Night Of The Wolf

The next morning Council Emissary O'Connor delivered Jedidiah's 'gift basket' to Vuk. As the boss pulled back the towel covering the disembodied head he said calmly, "Tako da se malo stene zeli igrati ... Valjda ga moram ponovo obrazovati. (So the little puppy wishes to play... I guess I must educate him again.)" Vuk took a deep breath then coldly replied, "Drugan you may go, I have no reply for you to return."

The bureaucrat departed as the boss continued speaking to the air in restrained rage, "Oh my little one... you will pay for violating this truce. I wanted my new puppy to know only sexual bliss... NOW you will know real pain under my heel, before you serve by my side. I will rip your life apart until all that remains is the pain and me."

The mighty Serb looked at one of his underlings. Vuk pointed at the basket on the desk, "Dispose of that. Rhiau Pack wants a war... this is ok with me, we can do war, on my timetable. Assemble the hunters, we have to boost our numbers. Turn every candidate we can find. I will need pawns for this chess board. Make them strong, loyal and dumb. I want an army big enough to both dominate the council and end Rhiau forever.

We will make the incident in Miami look like a party for having tea. But be absolutely sure all know, no one touches my plaything. He is special, HIS torment is for me alone. All other Rhiau Pack are targets of opportunity. The words of the day are, overwhelm and slaughter. The bloodier the better. I told that Welsh bastard the only way to grow a pack properly is to convert the other mundanes. Now he will learn the hard way, I was right."

---

The special feeling at the start of the second night of full moon was gone. The hunters of the pack knew the years of cold disagreement and bad blood between the packs had now become a hot war. They also knew the world council was opposed to the bloodshed that was coming. It was quite clear the council expected Rhiau pack to rollover, back down and acquiesce in the name of lycan security.

Jedidiah's grandmother had left with the council. Jed hoped she was back in his life for more than just an evening. Some boys are Mama's boys, not Jed. He was Grandma's baby boy... always. He also saw a glint of something in her eyes as he swiped Zivko's head from his shoulders, "Was that pride..." he wondered?

Arian could feel his little mate's mood slipping fast. Taking a life is hard, even ending the life of a worthless parasite like Zivko. He was desperate to make the boy (his boy) feel good again. He fired off a few suggestions in rapid fire. "I'm not tired yet Jed. How do you feel about a few laps in the pool, or he could hit the gym, or kitchen. Maybe we could take a hot tub soak or sauna?"

Jedidiah saw what his mate was doing and replied, "It sounds like you are determined to keep me naked, full, and wet." Arian released the sly confident smile Jed loved so much. They walked back into the tunnel with Arian's arm wrapping around his mate's back.

Once the secret door was sealed and locked for the night the protectors excused themselves back into The Orange Plant. Reprisals were expected, the hunters were on high alert. They would be patrolling both pack, and Jedidiah's properties.

Once the boys were alone inside The Grotto they dropped their robes and began swimming laps. After the last lap Arian encouraged Jed to swim into the shallow west wing of the pool. Part of the salt water filtration system was an artificial waterfall made to look like the river was pouring in to The Grotto itself.

Arian and Jedidiah stood under the falling water. As it cascaded down their bodies, Arian pulled Jed tight against him. The quarterback's hands began working the delicate muscles that made up Jedidiah's back. Kneading the flesh lower and lower until he was caressing the boy's ample ass cheeks. Jedidiah was holding Arian so tight it was impossible to discern where one body ended and the other began.

Jedidiah was softly biting at his mate's collarbone. He was desperate for any part of the other boy's salty flesh in his mouth. Arian softly stroked the tender folds of flesh between Jed's ass cheeks. Finding the pink rosebud like pucker, he teased the flesh until it yielded to the firm but gentle pressure from Arian's middle finger. The digit immediately sunk to the second knuckle and Jedidiah elicited a soft moan into Arian's breast bone.

"My little pup loves his master's touch..." Arian felt his partner's blood instantly go cold. Jedidiah was lost in the past again. He heard Zivco's words of comfort, "'YOU' are 'HIS' property and he defends his property with great vengeance."

A shadowy out of focus image of Milan Vuc filled his mind. As much as he tried Jed could still not remember Vuc's features. Jedidiah knew Milan was the real threat... how can you defend yourself from a man whose face you cannot see. He pushed hard against the older boy's chest. Arian stood there with his mouth agape watching Jed climb out of the pool, gather his robe and walk the length of The Grotto.

The older boy softly cursed at himself for triggering Jedidiah. Mrs March warned Arian there would be words, phrases, touches and even smells that would likely bring Jed back to the trauma he had endured. Those triggers would send his mind back to those days working in the rooms, dungeons and sex shops.

Jedidiah had disclosed through therapy how Quade would bind and blindfold Jed, then he would take the boy on road trips. Quade called them visits to his "special play spaces." For some time Jed had thought the two were just driving around in circles and returning to the factory home redressed as a stone dungeon.

He eventually realized this was not possible. It was too different, after impacting against some of the walls during "play," he knew they were solid and not just decorative foam castings or stage dressings. This building is where Quaid would finish the training on the new "meat." The poor unfortunate highway foundlings he then sold to Vuk and the other monsters who traded in human flesh... sex slaves.

Jedidiah has spent a lot of time since his grandfather's death pouring through the corporate assets. Untangling the Gordian's knot of shadow dummy corporations. Searching for clues to where he had been taken.

That was a building that had to be destroyed. The teen realized there were some things and some places that were beyond redemption. Jed also had a secret hope to locate and free as many of the enslaved people as possible. A silly vanity on his part, he was hoping to bring some good out of the evil that befell him.

Arian followed Mrs. March's sage wisdom and gave his mate space and a few moments to calm down. He followed a good bit behind the younger boy. He had been hoping his mate would be waiting for him in bed.

Jedidiah had been sharing his suite of rooms with Arian these last few weeks. The two were becoming inseparable. After the homecoming dance Arian and Jed spent almost every moment, "connected in oral bliss."

Arian had just slid the door closed separating the suite from the rest of the second floor. He heard the distinctive heavy click sound of the sauna door closing in the gym.

Arian took a deep breath then opened the door. "Babe, you shouldn't sauna alone. About what happened in the pool, I'm sorry I wasn't thinking..."

Jed stopped his mate. Hanging his head he added, "It's not your issue, its mine. I know you're not him, but it was part of his play with me... Milan mind fucked me so bad. The worst part, I can't even remember what he looked like!"

Jed's whole body was shaking. There was a pause but Arian knew there was more. Mrs. March told him about these breaks. He knew he couldn't break in and be the hero. No his place was to use his strength to pause, until Jed could finish his thought. Jed spat out what he needed in broken fragments, "I want... no I need you in me. I need for you to take me... possess me... mark me... to prove that I am all yours."

Arian understood but had to correct his mate's error, "I may not understand how you feel but, I know you're wrong Jed on something. This is not just YOUR issue, it is 'OUR' issue. Your health, your well-being is my primary concern. As a mated pair, you are mine and I am yours as long as we live.

Luna chose us for each other. Jed, my mark is already on you... in you... forever. My essence is commingled in your blood. I am yours and you are mine till death separates us." The temperature slowly climbed in the sauna, and Jedidiah turned away towards a hidden drawer to get the lube. He quickly prepared himself stretching his hole with his fingers.

"Please Jed, can I?" Arian asked. Jedidiah simply nodded and lay on the towel covered bench on his back with his knees pressed to his chest. Arian squeezed and massaged Jedidiah's ass reveling in the feel of the pretty "cheer boy" beneath him.

His fingers traced circles around Jedidiah's anus and watched as Jed shuddered in anticipation. He probed with one finger, which quickly progressed until he had three fingers probing, swirling and stretching the warm tender flesh surrounding his digits.

Arian lifted his fingers to his mouth to taste Jedidiah. A moment later he dove down licking and eating Jed's ass out. Only minutes had passed but to Jedidiah it felt like hours. He finally screamed in pleasure and delight as Arian's tongue pushed in and out of his ass. "Arian now, I'm ready, please, I need you inside me. I don't think I can take much more." He grunted as his fists clenched the towel to keep himself from floating off the bench.

Arian suddenly stopped. Thinking his partner wanted his full submission, Jed started to roll to his stomach. Arian stopped him, "No" Arian whispered grabbing his arm "I want to be able to look into your eyes when we make love. I need you to see it is me as our bodies become one. I need you to see it is me claiming your body.

I need your hands on me, so you know you are safe. I need you to know... that you are mine. More importantly than all that my love... I need you to know that I am yours as well. We belong to each other and our future, not to our past."

Jedidiah felt his heart ache and tears form in his eyes. This was everything he ever wanted to hear. He knew there would never be another man for him in his life and he would gladly give up his life for this time... how ever short it may be. He rolled onto his back once more opening himself up to Arian.

Arian leaned down on his forearms hovering slightly above Jedidiah and stared into those beautiful blue eyes he loved as he lined his cock up with Jedidiah's eager little hole. He slowly pushed in, staring into those eyes that shone with so much love and trust. Once he was fully planted inside Jedidiah, he felt his balls resting on his cheer boy's bottom. Arian paused letting his full weight rest on Jed's body. He passionately kissed Jedidiah's scorching hot lips.

Jed not only felt the fullness of Arian's cock breaching his ass but the fullness in his heart. He felt complete. He felt the bliss that true love really brought. He knew what it truly felt like to make love to the one you love. He gyrated his hips causing Arian to shudder in delight. Arian slowly pulled out until just his tip was inside, and then pushed back in setting up a sensual pace.

Arian shifted and his cock brushed against Jedidiah's prostate. Jed felt like shocks of electricity was passing through him sending waves of pleasure through his body. "There... please Arian..." he gasped "Do it there again." Arian obliged causing Jedidiah to gasp once more.

They made love slowly as the pleasure built within them. Arian repeatedly hit that magic spot that caused his love to light up. Eventually Jed felt that if he didn't cum soon; the pleasure would drive him insane "Faster" he moaned as Arian sped up... "Harder" he instructed again. "Please, cum inside me... Breed me... Mark me as yours, I am yours always."

Those last words triggered an animalistic cry from Arian; he pumped in and out of Jed with a lightning ferocity, slamming their hips together like their lives depended on it.

