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I love this fic, so i had to add it hereWolf Lake Ch. 1 by Gojenngo * * * * *Samantha heaved a sigh of relief as she crested the last mountain ridge. It was all down hill from here, literally. Taking out her bottle of water she tipped her head back and drank greedily, allowing the water to fill her mouth and over flow down her long neck. Despite the noticeable chill in the air she had worked up quite a sweat and the cool water was refreshing.Looking around she found it hard to believe that the locals refused to come up here. Granted it was a three-day hike in and out but it was well worth it. The scenery was beautiful with Wolf Lake surrounded on all sides by rugged snow capped mountains. The only way in or out was on foot and that was through dense forests using old grown over trails. The lake itself wasn’t huge but it was big enough that one would think before trying to swim across. Here and there along the shore she could see small inlets and beaches. Thinking that one of those might provide a perfect spot to camp, Sam started down the hill.Working her way down to the lake was nearly as hard as working her way up the mountain. The trail was nearly completely grown over from lack of use. She had to tread carefully making sure to step over exposed roots that sought to tangle and trap her. She’d already fallen once; her right knee was still scraped and swollen and she couldn’t risk a broken bone. She was up here alone and even though she had her cell phone with her it would take three days for someone to respond to her call for help. A person could die during that time.Sam felt her excitement start to grow the closer she got to the lake. At twenty-five she was preparing to graduate from the state college. Her major had been in literature but with a focus on mythological writings. It was her fascination with mythological creatures that drew her to Wolf Lake. The locals swore that this was the watering hole for a pack of werewolves. There were stories dating back to the mid 1800s of wolf sights followed by the disappearance of men, women, and children. While it was true that wolf sightings in the Pacific Northwest were not all that uncommon the stories in these parts were unique. It was said that the local wolves were unusually large and often seen walking on their hind legs.Personally, Sam didn’t believe in the existence of such creatures. Her fascination was with how such legends were started. She believed that all myths contained an element of truth to them. For example, the local legends could easily have been started after a large, garden-variety wolf attacked a child. The wolf may have been uncommonly big or had reared up on his hind legs in a show of dominance. All very logical explanations but it was easy to see how as the story was retold it was expounded upon until it reached mythological proportions.While Sam didn’t believe in these mythological creatures she did like spending her spare time hunting up local legends and exploring the area from which they sprang. Wolf Lake was just the latest in a long series of explorations. She often used her academic breaks to tour the country looking for local legends as well as traveling abroad. Last year she spent a week in a castle in Transylvania supposedly once occupied by a descendent of Count Dracula. For Christmas she had spent her time in a house supposedly haunted by the ghost of a girl killed when her husband found her in bed with her lover. This year she found herself camping out it what was supposed to be werewolf-infested mountains.An hour later Sam stood with her hands resting on her slender hips staring out over the lake. She had managed to beat the bush back enough to allow her access to a small beach on the western side of the water. From here she would be able to watch the morning sun rise up over the mountains. She had planned to spend a total of seven days at the lake. Her vacation was only fourteen days; it would take her six days to hike in and out plus seven spent at the water. That left one day to relax when she got back before once again diving into her studies.Pushing all thoughts of her thesis waiting patiently back home aside Sam turned and unloaded her pack. Within forty-five she had her tent set up and a pot of water boiling over a small fire. Not knowing what she would encounter up here she had packed several things of dehydrated food and tonight she would dine on Yankee pot roast and potatoes. Tomorrow she told herself she would take the time to try and fish as well as hunt around for some wild berries. She knew enough about plants that she was reasonably sure she could feed herself without getting sick.After rinsing her plate at the side of the lake Sam stretched and watched as the last of the sun slipped behind the mountains. She allowed herself a very unladylike yawn and decided to turn in. She had been walking almost nonstop for three days and she was well over due for a rest. Thinking that she wanted to be up early to investigate the area surrounding the lake Sam crawled into her sleeping bag and was fast asleep before the full moon had reached its peak.Sam woke up shivering but not from the cold. Something had scared her right out of her sleep. Sitting up she strained her ears and listened. Her first thought was that a bear had found her small camp and was scavenging for food. The night had gone unnaturally quiet. Nocturnal animals that usually called to each other were silent and even the wind seemed to have lost its voice. It was unnerving but at the same time she was able to reassure herself that the local Yogi bear hadn’t come looking for a picnic.Unzipping her sleeping bag she slid her feet into her shoes and