03-Strength of the Mate (34 page)

Carson’s feet lengthened, claws growing from the tips of his toes. His facial features lengthened, a strip of fur appeared along the length of his spine. He swiped at a nearby wolf with one clawed hand. The wolf managed to evade the blow with a quick sideways leap.

Dawson barked viciously, coming to his feet and starting forward. Noah blocked his path, growling low in his throat. Dawson stood his ground, vibrating with tension. He stared intently at what was happening in the circle. Noah barked at Dawson twice, then turned and ran to where Carson crouched in the sand.

Adam didn’t like the way Dawson was trembling. Carson wasn’t worth this much of Dawson’s attention and energy. Hesitantly, Adam pressed his palm to Dawson’s shoulder. He ran his hand along the length of Dawson’s side, soft fur gliding between his fingers. Adam waited for the tension to ease as Dawson’s trembling bled into his hand, telegraphing up his arm. The hard muscles beneath Adam’s fingers just wouldn’t relax.

“You need to let it go,” Adam said in a low voice, conscious of everyone who stood nearby. “He didn’t hurt me, and he’s being punished. Don’t let him get you in trouble with Noah.”

At first, the only sign that Dawson had heard was the swiveling of his ears. Adam reached up to scratch at the fur covering Dawson’s shoulder blades. He stroked his hand along Dawson’s spine. Finally, Dawson’s sides expanded with a deep breath. As he exhaled loudly, Dawson’s body released its tension. Adam’s own shoulders dropped, as tension he didn’t know he was harboring fled along with Dawson’s.

Looking up, Adam searched for and easily found Noah’s distinctive white fur. He was surrounded by several of the young wolves who had followed Dawson around earlier. Noah made a series of vocalizations as he demonstrated different ways of hounding Carson.

A few of the bolder pups mimicked Noah’s actions. When the entire group began to coordinate their attacks, Noah halted his own. He circled around them, pacing back and forth as he kept an eye on things. The pups quickly learned how to time their aggressive tag team harassment so they avoided injury. They moved quickly, managing to evade Carson’s slashing claws and snapping jaws.

The largest of the young wolves sent Carson rolling until he ended up face down in the dust. The same wolf was on him, the moment Carson stopped rolling. He bit down on the back of Carson’s neck. The wolf released his grip only to sink his teeth into Carson’s shoulder.

Carson cried out in anger. His shout became a howl, and Carson shifted. Now a light gray wolf, Carson lay on his side, breathing rapidly. The group of young wolves kept up their attack, focusing on his soft, vulnerable throat and belly. Each time Carson snapped at one of them, Noah lunged in and pinned him to the ground, his long teeth gripping Carson’s throat.

The group of wolves clustered around Granger suddenly broke apart, heading for the perimeter. Granger had shifted when Adam’s attention had been focused on Dawson. It looked like his coat was brown, but the occasional flash of red made Adam wonder if he was covered in dirt and dust.

Group after group of wolves ran to the center of the field, forcing either Granger or Carson into submission. Noah paced a circle around them. Granger lay on his back, making loud, pitiful sounds each time he was pinned and harassed. It was obvious he wasn’t injured, just humiliated. Even the lowest ranking wolves got to pin him, or nip at the tender skin of his belly. A few managed to send him rolling or sliding in dust, and Granger could do nothing about it without Noah’s fierce intervention.

Carson still seemed determined to resist. He didn’t fight back obviously, but everything in his body language said he hadn’t really submitted. His eyes were wild. He didn’t yelp like Granger, he growled, low and steady. Adam found it hard to believe that Granger was the one who had won all the fights for dominance. He might be the stronger wolf physically, but it was obvious that Carson was the more dominant.

Dawson’s agitation was rising. He paced in front of Adam a few times. He sat down again, only to stand up and circle around to Adam’s other side. His ears were forward, tuned in to the sounds from the center of the circle. His nose flared constantly as he scented the air. Adam wondered if Dawson was dangerous.

He was a wolf, of course he was dangerous, but now Dawson seemed close to losing control.

“Lucas? What will happen if Dawson loses his temper and hurts Carson?” Adam knew Dawson could hear and understand.

Lucas looked over in surprise, concern spreading across his features. “Noah will have to punish him. What makes you think he might do that? Carson’s being punished and Noah gave Dawson the first submission.”

