Wolf Moon (private rp)

"Is it....the one used for blood clotting??"

"No. You really aren't good at this are you?"

"Apparently not. Uhm..."

Melody's eyebrows knitted together as she tried her best to remember what the berry Myron named earlier had looked like. She could hear another wolf that sat in the doorway let out a low chuckle when she guessed again and it turned out to be the wrong answer.

After waking up from her nap, the Northern wolves had finished most of the cabin and it was almost liveable. All that was left was the floor, and Melody offered them lunch during their break which they gratefully accepted. Now they were all lounging around the main room as Myron tried teaching her about the medicinal properties of herbs that were hung throughout the lair. Naya had been kind enough to pick the good ones for her, but Melody had embarrassingly admitted to not knowing what they were exactly for, other than using some to spice up stews.

The group had then made it their mission to cram as much knowledge into her that they knew of, not just of the herbs but different plants in the area that she should steer clear of.

"It's for internal pain." Myron explained, laughing when Melody gave him a look for telling her the answer.

"It's better you learn this now instead of later." Another wolf chimed in, all of them getting the mischievous and wolfish grin on their faces. "I'm sure Alpha wouldn't appreciate any herbs in his food that will clear out his system."

They all broke out into a fit of laughter, making Melody blush and continue fumbling through the stack of herbs on the table. The wolf that had stationed himself at the door stood up, his ears perking up. "Speak of the devil."

Valshar's wolf form was easy to spot in snow, stalking his way towards the door, into the lair, and across the room to stand next to her after shaking off the snow. Melody's jaw dropped when she saw a fumbling white feathery mess in his mouth. After the other wolves and Myron greeted him, he dropped it, and the large hen let out a squawk and darted into a corner of the room.

"What....?" Melody asked curiously.

"In order to prevent the pack from running out of food for the winter, I pulled in some favors." Valshar explained and Pelan approached, setting a small basket on the ground and Melody almost let out a coo when she saw the little bundles in it.

"I made sure to set aside a hen for some eggs, as well as a few of the chicks for raising. I take it you approve?"

"Of course I approve! Look at them." Melody cooed, reaching into the chirping basket with a bright smile. "They are adorable..."

She then planted a kiss on his nose before whispering to him as Myron distracted himself with moving the hen. "And I just want to let you know that my decision for our mid-summer plans is a final 'yes'."

The other wolves all suddenly decided they had reasons to be anywhere else, and quickly emptied out of the lair leaving Valshar and Melody alone. He shifted and crossed over to take up some of the stew and bread that was keeping warm by the hearth. He settled down at the table, and sighed heavily, glad to be able to finally relax.

Melody walked over and gently ran her hands across his shoulders before leaning in to kiss his cheek. “So what favors were you talking about? Why do we have a chicken and chicks now? I don’t mind since they are cute, and useful, but still, I’m curious.”

He chuckled, “To ease the burden on our hunters, I had the notion to ask Sani for some help. She sent over loads of chickens, eggs, and chicks, and is making arrangements for some cattle and probably a few goats for the pack to make use of. The cattle for meat and the goats for the milk and meat.”

“Are things getting that serious?”

“Not yet, I want to try to head off the worst of it before it does get that bad. This territory is easily able to support the numbers we have, but we’re at a disadvantage right now having such a large portion of the pack being unable to hunt for themselves. That means some areas are being more frequently hunted, which thins out the game populations too much in those areas, and it puts a lot of work on those who can hunt. They’re not only providing for themselves and their families but helping to support part of the pack too. I don’t want anyone getting worn out from it.”

She nodded, “I see your point, I’m glad Sani can help.”

“So am I, though I can only imagine the amusement she got from the message that we need livestock.”

He leaned into her touch, nearly purring as Melody kneaded the tense muscles across his shoulders. She leaned over, resting her chin on his shoulder and looked at him.

“You look tired.”

He grinned, tilting his head to look at her. “I’m not that tired.” He kissed her. “I’m still quite fully able to see to your needs, love.”

Melody kissed him back, smiling as she pulled away and headed for the back room. "After you finish dinner we can get started."

She let out a squeal when she felt him lift her over his shoulder and carry her the rest of the way to the room, not having heard him even stand up in the first place.

"V-Valshar! You're supposed to finish dinner first!"

"Cubs first. Dinner later, love."

***

Pelan paced slowly, feeling nervous as Kynar shifted to his human form and knocked on the door to the lair. "Are you sure it is alright?" He asked, not wanting to interrupt or bother the Alpha at his residence. There was the sound of a door opening inside and before Kynar could tell the other wolf there was nothing to worry about.

Not a few seconds later, Valshar opened the door and both of the wolves bowed their heads.

"Sorry to bother you when you're tending to Nay'sara." Kynar told him with a grin. He didn't want to tell him he had heard Valshar and Naya speaking about his plans for cubs. He would announce it to the pack when he wanted it to be known.

"The wolf we found in the forest has recovered enough to speak. He asked for sanctuary with his other pack members that fled from the southern lands. I thought you would want to speak to him while we finish your cabin."

Valshar nodded, “I’ll go see him in a bit. Thank you.”

Kynar nodded with a grin, and he urged Pelan to join him as they headed off again.

Valshar ducked back into the lair, shifting back to wolf form as he padded over to the bed. He gently nuzzled Melody, who was still sleeping. She groaned and sleepily brushed him aside. He grinned more and started licking her ear and playfully nibbling on her hair as his furry chest brushed against her.

Melody woke up and squirmed, “Stop tickling me!”

Their eyes met and she blushed as she remembered the last night. She reached up and gently ruffled his neck fur and then slid her hand up to rub his ear as he tilted his head leaning into the touch.

“Good morning, love.”

He nuzzled her again and lay down, half beside and half covering her. “I need to go soon, there’s a new wolf that had come with the southern alpha and I need to question him now that he’s awake.”

She sighed snuggling closer to him, enjoying the low, thrumming near-purr that rumbled through his chest.

“Alright. Is there anything I can do?”

