Strength of the Pack (2 page)

Vince was waiting for them with fresh bottles of water. Together they monitored the men to ensure they didn’t drink too much, too fast. The platoon dropped their rucks and drank gratefully. Lucas rolled his shoulders, easing the ache. Like the rest of his men, he walked in circles, the muscles of his back and shoulders loosening.

As they all caught their breath, the bragging began about how easy they’d found their little excursion. Lucas knew it was prideful bluster, but it was also typical Marine behavior.

Vince and Lucas oversaw the stowing of the platoon’s gear, keeping an eye on the recovering Marines. They broke down their packs and replaced equipment in its proper storage areas, with no signs of illness among them.

Lucas leaned in to speak to Vince. “I’m going to check in with Captain Stanley, see if there’s an update on our force fulfillment. Send them to the mess for a meal when they’re done.”

“Yes, sir,” McAlister replied.

Lucas turned on his heel and headed for the office he shared with three other platoon commanders.

He made a brief check of his email and found nothing urgent, so he headed down the hallway to his company commander’s office. Lucas took a deep breath and straightened his spine even more. He was relieved to find Captain Leland Stanley alone, but he knew First Sergeant Ayala wouldn’t be far away.

Lucas steeled himself for the encounter and rapped his knuckles on the doorsill. “Do you have a moment, sir?”

The Captain looked up with his typical dull expression. “Come on in, Lucas,” Stanley said. “What can I do for you?”

“Just wondering if there’s any word on when I can expect to fill out the ranks of my platoon.” Lucas stood at ease in front the Captain’s desk.

“End of the month,” Stanley replied. “Battalion is making final decisions on which Marines go to what platoons.”

Lucas was glad for the news. “Very good, sir.”

“How’s training coming?” asked the Captain.

“Excellent, sir,” he answered truthfully. “I have a good bunch of men in my platoon.”

“Good, that’s good,” Stanley replied vaguely. He continued to look at Lucas as if he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“I appreciate your time, Captain,” Lucas said. “I should be getting back to my men.”

Stanley waved him off as if he was relieved the meeting was over.

Lucas found his platoon in the mess hall, hungrily shoveling food. He quickly filled a tray and dropped down on the bench across from Gunny McAlister.

“Any news?” Vince asked.

“End of the month,” Lucas reported with a smile.

Before Vince could reply, voices across the room grew loud and angry. Chairs scraped across the floor. Lucas looked over, a burst of adrenaline brought him partially out of his seat, poised to intervene if necessary as two enlisted Marines squared off across a table.

“Stay out of it, LT,” Vince warned in a low voice.

Even as he watched, a Gunnery Sergeant stepped up and slammed his hands down on the table that separated the two potential combatants. Lucas couldn’t hear what the Gunny said, but his words had an effect. The tension in the air abated as both Marines’ posture relaxed slightly.

“Full moon’s in a couple of days,” McAlister said by way of explanation.

Lucas nodded in sudden understanding. As a human, he’d have no chance of backing down two aggressive werewolves. “How can you even tell they’re shifters when they’re in human form?” Lucas had never avoided werewolves; he’d just never encountered many of them, so his knowledge was limited.

“You can’t, unless they want you to,” Vince replied. “Or if you’re a Gunnery Sergeant who likes to know these things.”

Lucas returned McAlister’s smile. “Are there many shifters on base?”

“A hell of a lot more weres than there were before we started fighting a war on two fronts,” Vince answered dryly.

“I suppose we should expect to have a few assigned to the platoon,” Lucas mused. “Are they difficult to manage? They make it sound simple in OCS.”

Vince shrugged. “Never had command of one. I hear the platoon commander of Echo-three had one in Afghanistan. Scuttlebutt says their skirmishes just before the full moon are pretty harmless. As long as they get to run with the moon, they’re easy to manage.”

“Good to know,” Lucas said, mind racing over this new information as he watched the two Marines settle back into their chairs and the Gunny step away.

