Thank you to everyone who has commented and voted. I hope you continue to follow this story through to the end. I really enjoy getting feedback.
As always, a huge thank you to Archangel_M who is more than an awesome editor, he's a good friend.
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Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D.
The girl spotted the hunters as they tracked a buck through the dense forest. She waited until they were almost upon her before stumbling out of the brush into their view.
"Please, please help me." She reached out for them as she felt to the ground, sobbing. Her clothing was torn and there were scars covering her arms and legs. She was filthy, and her long blond hair was matted.
The leader of the band of hunters held up his spear to his followers, signaling them to a halt. He knelt at the girl's side, lifting her head. Her red-rimmed eyes were swollen, and she looked as if she hadn't eaten in some time. Her face was gaunt, her skin pale. What had happened to the child?
"Please," she cried out, "please, save me! They are after me, I am sure of it. They will not stop until I am dead!" She clutched at his arm, deceptively strong for one so small. "They are monsters! They tricked me into believing they would help me. I was orphaned and had no one. They found me and...and...it was horrible!" She dropped her eyes to the ground, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"What did they do, girl? Tell me." The leader was an honorable man. He had three daughters of his own and would kill to protect them. This child had no one to avenge the vile treatment that had so obviously been inflicted on her.
"I cannot speak of it to you, Sir. It is too horrible to say. It was...it was...." And before she could continue, she had collapsed onto the ground at the man's feet.
The leader gently lifted her into his arms and cradled her carefully. He nodded to his men who surrounded them on their journey back to their village. Maybe the women could get her to talk. He could tell she was just too afraid to speak in front of the men.
An hour later the girl awoke to the comforting feeling of furs surrounding her body. She felt cool water on her skin and forced herself to open her eyes. She saw the kindly face of a old woman hovering over her, tending to her needs. When the woman noticed she was awake, she smiled comfortingly at her and patted her hand.
"There, there, my child. You will be safe here with us. But you must tell me what happened to you. So many scars!" The woman shook her head sadly as she surveyed the many signs of mistreatment on the girl's body. She must have been tormented for some time. The scars were well healed, but there were no new wounds. She must have escaped her captors weeks ago. What had she been doing since then? How did she survive in the wild lands alone? {The poor dear.}
Erobos watched from a distance. What fools these humans were, too stupid to know he would use them to his advantage. They would believe the story Zosime told, of beasts who roamed the forests, who could masquerade as men, and then become giant wild cats; able to kidnap and defile the women of the surrounding villages. Humans were superstitious and easily led. Then Zosime would show them the way to the Panthers' camp. The humans far outnumbered them. They could be easily destroyed, especially with the guidance they would be given.
Erobos closed his eyes and smiled as he remembered the last few days. This new wolf had far different desires than the puny wolf that used to share his soul. This wolf was wild, strong, and ready to lead his pack. He had been unexpectedly exhilarated by the screams of his little blond bitch as he'd gouged into her flesh to leave those lovely scars. It had taken much damage to her to leave marks for the humans to find. Like all werewolves, she healed quickly and quite well.
He had resorted to draining her of her blood to cause her to heal more slowly. As he'd lapped at the hot liquid while it oozed from her wounds, he'd noticed the tingling he felt throughout his body. It paled in comparison to when he had taken the blood of the dire wolves, but it was wholly enjoyable. He would have to investigate this further. When he had finished with Zosime, she had taken two days to recover, and he had felt stronger than he had since returning from the Vampire's castle. In fact, his lust had been insatiable, and he'd taken another female to his cave and used her mercilessly until Zosime had recovered enough to satisfy him.
Although he was but eighteen years, his face had changed, aged, taken on an evil visage that had not been there previously. Anyone who met him would think him a good deal older than he was but would rightly guess his malignant nature. Was it all the Dire Wolf's doing? Or had the evil always been a part of him?
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Nevada - Present Day
Katy couldn't wait to get outside for a run. Her panther had been restless and wanted to hunt. She insisted that it was good for the cub to get fresh meat early on. Katy thought it best not to argue since the panthers seemed to instinctively know what their cubs needed. In fact, the five of them had decided to hunt as a pack today. At least, that way, their mates would let them go. Well, they'd let them run as a pack, but surrounded by Baxter Betas who would stay out of the way but within sight. Even without the new wrinkle in their lives, meaning the Sardinian Alpha, they knew their mates would be over-protective. But with this new danger, they were downright paranoid.
