Black River Daughter

A Tense Meeting

Rodney

After sending my sister and her family back home I sat down at my home desk to make a very difficult phone call to my elders. I’m sure that Samara was calling her grandfather, as I was punching in the number to the Elder house. I took a deep breath and held it as I waited for someone to answer the other side of the line. “Elder Hawksthorn.”

“Yes sir, this is Woods.” I breathed out.

“Ah, yes my boy, how can I help you today?” He answered. 

“Well I have some concerns and some questions.” I paused gathering my thoughts. “My eldest daughter had her first shift this weekend.”

“Oh fantastic! Congratulate her for me!” Elder Hawksthorn interrupted me with enthusiasm. 

“Yes of course, but now here's my concern, I don’t know if it’s because she’s half shifter..”

“Well you know we warned you that keeping your human mate would have some complications, but the fact that your pup shifted at all should tell you that you have a strong bloodline.” The old man interrupted me again with an ‘I told you so tone’

“Yes, you warned us, I chose the Goddess’s pairing, I was too weak to deny it. Now back to my concerns.” I replied feeling a bit more than irritated.

“Right, right, out with it! Is she a runt, some scrawny little weak pup?” 

“No, in fact the exact opposite, her wolf is already the same height as mine, she’s thinner, but faster, and her color…” I sighed rubbing the bridge of my nose with my free hand “she’s a white wolf, but it’s not just white, she looks like a crystal, light bounces off her fur like a prism.” There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “Elder?”

“Bring her in as soon as you can.” the Elder said then a click indicating the call had ended.

I sat there staring at the phone, completely flabbergasted. “Did that old coot just hang up on me?” 

“That sounded annoying,” My wife said, taking my attention from the cell phone. 

“Yeah very, they want me to bring her in as soon as I can. Any hope on your side?” I asked.

“Meh, Grandpa has some sources he’s going to look into, he’s acting like I just gave him some treasure map to a sunken temple or something. He’s going to come up next week, once he collects some books.” she came in and flopped in one of the lounge chairs she put in my home office for this reason.

“Well, I’m going to try to call him ba..” My phone began buzzing with the elder house’s number I swiped to answer. “Rodney Woods”

A voice from another Elder greeted me on the other side of the line. “Yes, this is Elder Whistler, I heard your daughter is something special.”

“Ah yes elder, she really surprised me. How can I help you, Elder?”

“When can you bring her home? We need to see her.” right to the point I see.

“I need to check in with the local pack here, calm some minds, they thought I was here to claim the territory before they could stake their claim, and Samara’s Grandfather is going to come up next week with some resources. If you don’t mind a hunter coming with me, I can come out next week after he gets here.” I laid out a timeline that worked for me.

“Obviously we would want her to come in earlier, however that is soon enough. You said your mate's grandfather? The historian?” The elder agreed.

“Yes the same. Thank you, Elder.”

“Of course, see you soon Alpha.” The elder hung up after that, much less rudely than Hawksthorn. 

I put the phone down rubbing my face. “Well that was slightly better, he called me ‘Alpha’ I bet they are going to accept me and you after seeing your daughter’s wolf.” I look at Samara dropping my hands to the desk. “I’m going to the New Moon’s office this afternoon, I would like you and the girls to go with.”

“Yeah no problem babe. I’ll fix lunch, and get the girls ready.” She stood up and headed to the kitchen at the other end of the house. I heard her yell up the stairs followed by running footsteps of the girls on the second floor. I sat staring at my desk and phone for a moment before collecting my thoughts. I stood up and headed to the kitchen to join my family for lunch. I looked through my cellphone for Jameson’s number 

I hit call and only waited for one ring when he picked up. “Jameson” He answered.

“Yeah, hey, it’s Rodney Woods, I was wondering if today would be a good day to meet the alpha.” 

“Yes, of course! I’m actually at lunch with him now. We will be back at the pack house in about an hour. It's on Oakgrove, the last house on the street on the left, right next to the wood line.” easy enough directions. 

“Sounds good we’ll be there, oh sorry, forgot to say, I’ll be bringing my family with.” 

