Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"I know that face…"

Kagome yanked another bolt of fabric from the line. The smell of the clean linens was barely enough to distract her. 

"You might as well tell me, instead of letting it out at dinner…"

The sheet she attempted to fold became a ball of clean white fabric, and Kagome threw it onto the basket next to her with a thud. 

"Kagome, I can tell you're upset-"

"I'm livid! Our village doesn't have enough problems, we have to go out and find more?!"

"There it is…" Sango said, waxing the surface of her weapon. Her sister was never one to resist the bait if the line was left out long enough.

"I mean, we have people in this village with barely enough to eat, the last storm ripped off more than a few roofs...Those are real problems. But our men are needed to fight an enemy that barely pays us any mind? Its...its…"

"Go on and say it…" Sango suggested. 

"It's barbaric."

Sango sighed and set her weapon down. "Listen, I agree with you. It's why I refuse to go with them. It'd be one thing if the demons were actually attacking us. But we haven't even seen one in months. I don't see why they have to antagonize them…"

"Maybe if you talk to him-"

"He won't listen to me, you know that. I'm just his daughter," Sango replied, remembering that it wasn't just her conscience that kept her from joining the men as they hunted. 

"But you are his daughter." Kagome knelt and extracted the linen, sitting on her feet to fold it properly.

Sango pressed her lips together, recognizing the sad tone to Kagome's voice. "You're as much his daughter as I am." Kagome responded with a chuckle, devoid of any warmth or happiness. "We can talk to him tonight.  Both of us."

As if summoned, the group of men crashed through the nearby brush, drunk on their own measly power and laughing louder than they had reason to. Kagome's brow bent, and her back followed suit, hoping they wouldn't be noticed.

The group passed, with Sango's father barely giving them a glance, but both women picked up the conversations overlapping each other.

"...won't see wolves around here anytime soon…"

"...smoked 'em out…"

"...flea bitten monsters…"

Kagome stood up faster than Sango's eyes could follow her. She thought it was to chase after her father and his men, and demand what exactly they did. It would ruin any chances of speaking civilly to each other later that night, but it wasn't unlike Kagome to act first and think later. When Kagome ducked into their hut and emerged holding a sack of her medical supplies, Sango barely had time to ask where she was going and for what purpose. Kagome offered a hurried goodbye before disappearing into the brush where the men had just emerged. 

Sango looked over the line of trees and saw what alarmed her sister. Against the bright orange of the setting sun, angry black smoke filled the sky.

Kagome knew where she was going, for the simple fact that she'd been instructed not to go there under any circumstances. When she was given this command, she felt it pertinent to know where exactly she wasn't allowed, so that she could best avoid it. That is what she told herself the first time she stumbled across the mountain that led to the wolves den, and what she told herself every time after that.

The woods between her village and the wolf den were dense, and when she arrived at the base of the mountain, Kagome hoped to find a place to sit before she began the climb. What she found were no less than four dozen wolves, all of whom turned to stare at her at the same time. She guessed, from the nostrils that flared at her arrival, that they weren't staring simply because she was a disheveled human woman, bursting through the trees with a bloody arm, in front of their home. Kagome was aware of their keen senses, and if she knew anything, they picked up the scent of her long before she arrived. The same scent of the men who set their dens on fire. 

"I...I'm sorry," she began, scanning the crowd for a sympathetic face, but finding none. "My villagers destroyed your home, and I'm sorry, but I...came to help."

Flared nostrils were replaced by snarls, rows of teeth that made Kagome take a step back. Sensing an attack, Kagome regretted her decision, and nearly turned to leave when a figure bounded down from the mountain. He was a head taller than any of the other demons gathered, and used its massive size to carry three wounded adults, bending to deposit them on the ground. Each was covered in ash, and ran to embrace what Kagome guessed to be their respective families. 

In the commotion, Kagome tried to creep away, before he focused on her. 

"Who did this?!" The voice was deafening, a roar that nearly brought her to her knees. The question was followed by loud coughing, a sign of lungs trying to expel smoke and take in air, too full of one to accommodate the other. 

Kagome covered her ears, and repeated her plea. "I came to offer aid. The men from my village destroyed your home, and I came to…" Kagome paused, asking herself why she had come. She couldn't admit that she'd been fascinated by the wolves since the first time their howls stirred her from sleep, and she followed the sound to their den months before. That it thrilled her to see them in their natural state, fur gleaming under the moon. That she tracked their hunting patterns and the births of their little ones with earnest. That the thought of her narrow-minded village thinking they had the right to exterminate them out of fear, made her blood boil. 

Before she could find, or succinctly avoid the answer, a shadow fell over Kagome, that of the imposing figure who carried three of his men down from the mountain with ease. She was certain that if she were to die at the hands of these wolves, he would be the one to do it. The ash that covered his face stood in stark contrast to the blue of his eyes, and had Kagome not been overtaken by fear, she would have stopped to admire them. His eyes caught her attention for another reason; they looked at her but only for a moment. They seemed to dart from her hairline to the space over her shoulder, and then to her neck, making a vignette around her person. Kagome's legs straightened as she tried to find the true focus of his eyes. 

"Can you see me-" she began to ask, before he collapsed on top of her. 

"It was disrespectful of her to...run off like that!"

"She's just a girl-"

"She's a woman, nearly grown..."

Kagome pressed her face to her mat, hoping the sounds of night creatures would drown out the angry voices from the next room. Sango's mother at least tried to keep her voice low, but her husband walked in fear of few men, and had little reason to keep his tone low. 

"You know what I say…" he continued, shuffling across the floors. 

"Please, not again-"

"She ought to be married already. Make herself useful and bring some sons into our village-"

"Hush; the girls will hear you!"

Kagome pushed herself from her mat, but stilled to make sure Sango was still asleep. When she was sure, Kagome slipped out of the window to their room, stepping carefully between the huts of the village. Thankfully, the men were exhausted from their earlier "hunt", and weren't awake, having one of their raucous parties. 

The moon was bright in the sky, even when only half was visible, and she crossed the threshold into the woods. Between her village and the wolves den was a small clearing where Kagome would escape when sleep was scarce, or when she was flooded with memories of her mother. She was grateful for Sango's family, who, saddened by the loss of their son, took her in without question and cared for her. As the years passed, Sango's father seemed more and more ready to rid his household of her, and was not subtle in his suggestions that she marry and form her own family. 

At the center of the clearing was a stump, a tree that had been long cut down, and either too old or weary to grow again. Kagome fell against the ground, dead leaves crunching under her as she propped her body against the stump. Her eyes grew heavy and she reminded herself not to stay out too long; to sneak back in before first light. But something about the cool night air, the smell of the breeze through the trees, and falling asleep under the moon kept her mind from racing. And since her encounter with the wolves, all her mind did was race.

The broad body that fell over Kagome pushed back to the ground. She moved to push him off of her, but he was solid; she would do better trying to move the mountain they stood before. Hands closed around his arms, and he swiped back at them, making the helpful bystanders move back. Kagome didn't notice the sharpness of his claws until one hand closed around her arm, spanning the width of it easily. She'd never seen a wolf this closely, and was alarmed by the sheer size of him. 

Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and used her free arm to shield her eyes, knowing it was fruitless to try and fight him off. 

She clenched her teeth, waiting for the darkness to come as his jaws closed around her throat. Her body, or what was left of it, would be left at the outskirts of the village, a symbol of retribution for the treatment of the wolf clan, and in her final moments, Kagome couldn't blame them. 

She did not expect, however, the warmth that spread across her forearm, from elbow to wrist. Kagome's eyes opened wide to see the fallen warrior's mouth hovering over her arm, his breath warming the space before dragging his tongue over the expanse of her arm. The setting sun caught the gleam of his fangs, and in a moment of reckless abandon, Kagome reached for one of the sharp canines and skin stretched over his jaw.

"...My Woman…" came the gravelly voice over her, just low enough for her ears to hear it, but enough to send a chill down her spine. 

The effort to pull him off of her doubled, and Kagome gained enough room to move her legs and free herself, but only pushed herself far enough away to see the number of his clan who were holding him back. There were no less than eight able bodied demons pulling at his arms and torso, the skin bare and pressed against his tanned skin. 

One of them shouted for her to run, and the command took a second for her to listen and react. Leaves crunched under her feet as Kagome scrambled away, and the sound of a fight behind her. Kagome cradled her arm as she ran, noticing that the gash she received from a thorny bush was already closing up. She guessed that the object of capture was seeking to escape, and Kagome wondered why his comrades held him back from devouring her. She also wondered why the sound of his howls as she retreated made her want to turn back. 

Kagome was awoken from her sleep by an arm at her shoulder, and shuffled backwards over fallen leaves as her eyes adjusted to the darkness around her. Two figures stood before her, tall and imposing in their stance, but not primed to attack. 

"Come with us. Our leader needs you."

Chapter Text

"We found your tools," one of the men said, tossing her discarded bag at her feet. "Heal him."

"I'm...I haven't completed my training," Kagome began, looking to the bag to see if all her supplies were there. Aside from a crack in her vial of arrowroot powder, nothing seemed to be missing. "And I don't know much about healing...demons."

"You'll stay until he's healed. Or your village will pay for the lives they took."

The walk back to the wolves den was not long, though doing so in the darkness meant Kagome would have a hard time finding her way back home, if they chose to release her. 