Five panthers were a ferocious sight and deadly to boot, but instead of having a fight, or rather five fights, they decided to amicably agree and pick their battles wisely. The only one of their group that wasn't going to join them was Orsolya. Since rejoining her mate, she hated to be separated from him for a moment. They hunted together, alone.
Katy and Rhys had their quarters on the third floor, and she had just made it to the second floor landing when her sensitive ears picked up the faint sound of crying. She stopped and looked in the direction of the sounds, trying to pinpoint the exact room it was coming from. She knew the people on this floor included the new arrivals from Italy, whose son was running for his life. She could certainly understand if his mother was distraught.
She moved purposefully down the hall, stopping at each door to listen. She passed the Greek were's door, and the last belonged to Silvano and Carla. She stood quietly for a moment and listened. She hated to feel like she was eavesdropping, but it took her a few moments to get up the courage to knock on the door. She could hear the woman's plaintive cries.
{Per favore, si prega di tenere mio figlio sicuro e portarlo di nuovo me.} Her voice broke between sobs, barely able to speak the words intelligibly. {Darò a nulla, la mia vita, niente!}
Katy didn't need to understand Italian to recognize a woman pleading for her son's safe return. She didn't hear anyone else in the room with her, so moved closer to the door, and knocked softly. "Carla, Carla, it's Katy. May I speak with you?" She backed away from the door when she heard movement.
The door opened slowly, the blond woman blinking back tears as she looked at the petite red-head who had called to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother anyone." She looked like she would break into tears at the slightest provocation.
"Oh, Carla. Please, don't think you are bothering anyone! I can't even imagine what you're going through. I just want to know if there's anything I can do to help you." She had quietly and carefully moved closer to the woman, instinctively putting an arm around her to comfort her. Katy had developed a decidedly motherly demeanor she'd never had before. Was it a normal hormonal thing with being pregnant? Or because she was a panther and pregnant?
"Thank you for your kindness. You have all been so wonderful to us, to let us stay here, help find our son." She looked closely at Katy, and whispered, "You are the mate of the Archivist, yes? Rhys is his name?"
Katy smiled at the mention of her mate's name. Just the sound of it sent warmth through her. "Yes, that's right." She was so proud to be his mate. He really was a formidable were, and, as she'd been learning, very well respected by his peers.
"Do you think the Council will look for my son's real family once he's here safe? The fates willing of course." She seemed on the verge of tears, her voice breaking as she said it.
"To be honest, Carla, I don't know. But my guess would be yes. I haven't been a were long, but I've seen how important family is to them. So I would imagine they will look for his family." She hugged her tighter, feeling the tension in her body. She couldn't imagine being in her shoes. Her panther swished her tail impatiently.
{If anyone took my cub they wouldn't live to see the next day.}
Katy silently agreed with her panther, but wouldn't upset Carla by voicing it.
"Carla, why don't you come with us for a hunt? I'm meeting with the other panthers. We're all pregnant and our cats have this overpowering need to chase something." Katy had a hold of her hand and was gently pulling her towards the door. "Please? It'd be good for you to get out. And good for your wolf too. I'm sure you both would like to let out your fear and frustration."
Carla smiled weakly and nodded her head. "All right, if you think it's alright with your friends." {Caro, I'm going for a hunt with some of the females.}
Silvano sent her his love and support and agreed that her wolf would appreciate getting out. And he appreciated Katy looking out for her while he was busy with the Alpha. Silvano turned to Rhys and leaned in close. "Your mate is wonderful. Thank you!"
Rhys beamed. He agreed whole-heartedly. "She is quite amazing. I think hunting with Katy and her sister-panthers will be wonderful for your mate."
Katy held Carla by the arm as they made their way to the meeting spot. Carla noticed the Betas lining the way and couldn't help but stare.
Katy observed her fixed gaze on a few of the males. "Carla, is something wrong?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Are there two packs here?"
Katy was surprised at how astute she was. "As a matter of fact, yes. How did you know?"
"They have different looks. The one group is more fair complected, the others a little darker, and look like one family. Their scents are similar as well."
Katy cocked her head. She'd never thought about it before. She scented the air, trying to find each male individually. The Baxter Betas did not have similar scents at all. And as she pondered it, she realized that most of the Baxter Betas were not closely related. But the Kardos brothers and their cousins who made up the bulk of the new pack did have remarkably similar scents. {Hmm, something to talk to Rhys about. I wonder if I could recognize one of Rhys' relatives by scent?}
