03-Strength of the Mate (33 page)

“Oh, wow.” Adam couldn’t think of anything else to say as he watched Dawson run out to meet Noah. He stood watching, his mouth slack, still stunned by what he’d witnessed.

“It never gets old,” Lucas said from where he stood beside Adam. He watched Noah across the distance, a bemused expression on his face.

Adam tried to keep an eye on Dawson at the same time he folded his uniform. It wasn’t as good a job as Lucas had done with Noah’s. Adam sighed. He’d have to get Tim to show him a few of the Marine tricks they all used.

Dawson lowered his shoulders, stretching his spine. He dropped his hips, giving his hind legs a good stretch. As he approached Noah, Dawson lowered his head, keeping his ears low. He carried his tail down by his legs, not quite tucked between them, but obviously submissive to Noah.

Noah looked friendly when he greeted Dawson. They circled each other, sniffing at whatever they could reach. It was subtle, but Dawson remained submissive to Noah as they chased each other around the open center of the circle.

Adam noticed movement around them. He saw Marines slowly removing various pieces of their uniforms. Some stacked their clothes on the ground. Others handed them off to someone else, like Noah and Dawson had done.

A long, loud, melodious howl suddenly filled the air. Adam jumped, adrenaline rushing through his body, making his skin prickle. In the center of the circle, Noah stood with his head lifted, his muzzle pointed toward the sky. Dawson sat beside him on his haunches.

All around them, Marines in various stages of undress dropped onto all fours. Wolves of all sizes and coat colors stepped out of uniforms, heading for Noah and Dawson at a run.

Noah’s first howl faded. Tossing his head back again, Noah continued to bay at the sky. More and more Marines shifted, taking on their wolf forms. Men and women moved around, gathering up discarded parts of uniforms, folding them into neat piles. The number of humans standing on the perimeter dwindled to just a few dozen. The number of wolves milling around with Noah in the center of the circle became large.

The mood in the truck yard was joyous. The wolves tussled with each other. Some groomed themselves as well as others. A few wrestling matches got too serious, so Noah intervened. Most resolved on their own, as a definite hierarchy established itself. Dawson roamed from one small group of wolves to another, initiating some sort of play. Whenever Noah disciplined a wolf, Dawson smoothed ruffled fur and lightened the mood of the pack again.

It wasn’t very long before a large group of smaller, gangly wolves was following Dawson’s every move. Each member of the group looked too small for his ears and paws, like they still needed to grow into them.

Adam glanced at Lucas surreptitiously. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Would you mind if I ask a question?”

Lucas gave him a look. “Don’t be so serious and formal. You’re family. Ask away.”

That was a little reassuring. “The wolves following Dawson around. Are they as young as they look?”

Lucas nodded. “Dawson has a knack for making the youngsters feel comfortable. None of them is any older than twenty. Most have only been members of one pack their entire lives. Some still have trouble shifting back and forth at will. Noah doesn’t try to be intimidating, he just is. And Dawson is like everybody’s big brother.”

Adam frowned. “Not to me, he’s not. I already have two of those, I don’t need another.”

Lucas grinned. “Well that’s good, because the way Dawson looks at you is definitely not brotherly.”

Adam laughed. He liked the idea that Dawson had feelings for him he didn’t try to hide.

As the wolves socialized, the sun continued to sink lower and lower in the sky. Adam and Lucas finally climbed onto the hood of a Humvee to watch the games. Darkness began to settle over them, filling Adam with dread.

“Have you seen one of these Shamings before?” Adam asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Lucas answered carefully.

“Is it bad?”

“Bad?” Lucas shrugged. “It’s uncomfortable, if you let yourself feel sympathy for the guilty were. No one gets hurt, though, if that’s what you mean.”

Adam sighed. “I guess I don’t see how it’s any different from what Granger and Carson did to all of us.”

Lucas seemed to contemplate Adam’s words for several moments. “I admit, I don’t entirely understand all the nuances. As humans, we’ll never fully comprehend the importance of the pack in the lives of the werewolves. It’s a deeper connection than family. It’s more than just social. They need their pack. Losing the approval and acceptance of the pack is like stripping them of their identities. Not being an active member of the pack during any of their rituals leaves them…bereft. For them, it’s like a form of solitary confinement.”