grabbed her flashlight. Lifting the flap of her tent it was obvious that she wasn’t going to need it. The full moon was directly over the lake, illuminating it in all its glory. The water was so still that the moon was reflected back towards the sky while the mountains and trees appeared as black silhouettes.Sam caught her breath at the sight that stood before her. It was by far one of the most beautiful places she had visited. While it was a shame that the locals let their unrealistic fear keep them away perhaps it was for the best. Here, nature would be preserved and protected from the touch of man. She made a mental note to make sure that she left everything exactly the way it had been when she first arrived and prepared to crawl back into her sleeping bag.Just then a sound came low on a passing breeze, raising the hair on the back of her neck. It was the same sound that had woken her and was easy to place. A howl. Looking around Sam felt her heart drop into her stomach while at the same time picking up it’s pace. High up on the hill, in the same place she had stood this afternoon was a man. Even from here with only the moon for light Sam recognized his height at being well over that of a normal man. He stood looking down at the lake; no, he was looking at her. His arms hung loose at his sides and his legs were braced shoulder width apart.Closing her eyes, Sam told herself it was just her overactive imagination getting the best of her. Never mind that this had never happened before. She was a smart, intelligent woman and there was no man standing up on the ridge. Taking a deep breath she opened her eyes, relieved to see that the man had disappeared.Her moment of relief was short lived for standing in his place was an impossibly large wolf. At that moment Sam would have sworn on her life that his stance was an exact imitation of the man’s that had been there just moments before. As she watched the wolf threw his head back and howled, the sound spreading out across the lake and raising the small hairs covering her body.Sam took an involuntary step back as she heard answering calls coming from the forest surrounding the lake. She couldn’t make out how many there were more than she wanted to deal with.The wolf up on the hill gave her one last look before starting down the mountain. Only one thought went through her mind, he’s coming for me. Sam turned and ran leaving everything she had back in her camp and took off into the forest. All reason had left her; they were in the forest but she was heading straight for them. It didn’t matter; her only thought was that she couldn’t let him catch her. It was obvious that he was their leader and somewhere in the back of her mind was the illogical thought that if she could just get away from him the rest of them would leave her alone.Sam ran, her legs pumping hard to carry her as far away from this place as she could get. Fear pushed her further and faster than she had ever gone before. Years of hiking and camping helped her to move through the thick underbrush but still branches reached out to catch her, cutting her face and pulling at her clothes. It felt as if a thousand hands sought to prevent her escape, the forest having turned against her in favor of its own inhabitants.She darted between trees, over fallen logs and under low hanging branches. The only sound was her heartbeat pounding in her ears. It wasn’t until she felt herself falling that she realized something had hit her from behind.Roland spotted her as she darted through the trees, her long black hair flying out behind her. She was dressed in dark clothing, blending well with the night but his superior vision made it easy to spot her. Besides, he could have relied on either his sense of hearing or of smell both of which told him exactly where she was.He was surprised to see that despite her human form she was able to move through the trees, almost instinctively knowing which way lay danger and avoiding it with ease. Darting around an ancient tree Roland was able to come up directly behind her. With a burst of speed and a powerful thrust of his hind legs he set himself sailing through the air.His front paws caught her between the shoulder blades knocking her off balance. They went down together, a pile of arms, legs, and limbs tangled together. Letting the momentum propel him Roland did a somersault and landed on all fours, his front paws pinning her shoulders to the ground.Sam held herself perfectly still, her only movement the rise and fall of her chest as her lungs labored after her run. She was flat on her back with a wolf that easily weighed two hundred pounds on her chest. She tried inching backwards only to stop short at the low, threatening growl that vibrated up from his chest. Sam knew a warning when she heard one.Roland struggled to get himself under control. There was nothing as thrilling as the chase and having caught his prey he wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into her throat and feel the heat of her blood as it pumped free from her veins. He gloried in the feel of the earth beneath his paws, the crisp mountain air forced in and out of his lungs and the smell of fear from his prey. He was one of the best hunters in his pack. They never went hungry and it was in part because of him that they were one of the strongest packs in the area. It was his superior hunting skills that helped elevate him to second-in-command.The thoughts of his position within the pack and his duties were enough to bring the last of his desire under control. Stepping back and off her chest Roland slowly rose onto his back legs and up to his full height. “Commme with mmmee.”Sam sat there and stared at the wolf now standing well over six feet