§ § §

Lucas was in his office planning training missions for the following week. He needed to identify what equipment they would need to requisition. He ran a hand over his hair and thought distractedly that he needed to get it cut. Just that morning, Lucas had noticed the brown was sun-bleached a pale gold on the ends. The last thing he had time for was to be counseled for violating the grooming standard. Lucas would try to remember to run by the base barber that afternoon for a quick, no frills pass of the electric clippers.

“Begging your pardon, sir,” came a voice from the doorway. “I’m looking for Lieutenant Young.”

“You found him,” Lucas replied, looking away from his computer monitor. “How can I help you?”

“Corporal Elijah Chandler. I have orders to report to Fox Company, Second Platoon.” The young Marine stepped into Lucas’ office, papers held in his outstretched hand. Lucas noted his medium height and standard build. He resembled the quintessential mid-western farm boy, and it was hard to believe anyone with that sweet of a face could be a hardened Marine warrior.

“Welcome to Fox-two, Corporal Chandler,” Lucas said, glancing through the papers. Chandler’s personnel file would follow within a few days, and then he could get a better idea of training and skill level. A notation at the bottom of one page grabbed his attention. He looked up at Chandler in surprise. “You’re a shifter?”

Immediately, the Corporal’s face took on a guarded expression. “Yes, sir,” he said tightly.

“I’m going to have to ask you to be patient with me, Corporal.” Lucas separated the papers he needed and returned the rest to Chandler. “I’ve never had a were in my command, so there’s probably a lot that I don’t know.”

Chandler’s posture relaxed slightly, and his expression eased. “We’re pretty easy to deal with, sir. Except for us having to run at the full moon, we’re just like every other Marine.”

Lucas noted Chandler’s slight southern lilt. “Be sure and let me know what you need when the time comes.”

“I’ll locate the pack leader on base, and he’ll advise me how things work,” the Corporal sounded as if he meant to reassure.

“The base has a pack leader?” It was the first Lucas had heard of this. “I’m afraid I don’t know which of the officers might be a shifter.”

“A pack leader doesn’t have to be an officer,” Chandler said quickly. “He could easily be enlisted. Our social hierarchy doesn’t work the same way as Marine ranks. Actually, pack leaders just stand in for True Alphas, ’cause True Alpha werewolves are pretty rare. There’s only one I know of serving in the Marine Corps. A base pack leader just has some combination of age, experience, personal charisma and sometimes rank.”

Lucas was confused. “True Alpha?”

“Yes, sir. Not many of them serve in the military; they don’t like humans outranking them. They’re usually leaders of the civilian packs.”

Lucas thought he was beginning to understand. “Roger that, Corporal.”

“Now that you have a werewolf in your platoon, I expect the pack leader will make contact, sir,” Chandler said. “He’ll let you know what to expect and what we need.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Lucas replied.

“Is there anything else, sir?” Chandler looked earnest and eager to please.

“Not at this time. Dismissed.” Lucas returned the corporal’s salute and watched him quietly leave.

He wondered if all weres moved with the same stealth. He looked forward to meeting the base pack leader. He’d feel more comfortable if he could get a little more guidance on having shifters under his command.

Within the next week, Lucas found himself in command of two more werewolves. Private First Class Logan Grant and Corporal Terrell Hubbard both joined the platoon and immediately went in search of the pack leader. Lucas still hadn’t met the base pack leader and intended to ask Corporal Chandler about him. He ran his hand over his freshly cropped hair and sighed in frustration. He already had his plate full of things to worry about and arrange for his platoon.

“Lieutenant Young?”

Lucas looked up to find a staff sergeant standing at attention in his doorway. “Yes?”

“Captain Stanley says to report to his office, ASAP.” The Marine stared at the back wall of Lucas’ office.

Lucas sighed inwardly. “Thank you, Staff Sergeant. I’ll be right there.”

