Ch 5 

Fifteen-year-old alphas Coen and Callen Rowan of Darkwood, and Benjamin "Benji" Naft of Silver River carefully surveyed their team of alphas, betas, and lunas. It was high summer and the continental allied packs often sent their young to camp. All the kids at the camp had shifted and it was a chance for their wolves to get to know others, to build trust and friendships, and most importantly to strengthen the alliances. Camillia and Trinity shifted nervously, they had both only gotten their wolves last year, Camillia's wolf was a lighter than her brothers, a more caramel brown, and Trinity's was white. Everyone knew Trin was an orphan hybrid, but not where she came from.

She had been ordered by Alpha Blake to reveal none of her sun-walker abilities while at the camp. If she wanted to go, she had to go as a wolf only, so she promised to not blur or use any of her vampire abilities. It was the second to the last day and the final test was starting as soon as the sun rose. Capture the flag werewolf style was the most popular and prestigious event at the camp. Ten packs started and the one with the most flags at the end of the second day won, but the alphas of the Darkwood and Silver River alliance wanted to do something that had never been done, capture all ten flags. Pack BCC would be remembered.

They started with dividing their twelve wolves into three groups; two assault teams to sneak into enemy territories and capture flags, and one team to defend theirs. It was a risky gamble to divide their strength, but the faster they captured flags, the faster they could grow their pack. Captured packs had to join their captor's team. The territory they were assigned had a river and rocky cliffs. It was on the very edge of the camp and the terrain made defense and offense difficult. Callen came up with the strategy of using guerilla warfare tactics to catch the better located teams off-guard. His plan was to use small fast teams to get in, get the flags, and get out. They had made their base in a box ravine, hoping to avoid discovery until they grew their pack.

Denver Nugget of Sabelfur was fifteen and all hormones or horrormones as she-wolves called them. His bright red wolf pushed between Trin and Camillia. He shifted quickly embracing them and grinning, while he winked at Hana, "So ladies, wanna find a sunny spot by the river to sunbathe, while the big boys play. I'll stop by and rub some sunscreen on you three later."

Hana Thorne of Rosebrier scowled and rolled her eyes, growling under her breath, "Just nope, fox-boy." He narrowed his eyes at her with a growl.

Nudity was no big deal to werewolves, but there were just some wolves that any self-respecting she-wolf would rather have a layer of clothes or fur between herself and their eyes. Denver was definitely one of those wolves, all the she-wolves at the camp had decided they felt sorry for his future mate because of the way he leered at all of them.

"Um no, thanks. We're all runners, because you 'big boys' can't get your fat butts moving fast enough to escape the enemy territory with the flags," Camillia reminded snarkily. She and Trin both step away from him.

"There's more than just running around, looking pretty Candy and Cream," he practically drooled as he spoke to them. They hated that nickname given to the pair of them and growled slightly. Several of the older male wolves had taken to calling them the derogatory name. They preferred to be called Team MiNi as in Cami and Trini. They were the fastest runners, the best climbers whether tree or rocks, and the best swimmers among the she-wolves. They had beaten most of the male pairings, including Denver and his brother, Dakota. Cami and Trini were bold and not afraid to stand up to anyone, compete with anyone, and beat them, including Cami's giant Alpha brothers.

"Yeah, Ketchup, thanks but no thanks. Our jobs are more important that standing around watching which way the breeze blows our flag," Trin added flippantly, reminding him of the nickname Gina of Iron Moon had given him after the food fight on the third day which had splattered him with the sticky tomato condiment. The tomato ketchup had been almost invisible when he had shifted to his wolf to run laps as punishment for the males who started it. Denver growled as Trini and Cami giggled, unafraid. Hana snickered, then shift but her amber wolf still chuffed with amusement.

Suddenly, Coen loomed over them, "Is there a problem?" His green eyes intense as he glared at Denver. His wolf did not like the arrogant son of the Sabelfur alpha near his mate or his sister.