tall. The words uttered with something between a growl and a hiss were definitely human; the unusual pronunciation having to do with the elongated shape of his face.Roland got tired of waiting. Bending down he wrapped one arm around her waist and used his other hand to grab her wrist and pull her over his shoulder.Hanging upside down like a sack of potatoes Sam finally found her voice. “Put me down this minute! I don’t care who or what you are you WILL put me down!”Roland continued walking through the forest. He could hear the other pack members following but all stayed a safe distance from him and his captive. The young woman was still shouting only now she had started pounding her fists against the small of his back. To him it was as if butterflies were landing against his skin but he suspected that she was using all of her strength. “Ifff you keeeep that up you arrrre going to hurttt yourssself.”Sam was already regretting the decision to start hitting him. Her fists were quickly becoming swore and were sure to be bruised but the fact that he pointed out the truth made her want to keep hitting him. Childish? Yes, but she was scared and that pissed her off and made her want to lash out. After giving him a few more poundings, just for good measure she let her arms drop.Seeing her hands hanging several inches off the ground she had to reevaluate her earlier estimation regarding his height. He had to stand over seven feet tall to keep from dragging her on the ground. She also realized that he had considerable strength; despite the rugged terrain and her additional weight he hardly seemed winded. Thinking back to the sight of him crouched over her, his canine teeth exposed Sam decided it was best not to antagonize him.“Where are you taking me?”“Therrre isss someonnne who wants to meeeet you.”“Who?” Sam asked but she already knew.“Nafarius, our leader.” She left him in blessed silence after that. They weren’t far from where the pack made their home but out of habit Roland was taking an indirect route. Should something happen and the woman managed to escape he didn’t want to risk her coming back, only next time with a lynch mob.Sam had no idea where they were or where they were going. She hadn’t been at the lake long enough to do any exploring and even if she had she doubted she would have been able discern their location in the dark. The moon was still high but with the trees filtering out most of the light it wouldn’t be of any help. She had long since given up fighting and at the moment she wasn’t even thinking about escape. Curious by nature she wanted to get a better look at these creatures and the thought of meeting their leader ignited a kind of excitement she hadn’t felt before. She was still scared shitless but she’d learned long ago to roll with it, otherwise you just get rolled over.A few minutes later they entered a large, circular clearing. From where she still hung over the wolf’s shoulder Sam could see that, but for them, the clearing was void of people. In the center sat a large throne seemingly carved into the trunk of a tree. The seat was so wide it could easily sit two people and Sam saw that the arms as well as the seat had been worn smooth with years, perhaps centuries of use.Sam startled as the wolf let out a low growl that ended in three short barks. A minute later a large man walked into the clearing. It wasn’t until he emerged that she noticed that the clearing ended up against the side of the mountain. Realizing that the man was completely in human form Sam stopped thinking about where the entrance led to and turned her attention to him.“Weee found herrrr by the lake.” Roland bent down and dropped the woman at his leader’s feet.Sam let out a startled cry that ended in a “humph” as she landed on her ass. That’s going to leave a bruise, she thought and glared up at the inconsiderate ball of fur.Nafarius watched as the woman glared at his second in command. Roland was by far one of the largest werewolves and there were many among the pack that wouldn’t dare look at him like that. Yet this small slip of a woman looked like she wanted to give Roland a piece of her mind. Apparently she was intelligent as well because she wisely kept her mouth shut and turned her attention to him.Nafarius wasn’t prepared for the full power of her eyes. They were beyond green; he’d seen emeralds that didn’t have the clarity of color her eyes had. They seemed to burn in the moonlight, their dark color accent by the black of her hair. There was fire and life in this one and that would make his decision just that much harder.Sam sat and stared. Nafarius, though a few inches shorter than the other werewolf, was tall and broad across the shoulders. His hair was a rich reddish brown and tousled slightly by the wind. She couldn’t tell what color his eyes where but from her position on the ground they appeared black. His lips were full above a well-defined chin and he had cheekbones any woman would kill for. He took a step forward and Sam instantly realized something else. He was an animal.Nafarius walked across the clearing, his long legs moving with a fluid grace no human possessed. Stopping a few feet away he offered Sam his hand. She stared at it, not sure of what she should do.“May I help you up?” Nafarius realized that she was scared, skittish and likely to bolt if given the opportunity.“Thank you.” Sam slipped her hand in his, surprised to find it warm and rough.“Roland, you may go. Take the others and finish your hunt.”Sam watched as her captor dropped down on all fours and bounded into the forest. He moved with a speed and grace she could only admire.