He shook his head, “Not really.” He licked her ear and neck again and smiled, “Just stay here and rest.”

Valshar slowly, almost reluctantly moved off her and turned toward the door.

Melody lay still for a good while, almost glad he had left. When she finally did move off the bed, she frowned at how sore she was. Still, she couldn’t help but smile.

***
Kynar met Valshar outside the infirmary, giving him a broad grin. “I was beginning to think you decided to spend the day… occupied.”

Valshar snorted, and gave Kynar a smug look. “I’m not as old as you are Uncle, I don’t need all day to get it done.”

The old wolf laughed, “Go ahead and joke, just you wait until you’re my age. You’ll be happy enough that you can still do it at all.”

"If you could manage to outrun Miriam, I'm sure you would be saying otherwise." Valshar added smugly as they both entered the room, and Kynar let out a scoff.

Naya greeted them both with a nod, motioning to the wolf who was laying off to the left and away from the others. "He's awake now." She told them. "When you finish I'll have him fed some more."

"Thank you." Valshar replied and approached the wolf, who submissively flattened his ears and lowered his head.

"Alpha" He wheezed out almost fearfully. "I wanted to ask for sanctuary as the rest of my pack have done."

"Leshan is dead. There is no need to ask for sanctuary....you're more than welcome to stay here." Came the quick reply. The weakened wolf cringed at the sheer amount of disgust and malice used when Leshan's name was spoken and he whined lightly. "I'm sorry to be a burden to you and your pack."

"You're not a burden. Get some rest and recover. When you're better we will speak again."

Kynar watched curiously as Valshar stalked away with a low growl, leaving Naya to finish tending to the wolf. He followed him out of the infirmary and sat down.

"If you want, I can take things from here." He offered with a wag of his tail. "I know the mention of that wolf upsets you. You have more important things to do. When the livestock come in I will take care of it."

Valshar nodded, “I can’t say that I’d mind a break, but if something comes up and you need me, don’t hesitate.”

Kynar nodded, “I know, don’t worry, I can handle a bunch of cows.”

Valshar grinned and began heading across the main clearing when a young male approached him. He recognized him as one of the newer northern wolves that had come down in the most recent group. The younger male lowered his head and tail and greeted him.

“Alpha, may I speak to you?”

“Of course, … “ He hesitated, ashamed that he couldn’t remember his name.

“Nelrath, Alpha.” He supplied.

Valshar nodded, “I’m sorry, so many new faces, I’m still trying to get everyone straight.”

Nelrath shook his head, “I don’t envy you. It is a lot to remember.”

“What can I do for you?”

The young wolf shifted his paws nervously, “I…well…uh” He sighed, “There is a female I would like to get to know, if she is willing to accept my presence. She has no direct male kin though as far as I’ve been able to learn, and so I thought it only right that I ask your permission to… to court her.”

Valshar smiled, “Who is it?”

Nelrath looked down shyly, and took a deep breath, “Her name is Kesra. I… I know she’s been through a lot. I recognized the look about her.”

Valshar studied the young wolf, and gave him an understanding nod, “That look of pain, loss, grief, despair? Seeing a bit of your own look in her eyes?”

Nelrath swallowed hard and nodded.

“What happened?”

The younger wolf closed his eyes, sighing heavily. “I don’t know how much you know about what life was like under Morlach’s rule. But he controlled everything. Nothing was to happen in his pack that he didn’t know about and approve. I was foolish, and disobeyed him. I chose a mate and he hadn’t approved of our pairing.”

Valshar frowned, and Nelrath trembled visibly as he remembered.

“When he found out about us he had me beaten, severely, and then bound. Then he…” he struggled with the words and the obvious pain of the memories. “he… he didn’t just take her in front of me. He broke her. I saw her mind snap, the pain and fear in her eyes.”

Valshar shook his head. “I’m so sorry.”

Nelrath nodded, “She ended up dying from what he did to her. It took me a month to recover from the beating I got, though I don’t think I’ll ever truly get over…”

“Trust me; the pain of losing them never goes away. In time perhaps it at least becomes more manageable.”

The young wolf tilted his head, “I had heard you understood more than most, having lost a mate yourself. I don’t pretend to expect that Kesra will want me. I know she’s still hurting, but maybe I can at least offer her my friendship and understanding, and help look after and protect her. Maybe we can help each other heal a bit.”

Valshar nodded with a soft smile, “Perhaps, you have my permission to try, though you didn’t really need to ask me. I like to know what’s going on in my pack but I don’t pry. I wish the both of you the best. I was lucky, and I found someone to help me find that new reason to be, to learn to let go of some of the pain while discovering new happiness. Hopefully both of you can find that as well, in time.”

Nelrath smiled, though the hurt was still clearly visible in his eyes. “That is my hope. Even if she doesn’t have any interest in a new mate, I can at least be there when she needs someone to listen, or to lend a hand.”

***

He shook himself with a sigh as he padded into the lair, and smiled as he spotted Melody fussing over something she was mending. She looked up as he came in and sat her mending back in the basket beside her.

“How are things with the pack?”

He walked over and nuzzled her and put his head in her lap before she could get up. “Going well overall. Kynar said he’d handle the livestock when it comes, so I could take a break.”

She smiled and ran her fingers through his fur. “That’s good. They got the cabin mostly finished. Just needs some work on the interior, and the loft flooring needs done. Then we’ll need to find more furniture.”

He nodded. “I’m glad it’s progressing well. Though I like the lair, it’s nice and cozy, and private.”

She chuckled at that. “The cabin will be cozy and private too when we’re done with it.”

He shifted and settled himself into the chair across from her. “I forgot to tell you, I had a long talk with the Record Keeper, and in all the records she could find of human and wolf pairings, it seems that birthing happened around six to seven months, so a bit longer than a she wolf but not as long as is normal for humans. All but one of them that were recorded had cubs, average of two or three, though one had four. Only one pair had a human child.”

She blinked, considering the information.

“So, it’ll more likely be mid to late summer for you then instead of early summer. But we’ll have plenty of space.”

She looked over at him. “Do you really think I’ve conceived?”

