They'd left the city about two hours ago. The roads were rough and bumpy. The vehicle rocked and swayed as it ate its way through the dirt road. Snow, gravel, dirt and fallen branches snapped and crunched as they gave way and shifted under the tires. The engine purred like a satisfied kitten. Every now and then the loose ground would send a stone splattering against the windscreen as the wipers worked to rid the pane of the humidity and condensation that streamed down the glass.
There were no streetlights and the sky was black. They only had the headlights on full beam to guide their way. They could barely see in front of them. Overhanging branches slapped against the windows, and the side of the vehicle, causing Dale to jump from the sudden impact, as they sped down the lonesome trail.
However, Dale was feeling much happier knowing the immediate threat to him was over. The atmosphere in the car was jovial. Jazz kept everyone entertained with stories of Juke as a boy. How serious he was, and how that made him a great target for all of Jazz's pranks.
Dale marvelled at the difference between the two brothers. It seemed as if Jazz got all of Juke's sense of humor, along with the rest of his personality. Jazz was more polite, and in touch with other people’s feelings. Hearing the stories about Juke made Dale feel closer to him somehow. He begun to understand the man who sat next to him, his attention serious and focused on the road ahead. Breaking his concentration occasionally, to chance a glance over at Dale, or to respond to what was being said.
"What are you all trying to say? I have a sense of humor." Juke grumbled under his breath.
"I think we all know about your sense of humor Juke, it's only there when it’s at the expense of others. Tell us, have you ever laughed at yourself." Paul said, his voice wry, "when the joke is on you, and not what you've done to someone else."
"Why would I laugh at myself, that's just stupid? If something someone says upsets me, how can I find humor in that?"
"I rest my case." Paul smirked.
"You have yet to make a case Paul. I didn't see you laughing when Leah had you running scared in the airport." Juke chuckled, and the others joined in.
"That's true. I myself was in hysterics listening to you shuffling around with the trolley. The wheels squeaking between you." Jazz dabbed at his eyes, as he recalled Paul being chased around by his wife. "Tell me what did you say to our sweet cousin to make her cease her attack, and forgive you?"
Paul harrumphed. "That’s none of your business." His clothes made a rustling sound, as he shifted in his seat.
Juke laughed. "See Paul there's nothing wrong with my sense of humor. I have no trouble laughing at you."
"The difference is, one day when we tell this story. I will be laughing too. That day would never come, if this were you."
"Brother give up. Paul is right. You hold grudges, and you are a miserable fucker, just embrace it. You are who you are, and I love you no less for it," Jazz said, patting his brother on the shoulder. "Besides you can't be all bad, you have a gay wolf, which makes you more than just a little interesting, to everyone."
"Well. There’s nothing unique about it. Dale was bitten in a gay club by another alpha." Juke reached over and patted Dale's knee, then gave it a squeeze. Dale wriggled uncomfortably in his seat. This was the second time that night, he had to think about what happened to him in the club. He wished, he could remember more about it. Even if it was just the asshole's face who’d bit him. But everything he'd done after he entered the club was a blur.
It sent his heart racing and his palms clammy every time he thought about it, and what he might turn into. Kirk said Paul's wolf looked menacing, would the wolf inside him be the same?
Jazz gasped. "You're telling me, you're not the one who turned him?"
"Yes, he was turned and left unclaimed, before we found him. He's my mate, so I claimed him."
"Stop kidding yourself. If he was bitten, he was claimed. The alpha will come for him."
Dale turned to Juke wide eyed. "What does he mean, come for me? Who's coming for me?"
"No one is coming for you—" Juke tried to reassure Dale, his voice soothing, and although Dale found the tone arousing. It did little to stop the goosebumps pricking their way through his skin.
Jazz butted in, concern in his voice. "The one who turned you, he will be coming for you. What Juke did by claiming you was wrong. He didn't have the right. You belonged to another."
"He belongs to me. He is my mate, and he bears my mark." Juke breathed out, between clenched teeth, exasperated.
"And I can only imagine the pain he went through to get it." Jazz continued as if Juke hadn't spoken.
"It wasn't so bad, we had squid ink," Juke said.
"How would you know how bad it was? Paul inked me while you slept," Dale said narrowing his eyes at Juke, who shot him a quick glance.
"Wow, dear brother I'm impressed. You've turned into a rebel, every which way I turn, and take no responsibility." Jazz gazed at Paul, his expression one of wonder. "Please tell me where my stiff, predictable, perfect brother’s gone?"
"I'm not a rebel. Dale is my mate, he was bitten, abandoned, unclaimed, and left for dead. What was I to do?" There was an edge of frustration in Juke's voice.