“Please, come with me.” Nafarius didn’t wait to see if she would follow. Turning he walked back toward the mountain and disappeared inside.Sam stood and stared for several minutes before finally giving into the inevitable. Walking across the clearing she shook her head. This has to be a dream, a nightmare and in the morning I’ll wake up safe and sound in my sleeping bag and laugh at myself. Not believing herself she knew that for now there was nothing she could do but follow her host. It was late and dark and she had first hand knowledge that there were things in the forest she’d rather not come face to face with on her own.Nafarius stood just inside the entrance watching as the young woman made up her mind. He wasn’t about to let her out of his sight, not with well over one hundred hungry werewolves hunting these woods. Her presence here as well as Roland’s orders for the others to stay away should be enough to guarantee her protection. Unfortunately, he had younger members in his pack some of which still lacked control over themselves and their powers. Not to mention the fact that there were several other packs in the area not under his control.Nafarius held back the leather covering the kept out the cold and motioned for the young woman to enter. Taking her arm he helped guide her down the tunnel and into one of the alcoves that formed naturally in the mountain. They were too small to be called caves but they allowed for privacy.“My name is Nafarius, I am leader of this pack, I welcome you and offer you my protection during your stay.”“My name is Samantha, but everyone calls me Sam.” Sam cleared her throat and looked around the small room. There was a fire in the center and she could see several small candles lighting the way further into the mountain. It wasn’t a cave like she first thought but instead a series of rooms or small alcoves with corridors that led from one to another. Despite the dim light she was able to see several mounds of blankets as well as personal affects throughout. It was obvious that the pack made their home here. She felt a sense of home, of peace and contentment and of family. It was warm and while not exactly inviting to a stranger it conjured up images of nights spent together.“How did you come to be up at the lake?” Nafarius wanted to know if she had come alone, if she was expecting others and who was waiting for her back“Werewolves.” Nafarius finished for her.“Yes, but I never believed in such things. My fascination was with the fact that most myths and legends had elements of truth to them. I would research a town’s history until I found the incident likely to have sparked such stories.”“And now?”Sam frowned. “Now I’m not so sure. You’re a man and obviously human. Roland could easily be a very large dog you trained to come and go at your command.”Nafarius could see that even she was having a hard time digesting that. “You heard him speak.” Nafarius stood and looked down at her. “And are you so sure I’m human?”Sam watched with something between horror and fascination as Nafarius slowly pulled his shirt out of his jeans. Gathering the material in his large hands he lifted his arms and let the material drop to the ground beside him. His chest was smooth, void of all hair, and covered with muscles.His eyes locked on hers, Nafarius reached for the buttons on his jeans and pulled; one fierce tug and he was pushing them past his narrow hips.“No.” Sam objected when she saw that he was wearing nothing underneath his jeans but it was too late. Already he stood before her completely naked. He was obviously comfortable with himself and why shouldn’t he be. He was gorgeous. His body was long and lean without an ounce of fat. His muscles rippled and flowed beneath his skin as he moved.It took her a moment to realize that no one’s muscles should move like that. They seemed to be rearranging themselves, shifting beneath the skin and reforming. A moment later and Nafarius dropped to his hands and knees.With his eyes still watching her his face narrowed and elongated, his hips and shoulders rolling back to form front and hindquarters while his back curved and arched. At the same time a small, stinging-like noise started to sound and Sam watched in absolute fascination as hair started to grow, covering his entire body.Then there was silence.Nafarius stretched, his claws making a clicking sound against the hard rocky ground and then shook himself like a big dog out of the bath. With what could only be described as a smile he sat back on his haunches and stared at her.“Okay, so you’re not completely human.” Sam tilted her head and looked at him. Even in animal form he was beautiful. The hair covering his body had taken on more of a reddish tint and it was long and thick. Moving slowly she crawled across the clearing and knelt beside him.Nafarius held himself completely still. He could see she was scared yet she dared to come closer. He wanted her to touch him; something deep inside of him needed the human in her to accept the animal in him. It wasn’t an emotion he allowed himself to feel often. Usually he avoided contact with humans outside of the packs but there was something about her that he longed to get near.Slowly, her hand shaking, Sam reached out with her palm and placed it beneath his nose. She remembered once being told that if ever confronted with a strange dog always offer your hand palm up for them to sniff so that they could get use to your scent. Well, if it works with dogs it might work with a werewolf.Nafarius lowered his head and sniffed, his senses instantly saturated with her scent. Closing his eyes, gone gold with the change, he let a low growl vibrate through his chest. Her scent was utterly feminine; she smelled of the outdoors and there lingered the scent of soap. But beneath that was her scent, a scent that he