Jedidiah threw his head back against the bamboo bench. He was screaming out in pleasure as his body reached its peak and he began to cum. His orgasm ripped through his body and his mind went blank as his seed sprayed of his stomach, chest and neck. Jed's ass clenched and milked Arian's cock. With a roar Arian followed Jedidiah over the edge. He dropped on top of Jed, his head finding the crook of Jedidiah's neck as he licked and sucked on the soft sweat and cum slicked skin.

When the boys finally caught their breath they showered and went to bed together.

---

Jed slept late the next morning wrapped in Arian's powerful arms. The QB god was caressing him, looking into his mate's eyes as they fluttered. The memory of the night was replaying in their minds as Jedidiah relived it in his dream. Arian could feel Jed's pain fade to pleasure as dream Arian thrust in and out of his ass. The erotic dream culminated with Jed's cock shooting coating his belly, as Arian's cum covered Jedidiah's thigh.

The intensity of the orgasm finally woke Jedidiah. As Jed's eyes opened Arian spoke, "That's the first time I ever came, while someone else was having a wet dream." Jedidiah's blood rush to his cheeks as he blushed deeply.

Arian began gently cleaning the deposits from his mates body. Now fully awake Jedidiah looked up into Arian's eyes. "I caused problems for the pack last night didn't I."

"No you did not! You simply picked the scab off of a wound that needed to be debrided a long time ago. I know my dad does not hold you accountable. I know for a fact he actually thinks he let you down.

He holds himself in that place of failure. There's a maggot in this wound named Vuc. The diseased tissue called the Klanje Pack needs to be excised completely or it will continue to spread and infect others. You absolutely did not start the war baby."

There was discomfort on Arian's face as he spelled out in broken words, "Dad hasn't told me... but I have a feeling... I have a feeling he may have been the one who turned Vuk.

For the record though... please let me know if I ever piss you off. That throat swipe was a killer attack. I am supposed to be teaching you how to fight and defend yourself. Looks like I might be the one needing lessons. Was that knowledge part of the elemental's gifts?"

"I guess so. It's kind of weird, I don't remember doing it. It was like I just stepped out of myself becoming an observer as the wolf took control. It's also a little scary. I'm just grateful that Mom didn't see it. She would have totally freaked. Shit I have to have 'THAT' conversation with Mom this morning."

"You mean about your grandma being alive? That is going to be tough. Do you think she will keep it from your dad?"

"I don't know Arian. I'm so afraid. The last time we... by that I mean 'I' kept a secret from him, it didn't end well for me." Arian held on to his mate until it was time to start what would be a very long day in a string of long days to come.

"We will face it together. Now as far as your battle tactics we're going to have to drill. Instinct might give you some sort of advantage. Still, you're not as strong as the rest of us yet. Now let's face it in your human form, while you're flexible, you are not a powerhouse. I'm going to have to teach you how to evade your attacker until you can shift to your lycan form."

The boys dressed and went down for breakfast.

---

Jed always believed in guided happenstance, to mortals things just occurred without a visible pattern. He trusted that Hisagita Misa knew what he was doing, and could see the pattern that was hidden from the mere mortals he breathed life into. During Sunday morning breakfast this simple belief was demonstrated for Jed again.

Jedidiah's father turned to Arian and said, "I'd like to have a talk with you young man. After breakfast we can take a trip out to the farm if you're up to it." Buck saw the nervous look on Arian's face and misunderstood its intent. "Nothing to be afraid of. You are dating my boy, Hachi says you two are MORE than married in the eyes of your pack. I want... no, I think that I need to get to know you a little better.

I also know the two of them need ceremonial time together after these big life events. I don't understand what they do when they go off into the swamp by themselves. I just know it's necessary and it's part of who they are. You'll catch on quick enough. At times like this, you and I need to step back and give them room."

When breakfast ended and Buck left the plant with Arian. Then Jed and his mother took their walk. They crossed the river and took the trail that headed to the reservation lands with five hunters in tow for security. The hunters shifted to their lycan form, keeping a discreet distance so the Jedidiah could talk with his mother. Truth be told, they were a bit frightened knowing an elemental shared Hachi's existence.

"Mother, in my whole life I have only asked you to keep one thing from dad..." Hachi nodded her head. She was about to reply when her son blurted. "Now I find I have to ask for that favor again."

Hachi started to reply, "I know my sweet Jedidiah..."

Jed interrupted her, "Mom, I have to tell you..."

She replied more pointedly, "Jed... I know."

"...Grandma D is alive..." Halfway through his reply he realized what his mother was trying to say, "...wait, huh... HOW?"

Hachi covered her son's mouth with two fingers, "I know. Leilani showed me. We saw the dream you shared with your mate son. Leilani was able to confine most of it to just us.

You do need to learn how to exercise more control when you walk in your dreams my son. It is a wonderful gift to share your child's love... though a bit awkward at times like this. I have sorely neglected some of your education."

As the two walked further, "Ummm, Mom did you see and feel... ummm everything... we... I mean what Arian and I did..."

Hachi fought back a laugh. "Oh my, I do not see everything..." Jedidiah relaxed until his mother added, "I have only the maternal bond with you. You shared a link with Leilani and now she is sensitive to you. But I share her existence. As your life has shown she does not see everything, but she does see a lot..."

The mother could not stifle her amusement any longer as Jed glowed bright red. "For a boy who takes after his father's pale family so much, you do favor me when you are embarrassed."

The two approached Leilani's special place and a familiar face greeted them. Terry Weatherford shouted "Chee-hun-tah-mo!" Warm hugs were shared. "I have prepared the lodge for you." The lycan hunters yipped their displeasure.

"Although I feel that you have changed, Jedidiah you are still ours. You have been touched by the spirit of this place. You are it's nog-no-chee..." The big man rested his large hand on the boy's shoulder, "...you're our boy as well... always."

Jed thanked his friend and turned his attention to the hunters, "I sense your discomfort with this place, hell for the first time in my life I don't feel so good here."

"My son I will explain why to you later. We must go, your father can only occupy Arian for so long, and we have much to discuss."

Jedidiah aknowledged his mother and turned to address the hunters, "Patrol the outer banks of the streams. The island in the middle of the lake was made by Leilani. It is HER special place. Outsiders cannot go there... not without her blessing. We... I am protected and safe, she will defend us."

The interaction between Jed and the lycans left Terry more than a little confused but so much left him confused when it came to this family. He knew it was best he just accept it and move on. The five wolves yipped their understanding and as the airboat pulled away from the shore the wolves ran off to patrol."

Mr Weatherford sped across the water to Leilani's constructed island's shoreline. As the boat grounded hundreds of birds took to the sky and the dozens of alligators who had been sunning themselves on the banks slid quickly into the lake as if something made them very uncomfortable. The three on the boat knew why, Leilani was home.

There was smoke coming from the center of the lodge. Terry gestured so that Hachi and her son knew that things had been properly prepared as he was taught to do since he was a boy. He would remain on the boat until the three rejoined him. Though they were only two bodies Terry knew there were three souls.

Secrecy was nothing new when it came to sacred rites. Outside anthropologists for generations had trying to learn the ancient rites and mysticism of the undefeated people. In most cases, they went away empty. Even funeral rights were protected and shrouded in mystery.

Simply put when it came to the sacred, if you are not directly involved, you were not informed. Terry's family had received many blessings from Hachi and her progenitors. He only knew that something powerful walked with them. He would die to protect this family.

On entry into the lodge the two turned to the east and said a prayer for wisdom. Jedidiah reached for the willow stick and handed it to his mother acknowledging she spoke for two. The order normally would be Hachi speaking and Jedidiah listening. Then his mother would pass the stick so he could reply and it was her turn to listen.

Back when his grandmother and aunt were alive it made more sense. Soon there would be a third member in their circle again, so Hachi and Jed thought the right should be continued. The host of Leilani was always the first and last to speak. "Ask your questions my son."

Jedidiah asked, "Mother what is she? I have felt peace with her... but I have also felt rage. I have seen glimpses of what the previous host, the lycan host, was like. When he went mad after Jackson's army slaughtered most of his family. I felt HER rage and his insanity... Is she a goddess like this Luna the lycans worship, or just a powerful being? If she is a goddess, how could she have been surprised so often?"

There was a momentary pause before she replied. "Jed, your knowledge of Leilani is young but growing. We told you what we thought your child's mind could understand at the time. Jed we share your confusion. In the old days she was confused with a deity... an Earth Spirit... an eternal. As I have grown to know her, I understand she and her siblings are just other beings who are sharing this journey in our realm. She and her kind have no form so they use us. They share our existence, to understand this reality."

Leilani reached out and revealed the story to Jed. It was like a movie screen was in his mind as Hachi spoke. "As to the battles with the blue army, neither Leilani nor I enjoy thinking about that time. Leilani has moods like us, she shares the emotions we have for our families. When our lycan forebearer, Standing Wolf, returned with his father and the hunting party they saw how our people in the village had been slaughtered. When he found the broken and burned bodies of his wife and sons he went mad... and Leilani went quite mad with him.

So much death... so much blood... It took three full days to locate the squad that attacked the village. Then Leilani and he, in lycan form, made them suffer. Only one union soldier was left alive. He lied and told a story of surviving an 'Indian' raiding party led by Standing Wolf.

When Standing Wolf returned to the camp, word had arrived that the Union soldiers were already hunting for him. Our leaders knew if they found him among the people, the butchers would slaughter the rest of the community. It was decided that Standing Wolf had to die, to save many others. It was also decided that his own father must perform the task.

Standing Wolf's father took his son's body to the union fort. He spoke to the fort's commander of what had triggered his son's madness. He said the attack on the soldiers was simple revenge and was not done with the knowledge of the people. When the Union commander understood that the father had killed his son to stop the bloodshed, it was enough.

In exchange for a truce and allowing the father to leave with Standing Wolf's body for funeral rites, it was agreed that the slaughter of the village would be hidden. In the end the blue soldiers broke their word again and fighting continued, but the fighting continued on our terms and in 'Kahayatle' our home. The spirit fought alongside us and although our numbers dwindled we were never defeated.

Leilani returned to this island to heal for a time. In the end she joined with Standing Wolf's niece to continue her journey with our people. Given her incredible age my son, I am both in awe and frightened by what she has seen and what she knows. I am also concerned that she too can still be surprised. She too was deceived by your grandfather. I feel her guilt and share in it."

