Dear Readers,
Here is the start of a new chapter in the McKenna series.
Enjoy,
KemMyst
**********
"I had always assumed I would live a fairly normal life. Work in the lab, marry a guy, have 2.3 kids, a cat or two, and die after I reached a hundred or so.
I never expected to be the savior of a group of beings I never believed existed. Or to leave behind the dynasty that I have.
I've loved. I've killed. I've borne 17 children.
I've followed. I've led. And I've run at night in the hills under a full moon with the wind in my fur."
This is the beginning of my mother's memoirs. She came to us during a turbulent, chaotic time, when it seemed our kind could conceivably vanish from the face of the earth.
Her children, my half siblings, still lead the McKenna pack. She had 10 children with Devon McKenna, Alpha of that pack. After his death from the virus that had previously taken the women she found her way to a new mate, a rogue named Ethan Matlin. Together they started the Winters pack, where her six surviving children of those born to she and Ethan have also grown and prospered.
Of all the human women brought into our society, it is she who has had the most impact upon us.
The pack had been unconventional from the beginning. It was originally led by two unmated wolves, the parents of two pups. Followed shortly thereafter by the addition of two unmated females.
Ethan realized fairly quickly that Anne was a better leader than he, even though he had been groomed to be Alpha from a young age. In addition, the other members of their pack most often turned to her for direction. So, although his wolf had fought long and hard against it, he ended up taking a more subordinate role in the pack, as Beta. That Ethan had lived with the humans for 25 years made it a bit easier for him to swallow. The council, however, refused to recognize her in the role. She was female and a human woman turned wolf.
The leaders of the pack were always, always male. A female was subordinate to her mate. If the Alpha died the Beta would take over, never a female. However, she continued to bring matters of importance to the council and regularly attended the new moon meetings. As the eldest member of the pack, this was to be expected, but she kept coming, pregnant or not, and kept after them. Many learned to respect the wisdom in her views and, eventually, as the older Alphas died off, she was slowly recognized as the leader she was.
Early on, there were a few attempts by younger males to take control of the Winters pack. After all, it would be an easy matter to dispatch a female and become Alpha, and it was particularly tempting for some of the lower status males from larger packs. If she wanted to play it that way, they would take her up on it, particularly if 'her' pack was going along with the ridiculous concept of her as their Alpha. She stood against them, and fought them for Alpha, as required. After she killed the first couple, the others took her more seriously and the threats dropped. But threats still remained.
Lorna Riordan had been kicked out of her pack for what she was, a female wolf who refused to submit to a male mate. She and Emily had been spending time together and Anne demanded she be allowed to stay with them. When Beth and Nick found out the truth about their daughter, they were appalled. But they came to recognize and accept the love between the two. Emily marked Lorna as her mate later that first fall.
"We had had several discussions with respect to the vulnerability of a new pack, especially one as small as ours. However, there were a couple of things in our favor. The first was the limited size of our range and our small living quarters. The second was that we were between the McKenna and Riordan packs, neither having hostile intent towards us.
However, there were others who would try. The fight for Alpha was a fight to the death. Luckily, the challenged Alpha was given the choice of form for the fight. I had little chance of taking an opponent in other than wolf form."
She had begun by sparring with Ethan but complained that he was too easy on her. She then went to Callum. Callum, as Alpha, understood what needed to be done. He taught her strategy, tricks. He sparred with her as well, but also held back.
She ended up with scrapes and bruises, which Ethan dutifully kissed, but she learned some good moves. Callum, himself, got some bruises and scratches. She had an advantage most attackers wouldn't know about and another they would discount.
The first challenge came in the spring, three months after they reported the establishment of the pack to the council. The council recognized Ethan as Alpha and, after his time with the humans and the fact that he left his pack to begin with, well, many considered him to be a weak leader.
They were all outside when a young wolf came onto the range, baying his challenge. The pups were shooed into the cabin, along with Emily and Lorna. Beth stood behind Ethan, Anne, and Nick. Thankfully, he was alone. Or, maybe not.
Because there were no witnesses. It was over relatively quickly, the youngster running off. She ended up with a gash on her shoulder. Ethan had stood by, trembling, fearing for her life, while she fought him.
Violence and sex are inexorably linked. The relief sex had been great.
The second challenge came a few weeks later, and, this time, the challenger brought a witness. His wannabe Beta came with. He challenged Ethan and laughed as Anne stepped forward.
"Are you serious? Step aside, bitch."
"If you want control of this pack, you go through me."
He looked at Ethan. "What kind of a man are you? You're letting her fight?"
Ethan looked back at the younger man, steadfast, but fearful. This was no youngster. "Anne is Alpha of the Winters pack. She's accepted your challenge. I suggest you shift before she takes your throat out."
She had moved to one side of him, watchful of the 'Beta.' And hit her challenger just after he changed. This was to her advantage in two ways. Firstly, he realized she meant business and it took him off balance. Secondly, it would give him a good whiff of her. Depending on her cycle it would either startle him, or give him a raging hardon.
He came up quickly and skittered away from her, panting. His tongue was out as he started to circle her. She stood, watching him as he moved. He rushed her and she stepped aside, slashing. He closed again; she opened a gash in his leg. The next time he ran at her he twisted, knocking her off her feet. Ethan tensed and the Beta took a couple steps forward.
He closed on her again, and they grappled, growling, ripping, tearing, slashing. Beth gasped and turned away. Ethan held his breath, riveted.
They separated and she came up, head down, panting. The challenger backed a bit, looked at her, and howled his triumph.
Ethan now shifted, ready to defend the pack. The challenger came at her and she ducked, tripping him. On him now, she got her teeth on his throat and growled.
He held still for the briefest moment, then struggled, twisting, refusing to submit. She bit down, ripping the blood vessels in his neck, and stepped back. He struggled to get to his feet, blood flowing freely, took two steps forward and fell, as his lifeblood pulsed from his wounds. She raised her head and howled.
Beth startled the Beta as he was about ready to run off. "What was his name?"