would always recognize as coming only from her.Werewolves, in whatever form, had a distinct scent. It was the same with humans. Like DNA or fingerprints each one’s scent was uniquely their own. There were things one could do to cover or change their scent but a werewolf would always be able to catch the unique essence lingering beneath. There was no flower or fragrance to describe a person’s true scent but hers was somewhere between honey and lavender, sweet with a hint of musk.Sam waited, her hand held perfectly still. Nafarius opened his eyes and looked at her. Slowly his mouth opened revealing a set of sharp canine teeth that would put any dog’s to shame. She was aware of the fact that he continued to watch her as his teeth parted and his long, pink tongue slipped out from between his teeth. Slowly, he licked her palm, covering his palate with the taste of her.There was something erotic about the way his tongue played across her palm. It didn’t take long before her desire to touch him, to run her finger through his thick fur became too powerful to resist. Still holding her left hand out for him she reached up and slowly slid her fingers into the fur along his neck. It was thick but not as soft as she imagined it would be. Instead it was course like that of any animal living in the high mountains.Nafarius shivered, his thick hair quivering as she continued to run her fingers through his fur. She had a delightful touch but it was torture at the same time. He wanted her, wanted to take her while still in animal form. He could smell the scent of her sex and his own hung hard and throbbing between his legs. He could have her; if he took her and made her one of them then she would be his. But he had seen the life that lived behind her eyes. It would be easy enough to let her go. Something told him that she would keep their secret and in fact make sure none others discovered them living among the mountains. Having decided to let her go he slowly started to move away from her.“No.” Sam grabbed a hand full of his fur and tried to hold him still. He outweighed her by at least seventy pounds, all of it muscle and could easily rip her arm out of its socket. “Please.”She had seen his desire, both in his eyes and his heavy manhood hanging between his legs and she wanted him. She wanted to know what it would feel like to be taken by such a creature, to feel that power and strength thrusting into her body.“You don’tttt know whaaat you arrrre askingggg.”“I think I do.” Sam let go of his fur, her hands moving to the buttons on her blouse.“Noooo. Iffff youuuu do thisss you can nevvvverrr return to your hommmme.” More then anything he wanted her to stay. He had seen something in her, it was as if they were connected in some way but he wanted to make sure she knew exactly what she was setting herself up for.“What if I don’t want to return?” Her words were little more than a whisper.“Why wooould youuu want to stayyyy?”Sam looked away. “My parents died when I was very young, I was an only child and I buried myself in my school work.”“I’m sssorrry.” Nafarius felt the pain in her voice.“I don’t need your sympathy. That isn’t why I’m asking to stay. It’s just that there is such a feeling of home and family here and that’s something I’ve never had. I’d like to be a part of this.” Sam took a deep breath and prepared to take the plunge. “And I know you want me.”“Youuuu don’t undersssstand; the pack issss a fammmmily but it issssn’t eassssy.” There would be tests and trials ahead for her but he felt certain that she possessed the strength to see it through. Besides, he had his own selfish reasons for wanting her to stay. The time had come for him to chose a mate; unfortunately it had caused problems between the female members of his pack. Furthermore, he owed a duty to his pack members and that meant exploring the possibility of an alliance with another pack. The problem was no matter who he choose he would offend the other packs. The alternative was to pick someone else.“It can’t be any harder than living alone.” Sam brought her hands up to her blouse and started slipping the buttons free. A moment later she saw Nafarius’ hands cover her own. The long, fur covered claws were gone; looking up she saw that he had once again returned to human form.“There is much you need to know before you make this decision.”“Like what?” Sam snapped; she couldn’t help it. The world around her had suddenly shifted; everything she thought she knew and believed in had changed. She was looking for a place to fit in with this new reality and she got the distinct feeling that perhaps Nafarius didn’t want her to find it with him and his pack.“Like the fact that wolves mate for life.” Nafarius could see that she was surprised by this bit of news. “If you chose to join us, to mate with me or any member of the pack then you will never be allowed to leave.”“I don’t want to leave, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”“There’s more; we’re hunters that prey on the weaker species in the forest. There is a hunger inside of us, always. Not just when the moon is full though that is when it is at its strongest. We crave the hunt, the chase and the kill. You will awaken something inside yourself that is not human. Men will fear you, you will be considered a monster and hunted for the rest of your life.”“You’ve survived.”