Valshar gave her a broad grin, “No thinking to it, love. You’re scent is already starting to change.”

"I didn't know my scent would....change to reflect that." Melody said with a light blush and moved a hand over her stomach. She didn't feel anything other than sore, and wondered how long it would be before she started showing symptoms that a book she read during her studies described.

"It's a little nerve wracking." She admitted. "I'm really nervous. I mean...humans are only used to having one child at a time. I have no idea what to expect or do...."

"That's the reason why I am going to have Naya pay us a visit when she gets some free time." Valshar told her, and Melody noticed how proud he seemed. "I don't want you traveling too much or doing anything that may strain you."

"But I haven't even started feeling symptoms, love. I'm sure I'll be fine for now." Came the light huff before she grabbed her mending from the basket again and returned to her work. "Has my mare been found?"

“Yes, the silly beast was found, nearly on the far side of the territory, and pretty beat up. I had them take her back to Sani’s so she could be better treated for her injuries. After we finish off the cabin, I may work on building a small stable, at least big enough to keep the mare in so she doesn’t wander off like that again. Though I will give her some credit, most wouldn’t have survived against a wolf, even a mad fool like that one.”

Melody nodded, “I’m just glad to know she’s ok, or at least will be. Are you sure there’s nothing I can help with?”

He shook his head, “Just stay here and rest.” He got back up, shifting to wolf form. “I’m going to go hunting; you’ll be needing a lot more fresh meat now.”

Melody rolled her eyes at being told to rest, and then grimaced at the thought of what she knew he considered fresh meat.

***

Naya showed up around mid day, shooing Valshar out of the lair telling him to go check on the cabin’s progress.

Melody chuckled at his frustrated protests, but he finally left. Naya grinned and hugged her.

“I swear my grandson is going to be worse than a mother hen until well after the cubs are born. You may as well just settle in and get used to that.”

Melody sighed, “I’ve noticed, and here I thought he was protective before.” She laughed again, “I guess I’ll be lucky to see the light of day now.”

Naya chuckled, “Oh he’ll let you out, but definitely not alone. You’ll need the fresh air and exercise to keep yourself and the cubs healthy, and he knows that. But he’ll likely be hovering to make sure you don’t go overdoing anything.”

Naya settled into a chair and thought, “You’ll need to avoid the mints, any sort, completely. I’m not sure why they tend to cause problems but they do, and while there’s a chance it may not for you since you’re human, it’s not worth the risk.”

Melody nodded, frowning. “I have a bunch of mint drying already. I suppose I should get rid of it now, because I do like it and would likely forget and use it out of habit.”

She stood and crossed the lair, pulling down the two bundles of the offending herb and put it into the fire. It sputtered and crackled, and soon the lair was filled with the spicy scent of mint.

“At least it’ll make the lair smell nice.” She chuckled. “Anything else I should avoid?”

“Not specifically, just the usual things. You need to make sure to get plenty of rest, don’t over strain yourself. You’ll also need plenty of fresh meat.”

Melody grimaced again, “Oh, I got that this morning.” She shivered at the thought.

Naya chuckled, “I’m afraid you’ll have to get used that, but I’ve got an herb mixture that will help a bit. It will help your body handle the fresh food better. To make it go down easier, try using some of the tricks I use on the cubs. Cut it into very small bits that you can swallow whole, or mash it up in some goat’s milk. But he is right on that though, especially as the cubs quicken and start actively growing, your body will need that meat.”

"Wouldn't it be easier to just...cook it?" Melody inquired, hoping she would be able to avoid eating the raw meat. It almost nearly made her gag whenever she managed to choke some down, and her stomach still seemed to rumble uncomfortable. Her heart sank when Naya shook her head and went through the herbs and dried berries that had been neatly sorted in baskets that sat on makeshift shelves near the fire pit.

"I know you don't like it but it's necessary. Wolf cubs need it. If the child were human it would be different but based on our records of human/wolf pairings in the past you will be having cubs."

Melody let out a sigh and started to slowly walk around the room as Naya began to list off many different ways to stomach the meat easily, as well as mentioning any warning signs she would have to look for if her body didn't agree with it.

"I have a feeling I will regret this decision soon." She whined, making Naya laugh whole-heartedly and pull her into another tight hug.

"You will be alright."

***

Melody resisted the urge to shove the hands away that took her measurements.

It had been nearly 2 and a half months, and to her the time went by almost too quickly. The days seemed to blur together as she found herself coddled endlessly by not only Valshar, but the other wolves she had been left with.

And now, after complaining earlier that morning about how her dress seemed tighter before, she was being fitted with a whole new wardrobe for the coming months.

She hadn't even noticed the very slight bump in her belly until she turned herself in the mirror.

Valshar had been delighted, but she hadn't.

Not long after the cabin had been finished and they moved in, Melody felt herself waking up later in the morning feeling ill and weaker than what she was used to. Naya confirmed it was normal, and since her human body was carrying multiple cubs instead of one little child she would only feel worse after the first few months.

Valshar had taken the situation more easily and proudly than she expected, and always seemed to find him cuddling her for hours on end, even waking up to his wolf nose pressed firmly into her stomach and having to shoo him out of the room as it made her feel like she was going to be sick.

Then the second month had started and Melody sometimes found herself unable to get up. It was then that Valshar had assigned one of the newer wolves named Kiba to help her get up on a schedule and get active.

It was after Melody found out that she also noticed her mood swings. First she would get annoyed, and then would even go as far as snapping at Valshar for something that shouldn't have even bothered her.

Then he would give her some space and she would sob her heart out until he would come back to comfort her.

It was mentally exhausting for her, and the only thing that seemed to keep her sanity was caring for the livestock and garden in the fenced off acres behind the cabin.

Only Kiba would interfere with the gardening and make he sit on the sidelines, laughing at her scowls.

"Stop moving!' The shewolf in her human form scolded lightly when Melody shifted.

"I have been standing here for almost an hour. I'm tired and my feet hurt." She complained. "Can we finish this later?"