“I’ll let the Alpha know, but that shouldn’t be a problem, he likes to meet all the new families.” We said our goodbyes and hung up. I sat down to enjoy the grilled chicken salad that Samara served for lunch. I saw that she gave Frankie an extra chicken breast on her tossed greens. “Good grief she is going to get expensive to feed.”

“I know, but it shouldn’t be too bad once I start working in a few weeks.” Samara commented, Frankie just grinned.

“Well as you all probably overheard we are going to be meeting the local alpha. So just be on your best behavior.” I finished my lunch and washed my plate then grabbed my keys while everyone else grabbed their shoes or bags.

We loaded into the Jeep and drove through town past the high school and town hall, then back out of the town on the other side to Oakgrove street. We pulled up to the pack house drive noticing that the house was huge, not as big as a standard pack house, but much larger than a standard family home. Probably double my own five bedroom house. This guy is either rich or has a ton of support from his fledgling pack. 

I put the Jeep in park, got out and walked around to Samara’s side to make sure she didn’t need any help. Mentally thanking that she had another orthopedic appointment this week. I can’t stand seeing her in pain or discomfort, the helicopter crash nearly killed me. I was only able to hang on because I knew she and our girls needed me. I hit the lock button on the key fob and tucked it into my pocket holding my mate’s hand with the other. 

She held my hand tighter as we climbed the stairs to the front door. “You okay?”

“Just need to use you to stabilize myself, no handrail.” she smiled up at me and chuckled.

“Are you just using my for my body?” I ask, earning a smack on the arm, shifting her hand to my elbow for better support. The door opened revealing Jameson, and who I assume is the alpha. He was a tall young looking man, but that doesn’t mean much in the super community, hell my dad was close to ninety. But if I had to guess the alpha couldn’t be much older than twenty. He had  dirty blond hair and dark brown eyes, broad shoulders, and a crooked nose. I would admit that he’s an attractive man, but looked like he’s been in more than one fight in his life.

“Afternoon Alpha Woods, let me introduce Alpha Drake Masters.” Jameson announced as we reached the front porch. I extended my right hand “So nice to meet you, Alpha.” 

He grasped my hand firmly “Nice to meet you and your family Alpha Woods, I’m so glad you agreed to visit us.” His friendly voice was strong and confident. “Please come in, make yourselves at home. We have a kids rec room down the hall, My Beta Jameson and his family live in the house with me, so you should find Kayliegh there, Miss Frankie.” My eldest politely smiled and followed Jameson down the hall with Justine on their heels. “My office is right here, please come in and have a seat. Would you like a coffee or water?” He asked, leading us into a large well appointed office with french doors connected directly to the large living room.

“Yes, please, coffee sounds good.”Samara and I sat in the two large leather arm chairs situated in front of Drake’s large glass and metal desk. 

“Yes, thank you, um over ice please.” Samara added.

“Not a problem.” Drake answered with his eyes clouding over, mind linking someone in the house. “All the single omegas live in the house with the Locks and myself. They have the third floor.” 

“Oh wow, the front of the building is quite deceptive, it only looked like a two story.” Samara commented.

“Oh yeah the front of the house and what you see from the driveway is only two floors, but the back of the house has all the bedrooms and is three floors with the bottom floor sunk into the hill side.” Drake answered.

“Nice, I like that style, it usually keeps the house a comfortable temperature.” I added as one of his omegas brought our coffees. “Thank you.” I said accepting the cup.

“Thank you.” Samara echoed me, taking her cold glass.

“Thank you Tracy, it smells amazing as usual.” Drake smiled dismissing the older woman, who just nodded and left. “She’s quiet, but has been with us from the beginning, before my original pack fractured.”

“Ah, that’s why you are considered a new pack.” I realized

“Well, there’s a little more to it than that. I’m a half-breed as my old pack’s elders so in-eloquently put it, and they refused to let me take my fathers Alpha title. They turned the pack over to my cousins, I was already dealing with the loss of my parents to a rogue attack and felt slighted. When I made my decision to leave the pack, about half of them came with me. The old pack was regrettably left weaker in my absence another rogue attack happened; they claimed the territory and I was left with the inheritance. I rallied the members that followed me, found a few more friends and supers in that time that were also attacked by that same rogue faction, and we avenged my fallen family, but there was nothing left of our home. We decided to sell off the land, and search for greener pastures in a sense. After contacting the Council they gave us this area as an option, and I’m allowed to claim it once I find my mate. As it stands right now, the local government is working with us, and very welcoming. We’ve been here for about five years now.”

