Prologue: travelers
Jack O'Neill adjusted his cap and sighed. Trees. Why had there to be trees yet again? He really didn't ask too much from the planets they visited, did he? All he wanted was a little variety. A meadow, maybe a desert or even some ice would be nice. But no. Trees. Stupid ever-ever-green trees. Like on every other world they had been to in the last six months. Carter had once explained to him why they had found this type of vegetation on so many planets. But then again Carter had also explained to him how to program his satellite receiver - and the result had been . . . let's just say he slowly got used to watching the Home Shopping Network a lot. Not that it was Carter's fault. But somehow the information she had been providing him with seemed to have changed between leaving her mouth and reaching his ear. There was no other explanation for it.
"Sir?"
Jack blinked and turned to face his 2IC who was busy taking readings from a small device she held in her hands. Carter pointed north.
"I'm getting a signal from over there. Approximately three miles from here, maybe four."
"You sure, this is what we're looking for?"
"Yes, Sir, positive."
"What's positive about that?", Jack mumbled as he stepped deeper into the forest.
They had walked in silence for half an hour when Daniel suddenly stopped. Jack, who had been looking at the ground didn't see it and bumped into him.
"Daniel! Why did you stop?"
"Behind that tree..."
"Is another tree?", Jack suggested puzzled.
Daniel shook his head. "No. A person. I saw a person."
Chapter 1: Omega
Suddenly Jack was at full alert. His eyes searched the spot Daniel was pointing at. At first Jack saw nothing but - well that was a surprise - trees. But as his eyes adjusted he recognized a man.
"Carter? Teal'c?"
"I see him, Sir."
"Indeed."
Jack was about to give his orders, when the man suddenly left his cover and stepped forward.
"You speak Inglish. Yet I do not know you. Yet if you speak in the same tongue as I do, you will surely not harm me."
That last sentence sounded more like a question, Jack thought and nodded to his team to lower their weapons.
"No, we will not harm you. We are travelers from far away."
"How far away?"
"Uh, very far."
The man stepped closer, excitement shining in his eyes. "Have you been beyond the great forest? Have you seen the plains? Is it true that you go blind when you look up at the sky out there? What . . .?"
"Whoa, slow down, my friend. That's a lot of questions", Jack said, raising a hand to keep the stranger from going on. "Before I answer yours, I have one for you: Who are you and why were you hiding from us?"
"My name is Chana. I was hunting when I saw you. First I thought you were tree-ghosts."
"Tree-ghosts?"
"Because of the colors of your clothes. They are like the skin of the tree-ghosts, which haunt these parts at day and night to . . ."
"Yeah, very nice, but try to focus, okay?"
Chana looked puzzled for a second, then he nodded. "Yes, focus. Yes. As I said I was hunting for deer when I saw you. I didn't know who you were, so I hid. These woods are dangerous and full of strange creatures."
Jack raised an eyebrow, as a tiny squirrel hurried past them and disappeared beneath a pile of leaves.
"Dangerous creatures, eh?"
"Very."
"So who are you?"
"Oh, sorry." Jack grinned apologetic. "I'm Jack O'Neill, this is Daniel Jackson, Teal'c and Sam Carter." When Jack introduced Sam, Chana flinched and looked to the ground immediately. Jack frowned and shot Sam a questioning look. But she just shrugged and shook her head. Jack turned back to Chana.
"Something wrong, Chana?"
"Forgive me. The hat. I didn't know she was a woman. Forgive me for looking at your mate."
"What? My . . ? What?" asked Jack confused. Suddenly he could hear someone giggling and he shot a warning glance at Daniel Jackson - at the same time as a highly embarrased Major Carter did.
"Sorry", Daniel managed to say between giggles, but neither Sam nor Jack believed him. Jack blinked. He would find a way to get back at Daniel later, right now he had to set things straight veeery quickly.
"Uh, Chana, she's NOT my mate, okay? Just to make things clear."
Chana tilted his head. "She's not? But you were talking to her, I thought . . ."
"No, she's not."
"So, she's your mate?" He looked at Daniel, who's grin vanished in a second as he turned red. "Uh, no, she's not."
Jack cut in: "And before you ask, no she's not Teal'c mate either, okay? She's a member of our team and not anyone's girlfriend, okay?"
Chana's face lit up with understanding. "Oh, so she hasn't been chosen yet? That explains everything." He looked at Sam and smiled.
"I apologize for my mistake."
Sam hastily replied: "No problem." She really wanted to chance the subject of this conversation, even though she hadn't understood what Chana had meant by "chosen". Before anyone could decide to go deeper into this, Sam cleared her throat and asked:
"So, Chana, are there more of your kind here in the forest?"
Chana nodded excited. "Yes, there are three packs here and another two upstream on the other side of the river."
"The river?"
"Haven't you seen the river yet?"
Jack sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Nope, everything we have seen so far are trees." Chana chuckled and tilted his head.
"Yes, a lot of trees here. But the river is very close. Listen."
Sam tried to concentrate on the sounds around her. She could hear a few birds, the wind in the trees and then, very far away, the murmuring of flowing water, the peaceful whispering of the river.
"I can hear it."
"So can I", stated Teal'c and looked at Chana with mild curiosity. The man didn't seem to be very strong. Nor did he possess any recognizable weapon. Teal'c wondered how he had planned to catch a deer without any weapons. Chana's hair was long and of brown color. His clothes were made of brown leather and fur and around the neck he wore a simple black necklace with a grey stone embedded in the middle. But the intriguing thing about Chana were his eyes. One was blue, the other one brown. Teal'c raised an eyebrow. Chana reminded him of a species he had seen on earth, dogs of the far north, called Huskies.
Jack sighed. "Yeah, very nice. Maybe we'll take a look at your river later."
Chana shook his head. "Oh no, you shouldn't go there now. The grey pack will be there now. Very dangerous."
"That is the second time you mentioned this word. Pack. What do you mean by pack?" Daniel asked.
Chana looked at him confused. "I don't understand. You don't know what a pack is?"
"We do come from far away", Daniel answered and looked at Chana questioningly.
He shook his head. "You really must be. The pack is the group of people you live with, hunt with, fight with."
"Sort of like a family."
"Family? What is this?" "A group of people you are related to by blood", Daniel tried to explain.
Chana nodded in understanding. "Yes, there are those of us who are related by blood, but not everyone in the pack is." Jack crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"So this grey pack? They are not your folks, I presume."