“I’m nearly done, just hold still a bit longer.” Kiba countered, quickly working to get the measurements she needed.

Melody grumbled but managed to stay still until the she wolf finished and went off to work on things for her. She glanced over at the cabin door and saw Valshar peeking his head in with a grin.

“What?” She growled at him.

He came in and moved over to her and she pushed at his shoulder, thumping her fists against it.

“I’m sorry. It’s just…” she sighed with frustration.

He chuckled and leaned closer, barely noticing the abuse his shoulder was taking. “It’s alright, love. Let it out if it helps."

She shook her head, “I just don’t know what to do. Sometimes it feels like I’m going utterly mad. It doesn’t help having not only you but nearly the entire pack hovering around, fussing and fretting over me.”

He ducked his head as she swatted at his ear, and then reached over to lick her ear. She swatted him, this time connecting with the furry head, and squeaked. “Stop it!”

He sat back on his haunches with another chuckle, and she walked over to settle into a comfy chair.

“If I didn’t think it would just be worse I’d suggest going home for a while. But I don’t even want to think about how Mathias would react, and you probably wouldn’t let me travel that far anyway would you?”

He shook his head, “Not by any means less than a carriage.”

“Which we don’t have.” She muttered. “Just as well, I doubt he’d be very keen on the idea of me being pregnant with cubs.”

He tilted his head. “If you really feel like you need time away from the pack, I could ask Sani to send a carriage for you, and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you staying with her for a while. Would give you the option to see your brother but not have to stay with him. Sani could also make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.”

Melody looked at him, “I don’t know. Would you be alright with it, if I did want to go for a bit, maybe a couple weeks or a month, just to get away from the pack for a while?”

He sighed, “I would still worry, and insist on a wolf staying with you, though they’d stay outside the manor unless needed. Also don’t think it’d mean you don’t still need to eat properly. But I do know Sani’s cook knows how to prepare fresh meat, so she’d be able to take care of that for you.”

"Then please, call for a carriage. I need to get out of here." Melody whined quickly after hearing he would be fine, ignoring the disappointed look Valshar didn't bother hiding.

"I'll arrange for it then and have a few wolves get everything prepared for your trip."

Of course, not even a few hours later, Melody had gotten impatient and had intended on getting her mare saddled to leave on her own. She knew she wouldn't get very far with the sheer amount of wolves that seemingly strolled through the clearing on a daily basis, claiming they were just 'passing through.'. It irritated her further knowing they were there to keep an eye on her just as Valshar would have wanted.

And that was when one of the wolves spotted her going for the saddle and let out a short yip, alerting the others but more importantly...alerting Valshar as to what she had been trying to do.

And when he had manged to grab her and carry her off to the cabin as she all but screeched at him, she wished she could have just slept through the worse part of the pregnancy.

***

It wasn't until the next day that Edward arrived with the carriage, and Valshar could feel himself tense up as a few of the wolves helped packed a few small items of clothing. He didn't want Melody to leave at all but he could see she was feeling both overwhelmed and stressed.

He tried pushing away darker thoughts, knowing that the trip to the manor would be a safe one, and that Sani would be able to take care of any emergencies if any occurred.

"Are you sure you want to leave for so long?" Valshar asked Melody, hugging her tightly as she readied to go into the carriage.

"I'm more than sure. When I come back things will be better....I hope." She replied lightly. "I just really need this right now. You understand don't you?"

"I do, but I don't like it. What if you cross paths with a hostile pack, or what if something happens during the trip to where you would need a doctor? Even at the manor-"

Melody stopped his rambling, planting a kiss on Valshar's cheek and giving him a smile. "You are worrying over nothing. I will have Edward and Myron with me the whole trip. Do you really think they would allow anything to happen to me?" She asked, pulling away from him and stepping up into the carriage.

"I love you, Valshar. Everything will be fine."

Valshar had insisted on sending along a she wolf named Shana as well, with the assurance that both she and Myron would stay out from under foot and give Melody the space she needed. But Shana was an experienced female, having reared three litters of cubs herself, so she would know what to look for and do if there were any problems.

He frowned as the carriage pulled off. He didn’t like it, at all, but he knew that trying to keep her in the cabin would only stress her out and that in itself could lead to complications. At least with two wolves nearby and Sani and her people, he felt reasonably certain she would be safe.

He also knew there would be nothing that could stop him from worrying. He was glad at least that there would be plenty of work to be done so he could occupy his mind for part of the time.

***

The spring rains had softened much of the ground throughout the territory. This made it an excellent time to start digging new dens or expanding current lairs while the work would be easier.
Afternoon brought an urgent cry for help. The messenger found Valshar covered in mud as he’d been helping a young she fix up her den.

“Alpha! Hurry!”

He whirled around, “What’s wrong?”

“East river, the beaver dam broke, there’s a lone she with cubs trapped by the flood, its flooding their den and they can’t get out.”

He nodded and rushed off, barking commands to several other males he passed along the way. They fell in behind him as he rushed to the river.

The broken dam had allowed the normally slow moving river to become a raging monster and as he scanned the area, he noticed two other flooded dens.

“Was anyone else trapped?”

Kynar shook his head, “I just got here myself but they said that the other two families had been out of their dens, rushing back when they heard the noise.”

He could hear the panicked howls of the she wolf, and sidled along the bank to better see the den site. Part of the beaver’s broken dam had lodged in place against the front of her den, blocking them in, and the water was likely already too deep for the cubs to stand in. If they were too young to swim, they’d drown quickly.

He dove into the water, claws digging into the dirt along the bank, and he could feel the rapid current trying to peel him away and push him down river. Another wolf threw him a length of rope which he grabbed in his teeth.

He made it to the lair entrance and had to force the she to calm down and back up. He tore and dug and pushed and kicked at the tangled mess of branches and logs until they finally succumbed to the rush of the river and cleared the entrance.

He shifted long enough to tie the rope around the still terrified female, and pushed her out of the den so they could pull her to safety. He found the three cubs huddled and crying in the last high spot in the den. He took his shirt off and tied up the ends, making a make shift sling and put the three cubs in it, and secured it over his head and shoulder.

