"...What? Deities? That's not true," She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Delaney pack was crazy.

"It is. What governs our powers isn't the moon. It's the phases. There is a deity for all nine phases, eclipse included. They're not limited to a mere moon of Earth like the 'Moon Goddess' is," Kamilla practically spat out, "Now, you may continue to believe in your false god, but don't mention it here. None of the others would tolerate it like I have."

She slowly got up off of Jessica and backed up, letting her get up on her own.

"One more thing," She then grabbed her shirt tightly in a bundle, making her warning loud and clear to Jessica, "Don't ever growl at me again. I'll just kill you next time."

As she let go, she turned to the door, "Now come, I'll show you the rest of the Omega quarters and the compound."

~*~*~*~

The drive back up to Jackson was in heavy silence. Jessica, Kamilla, and Katalin had no reason to speak to each other; the twins knew the way and Jessica didn't want to talk to them.

She realized how much she didn't like it in the Delaney pack. She was sure that they didn't like her either. Last night, she was shown the compound. Though it was spacious, even though she was introduced properly, their hostile gazes hadn't changed from when she first entered, very much like Kamilla's hadn't. When it was just Katalin, Kamilla, and herself, females would look at her, their eyes practically demanding her to submit to them, which she did without question. She managed to avoid the males, but even so, the wolves she currently wanted to avoid were in the car with her.

She didn't believe a word Kamilla had said to her last night. She didn't want to. Jessica looked out the window, not seeing much past the new snow and wilderness; not that she was actually looking at it. How dare she talk about the Moon Goddess like that? She has done nothing but protect the wolves for many millennia, yet Kamilla talks ill about her, that she...doesn't exist? Jessica held back a sigh. All other packs believed in her, yet the Delaney pack chooses to be polytheistic.

"Just another reason to leave," Jessica thought as she continued to look out the window.

~*~*~*~

"Jessica!" Kathy practically bowled Jessica over as she entered the café; Jessica did her best to not even flinch when she touched her back, "Are you alright, hon? Are you hurt? What—"

She stopped, seeing Katalin sitting in the car and Kamilla watching them as she leaned against the car hood.

"They're with me," Jessica told her quickly, catching her mistrustful gaze.

Kathy's face didn't change intensity, "...Come with me to the back so we can talk in private." She grabbed Jessica's hand before she could make an effort not to and pulled her in the back room.

"What happened?" Kathy asked the moment they were out of ear shot to anyone, "You were so restless last night, and when you left, those guys went after you out like you were a criminal."

Jessica looked at her sadly, "...I can't really tell you, Kathy."

"Why? Are you a criminal?" Kathy asked, concern coated over her face.

"No."

"Wanted by a criminal?"

"No."

"On the run?"

"No. Not—"

"Then why?" Kathy asked her.

Jessica closed her eyes and took in a silent yet deep breath before opening them again, "I quit, Kathy."

Kathy stared at her as if she grew a second head before blinking and shook her head, narrowing inquiring eyes at her, "...Are they making you?"

"Kath—" Jessica started.

"Those ladies have the same look in their eyes that those guys last night had, and frankly, I don't like it," Anger started to mix in with the worry that Kathy had.

"Kathy—"

Kathy held her hand up, "No. I refuse to allow anyone to hurt you. Do you know anyone a part of protective services, because I know some people from the sheriff's department who can help us—"

"Kat—"

"You are going to stay with me tonight, you hear me? It will be safe there," Kathy's emotions were up in the air as she held her hands tightly.

"Kathy!" Jessica didn't want to yell, but it got her attention. She let out a sigh and returned her voice to a whisper once again, "I have to quit Kathy. I know what you saw last night seemed a lot like what you thought you saw, but it wasn't...I'm safe. I'm safe now."

Kathy grabbed her shoulders lightly, searching her eyes for anything different. After awhile, she relented, her lips trembling as she hugged her, "...Alright..."

