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Leaders of the Pack Ch. 01

By: secretme



Okay, so here it is! Cullen and Aislinn are back... Not that they ever really left. And thanks to all the support of you wonderful people they will soon be available in print. :D Yeah! And they were nominated for some cool awards! Double yeah! e-mail/feedback/comment me for more information if you want it. 

And now without further ado:

*Chapter 1*

Natalie hated the smell of hospitals; the distinct odor of antiseptic strong enough to overpower urine. At least that was how she saw it. Nightmares and horror movies came out of hospitals like this one. Natalie never really believed that places like this existed. How could she? She was a sane functioning individual. Or at least she thought she was, until six months ago.

Natalie huddled against the soft wall and closed her eyes to the never-ending blinding white light. At first it had been nearly impossible to sleep, with the continual white light in the solid white room. Add to that, the straight jacket, and having to sleep on a padded floor instead of a bed, and you had a potent formula for driving a person insane, if she wasn't already there.

When she was originally committed she adamantly believed that if she only kept telling people what she heard someone would eventually believe her. She persevered through the testing, the shocks, the isolation, and then the hearing that placed her in this hell. 

The whirlwind of the past six month finally calmed. No one spoke to her any longer. She was safely out of public view and hearing, hidden away in this nice government run facility, and "protected" from herself. Only now did Natalie start to wonder if she was wrong. 

Maybe I was hearing things. I must have been hearing things. I'll tell them. I'll tell them I was only hearing things. They'll let me go home. They'll have to let me go home. If I was hearing things then I'm not really insane. Maybe I bumped my head. That's it. I bumped my head and it wasn't real. I didn't see anything. 

Blaring alarms sounded somewhere down the hall. Natalie lay still. She heard them before. She never found out what the commotion was before. Even the sound of slamming and her door crashing open wasn't enough to convince her to open her eyes. 

"Is that her" a voice too near to be real asked.

"It has to be. Grab her and let's go. Time's nearly up."

Hands took hold of Natalie and she finally opened her eyes to see what was going on. An incredibly large man ripped through the bindings on her straight jacket as if they were tissue paper. Then without a word, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. He was at least six feet tall, if not bigger. His hair and eyes were nearly the same shade of black brown. His smaller friend was dark skinned with amazing but strange blue eyes. It all added to the unreal impression that Natalie was getting from the very solid experience.

This has to be a dream, she thought. I'm seeing things again. What is this? A jail break? Who would want to rescue me? And what kind of rescuers wear jogging pants and t-shirts, no shoes, and carry no weapons? At least that described the big guy who was carrying her. The smaller man was in all black and may have had weapons, but they were currently out of sight. 

Natalie was jostled down one hall and then another. Although grateful for the removal of the straight jacket, this guy's shoulder was not comfortable jabbing into her stomach. The trio streaked up a set of stairs and then another.

Finally they slammed through a last door. Natalie couldn't help opening her eyes. Frigid wind blasting from helicopter blades blew her hospital gown wildly. The large man carrying her put her down lightly on the roof with a small group of other people wearing hospital gowns and staring wide eyed at the scene. "Wait here," he shouted at her and streaked over to a few people waiting by one of two large helicopters.

Natalie never saw anything like it before. The helicopters looked like something out of one of the armed forces commercials she saw on television. One of them was huge and had two spinning sets of blades on top. It barely fit on the area of roof where it waited. The other hovered above the building. Search lights flashed over the roof, lingering on the various groups of people rushing about. That one also had several sets of dangerous looking weaponry protruding from the sides.

In moments another large man came running across the room and began herding the group of ex-patients into the large helicopter. It was a tight fit. Natalie counted about ten patients squeezed into the back of the helicopter. The smaller man with blue eyes appeared in front of them and appeared to be in charge of crowd control. Not that anyone was putting up a fight. They were all too stunned.

Suddenly there was shouting and rushing and more alarms sounding. The last of the people on the roof piled into the helicopter and only barely managed to pull the door shut as it took off. Gunfire blasted piercingly over the whirring of the helicopter. 

The last man in turned around and Natalie could see blood oozing from a series of bullet wounds across his chest. He was wincing in pain, but didn't appear to be nearly as hurt as a man who had just been shot should be.

Above all the bedlam was this woman all the men differed to. She was obviously in charge. At first glance she appeared to be in her early twenties, maybe. But the long silver-white braid down her back, led Natalie to think she had to be much older. She was wearing black, like the smaller man. An air of quiet kind confidence almost emanated from her. Natalie was inclined to think that everything was going to be alright as she stared into the strange woman's brown eyes.

Still, this was all too strange to be real. Natalie as more inclined to think she was dreaming than to believe she was actually in the middle of being rescued from the government run insane asylum she had been committed to. Hell, even that seems hard to believe. Maybe the entire last six months have all been some kind of wicked nightmare, she thought. Closing her eyes Natalie leaned against the humming wall of the helicopter and decided to wait for herself to wake up.

"Mira," Natalie heard someone call over the chaos. "We're clear."

* * * *

Cullen's arm wrapped lovingly around Aislinn. His hand rested gently on her pregnant belly. Although she was fast asleep, the babies were very active. Cullen smiled and snuggled closer to her, pressing his face into her hair and inhaling deeply. Even in her sleep Aislinn purred when he tightened his embrace. 

Cullen's wolf began growling in the back of his mind. It had been a while since the last time they made love. Being late in the pregnancy Aislinn was getting fairly big and increasingly uncomfortable, and as a result less and less inclined to let him get overly friendly. There were nights she actually kicked him out of bed because she wanted more room. Keith laughed incessantly when Cullen complained. Afterall, he recently went through the same thing. He considered it his duty to inflict upon Cullen as much torment as he received during Jaylyn's pregnancy.

Aislinn woke to the sound of needy growling in her ear. Cullen nuzzled the back of her neck, taking in her scent. She could feel his stiff length prodding at her from behind.

"Cullen," she breathed exhausted and annoyed. He wouldn't back off lately. She swatted at him trying to get him to back off.

This time he wasn't going to be dissuaded. "Piseagan, it's been weeks," he growled.

"And it's gonna be a couple more," Aislinn growled right back. She pulled the pillow she had taken to sleeping with, tight against her chest and rolled away from him.

Cullen got up and paced around the bed. He was torn between respecting her wishes and wanting to be close to her. "Maybe I'm trying to persuade you the wrong way."

"You're not persuading at all, you're demanding. Go back to sleep."

Aislinn shifted in the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position to sleep in. As she moved onto her back, she felt Cullen's hands on her ankles. Before she could grumble at him again, he leaned in and kissed her ankle.

Cullen knew Aislinn's cat too well. He kissed his way along her calf and up her inner thigh. Aislinn mewled a half-hearted protest. Still her legs fell apart willingly as Cullen worked his way toward her center. 

Frustration and desire warred in her head. Cullen's lips peppered gentle kisses along the dip between her sex and her leg. When his fingers parted her lips and he dragged his tongue slowly between, the purring began and Aislinn crumbled. 

Closing her eyes, Aislinn lifted her hips, pressing against his mouth as he sucked rhythmically on her clit. One finger tickled along her lips and dipped inside. Aislinn squirmed, as Cullen stroked inside her, finding the soft smooth spot on her inner walls that always brought her pleasure faster. He wanted his turn now that she was giving in.

Aislinn gasped and whimpered as she came. During her momentary lapse of cognoscente thought process, Cullen guided her onto her hands and knees. It was all he could do to keep his wolf in check as he entered her. It had been too long. Hell, a couple days is too long, he growled to himself. 

Losing some control to his wolf, Cullen's hands turned to claws and dug into Aislinn's hips. At first Cullen thought that the growling he heard was her argument to being handled a little too rough. It took all the fight he had to force his wolf back down and take a more gentle approach.

When Aislinn pushed him off, and rolled to her side holding her stomach fear smacked him in the face and his wolf whimpered, retreating to the recesses of his mind. "Aislinn? Did I hurt you? I'm calling Rhona." Cullen jumped up from the bed and grabbed his phone from the nightstand.

Guilt coursed through him. "Why the caoch didn't I listen to her? Why isn't Rhona answering," Cullen growled after only two rings.

A sleepy sounding voice on the other end of the line finally answered. "Lord Arnauk?"

"Rhona. It's Aislinn," he practically shouted into the phone.

"Calm down. I'm on the way."

Cullen didn't give her a chance to say anything else. He hung up and was at Aislinn's side. She was lying on her back, holding a hand to her stomach and staring at him with amusement. 

"Cullen," Aislinn said very patiently. "I'm fine. I have to use the bathroom and one of the twins kicked me wrong. That's all. Now call Rhona back and apologize for waking her up." She was near laughing at him.

Watching Aislinn walk to the bathroom, Cullen collapsed onto the bed. "Well I certainly feel the fool," he called after her.

Aislinn chuckled. "Just call Rhona back before—" A knock on the door was followed by Rhona walking into the main room. "Too late," she laughed.

Walking into the bedroom, Rhona found the pack Alpha lying naked on the bed. "Lord Arnauk? Where's Aislinn?" She instantly knew that she was dealing with an over reacting expectant father.

Cullen pointed to the bathroom. "I'm sure she'll be out in a minute. I'm sorry Rhona. Thank you for coming so quickly, though."

The bathroom door opened and Aislinn came out with a huge grin on her face. She briefly contemplated that it was only a short time ago when she would have been self conscious to be in front of another pack member naked. I've certainly come a long way, she thought.

Cullen smiled at her, sensing her feelings. He was glad she was taking to her role in the pack so readily. For the first time in decades life seemed to be operating in his favor.

"Hi Rhona, I'm fine." Aislinn moved back to the bed and kicked Cullen to make him move over.

Rhona nodded, taking note of the fresh claw marks on Aislinn's hips. "What were you two doing that scared Lord Arnauk so badly? As if I couldn't guess."

Cullen growled, when Aislinn chuckled. "Serves him right. He was after me all night. I kept telling him 'no.' Maybe this little scare will get me some peace for the rest of the pregnancy."

Crossing his arms, Cullen shot Aislinn a nasty glare. "Maybe I'll just get one of the eager young women in the common room to deal with my wolf until you're ready to put up with me again then."

"Are you threatening me?" Aislinn glared right back at him.

"Hey now," Rhona interrupted. "Far be it for me to take sides in an Alpha argument. I have to point out that sex isn't going to hurt anything. It may not be incredibly uncomfortable. But the babies would be fine. Aislinn's close enough at this point that should she have them tomorrow, it wouldn't be a problem."

Cullen shot Aislinn an I-told-you-so look.

"Good," she answered. "I'm glad there's no danger. Now go to sleep." She grinned and rolled over.

Shaking her head, Rhona left the room. "Next time, have Aislinn call me," she called over her shoulder, as she entered the elevator.

Cullen and Aislinn curled up together. Cullen pressed his body to hers, once again prodding her with his unsatisfied cock. It isn't fair, he thought at her.

Aislinn laughed out loud. It takes talent to whine in someone else's head, she thought back.

Sure, make fun. I'm the one who wanted to play and you're the only one who got anywhere.

Hush. I'll make it up to you after they're born. She kissed his hand that was holding hers.

Yeah, who knows how long that will be.

"Fine," Aislinn laughed. She pulled out of his arms and turned around to face him. "Lay back, you big baby."

Grinning from ear to ear, Cullen rolled onto his back and put his hands behind his head, propping himself up to watch. Aislinn sent a picture into his mind of her mouth wrapping around his needy shaft and he was instantly growling with anticipation.

Just as Aislinn made herself comfortable and moved toward his already dripping member, his cell rang.

Without even looking to see who was calling, Cullen grabbed the cell off the stand and threw it across the room. It hit the wall with a crunch and they both heard several pieces hitting the floor. Aislinn rolled onto her back laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

"Oh come on," Cullen growled pitifully. 

Suddenly Aislinn's phone rang. That stopped the laughter. Cullen reached over to Aislinn's side of the bed and picked up her phone. The number was new enough that very few people in the pack knew she had it. Cullen was already regretting getting it for her.

The frown on his face when he looked at the caller ID told Aislinn that their instincts had been right. Nothing good was on the other end of that line.

"Hello?"

"See, I knew that you being mated was a good thing. You're much easier to get a hold of now." Cadifor's distinct accent came through the line tinged with annoyance. "You couldn't have answered your own line?"

"It's currently out of commission. What's wrong?"

"How'd you guess something was wrong," Cadifor replied sarcastically.

"You never call about something good."

"I'm going to have to change that." Cadifor sighed heavily. "It's gotten worse."

"So you're not calling to tell me that you caught Jenna or Brennus or whatever the hell we're calling them." Cullen sat up in the bed and swung his legs over the side, anticipating that he would have to get dressed in relatively short order.

Cadifor growled angrily. It was a substantial blow to his pride that not only had they gotten away, but matters had become much worse. "No. She hasn't been apprehended. And an inside man I have tells me that the facility where the weres that Rafe created were being held was broken into last night. They've all been removed."

"By whom?"

"We don't know."

"When is the Council meeting," Cullen asked. He didn't need to be told that one was going to happen.

"Now."

"You're kidding? That's drastic. Even for an emergency situation. Since when do we jump this quickly?" The concern in Cullen's voice and emanating from him had Aislinn sitting up in bed.

"Since it looks like our government contacts are trying to hide something. We've never been great allies. But we've always been upfront. Or at least the Council thought."

Cullen growled under his breath. "Alright. I'll see you in the morning."

"You can't go," Aislinn said as Cullen hung up the phone.

"Aislinn," he leaned in and took her hand. Bringing her palm to his lips he placed a light kiss on her hand. "I don't have a choice. We have a problem."

"There will always be problems. No one's life is ever without problems. Can't someone else deal with this one? I want you with me when they're born," she placed a hand on her stomach. She didn't even bother to argue that she should go with him. She knew she wasn't up to it. She could barely walk.

"I want to be there too. Don't think for a moment that I don't. But this is our problem. The weres Rafe made might have escaped. I don't know the details, but this isn't something for someone else to clean up."

Tears in her eyes, Aislinn nodded. "I feel so helpless like this."

Cullen leaned in and kissed the tears away. "I'll be back soon. It's just a Council meeting. Don't worry."

"I know better than to believe you when you say that." She watched him get up and get dressed.

"Sometimes I hate not being able to hide things from you," he teased. One last kiss and Cullen was in the elevator on his way to the Council manor.

Aislinn lay down in the bed and closed her eyes. She had been avoiding having visions since their honeymoon. There was something in them that she didn't want to know. But now the uneasy feeling she had been hiding was overwhelming. 

She still wasn't very good at it. Aislinn breathed deeply, relaxing and opening her mind to the guidance of the Fates. She consciously cleared her thoughts so that she wouldn't appear to be asking for information. She only hoped that they showed her something relevant.

At first she didn't know if she was dreaming or in the middle of a vision. Aislinn was lying in a bed with her eyes closed. The only thing to tell her that something had changed was the feel of the room.

Opening her eyes, she found that she wasn't in her own bed. Sitting up she found herself in an asylum. With fear, she realized that she was in a straight jacket. To Aislinn's relief the scene shifted. She was watching a girl hide something. 

She's the one who was in the asylum, Aislinn thought. She tried to get a closer look and the scene blurred and shifted. "Caoch, I know better," she said to herself, trying to relax again. 

Suddenly the scene shifted and it wasn't about the girl anymore. Now she was standing in what appeared to be a vast vault or dungeon. She stared with confusion in all directions. There were rows and rows of cells. From the shadows inside the cells were hungry eyes, all staring at her. Aislinn's modesty returned as she realized that she was naked.

Feeling compelled to go to the end of the hall; she started walking in that direction. She shifted, feeling a little more comfortable covered in fur. The instant she did and her senses sharpened she almost vomited. The entire place reeked of death. Strangely, it was death on a level that her human senses couldn't detect. 

Choking back the bile she moved more quickly. At the end of the hall was a door like nothing she had ever seen. Covered in runes, tall and heavy, it was beautiful and terrifying all at once. And it was open. 

Aislinn started to move to go into the room and the scene shifted again. Somehow she knew that the only thing she was supposed to see was that the door was ajar. But that didn't stop her from wanting to know what was on the other side. And she wanted a closer look at the runes. What were they meant to do? Does a druid live in this place?

The active thought process was enough to bring an end to the vision. The last thing she saw as the vision closed was herself, standing in front of Jenna. Perhaps more frightening than anything she had seen or felt in the rest of the vision; Jenna was holding one of Aislinn's babies. The infant seemed dead in her arms.


Leaders of the Pack Ch. 01



Aislinn sat bolt upright in bed screaming and sobbing. 

If Keith hadn't been driving the large black SUV, it would have been turned around and Cullen would have been headed back to the Taigh-Oèsda. 

"I hate it when she has visions. The muin things are never pleasant." Cullen growled angrily.

"I already sent Jay to check on her," Keith said.

The minute Cullen sensed Aislinn's mind moving away from his, he knew she was having a vision. If the meeting hadn't been so important he would have gone back home right then. Instead Keith called Jaylyn and asked that she check on things.

"It could be worse," Keith suggested cheerily.

"How's that," Cullen growled, feeling a bad joke coming on.

"Could be raining," Keith grinned.

"That was bad even for you."

"You're not giving me much to work with here," he groused.

Cullen shook his head. When Jaylyn finally got to Aislinn it took several hours for Cullen to feel her begin to completely calm. By then he was half falling asleep in the car, anticipating the meeting he was going to be attending come morning. Aislinn had tried to convey to him the things she saw in the vision. But it was all disjointed and didn't make much sense. 

He had already learned that the visions could be real or symbolic. He didn't know how to interpret it. He was frustrated that he suddenly had so many upsetting things to think about during what should be an exceedingly happy time in his life.

"Did Aislinn dream up anything helpful?" Keith couldn't help his curiosity.

"I'm sure it was intended to be helpful. Unfortunately, it seems that her muin visions never help until after the fact."

"Yeah well at least now we know enough to pay attention."

"Sure, keep an eye out for Jenna and a great big door with runes on it," Cullen groused. "I'm willing to bet that I would have noticed either of those things without a warning."

*******************

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Leaders of the Pack Ch. 02



I know this has been a long time in coming. I do apologize, but with school and work... there just hasn't been enough time. I do fully intend to finish this story however. Just like before, remember, these chapters are only first drafts, see my bio for more information. Don't write me about grammar, but if you have plot suggestions or comments, please send me anything you like to say! The future chapters should be closer in posting. I'm already on Chapter 3... I hope this story lives up to the wait!





"I always thought the view of the city from this window seemed rather desolate. Everything's so far away, you can't really see the life there. In a dead way it reminds me of the night sky. All black with lights, but the twinkle is gone. I see it as ironic that people find cityscapes which are only long expanses of bright gleaming lights beautiful. So many lights that you can't see the stars. We stopped looking at the night sky and tried to build it on the ground. All the while drowning out the possibility of seeing the real thing." Mira turned around to take a good look at the girl who had caused so much trouble.

Natalie was that standard freckled pale that goes so well with fiery red hair. Her thin body trembled, even in the warmth of the room. She rocked slightly as she stared at the floor. They did a number on you didn't they, Mira thought with sympathy. "You look frightened."