Chana thought about it a while, then shook his head. "No, I am of the brown pack."
"Should have known that", Jack mumbled. Daniel shot him a reprimanding look and he shrugged.
"What?"
Daniel ignored him. "Chana, we are explorers and would really like to get to know your pack."
Chana's eyes narrowed and he flinched. "I am not sure this is a good idea. You shouldn't even be here. This is our territory. To be truthful, I should have fought you, should have driven you away, but I was alone and scared. If the Alpha finds out you are here, he will not only try to kill you, but he will punish me as well for allowing you into our territory."
Daniel gestured to his team-mates to come closer. "Uh, guys, a word?"
"Yeah?"
"Jack, this almost sounds like we are talking about a pack of animals here. This is fascinating. I would love to learn more about them. About their' social structure, about their customs, about . . ."
"I bet you would, but our friend over there just told us, that this is a stupid idea. Remember: We are here to gather some samples for our oh so talented scientists back home to play with. We are not here to get into any trouble. You know me, Daniel. I like a good fight now and then, but we're been in more than enough fights, traps and trouble lately. I'd like this mission to be a sort of vacation for a change, okay? Just strolling through the woods, pick up some rocks, enjoy the fresh air, go home, have dinner. Period."
"But Jack, this is o once in a lifetime chance, to . . ." Suddenly they heard a noise behind them. Chana spun around.
"They are here."
"Who?", Jack asked.
Chana looked at him, regret and fear in his eyes. "The pack. The pack is here."
Chapter two: pack
Jack and Sam raised their weapons in unison. Daniel spun around, scanning the forest for possible attackers. They could hear them approaching, running through the forest. Jack tried to estimate how many there were, but the constant rustling of leaves and cracking of wood made it impossible to tell if there were five or fifty people out there. Plus, he couldn't see them. He could hear them, but no matter where he turned there was nothing to see – well, except
trees, of course.
"The alpha will punish me, oh my, oh my, I should have been more brave." Chana mumbled, nervously rubbing his arms and glacing from one to the other.
"I know I shouldn't be asking this, as I am betraying my pack just by saying this, but I am Omega already, so I guess it can't get any worse anyway. Will you protect me? From the pack? From the Alpha?"
"Omega?" Daniel asked and frowned. "Does that mean you are the lowest
rank of the pack?"
"If you have to put it in such clear words: Yes. I am. I am the last to eat, to drink, to sleep. I am the weakest member of the pack."
"Were you always . . ." "Daniel! Not now!" Jack hissed and spun around, pointing his weapon in the direction he had heard a cracking sound from. Sam took a step back and aimed at a tree. She thought that was pretty stupid, but she was sure there was someone hiding behind the huge plant. Teal'c narrowed his eyes and focused on the sounds.
"O'Neill", he whispered.
"I know, Teal'c. They are all around us."
"They are encircling us, just like a pack of wolves", Daniel whispered. Jack rolled his eyes, even though he had to admit that Danny-Boy sure had a point there. SG1 was trapped. Any attempt to escape would surely end in disaster. Jack gestured to his team to stay together. Chana stood there motionless, fear showing in his eyes.
"They are here."
"So you keep saying. Any idea what we should do now? Can't you talk to them?"
"They won't listen to me. I am Omega, remember?"'
"So you keep saying. Any . . . ah forget it." Jack cleared his throat. "We don't mean you any harm. You have no reason to attack us, okay? We're just taking a little stroll here, no need to get hostile", he shouted.
Sam and Daniel looked at each other, both doubting that the little speech the Colonel had made, would have any effect on the attackers. Teal'c raised his weapon.
"They are coming closer, O'Neill."
"Great. So much for fresh air, a nice walk and dinner." He turned around to face Chana. "Chana! Don't you have any weapon?"
"No, I am . . ."
"Omega, I know." Jack sighed. "Can you at least tell us how many are out there?"
"Most likely the whole pack. Nine, with Alpha, ten."
"Great. Are they armed?"
"Yes, they have . . ." An arrow hissed by, almost hitting Jack. Cursing Jack let himself fall to the ground. "Get down!"
"Don't shoot! Please don't shoot. It's me. Omega! Don't shoot!" The rustling noises stopped. After a few seconds Jack dared to raise his head. From behind the trees figures appeared, dressed in brown fur and leather. It didn't take long for Jack to recognize their leader. He was tall, even taller than Teal'c and by the looks of it at least equally strong. His eyes were of a shining blue and green, his gaze strong and his fists raised.
"Omega", he grumbled through clenched teeth. The sound reminded Sam of a wolf. Jack gestured to the rest of SG1 to stay down. Getting up now would only provoke the amazing Hulk, as Jack nicknamed the strong man without even thinking about it. You learn to use your instincts on things like that. Chana stepped forward, his back bended and his head bowed low.
"Alpha. I am sorry. I know I shouldn't have run from the pack."
"And you will be punished for that, be sure about that. But what I really like to know, is what this strange pack is doing in our territory."
"They are not a pack and they won't claim our territory or your rank or . . ."
"Omega?!"
"Yes, apologies, Alpha. I just meant to say, they mean us no harm. They are just travelers crossing our territory." The Alpha turned away from Chana and faced SG1. Jack felt pretty stupid lying on his stomach on the ground. Yeah, great first impression he made on the Alpha right now. Slowly Jack got to his feet, stretching his hands out in the hope that Hulk would recognize his actions as peaceful. When the Alpha didn't attack him, Jack whispered to the others.
"I guess it's okay to get up, Campers."
The Alpha stood perfectly still, waiting patiently until SG1 got back on their feet again. Then he spoke to Jack.
"You are Alpha." It wasn't really a question and Jack was sure he had heard a challenge in the simple statement. He locked his gaze with the Hulk's and answered calm.
"I am the leader of this group, yes, if that is what you mean."
"So you are Alpha."
"In a way, I guess."
"You talk strange, you are not from here."
"As Chana has pointed out . . ." A little cry escaped Chana's lips and he took a step back. The Alpha's face darkened with anger. "He is Omega. He has no name. He has no right to have a name. Don't you insult me by calling his something he is not."
"But . . ."
"Uh, Jack . . ." Daniel laid his hand on Jack's arm and shot him a pleading look. Jack nodded slowly.
"Right, never mind. Anyway, as this man here was telling you already, we are from far away. And the only thing we want to do, is to cross this section of the wood in peace."
"Even if I considered your request, the grey pack surely will not be so kind. Neither will the black pack. And you won't even be able to understand them, as they speak in foreign tongues."