"Ink him yourself for one. It's less painful for him for you to do it. Were he female would you still have let Paul do it?"
Even from the dimness within the car, Dale saw the color darken in Juke's cheeks. The quick glance Juke cast in Dale's direction was filled with apology, embarrassment and regret.
"Shut up Jazz."
"No, don't shut up Jazz, tell me. Why should he have been the one to ink me?"
"Let him tell you, why?" Jazz threw back.
Juke remained silent. Dale shook his arm. "Tell me why you didn’t ink me yourself."
"I told you before. My wolf and the man in me were at war. I didn't know what to do about you. I wasn't happy that my mate was male. I didn't mean to leave the inking of my claim on you to Paul. I was confused, and battling with myself to figure out this situation." Juke gazed over to Dale and stroked his leg. "To be honest it slipped my mind that you were turned by someone else."
"You haven't answered his question Juke." Jazz gibed.
"I'm getting to it. Inking is part of the mating ceremony and our marriage. I should have inked you when I bit you, while we mated. The process would have been painless had I done it the right way. I'm sorry. Also because we had mated, Paul should never have been allowed to touch you. Let alone completed the final part to our nuptials."
"Does that mean I'm married to Paul too?"
"No, it means as your mate and alpha, Juke, neglected you. He's supposed to put your needs above his own." Jazz raked his fingers through his hair. "That is not the worst of it. Not inking you himself weakens his claim on you. If the alpha who turned you comes looking for you, there will have to be a battle of ownership. This is not good. Juke will have to prove the other alpha negligent. If that cannot be done, then you will have to go with him."
Dale's head swinging back and forth from Juke to Jazz and back again, as his feelings of discomfort grew. If he understood what Jazz said correctly—some random alpha could come, and just take him away, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it from happening. Fear gripped his heart at the thought of being parted from Juke. He needed clarity. "Don't I have any say in this?" Dale asked.
"Of course you do, but not in which alpha can own you." Jazz said, all matter of fact.
"But that's what I'm talking about." Dale stared at Jazz incredulous that the man could think he meant anything else.
"In that case the answer is no. The one that turned you, owns you. You belong in his pack. Juke's marking will be removed."
"How? It looks pretty permanent."
"Only the one who turned you can remove it, and only if you truly belong to him." Juke reached out and stroked Dale's cheek. "Don't worry your pretty head about it little wolf. Jazz talks too much. You belong to me and only me. My mark is for keeps."
In that moment, everyone rocketed forward, and then snatched back by the protection of the seat belts they were wearing. The car dipped and tilted to the side. The scrunching sounds made from the wheels still pivoting, echoed inside the car, but the vehicle remained motionless.
Dale groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. The others showed no sign the jolt affected them. Juke looked behind him. "Jazz go and see how bad it is."
Jazz unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaped from the car. He returned shaking his head. "Well, brother you've really done it this time. The front wheel is stuck in a pothole the size of a baby bath. Paul and I could lift us out, but I don't see the point, we won't be going anywhere. I can smell fuel. Which means we have a leak. I suggest you all get out."
They unbuckled their seatbelts and got out. Unprepared for the uneven ground, Dale tripped, and was caught by Juke, who moved around to his side of the car at lightning speed, before Dale had a chance to hit the ground.
The men stood at the side of the dirt road surveying the damage to the vehicle.
"Now what?" Paul asked, raising both arms above his head, then bringing his locked fingers down to rest on the back of his head. The still of the night was broken, by the howling of wolves in the distance. "Listen to that. Out here with the rising wind, it won't be long before we're no longer alone."
Juke looked about their current surroundings and scratched his chin. “We’re approximately one and a half hours away from the service station on home territory. If I carry Dale on my back, we could make a run for it as wolves."
"I see no other option. Those howls are closer than I would like," Jazz said.
"Don't you have to wait for a full moon to change?"
"We don't. As a changeling you do, to complete your transformation. After that you won't either." Jazz offered before Juke had a chance to. "We'd better get a move on. They’ve gone quiet, which could only mean they're on their way here."
"Do we know the alpha of this district?" Juke left the question open.
Jazz was the first to respond. "We do, and our father pissed him off. I doubt if he will be of help to us. Beside we won't have time to solicit his help, even if we wanted to. Do you think those horny wolves will be taking us back with them to wait for the alpha's decision?"
Dale’s head spun at the thought of being raped by so many. He’d need surgery to repair the damage they'd do to him, and that’s only if he survived. Every sound that followed what Jazz said seemed amplified. Including the sound of his heart drumming in his ears. Dale staggered back, and leaned against the car. Then slid to his knees, when he saw the first pair of sparkling yellow eyes break through the blackness.