Kagome looked to the demon behind her, reluctant to approach him since their last encounter. If his fever was as bad as they told her, at least they took the right steps in keeping him cool. In her limited knowledge, demons healed much faster than humans, and she wondered why they were so worried as to summon her. She guessed that they wanted her to see the full impact of her village elders' foolish attack, and report back to them. Maybe they would use her healing abilities to their advantage before killing her as payback. 

Kagome checked his temperature, and felt the corded muscles at his neck looking for a pulse. His face and hands were burned, and she used the herbs she had on hand, bandaging them to the skin. She didn’t want to say, but his burns would take longer to heal, despite his demon blood. Sango’s village was trained in demon slaying, and had concocted any number of ways to counteract their advanced biology. One of them was a firebomb; Kagome had only seen it in practice, but it was clear that the weapon was meant to do serious harm, burning long and not easy to put out. Having seen the firebombs being made, Kagome knew which herbs to use to counteract it, but she would still need time. 

"He’s fine for now, just unconscious. I will need to go back home to retrieve more supplies, and to let my family know where I am."

The sentries traded another look, and one waved a hand dismissively. “Go,” he commanded. “Return each day by nightfall or we will come for you.”

Kagome wracked her brain for a way to pay back the debt to the wolves, and hide it from Sango's father. The walk back home was long, but not long enough to formulate a plan. Either way, she would end up disappointing one of the two communities, and Kagome couldn't decide which of the two was more dangerous.

"May I ask you something?" 

In the weeks that Kagome had been visiting the wolf pack, she didn't approach any of the sentries in performing her duties. They were cool and indifferent to her for the most part, allowing her to come and go with only a watchful eye on her whereabouts. On a few occasions, they would intervene when she was about to make some grievous social misstep, like reaching for one of the curious pups, with little more than a grunt. 

When she was first summoned, it was clear she had to comply, or face death. It was her village who attacked them, and she would gladly offer her help in place of starting a war. She explained to them that she would need to leave occasionally to forage for supplies, but did not offer as much truth to her family. As far as they were concerned, she was off being more odd than usual, and they were not bothered much by what she was occupying herself with. 

One of the sentries turned, arms crossed, and Kagome was reminded of the size and breadth of every member of the wolf clan. They were all tall and imposing, lithe and muscular in a way that intimidated her. "Go on."

"Who...how many died? In the fire?"

The question seemed to hang in the air and halted the movements of most of the nearby wolves. She'd never mentioned the fire, aside from her initial apology, and while the results were everywhere to be seen, it was not openly spoken of, at least not in front of Kagome. 

"One of our elder members. She succumbed to the smoke." The sentry looked clearly upset, and Kagome wanted to ask if he was related to them. She knew, from her brief interactions with them, that familial ties were not limited to whom one was related to by blood. Family for them, transcended the lines of blood and meant something deeper.

Kagome sucked in a breath, and felt the stares on her back grow heavier. "Is there any chance she...that is to say...does your leader-"

"Our Alpha is called Kouga."

Kagome nodded. She was not sure of wolf hierarchy, but the title ‘Alpha’ was indisputable. She was dealing with the highest ranking member of their clan, and if he didn’t recover soon, she may lose her life. "Yes, Kouga, does he...was he married to her?" 

"Married?" They looked at her with confusion, brows bent in question. 

She struggled to find the correct word. "Um, mated?"

The sentry took a step back, and Kagome searched her brain for a way to remedy her obvious misstep. "Why do you ask?"

"He-Kouga...in his sleep, mentions 'his woman'. He never says a name, and maybe it's just the fever, but I thought maybe he could be grieving?” Kagome questioned. “If she was lost in the fire, that is."

The sentry gave her another long look, one she couldn't read. Almost like he was trying to size her up, but in a way that didn't make Kagome fear for her life. "Our leader has never taken a mate."

Kagome dipped her head and nodded. She guessed that somehow, the question was disrespectful, and she regretted asking. "Of course. Thank you." She returned to her post, removing fresh calendula leaves from her basket. Her eyes moved up Kouga's torso to his face, still tight with strain even in his sleep. No sound escaped his throat, but Kagome was familiar with his habits and knew the words on his lips, even without hearing them. 

"...my woman… my woman…" he breathed out. His lips were barely parted, and the voice was borne of delirium; rough like the walls of their caves. Kagome would have barely heard it, but the mantra followed her home and haunted her dreams. 

Kagome's heart wept for his loss, whoever she was, and whatever circumstance made him cry out for her in his sleep. She promised herself that after he was healed, she would do whatever she could to reunite them. 

Tearing a leaf and pressing it to one of the burns on his face, Kagome smoothed away the excess medicine until he fell blissfully silent and asleep. 

“I’ll help you find her. I promise.”

“Where are you staying, human?”

Kagome paused in packing her tools and supplies, unprepared for the question. As of late, the wolves were more open about their curiosity for her and her expertise; some would ask questions about a particular tincture she would use, or where she found a certain herb, but none asked about her . Even though the division between herself and the wolf clan was defined, it reminded her that she was not among enemies, but also not in a camp of friends. 

“Kagome. And my village is-”

“You don’t go to your village when you leave here.” Kagome recognized the wolf as being called Ginta, but didn’t take it upon herself to use his name until he introduced himself. She also chose not to comment on the fact that she was clearly being followed, not that she blamed them.

“Not far," she conceded. "There’s a small plateau nearby with some caves that are...comfortable.”

His gaze softened as he knelt next to her. “Why?”

Kagome released a long breath. “I can’t go…back to my village.” She hoped he would understand without her having to elaborate, but when his eyes fixed on hers, all hope was lost. “They think they’ve destroyed your home and decimated your numbers. If I go back and tell them that I’m helping you, I’ll be banished and they’ll continue hunting you."

"Your family does not concern themselves with your whereabouts?" He asked, concern lacing his gruff voice. 

Kagome didn't want to explain the complicated relationship with her village and simply shrugged. "I've told them that I’m visiting a village some miles from here. Assisting with a pregnancy.”

“Do you often assist with pregnancies?”

“I assist whoever needs me.” She hadn't meant for it to sound so combative. 

“Have you ever-”

“Ginta!” came a voice from the back of the caves. It was insistent, and having only explored a portion of the wolves new home, Kagome could tell where it was coming from until the speaker emerged. “He’s awake! Bring the healer!”

Ginta’s arm came around hers, and Kagome was lifted from her seat on the ground. It took a few paces for her to match his stride, and Kagome used the time to get her wits about her. The last time she’d seen Kouga awake, he was ready to attack her. She may have been one of the last faces he saw before he lost consciousness. If she had to guess if Kouga’s men would explain her actions for the past few weeks, or hand her over willingly, she was certain which one they’d choose. 

The rawhide curtain that separated Kouga’s chambers from the rest of the pack was pulled aside, and Kagome entered behind his men, trying to take up as little space as possible. Hiding was easy with the two broad-shouldered guards standing in front of her, but even with them as a wall, Kagome entered the room and shivered. 

“Where is she?!” came a voice out of her eyesight. As expected, the two parted to reveal her standing behind them. Kagome grasped one hand in the other, and stepped forward as much as her bravery could muster, which turned out to be exactly one step. Her eyes stayed planted at the ground, and the familiar feeling of being close to death fell over her again. 

A hand was held out to her, just above her line of vision, and Kagome looked to her side to see if she should take it. The two to her side seemed to step back, and she guessed that it was some sort of respectful gesture. Kagome read once that beasts would allow their leader to feast first without interruption before eating themselves. 

Before Kagome realized it, she extended a hand to their leader, Kouga, the same hand that he held in his grip the first night they met. She expected him to take her hand, but was surprised when he grasped her arm instead, turning it over so that her palm faced upwards. Kagome often looked at that part of her arm when alone; she’d dropped her satchel of medicinal herbs the night that she ran through the woods, and thus, hadn’t applied any healing agents to the cut there. Still it healed faster than she expected, leaving nothing more than a thin line of raised skin. 

Kagome continued looking down at the dirt floor, busy with trying to keep her body from shaking with fear. The voice next to her assuaged some of her fear, but did nothing for her nerves.

“My Woman…”

Kagome looked up quickly, and had Kouga’s hand not been holding firmly to her wrist, she would have stepped back again. His voice was unlike the timbre she’d come to expect, namely that of their first meeting, where he essentially roared at her. It was equal parts gravely and smooth, like the rocks at the base of the waterfall where she bathed and washed her garments. It reminded her of the leather that the wolves wore as part of their armor; from a distance worn and tough, but in practice, soft as butter. 

She didn’t remember his eyes being so blue on the night they met, but it was dark, and she was scared and he was scaring her, so Kagome tried not to rely on her memory of that night too much. Instead of a snarl and lips drawn back over sharp teeth, he almost looked…relieved? Kagome looked back for clarity, but his guards looked as confused as she was. Turning her eyes back to Kouga, she tried to explain.

“I…I asked your guards. They said only one perished in the fire. I…don’t know who, or where your woman is…”

The leader before her smiled, and somehow it was more frightening than his snarl. He brought her arm to his nose and drew in a long breath, causing another chill to fall down the length of Kagome’s back. It fought with the sudden heat she felt, and Kagome wondered if she herself was falling ill. 