"Let us worry about that." Jack said. It was getting harder to hold the steady gaze of his opponent. But Jack slowly understood how to play this game. He remembered Daniel's words. Pack of wolves. So looking away now would be a really bad idea, because it would mean that he was recognizing Hulk as a superior. Which he did not. A smile spread over Hulk's face as he seemed to understand what was going through Jack's mind right now.
"A true Alpha. It has been a long time, since I met anyone like you."
"I really don't know if that was a compliment or not"; Jack mumbled. Alpha looked at the rest of SG1. His eyes grew wide, as he saw Sam. Even though she knew it was probably a mistake and only provoking the man, Sam held his gaze. He looked back at Jack smiling.
"And I see you have a strong mate."
Jack exploded. Enough was enough. "Oh, for crying out loud! For the last time, she is NOT my . . ."
Jack fell silent. Suddenly he had the bad feeling that he had made a huge mistake. When he saw the grin on Hulk's face, he was certain of it.
Chapter three: mate
It was only a short walk to the heart of the pack's territory. The Alpha had been kind enough to consider granting SG1 passage through the territory of the pack. He wanted to discuss it with someone called Keta, whom Alpha referred to as his "great adviser".
"Whoever this Keta is, I hope he's on our side", whispered Jack. Daniel shook his head.
"I can only guess, but maybe this Keta is sort of an elder. You know someone with great experience, maybe a former leader of the pack."
"Indeed", Teal'c agreed. Sam didn't join in to the conversation. She eyes the people around her with suspicion. The men in the group were staring at her with desire, the women with jealousy. Sam felt uncomfortable, especially because of the Alpha, who turned his head every now and then to look at her with his strange eyes. His gaze made Sam shiver though she held it every time. The way he looked at her made her feel sick. He was eyeing her, like she was kind of a trophy to be taken. A trophy he was sure he would win. Well, she was not gonna let him, Sam thought. She had seen men look at her like this before, during high-school, during college, during her training at the Air Force Academy. She knew how to handle guys like that. But with this one she was not sure. He was so . . .wild, Sam thought. The comparison with a wolf was not really that bad. Except that a wolf was a beautiful animal, whereas this guy really didn't qualify as handsome, Sam thought. She blinked, as she felt again someone's gaze on her. Except this time it wasn't a bad feeling. Sam turned her head and saw Colonel O'Neill' looking at her. He tilted his head ever so slightly. A silent question, she understood at once.
You okay?
Sam nodded slowly. The movement was so subtle that only Jack caught and understood its meaning.
Sure, I'm fine.
Jack turned back and Sam almost smiled. Sometimes Jack O'Neill was still a miracle to her. Often she could stand next to him crying without him noticing it and yet sometimes when she was sure no one could tell how she felt, O'Neill knew at once that something was wrong with her. Now Jack cleared his throat and asked the Alpha.
"So, how long have you been . . . the leader of the pack?"
"Almost eight winters now. This will be the ninth. And you?"
"Oh, I am not really . . ." Jack shook his head. "Never mind."
The Alpha snorted. "You are a strange man."
"Believe me, as are you." When they reached a small meadow, encircled by huge rocks, they stopped. Jack saw a burning fire, tents and some old people and children. When they saw the strangers they hurried closer, but everyone kept in save distance from the Alpha, Jack noticed. They settled around the fireplace and the Alpha introduced Jack and the others to Keta. The old man listened for a while, then nodded.
"Powerful Alpha, you would be wise to grant this pack their request. They are of the same bloodline as we are, as they speak our language. They surely must be decendents of one of the great travelers, who roamed this world from the great forest to the icy caps of the north."
Daniel leaned over to Jack. "Sounds like the story of the lone wolf to me. You know, often young wolves are banished from the pack, when they threaten to challenge the Alpha's authority. So they go away and try to form their own pack, or to challenge a less strong Alpha of another pack."
Keta, who had heard every word, Daniel had said, nodded: "That is how it is."
Daniel leaned forward and looked at the old man. "You are right. We really might be of the same blood as you are." Jack shook his head.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't you see it? These people speak English. I mean not the same type we speak, but there's a good chance they came from earth originally."
Keta suddenly raised his head in excitement: "Our ancestors came from a place that was protected by the eye in the sky, the protector of nighttime travelers. The listener to the stories of our people."
"I think he means the moon", Daniel mumbled fascinated.
"We still honor the protector, though he hasn't looked upon our people for centuries."'
"Sir, Daniel's right. He's talking about earth's moon. This planet has no moons. That would make sense."
Keta stared at Sam with a puzzled and somewhat annoyed expression. He gestured to Jack. "Is that your mate?"
"Uh . ."
"She is not", answered Alpha in Jack's place. Keta and the Alpha exchanged a long look that made Jack uncomfortable. They took part in a conversation Jack didn't understand. And he sure as hell wanted to know what was going on here.
"Excuse me?
Keta blinked and turned back to SG1. "My friends, you must be exhausted. Eat and stay with us tonight. What tomorrow brings, no one can know." He smiled at Sam and got up. SG1 was left alone at the fireplace, while the pack gathered around the Alpha, smiling and bowing at him, giving him small presents and touching his arm. Jack frowned, then turned his attention back to his team.
"Campers, I don't like this. Especially not the way they are looking at Carter. Something's not right here."
Sam shook her head. "Don't be concerned for me, Sir. I can handle this . . . whatever this is."
"I am sure you can, Major, that's not the point. But "handling this" sounds again like trouble to me, and what did I say about trouble just a few minutes ago?"
"That you could live without it for once", Daniel repeated, rolling his eyes at Sam, when he thought Jack wasn't looking. Jack frowned irritated, but decided to keep quiet. He could feel it. Something was definitely wrong here. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he didn't trust this Alpha-person at all. But for the next two hours Jack's suspicions remained unconfirmed. They ate and Daniel asked a lot of questions as usual and after a while the first members of the pack disappeared in the night. Jack had been looking for Chana all evening, but the Omega was nowhere to be seen. True, this guy was a little annoying, but he liked him still
better then the Alpha-wolf. Finally SG1 settled down to sleep. Jack lay awake quite some time after everyone else was sound asleep. He still felt this nagging feeling that something was about to happen. But in time the need to sleep outweighed the need to think the whole situation through and Jack O'Neill closed his eyes.