She backed away to look her in the eye, "But if you ever need anything, want your job back, or just some one to talk to, I'm here. In fact," She took her pen and paper and scribbled something down before handing it to her, "Call me. There's my number and my address." She then folded the paper in Jessica's hand, giving her a weak smile, "Don't be a stranger, hon."

Returning the same smile, Jessica nodded, "I'll try."

"Oh. Here. Before I forget," Kathy left again, and returned with a check, "It's not that much since you've only been here for a week..."

As she handed it to her, Jessica's sunken heart sunk deeper, "...Thank you."

With one last hug she turned and left. She was happy she wore her scarf that day. If she hadn't, she doubted Kathy would have let her leave.

~*~*~*~

"Wait," Jessica told them before the drove off to far.

Katalin looked at her through the rear view mirror, "What now?"

"...I need to go to Motel 6 to check out," Jessica told them.

After a few moments, Kamilla gave an agitated huff and drove to the motel, "Make it quick."

Jessica nodded and headed for her rented room.

~*~*~*~

A new wave of grief washed over Jessica as she opened the door to the Motel. Slowly, stepping in, she looked around and took in the scent. It still smelt like her, letting her know that the housekeeper hadn't even come in. She ran her hand over the desks, chairs, and bed.

This place shouldn't have mattered to her. In truth it didn't. What did was what it stood for. Even though she didn't like running all the time, she had gotten use to the human trait of making it on her own, to have to worry about yourself and only yourself, and that every thing you had, you earned and strived for it by yourself. Though she knew she should never want, what she cherished was the independence, the freedom that life is what you make it.

She went into her pocket and pulled out the check and paper that held the number: The last two things she's earned on her own, even if she never was able to call Kathy nor cash it in. Taking a look about...her room, she picked up her backpack that lay against the chair.

Her wolf whined again at Jessica's depression. It will be alright. We are going home now.

Jessica shook her head, "No, we're not." She decided against the instincts of her wolf, "But we will bide our time instead of running for now."

Now that she wasn't as fearful as yesterday, she was able to clearly see the directions and road they took when she looked out the windows. On her way up here the first time, she had ridden the bus right through the Delaney territory to get to Jackson. If she wanted to leave without them catching her, she would have to flee west to Idaho, facing the Rocky Mountains and the possibility of more wolf packs. The best route would be to go south, but that is also where the compound was. The other two directions wouldn't work since that was still pack territory.

Her wolf whined yet again. We don't have to run. Just stay. Our Alphas will protect us.

"Our Alphas did protect us, and they're dead now," Jessica told her, putting her backpack on, "Now not another thought of this."

Jessica's wolf yielded and went to her resting place for now.

Jessica thought of her dreams then. She couldn't help it. She thought of the man and his wolf and how they called to her mind, body, and soul. The very thought of them would get her aroused, even now in this situation.

But she wasn't stupid. She's been having dreams of him since she first came up to Jackson, so he had to be somewhere up here. Even though her other self came back to the surface of her thoughts whenever she thought about him and wanted him, she pushed her back, especially now. The best thing to do was get out of here before she accidentally found him, or he found her.

Even though she wanted him to hold her with his strong, muscular arms, wrapping her tightly into his warm 6-pack chest, basking in his scent as they made love and drove himself inside her with his rock-hard cock—

Jessica's eyes snapped open and shook her head, trying to rid herself from the ideas and the heat from her legs as she went for the door. With one last look at what use to be her freedom, she turned and closed it behind her.

After returning the keys to the check out, she got back in the car smoothly, "I'm finished." Without another glance, they drove off back to the den.

~*~*~*~

"Where do I put these?" Jessica asked Katalin, asking her after she removed the brisket from the oven.

Katalin looked over before resuming chopping the potatoes into slices, "Wrap them in aluminum foil and put them back in. Follow your nose from there."

