Chapter 2
Nicole woke from a deep sleep and sat up, unsure of where she was as her wolf chuckled in her mind.
‘There is no danger.’ The wolf assured her and Nicole huffed.
‘I didn’t mean to sleep so long.’ The human replied as she stretched her tired muscles. She groaned at the thought of continuing her destinationless journey before she stood up and patted herself down. She would need to barter for new clothes and wondered if the pack Alpha would allow her to hunt down something on his land she could trade with before she left.
“Good morning.” She heard and saw Julian had entered the long house with a sack in his hand. Nicole bowed her head respectfully and repeated his greeting.
“I thank you and Alpha Nedley for your hospitality.” She added and he waved her off easily before pointing to a bench.
“I actually wish to speak to you.” The man said and sat down beside her. “I have a job offer for you.” The handsome man smiled at her confused look.
“A job?” she repeated.
“Yes. You see, my pack is not powerful. We do not have many young Alphas to help protect my pack lands and Rogues are becoming a real problem. Present company excluded of course.” He sighed. “I want my pack and my family to be safe. I am also hoping you might help me in training some of my younger pack members to fight in wolf form. Can you use a sword?”
Nicole kept her face neutral. The Pack Alpha surprised her. He was informing a powerful Rogue Alpha that his pack was weak and unprotected. This was either a very calculating man or an incredibly stupid one. What if she decided to take over his pack? He wouldn’t be able to stop her. Luckily for him she was an honourable woman.
Julian Charles watched the young woman carefully. She wore a stoic expression that gave little away but he knew she was considering his offer and she nodded at his last question. The man’s wolf liked the young Alpha and he owed her a proper debt for saving his life. Had he died the day before things for his family would have become complicated at best and dire at worst. In the female Alpha he saw the answers to some of his prays.
The man’s pack lands were vast but a lot of it was covered in mountainous terrain or dense forests that were difficult for the wolves of normal fenrir which made it the ideal place for rogues to camp for longer periods. This Female Alpha’s wolf might navigate the land better.
Secondly the younger Alphas in his pack were not as strong as he really needed them to be for the future of the Pack. Maybe this woman could show them what real power was, maybe her presence would make them want to train.
His mate, Michelle, his daughter and step daughters were omegas and betas. He didn’t know why but he felt he could trust Nicole to protect them if there was ever a need and he wasn’t around. She was obviously a good person and Rogues were less likely to make camp if they knew a powerful alpha was patrolling.
“I will pay you well for your services and you will be a guest in my own home until you move on.
Truthfully payment was the last thing Nicole thought of. She was much more excited at the thought of a few months in one place, allowed to be there and not having to live like a beast going from cave to cave as she tried to make it through another winter, struggling to hunt.
“Then I accept your offer. Alpha Charles.” She said and they clasped each others forearms to seal their agreement. He then tossed the sack into her lap.
“there is a stream to the East. Go wash and change and we will leave after breakfast.” The man said and Nicole felt her heart skip as she grabbed her own bag walked out of the long house. She looked Inside the bag when she got to the stream and saw there were a clean pair of breeches and a tunic. She grinned and looked down at her boots. They were close to falling apart and they were gone beyond repair. Maybe now she had a job she could buy new boots. In fact, with a job over winter she could buy a number of things to make her life a little easier on the road.
She scrubbed herself clean, combed her long red hair and put it in a simple braid before she walked back to the village feeling fresher and more confident in her own human skin than she had for a while in her new woollen tunic and breeches. She threw her old clothes in the first fire she came across and returned to the Pack House where Julian greeted her with a smile before Alpha Nedley grunted at her. She didn’t take it personally as she could tell he was not a morning person but he slid a plate of cold meat and bread to her.
Chrissy joined them and sat beside Nicole as Julian spoke.
“Can you ride?” he asked the younger Alpha. Nicole gave a hesitant nod.
“I haven’t ridden since I was a child.” She said quietly and Chrissy grinned at her.
“You can ride behind me on the way to Alpha Charles Pack. Just make sure to hold on to me really tight. We don’t want you falling off.” Chrissy purred flirtatiously causing Nicole to go beet red as Nedley choked on his own food as Julian chuckled.
“Uh... I’ll walk.” Nicole quipped and they all laughed before Nedley told her he would lend her one of his horses for the journey which Nicole appreciated. She was surprised by the kindness Julian and Nedley had shown her but she still couldn’t let her guard down. Rua had not sensed anything that made the animal weary but the young woman could never truly let her guard down.
When it was time to leave she help the Nedley’s servants load the horses with Julian and Chrissy’s belongings and some things Nedley and Julian traded before she climbed up on the grey horse the older pack Alpha had lent to her. The animal was obviously older but she was quiet and Nicole appreciated that.
