Alpha of Smoke

abe

ch,

, my ma shifts in her chair, her fingers knit together on the dining room table. I know that expression on her face, the one she wears when she wants to speak but knows my pa is handling the situation by himself. Any word from her would be cast aside by the other m

sort to speak before he thinks. Now is no exception. When he is out of sorts, he's

een more settlers moving into the territory recently. That was to be ex

and miles of open land with hardly a dwelling dotting the landscape. Out there, we can claim our own territory, assign a new Alpha, a r

pa took the title illegally when the last Alpha was shot by a human hunter. The details of the dispute are kept secret from most of us youngins. I hope that when I

nd shoot us down without a second thought anytime they come upon us in our wolf forms. They have no idea that some of the people they do their trading with

hey were among the first to settle the territory, back before the great human war, long before the war of attrition twenty years ago that sucked in peo

o not wa

y parents d

n the air. My mind fills with visions of wide open spaces--tall golden grass blowing in the wind, snow capped mountains kissing vibrant blue skies,

whole by the hordes of people pouring in from the east coast and overseas. Humans and shifters alike,

ing day after tomorrow. The timing couldn't be better. If w

nger. "You expect us to pack up everything we own

ed to pack much of anything, Reba," he argues. "Sell it. You'll get a good price from all the rich folk coming here to Kentucky from Savannah and Richmond. Money is more valuable

the humans have concocted," Mr. Casper explains. "

e, who is eight, and my younger brother, Robert, who will be ten next month, are on either side of me. My cousin Hannah is only a few years younger than me and sits next to Robert on the cot. Her brother, Henry, who just f

their parents' backs," Mr

he ground?" Pa

see my pa's shoulders tighten. "We will br

, he sounds so much like my pa, if I wasn't lookin

Mr. Casper makes it sound simple enough.

ill not do that to my family." The decision has been made, and I feel that prickle of excit

thout you, Mac." Uncle

r concerns, I truly do, but my decision is final." He makes it to the door in two strides and pulls it

to the dusk. Distant howls hit my ears, along with the sounds of horse's hooves, carria

tand and trails them to the door. He pauses before following them out, turning to look my pa in the eyes. He has to tilt his head up s

noring his grumbles and shuts it behind him. Then, turning to my ma, he asks,

as reignited a spark inside of me, and that yearning is ba

gs to go. "Head west, you

se, "One da