Jessica nodded and did as she was told. She found out that the chores of Omegas rotated through out the week, and those from their house were in charge of the kitchen today. Though she didn't like being pack again, the feeling of doing something for people other than herself, serving a larger group brought a smile to her face, even slightly.

"Hurry it up. Lunch starts at 1 and we will not be upsetting the others over you," Kamilla growled as she finished up the honey BBQ ribs.

Jessica nodded, but at the same time, she and her wolf was getting more and more irritated with her as the hours pasted. However, she knew it was better not to pick a fight with anyone in this pack.

"Hey, is anyone finished in here?" A man with a military buzz cut strode in, and from the looks of it, it would be blonde if he grew it out. His body was no where near as massive as the other guys Jessica's seen here, but he definitely kept his build strong.

He had been introduced yesterday as Oscar, one of her housemates and fellow Omegas. However, just like everyone in this pack, he gave her the cold shoulder too.

His hazel eyes moved through the kitchen before settling on Jessica, "You."

Jessica looked up at him as she continued to wrap the last brisket, "Yes?"

"You done?" His arms were crossed.

"Y-yes," Jessica nodded as she put the last brisket in the oven and went and washed her hands of the grease.

"Good," He then went over to the large cabinets and took out the plates. Going back over, he easily stacked several in her arms when she finished drying, catching her off guard a bit, "Help set the table. 35 at each one. Move quickly. Don't drop anything."

He then turned and she followed, biting her lip, but kept her frustrations to herself. As she went to the first of the three long dining tables, her thoughts flashed through her mind. She didn't mind so much if the Thetas or higher ranks treated her this way. She didn't like it, but sadly she understood why, and she could handle it. But when someone of her own rank...

She sighed. She didn't need to bring it up again that day. She'd rather focus on just getting the task done and then retiring back to Kamilla's bedroom so she could plan her escape. She was definitely thinking to pick up some vinegar next time she went out into town.

Whenever that was.

Jessica didn't automatically pick up the sounds of banging, running, and sudden yelling in the manor; she was too busy on the ideas on her mind. However, she did pick up a scent, and her wolf started to growl intimidating inside her.

A little before she heard the sudden and menacing growl in the doorway.

Jessica's heart swiftly quickened, and did so faster when she saw the abrupt look of fear on Oscar's face; his build arms were shaking, the clattering sound of the plates he held were proof of that. She followed where his temporary gaze was directed and saw it.

A male, growling and breathing deeply, stood in the door way of the dining room in the nude. He was tall, taller than her by far—6'5", 6'6" maybe—and was powerfully built, but not bulky.

His hair, which seemed black at first, was actually dark, dark brown when the sun hit off of it. It just hit his bronze colored shoulders in a wavy mess, covering his wild emerald eyes partially, and giving him a dark, bad boy look.

As she trailed south past his hard 6-pack abs, her eyes widen and she had the good graces to blush. He wasn't even hard and it was still big!

Wait.

As she looked quickly back up to his feral eyes, she noticed he was staring at her! She gulped slightly and averted her eyes, trying to back away much like Oscar was doing.

Yet...

Her wolf was growling at him with no chance of remorse.

"What are you doing?! That's a higher up! He'll kill us easily!" Jessica thought, showing her panic to her wolf, but her other self didn't cease her hostile growls, her hackles high and ready to burst through her human if she needed to.

Before Jessica could get another step, the male sprinted and lunged at her, causing all the remaining plates that she carried to fly into the air. Before she hit the floor, her body was covered in his as he rolled, keeping her safe as the glassware shattered on the floor.

He was still on top of her however; he was bent at his knees and held Jessica's arms pinned to the ground.

Jessica felt the fear rise in her heart; everything was so quick and a daze threatened her sight. Her wolf continued to snarl deeply, trying to surface, but she willed herself not to show it in anyway she could in her present state as the male inhaled her scent at her neck and moved southward between her thighs and sniffed deeply into her womanhood, causing her to gasp and stiffen.