Deep brown eyes turned up toward Mira. "Shouldn't I be?" Natalie couldn't explain the feelings that the strange woman evoked. She felt both safe and nervous to the point of wanting to run and hide. 

"Truly it's up to you. I would be lying to say that there was no need for you to be frightened here. You have something that we need to reclaim and it's important enough to put you in some danger."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Natalie's eyes fell back to the carpet.

Mira smiled gently. "I'm not going to threaten you. I'm only going to ask. Where is the tape and film? I want every copy you created. Anything you may have written and names of anyone you spoke to."

"I don't have anything," Natalie whimpered. "There was nothing there to tape. I don't know what you're talking about."

Mira couldn't decide if Natalie was lying or not. "You sound as though you're trying to convince yourself more than me of that."

Glazed brown eyes met Mira's stare with an impressively steady gaze. Few people in this age were capable of direct eye contact with her. "There was nothing to tape," Natalie responded vehemently. 

The combination of tone and eye contact was nearly enough to convince Mira that the girl was telling the truth. The only problem was that the girl had previously told an entirely different story. Mira was positive that Natalie had seen something. The Feds appeared to think that a tape was in existence somewhere. "I would truly love to believe that. So tell me why you convinced the Feds that you have something on tape if you didn't see anything."

Natalie's eyes fell to the carpet and she began rocking back and forth in the chair.

Approaching her, Mira tried to sound reassuring. "It's okay, I don't want to harm you in any way." That much was true. Mira didn't want to hurt her. Whether or not she was going to was entirely dependent on Natalie's cooperation though. Mira sighed and put a gentle hand on Mira's shoulder. "Calm down and take your time, think carefully about what you say. I need you to tell me what you did with the tape that the government is looking for."

Knocking drew Mira's attention to the door and she crossed the room to open it. Another urgent knock rapped on the door before she had a chance to open it. Pulling the door wide open she leveled an annoyed look on the man who had interrupted her conversation. "What is it Trey?"

Natalie recognized the large dark haired man from her supposed rescue standing there. Her stomach ached a little with remembrance of the man's shoulder. She didn't know if she should be grateful for the rescue or annoyed that he had taken her from her quiet white solitude to another set of interrogations. I wonder where these guys will put me when they're done.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," the man answered in a gravelly baritone voice. Natalie considered that the reverberating sound was oddly comforting. "The lycan Council is holding a meeting. They know about the break in and the missing patients. The Feds are making them nervous and now they have the Circle working with them. There is cause for concern."

"How much information do they actually have," Mira asked with quiet consideration.

"Neither side knows enough about our organization individually to be a problem. To date they've all assumed that when we've interrupted something one was doing, it was the other. Now they have a chance to compare notes and a reason to start the conversation. It's hard to guess what conclusions they may arrive at based on what they know." Trey trailed off in an insinuatory tone, shrugging his shoulders.

Mira nodded. "Now that they're working together they may figure us out. That would be unfortunate. I truly did not want to get involved in any side at this point. Anonymity has too many benefits." She sighed heavily and looked back at Natalie with annoyance. If not for the invention of cameras. I would love to go back in time and do something about that. "All right. Do whatever you have to do to keep the damage to a minimum. The Circle may be more easily dealt with than the Council. I want to know what happens in that Council meeting before they actually come to any decisions. The last thing we need is for the lycans to mess things up even more than they already have. I want some insight as to whether or not making a contact within the Council or the Circle may be a necessary evil at this point. Does Luther have any more information?"

Trey shook his head. "The Feds aren't cracking this time. The best we know right now is the same as before. They think they have a lead. They seem to be picking apart her last days of freedom systematically. They've questioned all her friends and relatives. They've moved on to minor associations, classmates, coworkers. They've pulled in all the members of the staff at the rag where she works and have been trying to weasel out her contacts. They've retraced her steps as best they can and torn apart every building she set foot in. From what we can tell, they've come up empty handed. At least we assume so, cuz they're still looking."

Natalie knew that they were talking about her. Who else could it be? Rag, she thought with annoyance, no one ever takes fringe reporting seriously. Maybe I shouldn't either. Just when she started to think that her brain had abandoned her, pieces of information started to click into place in her mind. From the way they're talking they must not be with any branch of the government. Well, duh, Natalie, she thought at herself, they wouldn't have broken me out of there if they were. Not to mention the word "lycan" being dropped repeatedly. But if people are still looking for my tapes then maybe I'm not insane. "Don't do that," she whispered at herself. "The minute you start talking crazy again, it's back in the strait jacket." Natalie wrapped her arms around herself protectively and hunched down in the chair.

A sudden hand on her shoulder made her jump. "I'm not going to put you in a strait jacket."

Natalie hadn't realized that Mira moved away from the door. It was closed again and Trey was gone. 

"I want you to know that a great many lives are depending on getting the information you have on those tapes. It's more important than you realize."

Pulling away from Mira's hand Natalie virtually fell to the floor and backpedaled away from her. "No. You don't realize. There's nothing. I didn't tape anything. I don't know what you want. I just want to go home." Tears streamed down Natalie's face. That's it, her mind said, racing, stick to your story. That's the only way. They'll have to let you go when they figure out that you're worthless to them. Worthless. 

Mira walked back to the window. "This is going to be a long night."

Natalie couldn't help the chill that went down her spine at thecomment..

* * * *

Tired and hungry, Jenna stared up at the dilapidated, blinking neon vacancy sign. The motel behind it beckoned. Not long ago Jenna would have seen this place as being so far beneath her, she wouldn't have considered staying anywhere on the same street. Now she stumbled across the muddy lot toward the rotting building as a thirsty beggar at a desert oasis. She was hungry, tired, and had nowhere to go. All of her contacts had been exhausted and her relatives refused to acknowledge her. Everywhere she stopped Cadifor showed up shortly thereafter. She was praying that she could get one lousy night of peace in a bed. Any bed. Even a bed here.

Soft lustful sighing distracted Jenna. For the moment, she forgot that her father's soul was sharing her mind and body. Sex was generally the only thing that Jenna obsessed over more than power. But she hadn't had a bed in weeks, let alone someone to share it with. 

Brennus's disgust at his daughter's thoughts emanated through her body. Their joining had been the traditional euphemist double edged sword. Thanks to Brennus's death and Jenna's desire to save him trapping his soul in her body, they had come to know and understand each other better than any father and daughter ever should.

Jenna now understood that Brennus had truly only ever wanted her happiness and truly loved her unconditionally. Brennus now knew that he never managed to bring her to understand that and all of her behavior had been a cry for him to be proud of her. Those realizations, a long time in coming, were now outweighed by the sheer quantity of truths that neither ever wanted the other to know. 

Jenna now recognized where her desire for power came from and that her willingness to do whatever it takes to keep it was also a family tradition. The only difference being that Brennus aged and came to understand that true power also needs temperance if it is to be kept. That lesson he learned the hard way. Now it was Jenna's turn and she wasn't managing as well as he did.

Brennus, for his part, had come to understand any number of things about his daughter that he wished he never knew. The one that currently was causing the most issues was her streak of lust. Another trait she inherited from him, but one he wanted to know nothing about. Jenna snuck around the side of the motel headed toward the sounds of sex. There was no point in going into the office, considering she had no cash left and she knew that if she used her credit card, she would be found. 

Turning the corner, Jenna found a man standing with his back against the motel wall. An emaciated woman with dirty blonde hair and tracks on both arms was on her knees in front of him. She had a bored look on her face as she sucked rhythmically on his cock. Jenna stood mesmerized, feeling warmth begin to pool between her legs. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Brennus was growling in disgust at his daughter's interest in the filthy hooker and her John. 

The pair reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. When the man noticed Jenna watching he flashed her a toothless grin and beckoned her over. When she hesitated, he produced a grimy wad of bills and waved it at her. 

Jenna took a step toward the pair, only to feel her legs resisting as Brennus attempted to override her will. I want to sleep in a bed tonight, she mentally growled at him, forcing her father back to the recesses of her mind. He wasn't willing to acknowledge that a part of her just wanted to suck off this guy in the alley. 

The girl who was already working on the guy didn't seem to care as Jenna joined her. Lost to her pent up desire, Jenna took turns sucking on the stranger's cock. Her hand found its way between her legs and she rubbed her clit as she worked on the guy with her mouth. Brennus at least had enough control to force Jenna to back off as the guy started to groan, all too quickly, and sprayed cum across the other girl's lips and chin.

When the guy fell to his knees as if the orgasm had been something special, trying to recover, Jenna grabbed the cash out of his hand. When the girl tried to protest Jenna taking off with all the money, Jenna backhanded her hard enough to force her to the ground next to the guy.

If you only wanted to rob them, you could have done that without degrading yourself, Brennus' voice rebuked in the back of Jenna's mind.

When I want your opinion, father, I will ask for it. Jenna walked into the motel office, paid for a room and turned down another trick on her way out of the office. Once in her room, Jenna stripped down and climbed into the shower. She felt like she hadn't been clean in months, though it had only been a couple weeks since her last shower. Admittedly, all the running from Cadifor had been the main cause of the multiple layers of soil on her clothing. Still, she missed her garden tub, her Jacuzzi, her swimming pool; everything she had owned with water in it.

She took her time in the shower and then drying herself, enjoying every minute of the simple pleasure and considering all the things she used to take for granted. Jenna filled the tub with water again and threw her dirty clothes in with what was left of the half used complimentary bar of soap that had been on the sink. She did her best to clean the majority of grime from her jeans and shirt. In the middle of lamenting having a lack of a clean change of clothes, her cell phone rang. Jenna hadn't actually answered it since she started running. The battery was all but dead. She was almost afraid to pick it up. 

Cadifor could have gotten your number, Brennus warned.

So what if he did. There's no GPS on it.

There are ways.

Jenna grabbed the phone up, partially because she knew her father didn't want her to answer it. Well then it doesn't matter if I find out who might be calling. They're probably already on their way and this is a warning that I'd be better off to wait and give in.

You underestimate Cadifor. That can be added to your list of mistakes to date.

Is there anything you believe I can do right?

Brennus didn't bother to continue the argument. He knew that it wouldn't do any good.

Jenna flipped the phone open violently. "Hello?"

A husky voice on the other end of the line didn't bother with pleasantries or introductions. "I might be able to help you."

"Who is this," Jenna asked cautiously.

"It doesn't matter. You want somewhere safe to stay? Where the lycan Council can't touch you?"

Jenna paused. Of course she did, but she didn't recognize the number on the caller ID or the voice. Still she had no one to trust and was out of options. "I'm listening."

"The Council and the Circle are having a meeting. I need it stopped."

Now Jenna knew it wasn't Cadifor. He would never come in between the Council and the Circle's new friendship. "How?"

"That's up to you. When I hear that the meeting didn't happen, I'll call you back."

Before Jenna could say anything else there was a click on the line. She immediately tried to redial the number, but there was no answer. By the third attempt her phone completely died.

Pacing back and forth across the room, Jenna mulled over her options. I'm not going anywhere near the Council and I don't really know where the Circle is. Even if I did what would I be able to do to stop a Council meeting?

Brennus waited patiently for her to decide that she should ask him for an opinion. She stubbornly refused to talk directly to him. Finally he gave up waiting for her to ask for help. 

I can't believe you're taking this phone call so seriously when you don't even know who it was or what the motivation might be. I would assume that it's someone either trying to flush you out, suggesting that you go somewhere near the Council is suicide. Or it's someone trying to use you for their own purposes. Either way I'm fairly sure that if you believe you'll actually get somewhere by following such a ludicrous suggestions as to attempt stopping a Council meeting, you're more likely to end up dead than anything else. Not to mention that if you mess with the Council further, the chances that you'll ever be able to resume your standing as a pack Alpha will be even more lost than they already are.

Father, in case you haven't noticed, there will be no resuming my position with the pack Council. Either it's into hiding for the rest of my existence or find a way to bring down the Council.

There was a long silence in Jenna's mind. Neither Brennus or Jenna could believe what she was actually thinking.

It's not possible to bring down the pack Council. It's been in place too long, has too many ancients running it, and too many resources at its disposal. You have nothing. Brennus was starting to think that his daughter was insane.

Jenna approached the bathroom mirror and stared at her reflection as if she was looking another person in the eyes. Nothing is impossible. 

* * * *

Cullen continued to debate whether he should be turning around and heading back to the Taigh-Osda or not. Aislinn's uneasy feeling had never gone away. As faint as it may be at this distance, Cullen could still feel her anxiety and fear for their unborn children. The one thing he did decide was that regardless of what the Council needed, there had to be a way of doing it from Aislinn's side. He wasn't about to let anything happen to her.

Keith turned up the dirt road that led to the Council manor. The large black SUV bumping along only added an extra dimension to Cullen's upset. He had never been so unhappy to see the manor looming on the mountain side. Immense and imposing, stone work made the manor look like it had been imported from some bad horror flick. Too new to look like a legitimate castle, it had all the trappings of modern society. From the heated stone floors to the Jacuzzis in the suite bathrooms, it was more like a luxury resort than anything else. Not that you could that from the outside. 

Keith pulled into the parking area, which was really just an open field, and parked next to the array of other vehicles that were scattered about the clearing. Both men got out of the truck, slamming their doors shut behind themselves and walked silently up the stone pathway to the manor. 

This was Keith's first visit to the manor. Normally Cullen dealt with Council matters on his own. But in this case there was the potential for too much that would need Keith's special expertise. Cullen wasn't about to admit that whatever the Council wanted, his mind would be split, considering Aislinn, and he needed Keith to keep himself on track.

Keith opened the door for Cullen and followed him into the huge building, playing the dutiful second. Gaping at the vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, tapestries and carved woodwork, Keith was only more amazed at the vast array of people he saw walking the halls. Not knowing which of the men and women were ancient Council members and which were merely part of the Council entourage, Keith thought it best to remain a step behind and to the left of Cullen. There was something reassuring in keeping his place obvious in these surroundings. 

Cullen grinned reassuringly over his shoulder at his best friend. "I don't know of any lycan who could come into this place and not be a little intimidated. Though, I have to admit, I find it funny to see that you do know your place. I may never have guessed it outside of here."

Keith smirked. "Yeah well I'm not fool enough to give you too hard of a time in front of the Council. But rest assured that I'll make up for it when we get out of here."




Leaders of the Pack Ch. 02



"I'm counting on it," Cullen smiled back. As they rounded a corner at the top of the main stairwell, Cullen spotted Cadifor. He stood with several larger men and still managed to appear head and shoulders over them as he argued vehemently for some point that Cullen couldn't hear. 

Cadifor growled angrily as Cullen approached. "You can't seriously believe they're telling us the truth. At the very least they're holding back information if not outright lying."

"We've not been given any reason to doubt their veracity to date," came a superior tone. The man speaking was tall and thin, lanky, with curly dark hair and glazed green eyes. He almost sounded bored with the conversation, in sharp contrast to Cadifor's vehemence.

"By virtue of being the human federal government I have reason to doubt not only their veracity," Cadifor responded with mocking emphasis, "but their motivation, intent, and appearance. The only reason I've ever worked with them is out of necessity. And in each of those instances I watched my back carefully. I have no doubt that they would turn on us in an instant if they believed it to their advantage or that they had any hope of coming out of the confrontation in a superior standing."

A pale fat man with sausage-like fingers wrapped around an overly elegant goblet nodded and added. "Although I tend to agree, Cadifor, I don't believe we have sufficient cause to move at this point." Cadifor started to respond but the man held up his hand, stopping the interruption. "I'm not saying that is how I'll vote," he continued, staring hard at the snide looking curly haired man who had spoken before. "I'm only reserving judgment until the last of our information comes in. We're still waiting on some people."

"Not to mention the Circle has yet to add their voice to the mix." The fourth man speaking had a voice much deeper than appeared appropriate for a man his size. "I don't personally like the way they hold their information until they believe we've nothing more to tell them. I'm not comfortable always being the first to 'share'."

That seemed to be a comment that everyone standing there could agree on. Cadifor sighed heavily. "It's their way. I don't believe they're trying to assert any kind of position. They've always felt it necessary to have all the facts before speaking."

The curly haired man couldn't help but add, "Some might think it only intelligent to consider all information before jumping to loudly vocalized opinions."

Cadifor glared openly at the man and turned to Cullen. "I don't believe you've all met Arnauk." He gestured to the curly haired man first, subtly telling Cullen that this was one he needed to remember. "Kyran Jerrard." Then he turned to a man standing in the shadows who had not spoken. "Donnchadh Balfour." The man nodded respectfully at Cullen but remained silent. "Rollo Ganger," Cadifor said gesturing to the fat man. "And Festus Quirinus," he finished with the deep voiced lycan. "If I had a second it would be Arnauk," Cadifor said to the other men. The comment earned Cullen a more measuring consideration from the group of Councilmen. 

"I've heard of you Arnauk." The man with the sausage fingers said with a strange grin.

"We've all heard of Arnauk, Rollo," Kyran seethed, rolling his eyes. "It's hard to miss a lycan who mates a druid cross breed." 

Cullen stood a bit taller at the obvious derision in the man's comment. "I consider myself lucky to have found a match in such a powerful woman."

Although, in and of itself, Cullen's comment wasn't overtly confrontational, the fact that he had responded at all to a Councilman was more than could be said for most lycans. Keith shifted uncomfortably.

Cadifor stood a bit taller in silent support as Kyran and Cullen stared coldly at each other. "He's been spending too much time in your company Cadifor."

"I take that as compliment," Cullen responded, never breaking eye contact with Kyran. Just when the men were thinking they would never be able to leave the hallway because neither Cullen nor Kyran were willing to be the first to break eye contact, nearly all the cell phones in the building went off at once. 

Pulling out his cell Cadifor read the simple text, "Nora Senach dead. Meeting delayed."



Leaders of the Pack Ch. 03



No sex in this one guys, just letting you know. More of that later. • 

*

Exhausted and frustrated, Mira stared at Natalie. The girl held out admirably against her questioning. Strength can be an annoying trait in people I need information from. "Natalie, is there any way I can possibly impress upon you the necessity of your cooperation without making your existence as unhappy as the last group of people you spoke to?"

Natalie was truly uncertain how to take that question. "I think you've made it pretty clear where you stand with me."

"You know, the part I find ironic," Mira asked, trying a new angle. "You spent months trying to convince your previous captors that you had seen werewolves and vampires. Now. Here you are. Seated in front of a woman who already believes you saw exactly what you were claiming, and you're denying all of it."

Shifting uncomfortably in the chair, Natalie busied herself with staring at her feet or the floor; anything that wasn't Mira's face. 

"I know they hurt you. I know they made your life hell for months. I don't want to do that too. But I promise you, if you push me to that point you will find that my versions of torture are far worse than anything you dealt with in that asylum. You see, in the end they didn't have as much to lose as I do. And they weren't convinced you were telling the truth. I on the other hand have complete reports of everything you told them and not only do I believe you, but due to some minor things you said, I can't ignore you."

Natalie looked up at Mira finally. The cold fear that flowed through her was no longer tempered by the gentle tone in Mira's voice. 

"Natalie, if you don't give me what I want, you may end up dead. Not in an asylum or a nice white padded room anywhere. I want you to think about that for a little while. I have other matters to attend to. Right now, I'm going to send you to a nice room where you will be fed and allowed to get a bath and some rest. When we talk again I hope you will be more cooperative."