Sam Carter was awake in an instant. Something had touched her leg and she opened her eyes. It was almost completely dark and Sam was painfully reminded of her earlier words about this planet not having any moons. She tried hard so see in the dark, but there was nothing but blackness around her. Sam tried not move, when she felt that touch again. And this time she recognized what it was. A hand was touching her leg. And it didn't stop there. The hand moved up along her leg and Sam fought the urge to just get up and beat the crap out of whoever it was that touched her. But she held perfectly still, since she had no chance of knowing who her opponent was. Not yet, anyway. Sam listened hard, so hard, she could hear her own heartbeat drumming in her ears. She tried to mute the sounds of her own body and concentrated on the sounds around her. Breathing. She could hear someone breathing. A man. It was definitely a man, but not one of her team. Suddenly she could not only hear the man breathing, but she could feel his breath on her face. That was too much. With incredible speed Sam jumped up and pushed the man away. When her hands made contact with his chest, she could feel fur beneath her fingers. The figure staggered backwards and a low, surprised growl escaped his throat. Sam's mind was racing. She still couldn't see anything and the moment of surprise that had worked in her favor was over. As that thought crossed her mind, she was pushed back. She tried to keep her balance, but the attacker had thrown himself upon her with his full body-weight. When Sam's body hit the ground, she could feel a sharp pain running through her back. She rolled to the side, losing the attacker for a second. But before she could move again, he was back upon her, grabbing her wrists and forcing her down. Sam struggled and managed to get one hand out of his grasp. She aimed at where she thought his head must be. Her fist hit soft skin and the attacker growled again – but this time in obvious pain, and then, a second later in obvious surprise, as he was lifted of Sam's body.
"Daniel! Teal'c!"
Jack O'Neill pushed the dark figure away from him, as he yelled for this friends to wake up. He could sure use a little light here. Teal'c didn't waste a second. Only moments after Jack had
yelled his name, he was up and pointed to flashlight in the direction his friend had called from. The light revealed Jack standing in front of a huge man with clenched teeth and fists whom Teal'c identified immediately as the Alpha. Sam Carter lay on the ground, shooting the Alpha a furious look. The huge man growled and took a step forward, then stopped, when he saw the anger flashing in Jack's eyes.
"What the hell did you think you are doing here?", Jack asked very quietly.
The Alpha didn't move. That one was dangerous. That one was an Alpha just like himself. He didn't retreat, but he didn't move forward either.
So the two men just stood there eyeing each other, trying to find out what the next move of the other would be. Finally the Alpha tilted his head and answered Jack's question. "I was trying to assess the strength and quality of this female."
"You were what?" Sam had jumped up and stepped forward, wild anger flashing in her eyes. She raised her fists and took another step towards the Alpha who smiled at her with satisfaction.
"Just as I thought. You are strong."
"You wanna find out how strong, wolf-boy?" Sam shouted at him angrily. Jack grabbed her arm, before she could actually attack the Alpha. This wasn't ideal ground for a fight, as much as Jack wanted to beat the crap out of this creep, he had to admit, the odds of winning this match were a little thin. It was dark and the Alpha could obviously see much better than Jack and his team. Plus there were a dozen other people close by who were all on wolfy's side. Sam tried to free herself from Jack's grip.
"Carter", Jack warned and Sam stopped.
"Sorry, Sir, but he . . ."
"I know, I know and trust me, I want to do the same thing you want right now, but this is not a good idea."
"Cause it would cause trouble?", Sam asked challenging. Jack frowned at her sharp tone. Sure, she had every right to be upset, but his was a little to much. She was definitely out of line here. Not that it mattered to him as her commanding officer. As far es he was concerned Major Carter was one of the few people who had every right to shout at him for almost every reason. But it wasn't like her to loose control like that. Trying his best to calm her down, he explained slowly and quietly:
"No, cause it would be stupid. It's dark, we don't know if he's got any reinforcements out there."
"Sorry, Sir."
Jack nodded and let go of Sam's arm. This wasn't the right time, but he promised himself to talk to her later. Jack turned back to the Alpha. "Care to explain why you suddenly took such an interest in Major Carter?"
"She's not your mate."
"Yeah, I think we established that by now. So?"
"She's not been chosen yet."
"That is the second time I heard that", Daniel cut in. "What does it mean?"
"It means, she has not been chosen by a male yet. It means that I might consider claiming her as my mate."
"Oh, hey, hold on now!", Jack shouted.
"No one is claiming anyone here, is that clear?"
"It is not your decision to make. She is not your mate. If she were I might have fought you for her, then again I might not have. But things being as they are, I am definitely considering her as my mate. She's strong. She would make an excellent Alpha female."
"Don't I get a say in this?", Sam asked.
The Alpha grinned. "As I said, she's strong. No female would ever dare to talk to me like that. And to aswer your question: You have to accept whoever it is that wins you in battle. That is the way it is."
"But we are not of this place. We live by other rules than you do", Daniel tried to explain.
"But you are in my territory. Here my word is binding. You do as the protector of the ancients tells you too. It has been tradition for any years and it will stay that way."
The Alpha stood in silence for a moment, then he threw his head back, closed his eyes and started howling. Daniel felt goosebumps on his skin. The man sounded exactly like a wild wolf. Jack cursed when he heard the other members of the pack rise. That was what he had feared. They wouldn't stand a chance against the whole pack, not even with their weapons. There were just too many of them. Easy mission. Piece of cake, What was he thinking? Jack thought angrily as he tried to assess how many people were out there in the dark. However he had no chance of finding out, because the pack stayed out of the light and hid in the darkness, observing what was going on in the small circle of light coming from the device in Teal'c's hand. The Alpha stopped his howling and proclaimed: "I claim this female as my mate."
"The hell you won't!", shouted Jack, but the Alpha just went on.
"If there is anyone challenging my claim he may step forward and speak up."
Without thinking twice Jack took a step towards the Alpha. "Hello? Didn't you hear what I just said? You won't claim her as your mate!"
The Alpha grinned and tilted his head, looking at Jack challenging.
"And why is that?"
"Because . . ." Jack stopped in midsentence. He knew what he had to do, his heart, his soul and his mind screamed at him that this was the only right thing to do right now. But Jack hestitated just for a second. There was no doubt that he had to do this as Sams commanding officer. It was his duty to protect those under his command, and yet what he was about to do implied so much more. Mate. That word just had too many connotations for Jack's taste. He looked at Sam for a second but her face was for once unreadable for him. No help there. Daniel did his best to avoid Jack's gaze and Teal'c just raised an eyebrow.. As usual. So no help there either.
