Kierra

With that, all the laundry gets gathered up and stashed in the truck bed, Xavier grabs the knives that he'll be using with the boys, I write down a quick shopping list, and we all pile into either vehicle. The maned wolf is determined to stay at my side so he rides with me as does Kani. With the paintings in the back of my jeep there’s not much room for anyone else so the younger boys get to ride in the massive truck. They don't mind, neither one has been in one, so they're both excited. Shade and Z smile at their giddiness.

After that we're soon on our way, Shade pulls out first so when I back out, I'll be in front to lead the way. On the way there I talk to Xavier about getting a new vehicle. Jeep was fine when it was just me and Faline, but with all the new people, I'm going to need something bigger.

"What did you have in mind?"

Hadn't thought too much on it till he asked, so I have to stop and think.

"I don't want a truck, unlike Shade, I don't need to compensate for anything. Don't want a van either; more something in between. One of those SUV things should be good. Plenty of back space and more seating."

He nods. I know he can drive, he likes to drive my Jeep, and Kani has said he doesn't. So far seems everyone over the age of twenty can.

"Since you didn't have anything with you I'm assuming you no longer have an ID, right? We may be able to work around things without having to do for you the same thing I'm having done for the boys."

From the rearview mirror, he shakes his head.

"If I can get online, I can get a hold of a friend I have down there. They should be able to get my stuff and be able to send it to me."

I bob my head, having to work around a very slow driver that doesn't know how to use their turn signal. Rage prone wolves behind the wheel just don't sound safe.

"That's good. You're more than welcome to use the one at the house. I'll set up another account that everyone can use, that way mine and my sister's things don't get mixed up with anything else."

From the weather going all haywire, everyone is freaking out as if it's doomsday. Need to get to a couple stores myself, but I don't want to deal with people. Going to have to though since tonight is already spoken for.

The three of us make idle chit-chat the rest of the way there. The maned wolf isn't happy that I'll be leaving again without him, but since I'll be asking Z or his brother to do the driving, he relaxes a little. Seems to think that if I'm alone I'll be helpless. He should know better.

When we finally pull onto the road that leads into the park, Kani is all eyes as he looks out the window. Can't say I blame him, it still amazes me too sometimes. Almost the whole of the top of the state is all forest. There had been talk about tearing some of it down to build more houses, but the preserve and park owners put that talk to bed real quick. Very glad they did. Rockford may be all filth and city, but north of Loves Park and Machesney Park, it's all wild country.

Further northwest are some campgrounds, and they're reinforced on their boundaries since wild predators are prevalent in the park. Ava's place is between Pierce Lake and Olson Lake, right on the eastern end of Pierce. She and I had always talked about my getting a place in here with her, but the owner was a bit of a dick and only allowed certain people to live within the park. With everything I've heard now, I wonder if he has it to where only supernaturals can live within. Is he one? Meeting him should be very interesting indeed.

Pulling onto the road that leads up to Ava's place, I see Kani smile at the horse that's playing in the snow.

"Do you know how to ride?"

He looks sad for a moment then gives an affirmative.

"I used to love to ride, but when I became a... The horses would avoid me, so I stayed away from them."

"Then I think you're in for quite the treat."

Blue hazel eyes look at me in question while I grin at him.

"That's one of Ava's horses, she's a snow leopard Shifter, her and her daughter. They have three and each one has been bred and raised around either Shifters or Weres. They'll still be skittish at first, but that's with any horse. Lily, Ava's daughter, has been teaching Bastion how to ride whenever they get the chance."

I look away from him to give him his privacy as his eyes well up with emotion. I remember how I felt when I came back home and Tigger wouldn't come anywhere near me for days. Might be a little different from the teenager, but I can sympathize.

Once we get up to her parking area, I gather the newbies around me and explain everything. How Shifters live here, own ‘animal friendly' horses, how she farms on this land, and so on. When we left, Maii was still in coyote form, and he still is. I don't know if Lucia had said something or it's just his Shifter age thing, no one ever told me. With a wide canine grin and a happy dance, he darts up the porch. He, Lily, and Bastion have all become really close friends.

"Had that wench said something to him to cause him to shift or was it random?"

Shade's face hardens before he answers. He may be shy to others, but he's seemed to have opened up and gotten to where he'll openly say something if I ask. Pretty quick turn around I think.

"She kept glaring at all of us, but she'd turn her nose up at each of the boys. We were all fine with that, just ignored her. It was when she had to open her mouth that really got to everyone. I don't recall her being such a bitch when Zypher and I had applied at the bar."

