Free The Mechanic's Mate by Mikea Howard

consider smelling upwind prior to diving in.
    Chasing the largest hare first, she concluded it just moved too fast. Sadie shifted direction a bit too hastily, becoming a rolling mess of legs and fur, struggling to right herself again. She changed pursuit after a smaller, much slower one. Keeping the hare in her sights over and under branches, switching course to keep on its trail, she prayed that trees had blocked Domek’s view of her mishap.
    Sadie shut down all emotions, keeping human sensibilities from focusing on what would happen with this hunt’s conclusion. When the juvenile switchbacked, she pounced, gripping its neck. Holding teeth tight through panicked struggling, she bit down, and flipped her head hard, snapping its neck. A fleeting realization of killing for the first time came and went. She glanced up, zeroing in on her alpha, and approached him to deliver dinner at his feet. Tail wagging proudly, she presented a successful hunt. Picking it up in his maw he moved them into a meadow nearby to drop her prey at the edge. Domek gave her a nuzzle, motioning her to eat then took off again.
    Domek didn’t explore for too long, returning to find Sadie still beaming with pride as she ate her first kill. Yes, just like any new wolf, hiccups happened during an inexperienced hunt. Ending up with an immature rabbit being more common than not. However, in his mind, her true success is the fact he would usually have to flush the small prey for a new wolf. But not his Sadie, she found her dinner on her own. My wolf. Not Eridon’s, but his.
    Growling, she worked at getting every bit of chest cavity sinew still left deep inside. Missing opposable thumbs caused obvious frustration as Sadie pawed at the carcass. Having to endure a change, run, and hunt would have her famished at this point. Trotting back, Domek sank his teeth into the buck’s neck, tensing every muscle in his body. Using all his strength he drug it out into view.
    While proud of how she hunted alone, as alpha a need still sat unsated in his chest. Walking over, he nudged her side with his muzzle. Sadie refused to move, so Domek nudged a bit harder this time. The stubborn she-wolf continued to lay there, ears laid partially back, tail tucked flat, and brow furrowed.
    He knew that, although prideful, she didn’t have an ounce of arrogance in her, so proceeded huffing at her with a wagging tail. She needed to eat more for strength to shift back, so he added nips until she stood. Herding her with constant pressure of his body, he forced Sadie down next to it by pressing his head atop her shoulders.
    Baring his teeth, they sank into flesh taking the first bite. Tearing it off violently, exposing fresh meat below, Domek proceeded to eat as she waited. Yes, he’d provided it for her, but an education on normal pack feeding behavior and of his place as alpha, remained necessary as well. He ate his fill. This is where an alpha would signal a beta to feed. Since his beta was not present he plopped down between Sadie and the buck licking his paws of his kill’s blood.
    Once cleaned to his satisfaction he stood, nipping her tail until she approached the buck. Drawing her lips back, with hesitation she picked a small piece free with front teeth. Taking two or three more nibbles, he assumed hunger overrode curiosity as she dove in wholeheartedly, pulling large pieces of muscle from bone.

Chapter 10
    Once Sadie ate enough, Domek forced her down again, settling next to her. He placed his paw on her neck, holding her head down, and stretched forward cleaning all the blood off her face. He’d wanted to do so as humans the first time he fed her. Now he decided not to hold back. Once cleaned to his satisfaction, Dom dragged the carcass into the trees for scavengers. Lifting his muzzle he howled a prayer to Gaia, in thanks for the successful hunt, also letting her other children know they would not go hungry tonight.
    A reply howl in the distance took him by surprise. It