stumbled upon his fated mate. As your alpha I introduce you to Emma Lowe,
unclaimed mate to my nephew Kian Decker."
"But she is human, its against your own rules Alpha." A man from the back yelled
angrily. People had been cast out as rogues for mating humans.
Before Russ could say anything Kian turned around and said "I understand the
confusion, and bitterness some of you may be feeling. But let me assure youwhile Emma may smell human, but she was born to shifter parents. My intent
was not to break any rules, but to proudly show off my mate today, as any wolf
would. That rule was made to protect our community from exposure. She is no
threat to that, having had to hide her own nature."
"Why doesn't she smell like a wolf then?" An older woman asked.
"She was born to rogues but without a wolf inside her." The alpha said carefully
neutral. It was clear he wanted to see how this played out.
There was some laughter, a few shouts asking how that was possible from the
pack, but most of the shifters just seemed surprised. Kian spoke up asking
anyone if they knew of this happening before.
"A shifter without a wolf? Never! There must be something wrong with her."
Another man explaimed. "Maybe that's why her parents were rogues, they were
cast out of their pack!"
Speaking for the first time in her parents defense Emma said "My father was born
a rogue, my mother came from a pack. She took off with him when they fell in
love since he was not accepted into her pack." The implication clear, should she
be forced to leave she wanted Kian with her.
Lex stepped up to the base of the steps near Emma and Kian, and said to
the pack "Our second wouldn't endanger his people, and I give my
congratulations to Kian," then turning back toward the couple, "it is nice to see
him happy Emma."Kayla walked over with a hug for Emma, Kole stepped up too, eyes serious on
the pack.
Finally seeing the support some of the pack clapped in welcome, others
grumbling, a few outright mad still. The Alpha said "Today we all shift and run as
together as pack. It has been too long."
"Uncle Russ you know she can't shift with us. Is she supposed to wait here on
the porch by herself?" Kian asked angrily.
"This would be the problem with her in our pack, she is yours to figure out Kian.
You are the one mated to her. You had to realize she would hinder your abilities
to stand as second beside your alpha. She may go home by herself, or you are
welcome to go with her. If so, don't bring her at all next time." Russ said pointedly
as he walked past them taking his clothes off. The pack was all undressing
quickly too.
"I will just head home then. Have a good run." Kian said turning to leave.
"Thats how it is? A second should run with his Alpha."
"And a mated pair sticks together." Kian said back.
"That would be your choice." And with that the alpha let the change have him on
a rush of power. The big brown wolf with calculating silver eyes exploding out of
him. With a dominant growl and snap towards Kian and a dismissive swish of his
tail for Emma he ran off towards the woods. Kian and Emma were left with Lex,
Kayla and Kole."That could have gone better" Emma muttered.
"Could have gone much worse too. Kian could've been banished." Lex shrugged.
"Our alpha only sees black and white, and you're a very big gray area. Don't be
suprised if you loose the right to hold a rank though. That growl wasn't for show
Deck."
"This isn't right man, she's our fucking people." Kole huffed out.
A long powerful howl rose from deep within the woods. Emma recognized it as
Kian's uncle. Still clothed the three people around them groaned in pain. His
uncle was going to force a change from them.
"The alpha demands obedience." Kian explained to Emma.
"But not you?" Emma asked as Kayla, Kole, and Lex headed towards the woods.
"He wasn't calling me." Kian said.
"Or your wolf don't follow him as alpha anymore." Kole grunted out just before
bending over as a man and landing as a wolf. Kole as a wolf was a dark silvered
gray with a white chest. Lex and Kayla changed too. With one last look at her
brother the cream colored wolf trotted off into the woods. Kole and Lex seemed
unsure whether to go to the pack. The dark silvered gray wolf, Lex with his dark
brown fur lightening to tan face, paced back and forth.
Understanding their loyalty to him Kian said them "Go. We will figure this out
another day."Her skin tingling from the power of the pack's changes, Emma asked,
"Should I be packing?" Brushing his thumb across her cheekbone, Kian shook
his head. "You heard your uncle's threat right? Choose to run with him, or else."
"Yeah, it was damn hard to miss. I don't know whats going to happen, but I
couldn't leave you sitting here." Kian leaned down resting his forehead on hers.
"You are my priority now Em."
Emma took a deep breath, pulling in all of Kian's comforting essence she could.
Nodding her head she stepped back, "Ok, but you have to change sometimes,
Kian I don't expect you to never run as a wolf."
Leading her back to his truck Kian took a moment to think before answering. "I
love that your first thought is my well being. I will change later tonight. You
mentioned needing to stock up on food. Lets go grocery shopping." Kian added,
saying the last part like it was an adventure.
"I can do that myself Kian." Emma laughed.
"Of course, because you are a strong woman who doesn't need a man." He said
with a wink. "Maybe I'm not ready for our weekend to be over yet. Tomorrow we
both go back to work, and I'm gonna miss the hell out of you. So let me wander
the store with you, then help you unpack it all huh?"
With an argument like that how could Emma say no?
Chapter 8
Over the next few days Emma switched back and forth from being so
happy she could walk on clouds, to