Valshar shifted back to wolf form and wiggled a bit to make sure the sling full of cubs would stay in place against his back. Hopefully he could keep them far enough above water long enough while he got them out and back to the bank.

He smiled as he spotted the end of the rope bobbing and weaving just outside the den. They’d gotten the female up and Kynar was holding on to her, trying to keep her calm. He locked his jaws on the rope and pushed off back into the rushing current. With it slamming hard against him, it was even harder to move, and he felt his heart stop every time he felt the cubs wiggle. Finally, he reached the shore and two wolves stepped in to help gather up the cubs and he shook the water from his fur.

The female and cubs were reunited and she finally sank to the grass, exhausted, but cast a deeply grateful look to him before curling around her cubs to rest.

Kynar walked over to him, “You alright?”

“Wet, dirty, but I’m fine. Make a mark of the height of the river, and spread the word that no one is to den too close so this doesn’t happen again, even if the beavers make a new dam and the water goes down.”

The old wolf nodded, “Will do. Why don’t you go get some rest.”

Valshar shook his head, “No, I’m alright. There’s too much to be done.”

"Oh thank goodness." Melody breathed in relief when they had pulled up next to Sani's manor. The ride seemed to take eons and she was ready to relax in a long hot bath and silence.

"I was wondering when I would show up." The vampire greeted with a laugh, hugging her the moment she stepped out of the cart. "Valshar's messenger told me you were expecting. I wish you had told me sooner! I didn't think it would be so soon, but now that you're here we can go shopping in town for some furniture!"

As the servants began to carry items into the manor, Melody found herself practically dragged inside and led up the stairs to the guest rooms.

***

"Goodness...." Melody drawled out from the bathtub with pure bliss in her voice. While the cabin did have a nice bath, the water had to be heated through a fire and then poured into the tub, and Melody always felt terrible asking for help, or making the pack do it for her since Valshar would fuss.

A few light knocks on the bathroom door had her reaching for a nearby towel, and then one of the female servants let themselves in. "Excuse me, Ma'am." She said, moving to help her out of the tub. "Lord Alexander requested I come retrieve you from your bath. Someone is here to see you."

Curious as to who could be visiting her, she allowed the servant to help dry her hair, feeling a bit as she was allowed to dress herself instead of having someone help her. After a few moments and few grumblings of getting the simple dress on, she was being led down the hall and into the dining room.

Melody instantly regretted it it upon seeing the mass of messy brown hair of her brother, chatting idly with Alexander as they approached.

When he turned and saw her, she gave him an awkward smile. "Uhm...brother..." She started to say but was pulled into an almost crushing hug. She could hear Alexander chuckle.

"Oh, Melody! If Alexander hadn't sent a messsanger I would have never known you were here!" Mathias said excitedly. "I haven't seen you since your...wedding..."

She didn't like how he said the word or the frown, but he quickly covered it up. "I came to see you as soon as I could!"

When Melody turned to give Alexander a questioning frown he only shrugged with a grin and turned to leave the room. "I'm sure you two have plenty to discuss." He called over his shoulder. "I wil leave you to your business. I have other matters and guests to tend to."

And the Mathia let out a gleeful laugh, hugging her hard enough to almost make her spill the contents of her stomach from earlier that morning. "Yes, we have so much to catch up on!"

Valshar paced restlessly. The frame of a small stable had been raised beside the cabin, and a good bit of progress had been made on the walls for it. Work had been forced to a halt by a torrential downpour of rain. Most of the pack had retreated to their lairs and he paced the floor of the main room in the cabin.

With little to do, and not being needed anywhere else, Valshar felt Melody’s absence sharply. He felt along the bond they shared, and knew she was alright, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to be near her. It took all his strength to keep from making his way to Sani’s manor.

She said she wanted space, and that included space from him and his fretting. With a heavy sigh, he walked out of the cabin and over to the no longer used lair. He flopped down on the dirt floor and closed his eyes, trying to sleep.

***

Far to the east, a lean scout bowed to a large tawny colored wolf.

“It seems the rumors are true Alpha. The Alpha of the Firethorn has extended his influence southward. What remains of the Redstone pack has allied with him, as the Iceclaw pack did after the fall of Morlach.”

Jaldar growled. “I remember Valshar. I am not inclined to believe he has fallen prey to the greed of one like Morlach. Still, it is unusual to have three packs more or less under a single wolf’s authority. I need to speak to him, but on neutral ground. ”

The scout nodded. “Shall I take a message?”

“Yes, I will give him the option of setting the time and place as long as it is not within any pack territory, and I have adequate time to reach it.”

The scout bowed and turned heading off into the forest again.

He was looking at her again.

Melody did her best to ignore the dark colored eyes from the other side of the table in the dining hall as she ate.

She was thankful that during Mathias's visit, he was oblivious enough to not have noticed the bump in her stomach, or didn't bother asking about her mood swings. It was something she was grateful for since Mathias hadn't approved of her marriage to Valshar in the first place. He had spent days visiting the manor and seemed generally happy to at least heard from her.

It made her feel regretful for not at least writing to him.

Then one day after Mathias had left back to the ranch, Sani and Alexander introduced her to an old acquaintance of theirs. That was something Melody could have done without.

She couldn't tell if it was because of the look he gave her when Alexander explained to him her pregnancy and why she had been visiting, or it was just the way shaking his hand made her skin pop up with goosebumps. Either way, it reminded her of Frederick too much and she vowed to avoid him as much as possible.

But it was hard to do if Sani had invited to stay as a guest, since the trip back to his homeland was one that almost a week of traveling.

It had been nearly 2 weeks, and with each passing day she found herself crossing paths with him more and more.

And now finally, as she sat there eating, she felt she had had enough.

With a polite word to one of the servants, Melody stood from her chair and turned to leave the room. It had only taken a few moments to find Alexander browsing through the library. She would have preferred to speak to Sani about this, as their guest was more of Alexander's friend and she didn't know how to explain the situation without being rude.

