Friction

Desmond paced the court room where many of his men sat, watching him...waiting for him to explode. He was on the verge of shifting and going on a rampage. He was so angry that for a moment he forgot to breathe.

"It would be best to just wage war on them! It would be an easy win! Humans are nothing compared to us!" General Horne shouted.

Desmond stopped pacing and growled. His teeth shifting into fine points. "Humans are nothing compared to us?" He growled. "Do you forget that half of our women, many of your wives, your mates are in fact human? Do you forget that they do not fight fair? That they wage war with bombs and genocide? Sit down General Horne and bite your tongue."

General Horne sent Desmond an angry look before sitting.

Desmond stopped his pacing and took a deep breath. War was the last thing he wanted. All years of constant battles and agreements of acceptance and truces being signed he refused to have to turn to war. Blood shed was not something he condoned. He was a peaceful man by nature and had found that fighting was only to be used as a last resort. He closed his eyes for a moment, zoning in on the many thoughts that danced through his head.

After a long while of silence he turned toward his court and raised his chin. His dark brown eyes began to glow and he bared his teeth. He was the alpha now. His word was law.

The men all gave him their undivided attention. Showing him respect by bowing their heads slightly.

"We will not resort to war as our first move. Despite what we are, we are not animals. We have minds to use as a weapon. And we shall."

General Horne snarled before standing, this time knocking his chair back as he did so. "Talking is not going to protect us! As Alpha you should-, " Desmond moved toward the general.

"As alpha I am to protect my pack. As alpha my word is absolute. As general you are to listen to my orders."

The general growled but relented. The authority in Desmond's voice was enough to have him backing down but not without him adding, "The old alpha would have stormed the human's command. He would not have waited."

Desmond narrowed his eyes. The old alpha had been his mentor. The old alpha had been a kind, patient ruler. A ruler who Desmond hoped to mirror in leading his pack to prosperity and peace.

"You know nothing of what he would have done. In fact I've had enough of your mouth General."

Desmond's eyes changed to a gold fluorescent color and he growled. The general stepped back, fear flashing across his face.

"It's not me you should be fighting with! It's the humans who you should be after!"

"Are the humans questioning my authority?"

General Horne snapped his mouth shut. Malice written all across his face.

Desmond had had enough, he whipped his wrist and snarled, "Get out!" General Horne was one of the first to run from the room.

Desmond bit back a growl of utter frustration before pacing once again.

"You shouldn't let him rile you up this way."

"I thought I told everyone to get out?"

Nathan laughed. Nathan was Desmond's beta and also his best friend. They had trained together. They had hunted together and even now, they ruled the pack together.

"You meant everyone but me."

Desmond answered that with a growl. "I'm not in the mood Nathan."

"You know general Horne can't be trusted. It would only take a nod from you for me to get rid of him you know." Nathan's eyes gleamed, his teeth shifting.

"Enough, Nathan. I know of general Horne's transgressions. But I also know that he is one of the best generals ever trained of our pack."

"I don't care about all that. My loyalty is to you and I've heard of the plans he has to overthrow you. You and I both know that he was furious when he was not deemed alpha. He wants power. He wants your power. And if he gets it, this pack will never have another peaceful day. Just let me snap his neck, already!"

"Our battle should never be with our own. Besides we have other, more pressing matters to tend to."

Nathan sighed. "You're right. But once we have matters with the humans sorted. I wanted to have at him first."

Desmond couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips.

"Of course. He's all yours...but after."

Nathan smiled lazily and turned, heading for the door. "Don't stress over your decision. It will scare the women away."

"Women aren't on my mind right now. I have-, " Nathan repeated his words, "Other more pressing matters to dwell on, I know. But a woman to hold at night would surely calm down your frazzled nerves my friend."

"Nathan."

"Yes, yes I know. You're much to serious to care about all the women who throw themselves at you. Being Alpha has its perks, Desmond."

"Nathan. Get out."