Adam mulled that over as he watched Dawson playing tag with the youngest wolves. He’d been in self-imposed isolation for so long, he couldn’t imagine needing contact with anyone. Even his own family didn’t have that kind of hold on him. If he was honest with himself, which he tried to be these days, he’d begun to miss them lately. But that was still different.

“Anyway,” Lucas’ voice tore Adam from his thoughts, “if it seems like a severe punishment, that’s because it’s a serious crime. Granger and Carson acted outside the pack. They enjoyed having power over you. They got pleasure from tormenting you. No one in the
sippe
will enjoy this Shaming. Pleasure will be the last thing any of them feel. It’ll look violent to you and me, but all of the wolves will exhibit restraint. An important aspect of the ritual is that the individual pack members keep themselves in check. They control their animal selves, not the other way around. No one causes physical harm to another, despite the fact they each have the strength to do it. In a lot of ways, werewolves are much less barbaric than we humans.”

“It’s not Carson and Granger I’m concerned for,” Adam said quietly. “You know that, right?”

Lucas drew his brows together in puzzlement as he shook his head in answer.

“Those two can rot in hell, for all I care.” Adam’s anger bled into his voice. “I don’t want the weres to sink to that level, to become what they despise. I want them to be better than those two. I need Dawson to be better than those two.” His voice broke on the last sentence.

Lucas’ expression smoothed. “They are better than those two. Dawson especially.” He sighed, gazing into the distance thoughtfully. “True Alphas have large responsibilities. They have to be a little harder. Sometimes, they need to be ruthless. Dawson is able to maintain his warm, gooey center.”

Surprised, Adam burst into laughter. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“He’s got a spine of steel when you need him to, but Dawson’s just a big softie inside.”

Full dark had fallen while they’d talked. Their attention was drawn to Noah, where he stood in the center of the truck yard. He released a series of howls and barks that seemed to echo across the desert. Dawson trotted around Noah in ever widening circles, urging the wolves toward the perimeter.

The circle was finally clear, except for Noah and Dawson. Noah sat down on his haunches, staring intently past Lucas and Adam, at the paved road that ran behind them. Dawson still jogged around the edges of the circle, nosing at the wolves. He nipped at the paws or muzzles of some, as if they weren’t doing exactly what he wanted them to, or maybe the way he wanted them to do it.

Lucas craned his neck around to look at something behind Adam. Turning his head in the same direction, Adam was stunned to see Granger and Carson. They stood stiffly, several feet away from the Humvee. Neither one of them looked in his direction. That pissed Adam off, but he couldn’t say he was surprised.

Borovec, Mercer, and Rodriguez stood directly behind the two disgraced werewolves. Paul gripped Carson’s bicep, his fingers ending in sharp claws. Jason had a firm grip on one of Granger’s shoulders, claws digging into his collarbone. Will stood behind all of them, clawed hands at his sides, as his eyes darted back and forth between Granger and Carson.

Noah stood. He faced Carson and Granger, and snarled. The two shifters abruptly staggered forward. Granger stumbled to his knees. Jason was there in an instant, yanking Granger to his feet. He and Paul forced them roughly toward the center of the circle, where Noah and Dawson both stood.

Words were exchanged but Adam couldn’t hear.

Lucas leaned closer and whispered. “They have to undress so they can shift.”

Adam knew that was only the beginning of the indignities that were going to be heaped onto Carson and Granger. He didn’t want to imagine himself in the same situation.

“If you haven’t already noticed, werewolves aren’t shy about their bodies,” Lucas said quietly. “Unlike us prudish humans, they don’t think twice about stripping down in front of each other.”

“So Dawson isn’t just showing off?” Not that Adam had really thought that, anyway.

“I didn’t say they weren’t narcissists,” Lucas replied with a grin. “Noah’s about as arrogant as they come.”

As the shifters disrobed, Paul and Jason took their discarded uniforms and handed them off to Will. The three of them retreated, coming to stand beside Lucas and Adam’s Humvee. Borovec dropped the large pile of camo clothing to the ground.

“Would Noah punish me for pissing on their uniforms?” Will asked angrily.

“Respect the uniform, Marine,” Lucas said sharply. “Those shifters might have dishonored it, that doesn’t mean you should, too. The American flag is still on the shoulders.”

Will immediately looked chagrined. He let his head hang as he addressed Lucas. “You’re right. It was stupid of me to forget that. I’m sorry, Dominant.”