“Yes, but it is never easy. I want to make sure you know these things before committing yourself.” Nafarius watched and waited. He held his breath; he could see that she was thinking about all the things he had said and he was afraid that she would chose to walk away. If she did he would be forced to let her go but it would cost him.In answer to the question she saw Sam leaned forward and kissed him. Her lips brushed against his mouth once, twice before seeking entrance. A small moan escaped her as he took the kiss deeper, his tongue invading her mouth to explore her hidden depths. They knelt facing each other, their bodies bronze in the firelight. Sam wanted, need to get closer. Her hands slid up and over his chest before resting on his shoulders. Feeling the muscles quiver beneath the surface she tried to pull him closer.“No.” Nafarius reached back and unclasped her hands from around his neck. “That isn’t how we do things around here.”Sam looked at him, confused but willing to let him take the lead. She was the newcomer, an outsider that lacked the basic knowledge of how his pack lived.“I must go; the moon is full and as leader I need to join my pack in their hunt. Tomorrow you will be introduced to the rest of the pack. You have until then to decide whether or not you want to go through with this.”Sam watched him stand, still naked in the firelight and longed to have him cover her with his body. “I won’t change my mind.”Nafarius ignored her comment. “There are things that I must do to prepare to make you my mate, should you decide to do so. In the meantime you may sleep in here.” Nafarius led her to the largest alcove located at the back of the cave. “These are my private quarters; you will be safe in here. Tomorrow I will send someone to explain what is expected of you.”“Thank you.” Sam didn’t know what else to say. “Good night.”“Sleep well.” With that Nafarius turned and made his way out of the mountain and into the clearing. He broke into a run and dropping down onto all fours he had completed his change and was in animal form before he reached the woods.Sam watched from the entrance, marveling at the speed and grace with which he moved, before returning to the alcove. Lying down she curled up in the pile of blankets and fell asleep.Late the next morning a petite blonde woke Sam with the offer of a bowl of stew. The rich smell was enough to remind her stomach that it had been several hours since she last ate. Smiling in embarrassment as her stomach growled Sam tipped the bowl up to her mouth and ate. She was surprised by the thick stew and rich flavor. For some reason she had assumed that the meals here would be primitive and plain.Sam started to rise only to stop as the young woman spoke. “Nafarius requests that you remain in here. There are things that need to be done in order to prepare for tonight.”“Am I not needed to help?” Sam didn’t like the idea of being kept away from the activities. She was curious but also she didn’t want to cause resentment among the others by not helping.“Your part will come later and for that I guarantee you will need to rest and reserve your strength.” The blonde seemed genuinely concerned and that gave Sam pause.“Does it hurt?” Her voice was barely above a whisper but the young woman had no trouble hearing.“The first time is…difficult, but you needn’t worry about that. You won’t be changing for the first time tonight. Tonight Nafarius will make you one of us but it takes time for the…infection to move throughout your body.”“How will he…infect me?” Sam was beginning to wonder if she shouldn’t have asked Nafarius these questions last night. She would rather have had him tell her what was in store for her than some stranger.“Nafarius has asked someone to come and explain these things to you, I think you should wait until then.”“You cannot tell me?”“I was not given that honor.” The young woman stood and with a reassuring smile turned to leave.“Wait,” Sam called out after her. “What is your name?”“Maddie.”“Thank you, Maddie.” Sam was left alone to finish her stew. When she was done eating she stood up and walked around the alcove. There were small niches in the wall that held everything from candles to clothes. She was curious about the man she was about to commit herself to for life and went around the room trying to get a better picture of the life she was about to enter. There was a small statutes tucked away in one niche making her think that this was a deity these people worshipped. There were other pieces of art some of which appeared to trace back to early Native Americans as well as recent news publications. That and the modern cut of his clothing led her to believe that these people mingled with the rest of society even if it was only long enough to acquire necessities.Having finished exploring Sam settled back down amongst the pile of blankets and pillows with a book and read for the next few hours.It was after six o’clock by her watch when Roland announced his presence and asked to enter.“Of course.” Sam set the book aside and smiled up at the tall man. It was the first time she had seen him close up in human form and she was surprised to see that he was of Middle Eastern decent. Nothing in his appearance as a wolf would have indicated his heritage and she chided herself for making any sort of assumptions.Roland stood just inside the alcove; his arms crossed in front of his massive chest and stared down at her. “I see you’ve made yourself comfortable.”“What else was I suppose to do?” Sam couldn’t keep help the tone of her voice. For some reason Roland was able to push all of her buttons with only a few words.He had nothing against the woman personally, Roland’s concern was for his leader and the trouble this female was sure to cause. The women within the pack were already resentful of the fact that Nafarius had chosen an outsider as a mate and the neighboring packs were sure to be offended. Nafarius was by far the most powerful leader in the area, as his mate this woman would acquire considerable power but she had yet to prove herself to the rest of the pack. There would be problems both from inside and outside of the pack. Nafarius had already been forced to defend against several challenges regarding this female.