Nathan laughed as he strolled from the room. Leaving Desmond standing in the middle of the room, a sigh escaping his lips.

Mo'nique stared at the empty bedroom. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she remembered her mother sitting on that bed. She turned from the room and slammed the door behind her. She leaned against the door and sucked in a big breath of much needed air. She didn't have time to wallow in self pity. She didn't have time to shed more tears.

She wasn't even sure she had any tears left to shed. She stood straight and headed fro the living room. Her footsteps echoing in the quiet of her old childhood home. As she entered the living room the quiet seemed to cocoon her. She sank into the nearest love seat and sighed, resting her face into the palm of her hands. She wasn't used to coming here and being greeted with silence. Her mother had always been a bundle of cheery joyfulness.

Her mother had been the only ray of sunshine in her world. Her mother had been the only family she had. Mo'nique couldn't contain the sob that escaped her lips. She groaned before jumping to her feet. She wiped at her eyes. She didn't have time for this. She grabbed her keys and her cell phone before briskly walking toward the door.

She closed it quietly behind her as she ran down the stairs.

Ever since the great integration many of the large cities that once occupied the world crumbled, leaving behind small towns and vast greenery. From the constant territory wars to the mixed breeding of humans and supernatural creatures, the world had evolved to something similar to controlled chaos.

Mo'nique's mother had firmly agreed to the integration, she had believed that all living things deserved a right to exist together...peacefully. She was sure her mother was tossing in her grave.

Peace was long from being achieved. After the final truce had been sighed many thought that the battles were over. And for a while all had co-existed.

Until it happened.

It had been a night like any other. It wasn't uncommon for the occasional wolf to come into town looking to have a good time outside of their pack. And a few of them had come into town looking to do just that. Only they had took it upon themselves to seduce women who were already taken. That had resulted in a bar fight. A bar fight that left two men and one werewolf dead.

The news had spread fast and heated arguments had erupted in the council of human affairs.

There were whispers of war running through not only this town but many of the others as well. The council men were furious! The werewolves were furious!

And today was the day of the council meeting. It was open to the public and Mo'nique was quickly making her way to said meeting now. She was concerned. She had heard the whispers of war. And they frightened her. The first war had destroyed whole cities and had killed entire families.

Another war could very wipe out the last of all existence. The thought was enough to have her sprinting for town hall.

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"A war is not what we are aiming for. We wish to find another way to right the wrong that has been done."

Mo'nique's eyes stayed glued on the tall, dark and handsome alpha. She had never seen a wolf up close, let alone one as handsome as this one. His voice was deep, even and calm. There was an authoritative underlining to it that had her wanting to jump to his beck and call.

Though the council hall was filled to the brim with people her eyes only saw him.

Council man Terrence stood, a scowl on his old wrinkled face. "Two humans were killed! Unless you can bring back the dead nothing you do can right this wrong!"

The room suddenly erupted with shatter and yelling.

Mo'nique allowed her eyes to stray from the alpha and perused the room. People were standing up, waving their arms and shouting. Her eyes shot back to the alphas and to her surprise he looked calm. Collected.

As he opened his mouth to speak one of the men sitting beside him jumped from his seat.

"A wolf was killed that night as well! It's not us that should be righting any wrongs! It's you humans that should be apologizing at our feet!" The man snarled angrily.

At his words the whole room burst into an uproar. Suddenly the alpha stood and the man quickly sat, lowering his head. "We have achieved years of peace up until this turn of events. And it would be hoped that peace will be continued even after. We have all worked much to hard to maintain the cohabitation that we have achieved. It would be foolish to cause yet another period of blood shed and loss over a matter of stupidity."

The whole room seemed to hold their breath as he spoke. The authority and wisdom in his words left her in awe.

Council men Terrence sighed, the rest of the men on the board looking to him for leadership.