Adam didn’t answer right away. It all sounded stupid in his head. At least Dawson was looking at him now. Adam stepped in close, wrapping his arms around Dawson’s thick neck. Yeah, Dawson seemed like a cocked crossbow, just waiting to be fired, but it wasn’t that. “His attention is on Carson, like I’m not even here.” Christ. Could he even sound more whiny and possessive?

To Adam’s surprise, Dawson’s ears drooped. He licked at his muzzle several times, whining softly. He shifted his weight on his front paws like he was nervous. Still making quiet, high-pitched sounds, Dawson dragged his tongue over both of Adam’s cheeks. When Adam chuckled and turned away slightly, Dawson licked at the side of his neck.

“That sure got his attention,” Lucas said, smiling. “He was probably focused on Carson because of you. I’m not sure Dawson has had many relationships. You might have to remind him, once in a while, to give you his attention instead of his protection.”

Dawson lowered his head and licked at one of Adam’s hands before bumping it with the top of his head. Adam automatically obliged him by scratching at one of his ears. He was thinking more about Lucas’ words than his own actions. Did everyone think he and Dawson were in a relationship? They were just distracting each other while they were here in Iraq, right?

“I don’t need anyone’s protection,” Adam said to Lucas. He wasn’t fragile, and he wasn’t someone’s toy or trophy.

“I know you don’t,” replied Lucas. He gestured toward Dawson. “Sometimes they need to be reminded, though. You’ll still have to get used to a little bit of over-protectiveness. It’s just the way the weres are hardwired.”

Before Adam could respond, Noah appeared in front of Lucas. He sniffed at Lucas, circling around him as if making sure he hadn’t somehow been injured while Noah’s attention had been elsewhere. Lucas quietly endured the scrutiny, shooting Adam a wry smile.

Adam chuckled, glancing down at Dawson’s lowered head. If Marine Corps officers like Lucas and Tim were still getting protected by their werewolves, it didn’t make Adam weak if it happened to him, too.

Apparently satisfied, Noah headed back out to the center of the circle. He barked at Granger’s limp form several times, which scared the other wolf into jumping to his feet. Noah lunged at him and Granger took off at a run, headed for the perimeter of the circle with Noah in pursuit. The wolves parted, giving Granger an exit, which he took. Noah pulled up on the perimeter, turning back toward where Carson was crouched on the ground.

“How long do these events usually last?” Adam asked, trying not to sound as anxious as he felt.

“It depends on the size of
sippe
participating, usually,” replied Lucas. “But this one is different. The crimes are exceptionally serious, and Carson’s refusal to submit goes beyond the usual.”

“I could have told you he was a bigger than normal asshole,” Adam said dryly.

Lucas gave a short chuckle, before growing serious again. “Noah and Dawson don’t understand the hostility Carson directs toward Dawson. Based on things Carson has said, and the way he manipulated Granger to do his bidding, they suspect Carson believes he should hold a higher rank in the pack than he’s able to achieve on his own.”

“Is that what was going on?” Adam asked. “Carson couldn’t become pack leader on his own, so he manipulated Granger into carrying out his vendettas for him?”

“That’s what they suspect,” Lucas replied, lifting one shoulder. “Dawson is a trusted member of Noah’s inner circle, so when he showed up here, Carson probably hated him on sight. It didn’t help that Dawson’s mission was to dismantle Carson’s cabal of weres.”

Adam scratched at Dawson’s fur as he replayed events in his mind, realizing Noah’s theory made a hell of a lot of sense. “I think Noah’s right. Carson is preoccupied with power. The thing he hated most was when I said anything that made him sound unimportant.”

“Dawson waltzing in and immediately winning you over certainly added to Carson’s hatred of him, too,” Lucas mused.

Adam looked at Lucas sharply. Dawson nosed at the side of Adam’s neck. “You don’t mean what I think you mean?” he asked Lucas.

“Carson is fixated on you,” Lucas said with a nod. “Ordinarily, Noah would have put a stop to Carson’s resistance by now, not letting him fight back against the pack members as they harried him. Tonight, he’s forcing Carson to endure harassment from the most submissive, low ranking wolves. He wants Carson to have a good idea what it feels like to be pushed around, and not be able to stop it from happening.”

“Noah’s very deliberate,” Adam said.

One side of Lucas’ mouth lifted in a half smile. “That’s putting it mildly.”

