Land of the Wolves [Lucian]

Sometimes one just needs to let their mind and feet wander. Today was one of those mornings for Callista. With the passing of warm evenings and bright mornings she found herself waking earlier to get her rounds completed whilst the sunlight still existed. She loved the night and the sense of invisibility that it offered from those with poorer eyesight, but at the time of year when the mundane green of Spring rotted and decomposed into fiery reds, yellows, oranges and eventually brown, she enjoyed the daytime almost as much in order to witness this happening before her eyes. Autumn was her favorite season because it was when the air grew crisply cold and the prey started to dwindle, and in this way it represented the harshness of reality. It was when hunting and keeping sheltered started getting difficult and the weather was somewhat unpredictable, yet the season was kind enough to act as a warning before the real struggle began; Winter. It was firm yet it was fair, resembling the good and bad of life. The Beta respected that balance it had. Spring and summer were just too easy; they made one soft and forget to be prepared for the worst. And for the werewolf any challenge to survive was willingly accepted, because she liked to know she was still primed and fit to hold the position she had. For a monster, destroying anything that got in her way was simple, when something indestructible stood before her that was the real test.

Moving her hulking figure through the lands, she padded unhurriedly on her broad and strong, hand-like paws away from the perimeters after patrolling them and drifted along with no real intention of returning to her den. The wind blew violently through her light brown fur, trailing her scent on the breeze to flow through the forest. Judging by the smell of rain in the sky and the hostility of the wind she was sure a storm would come. There were still areas of the territory she had not yet explored, so she headed in one direction that lead to the isolated area behind Lucian’s den, where she knew she had not been before due to it being difficult to get to. Dawn was occurring and the light filtered in through the canopy that was becoming increasingly bare. Leaping over crags and slippery rocks to get around the slope of rock that contained the cavern over which the waterfall fell and of what Alpha Lucian called home, she came to a new cave altogether. This one was wide and sinister looking, shrouded in shadows and eternally black even with all the rays of light surrounding it in the woodland. Gazing upon it under her dark glare, she identified it as being the place of imprisonment for the disrespectful ones of her kind, said to completely block out everything to an extent that the guilty wolf would have to accept their wrongdoing and submit or else probably go insane. It didn’t threaten the she-wolf, but rather tempted and welcomed her to evaluate if it was worthy of its reputation. In this part there was no lingering aroma of her Alpha or any other packmate for that matter, leading her to believe nobody had visited the cave for months and therefore it was unlikely anyone would visit to find her here. With her ears forward and thick tail held out behind her, her nostrils flared as she stepped into the darkness. As calm as ever she made her way in, for there was nothing for an experienced beast to fear, especially when in its own realm.

With time, things among the pack had changed. Darius and Serenity were granted their question to be mates, though Lucian did not like the Warrior male, instead he found him to be ignorant and irritating. What wolf in their right mind would go into the den of the Alpha without being allowed entrance? Only a fool. It seemed the only wolves who made any sense were Lucian and Callista, his Beta. She had proven her worth to him over the time they had reigned over the land together. She was his most trusted wolf. But just how much trust did he have in her? He was quite unsure. Aside from the pack, things had changed in the outside world. Everything around them was happening so quickly. He had made contact with a human, contracted him to kill for a simple request he knew nothing about. But more recently, he had spoken to the one female he had kept on his mind for so long. Eden. Could he trust the female with this information, that he had thoughts of another races' leader in a more-than-friends way? Upon finishing the border patrols, he smelled the pack lands to find Callista had been by his home, and by passed it towards the Temptress Cave. Such an interesting place for her to go to. Sure she had free reign over the land, and he had no issue with her looking to it. He followed after her, moving to follow her scent. As he drew closer, he stared down to her. "Callista," his voice echoed along the walls, bouncing back towards him. "What brings you here?" he asked as he walked on all fours close to her. On his approach, he could smell the scent of a feline lingering on her. It was similar to the scent of Eden, and instantly he knew the words that his Regina spoke were true. Callista had been visiting with a Shifter.