"Uhm...Alexander?" She called out timidly, getting the vampire's attention.

"I was wondering if it was alright to have a carriage prepared in the morning?"

Valshar was belly deep in another bog, ignoring the biting insects and other unpleasant things that clung to his fur and sought to get beneath it. The young cub howled in fear as the murky water seemed determined to pull her under. Two cubs had ignored their mother’s warning and run into the bog track that was intended to be off limits because of the danger inherent in the dark water and deceptive ground.

He had already retrieved her brother from a bog several yards from her, and now he focused on closing his teeth on the cub’s scruff until she went limp and stopped struggling. He slowly and carefully inched back to the solid ground where the cub’s mother waited to gather up her errant youngling.

Dropping the mud covered bundle of fur at her feet, he reminded her to keep them from repeating their antics. She profusely thanked him and vowed that it would not happen again before shooing both cubs quickly back to their den.

He heaved a tired sigh, and grimaced at the blood suckers that had managed to get past the fur of his legs. He shook his legs and finally had to resort to shifting and pulling them off by hand, tossing them disdainfully back into the filthy water that harbored them.

Valshar made his way to the river and splashed around until the stench and clinging mud had finally been washed from his fur and skin. He stretched out on the grass to dry and yawned as he watched the clouds overhead.

His ears twitched as a runner approached, and he rolled back to his feet before the messenger came into sight.

“Alpha, there is a messenger from the eastern pack, waiting at the rock. He says he won’t speak to anyone but you Alpha.”

He sighed and nodded as he moved off toward the Rock.

"Oh, you're leaving so soon? I was hoping we would be able to at least speak to each other a bit more during my stay."

Melody tried ignoring the dark-haired man behind her, trying to distract herself from the uneasy feeling again as Shana checked over the carriage and Edward readied the horses. She could see Myron's ear perk at the words, and she knew he was keeping a close on on the man behind her. "I am sorry to leave so suddenly but I must return home. The raining seems to have slowed enough for a safe trip, and I'm anxious to return home to my husband."

"Will you be visiting again?"

With a firm tug on the hem of her skirts, she turned to give him a smile. "I don't know. It will be hard to visit in the later months with my pregnancy. It was nice meeting you, though." Despite how creepy it was to be around you she had wanted to add, but held back the words.

She didn't even give him a backward glance as she hurried herself into the carriage and shut the door. Even then she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling until Edward finally took the reins, and they were off.

***

"I didn't like that vampire." Myron huffed irritably as he walked next to Melody towards the Rock. Edward had insisted on dropping her off at the cabin but she had been feeling cramped and wanted to walk the rest of the way. She had also known that Valshar would be with the Pack in the middle of the day and wanted to see him.

She really missed him.

"As long as Sani doesn't drag him out here I will be happy and agree with you." Melody told him, making Shana roll her eyes. "If Alpha had been there he would have had some words for all of the staring going on."

"I would have said something as well if I had been inside the manor." Myron added.

Melody was going to add on to the comment but she noticed the bustle of activity at the base of the Rock. Thinking that one of the expecting pack members had had her litter, she smiled and worked her way over, the small crowd greeting her and parting the way.

"Valshar, love! I've come home!" She called out.

Valshar was still speaking with the eastern messenger, and looked up as Melody came through the crowd. He excused himself and shifted to his human for as he made his way over to her. He hugged her gently and nuzzled her.

“I’m glad you’re back. We can talk later.” He spoke lowly, barely a whisper, and then in a more normal tone he turned back toward the other wolf. “This is Tebor, from the eastern pack.”

“Hello.” She offered with a smile.

Tebor nodded noncommittally and regarded her with the look of someone who disapproved of something but was trying to be polite about not expressing that disapproval. He turned his gaze back to Valshar and waited.

“Go on, Tebor, why have you come?”

“My Alpha wishes to meet with you in parley, on neutral ground, not within any pack’s borders. He will give you the option of setting a time and a place, asking only that the time provide him adequate time to reach the place easily.”

Valshar considered this, shifting back to his wolf form. Melody stood beside him, absently running her fingers through the fur of his shoulder as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

“Is Jaldor still Alpha there?”

He nodded, seeming a bit surprised that Valshar knew the name without being told.

Valshar thought for a moment longer and then nodded, “I shall meet him, bringing two with me, and only two. I ask that he accept those conditions likewise and bring only two with him.”

Tebor nodded. “This is reasonable, and acceptable.”

“There is a town between our packs.” Valshar began.

“He does not like to go among humans.” Tebor objected, glancing briefly at Melody.

“I would not have expected him to. There is a field to the eastern side of the town, where the ground was scored by a fire in recent years and has only started to recover.”

Tebor relaxed and nodded, “I know this place. It is neutral and would be acceptable.”

Valshar nodded again. “Two weeks time, from now. This should give your Alpha plenty of time to travel there without putting himself out.”

Tebor nodded once more, “Yes, that will be acceptable as well. I shall return and inform my Alpha.”
Valshar nodded, giving him a clear dismissal and Tebor turned and trotted off. He watched the eastern wolf leave and felt Kynar move up on his other side.

“Any idea what he wants?”

“Perhaps. We can talk about it later though.”

Kynar nodded, “Who are you taking with you?”

“You, and Bael.”

He nodded, “Alright.” Then he looked over at Melody with a smile, “Welcome home. I’ll leave you two.”

***

Valshar had insisted that Melody ride on his back the whole way back to the cabin, fussing at her for having walked so far as it was.

“Really, I am fine, Valshar, a little walk is not going to over exert me.”

He shook his head as they reached the cabin and she slid off his back while he opened the door. “Perhaps, but you still need to be careful.”

She sighed, and swatted at his shoulder as she walked past him into their home. “So what was all that about?”

He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, one hand resting lightly on her growing belly as he nuzzled and kissed her neck.

“Nothing important.” He muttered. “I’ve missed you.”

She frowned, and then squirmed as he tickled her, forcing a smile to her lips in spite of herself. “You cheat.”

He grinned, and let go of her to get a fire started. “Naturally.”