The two talked back and forth for several hours. Other secrets were revealed to Jedidiah. Things he would have to know for the future, in case he should have to guide his unborn sister's path. The sun was low in the sky when they returned to the other side of the lake.

When the airboat landed on the bank, the hunters gathered around them. There was a large very anxious sixth wolf pacing back and forth in front of Jedidiah, a silver gray wolf. Hachi looked down upon Arian's lycan form, "My son's mate understands this place is NOT for him. Still, I see how much he loves and risks for my son..."

A confused Terry gestured in the direction of the wolf form asking, "Arian?"

Jedidiah nodded yes.

The big man smiled laughing, "He has been dancing on the bank waiting for you for over an hour." He chuckled as Arian released a low growl. "My boys have something special waiting for you back at The Orange Plant Jed."

"Mom, I'm getting the feeling that everyone in this town knew about lycans except for me."

Terry replied, "Didn't know... but some things finally make sense to me. Lycans... like that Twilight Team Jacob shit?" There was a low unified displeased growl from the six wolves and Jedidiah. "Bad comparison, got it... We'll talk later.

On my word my little brother, this stays between us. Not even my own children will hear of it from me. This is the covenant I was born to keep between your family, the tribe, and my fathers. I will treat you as I have since you were twelve. Since your naming at the green corn ceremony you have been a man. In time when I am gone you will choose another watcher. As your watcher, what you say is between us, and stays between us."

While the other hunters went on their wide patrol, Arian remained by Jedidiah's side.

At the clearing on the other side of the bridge, the hunters shifted back to human form and changed back into their clothing, as did Arian. When the group arrived at The Orange Plant, Jed's grandmother's beloved Corvette was there and all its restored glory.

---

The football season faded into the basketball season and winter. Both teams won their championships. By the time the baseball season was underway Rhiau pack was slowly comming down from their state of constant alert. Although Jed and Arian continued to train daily.

During one of those early training sessions Dutch, saw his son was just playing with his mate. He swiftly shifted and tossed Arian some thirty feet from his mate dropping him hard to the ground. The alpha then turned on Jedidiah. His attack was so swift in the boy was quickly knocked on his back as the elder lycan wrapped his teeth around the young pup's throat.

The shift and dual attack caused such fear Jed (in lycan form) pissed himself. Now that the point was made Dutch released Jed and turned his attention back to his son. "Arian you do a grave disservice to your pup by toying with him. Jed, will not get this playful treatment from Vuc and his pack.

If I were Klanje, you and your mate would be dead. This is no longer simple raiding, we are at war and this is just a lul between battles."

Dutch turned his attention back to Jed. "You got lucky once son... Zivko was thinking with the wrong head when you killed him. You fooled the mongrel into dropping his guard. I know your heart is with your mate and pack. Your mate and pack need to have your head in the game too."

The big man now back in human form softened, cupping the still shaking boy's cheek, "I know I frightened you Jed. Understand, it was necessary. I would never harm you but, as your Alpha I must be sure you are ready... and I also needed to correct my son's error."

With the lesson well received, the tone and tempo of the mock battles changed. It was no longer playful sport. No, sparring with his lover could no longer be looked upon as foreplay. Occasionally the other hunters and Steph stepped in to assist with that training.

School changed as well. He was transferred to a special physical education program. He trained with a collection of lycan youths. They did speed shifting and battle drills during the period.

On the academic front both Jed and Arian had been accepted by multiple universities. They chose the wiser course to stay close to home and keep their profile low.

The decision caused a bit of annoyance with Jed's mom. She had visions of ivy in her son's future. "The local university was good enough," Jedidiah had argued. Both the Sheriff and Jedidiah's father agreed with him.

The knowledge of his ancestor was becoming more available. Jed's continued experiences were making it personal. The bridge between simple fact and understanding was being built.

Jed was starting to understand pack tactics. With a higher-profile school, came increased probability of being recognized in the future. The pack and the individual lycans survive with stealth.

Jedidiah's young protege Jason adapted to the Scruff persona very well. The different teams, cheerleaders, and fans started liking the boy's antics on the field. Jason developed a confidence and his stammer almost vanished. He also became invaluable in the theater department, both as a member of the running crew and tech department.

The big surprise of baseball season was a budding romance between the Jason and the team's star shortstop. Sean Lee was a beta, he had been a good football player, but he was an excellent baseball player. His parents had to transfer from one of the pack's other hunting ground in the Seatle area of Washington State.

Ever since he moved into the city, he had been a loner. All that changed during homecoming. Sean and Jason had been inseparable. Of course Jedidiah was protecting Jason's heart. It was known that the relationship would only last so long until either found their true mate. There are times you meet Mr Right... and there are times you settle for Mr right now.

Arian watched as Jed and his mother danced during the green corn festival. Jed had always marveled at his school's diversity. There were whites, blacks, Miccosukee, and more than a few asians. This year he knew the truth, that his school was far more diverse than he had ever imagined.

There was another change he had to get used to. An old factory change. Not only could he smell more, he could identify more. He remembered old smells from his time in his grandfather's care. As he walked through the town he started to identify the men who had used his services.

He was going to the party supply store to talk to Mr. Jacobson. In addition to the prom he wanted to do something special for graduation. He needed to order special items that would take a month or so to come in.

When he entered there was a familiar smell. When it was just he and Mr. Jacobson in the store he knew where it came from. Jed could only ask one question expressed in a single sad word, "Why?"

The color drained from Jacobson's face, "I knew what your grandad was doing with the bondage play. I enjoy BDSM. Steph and her mom never knew. I assumed everyone was willing. Luna as my witness boy, I didn't even know it was you at first.

When I figured out it was you under the hood, I couldn't follow through Jed. That's why I just held you until my time ran out... I should have told the alpha. I should have found a way to help you. I am so sorry Jedidiah."

The two collapsed upon each other hugging and crying. The scene was interrupted when Steph entered the room. She asked what was going on.

Jed simply replied with the truth... from his special perspective. "Your dad did something to protect me as a kid, he gave me a break on a really bad day. I was just now getting around to thanking him."

---

There were a few attacks attributed to Klanje Pack. Mostly because of the extreme level of mutilation to the bodies. It was quite clear that Vuk was sending a message. As the war intensified, Vuc sent messages through the corpses to Jed. During the first three, the Sheriff tried to shield the young pack member, forgetting Jed's special gifts.

Klanje pack also performed a service to the community of sorts. Several men, business leaders (both rogue lycan and mundane) had been found murdered in several gruesome manners. It was becoming more difficult to get the mundane community to believe the random animal attack story.

It was Jed who noticed a connecting item between all of these corpses. All had been men who had used him. Several were dear friends of his grandfather. It didn't take long to draw the connection. All had the same four letter word carved into their chests "MINE." In his warped way Vuk was avenging the damage to what he saw as his property.

The Sheriff didn't release in addition to the violent deaths, each of the victims had been sexually used, brutally. He also hid that a message was left at each scene. It was written in the victim's own blood, "See you soon, my little soul!" Through it all Jed persevered.

Then came prom weekend. Both Jed and Arian asked to be removed from consideration for prom king and queen. With the continued attacks it was too much of a risk. That of course did not stop the party from being scheduled for The Orange Plant.

There was another ceremony of pomp and tradition in the works. In the eyes of the lycan community the two were already one. Plans were in the works for a civil ceremony to make their union official and legal. The boys set the date a week after graduation.

Prom for all the pomp and glitz was far easier and less stressful than homecoming. The security detail grumbled about The Orange Plant being used. Eventually even they had to admit it was still the best location. Upgrades had been made to the security system, at the pack Alpha's request.

The pack had requested that Arian not play college sports. Too much visibility, and too much risk. Jedidiah promised his mate a full-ride scholarship. Heavy emphasis on the full ride. His father said that would not be necessary. Jed of course acquiesced to his alpha.

Prom came and went off without a hitch, or so everyone believed. A young lycan patrol went missing, it was assumed Klanje was the cause. It was Jed and Arian's team who found their remains scattered on the tribal lands. The clearing was a special space to Jedidiah. The location was known to only a few. It was the site his parents were married on. Jed wanted it to be the site of his wedding to Arian.

Jed wailed in sorrow over the remains of his dear friend Jason and his boyfriend Sean. While the deaths of the patrol was quick, the young lovers had been raped and tortured for hours. The tourture ended with Sean being drawn and quartered with silver rope.

Vuc later sent Jed the video. It showed molten silver being slowly poured onto Jason's tiny chest in the form of the Klanje crest. Somewhere along the way Jason died screaming in agony.

News spread quickly and the pack began to assemble at The Orange Plant. The Sheriff pulled Jake and Nancy March to the side. Nancy crumbled to the floor hearing of her first born's death. Jake punched the concrete wall, the resulting breaking bones were clearly audible.

Jedidiah addressed the March family. "He trusted me to keep him safe and I failed him. He died because of me. Vuc wants me hurting, he knew I loved Jason like a brother." Regardless of the March's assurances that only Vuc was to blame, Jedidiah felt responsible for the death of his friend.

He was getting tired of the cycle of death stalking him. "Nancy, by both Luna and Leilani, Jason will be avenged. No matter the cost, you have my word Vuc will die by MY hand. I will send that monsters final breath back to the maker of all things."

Remembering a previous conversation Arian asked, "Jed, I thought saying her name outloud was a harbinger of great death?"

"I spoke no lie... It is. I am going to kill that bastard, and anyone who stands by his side, or shields him! You still want to fight by my side?"

"To hell and back." Jake March and the football pack members circled around Jed and Arian.

Dutch chimed in, "I hope you pups will let the rest of us old folks help out."

Jed dropped his eyes, "Yes Alpha. I meant no disrespect to either you or the pack. Please forgive my outburst.

That said, this is Glynis Landing. I was born a Glynis. The Glynis clan has been at the center of the community for centuries. A member of MY family helped this monster get his foot in the door. I am fully invested!"

"Jed I am not even going to try to imagine your burden. Here is a portion of mine. Vuc was my human lover, back then he was still a gentle boy. It was during the plague of seventeen thirty-eight. It swept through the village, including his house. One by one his family died as we watched. When he began coughing up blood... I just couldn't lose him, so Luna forgive me, I sired him.