The gesture was noticed by Kouga’s men, one of whom stepped forward, and Kagome hoped they would clarify for her. 

“Kouga, this woman…she’s human. And her village is the one who-”

“She is also the one who nursed me back to health, is she not?!” Kouga barked the question, and Kagome felt each of them further retract into the room. “Leave us.”

Kagome knew better than to hope for their refusal. From the short interactions she’d seen, from the reluctance to pull him from her the night of the fire, to their actions in the past few moments, she knew that they would not defy him. Whatever he set his sights on would be his, with the help of his clan. Their loyalty was unwavering, and she would have commended it, if it didn’t possibly mean her life on multiple occasions. 

Kagome heard the rawhide curtain move aside again, and found little else in the room to rest her eyes but on his. Had the circumstances been different, had her ignorant villagers found some other gainful employment instead of forcing the wolf clan from their home over a perceived threat, she would have regarded Kouga very differently. Nursing him to health, it was hard for her not to notice how handsome he was. She often needed help replacing his bandages, and wouldn’t have taken advantage of her position to admire him, even if she didn’t have an audience. She was, after all, trying to pay for essentially ruining the lives of his entire clan. 

Kagome realized that in trying to mentally size up their odd interactions, she was staring at him. Her face flushed and she struggled to speak, making him laugh. “You should rest. I’ll leave plenty of my herbs with your men to administer.” Kagome tugged at her arm, and Kouga released it. She tried not to notice the warmth of her skin where it met his, and how she already missed it. 

“You are leaving?” he asked calmly, sitting back on his makeshift bed. It was largely made of hides and furs, and looked warm and inviting. 

“Yes?" Kagome offered, stating the obvious. "I felt responsible for your injuries, but you’re well now…and, I wouldn’t want to impose any further.”

“My Woman is not imposing.”

Kagome’s face fell, and her countenance was not far behind. In the weeks that she spent in the presence of the wolf clan, she made sure to stay above reproach in any way that she could. She knew that she was a guest, and barely that, and looked to pay back her debt and little else. Occasionally, she would stay long, and stumble upon the wolves at an evening meal or gathered around a fire with their families. Kagome never sought to join them, even when she lingered to watch, hoping that some of the familial love would waft on the breeze like the sparks from the crackling fires they lit.

"I'm sorry, I think you're mistaken...I can't be your 'Woman'-"

"But, I have declared it to be so." Kouga interrupted, making Kagome want to lash out. She reined in her tongue, remembering where she was and to whom she was speaking. He'd only been awake for a few moments. Delirium was a very real option.

“And I am telling you, respectfully, that I can’t be your Woman.” Kagome was sure that her refusal would mean her life, but most of her actions with the wolf clan probably meant her life in some form or fashion. It was a habit she seemed to return to, far too often. “My village tried to kill your family.”

“You did not.” Kouga said, flexing his hand and testing the strength of one, and then the other. 

“Yes, but I’m a human. I don’t think that would sit well with…everyone.” Kagome gestured to the door where she was sure the keen ears of Kouga's Pack were listening. 

“My Pack does not question my decisions. And I have decided.” Kouga moved to get up, and before Kagome could object, both to his declaration, and his movement after being bedridden for weeks, she moved aside to accommodate him. Somehow, in seeing him laying down, Kagome vastly underestimated his size. She knew that he was considerably larger than herself, from the difficulty she had moving him during their initial encounter, and again, anytime she required that he sit up for her to address the burns on his back. In seeing him stand, she realized the sheer height and breadth of him. 

He was easily taller than any man she’d met, and if she thought that his guards or sentires were broad-shouldered, he had all of them beat. The fur that served as a blanket fell away from his torso and hips, and Kagome turned toward the nearest wall, studying the carvings made into it with a rough hand, in an effort to keep her eyes off of Kouga’s muscular body. The brief glance she got was enough to fill her head, and she shut her eyes to stave the flood of thoughts that followed. 

Kouga moved around the room behind her, and when she felt she could safely turn and look at him, she did so in time to watch him tighten his armor over his body. “Come; we will inform them now.”

Kagome ran to catch up with him, his strides easily equaling two of hers. “Inform them of what?”

“That you have accepted my claim.”

Kagome stopped, before realizing that he was moving quickly through the caves, and she would be easily lost if she didn’t keep up with him. “Excuse me!” she began, running and managing to squeeze past him in the narrow corridor. She stood in front of him, and thankfully he stopped. “You can’t just ‘Claim’ me! Don’t I get a say in this?”

Kouga looked down at her, clearly amused. “Not really.”

“Well, I do not wish to be claimed!” she responded. Kagome looked around and noticed that they stood on the precipice of the center of the caves, gathering an audience. She lowered her voice just a bit, and dipped her chin as she spoke, trying to look only as defiant as someone who did not want to be pushed around, but also didn’t want to claimed without her consent. “I must kindly refuse.”

Kouga’s laugh boomed in the narrow space and made her jump back. “You have already accepted it. Will you rescind your right to my claim?”

“I have not accepted any claim!”

Reaching forward and taking her arm again, Kouga revealed the faint scar. “But I think you have…” His thumb was tipped with a claw, lethal in length and sharpness. The pad of his digit traced the scar, and Kagome knew he could feel the shiver that electrified her body. “Not to mention, this doesn’t lie.” Kouga said, tapping his nose with the finger of his other hand. 

Kagome tried to snatch her arm from his grasp, her face flushed with embarrassment. Her voice wavered, but she tried to stand firm. “I was not aware of any claim . I came here to see to your health, and now that I see you have healed, I must take my leave.”

“Kagome-” he began, pulling her back to him.

Kagome was always one to act before thinking. She ran toward danger instead of away from it. She ran into a den of wolves, left her home, courting danger and death with every step. The moment her hand swung toward Kouga and met the stubble of his cheek, she knew death was imminent. She danced too close to the fire one too many times, and could barely enjoy the relief of him releasing her before she realized what she’d done. 

Her village burned their home.

She’d publicly refused the claim of their leader.

She slapped him in front of his pack. 

“Oh Gods,” Kagome managed to breathe, before turning to run. She escaped the dens, and in the woods, the same thick brush that scratched her skin and left leaves in her hair on the night of the fire, seemed to open to her. The way to her makeshift home was easy to find despite the darkness falling around her. Kagome ran into her cave and crawled in as deep as she could. Her pulse rang in her ears, and Kagome tried to muffle her cries. She was certain he would come for her, and be far less kind upon finding her. 

Too scared to light a fire, Kagome fell asleep, her body shivering from the cold wind sweeping into the caves, and the intense blue eyes that stared back at her before she ran. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered how he came to know her name, and why the sound of it on his lips made her shiver more than the cold.

“Should we go after her?”

Kouga walked outside the caves to the cliff and turned toward the setting sun. Ginta and Hakkaku followed, each one already aware of the direction in which she ran. 

“She told me she was camping in some caves to the south,” Ginta offered, after a beat. 

Kouga held up a hand to silence them. “Wait until nightfall, then find her whereabouts. But do not reveal yourself. Report back to me immediately.”

Kouga could sense the unease of his sentries. They were party to her disrespect, and were waiting for him to issue a command that called for her blood. Leaving her alive as long as he had was considered more than enough leniency. 

“But…boss, she should be punished. Executed .. Her village-”

“I am aware-” Kouga began, turning to shout so that the entire pack could hear him. He knew that they would object to his choice, but it was his to make. “You wish me to execute my intended?!”

The pair wagered a step forward. “You cannot be serious about her!” Hakkaku asked in a hushed tone. “Besides, she has refused the claim. If you want to extend her mercy, she has escaped with her life.”

Kouga breathed out a laugh. Claims, once given, could not be so easily rejected. For his part, his claim was subtle at best. If she wished to fully reject him, he would have to make a full proposal to her. And Kouga had no intention of rescinding his claim. 

Kouga was not entirely ignorant of the human girl. The village where she resided was the closest ones to his ancestral caves, and he was privy to the comings and goings of humans more than most demon clans. This human, unlike the others, lingered at the edges of her village, and ventured deeper into the woods than most. Even some of the skilled hunters did not forge their own trails as she had, and on more than one occasion, he would find her sleeping in a cozy little clearing nearby.

He knew from the moment he saw her from his vantage point on the mountain. He’d be ushering members of his pack out of the caves, when a foreign scent on the breeze overtook him. He attended to his clan, but watched with keen eyes as she fought through the woods and approached his wolves. Fear spiked in her scent, and he was impressed that it only presented herself as his wolves approached her and not before. If nothing else she was brave, and perhaps a little foolish. The only thing that kept him from bounding down the mountain was the call of voices in the back of the caves. 

The smoke in his lungs made it hard to breathe, but he could still sniff out his clansmen, confused by the thick black smog in the caves. By the time he led them out and carried them down the mountain, the woman was nearly cornered, his wolves seeking blood and vengeance from her on behalf of the loss of their homes. 

Kouga’s baser nature won and he lunged, seeking to lay a claim on her that might save her life. His men seemed concerned and confused, and if not for the smoke in his lungs threatening to choke him, he would have fought off the entire clan. She paused only a moment before running, and from the moment that he awoke, Kouga wished he had the strength to run after her. 

Again she ran. And this time, he would give chase.

