12 comments/ 54037 views/ 37 favorites Out of Darkness By: lilgirlsix This is the next story in the saga of the Baxter Pack and the Vlkolak. It's best to read this after completing the preceding storylines: Wolf's Pet, The Twins Take Over, and The Destruction of the Vlkolak (in that order). As always, my sincere thanks to my wonderful, stupendous, insightful editor, Archangel_M. Without him I would be getting many more comments of the negative variety. Thank you, AA, for all your help, guidance, and support on this tale of Werewolves and Werepanthers. ------------------------------------------------ Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. The black wolf's eyes followed every move of the sleek cat as she bounded across the rocks on her way to the lake. He followed, close enough to keep track of her but far enough away so she wouldn't notice him. His long tongue licked his lips in anticipation. He was old enough to mate now, and his father had promised him that he would be Alpha of the pack one day. An Alpha needed a strong mate, and she was perfect for him. Now he had to just make her realize it. They were meant for each other - he was sure of it! He moved quietly, carefully, shadowing her every move. He stopped behind a thicket and watched as she leapt into the water. She shifted and her girlish laughter carried through the wind to his ears. She was perfect. Leona dunked her head, wetting her long black hair, and rolled in the cool water. It felt good against her skin as she floated on her back. She much preferred bathing as a human as opposed to in her panther form. Her cat just didn't like the water. It was something she and her alter ego argued about constantly. She giggled as she thought about how angry her panther became when Leona insisted on bathing, regardless of her cat's feelings on the subject. She stared up into the blue sky, the white fluffy clouds slowly passing by, and thought how absolutely perfect this day was. It was her birthday, the most wonderful birthday of her life. She had awoken from a dream of her mate. Now she knew he was waiting for her. She smiled and hugged herself as she thought about the beautiful white wolf she'd seen in the dream. Her parents had not been happy to hear her mate was to be a wolf and not a panther, but she had dreamt it, and it would come to pass. He saw the happy smile on her face and wondered what had prompted it. He wanted her to smile at him that way. She was his life. Why didn't she see that? Why did she dismiss him? He was strong. He would be a good provider for her and their cubs. He watched as she left the water and lay on a patch of grass. Her raven-black hair was fanned out behind her to dry. He approached ever so cautiously. The last thing he wanted to do was to scare her away. "Erobos, I know you are there. Stop hiding and come speak with me." She spoke so softly, a human could never have heard. But a were was not a human. She could hear the rustle in the thicket as he walked into the open. "Come here and sit with me." She reached out a hand and waited. They'd known each other since they were small cubs, but the sight of her in her human form still took his breath away. He shifted in mid-stride and sat quietly next to her, taking her hand in his gently, almost reverently. She was like a goddess, no, she was a goddess. She was the sun and the moon; she controlled his life. She was his everything, and he hoped to be hers. They could be Alphas of both the wolf and panther packs. They could rule this entire island. They could rid it of the humans and it would belong once again to the were. His eyes never left her face; her eyes were closed and he saw the flutter of her long eyelashes as she opened her eyes to gaze up into the sky. "Today is my birthday, Erobos." Again, the beautiful smile came to her face. He spoke quietly. "I know, Leona. You are old enough to mate now." His words caught in his throat. He wanted to take her now, lay claim to her body, her soul. But he would be an Alpha. He had to ask her father. "I am going to mate, soon." Her face lit up with excitement. His voice was alarmed. "What? What do you mean? Who?" His face turned red as his hand closed around hers. She was his. He would not give her up. He would kill him. Her voice betrayed her joy. "A beautiful white wolf, my white wolf. He is big and strong, and will keep me safe." Her face was alight with wonder as she spoke of him, her dream mate. "Leona, there are no white wolves here, you know that. They are only on the continent, not on our island." He breathed a sigh of relief. There were no white wolves in Sardinia. "Of course I know that. I will be leaving here soon." She rolled onto her stomach and looked at her friend. "I hope that he finds me soon. I cannot wait to belong to him. Oh, Erobos, just think, it was just a few years ago we were cubs. And soon, we will go our separate ways." She looked up into his handsome face and was shocked to see the look of horror etched into his features. All at once he was ugly, not the Erobos she knew at all. "NO!" His voice was a loud roar, and took her by surprise. His hand that had been gently, and then firmly grasping hers, suddenly closed like a vise around her slender wrist. "You are mine, Leona. You were always mine. You will belong to no one but me." He glared at her, not a hint of the awe he felt in her presence a short time ago. "Erobos, stop it! You are hurting me. Let me go! Let me go!" Her voice rose until it was a scream. She shifted and snarled, her long white teeth gleaming in the sunlight. He tried to hold on, but she sank her teeth into his arm until he was forced to loosen his grip. The panther jumped to her feet and ran to join her pack. The searing pain in his arm took Erobos' attention away from her for just a moment, but then he found his voice and yelled to her as she ran. "Leona, I am sorry! Do you hear me? I am sorry. I love you!" He dropped his voice so only he could hear. "I love you." He watched as the torn flesh of his arm healed before his eyes. He looked up and could barely make out the form of the panther as she ran for home. He didn't see the tall man come towards him. By the time he noticed, he was standing close enough to reach out and touch. "You want her, do you not?" The man was shrouded in a robe. His voice was so soft a human would never have heard it and would have thought it was just the wind. All Erobos could see was his white hand with long, gnarled fingers, his also nails long, and yellowed. Erobos couldn't speak, but managed a slow nod. "Then you shall have her. I can help you, if you would like." "Yes, please, I must have her." He knew this would cost him dearly. His father had warned him to stay as far from the Vampires as possible. But he had to have her. And he would do anything, pay anything, to make it happen. Leona was rightfully his. If it took making a pact with the devil, then so be it. The vampire twisted his mouth into a ghastly smile. --------------------------------------------- Sardinia, Italy - present day The quiet knock on the door annoyed him. "Come." He didn't bother to look up from his desk. He waited until his young associate was intensely uncomfortable before speaking. "What is it, Drago?" "She's asking to speak with you." Drago hated when the boss was moody, and lately, he was always moody. Maybe this would cheer him up. The gaunt white face looked up slowly from his desk and stared at the much younger male. "She will wait until I am ready to speak with her. I don't care what she asks for. Is that clear?" His voice was devoid of all emotion. Drago swallowed hard. "Yes, Sir. I understand." He began to back towards the door but stopped abruptly when he saw the boss' eyes trained on him. "Did I excuse you, Drago?" He loved making this one nervous. Keeping them off kilter was good for keeping them in line. He'd gone through quite a few assistants in the last thousand years. Training them took too much time. Maybe this one would last a little longer if he didn't become complacent in his position. "No, Sir. I'm sorry." He stood at attention, waiting for his orders. He knew better than to try to anticipate what the boss wanted. More than a few of the pack had died thinking they'd figured out how to stay on his good side. The best thing was to follow orders, to the letter. His jaw twitched as he tried to calm his nerves. The boss wanted to make him squirm. He had succeeded. "Go, tell her she must wait until I am ready to speak with her. Let her simmer a while." A twisted smile was painted across his pale face. "Yes, Sir." Drago slipped out the door as quickly as possible. Why did the boss ask for him to be his latest assistant? He'd been perfectly happy to stay with the pack, doing menial labor. But he had asked specifically for him. He tried not to ponder the possibilities. Best not to question anything. He'd learned that was the best way to keep his head intact. He entered the room and stopped in front of the glass wall, watching the female quietly until she noticed he was there. What was it the boss wanted from her? He couldn't see it. She wasn't his usual type of playmate, and even after a month, he hadn't called for her to his room. So what did he want her for? She was pretty enough, for a human. She watched him expectantly. "He said you had to wait 'til he was ready to talk to you. I'm sorry." He meant it too; he was sorry. He really didn't like keeping her here against her will. "What does he want from me?" She stared at him, like she expected him to answer. She flopped into the chair and put her hands to her face, sobbing quietly. Her black hair covered her face, like it was shielding her from his view. She looked up, and he was still watching her. "You don't know, do you?" Her blue eyes brimmed with tears. He couldn't look away. He was startled by the door opening quickly. He was the one who looked after the prisoner. No one else usually came in. As soon as he saw the five inch spiked heels he knew who it was. "Hello, Seraphina. What do you want?" His distaste for the boss' companion was obvious. "Drago, you sound as if you aren't happy to see me." She wasn't used to males being able to resist her charms. This one was a challenge. "I just wanted to see what the pet looked like." She walked up to the glass slowly, eying the human carefully. She was nothing special, nothing to worry about. She spun on her heels and faced her real quarry. The cub was on her "to do" list. She reveled in the attention of males, and he showed her none. That just wouldn't do. Drago punched the switch that shut off sound to the cage. Why make the poor human listen to Seraphina's ramblings? "I doubt the boss would be happy to know you were here. Maybe you should leave." She approached him slowly, purposefully. She knew she was beautiful. Why didn't he seem to notice? She stopped in front of him and looked up into his face. He had the classic chiseled face that she liked in a male. She laid a hand on his chest. It was just as muscular as she had imagined. "Drago, why don't you let me help you relax. You always seem so ... tense." She gave him her most sultry look through half-lidded eyes and licked her lips as she stared up at him. Take the bait, damn you! His hands closed on her arms as he pushed her away. "I don't know what your problem is, Seraphina, but I don't need any trouble." He tried to turn away but she moved with him, her arm circling his waist. "I just want to play, Drago. I need a nice, strong male to help me. I have an itch that I wish you'd scratch for me." She arched her brow. "You weren't with the pack on the full moon. Was your little human more interesting than a hunt?" She glanced over her shoulder at the female watching them through the glass. "I have no interest in your games, Seraphina. I'm sure there are plenty of wolves that would love to chase your tail. Go sniff around them." He slid away from her and opened the door, hoping she'd take the hint. He saw the human out of the corner of his eye. Why did he care what she thought? Seraphina would not be ignored. She raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek. When she felt him tense his jaw she took her nail and sliced it through his flesh. "OW!" His hand flew to his bloodied face and then he backhanded the little bitch. She landed on her back on the floor, laughing up at him. She stopped laughing when she heard the menacing growl coming from deep in his chest. He saw the human, staring, her mouth open. At first he wondered what she was so scared of, until he realized she could see the wound healing before her eyes. He immediately covered his face and reached down to grab Seraphina by the arm. He hauled her up and threw her out the door. "Don't come back, Seraphina. You have no business here." Under his hand, the wound had healed to nothing more than a thin red line. He kept his hand over his face and turned the intercom back on. "I'll be back after I tend to this. I'll bring you some dinner. Any requests?" "A gun?" Her delivery was dead-pan. He wasn't sure whether to laugh or just ignore her. He gave her a slight smile and walked out of the room. He made his way to the kitchen and could hear Seraphina's laughter nearby. Her voice carried through the open door. "You should have seen the look on his face. Precious. He's so innocent. I'll take care of that. It's time he had an education on how to handle a female. I'll get him broken in so the rest of you can get a turn." He heard several females laughing. He could just imagine who they were, Seraphina's little clique, all hoping to catch the boss' eye and his favor. And in the meantime, they'd fuck every wolf that would have them. Well he, for one, didn't want them. His parents had raised him differently. His parents? Which parents? His real ones? Or his foster parents? He couldn't remember his real parents. Maybe that was best. They'd abandoned him when he was a cub. Better to only remember his foster parents. Even though they were members of this pack, they really were hard-working, decent werewolves, just wanting what was best for the pack and their cubs. He almost had her dinner ready when he heard some commotion in the outer room. From the practically purring sounds he heard coming from the females, he figured the boss had arrived. "I saw your little pet in her cage. What if she doesn't serve her purpose?" Drago could imagine that Seraphina had herself draped over the boss as she spoke. "What would you like me to do with her, hmm?" Erobos knew Seraphina enjoyed her position as his companion, but her jealousy annoyed him. "Maybe I should install her in my rooms. Do you think she could please me?" "I think she wouldn't live through the first night! She's a human; she couldn't take the fucking you would give her." The venom in her voice was obvious. Drago could just imagine the pretty pout on her face as she said it. "She wouldn't be human for long. She would last as long as I wanted her, and then, my dear Seraphina, I would give her to you." He stood within inches of her, grabbed her by the hair at the back of her head, and kissed her hard, crushing her lips to his. He ended the kiss by biting her pouting lower lip, piercing the flesh with his sharp teeth, and sucking the blood from the open wound. He gave her bleeding lip one final lick as it quickly healed, then turned and walked away. Drago leaned against the wall so as not to be seen. His blood ran cold when the boss said he'd take the human as his new playmate. And then the thought of Seraphina having her at her mercy even for a minute ... he wasn't sure which would be worse. Why did he care? He took a deep breath to calm down, picked up the tray, and headed for the holding room. He made a quick detour to find a bandage for his cheek. No need for her to see it was healed already. As far as he knew, she had no idea what they were. He didn't want to be the one to piss off the boss by letting her find out. She watched him enter and go through the tedious procedure for giving her a meal. The tray was put into a compartment that closed to the outside before allowing her to take it from inside the room. Did they really think she could overpower her captors through a hole in the door? She watched the little door open and grudgingly grabbed the tray and took it to the table. Somehow, he always managed to bring her something she liked. Had they done their homework that well? Or was it just happy coincidence? She periodically looked up and would find him watching her closely. She had to admit, although she hated to, he was really good-looking. Damn! I need to stop looking. She wished she could figure out why she was here. And why was it that whenever she was taken out of this room, it was by the women? Her usual jailer would only show up once she was returned to her glass cell. She was glad, though, that the woman here earlier tonight had never been the one to take her from her cell. That one was a bitch, she could tell. She grinned when she thought of how upset the bitch was when her Adonis of a jailer rejected her. She giggled to herself, thinking about the woman on her backside on the floor. "Something funny?" Drago shook his head. He'd never understand humans, or females in general. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and put it to his ear. "Drago here. Uh huh, okay, sure, I'll clear out." He replaced the phone in his pocket and turned back to the glass partition. "Apparently you have a doctor's appointment, so your escort should be here shortly. See you later." He ignored her questioning look and walked into the hallway. He had some things to do anyway. He needed a good workout. Maybe he'd go for a run. His wolf hadn't been out for a while, and the run-in with Seraphina had really gotten his wolf worked up, but not in the way Seraphina had hoped. What he really wanted was to rip her to pieces. Now THAT would be satisfying to him AND his wolf. He watched as the human's escorts passed him in the hall. Sylva and Susanna hated dealing with the human, but the boss gave the orders, not them. Just as Sylva's hand touched the doorknob, an alarm sounded throughout the building. The sisters looked at each other, eyes widened. "Fire alarm, we better get the hell out of here!" Sylva grabbed at her sister's arm to pull her towards an exit. "What about her?" Susanna motioned to the captive's cell. "Forget her. we don't have time. Let's get out of here. I smell smoke." Sylva ran to the exit with her sister close behind. They practically ran into Drago, who had turned around and was heading back the way he came. "Drago, get out of here! Don't you smell the smoke?" "You aren't leaving her there, are you?" "Hell yes, and you should too!" Sylva didn't wait for an answer from the stupid cub. Young ones have to learn the hard way. Even a werewolf could die in a fire. Right now, all she wanted to do was get her sister to safety. Drago smelled the smoke. He heard shouts from the other pack members running through the halls to the exits. He ran into the room and slammed the door. He saw her, frightened, locked in her glass cage. No one was coming to get her out! She knew he didn't have the code to release her. He could hear her coughing and knew he didn't have much time. A human wouldn't last long when the room filled with smoke. "Stand back!" He yelled at her as he looked around for something to break the glass. He picked up the heavy desk chair nearby and threw it with all his strength into the heavy partition. The "unbreakable" glass shattered into thick shards. He pushed the remainder of the glass out of the frame and held out his hand to the terrified woman. "C'mon." She didn't move. He shook his head. "You can't stay here. Come with me if you want to live." She still didn't move. He climbed into the room and scooped her into his arms. Out of Darkness ... "Why do they always speak of Dungeons?" That was my wife Jules. We often got into this discussion when we were looking for erotica or trying to define our relationship with a cookie cutter mold. At this point I had my sweetheart tied up with the beginnings of a chest harness and was reading her a story of bondage. "You know sweetie, most stories are written for men by men. Very few of the stories written on these sites are written for women. Also, when we read about shibari, the easiest way to reconcile tying someone up is the trite Master/Slave, Dominant/Submissive Scenario. It is far, far harder to reconcile a relationship where bondage is taken out of the darkness and brought into the light that you and I call shibari. Making it about celebrating the ropes and your body rather than making it dark, and dungeony." I put a blindfold on her and reached for some more rope. "Jules, Who is your Master?" "You know you are, Roman." "Jules, you call me master, and we as a couple accept that...have you ever considered why I won't call you my slave?" "I hadn't thought about it." Jules laid in bed naked, except for the harness that I had tied on her earlier and the blindfold. Her fair skin was starting to flush from the excitement of being tied - her light pink nipples darkening before I even touched them. I laid down next to her, gathered her in my arms and placed my mouth next to her ear so she could hear me whisper and began to explain why we never gave her that label. "Because, you will never be less than me, when you call me master, you are giving me a gift. That gift entails three major elements." I slowly let my right hand play in Jules' hair while I talked. "One, I know you as a very powerful business woman. You're a woman who can and does what she wants. I know that you are a truly modern woman, capable of running a multi-million dollar business. You like to have control. You need to have control. The relationship we have...where you belong to me... where I tie you up and honor your body...that time and space where you give up control and just "feel" is a release. It is something we chose to do. The first thing you give me is control. I know it is given; it is not something I take." My body was pressed up against hers. One of the reasons she trusted me was that we had walked this path many times before. I knew that when she was blindfolded at first, she needed to know where I was. With my body pressed up against hers, I removed my hand from her hair. I kept it raised away from her. Her body started to squirm. She knew where I was but not my hand. It was little bit of exquisite torture for her. Finally after a few minutes, Jules whispered: " Touch me." "I am touching you. Can't you feel my body pressed up against yours?" Frustrated, she continued to move, pressing herself more and more into my body. Finally, my right hand came down gently on the bottom of her left rib cage and pressed in slightly causing her to breathe sharply, and a small moan to escape her lips. "Number 2 - you give me your trust." I parted from her and grabbed a length of rope and started to bind her wrists together. One, two, three wraps of the rope around her wrists then slide the bite through and tie it off. I performed a quick check to ensure Jules' circulation. "You need to trust me completely - more than any act of making love; this shibari is about trust. Right now you're helpless. I could do whatever I wanted and you could do nothing to stop me. It's frightening for you...it's liberating for you. It's about control but before it can be about liberating you from control, it's about trust." I start to repeat the tie on her ankles. With her ankles and wrists bound, her harness about her chest, and a blindfold on, Jules' breath was raspy. I took a moment and leaned in to check in with her... "Sam, are you ok?" Sam, my wife of two years, responds with a "yes." This is how we've handled the safe word conundrum. Not Unicorn or Elephant, but rather, we've given each other names. More than names...they are personalities. Jules was born "Sam," and still bears the legal name "Sam." I am legally "Dan" but to Jules I am "Roman." Our intimate names are protagonists from a novel. Even outside of our play we use Jules and Roman. When we are on vacation...when we are out and about...those names and those personalities just fit better somehow. Sometimes I feel more like Roman than Dan. When I ask her a question using Sam as her name we know that we are performing a safety check. When we are at our most intimate we are wholeheartedly "Jules" and "Roman." This type of intimacy is a funny thing. Jules is indeed tied up and helpless and that brings on emotions - lots and lots of emotions. Sometimes the emotions go in a funny direction and suddenly Jules is not ok. Sometimes, my emotions do funny things and I am not ok. It is an ebb and flow. It requires incredible amounts of bi-directional trust and intimacy. This is why we check in. I read Jules and she seemed to be heading inside of herself, giving up the day's planning and the tomorrow's to do list. This promised to be a good session. I took her wrists, tied as they were, one on top of the other and tied them to her harness at the back. This immobilized her torso completely. Now that she was tied, and couldn't do anything about it, I started to caress her body. This is where she feels most vulnerable. I turned her over so she was face down on the bed. I placed a pillow under her hips so she was more comfortable. I caressed her backside. There is a spot right at the top of her buttocks where the crack of her bottom turns into her back. As I pressed hard on this spot, I am rewarded with a moan and a hip thrust. "And three...the third thing you give me is responsibility. This is the part that truly brings our relationship out of the dungeon and into the light." " Roman, I love you. I need you. I want you." "Jules when we go to a restaurant and I order for you, what do you feel?" "Like you are caring for me and showing the world I belong to you." It was true, when we are out at restaurants, I always ordered for Jules. Sometimes, although not always, I would ask what she felt like, but in the end what I ordered for her was my choice. We got strange looks and sometimes even disgusted looks from our wait staff, but they, like most people, simply didn't understand. "Jules - that is where the relationship comes into the light. " A give her bottom a slight smack. It reddens with an imprint of my hand. I continue: "The restaurant analogy is where the magic happens. That is where everything evens out...where I belong to you, as much as you belong to me...where our relationship is different from the relationships lived in dungeons." Another smack to her bottom leaves another handprint. As I rub her bottom feeling the heat from my spanking her hips are gyrating, She is feeling. It is a time when her mind quiets and I can see she is releasing into a place of "feeling" and not "thinking." This is a place that is hard to describe if you've never been there or you've never taken anyone there. It is a place where Jules will do anything for me. It is a place where I could take advantage of her. As she is floating, I realize my soliloquy about dungeons and darkness and shibari is quickly turning into vapor. I finish up the tie...a simple matter now of taking the last piece of rope and running it from the harness to her bound ankles. Once in place I tighten it. It brings her ankles and legs up behind her and places a slight arch in her back. This tie is one that she likes as it leaves her completely helpless. I reach underneath and place a hand on her upper thigh - simply on her upper thigh. She goes quiet. I feel her thigh slick from her vagina. I know she is feeling. I know she feels safe. I know she trusts me. She is wet down to her thighs because of the tie, my words, my control and her trust. "You give me control. You give me your trust. You give me responsibility. The responsibility is to ensure you're safe, ensure you're pleased and ensure I don't violate that trust. It is in the restaurant analogy where I think our relationship deviates from the others that we find. You see with that granted responsibility, I believe I know you enough to order for you so that you will be pleased; more pleased than if you ordered yourself. I don't know if that is true, or even a consideration for other couples that attempt to find this." This is indeed what it seemed to come down to. In anything we did as Jules and Roman, she gave me control, trust and responsibility. This was her love for me. Such was my love for her, that I did everything in my power to take that responsibility, trust and control and make decisions that were at least as pleasing to her as her own decisions would be. There she is in all her beauty, my wife, Sam/Jules, bound and blindfolded. I've done this for me, but also for her. As I gaze on her like this, I wonder to myself, who is the master? With her hips on the pillow, her legs drawn up towards her back, I find I can rest a vibrator at the space where her legs meet her pubic mound at the pillow. Her vagina and clitoris are far enough forward on her body that she will feel the vibration but I don't think she'll be able to..... "unnnnhhhhhnnnhhh" Out of Darkness Ch. 02 Once again, a big thank you to Archangel_M for his help and guidance. Wouldn't be the same without him. Please continue to send me your comments, and don't forget to vote! --------------------------------------------- Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. Erobos stood nervously, waiting inside the castle for the vampire to return. He had brought him here and said he would only be a few minutes, but it had been almost an hour. Should he leave? No, he wanted Leona and this was the only way. The vampire would help him. He'd promised. The vampire returned without a sound, suddenly standing in front of the frightened werewolf. His voice was quiet and soft, almost hypnotic. "So tell me, my young wolf, are you willing to sacrifice everything for this she-panther you love so deeply?" He glared at the trembling male who stood before him. "Yes, I think so." Erobos did his best to sound calm. "Think? You must be certain, for there is no turning back, young wolf. The decision you make now will follow you and your panther for all your days. Choose wisely." The vampire smiled to himself. He knew what the wolf would choose. He lusted for a female he could not have. He would do anything to have her. "Yes, I will sacrifice everything to have Leona!" He blurted it out. His need for her was so great, he would make any sacrifice to have her. "Follow me then, my young wolf. Your future awaits you." He turned without looking back and led Erobos to a staircase that reached into the deepest recesses of the castle. Erobos had not spent much time at all in human buildings. His pack lived in caves hollowed out from the side of the cliff faces. He was unsure of himself as he followed the gaunt figure ahead of him. Each step he took deeper under the castle seemed to lessen the hold his father's bond had on him and his wolf. At first, both he and his wolf panicked. But when he no longer could feel his father's presence in his mind he felt free for the first time in his life. At the very bottom of the winding staircase was a large room, and in the middle was a cage. In it was the largest wolf Erobos had ever seen. It dwarfed even his own father, who was Alpha of their pack. He stood mesmerized by the mammoth animal. But something was wrong. Its muscles looked too big for its body. Everything looked too big, out of proportion. The wolf salivated as it snarled at them, its hackles standing up on its back. It attacked the cage again and again, smashing its head into the cold metal. Erobos looked up at the vampire, who watched the giant animal as it mindlessly attempted to free itself. "What is this? It cannot be a werewolf, can it?" "It is a Dire Wolf. It is one of your ancestors. This is where you began, and this is where you shall end." Erobos stood dumbfounded, looking from the animal to the vampire. "What do you mean? I will become that? She will never want me then!" The vampire looked down at the werewolf, so naive in his youth. "Will it matter what the female wants? Only the strong have the will to take what they want. The weak will accept whatever they are given. Do you want the panther? Yes, or no?" His yellow eyes stared into the soul of the werewolf and saw only a black hole. He grinned. This one would serve his purposes well. Erobos' eyes met those of the vampire and they stood for minutes, looking into the depths of each other's hearts, both blackened by hatred and envy. Erobos would never have admitted to it, but he craved the power the vampires had. He had always wondered why his father had warned him away. "Yes, I want her." "Splendid, then we will proceed." He quickly closed the distance between them and before the young wolf could move, he had wrapped his arms around him and held his body tightly to his chest, his mouth seeking the hot blood that pulsed under his young skin. He felt the struggle of his prey and reveled in it, letting it drive him to bury his teeth even deeper into the yielding flesh of this eager young fool who sought to change his future. As the vampire's teeth pierced his skin, Erobos convulsed in his arms, screaming with rage, not at the vampire, but at the panthers who dared to keep him from his love, and at the werewolves who insisted on their foolish traditions and rituals. He would be stronger than all of them! He would rule them one day with Leona at his side, but not as Alphas, as a King and his Queen. His mind swam with visions of their future as the blood was drained from his body. The visions were becoming dim and dark, and his mind slowed, starved for oxygen by the loss of blood. The vampire felt the body limp in his arms, his strong heart barely beating. He smoothed the young wolf's hair from his pale face. "You will do well for me, young wolf. You will be my apprentice, my student. I will teach you well, all you will need to know to rule over all the Weres." He lifted his hand to his pale arm and used one of those long, yellowed nails to slice his own flesh, blood coming to the surface quickly and put it to the werewolf's mouth. When the warm, rich blood of the vampire touched his mouth, werewolf instinct took hold. His mouth latched on and sucked, weakly at first, then more and more strongly, taking every drop he could before the vampire's skin healed over. But it wasn't enough. The wolf took control and his teeth tore into the vampire's arm, slashing the vessels, blood gushing from the wound into his greedy mouth. The blood tasted better than any he had tasted from any animal in his life. He wanted more. But the vampire pushed him away. "No, Erobos. You must stop." The vampire couldn't let him take more. He had taken more than he had given to anyone before. "Now you take his." He pointed to the Dire Wolf that had smelled the blood and wanted it for himself. It was insanely trying to escape from the cage, hunger driving it crazy. It had been locked in this cage for weeks, starved. Erobos attempted to steady himself. He felt stronger and stronger by the moment. He stood up to his full height, only a few inches less than the vampire. He looked at the Dire Wolf, its teeth trying to gnaw its way out of the cage. He breathed deeply, sensing the fear and panic in the beast. He smiled at his mentor. Just a few minutes before the animal had frightened him, but no more. He felt more powerful than ever before. He stood before the door to the cage. "Open the cage, Erobos. Feed on the blood of your ancestors. It will give you strength beyond anything you ever imagined." The vampire backed slowly to the edge of the room. Erobos slowly reached for the cage door, undoing the latch. The door was pushed open with one lunge of the wolf that leapt at the youth standing in front of it. Erobos shifted into a wolf, larger and more powerful than even his father. The Dire Wolf, weakened from starvation, was no match for the young werewolf, who slashed at its throat with his long, white teeth. The Dire Wolf never had a chance. ------------------------------------ Nevada - Present Day Xylon slammed down the phone, his face a mask of rage. He tried to control himself before he spoke, but it wasn't easy. The Greek werewolf spun around to face the other Council members who had been listening to his end of the conversation. They waited patiently. All they'd been able to hear were Xylon's angry answers, grunts, growls, and then the slamming of the phone. "There's been a break-in at my lab. It appears someone was after Gary's research." "Did they find it?" Alistair was deceptively calm on the outside. On the inside, his wolf wanted to return to their mate. He was sure whoever wanted the research wanted Jenna. Alistair tried to reassure him that one had nothing to do with the other. His wolf didn't care what his human side thought. The only thing that mattered was Jenna. "They found his journals. I don't really know how much information was in them. The formula to turn on the Dire Wolf gene is not in the journals though, that much I do know." How did someone get inside the lab; that's what I really want to know. Xylon had always prided himself on the security procedures at the DNA lab. There was far too much sensitive information that could be used against the were species. It had been bad enough that Gary had used his lab to his own ends. He had meant to institute full background checks on every employee that he himself had not hired. Was this an inside job? "Which means that someone knew about Gary's research. Did he have a partner?" Rhys had always wondered how someone like Gary could have carried out all his plans even after he had left the lab. How did he pay for all the equipment necessary to make his concoction? The massive were sat quietly as he pondered his questions. For all his imposing size, he was amazingly calm and in control of his emotions. Of course, anyone who thought to test him would find out quickly that he did not suffer fools lightly, especially if they attempted to harm his mate. Niklas Metzger had found that out firsthand. And now the former Council member's body was buried in the Nevada desert. "I think I need some expert help. I know that most of the Baxter Pack betas are police officers. I'll speak with Carr about a few of them doing background checks on my employees. I just don't see how anyone could have gotten in without some sort of assistance." The very thought had Xylon sick to his stomach, but he needed to know. If anyone was able to get their hands on the formula it could mean disaster for their race. If every werewolf who carried the Dire Wolf gene was changed into a Dire Wolf they would destroy the remainder of their species. They had no conscience, no sense of right and wrong. They lived on instinct and survival of the fittest. And they were larger, stronger, faster, and more deadly than a werewolf. Alistair nodded his head in agreement. "Good idea. I'm sure Carr will be more than willing to help. The last thing any of us wants is any more Dire Wolves in our midst." Speaking about them brought the fight clearly to his mind. And the first sight of his mate, battered and bruised, brutalized by Gary, their leader. His wolf circled, wary, ready to act if necessary. No one would touch their mate! I'm fine. Please don't get so worked up. Nothing is going to happen to me in the middle of the compound. Jenna's comforting words flooded his brain. He immediately relaxed after hearing her through their bond. He still wasn't used to being so closely bonded with anyone. He'd really given up all hope of finding his mate. But she had been there, waiting for him to rescue her. And now he would never let her go. Nothing and no one would ever come between them! ------------------------------------- Island of Sardinia - Present Day The last few hours were a jumble. They'd left the smoking building, she clinging to his neck as he ran. How could he have carried her so far so fast? The streets seemed to whiz by. And he wasn't even winded. They'd stopped for a few minutes at a bank. He had spoken with a manager and then walked out with a case filled with Euros. How could he possibly have that much money? They'd then stopped at a store, where he'd bought a new cell phone and an iPad. She didn't say a word. She didn't try to run. Where would she run? They were on an island in the Mediterranean. They moved fast, without a word between them. Now they were sitting in a travel agency. He was whispering to a female travel agent who was practically drooling as he sat close to her. Why did that bother her? What did she care if the woman thought he was drop-dead gorgeous? Every so often she could make out a word; her Italian wasn't that good. It suddenly dawned on her that he was the only person she'd come into contact with in that building who spoke flawless English. The others were obviously Italian, and their English was a second language. But he was different. What had he been doing here? "C'mon, we don't have much time." Drago grabbed her by the hand and practically ran out of the travel agency. He seemed to know exactly where they were going and weaved between the other pedestrians on the way to their destination. Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks and she almost bumped into him from behind. She watched him inhale deeply, his nostrils flaring. Something about his features changed. His face became harder, his eyes looked almost feral, and his body stiffened. She wanted to ask what was wrong but thought better of it when he pulled her into the nearby alley. He held up a finger to his lips. She understood. She stood watching the entrance to the alley while he quietly climbed a fire escape. It felt like they waited forever, but she knew it couldn't have been more than minutes. The two men looked like businessmen, not like they were hunting for an escaped woman from a glass cage, until they saw her. "The boss will be happy we found you. You might have gotten hurt wandering alone out here." The man who spoke looked around the alley. "No Drago? He dumped you off? Guess he finally got smart, figured once the boss had you back he'd forget about him, huh?" The other man snickered. "The boss never forgets!" She backed away from them slowly, never taking her eyes off them. Her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't hear anything else. They followed her deeper into the alley, taking their time. Too bad the boss wanted this one. She would have been a fun diversion. If the boss was happy with them, maybe he'd give them a reward. The smiles on their faces scared her to death. She was almost glad that their boss wanted her back. She had a feeling that, if he hadn't, they had some ideas about what they could do. She'd finally reached the end of the alley, and she flattened herself against the wall at her back. Oh please, please make your move now. Drago was above them and silently dropped to the ground, surprising them. Drago grabbed the smaller one by the top of the head and the chin and twisted quickly to the side, snapping his neck. He fell to the ground in a lifeless heap. Now that the element of surprise was gone, he knew he'd have a fight on his hands. "Just you and me now, Magnus." The two men circled each other slowly. Magnus was older and more experienced, but Drago was faster and stronger. They'd faced off many times in the gym. More times than not it ended in a draw. This time Drago had no choice; he had to win. "You know the boss won't let you live, Drago. Let me kill you now. It'll be quick. I won't make you suffer. We've been too good of friends for me to do anything different. But if the boss finds you, you know it'll go hard for you." They continued to circle, moving slowly, watching for weakness, for an opening. Drago never took his eyes off Magnus' face. He didn't say a word. Focus, it's all about focus. "Why did you do it, Drago? What is it about this little human that made you want to commit suicide?" Magnus looked at the female, watching wide-eyed from the back of the alley. He looked from her to Drago and smirked. "Oh, now I get it. But you won't get a chance now, Drago. You're dead, and she goes back to the boss. But don't worry, maybe the boss will give her to me when he's done..." Magnus didn't get a chance to finish the sentence. Drago let out a low growl and attacked. His first punch shattered Magnus' jaw. The second crushed his larynx. He laid on the ground struggling to breath. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. He looked up at Drago, begging silently. His voice was gone but she could hear the whisper, "Please, kill me." Drago got down on one knee at his friend's side. He dropped his head for a moment to listen and slowly nodded his head. She couldn't see around Drago's large frame, but when he stood up, Magnus was still, his eyes closed. His chest had stopped heaving. She looked up at the man who'd saved her life. He looked ... different somehow, wild, savage. She should have been afraid of him, but she wasn't. She watched as he moved the bodies behind a dumpster. He found their cell phones and turned them off, handing them to her. "Hold on to these a minute." He went through their pockets and pulled out their wallets, taking the cash. "Need every bit we can get." By the time he'd turned back to face her, his face looked normal again. "Let's go!" But she couldn't move. She felt rooted in place. She stared at the bodies and back at him. Tears fell down her cheeks. "They wanted to..." She couldn't finish the thought. She knew what they wanted to do, if their boss hadn't wanted her back. She'd never seen anyone look at her like that, like she was a meal. She dropped to her knees and covered her face, sobbing. He watched her for a moment, lost as to what to do. His wolf knew. He took over the human for a few moments. Wolves were pack animals. When a member of the pack is hurt or frightened, you give support. He sat down on his haunches and slowly reached an arm over her shoulder. He wasn't really sure what to do with it, but he'd seen humans do this before. When she felt him close she turned into his body and grabbed him around the neck, sobbing into his chest. "I was so scared. I thought they were going to kill me or... or... oh God." She cried even harder. Her tears pooled on the ground beneath her. Drago couldn't help but inhale her scent from this close. He closed his eyes and savored it -  lavender and orange. He put his other arm around her and held her tight. His hand stroked her silky black hair. "We have to go," he whispered into her ear. "We can't let them find you. Please, we have to go. You have to be strong." He slowly pulled back from her, just far enough so he could look into her eyes, her amazingly blue eyes. His heart was pounding; it hadn't been a moment ago. She sniffed as she looked up into his rugged face. He'd just saved her life for the second time. But he was one of her jailers. Why am I so confused? She dropped her eyes, and he ducked to try and look her straight in the face, making an attempt at a smile. Her hair had fallen over her eyes, and his hand gently brushed it aside. He felt a sudden urge to be closer to her, but they had to go. He closed his eyes for a moment to gather his wits. His wolf nudged him forward. He wanted to shift and taste her for himself if his human half wasn't going to take advantage. He forced the wolf back. It wouldn't do them any good to scare her even more. His hand stroked her hair, holding a long strand between his fingers. "We must go now, before they come looking for us again." He straightened up to his full height and held out a hand to assist her. She stood, and suddenly realized how big he really was. Why hadn't she noticed 'til now? He picked up his bag and waited for a moment. Was he scenting the air? How bizarre. What was he trying to smell? When he seemed satisfied, he gestured for her to follow him out of the alley. They stopped at a gas station long enough for Drago to throw the two cell phones into the open cab of a gasoline truck while the driver paid his bill. Minutes later they were at the docks. She'd feel better as soon as they got off this island! But where were they going? And how could she get out of Europe? She didn't have her passport. It was still in the apartment she'd rented in Rome. She started towards the ferry but felt Drago pulling her in another direction. They stopped in front of a little fishing boat. "We can't take a chance on a ferry. They'll be watching all the docks on the mainland. We're going to make our own dock." He smiled as he took her hand and helped her into the small vessel. "Are you sure this thing is seaworthy?" She looked around at the nets stowed on the deck. Everything smelled like fish. Out of Darkness Ch. 02 "It'll get us there in one piece. Stay below 'til I tell you it's safe. When we make it to the mainland we'll get your passport and get outta Dodge." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and winked. She sat quietly below deck watching the man who was what? Her kidnapper? Her savior? She didn't know what he was, in more ways than one. The only thing she knew for sure was that she trusted him. Why? Instinct, maybe? He had taken her out of a nightmare in that glass cell. He'd saved her from the smoke that would have killed her. He'd saved her from whatever that madman had planned for her. But what did he have planned for her? He approached her slowly and sat down on the chair across from her, holding out a candy bar. "Sorry, it's all he has. It'll be a while before we can get anything else. We'll be on the mainland in about ten hours." He saw her look of surprise. "Not as fast as the ferry. This is just a fishing boat." He smiled. Her fingers grazed his as she took the candy bar. He stiffened and the smile faded, but he didn't move a muscle. She slowly pulled her hand away and watched him carefully. He looked away uncomfortably. He seemed nervous. Here he was, practically acting like a superhero an hour ago, and now he was like a schoolboy, jittery and unsure around a woman. "Um, so your name is Drago. My name is Kelly." She felt like a teenager. Why was she so nervous? She should be pissed! She'd been kidnapped off the street, no explanations, held against her will for almost a month, and now she was acting like she was at a high school dance! This was one of her kidnappers! "Kelly, that's a beautiful name. Do you know what it means?" She shook her head. "It means war or strife. It's a strong name." "What difference does it make what a name means?" She'd never thought about what her name meant before. He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know; it was important to my parents." Again he flashed her a smile. "So what does Drago mean, Dragon?" She laughed nervously. "I don't see any fire." "Actually, it means 'strong as a bear.' My parents said that I was stronger than any cub they'd ever met." He saw her confused expression. "I was adopted. I don't know what happened to my real parents. The boss found me and gave me to a couple from his pack." As soon as the word was out of his mouth he turned away. Cub, pack, what an idiot. He cleared his throat and immediately changed the subject. "You'd better rest. We'll hit the ground running as soon as we dock. We don't have any time to spare. Once we have your passport, we're on our way." He quickly left the little cabin and went to the deck. Kelly was so confused. The only good thing about all this was that she didn't have any family to have worried about her. Of course, that also meant no one to call out the cavalry. That made her smile. She had her own cavalry, and he was on deck right now. She lay down on the little bed and tried to get comfortable. She was so tired that it didn't take long for her to fall asleep. She woke up with a start and bolted upright in bed. What the hell had she been dreaming? The dream was filled with wolves, of all sizes and colors. One reminded her of that bitch who had tried to seduce Drago. And, come to think of it, one reminded her of Drago. She shook her head. Get it together, Kelly, you're losing it. She looked around for something to use as a hairbrush, but there was nothing. She bent over at the waist and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to get out any snarls. When she stood up and threw her head back he was leaning against the wall, watching her with a silly grin on his face. She stopped for a moment, and then went back to smoothing her hair. "You don't happen to have a comb, do you?" He laughed as he dragged his hand through his crew-cut black hair. "Nope, sorry." Drago sat on the nearby desk. "We'll be leaving the boat in about fifteen minutes, then we go to your apartment." "Won't ... your boss be waiting for us there?" "He didn't know where you'd been living. He hadn't found you registered at any hotel or big apartment building. So I'm assuming you were renting a studio from someone?" She nodded as she finished trying to tame her hair. "It looks nice. Stop fussing." He grinned. He stopped when he noticed her staring. "What?" "Your bandage is gone." She couldn't believe it. There wasn't even a mark! His hand flew to his face. The bandage had fallen off somewhere. Crap! He sighed and sat down, his shoulders slumped. Now what? He hadn't meant to tell her so soon. They sat staring at each other, neither saying a word. She had just opened her mouth to say something when they heard the boat's captain yelling down to them in Italian. She could make out enough to know they were about to dock. He gave her a quick look and jumped up to run up to the deck. A moment later he called down to her. "C'mon, we're here." He held out his hand to help her off the boat. She hesitated a moment before grasping it firmly. She looked around and realized they were at a private boat dock. Basically, they were in someone's backyard. Drago had the case of money in one hand and took hers with the other and they were off. She had no idea where they were or how to get to her apartment. Drago seemed to know exactly where he was going. ---------------------------------------- "How far are we?" She looked around inside the crowded bus. People were staring at them. Was it because she looked so bedraggled? Or maybe they couldn't understand what a handsome hunk like him was doing with someone who was as messed up as she was. While he spoke rapid Italian with a man sitting across from him, she took a moment to really look at her protector for the first time. If she had to describe the perfect man, he'd be the personification of her description. He was muscular without being muscle-bound, handsome without being pretty, rugged without being crude. She tried to pick him apart, but just couldn't seem to do it. His close-cropped hair was as black as hers, his eyes such a dark brown one might think they were black. Whenever he smiled she wanted to just stare. She had to remind herself that they were running for their lives. She wanted to stop and get to know him. They didn't have the time. For Pete's sake, Kelly, get yourself together. He glanced over to where she sat looking out the window and caught her looking at him. He smiled, and she blushed, turning her head to look at the sheep grazing in the hills. He laughed to himself. His wolf was overjoyed. She liked them. It was obvious. She just didn't know it yet. He liked knowing he could make her blush with a look. Of course, his wolf had many other things pictured in his mind. Drago and his wolf had been so busy over the past years, they hadn't had time for females. This was all new to both of them. He hoped they didn't make a mess of it. The thirty-five kilometer bus trip from Ladispoli to Rome was uneventful. They took a cab from the bus stop to Kelly's apartment. Had her landlord reported her disappearance to the police? She wasn't sure if she hoped she had or hoped she hadn't. She was still a little ambivalent about her feelings towards Drago. He was right behind her as they climbed the stairs to the front door. He seemed certain there was no danger nearby. He had some kind of sixth sense about it, she guessed. Her landlord read her the riot act about worrying her so much. But, of course, now that she had seen Drago, she understood what had kept her American tenant so busy the past four weeks. Kelly had signed a year-long lease, intending to stay and work in Rome. But Mrs. Roselli was more than willing to allow her to break it when Drago came up with the entire year's rent in cash. She counted the Euros as she mumbled to herself about young love and went back to her flat. Kelly quickly retrieved her passport, still safely stashed in her underwear drawer. At first she wondered what had drawn Drago's interest until she realized he was looking at the assorted lingerie she had pulled out of the drawer. Her friends at her old job had joked about how she had to be ready for the Italian men that would be knocking down her door and had given her a treasure trove of sexy, see-through unmentionables. Her mouth dropped open and she grabbed them all up, stuffing them back into the drawer. "It's not what you think!." Her face was a bright shade of red now. How embarrassing. I can't believe he just saw all of my underwear. And I can't even kick him out. Without him I'm dead! "Gifts? From whom?" Drago struggled to control his wolf, who was ready to shred every bit of the lacy garments. But he and his wolf were confused. There was no male scent on them, in fact, no male scent anywhere in the room. He managed to calm himself. No need to scare her unnecessarily. "From my friends at work. It was their idea of a joke." She plopped down on the bed, humiliated. He sauntered over to the dresser and opened the drawer a bit to peek inside. He grinned. "I kinda like them." "Well, then you wear them!" She stood up and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. "Cranky, are we? Maybe you need some more rest. I'm going to get us some food, since everything here is kind of out of date. Get packed, and I'll be back in a few minutes." He shook his head as he spoke to his wolf. We're going to have to learn about females really fast. His wolf nodded in agreement. When Kelly heard the door shut, she cracked open the door, looking around the room. "Good, he's gone. I can't believe he could embarrass me like that and not even feel guilty!" She mumbled to herself as she grabbed her suitcase and started figuring out what she could take and what she'd leave behind. Well the lingerie could stay behind. She kept tripping over Drago's bag full of money. She lifted it onto the bed to get it out of her way, and she just couldn't resist. What did all that money look like? She felt like a little kid sneaking into her parents' nightstand. She carefully opened the bag, staring in awe at the different denominations of bills. Euros always reminded her of Monopoly money. She giggled to herself. She spotted the black wallet and pulled it out slowly and opened it. It was filled with pictures. She looked at them one at a time. Most of them were of a smiling couple, a handsome man with a strikingly beautiful woman. Drago's adopted parents, maybe? There were a few pictures of Drago with his parents. One tiny picture fell onto the floor just as the door opened. Drago walked in with his arms full of take-out bags from the little restaurant next door. "Dinner's here. I got some..." He stopped in his tracks with the door wide open. He saw her guilty look, his bag open, and his pictures strewn about the bed. He dropped the food in the tiny kitchenette and walked quietly towards the bed, standing over the shamefaced woman, who was frozen in place. "I'm - I'm sorry, Drago. I didn't mean to pry." She couldn't read his face, it was like stone. He pulled the pictures from her fingers and carefully replaced them into the wallet. Kelly reached down to pick up the small picture on the floor but his arm reached out past her and grabbed it first. She looked up into his stern face, so unlike the Drago she had been around the last month. Even at his most serious, he'd always cracked a smile around her. "I'm sorry, really, I am!" He looked down into the deep blue of her eyes but pulled himself away before he became lost. He turned away from her and went back to the kitchenette. "You'd better eat before it gets cold. I got some bread and cheese, along with some pasta. Figured that would stick to your ribs until we get to the airport." She stared at his back as he walked away from her. Shit! Out of Darkness Ch. 03 As always, thank you to Archangel_M, my very own Knight in Shining Armor, for all his wonderful assistance. I don't know where I'd be without him! Please continue to send me your comments, and don't forget to vote! Sardinia - 1052 A.D. Erobos stayed several days with the vampire. When he left the castle he realized he had never felt stronger or more confident. The world was his. No one would keep him from his aspirations.  He returned to the pack and was met by his father, Adrastos, his face a contorted mask of rage. The pack was watching from nearby. They had felt their Alpha's strong emotions in the last few days while his son was missing without a trace. They had hoped that now that he had returned, all would be as it was. They knew immediately that they were wrong. "Erobos, my son, where have you been?" His voice was angry but laced with fatherly concern. He looked with fear into the emotionless eyes of his son, his heir. He had always hoped to leave the pack in his hands. But now, that could never be. Their bond had been severed, by what means he had no idea. But it was irrevocable. As his son approached, he could see the changes in his body. He was larger and, no doubt, probably stronger as well. Even his features looked different. His skin was paler, his eyes darker, almost black. His hair was still the same black color, but seemed lifeless somehow. "Erobos, what has happened to you? What have you done?" Adrastos was shocked by his son's demeanor. He was normally a quiet cub, unassuming, who kept mostly to himself. Now he was almost strutting, self-possessed, and maybe even conceited. What black magic was this that had transformed his son in so short a span of time? "I have come for what is rightfully mine, father. I will go to the panthers and take Leona as my mate." He smirked in a way so unlike his son that Adrastos was taken aback. It was as if he looked at a stranger. This was not his son. "Erobos, her father will never allow it, and neither shall I. She is not your mate. She is meant for another!" His wolf struggled with the emotions welling up inside him. This was his son who he was sworn to protect. But this male, so different from the cub he loved, was bound and determined to begin a war with the panthers. He could not condone it. "Have I asked your permission, father? I do not need it. I am stronger than you now. It is my time to take over the pack." His gaze was icy as it fell on the father he had once adored. It was time he took what he wanted. And first, he would take the pack. He laughed at the shocked expression on his father's face. "You never thought I would stand up to you? Well, the time has come, and your time is over. Leave now and I will allow you and your mate to flee to safety." Adrastos was stunned by his son's cold statement and staggered back a few feet. He saw the evil smile that covered his once beloved son's face. It was then that he realized his son was dead. This was some shell that only looked like him. He knew now that he would have to kill his own flesh and blood. The thought sickened him, but he would have no choice. If not, this evil being would plunge their pack into a war that could destroy them all. The Alpha shifted into a large silver grey wolf, muscular, with heavy bones. He was made for hunting, for killing. He trained his eyes on the human figure in front of him. Erobos' wolf stood no chance against this battle-hardened fighter. Erobos laughed out loud before shifting to the wolf that now shared his consciousness. But this was not the wolf his father knew. This was a Dire Wolf, bigger, stronger, faster, with no conscience to keep him from killing his own kin. This wolf didn't worry about destroying his father or anyone else. This wolf wanted power and would take it! The huge animal towered over the advancing Alpha, who was not deterred by his unexpected adversary. His duty was to his pack. He could not run and hide from what used to be his son. He would defend his pack or die in the process.  The brave Alpha circled, trying to find an advantage. The loud growls from deep in his chest did nothing to put fear into the heart of the creature who stood across from him. He leapt towards the bigger animal and bared his teeth to slash at the belly of his adversary, but Erobos easily side-stepped the attack. Again, the Alpha made an attempt to come in low and strike a deadly blow, but as before, his assault failed. It was as if the Dire Wolf was playing a game with the smaller wolf. He put forth no attack of his own as he watched his foe tire himself with one failed strike after another. The older wolf was panting, slowing steadily, obviously exhausted. Erobos smiled to himself, satisfied he had proven to the surrounding pack that he was obviously the stronger wolf and best able to lead the pack. His need for this charade was over. It was time for the kill. The next time that Adrastos moved forward Erobos, without effort, leapt onto his back and sunk his teeth into his father's neck. He reveled in the taste of blood and felt a sudden euphoria as he heard the bones of his neck cracking. He drank every drop of blood from his father's body and shook the lifeless hull that was left, dropping him to the ground. How could he ever explain to anyone this new craving he had for killing? He felt marvelous! He felt fully alive for the first time! He faced his father's pack, now his pack. Blood dripped from his mouth as he looked at their horrified expressions. He shifted back to his human form, his father's blood streaked across his skin. He called out loudly, "Is there any among you who doubt my strength to lead this pack?" He looked at each beta who, in turn, bowed to their new Alpha. Erobos smiled with satisfaction. He walked slowly to each member of the pack, listening to their murmured oaths of allegiance. He was delighted at the sight of their frightened eyes, especially the females who attempted to hide from his sight. This made him laugh out loud. As if they could refuse his advances. They were all his to use as he saw fit. And any father or brother who attempted to stop him would die a painful death. He may want Leona as his mate, but he was not mated yet! And a Dire Wolf's appetites were much greater than those of any mere werewolf, much more. He watched each female and pondered which to choose. He was the Alpha; any should be overjoyed to be his consort. She would, of course, not be needed after Leona was his mate, but for now, his wolf needed to sate his lusts, which had become suddenly overpowering after the exertions of the fight and the delight of the kill. His gaze settled on a little blond who, just a few short weeks prior, had ridiculed him when he had told her his plan was to take the panther as his mate. She had said Leona would never have him. Yes, she would do nicely. He stopped in front of her father, a beta who struggled to hold his tongue. Adrastos had been his good friend as well as Alpha. And now Erobos would defile his daughter, and he could do nothing. He looked over the beta to the trembling girl. "Come, Zosime." "Please, Alpha, she is too young. There is still another month until she is of age." Acacio had to speak up even if it meant his death. "She is too young to mate, Acacio, not to be the consort of the Alpha. If you wish to serve your Alpha, then I would suggest you hold your tongue or I will remove it for you." Erobos exulted in this feeling of power. Every wolf here knew that he was their better, he was their leader, he was their master. And he could feel as each pack member proved their allegiance by bonding to him as their Alpha. He would give them one week. Any who did not bond with him by then would be killed. He did not wish to worry about closing his eyes at night. "Zosime?" He watched as the female haltingly approached her Alpha. She couldn't look into his face. He could sense her fear, feel it, taste it. Yes, he would keep her fearful of him. He knew this new wolf half of him craved fear. He licked his lips in anticipation. While his human half knew nothing of females, his wolf's instincts were strong. He would take over when it was time. He took her hand and walked with her past his pack and towards the cave he had shared with his parents. He barely noticed as his mother ran past him to her dead mate, screaming his name, wracked by sobs. He could feel her devastation and smiled to himself. Acacio felt empty, his friend dead, his daughter at the mercy of Erobos, whatever he had become. The others were looking to him for guidance. How could he guide them? He was as frightened as they. His daughter was the Alpha's promise to him of what would happen if Acacio did not follow him. He had no choice. He allowed his wolf to bond with the new Alpha. And his first order sickened him, but he would obey. His daughter's life would depend on it. Acacio stood in front of Adrastos' body, watching the sobbing female sprawled across her mate. He knew that, in a way, it was a kindness. He shifted and his wolf looked at the woman as she turned to face him, going to her knees. The tears streamed down her face as she waited. She knew. He promised his friend he would not let his mate suffer. He closed his eyes for a moment to beg forgiveness from his friend. Do it Acacio! Now! He cringed when his new Alpha's orders exploded in his head. He sadly watched as the former Alpha Bitch lowered her head, waiting for the end. He made it quick. --------------------------------------------------------- Nevada - Present Day Carr sat in his chair, watching Xylon's anger rise. The Baxter Alpha understood his frustration. No one likes to feel they've been taken. And for a werewolf, being lied to by your own kind was especially galling. They thought of themselves as above some of the common human failings. But deep in their hearts, they knew there were still weres whose allegiances were to things other than their kind, things like money and power. Carr listened with interest to the information his betas were providing about Xylon's present and former employees. Being a cop was a lot different now than in the days when Carr had worn a badge. He hadn't even had a car radio when he'd started, much less computer systems. A background check meant knocking on doors, not tapping on keys. His green eyes sparkled as he thought back to those days, outrunning stupid crooks who didn't know you can't escape from a werewolf.Ah well, long gone. Have to think like an Alpha now, not a cop. Xylon let out a long, exasperated sigh. "I can't believe I was so stupid as to be taken in. So you think this was the one who was in with Gary?" He pointed to a picture of a smiling male in a lab coat. Cole and Brett had pulled out all the stops in this investigation. It was just too important to the stability of the packs and of their pack in particular now. Cole had the file in his hands. "Yes, Silvano Cavallo. He joined your company in 1985." "But he had worked with Watson and Crick! His scientific credentials were impeccable. I just don't understand it. How could he have lied to me?" Xylon couldn't believe this. Silvano had been a trusted researcher. He had thought of him as a friend. In fact, Xylon had begged him to stay when he insisted on returning to Italy after only a few years. He'd even offered him the job of COO of the company.That's how much I trusted him. How could I have been so wrong? Cole shrugged his shoulders. "You can never really tell about a person; unless of course you're his Alpha and in his head." He glanced over at his brother and winked. Don't push it, bro, he's upset enough as it is. Not too much joking around, okay? Cole nodded imperceptibly to his brother and Alpha.Got it. Brett picked up a second folder and dropped it next to Silvano's. "Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. His son just kidnapped a human female who was being protected by a local pack in Italy. He killed two of their betas and is still at large."  Xylon opened the folder and looked at the picture of Silvano's son. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I just don't get it. I remember when he adopted his son. He was a scared little rabbit, abandoned by his family.  I think that had something to do with Silvano leaving. He said he wanted to raise his son away from the cub's bad memories." He kept staring at the picture. "What's his name again?" "Drago Cavallo. They said he's a rogue and should be killed on sight. They're pretty sure the female is dead. They said they thought he was unstable for some time but hadn't reported anything to the council." Brett was disgusted. After dealing with Gary and his followers, just the idea of having a rogue in his presence made his blood boil. Carr caught a glimpse of the picture and stood up to get a better look. "Something familiar about him." He cocked his head as he picked up the picture. "I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it'll come to me later." He sat back down and thought for a moment. "You know, Xylon, the European Council members are still here. Maybe they can find a way to have Silvano brought here so we can question him on our own turf." He saw the smile widen on Xylon's face. "Alpha, that is a great idea. I hadn't even thought of that!" Xylon was glad they hadn't left yet. There were still so many unanswered questions about the panthers and the Dire Wolves. The Europeans had decided to stay on a while longer. Besides, there was the decision about whether or not Konstantin and Tracy would stay or return to Europe. Xylon thought they should stay, and Konstantin should take Niklas Metzger's seat on the Council. The panthers felt it important that they all be in close proximity or, at the very least, on the same continent. Konstantin would be a great addition to the American Council. Although it would mean the Europeans would lose two members since Rudolf Metzger was under lock and key after attempting to kill his own archivist, Guillame. But that was their problem. ---------------------------------------------- SandalioLópez, the tall Spanish were and the likely next head of the European Council, sat in Carr's office. He scanned through the files on the two Italian pack members. He ran his hand through his long black hair and pursed his lips. "This has to stop!" Konstantin stood silently near him and wholeheartedly nodded his head in agreement. The American Council exchanged glances. What had to stop? Sandalio saw their confused expressions and tried to explain. "The pack from Sardinia. They issue kill orders on anyone that escapes from their pack. Or rather, their Alpha issues the kill orders." "Kill orders? There are so many they have a name for it?" Alistair's hackles rose. "How could your Council allow an Alpha to arbitrarily issue kill orders on any of their own members without a plausible reason?" Rhys was suddenly glad he had come to America all those years before. They had their problems, but even the worst of their Alphas would never do something like this.Well, other than the Dire Wolves. Sandalio shook his head, "It wasn't the Council, it was Rudolf. He has some sort of history with the Sardinian Alpha. Anything he wanted, he got, no questions asked. It led to many heated discussions in the Council Chambers. But Rudolf was too powerful and had too many eyes and ears in the Council. Those of us that disapproved could do nothing." Sandaliolooked up and grinned. "But we can do something now. I am acting head of the Council. I will rescind the kill order on the son and have the father taken into protective custody and brought here. Maybe you'll be able to get the information you need from him. I'll put our people on finding the son as well." "Who is the Alpha of the Sardinian Pack? What is it that sends his wolves running?" Alistair kept thumbing through the files. He couldn't seem to look away from the picture of the son.I could swear I've seen him before. Konstantin spoke with an uncharacteristic hatred in his voice. "The Alpha's name is Erobos. He's very old, over 1000 years old. He's been the Alpha of the pack almost that long. I've never met him, but I've heard stories. Even as a cub I heard stories about that pack. It was said that anyone who got in his way disappeared. And whatever he wanted he got!"  "And I heard the same. He is almost a legend in Europe among the werewolves. Everyone has heard of him, but few have actually seen him. Some say he doesn't exist. I have met members of his pack. They never speak of him except referring to him as 'the Boss'. And they will not answer any question about him. They are very tight-lipped."Maybe they've had good reason to be. Alistair stood up and walked across the room, looking out the window at the cubs playing in the middle of the compound. "For the sake of all our futures, maybe it's time for the legend to fall." He walked out of the room. He needed to find Jenna. Something was nagging at him, and he needed to find her. I'm here, love. I'll be waiting for you. ------------------------------------------- Jenna had felt Alistair's unease and knew that he'd want to see her when he was finished with the Council. And the uncertainty he was feeling bothered her as much as it did him. She sat on a blanket in the middle of the clearing. This was where Alistair had brought her their first day together, when they were just getting to know each other. She hoped she could help him with whatever it was that was bothering him. She was still getting used to this whole mate bond thing, as well as the panther bonds. At least she didn't have the Alpha bond to contend with as well. That was one thing about being the mate of a Council member; they didn't have Alphas. Alistair was his own Alpha, in a way. She felt him near before she saw him and couldn't help but smile. She'd never had this feeling of unconditional love before. He was always with her, always a part of her. She couldn't imagine living without him. Of course, in some ways she had no privacy. Well, except when she blocked their bond. She hated doing it, but a girl needed a little privacy. She smiled to herself. After today she wouldn't need to block him anymore. He ducked under the branches and looked up to see a vision. He couldn't help but grin. The last few weeks had been the happiest of his life and it was due to having Jenna in his life. Just knowing she was waiting here for him had helped to calm his frayed nerves. But now, seeing her here, nothing else seemed to matter. He sat down on the blanket next to her and took her soft hand in his. "This is where I've wanted to be all day. Thank you." He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. He sat back, her hand still in his and just smiled at her. "You're going to make me blush, Alistair. I feel like you're seeing into my soul when you look at me like that." Her face was hot, and she couldn't help smiling. He wasn't blocking his thoughts at all. She knew exactly what he was thinking. "I do see into your soul, love. And it's a lovely as you are." His fingers reached up to brush her cheek. Her skin was so silky soft. He inhaled deeply, her scent enveloping him as he closed his eyes to savor it. "You've been tense, Alistair. I felt it the entire time you were in the meeting. But I couldn't tell what was bothering you. Care to share?" She smiled as she felt him nuzzling her neck. She bent her head to the side to make it easier for him. Her hand tangled in his white hair, a smile on her lips as she felt her body responding to his attentions. "Not tense anymore, my love." He murmured into her neck as he tasted her skin gently with his tongue. Yes, this was what he'd been needing all day long. Out of Darkness Ch. 03 Jenna giggled. "That tickles." Her panther immediately wanted to take over and play with her mate, but Jenna had something important she needed to discuss with her mate before they could play. The panther pouted, flopping down with a huff. Jenna made a mental note to scold her later. Alistair didn't slow his attentions to her. He felt his cock hard as a rock and was about to undress and let his wolf out when Jenna's hand closed over his, stopping him. "What's wrong?" Alistair was confused. She'd never refused him before. Did panthers get headaches? "Before we get too carried away, we need to talk." She cleared her throat and tried to gather her wits about her. Alistair had a disarming effect on her - or was it disrobing? It seemed whenever they were alone for five minutes they were undressed by the sixth. She smiled to herself. She would never be upset about that. "I have something I've been keeping from you. I wanted to wait until things had calmed down around here, but it took me this long to realize that will never happen. So if I'm going to tell you, I'd better just do it." She tried to look serious but was having a difficult time. His look of alarm startled her. "Alistair, it's nothing bad, I promise." She stroked his face and looked into his eyes. "I'm pregnant." Alistair was stunned. His look of astonishment was quickly followed by a gleeful shout. "Jenna, that's wonderful! My love, I can't believe it. I never thought I'd have a chance at having cubs. I'd given up." His hands closed around her beautiful face and he kissed her slowly, savoring the taste of her lips. "I never thought I'd have cubs either. I'd kind of thought of babies for most of my life, but I'd given up on those too. Um, that brings up a point, everyone calls the children cubs. Are they born cubs? Or like babies? I'm a little worried. I haven't seen any yet, you know." Alistair stared at her for a moment before chuckling. "The cub is born in its human form. It won't turn until later. This is amazing, Jenna, just amazing. Oh, I wish my parents were here to see this." He pushed her long black hair away from her face before kissing her again, his tongue dancing with hers. "Have your parents been gone long?" "Gone? Where would they go? They're still with their pack in Scotland." He ignored her shocked expression as he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose. "This is just so amazing, so unexpected." He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, not ever wanting to let her go. His hand strayed to her belly. He wondered how long before she started to show. "I think there are a few months to go before I show. You hadn't mentioned your parents were still living. How old are they?" She was a little intimidated to know she hads. "My father is about eight hundred years old, my mother a bit younger, seven hundred sixty, but don't tell her I told you. You know women and their ages. I promise you'll meet them someday. Maybe now I'll be able to get them to visit! They've never wanted to come to the U.S." Alistair had never been this happy before. How was he going to hide his happiness from Rhys though? Just the thought of cubs had saddened him since the loss of his daughter. "Don't worry about Rhys, love. Katy is pregnant too. All of the panthers are. By the way, do you want to know if it's a boy or girl?" His eyes opened wide. "You know? Yes, I'd like to know too." "We're having a son, Alistair." Jenna couldn't help but smile as she said it. She hoped he looked just like his father, even down to the white hair. Maybe he'd even pick up a little of Alistair's Scottish brogue. She giggled to herself. Alistair's wolf was immensely proud of himself, strutting around with a puffed up chest. He couldn't wait to show his panther how happy he was.Not today. Today, the humans stay in control.The wolf growled but backed off. He'd have his turn. He guessed he could wait a little while. Alistair couldn't keep his hands off his mate. He'd always thought of her as beautiful, but now, he could just imagine how her pregnancy would only add to her beauty. He stared into her eyes, unable to look away. Her smile took his breath away. His hand stroked her jaw and down her neck, trailing his fingers along her collarbone. He dropped his head and his lips traveled to where his fingers had been. He began to unbutton her blouse, kissing her skin as it was revealed. Jenna closed her eyes and smiled. After the weeks she'd spent in the caves with Gary, she thought she'd never be able to let a man touch her again. But from the first moment she'd met Alistair, she knew they were meant for each other. They'd been waiting to find each other. It was like she'd known him in another life. They just knew each other so well already. Wherever his lips touched her she felt alive, so much more sensitive. She wriggled out of her blouse, and let Alistair remove her bra. His hands on her breasts had her moaning and lifting up into him. She saw the lust in his eyes and knew her own looked the same. Alistair was in awe of the feelings that Jenna brought out in him. He'd always thought he was devoid of romantic feelings, unable to find a mate because of something lacking in himself. He'd learned how wrong he was. At first he'd been worried about how out of control he felt in her presence but now he knew it was how wolves are meant to be with their mate. And he was so grateful to finally know for himself. His mouth sought out her nipples and bathed one with his tongue as his fingers tortured the other. Her gasps and moans were music to his ears. They reached a new pitch when he bit down on her swollen nipple. She pulled his head in tighter and lifted her body up to his mouth, guiding him to suck harder. He was very glad to oblige her. His wolf paced restlessly.You will have your turn later. His hands slid down her stomach, undoing her pants and helping her as she kicked them off. He peeled the blue panties over her hips and tossed them to the side. He marveled at how soft her skin was under his fingertips. He kissed across her stomach, imagining he could already see a little bump. He kissed it reverently, amazed that his cub was growing inside. He kissed his way to her thighs, parting them and smelling her arousal. His mouth was salivating, and he pushed the wolf back again. This was his time for a change. He dipped his head into her swollen folds and lapped the fluids from her pussy. His head swam as he fought with his wolf. He wanted the chance to enjoy his mate without his wolf trying to take over for a change. Jenna couldn't think as she watched Alistair between her legs. Her body was flooded with the pleasure her mate gave her. And very quickly, she felt her pleasure building, the warmth spreading through her body, as she began to jerk and spasm under his questing mouth. His arms held her open as she tried to close her legs around his head, but he wouldn't let her. He continued to lick and suck until the spasms stopped. She lay there, not able to feel the blanket underneath her. Her mind was focused just on his mouth and her pussy. She gasped for air, willing her heart to slow. She saw him look up at her, licking his lips, his face wet with her fluids. Alistair sat up for a moment and pulled his shirt over his head. He kicked off his shoes, unbuttoned his jeans and quickly pulled them off. He saw Jenna's eyes drop to his hard cock bobbing in front of him. He saw her look of hunger but was afraid that if he let her have her fun he'd lose control. And he wanted this to be gentle and loving. He crawled between her thighs, kissing her still-swollen clit, and moving slowly up her body. His mouth closed on hers as his engorged cock slid into her wet channel. He felt her tight pussy close around his cock like a glove, encasing him as he moved slowly in and out of her body. Jenna's hands gripped his wide shoulders as he rode her tenderly. She felt his love surrounding her, felt it in every cell of her body. She raised her legs and wrapped them around his waist as he slid in and out. He pulled out until only the tip of his cock was at her watering pussy, and then plunged in until he filled her again. "Alistair, oh yesssss"! Jenna moaned loudly, not caring if anyone heard them. Jenna couldn't help herself; her nails dug into his back, leaving long red trails from his shoulders to below his ribcage. Her mate roared with the unexpected pain and attacked her mouth once again, but not as gently as before. Their tongues tangled, moving back and forth in the same rhythm as their fucking. She urged him faster, begging him with her body to take her harder. She felt him stiffen and when he roared and came inside her, she orgasmed again, her body convulsing around his cock, milking it, drawing his seed from him. Alistair collapsed on top of his mate, amazed at what it felt like to stay in their human forms. This was new to him. He'd always let his wolf take control. He'd remember this for the future. His wolf growled at that idea.Too bad, it's time we shared a little more. Alistair turned onto his back and Jenna snuggled into his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and traced her shoulder lightly with his fingers. "Was that you or your panther that scratched me, hmm?" He smirked as he said it. "She got away from me for a moment. I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" She felt him squeeze her tighter against him and felt his lips on her forehead. She kissed his chest and smiled. "Will you tell me what's been bothering you today?" Alistair hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to ruin the mood, but she deserved to know. "There's something about this Italian pack that makes me nervous. The idea of someone in collusion with Gary is unsettling at best. And at worst, I just have this nagging suspicion that it has to do with you and the other panthers. And that makes me very protective, my love. So be prepared." This time it was her turn to hug him tighter. She understood his protectiveness, and now that he knew she was pregnant, she knew it would be even more pronounced. She sighed contentedly. She loved him so much. They would be able to get through anything! -------------------------------------------------- Kelly dozed in her bus seat. Where the heck were they going? She thought they'd be going straight to the airport from her apartment but, instead, they'd boarded this bus to nowhere. She punched the hard pillow she was laying on. It just wouldn't give. She pushed against it but it didn't budge. Her eyes flew open. She looked up into his dark eyes. She could see her surprised reflection in them. "Oh, I - I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. I was dreaming." Drago grinned down at her. He'd enjoyed watching her sleep. "No worries. You looked cute." He winked at her. She blushed when she saw him wink. What was it about him that made her trust him so much? Maybe the same thing that had her looking at him whenever she thought he wouldn't notice. Chemistry? Animal magnetism? Whatever it was, it also made it hard to think in close proximity to him. "So where are we going?" He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "To Lugano, Switzerland, just over the border. We'll catch a plane there and see where we end up." Kelly looked at the iPad Drago had in his lap. On the screen was a list of flights out of Lugano. "You mean you don't know where we're going yet?" He shook his head. "Best to not do too much planning. We have to throw them off, and that means being unpredictable." "Well, where are you planning on ending up?" "Don't have a clue. Guess we'll know when we get there." Her jaw dropped open. Seriously? They were running from a group who wanted him dead and her back in a cage, and he had no plan. "We're here. Let's go." Drago got up, holding the bag of money and Kelly's suitcase. He stepped into the aisle and led her off the bus. When they'd climbed down, he realized she wasn't behind him. "Kelly?" His head whipped around. He scented the air, no weres. He looked behind him and saw one of the male passengers with his hand on her arm, holding her in the bus while he tried talking to her. His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. He pushed his way past the other departing passengers and put the bags down long enough to grab the offending male by the collar. He lifted him off the floor of the bus and snarled at him, swearing in Italian. "Drago, it's okay, he wasn't hurting me." She whispered, "Put him down, you're making a scene. We don't want them to call the police. Put him down." Drago's eyes cleared and he looked at Kelly, the horrified look on her face making him realize what he was doing. He took a deep breath and let the poor man down. He apologized profusely. The man said something in Italian that made Drago laugh and he patted the man on the back before shaking hands and saying goodbye. "What did he say that was so funny?" "He said, 'If my woman was so beautiful, I wouldn't want a stranger to speak with her either. Don't let her out of your sight.'" Drago agreed, he never would again. That could have been a grave error. He couldn't believe he'd let it happen. They were lucky... this time! Out of Darkness Ch. 04 Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment on Out of Darkness. I love constructive criticism and feedback. I hope you continue to read, comment, and vote on the saga of the Baxter and Bertrand/Kardos packs. And, as always, a huge thank-you to my editor, Archangel_M, who makes writing so much more enjoyable. ---------------------------------------------------- As always lately, Carr's office wasn't big enough for their meetings, so the American and European Councils, the Alphas of the Baxter and Bertrand/Kardos packs, and their seconds would meet in the dining hall. Alistair took his place at the front of the room and waited for the last to arrive. He smiled as Guillame Bertrand breezed into the room, his second, Zsigmond, close on his heels. The Belgian were had come here only a month before. At the time, he had no idea his trip would lead to his reunion with his long-lost mate and her family. And no one had expected the newly reunited Hungarian werewolves to bond with him as their Alpha. Soon, the Bertrand/Kardos pack would be ready to move to their new homes on the land Carr had given them nearby. "Guillame, we felt you needed to be included in these meetings. We know that Gary had some use for the Vlkolak women, and since they are your family, you need to be involved in any decision-making." Alistair smiled at the Alpha of their newest pack before returning to the business at hand. "Now, Sandalio, I believe you said you had an update for us?" The white-haired were took his seat. The Spaniard stood and nodded slightly. "Thank you, Alistair. I've heard from our operatives in Italy. Apparently we are not the only ones looking for Silvano Cavallo." He saw a few surprised looks. "It's obvious to me that Erobos went for the father when the son disappeared. But I guess Silvano knew better than to wait to be found. He and his mate have disappeared. We are doing our best to track them. I would assume the son warned his father to run." "What now? We don't have a chance in hell of finding either Silvano or his son. They're going to be doing their best to hide from their Alpha. They certainly aren't going to be easy for us to find." Even though Xylon had just found out Silvano had been in league with Gary and had something to do with Gary's plans to transform werewolves into Dire Wolves, he still couldn't stop thinking of him as a friend. He was worried about him and his family. "We have every available agent at our disposal working on this. We won't give up, Xylon." Sandalio couldn't stand the thought of any more deaths at the hands of Erobos and his pack. "Maybe it's time we find out from Rudolf what he knows about Erobos." Rhys had been silent in the back of the back of the room, but he wanted to know what the former head of the European Council had been hiding. "Yes, I agree. Carr, could you have him brought here, please?" Alistair glanced at the Alpha who nodded, and then a moment later, nodded again. Rudolf was on his way from the security building. Rudolf had been locked up in the security building since he attacked Konstantin. Alistair scanned the room. No one looked comfortable. Well, almost no one. The Czech werewolf seemed completely unperturbed. He did, however, take a quick look at his arm, flexing it, proving to himself that the broken bones were completely healed. There was a loud commotion in the hallway, and all heads turned as the doors opened. Rudolf Metzger was surrounded by Baxter Pack betas and shuffled his way to the chair they pointed him towards. He had shackles on his legs and a waist chain with wrist shackles attached. They assisted him in sitting and then took their positions surrounding him. Each wore a tranquilizer gun in a holster at his side. After Gary and Paul's escape from the security area last month, they'd become a little more paranoid. If he made a move, they wouldn't hesitate to put him to sleep for a while. Actually, they'd rather put him to sleep for good. Brett stood to Rudolf's left, Bryant to his right, and James behind him. None of them would let him out of their sight. Each had a hand resting on the butt of his gun. Steve and Craig were outside the door, waiting to be called if needed. They weren't taking any chances. The German werewolf looked around the room. He wasn't sure why he was here and wondered if they had finally sentenced him to die for his attack on Konstantin. He sat quietly, trembling slightly, waiting. He had spent almost a month in that prison, and no one had told him anything that was happening. Maybe he was here because the remainder of the European Council had forced his release. Yes, that was probably it. Sandalio walked slowly towards the smaller male seated in the chair. He towered above him. He looked down at his former leader and couldn't believe they had allowed him to lead for so long. What kind of power had he had for all those years? "So tell me, Rudolf, what do you know about the Alpha named Erobos?" He stared into the small black eyes and saw the startled look. "I don't know what you are talking about." But Rudolf's answer came too fast and loud. They knew they had hit a nerve. He definitely knew something. "Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. What information do you have about the Sardinian Alpha?" Sandalio stared down at him, his face a stern mask. He showed no anger, but no patience either. Rudolf couldn't meet his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to look at any of the weres in the room. His wolf had his tail tucked between his legs and had curled tightly into a corner of his mind. Their human half had been the one that wanted power. Well, he would have to deal with the consequences. Guillame suddenly jumped up from his chair, startling the others in the room. He and Zsigmond exchanged glances and ran to the door where they were met by an enraged Istvan, who was trying to push his way past the guards outside the door. His eyes were wild, and he seemed barely in control of his wolf. "Istvan, what are you doing here?" Zsigmond had grabbed his brother by the shoulder, making his best attempt at calming him before he did something he might live to regret. The Baxter betas stayed out of it. This was a pack or family matter and none of their affair. Istvan's face was a mix of anger and grief. "I found the wolf who killed Zsálya!" The beta stood toe to toe with his brother, his dark eyes flashing, tears beginning to form. His fingers were caked with dirt. He looked like he'd been digging. Both Zsigmond and Guillame were too stunned to respond. Zsigmond couldn't believe it. He finally found his voice. "Where? Where is he? I'll rip him apart!" "He's dead already, brother. He's in a grave out in the desert. I was hunting, and I caught the scent. I'd remembered it all these years. He was here, Zsigmond, he was here!" Istvan couldn't control his rage and picked up a chair, throwing it across the room, where it crashed through a plate glass window. The betas guarding the building outside jumped as the chair and glass flew around them. Carr quickly sent them the message that all was well and not to let anyone inside. They set about cleaning up the glass before anyone got some embedded in a paw. Guillame made a straight line for Carr, his eyes blazing with anger. "How is it our sister's killer is buried just outside your property?" He could barely contain his own outrage. Carr looked confused for a moment and then realization dawned. "The only were that's been buried near this property was Niklas Metzger. Rhys killed him after he manipulated one of my pack members into attempting to kill his mate. He killed your sister?" Carr was at a loss for words. "Metzger. Your kin, Rudolf?" Guillame turned slowly to face the captive, who was now cringing. He approached him slowly, his anger barely contained, his mate's brothers close behind. Brett and Bryant looked at Carr. What should they do? What if they attacked the prisoner? Carr shook his head. They backed up and gave Guillame more room. Rudolf looked at them in surprise. He had expected them to keep him safe, not leave him at Guillame's mercy. "If he was in Hungary, then he was the real spy you sent. So you knew what he'd done." Guillame's anger was building as he circled the once-powerful were. He saw the sweat beginning to form on Rudolf's forehead. "You sent him to America to save him from the justice he deserved. You robbed her family of their revenge." He leaned in closely to whisper in the ear of the restrained, petrified male. "Then we shall have our revenge now, Rudolf." Rudolf looked up into Guillame's cold blue eyes. He heard the growling from the betas on either side. "I didn't know, I didn't know she was anyone important." His face twitched uncontrollably. "Important?" Guillame couldn't believe his ears. "You think any young female is unimportant? Do you know what he did? Do you know what he caused?" Guillame stood behind him, his hands resting on Rudolf's shoulders. He leaned in close, "Do you know what we lost?" His hands tightened, breaking first Rudolf's left and then his right collarbones. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Rudolf screamed out in pain. "Please, stop! I didn't know he would do something like that. I'm sure it was an accident. He was my cousin; I had to help him." His breathing was labored as the pain tore through his body. He could feel the pain subside a bit as the healing process began, but it was still immense. Everyone in the room had heard the snap as each bone broke. No one came to Rudolf's aid. "Please, keep them away from me. You can't let them kill me while I'm chained here. I at least need to have a fighting chance." His whining tone caused several of the Council members to sneer in disgust and turn away. Let Guillame and the betas kill him. "A fighting chance? Did Zsálya have a fighting chance? Niklas raped her and then chased her off a cliff! And then..." Guillame's voice broke. "And then, my mate miscarried our two cubs because of her grief. So you owe us three lives, Rudolf, three!" He practically screamed it into Rudolf's ear. The growls from the brothers were so loud it almost drowned out any other sounds. Rudolf cried out, "No, please, I'll tell you anything about Erobos you want to know. Please, don't let them kill me." He sobbed loudly, as he whispered, "Please, don't let them kill me." Tears flowed down his cheeks, he sniffed as his nose dripped onto his shirt. His whole body shook with fear. Sandalio managed a quick look to Alistair and then walked slowly to the snarling males surrounding the shackled prisoner. "Guillame." He said it so softly he could barely be heard over the growls. "Guillame, I must speak with you." He stood quietly, a few feet behind the Alpha. He watched as Guillame's shoulders rose and fell. Guillame turned slowly, his face full of grief. All the old feelings had come back. He felt Orsolya with him, and she was crying. He could barely speak as his wolf fought with him for control. He could see what his wolf wanted, and he agreed. But he forced himself to answer the Spaniard. "Do not ask for mercy for him. None will be given." The words were distorted, his wolf still exerting some control. The only thing keeping Zsigmond and Istvan from killing Rudolf where he sat was the forceful will of their new Alpha. But at the slightest order, their wolves were ready. Their eyes blazed with fury. Their beautiful little sister deserved her revenge! Sandalio motioned Guillame to come with him, and they walked out of the room. A moment later Alistair joined them. When they returned a few minutes later Guillame's face was like stone. "Zsigmond, Istvan, come with me." He was emotionless as he stood, glaring at their prisoner. He'd never felt such hatred in his life. He'd never liked Rudolf, not even a little. But now, all he could see was blood when he looked at him, Zsálya's, Orsolya's, and hopefully, soon, Rudolf's. He looked at his betas, his brothers, fighting his orders. Don't worry, we will have our revenge. Give them some time. Zsigmond reluctantly backed away, his wolf fighting him. He could see Istvan struggling to obey and laid a supportive hand on his arm. Istvan's wolf was as close to disobeying his Alpha as he had ever been in his life. He wanted to rip Rudolf apart, one limb at a time. He wanted him to suffer and scream and beg for mercy. He would give none. Istvan, trust Guillame. For now, we must leave. The betas walked out with their Alpha close behind them. Their mates awaited them in the building where their pack was housed while constructing their own homes on their new land. Sandalio watched them leave, waiting until the outer door had closed before turning back to the prisoner, who seemed relieved. Rudolf's face had relaxed now that the danger was gone. His bones had almost healed and he felt much more at ease. "Thank you, thank you for saving my life." "Yes, well, now we want to know all you know about Erobos." Sandalio was amused by the shock that registered on Rudolf's face. "What? Oh, I don't know anything, I just didn't want to die. Now that you've sent them away, I can tell you I really have no information for you." Rudolf smirked as he sat facing his supposed replacement. He would find a way to regain his place in the council. "Ah, well then there is no reason for us to keep you here. I'll send a message for Guillame to return, and we can hand you over." Alistair made two steps to the door before Rudolf yelled. Sandalio and Alistair smiled. "Wait! Yes, you're right, I do know Erobos." Rudolf slumped in the chair. If he didn't give them the information they wanted they would hand him over to Guillame and his betas. He had no choice. He hoped that Erobos would never find out he'd betrayed him. Maybe he could find a place far away to hide the remainder of his days. "Why did you work with Erobos? Why did you help him?" Sandalio sat calmly on the edge of the table behind him, his hands in his lap. "I was by myself, in southern Switzerland about three hundred years ago. I was traveling to discuss Council business with an Alpha there. I had fallen down a ravine and a large rock had fallen on top of me. I tried for days to dislodge it, but I couldn't. I was too far from any of my pack or family to communicate through our bonds. I was alone. I was going to die alone. Erobos found me. He asked why he should help me. I told him I could offer him assistance in the future in my position as a Council member. That seemed to interest him, and he agreed to help me. He was stronger than any werewolf I had ever seen. He moved the boulder easily. Before he left me, he said he would expect repayment of his good deed when asked, no questions. I agreed." Rudolf looked among the Council members for some sign they understood why he'd helped the Sardinian. He saw none. "What did he ask you to do?" Konstantin was so disgusted he could barely bring himself to speak, but they had to know. How could we have allowed this filth to lead our Council? How were we so blinded? "He merely asked for information. He said there was a pack that was not following Council edict. They were killing humans, endangering us all. That was why I sent Guillame to observe." He looked at Konstantin hopefully, waiting for his acceptance. "And you sent Niklas. But he did more than observe." Rhys almost spat the words out. Rudolf was as vile as his cousin had been. He briefly wondered if the rest of the Metzger wolves were the same. Guillame quietly opened the door and slipped in, finding a spot on the back wall. He crossed his arms, stared straight at Rudolf, and leaned back. His barely contained rage radiated from the Alpha. Rudolf saw him and his voice quavered as he answered. "I-I didn't plan that. Niklas lost control of his wolf. It was unfortunate." He hung his head but no one thought it was anything more than an act. He could see out of the corner of his eye that Guillame wasn't going to let him out of his sight. "Unfortunate? It was repulsive!" Alistair was amazed at how little feelings Rudolf had. "And did Erobos ask anything else of you?" "He asked if there was any news of a female named Leona." He waited for another question, but none was forthcoming, so he continued. "I told him all I'd been told by Niklas. She was the pack's former Alpha Bitch, and helped to run the pack with her daughter's mate. That's all I knew. It was Erobos who told us the pack must be terminated. It wasn't my decision." Alistair couldn't believe his ears. The Council had followed the orders of a rogue Alpha to destroy another pack for his own personal reasons. "You didn't stop him, Rudolf. You could have refused to assist and warned them. You could have helped them fight. Instead, you were a coward!" Alistair turned his back and strode out of the room. He had to get as far from this poor excuse for a werewolf as he could. Alistair glanced up and saw Guillame's betas standing outside their interim home. He could tell the only thing keeping them in their place was the order of their Alpha. Istvan's son approached him cautiously. What's his name again? Ah yes, Ash. The young male was polite but Alistair could see he was barely able to restrain his anger. "Did the traitor give you the information you wanted?" His handsome face was streaked with tears. Alistair nodded sadly. "Did you know her, Ash?" "Yes, I was just a cub, but I remember her. She looked just like Orsolya, but with black hair, and the most beautiful blue eyes." He looked up into the sky and smiled. "I know she'll be trying to find us." He looked squarely at the older male. "But she'll wait until he's dead." He turned to face the building where Rudolf still sat shackled. Ash was startled when his father and uncle ran past him into the building. He'd been waiting for this. "Soon, Zsálya, soon." He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them in time to see Rudolf being half dragged, half carried out of the building. "Noooo, nooooo, I gave you what you asked for! You promised to protect me from them. Please! Sandalio, please!" Rudolf was crying, his pleading for his life fell on deaf ears. The tall Spaniard stood with Konstantin as they watched their former leader dragged from the building. "I fulfilled my part of the bargain, Rudolf. I kept them away, and you told us what we wanted to know. I didn't say I wouldn't hand you over when we were done with you." He watched impassively as Rudolf tried to pull away from the two snarling wolves. The other Bertrand/Kardos betas had shifted and were running around the trio as they made their way out of the compound, Rudolf screaming for help. Rudolf was unable to shift in the shackles. Guillame walked silently behind them. His wolf was close. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, his Orsolya, sobbing in the arms of Istvan's mate. It will be over soon, kitten, I promise. She looked up for a moment and then buried her head in Matild's shoulder. Alistair watched them walk out of the compound. He felt Jenna before he saw her. "You shouldn't be here, love." He twined his arm around hers as she took him by the waist. She was upset, he could see it, but her thoughts were jumbled. "Do you think we're cruel to let them take him?" She shook her head. "No, I understand it. I'm just confused. I have this overwhelming hatred of him, and I've never met him before. My panther wants to watch what they do to him. She's being evasive when I press her for the reason why." She leaned in close to her mate. Just being here with him calmed her, but at the moment, she felt she needed to be with Orsolya. "Go to her. She looks to you like her grandmother. She says you're her exact double. If it gives her some comfort, then it's worth it." He bent down to softly kiss her forehead. He watched as Orsolya ran to her arms, Jenna's hands gently stroking the older woman's hair. They looked natural together, as if they had always known each other, not like they'd just met a few weeks ago. Out of Darkness Ch. 04 He heard Jenna's calming voice. "Hush child. It will be over soon." Now that's strange. Jenna is much younger than Orsolya. Why would she say that? Orsolya and her brothers were insistent that Jenna was Leona's reincarnation. The weres did believe in reincarnation, but how to prove it true? He was distracted by the distant screams for help from Rudolf. They stopped at the base of the mountain at the edge of the Baxter Pack property. Guillame looked at his betas. They were ready to hunt. "Rudolf, my pack wants vengeance, for Zsálya, for Leona, for Ártur, for all the others that died because of your cowardice. Are you ready to die, Rudolf?" "Please, Guillame, have mercy. I'll go back to Europe. You'll never see me again." Rudolf fell to his knees. "Please, I will live out my days in hiding. What worse fate could I have but living in fear of Erobos?" "Take off the chains." Guillame's voice was flat, emotionless. Rudolf's body relaxed as he felt the shackles being removed. "Thank you, Guillame, thank you. You won't regret this. I will be out of your lives for good." The wolves stood, their tails flagging out behind them, their ears pricked forwards. He heard their whines of frustration. He watched as the two betas dropped the shackles and backed away from him slowly. Rudolf waited for Guillame to tell him he was free. He watched as the betas shifted, shredding their clothes which now dropped to the desert floor. Rudolf was confused. They bared their teeth and snarled on either side of their Alpha. He looked around at the desolate area around him. It would take days for him to find his way to civilization but he could do it. "Run, Rudolf." Guillame stood like stone, his voice quiet. "What? Am I free?" Rudolf's voice shook. "Run! We'll give you the same chance our little sister had. Now run, damn you!" Guillame shifted, the massive brown wolf watching Rudolf with ice-blue eyes. Rudolf suddenly realized. His freedom would last until they killed him. He begged his wolf to shift so he could have some kind of chance at escape. His wolf ignored him. He accepted his death. He deserved it. Rudolf needed to accept it too. Rudolf began to back up slowly, watching as the wolves mirrored his movements, keeping the distance between them. "Please, you must understand. Erobos would have killed us all if I didn't help him. You were all able to escape! You would have died too if I hadn't sent Guillame." He looked to the Alpha, trying to see past the killing machine in front of him. "Guillame, surely you can see that." He saw the subtle change in the brown wolf's stance and knew he didn't have much time. He turned and scrambled as far as he could up the hill before the wolves were upon him. His screams echoed through the stillness of the desert. ------------------------------------------------------- Kelly woke up screaming, feeling strong arms surrounding her shivering body. She felt the hard chest under her cheek and gentle hands stroking her hair. "Shhh, it's all right. It was just a dream." Drago held her tight. Must have been some dream. Her whole body trembled and her heart was racing. He'd been watching her from the chair next to the bed and leapt up to hold her when she began screaming. "It seemed so real! It was awful! There was blood everywhere." Her voice was tremulous as she tried to describe what she'd seen. She hoped she'd forget it as quickly as most dreams, but she had a strange feeling she would always remember. "What did you dream?" His voice was calm, trying his best to reassure her she was safe in his arms. She spoke quietly. "There was a man, and he was in the desert. He was surrounded by a pack of wolves! He was begging for his life. It was horrible." She held him tight as she tried to block out the images that were imprinted in her brain. "They - they tore him apart. And the worst part..." She pulled away from him for a moment to look into his understanding face. "The worst part was that I was happy they killed him. Drago, what's wrong with me?" "Nothing's wrong with you, Kelly. You've been through hell in the last month. You're just stressed. Your mind is trying to deal with all that's happened. Or at least, that's what a psychiatrist might say." He squeezed her tight, not wanting to let her go. She was feeling more comfortable with him as the days went on. Her scent of lavender and orange had made its way into every part of him. Every bit of him felt alive now that she was a part of his life. He would do anything and everything he could to keep her safe from Erobos, or anyone else who wanted to take her from him. The cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He never stopped caressing her hair as he fished it out and brought it to his ear. "Vai." Kelly strained to understand his rapid Italian and hear the other end of the conversation. Who could have known the phone number on the throwaway phone he'd bought? Who was he talking to? "Va bene, ho capito. Cosa? Ok, messa su. Ciao." She could see the change in his demeanor as the person on the other end of the call changed. It was a woman. But who was she? His hand never stopped the slow movement in her hair. "Per favore non piangere. Non lo farò. Lo prometto. Sì, spero di vedere presto anche. Okay, lo farò. Addio." He stowed the phone back in his shirt and let out a long sigh. "That was my parents. Dad has some ideas he's working on. Mom is just being a mom." "They know what's going on?" When did he talk to his parents? "I got word to them when we first left the island and gave them the cell number." No need to freak her out yet. Drago wouldn't mention he'd contacted them through their family bond when all hell broke loose, warning them to run. The only reason they used the phone was that they were too far apart now for the bond to be viable. "We have to lay low for a while. We'll stay here until tomorrow and then move on to another location. That's one good thing about the Euro Zone. It's easy to travel between countries without being tracked. They'll be expecting us to go to the U.S., but we'll wait it out a bit longer." Drago laid down and pulled Kelly with him, holding her tightly to his chest. "I think you need the rest anyway." He could feel her heart beating against his chest. "Me? What about you? I haven't seen you sleep since we started this days ago. Aren't you tired?" She absentmindedly began stroking his arm with her fingertips. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest as his breathing became deeper, more relaxed. She rested her head in the middle of his chest and could make out the even beat of his heart. She didn't think she'd ever felt so incredibly safe in her entire life. Could she fall in love with someone in just a few days? Or was this that "Stockholm Syndrome" thing they talked about? No, I don't think so. "I don't need much sleep. Besides, who's going to guard you if I fall asleep?" He waited for the expected smart remark but the only answer he heard was her gentle breathing. He smiled and closed his eyes. They were safe here for the moment. ---------------------------------------------- Xylon found Alistair and Rhys sitting on the front porch of the main house as they watched the return of Guillame and his pack from the desert. He had to admit, his wolf felt some satisfaction at the swift justice meted out to Rudolf. Well, maybe not swift, but it was just! The two old friends saw Xylon approaching and waited for him to drag a chair over. "Something on your mind, Xylon?" Alistair knew there was something. Normally Xylon was busy between meetings dealing with his laboratory or online research. And if not that, then he was on the phone with his mate. He'd been separated from her for over a month now. Since mating with Jenna, he could understand how upsetting that would be. Prior to this, he never understood what was so unsettling for a male to be away from his mate. "I just had an interesting phone call. Silvano Cavallo and his mate need the Council's help. He wants to tell us everything he knows about Gary, about the Dire Wolves, and about the Sardinian Alpha." "Why does he want to do that?" Rhys tipped his chair back, leaning it against the wall, looking over at his Greek friend. "He's asking us to protect his son and his son's mate from Erobos." Xylon watched as both males riveted their attention to him. He thought that would get their attention. "Well that certainly explains why young Drago was willing to risk death, doesn't it?" Alistair wished he could get all the answers he needed at one time instead of stringing it out like this. "May I tell him yes, Alistair?" Xylon sat quietly, patiently. "Of course, Xylon. The sooner we get some answers, the better. Tell him we will do all we can." Out of Darkness Ch. 05 Thank you all for your continued interest in the Baxter and Bertrand/Kardos Packs. I hope you keep following their adventures. Don't forget to vote and comment. And thank you to my Knight, Archangel_M. If you need any help polishing your armor, it's the least I can do in exchange for your wonderful editing. ------------------------------------------------- Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. Erobos stood on the hill overlooking the panthers' camp. He observed Leona with her father as they sat near the fire. The smile widened on his face as he beheld his future mate. They would rule this whole island if he had his way. He walked through the tall grass, his sight never leaving his love. Leander had sat and listened to his distraught daughter as she poured out her heart to him. He prayed he would be able to give her some peace. "Leona, you and Erobos have been friends since you were cubs. He does not understand what love is. He is infatuated. He will understand soon enough when he finds his own mate. I am sure it is nothing." He had been horrified to hear what had transpired between his daughter and her werewolf friend. He had been away on a hunt and had just returned hours before, greeted by his sobbing child. "But Father, I hurt him! I did not mean it, but he would not let me go. My panther felt she was in danger and took over. I should have kept her in control. Now he will hate me, and she does not wish to see him again. What will I do?" Tears fell down her cheeks as she and her panther continued their week-long internal argument. He is not to be trusted! She fell forward into her father's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. How could her panther hate the one friend she had? He is no friend of ours. You must forget him. My mind will not be changed. "Hush, my child. I am sure he will forgive you. And he will realize his mistake soon." Leander stroked his daughter's hair and looked up in time to see the figure walking towards them. "There, see? Erobos has come to see you, and he does not look angry at all." Leona was so glad her father had returned. She needed his strength in order to face Erobos after what her panther had done. She sat back and wiped her eyes, trying to force a smile as Erobos approached. Leander stood to greet their guest. But he didn't see the cub he'd remembered. Erobos had changed much in the short time since their last meeting. He had a feeling of foreboding that his panther shared. They both were on their guard. "Erobos, it is good to see you. How is your father?" "Hello, Leander. Unfortunately, my father challenged the wrong wolf and lost. I am the new Alpha." Erobos stood straight, with a slight smile on his face. "And as the new Alpha, I require a mate. I ask that Leona accept my earlier request." He looked expectantly at her. She was shocked. He had killed his own father? This was not the friend she knew and loved. "No, Erobos, I told you, I have dreamt of my true mate. He waits for me." Leona had gotten to her feet and began to slowly back away. "What is wrong with you, Erobos? You do not look like yourself. Your skin is pale, your eyes sunken. What has happened to you?" She continued to slowly back away from her friend. Her father stepped between them. "Erobos, Leona can be nothing to you but your friend. She had a dream of her mate. For the panthers this is as good as a betrothal. You must forget this silly idea of taking her as your mate. I am sure your true mate is out there waiting for you. You should continue to look for her. Your mate is not here!" Leander felt his panther close and warred with him about how to deal with this arrogant pup. His panther favored striking him down now. Erobos glared at the Alpha. How dare he dismiss him that way! "I will give you one week to reconsider, Leander. Leona will be my mate or your pack will suffer the consequences!" He moved his gaze to Leona. "You will be mine, Leona. Have no doubts; you will belong to me!" "No! I will never be yours, Erobos. Never!" Leona turned and ran crying across the camp. Leander moved in front of Erobos, stopping his attempt to follow her. "Go home now, Alpha! You are no longer welcome here. If I see you here again, I shall kill you myself!" His icy blue eyes stared into the dark eyes across from him. No, this was not the cub he remembered. He had changed. He was stronger, much stronger. Erobos narrowed his eyes. The next time they saw each other it would be in battle. Leona would come to him or see her family die. "We will see each other again, Alpha, when your daughter and I mate!" Erobos turned on his heel and shifted, his wolf quickly covering the ground between the camp and the hillside. Leander stood, open-mouthed, in awe of the enormous wolf that ran from his camp. What has he become? --------------------------------------- Sardinia, Italy - present day Erobos sat at his desk, staring at the wall. All of his plans so far had fallen apart. First Gary had died before giving him the formula, then Drago had taken his captive out from under his very nose. He had been grooming him to be his aide. What would make him go against his training? There was only one thing! He never should have brought the female here. He had thought the cage would work. He should have had her held in a building with only females. He heard the tell-tale clicks of heels on the wooden floor. He didn't bother to look up. "What is it, Seraphina?" He had neither time nor patience for her games today. Seraphina read his mood and noted it. She had kept her head this long by being aware of his every emotion. She'd seen too many die over the last five hundred years. She wasn't stupid. "The agents are in place near the Baxter Pack compound in America. They'll report back as needed and wait for your orders. Do you think Drago will take the female there?" She doubted it. If Drago was smart, he'd get as far away from any werewolves as possible. "I think Silvano will contact his friend, Xylon, a member of the American Council. And right now, Xylon is with the Baxter Pack. So if Silvano or Drago shows up there, I wish to know immediately. Is that understood?" His dark eyes held Seraphina's for a moment before she looked away. "Yes, Sir, I understand completely." Seraphina got out of the room as fast as she could. She stopped outside the room long enough to regain her composure. Normally, she did her best to avoid seeing into his eyes. It was too terrifying. She could swear she could see his wolf looking back at her. She took a deep breath, smoothed her hair, straightened a wrinkle in her skirt, and went about her business. Erobos heard the sound of her heels on the wooden floor as she walked away. If she had waited one more moment, it would have been her last. ------------------------------------- Nevada, USA The Council members, both American and European, sat impatiently in the dining hall, waiting for the return of Xylon with his friend Silvano. Carr had sent the plane to pick them up at an undisclosed location. It had been decided that the only ones who would know the location would be Carr, Xylon, and the pilot. There could be spies anywhere, and kidnapping didn't seem beyond something Erobos would do. Carr and Guillame knew all the members of their packs were loyal, but a wolf could be made to do almost anything if its mate or cubs were in danger. They wouldn't take any chances. Carr suddenly looked up, alert. "The plane just touched down. They'll be on their way soon." He walked out of the room to find his mate. She smiled when she felt his arms close around her waist. His hands rested lightly on her barely noticeable baby bump. She giggled when he kissed her neck. "I thought you wanted me to have things ready for our latest guests? Now how am I going to do that if you insist on playing?" Lee turned around in his arms and looked up into his playful green eyes. "Sorry, I just couldn't resist. Ready for the new arrivals?" He already knew she was. "Our guests? Or the cubs? Yes, we're all set for our guests. We made up the room next to Xylon's." She laughed as Carr took her hand and brought it his lips for a soft kiss. Guillame's European manners had rubbed off on her mate. She liked it. "And the cubs?" "I'll be ready for them in about seven months." I hope. Carr laughed. "You will be a wonderful mother, love. And now you probably won't see me for a few hours." He leaned forward and kissed her quickly on the forehead, trying to ignore the sweet scent of her, cedar and lilac. He dragged himself away, amazed he was ever able to get any work done when she was around. He smiled to himself as he went back to the dining hall. Finally, the three Black SUVs with tinted windows arrived at the compound. But instead of stopping at the front of the building, they stopped at the back door, enabling the occupants of the middle SUV to only have to walk a few feet before entering the building. The male held his mate protectively as they moved swiftly through the door, surrounded by Betas. Carr met Brett at the back door. "Did you see them outside the first perimeter?" "Yeah, thanks for the heads up. We came in from the east instead. Didn't look like they had that covered. I only saw two. Are there more?" Brett was speaking quietly. The less people who knew they had spies watching the compound, the better. "There are at least six. We've got our own eyes on them. If they come inside the perimeter, we'll take them out. I'd rather hold off if we can, though. They can't find out much from there, and if we take 'em out too soon, they'll just be replaced, and more careful." Carr was glad he'd decided to continue the enhanced security they'd begun when Gary was on the loose. Without it, they never would have noticed they were being watched. "Brett, be sure that if they go anywhere outside the building, they have at least four guards each. I want them hidden from sight." Carr started to walk away and stopped, looking back over his shoulder. "Take the cars back out later and come in the main entrance so they see you coming back. But have the windows open so they can see there isn't anyone else inside. Let's keep them guessing." "Got it!" Brett went about coordinating the Betas for guard duty. It was at times like these he was glad his pack was made up of trained police officers. It made security details that much easier. Carr closed the door to his office softly. Their guests were jumpy enough as it was. He didn't want to add to their nervousness. He stood at the door for a moment as the couple spoke with Xylon. The male seemed straightforward enough. He didn't act like someone trying to hide anything. He was just scared. Carr could see that his mate was downright petrified. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, and she was constantly touching her mate for reassurance. Xylon heard Carr enter the room and moved so the new arrivals could see him. "Silvano, Carla, this is Carr Baxter, the Alpha of this pack. He's promised to keep you safe while you're here." Surprisingly, it was the female, Carla, who spoke first. "I don't care about me - just keep my son safe, please!" She collapsed, sobbing, into her mate's arms. Silvano held her tightly to him, stroking her hair. "It will be alright, Carla. We must trust them. Xylon trusts them; that should be enough." He tilted her face up to look at him, smiled lovingly at her, and wiped her tears. "We will try to right what we've done wrong and hope it is enough to save our son. That's all we can do, cara mia." Carla finally managed a smile and hugged her mate tightly. She had calmed somewhat by the time there was a soft knock on the door, and she watched a blond female enter the room and stand next to the Alpha. She pulled herself back from her mate and tried to stem her tears. It wouldn't do to be hysterical when meeting the Alpha Bitch. "Carla, this is my mate, Lee. She'll get you settled in your room." Lee moved closer but stopped several feet away, not wanting to crowd her. "Hello, Carla. I know this is very difficult time for you right now. We'll try to help as much as we can. Why don't you come with me? Your baggage is in your room. I'll help you get settled." Lee waited with a smile and opened the door. She gently took Carla's arm and whispered in her ear, "If anyone can help your son, the Council can. They're very powerful, and they have plenty of their own reasons for helping you. Trust them." She put an arm around Carla's shoulder and led her up the stairs to her room. "Silvano, are you ready?" Xylon saw his friend relax when his mate's mind calmed. Lee would keep her busy and that would help to keep Silvano's mind on the task at hand. "Yes, thank you, Xylon." He smiled and turned to Carr. "And thank you, Alpha, for allowing us to come here." Carr gave him a nod and opened the door, following them out of the office and into the dining hall. The Betas held the door open for the Alpha, Xylon, and their guest, and closed it after them, taking their places on either side of the door. They were not to be disturbed. Silvano stood near Xylon, nervous, not sure what to expect. Xylon had said to trust them, that they would help. He knew that as far as werewolf laws were concerned, he had broken many. By all rights, they could execute him right now. Not that he would blame them. But what of his mate? Would they kill her too? She had no choice in what he'd done. And what about Drago? He had been an innocent victim of Silvano's crimes. He needed to be protected from Erobos. How could he make them understand? He barely heard Xylon introducing him to the Council Members and the other Alpha in the room. He stared at the floor in misery. Xylon's quiet voice broke through his despair. "Silvano, tell them what you told me during the flight." He waited and watched his old friend, seeing his pain. He laid a hand on Silvano's shoulder. "Tell them." Silvano looked at him, closed his eyes, and nodded slowly. He looked out over the expectant faces in front of him and took a deep breath. "My mate and I originally were members of a pack outside of Rome. It was very small and when our Alpha died, Erobos took control of the pack, and we joined with his on Sardinia. I had completed several degrees in the sciences and had traveled the world, working on various DNA research projects. My new Alpha said he had found me a position in America, and he wanted me to take it. He said it would be valuable for the pack in the future." He looked to Xylon, who smiled and gave him a nod, encouraging him to continue. Silvano looked at each were in turn and saw only their attention, no emotions showing on their faces. He pursed his lips, forcing himself to go on. "I took the job. It was fulfilling, new information to be learned about the werewolf genome and our genetic relationship to humans and wolves. I started working with a brilliant scientist. His name was Gary." He could see the strained looks on the faces of some of those surrounding him and paused. Xylon gave him a sign to go on. "There had been an archeological dig that found an immense frozen wolf. It didn't match any known species. Gary and I were analyzing the DNA of the new species and that's when we came to the same conclusion, it was a Dire Wolf. It was enormous, much bigger than any wolf or werewolf. And that was when we found out how close the DNA was to that of our own species. Much closer to a werewolf than to Canis lupus." Silvano had to stop for a moment. "I'm sorry, I - I - I've tried for so long to forget this all. And now it is back to haunt me, haunt my family." Xylon handed him a glass of water, which he gratefully accepted and took a long, soothing drink. "Thank you." He carefully set down the glass, his hand lingering for a moment. I'm with you, caro. You can do this. You must, for Drago. He closed his eyes and sighed to himself. His mate's loving support would help him get through this. Thank you, cara mia. "The Alpha had told me that I should keep him apprised of my research, so I told him what we'd found. He immediately was very interested. He called me several times a week, wanting to know everything. He seemed to know quite a bit about Dire Wolves and told me he had encountered some in his youth. After I had worked with Gary for about a year, my mate wanted to return home. She was despondent because she had been unable to bear cubs. We had been trying for three hundred years, to no avail." Silvano could feel his mate's sorrow as she followed his story. I am sorry, cara mia. I have to tell them everything. I understand, Silvano. Don't worry about me. Silvano cleared his throat and took another sip of water. Several of his audience noticed the slight tremor of his hands. He was nervous. "Erobos wanted me to stay. I tried to explain why Carla needed to return home. She needed to be with her family. She wanted to be surrounded with their cubs. I begged him to allow us to leave. He said he would think of a compromise. I thought he would bring Carla's family to America. But he didn't." Silvano's nervousness increased, and he took yet another sip of water. Rhys and Alistair exchanged glances. What was going on? What had he been hiding that scared him so to reveal it? "The Alpha appeared one day at the home where we were living near the company. He had a little boy with him. The cub was maybe five or six years old at the time; this was in 1982. He was confused and scared. He said he couldn't feel his parents anymore. He was just about hysterical. Carla was drawn to him immediately. As soon as she saw him she almost ran to his side, comforting him as he cried in her arms. Erobos told us he was an orphan, that his parents had been killed the day before. He said he was the son of a couple who had left the pack years earlier and come to America. He had just decided to visit with them before coming to us, and, fortunately for the cub, was there to rescue him." Rhys was silent for a moment, but had to speak up. He stood slowly, not wanting to startle their guest. He spoke quietly, but firmly. "Silvano, did anyone inform the Council of this? I don't recall any reports of orphaned cubs in that time frame." Rhys locked eyes with the anxious male, who shook his head. Rhys sighed loudly. No report made. "Even if they weren't members of a pack, it should have been reported to the Council so there could be a search for family to take the cub. You already knew this, didn't you, Silvano?" Silvano's breathing quickened and his complexion turned ashen. "Yes. I knew. But I said nothing. We accepted him into our care, our home, and our hearts. He bonded almost immediately with Carla and shortly afterwards, with me. I can't tell you how he changed our lives. I no longer had a reason to leave the company, so we stayed, and I continued to work with Gary." Carr was shocked at not only the breach of protocol, but the insensitivity to the cub's family. He might have grandparents, even great grandparents who would have wanted to raise their own blood kin. How could anyone rob them of that? He was about to lash out at Silvano for his crime, but the tears in the were's eyes stopped him. He'd known it was wrong, but couldn't bring himself to hurt his mate. Carr had that figured out pretty quickly. And from the looks on the Council members' faces, they did too. What would any of them have done in the same situation? Xylon could see that the atmosphere of the room had changed. He urged him to keep talking. "Go on, Silvano. Tell them the rest." He dropped his head, looking at the floor. How could he face them after he admitted to his crimes? His only hope was that they would protect his son, even if they killed him. "It was the Alpha's idea to try to find a way to turn on the latent Dire Wolf gene. I was hesitant and after some time of soul-searching, knowing the things he had told me about Dire Wolves, and learning more about their physiology, I had become convinced it could be extremely dangerous to do so." He saw the nods from some of the Council members. Out of Darkness Ch. 05 "I tried to explain this to Erobos, but he wouldn't listen. He insisted I continue the research. I finally said that I would not. It was then that I realized how trapped I was. He looked at me with an evil grin. He told me that he had just learned that Drago had surviving family that wanted him back. He said he was bound by pack law to report this to the Council so he could be placed with his real family." Carla couldn't stop herself from crying as she felt her mate's pain at his admissions. It had been so long since they had told the truth to anyone. It almost felt good to let it out. Lee rocked her as her body was wracked with sobs. Silvano tried to block out his mate's pain so he could continue. "My mate begged the Alpha to reconsider. She promised him we would do anything in order to keep our son with us. I agreed to continue my work with Gary, which I did diligently for five more years. At that point, Drago had been with us for seven years. Erobos contacted me and said that he thought Gary was holding back my research and 'suggested' that I return to Italy and work at a were lab there where I could have more freedom. Of course, I had to agree. So we left." "I never realized Silvano and Gary had been working on this for so long. They hid it well." Xylon had a hard time admitting he had been so in the dark about something this important happening in his own company. "Gary and I still exchanged information, but of course, we both held things back. I didn't want anyone to find the correct formula, and Gary didn't want anyone but himself to find it. I hoped that the misinformation I gave him, at the very least, slowed him down. I think Erobos knew I wasn't giving him one hundred percent of my effort. The next year he informed us that Drago had been chosen for Beta training. He was maybe fourteen years old." "Fourteen? That is insane! He was still a cub. He had no business taking that kind of training. Mentally and physically it's too much for one so young." Sandalio was floored. Even eighteen was too young as far as he was concerned. "I agree, Sir, but we had no choice. He took him to the pack compound in Sardinia while we waited in Rome. My mate was devastated, as was I. But I had no choice. I had to work diligently. Erobos had made it clear that if he felt I was not giving it my best effort he could do with one less Beta in the pack." "A threat," Alistair said under his breath. He was learning a great deal about Erobos from the scientist, whether he realized it or not. "Yes, I knew what he meant. My son was dead if he thought I was betraying him. If anything happened to Drago, I knew Carla would not survive. My entire family would be destroyed if I didn't go against every fiber of my being. I had no choice." He lowered his head in shame. "And did you succeed in finding the formula?" Rhys dreaded the answer. If Erobos had an army of Dire Wolves how could they possibly hope to defeat them? The only thing that had helped them take Gary down was his own arrogance and inexperience at being an Alpha. Erobos had survived for a thousand years. "No, I did not, thankfully. I had no choice but to try my best, but I was unsuccessful. However, the Alpha made me experiment on prisoners, some who carried the gene, and some who did not. Some of the formulas did absolutely nothing, others had horrible side effects." His voice lowered. He was so disgusted with himself. "By that time, Erobos had brought in other were scientists who showed no compunction in following through with the experiments." Konstantin was stunned that all this had been going on under their very noses in Europe. He had thought it had all been happening in America. They should have known. They should have acted. "Erobos had more operatives at Xylon's company who were keeping him informed of Gary's progress. And when he'd realized that Gary had succeeded in activating his own latent Dire Wolf gene, Erobos pressed me even harder to find the formula for him. He was obsessed." He saw Xylon's surprised expression. "I'm sorry I had not told you sooner, my friend. However, I can't identify them for you. I don't know who they are." "Don't worry, Silvano, we have a few suspects we're investigating." Carr knew Cole and Brett had come up with a list of eight "wolves of interest" and were continuing their background checks. He had a feeling Erobos had even more contacts in America than they could imagine. There were six right outside their property now. Xylon gave his old friend a reassuring pat on the back. "I understand, Silvano. I wouldn't expect you to know. Erobos seems to be good at compartmentalizing his operations so no one knows too much, just enough to do their own job." Guillame ran a hand through his unruly brown hair and sighed loudly before abruptly slapping his hands on his knees and standing. "So, now what?" He looked around the room at the blank faces in front of him. ------------------------------------------------ Another bus! Why did he always choose a bus? Weren't there more comfortable ways to travel? He certainly wasn't hurting for money. The duffel bag was still half full of Euros. She hunkered down in her seat, a frown on her face. At least she'd had a nice tour of Europe in the last several days. It was so beautiful here. Her plans had been to travel after she was settled with her job in Rome. She'd wanted to just be a vagabond and explore the countryside. Well, guess I got my wish. You know what they say, Kelly. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. She snuck a peek at Drago, sitting quietly next to her, studying the maps he had on his ipad. Damn he looks good in a leather jacket and sunglasses. Her friends would be so jealous if they saw him. Yes, she had to admit, her guardian angel was a hunk! And she had him all to herself! Too bad they were running for their lives. Maybe, if they were lucky, they'd live through this and have time to really get to know each other. She couldn't turn away as he pulled off his jacket and laid it in his lap. He looks just as good in that t-shirt! Drago glanced at Kelly out of the corner of his eye and caught her looking at him. He grinned, and she gave him a shy smile and looked away. She really was lovely. He was actually enjoying this time traveling with her. He didn't have to share her with anyone. That made his wolf extremely happy. The only interference was Erobos and his Betas, who he knew were attempting to track them. He hoped he'd been elusive enough. But he wouldn't know for sure until they were safe, or he was dead. He had his money on the former. The air brakes made an annoying sound and brought Kelly to attention. They were pulling into the bus station in Amsterdam, and it was finally time to get off. She stood up and yanked her backpack out from underneath the seat in front of her while Drago pulled her suitcase from the rack above. She caught a quick glimpse of the muscles in his upper arms as he reached up. She had to wrench her eyes away before someone noticed her gawking at him. Geez, he has a beautiful body. Drago's wolf was ecstatic. He loved knowing that she was excited by him, and he could smell it. He was practically prancing. His mate didn't know it yet, but they belonged together. And he was so ready to meet her for himself, but his human half wouldn't allow it until they were safe. It would never be soon enough for him. "Where to now, boss?" His head whipped around, and he glared down at her. Kelly's surprised expression stopped him in his tracks and his face softened. "I'm sorry, it's just that we call him 'Boss,' and you kind of surprised me with it. I know that's not what you meant." "I'd forgotten. I'm sorry, Drago. I didn't mean to compare you to him. Believe me, I don't think you're anything like him!" For a moment he'd looked really upset. Think fast, Kelly. We need to lighten things up here. "So, seen any good movies lately?" She wasn't sure her attempt at humor would fly, but what the heck. What did she have to lose? She didn't have any other knights in shining armor standing by to rescue her. Drago looked at her for a second, confused, and then burst out laughing. "No, you? I've been thinking about watching the Twilight Series. I like the werewolves the best. What about you?" Kelly rolled her eyes. "Seriously? Werewolves? C'mon, I like the Vampires much better." "Vampires? They're dead." Drago made a face of disgust, but inside, his wolf was in a panic. She doesn't like werewolves! She wouldn't deny us, would she? "Vampires are sexy! Haven't you ever seen Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire?" "He's not really my type. Actually, I was thinking more of Nastassia Malthe in Skinwalkers." Kelly's eyes locked onto him, practically burning him with their intensity. "Seriously? Wasn't she kind of a whore in that movie?" "Nothing wrong with that." He ducked just in time to miss her backpack flying into his head. See? She wants us. Don't worry. When the time comes, she'll accept us. "Tell you what, we can change genres entirely. I'll be Kyle Reese, and you can be Sarah Connor." He grinned from ear to ear. "Ah, Terminator reference. Why am I not surprised?" Whew, crisis averted. Damn, he's hot! Drago picked up the fallen pack and handed it carefully back to Kelly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Kelly could see the flashing display. His father again? They hadn't heard from him for a few days. She knew Drago had been worried, but of course he was too macho to admit it. "Ciao." His face brightened when he heard the voice on the other end. "Sì. Questo è meraviglioso!" He winked at Kelly. "Lei sta bene. Sorprendentemente bene, in realtà." His voice softened. "Tu e mamma sarà il suo amore." He looked up and rolled his eyes. "Sì, papà, saremo attenti. Vi aspettiamo per le vostre istruzioni. Spero di vedervi presto. Ti amo anch'io. Dillo a mamma lo stesso." He sighed and returned the phone to his pocket. "He thinks I'm going to do something stupid. I had to promise to wait for his instructions." "And would you? Do something stupid, I mean." Kelly smirked. "Not if it endangered you, Kelly." His eyes bored into hers, like he could see through them into her soul. His suddenly serious tone took her off guard. She felt like he knew everything that she held inside. Like he could see into her heart. Like he knew how she was feeling about him. Well, that's silly, he's not a mind reader. Too bad he isn't though. I wish I could tell him, but how can I admit I've fallen in love with someone I barely know? "C'mon, we need to find a place to stay." He led her to a tram and they made their way through the city. Kelly gazed out the window at the canals that ran through the entire city, the bicycles crowding the streets, and the tourists and locals that mixed seamlessly on the sidewalks. She glimpsed a couple, sitting at a bench that overlooked one of the canals. They were arm in arm, leaning in close to speak privately. For a fleeting moment, she was jealous. Why did they have time to be happy while she and Drago had to run for their lives? Someday, maybe we'll have that chance. She felt a sudden wave of sadness come over her. Here she was sitting next to him, and she felt so alone. Drago caught a sudden change out of the corner of his eye and could see the way her shoulders slumped. Something had upset her. What was it? He leaned closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He felt her stiffen under him at first, but then her entire body relaxed and molded against his chest. She burrowed her head under his shoulder and he rested his chin on the top of her head. "Kelly, we're going to be okay, I promise. I would never let anything happen to you. Never!" Out of Darkness Ch. 06 As always, thank you to my wonderful editor, my Knight In Shining Armor, Archangel_M. Please continue to comment and vote on the escapades of the Baxter and Bertrand/Kardos Packs. ----------------------------------------- Island of Sardinia, 1052 A.D. The wind blew through the tall grass and ruffled the black fur of the massive panther who stood still at the peak. He looked out over his camp, watching his people go about their errands with no idea that their lives were about to change, forever. His long tail moved slowly side to side as he pondered his dilemma and the few options available. His blue eyes mirrored the sadness he felt in his heart. He turned his head as a red panther padded silently to his side and sat quietly, her whiskers twitching as she caught the scent of a nearby buck. She hadn't eaten in several days. Her small size was deceiving; she was as deadly as any other panther in the pack. Leander trusted his grandmother more than any of the other six elders that sat on the Council. Although the Alpha was the leader of their people, the Council of Elders, made up of seven female panthers, was the heart of the pack. Their own mythology stated that without the Council, there could be no pack. Many years before there were nomadic family groups that wandered their island, fighting among themselves and with the werewolves. But then the seven sisters formed the first Council, chose the first Alpha, and brought the panthers together into a cohesive unit that would thrive on this little rock in the Mediterranean. Since then, they had lived in peace. Thank you for meeting me, Grandmother. I need your guidance. You have never asked for it in the past, Leander. What is it that bothers you so that you would ask me for assistance? She glanced at her grandson. He had grown to be an impressive male, but it was difficult for her to see him as anything but the mischievous little cub that used to run between her legs. As the Alpha, he had been independent in his leadership, never coming to her or the other elders for their counsel. The large head turned, and his blue eyes fixed on hers of emerald green. I have never been in need of it until now, Grandmother. We are in danger. I need to know if the elders have seen our future in their visions. I need to know if I am making a grave error in judgment. Leander, our visions cannot tell you. We have only seen what will become of our people. But we have no way of knowing what decisions you made that led to that future. It may be in spite of your choices. Lysandra had never seen him so disturbed. He was a prideful panther, and for him to ask for her aid meant their people were in dire circumstances. Her grandson had never shown fear of anything or anyone in his three hundred years as Alpha. What could have happened to cause him to be so disheartened about the future of the pack? His head dropped, his nose almost to the ground. He felt as if the world were crashing down upon him. This must have been how his father had felt when the humans first came to their island, and he had realized their way of life would change drastically. He was grateful his father was not here to see that, again, there would be drastic changes. Please, Grandmother, tell me what you saw. She hesitated a moment before answering his request. We saw our people scattered to the four winds. They were lost and alone. But in a time many moons from now, a council of panthers will arise in a new world and bring our kind together again ,and save them from a great evil. That evil is already among us. She stared into her grandson's sad eyes. But you already know the evil, do you not? The defeated panther nodded. (I have looked into the eyes of evil itself, and it has no soul, Grandmother. Whatever you decide, Leander, it will be what is best for the pack. Of this I have no doubt. The Council will support you. Thank you, Grandmother. Lysandra followed his sleek form as he made his way down the hillside towards the camp. It was all happening the way she'd seen it so many years before. She'd never told anyone about her visions. And now it would all come to pass just as she had seen. She curled her long tail around her body as a single tear fell. ----------------------------------------- Sardinia, Italy - Present Day "What do you mean there's no trace? The boss will have your head if you can't get the job done! I suggest you try harder." Seraphina laughed as she ended the call. Fool. You'd think he'd know better than to call with no information. If the boss had answered the phone, his death warrant would have already been signed. She drummed her long red fingernails on the desk. Now the question was whether to tell the boss right away, or save the information for later. Seraphina, meet me in my quarters. She smiled to herself. The boss hadn't sent for her in a month. She'd started to worry she had fallen out of his favor. She pushed her chair away from her desk and stood up, straightening her tight skirt. Not that it would be on for long. She ran her fingers through her long blond hair, making sure to make it just a little bit wild, just the way he liked it. On my way, boss. Seraphina walked past a group of Betas, a smirk on her beautiful face. She accentuated the swing of her hips as she made her way down the hall. She loved the admiring looks from the males she passed, several of them hoping to catch her attention themselves in the future. She might accommodate them at some point. But she really was hoping to remind the boss of why he'd kept her around for half a millennium. Erobos smiled when he heard the tell-tale sounds of Seraphina's spike heels on the wooden floors. She would be at home in one of those dance clubs the humans loved so much, and would have the males falling all over themselves to please her. But she lived to please him. He allowed her her dalliances with the Betas, but she belonged to him. She was the perfect consort for him until he finally had his mate. She was so much more to his liking than Zosime, who had been a monumental waste of his precious time. But she'd served her purpose. The statuesque blond stood outside the door and was about to knock. Her hand stopped in mid-air. Enter, Seraphina. As she opened the door she spotted him at the other side of the room, waiting for her. Her lips curved into a smile and she lowered her eyes in submission. She approached him slowly, taking carefully measured steps to accentuate her sultry movements. She could see, out of the corner of her eyes, his attention fixed on her. As far as she knew, he hadn't taken any of the other pack females in the last month. She'd been a little worried when he'd brought the human female to the compound. But he had just locked her up and hadn't seemed overly interested in her. Whatever her purpose had been, Drago had thrown a monkey wrench into his plans. He would pay for that soon enough. But for now, she was content to have the boss' full attention again. The door closed quietly behind her. She stood in front of her Alpha, his for the taking. She always felt the same way when she was here, even after all these years. One would think they would know each other well, but she never knew what he would do to her. The boss was unpredictable. About the only thing she knew was that he was never gentle. Again, the smile came to her lips as she waited, watching the floor. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the sensuous little bitch in front of him. He sniffed the air and grinned with satisfaction. She was always ready for him. She couldn't be hotter if she was in heat! But since she hadn't found her mate she had never been in that condition. For a moment he wondered just how much hotter she could get, but that would mean her belonging to someone else, and he would never allow that. Not until his mate was at his side, that is. He walked slowly around his prey, his hand skating along the naked skin of her shoulders. He did so like it when she kept her shoulders bared. It gave him a wonderful view of her neck and the many scars he'd left there over the centuries. His eyes seemed to change, taking on a life of their own. His wolf was close. Anyone who might see him now would see the beast, and be afraid. His fingers walked their way across her collarbone and he laughed lightly as he saw her sudden intake of breath. Yes, she was a hot one. Just a touch was all it took to have her ready for him. A look from his wolf would bring her to her knees, begging to be fucked. Her pulse leapt in her throat, her heart pounding as he took his time. Just for a second, her thoughts wandered to the first time he had taken her. She had been given to him by her father to ensure his own safety when Erobos had taken over their pack in Sicily, five hundred years ago. She'd been a virgin and known nothing of sex. She had learned quickly! And what she learned first was that the Alpha's pleasure was all that mattered. Her life depended on pleasing him, and she was a quick study. She had soon learned to enjoy her position as consort of the most powerful Alpha in Italy. And now, he was the most powerful Alpha in Europe, maybe even the world! His hand took her jaw and turned her to face him, the wolf ready to take his little fuck toy. He wouldn't let her look away as the wolf took over his body. He always wanted her to see what others feared, what she still needed to fear. He would never allow her to think she had tamed him, or that he cared for her in any other way than as his slave, his tramp, his little whore. She was his to use any way he wished. He had found the perfect little play thing and had molded her into the heated little bitch she was now. But if she ever overstepped her bounds, he would kill her in a second. As long as she remembered that, she served his purposes well. She willed herself to stand still. No matter how many times she had watched his transformation, he still terrified her. But the fear was so worth the pleasure she felt when he would fuck her. She couldn't stop from trembling as she felt his hot breath on her tender skin. His wet tongue slid along her neck, moving from one bite mark to the next. She closed her eyes for one quick moment to gather her wits about her. When she opened them, she stared directly into the eyes of the monster, the evil that lived inside her Master. She fought the instinct to scream. Even after all these years, the sight of him frightened her beyond all reason. In spite of her fear, or maybe because of it, her wolf was ready for him. She flagged her tail in response to the virile male that wanted her. Let the human fear, her thoughts were of him filling her, using her. Shift, Seraphina. The blond wolf was anxious to please her Alpha and dropped her clothes. Seconds later she stood on four legs, looking over her shoulder at the gargantuan wolf who stood behind her. She wagged her tail, her tongue hanging. She hadn't felt him inside her in so long, and she was ready. The Dire Wolf towered over the little female, his huge paws grabbing her by the hips as he plunged his entire length into her tight little body in one stroke. He growled and bit down on the scruff of her neck as she instinctively tried to move away from his invading hard cock. She yelped in pain as his cock stretched her walls without mercy while he thrust into her again and again. Her yelps of pain became growls of pleasure and she lifted her hips to take him deeper. Her face was to the floor while he pounded in and out. Yes, this was what she'd been waiting for. This was what she was meant for, to belong to her Alpha. Erobos had not touched a female in a month and his wolf needed to vent his frustrations at the failings of his most recent plans. As he rammed his little bitch over and over, he let his shaggy head fall back and howled his indignation. He needed Gary's formula and he'd been foiled in his attempts to take control of it. He needed Leona and he had lost her. He'd had the means to lure her back and that pup, Drago, had stolen her from him. He had failed over and over. Seraphina grunted with each forceful thrust into her ravaged pussy. She had gone from pain, to pleasure, and now to excruciating pain as his cock never ceased. But she knew better than to attempt to escape. She began to whine and yelp in pain. She felt his front legs pull tighter around her rib cage as he held her in place. She felt his teeth grabbing at her neck, tearing the flesh, and then his tongue, lapping at her blood. She waited for him to finish, expecting him any moment to sate himself and come with a flood inside her. But he continued his plundering of her flesh and his sucking of in her blood until the wound had healed. She anticipated his orgasm, but it didn't come. Instead, he tore open her neck again, taking more of her blood, until she faded into darkness. Seraphina awoke with a start, her hand flying to her neck. It was sticky with her blood, but had begun to heal. She carefully took stock of her condition and felt every bruise on her body. Her ribs were broken, but beginning to heal. Her thighs had deep gouges in them from his front claws. Her pussy was flooded with his seed. She shook her head to clear it and looked up to see herself in the mirror across from her. Her hair was a mess, streaked with her blood and his semen. She lifted her lips in a secret smile. Yes, this was what she was meant for. ---------------------------------------------- Amsterdam Kelly sat cross-legged on the little bed in their cramped room in the seediest part of town. She shivered when she thought of the people they'd passed on their way down the alley. The people sitting outside the smoke shops reeked of marijuana. She had held tightly to Drago's arm as they weaved their way between the tattoo parlors and bars until they found a small hostelry to rent a cheap little room with a tiny bed. She looked over at her knight in shining armor, sitting at the little desk across the room. As usual, Drago was staring at the iPad, making plans for their continued escape from whoever it was that was after them. She studied him carefully. He'd just come out of the shower and was wearing his jeans and nothing else. She bit her lip as her eyes wandered across his massive shoulders. Every muscle stood out in perfect definition. She wanted to slide her hands across them, but she couldn't make herself move. She took a deep breath and held it for a moment, trying to come up with the nerve to stand up, walk a few steps, and touch him. She'd felt those muscles through the thin material of his shirt, but she really felt a need to touch his skin, just once. Her clothes felt itchy on her skin. She wished she could just peel them off right now. This was silly. She was a grown woman. She'd had relationships before, and she'd never been shy with men. She was attracted to him, that was obvious. And she was pretty sure he was attracted to her too. Hell, let's face it, I want to fuck his living brains out. She watched as he shifted in the chair and his muscles moved under his skin. She licked her lips. C'mon, Kelly, just go over there and touch him. Drago smiled to himself as he studied the airline schedules in front of him. He knew she was watching him, and his wolf was fighting him for control. The wolf wanted to take her now; at least then she could defend herself. If we turn her now, it could be weeks before her wolf shows herself. And she could be weakened while we wait. We can't afford to take that chance. The wolf turned himself in circles and plopped down to sulk. He heard her moving behind him. She was trying to walk softly, but to his sensitive ears, she sounded like she was stomping her feet. He pretended not to notice, wondering what she had on her mind. When her fingers touched his skin he forced himself not to move. His wolf jumped up, spinning in circles. She wanted them. He could smell it! It's time. His nostrils flared as he took in her scent of lavender and orange. His cock hardened immediately and pressed painfully into his zipper. When her fingernails scraped down his spine, he took in a large breath, willing the wolf to hold back. "Drago," she whispered. Her voice didn't even sound like her. It was like someone else was talking for her. Her hand moved along his smooth skin. She closed her eyes and savored the feel of him under her fingers. She was startled by the iron grip of his hand around her wrist. She opened her eyes and saw him looking over his shoulder at her. They stared into each other's eyes. "Kelly," Drago swallowed hard, doing his best to control the feelings inside him. He turned in the chair, facing her. What he wanted to do was tear the clothing off her and take her on the floor, on her hands and knees, and bite into her delicate neck. He still had hold of her wrist and pulled her closer, her hand now touching his hard chest. He pushed himself forward, breathing deeply, her scent washing over him. His cock throbbed. "We can't. Not yet." He kissed her neck and felt her shiver under his lips. "Why, Drago? What's stopping us? We could be dead tomorrow." Her free hand stroked the back of his neck and strayed into his crew-cut hair. She loved the feel of it under her fingertips. She was learning so much about him from every touch. "I need you. I love you, Drago." There, she'd said it. She couldn't believe it. She'd never said that to anyone before. But she meant it! "I love you too, Kelly, with all my heart. But you don't understand. We can't take the chance. We have to be on our guard, always." He pulled her into his lap, holding both her hands, and gently kissed her soft lips. He stopped for a moment and pulled away, a surprised look on his face. "Did you feel that?" Kelly found herself shaking uncontrollably in his lap. It felt like a shock had gone through her entire body. "You felt it too? What was it?" She was like a limp rag, her body had lost all its strength. She leaned into his shoulder, her heart pounding. His arms closed around her, holding her tightly and she felt his lips sliding along her cheek. "We were meant for each other, Kelly. But we have to wait. I'll protect you, have no doubt, please. Soon you'll understand everything." He trailed kisses across her face and heard her moans of frustration. Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders as she savored the feel of his lips, the heat of his skin, the sound of his breathing. She dug her fingers into his skin while she battled with herself for control of her actions. She wanted to fuck him now! But he was right, they had to wait. She was lost in herself as her senses were bombarded with the feel, touch, smell, and sound of him. She didn't notice his body stiffen and his hands still. She didn't see his quick glance at the door. "Don't make a sound," he whispered into her ear. It took a moment for her to register that something was happening. He helped her to stand and silently pointed to her suitcase. He grabbed his clothes and the duffel bag. His attention was half on the sounds from the hallway and half on Kelly. He motioned to the window and unlatched it, pulling up and suddenly realizing it was stuck. He gritted his teeth and pulled up again. The window didn't budge. Kelly could hear some commotion in the hallway now and could see the frustration on his face. She looked at him for a brief second before glancing at the doorknob that faced them, seeing it move. Thank goodness it was locked. Drago saw the fear on her face and used every bit of his strength to force the window. It finally moved. He held his hand out to Kelly, who grabbed it and felt herself dragged to the window and pushed through. He threw the duffel and suitcase out after her and climbed through, shutting the window behind him. He reached back and took Kelly's hand. He wasn't going to let her out of his sight for a moment. Out of Darkness Ch. 06 They ran through the alley until it fed out onto a main street. They stopped long enough for Drago to get his bearings, and then he pulled Kelly with him to the tram stop. There were dozens of people waiting for the next one to come any minute. They pushed their way through the crowd to the far end of the stop. Seconds later the tram stopped, and they got on. Drago glanced out the window and saw them. They looked confused. Good! Maybe they hadn't caught wind of them. He pulled Kelly close to him and inhaled deeply. His wolf needed her scent to assure himself all was well, for the moment. Kelly's heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest. They'd found them! How could they? They'd been running for days without a trace, but they'd found them. She'd thought they were safe. She'd distracted Drago by coming on to him. She could have gotten them killed! She looked up into his serious face. He was holding her close, almost possessively. His hand was burning a hole where it laid on her waist. This was some kind of connection that she'd never felt before. She pushed her face into his chest and whispered, "I'm sorry." She felt him squeeze her tighter. He'd heard her. She thought she'd barely made a sound. The tram made its next stop and they got off, surrounded by a throng of tourists. They blended into the middle of the crowd and made their way through the busy streets, dodging bicycles whizzing by them. Kelly struggled to keep up and not lose her footing. She had her suitcase in one hand and Drago's hand in the other. Basically, he was pulling her along while she did her best not to trip. Suddenly, he yanked her into a dark alley and they ducked inside a dark, dingy little bar. Drago deposited her at a table and went to the bar, quickly returning with two glasses of water. Drago sat down and reached for the phone in his pocket. He stopped when his fingers found nothing. "Shit, must have fallen out of the shirt when I grabbed it off the bed." He ground his teeth together, disgusted with himself for losing the phone, their only contact with help. He'd have to get to a store and buy another one. But they didn't have much time. He almost jumped when he felt her soft hands close over his. He looked across the table at her beautiful face. He tried to force a smile, but he'd been caught with his guard down, and he was trying his best not to let her know how rattled he really was. "Where to now?" Kelly knew that no matter what, she trusted him with her life. Hell, he was her life now. He could tell her they were on their way into the lion's den, and she'd follow. She would follow him anywhere. "Probably the last place we should go right now, but I don't see any other choice. It's time to go to America." He saw the relief on her face. "Kelly, as soon as we use our passports, they'll know exactly where we are and where we're going. They'll be waiting for us." He grasped her hands tightly. "I'll do all I can to keep you safe, but it might not be enough." "If anyone can keep me safe, it's you, Drago. If you can't, then I know it isn't possible. And no matter what, we'll be together." She leaned down and kissed the strong hands that still held fast to hers. ------------------------------------------ "We lost them in the crowds. There were just too many scents." He stood at the door, watching his leader bending down to pick up something. "Find anything in this room that'll help us find them?" Milo stood up, gazing at the phone in his hand. He pushed some buttons, scanning the call log. "Only one number called, only one number received. Someone is helping them." Milo planned on moving up in his pack. If he helped Erobos track this traitor, he would back him. It was worth the risk. It had just been luck that one of his pack had spotted them getting off a bus the other day and recognized them from the pictures Erobos had sent to every pack. "Put the word out, we need to find the renegade and his captive. He can't have gotten far. Put someone at the bus and train stations and the airport." They'd missed them by seconds. Next time he wouldn't miss. He'd have him trapped soon. ----------------------------------------- "How long do we have to make it to the gate?" The man stood at the ticket counter, holding his girlfriend's hand as she cradled their baby, cooing and singing. He smiled lovingly at her. The ticket agent looked at her screen. "You'll barely make it. They're at final boarding call. You'd better go now. I'll let them know you're on your way." She returned his smile and watched him pick up their luggage and walk quickly towards their terminal. She loved the smell of his cologne. She should have asked him what it was so she could get it for her boyfriend. A little too much though, kind of overpowering. The man standing at the end of the counter wrinkled his nose. Humans and their artificial scents. Even from this far it was going to make him sneeze. He turned away to blow his nose. This was a boring assignment. They wouldn't be stupid enough to come to the airport. Just before they got to the gate, the woman stuffed her bundle into her backpack and smiled at her companion. They approached the gate and handed their boarding passes to the attendant. "You just made it in time, Ms. Creighton, Mr. Cavallo." She smiled and pointed the way to the ramp. "Have a nice flight." She waited for them to enter and then secured the door. A moment later she was surprised by a man running to the gate, out of breath. "Wait, I need to get on that flight!" He turned his head instinctively as he sneezed. "I'm sorry Sir, the flight is full, we aren't waiting for anyone else. They're taxiing out to the runway now." She jumped when his fist hit the wall. She watched as he pulled out a phone and started yelling. "They made it onto a flight to the United States. What?" He turned to the startled woman. "Where does that flight land? What city? And when?" "San Francisco, in ten and a half hours." ---------------------------------------------- 'You look nice with long blond hair." Kelly pulled a strand and twirled it around her finger. "Maybe you should keep it." She tugged on it, dislodging the wig a little. "I like you better as a brunette." He pulled her blond wig off and stuffed it into her pack along with his. "At least it worked. But I need to get into the bathroom and get some of this cologne off before I asphyxiate everyone sitting near us." ------------------------------------------- Nevada - Present Day "He's not picking up the phone anymore." Silvano sat quietly, trying to console his mate through their bond. Xylon sat next to him and clapped him on the shoulder. "Your son seems to be very good at staying a step ahead. Be patient, my friend." "We need to have some plans ready. This fight may be coming to us soon. I don't want to get caught off guard." Carr had no intention of sitting back and waiting. He'd rather be proactive than reactive any day. "Cole, have your guys ready to go at a moment's notice." He waited for his brother and second in command to acknowledge the order before turning to Guillame. "Can you have your Betas start training with mine so they're able to work well together in a pinch?" "Absolutely, Carr. Zsigmond, have everyone report to Cole." Zsigmond nodded and walked out of the room with Cole in order to get started right away. He liked the Baxter Pack. He was impressed with how Carr ran the pack and the close relationship between Carr and his Betas. It'd been so long since he'd been a part of a pack, he'd been concerned they would have problems with integrating the many Vlkolak refugees who had converged on the new Bertrand/Kardos Pack. This would be good experience for them. --------------------------------------- Katy watched as Rhys rifled through stacks of papers. He'd been waiting for these papers to arrive from his office since they'd heard the story of the orphan cub who was adopted by Silvano and Carla Cavallo. "Have you found what you're looking for, Rhys?" She moved quietly across the floor. Since being turned into a panther, her movements were so much more graceful and stealthy. She leaned on his shoulder, lovingly stroking his back. He felt so tense. "No, and if the boy really was orphaned or kidnapped, I should have some sort of record of it. Not one pack reported losing a cub or any members at all during that time." Rhys didn't like the idea that he might have missed something this important. He wouldn't have ignored something like this, would he? No, not possible. "Maybe Erobos spoke a little truth, that the boy belonged to a couple from his pack. Did he ever report anything to the European Council?" Just the thought of someone stealing a child from its parents made her blood boil. She felt her panther pacing in her mind. If anyone tries to take our cub, they won't live long enough to regret it! For once, she totally agreed with her panther. They normally had differences of opinion. The panthers were very literal-minded and couldn't handle any nuance in their thoughts. But on this they were of one mind. "I suppose they could have been rogues or lone wolves. Maybe the parents had a reason to be afraid of the Council. I don't know." His wolf was agitated and insistent that they shouldn't be discussing a kidnapped cub around their mate. It could upset her. She already knows. And she knows no one will have a chance to get near our cub. They would have to kill us both to take our child. "If the Council finds Silvano and Carla's son, are they going to try to find out who his parents were and reunite them?" She managed to wiggle her way into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "That, little one, is up to the Council to decide. I suppose Xylon would be able to run DNA tests and try to match him up with the database he has going." His wolf took the opportunity, burying his nose in her neck, her scent of mint and cinnamon calming his nerves. "It seems like a no-win situation for everyone. If you find his biological parents, what happens to his adopted parents? Won't that hurt them? I mean, his biological parents, if they're still alive, wouldn't know who he was or that he was still alive. So, would it matter to disrupt the couple that raised him?" Katy really wasn't sure what the right answer was. She just knew if her child had been taken from her, she would go to her grave looking for her baby. "I don't know. If they were to cross paths by accident, the parents would know. They'd know his scent. I don't know if he'd know them, he was so young at the time they were separated. But a wolf never forgets the scent of their young. Never!" Rhys pulled his mate closer and let his hand rest lightly on her stomach. Her pregnancy wasn't even noticeable yet, but his wolf could tell the difference. "This will never happen to our cub, little one, I promise you that!" Out of Darkness Ch. 07 Thank you to everyone who has commented and voted. I hope you continue to follow this story through to the end. I really enjoy getting feedback. As always, a huge thank you to Archangel_M who is more than an awesome editor, he's a good friend. ------------------------------------------------- Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. The girl spotted the hunters as they tracked a buck through the dense forest. She waited until they were almost upon her before stumbling out of the brush into their view. "Please, please help me." She reached out for them as she felt to the ground, sobbing. Her clothing was torn and there were scars covering her arms and legs. She was filthy, and her long blond hair was matted. The leader of the band of hunters held up his spear to his followers, signaling them to a halt. He knelt at the girl's side, lifting her head. Her red-rimmed eyes were swollen, and she looked as if she hadn't eaten in some time. Her face was gaunt, her skin pale. What had happened to the child? "Please," she cried out, "please, save me! They are after me, I am sure of it. They will not stop until I am dead!" She clutched at his arm, deceptively strong for one so small. "They are monsters! They tricked me into believing they would help me. I was orphaned and had no one. They found me and...and...it was horrible!" She dropped her eyes to the ground, her body trembling uncontrollably. "What did they do, girl? Tell me." The leader was an honorable man. He had three daughters of his own and would kill to protect them. This child had no one to avenge the vile treatment that had so obviously been inflicted on her. "I cannot speak of it to you, Sir. It is too horrible to say. It was...it was...." And before she could continue, she had collapsed onto the ground at the man's feet. The leader gently lifted her into his arms and cradled her carefully. He nodded to his men who surrounded them on their journey back to their village. Maybe the women could get her to talk. He could tell she was just too afraid to speak in front of the men. An hour later the girl awoke to the comforting feeling of furs surrounding her body. She felt cool water on her skin and forced herself to open her eyes. She saw the kindly face of a old woman hovering over her, tending to her needs. When the woman noticed she was awake, she smiled comfortingly at her and patted her hand. "There, there, my child. You will be safe here with us. But you must tell me what happened to you. So many scars!" The woman shook her head sadly as she surveyed the many signs of mistreatment on the girl's body. She must have been tormented for some time. The scars were well healed, but there were no new wounds. She must have escaped her captors weeks ago. What had she been doing since then? How did she survive in the wild lands alone? {The poor dear.} Erobos watched from a distance. What fools these humans were, too stupid to know he would use them to his advantage. They would believe the story Zosime told, of beasts who roamed the forests, who could masquerade as men, and then become giant wild cats; able to kidnap and defile the women of the surrounding villages. Humans were superstitious and easily led. Then Zosime would show them the way to the Panthers' camp. The humans far outnumbered them. They could be easily destroyed, especially with the guidance they would be given. Erobos closed his eyes and smiled as he remembered the last few days. This new wolf had far different desires than the puny wolf that used to share his soul. This wolf was wild, strong, and ready to lead his pack. He had been unexpectedly exhilarated by the screams of his little blond bitch as he'd gouged into her flesh to leave those lovely scars. It had taken much damage to her to leave marks for the humans to find. Like all werewolves, she healed quickly and quite well. He had resorted to draining her of her blood to cause her to heal more slowly. As he'd lapped at the hot liquid while it oozed from her wounds, he'd noticed the tingling he felt throughout his body. It paled in comparison to when he had taken the blood of the dire wolves, but it was wholly enjoyable. He would have to investigate this further. When he had finished with Zosime, she had taken two days to recover, and he had felt stronger than he had since returning from the Vampire's castle. In fact, his lust had been insatiable, and he'd taken another female to his cave and used her mercilessly until Zosime had recovered enough to satisfy him. Although he was but eighteen years, his face had changed, aged, taken on an evil visage that had not been there previously. Anyone who met him would think him a good deal older than he was but would rightly guess his malignant nature. Was it all the Dire Wolf's doing? Or had the evil always been a part of him? --------------------------------------------------- Nevada - Present Day Katy couldn't wait to get outside for a run. Her panther had been restless and wanted to hunt. She insisted that it was good for the cub to get fresh meat early on. Katy thought it best not to argue since the panthers seemed to instinctively know what their cubs needed. In fact, the five of them had decided to hunt as a pack today. At least, that way, their mates would let them go. Well, they'd let them run as a pack, but surrounded by Baxter Betas who would stay out of the way but within sight. Even without the new wrinkle in their lives, meaning the Sardinian Alpha, they knew their mates would be over-protective. But with this new danger, they were downright paranoid. Five panthers were a ferocious sight and deadly to boot, but instead of having a fight, or rather five fights, they decided to amicably agree and pick their battles wisely. The only one of their group that wasn't going to join them was Orsolya. Since rejoining her mate, she hated to be separated from him for a moment. They hunted together, alone. Katy and Rhys had their quarters on the third floor, and she had just made it to the second floor landing when her sensitive ears picked up the faint sound of crying. She stopped and looked in the direction of the sounds, trying to pinpoint the exact room it was coming from. She knew the people on this floor included the new arrivals from Italy, whose son was running for his life. She could certainly understand if his mother was distraught. She moved purposefully down the hall, stopping at each door to listen. She passed the Greek were's door, and the last belonged to Silvano and Carla. She stood quietly for a moment and listened. She hated to feel like she was eavesdropping, but it took her a few moments to get up the courage to knock on the door. She could hear the woman's plaintive cries. {Per favore, si prega di tenere mio figlio sicuro e portarlo di nuovo me.