“That’s a lot for a young man to have to handle. Shows your true Alpha heritage. So if your father was an Alpha wolf, what was your mother?” Samara was always to the point, some people found it rude, but that was how she was, quick and on the fly, it’s what made her so valuable in combat. Drake chuckled in response.

“Pretty direct, and no fear, pretty impressive for a human, even if you are a hunter.” Drake shrugged, eyeing my mate, with no trace of insult on his face. 

“I get things done, I like facts and numbers, I work well with them.” She shrugged sipping her iced coffee. 

“Very well, dragon.” Drake’s deadpan look showed no sign of joking or lying. And Samara spewed the iced coffee all over her lap.

Choking, she apologized trying to mop up the liquid with her sweater. “Seriously, you want me to believe that a dragon mother would name her son ‘Drake’ that is the most cliche romance novel joke I’ve ever heard.” I just palmed my face, and groaned.

“That’s what you are focusing on? That his name means dragon? Not that he might be a dragon?” Drake just looked dumbfounded at the whole thing.

“Wait, what?” the confusion intensified with his eyebrows knitting together.

“Seriously, you didn’t know that ‘Drake, and Dragon’ are basically the same thing?” Samara asked incredulously.

“I just thought my mom had a thing for the letter ‘D’ all of my siblings have names that start with ‘D’” Drake said earning more laughter from my dearest wife. “Why is that funny?”

I snorted then explained, “Alpha Drake, you just said your mom liked the ‘D’” his confusion turned to genuine humor. 

“You have a dirty mind ma’am.” He said after shaking his head. “Well either way, I am half dragon, I’m too young to ascend yet though, I’m only twenty, and dragons don’t normally shift until they are twenty five. So that would be why you didn’t notice, and why you don’t believe me.” 

“Well I will say that it is going to be interesting living with this pack. We can’t join right now as I explained to Jameson the other night. But I will not turn down a working relationship with New Moon.” I said. "Besides I don't think that the pack would do too well with a second alpha."

“That is fine, I’m happy to have you in the area. If I may call on you for advice that would be great, I didn’t get a lot of time learning how to run a pack before my father died, and have just been winging it.” That earned another snort from my mate and an eye roll from Drake. “Puns now, what are you twelve?” 

“I only look young because of the mate bond, but I’m forty.” Samara answered. “The childish humor comes from being a veteran.” 

“Oh, okay, makes sense, I’ve run into a few Veterans on the way here.” he sipped his coffee in thought, then looked up as Frankie and Justine walked in through the open doors. 

“I don’t have a problem helping you out or answering questions when they arise.” I answered then asked “Would it be a problem if I brought my eldest here for a run every now and then?”

“Of course, I’m sure Kayliegh and the other kids would enjoy that too. The entire forest behind the house is owned by the pack. We patrol it frequently and some of the local police departments are pack members, so they keep the hunters off our property.”

I sighed in relief, our little patch of forest wasn’t secure, and a popular hunting spot of the locals. “Thank you, once you see her shift you’ll see why we can’t run at home.”

“Can’t wait! If you want to join our pack runs we host those the first weekend after a full moon every month. And the members that aren’t shifters cook up a big BBQ for when we get back.” The mention of running in wolf form and food afterward earned a giddy clap from Frankie. 

“Thank you for the invitation. We won’t be at this next one, we have to go back home next week for a meeting, but we should be at the one after.” I thanked Drake, standing up extending my hand, in turn he stood and grasped it in another firm handshake. “Looks like the kids want to go home, but we will be around”

“Yes come anytime, and thank you for meeting with me.” Drake turned to Samara shaking her hand as well, wishing us a safe trip home.