The Beta continued her exploration through the cave, placing her paws slowly and heavily on the crumbly floor as she moved deeper into the cavern. Her tail flicked and lashed out behind her while she licked across her nose and muzzle, making the membranes damp and moist so she could smell all the scents better. With no sunlight able to enter these walls it was cold and she could see her smoky breath spreading out from her nostrils and into the cave like fog before it quickly disappeared with every following inhale. As she was about to take another step the voice of one she knew very well filled the empty air and echoed around her. The she-wolf paused and turned around to find her Alpha nearing her as he called her name. As she looked to him beside her she listened to the question he had asked her, of what she was doing in Temptress Cave. Callista had not expected any company, yet alone Lucian to join her. She had not seen him in quite some time, and assumed him to be busy today as he usually was. But it was a fortunate surprise, they had some catching up and exchanging of any information that each other deserved to know. Before she would answer him she would greet him, and she figured that since they had not been in contact for months she should be exceedingly reverent and courteous while doing so. Carefully she moved closer to the black male and parted her maw slightly, curling her body low and lifting her head to meet his furry chin with her tongue, licking just once before she pulled back and resumed a neutral stance before him on all fours. It was the most respectful way that she had acted towards anyone in her primal form, but he was her Alpha and an important figure to her life after all. "Hello Alpha Lucian, we haven't spoken for quite a while." The sand and light brown colored werewolfess spoke calmly and with a hint in her tone that suggested she was pleased to see him. "I'm just here to look around, I'm aware this cave is supposed to be rather...scary." Her gaze averted from looking up at the brute to scan around the spikes of rock that rose from the floor and hung from the roof. "Are you also here to explore or did you wish to see me?" The appendage attached to her rump flicked idly once more as she turned her dark brown eyes back to Lucian, offering the smallest of wolfish smiles.

The midnight wolf stood before her, watching as she moved a step back from him. She did not wish to be too close, though he did not mind it. of all the wolves within his land, he trusted Callista the most. She was the wisest and most true to Lucian. He could trust her beyond all else. And he had known her for so much longer than the rest. He gave her his handsome wolfish smile. He looked over her tan coat, and being this close he could smell the scent of a Shifter on her. It had been the one from before he had hinted upon, but never spoke of it. Smelling her, he knew she could probably smell a Shifter on him as well. He and Eden had embraced a couple times in their last meeting, and even he could smell her scent upon his skin. It was a sweet and warm smell, perfect and captivating. The thought of her scent on him was enough to make him smile ear to ear. But with Callista, he would contain himself. He had an image to uphold anyway. "I have not come to search this cave, no... Instead I was searching for you. There is something I have come to speak with you about." He took a moment to think about what he was going to say to the other wolf, there was so much on his mind. "There is much we need to discuss... First things first. Of pack matters, we do need to speak. Most recently I have awarded Warrior Darius the chance to be mates with Warrior Serenity. Though, I will tell you this, he is not my favorite wolf in this pack. Not only did he enter my den, but when I pulled him out, he gave me an aggressive tone. It was not appreciated. What fool would walk right into the Alpha's den?" He was angered by the memory of the event. "I think in the next coming months, they will be expecting a litter. If that does, indeed happen, then I will want to make sure that border security is increased and protection for the pack is ten fold as strong. I will not allow any werewolf young to be harmed by any foreign or domestic creature. It will be everyone's responsibility to watch over the litter, especially since we do not currently have a Caretaker."

Despite the male being of the highest authority in her pack, Lucian was the one packmate that Callista felt most comfortable and at ease with. With him she could let down her guard as she trusted him completely and he already knew so much about her. They had only met for a few hours on their initial meeting all those years ago and there had been a few millennia since losing contact with him and finally finding him again, but ever since she discovered what he had done for her to change her life for the better he had gained her utmost loyalty and respect. Some saw the Alpha as a bad man, particularly the humans with their elaborate, and mostly false, tales about him. However, she could see the good in him. He had helped her, a person in need when she was essentially a stranger to him. How could that be considered an evil being? The beast in them all could take control sometimes, but she knew that for the right person any werewolf could be civil, even-tempered, or even loving and caring. Something about his features suggested he was happier than usual, and she could swear from looking at him that something played on his mind. It interested her and made her curious at the same time.