"No, not at all, big brother. Just wishing Ketchup luck while he guards the flag," Cami said sweetly. Trini coughed, but it sounded more like a laugh. Hana looked everywhere but at Coen.

Coen eyed them as they looked at him innocently. "Go join your partners and get to the border," he ordered. The three climbed the cliffs to join their teammates. To Denver he said, "Paul and I are going to start patrol, if anyone gets past us, are you sure you can protect the flag with just Dakota?"

Denver snorted, "Better than those stupid girls can."

Coen' eyes narrowed, he stepped forward, snarling in wolf-speak, "Those stupid girls are my mate and my sister, and Hana, a dear friend, so if you want to survive today I suggest you remember that." The alpha power rolled off Coen like an avalanche and Denver backed away a step. "Keep your guard up or you will answer to me." Then Coen's wolf loped toward the river.

<^><^><^><^>

"Run, Trini!" Callen barked at her as she raced toward the BCC pack border, she held two flags in her mouth, if she was caught with the flags then she was captured. She had to get the flags to their base. The pack they attacked, had already taken another pack's flags to she snatched both. Now she was fleeing with Callen, Carson, and Joey defending her tail. Her wolf dove into the water, swimming hard as a snarling gray wolf followed. He was bigger and struggled in the swift current as her paws caught the rocks on the other shore. Suddenly, Coen's wolf pulled her up onto a large rock. She looked over her shoulder, the other wolf looked like he was drowning.

"Don't let him drown," she whined, and he rolled his eyes.

"Fine. Go!" Coen ordered in wolf-speak, "I'll save him." His giant brown wolf leaped into the water and swam toward the struggling one.

Trini bounded into camp with two more flags. Cami and Hana were leaping and yipping in celebration, five flags down, five flags to go. Two other packs left. The observer wolf, one of the counselors, linked in the results. Minutes later Coen half carried, half dragged the nearly drowned silver wolf to the base. Marcus Neiman of Mountain Shadows was the prettiest and largest of the male wolves at the camp, but right now he looked like an oversized, water-logged coyote.

"Marcus, I'm sorry," Trini apologized in the language of their wolves, "Are you okay? I didn't mean to almost drown you."

"It's okay Moonglow, at least I would have been chasing an angel when I died," Marcus said smoothly, then coughed ungracefully.

Cami, Hana and a few other she-wolves from 'captured packs' all "Aww'd". But Coen' eyes darkened with jealous, until Trini leaned against him. Her wolf winked at his wolf and he calmed. Marcus always called her Moonglow, after the color of her wolf and hair. He was the most sought-after Alpha there, but Trini and the triplets knew something few others knew. The almost sixteen-year-old Marcus was already mated to a half-fae, half-wolf. His pack had always tolerated hybrids, but he was worried about them accepting one as their Luna. This was his last year at camp then he would be off the do his service to the Guardians and take his formal alpha training for the next four years.

<^>

Trini, Cami, Marcus, and Callen crept up on the base of the last single standing pack. Coen, Benji and the others were waging all-out war on the four-flags holding LMZ pack. Marcus had been on this territory during the previous camp season and knew of a cave that led into the back of the base camp area. Quietly, they snuck through the cave, the four were on their own but there were two more wolves waiting in the woods below.

'Ewww,' Camillia whined through their sibling mind link, 'I have bat crap between my toe pads.' She made a gagging sound after she sniffed her paw.

Callen laughed, 'You're was too girly for a wolf, sis. Don't complain, they can't smell us coming.'

'Trini, can you tell your relatives to quit pooping until we get out of here,' Cami snarked.

'Not my relatives, and not my fault you keep stepping in their poop instead of around it,' Trini teased.