Once back in the Jeep we got to hear about how cool the rec room and the gym facilities are, and the girls started asking questions about whether or not we would be switching packs. “No kido, maybe you could join once you age up, but I can’t join as I’m an alpha, and a pack doesn’t do well with two alphas. I am still supposed to take over the Black River.” I answered.

“Okay, so why would we join this pack if you are still part of Black River though? wouldn’t that make us rival packs?” Frankie asked as she has been learning a bit about pack politics.

“No honey, no pack is truly a rival pack, but some packs grow too big for their territory and need to expand, unfortunately sometimes they try to expand onto another pack’s land. When that happens the council has to get involved and settle disputes. But the only real threat that we have as a pack are rogues.”

“Wait I thought the elders were the council, and those old guys are just members of our pack. And what makes a rogue, a rogue?” Frankie said, confused.

“No we have one elder that is a council member, but the council is made up of wolves from many different packs. When two packs have a dispute the council will chair any elders that might be members of the packs involved then decide how to go from there. And a rogue is a criminal, someone that has been banished from their home pack. But because the instinct to be part of a pack is so strong, rogues tend to band together creating a pack without land. They tend to get desperate once they get a lot of members and attack smaller packs that do have land and territory.” I finished explaining as I pulled the Jeep into the garage, then walked into the house to settle on the couch comfortably.

“Okay so we aren’t rogues because you haven’t been banished, but we can’t join the New Moon because they already have an alpha. So why don’t packs kill criminals instead of banishing them? Wouldn’t that fix the problem before it starts?” Frankie savagely asked. 

“Our justice system is a little like the humans. We don’t kill drug addicts or thieves, humans tend to put those people in prison. We do kill murderers and people that do worse.” I explained “And unfortunately some criminals leave before we can catch them and pass judgment. So those ones are banished after they leave, but if you are banished no other pack will accept you. It’s kind of like magic, once the pack link is severed in that way you can’t join another pack without atonement for your transgressions.”

“That is so neat.” Justine says in wonder. “Do you think that I will shift too?”

“Since Frankie shifted, pretty good chance of it. However if it doesn’t happen, I wouldn’t be upset, it will just make you a very strong hunter like me.” Samara answered. Justine smiled at that, I’m sure she would be happy with either outcome. 

“I didn’t know that being a wolf would be so political and interconnected.” Frankie commented “Okay so Kayliegh said that New Moon hasn’t been able to claim the land because their alpha doesn’t have his luna yet, and a luna is the alpha’s mate, but mom is your mate, but she can’t be your luna?”

“The elders of my pack are super traditional. They think that only a wolf can be a luna. Because your mom can’t be turned, they don’t want her to be the Luna. So I can’t claim the pack. If we have a son, and he’s an alpha wolf, once he finds his mate, if she’s a wolf then the pack will go to him skipping me. Or if your mate turns out to be an alpha wolf then the pack will go to you two.” 

“Has Black River skipped to grandsons before?” Justine asked

“Yeah it has, and it has gone to the second son in the past too, my dad has an older brother, who never found his mate.” I sighed being frustrated at that. “If your uncle Hank was an alpha, he and your aunt Kim would already be alpha and luna. And I would not mind them taking that roll, unfortunately as a wolf we are born into our ranks, and like the elders say, I’m the strongest alpha that the pack has seen.”

“So why can’t a girl be an alpha? Or non-binary? Who says that the leader has to be a man?” She was starting to get agitated at the animal hierarchy. “What if I want to be the alpha and my mate is like I don’t know a vampire or a pixie?”

“Let's hope that by that time the elders change their minds or the few that are holding the pack back, die. I think that you would make an excellent alpha, you are smart, a good judge of character, and an excellent strategist. Your wolf is the absolute strongest that I have ever seen, and she is still a pup.” I hug my little girl proud of her potential. “And the alpha isn’t the leader, he is the co leader. The luna has just as much say in the pack sometimes more than the alpha. You think grandma would let grandpa boss her around?”

All three of them laughed at that thought. They knew my mother was tough as nails and ruled with an iron fist. “No I’ve seen grandma hit grandpa in the head several times, and she yelled at the elders when they insulted mom.” Frankie grinned. 