"Despite my dislike for you...animals. You are right. Neither of us can afford a war now. But know this, if anything else goes wrong involving you creatures, war will be waged!" With that he flicked his wrist, pronouncing the meeting over with.

As the entire council of human affairs stood and exited the room. The rest of the room began to clear out at their departure. But Mo'nique stayed seated. Her eyes still glued to the glorious alpha who was now growling at the man beside him.

In the blink of an eye the town hall was suddenly empty. All except for Mo'nique and the werewolves growling at each other.

"General Horne! Do you know what you could have done? You could have caused a war!" One of the men growled, moving toward the man in question.

The alpha blocked his way, giving him a stern look.

"Nathan. This is not the place."

"If you don't rogue him, Desmond I will kill him! He constantly undermines your authority!"

Mo'nique's eyes widened. Desmond. The alphas name was Desmond. It didn't suit him. His name should have been sexy. Or yes daddy. She blinked back her wayward thoughts. What was she doing? She was sitting alone in a room with werewolves. Werewolves on the verge of tearing each other apart.

"Rogue me? Me?! I've lead our pack to constant victory! Rogueing me would be nothing short of idiotic!"

Nathan snarled at the general and lunged for him, his body disappeared in a cloud of dark smoke which a large grey wolf jumped out of. The wolf landed on the man bared its teeth. Suddenly the man beneath him turned into a large sandy brown wolf. Snarls and growls were being thrown and echoed throughout the great hall. Mo'nique gasped before standing, her chair knocking into the chair beside it. All eyes were suddenly on her and she froze.

Desmond stared at her. His eyes piercing as he looked at her from head to toe. The snarling behind him grew louder and he turned back to the giant wolves fighting behind him. "Enough! This is not our territory!"

The fighting stopped immediately and the wolves jumped apart. "General Horne, go back. When I return I expect to find you waiting in the hall. We will talk. Do not try to avoid it."

The large brown wolf whimpered before running from the room and out the doors. Mo'nique jumped back as it crossed in front of her.

She turned her attention back to Desmond and the large grey wolf. Desmond moved toward her, the grey wolf following behind him.

She took a step back as he neared. She almost tripped over her chair but a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back upright.

"You shouldn't ease drop."

Her neck snapped back and she stared up into the deep dark eyes of the alpha. For a moment she forgot to breathe. Once she fell out of her initial shock she snatched her wrist back. "I...I wasn't...ease dropping."

He raised a brow. "You should get home before it gets late." He commanded.

She stared at him. The authority in his voice had her heart drumming against her chest. She was almost tempted to run toward the door.

She frowned. "I'm am adult. I don't have a curfew."

He smirked at her before his eyes began to glow a fluorescent gold, "Go home, woman." He snapped at her, his teeth suddenly growing pointed.

She shrieked before brushing past him, making sure to not touch his chest as she went running for the door.

As the door slammed behind her Nathan shifted back. "You shouldn't have scared her that way, you know."

Desmond ripped his eyes from the door and glared at Nathan.

"Don't you ever do that again."

"He deserved it."

"Even so, you should have held your temper until we reached our own territory. You need to learn how to control your impulses."

Nathan sighed, running his hands through his hair. "You're right, I know but general Horne is trying to ruin you. Get rid of him Desmond. While you still can. Before he tries anything else."

"I've already made my decision Nathan. I'm rogueing him. I can't allow him to cause another uproar. We're treading on a thin line with the humans right now."

"Good. You've come to your senses. Does this mean I can have a go at him now? Snapping his neck is sounding better and better every second."

"He's all yours once we return, " Desmond looked toward the door, "How did that woman smell to you?"

Nathan arched a brow, a smirk appearing on his lips. "Like a human."

Desmond sneered at that remark.

"Sometimes I want to maul you, Nathan."

He laughed. "She smelled like any other human woman. Like heat and sweat and those fragrances they all seem to be obsessed with spraying on their skin."

"Hmm."

"What did she smell like to you?"

"Like wild roses and fresh grass."