Chapter Text

Kagome wasn’t sure how she managed to fall asleep. Wind rushed into her makeshift home for most of the night, and she half expected that if the wolves didn’t find her, the cold would certainly be her undoing. From her position in the cave, Kagome could tell that the sun was rising, and she struggled to uncurl herself. Crawling out of the cave was a painful exercise, but once she was out, Kagome intended to stretch her sore muscles. 

Waiting for her however, was a roaring fire, surrounded by stones to contain it, as well as a plethora of rough-cut firewood set to the side. Kagome looked at all of them with suspicion, but the item waiting for her on the opposite side of the fire gave her the most pause. 

Kagome circled the flames, peering at the skinned and flayed rabbit laid out for her as if it would reanimate and leap away. It sat on a bed of wide leaves, and Kagome inspected it as well as she could without touching it. She wanted to be angry; whoever left this out was putting her at great risk of attack from a larger predator. She bent close and picked up the faint smell of vanilla. At least whoever her benefactor was had enough sense to mask the smell of their kill. 

Regardless, Kagome wasn’t quick to take the offering, and despite the rumbling of her stomach, she was happy enough to take advantage of the warm fire. She wrapped the rabbit in the leaves, and made quick work of securing it and taking it to the river. The water was cool enough during that time of year that if it was partially submerged, it would keep for a few more hours. Her stash of herbs and foraging supplies would last her long enough for her to go hunting, but if she was unsuccessful, she wouldn’t let her pride allow her to starve.

Without the wolves' den to visit, Kagome lingered around her camp, swept out the leaves that blew into her cave the night before, and rationed out her food for the rest of the day. Afternoon came, and Kagome extracted her bow and quiver of arrows from deep in the cave. 

Searching the woods felt natural, and Kagome fell into an easy stride; watching her footsteps, staying clear of the well-worn hunting paths of her village, and giving plenty of space between herself and the wolf clan. As she hunted, she contemplated her next steps. Te hnically, she could still return to her village. It would require that she fabricate a story about the birth, and possibly a name. Hopefully the questions would end there, and Kagome wouldn’t have to produce a newborn baby to prove her story. No doubt, Sango’s father would be ready to wed her to some local, and she would never be able to freely walk the woods again. 

She stumbled upon the rabbit, hiding in the underbrush, and shot it quickly. Her aim was true, even when her mind was otherwise occupied, and Kagome congratulated herself. If she did need to resort to the rabbit gifted to her that morning, it would only be out of necessity. 

The question of the rabbit’s origin was a thorn in her foot that wouldn’t leave her alone. Kagome eliminated the thought that it was anyone from her village. Her list of possible suitors was impossibly short, if not altogether empty. She was adopted by Sango’s family when she was barely five years old, and despite her earlier loyalty to them, she was always regarded as an outsider. Sango’s family had lost a son the year prior, just a little younger than herself, and most regarded their decision to take her in as one derived from grief. Most expected them to send her off to fend for herself as soon as she was old enough to wed. Kagome guessed that the decision to let her stay was of Sango’s insistence, and possibly her mother. But even those allies were losing ground; Sango regularly stayed back from “hunts”, only going along when a threat from demons was imminent. And Sango’s mother, a woman once sent off to wed a man she barely knew, was none too eager to ask either of her daughters to resign to such a life. 

Kagome wondered if perhaps Sango made the kill and left it for her. She didn’t tell her where she was staying, wanting to protect her from scrutiny, on the chance that the truth came out. Whoever did leave her the animal must have been able to hunt quickly at night, build the fire and skin their kill, all the while enduring the wind and without waking her. 

Kagome moved to skin the rabbit, but stopped, realizing she overlooked possibly the most obvious answer. She grabbed the animal by its hind legs, and began sprinting toward the wolf den.

“I see you got my gift…”

Kouga watched his woman turn at the sound of his voice, and was glad that as capable as she was on her own, he could still surprise her. He’d watched her intently since she left, and personally inspected as much of her camp as he could without alarming her the night before. To say that her setup was inadequate was an understatement. But he could sense the pride she took in it, and thought better of embarrassing her by mentioning it, even though they had no audience. 

Defiance was still painted on her face, and combined with the red that tinted the end of her nose and cheeks from the cold, Kouga noticed for the first time that his intended was quite pretty. On their first encounter, his mind was focused on saving as many of his clan as he could, seeking revenge on those who threatened it, and staking his claim. He managed two of those three tasks, and one was giving him trouble he hadn’t anticipated. During the second, he was awake after a too-long sleep, and ready to reinstate his place in his clan. His perception came back slowly, and even in his sleep, he could sense members of his pack coming and going and the energies they brought with them. His woman's was the most constant, laced with worry and regret. Even through the fear, he could feel her concern, and as a result, he healed faster than he could have hoped. The fact that she brought him back from an uncertain death, only to refuse his offer and slap him in the face, piqued his interest like none had before him. His cheek still stung when he thought on it too long. 

Kouga was determined to have her, one way or another. 

She held out her rabbit, the one he watched her catch with a level of skill he hadn’t seen in any other human. He half expected her to drop it on the ground in front of him, but she was a good woman, if a bit of a wild one, and wouldn’t waste her own kill. “I can catch my own rabbits,” she finally said.

Kouga chuckled. “I can see that. I’ve chosen well.”

Her nostrils flared. “I cannot accept your claim,” she repeated, already exhausted with the mantra.

“You have already taken a mate?” Kouga asked, all mirth disappearing from his voice. He already knew the answer; he trusted his nose as much as he did any of his sentries. He may have overlooked that she was already promised to another; some soft-handed human man who wouldn’t appreciate or nurture her wild spirit. “Or accepted a claim?”

“That is not your concern.” The rabbit fell to her side, and Kouga hoped that she would make use of his kill and hers alike. The thought of her enjoying the spoils of his short hunt did something to the pit of his chest, and he selfishly wanted her to stoke the embers there. “How is your pack?”

Kouga looked up from staring at the perfectly shot animal in her hand. Part of him was elated that she asked about his pack, and the other part realized she asked about their welfare before he could ask of hers. Kouga hovered around her camp for the better part of the night, so if anyone knew her welfare, it was him. But he wanted her to feel how he did when she concerned herself with his pack, and silently hoped he would have an opportunity to give that to her. 

“They’re well. The cold weather is coming, but we’re resilient.” Kouga took in a deep breath, pride in his pack filling his chest. “What of you?”

“Excuse me?”

“The snows will fall soon. Your camp is adequate…for now.” Kouga wagered a step closer, breathing in the perfume of her trepidation and distrust. It marred the lovely scent of her skin, citrus and pine and the rain at night. Kouga wanted to bury his face against the curve of her neck, and keep the scent in his nose forever.

“I’ll be returning to my home today. It was late. I…didn’t want to walk to my village alone.”

Kouga began circling her slowly, her scent bristling like a bird ready to take flight. “We can smell lies, you know…among other things.” Even standing to her side, he could sense her anger rising. “Which means, there is something I can help you with.”

“I told you, I don’t need any more rabb-”

“What about a place to stay?”

Kagome walked through the woods, noting the coldness of the ground seeping through her shoes. In a day or two, there would be snow. She could still forage for the herbs she needed, but the snow would make the search harder, freezing some of her plants down to the root. Even at the risk of leaving a trail for predators to follow her, Kagome knew this was a walk she had to take.

At the end of her path stood the clearing, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her. It was relatively close to her old village, too close for comfort. She’d all but disappeared, and guilt weighed heavy on her mind. Her adoptive father may have had little regard for her, but Sango and her mother were supportive and kind, as much as they could be. She owed them at least some explanation. 

When Sango caught sight of her, Kagome felt relief for the first time in weeks. Her sister’s arms around her were a comfort, and while her life with the wolves was not burdensome, it still felt foreign. She was pulled down to her stump, and peppered with questions. Some answers came easy to her, how she was doing, and what she was eating. Others were harder, especially because Kagome committed herself to sharing the truth with Sango. 

“So you’re staying with the wolves?” she asked, her voice dropping low. The clearing was a perfect place to meet, any lurking eyes could be seen from far off and avoided. “Kagome, that’s dangerous .”

“I think we’re more dangerous to them than the other way around. As far as I know, they haven’t tried to burn down our entire village.”

“Of course; father has grown fanatical. But, what if they decide to get revenge? How will we even know that you’re safe? Mother worries-”

Kagome approached her adoptive sister and spoke in hushed tones. "Please, you can't tell a soul."

"Of course not. I mean, you're being safe, right?"

"They haven't harmed me, though I wouldn't blame them if they did." At the look on Sango's face, she went on. "We burned down their home! They have every reason to hate us. Helping them is the least I can do."

Sango raised an eyebrow. "And that's the only reason?" 

Kagome sat up, questioning Sango with her eyes. "Of course it is."

Sango smiled back, one filled with knowing. "Go on, then. If father asks, I'll tell him the birth is taking longer than anticipated."

"That's not really how births work…"

"I don't think that's something he'll question. His knowledge of birth and medicine is as extensive as my knowledge of embroidery. Hurry, go tend to your wolves." Kagome fell into Sango’s embrace again, and lingered there a second longer, soaking in the scent of her old home.

