Chapter 1: Initiation
Kam was nervous about his initiation into the pack. As the future alpha of the White Mountain pack, he would be the leader of all New Hampshire werewolf packs. It had to be a perfect performance to get his pack firmly behind him. Otherwise, one of the other New Hampshire packs might decide to revolt or worst take over as king.
Initiation was simple. Kill a species that was overpopulated. Sometimes coyote, mountain lion, or bobcat, this time Kam must kill a bear. It was always an animal bothering humans in the area that they failed to get.
This bear was smart. It avoided traps and preferred pets over trash. Leave your pet outside alone at night or without a gun in hand to guard it and the bear would grab it. A few humans managed to hide the gun, but the bear dodged any shot that headed their way.
Its range appeared to be the south and central mountains, especially campgrounds. Lafayette Place Campground, Russell Pond Campground, and others in the general vicinity lose a pet every night. It had even gotten a few children at dusk. The humans were up in arms over this bear.
Today is Kam's birthday. He turned eighteen today so he starts his hunt. But, there is no celebration today as last evening the bear struck the pack. During a pack meeting the bear slipped into a pack house and made off with a baby, clawing up the teenage babysitter Jane. She is a good friend of Kam's and just sixteen years old. Without her werewolf blood, she would have died.
The pack hunted for the baby. But, returned with the shredded clothing assuming it was eaten at that site.
Kam gets one day to complete his hunt, instead of the usual week. The pack wants revenge and giving him to tomorrow morning was too much for many of the pack. Only fear of his father granted him today.
Kam was up hours before daylight in wolf form. He tracked the scent of the bear from the house into the mountains. He found the bones of the baby a few miles away.
From there the bear, changed direction. It had gone north and now switched east. He lost the scent at the East Branch Pemigewasset River near the Lincoln Woods trail head. He searched both sides of the river a mile in each direction before going downstream further. He figured going with the water was more likely path.