Mira reached for the phone on her desk with the intent of calling a servant to escort Natalie to a room when a heavy knock echoed through the room. Mira knew that it was Trey before she ever got there. He had a knock all his own.

Opening the door, Mira found her second standing with an annoyed look on his face. "I don't think I want to know what's causing your stormy expression. I'm too tired right now."

"Sorry," he growled and pushed his way past Mira into the room. 

Mira closed the door and leaned back against the wall next to it. "Make it quick."

Hearing the annoyed tone in her voice, Trey decided to just tell her.

"We don't really have enough information to figure out who yet. But someone assassinated Nora Senach."

Closing her eyes, Mira began rubbing her temples. "You're kidding."

"I wish I was." Trey looked over at Natalie. "I guess you don't have the information you wanted from her yet either. If you need help with that," Trey started, his eyes shifting to a molten gold as he stared at Natalie.

As tired as Natalie was, she still managed a solid glare at Trey. Knowing that he was trying to scare her only made it come easier. He grinned back at her defiance. 

Shaking her head, Mira walked back to her desk. "Enough Trey. Take her to her room and make sure someone gets her something to eat. Leave her alone until I tell you I need you."

Trey nodded to Mira and went back to what he was saying before Natalie distracted him. "Luther is looking into the matter of Nora Senach, but no one is talking. He can't decide if it's because they're that scared to say anything or if it's because they don't know anything."

"I wanted the meeting stopped but not like this. Am I right in assuming that the Council meeting isn't going to happen?"

"Yes and no. Remember, there's Aislinn. We're still watching to see how the Council handles the problem. And either way they can have their own little meeting if they want."

Mira sighed. "The damn lycans are too intelligent, you never know what they're going to figure out."

Smirking, Trey nodded. "I have a few favors I can call in."

"Not until we know what you'll be asking for. Just take her to her room for now."

With an amused grin parting his lips, Trey walked over to Natalie. Her knees pulled up to her chest, she sat with her feet on the edge of her seat and her arms wrapped around her knees. Glaring vehemently at him as he approached, Natalie sat farther down in the chair as if she could keep him from taking her out of it by will power alone.

It was all Trey could do to keep from laughing at the way she stared so defiantly at him. "Do you actually think you can stop me from following my orders?"

Coming quickly to the conclusion that it would be stupid to resist being taken to a nice warm bed and food, Natalie stood up voluntarily as if that had been her intention all along. "I wouldn't dream of making your job difficult."

Smiling, Trey gave a little bow, indicating that she should walk in the direction of the door, then followed along behind Natalie as she led the way out. Trey nodded respectfully to Mira as he closed the door behind them.

Arms crossed over her chest and stomach aching with remembrance of her last encounter with the large tattooed man in front of her, she couldn't help the unhappy looks she kept giving him.

"I don't know if my feelings should be hurt or not," he teased as he turned down the hall and led Natalie through the mansion. 

For the first time since she had gotten there, she had a good look around. The place was beautifully decorated. It didn't look like the kind of place where people got tortured. It all seemed to have come out of the renaissance. Carved wooden arches framed hallway entrances, tall thick brocade curtains covered all the windows, oil paintings hung ceremoniously precise in alcoves and gargoyles stared back at Natalie from corners and above doorways. 

"So you're not going to talk to me now," Trey asked, noticing her scrutiny of the decor. Mira wasn't concerned about the girl. At least not in the sense that anything should be hidden from her. It had already been decided that she wasn't going to be able to return to her human life. They didn't know what was going to happen to her exactly, after all of this. That would depend on the decisions she made. 

Natalie continued to remain silent as she followed Trey to her room. He made too many turns and she was too tired to be capable of keeping track of how to get back to where they'd come from. What the hell am I thinking? Why would I want to get back to that damn office? I need to know the way out, she thought. But there was no indication from any of the directions they went in, or from the look of any of the doors or halls they passed of where the exit might be. The few open windows Natalie noticed only told her that they were far from the city and very high up.

"Well here it is," he said, finally opening a door and ushering Natalie in. "There isn't a lock. We don't need one. You leave this room and we'll find you." 

Oddly there was no threat in his voice, it all sounded matter-of-fact, as though he was merely giving her a friendly piece of information. Confusion coursed through Natalie. She had no idea what to think of all this. "Does any of it really matter?"

"What do you mean?"

"So if I told that woman everything she wants to hear, and she goes and finds whatever she thinks she's looking for or doesn't find it, then what?"

Trey sighed, "I honestly don't know."

"How likely am I to end up dead no matter what I say? Will I ever get home?" Tears began to run down her cheeks from unblinking eyes.

I hate it when women cry, Trey thought. Backing Natalie into her room he guided her to sit down on the bed and brought her a tissue from the box on the end stand next to the head of the bed. "Look, no one will hurt you if you cooperate. That's what she said wasn't it?"

"And I'm just supposed to believe that? Why? Because you're the m swiped her face. She thought she had run out of tears months ago.

Trey paced away from her and then paced back. "To tell you the truth, you may or may not be able to leave. But, you seemed to take a good look around on your way here. Would it be so bad to be stuck her for a little while? No straight jackets, no lights, no drugs. Just not leaving."

She thought about that for a minute. Shaking her head, "If you were told that you were getting a life sentence in the most beautiful prison in existence what would you think about that?"

"Yeah, a prison is still a prison."

"Yeah."

"It's hard to say what might be able to be worked out if you give her what she wants. But I can tell you that she'll get the information one way or another. She doesn't have a choice. We need to know where the tapes you took out of that fight went."

"I know, lives depend on it. She told me," Natalie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sure that I can't say anything to you that she hasn't already said. So I won't bother trying to convince you of anything."

As Trey turned to leave, Natalie realized that she was going to end up alone again. It had been so long since she had contact with anyone, she hadn't realized that there was a small part of her that didn't care what they did to her, as long as they didn't leave her alone again. "Wait," she blurted, as he reached for the door.

Turning back toward her, he couldn't help but hear the note of desperation in that last word. It was totally different from the attitude that permeated the rest of what she said that night. "What?"

Staring at his strange face, Natalie's brain raced for something to talk about, anything to talk about. "What are your tattoos supposed to be," she asked suddenly.

"I don't think any woman in the history of women I've known has ever been quite as confused as you are. I'm going to let you slide on the likelihood that the Feds knocked a number of screws loose in your head. Relax, I'll send someone with food eventually," he said, putting more emphasis on the word 'eventually' than Natalie liked.

"So you're not going to tell me?" Natalie stood up and looked as though she might stop him bodily from going out the door.

Trey started to feel like he may have some leverage that Mira hadn't possessed during the prior questioning. But you'll have to be careful about it, he warned himself. "Why? You wanna get some just like it?" He reached for the handle on the door again, just to see what she would do.

"Maybe," Natalie squeaked and took a couple more steps. Stop caring so much, she told herself. Alone isn't so bad. You can think when you're alone. That's what I'm afraid of, she answered herself. "I only thought that they looked weird. Whoever did it, didn't do a very good job."

Trey grinned; he knew exactly why she said that. "Oh?"

"They're all smooshed together. Like your face was squished after it was done." Suddenly a thought occurred to her, as he stood there grinning wider and wider. "Your face did change after it was done, didn't it?"

Trey scratched his chin and chuckled, "get some rest Natalie. You're going to need it." He reached for the door again.

This time the couple steps she took put her in front of him and she grabbed his wrist. Trey could feel her trembling, as her small fingers dug into his arm. "Seriously, you're a," she started but couldn't finish.

"So what if I am?" His eyes bored into her. Molten gold, flooded the brown and he waited for a reaction.

Fighting her impulse to pull her hand away, she stared hard at him, searching for the right answer that would get her out of this nightmare. "How do I know I'm not having some bad dream? What if the Feds have drugged me up and are playing more mind games? What if I'm still in that cell and I'm hallucinating? What if-"

"Whoa, slow down." Trey took her by hand and led her back to the bed, barely managing to coax her into sitting back down. "This would be a pretty weird hallucination, don't you think?"

"I would have thought that all hallucinations are weird."

"Okay, good point," he said. "What do you want me to tell you?"

"I don't know," Natalie responded angrily. "I don't know what to think about anything anymore. One day I'm going along, working, everything's sane and rational. Then the next day all the things in science fiction, horror flicks, and the recent romance with non-human things craze are all real life. Am I really supposed to believe I'm currently talking to a werewolf?"

"Lycan," he answered.

"What?"

"The PC term is lycan."

"You can't be serious."

"Hey, our world has its politics, same as yours." Trey was measuring her. At least she was referring to the fight she taped as real instead of denying seeing it. That was progress.

"So prove it," Natalie dared. "I want to see it with my own eyes."

"I thought you already had."

"It was dark and I was looking through a camera. That's more different from seeing up close than you might imagine."

"Tell me where the tapes are."

"You show me that I'm not insane and I'll take you to the tapes personally," Natalie growled right back.

Trey stood up and walked over to stand in front of the door. He didn't want her freaking out and bolting after he shifted. He thought for a moment trying to decide which form would be least intimidating. Finally he decided that he would be better off taking the hybrid form. At least that way I can talk back if I have to.

Taking a deep breath, Trey rolled his head back and forth across his shoulders a couple times. Natalie heard it crack, as he shook his shoulders and seemed to stretch, like some athlete getting ready for the big event. Natalie brought her hand to her mouth, partially to stifle the scream as Trey's body began to grow in all directions. Hair covered him, his face elongated; the tattoos seemed to flow into perfect patterns that followed the line of a wolven muzzle.

It was all she could do to keep from fainting as the lycan took his final form, standing there in front of her. Natalie could feel her heart racing and she couldn't slow her breathing. As the room started to go black, she heard a strangely slurred voice growling, "SSShit, ssshez faintinggg." 





Leaders of the Pack Ch. 03



The obvious concern in Cullen's voice at the last piece of information had everyone in the room uncomfortable. Makeda approached Cullen from the corner of the room where she had been standing apart from the situation and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure they will all be fine," she softly reassured.

As the group mulled over what Cullen had said, understanding why he had been dubious about the information's usefulness, one of Rollo's men cleared his throat. "Everyone keeps talking about the 'government facility' that was broken into. Any chance it was an asylum?"

Considering stares were exchanged by Cadifor and Rollo. Cullen was ready to kick himself. He was so worried about the last part of the vision and so used to Aislinn's information not being important until it was too late, that he didn't even consider the possibility that the 'government facility' might be the asylum in Aislinn's dream.

Cadifor turned his intense stare back to Cullen. "So we need all the details about the part of the vision concerning this asylum."

Cullen shook his head. "There isn't any more than that. If the asylum that was in Aislinn's vision is the facility that was broken into, then I would say that the real problem with that situation is that we're on the wrong track. Whoever broke in there wasn't after the weres, they were after this girl that Aislinn saw. Maybe the weres were collateral. Allowed to escape to distract from the real purpose of the break in."

Rollo went back to tapping his large hand on the table. "So we need to consider one more thing in addition to everything else."

Maybe not, Cadifor suggested. "I have to wonder if the reason our meeting was interrupted was because someone doesn't want the Circle and the Council jointly exploring whatever happened at the facility. Everything at the moment points to the NSA."

Rollo shook his head. "Why would the NSA break into their own facility?"

"No," Cullen interrupted. "They didn't break into their own facility. Someone else broke in. A faction that we're not currently seeing."

Cadifor and Rollo both gave Cullen a confused and dubious stare that he may have found humorous had the situation been different.

"Just consider," Cullen continued, trying to put his thoughts in order as he spoke. "They had someone in custody that we didn't know about. The only reason we got involved was because one of our problems got out of the same place that this girl was being held in. From all the involvement we've had with the Circle recently, we know that they wouldn't attempt a break in. If one of theirs was captive, then they would have waited for the Fates to play out the situation. And from what we could tell from our government contacts when dealing with Aislinn's heritage, the government doesn't know about the Circle. So whoever the girl was must have been important to someone else. But who else could be in play in this situation? And the real question would be, why do they not want the Circle and the Council comparing notes. Someone out there knows about us, even though we don't know about them. Not inconceivable, considering that the druids were in that spot until recently. I have to wonder how many weird groups are out there keeping tabs on us that we don't apparently know about."

"Okay," Rollo responded. "Not a completely outrageous theory, but still a bit of a stretch. We still have too many questions. Why do we even care about this girl? Our original intent was merely to get our own escapes under control before the human populous gets a few too many clues as to our existence."

"I can't tell you that," Cullen said sitting back in his chair.

Cadifor breathed heavily and sat down in his own chair. "I would move on and say that we have more important matters to deal with. But, Rollo," he added with emphasis, "we have learned that disregarding Aislinn's insight ends up being a bad idea in the end. We may not know what this girl has to do with anything yet. But we should probably find out."

"Cadifor, if any other man suggested it, I may ignore him. I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything to look into it. But not at the expense of any of the other things that need done. First we need to put things right with the Circle."

"We could be playing right into the hands of whoever set this up," Cadifor answered.

"I think we're going to have to risk that."





Leaders of the Pack Ch. 04



I used the robot submission option when I submitted this, because it was taking too long to post... Unfortunately it doesn't reflect italics and I use italics to denote thought. If it's too confusing then let me know and I won't do it again. 

*

As the door closed, Mira's phone rang. "What now," she moaned tiredly as she picked up the receiver. "Yes?" She instantly recognized Luther's voice on the other end of the line.

"Milady, some news."

"I assumed that, Luther," Mira responded, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Apparently not noticing her tone, Luther continued. "A few of the cross breeds we took out of the asylum are missing."

"That was the last thing I wanted to hear right now. How long?"

"Unknown. They were left in their rooms. We're not positive how they got out let alone when."

"Luther," Mira fumed, "you're head of security. Are you telling me that security couldn't handle a few random weres?"

"I wouldn't put it like that. It's not as if we haven't had our hands full. You sent us to find out what was going on with the Circle and the Council. How many men do you think you have?" 

Mira found the flat affect in Luther's tone on occasion infuriating. "I'm assuming you're checking the cameras and questioning the servants?"

"We already did. Nothing."

"How?"

"I don't know. Orders?"

At that moment it was a good thing Luther was on the other end of a phone line. "The same as before. But get me some muin answers this time. If you hadn't previously proven yourself to me Luther, you would be in serious danger right now."

"I realize that," Luther admitted. 

Hanging up the phone, Mira knew that Luther was more upset with having to give her that information than she was in taking what he said. But that didn't help her growing upset. 

* * * *

Sarah struggled against the silk binding her naked body, face down, on the four poster bed. Searing heat burned the sensitive skin on her buttocks as Drake dripped hot wax from one of the strategically placed candles over her flesh. Drake took his time torturing her flesh. 

Placing a large sliver of ice on his tongue he leaned down and kissed her heated skin. The sudden contrast of cold burned almost worse than the wax, as Drake's mouth trailed kisses across her sensitive skin, over her cheeks, and down her inner thigh. He was working her over especially hard this evening; taking revenge for her spending so much time in the office in Cullen's absence. Sarah growled appreciatively as Drake's warm tongue finally delved between her slick pink folds and into her pussy. 

Drake accepted his position in their relationship a long time ago. When they first met, it wasn't easy for him to deal with the fact that he had fallen in love with the woman who was effectively the alpha female in the Arnauk pack. It didn't matter that she would never mate with Cullen. The problem was that technically she ranked higher than he did.

After numerous arguments, Drake decided that he loved her too much to let his ego get in the way. Besides, he was the only man in the pack who was able to bend Sarah over and make her moan. Every time he was feeling a little inferior, he grabbed her by the hair and worked his frustrations through on her body.

Sarah accepted their sexual dynamic with more enthusiasm than he ever her too. For all the strength she showed in public, she seemed to crave the submission once they were in private. And Drake got to assuage his own ego with the pleasure of finding new and inventive ways to dominate her. Though, they did seem to come back to the wax and ice fairly often.

Grateful for the onslaught of warring sensations on her body, Sarah turned her brain off momentarily and focused on the anticipation of what he was going to do next. 

Squealing with surprise, Sarah fought her bonds when Drake dumped half the bowl of ice onto the middle of her back. Suddenly he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up, a wedge-like pillow was shoved under her midsection, causing the ice to slide up her spine and continue to melt between her shoulder blades.

Gasping and thrashing against the ties Sarah wasn't expecting the sudden thrust as Drake entered her. Moaning, she virtually forgot the ice as the pounding intensity increased.

Rissa stood outside Sarah's door, uncertain as to whether or not she should interrupt. From the sounds of what was going on behind the door, the last thing Sarah was going to want to do was go back to her office. If it had been anyone other than Aislinn, Rissa probably wouldn't have knocked.

When the moaning got louder and Rissa realized that no answer would be forthcoming, she considered her options. Thinking of Aislinn's obvious upsetting and knowing that her friend was waiting for Sarah, Rissa tried knocking again and this time she turned the knob on the door as she knocked. 

To her surprise, Rissa found that the door wasn't locked. The distinct scent of sex wafted out the cracked door, intensified by the growling and moaning. Rissa felt her own wolf rising. Difficult as it was to ignore her surfacing lust instinct, Rissa walked slowly through the door.

Knowing that it was dangerous to interrupt a rutting couple, Rissa held herself instinctually submissive as she moved toward the sounds and scent of sex. She wasn't sure what she expected to see as she turned the corner around the room divider that kept the bed from being immediately visible from the open door. In a strange way she wasn't too surprised to see Sarah tied down beneath the large dark hybrid wolf. 

Drake turned toward Rissa growling hungrily. She lowered her head, nearly forgetting why she was standing there. 

"Drake," Sarah cried desperately as he pulled away from her and stepped toward Rissa. Sarah writhed wantonly at the withdrawal of her lover's body. She wasn't thinking clearly. Not caring who the girl standing there was, all Sarah wanted was to come. She whimpered pleadingly at her mate as he walked away from her. Drake's large well-muscled, sweat covered, naked form circled Rissa, as she stared submissively at the floor.

Reaching beneath Rissa's chin, Drake's clawed hand raised her eyes to his. He snarled knowingly. The only reason that the little theta would have walked in here was to deliver a message. Everyone knew that Rissa was Aislinn's personal shadow. He could guess that if he let the girl say anything, Sarah would be summoned away. He couldn't have that just yet. Besides, he thought, the pretty little theta might be fun.

Growling, he hooked a clawed finger in the neckline of Rissa's shirt and pulled down, tearing the neck wide enough to fall off her shoulders. "You caaann have heerrr whennn I'm doonnne," Drake drawled through his muzzle. "Take yourrr clothes off."

Feeling the heat pooling between her thighs, Rissa did as she was told. There was no arguing with a lust driven beta in the middle of fucking his mate. 

Sarah's struggling turned to thrashing, on the bed as she watched Drake with Rissa. The girl's small frame trembled as she dropped her bra at Drake's feet. Drake reached down and stroked his rigid member as he watched Rissa push her panties over her hips and down her legs.

A large clawed hand gripped Rissa's shoulder and pushed her to her knees. Leaning forward, cock in hand, he pushed it into her mouth. Rissa let her lips part willingly, tasting Drake's pre-cum mixed with the remnants of Sarah's sex coating his throbbing cock.

Drake moved so that he could look into Sarah's eyes as he urged Rissa to suck on his member. Sarah growled in frustration, watching as her mate began to thrust in and out of the small theta's mouth. 