She settled into a chair at the table. She couldn’t help but worry about the meaning of the eastern visitor.

"And I take it you missed me as well. You returned much sooner than anticipated." Valshar called over his shoulder while Melody moved to prop her feet up onto a small padded stool. She hadn't felt tired from the walking until she had sat down, and the fire was welcome as she peeled off her coat and let it fall over the chair.

She smiled lovingly, giggling when Valshar moved to help her with her boots. "Sani and Alexander had an extra guest. I didn't want to intrude." She half-lied.

"Oh? A guest?" He asked curiously while moving the boots near the fireplace to dry, grabbing the abandoned coat to hang it up as well.

"Yes. I never caught his name, however. And speaking of guests...." Melody added thoughtfully, not wanting to speak of the creepy man any longer, much less remember how uneasy he made her. "That scout from the eastern pack. He seemed quite friendly. I wonder why their Alpha would want to speak with you?"

Valshar put water on to heat for tea, and turned to eye her, “Have you eaten?”

She rolled her eyes. “Stella made me eat that awful stuff for breakfast.”

He chuckled, “I actually have some roasted meat and vegetables if you’re hungry. And some fresh bread Miriam brought over.”

“In that case, I wouldn’t mind some.”

He nodded and made sure the meal was properly hot enough for her and sat the plate down on the table, then poured tea for them both. He sat back down and sighed as he sipped the tea.

“From what I recall of them, in general, the eastern pack isn’t too fond of humans. I got the distinct feeling that the scout disapproved of my choice of mate, but was diplomatic enough to keep it to himself.” He thought for a moment, watching her eat.

“I can’t imagine what would stir old Jaldor to want a parley, we haven’t spoken to each other since the great war.”

She frowned, “You don’t think it could be trouble do you? Are you going to be safe going to that meeting? What if it’s a trap of some kind?”

He put his hand on hers, and shook his head, “Don’t worry yourself, love. As much as I know it’s possible for people, and wolves, to change over that many years, I don’t think Jaldor would bother with a trap. Otherwise he would have insisted on the meeting being on his terms, not mine.”

“What did you mean when you answered Kynar? You said 'perhaps' when he had asked if you had any ideas what it was about.”

Valshar chuckled, “I have my suspicions.”

She stopped eating and stared at him. He shook his head and nudged her plate, “Dinner first.”

Melody made a face, but finished her meal. She had to admit, it was very good, and she had gotten hungry on the trip home.

“There.” She proclaimed, shoving the empty plate back at him.

He nodded approvingly and reached over to hook a basket that held fresh fruit tarts, “Desert.” He said as he offered her one.

“As for Jaldor, he’s probably heard about what happened with Morlach, and possibly what happened with the southern pack. The one wolf that had been with their alpha when he came said that some of them had fled east, possibly to his pack. He might be getting nervous about what my intentions are.”

Melody let the words sink in slowly, staring at a tart she had grabbed for a moment. It made sense to her, as Valshar's pack held members from both the northern and southern pack. It would only be a matter of time before another pack wondered about what was going on, as well as what would be happening in the future.

"As long as you're careful." She told him, quickly spitting out the bite of tart the second it touched her tongue. She grimaced when Valshar reached over to clean up the mess and take the wasted tart from her.

"It seems the cubs didn't approve much of that. And I'm always careful, love." He chuckled, giving her a kiss before moving the basket off the table and grabbing one that had a few berries and dried jerky bits. He hadn't even set the basket down before Melody reached over and grabbed some of the jerky and started to chew on it.

"I know you are, but you never know what will happen. I wish I could go with you..." Melody said, trailing off at the look he had given her. Without a word he rested a hand over her stomach with a frown. "You're going to remain here in the cabin with wolves to watch you." He said firmly. "And you are going to rest. You have just returned from a long trip, and this is something you don't need to worry about."

Melody nodded, covering his hand with hers and leaning in to give him a kiss.

"Just be safe, that's all I ask. I don't want to have to return to Sani's manor again and then have a messenger come tell us that you're half dead....again..."

“I’ll be fine.” He assured her, “Jaldor is old. Older than my father would be if he were still alive. One doesn’t survive that long being an Alpha by being a fool or being careless. He knows I won’t be trusting him any more than he trusts me, which is why the parley is to be on neutral ground. I don’t seriously think he would risk an open confrontation between packs by doing anything. “

He chuckled, “Zyran’s actually finally taken my former spot as the youngest Alpha among the six packs in this area. The oldest of all of them, if he’s still Alpha would be Oberon of the western pack, and as cagey and strange as that old beast was even when I met him, I don’t doubt that he is still Alpha there.”

She yawned, “How old is that?”

He tilted his head, “He’d be at least 600 by now.”

She blinked, struggling to wrap her mind around the idea of anyone being that old, and then she looked at Valshar.

He arched one eyebrow at her and grinned, as though catching some hint of her thoughts. “What? Trying to figure out how old I am?”

She shrugged, “Maybe.”

He stood, shifted to wolf form, and padded over to her and nuzzled her belly. Then he gently nudged her up out of the chair and toward the bed when she tried to stifle another yawn. “Does it really matter?”

Melody wanted to protest being herded off to bed, but she was honestly too tired to argue, “No, I’m just curious. You could always just tell me.”

Valshar laughed as he got another blanket for her and covered her up. “Ask the Record Keeper. She’d tell you even if I don’t want her to.” He walked back over to put a couple more logs on the fire for the night, banking it up so it would keep the cabin warm overnight.

“I didn’t think a wolf could disobey the Alpha, if you don’t want her to tell something, why would she?”

He moved back over to the bed and snuggled close against her, “The Record Keeper is the one wolf immune to an Alpha’s compulsions, completely independent and incorruptible, and she records everything.”

“I may just have to have a long talk with her then.”

She snuggled against him, she wouldn’t admit how much she enjoyed feeling him curling himself protectively around her as she fell asleep.