"Well, I am waiting . . ."
"Because I challenge you. She's not gonna be yours!"
"Whom else should she belong to then?" Jack cursed. Okay, he wouldn't get out of this without actually saying it, So he took a deep breath, looked the Alpha straight in the eyes and said as calm and quiet as he could.
"Because I challenge your claim. She belongs to me."
Sam's head shot up and she stared at Jack in amazement. He was almost angry at her. What the hell did she expect? That he would just let this walking flea-hotel "claim" one of his team? That of all people in the world, he would abandon her to some guy whom she clearly not wanted to even have dinner with? She really should know him better than that, he thought.
"Anyone have a problem with that?" he asked, while still looking at Sam. She didn't say anything, just turned around and walked away into the dark. Jack stood there, puzzled by her reaction. Daniel and Teal'c exchanged a glance. There. They were definitely in trouble now. And not just for the obvious reason.
Chapter four: claims
Sam Carter stared up at the moonless sky. She tried very hard to get her emotions under control. She could still hear Jack and the Alpha arguing somewhere in the dark behind her. But she didn't care.
Mate. Claim. She belongs to me.
Sam clenched her fists and closed her eyes. This was so humiliating. Disgusting. Sam couldn't understand why Jack would even consider playing along with it. He had to know this was hurting her like hell. She wanted to go back and beat the crap out of both men, to show them who was claiming what here. But she didn't. And the reason for that was not only the rational mind of a soldier assessing the odds of winning this fight, but also that part of her that was truly amazed by the words Jack O'Neill had just spoken.
She belongs to me.
Sam could still hear his quiet, serious voice, making a claim that a part of Sam was all to willing to support. The part that still believed that love could overcome any obstacle, the part that still waited for the knight in shining armour to save the princess from a terrible monster. But this wasn't a fairy tale and Sam was not eleven years old anymore either. She was a grown-up woman and a soldier, too. And that was why Sam felt even more angry at herself for even considering Jack's behaviour to be heroic.
Sam heard footsteps behind her, but she didn't turn around. She knew whom they belonged to anyway. He came closer, then stopped a few meters away from her. She didn't know if he could even see her in the dark.
"Carter?"
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"Oh sure, I like being auctioned off like some crappy piece of furniture."
She could almost see Jack flinch at her words. He was quiet for a second then said very quietly and slowly:
"Sam, I don't like this either, but this is their world and these are their rules."
"Since when do you care about the customs of other races?", Sam snapped.
"Hey, easy there, okay? I know you're angry, but . . ."
"You know what? Let me know how it turns out, okay? Good night."
Jack was at her side within seconds and grabbed her arm. "Now, wait a minute, Major!" His angry voice boomed through the forest.
"Let go, right now", Sam growled. Jack shook his head. "Not before you tell me what is wrong here."
"You know damn well, what is wrong here! This is so humiliating! I cannot believe that you really consider going along with it!"
"What am I supposed to do? Just let him have you?"
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much."
"Carter! Stop ranting and start thinking for a minute, okay? That guy is a trunk! I am not sure even Teal'c can beat him!"
"So why do you think you can?"
"What?" Jack blinked confused and shook his head. "What?"
"You challenged him. If what you say is true, you don't stand a chance against him. So who of us should start thinking, huh?"
"Hey, you're really out of line here, Major!"
"So are you. I don't belong to anyone and you had no right to clai. . ."
Sam fell suddenly silent. She couldn't hold his gaze anymore and looked to the ground. Suddenly she felt Jack's hand letting go of her arm. When she looked up, she winced on the inside. She had never seen him like this before. His face was a mask of stone, his eyes blank, except for a small hint on how much her words, especially those she hadn't spoken, had hurt him. He turned around and walked away without saying another word. Sam wrapped her arms around her body. She had never felt so alone and scared in her life.
Jack wandered through the dark, not really paying attention on where he was going. The reasonable thing would have been to lie down and catch some sleep before the inevitable fight against the Alpha in the morning, but there was too much Jack had to think about right now. Sam was a strong, independent woman and that was one of the reasons that he liked her so much. Of course she would find this whole claiming-concept pretty disgusting. He had expected her to be angry, but he hadn't expected her to be angry at him. He had expected her to understand that he didn't have any other options, but to agree to this fight. Suddenly Jack felt a flare of anger flash trough him. How could she? How could she ever think he would see her as some "prize"? Didn't she know by now how much he respected her? How much he cared for her? This wasn't fair. He was doing the right thing. Jack clenched his fists and stared up at the dark sky. Fine. If that's the way it had to be, he would fight tomorrow for the safety of a fellow officer. No more and no less.
Sam heard the leaves rustle behind her and turned around. "Colonel?", she asked hopefully and a little uncertain. A figure appeared before her, shaking its head. "No, he is not here. It is me. Chana."
"Chana. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just keeping my distance. I don't want to be punished, so I hide. Alpha is not in a good mood right now. Between you and me: He is a little concerned because of the fight tomorrow morning."
"So they really will fight", Sam said, shaking her head. Chana nodded. "Yes, at sunrise. They will. It will be a great fight. The biggest we've seen here. I am sure of it. Your Colonel-Alpha is very strong."
"He is", Sam said uncomfortably, trying to find a way to get rid of Chana without being rude. Chana shook his head.
"He is very brave. No one is as strong as Alpha. No one ever managed to beat him. Only four males have dared to challenge him. He killed all of them. Can I ask you a question?"
"If you have to."
"How long has your pack been together?"
"Five years."
"A long time. And in all that time, he has never had a mate?"
"No, but as we told you before, we are no pack."
"You travel together, you eat, hunt together, you protect one another, I think you are a pack, even though you might not call it that."
"It's not that simple, Chana."
"I just wonder. You seem to be very important to him. So why didn't he claim you before? I mean, why wait for something like this to happen."
"Chana, as I said, we are no pack, and it is not that simple. Where we come from, no one is being "claimed". Where we come from males and females have the same rights."
"So both decide if they want to be mates?"
"Yes."
"And you don't want to be his mate, then?"
"As I said it is not that simple."
"Then try to explain. I may be the weakest of the pack, but I am not weak in mind, only in body."
Sam sighed. "I really don't want to go into this, Chana."
"But if it is as you say it is, then it is simple. You either want to be his mate or not. He clearly wants you to be his, otherwise he wouldn't risk his life for you."