"Brought you another one…" Ginta said over her shoulder. The child that followed him was soaked, head to toe, and sat in front of Kagome. The children seemed almost eager for her attentions; so far that day, three of them leapt in a near-freezing river and emerged cold but happy. And each sat willingly and took her homemade tincture. Kagome would have to share with more than a few parents their fondness for it. She briefly considered making a second batch, and diluting the alcohol. The last thing the den needed were more children, full to the brim with energy.

The child before her opened his mouth before she asked, and she administered the drops, and sent him off. Once the parents of the tribe began warming up to her, Kagome was embraced by the children immediately. Scores of them would find her as she worked or would follow her on her foraging walks, asking a thousand questions about her plants and their uses. In her old village, Kagome was regarded as somewhat of an oddity, and it wasn't unusual for parents to shield their children from her. While some of the wolf demons still watched her carefully, they were overall polite and accommodating. 

Kagome pushed to the back of her mind that they essentially had to, at risk of death.

"I've forbidden the Pack from eating humans from this day forward."

Kagome turned slowly, not sure what to make of the statement. The sun was setting, and Kouga was making plans to return to the old caves. He was confident that if they could fortify them, he could keep his ancestral home and be ready for the next attack. 

"I...thank you?" Kagome was sure that if the wolves wanted to eat her, they already had ample opportunity. She slept more soundly in the dens than she had in the village, or in her camp. And even the children, in their readiness to play, sometimes broke the skin when nibbling on her fingers. "No one has threatened me, as of yet-"

"Still...you are safe?" Kouga asked, crouching down next to her. He was bare-chested again, and Kagome couldn't help but think it was intentional. She schooled her features not to reveal how effective his distraction was, before remembering that his keen nose was all too ready to out her. Even so, the question lingered between them, and Kagome struggled to answer.

She certainly felt safer than in her cave. Safety in the village was more complicated. She had a roof over her head and a few people who concerned themselves with her welfare. Beyond that, she felt relatively unbothered, even though the threats from Sango's father to marry her off loomed over her.

"Your Pack has been very accommodating. I thank them...and you for extending kindness to me." Kagome knew what was to follow, and replaced the tincture in her pocket.

"My Pack knows to respect my decisions. And I've decided upon you."

Taking a deep breath, Kagome tried to level him with a deadpan stare. Kouga only looked back, smiling confidently at her. 

"You forget that I haven't accepted your claim." Kagome distracted herself with the worn edge of her garment, stretched over her feet as she sat. She fought a small smile. In the past few days Kouga made it a habit to ask her if she was well, if the children were being too bothersome, why she insisted on heating her food before eating it. The questions often came at some inopportune time, but she appreciated the interest. Of course, no conversation ended before he reminded her of his claim. "Your Pack has been very kind, but I intend to leave when the snows do."

Kouga sat back on his haunches, looking around the caves. "That doesn't leave me much time, then does it?"

"Much time for what?" Kagome asked, already dreading the answer.

Kouga stood and extended a hand to help Kagome stand, grinning wickedly when she took it. "Why, to absolutely sweep you off your feet."

The first snow began to fall, and Kagome braved the cold to sit at the mouth of the caves to watch it. The air was crisp and clean and cold in her lungs, and soon some of the children gathered to watch it with her. When it began to snow, they were content to sit and marvel, watching birds spring up from the line of trees and make black marks in the white sky. Once the snow began to pile up, many of them ventured out, scooping up balls of cold fluff and throwing handfuls at each other, their laughter echoing through the woods. 

“Are you in love with my Alpha?”

Kagome turned from the scene before her and looked next to her. The warm body leaning against her was five year old Mizuko, hugging Kagome’s torso. She was an affectionate child, always asking for hugs and taking a seat on any open lap, despite being tall for her age. Kagome didn’t mind her, and returned the embrace with an arm around her shoulder. 

“What did he offer you to ask that?”

Mizuko shrugged her shoulders against Kagome and leaned her head into her side. Having someone next to her in the cold was more welcome than Kagome expected. “I was just wondering. My mama and papa are in love.”

Kagome rubbed her shoulder, and focused back on the snow, and the children playing in it, hoping the child’s ears were too young to pick up her heartbeat. She knew why she was being asked. Nearly every morning Kagom awake to some flower, bloom or even the occasional herb, laid on top of her satchel.  After the second day, she knew the source, and made mention to thank him for it, tell him it's name and medicinal use, if any. She also reminded Kouga that she still had not accepted his claim, a fact he chose to ignore regularly. The cold weather did not prevent the ritual, nor did her refusal, and Kagome accepted them with a little more grace. At the evening meal, Kagome was often given the choicest cut of Kouga's kill, unless a family was in some need. The Pack looked on in abject horror as she browned whatever she was given over the fire, and asked for a borrowed knife to cut into the cooked meat. After a week, Kouga presented her with her own small knife for the job, the handle carved from soft green jade. When she informed him that the gift was far too valuable, Kouga reminded her that his Woman needed to be protected at all times, and she informed him, that she was not his Woman. The song and dance was played out almost daily for the Pack, who, as winter approached, were happy for the entertainment. 

“Is that so?” Kagome had long since stopped asking if Mizuko, ever eager to share anything that passed by her ears, if she should be so open. Apparently, the Pack was in tune with each other in ways that Kagome couldn't always grasp. Chances were, if you had a secret, someone already knew about it. 

Kagome felt the child's enthusiastic nod. “Yup. When mama comes back from a hunt, she brings papa the heart of whatever she kills. Sometimes it’s still beating.”

Kagome nodded, less enthusiastically. She knew better than to look down; Mizuko was clearly entranced with the thought of someone bringing her a still beating heart as a sign of their love, and Kagome didn’t want to ruin it with the look on her face. In comparison, Kouga’s offering was tame. He at least skinned the rabbit before giving it to her. “That does sound very romantic, if a bit…dark.” Kagome blew out a puff of air and watched it disappear. “I think I’m a bit too young to be in love right now.”

Mizuko looked up, her large brown eyes shining, and white snowflakes catching in her dark hair. “Will you be old enough tomorrow?" she asked earnestly.  

Kagome laughed, hugging the child closer. "You have a very good Alpha. He takes care of everybody, and...I do like that." Kagome shook her head. It was certain to be all over the Pack by nightfall, that the human was finally warming up to their Alpha. She was glad that that was the extent of their knowledge.

"If you like him," Mizukosaid, leaning on the word. "Does that mean you love him just a little bit?"

Kagome pressed her lips together. Of course a child would be the one to make her voice the thoughts that were swirling in her head. "Love is kind of different for each person. Your mama is strong; so strong, she hunts boars and bears and all sorts of things. And your papa appreciates that. He doesn't try to be stronger than her. I think that's why your mama gives him the heart after a hunt. Because...he sees her strength, and knows that it makes her happy to give a little of her strength to him. I think that kind of love sounds pretty special."

Mizuko mused, thinking on Kagome's words for a long, quiet minute.  "If you don’t love Alpha Kouga, does that mean you’re going to leave us?”

Kagome heaved Mizuko into her lap. “Oh honey…I don’t want to. I love being here with you all. I might have to leave one day, but I promise I won’t leave forever.”

“But if you were Kouga’s woman,” she began, wrapping her arms around Kagome’s neck. “You could stay forever! And we would be your family!”

Kagome wasn’t prepared for the tightness in her throat, and had a hard time blaming her blossoming tears on the cold wind against her face. “By the way you cleaned the bones on my plate last night, I’d say we’re already family…” she replied, attacking the little girl at her sides, and sending her into peals of laughter. 

“I like your funny hot food!” Mizuko squealed, tearing away from Kagome and kicking up snow. Kagome lifted her heavy skirts and followed, her hands picking up the soft snow and hurling it at the children that passed her. Their energy was boundless, and Kagome played for what felt like hours, until her hands were reddened and cold. She fell backward into the snow, and wasn’t at all surprised when the children piled on top of her, still laughing from their game. 

“Hey kids,” she said, huffing out warm breaths of air into the sky. “Does your Alpha ask what we talk about?”

The cacophony of voices all sounded what Kagome expected. Mikuzo’s voice, as usual, boomed out louder than all of them. “All the time!”

Kagome shook her head, the fallen snow against her scalp. “Next time he asks you, only tell him if he lets you braid his hair.” Kagome laughed at her own petty revenge. 

For the first time that she could remember, Kagome felt the warm embrace of people who simply wanted her with them. 

Kagome felt at home. 

Chapter Text

“So…what do you think?”

The children gathered around the fire tipped their cups toward their mouth tentatively. Kagome watched their faces contort as they took sips of her tea, warmed by the fire they sat around. 

“It tastes like hot leaf juice!” said one boy, sending the other children into squeals of laughter. Even Mizuko, who usually defended any of Kagome’s ideas, wrinkled her nose at the tea in her hands. 

Kagome waited until the laughter began to die down, nodding at the children. “Very funny. Tea is hot leaf juice, but it can also be really good for you. That tea is made with a berry that helps with stomach aches. Go ahead and finish that, and then help me gather up some kindling.” Kagome noted the chorus of whines, and waved a hand. She knew that ‘collecting kindling’ would inevitably turn into a game for the children, and while the Pack would be disappointed in the lack of firewood, Kagome was glad to let them play. 

