Black River Daughter

Dashing Through the Woods

Rodney

After the revelation that the mage dumped in our laps I had a lot to think about. The girls phased out a bit while the elders and I discussed taking over the alpha position. Couldn’t blame them, I was bored to tears. “Look I don’t know how clear I need to make this, but unless my mate is accepted I will not be taking over for my father. I have three brothers in laws, and two nephews. You hang up on trying to keep this position in the same line would be pointless anyways since I only have daughters.” 

“No I agree now, you are going to be busy with Frankie and Justine presumably.” Elder Whistler replied with all elders nodding in support. 

“We do want you to come back to the pack land more often than your once a year visits, I would recommend relocating all together.” Elder Abraham added.

“That’s probably not a great idea, how is the pack going to act with two alphas in the same location for any length of time. They are going to instinctively question everything that is ordered. I’m far too young to even think about joining the elder house to make room.” I sighed before continuing “I don’t want to do that to anyone that has to replace my father. I think I would much rather stay in Maine and mentor the New Moon’s young Alpha.”

“That is very considerate of you. However they aren’t even a real pack. Half of them aren’t even wolves.”Elder Hawksthorn knew exactly how to irritate me. My wife ushered the girls out of the meeting with Mom, knowing that I wasn’t going to hold my tongue about his views on wolves mixing. 

“Good thing that you aren’t a member of the council making the decision as to whether or not New Moon is a pack.” I hissed out between clenched teeth. “You are the one having to eat crow now after insulting my mate! Telling me to leave her because she could only produce weak pups.” 

“Don’t get all righteous with me you whelp!” Hawksthorn spit back at me. “You will regret this disrespect!”

“What could you do to me now? Deny my birthright to my Pack? Keep it, I’ll keep the best thing in my life. Can’t banish me anymore, not when my daughter can over turn that decision! You can’t tell me that her aura didn’t have your tail tucked as soon as she shifted! Tell me, elder did the Goddess make a mistake pairing me with a hunter?” I stood up slamming my hands on the table hearing the wood fibers splinter.

“You’ll regret speaking to me like this!” Hawksthorn stood to face me with his eyes glowing yellow.

“Excuse me gentlemen.” Our attention turned to Demitri. “I’m going to have to agree with the decision to install an interim alpha until one of Alpha Rodney’s nephews finds his mate. With Frankie needing dedicated protection you may want to think about working directly for the council in some capacity. We can arrange for a recruiter to speak to your current employer to give you a better cover for leaving.” Demitri paused, turning very somber before addressing the elders directly. “I would also suggest that Elder Hawksthorn retire opening up a position for Alpha Emanuel.”

The elder’s face was an ugly shade of scarlet as he was shaking in rage “How dare you! Some punk kid that thinks they can tell this pack how to handle it’s internal affairs! We asked the council for advice on that thing that he fathered!” he accentuated his anger pointing directly at me.  

With the absolute calm that comes before an earth shattering storm Demitri replied. “This situation is no longer an internal affair Dear elder, the fact that Francesca Angeline Woods belongs to all packs means that in essence if she so chose she can change all laws and traditions of your species. I may be perceived as young to you, but all the knowledge and powers of my lineage have passed to me. My recommendation and encouragement of your retirement will become an order if the council deams you incompetent to guide your pack. You may want to consider that before being humiliated.” Completely deflated, elder Hawksthorn sank back into his chair. 

After a few moments I spoke up “Uh, yeah I’ll take that job.” I didn’t quite understand why Demitri wanted elder Hawksthorn gone, but it would make coming home a lot more pleasant. 

“Excellent Rodney. When do you plan on returning to your home?” Demitri smiled, clasping his hands over Pops’ stack of notes. 

“We’ll leave after the run tomorrow, I’ll check in with my boss and give him a heads up.” 

“Great, I’ll send someone Monday. To go over everything with you.” Demitri stood up taking his leave. Pops, Dad and I followed suit and headed back to the pack house. Demitri pulled Pops aside to speak with him a little more after the meeting, but he would be joining us for dinner.