They rode out after they had said their farewells until they got to the Safe road and headed west. Nicole listened for danger, scenting the air. The safe road didn’t always live up to the name and was often plagued by rogues who would Rob travellers, often other weaker rogues who were just trying to keep moving, trying to find somewhere to live in peace. Nicole knew first hand how dangerous it was and now she was employed by Julian it was her duty to ensure their safety as they travelled.
She just hoped she didn’t have to suddenly shift and ruin her new clothes and she wished she hadn’t gotten rid of her old tattered stuff.
An hour or so into their journey Chrissy pulled her pretty bay mare back to fall into step with Nicole and grinned at her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a female Alpha.” The omega said but Nicole didn’t respond. She knew that many were the same. Alphas had slowly become rarer and rarer over the past century. Wars between packs, illness and an unexplainable decrease in Alpha pups born had lead to decline in Alpha numbers. And even the Alpha pups who had been born, few were strong enough to be pack Alphas which led to more pack wars and more deaths. It was a vicious cycle. Nicole had to admit she had never met another female Alpha since she had lost her pack. Her pack had been once been full of strong female Alphas like her own sire. She didn’t know why their were so few outside of it.
“Where are you from?” Chrissy asked, unperturbed by the lack of engagement from the woman. Chrissy only liked males but she was intrigued by the woman who the two men had appeared with.
“the far north. In the mountains.” The redhead said while she hoped that if she didn’t engage Chrissy would get bored and leave her alone. The Gods were not merciful as the omega seemed determined to get to know Nicole.
“How come you left your pack?” Chrissy asked but the Alpha stared straight ahead, unwilling to answer something so personal. Most people assumed she had committed a crime against her pack and was run out like most rogues and she never bothered correcting them. No one would believe her anyway.
“How long are you going to work for Uncle Julian?” the omega decided to ask when the Alpha hadn’t answered.
Nicole shrugged. “over winter at least.” She muttered.
“What will your job be?” The omega continued and Nicole told Rua , who was growling in her mind with annoyance, to calm herself. Chrissy was a pack Alpha’s daughter, she needed to be respectful.
“Helping patrol the pack lands. Keeping other rogues out.” The Alpha answered before Julian called out to Chrissy who urged her horse into a trot to return to Julian's side.
“Do not torment her.” The man gently scolded his honorary niece. He was unaware that the Alpha a few steps behind could hear him.
“I’m not, I’m just trying to get to know her. I’ve never met a female Alpha.” The younger girl whispered back and the man huffed.
“She is not some novelty.”
“I know that! Anyway, why would you hire a Rogue to keep out other rogues out?” Chrissy asked and Julian sighed.
“Because the protection of my family is all important to me. I’m hoping she will encourage the younger Alphas to work on becoming what I need them to be and help me train some of them. She’s strong.”
“yes!” Chrissy hissed. “how is she so strong? Rogues are weaker than pack fenrir.”
“I don’t know.” Julian said with an unbothered shrug. Nicole was glad he didn’t seem threatened by her strength. She didnt want any trouble.
She was left alone for the next several hours before they turned off the safe road and passed into the Angel Pack Lands. Julian sent his wolf to inform his family he had returned and they walked through a dense forest. Nicole continued to scan their surroundings until she heard the sound of horses approaching.
“Riders coming this way.” She announced to Julian who gave her a perplexed look, he couldn’t hear anything. He continued to listen for another minute before he smiled.
“My daughter and one of my step daughters.” He grinned before they began riding to meet the women.
Soon they caught sight of them and Nicole’s breath caught in her throat when she saw the smaller woman on a snow white horse. The most beautiful woman she had ever seen was smiling so wide as her brunette locks flowed in the wind behind her, her cheeks were flushed. The scent of apples and cinnamon caught her nose and Nicole swallowed hard, feeling a little discombobulated.
“Father! Chrissy!” the omega squeal with happiness when she saw her friend and pulled her horse up along side them. She and Chrissy reached out and shared an awkward embraced as the horses were too far away and the girls were giggling.
Suddenly the omega’s pretty hazel eyes met her own dark brown and Nicole felt like someone had punched her in the gut. Who was this ethereal being? The omega’s smile faltered as she caught the stranger’s scent.
“Who’s the stray?” Nicole heard and Suddenly remembered the second woman, turning to see a wild, raven haired woman openly staring at her. The beta was also a beauty but with a dangerous aura about her.
“Daughters, this is Nicole. I have hired her to help keep the Pack lands safe.” Julian said. “Nicole, this is Waverly, My daughter.” He pointed to the angelic creature staring at her and Nicole nodded to avoid meeting the omega’s eyes again, “and this is Wynonna Earp, my younger step daughter.” He pointed to the blue eyed woman on her jet black stallion. Nicole bowed her head again and Julian then moved them on again.
“Mama’s gonna have something to say about that.” Wynonna said to Julian with a look to say he was in deep shit. Julian chuckled and nodded.
“I do not doubt it.”