As he spoke she dropped her smile and shifted her paws slightly, not knowing whether to hold still in case Lucian just wanted to talk to her quickly or if they would move further into the cave. She politely watched him without directly looking to his green eyes, not all that surprised that he had in fact sought her out to talk to her as their relationship as Alpha and Beta meant that would sometimes happen. While he paused she nodded that she understood he needed to speak with her and stepped closer to him while waiting for the brute to continue. When he did so she listened quietly, taking in all the information until the point where he had finished. Then she began with a single nod following his words. "I have known the relationship between Serenity and Darius was becoming one of close affections, so them becoming mates does not astound me at all. I suppose I should congratulate them, though I do not feel them finding love with one another is an accomplishment worth praising. I admit Warrior Darius tests my patience too on occasion, but he is a fine fighter amongst our ranks and not so much a fool, as much as he may seem so with his cockiness. And yet my favorite wolf in the pack would be yourself, Alpha Lucian. Though don't let it go to your head." The corner of her black lips twisted in a playful smirk and she glanced around the shadows, sniffing the cold air. In doing so it was only then that she realized that the shifter scent wasn't just coming from herself, but from Lucian too. She had thought she could smell a different feline scent other than Jagara earlier but had not been sure. What business did her Alpha have with one of them? Right now she felt it wasn't appropriate to ask yet. "If the newly mated warrior does indeed conceive I will certainly make regular checks of the border, and sleep there if I must to make sure it is secure even while the others are asleep. My dog makes the patrols much faster too. And the next time I meet a suitable wolf asking for acceptance I will offer them the rank of Caretaker so there is someone assigned to watch over the young at all times." Flexing her black claws into the ground, she silenced a moment and shook her pelt slightly to rid it of the dust that fell from above before she looked up to the onyx male. "Is there anything else you wish to inform me of?" Her gaze ran over his pelt and she flared her nostrils, hoping he'd take the opportunity to explain how a female shifter scent found its way to mingle with his own.

Lucian listened to his most trusted pack member speak. Anything that Callista wished to say, she could. He never hold anything against her. She had gained his trust long ago and when he asked of her opinion, he always wanted her to speak on the subject honestly. This case would be no different. So she knew something had been up between the two Warriors. She was very perceptive and for this, he knew she would be able to smell Eden lingering on his coat. The Alpha waited until she had completed speaking before he would even think to begin. Respect was a key factor in their relationship, one he held dear. "If you find a good wolf to make a Caretaker, then please do. But do not sleep along the borders of our home. The winter is coming and soon the snow will follow. I know we are durable and built for any weather, but the thought of you sleeping out there alone, it bothers me. Kane has been doing rounds lately and tells me of new things he finds at the border. I don't think you've had a chance to meet him just yet, but he is my German Shepherd I adopted a few short weeks ago. He is a great companion, smart and witty in his own way. I think you would like him, and he would like you." Lucian smiled at the thought of his dog, but when she asked the last question, how could he keep it from her any longer? "There is much we need to discuss. For the last couple of months, I have been interested in a woman. She is not of our race. For a long time, I have not been able to be around her, for she had a mate and sadly he was murdered by a human. The reason I bring this to your attention, is first we need to be aware that the Humans are not backing down. They will kill for no reason at all. That is something we must be aware of. If we are not careful, we could end up like the other guy. I don't want anything to happen to any of our race, so we must be extra careful." He paused for a moment and stared to Callista. Was he ready to admit what he was truly holding within him? Could he really tell her what he was feeling? "Callista, I am going to be completely honest with you, nothing held back. I know you have been spending time with the 'Beta' of the Shifters. I can smell her on your coat, and I also know from my own knowledge finding information. But I am not mad at you, I want you to know that. In fact, I want your honest opinion. For the last while, I have been seeing Regina Eden of the Shifters. I have liked her for a long time, but a while ago, she chose another to be her mate. Now that he is no longer with us, she has come to me to help her. She wants our protection. I am thinking of starting an alliance with her, and their race. If we were to do such a thing, it could draw the Vampires to attack them. That is truly what I worry about. If anything happened to Eden or her people because of me, I would never be able to forgive myself." Lucian looked to her eyes. He could feel his own starting to build with a small lining of tears along the edges. He was not going to cry, but thinking of anything happening to her was enough to push him this far. "What do you think of this?"

The she-wolf waited patiently, listening to everything he replied to what she had just offered to do for him and the pack. The fact that he was concerned for her sleeping out in the cold and snow was rather unnecessary but also quite nice, and she mentally smiled at the thought that Lucian did have a devoted and soft side to a select few. She would not argue with him now, but instead accept his judgment and only if she felt it necessary on her own accord, and with his consent, would she decide to spend nights on the borders in future. To her she thought it no different whether she slept alone in her den or alone outside; either way she was not affected by the cold and would be alone, other than for Karma's near constant presence. It was odd how she showed very little affection to the dog, yet it followed and worked with her almost all hours of the day. She supposed that it was just part of the canine's instinct, to be with its pack and serve its leader. As her alpha smiled and paused she respectfully nodded her great head once. "Very well, Alpha. I will do as you ask. And no, I have not met your Shepherd, but I have smelled his scent and Karma has been rather interested in it. Perhaps we could meet up with the dogs sometime, whenever we need to discuss something again or just to hang out."