} Her voice broke between sobs, barely able to speak the words intelligibly. {Darò a nulla, la mia vita, niente!} Katy didn't need to understand Italian to recognize a woman pleading for her son's safe return. She didn't hear anyone else in the room with her, so moved closer to the door, and knocked softly. "Carla, Carla, it's Katy. May I speak with you?" She backed away from the door when she heard movement. The door opened slowly, the blond woman blinking back tears as she looked at the petite red-head who had called to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother anyone." She looked like she would break into tears at the slightest provocation. "Oh, Carla. Please, don't think you are bothering anyone! I can't even imagine what you're going through. I just want to know if there's anything I can do to help you." She had quietly and carefully moved closer to the woman, instinctively putting an arm around her to comfort her. Katy had developed a decidedly motherly demeanor she'd never had before. Was it a normal hormonal thing with being pregnant? Or because she was a panther and pregnant? "Thank you for your kindness. You have all been so wonderful to us, to let us stay here, help find our son." She looked closely at Katy, and whispered, "You are the mate of the Archivist, yes? Rhys is his name?" Katy smiled at the mention of her mate's name. Just the sound of it sent warmth through her. "Yes, that's right." She was so proud to be his mate. He really was a formidable were, and, as she'd been learning, very well respected by his peers. "Do you think the Council will look for my son's real family once he's here safe? The fates willing of course." She seemed on the verge of tears, her voice breaking as she said it. "To be honest, Carla, I don't know. But my guess would be yes. I haven't been a were long, but I've seen how important family is to them. So I would imagine they will look for his family." She hugged her tighter, feeling the tension in her body. She couldn't imagine being in her shoes. Her panther swished her tail impatiently. {If anyone took my cub they wouldn't live to see the next day.} Katy silently agreed with her panther, but wouldn't upset Carla by voicing it. "Carla, why don't you come with us for a hunt? I'm meeting with the other panthers. We're all pregnant and our cats have this overpowering need to chase something." Katy had a hold of her hand and was gently pulling her towards the door. "Please? It'd be good for you to get out. And good for your wolf too. I'm sure you both would like to let out your fear and frustration." Carla smiled weakly and nodded her head. "All right, if you think it's alright with your friends." {Caro, I'm going for a hunt with some of the females.} Silvano sent her his love and support and agreed that her wolf would appreciate getting out. And he appreciated Katy looking out for her while he was busy with the Alpha. Silvano turned to Rhys and leaned in close. "Your mate is wonderful. Thank you!" Rhys beamed. He agreed whole-heartedly. "She is quite amazing. I think hunting with Katy and her sister-panthers will be wonderful for your mate." Katy held Carla by the arm as they made their way to the meeting spot. Carla noticed the Betas lining the way and couldn't help but stare. Katy observed her fixed gaze on a few of the males. "Carla, is something wrong?" "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Are there two packs here?" Katy was surprised at how astute she was. "As a matter of fact, yes. How did you know?" "They have different looks. The one group is more fair complected, the others a little darker, and look like one family. Their scents are similar as well." Katy cocked her head. She'd never thought about it before. She scented the air, trying to find each male individually. The Baxter Betas did not have similar scents at all. And as she pondered it, she realized that most of the Baxter Betas were not closely related. But the Kardos brothers and their cousins who made up the bulk of the new pack did have remarkably similar scents. {Hmm, something to talk to Rhys about. I wonder if I could recognize one of Rhys' relatives by scent?} --------------------------------------- San Francisco Airport, California Drago and Kelly stood in the aisle, waiting to get off the plane with the other hundreds of passengers. "Do you think they're waiting for us?" Kelly whispered over her shoulder. As noisy as this plane was, she had a feeling Drago wouldn't have any trouble hearing her. His hearing was incredible. "Yes, I'm sure they're waiting. The question will be if they notice us." He winked at her as he pulled his cap down over his eyes. Luckily for them, when they'd ducked into the shop that sold wigs they'd had quite an assortment from which to choose. They wouldn't fit the descriptions of the couple that got on the plane. No more long blond hair. Now she had spikey red hair and he had a black pony tail. Drago knew that most of the lackeys Erobos had in the U.S. were lazy and were here because they wanted a soft job. And up until now, it had been. But not if he had any say. He'd make them work for it if they tried to take them. He wasn't going down without one hell of a fight! Kelly started sneezing as the cologne reached her nose. She really didn't understand why he thought he needed to wear it. Was he known for hating those kinds of things, or what? But he insisted. She stuck close to him as they inched their way out of the plane. At least they didn't have to go to the baggage claim; all they had were carry-ons. Drago took hold of Kelly's hand and ducked over to the wall, moving quickly past the conspicuous male scanning the crowd. Drago smiled as they zig-zagged through the slowpokes ahead of them. Maybe they'd be lucky and not run into any real Betas. Once they managed to make it out of the terminal Drago flagged down a cab, and they settled themselves into the back. "Take us to any off-site car rental place. I don't care which one." "Why don't we just rent a car here?" Kelly couldn't figure out why they'd have to go elsewhere. "I'm sure they have someone posted at the car rental area. They may be out of practice, but they aren't stupid." Drago flashed her one of his grins and pulled out the ever-present iPad and started looking at maps. "Did you see anyone looking for us?" "Uh huh." Drago flipped between pages, looking at travel times and routes. "How could you tell?" She glanced at him, amazed at how he could be so calm if there were some of "The Boss'" men at the airport. "I can tell, Kelly. There were several. They just haven't had to track anyone for a while. They're soft." "Are we going to stop and get a phone so you can call your father?" "Nope." Drago didn't look at her, just kept up his Internet searches. "Well how come? Wouldn't it help to call him and tell him where you are?" What the hell? Why wouldn't he want to call his dad now that they were at least in the same country? "Because now they have my father's number. And they'll use it to track us. So I'm not going to call him again. He'll know why." "Oh." Well, now she felt like a fool. Of course they'd track the number. {Sometimes, I'm an idiot.} He turned to look at her. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be an ass, Kelly. This isn't exactly up your alley, is it? By the way, since I've never asked, what is it that you do for a living?" He smiled gently at her. He really didn't mean to act like a jerk. He was still learning how to act around a female, his mate, and he hoped he didn't upset her too much. "Don't worry, you aren't an ass. I'm just kind of dense at times. Didn't even dawn on me. But you're right, this isn't my forte. I'm a Veterinary Nurse. In fact, I'd taken a job in Rome with an orthopedic surgeon, but never made it to my first day. So I guess my reputation is shot now." She slumped into the back of the cab, a dejected look on her face. She smiled when she felt his hand close on hers. Maybe she'd found something better than a job anyway. She looked up into his gorgeous face and couldn't help but blush. ------------------------------------ Kelly settled herself into the rental car and worked on finding a good radio station. She watched Drago as he laughed about something with the rental attendant. If she had to be running for her life, she was glad it was with him. She smiled at him as he got in the car. They drove out of the lot and after a few miles he pulled over, got out, opened the trunk, fiddled around a few minutes, slammed the trunk, and got back into the driver's seat. "What was that?" "Disconnected the GPS. They'll be at the rental place soon and have a description of the car, but at least they won't be able to find us without some work." He stared straight ahead and found the route to highway 101. "I"d exchange plates with another car, but that might get us into hot water with the cops." He turned towards his companion and grinned. "Wouldn't want that now, would we?" She ignored his play at humor. "Where are we going?" "Elko, Nevada. Here." He handed her the iPad. "You get to be the navigator. I plotted out our route. It's kind of roundabout, but we can't make a straight trip." "Well they can't possibly know where we're going." "They know exactly where we're going, Kelly. Once we're within about a hundred miles we can get some help, but if they find us before that, we're screwed." "Why? What happens at one hundred miles?" She watched his profile as he stared at the road. "Drago, what happens at one hundred miles?" He still didn't answer her. She could see his jaw clenching. "I'll explain later. I promise. Then you'll understand everything. Please, Kelly, just be patient with me. It'll make sense later." He turned his head and looked straight at her. "Please?" She trusted him with her life so what was a little patience. "Okay, okay. I'll stop asking." "Close your eyes, Kelly. Think of the most beautiful place you've ever been, then put me there with you. And that will be our future." She stared at him for a minute. How could he think of the future when they didn't know if they even had one together? Whoever was chasing them wanted him dead. And her? She shivered. She still didn't know what "The Boss" wanted her for. And she couldn't imagine her life without Drago in it. "Do you like dogs and cats, Drago? We have to have lots of dogs and cats." Drago's head fell back as he started laughing. "I love dogs, Kelly. We can have all you want. But cats? I don't know." He shook his head. Little did she know. "Now go to sleep. You didn't sleep at all on the flight. You've got to be exhausted." She smiled and closed her eyes and realized just how tired she was. She'd kind of forgotten she hadn't slept in almost two days. Amazing what adrenaline could do. But now, she could barely think. Her eyelids were like lead. She heard the constant hum of the engine, the music drifting around her. Drago glanced at the woman next to him, his woman, his mate. He heard her soft, steady breathing and was comforted by the fact she didn't know what was happening. Maybe he'd be able to make contact with his father in time to get the help he knew they'd need. He wondered when they'd make their move. How far from the Baxter Pack lands? Kelly turned to her side and woke up with a start when her face hit the window. She jumped up and heard Drago laughing at her. "Thanks for the moral support!" She finally got herself settled and moved the seat upright and looked at the terrain, which was much different than the coast they'd been passing when she'd fallen asleep. "Where are we?" She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times. Green mountains surrounded them. {I thought we were heading to the desert?} "We're a couple hundred miles from Elko." He looked over at her and saw her gawking out the window at the landscape. "I've been reading up on Nevada. It isn't all dry desert. There are plenty of mountains, forests, wild animals." He smirked at her frightened look. "I've read there's great hunting in Nevada." She turned to him, surprised. "Do you hunt, Drago?" He licked his lips, his wolf ready to answer for them. "I love to hunt, Kelly. But right now, we're the prey. And the hunters are coming after us!" The light mood darkened at his description. She'd almost forgotten. It had been so peaceful and beautiful here. The miles seemed to fly by as they drove in silence. Drago seemed to be concentrating hard on something. That left Kelly time to think about what they'd been through in the last week. She felt like she'd lived a lifetime. The more she thought about it, the more she thought he was right, they were Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor. And "The Boss" was the Terminator coming after them. She stole a glance at him, trying not to be noticed. Kyle and Sarah never had a chance at happiness. She didn't want that to be them. {Papà, mi senti?} Drago had been trying for the last hundred miles, hoping their bond would be strong enough to feel each other from as far away as possible. He knew the bonds he had with his adopted parents weren't as strong as a normal family bond, but strong nonetheless. Out of Darkness Ch. 07 ------------------------------------------- Silvano sat slumped in his chair. Since realizing Drago didn't have the phone anymore, he knew the only chance was if his son contacted him through their bond. That meant he would bring his mate to America. He had hoped to have them brought here with the pack's plane, like they had been, safely. But now that wouldn't happen. He tried to block out the discussions around him. Something about spies in every town along the highways that led here. {Papà, mi senti? } Silvano almost fell off the chair. His son! {Drago, figlio mio, sei sicuro?} He sat quietly. He wasn't going to say anything until he knew Drago was alright. {Sì, papà, siamo al sicuro, per ora. Siamo a circa due ore da Elko.} Silvano smiled for the first time since he had heard his son was running for his life. He felt Carla's elation through their bond. Their son was safe, for the moment. "Alistair, Drago is a few hours from here. They are coming." Alistair spun around to find Carr. "What do you think, Carr? This is your territory. Where is the safest place to meet?" "Battle Mountain, seventy miles west of here. We can be there in an hour. Tell them to meet us there." Carr spread the word to his Betas, they were leaving in five minutes, and every able body was going. They'd leave Guillame and his Betas here to watch the compound. Xylon would be the only Council Member to accompany them, along with Silvano. Cole and Brett quickly assessed the best route to take. Erobos still had his spies out front watching the main entrance. The Baxter Betas had been slowly amassing information about the other operatives in the surrounding areas. They hoped they had them all accounted for. ---------------------------------------- Drago had been watching the car following them for the last ten miles. His wolf circled, he knew he would have to protect his mate. But how would he do it without her knowing what he was? "Kelly, we're being followed. We're a half hour from help, and I don't think we're going to make it there. No matter what happens, I love you, Kelly." His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. He looked up and saw the second car fall into line. This was it. They were going to make a move soon. He had to make one first. "Drago, how did they find us?" She turned around and saw the cars gaining on them. "They're catching up to us!" Drago heard the panic in her voice. He scanned the horizon, looking for something that could give him an advantage. He put his foot on the gas and hoped this car could keep it up long enough. "When the time comes, do exactly what I tell you, exactly!" He turned for just a moment to look at her, so she could see he was serious. "Exactly, Kelly, no questions." Kelly was ready to throw up. She was light-headed and things around her seemed to be moving so slowly. This wasn't real. Everything had gone so well up until now. She nodded her head, trying to fathom what was going to happen. They were in the middle of nowhere. They hadn't even seen a car coming the opposite direction in at least an hour. They were alone! Drago saw two cars ahead of them, coming towards them in their lane. "Hold on!" He yelled and turned the wheel sharply, sending them into the rocks and dirt. He floored it and hoped the car could hold up to the 4-wheeling long enough for them to get away. Kelly gripped the door handle, praying they would be able to get away from their assailants and stay in one piece. The car pulled hard to the right when the tire blew out. Drago managed to skid to a halt. He looked behind and didn't see them yet. He'd gotten a little bit of a lead on them. He still had the cologne with him and pulled it out of his pocket. He grabbed Kelly's hand and pushed the bottle into her palm, closing her fingers around it. "Douse yourself with this. Now!" "What? Are you crazy? We're going to die and you want me to smell good?" He'd lost it completely. "Kelly, no questions, remember? Put it on. Someday I hope you'll understand. Just do it!" He watched as she shook her head, mumbling to herself, and started dabbing the cologne behind her ears and at her wrists. "I said douse yourself!" She pursed her lips and opened the lid all the way, poured it into her hands, rubbing it into her hands and face and neck. "There! Happy?" "Yes!" He grabbed her hand and pulled hard towards the hillside. There was an abandoned mine here. Now how could he use that to his advantage? He sniffed the air and didn't smell her usual scent. Good. He couldn't smell human scent at all. Even better. Now, to find a place for her to hide. He scanned the surrounding area, noting every rock and tree. They rounded the base of the hill, and there he saw a cluster of buildings, left over from the days the mine was open. He looked at each building and picked the one he thought they had used to store the mined silver ore. He dragged Kelly along with him and found what he'd been looking for. He turned around and pulled Kelly close to him, looking down into her terrified face. They were both breathing hard. His wolf was agitated. The cologne masked her scent, and he didn't like that. {There are more important things right now, like keeping her alive!} His hand stroked her face as he listened for the cars that were still far enough away. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he couldn't find the words. He bent down and held her face gently as his lips met hers. He closed his eyes and felt his heart pounding in his chest, and heard hers, just as loud as his. And again, he felt that jolt of electricity between them. He could hear the cars getting closer and forced himself to back away from her. He held her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. "This is it, Kelly. You're going to wait in this room. No matter what you hear, don't come out! Only if I come to get you, or my father. Do you understand? Don't trust anyone else, okay?" Kelly just nodded, not able to say a word. He left her with her suitcase, the iPad, some bottles of water, and set her down to wait. "When I leave, lock the door. No one will be able to break this down. Hopefully, they won't have a chance to look for you, but if they do, don't make a sound! And remember, I love you!" He pulled her close and kissed her again, harder this time. "No matter what you hear, Kelly." All she could manage was a nod. She was numb. What was going to happen? There were at least four of them and only one Drago. What was he going to do? She watched him, unable to move as he left the room and shut the door. "Lock it!" She heard his voice and jumped, rushing to slide the bolt. She held her hand up and placed her palm on the door. She almost felt like she could feel his presence through the door. She was losing it. What would she do if he didn't come back? She stood for a moment, frozen, her palm stuck to the thick door. She could hear the engines of the approaching cars. She backed into a corner, leaned against the suitcase, and picked up the iPad. She started to go through the Internet history. He'd been researching this whole area, every route on the way to Elko. He'd known this was here! The engines outside had shut off, and now there wasn't a sound except her own breathing and her heart pounding. How would she wait here? How could she? Drago breathed deeply, trying to pull himself together. This was it. He had to protect his mate. He was her only hope until his father arrived with help, and they were close to an hour away. He had to hope he could hold them off that long. He stripped and piled his clothes into a corner. He sat on the ground and closed his eyes, seeing his wolf face to face. (It's all up to you now. You can't fail.} His wolf snorted at him. Like that would happen. The black wolf watched from behind one of the buildings while the cars drove up and Erobos' betas piled out. There were eight of them, and they looked as fit as Drago. He watched as they scented the air. He knew they'd smell him, but hoped they would bypass that cologne smell. He could tell when they'd caught his scent and watched as they shifted, the eight wolves of varying sizes and colors making their way around the buildings towards his position. Drago began the climb up the mountain. He hoped the research he'd done would pay off. He assumed that they weren't familiar with the area at all. And he had some tricks up his sleeve. They spotted him when he reached the top of the first rise. He looked down and howled his challenge. The pack took off running full speed. One of the wolves, in the middle of the pack, didn't watch where he was going and fell through the covered hole of a mine shaft. The other seven were startled by his frightened howl before he hit the bottom and was silent. {One down.} Drago cut back and moved slowly behind them as they followed his trail. There was a straggler who had lost ground and was falling farther and farther behind. Drago shocked the lone wolf when he dropped on him from above. Before the wolf could make a sound, Drago had savagely ripped out his throat. He left his body where it fell and loped off in the opposite direction of the rest of the pack. Let them find him later. {Number two.} The pack circled and regrouped at the bottom of the hill. That's when they found their fallen cohort. The six wolves howled loudly. They would find this cub and rip him limb from limb. But now they wouldn't split up. They would move as a unit. If he thought he was going to take them out one by one, he was mistaken. Kelly was spooked by the howling of the wolves outside. There was a pack out there. {Oh please be okay, Drago.} She rocked back and forth, beginning to cry. Drago was out there alone against those goons and now there was also a pack of wolves. How could he ever last until his father got here? She closed her eyes and prayed for the first time since she was a child. {Please keep him safe.} Drago thought he had them running in circles, but was himself surprised when they doubled back and cornered him against the mountain. The lone wolf tried to calm himself and think clearly as his sides heaved, pulling in as much air as possible. He bared his teeth against his six foes. This would be a fight to a death, and he couldn't lose. He watched as the leader of the pack shifted in front of him. The tall, muscular male stood in front of his companions. He stared into the eyes of the black wolf. "C'mon, Drago. You know you can't win." He smirked when he heard the growls coming from the wolf. "Do you really think you can take all six of us? At once? The Boss told us we could play with the female after we killed you. We just aren't allowed to turn her or kill her. That leaves us with a lot of options." He loved pissing off this stupid cub. Who did he think he was? Drago was infuriated. But he knew what his adversary was doing, trying to make him so mad that he'd make mistakes. Well, he didn't intend to make any. He believed he would succeed and get Kelly to the Baxter Pack where she'd be safe. He stood his ground and snarled, the saliva dripping from his mouth. "I'll make you a deal, Drago. If you show us where the female is, I won't show her your bloody corpse before we fuck her." He laughed when the wolf barked at him, and then growled even more menacingly. "Fair enough then. Just know that before we take her, we're going to show her what we did to you, every bloody piece of you that's left. And she'll know you could have saved her from that." He turned towards his pack and stopped, frozen in place. The male scented the air and turned to face Drago as a smile spread across his face. "Oh, tricky. You masked her scent didn't you? Well now we know, follow the cologne." He had a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I have an idea, why don't we let you live long enough for you to watch us fucking your precious mate? Bet she'll like wolf cock!" He shifted, and the pack turned and ran towards the buildings. {No!} Drago ran after them as they made a bee-line for Kelly. {Papa, hurry!} Drago entered the building behind them and saw the wolves hurtling themselves at the solid door that protected Kelly. It didn't budge. Drago had never felt so much rage in his life. This was his mate he was protecting! They heard his furious snarls and turned to face him. No more talking now. This was it. Kelly flattened herself into a corner of the room when she heard the snarling outside the door and something hitting the door, over and over. She trembled as she prayed for Drago to come back and save her. {I love you, Drago! Please come back to me.} She jumped when she heard the sounds of the wolves fighting outside the door. How long would they stay out there? Would Drago be able to get back in? Drago waited for the first to make their move. If he jumped into the pack they'd tear him apart. He'd be better off to wait for them to attack. There wasn't much room here so it'd be hard for all of them to come after him at once. That was to his advantage. A sable wolf saw what he thought was Drago's weakness and came in low to pull his legs out, but the black wolf saw him coming and grabbed him over the top of the neck. The sable screamed in pain and pulled away, feeling the muscles ripped apart. His head fell, unable to hold up without excruciating pain. He backed off into a corner. Two brown wolves came at Drago from either side, one managing to take hold of his shoulder. Drago yelped and turned his head and got a grip on the offending animal's ear and grabbed hold, biting it through and ripping it from the wolf's head. The wolf screamed, releasing Drago long enough for him to strike at the other attacker, making contact with its head, his mouth closing over it, one tooth puncturing the wolf's eye. The brown wolf made a horrifying sound as it shrieked in pain. But Drago was distracted and the lead wolf made his move, clamping his jaws around Drago's back. Drago howled, letting go of his victim and turned to dislodge the latest offender. Drago felt another set of teeth closing around his front leg as he tore at the wolf still holding his back. He could hear the sickening crack as the bones broke. Kelly held her hands over her ears, trying to drown out the sounds of the wolves, the howls of pain. {No, no, no! He's out there somewhere, I know it! He's coming back to me!} She couldn't stand hearing the ongoing battle outside the door. It seemed to last forever. She curled herself up into a ball, her eyes scrunched closed. She hummed to herself to help drown out the dreadful sounds coming from the other side of the door. After what seemed like forever, it was quiet. She laid there for several minutes waiting for some sound, but there was nothing. She took her hands away from her ears and still didn't hear a thing. Her eyes slowly opened, and she saw a pool of blood seeping under the door. Her heart pounded in her chest. She heard her breathing like it was a roar in her head. There wasn't a sound from the other side of the door. She approached it slowly, walking carefully around the spreading blood running across the floor. She put her ear to the door but heard nothing. For a moment, just a moment though, she thought she heard some movement. Her voice shook. "Drago, Drago, are you there?" She waited for what seemed like an eternity but knew it was only a few seconds. "Drago, please, please come back." She hit the door with her fist in frustration and turned her back to it, sliding down slowly to the floor. What was she going to do? She couldn't stay in here forever. How long should she wait? Maybe Drago needed help! What if he was hurt? What if he needed her? No, he'd said to wait for him or his father. She had to trust him, had to do what he'd told her. She'd promised! Out of Darkness Ch. 08 Once again, a huge thank you to my editor, Archangel_M, for his assistance and friendship. Please continue to comment and vote. Because of my formatting issues, { } denotes italicized text. --------------------------------------------- Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. The massive black panther traveled with his Betas through the forests. It had been six days since Erobos had made his demand to take his daughter as his mate. Erobos had given him one week to change his mind and allow the match. But that would not happen! The panthers made good time to the caves of the werewolves. They stopped at the perimeter, waiting to be greeted by the sentries. Leander recognized Acacio, who had been the second of the previous Alpha. Leander couldn't imagine what would lead the werewolves to accept Erobos as their Alpha, other than fear. Acacio was gaunt and didn't look well at all. Leander shifted and waited for the wolf to do the same. Acacio shifted and held up his hand in greeting to the leader of the panthers. "Leander, I welcome you." What else was there to say? He wanted to say "help me destroy my Alpha." But to say it would be to watch his daughter die. But was the life she was leading any better? He hadn't seen Zosime in three days. She had sent him messages through their bond saying she was well, but he didn't believe her. What had Erobos done to her? "Is your Alpha present? I have an answer to his ultimatum." Leander knew he might not live to return to his pack. The cubs and pregnant females, along with their mates, had been sent away the day after Erobos had made clear his intentions. Leander would take no chances with their lives. The others had been given the choice of fleeing the island or staying and, most likely, dying. They had chosen to stay. This was their home. Acacio felt so much older than his three hundred years. As much as he despised his Alpha, he had sworn allegiance and had bonded with Erobos and was bound to follow his orders, no matter what. He shuddered when he thought of what he would be ordered to do today. {Alpha, the panthers are here.} Leander watched the Beta carefully and could see his reluctance to communicate with Erobos. He took the moment to speak with his Betas. {We will die this day. Say your farewells to your mates now.} The panthers moved restlessly, giving their last thoughts to their mates, and readying themselves to fight. They looked up as a flock of birds flew from the nearby trees. What had startled them? Erobos strode forward, followed by his Betas. The wolves far outnumbered the panthers. Erobos assumed that Leander was here to give his consent to the mating. If so, he would tell Zosime to lead the humans to the wrong location. They would think the monsters had moved on or the girl was daft. Erobos glanced around the gathered panthers, but no Leona. Perhaps her father wished them to have a formal mating ceremony. That would be expected of an Alpha in any case. He turned his attention to the old werepanther. "So, Leander, have you brought my mate to me?" "You have no mate, Erobos. You will never see Leona again." Leander clenched his teeth, attempting to hide his apprehension. "Then the werepanthers will be wiped from this island for eternity. And remember, you could have stopped this, Leander. You could have saved your people. But you are weak. And the weak must die!" Erobos shifted into the massive monster Leander had seen before. He was stronger than he'd been even one short week before when he'd killed his father. He roared his challenge at the smaller Panther, who stood his ground. The two animals launched themselves at each other, crashing together and rolling on the ground, saliva and blood spraying around them. The Betas waiting to see who would win could only see brief flashes of teeth and spurts of blood. But whose was it? The Alphas parted and attacked over and over. The panther tried to ignore the pain as the long teeth of the Dire Wolf tore at his flesh. He knew he was dead already. But he wouldn't give up. He would fight to his last breath. He felt the jaws close on his back, severing his spinal cord. His rear legs went numb and flaccid. This was it. It would be over soon. The black wolf stood over his foe, paralyzed and bleeding profusely, but still alive. He looked over his shoulder at his Betas. {Kill the panthers, now!} Erobos watched as the wolves surrounded the outnumbered panthers and took them down, one by one. The Dire Wolf smiled to himself as he looked down at the panther, his sleek, black fur streaked with blood. He shifted and stood above him as a man. "You have lost, Leander, and I will still find Leona and take her as my mate." He laughed out loud and morphed back into the gigantic beast who leaned down, ripped out the throat of his vanquished foe, and drained the blood from his broken body. He felt the warm tingling again through every inch of his body, to the tip of his tail. When he'd finished, he lifted his head to the sky and howled at the rising moon. He walked away from the dead panther, reveling in his growing strength. But it still paled in comparison to what he felt when he drank the blood of the Dire Wolves. He would seek them out! --------------------------------------- Sardinia, Italy - Present Day Seraphina sat on the corner of the Boss' desk, her legs crossed. She leaned across the desk, letting her head lie back, her long blond hair falling to the side, revealing the healing wounds where he had torn open her neck the day before. "Are you going alone?" She spoke in her most alluring tone. Erobos glanced up at her, licking his lips as he saw the damage he had done to her pretty flesh. "You will not be going, Seraphina. I don't need the distraction. I have many operatives in America to assist me. You will stay here and take care of the pack while I am gone." He smirked as she pouted. "Now, who else could I trust to take care of the affairs of the pack, hmm? I'm sure you will find a Beta or two to keep you occupied while I'm gone. But don't hurt them. A good Beta is hard to replace." She laughed and sat up, arranging her hair to cover the wounds on her neck. She stiffened when his hand shot out and moved her hair behind her ears. "I prefer you show everyone. You should be proud to carry my marks." He stroked his fingers from her ear to her collarbone. "Such a delicate neck, so easy to break. Remember to whom you belong, Seraphina. Always remember." She breathed deeply, her eyes down, her body shaking uncontrollably. "I belong to you, Boss." She swallowed hard, shivering as his fingers trailed over her sensitive skin, lingering near the healing wound. She tensed as his nails tore the wound open again. She felt his fingers enter the gaping hole and watched as he took out one bloody finger at a time and sucked it clean. "Mmmm, wonderful, as always." He smiled at her and turned his back to take a phone call. She had been dismissed. She watched his back for a moment before hopping down and leaving the office. As always, she walked with carefully measured steps. The Boss didn't like anyone to run away from him. She pulled some hairpins out of her pocket and arranged her hair to leave the bites in full view. She gently closed the office door and went about her daily business. Erobos leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and smiled as he heard the click-clack of her heels on the floor. His tongue savored the taste of her blood, but still only werewolf blood. It had been so many years since he'd tasted the blood of the Dire Wolf. He had hoped to again soon, but Gary had screwed it up by pissing off the Baxter Pack. Well, now he had three reasons to go to America, to retrieve the stolen information from Gary's lab, and to kill that pup, Drago, and retrieve the female. Maybe all of his plans wouldn't be ruined. ------------------------------------- Nevada - Present Day Silvano's face was pale as the cars sped down the freeway towards the old mine. He balled his hands into fists, his knuckles white, trying to control the emotions that warred in his soul. His wolf wanted only to kill the first Sardinian werewolf he saw. But he wanted to hold his son first before he died. They had to get there in time! He had been worried about police pulling them over until he saw the police cars surrounding them, like they were giving them an escort to their destination. {Papa, hurry! Kelly needs your help!} Drago's message through their bond was so weak, even though he was closer every moment. Silvano knew his son was hurt and in terrible pain, but his first concern was for his mate, as it should be. Silvano leaned forward, grabbing the seat in front of him so he could see out the front. All he saw was the long, empty roadway. "Are we close? He won't last much longer." His voice broke. Carr spun around in his seat. "We're almost there, Silvano. We'll do our best to get there in time!" If Carr could have willed the SUV to go any faster he would, but Cole already had his foot to the floor. They'd made good time, but would it be good enough? "Has he told you if there are any of them left alive?" "He doesn't think so." Silvano sat back, concentrating on his son. {Stay with me, Drago. Keep talking to me. We are close!} {No matter what, papa, keep Kelly safe. The Boss wants her back. He'd do anything to get her back. Even if I'm dead, you have to promise me you'll protect her. Promise me!} {I promise, my son. We will care for her like our own daughter.} As he sent reassurance to his son, his own tears ran down his face. Xylon sat next to his friend, wishing he could help, but there wasn't a thing he could do. "We're here! Cole, drive around to the left. I think the buildings are over behind there." Carr pointed towards the hillside. The car skidded around on the loose dirt and came to a stop near the group of abandoned shacks. It was easy to pick out the sturdy one Drago had hidden Kelly in. The SUVs pulled in, one after the other, and the Betas piled out, taking up positions on the perimeter. They circled the buildings, not allowing any direction to be unguarded. The on-duty Betas, in their uniforms and Police cars , closed off the road that led to the mine. There would be neither unsuspecting tourists nor any more of the Sardinian Alpha's operatives wandering in. Logan and Jeff jumped out of the biggest SUV, the one they'd made into an ambulance. They had it equipped with everything the pack could need in a medical emergency. They had the sinking feeling that they would need it today. They arranged their supplies and waited to be summoned to either treat the wounded or tend to the dead. Xylon and Silvano waited with the vehicles. Carr and his Betas would scout it out first, and call them in when they knew it was safe. Xylon watched the Betas, all trained Police Officers, surround the building. He could see where their specialized training made them even more adept at an operation like this than most pack Betas. Their coordinated approach was precise and efficient, allowing them to clear the area quickly and be confident they were not being watched. He saw Carr, Cole, and a few others disappear into the building. Xylon held a restraining hand on Silvano's arm as they waited. Silvano allowed himself to wait, but only because he knew Drago still lived. But at any time, if he thought Drago was drifting away from him, no one would be able to hold him back! ------------------------------------- "Drago, please come back." Kelly was barely able to whisper his name through her sobs. It had been almost an hour since he'd left her here alone. She hadn't heard anything except for the wolves. And even they had been silent the last half hour, except for the whimpering she'd heard every now and then. She guessed at least one was alive. She felt bad for it. After all, they lived by instinct. It couldn't help being what it was. It was normal for it to fight for its food. She shivered. Was she the food they'd been fighting over? She breathed deeply, trying to calm down. Drago was coming back for her, she was sure of it! He'd promised, and he'd said he'd never lie to her. But he was out-numbered. How could he possibly have killed them all? He didn't even have a weapon. Did he? The sound of cars outside surprised her and she jumped up and flattened herself to the back wall. {Oh, God, was it more of them? They'd called in reinforcements? Drago, where are you? Don't leave me here alone!} She could hear the faint sounds of doors slamming and male voices yelling. They were getting closer. She curled up in a ball, holding herself tightly, wishing it was Drago, wishing he was here with her. {Please, please, please.} It sounded like there were dozens of them! She heard the sounds of muffled voices and footsteps closer, just outside the door she was hiding behind. {This can't be happening. Drago, no!} She covered her mouth as she tried to keep from screaming for him. But she knew he wasn't nearby. If he was, he would have had her open the door. He would have had her in his arms. ----------------------------------- Carr stood in the middle of the room, a shocked look on his face. He turned slowly, unable to believe anyone could have lived through this. {Holy hell! It looks like a massacre in here. Jeff, Logan, you'd better get in here fast. There are a few still alive, but barely. Bring Silvano so he can ID Drago for us.} He glanced up at the blood-soaked walls. There was even blood on the ceiling. Arterial spray? Seven wolves lay strewn around the room. He walked carefully through the gore as the two pack doctors came in with a white-faced Silvano, who quickly scanned the room and let out an audible gasp as he spotted his son. He ran to the badly injured black wolf, kneeling at his side. Jeff and Logan followed with their medical bags and set them down nearby. They quickly began assessing the black wolf's vital signs while the distraught father gently stroked the bloody fur on his beloved son's head. {Papa, you're here. Don't let her see me!} Silvano tried not to show his shock at his son's condition. {No, Drago, I promise, I won't bring her out until they've moved you.} Silvano had to control himself. He couldn't let the fear show on his face. He couldn't let his son feel the fear through their bond. He stared directly into his son's dark eyes and smiled. He had to move a little farther away to let the doctors in to work, but he maintained his eye contact. He wouldn't let his son be alone through this. Jeff could barely hear his heartbeat, it was so faint. His blood pressure was so low it didn't register on the Doppler. He was amazed he was still conscious. "Steve, get the stretcher!" He looked up at Logan, his face saying more than words. They both knew they needed a miracle. There was so much blood loss. It was hard to assess since there was blood from seven different wolves spilled in the room, but from the look of his wounds, they knew. They weren't even bleeding anymore. Both doctors worked silently, each bandaging different torn and broken limbs. They needed to find a vein for an IV catheter. They weren't going to be able to do it in this dark room. Steve ran back in with the stretcher and the doctors moved fast, taking him to their makeshift ambulance. They clipped an area on his neck and swore when they saw the torn flesh and vessels. They gently rolled him to the other side and were frustrated by identical wounds. "I'll check for a Femoral vein. Maybe there's enough intact to hit it!" Logan gently moved the top leg, which was broken, and clipped the area and smiled. "Got it!" He quickly taped in the catheter, started some IV fluids at full bore, and bandaged the wolf's torn throat. He looked down at the barely conscious were and smiled. "Hi Drago. We're going to take care of you." He could see the recognition in his pain-ridden eyes. Being newly mated himself, he had an idea of what Drago was thinking right now. He leaned down close to his ears. "As soon as we get those wolves out of there, your father will get her out." Drago closed his eyes in response. Logan imagined it was relief? "I'm going to give you some pain medication, Drago. You'll probably fall asleep, okay?" Logan wasn't expecting the reaction that came from his patient. The wolf began snarling and trying to snap at him. Logan jumped back out of the way just in time to avoid the still sharp teeth. Silvano ran forward and leaned down close to his son so calm him. He knew he couldn't afford to use any more energy than necessary. Silvano kept his hand on his son as he stood up and looked for the Doctor. "Please, he wants nothing until he knows his mate is safe." The proud father smiled lovingly at his son and stroked his fur. Drago knew his duty well. Logan understood that and nodded, but he hoped they could get her out of there quickly then. Drago didn't have much time. Jeff spoke quietly, "You're out of here, Logan. I'll assess the others and see if we can save any of them. I know Carr and the Council are going to want answers." Jeff looked down at their primary patient. "Drago, you're in good hands. Trust us. We're going to help you." He smiled warmly at the critically wounded wolf. Jeff nodded to James, who was the best driver they had. The patrol cars would give them an escort so they could get him to the hospital as quickly as possible. They'd need to pull out every trick they had on this one. Logan had already sent instructions to Trina, his mate and Jeff's head nurse. She'd have the staff and facility ready for them. And the first thing they'd need was blood. Lots and lots of blood. The Betas surveying the area found the bodies of the two wolves who hadn't lived long enough to join the assault on Drago. Jeff found two wolves still alive with a chance of recovery inside the building. They were put into an SUV for the hundred-mile drive back to the compound. The dead wolves were piled into one of the trucks and taken to a mine shaft, where they were unceremoniously dumped. They shoveled dirt and gravel into the shaft, covering them with several feet. No one would find the bodies. Carr stood at the doorway, his hands on his hips. "Cole, we can't take that woman out of there through this mess. We've got to get it somewhat cleaned up. I don't know what state of mind she's in, what she's seen, or what she knows so far. But I don't want her walking through a swamp of blood and guts." Cole nodded. It was pretty disgusting in there. And the metallic smell of blood was thick in the air. "Do you still have those bags of sand in the truck?" Carr liked that his brother was always thinking ahead. That's what made a good second in command. Cole always put a couple bags of sand in the back of every truck and SUV during the winter in case of ice. "Yup, we'll get 'em right now." He turned on his heel and started running towards the vehicles. "Hey, Bryant, Brett, gimme a hand with those sand bags." A few other Betas joined in and in minutes they'd emptied the bags and spread the sand on the floor. The smell from the blood wasn't quite as bad. Of course, a human's sense of smell wouldn't be as sensitive as theirs. Xylon handed Silvano a wet towel. If he was going to meet his son's human mate, it would help if he wasn't covered in his son's blood. His friend smiled at him gratefully as he took the towel. Silvano painstakingly wiped the blood from his hands. He looked down and saw the blood all over his pants and shirt. She was scared enough as it was, he didn't want her to faint at the sight of him. Silvano felt someone tapping him on the shoulder and turned to see Xylon with a fresh shirt and pants. There were always extra clothes stored in the vehicles; a were never knew when he'd unexpectedly shift and destroy the clothing he'd been wearing. Out of Darkness Ch. 08 Xylon knew his friend was going to need his help. Silvano's son could be dying, but he couldn't be with him. He'd made a promise. So Xylon took it upon himself to give him as much back-up as possible. ----------------------------------- How long had it been since she'd heard the cars drive up? But no one had tried to break down the door. Were they biding their time? What were they waiting for? She'd be better off dead than going back to "The Boss". She went through her bag, looking for anything she could use. Maybe she could slit her wrists. But there was nothing here, nothing! She sat there in the corner of the room, crying softly to herself. "Oh, Drago. You must be dead or you would have come back." She whispered it to herself. "I love you, Drago." The soft knock on the door made her jump to her feet. "Kelly, he loves you too." Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped in surprise. Whoever was out there had heard her! "Kelly, I'm Drago's father, Silvano. He's on his way to the hospital, but he wouldn't let me go with him. He wanted to be sure I would take care of you. Will you unlock the door?" Was this a trick? She could hear his Italian accent, so like the others "The Boss" employed. But Drago had said she could open the door for his father. But they could have assumed that and be pretending. She walked hesitantly to the door, putting her ear to it, not hearing much but a little movement. "How do I know you're really Drago's father and not one of the men sent to take me back?" Her voice was shaking. "Drago said you were smart. He told you to open the door only for him or his father. Would they know that?" Kelly waited for a second. What could prove it to her? "What is Drago's favorite movie?" Silvano thought of all those years, and that damned movie, over and over, and smiled. "Terminator." He backed up as he heard the bolt sliding back on the door. The heavy door opened slowly. Silvano caught a glimpse of long black hair before she came into view. He took a deep breath. It was important not to upset her any more than she was already. He tried to smile even as he felt his son's growing pain. But he had to be able to tell him she was alright, and soon! Kelly's heart was pounding. She stood in the open doorway and saw Drago's father for the first time. He looked exactly the same as he did in the picture she'd seen, tall, muscular, blond hair, handsome face. She moved her feet towards him, but they felt like lead. Drago wasn't with him. She knew she was going to hear bad news. She burst into tears and fell forward into his arms. Silvano held her tightly. She was his to protect until Drago could take over. He took that very seriously. He stroked her hair and whispered to her, "Shhh, Kelly, you're going to be alright. Everything will be alright." Her whole body shook as she sobbed and within seconds she had collapsed into his arms. He picked her up easily and held her against his chest. She looked up at him and saw a kind man through blurry eyes. "Drago, is he..." She couldn't even get the words out of her mouth. "He's on his way to the hospital. They are doing everything they can for him, Kelly. But until he knows you're safe, he won't rest." He held her close. He could see some redness in his footsteps in the sand; the blood had soaked through already. {Drago, I have her. Rest, my son. She will be there when you are well.} In the ambulance, racing towards the compound, the large black wolf took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes. Logan took another set of vital signs. "James, if you can go any faster..." He set up a new bag of fluids. "On it." James was grateful the highway was deserted. He looked down at the speedometer - 110 miles per hour. They were passing Battle Mountain now. "We're about thirty minutes out." "Drago, may I give you the pain medication now?" He watched the pained eyes closely. He could barely see a small movement of the wolf's large head. He quickly pulled out the syringe and watched the medication move through the fluid line. He monitored his patient's reactions, his breathing slowed, his eyes closed. For now, at least, he didn't feel the pain. {Trina, are you ready for us?} Trina looked around their emergency room before answering her mate. {I think so. I'm ready for the cross match first, and I have plenty of type A and B blood ready. But if he has a rare type, we're in trouble, Logan.} Logan thought for a moment. {Has anyone done any blood typing on the Bertrand/Kardos pack yet?} The nurse smiled. {No, we haven't. I'll start now.} She grabbed her supplies and ran out the door. Kelly sat quietly in Silvano's lap on the ride to...where? Where were they going? She had no idea. But she was safe. And Drago? He was on his way to a hospital. She vaguely remembered being carried through the outer room on the other side of her protective door. The wolves were gone. But where did the sand come from? It hadn't been there when Drago had brought her here. But she had noticed the red footsteps that the men left in the sand. She wondered who they all were. They surrounded her as Silvano had carried her to the car. And there were police cars. Did Drago find his way to a phone and call his father and the police too? She'd had the feeling he didn't trust police. He'd never called them while they ran for the their lives through Europe. Silvano held Kelly carefully in his arms. His son's mate was fragile in comparison to a werewolf female. He didn't want to crush her in his arms. He whispered, "We'll be there soon." "I want to be with Drago. Will they let me see him?" She had to see him. She had to see for herself he was still alive. Xylon took a quick look at his friend's face. What would he tell her? She couldn't possibly see him. She had no idea what they were. And Drago wouldn't be able to shift for some time, if he lived. "Drago is very badly hurt, Kelly. You won't be able to see him right away. But I promise you, as soon as the doctors feel he is able to have a visitor, you will see him." Carr, in the front seat, had just heard from Logan. "Silvano, they're at the hospital. Logan says he's a fighter!" Silvano smiled and squeezed Kelly a little tighter. "See? He will not stop fighting until he can see you again." Carla had been waiting impatiently for her son to arrive at the hospital. When the makeshift ambulance had arrived, Katy had had to grab her to keep her from running to her son's side. She was so grateful for Katy's friendship and support, but she needed to see Drago's face. She needed to touch him. He hadn't been able to speak through their bond. There had only been silence. They had told her he was still alive, but she had to see him to believe it! The back of the truck had immediately been surrounded by nurses and orderlies. They had a gurney and monitors and machines. Carla stood on her tip-toes, trying to see around them. She thought she could make out his black fur. She clearly saw the Doctor climb out, covered in blood, Drago's blood. She tried to pull away from Katy, but the smaller woman was stronger than she looked. "Carla, you have to let them work. They're going to do everything they can." Katy tried to do her best to keep her from getting in the way. She just prayed Carla didn't shift in order to escape from her. She knew it was going to take more than just her to keep this anxious mother away from her cub. {Jenna, I need your help. Jenna? Do you hear me?} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {I must run! I have to get away, off the island, find my white wolf. Where will I go?} {The sleek black panther had found an unattended boat moored at the dock. She looked around her, and seeing no one, leapt into it and shifted to her human form. The petite female picked up the oars and sat down, immediately using the oars to take her as far from this island as she could go. Her surprising strength was to her advantage as she sent the little boat cutting across the still water.} {She had no idea where she was going, but knew that, wherever it was, it would lead her to her white wolf.} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {Jenna? Do you hear me?} Jenna bolted upright in bed. Katy! She shook her head, trying to clear the dream from her thoughts. Ever since she had shared her mind with her panther, she'd been plagued by these dreams. {Yes, Katy, I hear you. What's wrong?} Jenna fumbled around the nightstand for her notebook and pencil. She always had them ready now to jot down what she'd dreamt. Maybe someday she'd figure out what it all meant. Was it the future? Or the past? {I need your help. Carla wants to be with her son. I can't say I blame her, but she'll be in the way.} Jenna gave up the hunt for the notebook and started grabbing her clothes instead. {I'll be right there.} Jenna looked back at the bed and saw her mate, her white wolf, sleeping soundly. She was so glad she'd been able to talk Alistair into laying down with her for a nap. He never got enough sleep. Since she'd been feeling so tired lately, and taking plenty of naps, she made him nap with her whenever she could. She'd let him sleep for now. Jenna got to the hospital just in time to keep Carla from breaking away from Katy. The mother wolf's instincts were to go to her cub, no matter what. Jenna had a feeling she and Katy wouldn't be much different soon. But they had to stop her for now. "Carla, the doctors and nurses here are amazing! Please, let them do their jobs. We'll stay here with you." She took Carla's hand and squeezed it tightly, trying to lend her some of her strength. "Let's keep the fluids rolling until we can start some blood. He has no volume right now. As soon as we have some blood into him, we'll start with the neck wounds." Logan washed his bloody hands and put on some gloves. He watched as Trina managed to find a vein to draw blood for typing and cross-matching. Logan worked on assessing all of the wolf's injuries as he waited for word on the blood type. He didn't dare take the bandage off his neck until he had some blood in him. It seemed like forever before Trina spoke up. "Blood type is AB Negative. Packed Cell Volume is 9, total protein is 2.2." None of this was good. "Do we have any AB Negative blood?" {PCV of 9! } Damn, they were in a hole, and he didn't know if there was any way to dig their way out. "They're finishing up drawing it right now. The whole Bertrand/Kardos pack is AB Negative except for the Alpha, at least the males are. I'll have two units for you in about two minutes. And I'll grab the rest of them and get them started right away." Trina ran out of the room. They should be done with the first two units by now. Trina grabbed one of the orderlies on her way out and sent him back with the fresh units of blood while she went looking for Guillame to ask for him to send all of the tested males over to give blood. And while she was at it, she asked that they send everyone else over to be tested. This poor wolf was going to need a hell of a lot more blood if he was going to have any chance of living. Unfortunately, were blood and human blood were not compatible. Logan waited impatiently as the blood dripped into his patient. As soon as the first unit was in, he went to work. He knew Jeff was going to be busy with the two prisoners, but Drago had the more severe injuries, and if Logan thought he needed Jeff, the prisoners would be on their own. Jeff arrived with his two patients and came in through the back entrance. This end of the hospital was reserved for prisoners and was more secure. He had been amazed at how much damage Drago had been able to do to six wolves! The fact that four of them were dead was incredible. And Drago was still alive! If Drago made it, Jeff knew the Betas would love to spar with him and see just what he could do. The Baxter Pack had always prided themselves on being well trained, but none of them could believe what they'd found. Carla didn't want to sit and wait. She paced in the room outside the surgery where they'd moved Drago. {We're here, cara.} Carla didn't wait a moment before running out the door to meet her mate. She watched as he slowly got out, still carrying their son's human mate. They had a wheelchair waiting for Kelly, which Silvano gently lowered her into before putting his arms around his mate. Carla began to cry as soon as he enveloped her in a tight embrace. He looked over at Kelly. "This is my...wife, Carla. Carla, cara, this is Kelly, the woman Drago saved from Erobos." Carla walked slowly, her mate's arm protectively around her shoulders, to the human female her son had risked his life for. She looked down at her and smiled, placing a hand softly on the woman's face. Kelly reached up and held her hand, whispering, "I love him." Carla breathed deeply. If her son lived, this would be his mate. "And he loves you!" The nurse waited to take Kelly into the hospital. Carla patted her shoulder. "We'll be waiting for you." Carla held out her hand to Silvano, who twined his fingers with hers. The three of them would wait for Drago together. Out of Darkness Ch. 09 As always, thank you to everyone who reads my stories. I hope you continue to enjoy them, comment on them, and vote! Formatting is still an issue, so please accept my apologies on the { } to denote italicized text. I am not technologically adept and haven't been able to figure out how to get word on my computer. I just can't seem to get it to download. And I will never forget my Knight in Shining Armor, the best editor I could ever have, Archangel_M. I'm so grateful he found me when he did. ---------------------------------------- Nevada - Present Day Carla sat next to the bed, her head laying on the pillow next to her son's. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body. She even imagined it was his breath, but knew he was breathing through a tube, so that was impossible. She stroked his fur, so soft, just like the day he'd first come to them. He was so scared; he'd shifted and hidden under the bed, a small black ball of fur. Carla had shifted and laid just a few feet away, patiently waiting. When he'd seen she was a wolf, he'd tentatively crawled to her, and ended up curling himself between her front legs. She had gently groomed him, licking his soft fur. They'd laid there for hours, and when Silvano returned home from the lab, he had found them both sound asleep, the cub curled up comfortably between his mate's legs, her head resting on his back. Their bond had formed that day! She could hear the voices behind her but blocked them out. She'd let Silvano talk with the Doctors. She'd heard the most important thing; Drago might not live. Anything else didn't interest her at all. She did her best to tune out the beeping noises from the many different monitors hooked up to her wounded cub. Her hand held his closest paw, feeling the tufts of fur between the pads on the bottom of his foot. She smiled when she remembered how she could make her little cub howl like a banshee by tickling his pads. But that only lasted a few years. By the time he was twelve years old, he would shift, roll his eyes, and run out of the house to find his friends. And then he was taken away from her at fourteen. She had missed watching him grow into the adult he had become, so strong and brave, able to protect his mate from the Betas sent to take her back. Carla panicked when the alarm went off on a small monitor to Drago's left. "Doctor, what's wrong? Help him!" She could see the display that previously had flashed numbers and now only dashes. Silvano quickly pulled her away to let the Doctor tend to his patient. Logan went directly to the probe from the monitor and found it dangling from the bed. "It's alright, Carla. You knocked the Pulse Oximeter probe off his tongue." He gently replaced the probe and stared at the monitor as the injured wolf's oxygen level steadily rose, finally stopping at 94%. He expertly checked the other monitors, being sure nothing else had been dislodged. He certainly couldn't get mad at her. She might not have much longer with him. He wouldn't begrudge her anything right now. He moved away from the bed and let Carla take her place at her son's side. He returned to the wall and waited for Silvano to join him. "So, as I was saying, we were able to replace his blood volume with transfusions from the Bertrand/Kardos pack. I'll be honest with you, Silvano. If this had been a month ago, before they joined us here, Drago would have died no matter what we did. There isn't a pack within five hundred miles of here that has AB type blood on hand. It just isn't typical of western and northern European weres, and most in the United States are from the British Isles and Scandinavia." Silvano shook his head. "Lucky, we were very lucky." Now if only their luck would hold up. "Do you think he has a chance?" Silvano met the Doctor's eyes. "There's always a chance, Silvano. I'm amazed he lived through the fight; I'm amazed that he lived long enough for us to get the blood into him; I'm amazed he made it through surgery when we repaired all the damage done to his internal organs. If he doesn't get any infections and we can keep him quiet, then yes, I think he has a chance." He laid a hand on the older male's arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "And he has the two of you and Kelly on his side. That can only be a positive." Silvano smiled gratefully at him and moved to his mate's side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she leaned into his waist, her hand still petting their cherished son's head. ----------------------------------------- Kelly awoke in a panic, bolting up, looking around, wide-eyed, frightened. "Drago? Drago, where are you?" She screamed as loudly as she could. Were they in a motel again? How much of it had been a dream? The wolves? The car chase to the abandoned mine? The plane to America? "Drago!" When she saw the woman coming towards her, she knew none of it was a dream. That was the nurse who'd given her a sedative when they'd first brought her to this hospital. She'd freaked out when they'd told her she couldn't see Drago, and they had given her a shot of something. She wasn't going to let that happen again. Kelly jumped out of the bed, trying to escape the fast approaching nurse. She wasn't going to let her near her again! She eyed the syringe in the woman's hands. "Don't you dare poke me with that needle!" She was ready for a fight. She'd claw her eyes out if she had to. She didn't care that the blond was at least a foot taller than her. "Kelly, remember me? I'm Trina. You were exhausted when you got here. You needed the rest. There wasn't anything you could do for Drago, and the Doctors felt it was better for you to recover your strength. Drago's going to need you to be strong for him. You won't be able to if you're sick." Trina watched the woman's face soften. "Drago's alive?" She was stunned. She'd been so sure it was all a dream. She'd hoped and prayed it had been a dream. And when she'd woken up, she'd thought sure they were keeping her drugged to keep her from finding out he had died. But he was alive. "I want to see him, now." She saw the sad look on the nurse's face as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Kelly. That just isn't possible right now. He's hurt too badly." Luckily, her werewolf reflexes helped her duck out of the way of the flying metal tray. It just barely missed her head. The human had good aim. She'd keep that in mind for the future. "I want to speak with Drago's Doctor right now!" Kelly gritted her teeth as she watched the nurse nod and quickly retreat from the room. She ran to the door and tried the knob. Locked! "What the fuck?" Now she was pissed. They'd drugged her, kept her from Drago, and now they were keeping her locked in this room! Well the Doctor and Drago's parents had some explaining to do, and fast! ~~~~ a few minutes later ~~~~ "Why can't I see him? What are you hiding?" Kelly couldn't sit; she had too much pent-up energy. Something inside was telling her she had to be near Drago. She stared at the doctor they called Logan. His girlfriend, or wife, or whatever, stood nearby with a nervous look on her face. Kelly walked up to within a foot of the Doctor and stared up into the tall man's face. "You tell me what's going on, and right now!" She put her hands on her hips and didn't look away for a second. She wasn't about to back down! Logan glanced over at Trina for help. {If that were me, I'd be saying the same thing. No one would be able to keep me from you.} The exhausted Doctor let out a long sigh."Kelly, he's very badly hurt. I have him in a drug-induced coma so he doesn't have to feel the pain. And, to be honest, his wounds are so severe I just don't think you could handle it. I've discussed this with his parents, and they agree. It's best that you not see him yet." He hated telling her this. It would probably be good for Drago to be able to hear her voice, but he understood why his parents were against it. Drago hadn't wanted her to see him as a wolf, not yet. And until he had made at least a partial recovery he wouldn't be able to shift. "Well then let me talk to them. I can convince them." Kelly wasn't going to let up. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glowered into his face. "So? Call them in here." She gave him her most intimidating look. Logan looked over at his mate. {Help me.} She gave him a weak smile and shrugged her shoulders. "Why not? Maybe they'll change their minds." She kind of hoped so. Drago was in critical condition. He might not make it. What if she never got to say goodbye? Trina went to the door and opened it part way, leaning out to speak to one of the Omegas walking by. "Could you bring Silvano and Carla here please?" With what Kelly had been through already, would she really freak out at finding out Drago was a werewolf? She loved him; that was obvious to everyone. She'd accept it. Trina was sure anyway. Silvano was a little apprehensive about meeting with Kelly. He didn't want to frighten her. Drago had been adamant that he did not want her to see him as a wolf yet. And his parents wanted to obey his wishes if at all possible. How would they convince her to wait to see him without hurting her feelings? He twined his arm through his mate's and accompanied her into Kelly's room. The two of them were dumbfounded when they saw the Doctor, backed into the corner of the room like a scared cub. It took them a moment to realize that their son's diminutive mate was the cause. Kelly's head whipped around when she saw them. "So, you don't want me to see Drago? Is that really your decision to make? I know he'd want me with him!" Carla watched Kelly's face, her eyes. She only wanted to be with Drago. It was where she belonged. Kelly loved her son, even though she couldn't possibly feel the mating pull yet, or at least, not know it for what it was. That was really all a devoted mother needed to know. Carla felt tears welling up. She looked up at her mate. "Silvano, couldn't we ..." {Silvano cut her off immediately. Drago didn't want her to see him like this, Cara.} {But they love each other. They're meant for each other.} She saw Kelly's face, red with rage and approached her slowly. "My dear, maybe we can work something out." Carla took her hand and stood close to her. "No!" Silvano's voice blasted across the room. {We will discuss this alone!} Silvano was infuriated that his mate was defying him like this. Drago did not want Kelly to see him as a wolf yet, and they would abide by his wishes. Silvano put out his hand, waiting impatiently for Carla to take hold. When she did he grabbed hers and dragged her from the room. {She does want me to see Drago! So it's just his father that doesn't want to let me.} Kelly watched them leave, not sure what was going on. They'd done very little talking but seemed to communicate quite a bit in few words. After they were gone, her attention went back to Logan and Trina. She glared at them as menacingly as she could. "Trina, we should go. Kelly, I'm sorry, but I can't go against his father's wishes." He turned for the door and waited for Trina who seemed to be lagging behind. "Sorry we have to lock the door, Kelly. It's for your own good. See you later." Trina slipped through the door and shut it quickly behind her. Kelly stared after her. {Did she just wink at me?} She heard the sound of the locking mechanism but was only thinking about what the wink must mean. Was Trina going to help her see Drago? ------------------------ The Spaniard knocked softly on the Alpha's office door. He knew the two pack Alphas were meeting with Alistair and Rhys about the human female and the Cavallo family. He'd been asked to join them as he was the acting European Council Head until an official election was held to fill Rudolf's former post. He took a spot near the window and stared outside, noticing Silvano and Carla in a heated discussion. As was common among were mates, most of it was without words, but just as noticeable. This was a very stressful time for them. He didn't want to guess at what the problem could be. "Thank you for meeting us, Sandalio. We need to discuss what happens if the cub lives and what happens if he dies. I think we'll be better served to have everything decided ahead of time." Alistair was grateful Sandalio had taken the lead of the Council. He was quite level-headed and good-natured. He couldn't even imagine having to deal with these issues with Rudolf. Sandalio nodded. He knew that Alistair would not make any decision without him. Besides, the Cavallos were not members of an American pack. So really, the decisions were mostly on Sandalio's shoulders. "First of all, if he dies, obviously, we need to decide what to do about the female. She doesn't know what we are yet, so she could, conceivably, just be returned to the human world. But only, of course, after we figure out what Erobos wants with her. I wouldn't want to just put her in a position to be taken back." The statement was met with agreement by all. "But we might want to move her somewhere where there is less chance of her finding out what we are. Maybe send her with a few security personnel to a safe-house or something." He saw Carr nod his head. "Whether he lives or dies, are we going to search for his biological family?" Alistair scanned the room and could see the discomfort the question caused. He heard distinctive throat clearing that he recognized as Rhys' and gave him the floor. The Archivist stood, attempting to gather his thoughts before speaking. "Since Katy has become quite close with Carla, this subject has come up frequently between us. Katy is torn about it, but her panther and my wolf are very clear that the cub's family should be found. Family is everything to us, and what family he may have should know what happened to him. I'm not saying that Silvano and Carla did anything wrong. In fact, however the cub was separated from his parents, they did an admirable job of raising him. But I think everyone involved deserves to know the truth." He waited for any dissent, but hearing none, continued on. "It seems likely that he was from America since he was given to them while they were in this country, and they agreed he was a native English speaker. I believe we have DNA samples from just about every pack that lives on the continent. Even if we can't find living parents, we may find aunts or uncles, grandparents, etc. I would like to have Xylon begin testing since it can take a week or more." "I think that's an excellent idea. Sandalio, do you have any objections?" Alistair saw the shake of his head. "Anything else, Rhys?" "Guillame, I would like to include your pack's DNA in the testing if that meets with your approval. Since his blood type matches more Eastern European weres than any other area, it could be a possibility." "Of course. Just let me know what Xylon needs. I think you have blood samples from almost everyone so far anyway." Guillame was certainly curious about this Beta. It seemed a strange coincidence that his blood only matched the members of his pack. Alistair turned to the Baxter Alpha. "Carr, what's the latest report on Drago's condition?" "So far, so good. Logan reports he has begun to heal, and they've had to increase the dosage of drugs to keep him in the coma. He's fighting it. So he thinks that's a good sign." Carr was proud of his medical staff and very glad Logan had decided to stay with them instead of taking Trina back with him to his former pack after they'd mated. "Also, Jeff informs me that the two injured Sardinian Betas they brought back are responding well to treatment and want to talk. They don't want to have to go back to Sardinia. Apparently, the punishment for failure in an assignment is death. One of them lost an ear, the other an eye. But they will recover and can't wait to spill all the info they have. I figure tomorrow I'll send Cole and Brett to interrogate them." "I guess we are done for now." Alistair was startled when Sandalio abruptly put up a hand. "I'm sorry, I have more to add." He cleared his throat and looked at each were in turn. "I received word an hour ago that Erobos was leaving Europe to come to the United States. He will land in San Francisco in about ten hours." He saw the looks of surprise, but it didn't stop him. "The European Council has decided to take this opportunity to dissolve his pack while he is not in a position to be in contact with them. We have operatives there now. I hope to hear from them soon." --------------------------------- Island of Sardinia, Italy - Present Day Seraphina sat back in the chair, her feet resting on the desktop, as she filed her long, red nails. She had plans for the evening and loved the look of the scratches she would leave. If "The Boss" was going to be gone for a while, she might as well enjoy herself. Now the only question was which Beta would she choose to include in her plans. She smiled wickedly and licked her lips. The irritating ring from her phone made her put down the file long enough to pick up. "What?" "I'm sorry to bother you, Seraphina, but there is an agent from the European Council here to see you." The faceless voice of the Omega annoyed her. She didn't want to be bothered. Besides, that would be something for the Alpha to take care of, not her. "Well tell him Erobos is away on business and will call when he returns." "Um, I don't think he'll accept that. He insists on seeing you, Seraphina." The Omega's voice was noticeably shaky. Seraphina closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself and pulled her legs back, arranging her skirt. "Fine, send him in." She'd just have to send him packing fast. She heard the door open and close and looked up. Her jaw dropped and, for once in her life, she was speechless. The tall male that stood in front of her looked down at her without an emotion playing on his face. His brown eyes met hers and seemed to hold her in place. She breathed deeply as her heart pounded. No, this couldn't be happening. But her wolf's reaction was obvious. He had finally come for them, and they would be free of Erobos forever. She stood on wobbly legs and tried to find her voice. "I am Seraphina." She couldn't think of anything else to say. She saw the slight smirk on his face. "My name is Álvaro, and I am here on orders from the European Council to dissolve this pack. And as for you, I think you know what your fate will be." The tall Spaniard had been proud to be named to lead this operation for the Council. He had been a Beta in Sandalio's pack when Sandalio had been named to the Council and had followed him as his second. He hadn't been happy about being left behind when Sandalio traveled to America, but now he knew it had been for the best. He'd waited six hundred years to find his mate. He'd never thought he would find her here. He eyed the tall blond bitch. He didn't like those scars that ringed her neck, but none were mating bites, so his wolf ignored them. Seraphina had dropped her eyes, her wolf submitting immediately in a way she had never felt before. Erobos had inspired fear and lust in her, but this wolf, her mate, could make her think only of loving him. These feelings were so foreign to her. "I will tell you anything you need to know about the pack." She was nervous, unsure of herself. This was so unlike her. "First of all, show me the Alpha's office. And second... take off those shoes. I don't like them." He opened the door and waited, chuckling as she struggled to take off the six inch stiletto heels as she moved towards the door. She stood next to him, barefoot, her head down. "Much nicer, my little wolf." His fingers found her skin and stroked lightly across her jaw. "I will finish my work first, and then, you and I will have time." Seraphina's wolf was ecstatic, but Seraphina could only nod, her mind in a jumble as her wolf could only think of mating. She looked up at him and saw the long brown hair that reached his shoulders, and his dark brown eyes that seemed to have a life of their own as they looked into hers. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her breathing harsh as she struggled to take in enough air. She felt lightheaded. She could feel her body readying itself for her mate. She could smell her arousal already. She glanced up at him for a moment and could see his smile. He knew! Out of Darkness Ch. 09 Seraphina showed him to the Alpha's office. She was stunned by the sheer numbers of unknown Betas that lined the hallways. She saw her pack members being taken away in shackles. She should have been enraged. Shouldn't she? She didn't seem to care. All that mattered was him. She stared up at his broad shoulders as she watched him go through the doors. She sat quietly as he and several of his cohorts rifled through the papers and ledgers in the desk. Another Beta got to work on the computer. He motioned to Álvaro, who looked over his shoulder, wrinkled his forehead as he stared at the screen, and lifted his eyes to Seraphina. "Why does Erobos want to turn werewolves into Dire Wolves?" She didn't have to think about whether or not to answer. This was her mate. She could trust him to protect her. "He wants their blood. He says it will make him stronger, invincible. He wants to rule over all the werewolves, not just this island." "Why did he kidnap the human female?" "He never talked about her other than to say she was some sort of bait. For whom, I don't know." Seraphina couldn't take her eyes off him. Every movement he made had a purpose. He didn't waste motion, or words. She listened to the exchanges between the Betas. Yes, he was in charge. She knew already she would be proud to be his mate. He was a strong wolf. He would be able to save her from Erobos and his wrath. Álvaro couldn't look away from her. She was beautiful. She was his. He and his wolf didn't care about her past. All that mattered was their future, after they took down Erobos. And he would try to make it happen as soon as possible. "How many of your pack are in America?" "I'm sorry, I don't know. He kept to himself with his plans. I know he's had agents there for over a hundred years. He was always looking for 'those that had escaped him'. Or at least, that's how he worded it. I think it had to do with the Hungarian werewolves he destroyed years ago." She moved her legs out of the way as a Beta walked between them to look in a file cabinet. She noticed the fleeting look of rage on Álvaro's face. He couldn't think this way. Seeing any of the Betas near her was too distracting to his wolf. But he needed her nearby for any information she could give him. If another Beta walked past his mate he might not be able to hold back his wolf. "Keep looking for information. I'll be back." He grabbed her hand and dragged her behind him out of the room. The Betas exchanged glances as Álvaro and the female left the room. His strides were long making her run to keep up with him. She saw the questioning looks from his Betas and her pack-mates as they hurried by. "Where can we go?" He didn't look at her as he spoke. He was worried if he did, his wolf would lose all control right then and there. His voice was deeper, she could hear the wolf coming forward. Her own wolf was responding. She was ready to shift, now, in the middle of the hallway, amid the confusion of the take-over. "Outside, there's room to run." She found it difficult to talk herself. Her wolf wanted control now. The door banged open as he came through it, pulling his mate with him. He slammed it shut and turned her in his arms. He gazed down into her blue eyes and stroked her cheek lovingly. His hand slid down her neck and touched the ugly scars. He gritted his teeth. "I don't want to know why he left these scars, but if I have the chance, I'll kill him myself." He dropped his nose to her neck and inhaled deeply, shutting his eyes tightly, savoring the feel of her in his arms as her scent washed over him. He felt her holding him as tightly as he held her. "No werewolf can kill him. He would kill you first." Her voice could barely get out. She savored every touch from him. She'd never felt this way before. Erobos had only meant pain to her. She knew her mate would only give her pleasure. "Please, I can't lose you. Leave him to the Council." She felt his hands in her hair, pulling her head back until she was looking into his handsome face. His mouth came down over hers as he kissed her forcefully. She felt as if this was the first true kiss of her life. Her body responded instantly to him, and her wolf wanted nothing but to be taken by their mate. He untangled her arms from around his neck and held her at arms length as he backed away. His eyes never left hers as he quickly disrobed and smiled as she did the same. He shifted and waited for her. Her wolf was pleased with the large brown Beta that stood across from her. He was massive, his muscles well-defined. She was sure he would be able to catch her. Her wolf playfully dropped to her elbows, her tail in the air, wagging. She had never been allowed this with Erobos. Just the thought of him sickened her now. She would keep him from her memories. Luckily, wolves had short memories for the unpleasant. She spun around and took off at a dead run. {Let's see how fast he can catch us.} The little blond wolf ran from him so quickly, he was left behind. He smiled to himself. Let her run. He would catch her. He loped in her direction, not in any hurry. He kept her in his sights, not changing the distance between them. He'd let her think she was leading him on a chase. He'd just wait for her to tire and then pounce. He noticed when her gait faltered just a bit. She was slowing. Now was the time. He closed the gap quickly and ran next to her. He looked over at her lithe body, and she met his gaze, slowing to a stop. His wolf was pleased. She turned to face him, her sides heaving as she breathed deeply. Yes, he would be a wonderful mate for them. She threw herself to the ground and rolled onto her back, baring her belly and her neck to her mate. She laid there, waiting for him. She felt him close the distance, felt him close to her, but not touching her. She turned her head and saw his face as his nose dropped to sniff at her neck. She forced herself to hold still as his nose moved down her body, making his way slowly to her wetness. He lapped at the fluids that flowed freely from her. He backed away for a moment, his thoughts only of her. He watched as she turned her body, lifting her tail into the air, her head and elbows on the ground. The male wolf approached slowly and lifted his body to cover hers. His front legs hooked around her ribs, pulling her backwards onto his hard cock, which slid easily into her wet sheath. Álvaro howled with pleasure as he felt his mate's depths for the first time. But time was something they didn't have. He needed to be able to think clearly and finish the job he had been assigned to do. So this mating would be fast. He would make up for it later. He plunged deeply into her and forced his knot into her body. The brown wolf reached forward and clamped his teeth around her neck, biting into her flesh, tasting her blood. Seraphina felt the bite and her body exploded with pleasure like she'd never felt in the past. This was wholly different than being bitten by Erobos. Her body tightened around his cock, massaging it as her body spasmed over and over. She felt his body stiffen, and her body was flooded with his seed. He howled loudly over her. She was his! He pulled her to him as he waited for his knot to recede. He wrapped his legs around her exhausted body and held her in place. His wolf was much calmer now. No one would dare to touch her now. ------------------------------------------------- Nevada - Present Day Sandalio answered the phone on the first ring. "Álvaro? What happened?" The others listened to the Spaniard's side of the conversation intently, but not able to glean any information from his grunts and nods. They waited patiently. Sandalio laughed. "Congratulations. It's about time." He nodded and smiled. "Hopefully, I will be home soon." Sandalio returned the phone to his pocket and saw the expectant faces watching him. "The Sardinian Pack has been dissolved; there were no casualties. It seems the pack was more than happy to know they wouldn't be under the thumb of Erobos anymore. They are helping in any way they can." "Any idea about why the interest in Dire Wolves?" Alistair wasn't so sure he wanted to know the answer. "Does he want to form an army? Does he have one already?" Sandalio shook his head. "No, nothing like that. He wants them for their blood. He wants to drink it, apparently." "Drink it? What the hell is he? A werewolf or a vampire?" Carr had never heard of a were that drank blood. "According to his pack, when he kills an enemy he drinks their blood." Sandalio had actually heard the rumors before, but had thought them only that. "They're going through all of his papers and computers now. Álvaro will call back if he finds anything else." --------------------------------------------------- Kelly paced back and forth in her room. No one had been here since they'd brought her dinner a few hours ago. It must be getting late because she didn't hear as much movement outside the door. The Doctor had been in to tell her that Drago was continuing to improve, but she still wasn't allowed to see him. When she asked him how long it would be, all he'd say was 'soon'. {Yeah right, soon. Drago, what are they hiding from me?} She couldn't stop moving. Why was she so restless? Suddenly, she heard footsteps stop outside her door. But no one came in. She tip toed to the door and held her ear to it, trying to listen. Was there someone there? She heard the lock turning and moved back. But the door didn't open. She moved close again and pressed her face to the door. Nothing; not a sound outside. She waited a few more minutes just to be sure and then slowly tried the doorknob. The knob turned all the way and she cracked the door, peeking into the hallway. The lights were low, and she heard faint voices coming from her right. She swallowed hard and bit her lip. This was it. She was going to find Drago. She didn't care how bad he looked from his injuries. She loved him. She moved as quietly as she could through the hall and could hear the beeping of monitors in the room across the hall to her left. There was definitely a patient in there. She listened outside the door for a moment and didn't hear any movement. Should she go in? Her question was answered for her when she heard voices coming closer. It was either go inside the room or get caught out here. She slipped through the door and waited a moment before turning around. She was afraid of what she'd see. Had they maimed him? Would he look the same? She didn't care. It didn't matter. She took in a deep breath and held it a moment before letting it out. {Now or never, Kelly. Whatever he looks like, it doesn't matter.} She turned and fell back against the door, a look of shock on her face. "What the hell?" She said it out loud and hoped no one heard her. No one else was in the room, just the injured wolf on the bed. He was on his side, almost his whole body shaved and bandaged. She moved slowly toward the bed. Why would they have brought one of the wolves back? She stopped at the foot of the bed and glanced over the monitors, EKG, Pulse Oximeter. She saw the ventilator breathing for him. What were they doing? This must have been one of the wolves from the mine. Why would they bring it here? She watched as the wolf's ear twitched and his tongue flipped up and down for just a moment. Was he awake? He didn't look it. She saw the bag of blood hanging next to him, dripping steadily. She needed to leave and look for Drago. She had her hand on the doorknob. More voices, coming closer. {Crap, I can't leave yet.} She looked quickly around the room. She ducked into the bathroom and stood behind the door. {Please don't come in here, don't come in here.} The door opened and the voices were loud as they entered the room. "His vital signs are stronger. The blood seems to be working well, and he's healing at a more normal rate now. I think I'd like to take him out of the coma tomorrow." Kelly recognized Logan's voice. "Will he be able to shift soon?" {What the hell? That was Carla's voice. Why would she care about the wolf? Drago should be her only concern.} "Then Kelly can visit with him. The poor girl. She's so worried about him. I feel so badly for her." {No! It can't be. They must be talking about something else.} "Drago, I promise, as soon as you can shift, we'll bring her to you. I promise." Kelly's brain couldn't process all of this. The wolf was Drago? No, it couldn't be. She moved her foot and kicked a trash can. {Shit!