When it seemed that Sarah was about to rip the bed apart to get to the pair, Drake pulled his cock from Rissa and pulled her to her feet. He briefly ran his hands over her tiny breasts and down her stomach. He was far more interested in the effect that his attention on the girl was having on his mate than in Rissa herself. Pushing her toward the bed he chuckled a bit. He could smell Rissa's arousal distinct from his own and Sarah's. 

It's always more pleasurable when they enjoy it too, he thought at Sarah teasingly. "Unnntie herrrr," he said to Rissa.

Hesitating as she approached Sarah, Rissa nearly turned to run out of the room. The fire blazing in Sarah's eyes was frightening. 

Calm yourself. I'll take care of you when I'm done playing, Drake thought at her, noticing Rissa's obvious uncertainty.

"Sarah," Rissa stammered. "I didn't intend—"

"Just do as you're told," Sarah snapped. She didn't care about anything beyond getting her legs wrapped around Drake again.

Instinctually Rissa did as she was told. Working the tight knots free, Rissa noted the wax across Sarah's back and butt, and the various red marks and scratches from the play before she arrived. Once Sarah was free she immediately turned toward Drake.

Don't even think it love, Drake ordered.

Sarah sat back on her heels and stared at him questioningly. Heated growling emanated from Drake's chest. I want to see you with the girl.

"But Drake," Sarah started to protest, desperately wanting him to finish what Rissa had interrupted.

Her obvious need for him only motivated him to drag the situation out longer. "Now," he growled.

Compelled to respond to Drake's orders Sarah reached out for Rissa, offering a hand to pull her onto the bed. Drake watched as Sarah guided Rissa to lay back on the bed. Kneeling over Rissa's face, Sarah pressed the girl's legs apart and leaned down. Rissa gasped as Sarah began licking at Rissa's weeping sex. She could feel the burning need between her own legs and running down her thighs.

Stroking his cock, Drake stood watching as his mate spread her legs wider and dropped her pussy down within reach of Rissa's tongue. Immediately the girl took the cue and began sucking on Sarah's clit. Her inexperience showed, but that only made watching the two women more exciting. 

When it looked as if Rissa was going to manage to make Sarah come, Drake decided that he needed to finish. Moving forward to join the women on the bed, he knelt behind Sarah. Rissa got to watch close up as Drake took hold of Sarah's hips and forced himself into her. The scene was more than Rissa could handle. Her pussy convulsed in pleasure as she felt Sarah sucking relentlessly on her clit and watched Drake pound into Sarah from behind.

Like a chain reaction, Rissa's release triggered Sarah and then Drake. The triad growled and moaned as the joint climax rippled through them. Drake and Sarah collapsed to one side of Rissa on the bed. Heavy breathing and satisfied murmurs hung in the air for a few moments, before silence settled on the exhausted group.

Noises from some passing omegas in the hall brought them back to reality. Rissa had left the door open. The conversation from the passing omegas included speculation as to what sexes Cullen's children might be. Suddenly it occurred to Sarah that Rissa may have been sent because Aislinn was having the babies. Bolting upright in bed and grabbing Rissa's shoulder she guiltily asked, "Is Aislinn alright?"

"Yes, it was a vision," Rissa quickly answered. 

Sarah nearly laid back down. "Okay," she growled with much less energy. She shot Drake an apologetic look.

"Its fine," he grumped, pulling the blankets over himself and rearranging the bed as the women got up. "I expected it the minute I saw Aislinn's pet theta come into the room." 

Rissa wasn't quite sure how to take that comment. "She's in the kitchen or at least she was when I first got here. Should I bring her to your office?" They both dressed hurriedly, not sure how much time they had taken.

As they finished dressing, Sarah ushered Rissa out into the hall, closing her door behind them. "What the hell is she doing down here," she said almost accusingly. The question was intended mainly to move things along from the previous events and came out harsher than she originally intended.

Rissa seemed to have blushed a permanent shade of rose. "The vision bothered her and she didn't want to stay in her room."

"Great. Just what we need in Cullen's absence. Another vision." Sarah took a deep breath and let it out in a long labored breath. "I couldn't have one night," she asked to the air. "Get her and bring—" Sarah growled at herself and corrected her phrasing. As glad as she was to have someone to help take up some of the burden of the alpha job, she was still getting used to saying the right things about Aislinn. "Go to Lady Arnauk," she said with emphasis, "and ask her to meet me in the office."

Rissa took off down the hall toward the kitchen, briefly wondering how uncomfortable the wax that Sarah didn't get to clean off her butt might be.

* * * *

Jenna lay in the foul smelling hotel bed staring at the ceiling and not sleeping. I should have tried something.

Go to sleep child. You know there was nothing you could do. Did you think you could walk up to the Council manor and disrupt a meeting of that magnitude alone?

I could have gone to the Circle. They would have been no match for me.

You don't know where the Circle is. And if you did know you have no means of getting there.

Are you saying I should just give up? Tears streaked down Jenna's cheeks. Everything feels so hopeless.

There's always a way. But you have to look at the whole picture. Right now doing as that phone call suggests might have seemed a good option. But there are more important things to consider.

For instance? Jenna threw the blankets back and sat up on the bed. She was tired of the disgusting smell of the mattress and unwashed linens. Pacing into the bathroom she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could almost see her father staring back at her from behind her own eyes. 

Right now we need to focus on Aislinn. 

Jenna laughed sardonically. "You're insane."

Not yet. But I believe we both will be soon if I don't get out of your head.

"Are you saying there's a way to end this?" Suddenly Jenna felt like there may be some hope.

We have a small window. And actually this meeting may be a good thing. Cullen will have been called to it, leaving Aislinn heavily pregnant and less protected.

"She's in the Taigh-Osda. How is that less protected? If I go anywhere near there I'll be attacked by the whole of their pack."

I think that the reservation may be a more logical approach. She's drawn to the stone circle. She'll return there. She doesn't have a choice.

"What do you mean? How do you know? And what good would getting her do?"

It's not actually Aislinn we need. It's one of the children. If I could convey to you the sum of my ancient knowledge I would child. The lycans spent centuries trying to forget their heritage. To some it was a surprise when they realized that the legends about our creation and the druids came to be true. But I already knew. The talent to make use of the runes and ley lines and stone circles is hereditary. A person may know about druid talents even if he's unable to summon the powers himself. 

"You're not making sense." Jenna was starting to think her father truly was losing his mind.

I don't expect you to understand. Brennus growled into her mind. If you did, then we wouldn't be here like this now. Suffice it to say that I've lived a very long time and have studied many things. You are not the first lycan to seek to make use of druid talents. But I learned a long time ago the lesson you are currently finding out. The druids are more formidable than they first appear and small amounts of knowledge of their ways is more dangerous than knowing nothing at all.

"Will you just tell me what you want me to do," Jenna said in frustration. 

If I am to have a body of my own and make my living existence permanent then we need the child who's soul was trapped in the ethereal plane so that I might join with you.

"Father? What did you do?"

When Aislinn gives birth it will have to be at the stone circle. She is bound to discover the truth of that before the children are due. If she gives birth anywhere else then one of the babies she currently carries will be stillborn. It has no soul. If we are there for the birth then it may be possible for me to take the child's body.

"And leave mine," Jenna added.

She stood in silence staring into the mirror for a time.

Now you see our priorities?

Jenna nodded. "But how am I supposed to get back to the Arnauk reservation?"

I suggest a taxi.

"I don't find that funny." Suddenly the ringing phone interrupted their argument. Picking up her phone Jenna recognized the number that appeared as the strange number which had attempted to prompt her to stop the meeting.

"Hello," she said cautiously, as she picked up the phone. She could feel Brennus' anger. 

"Nicely done," came the stranger's voice.

Jenna paused a moment. "Thank you," she responded, hoping that the voice would give her a clue as to what he meant.

"I honestly didn't believe you could do it. I'm impressed. I also live up to my word. I have a safe house available to you and your followers."

Jenna carefully considered what the voice was suggesting. Someone has managed to stop the meeting. This guy thinks it was me and he thinks I have a team working for me.

Brennus had to admit that even he was curious at this point. The alpha in him, who felt a need to know the political moves of all the factions around him, wanted to know who was on the other end of this line and who had the balls and resources to stop a Council meeting.

Jenna cleared her throat. "I'm currently separated from my men," she responded.

"I know. When the others were picked up outside the Circle's territory, they said that they had lost contact with you. If you tell us where you are, I will send a car."

In an instant Jenna and Brennus exchanged suspicious concerns and possibilities. Father, if someone is out there willing to suggest that they are still in alliance with me then it may be worth looking into. Lone wolves don't live long. We will need help to do what you suggested.

Holding the phone in a trembling hand, Jenna decided to take a chance that she was about to make an incredible mistake. 

* * * *

"You look exhausted," Sarah said sympathetically, as Aislinn sat down in the chair across from her. "I have a bad feeling about what you're going to tell me."

Sighing, Aislinn sat in the chair wishing she was up in her bed asleep next to Cullen. "Really I don't have much more to add to the visions I've told you about Sarah. Unfortunately the one new piece of information is exceedingly disturbing. I believe someone has killed Jacob."

"Jacob?"

"You remember. He was one of the druids that Jenna and Maon kidnapped to create the dires."

Sarah nodded in recognition. "At least that seems to be a more clear cut message than most of the others," she said in annoyance.

Aislinn glared at her apparent lack of sympathy.

"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to downgrade the situation. But it seems like lots of people are dying recently and I'm becoming desensitized." Sarah rubbed her face with both her hands and Aislinn couldn't help think that she had to have gotten that mannerism from Cullen. "Okay, so Jacob may be dead. What do we do?"

"I don't really know. He said to find someone named Mira. But when I asked him who that was he said he didn't know. Not as clear cut as it might first appear. I'm getting frustrated. I already know how you're going to react to this but I'm going to say it anyway," Aislinn looked Sarah hard in the eyes. "I need to go talk with my grandmother."

There was a long pause. Sarah could see how serious Aislinn was. "Ais, I know exactly what Cullen would say if he were here. Do we really need to have this conversation?"

Aislinn had already considered that Sarah was going to tell her "no". She thought about the effect that pulling rank might have on their relationship. But she finally decided that she felt like this was too important to play games with. "Sarah," she said carefully, "I'm learning more and more to trust my instincts. Something in me tells me that I need to see my grandmother right now. I can't really explain it. I know that if Cullen were here he would tell me no. But, he's not here. And in his absence, technically, I'm alpha."




Leaders of the Pack Ch. 04



Sarah gave Aislinn a measuring look and slowly nodded. She knew it had to be pretty important for Aislinn to take it this far. "He'll kill me."

"So tell him that your choice was to either help me or deal with the possibility that I would take off when you least expected it and disappear by myself."

"You don't need to threaten me. I get it. I'm not in charge anymore." Sarah and Aislinn shared the upset ball in the pits of their stomachs. "I knew it would go that way eventually."

"That's not what I'm after here, Sarah. I can't handle things around here without you. It's too soon and especially with the babies, I have enough to figure out. The last thing I want is to have to try and do your job on my own. I need you. But I also know that I need to go to see my grandmother. Hey, if we do it quick I could maybe be back before he gets home. Then neither of us would be in trouble," she suggested optimistically.

"I highly doubt that there is any way we can send you to the reservation and back and not get in trouble, no matter how uneventful the trip may be. And since we never manage anything uneventfully I doubt that there's any possibility of it working to start with. But if it's what you want I'll set it up for morning. The sooner you go and get back, the less chance there is that the twins will be born somewhere other than your room. That would really get me killed."

"Thank you," Aislinn said with relieved emphasis.

"We both know you weren't really giving me a choice here," Sarah groused.

"I'm thanking you more for not turning it into a war than anything else," Aislinn replied with the same grateful tone.

Nodding understanding, Sarah picked up the phone on the desk. "Let's see who we can spare. You're not going unguarded." Sarah made a series of calls to get several betas ready to leave in the morning. "I'll send Drake with you too," she said unhappily. "I don't want to, but I don't know that you won't need him."

"Thanks. And I'm bringing Rissa too." When Sarah shot her a confused look, she added, "I may need the emotional support more than the muscle." Sarah nodded her understanding.

Aislinn smiled, realizing that Sarah was more of a friend than she seemed. Sarah was always so abrupt and businesslike. But every so often Aislinn got glimpses of a truly caring person underneath. "I'm going to owe you big for this one. I can already tell."

"Hopefully it won't be too big. For both our sakes..."

* * * *

The Council meetings eventually closed for the evening and the men and women were encouraged to get something to eat and get some sleep. The meetings would reconvene the instant word arrived from the men who were sent to the Circle to get details on the pages. More than one alpha was concerned that it was taking so long to get any concrete information. 

Cullen's biggest concern was that Cadifor had tabled the possibility that they should send one of their own to look into it. Unfortunately Cullen would be the best candidate due at least in part to his connection to the Circle. More and more people were looking at him as if he should be able to produce some information that they didn't have. He hadn't been in a position of feeling so inadequate in a very long time.

Finally sitting down on the bed in his room he had the opportunity to reach out to Aislinn. Although the link was strong enough to sense her and get the impression that she was feeling relieved about something. It wasn't quite strong enough for conversation. 

Pulling his phone out of his pocket he pressed the button that dialed her number. After only a momentary ring he heard her sweet voice in his ear.

"Mo gra, I was starting to wonder if I would ever hear from you," she purred.

"Say it again," he responded softly.

"What?"

"Mo gra," he said.

"Ah," Aislinn could hear the tired need in his voice. "Tá grá agam duit. I wish I could be there and hold you."

Cullen closed his eyes and let her voice comfort him. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. The visions have become more intense and frightening. But I'm getting used to it." She could feel his upset through they're connection. "Don't worry. I have Sarah and Rissa. I'm okay."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true. How are you?"

"I'll be okay when I get back to you. The meeting is still on hold. We have no real word as to what has actually happened at the Circle. They all keep expecting me to produce some kind of magic intuition on the problem."

"Did you intend to put it that way?"

"No," Cullen said in exasperation, realizing what he had said. "But your visions haven't told you anything else useful have they?"

"I think Jacob is dead. He appeared in my latest vision and told me to find someone named Mira. Does that help?"

Cullen racked his brain for the names of people he had been introduced to. "No. I don't think so. But I'll ask around in the morning. You never know." He sighed heavily. "Was Jacob the only one who you could talk with in visions? I'm sorry I have to ask. I'm getting a lot of pressure."

"I'm sorry Cullen. I don't have any way that I know of to find out what happened at the Circle. If the phone number you have isn't working then the one I have won't work either."

"No. The Circle isn't responding to conventional means of communication. I don't want to think about this any longer. Tell me something pleasant. Have you been to see Rhona. How are the babies?" Cullen could feel her sudden concern again.

"I don't want you to worry. Rhona says that they are fine. Right on schedule."

"Then why are you so worried? The visions?"

"I saw Jenna holding one of them."

"Mo grá, I won't let that happen," he responded almost vehemently enough to convince Aislinn that he could stop it.

"I wish I truly believed you were capable. I need to know more about what that meant. I won't feel safe until I do."

Cullen didn't know what else to say to her. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

"I'll be waiting."



Leaders of the Pack Ch. 05



Just FYI: No sex in this one. Lots of information and tying up of loose ends. Had to get back on the wagon, I've been away from writing for too long. And my one warning... if you're crying at the end... well that was intentional.

*

Mira tapped her pen on her desk as she glared at Luther and Tor. "Tell me something helpful."

Luther shifted in his seat. "We believe that the weres that escaped may have something to do with Nora's death."

"How exactly is that helpful?"

"At least we know where they went when they left here." Luther looked away from Mira. He always had trouble making eye contact with her when he knew that he had disappointed her. "I have several men on it. I believe that the NSA has a tab on them as well though. It's going to be a bit of a race to get to them first."

"Do we know why they killed Nora?" Mira couldn't help the hurt and frustration. It had been a very long time since she had seen Nora. Still that didn't make her death any less upsetting. It never failed to get to her when someone she knew died and she was unable to be part of the grieving.

"It seems they're looking for a cure. They got together with some of the dires that survived the fiasco between the Arnauk and the Tairneach. We think that they found the Circle and expected Nora to be able to fix them. When she couldn't, she suffered for it."

"How the hell did they find the Circle? No one finds the Circle. I want them all in custody. Without further incident. We have never had this much trouble handling a situation."

"Mira," Luther responded, and finally looked up at her. "You have a majority of our men out looking for those damned tapes. If you want me to handle the quantity of weres that we are talking here, then I need more backup. This time, you're asking for more than we're capable of. This organization was made to handle things covertly. Right now we are talking direct confrontation. We aren't equipped."

"You're exaggerating," Mira exclaimed. She was obviously bothered and both men knew that it took a great deal to push her that far. She stood from her chair and paced to the window. For the first time in centuries, she was concerned for the security of her home.

"No he isn't," Tor added carefully. "We aren't setup for this. It's too big. It's one thing to handle the random lone wolf problem or blood thirsty vamp gone rogue. It's something else entirely to take on a relatively organized group. We need to consider other options."

"I know." Her voice was low. "I've thought about it off and on over the years. The druid's circle, the lycan's council, or maybe one of the vampire's families. I can't help but remember all the reasons that I've avoided that though." She turned toward them. "They all believe they have the best intentions. For the most part each of us do what we believe is best. I would be lying if I tried to claim that our function in the overall scheme of things was entirely altruistic. I started this organization because I didn't want to deal with the aftermath of being found by the human population or anyone else for that matter. I've spent time with each of the various groups and found that in the end it's always about personal agenda. Mine does not mesh with theirs."

Tor growled quietly in frustration. "I'm not saying we have to be permanent best buddies. If you let me handle it, I may be able to set up something to keep cooperative involvement and contact to a minimum without much trouble. I agree with Luther. We need help. You have our opinion."

Mira knew they were right. She couldn't help the concern. The druids at several points in history thought that the best solution to Rillan would be to put him out of his misery. The vampires had wanted to make use of him for their own agenda and the weres had been so indifferent to the situation that she gave up on any kind of help from them long ago. Now he was missing. There were tapes somewhere out in the big wide world that could not only prove the existence of weres but also remind the various factions of Rillan's existence. A group of mix match monster weres was wandering about possibly killing druids. Mira was out of answers. "I honestly don't know when things got so out of hand. I suppose that the weres are the least dangerous of the options."

"I thought you might say that," Tor nodded. "I'll get in contact with them. In the mean time, I did get Natalie to agree to reveal the location of the tapes, so I suppose that should be dealt with as well."

Mira's eyes narrowed on Tor. "When exactly did you manage that?"

Tor shrugged and tried to sound offhand. "When I dropped her back at her room. It seemed mostly a residual reaction to all the questioning she'd already been through. I didn't really do much," he smiled.

"I'll sit and twiddle my thumbs then," Luther groused.

"Actually I have a new assignment for you, my friend. Rillan has yet to return this time. I know that his bloodlust will begin to impair his judgement in fairly short order. Please be as covert as possible, but find out if the families have had to clean up any messes recently and are unsure of how it happened. Hopefully you'll find out nothing, we'll get the tapes back, and discover that he went to ground somewhere inconspicuous and just bring him home."