They shushed themselves when they saw light ahead. The flag was laying on a log next to a sleeping wolf, several others were asleep beyond. The afternoon sun was warm and inviting and they all envied the sleeping wolves for a moment. The territory was on the top of a plateau, easily defensibly. These wolves were just waiting out the day, they wouldn't win but they wouldn't be captured either, or so they believed. Trini cocked her head to one side and Callen followed, they could hear laughter, human laughter. Some of this pack were in their skin forms, not their wolves. It was not against the rules, but it would take time for them to shift into their wolves to fight or pursue. Most of this team were town wolves from old packs, comfortable in their lineage and established territories away from rogues and difficulties of the more rural packs. Marcus's wolf grinned as Callen nudged them forward.

Cami and Trini belly crawled between the sleeping wolves. Silently approaching a giant golden and silver wolf, Trini carefully tugged the flag free with her paw.

"Hello, beautiful," Barney's golden eyes opened and peeked at her.

"Hello, Barney," Trini said softly in wolf-speak.

"I believe that's mine," Barney responded, looking past her. "Tell Marshal to get his own back." He pressed his paw down on the edge firmly.

"Can I trade you for it?" Trini asked sweetly.

"Hmmm, what to trade..." Barney's eyes narrowed mischievously.

"What are you doing? Barney, wake up," Came a shout from above.

Trini licked Barney on the snout, he jerked back in surprise as she laughed, snatched the flag then took off running as hard as she could with Cami right behind her.

Callen knocked him over as he bounded past, barking, "Sorry, Barney!"

Marcus plowed the three that groggily stood up and followed howling with laughter. "Sorry, cousin!"

In a minute, they had a dozen snarling wolves, chasing them down the rock ledges of the plateau. They scrambled through the scree field and raced for the forest.

'You kissed Barney!' Coen' voice roared in Trin's mind.

'Stop yelling, it wasn't a kiss. It was just a little lick on the nose,' she snapped as she darted through the underbrush. Marcus was down, Callen and Cami darted in another direction to lure some of the wolves off her trail. Trini was searching desperately for Hana and Sterling.

'I'll kill him,' Coen' jealousy almost gave her pause.

'Get over yourself, Coen,' Trini snapped, jumping a fallen tree. She could hear her pursuers closing in. 'Besides Barney would rather date you than me.'

She darted past a thicket and dropped the flag, pushing a rock over it, and ran in the direction of the pack battle, yipping to draw attention. The wolves chasing her swerved to chase after her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Hana's amber wolf and Sterling's dark gray running toward BCC with the flag. None followed them. Callen's plan worked again.

'What do you mean he'd rather date me?' Coen growled as Trini stretched her stride, starting to leave the others behind.

'Exactly what I said. Barney thinks you are prettier than me.' Trin laughed at the shock she felt from him. She crested the ridge over the battle field and ran skirting the backside of the four flag pack's territory, toward the attacking packs. She slowed when the announcement was broadcast that they had claimed another flag.

Finally, Coen said softly, 'No one is prettier than you, Trini.'

She felt her heart melt a moment before she was painfully tackled. Four wolves stood around her as Barney trotted up.

"Where's our flag, Trini?" Barney demanded coolly.

"I must have dropped it in the woods," she said sweetly, "It's gone."

"Where is it, mongel?" one of the city wolves demanded, his hackles rising.

Trini stood very still, answering slowly, "I told you I dropped it in the woods. But don't bother to go back and look. My teammates have it and are already back to our territory. You heard the announcement. You're all captured."

The other blonde wolf and a brown wolf huffed, but the two-tone one lunged at her, pinning her, "You shouldn't even be here hybrid, no one wants your kind. You should have been killed when you were born."

Trini struggled unsuccessfully to free herself. "Let go."

"You know accidents happen to mongrels," he growled malevolently.

"Get off her, Iden," Barney snarled using his last name. "They beat us fairly."

"How is having a half-blood sucker on their team fair? They can do things we can't. I think she cheated," Trent declared.

"I did not!" Trini declared boldly, "Get off me!"

But Trent tightened his bite on the back of her neck, shaking her mercilessly. She could feel her hide was torn and smell her blood. She couldn't shimmer and escape as a wolf, and he could kill her easily while she was shifting. She felt dizzy. 'Coen, Callen, help me!' Trin called out weakly through the link.