“Nafarius sent me to see that you are prepared for this evening’s events. Is there anything you wish to know?”Roland hadn’t relaxed his stance and Sam found his inquiry to be less than warm. Looking down she plucked nervously at the blanket covering her legs. “Well, Maddie mentioned that I would be…infected when I mate with Nafarius.”Hearing the fear in her voice Roland finally relented. It wasn’t this woman’s fault. She had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was completely unaware of the power struggles taking place among the packs and the part she would play in them. Nafarius was using her for his own ends and while they were perhaps in the best interest of the pack Roland knew that he had selfish reasons for wanting this woman as well.Moving to sit down beside her Roland spent the next few hours explaining what was expected of her and what she could expect. He was surprised when she asked intelligent questions that showed an obvious concern for the pack. More than once she remarked on the fact that she didn’t want to cause any unnecessary problems. By the time Maddie arrived to announce that the pack had gathered Sam was informed and while still obviously nervous seemed to have gathered some comfort from their conversation.Roland took her arm and led her to the entrance of the cave. “Remember, the pack will be watching to see what kind of show of strength you can give them. You need to prove to them that you are strong enough to be their leader’s mate because they will be depending on your strength to protect them.”“I will do my best.” Sam stepped out of the cave and caught her breath. There were at least a hundred men and women filling the clearing and overflowing into the trees. She hadn’t expected there to be this many. The cave seemed hardly big enough to house them all and she wondered where they all came from.Roland started to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder but stopped when she stepped forward. It was obvious that she didn’t want the pack to see it as a sign of weakness.Sam started to walk towards where she thought the center of the clearing would be. Instantly a path appeared, the men and women parting to show her the way. She was relieved when she finally made it to the center and found Nafarius waiting for her. Maddie also stood to one side and offered her a small smile of encouragement.It wasn’t until Nafarius reached out his hand that Sam realized he had been hurt. He had a black eye and his upper lip had been split. “What happened to you?”Nafarius smiled. “I told you I had to prepare for tonight.”“By getting in a fight?” Sam’s curiosity was peaked by the small, embarrassed smile she saw playing at the corner of his lips.“When one of us wishes to mate we must answer any challenges. It seems I’m not the only male in the pack that wanted you.” Nafarius hoped she wouldn’t ask any more questions. He was afraid that she would be upset by the fact that he had fought with several of the younger pack members. In truth very few of them actually believed they could beat him and win her as their mate but it was tradition that the male be made to fight for what he wants. As leader he had to suffer through twice as many challenges.Sam just shook her head and smiled. “Men.”In a blink of an eye the atmosphere surrounding the clearing changes. Nafarius noticeably grew tense; gone was the light, laughing smile and in its place was a fierce hunger. His eyes went dark and predatory.Sam felt herself tense in response. Her body tightened and she felt a jolt of adrenalin enter her system. It would seem that her fight or flight response had kicked in. Like all animals humans still possessed the instinct that told them when they were in danger.As she watched, Nafarius rolled his shoulders forward, his arms hanging loose at his sides and took a step towards her. Sam held her ground, waiting for the attack she knew was sure to come. In the next moment he was air born and headed straight for her.Sam hesitated just long enough for him to mark his target and then moved to her left. Nafarius wasn’t expecting it and landed on the ground with Sam just inches out of reach. She was faster than he had anticipated and he hadn’t been expecting her to remain calm. He thought that she would panic at the sight of him moving from friend to foe and run but instead she continued to think logically. Nafarius smiled; she was going to be much more of a challenge that would only add to his enjoyment.Sam watched as Nafarius assessed the situation and changed tactics. This time he didn’t jump for her but instead started moving slowing. Each step he took forced her to take one in retreat. He was stalking her, turning her into the prey.Nafarius leered at her, he could smell her fear but it was mixed with something else. She was excited. Lifting his head to the wind he sniffed, his nostrils flaring, catching her scent on the breeze. The other pack members mimicked him and the tension rose up another level.They circled the clearing, Sam staying just out of reach. He was excited; he could feel his beast struggling to get out and he knew it would only be a matter of minutes before he was unable to control his attack.The show was a sign of strength, any mate of his had to be able to protect the weaker members of the pack. The idea was for Sam to fight him for as long as possible, to show that physically she could take care of those that depended on her. Unfortunately, she was using both brains and brute strength and things were quickly spiraling out of control.Sam was unprepared for his second assault. One minute he