Once we all sat down at the table I asked the old man what else the mage had to say to him. “Well he let me know to hang around with you until the council recruiter visits you Monday, and he’s going to come with him, he wants to work with Frankie on her senses a bit, and see if it’s just pack land that gives her that power reverb sensation.”

“She already said she hasn’t felt it before.” I said with Frankie nodding in agreement.

“Well he’s afraid that it will be permanent, now that she’s been exposed to such a high territorial energy.” Pops explained. “And if he can help her tune it down, it will make her more comfortable over all when she decides to visit other packs.”

“What if I don’t want to visit other packs?” Frankie asked.

“It will be inevitable, Kido, eternity is pretty long.” He told her, making her face lose color. 

“Well enough of all that, eat up all we have a run to plan out!” My mom finished our conversation for us. Frankie and the rest of the teens were excited to hear that, and began chatting happily. 

The kids settled into the theater room while the rest of us headed to our family suits to relax. I would round them up after they watched a movie. The morning would come early enough to show me how much I slacked on my training.

…

After training with Tomas I was in desperate need of a shower. Happily he still wasn’t able to take me, being the Alpha had its advantages. I still needed to work on technique, probably needed to learn some more styles of mixed martial arts, now that Frankie was going to be a full time job. I probably need to start integrating training her into our morning routine as well. As I walked into our suit I gave Samara a sweaty hug. “Oh Gross!! Get off me you stinky mut!”

“Don’t hurt my feelers babe, I’m a purebred.” I joke as I pull her off the couch, kissing her.

“Honey, purebred is a fancy word for inbred, be proud of being a mut.” she laughed between kisses.

“Okay, that’s gross, but you can make it up to me by getting in the shower with me.” I nibble her neck coaxing her into agreeing. 

“That sounds good, but I don’t have a lot of time for any hanky panky, Kim wants to go into town for a few things, and we didn’t get Frankie any new shoes yesterday.” 

I groaned but nodded, we’ll see “Okay, then a quick shower and a good back scrub and we’re out.” 

“I mean it dude! If you think you’re going to seduce me into staying in there, I’m not even going to join you.” she started heading to the bathroom then yelled from the door. “And don’t even think about hiding my leg again!” Damn it I was caught!

Samara left with Kim after our shower to get some shopping done, leaving me to supervise the girls with their homework. Not that they had a problem getting work done, I’m sure they would have the entire week’s worth of work done before their cousins got released from school, so I read one of my sci-fi novels and napped on the couch resting for the run tonight. I wasn’t interrupted until Hannah bounced into our living room ready to hang out with her cousin. As soon as Hannah appeared, that gave Justine the excuse she needed to go hunt down the twins to cause some trouble. If I find another frog in the bathtub I will be very suspicious. 

About an hour after Justine disappeared Kim and Samara came in, with very annoyed looks on their faces. “Your spawn threw a snake on us as we were getting out of the car.” Samara announced. 

“Not surprised.” I shrugged knowing that the kid could tell the venomous ones from the non venomous.

“First frogs in the tub, now snakes!” She shivered in revulsion. 

“Come on, a little snake has you all creeped out?” I say chidingly.

“Snakes don’t creep me out, having one fly into my face does!” She shouted back at me.

“Okay that I can understand. I’ll talk to her.” I stood up hugging her

“Don’t worry the twins are going to get it too, I know they probably put her up to it.” Kim added “But hey we have about an hour to sunset, so need to get ready for the run. Come on Hannah we’ll see them in the clearing in a bit.” Kim left with Hannah to get ready for tonight's run. In a way it was going to be Frankies introduction. It did worry me, only a few people have seen her form. 

As the sun was dropping behind the trees all three hundred pack members funneled into the clearing behind the pack house. Not everyone lived in the pack house, most members lived in the nearby town or in small family homes on pack land. The pack house mostly served as a community center with about six family suits on the second and third floor. There was a plan to build a small dormitory for unmarried and unmated wolves once the funds became available, but right now singles were staying with their parents until they could move out on their own. 