He abruptly looked up, snarling forebodingly at Oscar, who shook in fear and backed his way out of the room, careful not to run.

"Wait! Erick!" The sound of Adeline's voice along with several other foot steps entered the dinning room and stopped once seeing them.

"Wait," Adeline held up her hands calmly and started to approach him, "That's just an—"

Erick barked at her before she could finish, snarling at her and the other males. He crouched lower, his hair touching her chin as he glared at them. His voice came out mixed in a growl,

"Mine... She's MINE!"

The day prior....

Erick stalked toward the elk, his body remaining low as he hid behind a bush so his black-brown and gray fur wouldn't be noticed.

Before the bull could even look up and take a sense into realization at what was happening, Erick charged at it, seizing it by its throat with his strong jaws. It let out a fearful and indignant cry right before Erick's jaws tautened on its throat further and sharply twisted his head, breaking its neck with the momentum; its body fell almost soundlessly into the snow.

He looked around before indulging in his fresh kill. In truth, Erick didn't need to be hunting this far north in the pack territory, but he needed to clear his mind, and going on lengthy runs and occasional hunts did just that.

For the past week he's been having recurring dreams of "her", his mate. The very thought of her made his wolf go wild with want, desperate to hunt her out, where ever she may be, and since he's had those dreams, he knew she was close. Every night they got stronger, the need to mate, protect, and keep her forever by his side grew, and it almost drove him stark raving mad with lust and longing.

As he absent-mindedly ate through the bull, he couldn't help but think of last night's dream with her.

~/~/~/~

The smell of Lodgepole pine, fresh snow, and dampened forest grounds made him open his eyes. He looked down at himself. He hadn't shifted to his human form in the night; else he would have felt the change in his sleep.

"A dream then," He closed his naturally feral emerald eyes. He knew all too soon as what was about to happen as he heard the rustle of the surrounding bushes, his wolf approaching him before his eyes reopened.

They stood a part, facing another, each already knew and accepted each other's existence.

His wolf impatiently began to throatily growl at him, and Erick felt that same frustrating tug—that both irritating and keen pull—they both shared. His wolf couldn't wait. He needed her, and he was far too eager to see her here again.

Erick didn't know how long even these intense dreams would be able sate them. They both raised their heads to the sky and scented the air. The forest air was pure and crisp, but it wasn't the scent of the one they so craved.

Taking off into a sprint, they continued to hunt for it, searching for the scent—her scent—frantically through the woods, the wind they created with their speed ran through his wolf's fur and his hair and whipped past his ears.

Where? Where is she? His wolf's thoughts echoed his own. If he was here, then surely she was too.

A fresh scent that smelt of fresh water from a brook, and two distinctive fruits: Cucumber, Honeydew Green Melon, rushed through their noses as if looking for them, causing a growl to rumble from both of their chests right before his wolf let out a howl of longing and desire.

They found her.

They charged through the brush and thicket, his wolf not ceasing his howls as he hadn't all the other nights, Erick's dick hardened as they got closer to them; blood rushing through his veins with speed unmatched.

Where? Where? He stopped in his tracks when his wolf did as he heard the familiar and sultry sound of his mate's wolf.

Once again, the beautiful she-wolf, full of defiance, turned and growled at his approaching wolf, her white, golden blonde, and gray fur rose on her sleek and agile body. Her magnetic orange to blue-gray eyes showed the intensity that lay in them.

She did this every night: Challenge. Fight. Submit.

It still enthralled him as much as it did his wolf; she would be a good mate. His heart rate quickened as he watched her charge at him, snapping at his wolf's haunches.

An attack from the side this time.

His wolf easily avoided her bites. He dwarfed her without difficulty; each of her moves too readable to him, especially with his height. She would need to work on that.

Before she could turn, his wolf pounced on her, biting the scruff of her neck.