Years later, when I found my true mate I cast him asside. That act killed all that was good in him. ALL of this is on ME... thinking with my dick..." The alpha's reply was cut short.

A lycan deputy burst into the room, "Sheriff we have a report of a fire!"

"So call out the fire department."

"It's your house sir!" The Sheriff thought of his mate and ran to the door with Arian four steps behind."

Jed barked out "Jake, I want to bring the rest of the pack's children and vulnerable here for safety until this is over. Double the guard!" When he hit the outside Arian was standing there.

"Jed, Dad wouldn't unlock my side. He just left without me..."

"I guess it's a good thing I have these." He held up the keys to his vette and ran in it's direction. The boys took off into the night trailing the police vehicle into the county. Fifteen minutes outside the city, the sky ahead glowed orange.

The vette slid sideways into the driveway right behind the Sheriff's truck. The house was fully engulfed. A woman came around from the side of the home. The boys knew who it was.

Arian shouted, "Mom!" The father and son rushed to her side she was alive but injured.

There was the sound of a small explosion from the front porch flames flowed out onto the front grass spelling out a message in fire down the hill, "Wrong house, my little soul."

It was as if walls crumbled inside his mind. He could finally see the memory of Milan Vuc. He also knew which house he needed to go to. Jed spun on his heal and began running back to the vette. Arian shouted something but the car was already in gear and roaring in reverse out of the driveway.

The sound of the gravel flying eliminated any additional discussion as Jedidiah raced to the one place he knew his nemesis was... his home.

"Dad, he left me!" When the trio reached the former location of the vette they could read the message burning in their front yard.

As the fire engines arrived Dutch said the first word that hit his mind, "FUCK! Arian take your mother's truck and get to The Orange Plant. I'll get to Jed."

For the third time in an hour Arian was left behind and it was pissing him off. He knew better than to disobey his father. The mother and son rode in silence to The Orange Plant. When they arrived she looked to her son, "I'm safe. Go help your mate. If you can, help your father too."

Jed arrived at the family home seen the front door broken open. The air was heavy with the copper like scent of blood, piss, and cum. His father was laying naked in the living room with his throat avulsed. He was in a pool of his own blood, and clearly abused.

We shouted for his mother and began running up the stairs. He bolted into the bedroom and saw the knife embedded in his mother's back. The wounds in her body were too numerous to count. Remnants of his unborn sister were laying on the bedroom floor. They ripped her from her mother's womb.

He knew it was Leilani alone keeping her alive. Hachi spoke one final time to her son, "Oh my boy. I did not want this. Do not let grief and rage consume you. Remember me and stay gentle." Then she repeated her mother's final words to Jed, "All things have a time sweet Jedidiah... this time is mine."

He was about ask Leilani to trade his life for his mother's. Hachi knew her son well. Her womb now empty and her husband dead, she shelled rejecting his gift of healing. She began her journey on the river of stars. If she could not be with her husband and daughter in life, she would join them in death.

The room grew ice cold as Leilani left her now dead host. The green orb of swirling gas glowed bright in the room. She rested a moment upon Jedidiah then vanished into the night. Walking down the stairs he saw the message Vuc left on the entry door wall. "Soon my little soul. I will take all your pain away." The message was written in his father's blood.

Dutch entered, "Both?" Jed shook his head no and held up a third finger for his unborn sister. His gen was dead. The Sheriff held his son's mate. "You win. We do this your way Jed. The Elemental?"

"She showed me what happened, how they died. Then she touched me, giving me one final gift. I guess am tainted. She has gone to morn her losses and prepare for her future. I am all alone now." His cry became a wail of despair.

"Jed, you are not alone. You are ours now." The Alpha sensed there was more to the story. The boy would share it in time. For now he needed his pack.

"Dutch, Milan is killing everyone who has ever touched me. My people have a saying it is better one die than all. I think even you can understand, only I can end this sir."

The Alpha was about to contradict the teen when three deputies arrived. One was a mundane, he had to stay within the role of sheriff. "Triple homicide secure the scene and wait for CSU."

Dutch spoke to the mundane, "Collins, follow me in my truck to The Orange Plant, I'll have someone bring you back for your unit. I need to get Mr. Glynis to a safe place. I want you for back up."

The CSU team was made up of members of Rhiau Pack. The personal messages would be sanitized. This was about containment. There was no doubt who was behind the murders. Deputy Collins was a good man, but he was still a mundane. Dutch had to protect the pack first.

Halfway back to The Orange Plant the Sheriff saw headlights approaching. He went on alert, it was the traumatized teen who spoke up saying, "It's Arian." The Deputy's SUV and the Corvette stopped in the middle of the road and Arian was directed to follow. Even at this distance he felt his mate's pain.

At the plant a lycan deputy took Collins back for his cruiser. Jedidiah saw the bruises on Carolyn and felt the cracked femur. He put his hand upon her face and the split lip healed and the bruises faded. While he healed her wounds, Dutch caught the Pack elders up on the night's events.

Dutch thanked the boy. "What do you need Jedidiah, anything? Whatever you need from us, it will happen."

Through his tears Jed replied, "I will need to have some time with my people. We will mourn my mother and father. I will need to collect bay leaves and herbs to prepare their bodies. Our community will grieve. We will pray the Elemental finds a worthy host now that the wolf gen is gone.

Only after that time, I will need teams of the strongest fastest hunters the pack has. We are going to end this. Leilani gave me one final gift, she opened my mind.

I know what my grandfather knew. Klanje Pack has lived too long. The Council has sheltered that abonmination in exchange for tribute. They allowed Klanje to wipe out smaller packs and will allow it to do the same here.

I will end Milan Vuc and his collection of tools. If the Council stands with Klanje, I pledge my last breath given to me by Hisagita Misa... I will end them too! Alpha, Please summon their 'asshole' Emissary O'Connor. Tell him, I have a message!"

Dutch made the call as Jed and the pack waited. The boy took hold of Trooper March's hand and healed the broken bones. The Alpha returned, "Drugan O'Connor said and I quote, 'We do not answer demands from a welp who hasn't proven himself in battle.'"

"His mistake, likely fatal." Jedidiah's words were cold enough to freeze the air. Arian thought he had seen all of his mates moods. This one actually frightened him. Jed was calm, dead calm.

---

The next morning Jedidiah woke up early and made calls to the reservation. Women came to The Orange Plant and together they went into the swamp to pick bay leaves and other essential items. The bodies of his parents were brought and they were anointed and treated with great respect prepared for their final journey.

Terry Weatherford and his sons also gathered to extend their comfort and sympathy to Jed. The men had a heated debate with Jed in the native tongue. Ultimately they relented promissing to honor Jed's requests.

The Sheriff told his son, "I really should have learned that language. I know one thing, that boy is not going to tell us what they were talking about..."

Arian thought about the night he lived Jed's life during a shared dream. He remembered the deaths of Jed's Grandmother and Aunt. He knew something was off. The Sheriff continued, "Just like I know you aren't gonna share what is eating you. Are you boy?" Arian dropped his eyes from his father's.

The men separated briefly, The teen took them into the office. They emerged with heavy items in canvas sacks. They sadly clasped arms one at a time with Jed and went out to one of the vehicles where the sacks were stored. Weatherford's youngest daughter drove off and the men returned.

When it was time the people of the tribe picked up Hachi and her mate. They were carried with reverence down to the river where canoes waited. Jedidiah turned, "My new family, you cannot be part of this. It is for our eyes only. I am safe, no one knows these waters like my people. I will return in a couple days and we shall begin."

On orders from the Alpha, a few of the best trackers attempted to stealthily follow the funeral party. They returned half an hour later. It was as if the Everglades opened her arms and wrapped them around her native citizens.

Carolyn asked her husband, "I don't understand one thing. Why did they break all of Hachi's beautiful jewelry the precious things?"

Her son answered, "It is their a belief that everything that touches a person's body is imbued with part of their spirit. In order to make this journey to their City in the West nothing can be left behind. The living family members must release their hold on the departed."

Shocked Carolyn replied, "How in the hell do you know all that?"

Arian just tapped his head and said, "He showed me in... the dream." Carolyn became very envious of her son's relationship with his mate. There were many times she wished to peek into her mate's brain to understand how it worked.

Three days later Jed returned in the canoe. He was spent. The sentries alerted Arian. He caried his exhausted mate all the way from the river, through the tunnel and up into their suite.

The Sheriff and his family moved their RV into bay eight. Jedidiah attempted to get them to move into his suite they turned it down flatly. The pack's vulnerable moved into the plant. Jed promised to make the duration a short one.

The March family bond with Jed changed. They saw themselves as two sides of the same coin. They had lost their son and he lost his parents. To them Jed was more than the future alpha's mate.

The Marchs stood with Jedidiah as family when the boys had their civil wedding at the courthouse. Arian promising, "We'll do this proper when the time is right."

---

Over the next few weeks, more members of the pack vanished. Their disappearance was normally followed by a video being sent by Vuc to either Jed or Dutch. Jed could only find one positive light in the situation. The scent of the men who used him disappeared from Glynis Landing. The last of his local abusers was put down. Sadly, that included Stephanie Jacobson's father.

He lived long enough to beg his daughter's forgiveness, "My baby girl... Don't blame Jed for any of this. This was all on me. I lived the life of a mundane dog and now it's followed me back to my den..."

After a long exhaustive search Jedidiah found the location of The Orange Plant's twin sister building. The sheriff was able to use his influence and brought in a team of lycan law enforcement officers. It was mostly for show to distract the mundanes.

Initially Dutch forbade Jedidiah from accompanying the raid team. He saw the determination on his son-in-law's face, then he looked upon the determination of his son. "There is no stopping you two is there?" When they answered him no he put them in CSU uniforms and they accompanied the 'clean team' as they entered Vuc's torture palace.

The battle was over quick. Though they were well trained, the rival pack was out numbered twenty to one. The smell was overpowering and the building brought back wave after wave of memory. Jedidiah held a fragile grip on sanity as he walked the corridors looking at the corpses left behind. They were mostly the candidates who didn't meet the cut to become part of Vuc's army.

Vuc knew how to raise an army, grab people without hope, people no one was likely to miss. Torture and condition them until they blindly follow any order, only then turn them.