Luther nodded gravely. They all knew the urgency of getting Rillan back. That was the chance they took when they let him out in an attempt to stealthily retrieve the books from the Tairneach manor.

Mira sighed heavily and looked out the window in the futile hope that he would appear. "It would be so much simpler if he would show up with those damn notes and then we could all disappear again. Until we find Rillan there is too much at stake. Do whatever needs to be done. I'll deal with the consequences as they come."

The night was wearing on as Jenna watched out the window waiting for a non-descriptor car to arrive to take her to whatever safe house the mysterious voice on the phone had promised. Brennus and Jenna were still arguing right up to the point when the black car with tinted windows pulled into the parking lot of the hotel.

"Too late now," Jenna growled at Brennus as she strode out the car. She figured that if was Cadifor and she fell for a trap then the hell with it. She was tired of running and she was at least going to go with her head held high. Brennus repeatedly cursed her stupidity as she went.

A man in a dark suit got out of the front passenger side and opened the back door for Jenna to get in as she approached. She silently slid into the seat and he closed the door behind her. A quick appraisal of the driver and the other passenger made it clear that Cadifor had nothing to do with this. Jenna was dying to ask them who they were but didn't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that she was so clueless as to what was happening. 

Your desperation is going to get us killed, was the last thing Brennus said before retreating to the back of Jenna's mind.

The ride was silent. Jenna watched out the window, trying to determine at least the direction they were traveling. After several hours of driving all she was able to determine was that they were headed north. 

"Too many bodies on the pyres of late," an elderly voice responded quietly to the debate passing across the large rune carved table.

"I believe it may be time to walk away from this. Nora was well meaning in her attempts to forge friendships however it is not working out as she foresaw. The Fates must have changed."

Malik was torn as was the rest of the Circle. There was the half that believed Nora's death and the destruction of her home was due to breaking their tradition of noninvolvement. That group was already in the process of packing up to disappear as so many of their ancestors did in difficult times. Then there was the group that was starting to believe the noninvolvement was what lead to all the deaths.

"If we had controlled Rafe instead of ignoring his actions and indiscretions in the beginning," Malik responded, "then most of the difficulties we currently face would not have come to pass. I remember Nora standing against our passivity with him and being out voted."

An older man sighed heavily and sat back in his chair. "We aren't equipped for fighting Malik. We watch and learn and pass on knowledge."

"To what end? We share none of it save with our own. What good is hidden knowledge?"

"I believe most of us have debated that point with ourselves at various times. It serves little purpose other than to cause frustration. Malik, we have tried to fight the Fates. First the vampires, then the lycans and various other weres in an attempt to stave off our own end. After each attempt our numbers dwindled more and we still found ourselves hiding. In the end we persevere. Fighting back is not the answer. Better to trust the Fates than to cause more destruction by opposing them." 

A rumble of agreement filled the small room where the meeting was taking place.

"So we vanish," Malik responded with a rare vehemence in his voice," leave no word to the lycans as to what happened or why, trust that the Fates will resolve the conflict, hope that in the process the human population does not discover and route us out. Am I missing anything?"

No one answered.

"I believe we owe it to Nora and to the lycans, who just started to trust us, to see this through. I don't think it's right to leave them now to clean up what is ultimately something one of our own started."

Concerned faces and shaking heads faced Malik. "You are young yet. Most of us are far past the age when fighting would be feasible. Your path is your own Malik. If you wish to join with the lycans and attempt to aid them, that is your choice."

Frustration coursed through him. Malik was usually calm and placid as any of the druids. Seeing the bodies of the people close to him dismembered by Rafe's creations was tearing him apart. He found himself wanting not only resolution but revenge. As much as he told himself that it was an unproductive path and would lead to no good he could not let it go. Each time he closed his eyes he saw Nora. He saw the bubbles of blood on her lips as she died and he heard her words echoing in his ears. "See this through."

"I believe I will not be the only one who wishes to stay and aid the lycans," Malik finally responded.

"All of you who stay behind and go to their aid will be cut off. We cannot have our new location known to anyone who may become a liability at some point."

"I understand," Malik looked around at the other druids present. It seemed that none of them were willing to make eye contact with him. "I'll wait until you have all gone before contacting the lycans."

Cullen was awake before dawn. Aislinn's concern in the back of his mind was enough to keep him from any reasonable sleep. He dressed and left his room hoping that Cadifor would be up and ready so that he could let him know the new information about Jacob and whoever Mira was. He stopped at Keith's room and knocked loudly before turning the handle and walking in.

"What? Is it morning already," Keith grumbled and pulled his pillow over his head.

"Come on. Time to move," Cullen responded unenthusiastically.

"The sun isn't even up," Keith moaned. "You work me till all hours of the night discussing things that have no resolution and now you want me to wake up before the roosters. Go away."

"Keith, Aislinn had another vision. I have new information for Cadifor. You're lucky I didn't decide to deal with this last night. You're not the only one sick of this place."

Noting the frustration in Cullen's voice, Keith got up and started getting dressed without any further complaints. He was well aware of the stress that Cullen must be feeling. Not only to be away from Aislinn at the moment but to be stuck here with no real knowledge of when they would be done had to be killing him.

The pair walked down the hall toward Cadifor's rooms. They weren't the only ones out and about that morning. No one was resting. They Council was getting stonewalled trying to reach the Circle and they're government contacts. It was a rare occasion when the Pack Council was at a loss for what action to take. That alone was enough to put everyone on edge.

Cullen rapped on Cadifor's door and the quick response told him that the man had not been asleep either. 

"I expected you'd be up already," Cullen said when he saw that Cadifor was already dressed. Makeda was still in the shower, but would probably be done shortly. Even she had been relatively sedate during the proceedings of the last couple days.

"I take it that you have something important?"

Sitting down in a chair at the small breakfast table Cullen got straight to the point. "I don't know if this will help, but Aislinn had another vision. She said that she saw Jacob, the druid that Jenna kidnapped to lead the dire experiments, dying. He told her to convey the message that the lycans didn't do it and to find a woman named Mira. Mean anything to you?"

Cadifor sat down at the table with Cullen. His brow furrowed as he tried to think. "That's it?"

"Aislinn said when she asked Jacob who Mira was he said he didn't know."

Cadifor sat back in his chair. "I don't know anyone named Mira. We may have to concede to asking some of the others. I suppose it's only right to involve the rest of the Council. Though I think it more likely that they will be of the same mind as Rollo and not wish to act on something as tenuous as one of Aislinn's visions."

Makeda appeared from the bathroom drying her dark hair with a towel. Her chocolate skin gleaming with specks of water from her shower. "What has happened?" Curiosity tinting her voice.

Cadifor and the other two men took a brief moment to admire the exotic woman's body, before he responded. "Aislinn says that a druid appeared in a vision and told us to locate a woman named Mira."

Cadifor could tell by the look on her face that the information struck a cord with her. "I knew a Mira once. A very long time ago. I would have thought her to be dead long ago, but seeing as I survived this long I suppose it's not inconceivable that she might. Although there is no guarantee that she would be the Mira the druid meant."

"That's better than anything else we have at the moment. Who was she and how did you know her?"

The naked woman walked over to the men and set the towel down. "She was the last sacrifice to the first vampire. But I met her quite some time after that."

A rare surprised look crossed Cadifor's face. "I take it if she lived then the vampire did not?"

"Not exactly. Mira was the only one to survive him. I believe they both lived. If you can call a vampire's life living. And I think that the first one was not the same as the ones that followed. It's been a very long time though."

"A druid girl can't have survived this long," Cullen responded.

"Hard to say who survives and for what reasons. The druids were more free with the types of games they played with the Fates back then. Who knows. That is the only Mira I know who stands out in my memory. As I said she may not be the one."

Tor decided that he needed to deal with Natalie first, considering he knew that the weres would be a much more complex situation. He walked down the hall wondering if the girl would scream and run or if she'd be fine when she saw him. She's quite the spitfire, he chuckled to himself.

When he knocked on the door there was no answer. So he let himself in. He figured it was a good sign that she had not locked the door. 

Natalie was sitting at the small table in the corner of the room. She had finished breakfast and was staring out the window. She barely looked up when Tor walked in. "I guess I expected you'd be back."

"Well you did make me a promise. I fulfilled my end of the bargain," he smiled. She was willing to talk to him, she sounded lucid, and she wasn't running and screaming. That was a good start. "It's your turn. Where are the tapes?"

"Okay, so I get that they have you guys on film. But what's so damned important about them? I mean no one would take them seriously if they hit the papers. Especially in a tabloid. There isn't a single human being alive, save a few crazies who already believe in you guys who wouldn't think I faked the whole thing. Hell I was starting to think I faked the whole thing. Why torture me for six month and then someone breaks me out of an asylum to get them?"

Tor was impressed. It was an intelligent question. "Can't tell you that."

"Beautiful." Natalie went over to the night stand and fished out a tablet and pen she had found there when she was looking around the night before. She started drawing a map on the page. "Look, I don't know the address. When things started getting crazy I decided I needed to get rid of those tapes. Could't bring myself to burn them. In part cuz I figured if I ever really thought I was crazy then I could go look at them and remind myself that I hand't lost it."

Tor watched her draw some lines on the paper that criss crossed. She drew some circles and some triangles. He stared in confusion at the page as she drew some squiggly lines and then a little house.

"So I was driving. Just driving. It was night and I was convinced I was being followed. I turned down a bunch of streets and then hit a gas station, scared out of my mind. When I filled the tank I headed out of the city. No idea where I was going I just wanted to get away. I kept driving until I didn't see any lights in front or behind me and then I started driving down these dirt country roads. I was even watching the sky for helicopters. I kept telling myself I was getting paranoid and there was no reason for it. 

"When the tank was down half way and I figured that there was no way I'd be able to get back to civilization if I kept going like I was I stopped the car, turned off the lights and started crying. I stood there terrified in the dark for I don't even know how long. 

"At some point the moon came out from behind the clouds and I spotted this old abandoned looking farm house way back off the dirt road. Scared out of mind I started walking toward it. When I got closer I saw that the roof was caving in and the doors and windows were kinda missing. That's when it occurred to me that I could hide the evidence. I could come back for it if I could find my way back to it.

"The floor in the main room was rotted and there were holes in it. I managed to find some steps down to the basement. I stuck the bag containing all the film and tapes I had, there are no copies, in a kinda hole behind an ancient looking wood or coal burning furnace thing.

"Okay," Tor said skeptically. "Do you think you can find it again? Are you sure no one saw you go out there?"

"Well I assume that if the last group of loonies were spending so much time and effort to torture me for information that they don't know where it is. I didn't see anyone following me. Maybe I was just lucky. And no... I'm not positive I can get back there. It was dark, I was scared, and there were no street signs."

"Great," Tor grumbled. "You were supposed to be my easy job."

Jenna's car finally pulled into a deserted parking lot outside an enormous warehouse. They had to be near an airport because Jenna could hear planes taking off or landing. The building looked as though it could house airplanes or blimps. The outside of the building was nondescript enough that most people could drive past it and never think twice about what might be going on inside. She still wasn't certain where she was, but so far no one was handcuffing her or pushing her around so she wasn't worried yet. 

The men in suits didn't waste any time. One opened the door for her and they led her across the parking lot and into the building. She had to admit that the way they were pushing her along led her to believe that they we less friendly than first appearances. She wondered what they would do if she tried to change and run right now. Brennus attempted to push that thought, but Jenna was far to curious at this point. 




Leaders of the Pack Ch. 05



When she got inside she was shocked to see Devon, a were she recognized as one of Rafe's least favorite lackeys. He was what Rafe had called a "failed experiment". When Jenna first decided to change herself she was looking through the notes that Rafe left behind. She found and ignored a number of write ups Rafe had done describing the different things he attempted to do before deciding on what he would do to himself. 

Devon was a mix of snake and lynx. Rafe had been trying to create an assassin comparable to vampires. It didn't work out quite the way Rafe wanted. Reptiles simply didn't mix well with mammals. Devon had brown black scales punctuated by scattered tufts of hair all over his body no matter what form he was. He looked diseased. It would be exceptionally difficult to blend in with the human population and act as an assassin when you look like a circus side show. Additionally he wasn't able to completely shift. According to the notes only parts of his body changed and when they did he seemed to be deformed. At that time Rafe had abandoned a number of other trials he planned involving birds or other non-mammals. Devon had been one of the mixed weres left behind at Tairneach manor the night Rafe died. 

Jenna noticed a few other odd looking were combinations. They seemed to be standing guard at some doors to rooms on one wall. The main body of the group which was milling about the building or playing sentinel on guard in various locations were armed men in army green uniforms. Jenna wasn't sure if Devon was in charge or if there was someone else around here that he answered to, but at the very least it wasn't Cadifor. 

One of the men in suits who had brought her here snapped her out of her assessment of her new situation. "Come this way. There are a few people who would like to speak with you."

Brennus was seething in the back of her mind. You're about to find out that you were tricked in to coming here for someone else's agenda. Jenna was led over to Devon and a small lanky mousy looking man wearing glasses and a white lab coat. They were staring at what appeared to be copies of some familiar looking paperwork. 

"Jenna, it's good to see you," Devon sneered. 

"Somehow I don't think you were very being very sincere," Jenna cooed and reverted back to her simpering temptress mode. She generally believed all men were malleable if she batted her eyed, flashed her cleavage and gave the distinct impression that she wanted to be in their bed.

Jenna could feel disgust and frustration emanating from Brennus. She still believed that she needed some kind of back up before going after Aislinn and Brennus believed that they were short on time and these men weren't remotely trustworthy. 

"So why exactly do you need me here?" Jenna could already guess what they wanted.

"First we'd like to thank you Jenna for recruiting those druids to translate the majority of these notes. They did a nice job of making quite a few things more clear than we could have possibly determined on our own."

Jenna smiled at him. "What are you after Devon? Since when do you work with the human government?"

"Since none of the other groups involved in the current political mess would be willing to help me find an antidote to what Rafe did to me." He glared harshly at Jenna.

"What have I done to earn such venomous looks from you Devon? I wasn't the one who turned you."

"Maybe not. But somehow I fell a distinct kinship to the freaks you created on your own, following in that lunatic's footsteps. You have no idea how long I worked to get my hands on this information," he said and picked up a pile of papers that he threw at Jenna. "First Rafe and his insanity and then you got in my way. Now it seems that no matter what we do there is something just not quite right here. So, I was wondering if you could shed some light."

"You know I didn't make them Devon," Jenna smiled stepping up a bit closer to the man and running her hand up his chest and over his shoulder. "The druids did that. I only ordered it."

Devon brushed Jenna's hand away. "I'm not asking you to help with the formula. That angle was already approached with unfortunate results. In fact the only reason you are standing here right now is because I let the feds funding this think you were the one who got to those useless druids. Lucky for you my plans coincided with something they wanted."

"So you're not really working for them." Jenna riffled through some of the papers on the table.

"I'm working with them because some things I need happen to be similar to some things they want. If all goes well then they will be able to make or unmake whatever kind of were they want. For my cooperation I get to unmake myself and all the rest of the freak show weres you and your predecessor created. The humans and I have a very clear understanding. Unfortunately I hear that my notes are incomplete. The one piece of useful information my men retrieved from the druids before they died was that you with held some crucial notes and information." 

Devon nodded to someone standing behind Jenna. She hadn't event realized that the man was behind her. One of the men from her lengthy ride here put a large meaty hand on her shoulder and a gun prodded her back. "Now Jenna I'm tired of failures here. I want whatever it is you have hidden and I want it now."

Aislinn had yet to decide if she liked coming to the reservation. It was beautiful. The forest and the manor held so many terrible and wonderful memories. She could look at a spot on the ground and remember a body being there or making love to Cullen on that spot. It was disturbing contrast. She prayed that one day soon she would be able to forget all the death and destruction and merely have a happy life with her children and her mate.

She placed a concerned hand on her stomach. Rissa saw the gesture and placed a reassuring hand over Aislinn's. With Drake and the other betas in tow they walked the path toward the standing stones in silence. The plan was for her to speak with Brinah and then they would immediately go back to the Madadh-alluidh Saobhaidh. It would make for a long day of driving but everyone was intent on that being the best plan.

It seemed like each time Aislinn came back to this place she felt the power here more intensely. It was as if she was becoming more attuned to it. The thought scared her a little. She still wasn't completely comfortable with that part of herself. "Well here we are," she said nervously as they all stopped outside the stone circle and stared at it as if it might come to life at any moment.

"Alright," Drake said clearing his throat. "Please be quick about this. Is there any way at all you can let us know if you need help?"

"I don't think so Drake," Aislinn smiled wanly. "Even if there was I don't think there would be anything you could do about it."

Drake heaved a heavy sigh and the other betas grumbled about how much pain Cullen would cause if something happened here. 

Rissa was the voice of confidence in the situation. "It's gonna be fine," she smiled with forced cheer. "You're going alone. Brinah will be the only one there. It's not like you're taking Jenna in there with you this time. It will be fine. Now go and get it done so we can all go home." She hugged Aislinn and kissed her cheek then shooed her toward the stones.

Aislinn took a deep breath and walked between two of the large run covered monuments and toward the stone slab at the center of the ring. Instantly she vanished from the other's view. 

It wasn't difficult to bring Brinah here this time. Not only was she getting better at controlling her own thoughts but she was so determined to speak to Brinah that truly there would have been no way for her to focus long enough to bring anyone else. 

As before the air stilled, the woods surrounding the circle went silent and a ghostly figure of her grandmother appeared before her. Brinah smiled lovingly at her granddaughter. In her arms she held a beautiful shining light. 

"I wish I could hug you." Aislinn couldn't help the tear that rolled down her cheek. 

Brinah reached out a hand and cupped Aislinn's cheek. Cradling the light in her other arm. Aislinn thought she could almost feel her touch. But when she touched her cheek where Brinah's hand appeared to be there was nothing there. She let out a deep breath and decided that she need to move on to why she was here.

"Do I need to tell you what I've been dreaming or do you already know?" Aislinn couldn't help remember what her grandmother had said to her before her honeymoon. There was something that Brinah didn't tell her then. 

Brinah shook her head. "How are you feeling child?"

"I feel find. Rhona says that the twins are fine. Except I know I'm not fine. Tell me what's wrong."

"Aislinn," Brinah began and then stopped. She was obviously struggling with what to say and how to say it. "In all we teach the essential concept to learn is the uncompromising nature of balance. The Fates allow nothing free. If I were to attempt to return your plane of existence something would have to be given to this plane in exchange. No soul can exist on any plane out of place."

As Brinah spoke Aislinn couldn't help but stare into the brilliant light nestled in her arms. Something she had been coming to understand all along suddenly solidified in her mind and tears began to run unheeded down both her cheeks as she stared at the light. She reached for the glow and fell to her knees distraught that could not even touch it.

Aislinn began shaking her head. "No, Brennus couldn't. He doesn't know how to use the stones or alchemy or anything else."

"Brennus had nothing to do with it directly. All power begins with thought. Brennus was brought to your plane because both he and Jenna needed each other so badly at that moment and their need was stronger than the attachment of a soul to an unborn child. I do not believe they knew what they did."

"How, what can I do? Is my child lost?" Aislinn heard herself speaking but did not wish to believe what she said.

