Black River Daughter

“Guh, the tropes in this one are so cheesy!” I shout in disgust as I was reading yet another trashy romance novel. I was just too lazy to leave my sunny perch in my rocking chair on my back patio to bother going back and finding an alternative in the stack. My husband rolled his eyes and huffed as he stood up and walked exactly three steps to my stash of books in the tote bag and handed me another one with some Adonis of a man plastered on the front cover. “Here, maybe this will be better?” his grin and willingness to see me happy always warmed me. Before I could grab the offered prize he began reading the back “Will Felicity find her true love in the Alpha’s embrace? Or are they doomed to die in the dungeons of the vampire king?” He snickered as he grabbed my last novel. “How did you find the C-rated werewolf story of my dreams? I believe I’m swooning!” I began to dramatically fan myself with the proffered material of ill repute.  “Anything for my ‘Luna’ of course!” he leaned in for a sexy growl as he nuzzled into my neck feathering kisses on my neck. “Hey keep reading those you get the best ideas.” He waggled his eyebrows at me before he turned to go back in the house. I hummed in delight as I realized he had to go back into work. “No! I can’t live without my ‘Alpha’ how will I ever breathe without you in my presence?” I struggled to hop out of my chair before forgetting that I took off my prosthetic leg to get comfortable and started pitching forward “s**t!” and before I could face plant on the concrete patio my hero caught me. Another sexy growl and some hands placed on my narrow waist righted me.  My beloved bent over to grab my titanium leg and sit me on my chair before leaning in for some more kisses “Lunch breaks over, Doll, the boss should be done with this contract by the time I get back to the office, I’ll be home for dinner and to properly sweep you off your feet tonight. Make sure you get help with dinner, I know you like to go all out when my sister comes over, the mean teen should be learning how to do that roast herself now.” “She’s making the cake, and I’m not going all out this time, babe, my hips are killing me right now, need to get the height on this thing adjusted. Probably just a chicken and rice casserole, your brother-in-law loves that.” I shrug as I begin to tighten the thigh strap on the cup.  “Nom, nom, nom. Love that one too. Tomorrow I’ll do the roast then, I’ll show that lazy Hank that men can cook too.” He chuckled as he finally headed into the house to grab his suit jacket and head back to work. “Love you, Doll” “Love you too, Rod” I finished with my straps and followed Rodney inside to grab a drink and finish some chores around the house before the kids got home. A lot to do while hobbling around on one leg.  I know everyone would have helped out if I wanted or needed it, but I loved feeling independent since I haven’t worked in a while. I figured out how to make my disability work, I could sit and fold laundry, we got a brand new dishwasher, and we have two kids capable of cleaning toilets when they pissed me off. It has been three years since my ‘event’ and I was starting to feel normal again. A year of physical therapy and mental health have helped me heal, but the most important thing that got me through was a supportive loving family. I had this grand sense of purpose and patriotism so joined the Army. I’m grateful for that, I found my partner in life and gained skills and education second to none, I just wished that I took that day off that I was supposed to on that deployment. I drifted dangerously close to a flashback and the negative thinking reminiscing about that mission. I was a crew chief on helicopters, and I loved it, I felt important, I was needed, I had soldiers and other families to think about. I wasn’t going to take a day off the week before I was supposed to go on leave and rotate back home, I was stubborn too, but not anymore. I know my limitations, now, and I’m able to help just as many people in my new life. Next month I start work as a patient advocate in my local hospital, putting my three years experience navigating hospitals on my own to good use. No more heavy lifting or firing rounds down range, just paperwork, and families that need me.  Before I knew it, my chores were done and my girls were bursting in the door, home from school. My youngest Justine darted off up the stairs with a wave before my mean teen bombarded me with “Hey mom, Kayleigh, the one I told you about came home with me.” My eldest happily bounced into the kitchen. She had a hard time adjusting to her new life, I was relieved to see her making friends again. She didn’t know anything other than being a military brat and now we lived in the middle of a small town in Maine, a full days drive away from any base. “Awesome, Frankie.” I put the casserole pan in the oven before turning to greet her new friend. “Hi Kayleigh, I’m Samara.” I turned to the tall blond bespectacled girl extending my hand. She took a step back in shock looking at my leg then my hand a few times and nervously grasped it and gave a light shake. “Don’t let the leg fool you, I’m 89% human” I laugh at the family joke.  “Mom! She doesn’t know that story yet!” Frankie shouted in disgust.  “Not my fault you didn’t warn her, that your mom is park metal” I roll my eyes and see a smile creeping up on the shy girl’s face. Kayleigh finally says. “Nice to meet you Ms Samara, I guess I’m part metal too” as she flashed her braces smile at me.  “See she gets it!” I laughed and gestured back to Frankie. “Do any of you want snacks? Also your uncle Hank and aunt Kim are still coming in tonight for the long weekend so make sure the guest room is ready after Kayleigh leaves.” “No problem we’re just going to spend an hour on our research project then she has to be home and ready for soccer practice.” Frankie acknowledges before grabbing some granola bars out of the cabinet.  Justine clomps back down the stairs as the older girls leave the room, she came in and gave me a hug then asked “How was your day?” “Aww baby, what a sweet child, It was nice and lazy” I give her a squeeze back and a kiss on her head “So when are the cousins getting here?”  “Yup I knew it, you just needed info on your cohorts in mischief.” I smile then point at the oven timer “When dinner is done cooking, they will be here and ready to get into trouble.” … A few hours later Rodney pulled into the garage and His sister’s family pulled in behind them, very tired after eight hours of driving with four kids that were obviously fighting. My super sexy husband walked in the door and his eyes began darting around the room in agitation. “What’s up babe?” What’s got him on alert?  His response was one word “Wolf” he began searching the house looking for the source of his alarm, before coming back into the kitchen growing more uneasy, Kim walked in the door and her eyes began shifting color as she noticed something was off too. “Samara? Is your house on pack land?” Kim asked as her husband came up and rumbled in agitation. “Not that we know of, that would have been a red flag for us before buying this house, Rod would be classified as a rogue male if we were on pack land.” I start to panic, we moved here two years ago and none of the super’s sites said anything about pack land around here. “Frankie!” I yell up to our older daughter realizing that the only new person in our house was her friend Kayleigh I hear her running to the kitchen before she popped in and barreled into her uncle Hank. He growled in response still on high alert, then softened realizing that his favorite niece was not the threat. “Whoa uncle Hank what has the hackles up?” “Frankie, is Kayleigh a wolf?” I ask, pulling her attention to me. A look of horror creeps across her face as she realizes that she may not actually know her new friend. “Mom! She can’t be you said that we weren’t near pack land how could she be a wolf? Wouldn’t I know?” she starts blabbering as she begins to realize that she might have to move again.  “Baby, baby, calm down, we aren’t moving, we aren’t near pack land, but I definitely smell a strange wolf in our house.” Rodney tries to calm our eldest down as the rest of the kids start to come into the kitchen hearing the commotion. “You aren’t in trouble baby, you wouldn’t be able to know, your wolf hasn’t woken up yet, you can’t smell them, like adults can.” He began stroking her hair and hugged her close to him, she nuzzled into his chest.  “This was supposed to be a good family weekend! What gives?” Justine voices her displeasure at all things drama. “Come on Kelly and Trevor, we have monsters to smash.” The twins and my youngest head into the den to jump on a game console. “Nope, not right now, dinner is done, wash your hands and grab a plate, anyone under 15 can eat in the den, and as long as those plates are back in the sink you can game it out, anyone over 15 eats in the dining room so we can figure this out.” I announce. The four younger kids, Justine, Kelly, Trevor, and Kayden grab plates and head to the small card table in the den, chattering excitedly. Kim, Hank, Rodney, Frankie,Hannah, and myself grab plates and sit in the dining room. I settled into my comfy chair and began to loosen the straps on my leg to let my nub rest for a bit, I pushed myself a bit too much today getting the house ready for family. My leg was red and angry with the pressure, Rodney clucked at me for overdoing it again, but began to dig into his plate. “I’ll lotion your leg when we settle in for that movie.”  “What no scolding?” I raise an eyebrow at him “Oh don’t worry, you’ll get it later” He smirked and Frankie rolled her eyes at her gross parents flirting. “Good thing you sound proofed all the rooms last year, huh?” Kim laughed. “Yeah, and I’m not giving this house up anytime soon, we just got everything perfect, and just the way I like it.” I stab a piece of chicken to highlight my aggravation.  “Have you shifted yet Frankie?” Hannah asked changing the topic “No, but I can talk to my wolf now, Dad said it would probably take longer because I’m only half wolf.” Frankie answered. “Have you? I know you’re five months younger, but I figured you would have by now.” “I did! It happened five days before my birthday! It hurt like crazy, but once my wolf was out and I was running it was the best thing ever!” Hannah was bouncing in excitement “Want to meet her?” Rodney looked up from his plate “With other wolves in the area, probably should wait until we visit your house during the summer. We have wood to run, but we don’t know if Kayleigh is in a pack or not.”  Frankie sulked at that “That’s three months from now.” “Frankie, how old is Kayleigh?” I asked, mulling over something. “She’s already shifted Samara, I can smell that” Hank answered my thought already. I nodded in response, thinking that was probably why she was so skittish when she was here, she could probably smell Rod. “How long does it normally take half wolves to shift?” I asked. “Depends on the bloodline. You were a warrior, she has good genes from you, and Rod is an alpha’s son so soon I would say.” Kim said, “You know if she was around another wolf when they shift she probably would be compelled to herself.” “Then why haven’t I ever shifted when Daddy shifted around me?” Frankie asked “Frankie I haven’t shifted with you around in months now. Your aunt is probably right. When we go to the falls tomorrow we can check and see if we find any wolf claim in the area and talk about the family shifting there. We’ll pack you an extra change of clothes just in case” Rod stated “It’s probably the best compromise I can think of.”  Hank nodded. “I’ll ask the pack if they know of any lone wolves or rogues in this area when we get back. Probably time to add Frankie to the pack when you guys come this summer, if you weren’t already thinking the same thing. I just hope you don’t have pack land in this area, or they may want you to join them here to prevent us from trying to take over. I know you don’t want to take up an Alpha position yet, but your mom and dad have been asking when you are coming back, I think they are ready to retire. I’d be honored to be your beta.” “The elders ready to let a human cripple be the Luna yet?” Rod snapped back “Rod! That is uncalled for, Hank just wants us home.” I shouted “I’m sorry Doll.” He leaned in to nuzzle me and patted my back “I’m just pissed how they treated you last year at the summit.”  “Rod’s right to feel that way, the elder’s disrespected an Alpha’s mate, they above all others know that the goddess chooses your mate for you.” Kim said, trying to diffuse the situation.  Hannah and Frankie stood up and started clearing the plates, “Well this is pack business soooo we are going to head up to my room and set the kids beds up and pack for the hike.” Frankie said excusing herself. I nodded proud that the teenagers had more sense than their fathers. They were best friends growing up, but the elders were pushing the pure blood lines narrative and putting both of them under immense stress.  I began strapping my leg back on when there was a knock at the door, the eyes of the three wolves sitting with me began to glow. “Welp so much for a quiet family get together” I predicted. “Sit boy I’m getting the door, you two, keep the kids quiet, you all know I’m the only logical one right now.” “It’s not Frankie’s friend, Doll” Rod said growling, I nodded, but I’ve been in combat, and he knows I can hold my own. I could feel the small hairs on the back of my neck raise as I walked to the door, I shot Rod a telepathic message to be ready, I could always feel when the s**t was about to hit the fan. I may be human, but just barely, I’m not from a big shifter bloodline, but I had a lot of super naturals in my family tree, something about my family that kept us in the mix, but never able to take a form. Rod tried to turn me per pack law, but it didn’t take. The elders allowed the marriage and the mate bond, but only because they researched my family line. We were hunters, humans, that were compelled to find super naturals, but never able to be one. Blessed and cursed. I was relieved to hear that Frankie was able to communicate with her wolf. I answered the door. “Yes can I help you?” There was a man right out of my trashy romance novels standing on my step. Tall, broad shoulders, jet black hair grey eyes in a blue button up shirt with black slacks. ‘Looks like a stereotypical wolf babe, approach with caution,’ I mentally shot my husband. I could hear his chair move in the dining room and feel his presence behind me. Mr. tall dark and handsome slowly grinned and let his glowing eyes flash between me and Rod. I could feel them sizing each other up, no growling yet, so that’s good. “Ah, yes, you are Frankie’s mother, I assume?” “Yes, and if you are Kayleigh’s father you look nothing like her” I shot back. “I’m sorry, yes, let me introduce myself” He paused and began to fidget as he noticed my prosthetic leg and Rod had moved closer. “I am Jameson Lock, clearly you can tell that I’m a wolf. I came to verify what my daughter had told me. We will need to sit and talk.” He said in his smooth voice, he clearly was used to being in control and this situation was nothing that he has had to deal with. “I am Samara, we are the Woods, this is Rodney, and our daughters are Frankie and Justine.” I flatly stated and gestured to Rod behind me. Jameson’s eyes began to dart back and forth from me to Rodney, clearly shocked that a mere human would speak for a wolf, and be un-phased. I extended my hand for a shake.  