Hunting for a Mate

Sam play growled and rolled, dropping her onto the ground, rolling over her, and then running off into the forest, bolting over trees and zooming through bushes. He made a giant circle before stopping in the middle of the creek, playbowing again.

@ Jaguar's Heart
Lucy ran after him until he stopped in the middle of the creek. She stayed at the edge at first before jumping in. First she stayed at the side of the river until beginning to walk around him but stayed back. Once she was in front of him, Lucy playbowed back to him but she stayed back far enough that he couldn't just jump on her. Then leaped forward, hitting the water with her front paws so he got sprayed.

Sam shook off the water, now snarling, before launching at her, pinning to the ground and play snapping at her neck. That then shifted to him nuzzling her neck, the mate bond taking over his instincts so that he was gentler than normal... and wanting to do cuddle things he'd never wanted to before.

@ Jaguar's Heart
Lucy growled at him and then slapping her paw on his head. 'Stop it!' She pushed him off with her hind legs and moved out from underneath him. Unlike Sam she was trying to fight her instincts. She didn't want to get sucked into him. It was all good for him but she did not want to be tricked. Lucy rolled onto get feet, growling at him. Now she was no longer playing. 'Don't do that.'

Sam's ears dropped back, but he didn't cower at her growls. Instead he stood tall, head tilted to the side, 'why not?' He asked, 'am I truly that repulsive that you won't even try? Have I harmed you in any way?' He shook his head, 'i didn't want this same as you, but I've learned some hard lessons and all of them tell me to trust my instincts. So unless you have a good reason for us not to then you're going to have to grow up.'

'I refuse to be like most of the alpha's mates. I will not just become your property because something decided to bind us together. Do not think I will let you mark me and then allow for you to run off someone else.' She bared her teeth. 'Like you said we both don't want this. Though the difference is that you can try, mark me, decide that it doesn't work and then run off with someone else. I will be expected to stay with you and if you abandon me I will not be able to mate again. I am not going to do something that risky just because someone said so.' This was the life of a beta. All betas were only able to mate once. For a beta it was devistating to lose a mate through any means. So much so that they were not able to mate again. It was not only a social restriction but an emotional and instintal one. However while alphas may be horrified from losing 'the one' they could still find others that they could like. It was not as strong as a bond with their chosen partner but a lesser bond could still be made. Some alphas kept 'the one' and still had others on the side. Alphas had the instinct to keep their marked mate because it brought a higher level of emotions and it gave them more strength. However not all of these pairings worked well but the alphas still kept them around for the power.

@ Starcrossed
Sam shook his head, ears dropping further as his own fangs flashed 'I'm only going to allow you defiance this once, because you don't know me, but not any longer. First off, I'm not your typical alpha and so this isn't your typical mating. If you hadn't noticed I rule over a pack of outcasts. Wolves too aggressive or defiant for their own packs. Second, I'd never see you as my property. You are your own wolf, Little Mate, and you'll stay that way. The only claim I have over you is as your alpha and as your mate. Third, I'd never cheat. My loyalty is strong, to my pack and to my mate.' he dropped his head and took a step forward, growling and flashing his fangs, 'If you think just any wolf with a pretty tail can distract me then you're poorly mistaken.' he continued walking toward her, step by step, until he backed her up to a tree, 'The next time you want to judge someone harshly, pick another target. I'm tired of being your punching bag.' he then turned and trotted off, hackles lifted as his frustration mounted.

@ Jaguar's Heart
Elizabeth watched him head back to the caves, glad that he was leaving. While Sam may be upset by her rather harsh judgement of him, she thought it acceptable. After all what she said was true. Elizabeth was aware of the fact that there were good alphas out there, after all she had had one, and they do not all treat their mates terriblily. Some were lucky and they had deep love between them. Though she refused to just do it because Sam or anyone else said so. Elizabeth would not even consider it until she knew him. He needed to be good and trustworthy. It was clear that her old pack was at least going to make her try a little bit which was why she was not already gone.
Elizabeth growled a bit before heading back into the creak, wanting to calm down.

@ Starcrossed
Sam shifted and put on a pair of pants before immediately getting to work on the caves. He was furious. For once he'd tried to trust in fate - something he hadn't done before - and it blew up in his face. Picking up an axe he began cutting into the cave with three of his pack members. They'd been going at a steady pace, cutting into the walls for quite a while, before Sam suddenly froze. He tilted his head, gaze narrowing. A slight rumble echoed from above them and Sam spun, yelling at his pack mates, telling them to get out. Together they ran, stones and boulders falling and crashing to the ground. In a gust of dust and sand they emerged from the caves, leaping and rolling for safety as the rocks slammed the Caves shut. Coughing, Sam stood and looked around, gaze dropping to the three pack mates with him, "You guys okay?"

Lucy waded in the creak for a while before walking around the forest. At least this time she knew he wasn't watching over and he wasn't going to hunt her down. After all he had left her in there. After going around the territory, seeing what was there, she made her way back to the caves. She got to the edge of it before seeing that rocks were in front of the enterance of the cave. Her eyes narrowed a bit before she sat down at the edge of the forest. Far enough away that they may not notice her. Though close enough for her to see what was going on.