In addition to the fifteen rival pack members killed defending Vuc's training hall, eighty-seven bodies were recovered. They were mostly migrant workers, runaways, violent ex-convicts, and junkies. It was found that Vuc ordered the newly turned to feed on those who failed to make the mark.

The public story was that the building had been used as a drug factory and warehouse. It had been undermined to the point where it was structurally no longer sound. Demolition charges were planted and the building was imploded and removed. Jedidiah was there as it crumbled to dust.

It was clear Vuc never expected Jed or anyone else find this place. Klanje Pack was complacent, where complacency exists so does sloppiness. The team recovered a computer belonging to one of Vuc's lieutenant's.

Jedidiah learned how to hunt as a child. First you must know your prey. You look for patterns and tracks to follow. Then you begin stalking your prey. Dutch told him locating Vuc was no different. All creatures have patterns, Vuc was no different. He put the teen with the cyber team.

In spite of his young age and appearance Jed had something the accountants and digital evidence techs didn't, personal knowledge of Quade and Vuc's world. It took time examining the recovered computer but Jed's team learned how to follow his trail. They started finding the Klanje Pack's hidden assets: bank accounts, office buildings, businesses, and even residences.

One by one the pack started closing Vuc's means of support and avenues of escape. The body count grew fast. Dutch and the pack knew battle was no longer optional. The problem of Vuc had been ignored too long.

It wasn't until the large Klanje bank accounts were seized that the Council intervened. They were screaming for a truce. This is what Jedidiah had been trying to force all along, the only way out.

Rhiau Pack had just returned from another successful raid on another Klanje Pack training house. Fifty-two sex slaves had been liberated, all but five were mundanes. The pack was emotionally flying high until they reached The Orange Plant. Dutch's SUV came to a stop and he, Jed, and Arian emerged from the vehicle.

There was as limo out front, the familiar form of Council Emissary O'Connor emerged. The bureaucrat took note of the armed security walking around the quad in front of the main entrance. He exclaimed, "Well lil' pup, you have caused quite the stir. Many on the Council doubted you had your Grandmother's bloodlust."

Jed replied, "Their error. They seem to make a lot of them."

Drugan was opening his mouth to reply when Dutch shouted, "O'Connor you address the pack alpha. You do not mock the pack members under him."

It was Jed who replied to his alpha, "I mean no insult to you my Alpha. I have no difficulty speaking with Drugan. While I recognize and respect your authority, due to their many misdeeds to me and my family... I do not recognize theirs."

"This is how you command your pack alpha? Letting this welp of a boy speak with such disrespect. I would hate to have him learn painfully to respect the authority of the Council. We have done no wrong to him..."

Due to his close mental connection with his mate, Arian felt what was coming. He gently tugged on his father's elbow and pulled him backwards. The outer gates were closed. This shielded the courtyard from prying mundane eyes. The only ones who could see the boy shift into his hybrid wolf form were fellow lycans.

In hybrid form Jedidiah grabbed the neck of Drugan O'Connor, "Try to shift and I will snap your neck like a twig! The Council did no wrong to me... really?

That is odd because we have found evidence the Council was filtering money from my grandfather to Vuc and back. I found records that payments were made from both men to the Council to secure what The Council called special dispensation..."

The teen switched and spoke in the ancient tongue, the language of the high born. "This is worse for YOU Drugan. I discovered YOU personally carried those payments. YOU received a cut from Vuc in the process! Your position requires unanimous consent to remain the Council's Emisary. Imagine what would happen if the more conservative comments were to find out what you did."

His grip tightened around the emisary's throat. "It was Leilani herself who showed me WHAT this 'special dispensation' was. You and Council President Olsen allowed Vuc to harvest ME early.'"

Drugan was turning blue. "I am very well aware of which other Council members endorsed this perversion. One that defied our most ancient laws.

The Elemental also showed me how YOU played one side against the other in this pack battle for centuries. It was YOU who told Quade if I was sufficiently defiled, VUC would refuse me... even as a plaything. It was YOU Drugan who created all of my suffering, under the command of Council Chairman Olsen." Dutch felt his son losing control.

The Alpha put an armbar on Arian to regain control. "O'Connor Jed has every right to snap your neck or worse. I will not stop him. Your wrong to him predates MY rule over him. None of my pack will stop him, or help him. Your fate is literally IN HIS HAND, and YOU have seen what that hand can do."

Switching back to the common tongue, hybrid Jed growled, "Right now O'Connor you are experiencing my... GRACE..." Then he spat out, "KNOW THAT IT HAS LIMITS. There is only ONE reason I have not removed your head and sent it back to the Council.

It disgusts me to have to say this, but I need something from you. It is especially hard considering the harm YOU personally have done to me my life. As I said months ago, I want a meeting!"

Jedidiah loosened his grip slightly to allow Drugan to issue a strained reply. The bureaucrat gasped coughing out, "This can be arranged. Just say where and when."

"I wish to speak to all of the members of the Council and Klanje Pack on the first evening of the next full moon. This is not open for negotiation. It will not be on ground owned by either pack or the council. It will be neutral ground, an island owned by my tribe.

Everyone has apparently forgotten, I do belong to another family. My people, my human mundane people, wish to host the event to end this conflict. We are tired of watching our sacred lands be desecrated.

I will send you the location of the meeting place two days before full moonrise. This way everyone can aerially scan the island to make sure there are no booby traps. All aggrieved parties will meet so we may end this conflict. No more sneak attacks, no more third party casualties.

Make sure Vuc and the others know under lycan law governing settling a blood debt, this is not optional. This Council has screwed me over for years but it has screwed my people over for centuries... Still they choose no side. As the last of the Wolf Gen I say, it must... NO IT WILL END!

All three parties will arrive unarmed. If weapons are detected the other participants will be warned and the gathering cancelled. Then my people and their Allies will choose a side.

You do not want a war with my human family. There is a reason WE are called the undefeated! The entire United States Army could not eradicate or even contain us.

As for YOUR crimes against me... You have my word your life is secure so long as you remain the Council's Emissary. WHEN you lose that title, pray I never see you again.

For when that day comes, I will make what you told my grandfather to do to me look like foreplay. It will make what Milan Vuc did to Kyle Jennings, Karl McCormick, Sean Lee and 'MY sweet little ZED' Jason March look gentle love making by comparison." The hybrid form Jed barred all his teeth and released a low growl.

Jedidiah used his ability to implant the image of the dearly loved friends' deaths in Drugan's mind. He also made the administrator live through the torture he endured the hands of his grandfather. "That will all seem easy by comparison. In time YOU will beg to be released from this life YOU created." With another low growl and a tightening of Jedidiah's grasp Drugan O'Connor lost control of his bladder and bowels.

In one last active justice the teen placed a suggestion deep within Drugan's subconscious mind. He would relive the events of each attack and event in the first person every night as he slept. Jed dropped Drugan back to the ground. "Go now, and relay my message... errand boy.

Before you get there, you may wish to change your clothing. That is unless you want them to know just what a beta-boy you really are. Assuming they don't already know."

Jedidiah shifted back to human form. Arian ran to his mate's side as the limo departed. "You made him piss himself. There's a puddle of his piss on the ground. It wasn't too long ago you doubted you were an Alpha."

There was an image and Arian's mind. Jed saw his hybrid self holding O'Connor in the air. He dismissed the size differential as a simple emotional filter of his lover's eyes witnessing the event.

Coach McNabb the pack enforcer rubbed the nape of Jedidiah's neck in pride. The whole pack was very tactile when expressing pride and gratitude. Each of them had the same image in their head.

Dutch did not like finding out about this negotiation. In his mind negotiation was over with the first sneak attack. Jedidiah looked into his Alpha's eyes, then dipped his head respectfully extending his hand up to Dutch's cheek. "Okay boy... we'll play this your way."

Arian did not like this. He knew more was exchanged than just a gesture of respect and submission.

---

Council Chairman Olsen raged at having terms dictated by an effeminate faggot... natural born Alpha or not. O'Connor reminded him, "He made the demand in the ancient tongue. In front of witnesses. There is no doubting he is high born. Chairman, I can tell you his wolf-self is far more powerful than his human-self."

Olsen replied, "We all can tell that Drugan. I can still smell the fear dripping off of you. Like your piss and shit, it has permeated your skin. We will have to debate your continued service later."

Debate in the chamber was heavy. In the end of the moderates were split. The vote was not unanimous, but Chairman Olsen did win the day with a slim majority. The Council would align itself with Klanje Pack.

"Drugan, if deliver this message to the mongrel pack... They must attend, in exchange we will restore what Rhiau Pack has taken. The child is right, WE cannot afford a battle with his mundane people. Between the forces of the Council and the mongrels we will end this."

---

The cool February days turned into weeks. Jed met with a mundane attorney, knowing what was coming things had been made ready. Jedidiah also made trips deep into the Everglades. It was angering both Dutch and Arian as the teen slipped his security detail time and time again. It became a familiar story, it was as if the Everglades themselves reached arms around and hid the boy from them.

When questioned on his return, Jedidiah was only willing to say, "Alpha, preparations must be made. I promise not another member of Rhiau Pack will die." It was clear the teen remember his lessons from both Mancuso and Mcnabb well. He was pledging the Pack's security with his very life.

True to his word he communicated the location of the island to all parties, exactly two days before Moonrise. When Dutch and the Pack Enforcer viewed the drone footage Dutch spoke, "You know how long I have lived here. Where did that island come from Jed?"

Michael McNabb exclaimed, "Damn, it almost one and a half square miles. Fuck it's twice the size of Chokoloskee Island."

Jed replied, "Whenever the Miccosukee needed land we simply made it. You know this to be true. Except my word this is no trap for our pack."

"Jed I know about the farming islands that your people made. I also know nothing has ever been made this big." One look at the teen and the Alpha ceased his questioning. The Alpha noticed one additional thing the location included something very familiar.

Over the next two days several drones were detected flying over the mysterious island. It was also detected they were using ground penetrating radar to ensure there was no deception. The only thing that was there was a large triangular bonfire in a sandy clearing ready to be lit.

Early in the morning of Moonrise, Drugan O'Conner delivered the word to Rhiau Pack that both the World Council Members and Klanje Pack would be there. The clearly fatigued and worn Emisary looked relieved that the only member of Rhiau Pack who would speak to him was the enforcer.