She let out a yelp; her head shook from side to side while she growled and snapped at him, paws reached for him to push him off. She was only able to do it once before he charged again.

This time, he grabbed her scruff and toppled over her, pinning her body to ground with his own.

She growled back once more, her pride didn't relent.

Neither did his wolf's as he growled at her back, her neck still in his strong jaws as he wanted—demanded—she accept his dominance over her. The fight was far too short, but his wolf needed to taste her—to have her underneath him as he pounded into her warmth, and he couldn't wait any longer...

With a whine from her, she stilled under him and relented; it was over.

Erick's breathing was heavy with need, his lips felt dry to him as his wolf nudged her muzzle lightly before getting off of her.

She didn't move until he was off, raising her ass and tail to the side for him without him prodding it out of the way.

Erick's cock twitched as his wolf sniffed in her addictive scent, relishing in it before he licked her pulsing snatch, earning an almost silent mewl of need from her.

But he wouldn't give into her this time. He continued to lick her in long, almost torturous, strokes; her taste just as satisfying as—if not more than—her scent.

Her juices flowed freely from her at his teasing. Her breathing picked up when he lightly prodded inside of her with the tip of his tongue before retreating back to licking her folds.

She gave a low whine of disappointment, trying to stay low as he had commanded her on previous nights; she shook with anticipation.

He then entered her with his tongue again, giving her inner walls a good lick before retreating once more.

She whined louder, but still she tried to remain still for him.

He went back to licking her wet folds—fast and steady—before sinking in and withdrawing out.

Then again.

And again...and again.

This made her growl and whine loudly at him, it was becoming too much to take, and she needed his cock inside her.

His wolf looked at her; his engorged wolf cock was throbbing with want. He would take his mate again.

Before she could let out another anticipant whine, he mounted her and plunged himself inside her awaiting pussy.

She yelped in delight at this, and more so when he started to work his way in and out of her; no boundaries.

No limitations.

No teasing.

Just what his wolf—their wolves—needed as they fucked with pure carnal need.

Erick's blood was in sync with his wolf's: each beat.

Each stroke.

Each sound.

But he couldn't just stand to watch them. He needed her.

He needed her right now.

Erick looked up in front of him as he saw her again. Yes. She wasn't but 15 feet away and as naked as day, her body perfect in the combinations of curves and nimble physique.

Yet...

Once again, her back was turned to him. He could see her olive-toned body quiver, in perfect sync with her wolf as well.

Yet she dare not turn.

Dare not look at what was calling to her as well.

Erick's upper lip twitched, his cock bobbed with each of his movements as he neared her. "Why do you not look at me, mate?" His words came out husky and deep, thick with need.

She tensed at his words, her back still faced him. She wouldn't turn for him, but she would never run either: he could scent her arousal, her dire need that matched his perfectly, yet she didn't act upon it.

He reached out to her and pulled her into an embrace, her height allowed her to fit snug into his chest, "Why do you fight this?"

He could feel her tremble; both of fear and anticipation.

He brushed her silky hair back, bending down to her ear as he did so, "Don't be afraid of this. We are fated to each other..."

With that, he lightly licked the side of her ear teasingly, nibbling her earlobe slightly; her breathing hitched in her throat.

He trailed multiple kisses and nips down her neck; one hand lightly grasped and kneaded her right breast, earning a voiceless gasp past his mate's lips; he wished she could turn so he could kiss them and explore her mouth.

His kneading continued as he neared her nipple—brushing it between his fingers.

The sound of her biting her lip to remain silent did not deter him.

In fact, it encouraged him to make her call out in ecstasy, make her howl in pleasure. His free hand stroked down her side...his fingers caressing her body down her stomach...his thumb found its way down her sensitive skin, circling her belly button before trailing slowly down through her mound, pulling small and anticipant pants from her.

Her breathing hitched as he reached for her clit. When he touched her hood, she let out a slight whimper between her bitten lips.