"Chana, I can't explain it to you, just leave me alone, okay? Please?"
"As you like. But know this: I am Omega. I will be alone my whole life. I will never have the pleasure of having a mate. Someone to care for. Someone to protect. Someone to share everything with. But you not only have the chance to have that, you might actually chose whom you want to spent your life with. Not many females have that luxury - and not many males either for that matter. Here in this forest you claim the strongest of body, but you, you have the chance to claim the strongest of heart."
Chana disappeared into the dark, while Sam Carter looked up at the sky, whishing there was a moon to comfort her troubled soul.
Jack O'Neill didn't hear her approach. But he felt it. On any other night that feeling and the knowledge of that special connection between them would have triggered a smile, but tonight it seemed to mock him. Jack sat on the rock, not moving, not turning around. Sam made her way around the rock and sat down next to him.
"Hey."
"Hey, yourself", Jack answered automatically, cursing himself for not staying silent. She hurt him. Big time. So there was really no reason for him to be friendly, was there? Sam wrapped her arms around her knees and they sat in silence for a full minute, before she finally said.
"I am sorry. You were right, Sir. I was really out of line and I can understand it, if you want to report this to . . "
"Forget it."
"Sir?"
"Forget it, Carter. I am not going to report you. See, I wouldn't be a very good FRIEND, if I did, right?" he replied, his voice loaded with sarcasm.
She couldn't bear to look at him. "I guess I deserved that.", she mumbled. Jack nodded.
"Yup. Definitely." Then he turned to face her. "Did you really think I would be so careless? Did you really think I would see you with the eyes of that . .wolf? Like some prize to be won? Did you?"
"No, of course not, Sir."
"Well, but it sounded like that back there, you know."
"I know and I am sorry, Sir."
"Well, you should be."
"I guess I deserved that, too."
"Yup. Definitely."
They fell silent again, both looking anywhere but at one another. It was an uncomfortable silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Just when Jack felt he couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to get up, Sam whispered.
"You know. I am really sorry. I mean that. Not just for the shouting."
Jack looked up at the sky. "I know."
"It's just. That was so humiliating. I was so angry I wanted to beat the crap out of this Alpha-guy."
"I know."
"I felt so out of control and I don't like being out of control."
"I know."
"Plus it's kind of . . . awkward. I mean . . ."
"I know."
Jack finally turned around to face her. "The choice of words in this matter leaves a lot of room for speculation, is that it?"
"Yes, that's exactly what it is."
"So you thought what? That I didn't realise all that? That I would not consider each and every point you just mentioned? Believe me, Carter, I did. I even hesitated for a second and I looked at you, to make sure I did the right thing. To make sure you were okay with it. But you didn't react. You shut me out . . ."
"I did not!"
" . . . so I had to make a decision. And I did. And I am not going to change it. You are a member of this team and I am responsible for your safety. And I will do everything in my power to fulfil that responsibility. That's all there is to it. End of transmission."
"Is it really all there is to it?", Sam asked quietly. Jack snorted, then nodded. "That's all. You want it that way, you get it that way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I know what you are doing here, Sam. And I don't like it."
"And what exactly am I doing here, Sir?"
Jack got up, rubbing one hand over his face in resignation, then pointed at her, then at himself. "That, for a start. Like it or not, we are having a really PRIVATE conversation here, yet you still hide behind that "Sir"-crap."
"I am not!" Sam stood up, shouting. "You are my commanding officer, I'd be in real trouble if I didn't . . ."
"Oh, for crying out load, spare me the it's-not-me-it's-the-regs-stuff. I can't take that anymore, okay? It sounded good while it lasted, but I am not so sure anymore I want to spend my life in misery just because of some words some guy with the milky way attached to his shoulders wrote down some dozen years ago! If we really wanted to we would find a way. But we sure as hell won't find it, if you keep shutting me out."
Jack had never meant for those words to leave his mouth, but now it was too late to take them back. There he had said it. He turned his back at Sam, partly because he was afraid what her reaction would be and partly because he had no idea what he should say or do now. Silence took over command at the small rock at the south end of the pack's camp. Jack closed his eyes and waited. Seconds turned into minutes. Finally he heard Sam move. At first he thought she was
leaving but then he felt her hand touching his arm. His heart beat like mad in his chest. He never felt so frightened and uncertain in his life. He had no idea what she was up to. When her hand stayed on his arm, he slowly turned around. His sad brown eyes met her serious blue ones. She looked at him for a moment, then drew in a deep breath and said:
"Okay, no shutting out anymore. You want to know why I left when you and the Alpha started fighting?"
When Jack realised that she really waited for an answer he nodded. Sam looked at the ground.
"Because I knew you were right. Because it felt right. The second I heard you say those words I wasn't angry or humiliated or anything. Just amazed at the truth they contained. And that scared me. Scared me more than I can ever tell you. Because I've stopped thinking like a little girl, who wants to be rescued by her prince ages ago. No one should ever dare to say about me what you said. And yet it felt . . . right."
Sam fell silent. She was still looking at the ground. Jack's hand softly touched her chin, lifting her head, so her eyes met his.
"Maybe because it is right. And by the way, we're in the 21st century, so this little spell works both ways you know?"
"What?"
Jack smiled. "You're the smart one, you'll figure it out." He leaned forward, kissed the top of her head and disappeared into the dark.
Chapter five: challenges
Sam Carter woke with a start. Daniel Jackson stood next to her, grinning at her. "Rise and shine, it's party-time."
"You're in a good mood", Sam remarked.
Daniel shook his head. "Just gallows humor, really. The odds are against us - as usual - and our Alpha-leader-commanding-whatever looks like he didn't sleep at all. To be honest, Sam, I am really concerned for Jack. I know he can handle a lot, but this guy is huge. I am not so sure he can win this fight. "
"I don't want him to fight."
"None of us wants that, but he has no other choice. If he doesn't it's us four against the whole pack. I know SG1 is renowned for its incredible luck, but I think this time not even luck will get us out of this situation. Jack has to fight, or the Alpha will not let us go."
"I am not so sure he will let us go, even if the Colonel wins this fight."
Daniel shook his head. "The Alpha has no other choice. If he loses this fight, the pack will no longer follow him. So if Jack wins, we win. It's as simple as that."
"You sure?"
"Uh, basically, yes. Sort of. Maybe. Okay, 60 percent sure, maybe fifty."