With Lucas’ nod, the issue was closed.

A flash of white in the distance caught Adam’s attention. He looked up in time to see Noah run past Granger, snapping at his legs with a low growl. Dawson charged Carson, snapping his jaws menacingly in his face. Noah ran at Granger, hitting him with a glancing blow. Granger stumbled to his knees, and was slow to stand up.

Dawson circled Carson, growling and snapping. Carson shoved angrily at Dawson’s muzzle. Whipping his body around, Dawson bit Carson’s thigh. Adam gasped, but gave silent thanks when there was no wound. Dawson put his muzzle right in Carson’s face and barked viciously. Carson stood perfectly still.

Noah paced, watching Granger climb slowly to his feet. Noah lunged toward Granger’s feet. He growled as he bit at the backs of Granger’s ankles. There were no visible bite wounds, despite the desperate, high-pitched cries coming from Granger. Noah slammed his flank into the backs of Granger’s knees, sending him crashing to the ground. Granger sprawled face down in the dirt, Noah’s massive form looming over him.

Adam’s attention was snared by Dawson slowly stalking Carson. The fur along his spine stood on end, giving him a menacing appearance that bordered on crazed. He licked at his own muzzle and bared teeth as he crept forward, snarling fiercely. Carson watched Dawson, defiance in his expression, and in every line of his body. Lunging forward, Dawson slammed his chest against Carson, forcing him back several steps.

Noah opened his wide jaws, taking the back of Granger’s head and neck between his teeth. His growl was loud, drowning out Granger’s cries. Noah shook his head, Granger’s neck still in his jaws. Adam was sure Noah had killed him, but again, Granger was unharmed when Noah released him.

Dawson slammed his broad chest into Carson’s body, over and over. He forced Carson repeatedly to give ground, to back down. Carson lifted a hand, looking ready to push at Dawson’s muzzle to ward off further attacks. Dawson’s barks were rage-filled. He snapped at Carson’s upraised hand until he lowered it.

As if he’d finally had enough, Dawson went straight for Carson’s throat. He carried Carson to the ground beneath his weight. Releasing Carson, Dawson leapt to the side. He circled Carson’s supine form, head and tail high in triumph. Carson’s eyes shone with a paler color. His fangs were visible between his lips, and his hands sported long, sharp claws.

Noah loped around the perimeter where all his pack members stood, watching and waiting. He gave several loud yowls as he returned to where Granger lay huddled in the dirt. Several wolves burst into motion, heading for either Carson or Granger.

Lucas leaned in and said with a smile, “Your champion is coming to claim his favor.”

“My what?” Adam looked at Lucas in bafflement.

He nodded toward the circle. “Dawson just kicked your attacker’s ass, on your behalf. He’s inbound to collect his prize.”

Adam slid off the hood of the Humvee just before Dawson reached him. He lifted both arms reflexively. When Dawson came to a stop, he draped his head over Adam’s shoulder. Adam wrapped his arms around Dawson’s thick neck, like it was the natural thing to do. He expected awkwardness between them, instead it was comfortable. It was like they’d been doing this for years.

Dawson pressed against him for several long moments. Dawson nosed at Adam, sniffing all along his throat and chest. When Dawson started to walk around him, Adam put some space between himself and the Humvee. Rubbing his flanks and his cheeks along Adam’s body, Dawson marked him with his own scent. He exhaled in soft, warm puffs against Adam’s skin as he slowly circled him a second time. Adam nearly toppled over when Dawson sat down beside him, keeping as much contact between them as he possibly could.

Glancing around, Adam realized Lucas had also slid off the Humvee. Noah sat in front of Lucas, eyes closed as he enjoyed having his chin scratched. Lucas reached up and rubbed behind one of Noah’s ears. Noah’s loud groan of pleasure left everyone nearby laughing.

Adam sobered at the sound of fierce snarling in the center of the circle. He’d forgotten for a moment, why they were here. Small groups of wolves moved in to harry Carson and Granger. They teamed up to humiliate the two men, not allowing them to get to their feet, and provoking them to shift. Carson tried to push himself out of the dirt, but a group of wolves prevented him from getting any further than his knees. A small wolf knocked him to the ground, sending him rolling through the dust. The entire group snapped at him, barking aggressively.