The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred Eighty ELDER ROMAN My private collage in Western Idaho has been my secret hideaway for hrs. It comes in handy when I have... special work to do. It's hide up on the mountain, near the cut of the tiver and nestled deep within the forest, it is my private hunting ground. The one place Lam completely comfortable and content to be my trae sell. No one knows where it is. Not even those old fucks back in Oregon. Well, no one Anew, but that all changed today Upon my return to Oregon, I was presented with young Cane's dilemma, He wanted to pledge his life to the Elder Few, like his father did before him, and his father before him, and so on. Ninety percent of our members have sons, and out of that ninety percent, eighty percent might get accepted. But only the oldest som is ever considered for menilership, nudess, that son chooses not to pledge, or the younger son issues a challenge to the eldest and proves himsell the more worthy hunter, Cane is Halley's eldest, as well as his only son, but he wasn't nominated for membership before Ralley died. So, it was left up totest and weigh him for membership.

A Pledge is usually given a physical abilities test, a marksmen test, an aptitude test, and then finally, the most difficult of all, a resolute detachment test. A test designed to fracture the faint of heart.

I have known Cane for ten years of his life, so I chose to forgo the unimportant exercises and focus solely on the only one that truly mattered. To be honest, I didn't believe he would do it. No one did. The RD test is structured to present the Pledge with an imposable choice. Most of the tthey are asked to shoot the family pet, or if there isn't one, the Pledge is given an animal and told to end its life in the most gruesway possible, using only their bare hands, Human subjects aren't normally used, but I knew sacrificing his best friend would be the ultimate task.

honestly didn't think he had it in him, but by God, did he provewhong. The only other member to ever pass a test as difficult as that one, was me.

new apprentice, which basically makes him my son now. At least, it does in the eyes of the Elder Few.

So, naturally, I chose him for my new a I have finally found someone that shares my intense love for the hunt. Someone willing to go the extra mile, and cut all former ties. Someone to teach, someone to mold. A student that will carry on with my work, long after I have passed. An heir, if you will, that I can leave my legacy to and share my truths with. Well, most of them. He will know all that he needs to and that will be enough. He is the first and last that I will ever take under my wing, My secrets keep themselves pretty well, anyway. I made certain of that yours ago.

I watch my new apprentice with growing pride. He's pulverizing every target 1 set for him with astonishing accuracy. Not quite as well as I can, of course, but that's to be expected. He is human, after all. Humans can only do what they can do, and sadly, that isn't much. But I will teach this one everything he needs to know about all shifters and what they are capable of. Then, he will helperadicate them. As many as are possible.

One must learn the skills of each shifter they are hunting before an attempt at a snare can be made. Each species has its own unique supernatural ability and strength. They cannot be effectively hunted unless one understands what these are.

For example, leopard shifters in Asia. They prefer to spend most of their days in feline form and are known throughout the forests to beautiful beyond measure as humans. But they are a solitary species, often choosing not to take a mate. Those cats can climb so well, that they are more comfortable in the trees than they are on the forest Blood. In fact, high up in the treetops is often where they station themselves for the hunt and even sleep, or take their meals. They are incredibly fast when leaping from tree branch to tree branch, and are almost phantoenlike. But on the ground, they can be easily trapped or caught.

In order to beat one, you must becas much like one as possible, and that takes time. But I'm up for it. I have faith in this kids potential. I can train him in my own image. Teaching him how to track, skunk, deflect, shield how to move within nature, how to hide in plain sight. The skills that I will equip him with will ensure his survival the sway they have ensured mine. He will be independent of others, with no ties to anyone butand when the tis right, we will be an unstoppable force. No one knows shifters the way that I do. Hunting them is an art, not a pastime. Not a fucking club activity, despite what smay believe.

None of the other hunters that wanted to learn were ever able to pass my test. But this boy, he did. Complete and total devotion to the 1/3 Chapter One Hundred Eighty cause. You can't Pay that kind of commitment. Believe me, I've tried.

As the last target explodes in the distance, he hoots in victory and coros jogging my way.

"Great job," I say, granting him a round of applause.

"How long before we can go after her?" he asks, Ever the eger beaver, this one...

"Don't be so hasty," I tell him, secretly pleased that he wants to go back. Not many hunters will risk it after they've been exposed the her pride will likely be waiting for exactly that." "Het pride?" he shouts. "You think there are more of them?" I smirk, thinking back to that night a few years ago when I took out the den mother. Even now, her head is mounted o compound. Each of us Elders has a wall, dedicated to our kills. Mine is definitely the most interesting. Ton shifte their pride. They don't cast out their kin like wolves do, nor do they survive well on their own. A lonely lion is a dead. They are fersome, loyal creatures and they never leave a debt unpaid. They will remember you, and they will be waiting" They will rememberas well "Shit," he curses. "You don't think it's a mistake to wait? What if they relocate?" I have to chuckle at that. "Lions are more territorial than even wolves are, at times. They aren't going anywhere, and t would they? They aren't scared of you. They aren't scared of anyone. They love freely and openly, sometimes having multiple "Mates?" I grin, my eyes dimming as an old wash of dead pain resurfaces, but 1 stamp it down where it belongs. Drowning it with my hatred. T Mates. Often times, human mates." "Gross!" he croaks in disbelief.

"No, no. Not gross." Try as I might, I can't keep the sneer from my lips. "It's weak is what it is." "I can't imagine it. It can't be true," "Oh, it's true. And believewhen I say, you'll be grateful that they have them. The capture of a shifters mate is the ultimate bargainin chip. Their most exploited weakness. Kill the mate and kill the shifter. I study him, watching for signs of discomfort when I say, "Even the mate is human, sometimes it is the only way. A sacrifice must be made for the greater good. Don't you agree?" He stares into the woods then nods. "Justice. I get it. Humans who mate with animals. It's unnatural. They deserve what suppose." I can't smile wide enough hearing that. Excellent attitude. You're going to practice with moving targets tonight. And not just any moving targets. They will be quick. Supernaturally fast. You need to learn how to take aim and shoot for a creature that's zig-zagzing through the woods, hitting speeds of ninety miles an hour. You must learn to predict their direction based on their speed, and how to spot the slight waver in the brush, that signals when they are charging toward you." "Do they really run that t fast?" he ad he asks, shocked.

I chuckle. "Sof them, but not many. It is my philosophy to prepare for what has yet to cmy way before it does. Il like to be more than ready. Blackjack has sof the fastest wobes I have ever seen." "Wolves?" His eyes flare wide with excitement. "Out there? Are they regular- 2/3 Chapter One Hundred Eighty They're shifters and they are ge