The bureaucrat was stepping into his car when his eyes locked on to Jedidiah's looking down from the second floor window. His trousers became darker as a yellow puddle formed under his left foot. O'Conner knew the day would come soon he would beg to have his life end, and he knew who he would ask to do it.

The burden that Jedidiah was carrying was heavy. He turned to Arian and held out his hand leading him back into the bedroom. The two teens pulled out each other's clothing. Jedidiah pushed his mate back upon the bed. Jed crawled between his Arian's powerful legs.

He softly licked tender flesh the larger boy's testicles. The act of submission made the older teen groan in pleasure. Jed dragged his tongue up the firming shaft and wrapped his lips around the foreskin shrouded head. His tongue jabbed within the gap between the glands and the foreskin ferreting out any excretion that was left behind.

Jedidiah knew it was not much time left. Once his lover was fully erect he crawled up the larger teen's body. Arian attempted takeover of was interrupted the words were soft and full of need, "Please let me do this for you. I need this now. Let me give this to you."

Arian laid flat on his back with his hands behind his head as Jedidiah straddled his hips. He grabbed hold of the massive slab of prime teen meet behind him and lined it up with his hole. It s called cowboy style babe , Arian said with a grin. Now used to his size, the former cheerboy simply slid down on Arian's massive cock. Only his throat mucus and spit for lube. He wanted no needed to feel his lover's flesh unfiltered one last time.

It didn t take long for both of teen's to be hard and dripping precum. Jed pulled himself back up until he was straddling Arian's abs. Then settled his ass back down on Arian's rod, forcing it deep inside his hole once again.

After fifteen minutes of hard riding, Jedidiah's eyes were rolling back and his head and he was moaning loud. The cheerboy was being anything but passive. Jedidiah rode the QB's cock hard. Arian rewarded Jed by bucking herd like a good bronco should. Unable to control Arian flipped his boy over on his back. He drove hard finishing with Jed's ankles on his shoulders and his thick cock buried deep in his lover's ass.

The two swept over lovers fell asleep until just before sunset. When Arian awoke Jed was already awake. Arian saw him decked out in his Miccosukee finest. His face paint however was not as bright as it was the night of his first shift.

There was far more black. He had a lone eagle feather braided in his hair. The cheerboy looked down at his mate, "It is almost time, I have something I must do in the office. I'll meet you at the tunnel."

Arian was determined to catch up, jumping out of the bed and scrambling for clothes. Jedidiah had already turned and went to the upstairs office. He open the safe and retrieved the document the lawyers drafted weeks ago.

He quickly scrawled out a note. He placed it with his will in a manila envelope. He just had enough time to scrawl a message on the front of the envelope when his husband entered the office.

He turned kissing the quarterback, "We should go." Arian being cum stoned didn't think to look down at the desk as they walked out. He didn't see the envelope that said, "When I'm gone my love."

The pack assembled in the living room. As the couple descended the spiral stairs the youngest March flipped the switch turning on the "River of Stars" display on the ceiling. Jedidiah took it as a sign as he looked up. He smiled imagining what his death chant will be. He hoped his mother and family would be proud. Yes, it is good that one should die to save many.

It was decided to walk and the trip would be conducted in human form. Each of the three landings had a Miccosukee guide. Each of the three parties were warned there were Miccosukee warriors along the route armed with fragmentary silver nitrate filled bullets. Betrayal was not an option. The battle would have to be contained to the island.

At the landing Jedidiah smiled seeing Terry Weatherford. For the first time in his life he was not greeted with the friendly "Chee-hun-tah-mo!" Instead his old friend hugged him tightly as if saying goodbye.

Jedidiah spoke in the tribal tongue, ["It is good to see you old friend. When we arrive at the island you in our brothers must depart. I shall stand for the people and do what must be done. Thank you for your preparation and your friendship."]

The three guides exchanged radio messages ready to begin the journey. As the airboats fired up, the big man, knowing what must happen tried to fight back the tears. The three parties landed on the island, Terry could no longer hide his tears as they ran down his face.

The three guides departed. The three sides kept their distance. Jedidiah stepped to the front of his pack. Milan Vuk shouted across the lines, "You still hide behind your pups old man!"

Council Chairman Olsen shouted, "Vuc be silent. It was the boy called for this meeting. All that being said, it's cold as fuck boy let's light the fire at least."

"Chairman that cannot be done. This fire was assembled for purpose. It is a funeral pyre... MINE! You and Klanje pack started this war over me. As a firstborn and a highborn only I can end it." Jedidiah turned to his husband and kissed him hard. "Alpha you must restrain my husband."

The pack enforcer and three others grabbed hold of Arian and wrestled him to the ground. Dutch whispered, "Are you sure Jed. There's still time. We are willing to make a flight of it."

"Dutch, I am grateful for everything you and this pack has done for me. There's only one guaranteed way the bloodshed stops here. You know this is one of those rare moments when the Miccosukee world and the lycan world agree. One should die instead of all. There's a note for my husband in my office."

The boy walked proudly to the center of the ring, dropping his robe along the way. His flesh was exposed to the cold night air. He was covered only by a ceremonial beaded breechcloth made by Terry Weatherford's youngest daughter covering his groin.

His pack could see what the others could not tucked down in the back of the breechcloth between his ass cheeks. The ceremonial dagger made by his dear friend Terry. It was forged out of solid silver. The handle and sheath was buckskin leather. At least his skin would not burn until the dagger was deep in his chest.

As the distance was closed he could see the members of Klanje Pack. Milan Vuc looked worn. It was as if he lost a great deal of sleep. His pack was almost bankrupt in he was out of places to hide. Jedidiah smiled knowing that was at least a small victory.

"I speak to all gathered I say again this war was started by the Council and by Klanje Pack. At the heart of this battle is a breeding disagreement. As the subject of a heart of that disagreement I am in a unique position.

Under the ancient laws governing our people set down by Luna of herself I can set this war aside at the cost of my life. Thanks to the reckless slaughter of the Klanje pack it is a price and I am willing to pay."

He turned towards Milan, "You have taken the lives of my friends, my family, and my gen. As a male I cannot continue the wolf Gen. It died with my mother and sister." He addressed the council, "That would be your granddaughter Councilwoman Dusica. Who knows perhaps she would've been born lycan like me and you. If that is the case then the Council and Klanje Pack have committed an act of genocide."

"You are correct Council Chairman Olsen it is chilly out tonight. Best we keep things moving along." The teen removed the knife from his breechcloth.

He expose the blade and all could see what it was made of. "This is silver, the mundanes say it has value. After discussion with my Elders we found an agreement between lycan and Miccosukee tradition. I can choose to end my life. It is better that one dies than all.

I have never lied to any of you. This is the only weapon, I know of, on this island and it is destined for myself. You have been so wrapped up in lycan tradition you have forgotten there some other sides to this argument and that is my people. I ask only one thing for me to choose my way to die."

The gathering was stunned. Arian fought to free himself, to no avail. Jedidiah resheathed the knife. Holding the knife by the sheath he knelt stabbing the knife into the ground by its hilt. He removed the leather sheath exposing the silver blade to the moonlight. The long blade stood upright from the ground. The boy began to sing and dance around the blade. Dutch recognized the song as did Jedidiah's mate. They had heard it once before. It was Jed's death chant.

Milan Vuc shouted and stepped towards the boy. The ground in front of him exploded and the sound of a rifle filled the air. "You made this act necessary Milan. The hunters of my tribe will not harm a single one of you unless you interfere.

To THAT point you should know, they are armed not only with standard hunting rifles. Some have rifles that have a cyclic firing rate. My people have no quarrel with any of you so long as you obey our traditions. This is not a war you wish to escalate."

The teen began his dance again. Dust rose from the ground. The full Moon was slowly covered as if the clouds imitated the dust rising from the ground. Even members of the Council that voted against this unholy alliance with Klanje pack were grumbling. Olsen sensed that tide was shifting shouted, "We can come to another agreement Jedidiah. Look even Luna hides her face from this."

It was too late. His song had ended Jedidiah fell forward. Everything was in slow motion. Vuc lept forward. Too late, Arian slipped the grasp of his captors and was racing towards Jedidiah.

In the sky above lightning crashed and thunder rolled. From the water arose a dense fog of dark and light blue. Jedidiah's First Nation brothers could no longer see into the island. Along the perimeter of the island a dense hedge of wolfsbane erupted from the ground twelve feet tall.

From the center of the island of green mist came up lifting Jedidiah high in the air and a voice bellowed in the skulls of the lycans gathered. "This is my boy, my chosen. He is the last of his kind and I will not let anyone harm him.

He was right there are many people who claim him. None are like me and my kind. When you upset me, you upset them. That was an error. Like so many errors committed by mortals it will be fatal.

When my last host was murdered. The first I turned to for comfort was my younger sister Seraphina the fire elemental." With the speaking of her name a red mistlike entity enveloped the pyre and the fire erupted.

"She was very upset." A shaft of fire escaped the pyre enveloping two thirds Klanje pack. Screaming were they reduced ash.

"I was distraught over the loss of my favorite tribal gen. I found solace with my older twin sisters, Pavati the water and Auria the air elementals. The three of us have a special connection with The Undefeated People. Unlike most mortals, they have a deep respect for our realms."

A dark blue mist appeared above the island. It formed a water spout which scooped up the rest of Klanje pack. The ragged leader Milan Vuk was left to watch. The dark blue elemental vanished. "Deprive even a lycan the air and they will eventually die...

This is especially true when Pavati holds them to the bottom of Puerto Rico Trench. It is the deepest spot in the Atlantic Ocean. I am not sure whether the crushing depth of the lack of breathable oxygen will kill them first. I guess it doesn't matter."

Auria was most argry with what the council allowed to happen to my boy and his people. The lovely thing about Auria, mortals cannot hide from her EVER. She is the air of itself. She was there among you when the Council discussed this act of betrayal tonight.

She too is fond of Jedidiah's people. To The Undefeated she often reveals herself as several spirits. Her favorite are the twin spirits of thunder." There was an explosion as lightning crashed down towards the island, the ground pulse filaments emerged and flowed through each of the Council members who voted to side with Klanje pack.

Their ash filled six holes in the ground. Until the light blue elemental appeared and blew the ashes to the wind. The elemental giggled as she corralled Council Chairman Olsen, his minion Drugan O'Conner, and Milan Vuc between the pyre and the knife. She swirled and then departed.