Kagome wandered from the group of children, finding some caraway growing under a thick bush, untouched by the snow. She bent to nip at the stem with her fingernail, and gathered the leaves into the basket at her side. Time moved slowly, and Kagome remembered why she felt so at peace in the woods.

“You’re wild.”

Kagome looked down at her basket of herbs and roots. The ground under them crunched, and Kagome tried not to stare up at Kouga. He was dressed in head to toe furs, and the more Kagome saw of them, the more she liked them. A set had been given to her, and the difference was remarkable. 

Perhaps the best part of Kouga’s outfit for the day was half of his hair pulled back with small, sloppy plaits. 

“I’ve heard that before…” Kagome said. Kouga was insistent that he join her on her walk, and with a winter storm coming later that night, no one was willing to venture out with them. Kagome blamed it on the impending weather, but she knew better. He was busy preparing the pack for enduring a long winter, and she and Kouga hadn’t been alone in weeks. 

“I quite enjoy it,” Kouga went on, inclining to look in her eyes as he spoke. “You seem more at peace out here.”

“At peace?”

Kouga nodded, twirling the stem of a plant he couldn't name between his fingers. “Your scent is…it feels calm.”

Kagome stopped, her nose tipped with pink. “What is this…scent?”

“Come again?”

“You’ve mentioned it before, and a few other wolves. My scent. What is that?”  Kagome shuffled her feet in the snow. "Can everyone smell me? All the time?"

Kouga moved forward slowly, approaching Kagome with all the caution he could muster. "Not exactly. It's more like… everyone has a scent that's just theirs. But it can shift and change, depending on your mood. And it can smell differently to each person." His hands rose to gently sweep aside the long curtain of Kagome's hair, revealing the skin of her neck. She shivered, unsure if it was from the exposure, or his hand over her pulse. "It's the strongest right here…" he told her, his fingertips brushing against the sides of her throat.

Kagome's eyes began to drift shut, and she struggled to keep her breathing even. "I'm sorry...I don't really understand."

"Close your eyes," he commanded, though she was already halfway there. "Imagine...imagine curling up in your bed...it's been a long day, and you've just finished the evening meal. You've burned a perfectly good leg of deer, because you're a silly human,  with a silly human stomach…"

Kagome broke the budding tension with her laughter, but kept her eyes closed. Kouga already missed her eyes.

"You're falling asleep, it's warm and quiet in the dens...how do you feel?"

"Content." Kagome breathed the word on a sigh. "And safe."

Kouga's bravery spiked, and he moved closer still, inhaling the scent wafting from Kagome's neck. "You always smell...clean," he began, finding it difficult to form words with her warm skin under his hands. "Pines and summer air when it rains and cool water...that never changes."

"But now?"

Kouga dipped his head forward, a shaky breath passing between them. His forehead fell against her, he longed to wrap an arm around her body and bring it flush against his.  "You smell like the embers at the end of the night, the dens after a long hunt. My body knows what 'safe' smells like to me , and I can smell that on you."

Kagome was aware of Kouga's proximity before she opened her eyes. His breath fanned over her face and neck, chasing away the cold. "So, I smell like home?" she asked, a snowflake falling between them and landing on the flat of her bottom lip. Kouga watched the snow melt from her breath and begin it's path down her lip. 

"Something like that…" he whispered, dipping to capture the water threatening to fall between them.

"Hey Kagome!" boomed a voice, bouncing off the tall pines, their branches heavy with snow. Kagome and Kouga stepped back at the same time, and each regretted it as soon as the cold air around them became the cold air between them. Mizuko bounded from the trees, holding a squirrel by its hind legs. "I caught you something! Do you want me to skin it for you?"

Kagome breathed out a laugh and forced herself to smile. She couldn't tell if she appreciated the interruption or despised it. "Thank you, honey-"

"Are you gonna give Kouga your heart?!"

Kagome smiled, taking in the full breadth of Kouga, until their eyes met. He seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for her answer.

"I think so."

Lost in her musing, Kagome gathered more caraway than she expected, and thought about drying it and making tea. Her results from today's batch were a little less than successful, but maybe if she allowed the children a drop of honey-

"Kagome A voice cried, breaking from the treeline. It was one of the older boys who accompanied her on her walk with the children. "It's Mizu! She's in trouble!"

Kagome dropped her basket, leaves falling to the ground. She retraced her steps, pulling her arrow and loading a bow as she rushed back to the site of the fire. A few children were still huddled around, fear evident on their faces. "Go back to the dens, and tell Kouga to come! Quick!"

The children followed her command, and ran in the direction of the caves. "Mizu?! Mizuko, where are you?" 

Kagome hoped it was a game gone on too long, but Mizu, was mischievous, never willfully disobedient. If Kagome called, she would come. Stalking through the snow, Kagome tried to follow the inconsistent path of the childrens' footprints in the snow. 

A whine to her left brought her bow and arrow up, and Kagome gasped in a breath at the face staring back at her.

"I should have known you'd be with...them." Sango's father held Mizuko by her arm, his other hand over her mouth. Tears streamed down her face and over the hand of Sango's father, muffling her whimpers.

Kagome notched her bow, a silent threat. "Let her go. Now."

"You would raise a weapon for the sake of this...animal? Against your own father?"

"You're no father to me!" Kagome shouted. "You never wanted me in your home, and you don't even care that I left."

"I took pity on an odd, orphaned child! You had a roof over your head!"

"A roof is not a home!" Kagome shouted, tears springing to her eyes. "I don't care about your grievances with me; they have nothing to do with this child. Release her now."

The man before her laughed cruelly, and Kagome hardly recognized him. "You may have found a home amongst these monsters, but I know you. You're still a child, obsessed with these woods, thinking you're living in some tale, where you'll be saved-"

The arrow flew between them, thrumming as it's head embedded itself in the tree next to his head. Kagome noted the shocked look on the man's face, blood from where her arrow grazed him streaming down his face.

"My next shot will not miss. Let her go."

"You ingrateful little brat!" he spat, angry puffs of air clouding his face. "We should have left you in these woods to die. Or better yet, let your precious wolves have you when you were too young to defend yourself-"

Kagome loaded another arrow, her eyes flashing from Mizuko, then back to her adoptive father. The young girl acted immediately, sinking her small, sharp teeth into his hand. Kagome shouldn't have been shocked at the blood that poured from his hand and ringed Mizuko's small mouth. Kagome shouted for her to run. When Sango's father swiped at her, Kagome stepped forward, her bow and arrow replaced by the jade handled knife, pressed to the hollow of his throat and threatening to draw blood again.

"You will leave. You will never set foot in these woods ever again. And if you ever so much as breathe a threat to my family, I will run you through myself." The span of a heartbeat passed between them, and Kagome motioned the head of her arrow over his shoulder. In his haste, he tripped, covering himself in snow, leaving a trail of blood and messy footprints in his wake as he disappeared into the brush. 

Kagome released a shaky breath and let her arms fall to her side. She replaced the arrows into her quiver, her bow dragging in the snow as she turned. Kagome wasn't looking forward to explaining to the children or her parents what happened. At the very least, they would want her to stay away from them until they could assess the danger. But this was the second attack on their clan in some fashion, and if a battle resulted, Kagome wouldn't have been surprised. 

Kagome turned back toward the dens, mentally and physically exhausted, but instead found herself face to face with Kouga. The footsteps behind him told of a slow, measured pace, instead of the speed at which he usually moved. 

Kagome opened her mouth and closed it, trying to explain. Her voice broke in time with the quivering of her lip. Kagome let her head fall into her hands, sobbing into the long sleeves of her garment. 

Even when Kouga pressed her to his chest, and held her close, she cried. For the home she never truly had, and the one she found along the way. For the sister and mother she lost, and may never see again. She cried for the little girl, lost and alone in the woods looking for a family, unaware that she wouldn't find them for many years.

Kouga held her through it all. She fell against him with ease, and he was too concerned with her sadness to rejoice in her embrace. The smell of Kagome's heartbreak was acrid and he endeavored to remedy it, starting with lifting her crying form and carrying it up the mountain. More than anything, he wanted to be the one to mend the heartbreak she suffered. He wanted her to turn to him in her sadness because he was the only one she trusted to take the load for her. 

But that was selfish, and Kouga chastised himself for it. More than his love and declarations of passion, she needed her family.

She needed their family.

Kagome awoke sometime in the middle of the night, in an unfamiliar portion of the den. It wasn't wholly strange to her, but she hadn't been to Kouga's rooms since he recovered. To be there now, covered in his furs and surrounded by everything he owned felt strangely comforting. She hadn't realized how much she missed it until then.

The room was dark, save for a few candles, and was warmer than she expected. Kagome extracted herself from the furs, stretching her muscles and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. They felt raw from crying, and Kagome took a deep breath as another wave of tears threatened to break through. 

She knew that she would never be free of the village, not completely. The wolves harbored no ill will against her, but there was tension, even after they relocated some miles away. Kagome set hope against logic, and prayed that her narrow minded villagers would simply give up on their vendetta against the wolves, and leave them alone. But they were bullheaded and too cocky, and she hated them for it. She hated that her family would not be completely safe from the danger of stupid, greedy men. 

Standing was only a bit of a struggle, and Kagome noticed she was free from her old garments, and dressed in thick furs. Thinking back, her clothes were heavy with melted snow and stained with blood, and she was glad to be rid of them. Running a hand down the furs over her stomach, she already felt bad about taking them with her when she left.