"No, it's not lost. We need to return Brennus to this side in exchange for your child."

"How? I don't know where he is. Cadifor can't find her or him or whatever they are." Panic surged through Aislinn as she contemplated how close she was to giving birth. "If it's not done before they're born," she asked slowly and quietly as to almost be a whisper.

"Honestly child I'm not sure. I don't believe the child will live without a soul. I'm surprised that Jenna's body can exist with two. That cannot be a good joining of consciousness. I believe that Jenna and her father have come to know far more than either ever wanted."

"If they die will that be enough," Aislinn tone became deadly. "Do they have to be here?"

"If you want to bring this soul back to the child in your belly then a soul must be exchanged at this place."

"I'm frightened and furious. I was trying to help them."

"I wish I could help more."

Aislinn looked up at her grandmother. "I have very little time. Is there any more that I need to know?"

Brinah shook her head. "Nothing that I can say now."

Aislinn didn't want to leave. She could not believe that she was standing there staring at her child's soul in the arms of her dead grandmother. She felt more tired than she had ever felt in her life. She began to think this was more than she could handle. 

"I believe this is enough for now child. You're friends grow increasingly concerned. There is no more you can learn here now. I will wait for you to return. Take comfort in the knowledge that your child is not alone." 

Brinah suddenly vanished from view and the clearing began to move around Aislinn again. She felt dizzy and disoriented. Leaning forward she caught herself with her hands and threw up on the ground. 

Rissa ran to her side and helped her to sit back. One look into Rissa's face and Aislinn lost what little composure she had left. She buried her face against her friend's shoulder sobbing.



Leaders of the Pack Ch. 06



Another one with no sex in it... Story is more important right? :P





Chapter 6

Tor was at a loss. He went through the list of all the men currently available to take Natalie to look for the muin farmhouse where she stashed the tapes. All the men he was willing to consider were out on Luther's orders. Those that were left he was positive would intimidate Natalie enough that it might bring them back to square one. 

He was considering whether he could have looked a bit harder for someone to take the fiery redhead out house hunting. Feeling pressed for time he wondered if he should make the phone calls to his contacts in the packs now or if it really could wait until after he got his hands on the tapes. By the time he reasoned out that the information on the tapes might influence the calls he made, he was standing outside Natalie's door.

A brief smile crossed his lips as he knocked on the door. As usual there was no response from inside. He wiped the smile from his face and turned the knob. "You know," Tor said as he walked into the room, "a simple 'come in' might prevent a person from walking in on something that you wouldn't want seen."

"I lock the door when I want to prevent that," she responded shortly.

"I guess that could work too."

"Anyway, you said you were coming. I'm ready to go."

"Are you sure you can find it again?"

"Honestly, no." Natalie picked up the notepad and pen from the table. She stared at the rough map again. "I hope so. What will happen to me if I can't?"

"Not sure. I guess that would depend on whether Mira believes you truly can't find it or if she thinks you're lying. If your lying, then not only will that piss her off but there's also the fact that you would have wasted my time when there are a number of other things I need to get done."

Natalie stared at the map with concern. 

"Don't worry. She's not as bad as it may seem. She's in a difficult position right now and it's wearing on her. I'm sure you'll be okay one way or another. Let's get going. We'll just have to make sure we find the place so that there's nothing to worry about."

Tor led the way down the hall. Natalie continued to stare at the map as they walked as if she could will herself into remembering some additional detail that would help out. "How far outside of town are we? In what direction? I was trying to figure out how far we'll have to go to get to highway 41."

"It will be quite a drive. But I'll see how fast I can get us there." He watched the freckles on her face wrinkle in concentration and found himself smiling again. Shaking his head at himself, he opened the door for her that led into the parking garage. 

"Thanks," she said staring at him in confusion.

"What?" He asked at the look on her face.

"I guess I was thinking that I never in a million years would have pictured a werewolf or lycan or whatever opening a door for me. The general portrayal isn't that of the lycan gentleman."

A rumbling chuckle reverberated in his chest. "You certainly do speak your mind."

"Sorry, I guess I sometimes say things without thinking. I wasn't trying to be insulting." Natalie blushed as he opened the car door for her.

"I'm not offended. I find it interesting that you appear to have adjusted to dealing with this so well so quickly. Not many could go from fainting to analyzing manners so offhandedly in the space of a few days."

"I wouldn't call it a quick adjustment. I've learned a lot in the past six months. Not the least of which is that human beings are more capable of being monsters than the monsters are. That conclusion I reached long before you rescued me from that asylum."

"How exactly could you determine that before coming here?" Tor's voice was tinted with obvious interest in that particular comment.

Natalie paused before she continued, trying to put her thoughts in order. At this point I suppose the whole thing will come out when they see the tapes anyway. "The night I got everything on tape was very strange. It may be easiest to watch it as opposed to me trying to explain it all. Mostly I say that because I get the feeling you'll understand it better than I did. Ultimately it came down to what I think was a vampire rescuing me from some military types." Tor thought about that as he drove. 

Sitting in the silence Natalie watched out the window as the scenery passed. They were on the south side of the city she realized after a time. It was going to be at least an hour to drive through it, depending on traffic. They would need to stop for gas and then drive the rest of the way out of town. She started to worry that they might be seen and that they might get followed. Then a look over at Tor again put her mind a bit at rest. I'm willing to bet that even the government guys with the guns would have trouble with this guy. She found it odd that while he had to be the biggest man she had ever seen. The tattoos on his face were certainly intimidating. If she had met him under any other circumstances she was certain she would have turned and gone the other way as quickly and quietly as possible. Somehow getting to talk to him even the little bit that she had convinced her that he was more trustworthy than anyone else she had known in years. It was an odd feeling.

"Natalie," Tor asked breaking the silence after quite some time driving. "What did the vampire you mentioned look like?"

"It was dark," she said and went a bit pale.

"Okay, so it was dark. You have to have seen the guy's face if he 'saved you,'" Tor said with more suspicion.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything more terrifying. If it hadn't been for the fact that the other guys had guns and were shooting at me," Natalie didn't finish. 

"You still haven't described him."

Natalie could see the nightmare as clear as day. "Dark hair, black sockets for eyes, a mouthful of fangs. Nothing like the movies."

Tor went cold all over and a low growl emanated from his chest, causing Natalie's eyes to widen a bit and she turned to look at him. "Say you didn't get him on your tape."

Natalie didn't answer.



Jenna paced impatiently in the small room she had been thrown in. She was becoming far to used to the feel of prisons lately. It didn't matter whether it was her own bedroom thanks to Rafe, an actual room with bars courtesy of Cadifor, a self imposed hotel she couldn't leave, or a small room with a locked door. 

Devon had been very clear about how many different torture tactics he had learned while working for Rafe. She had been given an hour to remember where the rest of the paperwork was and to become more cooperative.

She briefly considered her chances of escaping if she shifted and tried to fight her way out. They have guns and superior numbers, a superior voice growled in the back of her head.

"So you're talking to me again?" Jenna questioned sarcastically. "Just say 'I told you so' and be done with it."

I'm too busy trying to think of a way out of this to mince words. I think you're only real choice here is to cooperate with them and hope that the maniac in charge is good to his word. Give them the information they want and I suggest making it clear that the circle on Arnauk territory is more than a little helpful. Maybe we can still get out there in time to catch the birth of Aislinn's child before out chance is lost and we end up together permanently.

Jenna actually flinched as her door slammed open. Devon was pissed. "Now, Jenna. It seems that I have been given a very tight deadline to start producing quality work or my funding and backing is going to be revoked. That means in it's simplest terms that your time is up. So what will it be?"

"I get it Devon. I've got no choices here. I'll give you what you want. But I'm hoping for some help in return."

"You seem to be mistaking yourself for someone in a position to negotiate." Devon hissed. One of his apelike cronies grabbed her from behind, holding her arms down in a steal like grip and squeezing most of the wind out of her.

Jenna had never found any type of were she had seen shift frightening, until now. Devon's face elongated, his scales spread, his eyes enlarged and his mouth seemed to unhinge as he bared a set of fangs at least three inches long. A wicked hiss accompanied a flicking tongue as he stepped up to Jenna. Opening his mouth again to give her a better look at his impressive fangs, she could see venom dripping from the tips. 

Devon's fang's retracted again as he spoke. "Where are the paperssss?"

Jenna stammered, "I'm gonna end up dead one way or the other. Why would I want to help you on my way out?"

Jerking his head toward the door, Devon walked out, leading the way as Jenna was dragged along by the ape-tiger man. He opened a door at the back of the warehouse and Jenna was virtually thrown inside.

Then Jenna spotted the cages at the back wall. Several of her own men who had been turned into dire lycans were locked up as well as a couple mixed weres that she didn't recognize. She took a closer look at the men in the cages. It was obvious that they weren't fairing well. They gave the distinct impression of insanity meets wild kingdom. A small twinge of guilt passed through Jenna as she realized that she was responsible for a majority of the caged men in this room. Devon watched her and waited. 

"I want to be there when you change them back," Jenna said, managing to sound remorseful. She could feel Brennus' approval to her idea in the back of her mind.

Shifting back to his more human looking for Devon tried to read her intentions. He wasn't sure if she had an ulterior motive to the suggestion. Still if she was willing to divulge the location of the missing notes then it was a simple enough thing to agree to. "I suppose that is not out of the range of possibility. You tell me where we can find the notes we need and I'll see what I can do."

"The rest of the notes are hidden at the manor. I assume if you're working with the feds and they are still looking then they simply haven't been found yet." Jenna continued to stare at the man in the cage and managed to generate a tear that wasn't entirely faked. "There is a pond behind the manor and several gazebos surround it. I buried the missing notes in the ground beneath some loose boards in the floor of the northern most gazebo. It's the one that is tucked into the trees toward the back of the main property. I figured that everyone would ransack the house, but they might miss searching the grounds too thoroughly."

Devon seemed satisfied with her sincerity for the moment. "It seems you may be right. I'll send someone to locate the notes. I'll let you know how that turns out. Then we may discuss whether or not you live."



It took over an hour of arguing and reassuring to get Aislinn to calm down and accept returning to the Madadh-alluidh Saobhaidh. Aislinn rode in the SUV silently, clutching her stomach, tears running down her face. The only thing stopping her from insisting on remaining at the circle was that she realized it wouldn't matter whether the babies were born there or at the den. If they didn't have Brennus to exchange, one would die regardless. She needed to call Cullen and she would have a terrible time managing that from the reservation.

Rissa attempted to comfort her, but Aislinn simply wasn't ready to discuss what she had learned. She was afraid that if she said it out loud she might break down completely again. 

The trip was agonizingly long. It was already dinner by the time they were home. Rissa held Aislinn's hand as the walked through the parking garage and into the elevator. Sarah met them as they arrived on the 13th floor.

One look at Aislinn's pale face and defeated expression had Sarah on her cell phone to Rhona. She glared at Rissa and Drake, "You should have taken her to the infirmary." 

Drake glared right back. "She crying and upset, but not hurt." He looked to Aislinn uncertainly. "As far as we can tell," he added. "She won't say what happened.

"I don't need Rhona. There's nothing she can do. This is my fault. I should have listened to Cullen." Aislinn started to sob again. Rissa helped her to the nearest sofa in the great room. Drake managed to shoo most of the concerned onlookers out of the immediate area.

Sarah sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders comfortingly. "Try and calm down. I need to know what's wrong so I can help."

"Is there any chance at all that Cullen and Cadifor have managed to catch Jenna yet?" Aislinn asked knowing what the answer would be.

Shaking her head, Sarah urged Aislinn, "No, but what difference does that make?"

"It's difficult to explain. If we want both of my children," Aislinn could barely say it, "to survive birth," she continued through heavy sobs, "we need to get Jenna and take them back to the Circle." 

Rissa jumped up and fetched a box of tissues that was on a nearby counter. She felt like she needed to do something and that was the only thing she could see to be helpful in any way.

Sarah and all the others went cold at the statement. No one was able to speak or think much beyond what she said.

"I need to call Cullen," Aislinn added.

Rhona exited the elevator and came directly over to the group of people gathered at the couch. One look at all their faces and she immediately began checking Aislinn over.

"I'm fine Rhona. I only need to calm down," Aislinn said, almost grateful at having to deal with Rhona's fussing. It briefly interrupted her miserable thought process. "Are you able to give me anything that could calm my nerves," she asked hopefully.

"I hesitate to give you anything like that while you're pregnant. Maybe some tea and a little rest would be the best medicine for whatever has you this upset. It's not good for you or the babies," Rhona added with concern.

Aislinn nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. I'm guessing that no matter what I tell them they won't be able to find her any sooner. They're already looking for her."

Sarah wasn't sure what to do. She sounded so defeated. She could already imagine the conversation if Aislinn called Cullen with this kind of news. He was already worked up. Every time Sarah had spoken to him on the phone recently he was aggitated and wanted to know how Aislinn was. He was doing his best to fulfill his role as Alpha but it was fairly obvious he would rather be being a mate and father at the moment. Who could blame him?

"Rissa," Sarah said with a bit of a crack in her standard authorative tone, "take Aislinn for some tea and get her to her bed. Drake come with me. I need to know exactly what happened." Everyone moved to do as they were told. At least following orders broke the discomfort of standing around staring helplessly. Rhona went with Rissa to help with the tea.

Drake and Sarah walked into her office and closed the door behind themselves. "I don't really have much more to add," Drake said.

"I know. I just wanted you with me. I'm going to call Cullen."

"I don't know how smart that is. You don't really have all the information. She's holding something back."

"You're right. But I'm guessing that when Cullen gets Aislinn's call he's going to go a bit crazy. She's upset enough already. Right now she'll need him to be calm and handle it rationally at least when he's talking to her. Last thing we need right now is for her to go into labor early due to upset. If this is all dependent on the birth, then maybe we can talk to Rhona about something to delay it until Jenna is in custody. The most important piece of information for Cullen right now is to find her." Sarah nodded to herself as if she was getting all of her thoughts straight. "So I need to warn Cullen about the call that's coming. Tell him to be calm. And that finding Jenna has now become more imperative than it was before."

Drake had to admire her thought process. "This is why you got this job." He hugged her tightly. It was a rare moment when she so obviously needed outside strength to do anything.



Cullen could feel Aislinn's abject misery. Tired of meetings, uncertain what was happening at the den and feeling helpless to do anything productive, he paced the hallway outside the meeting room. For the past hour Aislinn's upset had been increasing in intensity. He had attempted to call her but was unable to get through and she had yet to return his call.

Cadifor came charging out into the hall. "You strain our friendship Arnauk," he growled. "No one walks out on Council meetings."

Menacing growling emanated from Cullen's chest. "Something is wrong."

Cadifor actually paused. In their long time friendship, he had never seen Cullen Arnauk so disturbed. "Aislinn?"

Pacing across the floor Cullen didn't answer. "She's not returning my calls. And whatever the problem is, it's getting worse."

When Cullen's cell rang he answered it without looking at the caller ID. "Aislinn, are you alright?"

"It's not Aislinn," Sarah answered. "She's okay. Upset and scared but safe and okay."

Cadifor was frustrated but sympathetic. He was torn between being a good friend and being a leader. He needed to be dragging Cullen back into the meeting whether he liked it or not. At the same time he was curious about the call. This situation certainly seemed to be moving around Cullen and Aislinn. Cadifor became a councilman not only due to his long existence but a certain intuition about the moving of the Fates. Right now, he felt that he needed to give Cullen some leeway. For the moment.

Cullen's face went deathly white. Cadifor wondered if the man was going to be sick all over the floor. "I understand. When she's able, I want to hear her voice," was all he said.

"So tell me," Cadifor snarled.

Even after several deep breaths Cullen's voice cracked a bit when he spoke. "We need to get our hands on Jenna now. If Aislinn gives birth and we don't have Jenna to send Brennus' soul back to wherever he came from, the baby will die."

Cadifor had no idea what to say to that. Frankly, Jenna had gone on the back burner when this meeting was called to figure out what to do about he human government not playing ball and then Nora Senach died and that flipped things around even more. He was already frustrated by Cullen's inconsistent unreliable behavior since he had gotten here. Now this.

Clearing his throat, Cadifor tried to be sympathetic, but he also knew that a majority of the council would be unconcerned with Cullen's home life. Right now the Council focus was on keeping the missing weres out of the human news and the druids from going back underground without a way to keep tabs on them. "Cullen, Jenna is not a current priority."

The glare that Cullen leveled on Cadifor nearly made the ancient lycan flinch. "Maybe not your priority."

"What about Mira? This other faction you suggested? We were trying to convince the Council that we needed to add that to our agenda. You want to go back in there, now that you've charged out unreasonably and tell them we need to further split our efforts to include the Jenna issue as well?"

Cullen continued to Pace. He couldn't think straight. 

Cadifor stepped in Cullen's way and grabbed his shoulders. "Listen to me for a minute. The weres, the druids and the mess with Jenna are all related. It seems Aislinn is in the middle of all of it. I think we need to remain calm and deal with the situation at hand."

"I've always trusted your opinion Cadifor. But I don't know that I'm willing to risk this. I need to go to Aislinn and we need to find Jenna."

"And where are you going to start looking? I have been tracking the woman for weeks. I still have men working on it. Do you really think that if you go back to your den something magical will happen that will put her in your hands?"

Cullen growled and stepped away from Cadifor, knowing the man was right.




Leaders of the Pack Ch. 06



"The other option is for you to stay here, help us come up with a plan for action that may resolve some of the other issues and it's possible that Jenna will turn up in the mix. She doesn't have anywhere to go. She needs help and resources if she's going to manage to get anywhere. There are very few entities out there that might help her. She's going to run out of places to hide in short order. When she does my trackers will be on her. For now get your head back in the immediate situation and stop pissing off the Council."

Neither of the men had noticed the open door to the Council chamber. "Excellent advice," Rollo added curtly. "Will the two of you be rejoining the meeting?"

Cullen nodded with respect and re-entered the Council room. Keith was still sitting in chair next to the one Cullen had vacated. He had the look of a deer in headlights and seemed more than a little relieved when Cullen reappeared. "I apologize to the Council for the interruption."

"Need we ask what caused your urgent exit Arnauk," Kyran asked.

Cadifor pushed Cullen over to his chair. "Arnauk's mate is pregnant and there was an emergency."

Annoyed looks passed around the room, but the meeting moved on at that point. Most of them understood, even if they didn't like, the situation.

Cullen decided that at the very least, Keith was going back to the Madadh-alluidh Saobhaidh. He had never known anyone as good at hunting people or information down as Keith was. Cullen figured that the best approach might be to take all the roads available and see if they met in the middle. Cadifor was right. It all seemed to be involving Aislinn in one way or another. Since all of her visions ended up being the main means to the end of the problems that had been amassing, Cullen wanted to make sure that Mira was a top priority for the Council.



Frustration gripped the steering wheel as Tor turned around in the field at the dead end. 

"We're going to be out of gas. We are going to have to go back, if we can find out way back," Natalie said with concern.

"That's what the two reserve tanks of gas in the trunk are for," Tor rumbled.

Natalie sighed. "I'm sorry Tor. I was scared and desperate that night. I really thought I could find my way back."