"Why did I ask?", Sam mumbled to herself and got up. The pack was already assembled in the middle of the meadow, waiting for the Alpha and his opponent to start the fight. Teal'c and Jack walked up to Daniel and Sam.
"Good morning, Campers", Jack grinned, then shrugged, when Teal'c and Daniel raised an eyebrow in unison.
"What? I might never get the chance to say this again, so let your good old Colonel have a little fun, will ya?"
"That's not funny", Sam replied seriously and their eyes met in a stare so intense that Sam felt dizzy for a second. Then everyone flinched as a powerful howl cut through the morning air.
"There we go", Jack mumbled and motioned his team to follow him. They reached the pack and its members moved to the side to let Jack and SG1 pass. The Alpha stood next to Keta and another old man, SG1 had not met before. The Alpha grinned, showing his teeth. His chest was bare and around his wrists he wore leather armbands. His eyes shone in the morning sun and he crossed his arms in front of his chest, patiently waiting for Jack to approach him.
"So you still challenge my claim?"
"Now more than ever", Jack whispered, so only Sam could hear him. She closed her eyes for a second. Up until now she had not really understood how grave the danger Jack was going to face now would be. And she had the bad feeling Jack didn't know either. Colonel O'Neill stuffed his hands into his pockets and said out loud.
"Yeah, I still challenge you. So what happens now?"
"Now we fight."
"Any rules I should know about?"
"You may yield if you can bear the disgrace such an act would bring upon you. But if you don't yield, I will kill you."
"And if I win? You give us your word, we can leave then? All of us?"
The Alpha laughed and shook his head in amusement. "You won't win. But, yes. If you win, you may do as you please. Because if you win, you are Alpha and Alpha rules the pack."
"If you say so."
Jack took in a deep breath and started concentrating on his opponent. Sam, Daniel, Teal'c, the pack, everything vanished out of Jack's sight. All there was left was the huge man in front of him. The Alpha howled again, then launched forward to attack Jack. Jack managed to evade his attack and whirled around to start an attack of his own. His fist hit the Alpha's nose and the man flinched, staring at Jack with anger and something that could almost be described as respect.
"I should not underestimate you, I know that now", the Alpha growled, the launched another attack. Jack felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder and lost his balance. He hit the ground and rolled hastily to the side, not one second too soon, because the Alpha's booted foot hit the ground at the same spot where Jack's head had been seconds before. Jack jumped to his feet. His shoulder hurt like hell, but he didn't care. The Alpha whirled around, hitting Jack with one mighty blow in the face. For a second the world turned black, but Jack didn't lose consciousness. But part of him was suddenly scared. He had underestimated the strength of his opponent. When he looked into the eyes of the Alpha he shivered. Those weren't the eyes of a human being, those were the eyes of a predator, a hunter, a killer. And suddenly Jack knew that this was a fight to the death.
Sam watched the fight with fear. The Alpha had managed to land some more blows and Jack was staggering already, blood dripping from his nose and eyebrow. The Alpha didn't even seem to sweat, instead he looked up at the sky from time to time, to demonstrate how boring this whole match was to him.
But that was a mistake, because Jack just waited for his chance to attack. When the Alpha looked away from him, he whirled around and his foot hit the Alpha in the chest, pushing him away. The Alpha growled in surprise, as Jack landed another blow, and another one. The Alpha launched himself at Jack and suddenly both men hit the ground, rolling through the grass, body intertwined. Suddenly the Alpha was on top of Jack, pressing him to the ground. He grinned.
"Is that all you are willing to give for your mate? This will be an easy victory for me. And she will make an excellent mate. She will have many strong cubs, I am sure of that."
"She won't ever let you get near enough to find out", Jack managed to say between clenched teeth. The Alpha laughed.
"Oh trust me, there are ways. I will get my pleasure with her."
"Over my dead body."
"Oh I agree."
"You'll never get her."
"Oh, I think I will. And you know it, too. So why don't you spare us time and energy and just yield?"
"I will never do that."
"Why not?"
"You wouldn't understand anyway and I would only be wasting my breath in trying to explain it."
"Then, foolish man, prepare to die."
The Alpha closed his hands around Jack's throat and Jack moaned in pain. His lungs screamed for air and black spots started dancing before his eyes. Jack felt his conscious mind wander off into the darkness, leaving the Alpha, the pack and his friends behind.
"JACK!"
He knew that voice.
Sam.
He had to do this.
For Sam.
Jack opened his eyes and with an effort that seemed to rip his body apart, he pushed the Alpha back and with a scream he didn't know he was about to release, he was free and jumped to his feet.
Daniel and Teal'c both grabbed Sam before she had a chance to interfere in the fight. She struggled against the grip of her friends and tried to break free, but she didn't stand a chance.
"Let me go!"
"Sam, you can't help him."
"Damn it, Daniel, we have to do something. This guy is going to kill him!"
"O'Neill is holding up pretty well, MajorCarter", Teal'c remarked and Sam looked up. Luck was changing in the arena and now it was Jack who had the upper hand. The Alpha struggled and once broke down, but was on his feet again in an instant. Jack fought with every ounce of strength he possessed for the next ten minutes, but he knew he had no chance. The Alpha was just too strong. Just as the thought had crossed his mind, the Alpha caught his arm, just as he was about to hit him again. He whirled Jack around and Jack fell helplessly to the ground.
"You want ho yield now? Do you really think a female is worth dying for?"
"This one is", Jack whispered, caughing blood.
Sam couldn't breathe. She had no way of being sure, but somehow, even over the distance, the shouting crowd and the howling wind she had heard his words. Sam struggled again against Teal'c hand which was still clasped around her left arm.
"Jack, no, don't", she whispered, somehow knowing that he had heard her. And then she was certain, as Jack O'Neill looked at her and then slowly shook his head.
Won't give up. Will never give up.
Please, Jack.
No way. No way.
"JACK!", Sam screamed his name, struggling, trying to push Teal'c away. The Alpha looked over at Sam and grinned.
"I see she wants you to win this fight. Well, strong female, I can provide you with more strength and power than this little man ever could. Tell him to yield and I promise you, I won't kill him."
"Leave her alone!", Jack growled, slowly getting back on his feet. The world was spinning around him and there were two Alpha's standing in front of him. Damn it, Jack, this bastard has managed to crush your brain in no time. When his vision returned to normal, Jack started a new attack, which forced the Alpha to back up a few meters. Jack's fist hit his face. Again and again and again. And in return the Alpha's fists hit Jack's face. Again and again, until Jack cried out in pain and fell to his knees. His whole body screamed in pain. He couldn't feel his hands anymore and the only reason he knew, he was bleeding was the warm sensation on his face. He had no more to give. No more strength to fight.