Dealing with Stanley when it was required was tedious enough. Being summoned by the captain had anxiety gnawing at his belly. He stepped into Stanley’s office doorway. “You wanted to see me, Skipper?”

The captain looked up from where he and Top Ayala were bent over a large stack of personnel files.

“Lucas. Good.” Stanley rifled through the files, a vapid expression on his face. Locating the one he was after, he handed it to Lucas. “You’re getting an Alpha werewolf assigned to your platoon.”

Lucas’s head snapped up. “Beg your pardon, sir. An
Alpha
werewolf?” His conversation with Chandler rushed through his memory. There was only one True Alpha werewolf serving in the Marines.

“Yeah. Do you still have the training guide from OCS?” the captain asked.

Lucas stared silently at his commanding officer for several seconds. The training manual he’d tested on three years prior wasn’t enough help in integrating the shifters he’d already been assigned. Lucas needed practical training and guidance if he had to deal with the most dominant werewolf in the Marine Corps. Looking at Stanley, he realized he wasn’t going to get it.

“Yes, sir,” he replied instead, tucking the personnel file under his arm. “I’ll read over it tonight. Interrogative, sir. Echo company has a platoon commander with experience commanding weres. Why not have Echo take him?”

“Echo’s already fully staffed, Lieutenant,” Ayala answered with his typical condescension. “All platoons are being assigned shifters. Since you’re the junior officer among the three companies, you get the were with the most combat experience, one that can help you command your platoon. He’s been a Marine longer than you have. The other platoon commanders are all getting boot shifters.”

Lucas felt Ayala’s intended insult like a slap, but he didn’t let it show on his face. “Very well, sir,” he replied, addressing himself to Stanley.

“Dismissed,” the captain said, no longer looking at Lucas.

Stepping out into the warm California sun, Lucas put on his garrison cover and went in search of Vince, who was overseeing the platoon’s training exercise. When he located the group, Lucas gestured for Gunny to join him.

“What’s up, Lieutenant?” Vince asked.

“We’ve been assigned an Alpha werewolf,” Lucas replied, keeping his voice low so not to be overheard.

“No shit?” Vince’s tone was less than enthusiastic. “Who’d we get? There’s only one True Alpha I know of serving in the Corps.”

“Well, they said he’s got combat experience,” Lucas replied, handing the file over to Vince.

“Holy-jumped-up-Christ-on-a-cracker!” Gunny exclaimed when he opened the front of the folder. “Hammond? They’re giving you Hammond?”

Anxiety had Lucas’ heart slamming in his chest. “If that’s what the file says, yeah. Is it him?”

“Yeah, Hammond’s the one. He’s a lifer. He climbs mountains, jumps out of airplanes; he even SCUBA dives, which is rare in a werewolf. Hammond’s a True Alpha all right, especially when he shifts.”

“I don’t understand.” Lucas furrowed his brow in confusion.

“If every were in the Corps shifted right now, Hammond would have complete command of them.” Vince handed the file back. “Even the ones who out rank him in human form.”

“So what’s the best way to handle him?” Dread washed over Lucas like an icy wave.

“Well, pull out that little book they gave you at OCS and read it again from cover to cover,” Vince said with a shake of his head. “Then maybe watch every episode of
The Dog Whisperer
you can get your hands on.”

Lucas suspected his company commander was literally feeding him to the wolves. “If Hammond is that insubordinate, how is it he’s still a Marine?” he asked.

“It’s not that he’s difficult to control, but you can’t pretend to dominate a True Alpha, Lucas. You can’t hide behind your rank and just command him to submit to your authority, like you can a human. You gotta be the human equivalent of an Alpha werewolf, show him you’re really in charge, or he’ll eat you for lunch.” Vince sighed heavily, and Lucas let his words sink in. “Well, at least you know who your Team Leader is gonna be.”

“How so?” Lucas asked incredulously.

“You got a True Alpha were coming into the platoon. If he can get a pack of werewolves to follow his orders, how good do you think he is at getting the humans to do what he says?”