Nathan burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

Desmond glared at him, "What's so funny? Do tell."

"I just find it ironic that you have been avoiding women just to end up interested in a human woman."

"I'm not interested in her. Her smell was....just...bothering me."

"Sure. Whatever you say."

"Nathan, when we get back to our territory, remind me to start mauling..."

He smiled. "Of course."

"And Nathan..."

"What now?"

"Shift back, I don't think it would be appropriate to walk around the humans naked."

"You are a fool! A fool! You won't make it without me!" General Horne shouted as he was dragged out. Kicking and snarling his hate for Desmond on his way.

Nathan growled under his breath. "God, I want to kill him."

"We need to keep an eye on him. He's rogue now and he's also idiotic enough to try something stupid."

"I don't understand why you refuse to let me snap his neck...you tell me I can and then you tell me I can't. There's only so much compassion one can possess."

"I'm only doing things the way I feel they should be done and death isn't something I feel should be thrown around."

Nathan sighed, "You're just like him you know. You both have more patience than any other creature on earth."

Desmond shrugged though he couldn't help the feeling of pride he felt at being told he was similar to the old alpha.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

He laughed. "It was a compliment to me."

"It would be."

"Isn't there something you should be doing Nathan?"

"Something more important than riling up your temper? Why, Desmond, how could you even suggest it?"

"Nathan."

"Yes?"

"Mauling...Now."

"Bring it on."

In the blink of an eye Desmond shifted, disappearing into a cloud of dark smoke before reappearing as a large black wolf with golden eyes. He lunged for Nathan and growled fiercely when Nathan dodged his attack before shifting. The wolves circled each other before pouncing on one another, biting and scratching at the others skin. Roars and howls echoed through the halls as they violently battled each other.

After a long while of fighting Nathan whimpered as Desmond locked his jaws around his throat. Nathan pawed at Desmond's jaws, surrendering.

Desmond released his hold on him and they both shifted back, sweat cascading down their skin.

Their breathing and shallow and uneven but a smile crossed their face nonetheless.

"I hate when you win, " Nathan said breathlessly.

"You knew that I would."

"Don't be so cocky, you jackass."

"Don't tempt me again, Nate."

"Bring it, Des. You know I'm always up for a fight."

"I know you are."

Nathan smiled lazily before standing. Though he was naked he felt no shame in being so. In their territory being naked was a formality. They walked around nude everyday, the most clothing they wore consisted of either a long wool waist wrap or a pair of leather pants.

"Now that he's rogue...we should assign watch guard's on him. I don't trust him Desmond. Not as long as he's breathing. Not as long as he's after what you have."

"Of course. You are my beta and your opinions and suggestions are always taken into consideration. I shall let you do whatever you like on this matter. I don't trust Horne either."

"Alright, I'll have some of our best keep an eye on him. Besides he won't be hard to track, his scent has always been...distinctive."

Desmond grimaced. General Horne's scent was unpleasant to say the least. He smelled of dirt and the occasional road kill.

"Speaking of scents...Do you smell wild roses and fresh grass," Nathan stopped talking and sniffed the air, "or is it just me?"

"I'm going to kill you one day Nathan."

"As long as it's you."

"You love making me irritated don't you?"

"It wouldn't be fun otherwise."

"You know what you smell like Nathan?"

"No but I'm sure you're going to tell me."

"Ass."

Nathan burst out laughing, he couldn't help himself. The role of the beta was to keep his alpha from holding in pent up emotion. The role of the beta was to be there when the alpha not only needed help on the battle field but in everyday life as well. The occasional spar between Alpha and Beta was merely a formality, a technique Nathan used to help Desmond release his pent up stress and frustration.

"If I smell like ass then what do you smell like? Piss?"

"I'm going to hurt you."

"Sure you-," Desmond turned from Nathan and stared toward the door.

"Do you smell that?"

Nathan sniffed the air and smirked. A slow smile making it's way across his face. "Smells like heat, sweat and a particular human..."