@ Starcrossed
As the others affirmed their health his gaze caught Lucy's. He was glad she was okay. He turned to his pack mates and nodded at them, "Go ahead and take a break. Relax. Greg and I will take the first shift of clearing the Cave out." As his pack walked off, some to hunt and others to the creek, Sam and Greg turned to the cave entrance. With a groan Sam stepped forward, "Sometime I wish we could just like in houses like humans..."

Greg chuckled, "With this pack? That's like sticking a fully grown lion in a room with a toddler." He began lifting out rocks.

Sam shook his head, "Yeah..." And he got to work as well, attempting to clear out the Caves so that they could at least get to half of it, "We may have to share rooms..."

Greg turned and narrowed his gaze on Sam, "Last time that happened you slept outside so there was enough space..."

"And I'll sleep outside again." Sam said, "It's no big deal."

Lucy laid down and watched them begin to clear out of the cave. At first she was just relaxing as they worked. There was nothing much for her to do anyways. The betas were allowed to do as they wanted until they were given a job or until they had to go back to work. Right now she was new to the pack so Lucy did not know what to do and she didn't want to step on any toes by doing others' jobs.
After watching them for a bit, Lucy headed out to hunt. Now that was something she knew no one would mind about. Lucy was out for about an hour before coming back with two bunnies. One was enough for a wolf to be full. Though she managed to catch them both so she thought she might as well feed big mate. When she came back it was about time to eat anyways and she was sure that Sam would be hungry. Lucy then walked over to Sam, dropping one of the bunnies in front of him. 'I got you a bunny'

@ Starcrossed
Sam had been washing the dust off his fur while in wolf form in the creek when she came up. He stared down at the rabbit before lifting his tired gaze to hers, 'Thanks,' he responded bending down and ripping into it. As tired as he was, he was hungry too. He definitely appreciated the rabbit and when he was done he washed the blood from his muzzle before lifting his gaze to hers, "So we only have half of the Caves available tonight. I'm going to have my three female pack members room with you in the large cavern while the others pack into the rest of what's available." He'd be sleeping outside again and, if he knew Greg, which he did, Greg would be with him as well. Which was nice, since it was turning winter here and the nights were getting colder, 'I hope you don't mind.'

Lucy ripped into her rabbit, eating it all. Once she finished, Lucy ripped the rest of the skin open, looking down at the pelt. She took the rest of the rabbit, moving it to the side of the forest. She went over to the creak, cleaning her paws and face off again before drinking up the water. 'I don't mind.' She then went back onto the land, shaking the water off of her feet and then wiping it off of her face.

@ Starcrossed
Sam watched her, 'Thanks. We'll get it cleared out as soon as possible.' then he turned and trotted off, heading to inform the pack about the new arrangement. Then he orchestrated a patrol party, one he would lead. He turned to Lucy, 'It's your choice if you want to join or stay here and help guard the Caves with the rest of the pack.' That done he turned and lead the patrol.

Greg kept a close watch on his Alpha. The wolf had worked all day and now he was also leading the patrol. It wasn't a surprise, this was why he was able to lead unleadable wolves, but he was still worried.

Lucy did not want to just lay around anymore and be lazy. She wanted to help the pack out and do her part. So when Sam told her she could help guard the caves, Lucy made her way to the pack, moving to where they needed her. She had done guarding before so she knew what she was doing. Lucy kept her ears up and her eyes wide, trying to catch any movement or threat.

@ Starcrossed
When Sam and the patrol returned he checked in with the guarding group, then sent everyone off to bed. As the wolves piled into the cave he stopped at Greg and gave the wolf orders to keep his mate safe, which meant the large wolf would be sleeping outside the room cave. Even with the other females in there, he still worried someone would try to take her. She was a young healthy wolf... who was unmarked. Being a new pack he could get attack at any moment and he trusted Greg to protect her. With his pack on their way inside he turned and walked to the tree line, stretching before crawling beneath a few dense bushes, his dark fur allowing him to disappear.

Lucy followed the other females into the cave. They began to talk about this and that-nothing really all that important. They told her their names and with a wolfy smile she gave them hers. It was only Sam that she was trying to piss off, not the whole pack. At this point they were rather tired. So they moved into the middle of the cave, curling up close to each other so they all kept warm. One of the wolves curled around her as she laid her head on another's body. Soon they were all curled up together and warm. Lucy glanced over at the entrance, seeing that the wolf from earlier was laying outside of it. Not that she mind. So she closed her eyes and headed off to sleep.

@ Starcrossed
The next morning Sam was in the creek, washing the leaves and dirt from his fur. Greg was walking toward him and he shifted, pulling the jeans Greg handed him on. They talked about their plans for the day and then Sam sent him and the rest of the pack off hunting. While they did that he went back to the rock filled caves, studying them.

Lucy talked to the women again this morning until Greg came, telling them that it was time to hunt. She thought about it for a moment before telling the three that she would meet up with them later, that she needed to see Sam. None of them thought that it was strange that she wanted to talk to her mate. So they ran off with the rest of the pack. Once they left, Lucy headed out and moved over to Sam's side as he looked up at the cave. Lucy sat down next to him, tilting her head to the side. 'What are you looking for?'