Tor heaved a heavy breath and took a moment to calm down. "It's alright. I didn't really think it would be an easy task after you described to me what you did. Maybe I should have arranged for the helicopter instead. I figured if anything were going to be noticed by the feds it would be a random helicopter in the airspace near the city. But I suppose if we got to the tapes and got out fast enough it wouldn't matter." Tor sounded distinctly as if he was thinking out loud.

"Okay," Natalie blew a stray red curl out of her eyes. 

Tor smiled as he looked at her, curly hair going kinda crazy around her face from a day in the car with the windows down. Her bright green eyes shining in the light from the setting sun. "So lets go back to the main highway," he said, putting himself back on track. "We'll take that little map you sketched and throw it out. Let's see if we can work backward in the dark. That's when you did this after all. We'll just take it slow and see where we end up. Either way we have to be back by morning."

Natalie was getting nervous. She knew how much depended on finding those tapes. She stared out the window trying to take in both sides of the road at once, desperately looking for any landmark that might point her in the right direction. She pointed Tor down one dirt road and then another. Finally she screamed. "Just stop."

"What?" Tor stopped the car and Natalie got out, stomping down the road in the car's headlights. 

"This is pointless," she said through tears, wiping her cheeks. "I remember thinking that all this looked the same on my way out of here. I thought how good that was since it would be so hard to find my way back that no one else would be able to figure it out at all."

Tor followed her down the road. "We don't have time for this Natalie." 

"Look around. I mean look," she blurted. "You can't even see over the overgrown fields. We need a periscope or something. How the hell am I supposed to figure this out?" She turned around staring at Tor. "I don't know what to do."

"Calm down." Tor pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "Just breath."

Natalie buried her face in her hands and tried to catch her breath. His arms were more comforting than she wanted to admit. Suddenly she pushed away from him. At first Tor thought he had gone to far. "Turn off the lights," Natalie said and trotted toward the SUV.

"Huh?" Tor followed her a bit confused. "What are you thinking?"

"Just turn off the lights. This is a far shot I know. Just do it." She climbed up the hood of the car and stood on the roof. From there she could see over the fields. The moon and stars were bright tonight and with the city so far off there was decent vision for quite a way.

"What are you doing?"

"I told you there were a bunch of trees around the house. I was thinking that if we can see far enough maybe a patch of trees would stand up high enough over these fields to be seen from a higher point. Really your talking about the helicopter I think is what gave me the idea."

"Well?" Tor crossed his arms over his chest. He was skeptical that the idea would get them anywhere. 

"I see a dark something up over the fields off that way." Natalie pointed across the fields to the right of the car. "I don't know if it's a patch of trees or not. It's far off."

Tor shrugged. "Might as well try it. What could we lose at this point?"

Natalie jumped off the roof and climbed into the car. Tor drove roughly in the direction that she had pointed to. Every so often they stopped the car and she climbed up on the roof again to make sure they were still going the right way. Finally they came as close to it as it seemed they could get following the roads they were on.

Tor got out of the car and stared off over the fields. "I don't know. I don't see a house and there's no drive or a road over to those trees. Sometimes farm fields have patches of trees to act as a wind block in between fields."

"I don't remember a drive from the last time. Maybe it's so overgrown you can't see it. Or maybe we came up on it from the wrong side and it's on the other side of the trees." Natalie wrapped her arms around herself. A cold front was rolling in. 

"All right. Let's check it out. If that isn't it then I give up for now. We're going back after this."

Working their way across the field wasn't easy. Natalie grew despondent. She didn't remember it being this difficult to get there. When they got to the patch of trees, an eerie quiet permeated the wood. 

Tor sniffed the breeze. Natalie watched the strange behavior with curiosity. She had almost forgotten that she was with a werewolf. 

Eyes yellow and gleaming in the night shadows of the trees Tor refocused on Natalie. "I hate it when the nightlife goes quiet. Makes me paranoid. We're being followed. No big deal though. Coyotes checking us out I think."

Natalie looked around. "I don't see anything. Are we in danger?"

Smiling Tor started pushing their way through the trees again. "No. I'm bigger than any coyote. They're out hunting game. They'll look for something smaller than us."

Coming through the trees Natalie broke into a run. "That's it. Right there. That's it," she said excitedly between breaths.

Tor kept up easily with her run. They came up on the back side of the house. "Slow down," he said. "Let me go first."

"Are you worried about something?"

"Hard to say. Call me overly cautious."

Slinking around the house to the opening that served as a front door Tor watched the ground for traces of any activity. Satisfied that no one had been there recently they started inside.

"I can't see anything," Natalie realized. "Why didn't we bring a flashlight?"

"I never think to grab one. I don't need it." Tor took her by the hand. "Where are we going?"

"The basement. There's a big boiler or furnace thing. I shoved a backpack with the tapes in it behind it."

"You stay here. I don't want you falling through this floor or something. I'll go down there and get it."

"I guess," she said reluctantly. "It's spooky in here. Hurry up."

Tor chuckled. "If you think it's so spooky why did you leave them here?"

"Desperation. Hurry up."

Tor carefully traversed the decaying floor boards. Creaking boards when he mounted the basement stairs concerned him. He was a lot heavier than Natalie. There was a very real concern that he might fall through. "Well caoch," he swore. Stripping down he shifted into his wolf form, hoping that weight distributed over four feet wouldn't be as bad as weight on two.

The floor boards continued to creak but it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been. Tor carefully worked his way down the stairs. Looking around the basement he spied a boiler or furnace. Stepping lightly through the basement Tor shifted back to his human form and reached around behind it.

"How much longer," Natalie called down the stairs. Her voice eerily loud in the silence of the abandoned house. She could hear the coyotes calling into the night outside. "Tor," Natalie called, starting to panic. "Something went passed the door. Tor?"

Hearing Natalie, Tor attempted to hurry. "Coming," he called back, but wasn't sure if she heard him over her own anxious shouting. Reaching behind the furnace he felt around until his hand hit some fabric. Taking hold he yanked a maroon backpack out from behind the furnace. He could feel boxes inside the bag. Slinging one strap around his neck he jogged back to the stairs, shifting as he went.

Quickly Tor picked his way up the stairs. Natalie stood, back to a wall staring wide eyed at a couple small coyotes in the doorway. Unimpressed he slinked across the floor and growled menacingly at the two smaller animals. Both backed down immediately and ran. The wolf couldn't help the brief predator urge and chased them out the door and into the field. It was the rattling of the backpack around his neck the stopped him from hunting them down.

Trotting back to the house he found Natalie standing in front of the dilapidated building staring at him. Seeing the uncertainty on her face he shifted back to human and walked up to her, pulling the backpack over his head. "This it," he asked, knowing it had to be. But he was hoping if he got her talking she wouldn't look so traumatized.

Natalie swallowed hard. The first thing she noticed was that the tattoo on his face was continued down his neck, across his shoulders, down his chest, across his hips and over his thighs. It was a solid moment of staring before she realized he had said something to her. "Huh?"

Tor couldn't help laughing. "I'll take that as a compliment. I don't think I'll ever stop being amused by the human perception of nudity."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Natalie stammered and looked embarrassed. "I don't have a problem with nudity. I've seen naked men before."

Raising his eyebrows Tor cocked his head to the side. "Alright. Let's get out of here. We have a long drive back." He started walking back the way they came.

"Aren't you going to go get your clothes? At least your shoes? It's cold out here." Natalie tripped behind him, watching the naked man walk ahead of her in the moonlight. What the hell are you thinking? Natalie chastised herself. He's a freaking werewolf. A gorgeous, dangerous, tall, dark man werewolf. She realized that she had been attracted to him for some time. Still she couldn't wrap her brain around the werewolf part of the equation.

Tor turned around and knelt down to help her up. "They're somewhere in the basement. I'd hate to risk the floor in there again if I don't have to. I have more in the car and I don't really feel the cold." They stood up together. "If it really bothers you I'll go back and get them."

"No," she responded a bit too quickly. He smiled. "I wouldn't want you to risk getting hurt." God, what wouldn't I say to keep him naked a little longer.

Tor reached up and pushed a wild red curl out of her eyes. He caught the unmistakable scent of arousal. With his wolf already close to the surface he couldn't stop the golden swirl shifting his eyes or the response of his body.

Leaning down he pressed his nose into her hair and breathed deeply. A soft growl rolled through Natalie. She never would have imagined something like that could be so erotic. 

Okay now you're getting turned on by a naked werewolf in the middle of an abandoned farm field in the middle of the night. You really are insane aren't you, she asked herself, as she stood there.

When she didn't run away or slap him, Tor took that as a promising sign. "Come on," he said, pulling away from her. He knew it was never good to push thinks like this too far too quickly. She was still a human. She had no idea what she'd be getting into with him. "We have to get back."

Taking her by the hand he led her through the fields, the trees, and back to the SUV. There was something distinctly reassuring about being back at the car and seeing it undisturbed. Natalie had been fantasizing that they would reach the SUV and a bunch of government agents would jump out of the shadows, hand cuff them and drag her back to the white room with the straight jacket.

Tor opened the door for her and she sat down in the front seat realizing that part of her attraction to the man was the fact that every time she looked at him and he did something supernatural she was reassured that she wasn't insane. He opened the back of the truck and pulled a duffel bag to the tailgate. Fishing a pair of jeans out of the bag he pulled them on. He tossed the backpack into the backseat, slammed the trunk closed, climbed into the driver's seat and with the help of a GPS they were pointed straight home.

Uncertain what to say if anything, Natalie fell asleep shortly into the drive. Her dreams revolved around a sexy tattooed man in jeans.



Leaders of the Pack Ch. 07



Just a couple notes:

I've noticed that the submission format for Lit does delete my italics and page breaks. This is why some scene changes seem choppy. Sorry guys but I can't fix that. 

Chapter 7

Malik waited at the entrance to a large library. One by one each of the others arrived. He looked at the small group of men and women who had chosen to separate from the Circle at this time and he wondered if he was leading them all in the wrong direction.

Silently they walked into the large library and toward the back to a small study room that was set aside from the main floor. The smell of old papers permeated the building and comforted the group. 

Cerdwyn was the first to speak. "I guess I'm not entirely sure what we're doing Malik. Have you called the lycans yet? Do you know where we are going?"

"Well," Malik shook his head. His striking blue eyes seemed dull and clouded with uncertainty. "Honestly I was hoping we could all discuss the plan before I did anything. I have several numbers I could call. Nora trusted the Arnauk most. But with the current situation I don't know how we will be received."

"True," Cerdwyn responded, trembling. She had been with the group of druids Jenna had held captive. "The lycans will want to question us all. I don't want to go through that." Nodded consent went around the room.

"I don't think, I mean none of us think, the Arnauk are like that. After all, none of us would be willing to help them if we really thought we could be in danger by doing it right?"

"We can't question ourselves now. It's too late," a rather pudgy man added. Nervous looks were exchanged.

Malik cleared his throat. "We know we are doing the right thing. Without our help those deformed men and women will never be able to return to themselves. If that is all they want then we truly should help. I know that the Circle believes it can't be remedied. But they also believed that Rafe couldn't create them from the old books to begin with. We could at least explore the possibility. And the lycans deserve to know they aren't the reason the others have cut off correspondence. And more than that, Nora said there is still something we need to finish with them. I can't ignore her last request." Tears formed in the man's eyes and a new confidence spread amongst them.

"Then I have a suggestion," Cerdwyn squeezed Malik's hand. "I say we go to Aislinn. I trust her. I believe she would be a good buffer between us and the lycans. And she has access to the stones. Perhaps she can reach Nora and discover what she felt we needed to finish."

"Telephones are too dangerous at the moment. The lycan Council is monitoring everything. It's difficult to say whether they would find out we were coming if we called her."

"Then we just go," Cerdwyn responded. 

Seeing Natalie asleep and knowing the long tiring drive ahead Tor decided to keep his mind active by making a couple phone calls. First was Mira to let her know that he had secured the tapes. 

The phone rang a couple times and Tor knew was waking her up. "Yes?" came a sleepy voice.

"It's Tor. I got the tapes. I haven't looked at them yet, so I don't know what's there. I'm on my way back right now. A few hours."

"Good. I'll sleep much better. Between that and Luther's news, it sounds like we are finally getting back on track."

"What has Luther found out?"

"It seems that Jenna and our rogue weres are working with the NSA. Puts all our eggs in one basket. It may be relatively easy to deal with that situation if you hand the information over to the Council. They are very likely capable of handling that mess, leaving us able to go after Jenna's notes and find Rillan."

"Sounds good. I should be back in short order. I'll make a few phone calls and maybe I'll arrive with more good news."

"Good work Tor. I knew I could count on you."

Smiling Tor hung up the phone.

Next came the difficult phone call. Tor glanced over at Natalie. He could hear her slow breathing. He took a deep breath and his eyes turned. He growled, reminding himself yet again that she was a human and put his thoughts back on track. Confident that she was still asleep and figuring that there wouldn't be much said that would be a problem if she overheard it, he searched his contact list and chose an old number, hoping it was still correct.

The Council meeting had taken all day. It was well after dark by the time it adjourned. As far as Cullen was concerned they had gotten no where. They didn't see how locating an unknown woman from a random vision could be helpful at this juncture. Several of the elders were leaving at this point to pursue some leads on the missing weres. Cadifor still wanted to speak with a few more of the elders. His current area of concern was figuring out if one of their own killed Nora or if Aislinn's vision was correct and "it wasn't a lycan" and stopping the Circle from going underground again. Then there was also the group of elders who believed the top priority should be figuring out why the human contacts were suddenly so uncooperative. Last but not least everyone was concerned about locating the supposedly lost notes that were causing so much concern on all fronts. Whatever was in those notes, if the feds wanted them then they were worth looking for.

Upon leaving the meeting, Cullen immediately grabbed Keith and ushered him back to his room. "I apologize for insisting on sending you back right now."

Keith shook his head. "I understand. In your position, I'd do the same. Besides as much as I appreciate being included in on higher functions of pack dynamic, I'm looking forward to getting outta here."

Cullen leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He watched Keith packing his small bag. "When you get back I want you to talk to Aislinn and get all the information you possibly can from her muin visions. Who knows what detail might tell you where to locate Jenna or this Mira. The Council doesn't want to listen to the theories about a hidden faction or Mira. So that leaves us looking into those issues on our own."

Keith nodded. Hearing the rare upset in his friend's voice that seemed to be a constant of late Keith stopped his packing. "I'm saying this as a friend. You've never been so uncertain and let it show. You're making people nervous. Both the pack and the Council. You need to stop this. Too many people count on you to be strong and decisive in realistic ways. As much as I believe Aislinn has been good for you, she hasn't been so good for your confidence or leadership." Keith sighed. "Pull yourself together. You'll do her and yourself more good if you can at least look like your old self when people are paying attention."

"If you weren't my friend and I didn't know you mean well, I'd probably body slam you for that lecture," Cullen growled. "Still that's basically the same advice Cadifor gave me. I'll be better if you go home and then call me with some decent information."

Keith went back to packing as Cullen's phone rang. He grabbed it out of his pocket, hating the sound of that ring lately. It was never good news. His biggest fear being that the next call would be Aislinn giving birth. His heart sank as he realized that should be the greatest news he could get. When I lay my hands on Jenna no one will be capable of identifying her muin corpse. 

The number on the caller ID was not one he recognized. Cullen briefly debated letting the voice mail pick up the call, but then thought again and hit the answer button on his cell. Recently mysterious numbers had related important information. He didn't want to take the chance that this was one of those calls.

"Arnauk," he said into the phone. His automatic answer programed in for years.

Tor couldn't help smiling at his brother's voice. "Been a long time, but I still know that ridiculous in-charge attitude of yours. It comes through even when you answer the phone."

Cullen felt better for the first time in days. It was the last call he would have expected. Not that Tormaid's phone calls were ever expected. He tended to get in touch randomly ever 5-10 years or so. "It's good to hear your voice. Where have you been hiding this time?"

"Same place I've been for a few decades now," Tor vaguely responded.

Cullen didn't press the matter. He figured Tormaid would get around to letting him know what was going on his life when it suited him. His older brother had always been that way. Similar to his father, he only gave out information on a need to know basis. The less you say the smaller the chance that something can come back on you. Last Cullen knew Tor had taken up some mercenary work. 

"Is there a purpose for the call or are we just catching up?" Cullen asked.

"Straight to the point? Wouldn't you rather have friendly banter first?"

Cullen chuckled and Keith looked up at him curiously. It was an odd sound from his friend lately. "'Banter first' implies that there is a purpose."

"Being Alpha has made you far to serious," Tor responded. "I hear you've mated. Somehow I knew you would before me."

The smile dropped from Cullen's lips. Of course this would end up being about Aislinn. "Yes. I wish you had been there."

"I would have. But I only heard about it after the fact. Sometimes I regret not keeping in better contact. You could have called me. Was Wenda there?"

"I tried to call both of you. Neither of the numbers I have for you are currently working. Maybe send me a note the next time you change it?"

"Sorry. I have been tied up for a while now. May not have made it anyway."

Cullen growled at his brother. "You know I always wonder if the two of you have ended up dead when I can't get a hold of you. I should really try finding Wenda again."

"True. Sorry."

"So considering the trouble of late," Cullen began wanting to get to the point, "You want to tell me what's going on? I assume this isn't about you coming to visit and meet Aislinn."

"Well honestly I would like to do that too. But no, it's not about a family visit. It's about the mess you're currently in."

Cullen's brow furrowed. "What do you know and how do you know it?"

"I know that you mated to a would be druid slash were cat, that some mixed up weres are on the loose, and that Jenna Tairneach has some paperwork that needs to be retrieved. Does that about sum it up?"

There was a long pause before Cullen responded. "Most of it. Again I have to ask how you know all this."

"I work for an organization that has spent the last eon cleaning up collateral damage to keep the human populous unaware of our existence. Unfortunately this mess is too big for us to deal with. We need more man power."

"How much man power are we talking and to what end?"

Tor considered his words carefully. He knew that Mira wanted as little involvement as possible at the same time he knew that the pack Council would want as much information as possible if he was going to glean their cooperation. "We have information that could help the Council accomplish what they want and clear up a few matters. I assume that once they have the information they will act on it. Essentially that's what we are after. Since our organization would prefer to remain anonymous, I was hoping that I could give you the details and you could take credit for it."

Keith watched Cullen with interest. The little bit of the conversation he was getting did not sound good. 

"How exactly," Cullen responded, "am I supposed to explain to the Council where I came up with a bunch of new information suddenly? I'm having a hard enough time convincing them of the information I already have."

"I'm sure you could think of something. Maybe Aislinn could have another vision."

Cullen growled loudly. "You know an awful lot for not having been around all this time. Who exactly do you work for?"

"Cul the information about your mate is pretty much public knowledge. Don't go sounding like that." Tor sighed. "But I suppose I may owe you a bit more detailed explanation considering I'm asking you to take so much heat."

"I'd say so."

"I ended up taking a job some time ago and then stayed working there. They have contacts everywhere. Though most of the contacts don't realize who they report to. The organization is kept small. Easier to keep secrets when there aren't many people who know what's up. They keep an eye on things and when one of the major powers screws up, fix it quietly."

Cullen considered the vague references to "they" and the fact that the Council would not be happy with the anonymity. "You know that won't work for the Council."

"Well they'll need to decide what's more important. Names or information. If they can't accept it on our terms then-"

"Hey," Cullen interrupted. "You called me for help, not the other way around."