was standing across from her and the next he was charging her. She had less then a split second to make up her mind. Either stand her ground or turn and run. In the end there was no choice; she had made her decision and she would not humiliate herself by running like a coward.Standing still, Sam wasn’t prepared for the force with which Nafarius hit her. She felt her breath leave her with a whoosh as his shoulder caught her square in the chest. For a moment she couldn’t breath but she didn’t let that stop her. Letting his momentum carry them both over, Sam brought both her knees up and using all the strength in her legs pushed him up and over her head. The movement forced her over backwards but she was able to regain her feet and not a moment too soon.Nafarius was once again surprised by her abilities; having tangled with her once himself Roland was not and he couldn’t help but smile as Sam continued to hold her own. Having been propelled across the clearing both by her and his own power Nafarius barreled into several of the watching pack members. None of them helped him up; to interfere would have meant that Nafarius could not dominate his mate in which case she would have been free to choose another.He didn’t need their help; obviously agile Nafarius was up and headed back for her before Sam was able to catch her breath. Deciding that her only chance was the unexpected, she took a running leap and tackled Nafarius sending them both to the ground.Neither one bothered to try and untangle themselves, instead they rolled, grappling with each other. Sam felt her clothes torn away from her body; at the same time she felt Nafarius starting to change. Having seen him change once before she knew what to expect but that was very different from having him to it while lying on top of her. She struggled, kicking out with her legs and trying to move herself out from under him.Nafarius was unaware of her struggles; the change had him in a frenzy, his beast struggling to break through as desire and hunger raced through him. All he knew was that she was still fighting him and that just added to his heat. Tearing the last of her clothes away Nafarius felt his muscles slip into place while at the same time his hair grew and thickened into fur.Pinned beneath his paws, Sam stopped struggling when Nafarius lifted his head and howled, the sound echoed by the rest of the pack. Unaware of it at the time, the sight of their struggle had sent the rest of the pack into their change. Men and women shifted, some not bothering to throw off their clothes, and were now coupling wildly throughout the clearing.Nafarius looked down at her, catching her with his gold eyes and growled. It was purely animalistic and completely male. He had captured her and now he was going to claim her for his own. Sitting back slightly, he grabbed her and flipped her over onto her stomach. Instinct, finally kicking in had her clawing at the ground, trying to break free from his grasp.Using his right arm he reached around her waist and pulled her hips back against him. With his other hand he grabbed her thick black hair and pulled her head back exposing her neck. In the next instant he impaled her on his cock while his teeth sank into her tender skin. It was his bite, the breaking of the skin that would cause her to change; the fact that it was done while mating was tradition.Sam screamed as the pleasure and pain of his entry and his bite ripped through her. Never before had she been penetrated so deeply. She was sure to be split upon his cock only there was no escape. His teeth held her immobile while his hips thrust up against her backside driving his cock deeper and deeper into her pussy. Once again she screamed and collapsed, his arm the only thing holding her up.Nafarius fought to control himself. She was human and not built to take him completely into her body. Yet his desire, his beast wouldn’t let him go. Her blood filled his mouth, her scent saturated the rest of his senses while her pussy squeezed and contracted around him. Never before had he fucked a human while in animal form. She was small compared to him and the tight heat of her pussy drove him on towards madness. He knew that if he didn’t come soon he would seriously hurt her.Shifting the hold he had on her waist he sought to give her some pleasure. Finding her breasts he started stroking her nipples, pinching and pulling on them until she moaned for more. As he built the pleasure up in her nipples she started to acclimate herself to him and within minutes was pushing back against him with her pussy, driving him deeper despite the pain.Nafarius was surprised when minutes later she came, her pussy contracting tight around his cock and flooding him with her juices. The constant massaging of his cock drove him to the edge and with one final thrust he emptied his seed deep within her.Together they collapsed, Nafarius pulling her over onto her side and curling up behind her. They lay spoon fashion while all around them the sounds of their pack mating filled the night. It was only later, when they were approached by the first pack member that they separated.One by one the others came forward, crawling on their bellies in absolute submission to their new mistress. Each one pressed his or her nose between Sam’s legs, finding the scent of their leader. Some licked at their combined juices before turning to Nafarius, who was still in animal form and would remain so for the rest of the night. Several of the pack’s male members buried their noses in his groin, licking the juice of their new mistress from his cock.To Be Continued... This post has been edited by ssinssrigg on Feb 1 2005, 05:38 AM
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