Kagome reached for the fur curtain that fell over the doorway, but a hand from the other side beat her to it.

“Kouga,” she said on a breath, stepping back.

“I thought I heard you moving around in here,” he replied. Kagome’s heart leapt at the relief in his voice. He looked around the room, grumbling under his breath as he set the room back to rights. “I told those knuckleheads to keep the fire going.”

Kagome followed him to the pile of cut wood, and placed a hand on his arm as he reached to revive the dying embers. “That’s…not necessary. Thank you for letting me use your rooms, but I think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“That’s not possible-” Kouga began, his soft gaze meeting hers. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you would be more comfortable in the women’s dens. I’ll walk you-”

“That’s alright,” Kagome interrupted, smiling nervously. She busied her hands with smoothing out her hair, and backed toward the doorway. “I was going to check on Mizuko, and make sure she was okay.”

He tapped the side of his nose, and pinned Kagome with a look. “I can tell when you’re lying.” Kouga’s shoulders fell, silence stretching out between them . 

“Of course,” Kagome laughed, tears forming in her eyes. “Pray tell, what do my lies smell like?”

Kouga looked to his feet, stepping forward slowly to close the space between them. “It smells like the hours before sunrise. Like the clearing where I go before the Pack wakes up. Where I tell myself that no matter what you decide, I…will be alright with it. That if you choose to completely rescind my claim, I'll survive.”

As Kouga spoke, his eyes bore into hers. She couldn’t smell a lie, but she knew that he was telling the truth. She knew because she did the same. She woke in the morning and told herself that she wasn’t searching the dens for him. That when the hunters came back from a particularly long trek, she wasn’t lingering nearby to watch Kouga break through the brush. She told herself that of all the rocks and trinkets the children gave her, that her favorite was a smooth blue river stone because it was unusual, and not because it was the color of Kouga’s eyes when he laughed. And when she turned it over in her hand as she fell asleep each night, she convinced herself that she wasn’t wishing it was Kouga’s hand in hers as she drifted off. 

Tears fell before she could stop them, and Kagome tried to wipe them away with her bare arm. “I can’t stay. You know I can’t.”

“Why not?”

"The Pack isn't safe with me here." Kagome tried to draw in a deep breath, but her chest constricted, betraying her and the words she tried to speak. "You heard him. I don't belong there, but I can't belong here either. Someone will come for me, and there will be fighting, and deaths and a war -"

"We'll protect you. We take care of our own."

"But you shouldn't have to! Not for me!" She shouted, stepping back toward the door. "You didn't see him, Kouga. He was going to kill her. The man who raised me was going to kill a little girl because he's stupid and selfish, and because I left. It was my fault and I was so scared. I can't put any more of you in danger like that ever again."

"We've been in danger before, Kagome. I won't let anything happen to you, or them." Kouga tried to speak calmly. He knew how Kagome was feeling; it reflected his own emotions the night of the fire. The guilt choked him, and it took weeks for him to shake the feeling of being inadequate to take care of them. "You're Pack now."

"Am I? I've never belonged anywhere. And I want the Pack to be my family so much, but not if it endangers anyone."

"No one blames you for what happened today. Mizu and I explained what happened, and everyone was just worried about you. Please don't blame yourself."

Kagome nodded, wanting to fall against his words and trust that they would hold her. But, her doubt was heavy, and she kept her eyes fixed on the ground.

"And if it helps," Kouga continued, his voice strained. "I will...rescind my claim."

Kagome looked up quickly, air leaving her lungs at a speed that nearly made her topple. 

"Mizu's family...as thanks, they've offered you a place in their family. You would be a part of the Pack, with all the protections," Kouga assured her. Were she to be adopted, she would fall under the direct care of Mizu's parents, and for its worth, Kouga couldn't imagine two people who would do a better job of it. "The Pack, and Mizu and...we all love you so much."

Kagome's voice broke, and she attempted to look down, hiding the budding tears from Kouga's eyes. "I love you too, but-"

"Then stay." Kouga swept his hands between them, cradling Kagome's face. She wanted to look away, for fear that his words would reach her heart, and her silly notions of running away into the night would be dashed. "Stay and be our family. We would take care of you, Kagome. You can burn as much meat as you want, and we'll drink all your terrible teas and concoctions, and in time...you could find a mate, and he would take care of you too, and you could have a hundred babies, and we would love them too, and you could grow old with us, and we'd never stop loving you, just stay; stay and let us-"

With her head in his hands, it wasn't difficult for Kagome to pull Kouga's face down to meet hers. She was new to kissing or being in a man's embrace, but if she didn't, Kagome was afraid that he would keep talking. About her having a home and a family and being loved, but all without him at her side. It was just short of devastating, and she had to make it stop.

Kouga, initially shocked by the passion with which Kagome held him, adapted quickly and wasted no time angling his mouth to taste her. Kagome's hands found his neck and shoulders, partially covered in furs and armor. The skin there was stretched taut over firm muscle, and Kagome moaned into his mouth at the discovery. Fingers sunk into the curtain of her dark hair and spanned across the small of her back, bringing her flush with Kouga's long, muscular body.

Kouga, for his part, was certain that there were few pleasures in life equal to the flat of Kagome's warm tongue moving against his. He wanted to move slowly, but he'd dreamed of her in his room, moaning and arching up toward him, for months. The scent of her still lingered on his furs, and guided him to the corner of his room, his hands and mouth and heart were full of her.

The pair fell against the still warm furs, and Kouga breathed in the scent of Kagome's passion: citrus and spice, the aroma dangerously forbidden and immediately addictive. He parted from her swollen lips to capture her wrists and hold the above her head. Kouga's tongue traveled the path from her wrist to her shoulder, pausing briefly to breathe in the scent of his mark on her skin. It was faint after such a long time, and he reminded himself to remedy that as soon as she would let him. When Kagome turned her head, baring her neck to him, Kouga told himself that she couldn't have known what it meant, and instead focused on the effect her body had on him, and how he could reciprocate.

Kagome felt one of Kouga's hands slide into the space between her lower back and the furs beneath her, cupping her firmly and bringing her closer to him. His skin called to her, and she wanted to remove his heavy armor and fell him under her hands. Trapped above her head as they were, Kagome whined, pressing her hips against Kouga's and hooking her leg over his. Another roll of her hips, and Kouga released her, sitting up just enough to divest himself of his armor and furs, and make quick work of hers. Kagome arched again, the warm air of the room danced over her skin until Kouga's mouth replaced it, peppering her flesh with kisses. 

Kagome's hand found the nape of Kouga's neck as he kissed a path down the hollow of her neck and the valley between her uncovered breasts. The moan that escaped her lips when his mouth closed over her nipple was a combination of broken cries and pleas, bouncing off the walls of his room. His teeth and tongue were everywhere, pushing Kagome beyond the brink of passion with nips to the underside of her breast, and soothing her again with long passes over the puckered flesh of the nipple. Even in the throes of his ardor, he paused to gently caress her jaw, and leave a kiss behind her ear, on both of her eyes, in the corner of her mouth. Kouga silently reminded her that his passion for her was boundless, but his love, somehow, was deeper.  Kagome embraced the safety and warmth he offered, and parted her lush thighs to wrap around his waist.

Kouga tried distracting himself with trying to quell the thundering of his heart. It was easy to busy himself with Kagome’s comfort. So much so that, Kagome’s hand on his chest was a surprise. The caress was soft as she slid her small hand over his heart, and met his eyes in the dim lighting of his rooms. Pushing against the furs, Kagome attempted to sit upright, and Kouga, in his fear, held his breath and moved to give her space. The hand at his heart moved to smooth over his jaw, keeping his eyes on hers. Her smile was small and nervous, but did leagues for the trepidation wrapping itself around his chest.

“I claim you. Do you accept?” Kagome’s gaze was steady, even as her breath was not, and Kouga stilled. He was certain she could feel his heart ready to burst through his chest. 

Kagome, sensing his shock, wrapped her hand around Kouga's arm and pulling him back to her in a long, slow kiss, all the while rolling her hips against him. Kouga's length pressed against her, opening and sliding in at a deliciously slow pace, and Kagome broke the kiss to arch her back and filled the room with a long, loud cry of pleasure. Her face was contorted with pain, Kouga pressed his body to hers to help alleviate it.

Nothing could prepare Kouga for Kagome’s claim, and he was momentarily lost in the softness of Kagome's thighs against his, or her long legs opening to press her heat against his most sensitive flesh. He tried to conjure any number of similarly soft things from his memory: petals from the lilies that grew outside the den in spring, the breeze that rustled and lifted the smells of the forest to his nose. Each of them paled in comparison to Kagome, open and willing and taking everything he offered. His thumb found the pearl at the apex of her thighs and kneaded it in time with her gasps. Kouga's knuckles and fingertips teased her entrance and tested its wetness, giving her time to adjust to him, before the head of his cock ghosted over her flesh.

Taking advantage of her now exposed neck, Kouga lapped at her pulse in time with the thrusts of his hips. He tried to keep them shallow, noting the thread of pain that wove its way through Kagome's scent of passion and arousal. Kagome's words echoed in his head, spurring him on. She loved the Pack, she wanted to stay , and more than anything else, Kouga wanted to give her a reason to. 