Nodding, I watch as the boys and Xavier make their way to the house, the new guys staying with me.

"That's my fault. She hates me and I'm sure her seeing my taking in others that aren't wolves just makes it all the more reason for her to find fault in me."

I shrug and smirk, but he looks at me and adds another point.

"You pulling dominance over her probably doesn't help at all. Word at the bar is that you hit her."

A droll look is passed to him. People seriously need to get their stories straight.

"Uh, no. At no point did I ever strike her. She slapped me on our first meeting, trying to get me to respect her because she’s an 'Alpha' of her pack. I put her in her place is all, and let her know she's no Alpha of mine - that if she wants respect she will have to earn it, it's not automatically given. She seems to think that just because she's mated to the Alpha of the Red Pack, that everyone needs to bow and scrape to her whims. Fuck. That."

Each one is nervously smiling at me by the time I'm done, but Shade is still a bit more reserved. I start our walk towards the house as I call him out on it. He raises his hands in a shrug.

"I fear you make more problems for yourself that would not have been there if you'd controlled your temper."

I stop abruptly, his brother almost running me over. Temper indeed. I look over to him and try to stay calm. When he drops his eyes, I tip his chin up till they direct back to me. Feels kind of silly to do that with a man that is six-foot, but ah well.

"No, Shade. I don't care who anyone is, if they want respect, it has to be earned. I'm not going to blindly give it to someone who has not proven they deserve it. Here, I'll make it simple, I'll show you guys my first meeting with her."

With that, I fill each one's mind with a blow by blow movie of what happened.

Starting off with my fight in front of the bar with the knowledge I was supposed to be keeping under the radar, the two drunk goons finally getting run off by big bouncer wolves, then her coming up to me and actually talking while everyone else looked too scared to.

How I’d been replying to something she said when my cheek had exploded with pain and heat.

How I was already feeling at that point and her bullshit sending me over.

Her demand that I respect her because she's Alpha of the Pack, my telling her she's no Alpha of mine, then my taking her to the ground with a knife in her throat. Can feel the spike of fear in each of the guys, but I keep going. Sharing with them the feel of the knife biting in further when her Packmates didn't want to back off. My first meeting with Alarico and the deal made that I wanted no more trouble, his claim that I could go, but Xavier had to stay to receive punishment, and my threat of using a new ability if he wasn't released.

I let the images bleed off shortly after, since events after that were about finding Faline. When focusing on each of the guys; Kani looks a little green, Shade and Zypher look at me as if I've grown another head.

Sighing, I move to go to the house and get stopped by Z capturing my arm. If it had been someone who I didn't claim as my own, that alone would have caused me to strike out. Instead, I just stop and turn to face them again. Shade apologizes and tries to explain himself.

"If you'd been any other than the Silver, you could have started a conflict between Packs. The Alpha male, as well as his mate, could have called for your head as payment not to. Alarico is a very mellow Alpha to have not claimed any type of action against you."

My head shakes as I put my hands in my pockets.

"He and I came to an understanding. He knew his wife was the one to create a problem by the striking of another that she knew to be above reproach. If she hadn't struck me, events would have been much different. You saw how he reacted today at the house when I confronted her about her treatment to you guys."

I shrug once more.

"I reached out to him and his wolves, offering them a chance to claim what's within them without fear of discovery. He knew if he had tried to interfere with me right then, that offer could have been rescinded."

Kani speaks up, his voice catching, not in fear, but just because his voice hasn't settled yet into its adult pitch.

"Would you have? Taken the offer away?"

"I'm sure he and I would have come to some kind of agreement, but no, I wouldn't have. Lucia would be banned from the grounds, but I will not punish their wolves over her actions."

He gives a small smile, but the brothers still appear unconvinced. Fine. Whatever. Turning once more, I go for the front door, dodging another grab for my arm.

"I'm getting really tired of trying to explain to you two the type of person I am. I don't know what you went through before coming here, but you also have to remember something; I've only been a Werewolf for less than a month now, and I was not claimed by any 'Pack'. I don't know all the rules you guys seem to be so afraid of. Just because other Alphas act a certain way, doesn't mean I will. I don't know how to prove it any other way than by my actions, and I'm trying. I'm sorry if it's not good enough for you. I told you before you are no prisoners of mine, you are welcome to go any time."

With that I go into the house, fighting back tears that I'm not even sure why I have. Walking past everyone else and going for the bathroom, I shut the door and head for the sink. Turning on the faucet, I lean into and cross my arms on the counter and just stare at the water.