"Then there was our father... Zu is the void elemental. It was he who brought us to this planet to study your people and to understand your existence. To see so many of his daughters distraught at one time angered him. He is very protective of us. Age has made him slow to anger. Congratulations, he has arrived at true rage..."

The black formless void descended from the heavens and raced across the waters towards the island and the three survivors. O'Conner knew what was coming and raced towards the silver dagger in the ground. He threw his body upon it and it emerged from his back.

"Unlike the noble death my boy chose... that was a coward's death." As Drugan drew his last dirt filled breath the black cloud returned to its course. "Still it is far better than what my father Zu would have done to you."

The shapeless black entity wrapped O'Connor and Vuc and they vanished. "Father Zu is the void elemental... the oldest of us... One could say he is the vacuum of space itself.

He does like to keep his domain tidy. He will probably drop them somewhere along the way. I am not sure if those two will asphyxiate, burn up in Earth's atmosphere, or simply fall to the ground.

I guess in the end, it really does not matter. If they survive reentry, they surely will not survive the impact from the fall." The remainder of the council swallowed hard at the thought. Would they be held accountable for the actions of the majority.

Seraphina remained on island observing the spectacle. It was a rare thing to witness as one took a host. Truth be told she was enjoying the heat of the bonfire pyre.

"Councilwoman Dusica, please come forward. I told you my sister Auria was there when the council debated. She heard you impassioned pleas, and shared your words with me. The council was surprised with you. They expected you to be a mere mouthpiece for Klanje Pack. That clearly was not the case.

My sisters and I wish to give you a gift. For a brief period I shared his existance during his mating with Arian. I felt his love for you.

Now with what you called his mundane family gone, your grandson is in need of a familial anchor. We wish to return something that was taken from his community.

We can teach you to adjust your appearance so that you look more grandmotherly. That is if you desire to stay with him, even if it is only to visit and help him through this time of adjustment. Surely you remember when his mother and I joined.

If choose to remain with the council and wish to visit your family occasionally, you'll be able to adjust your external appearance to fit the need." Dusica thanked the elmental for her great gift.

She turned her attention to the remainder of the council, "This council will need to be rebuilt. I would recommend returning to a more literal interpretation of Luna's laws, for she was wise. I knew her well enough to know she would NOT have appreciated what occurred here or in Miami."

Dutch remembered Jed's warning about speaking her name, "Most respected Elemental, is our pup okay?"

"My prospective host is as you say well. I caught him before his skin even touched the blade. I would never allow my boy to sacrifice himself. He is suspended within me until he decides whether he wishes to be my host.

He has a question for you. If he merges with me will he be still welcome in the pack or would he be considered tainted?" There was no hesitation with Dutch's affirmative reply.

She turned her attention to engage in a private conversation. Even though no one else could hear, it was quite clear to all who she was speaking to. "Arian your mate has a question for you, given how completely the host and I are connected would you be willing to share him with me? Our boy would be my second lycan host and my first to ever have a mate.

I am very aware of how territorial your species is. Jedidiah wishes the question asked before he says yes. I have never had a host issue conditions of joining. If it helps when I share a host you many sense a presence periodically, but I rarely meddle in my host's life. When I'm joined I observe and experience your life, through your frame of existance. As you have seen even I can be surprised.

You should know I have a great love for all the creatures that run across my realm. I am especially close to wolves and the many species of lycans. Few other species have such shifting passions, and yet are so fiercely loyal. I have felt his love for you. I know what he would give up for you."

The teen dropped to a knee in reverence. He promised out loud, "If being with you would make him happy, I would gladly share him. All that I want this to have him back."

"This pleases us both. I invite you to remain in my lodge with your mate this evening. This is an honor I have never extended towards the mate of any host. Jedidiah's happiness is important to both of us. Our friend Terry will return and collect you both in the morning.

The pack may enjoy the island for as long as the pyre burns. Seraphina before you depart could you dispose of that." A green tentacle pointed towards the corpse impaled on the silver knife. The tentacle of fire emerged from the pyre engulfing the corpse of O'Connor.

Leilani's continued to speak, "I know how toxic silver is to my boy and his pack. I have removed all traces pushing them deep into the earth. I have also retracted the wolfsbane headges so you may depart at your leisure.

If you wish feel free to shift and play on this land until the moon descends to the the horizon. Sadly the rest of you must leave before then. My sister is eager to reclaim her waters. The land will recede below the waves as the Moon descends below the horizon.

At that point Leilani slowly lowered the boy to the ground as her sister looked on. Kneeling he was fully enveloped by the green glow of the Elemental. Jedidiah howled in agony as he shifted to the alpha hybrid. Still wrapped in the green glow, he shifted into his arctic wolf second skin. Then the elemental entered his body to share his experience.

The change back to human form was slower than normal. Arian was concerned for his lover. Jedidiah began shaking, when Arian reached for him Dusica stopped him.

She warned him, "Do not touch him. I've studied their kind for many years. He is absorbing the life experiences of all of the hosts that preceded him in addition to her... essence. It is straining his system. The trembling will stop in the blending is complete."

Dutch stepped forward, "Drusica, you never said you would stay with us. If you have truly studied Elementals that alone should drive you to stay."

"That is because it is something that need not be said Alpha. He is my grandson. I failed him so often, I will not do it again. The Elemental knew I would say yes. Just as she knew I cannot stay forever. Someone has to rebuild the World Council. I mean not be able to lead, but I can advise."

Dutch told her with a loss of her pack he welcomed her into Rhiau Pack. Over the next few hours the pack shifted into lycan form most stayed gathered around Jedidiah. They focused their energy on his merging. Some went off in search of prey that Leilani had stocked on the island. A good hostess prepares for her guest's needs.

There was more going on. Members of the council were talking to the elders of Rhiau Pack. There were occasional whispers in Dutch's ears.

At long last the trembling stopped in the boy's eyes fluttered and opened. His eyes locked on his mate the green sclera of his eyes faded back to white. Arian noticed his mates normally ice blue eyes had flecks of green looking back now. It didn't matter he had his Jedidiah back.

Arian put his hand gently on his lover's jaw. "Are you really there?" Jed reached up with both his hands and pulled his lovers head until their lips connected. Both teens' mouths opened and tongues were exchanged. When the passionate kiss ended, Jedidiah realized he was in human form nude before his pack's very wide open wolf and human eyes alike.

For the first time he was not embarrassed, he did not even blush. No, the first thing that was on Jed's mind was a one word question to his lover, "Alive?"

"It wasn't your time Jed. You could have told me."

"If I didn't tell them to hold you down, would you have allowed me to do what had to happen? I couldn't live knowing I was the cause of so much death to our pack. The burden of blood I carry is heavy enough." Arian didn't reply, he didn't have to.

Dusica looked down, "Dobrodosli nazad moja lepa mala duso" [Welcome back my beautiful little soul].

Jedidiah weakly replied, "Hvala mama D. Volim te!" [Thank you Mama D. I love you!].

Dutch helped his son-in-law to his feet. "Thank you son." The naked boy could only hug his dear friend and Alpha.

Jedidiah addressed the March family, "I know I promised I would end Vuc myself..." The teen was interrupted as Charlie wrapped his arms around his thigh.

Nancy used the distraction, "Jed we told you before this was never on you. The Elmental you carry did a fine job exacting vengeance." Jake agreed adding that Jedidiah was his boy's best friend.

Arian pulled his mate from the crushing crowd that was developing. "From now we track together, okay, pup?" Jedidiah smirked then shifted back into his arctic wolf lycan form. Arian was struggling to shift and keep up as the platinum white beast ran deep into the island.

Arian slowly became uncomfortable the closer he got to the dense clump of trees on the east side of the island. There was a familiar lodge. Driven by a need to be with his mate he continued chasing the white wolf into the dense growth. The late winter air was cold. Their breath was visible in the air is the exhaled.

The door of Leilani's lodgehouse was open. Jedidiah arrived first shifted back to human form. He was laying on the bear pelt covered bed his head facing towards the door when Arian arrived.

Arian to shifted and secured the door. As he strutted towards the bed he boasted, "I swear each time you shift your cock gets bigger."

His stud knelt on the floor leaning onto the bed kissing his mate passionately. His hand slid down the teen's smooth chest. Jedidiah giggled into Arian's mouth. Like a proper mate he knew exactly where his boy was ticklish. He and Jedidiah's case that was almost anywhere there was skin.

Arian broke a kiss and climbed on the bed. He kissed his way down the boy's torso wrapping his lips around Jedidiah's cock. Jedidiah and return the favor. The two teens engaged in their favorite competition. Whoever came first bottomed first. In their eyes there was no loser in this game.

With all of his life experience, Jed normally won the opening round. But Arian was a fast learner. True to form Jedidiah won. The quarterback did not take defeat easily. Flipping positions he pinned Jed to the bearskins. He pressed his lips to Jedidiah's and pushed his cum into the younger teen's mouth. "A little extra protein for you, to enhance my ride."

In just a few short months Arian learned Jedidiah's favorite position to top from... the bottom. Jed preferred the cowboy, and truth be told so did Arian. It was like a kind of magic to pass between their eyes at the point of orgasm. Arian found a small bottle of oil on the shelf and lubed his hole and Jedidiah's hard member.

He straddled the younger teen's abdomen and slowly slowly sank down upon the rigid pole. Jedidiah loved seeing Arian's muscles flex as he was impaled. The two teens would stare at each other's eyes until one or the other one rolled their eyes in pleasure.

There were many of the games they played with each other. This time it was Jed his head went back as Arian squeezed his ass around the younger teen's pole. Truth be told something in Jed wanted to lose this time.

Arian leaned forward and kissed his boy on the lips saying, "I win. Lycan style, you're the bitch. Ass up, face down." The older teen return to his vertical position. He began undulating his hips wishing to draw up a load of cum out of his boy first. He always wanted Jedidiah to win even in defeat. His boy would never again be just a cum dump.

The two boys came the same time. Jedidiah shot deep inside his lover, and Arian powerfully sprayed far up Jedidiah's stomach and chest... even splashing his mate's cheek with his seed. The larger teen laid down upon the smaller. Both bodies resting and sliding against each other. Arian reached up to Jed's cheek and swept his seed into the boy's mouth. Jedidiah swallowed it greedily.