Kouga groaned into Kagome’s skin, willing the sounds she was making at his hands to be real and not a figment of his imagination. 

"P-Please," Kagome finally stuttered, her hands gripping his strong arms, searching for something to anchor her. Kouga was pulling her back together as her body felt like it was flying apart, and the opposing feelings stole her breath. She was relieved, however, that the stretch with which Kouga entered her was patient. The fullness was still new, covering over the slight pain, and was altogether welcome. A warmth spread over Kagome's whole body, a deep blush covering her from hairline to navel.

“Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of you here?” Kouga groaned into her skin. “In my bed…you begging me to fill you?”

Kagome answered with another plea, pressing her thigh over his hip, snaking a leg around his calf and drawing his body closer to hers. It was more of a demand, and Kouga was elated that after weeks and months of resistance, Kagome’s consent was as sweet as her refusal was spicy. Kouga's hands cupped her generous backside, lifting her to straddle him until no space was left between their bodies. Kagome gasped at the new angle, burying her face in the crook of his neck and shaking as she slid down to take him in completely. Kouga’s grasp on her remained firm, rolling and pushing her to find her own pleasure against him. Kagome responded, slow and shy at first, until one thrust made her breath come out as a broken whine, and she repeated the motion. 

Sliding his hands through the curtain of her hair, Kagome exhaled and seated herself over him with more purpose. She was nervous, taking charge of their embrace, and gripped his neck to pull herself against his chest. The slow drag of his dick moving out of her body nearly made Kouga cry out his pleasure, before she rolled her hips and sheathed him again. Her boldness was a surprise, but Kouga drank it in, allowing her to take some control of their lovemaking. His name came out in breathy moans, painting the skin of his neck with her pleasure. 

Kagome’s moans picked up, as did her movements over him, and Kouga watched as Kagome came down on him harder with each thrust. He groaned his approval at every sensation that came with it, her hot center enveloping him, her hips undulating with each rock of her body against his, and her soft breasts against his chest. Satisfied with her level of pleasure, Kouga gripped her hips and pumped into her faster and harder. Her voice in his ear was half plea, half-confession, begging for her release, even as she urged him toward his. He felt her orgasm begin as a flutter, then a vice that pulled the orgasm from him as well. She whined into his neck as the force of her pleasure rushed over her like the cold winds sweeping over the mountain; her movements against him stuttered and grew frantic, and Kagome constricted around him with such intensity that he felt his vision all at once tunnel and dim. Kouga felt himself falling before he could right himself, and Kagome fell into the embrace with ease. 

Their chests heaved in unison, and Kagome relaxed against the warm skin under her cheek. Kouga's hands threading through the tangled locks of her hair was the last sensation she felt before Kagome drifted into sleep.

Kouga felt the pull of morning, having spent most of the season walking early to avoid Kagome's scent. Having it on his bed and wafting off of his skin was a pleasure he'd only imagined, and ignoring his early morning routines suddenly felt easy. Kagome stirred under his arm, and had he not still been giddy from the night before, he would have continued pretending to sleep.

"What's got you fidgeting at this hour?"

Kagome smiled against him, and lifted a hand to trace the puckered skin on his chest. One of his burns was more severe than the rest, and healed in a jagged shape over his heart. She tried any number of poltices and bandages, but the scar remained. 

"What do I smell like?" Her question was timid, but Kouga could sense the meaning. She knew, at least partially, that the Pack would know of a change, and was nervous what exactly that meant for her. 

Kouga fought back a laugh. Even if meant well, she would think he was laughing at her for being naive. "You've always smelled like the deepest parts of the forest...bright and clean. That hasn't changed."

Kagome sat up a little, looking sad. "It hasn't?" she said, clearly disappointed. "It's just...I'd heard some of the women talking. It's supposed to change. Maybe it didn't because I'm human-"

"I'm sorry; I don't think I explained it right," Kouga said, pulling her back into his arms. "I...don't know what I smell like. And your scent is uniquely yours. Your claiming me doesn't change how you smell to me. The rest of the Pack, however, will pick up that you've accepted my claim from the merging of our scents."

Kagome smiled, and suddenly Kouga didn't miss the sunrise. "I thought that it was you accepting my claim?"

"You did issue the last claim, and I did accept it, wholeheartedly."

"What about a mark? One of the women said-"

"Nice to see you've done your research," Kouga interrupted, satisfaction in his voice. When Kagome swatted at him, he laughed and continued. "A mark isn't necessary, but if you want me to wear one, I will with pride."

She shrugged. "What if I want a mark?"

A breath escaped Kouga, disguised as a laugh. "You've worn my mark from almost the moment we met."

Kagome looked confused, before realization dawned on her. She lifted her bare arm, the fur blanket falling away. "But...but I didn't-"

"It wasn't exactly 'binding'," Kouga began. "It was more to express my interest in you. To keep anyone from pursuing you."

"Or eating me?"

"Exactly. If you were to be pursued or eaten…'' he started, meeting Kagome's eyes as she blushed next to him. "...I intend to be the one to do it." Kagome's arm fell over his chest, and Kouga released a breath. She was taking all of the information better than he hoped. 

Kagome relaxed against him, sighing with contentment. "I think I'll like having your scent on me."

"Oh yeah?" The pair settled back into the furs. "I think I like having your mark on me?"

"But I haven't marked you."

Kouga raised her hand to the scar on his chest. "I think this will do nicely."

Kagome wrinkled her nose. "I think I'd prefer something with a nicer origin, if you don't mind. And maybe where everyone can see it."

“That’s my woman…”Kouga turned to pull Kagome against him, reveling in the warmth of her body and smile before his lips met hers. "You're wild, you know that?"

Kagome smiled and settled in to his side, the hand at her back splayed wide, staving off the cold. "So I've been told."

"I know that face…"

Kagome rolled her eyes and went on measuring dried herbs. The cold air was perfect for drying as many as she found on her daily walks. When fever spread through the village, Sango was the first to suggest consulting Kagome to help find a remedy.  No one else in their community had half of her medicinal knowledge, and when the idea was presented to the village leaders, Sango was sure she'd have to sneak away to procure what was needed. Apparently, her father's reach was not as far as he thought, and he was overruled. Sango volunteered as ambassador to the wolves, hoping that they would allow Kagome home, or at least help. 

Upon seeing her, the latter seemed the most likely. Kagome emerged from the secluded dens, smiling as she usually did, but tailed by a trio of wolves. The two bringing up the rear were clearly some sort of guards; they regarded Sango with cool indifference, but returned Kagome's smile. The third was the tallest of all of them, and walked a half pace behind Kagome. Sango couldn't hear what he said as she approached them, but Kagome's hand on his chest seemed to quell any suspicions he had. Pleasantries were exchanged, and while Sango could tell that her offer was not met with absolute approval, once Kagome gave her agreement, any rebuttals were off the table. Sango looked from the long hair wolf to her sister, one eyebrow raised.

Sometime later, Sango helped pack the medical herbs that Kagome mixed, along with specific instructions on how to prescribe them. She promised to visit in two days to check on how the village was faring, but Sango lingered to spend more time with her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kagome leveled her eyes on her sister, and the two issued a staring contest, one which neither won. "How is mother?"

Sango nodded. "She's well. Helping father recuperate hasn't been easy, but I think it's humbled him."

"Did he ever explain how he broke both of his legs?"

Shrugging, Sango traded a look with the man who walked next to Kagome when they met. She wanted him to know that she held no malice either way, and offered a small smile. "He said he was climbing a tree when the branch broke beneath him."

It was Kagome's turn to nod, raising her eyebrows at Sango. "Climbing a tree indeed..."

Sango shook her head, still smiling. “I was sent here to come home with medicine, but also to convince you that you’re welcome to come back to the village anytime you want. But, something tells me you won’t be taking that offer.” 

“No, I can’t say that I will.” Kagome dipped her head, fidgeting with a partially dried leaf that refused to tear. Having known her for years, Sango knew when her friend and sister was trying to hide her excitement. Kagome’s eyes darted to the side, and Sango followed her gaze to the leader of the Wolf Pack. He sat with his back against a boulder, while a talkative young girl pulled his long hair back into messy braids. Despite his wincing at having his hair yanked, Kouga caught her eye and smiled, one that Sango couldn’t read. Even so, Kagome’s face erupted, and Sango figured that whatever transpired between them was set in stone. She lamented the loss of her sister, but was happy for her. 

Kagome lifted her eyes when Sango leaned forward, resting a hand over hers. 

“Just promise you’ll come and see me, okay?”

Kagome nodded, squeezing the fingers in her lap with both of hers. “Of course. And you’re welcome here, always.” The two women sat for a while longer, offering updates and plans for the future. When Sango left for the night, promising to keep her sister updated about the village. Kagome watched her go, and fought the sadness in her chest at seeing her leave. The sun was setting beyond the trees, their silhouettes dark against the pinks and reds of the sky. 

“Are you alright?” Kouga asked, coming up behind her. Kagome tore her eyes away from the horizon, and settled on Kouga’s cool blue gaze. He repeated his question, and Kagome smiled, holding out her hand to him. His claws nearly reached her wrist, but Kagome only felt the warmth and safety he offered. 

“Of course. Let’s go home.”