Desmond scowled at the attraction that bubbled in the pit of his stomach.

"Shut up Nathan."

"She doesn't listen very well does she? I could have sworn you told her to go home."

Desmond's scowl deepened. "And she's not alone."

He burst into laughter once again, "This is going to be entertaining."

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"You know we shouldn't be out here. This is the wolf territory. It's off limits!" Mo'nique whispered as she jumped over tree roots and fallen branches.

"I just want a few pictures. The article won't be complete without a good photo."

"I don't care about a photo! Just get something off google images for Christ sake!"

"Oh come on, Mo! You're one of the best journalist in the town-," She cut him off, "Tom, I'm one of the few journalist in town, now let's go back!"

Tom looked back at her and frowned, pouting slightly. "Where's your sense of adventure, Mo? I thought journalist were risk takers?"

"And I thought nine-teen year old interns were supposed to be the quiet shy type but things aren't always what they seem now are they?"

Mo'nique was one of only six writer's left in her town, many of the others had left ages ago. Heading for the larger towns. Heading for bigger opportunities. Bigger stories. But she had chosen to stay, preferring to be near her mother and thinking a smaller town suited her much better then the larger, more populated towns.

The thought of her mother suddenly had her feeling depressed. It had been a long day. She had already had a melt down and had been scared out of her socks by a werewolf that resembled a chocolate Greek god.

"Listen, Tom. We need to go back to town. This has been a long day for me and things are already on a thin line, we shouldn't' be out here tempting anything."

Tom gave her a look of disappointment before walking back in the direction they came from.

"What are you doing out here, woman?" Mo'nique's blood turned warm and then cold at the familiar voice. She turned and met the eyes of mister tall dark and handsome. She almost fainted.

He was naked. Completely. Naked. He moved toward her and she took a tentative step back.

"Tom...," she whispered almost inaudibly. But Tom didn't hear her distressed cry, he was too busy heading back toward the town limits, leaving her staring into the eyes of an angry naked man.

"Didn't I tell you to go home? I don't like it when my authority is undermined."

She took another step back. "I...I...Don't kill me."

He raised a brow before moving toward her, slowing circling her like a predator circling its prey.

She felt sweat beading along her forehead. She swallowed nervously.

He suddenly stopped right behind her, his bare chest pressing against her back. "Your smell...it's intoxicating. You smell like roses and fresh grass in the spring."

She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She could herself breathing.

He growled in her ear and she flinched slightly, her body hyperaware. She held back a shriek as the growling continued.

Before she could stop herself she turned and tried to run, only to trip over an over grown tree root. He reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her face landed in the middle of his chest and her heart beat escalated. He smelled like sandal wood and honey. She leaned back and looked up at him with hooded eyes.

"Th-thank you." She stuttered.

He said nothing, merely leaned down and openly sniffed her hair. He ran his nose slowly down her temple and her cheek, sniffing as he went.

"You're aroused..."

She sputtered. Dear...god...he could smell her arousal?

Suddenly he released her, lifting her over the tree root and staring into her eyes. "Go home, woman. And stay out of this area. This is the last time I'm going to say it. If I catch you in here again...," his words trailed off leaving her imagination running on a rampage.

She didn't think twice before turning and running through the path.

Once she made it to the town limits she knocked into Tom, both of them hitting the pavement as they went down.

"Ouch! What the heck, Mo?"

She slid off him and tried to catch her breath, looking back into the woods anxiously. "I'm...," she sucked in a breath, "sorry, Tom."

"You looked as if you've seen a wolf."

She looked over a Tom, breathing like she'd run a marathon. "Tom, " she swallowed, "Don't you ever suggest going back in there. Especially with me." She sucked in a shaky breath before standing, "I swear I'll kill you if you even look in the direction of the woods around me. Now let's go before I have a heart attack."

Tom quickly stood and followed behind her but not before glancing briefly back into the woods.