Jameson grasped my hand perplexed “This is unorthodox to say the least. May I come in, it is still quite cold this time of year.”  “We have family in town this weekend, you can either state your business and I will decide if it is worth a long discussion or you can come back next weekend.” I released his hand as Rod placed his on my shoulder.  “Didn’t find any claimed land in this area when we moved here. We would have notified the local pack if we had.” Rod finally spoke in his low ‘everyone will obey me voice’ “That’s sort of what I need to clear up.” Jameson replied “Fine come in.” Rod turned to lead Jameson to the Dining room “Doll will you bring some drinks?” ‘ Hank and Kim are waiting’ he added through our link I simply nodded and went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of red wine and some glasses, then returned to the dining room. “Guess it’s going to be a while, so I’m going to go ahead and take this off, it’s been on all day.” I indicated my leg and began unfastening the straps and pulling down the sock.  “Will I need to carry you to bed?” Rod asked with concern on his face. I grasped his hand and smiled. I love the tenderness that he had with me. I knew it was hard for him to watch me navigate this in my life, but was proud of the way that he supported me. He was everything that I needed. “I might take you up on that after a glass or two.” turning to Jameson I asked “So what’s the deal?” Jameson cleared his throat, took a sip of the proffered glass and began “So there aren’t any claimed lands in this area. However there is a pack here. It is a hybrid pack, wolf, pixie, and we have a couple families of Vampires. Most of us are on the Canadian border in Houlton. We aren’t allowed to claim lands per se because we are a blended pack. We do request that all new shifters and such check in with us and join though.” He looked around the room noticing mine and Rodney’s service plaques and awards decorating the walls. “Why were you in the military as a shifter?” he asked Rodney.  “I felt pulled, and I wanted to do something for myself” Rod shrugged, sipped his wine and continued “But we can’t join your pack, I’m here for work until my pack elders get their heads out of their asses.” “They won’t let him assume Alpha until he finds a more worthy Luna, apparently a mouthy human is too much for them to deal with” Hank spoke up finally  Jameson snorted his wine in shock “I’m sorry, what did you say?” he wiped the wine that dribbled down his chin “This is Rodney Woods the heir to the black river pack in New York.” Kim supplied  “Okay, I um, need to leave, I am so very sorry Alpha I didn’t know that Black river was expanding here, I have to let my pack know, I’m sorry” he began to get up noticeably paler.  “We aren’t here to expand the pack land, I’m here to work, I wanted a quiet town to settle down and raise my family. Like my wife said we researched to make sure I wouldn’t be stepping in another pack's land.” Rodney gestured for Jameson to take his seat. Before continuing “If we need to I can request that my company relocate me to another location. I’m here because the elders won’t recognize my mate, and I can’t take the Alpha position until I have a Luna.”  Jameson began to relax “I see, that is exactly why the New Moon pack began. We are waiting for the counsel to allow us to stake this area for our pack land, we must stay here until our first Alpha claims his Luna, then the pack may take this area”  Rod nodded understanding the politics behind the workings of a new pack. His grandfather helped their sister pack stand up north of them. “I hope that he finds her. I know it must be difficult for the Pack to be without a Luna. It must be even more difficult to justify or defend your pack with such a blend of super naturals.”  “If I may be so forward Alpha? But why haven’t you turned your Luna yet? It would be an easy thing to make the elders happy in these circumstances.” Jameson asked I laughed, “You would think that he would have tried to turn me seventeen years ago when we married huh? Then I would have been able to heal instead of losing my leg.” I looked up from my drink to see his mortified face “Don’t worry, all supes have asked why he hasn’t turned me yet. We tried. I can’t be turned. My family are a long line of hunters.” Jameson turned green at the mention of hunters. “Maybe we shouldn’t be called hunters anymore, my family line is more like Supernatural magnets. We have all married, partnered, mate bonded, or soul melded to one form of supernatural or another. Normally our children can’t pick up their other parents' abilities.”  “Frankie seems to be breaking the line though. We should find out soon for sure though.” Rod added. Kim and Hank nodded. “It’s getting late, and we have a family Hike in the state park tomorrow. Thank you for the introduction Jameson. I should be in to introduce myself to the New moon pack next weekend. I don’t want to cause them any hostility, but I don’t want to move my family again either.” “No I understand, Alpha. I won’t keep Kayleigh from being friends with Frankie either. I’m sure that when you do take Black river that their connection could strengthen ties with our fledgling pack.” Jameson stood extending his hand to Rod. They shook hands and said their good nights. I sat at the table while the men walked to the door, I did not want to put my leg back on, my hips were burning from over exertion as it was, and I was not looking forward to climbing stairs.  Rod walked back into the room after locking the door and running all six pups off to bed. “Ready for your knight to princess carry you up the stairs? Or do you want your caveman to throw you over the shoulder?” he asked with a glow in his eyes. His wolf was right below the surface and ready for his mate. This man of mine was so gorgeous. Brown hair, piercing blue eyes, broad chest and wide shoulders. He knew that he could make me melt any time that he wanted to. I don’t know how he keeps coming back for more after all these years, but I loved it. He always made me feel beautiful, even after the ‘incident’ two children, and grey hair, I still felt like I was eighteen when I was with him.  “Hmm let’s go with caveman, that way you can grab my leg too.” I answered. Rod just growled in response as he bent over and positioned me over his shoulder. With my ass in the air I knew what was coming next. A firm crack almost echoed in the dining room as he slapped my ass before grabbing my prosthetic. He started up the stairs with me giggling the whole way to our room.  “Have fun you two!” Kim cheekily called after us as Rod left the room ignoring her.  “I’ve been thinking about this all day my dearest.” Rod murmured into my shoulder as placed me on the bed. His hands began sliding up my side under my shirt. His nails scratched sending shocks through my body and I shuddered. He was always so tender with me, even with his wolf right under the surface ready to take over. I was his mate, and he would claim me over and over again. “What were you thinking about now?” I lick my lip as I gaze into his eyes, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling him to kneel over me.  “Your smell, your taste, and those delightful sounds as I bury myself into you.” His blue eyes shifted color to yellow with a canine under-glow. He growled as he shrugged out of his shirt and crushed his mouth into mine with a savage kiss. I did ask for my caveman. “These are in my way, take them off, or you will lose your favorite shorts.” I quickly oblige to save my precious lucky shorts.  “Yes my lord!” I say as I shimmy out of the denim material, after they are clear of my amputation, Rod grabs them and pulls them the rest of the way off of my good leg and throws them at the wall. I begin pulling my shirt up over my head leaving myself in my matching pink bra and panty set. “I love these, but they have to go too.” Rod reaches behind my back with one hand and deftly unsnaps my bra and begins shoving my panties down with the other hand. Once my small firm breasts were free he claims one raised n****e with his mouth and begins to gently nibble making me gasp. More sparks fly under my skin rejoicing in his contact. I knew that it was all related to our mate bond, and that just made it all more magical, sometimes I felt sorry for the women of the world that never experienced this. “These are expensive, so be nice.” I glared at him remembering my last negligee set that he tore up in a lustful frenzy.  “Of course my dearest.” A wolfish smile spread across his lips as he lowered them to the hem of my panties, his teeth digging into the fabric. As he pulled them down my hips and down my legs before using his hand the rest of the way off my lone foot. He began kissing up my leg nibbling and sucking as he traveled closer to my s*x. His breath caressed me as I felt my excitement begin to moisten my core. “I can never get enough of you” he breathed as he began to nibble my inner thigh. BANG, BANG, BANG “And the fun is interrupted.” He huffed, and tossed me my dressing gown. I quickly sat up and wrapped the soft satin fabric around myself as Rod opened the door. “Um, we may have a problem” He said as the door swung open further to reveal a very panicked Hannah and a very large trembling White wolf in our hallway.