Sam.
When Jack O'Neill fell to the ground, he turned his head, his eyes searching for the woman he was ready to die for. He saw Sam fighting to free herself from Teal'c's grasp. But when she met Jack's gaze, she stopped and stood still. Seconds seemed to turn into hours. Everything around her was forgotten. Sam lost herself in his eyes, in his heart, in his soul. For a moment she could see and feel all those special moments they had shared over the years. All the laughter and the flirting, his comforting hand on her shoulder, his huge grin, when he had understood something she had just explained and the equally charming expression on his face when he hadn't. Someone touched Sam's arm and she heard a voice whisper to her.
"Strongest in heart, remember that."
Sam felt like screaming. It hit her like a train. All the regret, all the pain, all the longing, all the love she had felt over the past years. And suddenly she saw herself standing in front of him in the dark of the night. He was smiling at her.
"that little spell works both ways."
"You're the smart one, you'll figure it out."
Sam blinked, leaving Jack's gaze and taking in the whole scene in front of her. Jack wasn't the only one who had hit the ground. The Alpha was down as well, struggling to get back on his feet, but not succeeding no matter how hard he tried. But Jack didn't manage to get up either. And suddenly Sam knew what Jack had been trying to tell her, suddenly she knew what to do and what to say and with an ease that she hadn't anticipated, she freed herself of Teal'c grip and
stepped into the arena of grass, holding up her hands at the screaming crowd.
"This fight is over!"
Keta crossed the meadow, shaking his fist at Sam.
"How dare you! You have no right to interfere!"
"I have every right and I am going to say it one more time. This fight is over."
Jack and the Alpha looked up at Sam. The pack looked at Sam. So did Teal'c and Daniel. Sam looked around, facing each and every pair of eyes that stared at her, until she lay her gaze on the familiar brown one.
"These two Alpha's are equally strong in body, so I chose the one who is stronger in heart."
Sam walked over to Jack and stood by his side. She raised her head and shouted for everyone to know.
"I claim him as my mate! He belongs to me!"
The pack gasped, but old Keta suddenly smiled at Sam and nodded his approval. The Alpha growled, but didn't move. An overjoyed Daniel Jackson jumped up and down and hit Teal'c's shoulder. Teal'c of course raised an eyebrow. Sam smiled and looked down at Jack O'Neill. He looked at her with eyes wide open and Sam held his gaze.
"Anyone have a problem with that?", she asked, still looking at Jack. Jack managed a small grin, before the world around him turned black.
Epilogue: Home territory
The first thing Jack O'Neill noticed was the familiar scent of the infirmary, which he didn't particularly like. The second thing he noticed was the hand that was holding his, which he really liked. He smiled, his eyes still closed. He could hear Sam moving next to him and then her quiet voice saying:
"Hey."
"Hey yourself", Jack said, surprised that he really could work his voice. He opened his eyes and looked into her tired face. Concern showed in her blue eyes, but also relief and something else, that Jack had only had the pleasure to see on very rare occasions.
He could see love in her eyes.
"How do you feel?"
"Like I've just been beaten up by a huge bully", Jack suggested. Sam laughed.
"That was two days ago. We are home now."
"So I figured. So what happened?"
"After you passed out, old Keta announced that we were free to go. So we packed our things and left."
"And the Alpha?"
"Oh, he's probably back on his feet by now."
". . . and tormenting poor Chana again."
Sam shook her head. "Actually: no. Chana left the pack. He said that he was trying to cross the forest to see the great plains, where once his ancestors roamed."
"I hope he finds, what he is looking for", Jack said. Sam nodded.
"Yes, so do I."
They sat in silence for a while, fingers intertwined, eyes fixed on each other. Suddenly Jack grinned.
"So, I see you figured it out."
Sam smiled. "You said yourself, I am the smart one."
Jack laughed, then tilted his head.
"There's just one thing: this strongest of heart speech . . ."
"Yes?"
"I never figured you were the melodramatic type."
"Oh, just an expression I borrowed from a friend."
Jack frowned. "Anyone I should know about?"
Sam laughed. Suddenly she leaned forward and kissed him. When the kiss ended, she smiled at him and whispered. "Naha, don't worry. I belong to you, remember?"
Jack grinned, and took her hands into his.
"And I belong to you."
Sometimes it is as simple as that, Sam thought, as she kissed her friend, her mate, her knight in shining armour.
THE END
Story Notes: E-MAIL: samcole23@aol.com
STATUS: complete
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY: Romance, action
PAIRINGS: S/J sorry, can't help it *lol*
CONTENT WARNINGS: a little angst
SPOILERS: hm, no, not really anything special
SEASON: 5, before Meridian
ARCHIVE: SJA, Heliopolis, everyone else please ask, I won't say no
FEEDBACK: always welcome, in fact, would make my day :)
SUMMARY: claims, feelings and a dangerous challenge for the leader of the pack
DISCLAIMER: The usual. They're not mine. MGM owns almost everyone. As I said. The usual.
AUTHORS NOTE: I know this is a little different from what I did so far - and a little longer. Wolfs are my favorite animals. I guess that is the only excuse I have for writing this story. Oh, and just to mention it once in while, I'm still German - and still sorry for any mistakes ;)
pack 'pak n : a group of people with common interests, a group of often predatory animals
STATUS: complete
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY: Romance, action
PAIRINGS: S/J sorry, can't help it *lol*
CONTENT WARNINGS: a little angst
SPOILERS: hm, no, not really anything special
SEASON: 5, before Meridian
ARCHIVE: SJA, Heliopolis, everyone else please ask, I won't say no
FEEDBACK: always welcome, in fact, would make my day :)
SUMMARY: claims, feelings and a dangerous challenge for the leader of the pack
DISCLAIMER: The usual. They're not mine. MGM owns almost everyone. As I said. The usual.
AUTHORS NOTE: I know this is a little different from what I did so far - and a little longer. Wolfs are my favorite animals. I guess that is the only excuse I have for writing this story. Oh, and just to mention it once in while, I'm still German - and still sorry for any mistakes ;)
pack 'pak n : a group of people with common interests, a group of often predatory animals
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognisable characters, settings, etc, are the property of their respective owners. Any original characters and plots are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended. ... [ read more ]