My dad stepped to the front of the crowd and we gathered in a horseshoe shape around him. “Today I have a few announcements.” His voice carried over us, still very strong and commanding. “Today I am stepping down as the Alpha.” murmurs and gasps were heard, as some wolves looked to me and Samara. “But my son will not be taking my position.” absolute silence took hold. “Kim and Hank will be interim Alpha and Luna until one of my grandsons can take over. Rodney is not leaving our pack, and I know that you all have been waiting for him to assume my duties for a long time now, but that is not something that the Goddess has planned for us.” My dad paused with a wistful look on his face. “Tomorrow Hank will choose his Beta, and Rodney will be working for the council. My Grand daughter Frankie has surprised a lot of people recently, to include the council and the elders. On this run, I want everyone to treat her like any other wolf, knowing that she is part of our family. Know that even though a lot is going to change, most of it is going to be for the better.” He reached his hand out toward Frankie “Baby girl, I want you to lead this, your first pack run. Why don’t you start us off and shift first.” I know my dad was trying to introduce Frankie as a member of our pack and keep everyone calm this way, but I could feel the tension bubbling in the air. 

Frankie was nervous, but was composed. She held her grandfather’s hand, and nodded, understanding that he needed to lead the pack in this way. Pride swelled in my chest as I watched her hold her head high and in a blink shift into her glowing white wolf. Gasps filled the air followed by absolute silence as my daughter stood in the middle of my pack. I was already the tallest wolf in the pack because of my alpha blood, and Frankie at fifteen years old was already my height in our wolf form, she easily towered over the rest of the wolves as they one by one shifted to join her. My dad and I were the last to shift, and as the alpha my dad howled in welcoming to all the wolves that were running for the first time with this pack. 

Howls erupted from all the wolves around us ready for our run. Not every pack member shifted, pregnant women and kids too young to shift were in attendance to just hear the announcements. Every wolf that did shift though took off into the trees, with Frankie in the lead. I don’t know how she knew the trail as it changed with the seasons, but she was true to it. Her iridescent white fur, a beacon to the rest of us in the line. Her uncles and I right behind her, followed by her aunts and cousins, darted through trees and over fallen logs. Owls dove and glided right behind Frankie, something that I have never seen before, indicating and cementing the fact that she was one of a kind.

Breathing fast it was difficult to keep up with the girl. ‘Going to have to slow down for the rest of the pack kido’ I linked to her, and she complied.

‘Sorry, I didn’t even notice.’ she linked looking back, and easily avoiding a low tree limb. She was effortless, never missing a step. Unlike her human form which was clumsy at times, she was graceful as her wolf. The moonlight seemed to follow her dazzling the eye, and guiding the pack along the route. I couldn’t fault her for getting ahead of us, the excitement of having a vast range to cover without hiding or covering herself in dust or mud, must have felt freeing. 

As we rounded another turn in our path I noticed on the other side of the trees from us deer were running with us, or rather Frankie, following the maybe three owls that kept with her. The animals were escorting her like some fairy-tale princess! And she didn’t even notice it. I began to feel an energy, like what she had described yesterday, as if the earth had a heartbeat. Pulsing, through my paws with each step. It was stronger the closer I ran to my daughter. Like the very earth was responding to her.

I no longer felt tired, and my breathing became easier, I noticed that the rest of the pack had caught up to us and looked fresh, full of energy, and not like we had been galloping through the forest for two hours. Instead of taking one of the paths that ran back to the pack house Frankie led us up the longer route circling the entire perimeter of the territory, none of us were complaining. The pulsing energy was charging us, making us feel stronger. 

By the time that we felt run out and completed the patrol it was midnight. Gratefully the ones that didn’t shift cleaned up our tattered scraps of fabric and left clean robes or shorts. One at a time the wolves shifted back and quickly pulled on a covering. I noticed once Frankie shifted back that her brown hair was streaked with her wolf’s iridescent coloring, I just stared at her until she spoke up. “Uh, Dad, what’s with the weird face?”

