Dinner and Attack!

Thanksgiving. A holiday where we give thanks for our family and all the blessings of our lives. A holiday of football and food. I had each family bring a side dish or dessert. I noticed a lot of blueberry items - muffins, scones, pies and turn overs. Thankfully, some families got into the spirit of the season with meats, breads and every vegetable imaginable. Everything was made by the family who brought it. By the end of it all, we were all as stuffed as the proverbial turkeys we'd served.

I had never worked so hard in my life and I loved every minute of it! Claudia was the lead, since she knew whom to send where. Natalie was wonderful, too. Edward, Keith, Kevin and Leo provided brute strength. Madison and Danielle insisted on helping. They were coming out of their isolationism and socializing more. Jenny helped organize seating and rotation of foods so that people could find their favorite dishes. That way, she could come into the kitchen and kiss Danielle often.

Kevin has accepted that Madison is his mate and they have set a date for their Mating Ceremony for shortly after she turns 18. With permission of both Edward and myself, Leo and Natalie are to be married a week before her 18th birthday with Madison. My wedding with Edward is in three weeks and everything is being handled by the pack.

It's amazing to have a community that truly supports each other. Farmers, florists, attorneys, educators, realtors, event planners, even doctors and morticians, all in one place, happy to find their place in life with the one soul who completes and strengthens them, their mate. Yes, there is petty squabbles and competition, but most conflict of this community is avoidable. Compromise and arbitration makes life more manageable for everyone.

Still, training is self defense is mandatory. In wolf form and in human form, everyone must learn to fight to defend the community and our family. I don't want to hurt anyone, so it is hard for me to let go and truly fight. Can I? I believe so. Can I prove it? Not in front of my family and not using my family as targets.

Natalie is talented with knives in human form. In wolf form she goes for the intestines, since it is a larger target. Madison is accurate with crossbow and with neck breaks. Danielle was vicious. Sparring partners had to wear extra protection, since she tears anything she can grab and shreds it with claws, teeth, or any available tool or weapon. She's called an "opportunistic fighter." Leo and Jenny are quite proud of them all.

Jenny is also training her replacement as the Warrior Princess leader. The two top candidates will have to fight each other until one or the other submits, but we have a great medical staff in case something goes wrong.

After the fabulous feast we shared, many of the pack retire to watch football in the media room. I thank the gods of industry for the industry sized dishwasher. Couples sit comfortably in each other's arms. Suddenly, Jenny, Edward, Keith, Leo and Kevin stand up, extricating themselves from their lady loves. 'We'll be right back,' Edward mind links me to keep it private.

'I'm coming with you,' I send back. 'Try and stop me,' I send before he can object. Natalie won her argument with Leo as well.

We go out the kitchen door, into the mud room and disrobe quickly. 'We need to move.' Edward is in Alpha mode. We shift to our wolves. I tap into Tia's Lycan power and my runes pulse before they dim to unnoticeable. Natalie does the same. Our wolves now reach the shoulders of our mates. We are more equal in height, now. We run, full speed to the edge of the territory to the north. 'Report!' Edward practically barks in my mind.

Three wolves approach us, bowing. The one steps forward. 'We have encountered three humans approaching from this direction.'

'Did you let them get glimpses of you?' Leo pipes in.

'Yes, sir. They seem nervous, but continue in this direction. One seems to be recording with a cell phone.'

'I have an idea,' I send. 'Alpha, if you will permit me?' I keep it formal in front of the other members of the pack.

'I don't like ideas,' Edward growls.

With Edward at my side, I decide to encounter the humans in the nude, as a Druid, showing my protection runes. Natalie and Leo will be in hiding where they can watch us, with the rest just a couple leaps away. Edward doesn't like it, but it's the most logical and least violent.

We run to intercept them before they can see the main grounds of the community. "Can I assist you?" I step from behind a tree beside them. "Would you mind turning off your recording device?"

Now in full view, I cross my hands in front of me, relaxed. My runes glow lightly. Three kids, two boys and one girl gape at me. When Edward walks out and stands in next to me, lightly growling, their eyes widen.

"Y-y-yes, ma'am. You here alone?" says the boy after lowering his cell phone. The girl is avoiding me. The other boy shuffles his feet.

"Of course not! I have Cain, right here." I scratch Edward behind the ears.

"A-a-are you human?" asks the boy with the cell phone.

"I'm a Druid. My father was quite powerful, I hear." 'Not the whole truth, but at least partially.'

Edwards face turns from menacing to smiling, at least a wolf-like smile. 'I like your devious mind.'

"Are those tattoos?" at last, the girl speaks up.

"I have been blessed with protective runes." Still the truth...

'Alert, alert, alert! Rogues to the West!" another pack member sounds the alarm.

'You guys go. Edward and I can handle this.' I send to the kids watching us.

'This was a distraction,' Jenny sends. 'Be careful.'

"Now, I do need to get back to caring for woodland creatures. It's time for you to go, I think." I try to sound positive.

"It's time for you to DIE!" The other boy starts to shift, tearing his clothing. The other two shift as well, but I have already shifted and body slam each of them before they finish the process. Edward is standing over one of them, growling. One boy is knocked out and the girl wolf is challenging me.

'Really? I tower over this stupid bitch!' She lunges. I catch her with my fore paws, kick her with the rear paws and release her. She flies into a tree and I hear a sickening crack. I don't have time to worry about her. Edward rips the throat of the werewolf before him. I finish off the girl and turn for the other boy, the more timid one with the cell phone. He is gone. Edward follows his scent to the edge and away from the territory.

Satisfied that the boy will not be back soon, we run quickly to the west. 'I'm coming!' I send to no one in particular. Edward howls. I let loose with my first full-hearted howl.

I put all my encouragement and love for my family into that howl. The atmosphere changes. I feel more feral. I feel my ferocity radiate off me. I put my head down and lengthen my stride. I notice that Edward was holding back.

The horror before me sparks my temper. Natalie and Jenny on one side, Kevin and Leo on another, with at least ten others in the fray. 'That's my FAMILY!' I howl again. I had never understood "diving into the fray," but my family's lives were never on the line before now. I tackle one wolf and break his neck mid-air. I yank another off Natalie and she rips his throat out. Edward grabs another and rips its guts out with a leap on his way to yet another.

'More coming.' Jenny's ears are pricked forward, facing West.

'We need help,' I don't know why I need to state the obvious. It's a gift. 'Call everyone.' I plead with Edward.

'When you're right, you're right.' He howls. This is a call to arms. I add my voice. Soon, we are surrounded by those standing with us and those joining us.

Madison and Gabrielle soon join us. Natalie, Madison and I all show our runes. Danielle is a small gray wolf with black ears and she growls, 'I will fight for my family.'

'We are thankful for the help,' Edward is pleased that I answered her first.

'Now to business,' Jenny growls, her mate by her side.