in our old Pack, and has gone a little nuts since she got to the pack house. She can't get over the size of the kitchen!"

"What was your old pack like?"

"It was... brutal. The old alpha ruled by intimidation and did what he wanted. I was so glad when Renee killed him."

Maria looked shocked. "Renee? Alpha Bitch Renee who I just ate dinner with?"

"Yes, she's quite the fighter and a great leader. We were all so happy for her to find Robert. She got a second chance mate, something few wolves ever see. Her first mate was killed just a few days after they mated, leaving her pregnant with twins. Robert lost his mate a long time ago. They make a good couple, don't they?"

"Yes... I didn't know that she had been through so much."

"That's not the all of it, but she's happy now. A strong Pack starts with a good Alpha pair, that sets the tone for the entire group." He looked down to see that all the food was gone and caught a yawn when she wasn't looking. "I think it is time we get you to bed. I'd like to have you stay with me in my room, but if that makes you uncomfortable I can sleep outside the door."

"I can't be that close to you, but you can sleep in the room in wolf form. I think I can handle that. Just don't scare me by waking me up with you naked next to me."

Caleb laughed. "Yeah, that didn't work so well. I still have the bruise from where you kicked me." Maria put a shocked look on. "That was my fault, I curled up by you in wolf form and shifted during the night. I'm actually impressed that you were able to take me out so quickly even while hurt. You're stronger than you think, Maria." He stood up and collected the dishes to take back in, then they walked to the house.