After a brief rest Jedidiah shifted underneath Arian. Arian followed suit. The powerful silver and gray wolf mounted his mate and quickly penetrated him. It felt incredibly pleasurable to Jedidiah although it did feel different than it had in the past. He could feel the gray wolve's knot swelling within him locking them together. Twenty minutes later both teens orgasmed and fell asleep together.

---

The next morning the QB woke to the sound of birds, and the drone of an approaching airboat. That moment of peace ended when Arian realized his still sleeping Jedidiah never shifted back to human form. "Jed wake up, Terry is here." The older boy panicked quickly checking to see if Jedidiah was still breathing. He was.

Not knowing what else to do, he secured a blanket to his waist. then hoisted the still sleeping wolf into his arms and ran towards the boat. Terry shouted his friendly, "Chee-hun-tah-mo..." Realizing it was not Jedediah approaching he asked, "Arian?"

The alpha jock climbed aboard the boat, "Something is wrong with Jed. Please hurry and get us to the landing."

Terry threw his jacket and a pair sweat pants to Arian. "It is cold my friend, change into these. Then you can use the blanket to cover Jed..." He stopped his sentence made word noticing what Arian had missed beneath the wolf's tail. "Ah... Arian? You know this is a girl wolf right? Jed is a boy isn't he?"

Arian stopped dressing and examined the wolf. Clearly it had an ass and a vagina under its tail. This wolf was larger than Dusica. She was the only other arctic wolf on the island. Arian forced the wolf's eyes opened slowly the eyeballs rolled down and looked at him they were green upon green. There was a weak whimper as Jed recognized his mate. Terry too saw the green on green eyes. He knew it was Jedidiah.

Jedidiah communicated two messages to Arian before he was immersed in slumber again. "Terry he's calling for someone called wide awake... I'm missing something aren't I?"

The big man laughed, "Your family really must learn our language. He calls for the medicine woman, Onawa. Her name literally means Wide Awake. She came out of her mother screaming. I guess her family thought the name fit."

"Terry, he put another image in my head it was an image of the landing behind the Orange Plant can you make it there?"

"Boy I can be there so fast it will make your head spin. You call your father, I will call the medicine woman." With phone calls complete Terry fired up his airboat."Button your jacket and cover our boy. Onawa said to keep him warm and to wait for her."

Arian wrapped wolf form Jedidiah like a small child. The boat barely made shore when Arian hoisted the boy and ran up the hill. The back door to the grotto barely swung open when Arian was shouting "Make a hole." He ran through the door so fast he didn't even notice his father standing there.

Terry tied the boat off to the dock and came ashore. He was trotting up the hill to the door. Dutch realized he would get more out of his old friend and he would his panicked son. Terry explained as much as he could on the situation to Dutch. Then the two men ran through the grotto into the big house.

The Doc was present in lounge. The door chime rang and Carolyn ran in the direction of the door. The doctor was about to inject Jedidiah with a tincture of wolfbane in hopes of triggering a shift. The old woman Jedidiah knew as Onawa entered the room and told the doctor to stop.

She examined the boy noting his eyes. "The spirit in you is such a trickster. Jedidiah the reason you cannot shift is that the Earth Spirit who shares your existence has given our people a gift. She provided a way for your Gen to survive. Physician put away your vials and treatments. If you injected the boy he would've lost his babies.

Sweet Jed, you are pregnant. If memory serves the gestation period for wolves is two months. Learned Physician do you concur with my assessment?" The doctor replied in the affirmative and said the best medicine was to keep Jedidiah comfortable.

Mama D rested her hand on the belly of her grandson. "You will be the great mother." Jed lolled his head and licked her hand. "Alpha this is not the first time this has happened to our kind. There is another story a long ago two wolves who fell in love. Luna changed one of them to male. She does love hear diversity.

The shock finally wore off of Arian. He turned to his mother, "I'm going to be a daddy!"

His father stepped in and hugged him replying, "Yes you are son, yes you are."

Onawa, Dusica, and the doctor agreed it was more than likely Jedidiah would return to his male self after the delivery.

---

For the rest of the winter Jedidiah remained in The Orange Plant. With the loss of his family the mundanes in the community understood a little Howard Hughes like behavior. Onawa became a regular fixture of the Plant. As did his friend the doctor.

On one of those trips the physician brought a portable ultrasound. The scan showed the Jedidiah was carrying twins a boy and girl. They appeared to be human. There was a debate on whether to allow the live birth or to C-section the children from him. When Jedidiah told Arian Leilani would carry him through the delivery it ended the conversation.

Charlie took to his duties as adopted uncle with great gusto. Opening doors as Jedidiah needed to walk through the building. The two became inseparable often spending hours in the dark of the theater watching cartoons. Truth be told Jedidiah preferred the dark, whereas Charlie preferred the cartoons.

There was another discussion involving wet nurses. It was assumed after the birth, Jedidiah would shift back to his male form. Clearly he would be in need of some to nurse his offspring. That problem sorted itself out. His dear friend Stephanie was pregnant as was Nancy March. Both women volunteered their services.

In the early days of pregnancy it was Adrian who came up with an interesting solution to one of nature's problems. He put sod in the spa tub so Jedediah wouldn't have to go outside to go to the bathroom. As the pregnancy progressed climbing the stairs let alone climbing into the bathtub became impossible.

By the time he was deep into his second month of pregnancy, Jedidiah's swollen belly was practically dragging the floor. He often snuggled into his grandmother's lap. Dusica rubbed his ears and whispered, "It could be worse it could be nine months." Jedidiah let out a low whimper. "Arian something tells me you'll be carrying the next pair."

Eventually it was decided it was too dangerous for the pregnant boy to keep climbing the stairs to the second floor even to answer nature's call. Charlie came up with the perfect answer. There was a small garden in The Grotto. Sod was pulled in and Charlie had scooping Duty for the rest of the pregnancy.

Then came the big day Jedidiah's water broke. Both the midwife and the doctor were called. The teen who had thought there was nothing more painful than shifting soon had a new reality.

The teen was breathing hard panting. The average wolf pup is only one pound. Even with his large size all were amazed as Jedidiah gave birth to two six pound babies, both having teen fingers and toes.

Jedidiah growled at the suggested use of Buckhold. That name was his and his alone. It was a precious memory with him and his father. Arian felt his mates displeasure and sorrow. The names that were decided on were Etta and Ethan. Ethan was born first at six pounds three ounces. Followed by Etta at a petite five pounds seven ounces. Jedidiah knew they were both Alphas like their fathers.

With the exception of the doctor, the men who gathered were astounded at how small the children were... the women were nothing short of amazed. after one comment that made Jedidiah whimper, the Luna Alpha of the pack smacked her husband upside the back of the head. "Jed just passed a basketball through an opening that was designed for a racquetball." She softly stroked her son-in-law's neck and head comforting him showing pride in his accomplishment.

Being a good mommy Jedidiah removed both of the placental sacs and groomed his babies. He guided them to his teets to nurse. On top of all of the bizarre feelings coming from his body that was one of the weirdest yet oddly most comforting for the teen. Arian kissed his mate between his and stroked his soft thick fur.

After six long hours Jedidiah was encouraged to shift to human form by the doctor. The babies were taken and held by the proud grandmother and great-grandmother. Jedediah shifted to his human, and thankfully male form.

Although he was glowing the teen was covered in sweat. A baby was placed in each of his arms and the new mama photo was taken. Arian kissed his very tired mate. "Good job babe. You are so beautiful."

Never in the history of children had there been to more spoiled children. Early on it was clear that Arian was the disciplinarian. The children would learn quick to call him father. Jedidiah on the other hand was the nurturer, the hand holder, and the comforter. The babies would call him daddy. It was decided the family name that would continue would be Glynis.

In time Mama D returned to the World Council but she took a new chairman in tow. Duach "Dutch" Blaidd and his wife departed for Europe when the twins entered kindergarten. He stepped down as Alpha of Rhiau Pack leaving his son as Alpha with Jed as the Luna Alpha.

When he finished university Arian slid into the role of undersheriff. The acting sheriff chose not to seek election a year later Arian won the election as sheriff. Of course his biggest supporter and donor was Jedidiah.

Their children grew up strong, both blessed with healing like their dad. The tribe recognized both children as the continuance of the Wolf Gen. There was a quiet understanding about children's birth. The tribe did recognize Jedidiah had stepped up and filled his mother sizable shoes.

There was doubt, until the first time there was a healing needed. For the first time in his life he did not pass out as a result of healing. Several members of the tribal council saw the green on green eyes of the elemental.

The March family continued to live in the Orange Plant. In time they had another two sons and a daughter. Coach moved on to the pack's northwest grounds. He had lived in Glynis landing for far too long. Though not an Alpha, Jake took the reins as pack enforcer with the Pack's blessing. His cover was as Jedidiah's local property manager, in addition to being one of his husband's deputies.

Jed had his father's house and barn raised and replaced. It was too painful a reminder to remain. Even with drywall replaced he could see the blood on the walls. Arian held his crying mate has the fire department burned it to the ground.

A journalist from Tampa photographed the scene it made frontpage. Mundanes prized expediency of memory, the bloodbath of the clan war was quickly forgotten. People believed that created myth of a homicidal maniac who was killed in the end. Mundanes do like their happy endings.

Stephanie Jacobson kept her father's business open. She loved planning other people special events. In college she met her true mate Nicholas Ramirez. Jedidiah stepped into his "Santa Claus" roll and paid for the couple's wedding and walked her down the aisle. It wasn't guilt it was love for his best friend.

She and her mate Nick (a survivor from Miami pack) asked Jedidiah if they could take over the operation of the Family's Orchard. Jedidiah's one warning was, "Watch out for the mud daubers on the north grove. They'll plug up the irrigation system faster than anything."

Jed took over control of his family's assets and managed an agricultural and real estate empire from Tampa to Miami. He chose to stay at home and raise his family. University could wait. What is the benefit of having a long lifespan, if you can't enjoy the here and now.

Jedidiah made a large contribution to the school. He bought the athletic program a replacement pair of Wiley Wolf costumes and another light weight full body costume for Scruff the pup. The original Wiley costume was retired and it stands on the upper loft of the family home. Rumor has it there are occasional amorous playdates involving the "Slick" and Wiley.