“Umm I’m sorry baby, your hair.” I slowly got out

“What? I have leaves in it?” she smiled.

“No, you are going to have to see it in the mirror.” I said as the family started gathering around her.

“You are just full of surprises.” Kim said as she reached up to stroke a strand of her new highlights. “Probably going to have to play it off as a dye job though.”

“Okay now I’m going to have to see.” Frankie turned rushing off to the pack house to check out what the deal was. After she and Hannah left the family huddle we began talking about the phenomenon during the run.

“I don’t think she noticed the animals following her.” I commented.

“I have never felt so charged in my life, I could seriously go back out and run again without any problem. “ My sister Cynthia said. 

“She said that the ground felt like it was pulsing once she got here, maybe it’s coming from her, or it unlocked some ability that she has.” Dad added.

“Well, I’m going to let Pops know and try to get some sleep before driving tomorrow. I was planning on her only running for an hour tops so we could drive out tonight, but I guess it wasn’t in the plan.” I waved them good night and headed back to the house.

“For real man, that was intense, but no one was complaining.” David called after.

I think I’ll let the girls sleep in a little for the morning, so we can eat and head out. As I walked into the suit I saw Samara sitting on the sofa with her head propped on her hand dozing. I sat down and snuggled up to her, not wanting to wake her, but knowing that my presence would. She hummed as she leaned into me returning the embrace. “Need to get you in bed baby.”

“Hmmm, okay, let me say good night to Frankie.” I helped her to her feet so she could look into our daughter’s room. As the living room light fell on Frankie’s face Samara brought her hand to her mouth to suppress a squeak. “Her Hair!” 

“I know, we’ll talk about the run with Pops while we ride home.” She nodded in agreement.

The next morning I woke my ladies up at around seven, when I poked my head into Frankie’s room I noticed that she had fewer white streaks in her hair, but they were still there. “Maybe they will fade” I pondered to Samara as she packed our toiletry bags, everything else was already good to go. 

The girls quickly dressed and stashed their bags in the Durango before joining us at the breakfast table with Pops. He choked on his coffee when his eyes landed on Frankie. “Right when my notebook is packed! Why didn’t you warn me?” he hollered with annoyance.

“We’ll talk about the real interesting part on the road.” I smugly said over my cup.

“You can have the front seat Pops.” Samara said as she took a bite of eggs. 

Mom and Dad just smiled at us, knowing that the ride would be an interrogation. As we finished eating, Mom and Dad saw us to our car and hugged us all good bye. I assured them that we would be back for the summit in the summer, before pulling out of the driveway. And sat in for a long drive of constant questions. This time Justine lounge in the back, listening to the conversation in wonder, Frankie and Samara sat in the middle row adding to answers as needed, while Pops grilled me, and scribbled furiously in one of his ever present notebooks. “I have so many more notes to type up before Demitri gets here.” he said wearily. 

We pulled into our garage shortly after two in the afternoon, hungry and sore because we only stopped for gas and bathroom breaks. “I’m going to fix up an early dinner, grab a snack if you need too, but nothing big.” Samara instructed as the girls began to raid the pantry.

“What can I help with?” I asked

“How bout cutting veggies for tacos, make the pico too please?” she asked. “Hey you two unload the bags and start laundry after your snack.” she added before they could disappear. Pops had already brought out his laptop and started madly typing away sitting at the kitchen table. 

“You can use my office if you need to Pops, you have the pinter already set up on your computer.” I offered.

He glanced up for only a moment to answer me. “No, No, I’m fine, just need to get this emailed, then I will be done.”

I chopped the vegetables as Samara simmered the meat, and the girls took care of their chores. Pops was done with his email as everything for our early dinner came together. We sat and ate quietly, exhausted from the last few days. I contemplated just hiding out at the house for the rest of the week, but it was only thursday and I needed to warn my boss about the ‘recruiter’ coming in to headhunt me. It was a courtesy, I didn’t need to, but he had been a good friend over the last two years as we were getting settled into the routine of being civilians.