Callista then remained silent, more interested in what he would say to that all important question she had asked before. Her fawn-shaded ears pressed forwards to listen, her deep brown eyes focused on him. Straight away she was taken aback by what he revealed to her, that he had romantic interest with someone not of their species. Of anyone, she thought he would be one of the last people to want such a thing, but she kept her face blank and said nothing. Logic told her that it would not be a vampire, the biggest enemy of the werewolves, and as he continued, explaining how the one he loved had her mate murdered by humans, that automatically excluded a human from the possibilities. It was obviously an animal shapeshifter species, and that was when her mind quickly put the information together, remembering the shifter scent on his coat. At this point she was more shocked about the revelation of his secret relationship with a shifter rather than the unprovoked killing of the mortals, that was actually quite expected of their race. But she didn't know what to comment about any of it as she wasn't one to feign happiness or congratulations nor was she going to interrogate Lucian, so instead she simply uttered "Understood, Alpha." and allowed him to keep talking. She knew from his tone that what was coming was important and serious, and that the Alpha's emotions were tied strongly to it. Once he had finished explaining his plans it was her turn to speak. Her ears were turned back slightly due to noticing the sadness in his eyes, and she knew then that he truly loved this Regina and needed to protect her. "I had not intended originally to befriend the beta shifter, Jagara, but then one thing lead to another and it just happened. It wasn't meant to be a secret friendship or anything, just so you know. At first I thought of it as a way to learn more of their race, but now I trust her as a friend. If she is a good reflection of the Shifters I believe they are strong, compassionate and honest. They have a few similarities to ourselves and I have no current qualms against them or therefore the idea for an alliance. If you feel in your instinct that it is what we should do, then I agree. I do not think the Vampires would risk an attack against such large numbers, but then again I don't underestimate their foolishness and hatred towards us. But importantly I must say I support you, and your relationship. It is only nature for one to protect their mate, or mate-to-be, and the pack will support their Alpha." She kept her place before him respectfully but stood resolutely, showing full faith in her words and her Alpha.

As the two spoke peacefully, one to the other, a loud bark rang at the entrance of the cave. It was loud and filled with base. Perhaps it had only been from bouncing wall to wall around the cave that it sounded such a way. Lucian turned his head to see Kane bounding towards them. His great legs pushed him forward, forcing his fur to trail behind his body elegantly. Lucian smiled and watched the dog come running so quickly. "Speak of the devil and he shall appear.." he joked as he smiled to Callista. "This big dumb lug is Kane... he's a good boy and he knows all kinds of tricks." As Kane approached, he moved to Lucian and licked his hand, then over to Callista and sniffed her leg. He moved about her in a circle and wagged his tail slightly. Lucian was curious to know if Kane had smelled Karma or if he was just fond of Callista already. Either way, Lucian continued to speak to his most trusted wolf, "I will agree with you there... The Shifters are very similar to us, though there are some differences I have seen. I have not met this "Beta" of there's, but I have heard much about her. She seems to be a strong character, one we would definitely gain to being allied with. But I would only agree to this alliance, if Eden and I are to be mates. Hopefully, that way maybe more wolves and Shifters will get together, building an even stronger bond with one another. When I said I liked her, I really meant to say I have loved her. I do love her now, and this coming Christmas, I plan to propose to her. I already have it all planned out and everything. But for this to work, I need to make sure that we are all in understanding of what is expected. Not all of the Shifters are civilized, not even all of our wolves are, so feuds between the two packs must be stopped. If any such a thing arises, and you are near, I want you to handle it. I trust you Callista, as you have been the most faithful to me. In the next coming months, things can change and it can get more dangerous. When you go into neutral lands, keep your eyes keen and your ears sharp. You never know what could be lurking in the shadows. They say a Human has shot and murdered Eden's mate. I plan to find this human and kill him myself, stringing his intestines around my neck like a necklace. Some of them are smarter than we think or even know... So be on the lookout." As Lucian spoke, he looked to her. A small thought popped into his mind, but he brushed it away. Whatever Callista would reply to him with was far more important than his own thoughts.