“To a point I can see why the elders want a wolf for my luna. Mom can only telepathically link to me, because we share the mate bond, but she wouldn’t be able to speak to the pack, she doesn’t have the alpha aura that commands respect, because she is human, they and probably a lot of the pack view her as weaker. Humans have become Lunas in the past, but they were turned by their mates, and with that they gain all of his strengths and his alpha aura. Mom is a hunter and her line is special, and not able to be turned. The fact that you shifted at all is a miracle.” Samara nodded in agreement, she may have been bitter with how the elders handled the situation, but she did understand why. 

“We don’t have to dwell on this for too long, Kaden will probably be an alpha, Kim is a strong alpha, so her children will more than likely pick up that trait.” Samara added.

“So we just have to wait six years for the mate pull, then all this drama will be over?” Frankie guessed. 

“Yeah pretty much.” I agreed. We settled in for a movie while my mate fixed us a simple dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup, and we just relaxed for the rest of the evening. I kept my mind off of pack matters as best I could, and just waited out till next week for our trip back to the Black River.

The rest of the week went by pretty quickly and without incident, Frankie had Kayliegh over for dinner a few nights, the girls were bonding even better now that they didn’t feel the need to keep secrets. I finished all my in person meetings at the office, so was able to work from home, and didn’t have anything scheduled until next month. I only had to notify the girl’s schools to make sure they had their work ready for an extended absence. They were used to the drill, when their mom was still going through therapy and treatments, we had to take a lot of time. The girls were good about doing their work, and are so smart that missing a few days never hurt their grades. The fact that they never got sick, because of their shifter genes helped. 

By the time Samara’s grandfather arrived, we had everything ready to head to the Black River land. I helped him get his bags in the door for the night, we would be heading out in the morning, giving him a break from driving all day. “I swear pops I have no idea how you keep going after all these years.” I commented.

“Yeah, yeah, everyone wants me to slow down, cause I’m human, you know that whole mate bond thing keeps the hunters alive longer.” he grumped right back at me. 

“Well I’m glad for that, I get to keep Samara around for more.” I chuckled “How is grandma anyway?”

“Oh you know how were-cats are, getting cantankerous, she was all too happy to boot me out of the house to help the pups.” Samara laughed at her grandpa’s description, knowing that he would be missing her fiercely. 

“That doesn’t sound right at all.” she said “I’m sure if she wasn’t trying to rule the fashion industry she would be here too.” Her grandpa just leaned in for a hug kissing her temple.

“I’ve been caught. Red handed I tells ya.” he jokes, “Now how bout a nice cup of tea and let me see this glowy shiny wolf you have on your hands.” Just like Samara right down to business, he did raise her after her parents were killed, so it was to be expected.

“No problem, lets have a seat in the kitchen. Babe, have Frankie shift and meet us.”

“Yup, on it.” I headed up stairs, and popped my head in Frankie's bedroom. “Hey kido, grandpa just got here, he wants to see your wolf.” Her eyes lit up, not only was it a visit from grandpa, but she hadn’t let her wolf out since the lake.

“YUSS!!” I closed the door behind me, then told Justine to come down too. I waited in the kitchen with pops and Samara, I wanted to see his reaction. I didn’t have to wait long before I had to help him scoop his jaw off the table.

“Oh Gods and planets.”

“I wish you could see her in wolf eyes, It’s even more intense.” I agree. 

Pulling out a note book the old historian went to work asking questions faster than we could answer. “Okay, turn, let me see that profile. How tall is she? Wait let me get my tape measure. When did you shift? What phase was the moon in? Five foot six at the shoulder? Oh my goose, no wonder you called. Shame we don’t know and police officers I would love to get an accurate reading on her speed. Okay, go change I need to hug my great grand-baby, I have enough for now.” He sat down waiting for Frankie to come back.

“So what do you think Pops?” Samara asked

“She’s special, she’s a first of her kind. She may look like a wolf, but I have a feeling that she is going to be more.” We all sat quietly, somewhat scared now. Pops was the historian for the council and if he didn’t know what made Frankie different, we may be in for some trouble.