After I had finished eating and washed my plate I headed to my office to give my boss a call. “Hey Brian it's Rod.”

“Hey man, how’s the family? Do you need more time?”

“No, no, they are doing okay now, I’m back early in fact just got to the house an hour ago. But I wanted to give you a courtesy heads up.” I warned

“Why? What for?” he asked, sounding worried.

“Well I ran into one of my old contacts at the parents place, and he said he was interested in recruiting me for his company. He said he’s going to send a headhunter and buy out my contract. And I’m sorry Brian, but I don’t think I can refuse these numbers.”

“Oh, wow, that good huh? Well thank you for letting me know. I appreciate you giving me the courtesy.” He sounded bitter, it had been great working for him, I felt like s**t having to do this to him. “Look, you have been the best manager that I have had the pleasure of working with. But I know we don’t pay the best, it’s city pay. I’ve always known that I would lose you to a big corporation.” 

“It’s the council,” I said flatly. 

Brian was silent for a moment, he had been working with knowledge of supers for a while as the city planner. He was in one of those offices that gets let in on the information from the community. “How do you know about them?” he finally asked suspiciously, I never told him the truth.

“I’ll talk to you about it when I come in tomorrow. But the recruiter will be in to see you personally monday.” 

“I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for letting me know.” we said our goodbyes and hung up. I rested for the rest of the day. Knowing I would be headed straight into Brian’s office in the morning after our routine family gym time. I wouldn’t be sending the girls to school because I knew they had already finished an entire weeks worth of their missing work. 

I pulled up to the city planner’s office and parked in my usual spot. I brought my coffee mug from home and went to my desk. I was always a half hour earlier than everyones else, Army habits never die. Today though Brian beat me to the building, he waved me over from the glass wall of his personal office. Once I was through the door I closed it behind me.

“Okay lay it out man. How does a man that I have known for more than two years without any clearance. know about something as freaking wrapped up as that?” he leaned back in his chair with his hands behind. “I take care of those projects personally so no one knows about that. I could hardly sleep thinking that I messed up and let something slip. ”

I sat down in the arm chair facing him. “Yeah, you are pretty good at holding everything close to your chest. But you don’t need a clearance for that if you are one. Sorry about worrying you.” 

His arms fell to his side and his eyes bugged out. “How did I never notice? I never suspected, but now that I know it’s so freaking obvious!” Brian sat forward expanding. “I kept thinking that you look really young for a guy that’s forty two, and far to build for a normal office slob. Hell even the old lady in records keeps asking for your number.” I laughed.

“Yeah don’t tell my wife that, she will win that one legged ass kicking contest.” I smiled

“Wait that’s right! Your wife is an amputee, if she’s a super how did that happen? You guys heal stupid fast.” He knew his stuff, not surprising, Brian has a file cabinet for a brain.

“She’s not a super, our kids are, but her body didn’t take to being turned.” Brian and I talked for about another hour before the rest of my coworkers showed up to start their day. I figured that I would stay in contact with him, as he was heading up the project that was standing up the New Moon pack. The entire tract of land behind their pack house was already sectioned off for them and had a do not develop order on it until they could officially claim the land. For the time being I would be working that project with Brian. He was grateful that he no longer had to do all the heavy lifting on it until I left employment with him. 

I left the office ready for the weekend. I figured that I and Frankie would skip the run with New Moon. I didn’t want what happened at Black River to happen with them. I wasn’t sure how far she could control that effect or if at all. So for the time being we would play it by ear. I like the Young alpha, but without the ability to lay down your territory there wasn’t any real way to protect the boundary, and in turn, it meant there was no way that they would be able to protect Frankie, and as always that was my number one priority. I had a lot to talk with Demitri about, but for now, I would enjoy my weekend with my family.