"Can't you at least try and work with me on this? Considering all I've done for you in the past I'd think you'd give me some slack here."

"You can't possibly be calling in favors right now. I've got too much at stake to play games with the situation," Cullen responded with annoyance.

"I'm not sure I know exactly what you're getting at there. I know you work pretty closely with Cadifor and that your pack was rather intimately involved in the recent trouble, but you make it sound like you have a personal stake in this."

"I do. Why don't you tell me whatever information it is you have and I'll tell you how much I'm willing to risk on your behalf."

Tor considered how upset Cullen sounded and wondered what exactly he was missing here. "We know where the NSA is hiding the missing weres and Jenna."

Cullen didn't know how to respond at first. He knew that the Council would want the information, but he would have a lot of questions to answer when he handed it over. "Look Tor. We already figured out that there is another faction involved in this and we weren't sure who they are. I'm guessing your group must be the ones responsible for the break in at the asylum that set the mixed weres loose?"

"Yeah, you got us there," Tor admitted reluctantly and glanced over at Natalie suddenly feeling a bit protective.

"Any chance you'll share what that was about? Do you have those weres in custody?"

"No. They escaped," Tor said with annoyance. "Partially because we don't have enough men or the facilities to keep them. That's why we need the Council to go get them. Primarily we were looking to get them out of the hands of the humans. Honestly we didn't count on them running back to them in the end."

Cullen considered what Tor said and what he wasn't saying. "Aislinn saw a girl. We were thinking that the weres weren't your main objective."

There was another long pause. "I guess I'm not the only one with inside intel. I had heard that Aislinn was pretty good at that kind of stuff. Look Cul. I admit I'm not telling you everything. I'm telling you what we need you to know. Can't you be satisfied with the fact that it's what you were trying to find out anyway?"

Angry and relieved at the same time Cullen didn't know whether to argue or thank his brother. "I personally don't care about the Council objectives right now. If you can tell me where Jenna is then I am more grateful than you can possibly imagine. However I also know that the Arnauk are already under scrutiny for all the trouble that has cropped up lately. Just when we start to get things under control more trouble appears out of nowhere. I know that if I walk into the Council chamber now and announce what you've told me then they will want to know where I got it and they won't settle for a mysterious phone call. If I tell them Aislinn had a vision then they'll want her to have more. They don't understand or trust the information she gives. I guarantee there will be an investigation into me and the pack. Especially considering the evidence at the moment is pointing toward one of our own having killed Nora."

"It was the mixed weres who killed Nora. That I can share. You'll probably find out if you take them into custody anyway. They are looking for a cure for their condition. When the druids couldn't help Nora died. I wish I could tell you everything you want to know. Just like you, I have my own to protect as well."

Cullen growled in frustration. "Don't think I'll let this go."

"You're going to have to. I need to get off the phone now. I'll send you a text with an address as soon as I get it."

"I thought you said you know where they are."

"I said 'we' know where they are. I haven't been given the exact address yet. I should have it in a couple hours. I'm on my way back to the base now. When I get there I can talk with our man who has the rest of the details."

"Great. That should give me time to find Cadifor and prepare him to be angry with me."

"I'm sure you can handle it."

"Yeah?" Cullen asked sarcastically. "I appreciate your confidence in me."

"It was good to talk to you Cul. I promise I won't leave it so long next time."

"As frustrating as you are... It was good to hear from you. Nice to know you're still alive."

Cullen let the phone drop from his ear as he hung up. He stared at the number on the caller ID. "Change of plans Keith."

Keith smiled at the strength in Cullen's tone. "Alright. What are my orders?"

"Take this number and find my brother. Quietly. He's sending me the information we need to find Jenna. So that's taken care of. I still want you to talk with Aislinn about her visions and see if you can get anything else important out of it. I think the vision may pertain to whoever Tormaid is working with. He wouldn't tell me who his boss is. I want to know. They are the hidden group we are looking for."

"Okay. Hopefully the number won't be too bad to track."

"If anyone can find him..." Cullen said as he wrote down his brother's name, last known location, previous phone number, and the one he got from the caller ID.

"So what are you going to tell the Council?" Keith asked as he picked up his bag and walked to his door.

"Not sure yet. I think I'll start with Cadifor."

Jenna alternated glaring out the window at the passing scenery and glaring at the back of Devon's head. She was starting to hate cars. Ever since she met Rafe it seemed like each time she got into one she was being forcibly escorted somewhere she didn't want to go. She was sitting in the backseat next to a woman who appeared to be a botched rhinoceros cat hybrid. She was starting to really wonder how many men and women Rafe had messed with in his God quest.

She felt Brennus' disapproval in the back of her mind. At least all of the men I changed were volunteers, she thought back at him.

Who's to say that the poor creature sitting beside you didn't volunteer? Who knows what Rafe promised. You changed men knowing that you had a better option with the intent of making sure you would be stronger. Brennus' words cut through Jenna.

I can't decide if you love me or hate me. If you want to help me or turn me in. Jenna was near tears.

At times I'm not sure what I want either. You know I love you. I would do anything for you. I despise what you have done and what I have done in an attempt to help you. I remind myself of the things I did to become Alpha and sometimes I understand and sympathize with what you have done. And I remember the things that changed me and tell myself that you have not lived long enough to come to regret your decisions. I was hoping to help you avoid the worst. I wonder if I should have left it so that you might learn. I am torn. 

Devon stared at the intense look on Jenna's face. She appeared far away and he wondered what was going on in her head. "We're here," he said.

Jenna snapped into the moment and realized that they were in front of Tairneach manor. Now the tears started. Between her father's thoughts and seeing her home that she couldn't go back to, she was feeling more lost than ever. I'm not sure when it all went so wrong.




Leaders of the Pack Ch. 07



Tairneach manor was deserted, dark and boarded up. The Council had ordered the pack disbanded and the property forfeit. Jenna wondered which of the neighboring alphas were vying for her territory. This was precisely what her father had been trying to avoid for the past decade. Jenna could feel the rage searing through him. 

"It's around back," she said simply. 

Jenna, Devon, the rhino-cat woman, and the black suited driver all walked around the manor. The once well lit grounds were dark and cold. 

"Keep an eye out," Devon said. "Cadifor may be watching for her here."

"I would think this would be the last place he would expect me to go," Jenna growled.

"It seems that most of your thoughts are wrong lately. I suggest you keep them to yourself until you are asked for your opinion," Devon responded.

The back of the property was lit only by the moon. They walked the length of the pond that Jenna had described to a gazebo that bordered the edge of the forest that covered the rest of the territory.

Walking directly to the back seat Jenna instantly noticed that the board she had buried the notes beneath was ajar. Pulling the board aside she got down on her knees and dug in the soft earth beneath the gazebo. Nothing.

"Jenna?" Devon questioned with growing annoyance.

"It was here," she said. "Right here." She started to dig more frantically in the dirt, creating a hole much deeper than the one she knew she had left the notes in. Finally she sat back, breathing deeply, shaking her head. Defeated. Completely defeated. Her last card was gone. She had nothing left to bargain with. 

Brennus growled, You should have listened to me, in the back of her mind. She knew that he was close to giving up on her.

Devon stared at her wide eyed and silent, rage etched in all his features. The moon shining on his scales reminded Jenna of a horror movie. 

"You might as well kill me now. If the notes aren't here then I don't know where they are."

The level of resignation and sincerity in her voice was enough for Devon to believe her at the moment. "I'll decide what to do with you when we get back in one piece, if we haven't been discovered by Cadifor by coming out here, and after I determine what the NSA is going to do to me. But you are correct in thinking that your lifespan may have been seriously shortened by this. If I discover that you have lied to me, I can't even begin to describe the pain I will put you through."



Cadifor slammed the door as he entered his room. "I am so tired of talking to Lycans who are more concerned with politics than getting things done. No one wants to act until they hear from one person or another. If someone tells me that we need to wait for confirmation before we charge in one more time," Cadifor growled furiously. "At this rate the notes, Jenna, the weres, and anything else that might be wrong is going to get worse."

Lounging on the bed Makeda was attempting to finish a fairly long novel. Better to hid in Cadifor's room reading than to deal with the Council. "See, this is why I left the council years ago. It's not worth the upset."

Cadifor couldn't help but notice the new lace lingerie she was wearing. One of Makeda's favorite hobbies involved new articles of revealing clothing. 

"What are the chances," she purred, getting up and sauntering over to Cadifor, "that you'll let me help you forget the Council for a short time?" Makeda pushed the sports jacket he was wearing over his shoulders and down his arms, letting it drop to the floor.

There was no way that the vision of the beautiful dark woman wearing hot pink lace couldn't affect him. Her shoulders were bare save for the spaghetti straps. He knew she would not be the least bit interested in the problems of the Council. She never wanted to hear about the meetings or anything remotely troubling. In fact, Makeda's only real interest was sex. Cadifor thought she was perfect. There was nothing he loved more than to completely ignore duty by laying between her legs.

"It's a shame that you never wear these things long," he said bending his neck to kiss her shoulder. He pushed the spaghetti strap off her shoulder and began working his way down to a lace covered breast. The pink against her dark skin was incredibly erotic. "Have I mentioned to you how easily you could change my favorite color to pink?"

Makeda sighed happily as he untied the bow between her breasts. He peeled the lace back, cupped one hand beneath her breast. Makeda leaned back from him as Cadifor bent further to wrap his lips around her nipple. She ringed her fingers in his white blonde hair.

Sweeping her up into his arms, Cadifor carried her over to their bed. Frustrations of the day melted. He pulled his shirt and pants off. Staring into Makeda's deep brown eyes he crawled across the bed into her arms. Kissing her deeply he ran his hand along her arm down to her fingers and pulled her small hand to his swollen cock. She wrapped her fingers around him and began to stroke gently. 

He bit at her lips, peppering nips and kisses along her jaw and down her neckline to her collarbone. His lips found the old scar on her shoulder from her lost mate. He had his own mark that echoed her loss. He wondered briefly if mating was something she would consider again. The thought surprised him.

Pulling back from her briefly he stared at the beautiful woman in his arms. Her dark skin sharply contrasted against his pallid white. In so many ways she complimented his personality and life. He never thought he would consider taking another mate. But Makeda...

She smiled at him. "You've a strange look on your face, lover. Usually you are much more forceful than this. I have to wonder why you have yet to tear this beautiful lace teddy off me. Don't you like this one?" She teased him and stroked his cock a bit more insistently. That part of him at least seemed as eager as ever. 

"Both you and the lace are enticing," he growled passionately, reaching up, taking a handful of her long braided hair and bringing it to his nose, inhaling deeply.

The intimate gesture was far from lost on her. Still she wondered, "you had better not be thinking of that muin Council meeting. 

"Far from it love. Don't even mention them." He kissed her again, long and needy. Trailing his hand along her him he found the hot pink panties and looped his fingers in the waste. Contrary to his usual style he sat up and slid them down her legs, kissing her hip and thigh.

Panties off he pressed her legs apart and moved slowly to her center. Makeda moaned as he ran his tongue along the inside of her thigh and nibbled her labia gently. Makeda's hips began to keep rhythm as he sucked on her clit. Moaning with growing intensity she was feel herself draw closer and closer to her end.

Taking his cue from her delicious sounds Cadifor moved up her body momentarily sucking on her nipples before kissing his way to her lips again. He entered her, forcing another moan from her lips. 

"I could listen to that sound for the rest of my life," he whispered into her ear. 

Makeda paused at the implication. Cadifor wasn't one to drop comments like that lightly. She wasn't quite sure how to respond. At the same time her body was moving with his intense rhythm and there was no pausing the coming climax.

Collapsing together on the bed Cadifor growled into Makeda's ear. 

"Not done?" She giggled, loving how he couldn't get enough of her. Part of what kept her with him when she had cycled through so many other lovers to this point was that it seemed no matter how long they were together he never grew bored or tired of touching her.

Flipping her onto her stomach suddenly he moved to between her legs and pulled her hips up to his own. Makeda felt his cock prodding her from behind. Looking back over her shoulder she saw his eyes shift first and then the white wolf broke through. Claws dug into her hips.

"Shift," he demanded.

Makeda was uncertain about his mood and motivation for the first time since they had come together. 

"Shift," he growled again, pushing into her and digging his claws in deeper.

She growled back, feeling her wolf responding forcefully to his. She had to admit there was a part of her that would happily give in to him if he chose to take this too far. Shifting for him, Makeda braced as he began thrusting against her.

The bed shook with each movement. Makeda dug into the bed ripping through the sheets and into the top of the mattress. He had rarely inspired her wolf this way. Cadifor grabbed her and pulled her up so her back was against his chest. She felt his breath on her neck and his mouth on her shoulder.

Uncertainty gripped her fiercely and she pulled away from him, feeling his cock ripped from her body. She turned to face him, shifting back to human and staring him questioningly in the eyes. Did she really want to have this conversation? Scared that the best relationship she had in decades was in danger, the knock on the door was a welcome reprieve.

Allowing her features to return to her standard seductive mask she stood from the bed and sauntered to the door as if nothing had happened. She flashed a flirting look at Cadifor, praying that he would just let it go and nothing would change. 

Opening the door Makeda found Cullen standing stone faced on the other side. "I take it you have not come to join the fun. I wonder if Ais would allow it. Should I call her?" Makeda teasingly pulled on Cullen's sleeved guiding him into the room.

Ignoring her offer entirely he bowed his head apologetically to Cadifor. "I have news that you are not going to like."

The white wolf shifted down to his human form and leveled a gaze on Makeda that told her with certainty a conversation she did not want to have was coming. 

Sighing with frustration she picked her book back up and laid on her stomach on the bed. Propping her self so that both men had a good view of her cleavage. 

Cullen took in the state of the bed and situation he had interrupted. "I hope that my disturbing your down time won't play into your opinion of what I have to tell you."

Shaking his head Cadifor walked over to one of the chairs at the small table in the corner of his room. "Have a seat," he said gesturing to the other chair. "So what is the urgency that this could not wait until morning."

"I had a phone call," Cullen tossed a piece of paper with an address on it onto the table in front of Cadifor. "That's the address where the NSA is hiding Jenna and the missing weres."

Stunned silence filled the room. Makeda looked up from her book and Cadifor picked up the paper. The pause seemed to last an eternity before Cadifor turned his eyes back to Cullen. "Okay. So tell me how you came upon this."

Cullen's jaw tightened. "I can't." He looked away from Cadifor, leaned forward and stared at his feet. 

"I see," Cadifor responded, bottling the rage that came a bit more quickly than it may have normally. He stood up, walked to a cupboard and removed several small glasses and a bottle. "Why?"

Releasing a heavy breath Cullen shook his head. "The price for acquiring the address."

Cadifor set the glasses down on the table, filled them with a golden brown liquid, pushed one toward Cullen and left another for Makeda. He lifted the glass to his lips and took a long sip as he considered his friend.

Letting his anger sink into the glass he emptied it and poured himself another. "So are you at least positive the source is reliable?"

"Yes." Cullen emptied his glass as well and reached for the bottle.

"So do you propose we tell the Council what you just told me?"

Cullen shook his head. "I know too well that would lead in directions I don't want. But if it means bringing Jenna in then I will take the heat from the Council. Let them investigate the Arnauk. I have nothing to hide," he responded with angry conviction.

Tapping his empty glass on the table Cadifor considered the situation. He understood completely why Cullen would trade his standing in the Council to get his hands on Jenna. "I'm considering how long we've been friends, Cullen. That is the only reason I'm not handing you over to the Council now or throttling you for disregarding my position and authority. If I ask you a question, you answer. Hiding information like this is serious. How do we know we can trust it? And if you're willing to keep something from the Council so blatantly, how do we know we can trust you? This touches on one of our most fundamental laws."

"I'm aware."

Cadifor growled angrily and poured himself another glass. "No excuses?"

"What am I to tell you?" Cullen finally looked up. "No I have no excuse."

Standing up glass in hand, Cadifor knocked back one more drink before turning and throwing the glass against the wall. Tension snapped and Cullen stood up eye to eye with Cadifor. Both men growled menacingly.

Makeda calmly walked over to them and reached between them, picking up the glass that had been poured for her. "Are you both finished," she asked. "I have a suggestion, before this comes to blows."

Cullen lowered his gaze and bowed his head as he turned away from Cadifor. Once Cullen had backed down Cadifor glared at Makeda. "You were saying?"

"You already have men out looking for Jenna. The Council knows it. If you magically produce this information they would simply believe that you had finally turned her up. You wouldn't even need to lie about it. Reasonably you could walk in and say that you finally had the address and that would be enough. It would make you look good and it would protect the Arnauk."

Cadifor considered the suggestion. "Why would I protect the Arnauk if the Alpha's loyalty is questionable? I should be handing him over."

"Then," Makeda continued, turning toward Cullen and drawing his glare away from Cadifor, "I suggest that Cullen confide the rest of what he knows in his good friend with the understanding that it could lead to protecting his own ass."

Cullen growled and paced.

"Just a suggestion," Makeda reiterated, filled her glass again and went back to the bed and her book as if she wasn't at all interested in the argument.

Turning on Cadifor again Cullen eyed the man. He knew Cadifor could be trusted. But he also knew that it was difficult to determine if the man would try and take over the situation. "Will you leave it to me to deal with?"

"What," Cadifor asked in annoyed confusion.

"I want to handle it myself. Will you leave it to me?"

"I guess that depends on what exactly you aren't telling me," Cadifor growled.

As much as Cullen didn't want to go back on his word to Tormaid he had to admit that Makeda's idea was reasonable and possibly the best route to go. "My brother."

Cadifor's eyes narrowed on Cullen. "Odd for him to turn up suddenly with this kind of information."

"It seems he's working for the group that we can't find. Been working for them. They apparently act as a clean up crew for problems, anonymously. To keep the human populous in the dark."

"So why come to you with this if it's exactly the type of thing they handle?"

"It's gotten to big for their group to handle. At least that's what he says. I've already sent Keith to try and track him down. There was more he wouldn't tell me." Feeling a strange relief at turning the truth over he sat down in the chair again.

"Well at least we know we were on the right track," Cadifor responded with considerably less edge in his voice. Looking at the clock he could see the hour was verging on morning. He suddenly felt exceedingly tired. "Is there anything else?"

"According to him the mixed weres killed Nora looking for a cure for their condition."

"Hmm, that explains alot and makes much more sense then random lycans attempting to disrupt the Council and the Circle's new diplomatic relations."

Cullen nodded, filled his glass again and took another long drink. "When do we go after Jenna?"

"Tomorrow," Cadifor returned, deadly calm in his voice. "That bitch has caused too much grief. In the morning I'll present the address to the Council with as few details as can be managed," he looked over at Makeda. "And by the evening I intend to be on her doorstep."

Cullen stood up and moved to the door. "I'm more than ready."

Cadifor watched Cullen leave, then turned to the naked woman in his bed. "Beautiful and brilliant is a deadly combination."

Makeda flashed him a brilliant smile. "Turn the light off and come to bed," she said.

"I suppose it's good that we'll be leaving tomorrow night. Who knows how long it would take for this mattress to be replaced." He adjusted his position so that he wasn't lying the spot that Makeda had ripped up, wrapped an arm around her and closed his eyes.