Melody was woken up the next morning to Valshar leaning her up in the bed and she swatted at him sleepily. He only laughed, helping her stand and move towards the washroom. He claimed he had work to do with the Pack and needed her to go with him if she wanted to meet the Record Keeper.

She hadn't remembered getting dressed or climbing onto his back, but when they had reached the base of the Rock she was wide awake from the light sprinkle of rain on her face.

After being nudged in the right direction of a lair, Melody pushed her way inside and stopped. The room was brightly lit with candles that were sitting on wooden blocks or rocks; animal hides were stacked neatly seemingly everywhere, leaving only a small path to follow.

"Hello?" she called out, noticing the shelves on most of the walls were filled with aged rolls of animals skins, though she could see they had bits of ink staining the edges.

"Hold on!" A voice echoed further into the lair, the sound of something being knocked over followed by a light curse. A few moments later a shewolf with sandy brown fur, and lines of aged white lining her muzzle and front legs wandered towards her. The glint in her aged, hazy eyes was one filled with warmth and greetings. "I was wondering when I would finally be able to meet you myself, dear." She spoke in a rough voice, idly kicking some of the neatly stacked furs out of the way to reveal a stool.

"Have a seat." She offered before dipping her head towards a wall, nudging a few bottles of ink while Melody nodded, taking the stool.

She straightened her skirts, unsure of what to say when the older wolf stopped poking around and faced her. "I assume the Alpha has sent you my way regarding a few things?"

Melody nodded, almost smiling when the shewolf made a 'tsking' noise and turned to fumble with something. "He said if I ever had questions regarding the history of the pack or its wolves, then I should come to you."

"And right the little pup was." Came a grumped response. "I could tell you anything and everything since the pack was created. So much information that I have retained and archived over these long, long years."

While wringing her hands through her skirts a few times, Melody tried tofocus on what the wolf was digging for and smiled. "There are so many things I wish to ask you. But the more important one would be regarding my uhm...cubs."

The older wolf stopped her rummaging, turning to nose through some old rolls of skins on the wall. "There is plenty of history with cubs, Nay'sara. Human and wolf pairings were something I enjoyed documenting, as it was unheard of back in those ages for wolves to take human mates. It was believed that while it brought new blood into the line, it weakened it. It was heart-breaking that only one pair ever managed having a human child, but it passed away due to complications during the birthing process."

"I was actually wondering what kind of names I would be choosing for my own?" Melody asked. "I feel that picking human ones wouldn't be right..."

“Eh?” The Keeper blinked and looked over at Melody. “Well, that is a rather complicated question, or I suppose it might be for one not used to the customs.”

She sat down and seemed to forget what she had been looking for. “You see, a wolf doesn’t just have a single name as humans do. A wolf has at least two, though some achieve three names in their lifetimes, of course not counting their blood names when they choose to use them.”

“Blood name?”

“The name that speaks of lineage, not sure what you humans call it.”

“Oh, family name or surname is what we usually call that.”

Keeper nodded, “That’s it.”

“So two names you said? And why do only some get three?”

The Keeper’s face scrunched up in a way that made Melody have to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. Then the old wolf continued, “The cub name is whatever parents wish to call the cubs between the time of their birth and their Recognition. It’s never used after a cub is properly Recognized except in some private moments of affection, but generally it’s mostly forgotten.”

“What is the Recognition?”

The old wolf smiled, “That is when cubs are presented formally to the Alpha and gathered pack, so they may be recognized by the pack by sight and by scent, and they are known as members of the pack from that moment on, and that is where a cub gets their Pack name, given by the pack. That is the name by which a young wolf shall be known for most of their lives.”

She apparently remembered having been looking for something and stood up to nose through a pile of dusty hide scrolls. “Cub names are never recorded since they are often forgotten after Recognition. The Pack names however, always are recorded. A wolf will only gain a third name when they have done something extraordinary, it is a rare and great honor. So that is also always recorded when it happens.”

She pulled out a scroll, and sneezed at the dust stirred up and carefully unrolled it with her nose, putting a paw on the bottom to steady it. “The last such wolf is one you know quite well.” She grinned.

Melody blinked, “Valshar?”

The keeper grinned, “Valshar Kae'draas Nas’Falwyn to give his full proper name, yes. He was the last wolf recorded to have earned a third name, nearly a century ago now, at the end of the great war.”

She mulled over the name, daring not to speak fearing that she would butcher it. It sounded almost beautiful how the record keeper had spoke it, with a voice full of pride despite the rough age.

"I see..." Melody trailed off, mulling over the information, keeping back a chuckle as the shewolf gently rolled the parchment back up and set it away, sneezing a few more times. "What more can you tell me about my husband?"

The old wolf paused for a moment, scrunching her nose in deep thought before stuffing her head into another pile of rolled hides.

"aaah...many many things." Came the cheerful reply. "He earned his father's rare fur, and his mother's warm heart and logic. If I recall correctly, he should be reaching his 328th year of living."

Melody knew she would have spat out a drink if she had one, and instead let her jaw drop. "H-he is that old?" She asked in shock.

The amused chuckle from the shewolf ended with a huff of irritation and scrolls being kicked to the side. "He does seem rather old to humans, but in our pack he is in his prime. With humans and other annoying species hunting us, as well as war and sickness, not many wolves make it past their first 200 years. Which brings me to another matter..."

An aged dark skin was thrown in the middle of the floor and opened slowly. "Since you are bearing cubs I must warn you that while times seem peaceful, it's important that you try to keep knowledge of the cubs to the Pack and close family and friends only." she said in a calculating tone, her eyes gazing over the writing and diagrams on the scroll. "It would put not only you, but the Pack in danger as well. Be it humans or another Pack or even worse...."

Melody tried not to gulp at the foreboding tone, but just as quickly as it appeared it was gone with a wheezing cough and a bright smile. "So the next time you travel back home, do try to enjoy yourself but remember that the world is full of cruel and manipulative beings."

"What about vampires? Is it alright for them to know?" Melody inquired. "I mean, Valshar is good friends with Sani and Alexander. They've only spoken of the cubs to one other but I'm sure if Alexander trusts them I can trust them."