"Get off her, Trent. She didn't cheat. If you and your buddies hadn't been drinking, they wouldn't have got past you," Barney growled knocking him away from her.

"It figures you'd take her side," Trent taunted.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're a fairy lover, just like your cousin Marshal. Your packs should be wiped out."

The other wolves shifted nervously, but Barney charged Trent. They fought viciously as Trini struggled to stand. Suddenly, two giant chocolate-brown alphas and two silver alphas charged into the group. They scattered.

After forcing his submission, Barney trotted away from a stunned Trent Iden and over to where Trini lay. "Is she okay?"

Coen's wolf whined and licked her before turning toward Trent.

Callen shifted to his human and knelt beside her examining her wounds. "Easy, Trini, can you shift?"

She shifted painfully, her shoulder and neck were torn and bleeding. She screamed in pain.

"You hurt my mate. Are you prepared to die?" Coen snarled coldly in wolf-speak.

"It... it wasn't me," Trent stammered.

"Liar!" Coen howled, "I smell your rotten breath on her neck and her blood on your muzzle." Coen's wolf stood on his hind legs, panting. His claws became longer, his fangs extended, and his chest broadened. His warform was terrifying as he slowly closed the distance on his prey. Trent cowered, unable to flee because Benji and Marshal stood between him and escape.

Suddenly Trinity was standing in front of Coen, blood running down her body as her palms pressed into his chest. "No, Coen. Don't be the monster, he isn't worth it," she croaked through her bruised throat.

His eyes looked down into hers. Her pale blues pled for him to show mercy, then they rolled back and closed as she fainted in his arms. Gently, he picked her up, then his warform stomped toward the camp infirmary. The announcement came that Pack BCC captured that last four flags and was the winner this year, but Coen didn't care.

Later while the camp held a bonfire, Coen didn't celebrate with Callen, Benji and their friends, he refused to leave Trinity's bedside. The on-call doctor said she would be fine, as did the nurse, but he didn't heed them. Nothing mattered until she woke up, so he waited. He waited to see her ice blue eyes and thought about what she said about not being a monster. But he was when it came to her; he was that blood thirsty, all-powerful monster and he had known it since he was five years old, no one hurt his Trin. He drew two thirty-cc syringes of his blood and tucked them in a cup of ice in the bedside drawer. He had an hour before the nurse returned.

When the nurse came back, he was in the same place. She check Trini's I.V. then she smiled at him. "Coen, you're such a good mate."

Keeping his hands in the pocket of his hoodie, he bowed his head, murmuring, "Thank you."

After the nurse left, he pushed back his hood. His black eye was already fading. Reaching over, he took the cup of melted ice and syringes of cooled blood out of the drawer with a bruised hand. He made certain the nurse was in another room, then he put the first syringe to Trinity's lips and slowly pushed the cold blood into her mouth. Her eyes opened slowly, but instead of pale blue, dilated black eyes with a thin ring of color stared at him.

"Drink, my queen," he murmured as he took the empty syringe away and held up the second.

"Thank you, my beast," a voice much deeper than Trinity's purred then she sucked the syringe dry. The dark eyes blinked at him as her hand reached up to caress his bruised cheek.

"He hurt you. I had to punish him, but I let him live," he answered the unasked question as he leaned into her palm. "While I live, no one will harm you. Whatever you want, my queen, just ask."

Her hand curled around his neck and he bent, their lips touched for a moment then she breathed out a contented sigh as her arm slowly dropped onto the bed. She fell back asleep. Pulling the chair closer, Coen drew two more syringes of his blood, and put them in ice, before he rested his head on the side of her bed. An hour later, he fed her again so she could heal more quickly, then disposed of the syringes. The nurse never realized he moved from where he sat holding her hand with his hood up and his head bowed. In the morning, the nurse and camp counselors were amazed at Trini's recovery, but Cami and Callen watched their brother suspiciously, especially after Trent Iden left suddenly before closing ceremonies with two black eyes, a bruised jaw, and limping.