The sound of vicious growls and barks in the center of the circle captured their attention. Two wolves had Carson pinned, but he was fighting back fiercely. In a blur of white fur, Noah pounced on Carson, growling savagely. Dawson moved in front of Adam, partially blocking his view of the circle. When Adam shoved at him, Dawson didn’t move. Adam stepped to the side and Dawson moved with him. He didn’t only block Adam, Dawson pushed against him with his shoulder and chest. Adam took two steps backward, which seemed to placate Dawson.

He managed to see over the top of Dawson’s back. Noah’s muzzle was streaked with blood. “Lucas!” Adam cried.

“It’s not Noah’s blood.” Despite the reassuring words, there was tension in Lucas’ voice. “Carson’s being defiant. He refuses to submit completely.”

“What’s Noah doing?”

“Putting down a challenge to his authority,” Lucas replied in a dark tone. “If Carson doesn’t accept his punishment and submit, Noah’s going to cast him out of the pack.”

Adam struggled to process everything that was happening. He just wanted this to be over. Why the hell wouldn’t Carson just submit? This was just insane.

Both wolves snarled viciously as Noah pinned Carson to the ground by his throat. Noah shook his head violently. Carson hung from Noah’s jaws like a discarded rag doll. More blood streaked Noah’s white fur and matted Carson’s gray coat. Noah seemed unaffected by the claws of Carson’s rear legs as he raked them along Noah’s sides and stomach.

All motion stopped abruptly. Noah stood over Carson, his jaws wrapped around the gray wolf’s throat. Carson shoved all four paws against Noah’s body, no longer kicking and clawing. The sound of Carson’s labored breathing made Adam’s blood run cold. Noah’s jaws around his throat made it hard for Carson to get any air.

The two combatants stayed locked in that position for several interminable minutes. Adam curled his fingers into Dawson’s fur until his hands ached. The heat of Dawson’s body was comforting, but he still feared how this was going to end. Adam didn’t want Noah to have to kill one of his pack members. Noah didn’t deserve to have to live with that on his conscience.

Just when Adam was ready to scream at everyone to stop this insanity, Carson started to weaken. His body relaxed and his paws curled over his chest and lower belly. Noah released his grip on Carson’s throat, and Adam heard greedy inhalations of air.

Knees weak with relief, Adam closed his eyes, pressing his face into Dawson’s thick fur. Dawson stood completely still, like he understood Adam needed a couple minutes of quiet support.

“Sergeant Mercer. Corporal Rodriguez.” Adam looked up at the sound of Lucas’ voice. “Pick four wolves to help you escort Carson to the hospital.”

“Yes, Dominant,” Paul replied, looking a little stunned. Jason stood behind him, watching everything with wide eyes.

“He’ll be fine once he shifts, but have him looked at just as a precaution,” Lucas said as he examined Noah for his own wounds.

“How is he?” Adam asked.

“He’s fine,” Lucas answered calmly. “Between his size and his fur, it’s damn hard for anyone to hurt him.”

The silence was eerie as the
sippe
watched Carson exit the circle, under the guard of four wolves and two Marines. Noah and Dawson both trotted to the center of the circle. That seemed to be a silent signal the
sippe
had been waiting for.

Lucas came to stand beside Adam. “They’re going to calm and reassure all the pack members, then send everyone off to sleep,” he said. “This was an exceptionally unpleasant experience for everyone. They need a little comfort before they all pile into bed to sleep.”

“How long should it take for them to shift?” Adam was ready to get somewhere quiet where he could think and maybe sleep.

“After something like this? It’ll be a while,” Lucas replied.

Adam sighed heavily, rubbing both hands over his face. He rubbed his eyes with a thumb and forefinger. He was so damn tired.

“You don’t have to wait for Dawson to shift before you tuck him in,” Lucas said with a knowing smile. “I found out by accident, when we were in Afghanistan, that if you just put them to bed, they’ll shift in their sleep when their bodies are ready.”

Adam laughed. “I can’t wait to see what a giant wolf looks like curled up in a bed.”

“The entertainment value almost makes up for all the hassle,” said Lucas. “Almost.”

The
sippe
started to break up. Small groups and couples began to leave the truck yard, slowly heading for the hooches. Lucas shook his head at Noah as he approached. Adam heard him mutter something about a shower and bloody fur being harder to get clean. When Dawson reached Adam, he nudged him in the direction everyone else was headed.

Gathering up Dawson’s uniform, Adam was more than ready to get out of there. He began walking backward, Dawson following closely. “I’m being herded back to our hooch. Is Dawson off duty for the night?”