} Logan turned to look at the bathroom and moved quietly forward. He should have noticed the human scent earlier. "Come out of there, Kelly." Kelly came out slowly, her back against the wall. "What are you people?" She slid carefully away from them, towards the door. She looked at the wolf, laying so still on the bed. It couldn't be. She had to get out of here. Drago had to be hidden somewhere. That was it. They knew she was in here and were saying those things to upset her. She fumbled for the doorknob behind her back, her eyes never leaving the three people in front of her. "Kelly, please, let us explain." Silvano had no idea what he'd say, but he had to try. "Get away from me." She managed to open the door and didn't notice Trina behind her until she felt the needle jab her in the arm. The last thing she remembered was Trina standing over her. "Kelly, I'm sorry." Trina watched as Kelly's eyes fluttered closed. Out of Darkness Ch. 10 Things are going to heat up soon. Just a few chapters left to go. I hope you continue to read, comment, and vote. Again, because of my formatting issues, { } denotes italicized text. And another warm thank you to my favorite (and only) editor, Archangel_M. ---------------------------------------------- "I'm sorry! I thought Drago needed Kelly with him. I guess I wasn't thinking." Trina slumped down in her chair, dejected as her mate stared at her in disbelief. She had absentmindedly put her hair in pigtails and was nervously playing with the braids. "That's an understatement! When Carr gets here, just... just..." He rubbed his eyes as he leaned his head against the wall. "Damn, Trina. You should have talked to me first." His head whipped around at the loud sounds coming from the outer offices. They heard the Alpha before they saw him. The door to the outside offices slammed shut seconds before Carr and his mate, Lee, walked in. Lee was a step behind the Alpha, her hand reaching out to try and lend a calming influence to her irate mate. Carr ignored her and stopped in front of Trina. He glared down at her, his eyes narrowed. How could she have done something so stupid? He watched her lower her head in submission, tears streaming down her face. He breathed in deeply and let it out slowly in a loud sigh. "T, you really put us in a bind." Trina was surprised when he used her nickname. Maybe he wasn't as mad as he seemed at first? She looked up tentatively, afraid to raise her head. She had displeased her Alpha, and that was worse than almost anything. Trina glanced up and saw the twinkle in his green eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Carr, I know I screwed up. I just really felt sorry for Kelly. And you know what a difference it makes to have your mate with you when you're injured." Carr turned to look at his mate. She smiled back at him. She clearly remembered sitting with him, holding his hand and stroking his face as he recovered from the nearly fatal injuries he'd received in his battle with the Dire Wolves. "You agree with Trina?" He already knew what her answer was going to be. "Yes. Carr, didn't you feel me near you while you were in that coma?" "Yeah, I did, but we're mates; we're bonded." "Then ask Karen if she could feel Cole when she was unconscious. They'd barely met. He hardly left her hospital room." Lee wasn't going to give up. She did agree with Trina; maybe not her methods, but she agreed Kelly needed to be at Drago's side. "And Cole knew she was his mate. Kelly doesn't know. And now she sees what he is, and what we are." He turned back to Trina. "Not a great way to be told your boyfriend is a werewolf." Logan couldn't help it, he growled. The Alpha was hurting his mate. He felt Trina's pain. She was sorry. Why couldn't he just leave it alone? Carr's head swiveled quickly to the doctor. "Logan, do you have something you want to say?" His face was hard, and his green eyes suddenly cold. None of his pack had dared to growl at him before, other than his brother, and he had special privileges. Was the doctor going to challenge him? Trina jumped up and ran in between the two males who were glaring at each other. "Alpha, he was upset about my state of mind. He wasn't challenging you, I swear!" She turned around her to her mate. {You weren't, were you?} "Alpha, I felt Trina's panic at displeasing you. My wolf was being protective. I apologize." Logan dropped his eyes to his Alpha. He would never want to challenge him. Carr was a strong Alpha; He was meant to lead this pack. Being in charge was the last thing Logan would want. And he'd agreed to join the pack and had bonded with Carr. He and his wolf would be having a discussion later. {It's one thing to growl at some Beta who gets too close to his mate, but NOT the Alpha!} Lee held her breath. The growl from the doctor had shocked her as much as it had her mate. Growling at your Alpha meant you were challenging his leadership. If Carr chose, he could sidestep the apology and force the challenge. Or he could banish Logan from the pack. Carr had immediately shielded his thoughts after he heard the growl, so she had to wait for his decision along with Logan and Trina. She tried to read his expression, but his face was like stone. Trina was white as a sheet. If Carr killed Logan, she would be lost. If he banished him, she would need to be with him, and she would lose her family. She couldn't believe how loud her heart sounded as it pounded in her chest. She slid her hand into Logan's, holding it tightly. Carr shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "Apology accepted, Logan. Trina? Promise me you won't do anything like that again." Trina was so relieved she could barely speak, but she managed to croak out her answer. "I promise, Carr. Thank you." She smiled as he grabbed her pigtails on either side of her face and gave them a quick yank, like he used to do when she was a cub and followed him everywhere. Back then he was just Cole's big brother and the Alpha's oldest son. She'd had a huge crush on him. "Logan, when will Drago be out of the coma? And when do you think he'll be able to shift?" Logan was grateful that Carr acted like nothing had ever happened between them. "He's healing pretty quickly, all things considered. We stopped his sedation an hour ago. He should be awake within the next few hours. As for shifting, a few days, maybe longer." Carr nodded. "Okay, so we have maybe a few days before Kelly will be able to actually talk with Drago. Guess we'd better figure out what to do next. Lee, we've got some planning to do." He held out his hand for his mate. Lee smiled at Trina and Logan and gave Trina a quick hug before taking her mate's hand and leaving the room. Trina watched her Alphas leave the room. How could she ever explain to a human what a wolf felt for their Alphas? Next to their own mate or cub, their Alphas were the most important people in their lives. Carr was like a big brother, favorite uncle, father, grandfather, protector, all rolled up into one. When Carr had come close to death last month, the entire pack had been deeply affected. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to find her mate's arms waiting for her. Logan hugged her to his chest and rested his chin on top of her head. "I guess we both have something to be sorry for. That was close. Let's both promise to think before we act from now on." He held her even tighter as he heard her light laughter. He hadn't waited all these years to find her to ruin his life now! ------------------------------ "Where's Carla?" Alistair looked past Silvano, but didn't see his mate. "She is sitting with Drago. She doesn't like leaving him." Silvano didn't particularly like leaving him either. Look at what had happened the last time they'd left him alone. Kelly was able to sneak into the room which now has added to their problems. "So, does anyone have any good idea about how to explain things to Kelly?" He looked around the room. No one said a word. "Anyone?" He was surprised when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye from where his own mate sat. "Jenna?" "The best person to explain all of this to Kelly would be Sheila." Jenna knew her friend would know exactly what to say. "She's still human. Kelly will feel more comfortable around her. And then after she's told her all she can, if Kelly has questions, there are several of us who can help. But she should really have a human perspective right now." Carr communicated the request with Jeff, who was extremely protective of his human mate. No one could really blame him. He'd met her when she'd been brought into the hospital close to death. She'd been brutalized by one of Gary's group of Dire Wolves. Jeff managed to save her life and hated to let her out of his sight for a moment. "Okay, Jeff is sending her over. Jenna, do you want to meet with her first and fill her in?" Jenna nodded. She had a feeling Sheila wouldn't need any guidance. She was pretty intuitive all on her own. She wondered what she was going to be like once Jeff turned her into a werewolf. Jenna was a little saddened that her best friend wouldn't become a panther like her. If she did, they'd be bonded like the rest of the panthers. But at least once she was turned, they'd know they would have years of friendship ahead of them. Carr watched the werepanther walk out of the room with Silvano and turned to the Council members who stayed behind. "Now, on to other matters, I got a call from Axel, from the Jensen pack in California. They did a sweep of the San Francisco Airport and took out all of Erobos' operatives. They watched him get off the plane and buy a ticket for Reno. He's on his way here." Carr had called Axel as soon as they'd heard he was on his way to the U.S. He knew he'd come through. He was a natural as an Alpha. "I told him not to try to stop him. There wouldn't be any way to do it without drawing attention to our kind. Better to do it here." Alistair nodded. "Good thinking." He thought back to their time with the Jensen pack last month. He'd been impressed with the new young Alpha and his mate. Now it looked as if he Axel was living up to expectations. Rhys had sat quietly in his chair, deep in thought. He glanced up for a moment. "What about the Reno Airport?" Carr was ready for that question. "Wilson has that covered. We'd already figured that would be the next stop. So his Betas have had it staked out for hours. They've been picking up members of the Sardinian Pack all day. They've been keeping them sedated so they can't send their Alpha a warning." "Did you ask how Cheryl is doing? And Kyle?" Rhys sounded almost disinterested. Carr and Alistair exchanged looks. "They're doing fine. They've mated and Cheryl's wolf rejoined with her. Apparently, she's a model member of the pack and a wonderful mate for Kyle. He's integrated back into the pack and is a loyal Beta." Carr hoped that's what Rhys wanted to hear. Rhys had spared her life after she'd attempted to kill Katy. Katy had forgiven Cheryl, and because of that, Rhys had let her live. Cheryl had lost an arm and her wolf had abandoned her, retreating to the recesses of her mind to punish her for her treachery. But she had found a mate in Kyle Wilson, a former rogue who had become a Dire Wolf, and then, as their guinea pig, been turned back into a normal werewolf again. He had been accepted back into his pack and taken Cheryl with him. At the time, the hope had been for the two of them to redeem themselves and again become productive members of the pack. Apparently, their hopes had come to pass. "Good, Katy will be pleased, as am I." Rhys stood up and stretched his long legs. "I think I'm going out for a walk. My old legs are getting cramped up sitting in this chair. If you'll excuse me?" Alistair stifled a laugh as his good friend left the room. "Code for 'I am going to find my mate.' Carr, what about the spies watching your compound?" "Cole and Brett are taking care of them as we speak. Just a few left. Then, I think it's time for a hunt, if you care to join us." Carr grinned. His Betas had been ready for this for days. They didn't like being watched. It made them jumpy. They needed a good long chase. "No, I think I will stretch my legs myself. Jenna won't be long, I'm sure." Alistair winked as he walked out of the room. ---------------------------- Kelly awoke to the sound of humming. She kept her eyes closed and just listened, trying to recognize the tune. What was it? It was so familiar. Then it came to her. Whoever it was had a sick sense of humor. "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran. She barely opened one eye to see who it was. She could make out a woman with long dark blond hair, maybe a little older than she. The woman sat on the counter top across the room from the bed, humming and swinging her legs. "You're awake." The woman hopped down, crossed the floor to the chair next to the bed, and sat down. "I am not." Kelly kept her eyes closed. She didn't want to talk to any of these crazy people. She didn't know if they really believed that wolf was Drago or not. They were sick. For some reason they were hiding him from her or...or... She blinked back her tears. Or they were hiding the fact he was dead! "Kelly, I'm not going anywhere so you might as well open your eyes and look at me." Kelly turned her head towards the voice and slowly opened her eyes. The woman sitting next to her bed looked normal enough. In fact, more normal than anyone else she'd seen. So far, every man was drop-dead gorgeous, every woman was statuesque and looked like a model. They were just so perfect looking. But this woman was different. Kelly could see the recent scars on her face, neck and arms. What the hell had happened to her? "Hi Kelly. My name is Sheila. Sorry we have to meet this way. I hope you won't hold the locked doors and sedatives against them." She ignored the grunt from Kelly. "They really are only thinking of your safety. They just weren't prepared to have you here. They like to have things planned in advance. They're big on planning." Kelly stared at her. Seriously? Thinking of her safety? Bullshit! But something about the woman, Sheila, seemed to calm her. The smile seemed genuine. She sounded sincere. But Kelly couldn't bring herself to say a thing. She just continued to stare. Sheila decided the best thing was just to keep talking. She couldn't blame Kelly for being upset about how she'd been treated so far. She'd probably feel the same way. "So I'm sure you're worried about Drago. Logan says they've stopped giving him the sedatives. They think he'll be awake soon. They're really surprised at how well he's doing. But he has a lot to live for, don't you think?" She grinned when she saw Kelly's slow nod. "So he's really still alive?" Kelly's voice was so quiet, Sheila could barely make it out. She leaned forward in order to make it out and moved back in her chair as she nodded. "Oh yes, very much alive!" Sheila was playing with the rings she wore on her fingers, trying to figure out how she was going to say it. "I guess it'd be best to just put this out there. You saw the wolf." Kelly glared back at her. "I'll take that as a yes." She smiled back at the woman who continued to glower at her. "The wolf is Drago, Kelly. He's a werewolf. Almost everyone here is a werewolf." Kelly popped up in the bed and sat up against the wall. "Then you are as crazy as the rest of them! Why are you doing this? Why are you lying to me about Drago?" "It was hard for me to believe at first too, but I found out the hard way. The Baxter pack is full of wonderful people who are loving to a fault. Everything they do is for the good of their families and the good of the pack." Sheila hoped Kelly would listen. "What do you mean you found out the hard way? You mean you don't believe you're one too?" And here Kelly had thought this woman had been normal. Showed her what good first impressions were worth, nothing. Sheila's laughter filled the room. "No, I'm not a werewolf. Not yet, that is. But hopefully, I will be soon." Her face had a strange faraway look. "What the hell are you talking about?" Now Kelly was getting angry again. She was crazier than a loon. The only difference between her and the others was that she thought she was normal. "Maybe I should tell you what happened to me, then you'll understand." Sheila hoped Kelly would understand. She hadn't spoken about this to anyone ever. She hoped she could even finish. She swallowed hard. Kelly glared at her from the bed. "Whatever floats your boat. I don't think I have any plans." Kelly watched as the woman took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Was she shaking? Jeff stood on the other side of the door, his hands clenching and unclenching. Sheila had never told him what had happened to her. He was torn about whether to stay and listen. He looked up and saw his Alpha. {Let her tell you when she's ready, Jeff. Come with me for a run.} Jeff stared at the door for a moment. He hated leaving her here alone, but he knew she was safe. "Jenna is nearby." Jeff nodded. Jenna would be sure nothing happened to his mate. He reluctantly walked away from the door. Carr grabbed him around the shoulders. "You haven't had a good hunt for a while. I saw some elk up on the mountain this morning." "Elk?" Jeff licked his lips. His wolf loved the taste of elk. He hadn't hunted in so long. Carr grinned. "Yeah, elk. Let's go. The guys are waiting." Sheila bit her lip as she looked at the woman glaring at her. Here goes nothing. "I'm 42 years old, never married. Just could never find someone I really felt was 'the one'. Know what I mean?" She waited for some acknowledgement from Kelly who was slow to respond but finally nodded. "So I decided to try one of those dating websites. No one got my attention until this one man contacted me. His name was Gary. He was handsome, charismatic, and seemed to be everything I could ever hope for. But he was so much younger than me, or so I thought." She could see the questioning look on Kelly's face. Good, she's listening. "We went on a few dates and he had me totally at ease. But he didn't really seem as interested in me as he did in my family history. He wanted to know what I knew about them and where they were from. I liked him, but there was no spark. But I kept going out with him. And then one day he introduced me to a friend of his and asked if he could rent a room from me. I said sure, and it was the worst mistake of my life." "Why? What happened?" Kelly leaned forward a little. Sheila smiled to herself. Good, Kelly was interested. "His friend, Jackson, moved in right away. He was nice, and we even dated a few times. But there was nothing between us. He accepted that and we were more like brother and sister than anything else. Then, one day, he said he wanted to take me on a picnic. We got in the car, and it was the last time I saw my home. We ended up at a cave. Gary was there with a group of his friends. They each had brought a woman with them. Gary told us all we were their captives, that we were going to be their mates, and we could do nothing to stop it." She took a deep breath. Could she finish? "Mates? What was he talking about?" Kelly was totally engrossed now. She needed to know. "We were confused too. That's how I met Jenna, my best friend. We were thrown into a cage together. They took our clothes and put chains on our legs so we couldn't run. Gary told us what they were, werewolves." She saw the incredulous look on Kelly's face. "I know, we didn't believe them either, until they changed. Then we had no choice but to believe. Gary and his friend Paul were huge! A few of the others too. But most were just a little bigger than a normal wolf. Then we knew what they said was true. Gary told us they were a new race of werewolves and that, with us as their mates, they would take over the other packs. They said we were special, that we were meant to be werewolves." "That's insane!" "That's what we thought too. But, in a way, they were right. We were meant to be werewolves, or something else." "Something else? What?" Sheila knew she had Kelly's attention now. "I'll get to that in a minute. They said we had to wait for the full moon in January, and until then, we would do whatever they said. They made us do all the cooking, cleaning, and whatever else they wanted." Her voice dropped, and she looked down. Kelly reached out and took Sheila's hand. She looked so upset. Kelly spoke quietly. "What happened, Sheila?" She had to know. It must have been awful. The woman's face looked so haunted. Sheila gave her a grateful smile and held onto her hand tightly. "We were just pieces of meat to them. A woman was there for them to use, and that's how they looked at us. Whenever they felt like it, they'd just grab one of us, drag us to wherever they wanted, and rape us. Jackson tried to save me from one of them once, and he got the shit kicked out of him!" She felt Kelly's hand squeeze hers. "Then he disappeared, and I thought he was dead." Out of Darkness Ch. 10 Kelly looked around and saw a box of Kleenex sitting on the nightstand. She handed it the woman sitting next to her. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. "Thank you." Sheila tried to smile but just couldn't do it. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose before continuing. "Things got worse after that. Gary decided to take Jenna as his personal property. Then his friend, Paul, did the same with me." Her whole body shivered with the thoughts of him. "I wanted to die. He loved to listen to me scream." She stopped talking for a minute. Her fingers lingered at the hem of her t-shirt for a few moments before she pulled up it up, baring her midriff. Kelly glanced down with horror at a jagged scar across her stomach. "He did that with his claws." Kelly covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my God!" "And this," Sheila pulled her pants leg up and turned her leg to show the back of her calf. There was a large U-shaped scar, still bright red. "This was from his teeth. He said he was going to 'hamstring' me to keep me from running from him. Luckily, he got called away before he was able to finish." "Oh Sheila, I'm so sorry." Kelly was just about speechless. How could anyone be so cruel? "It got to the point that I was unconscious more than I was conscious. But that was a good thing. He didn't want to touch me if I couldn't scream." Sheila squared her shoulders. She'd made it through the worst parts. "But then, one day, I woke up, and I was here!" She managed a smile on her tear-streaked face. "How did you get here?" "The Baxter Pack along with help from some of the surrounding packs rescued us. I was so out of it I didn't notice. When I got here they put me into a coma, like they did with Drago. That way the patient doesn't feel all the pain. I was that way for a week. And when I woke up, there was this amazingly handsome man sitting next to me, stroking my hair. He smiled at me, and I knew right then and there that I loved him. I can't explain it. He had the most amazing eyes. I was lost in them whenever I looked at him. I still am." Kelly saw her faraway dreamy look and knew she was telling the truth. She had found her soul-mate. "Who is he?" "His name is Jeff. He's the head doctor here. I've never felt so loved in my entire life. And when I'm strong enough, he'll turn me into a werewolf, and we'll be together forever." Kelly was taken aback. "You'd want to be a werewolf? After what they did to you?" "Kelly, most werewolves are nothing like Gary and Paul. They had genetically altered themselves. A normal werewolf isn't like them. They aren't cruel. Everything they do is for their families. What they want most is to have cubs and live in peace." Kelly had asked her if she still wanted to be a werewolf. Maybe she believed her now. "So what happened to the... men who hurt you? Did they get arrested?" "Arrested? No, they're dead. They wouldn't give up. The ones who did were given the chance to re-join their families. A few refused. They were..." Sheila wasn't sure if she should tell her, but she guessed she shouldn't try to hide anything either. "They were executed for their crimes. But there were only a few. Most were just pawns." Kelly sat quietly, stunned. What was there to say? Sheila stood up and put out a hand. "C'mon, Drago needs you. He's going to wake up any time now. The best thing for him would be to see you there." Kelly stared at the proffered hand, then up at Sheila's face. She flipped back the blankets and swung her legs off the edge of the bed. "No one will be waiting for me with a needle?" Shelia laughed. "I promise, Trina and her needles will be on stand-down. She feels really badly by the way. She's the sweetest person on the planet. I've gotten to know her pretty well since she and Jeff are best friends." Kelly took Sheila's hand and allowed herself to be dragged from the bed. Sheila handed her a robe and they went to the door. "It isn't locked?" "No, it isn't." Sheila opened the door and they walked hand in hand down the hall to the door Kelly had been through before. Kelly stopped in front of the door. "It's okay, Kelly. Trust me." Sheila tugged gently on her arm. The room was silent except for the rhythmic beeping from the EKG. Kelly noticed the ventilator was missing. She guessed since they'd stopped the sedation he was breathing on his own again. Sheila walked her to the bed and left her standing there as she went to get some chairs. Kelly stood and stared down at the injured animal laying on the bed. She watched his chest rise and fall. She heard an alarm from one of the monitors and looked up, watching the interference on the EKG. She automatically started trouble-shooting to see if it was the monitor or if something was wrong. She found the lead that had fallen off the wolf's leg and deftly reattached it. Sheila watched her fix the EKG and smiled. "Here's a chair for you." She pulled her own chair a few feet away and sat down to keep Kelly and Drago company. Kelly took the chair and sat a little away from the bed. She stared at the wolf. It couldn't be Drago, could it? It was an animal. His ear was twitching. "Talk to him, Kelly. He'll hear you." Kelly looked from the woman to the wolf lying next to her. "I guess it won't be so weird to talk to a wolf. I talk to my patients all the time. They're dogs, same thing, right?" The wolf coughed and shook its head. Kelly jumped in her chair and Sheila giggled. "Maybe he didn't like you comparing him to a dog." Kelly looked back at the wolf and watched for any movement. "Sorry." The wolf was silent. "Drago, is that really you?" She tentatively reached out a hand and touched the edge of his ear. It was so soft. It twitched as she touched it. "So you're a veterinary nurse, I hear." "Yes." Kelly assessed his breathing. It was steady. She touched the corners of his eyes, the lids reacted. "He's close to waking up." "Then talk to him. Tell him you miss him, or whatever you're feeling. He needs to know you're safe." She whispered, "He'll hear you, Kelly. I used to hear Jeff. I didn't even know who he was, but I heard him." Kelly pursed her lips and took a deep breath. "Drago, I'm fine. I..I miss you. Come back to me, please!" She reached out and touched his paw. It was soft. It seemed like she'd been sitting here for hours when the wolf's eyes fluttered open and looked at her. Kelly saw the dark eyes watching her. They knew her. They were Drago's eyes. She whispered in his ear, "Drago, it really is you!" She put her head down next to his on the pillow and cried. Her hand stroked the soft fur on his head. She felt his tongue softly touch the side of her face. {Papa, she knows.} Silvano was startled. "Drago is awake, and Kelly is with him." He held Carla tightly. {Yes, she knows. She had to find you. We will give you time alone. But we will be there to see you later.} {Kelly, I wish I could tell you how much I love you.} Drago's eyes never left her. She was crying. He wanted to comfort her, to hold her in his arms, but he couldn't. "Don't worry, Drago. I'm not going anywhere. I love you! Once you're... more yourself, we'll talk." Kelly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and smiled at the big shaggy head that watched her so closely. Sheila was beginning to feel like a third wheel. "Kelly, if you're okay, I'm going to take off. If you need anything, just pick up the phone and call the nurse's station. And if you want to talk more, I'll be around. Trina usually knows where I am. That is, if you're willing to talk to her." Kelly looked up at the woman who had bared her soul to her. "Thank you, Sheila. Thank you for telling me. And I'll give Trina another chance too." Sheila slipped through the door and shut it quietly behind her. She found Jenna in the waiting room. She knew she'd be here when she was done. "Jenna, can we talk?" As her friend stood up, Sheila ran and threw her arms around her, sobbing. She felt Jenna's arms close around her and felt her hands stroke her hair. "Shhh, it'll be okay, Sheila. It'll just take time." She kissed her on the forehead and held her tight. "You're handling it great!" She sat down, wiping her eyes and sniffling. "I had Alistair, even before I met him. You were alone! And then you had so much healing to do. And you were still alone. Once you and Jeff mate, you'll have someone to share everything with." "Will he know... everything?" "Only if you want him to. But trust me, Sheila, he'll only love you more. If you hide a part of yourself from him forever, you'll never know what unconditional love is. And that's all that werewolves know." Jenna could feel her friend shivering under the steady hand she held on her back. She leaned in close to her ear and whispered. "Go find him, Sheila. You won't regret letting him know what happened." Sheila looked up at her friend. They'd shared something horrible, and it brought them closer together than most girlfriends. Jenna was right. If she hid the truth from Jeff forever she could never let him get too close, could never be the kind of mate he expected and deserved. Sheila tracked down Trina who told her that Jeff had gone hunting with Carr and the Betas. They'd been gone for a few hours and would probably be back soon. She wandered the hospital hallway and saw Silvano and Carla with Kelly in Drago's room. Carla was sitting next to Kelly with an arm around her shoulders and a smile on her face. Kelly had eyes only for Drago. Sheila smiled. Kelly saw the man she loved, not the wolf. Just the way she felt when she saw Jeff's wolf. She wished she was seeing him now. She really needed him. She sat outside the main house, watching the path that led to the forest. That was where the hunters would enter the compound. She gazed around the grounds, smiling as some of her friends waved on their way to dinner. There weren't many human women left at the compound. A huge group had gone to California last month. And more had traveled to some of the surrounding packs and had found mates. But her mate was waiting for her here. She closed her eyes and thought of Jeff, the way he watched her all the time, his devotion to her almost written on his forehead. She opened her eyes when she heard the wolves baying as they ran back from the hunt. She recognized Jeff right away as he ran with the Betas. She always knew him by the waviness of his coat. He was the only black wolf with wavy fur. He spotted her and immediately broke away from the pack and trotted up to her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. It had been a great hunt. It'd been so long since he'd had the luxury of a good hunt. And he did love elk! He couldn't wait to share this part of his life with Sheila. Sheila was a little taken aback with the blood that dripped from his muzzle. She knew she was going to have to get used to it someday, and her friends had reassured her that once she was turned, it wouldn't bother her at all. But for now, she just couldn't help but grimace at the sight. "I'm sorry, Jeff. Could you take a shower? I really need to talk to you, and I just can't look at you like that. Do you mind?" The wolf shook his whole body, little droplets of blood flying everywhere. He didn't notice the expression on her face as she jumped back, her hand up to keep the droplets from hitting her in the face. He quickly shifted and grabbed her hand, leading her to their room. Another thing she needed to get used to was the frequent nudity. It always caught her off guard when she saw wolves and panthers shifting and walking around naked. Jenna had told her she'd been a little self-conscious at first, but she'd gotten over it. Sheila guessed it was just another thing she'd need to get used to. Jeff shut the door and turned around to face his beautiful mate. His mate! He loved thinking it. "What was it you wanted to talk about?" He stood nonchalantly, blood streaking his skin. "Nothing until you get cleaned up. I just can't have a serious conversation with you while you're covered in animal blood." She tried to smile but it came out more like a grimace. He grinned. "Then come take a shower with me." He grabbed hold of her hand again. Sheila pulled her hand away. "No, get rid of the blood, then we'll talk." She saw his look of disappointment but tried to ignore it. They'd shared his room for the last few weeks, since he'd finally declared her well enough to leave the hospital. She slept in bed with him, but she always wore pajamas. She knew he'd seen all of her injuries, but she was so self-conscious about the scars, she just couldn't let him see her without clothing. While she waited for him to come out of the bathroom she straightened up the room. She'd been so preoccupied this morning with Kelly she hadn't even made the bed. She was just putting the finishing pat-down on the comforter when he walked out of the bathroom. "Clean as a whistle. Do I meet with your approval?" He stood in front of her, still drying his hair with a towel and not wearing anything else. She blushed as she looked at him and nodded. He wasn't as massively built as the Alpha or the Betas, but he was perfect for her. She knew his official rank in the pack was Beta, but he was one of the smaller ones, being only about six feet tall. But he still had a muscular body, perfectly proportioned. She wondered if there were many human doctors in as good physical condition as he was. She suddenly realized she had no idea how old he was. But she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Maybe later. He plopped down on the bed and patted a spot next to him. "Sit down. Tell me what's on that beautiful mind of yours." She sat carefully next to him and felt his hand take hers. She had so much she wanted to say and wasn't sure she could get it all out without falling apart. She could see him looking at her sideways, trying to see her face as she looked down. She felt his hand take her chin and turn her face to look at him. She held her breath. "Sheila, what's wrong? Did talking to Kelly upset you? Did everything go okay?" "It went great. No, talking to her didn't upset me, it just got me thinking...about us." His heart froze in his chest. He felt his expression go blank. "Do you want to..." He couldn't say it. If she wanted to leave, he wouldn't force her to stay. His wolf was baying in his head. Shut up and let me think! The wolf went to a corner of his mind and curled up in a ball. Sheila saw the shocked look on his face and figured pretty quickly what he was thinking. "No, no, God no! I don't want to leave, Jeff. I want to stop waiting. I want to be your mate." The look of relief on his face made her want to cry that she had scared him so badly. "I'm so sorry I made you think that." She flung herself into his arms and her emotions, which had been so close to the surface all day, broke through in front of him for the first time. She cried in his arms for the first time. She'd never let go in front of him before. She'd been afraid that if she let it out, she'd scare him away. "Oh geez, and now I can't stop crying." "Sheila, baby, cry all you want. It's okay. I love you no matter how much you cry." He held her to his chest, brushing his lips on the top of her head. He'd never seen her cry. In fact, it'd worried him that she hadn't cried before this. He was glad that, for whatever reason, she felt at home enough with him to let go. "Believe me, you're stuck with me forever. A little crying isn't going to send me running with my tail between my legs." He bent his head down to inhale her scent; nutmeg and gardenia wafted its way to his brain and reassured his panicking wolf. He kissed the side of her face, his lips sliding across her jaw to her ear, and flicked his tongue out to tease her earlobe. He felt her sudden intake of breath. Was she afraid? He'd been so careful with her. He held her at night in bed, but never pushed anything more. But then he smelled her wetness and smiled to himself. She was excited. He licked behind her neck and heard her moan. He spoke with a husky voice. "Sheila, if you want me to stop, tell me." He kissed across the scars along her collarbone. Her hands twined into his hair. Her body shivered but not with fear. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted to be his mate. She wanted him to make her into a werewolf. "Don't stop, Jeff. Don't ever stop." She gasped as his mouth found a particularly sensitive area of her neck. She remembered as a teenager she'd always loved it when her boyfriend kissed her neck and shoulders. She couldn't help but notice his hard cock that brushed against her arm. She tentatively reached her hand to touch it. She heard his sudden gasp and moan as she stroked the soft, velvety head. It'd been so long since someone had made love to her. She'd forgotten what it was like. His lips felt so soft wherever they kissed her skin. She closed her eyes and, for the first time in months, didn't see Paul. All she saw was Jeff. All she felt was Jeff. All she wanted was Jeff. Jeff gently pulled her t-shirt over her head and saw the jagged scars that crisscrossed her flesh. He hated Paul for what he'd done, but she was here now, with him. No one would harm her again. He knew how self-conscious she was about her scars and wanted to make sure she knew he loved every bit of her, even the scars. His fingers lightly traced each and every one. He felt her shiver beneath his touch but didn't slow his exploration. His lips followed, kissing every mark the Dire Wolf had left on her. He could sense her growing excitement, could smell it. His wolf was ready, but he held him back. {No, she's not ready. Give her time. Today is just for us. You'll have your turn another day.} His lips traveled past her ribs to her breasts, so round and firm, the perfect size as far as he was concerned. He nuzzled each one, enjoying the feeling of the soft flesh on his face. He latched onto a hardening nipple and licked and nipped at it, until it was hard and ready for him to suck. She lifted up into his mouth, holding his head with both hands. The feeling of her body writhing underneath his was maddening. His wolf wanted to mate now, but the human half wouldn't allow it. {No, she's been through too much. She needs gentleness now, not you. Just wait. I promise, you will have your chance soon.} The wolf grumbled to himself and agreed to stand aside for now. The scent coming from her pussy beckoned to him and he moved his way down her body, kissing the soft curve of her belly and down across the front of her pelvis. Jeff inhaled and was overcome by her sweet, intoxicating scent. His hands took hold of her thighs and spread them wide, watching as her swollen lips opened, ready for him. He could see the fluids flowing from her. He leaned in closely, his tongue flicking up her slit. He had to hold on tight to keep her from closing her knees around his head. Sheila tried to control her breathing as she felt his tongue on her for the first time. Had she ever felt like this before? She lifted her hips to push his tongue harder on her clit. In seconds she felt so close to cumming. "Oh, fuck, yes. Jeff, don't stop." She started to buck against his amazing tongue. She felt like he was drinking from her, and sucking the air from her lungs through her pussy. "Ahhhh, oh God!" Her heart pounded in her chest. Her hands grabbed at the comforter she had so carefully put on the bed. She pulled at it, her knuckles white. "Ahhh, ahhh, ohhhhhhh fuckkkkkkkkk!" He never stopped licking until her body stopped its spasming. She lay there, stunned. She was speechless as Jeff looked up at her from between her legs. His face was wet, from her this time! She giggled when he smiled at her. He moved over her body, kissing her skin as he climbed his way up to kiss her mouth. She could taste herself on his lips. His tongue twined with hers. His lips and his tongue felt so right. Out of Darkness Ch. 10 Jeff held himself above her, his hard cock brushing her wet pussy lips. He whispered in her ear, "I only want to love you. Let me love you, Sheila." He kissed her neck and, again, held back his wolf. She wrapped her arms around his body, her fingers digging into the muscles of his back. "Please, Jeff, please, I want you. I'm not afraid anymore. I want to be your mate." She pulled her legs up around his hips and tried to pull him down into her. "Only love tonight, baby. The wolf is staying out of it. Next time, I promise." He carefully pushed his cock into her, gritting his teeth as he finally felt his mate's body take him inside. She felt so amazingly tight. He wanted to give her only pleasure for their first time together. After waiting so long, he was worried his wolf couldn't control himself. He couldn't take that chance with her, couldn't risk scaring her. He felt her moving with him, pushing into his thrusts, trying to pull him in deeper. Her moans drove him on, the wolf coming out just a little, taking the tiniest bit of control, to thrust harder into his mate. She was his, she made him whole. They were meant to be together. The wolf howled with resentment when Jeff wouldn't allow him to bite her. Fine, he would wait, but only a day. Tomorrow, they would mate. Jeff thrust over and over, kissing Sheila with a passion he'd never felt before. Now he understood what it meant to have a mate. She was everything to him. She was his life. He felt her body spasming underneath him and felt himself shooting jets of sperm deep inside her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as they both jerked and moaned. He was careful not to seat his knot. There would be time for that later. He didn't want her first time with him to have any discomfort at all. He pushed her hair out of her eyes and gazed at her face, noting her blissful expression. "Like that?" He kissed all along her neck. She spoke through deep breaths. "Oh my God, Jeff. That was amazing. Is it always like that with a werewolf you love?" "It'll get even better, baby, I promise!" His wolf nodded his agreement. But tomorrow, it was his turn! Jeff turned to his back and held out his arms. Sheila happily put her head on his chest and sighed as his arms closed tightly around her. This is where she belonged. If being kidnapped and held by the Dire Wolves had led her to Jeff, then it was worth it! She listened to his heart beating in his chest as she snuggled into his warm embrace. The sound of his heart and steady breathing lulled her to sleep. Things could only get better for her now. She'd faced her fears and let go of them. She was going to be with her werewolf for the rest of her life. Out of Darkness Ch. 11 Thank you to all my readers for your comments. I hope you continue to enjoy the stories as much as I enjoy writing them. And as always, a huge thank you to Archangel_M for his support and guidance. ************* Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. The figure standing on the hillside watched the flames die out. He listened as the shouting and screams quieted while the sun rose. The smell of death surrounded him, and he reveled in it. He heard the movement in the grass behind him and waited patiently for the little blond wolf to sit at his side. He stood looking out over the decimated camp, never glancing at the wolf. "You did well Zosime. They believed your every word. You have earned your reward." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She looked up at him with her sad eyes. "You and your father may live. Go back to my cave and wait for me there." He waited for her to leave before acknowledging the presence of another nearby. His eyes followed the red panther as she approached, her slow stride unsteady, her side streaked with blood. Her green eyes burned with hatred, and he laughed at her for it. "It's too late, Lysandra. You are the last of your kind. I have won." The panther shifted into a stunning woman with long red hair that fell down in curls over her shoulders. Her emerald-green eyes seemed to look through Erobos, as if he wasn't worth her sight. She looked beyond him. "You have sealed your fate, Erobos. Your end will come, and it will be horrible to behold. But you will have brought it upon yourself." "Leona could have saved you all." He wondered if her body was among those on the ground below. He would find it. If any life still flowed, he might be able to do to her what the vampire had done to him. Then she would be his mate for all time. Lysandra knew his evil thoughts. "Leona is meant for another, not for you. She will have her future. And her future will be your downfall." If she noticed him turn his head to glare at her, she didn't show it. "You and your visions, Lysandra. Where are your precious sister panthers now? Dead! All of them, dead! Why did you not foresee your own end? You could have escaped. But you did not, and now you will die as well." Erobos licked his lips as the picture came to his mind of the panthers, all dead. Her voice was dispassionate as she spoke to the thing in front of her. "You have become an abomination, Erobos. You were not meant to be. The Vampire was wrong to have ever made you. Little does he know that he will suffer the consequences as well. You think you will rule over all the weres. But you are wrong; your kind will not prevail. You will think you have power, but in reality, you will have none. And your fall will be deadly..." She paused for a moment. "And painful!" As much as Erobos attempted to provoke her rage, she maintained her calm demeanor. And if he had heard her premonition, he ignored it. "I am ready to join my family now." She turned to the figure cloaked in black. His pale face almost glowed in the dark. His hand reached out and grabbed her throat. As he squeezed it tightly, she smiled and looked to the sky. She managed to mouth the words, "I will be with you soon, sisters." Erobos crushed her throat and watched her lifeless body drop to the ground in a heap. He kicked her to be sure she was dead. Weak, the panthers were all weak. He waited for the humans to leave the smoldering remnants of the village. Their work here was done. They had avenged the poor little blond girl who had disappeared as soon as the massacre began. But at least they were safe from the monsters. Erobos laughed to himself. The panthers hadn't even attempted to save themselves. He wandered among the scattered bodies. Not as many of them as he'd expected. Why did he not find the bodies of the cubs? Where was Leona? He walked through the remains of every dwelling, kicking aside the bodies of the dead. She wasn't here. Damn you, Leona. Where did you go? You cannot hide from me! I will find you and bring you back to me! You will belong to me, or you will belong to no one! ********************* Nevada - Present Day "Hey, Axel. How are things going out there?" Carr had a smile on his face as he spoke with his new friend. It was too bad the Jensen pack was five hundred miles away in Danville, California. If they were closer, he could envision working together on a regular basis. Axel was much easier to work with than say, Torrance or Crane. "Hi, Carr. Not too bad actually. We're getting a kick out of watching Erobos at the airport. The humans are giving him a wide berth. He doesn't exactly fit in with the normal public, you know. He looks pretty conspicuous in his fancy Italian suit. And he never takes off his sunglasses. Maybe he doesn't want to scare people more than he already is. Airport Police are kind of giving him the eye, if you know what I mean." Carr could just imagine how the police were looking at him and smirked. "Can you get us some pictures so we know exactly who we're dealing with?" "Sure, we've got some good photographers in the pack. We have time. His flight doesn't leave for a few hours. He keeps looking at his cell phone and making calls. The phones we confiscated off his Betas are ringing like crazy, all with incoming calls from the same phone number. Took us a while, but we finally found one of the phones that had the voice mail passcode pre-programmed and were able to listen to the messages." Carr lifted an eyebrow as he listened to Axel's laughter. "It was funnier than hell, Carr. All we could hear was screaming in Italian, we're guessing. Unfortunately, that is one language that none of us speak. Anyone there than could translate for you?" "Yeah, I think we can get that handled. Hang on a minute." Carr knew Drago's parents were hardly ever far from his bedside. Logan, can you send Silvano over to my office to translate a message for me? Logan maneuvered around Kelly as he checked Drago's vitals. He'd just finished changing his dressings, and he was healing better than Logan could have ever predicted. His head popped up when he felt his Alpha through their bond. He smiled at the three worried faces watching him closely. "Things are looking good here. Silvano, Carr is requesting you come to his office. He needs some translation. After you get back, I'll give you all the updates." Logan grinned ear to ear. He didn't want anyone worrying unnecessarily while they were waiting. "All good news, folks, really!" Silvano leaned down to kiss his mate on the top of her head and gave Kelly's shoulder a gentle squeeze. He remembered to be careful with his son's human mate. She was good for Drago, and he was sure his healing so well was, in part, attributable to her presence. "I'll be back soon. I want to hear what the Doctor has to say." Silvano wondered what it was the Alpha had that needed translating. He walked into the office and saw Carr pacing the floor, cell phone in hand, laughing with whomever it was he was speaking to. "Silvano, great! I need you to listen to a recording and tell me what was said." He thrust the phone into Silvano's hand and sat down in his chair to wait. Silvano slowly put the phone to his ear. "Hello?" "Hi, I'm going to play the recording now." Axel held up the confiscated phone and pressed a few buttons. "Dove cazzo sei? Avrò la testa se non si presenta presto!" Silvano listened with a disgusted look on his face. Axel came back to the line. "Do you need to hear it again?" "No, I have it." Silvano handed the phone back to Carr. "Well?" Carr looked at him expectantly, holding the phone out and on speaker so Axel could hear. "What did he say?" Silvano cleared his throat. "Where the fuck are you? I'll have your heads if you don't show up soon!" Silvano didn't hide his distaste for the filthy language from his former Alpha. He didn't like listening to it, and worse, having to repeat it. "Got that, Axel?" Carr listened for a moment and laughed. "Yeah, I think he's gonna get even more pissed soon. I'll keep ya in the loop. Thanks, Axel. Give me a call back when his flight takes off. I really appreciate your help." "Thank you, Silvano. I hear Drago is doing well. Glad to hear it. You can go back to your son." He clapped the male on the shoulder in a friendly gesture and went back to his phone. Erobos would be leaving San Francisco in about four hours. Heck, he could have made it here faster by driving instead of waiting for a flight. Maybe that's why he's so upset? His Betas were supposed to chauffeur him to Reno from SF? Hmm, interesting thought. Does Erobos even know how to drive? He'll have another four and a half hour drive from Reno to Elko. His Betas won't be waiting for him there either. Wonder how he'll get here. Carr's phone began ringing again, and he looked down at the caller ID. Wilson. "Wilson, what ya got for me? Uh huh, yeah, the Alpha isn't too happy. Be sure to cover the car rentals and limo services. I'm not sure this guy drives. Yeah, I'll let you know." Carr chuckled to himself. This was getting good. Erobos was calling all of his pack members. He smiled as he walked out of his office, whistling to himself. He walked into the room Alistair had finally claimed as office space and sat across from the distinguished white-haired were. "Things are getting interesting." "I think it's going to be even more interesting soon. Sandalio has received information from Sardinia about more of that pack's members here in the U.S. I have them being rounded up around the country as we speak. And he found out who the spies in Xylon's DNA company are. They are all in custody." "Wow, that's great! How's Xylon taking it?" "He's pretty devastated. He considered many of them friends. But he'll get over it. Sandalio is on his way over. He wanted to talk about a few things." And just at that moment the Spaniard arrived with a flourish, his long hair loose around his shoulders, still wet from a swim in the nearby lake. "I'm sorry to be late. I took the opportunity to take a run through the forest with a lovely Beta who delighted in showing me the plentiful game in the area." He smoothed his hair back into a ponytail and secured it with a leather tie. Carr and Alistair exchanged amused grins. "And how is Julia today?" Carr knew she had had her eye on Sandalio since she'd been rebuffed by Guillame at the Wolf Moon. He hoped she found a mate soon. The other single females didn't appreciate having to compete with her. She always seemed to end up the winner. He could just imagine the happy female faces the day her mate found her. Sandalio laughed and sat on the corner of Alistair's new desk. "She is just fine, and very... flexible." Carr lost it and almost fell out of his chair. Alistair tried to be business-like but couldn't stop from joining the two males in their boisterous laughter. Rhys cracked the door and looked in carefully. "Did I miss something?" "You had to be here my friend. Come in. We were just about to catch up on Erobos and his pack." "Any word from your Beta in Sardinia?" Alistair hoped he was finding more answers about the Dire Wolves. He couldn't believe it was merely to drink blood. And why did he kidnap the female? She was supposed to be bait, but for whom? Or what? "He has good people with him. One thousand years of records are hard to catalog. Only the last few years are computerized." Sandalio pulled out his cell phone and set it down on the table top next to him. "Of course his new mate has him a little preoccupied. But he is doing his best to balance his time." When his cell phone rang, he smirked and picked it up slowly. "Excuse me, please. I need to take this call." Carr cocked his head. He didn't remember Sandalio ever walking around with a lot of interest in his phone. "Pronto. Seraphina non può venire al telefono in questo momento. E 'occupata." Sandalio had a huge smile on his face as he spoke. He winked at the three males, who looked at him questioningly. "Do either of you speak Italian?" Carr was lost. Alistair stood next to him, staring at the Spaniard. "Not a word." "E 'troppo occupato a cazzo suo nuovo compagno." Silvano held the phone away from his ear so they could hear the irate male on the other end. "Sono entrambi morto, cazzo! Ti strappo il cuore e mangiare le viscere!" Sandalio looked at the phone, shaking his head. "I think he's upset." Rhys struggled to listen closely. "I think it's something about they're screwed, dead, ripped hearts. Or something to that effect." Sandalio looked at the phone sadly. "He hung up on me. Poor Erobos. He was very upset that his acting Alpha Bitch is mated." "You were talking to Erobos? How did he happen to call you?" Alistair had a feeling Sandalio knew more than he'd shared so far. "I had all incoming calls to the Sardinian Pack forwarded to my phone." He grinned ear to ear. "Yes, he is not happy. It is a good thing that Álvaro and his mate are a continent away. I think Erobos would try to make good on his threats. Of course he has his sights set on your pack first, Carr." "We'll be ready for him!" Carr wasn't sure what they were going to do when he got here, but at least they'd know they'd taken out all of his backup. Carr, cell phones we found at the mine are ringing like crazy. Can we turn them all off? These Sardinians have some weird tastes in ringtones and it's driving us crazy. Carr burst out laughing before he answered Bryant's question. Just put them all in silent mode for now. What about the phones from the ones we picked up around here? Not yet. I'll let you know if and when they do. I guarantee they will. Put them on silent and start going through the phones to see if any have the passcode programmed so you can pull the messages. "Erobos is getting desperate. He's calling all of his men. He must be fuming by now." ******************** Jenna snuggled into the warm blankets. Alistair had gone to another of his interminable meetings, and she had moved to his side of the bed where his scent was strongest and she felt the safest. She quickly fell back asleep. ````````````````````` She was so proud of her daughter who had given birth to ten sons, and now, finally, two granddaughters wriggled in her arms. She leaned over her exhausted daughter, handing the red-haired twin to her, and the black-haired twin to her daughter's mate. The proud parents rocked their new cubs, their hearts filled with love for the newest members of their pack. The pack was assembled, waiting to hear. Leona heard the cheers of joy and well wishes to the Alphas on their youngest children. It was a good omen when the Alphas were able to bring cubs into the world. ```````````````````` Tears of joy fell slid down Jenna's face. ```````````````````` The raven-haired woman watched as the two small cubs tumbled together down the hillside. She clapped her hands and laughed while they ran around her, their tails high in the air. The little black and red balls of fur were having a glorious time as they circled their beloved grandmother. She so enjoyed this time with her late daughter's children. The boys were grown, but the two little girls were hers to raise and were her pride and joy. She would give her life to keep them safe. Her daughter already had. ````````````````````` Jenna smiled in her sleep. `````````````````````` The Alpha walked into the Grandmother's house, watching his daughters prepare for the evening's festivities. Orsolya looked so much like her mother, it took his breath away. The golden gown glinted. Her red hair fell in ringlets around her face and over her shoulders. Her green eyes shone like emeralds. Orsolya twirled, getting used to the flow of her skirt, and saw her father standing in the doorway. Her face lit up as she ran to him. "Father, how do I look? Am I as beautiful as mother was in this dress?" She held the skirt out and turned slowly, watching him over her shoulder for his reaction. When she saw his grin, she squealed with delight. "You look ravishing, my little bear, just like your mother. Guillame will be pleased." He moved to his other daughter's side and hugged her to him. "Well Zsálya, what do you think of your sister, hmm?" Zsálya sighed and showed a rare smile. "Orsolya, you are truly a beautiful vision. I am so happy for you." She went to the wall where a hooded cloak hung waiting. It was plain and would hide her beauty from her mate until the right moment. She held it out for her flame-haired sister. The Grandmother clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "We must hurry. The hunt will start soon." ```````````````````` Jenna turned in her sleep, her face a mask of contentment and loving pride. ``````````````````` The Alpha shifted and stood at the edge,forcing himself to look down into the ravine. He fell to his knees as he looked upon the broken body of his beautiful daughter. His fists clenched as he tried to maintain his control. He had not felt this kind of pain since the death of his mate. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the little black wolf as the snow fell on her still form. The black panther stood close to him, shifting, and reaching out her hand to lend him her strength as her own tears fell. The Alpha knelt next to his beautiful Zsálya. He stroked her head while tears flowed down his cheeks. He looked up at the sky. "Allegria, please look after our daughter." He slowly reached for the little black wolf and gently took her into his arms. He stood and turned, stopping for just a moment in front of Leona, who tenderly kissed her granddaughter one last time. The Alpha then carefully made his way back up the path towards their home, Leona following close behind as she felt her heart break. ````````````````````` "No, no, Zsálya, my precious Zsálya!" Jenna's voice carried through the large house. She sounded hysterical, like her world had come crashing down around her. Her sobs were heart-wrenching and startled everyone who heard. Lee almost ran into Katy as they bounded up the stairs to Jenna and Alistair's room. They burst through the door together, not even taking the time to knock. The two women rushed into the bedroom and saw their friend rolling in the bed, her arms flailing, tears streaming down her face. Lee ran to her side, pulling her into her arms and held her tightly. "Jenna, shhhh, Jenna, it's a dream, it's just a dream." She stroked her hair and rocked her like she was a cub. Katy sat on the bed next to the shivering woman, her hand steady on her back. She pushed through their bond which was unusually silent, and let her calming thoughts join the frantic ones of her sister panther. She hoped she could help to soothe her. She could feel the consciousness of the other panthers, sending their reassurances to her as well. Jenna, we're here with you. You were dreaming. Jenna, wake up, wake up! Jenna awoke with a start, feeling the iron grip of the Alpha Bitch and the soft touch of her close friend. She blinked back her tears and tried to regulate her breathing, which had become gasps for air. Had she been having a panic attack? "I-I'm alright, really." Her voice shook as she tried to regain her senses. She gratefully took the tissue from Katy's hand and dabbed at her eyes before blowing her nose. She felt the worried thoughts of her sister panthers and knew she'd better say something soon or they'd all be here in a minute as well. I'm fine, really. It was a bad dream. I'm so sorry to concern you all with it. At this moment Jenna was very glad that her dreams weren't shared like her thoughts through her bonds with the other panthers, and more importantly, her mate. He would have left his meeting at a dead run and pushed everyone out of the way if that were the case. Out of Darkness Ch. 11 She sniffed and tried to force a smile to prove she was okay. "It was nothing, really." Lee cocked her head, knowing full well that it was something. But she knew the panthers would be able to get the answers. She smiled and patted her friend on the shoulder. "Then if you're okay, I need to get back to work. But call me if you need anything!" She continued to watch her until she gave her a nod. She gave her a quick hug and waved to Katy as she went back to her duties as Alpha Bitch. "So, nothing, huh? Expect me to believe that?" Katy watched her friend reach for her ever-present notebook and busily write out line after line of text. Katy craned her neck to try to make out what she was writing but Jenna turned to block her line of sight. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't pry." "No, no. I'll tell you, but not yet. First, I need to write down everything I remember, and then, I need to speak with Orsolya and Guillame." Her pencil flew across the page as she tried to jot down everything she remembered. "Do you think they'll be able to interpret the dreams?" Katy was confused. Orsolya had enough trouble interpreting her own visions, much less someone else's. "Not dreams, memories. I think they're memories. I have to find out!" Jenna waited for Orsolya and Guillame to meet her in Carr's office. Lee had assured her that Carr was busy with Alistair and they wouldn't be disturbed. How was she going to ask them about this? She walked around the room, watching through the window for them. She caught a glimpse of a tall figure with brown hair holding the hand of a smaller female, red hair billowing around her shoulders. They looked the same as in the dream. It had to be them. It had to be a memory of the past, not a vision. Orsolya went to her new friend and hugged her tightly. "Is this about what upset you earlier, Jenna?" She smoothed Jenna's black hair, just like she used to do with her beloved grandmother. It was so hard to look at Jenna and not see Leona. "Yes, I'd like you and Guillame to read this." She quietly handed them her notebook and waited, watching their eyes move across the pages. She knew from their expressions what their answers were going to be. "It really happened, didn't it? Just the way I wrote it down?" "Yes, it happened exactly that way." Orsolya looked at the woman who now she knew was the reincarnation of her grandmother. "You are Leona. She is a part of you. I knew it." She reached out a hand to grasp the younger woman's. "Jenna, why do you seem so upset? You should be happy. Leona was much loved by her family. Everyone in my pack will be pleased to know their grandmother isn't dead. So what is bothering you?" Guillame could tell she was holding something back. "Have either of you met Kelly? The human woman that came here with the injured Beta from the Sardinian Pack?" Orsolya and Guillame exchanged confused looks before answering. "No." "Then you should. Come with me. She's at the hospital." Jenna waited for the confused couple to follow her. They sat quietly in Jeff's office, waiting for Kelly. Jenna couldn't look at them. What would their reaction be? Was this a good idea? Something inside her told her it was meant to be, and it was for the best. But she wasn't so sure she believed it. And why hadn't she noticed before. She kicked herself for not being more observant. Of course, no one else had noticed either. Kelly was hesitant to enter the office but Trina gave her a gentle push. "They won't bite." Kelly walked through the door and heard it shut behind her. Absent-mindedly she put her hand behind her to try the doorknob; it was unlocked. She stared at the three people in front of her. She remembered Jenna from when she'd first arrived here. She looked nervous. The couple with her looked like they'd seen a ghost. The shocked looks on their faces scared her. She didn't want to be here. She looked from one face to the other. "What did you need to speak with me about? I need to be with Drago, so the sooner you spit it out, the better." It's Zsálya! Orsolya looked at the woman with a delighted smile on her face. But she was afraid of scaring her. She was human. Guillame was stunned. She was the image of Orsolya's twin and by extension, Orsolya. "Kelly, my name is Guillame. And this.." He led his mate by the hand to Kelly's side. "This is Orsolya. Would you mind standing here in front of the mirror next to her?" He backed away and stood next to the silent Jenna. Kelly was startled by his accent-French? She stood next to the woman he called Orsolya. She had the most beautiful red hair. She looked into the mirror and was speechless. Other than their hair, they were twins! "What's going on here? You look like me!" She turned to look at the smiling woman. "And you look like me. But more importantly, you look and sound like my sister, exactly like my sister. Do you believe in reincarnation, Kelly?" "No, well, I don't no. My grandfather certainly does." She stopped speaking. She hadn't thought about her grandfather for years. Jenna couldn't believe she hadn't noticed the resemblance sooner. But they'd been so preoccupied lately. None of them had noticed. "Kelly, where is your family?" Kelly still stared into the mirror, at the reflection that looked so much like hers. "My parents died in a plane crash a few years ago. My grandfather is still alive, but we don't talk." She couldn't stop looking. How bizarre. Jenna could see that Kelly was trying to understand what was happening to her here. She'd been bombarded with so much strange information. Jenna had a feeling there would be more to come. She spoke softly. "Maybe it's time you spoke with him again." Kelly spun around to face her. "He would have made me stay home forever. He didn't want me to ever leave. I had to get out, I was being smothered. Do you know I never met anyone who wasn't from our town until I went away to college? And grandpa was against that! It took my father to put his foot down to let me go. And they almost got into a fist fight about it. Grandpa is a bigot! He doesn't think anyone is as good as 'our own kind' as he says." Kelly was fuming. Jenna and Guillame were intrigued. "And he was always trying to set me up on dates with boys. And when I'd come home, he'd play forty questions. 'What did you think of him? Is there any chemistry? Do you see yourself with him forever? Your parents fell in love at first sight, so did grandma and I.' Yadda, yadda, yadda. Like he wanted to marry me off and get rid of me! I was sick of it. And when I did make it to college, I'd come home to visit and if I talked about my friends from school, I could hear grandpa in his chair, mumbling 'umani' and looking at me like I was dirt or something." "What does 'umani' mean?" Guillame was more and more interested. "I don't know. I guess it's something in Italian. Grandma and grandpa were from Italy. So was everyone from our town. They all came from some little village together. They didn't want to assimilate at all. Our little town never changed. If an outsider came in wanting to buy property, they were told nothing was for sale. Even when they had to lie. I'm glad I don't have to move back there." Jenna had picked up the office phone and spoke quietly into it, setting it down before anyone noticed. "Kelly, where does your grandfather live?" Jenna didn't want to shut her down by pressing too much about a grandfather she obviously hated. But they needed more answers than she could probably supply. "Idaho. This is the closest I've been to home in ten years." Kelly didn't like talking about her grandfather. "Why do you care? What's grandpa got to do with anything?" Jenna took a deep breath. "I think he will have a lot to explain to you. It may make your transition easier for you to know more about your family. Please, let us help you, Kelly. Call your grandfather. Tell him where you are. Invite him to come here and meet with you." Kelly couldn't believe that a group of werewolves would want a stranger in their midst. "Why would you want grandpa here? Don't you want to keep your existence a secret?" "You are more important. Call him. Tell him where you are." Jenna had a feeling Kelly's grandfather would be just as important to them as he would be to her. She pointed to the phone. "Call him." Kelly eyed her suspiciously as she made her way to the phone. She picked it up slowly, not sure she could even remember the number. Maybe he'd changed it. She waited for it to ring. Maybe he wouldn't answer. "Hello?" It was the deep voice she remembered. She breathed deeply and bit her lip. "Hello? Is anyone there?" "Grandpa? Grandpa, it's Kelly." She spoke so quietly she barely could hear herself. "Kelly! Io non ci credo. Kelly, it's so good to hear your voice! Are you alright? Is something wrong?" Kelly listened to the concern in voice. He was worried about her. He missed her. "Grandpa." It was all she could get before she started to cry uncontrollably. Jenna carefully took the phone from her. "Hello? My name is Jenna, I'm a friend of Kelly's. She needs you. Physically she's fine. But a lot has happened to her recently. She needs family around her. We can send a plane for you if you give us your location." She smiled as she jotted down the information. She looked up when Carr walked into the office. Carr saw Orsolya comforting Kelly. Why hadn't he noticed the resemblance earlier? Too much going on I guess. He met Jenna's gaze and looked at the paper she held up for him while she mouthed the words 'how long to bring him here'. He spoke quietly, "Have him meet the plane at Boise Airport in 90 minutes." Jenna relayed the message to the man who didn't sound like the uncaring bigot that Kelly had described. He sounded like a worried grandfather. She set the phone down. If things weren't interesting enough, she had a feeling it was going to heat up even more in the next few hours. **************** Alistair was confused. "So she must be Vlkolak." Guillame shook his head. "No, I don't think so. When Orsolya and I were reunited, the Vlkolak were drawn here. Orsolya said everyone was accounted for, either by appearing on our doorstep, or knowing they had died. There are no 'stray' Vlkolak out there." "Well then what is she? Xylon hasn't gotten the DNA results yet." "I think she's Sardinian." Jenna had been quiet as Alistair and Rhys were filled in on their latest surprise. She had hated keeping Alistair in the dark about her latest dream. She hadn't wanted to distract him from dealing with Erobos. But luckily for her, Alistair was confident enough in himself to not read anything into his mate's silence. He took it for what it was, her wanting to help as much as possible. "Sardinian?" Rhys had been catching up on the history of the Italian and nearby island packs, including Sardinia. "So you think she's a member of Erobos' pack?" Maybe the family had run away from him years ago? "No, I think her family is from the werepanther pack." Jenna watched as all eyes turned to her. "But I think we should wait for her grandfather to get here before we jump to conclusions. I think he will be able to answer most, if not all of our questions." ******************* Kelly had raced back to Drago's room after her unsettling meeting with her new twin and friends. She couldn't wait for Drago to be well, for them to get rid of Erobos, and then maybe she and Drago could disappear somewhere and never have to think about any of this again. When she opened the door she barely noticed who else was in the room. Her eyes were on the black wolf laying in the bed. She'd been gone less than an hour. but he looked stronger already. Was that even possible? Carla moved away from Drago's side when Kelly entered. Kelly pulled her chair up and sat as close as she could, her hand on his closest paw. She smiled at him while she stroked the soft fur of his ears. The dark eyes that looked back at hers were Drago's. She didn't care that the outside was a wolf. He was in there, and he'd be back with her soon. She just knew it. Carla moved next to Silvano and felt his arm close instinctively around her waist. She breathed in deeply, his scent calming her ever-present fears for her son. The Doctor had wanted to wait for Kelly's return before giving them the latest update on their son's condition. Now that she had returned, Carla was nervously awaiting the news. Logan stood across the bed from Kelly and smiled at his patient's mate and parents. "I have good news." ************************** Island of Sardinia - 1052 A.D. Erobos hadn't returned to the Vampire's castle since that night. It seemed so long ago but had only been weeks. He stopped at the door and stared up at the tall spires of the ancient castle. He looked at the door in front of him, the ornate piece of metal in the form of a dragon hanging, waiting for him to knock. He lifted it and let it swing, listening to the metallic sound as it hit the plate. He was about to repeat the process when he heard a sound on the other side of the door. The air inside the castle smelled damp, musty, like fresh air never made its way inside the dark recesses of the building. The Vampire stood in the doorway, a satisfied smile on its face. "Ah, my young wolf, I see you have returned to me. I have heard of your exploits; taking over your father's pack, and your hand in killing the panthers. Very good, my young wolf. You have done well." He saw the hunger in the wolf's eyes and knew what it was he'd come for. The Vampire was pleased. "And what may I do for you now?" "I am looking for more Dire Wolves. I want the blood!" "Of course you do. And you shall have it." He was suddenly at the side of the werewolf and held him by the shoulders. "Come with me, and you shall have all you want. I've been waiting for you. I knew that you would come." They made their way down the winding stairwell, deeper into the bowels of the castle. Erobos could smell the Dire Wolves. His nostrils flared as he thought he could even smell their blood. His heart pounded in his chest. He'd never felt such strength as he did when he drank their blood. He needed to feel that way again. They stopped in the room lined with cages. He saw the Dire Wolves waiting for him. They snarled and attacked the bars of their cages. They were wild and savage, no reason filling their minds, only instinct. Erobos was mesmerized by the sight of them, there for him to kill. He slowly licked his lips, imagining the feel of their blood as it passed along his tongue. But another scent reached into his brain. His head whipped around to look behind him. He stared in disbelief. No, it couldn't be. The Vampire stood behind him and laughed. "Dire wolves are different than werewolves my young wolf. They do not mate for life. She will mate with the strongest, with whatever male survives. She will not care if it is you, or any of the others. She will never care." The werewolf was frozen, his mind confused. Her scent was deep in his brain. He had to have her. But she would take any male, not just him. He had been raised to believe that a werewolf mated for life. How could his own mate not recognize him as hers? He shuffled his feet until he stood immediately in front of her. He reached out his hand slowly and had to pull it back as her teeth just barely missed. He snarled when he heard the Vampire's laughter behind him. "She is not one of your werewolf females, Erobos. She will not be submissive to the desires of her Alpha. She will only submit to the strongest of her kind. You will have to prove it to her." In that moment, Erobos knew what he must do. He turned to face the first male and dropped his clothing, shifting immediately into the form of his wolf. His size matched that of the Dire Wolves now. He was a true match for them. The first Dire Wolves he'd killed had been starved for weeks in preparation. These wolves were strong and healthy. The Vampire backed away to a safe place to watch, releasing the lever that opened the first cage. Erobos was no different than the Dire Wolves at this moment, living by instinct alone. He was fighting to take a mate, to continue his species. The first Dire Wolf leapt from the cage towards Erobos. He was able to jump out of the way and came down on the back of the wolf, slashing at the muscles of his neck, disabling him quickly. He tore his throat, sucking the hot blood into his mouth, swallowing, feeling it burn as it traveled down his throat. He felt stronger already. He was barely breathing any harder when he moved away from the body to wait for the second male to be let loose. The second male attacked blindly, trying to kill whatever male stood between him and a mate. Erobos easily out-maneuvered him, causing the male to flip over onto his back, leaving himself open to a killing blow as Erobos ripped out his entrails with one bite into his soft belly. The dying male roared with fear and pain and died as Erobos sank his teeth into his throat, sucking his life out of him. Erobos felt a strong tingling in every limb, ever part of his body. He felt his senses were heightened. He could hear the heartbeat of the third wolf. He could smell the arousal of the female as she watched her prospective mates fight for her. The last male was released from his cage. Although he'd seen two males die in front of him, it made no difference. He was a Dire Wolf. He didn't think; he reacted. He smelled the female. He would kill to get to her. He ran straight ahead, his large jaws ready to tear into this interloper. He didn't recognize the intelligence in the eyes of his adversary. He had no way to know his foe had already planned his death. The Vampire enjoyed the spectacle taking place in front of him. He was proud of his young wolf. He had performed just as he had hoped. He smiled as Erobos stood over the third male, drinking what was left of the Dire Wolf's life's blood. The Vampire reached up, pulled the lever, and released the last wolf from the cage. Erobos spun around when he heard the door open. His sides heaved as he breathed, waiting as the last wolf left the cage, walking towards him purposefully. The female could smell the blood that coated the floor. She walked across the floor to the male that still stood. The urge to mate was strong. He was the victor; she belonged to him, this time. She licked the blood from his muzzle and turned to face away from him. The she-wolf put her head to the ground, lifting her hips, her tail moving to the side. Erobos was stunned. She was presenting herself to him. She was his. He moved up close and licked her wet folds. She was ready for him. He rested his head on her back and lifted his body, wrapping his legs around her body, holding her tightly around the ribcage and thrusting deeply in one motion to bury himself in her ready passage. He began to furiously pound into her body, the urge to mate filling his brain. He could think of nothing else. She braced herself as he thrust over and over into her. She howled when his knot seated, stretching her painfully. Erobos was mindless as he bred his mate and felt compelled to bite her deeply in the neck as he flooded her with his seed. He attempted to pull her to her side while his knot receded but she resisted, remaining in a standing position. Erobos tried to shake his mind clear, but his confusion was overpowering. She should let him hold her until it was time for her to bite him. He felt his knot shrink and his cock slide out of her. Erobos was being pulled away from her and clawed the ground frantically, trying to remain with his mate. The female was quickly returned to her cage before she regained her senses. The Vampire secured the female's cage and turned to the dazed werewolf laying before him. "I will keep her here for you, Erobos. You may return at any time, but you can only breed her when she is in heat and I have males here for you to fight. She won't accept you otherwise." Out of Darkness Ch. 11 "But she is my mate." Erobos couldn't clear his head. No, Leona is my mate. I must not forget that! "Erobos, a Dire Wolf female is the mate of whatever male wins her for that breeding." The Vampire watched him carefully. Erobos did not understand. The Vampire laughed to himself. Adrastos had finally paid the price for pushing the Vampires from this island. Not only had he been killed by his own son, but his son would not be able to sire any werewolves, only mindless Dire Wolves. The Vampire led Erobos from the dungeon. He patted him on the shoulder. "Your mate will be safe here with me. And any cubs you sire will be cared for. It is all for the best, Erobos. Trust me, my young wolf." Erobos stumbled out of the castle, his brain muddled. No, that could not have been his mate. She didn't bite him, there was no bond. Leona was his mate. He had to find Leona. **************** San Francisco Airport, California -- Present Day The little boy almost made it to the tall man standing against the wall before his mother grabbed him by the hand, dragging him away as she scolded him in a whisper. "Stay away from him! Never trust a stranger!" The mother glanced quickly over her shoulder. Was he watching them? He hadn't moved a muscle in the last two hours. It was creepy. Erobos lifted his lip in a sneer as he watched it all through his dark glasses. This wait for his flight was tedious. And being surrounded by humans didn't make it any more pleasant. He had noticed a few females that could rival even Seraphina, but he didn't have the time for fun and games. He was running out of time. He needed to get that girl back! She was his only hope. He looked at his watch and sighed quietly to himself. Two more hours before his flight left. He could have been half way there by now if his men had shown up. What had happened to his Betas? They would die in the most horrible ways they could ever imagine once he had the time to deal with them. But he had more important matters to attend to at the moment. This was all the fault of that damn Vampire! Erobos had been young and naïve and easily influenced and deceived. The Vampire had made him into a slave to a mate that wasn't bonded to him; a fate no werewolf could tolerate. And yet he had endured it for over one thousand years! But would happen if he couldn't find Dire Wolves in time? What would she do? Erobos closed his eyes, willing the thoughts of her out of his brain. No, he would think only of Leona, not the beast that awaited him. As soon as he had the girl back he would look again for Leona. Out of Darkness Ch. 12 Things are winding down now. Or is it winding up? Questions answered but more questions arise. I hope no one is bored. Hope you are enjoying it, and please continue to vote. And once again, a huge thank you to Archangel_M, who helps to keep me on the straight and narrow. This wouldn't be as much fun without you. -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada -- Present Day "So he's healing at a normal rate now?" Carr watched the injured wolf from the doorway as he discussed his progress with Logan. The black wolf's mate, Kelly, hovered close to the bed. Carr couldn't believe he hadn't noticed her resemblance to Katy and Orsolya. What kind of Alpha was he not to notice something that seemed so obvious to him now? If she had been wearing a red wig, he would have jumped on it. At least he could console himself with the thought that no one else had noticed either. Heck, even Katy and Rhys hadn't caught the striking similarity. Logan took the chart from Trina with a quick wink to his mate. He flipped through the pages noting the wolf's ongoing improvement. "Actually, I'd say he's healing at a very abnormal rate." He knew that would have Carr's attention riveted on him. "What I mean to say is, he is healing much faster than a normal were." He saw the Alpha's eyebrows jump up in surprise. "And I have no idea why. His parents swear he's always healed like a normal were. He had the usual childhood injuries; broken bones, lacerations, contusions. Of course, he's never had injuries of this magnitude, but still... he's healing too fast." "Is it dangerous?" Healing too quickly, now there's a problem Carr wished he'd had a few months ago. He absent-mindedly rubbed at the thin scar that ran across his forehead. "I don't think so. But I'll keep a close eye on him. He wasn't healing at all when his blood volume was depleted. Then, after he'd had his volume replaced, he seemed to be healing at a normal rate." He poured over the meticulous notes the nurses had made in the last few days. "Funny thing, as soon as Kelly began sitting with him, that's when the healing took a massive upswing." He looked up at Carr, surprised himself at his conclusion. "You don't think..." "I don't know. But kind of a bizarre coincidence, don't you think?" Logan glanced at the small, but disarmingly passionate, woman. Where did she come from? Was she a were or something else? She smells human to me. He was as anxious as everyone else to find out the results of her DNA tests. It felt like it had been forever since the samples had been sent to the lab, but it'd only been days. Oh well. Watched pot, as they say. "You know, I used to not believe in coincidence. But now, I'm not so sure." There were just too many for Carr's taste recently. "Well, I'm off to do something fun, interrogation. Now there's something I can sink my teeth into." The Alpha smirked and slapped the doctor on the back as he strolled down the hallway. Logan was so glad he and Carr had straightened out their "little misunderstanding" from the other day. He really enjoyed living with this pack. He eyed his luscious mate as she scooted past him on her way to treat her patient. There was a lot Logan enjoyed about this pack. He licked his lips and thought of the things he wanted to do to Trina later tonight when they were off-duty. He smirked when he saw her blush self-consciously as she read his thoughts. He turned on his heel and whistled as he made his way to his next patient. -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Cole and Brett were waiting for Carr outside the interrogation rooms. They'd been talking to their newest "visitors" since they were released from the hospital yesterday. They smiled when the Alpha arrived along with the Bertrand/Kardos Alpha, Guillame. Guillame's second, Zsigmond, followed closely behind. "They're singing like canaries, Carr. They want to be as cooperative as possible. And I don't have any doubts they're telling the absolute truth." Cole had to admit that it wasn't due to their interrogation skills so much as their absolute terror of their own Alpha. If they returned to their pack, they'd be executed. If they attempted to escape the reach of their Alpha, they thought for sure he'd find a way to track them down and kill them. They'd had it easy in America all these years. They hoped to continue that and return to their families in one piece if at all possible. They were more than willing to contribute any information they had if it meant living out their lives in peace. "So, what did you get? Anything useful?" Carr wasn't sure they would have much since they'd been so far from the pack for so long. He'd heard they'd come to the U.S. over a hundred years ago. "Did they say anything about why they had come to the U.S.?" Guillame was sure they'd been sent to find his mate and daughter. He had his own suspicions about his daughter's untimely death. Even though he'd never met her, never bonded with her, he had loved her from the moment he knew she was on her way. And he'd love her to his dying day. Carr laid a gentle hand on his friend's arm. He was sure Guillame had plenty of questions. Erobos had brought death and destruction upon an entire pack in Hungary, and changed Guillame's life forever. He didn't blame him for being impatient, but there was no use in bombarding Carr's Betas with questions. Guillame realized his error and nodded almost imperceptibly to the other Alpha. He knew the Baxter Pack had suffered much at the hands of Gary and his followers, and now they knew that Gary had been bankrolled by Erobos. But Erobos had destroyed his family and caused his extended separation from his mate. How could he ever make up for one hundred and fifty years without her, for never having known his child? Carr couldn't even imagine Guillame's pain. The last thing he wanted to think of was not being there when his cubs were born, not watching their first steps, their first shifts. He blocked his thoughts from Lee; no need to upset her. "Actually, they did talk about why they were sent. It wasn't to find the Vlkolak, though. They said they were told to watch for panthers!" Cole smiled when he saw the reactions of the Alphas. He had kind of thought that would surprise them. It'd sure surprised him and Brett. They had each questioned one of the weres. Their stories were close enough to ring true, and there was enough variation to make them believe they hadn't concocted a story together. "Panthers. Now that brings up even more questions. So why were they watching for panthers?" The Council was really going to be interested in this. Carr knew all hell was going to break loose soon. The more answers they had, the better their chances. "My understanding was that were no more panthers." Carr stared at Guillame and Zsigmond. "That was my understanding as well, Carr. Leona had said she wasn't aware of any of her siblings or cousins that had survived. But even she admitted they may have been as well hidden as she." Guillame thought back to that day, so long ago, when Leona had told him she was a werepanther. A faint smile came to his lips. That had been the day he had met his beloved Orsolya. There was no day in his life etched more deeply into his brain than that one. Zsigmond noticed the faraway look on his Alpha's face and cleared his throat. Thank you, Zsigmond. I guess I am easily distracted when it comes to anything that makes me think of your sister. Zsigmond maintained his normal stony exterior as he mutely nodded. -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Rhys had another batch of papers in his lap that he was reviewing as the group filed into the room. "What are you reading now?" Alistair leaned over his friend's shoulder at the copies of what looked like extremely old text. The script was amazingly ornate and the paper yellowed and very delicate. He couldn't even make out what language it was in. "Histories of the southern European packs. Guillame had copies shipped from Brussels a few days ago. It just arrived. Some of these pages are close to one thousand years old." Carr's whistle pierced the otherwise silent room. "My great grandfather was still living in a cave in Scotland a thousand years ago." Wonder what he'd think of our little pack here? Carr had heard so many stories about the exploits of his great grandfather in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. He wondered how he would have handled Erobos. Cut his balls off. Carr had to hold back the snicker that tried to break free of his serious expression. You're a riot, Cole, but probably right. Okay if we go spar while you head honchos are busy with your meeting? Fine with me. But no major injuries, okay? Any good bouts? Nathan is taking on Zsigmond. Should be a great fight! Damn! That is gonna be a good one. Nathan was the biggest Beta he had. Zsigmond was probably the only one that could match him. Carr wondered about the black wolf in the hospital. He had a feeling he was going to be formidable once he was well. "Guillame, are you okay if our Betas do some fight training?" Guillame smiled as he walked in the door. "Yes, I heard they're all looking forward to it. It's a shame we're going to miss it, though. Zsigmond tossed me around quite a bit when we were still in Hungary. It should be quite instructive for the younger males." Carr and Guillame were hopeful they could get this meeting over quickly and join the crowd that was already gathering in the clearing around the makeshift ring. Normally, they'd be doing their sparring in the gym, but there were too many that wanted to watch. "Sandalio, is there any more information from Sardinia?" Alistair was anxious to have some answers about Erobos' interest in Dire Wolves. Sandalio leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs in front of him. "Unfortunately, they are mired in stacks and stacks of paper. Álvaro spoke with his mate about it; she remembered hearing Erobos mentioning Dire Wolves some five hundred years ago when she first joined the pack. So this is not new. Álvaro decided it would be best to start at the beginning. So they've been working on organizing the records, starting with his takeover of the pack in 1052 A.D." Carr shook his head in disbelief. "Wow, almost a thousand years ago. That's gonna take some man-hours. I hope he's got a big crew." Konstantine smiled. "He has access to every were that works for the Council. Right now, I think he has sufficient numbers. Not only are they sorting, but they are scanning the information into the computers and that way they can send the pages out to be deciphered. The oldest papers are in a very archaic script. I doubt there are many that would be able to read it." He glanced over at Guillame. As the council's former Chief Archivist, this would have been his job. At the moment, the position was vacant. "Sandalio, you can have Álvaro email me some of those documents. Rhys and I might be able to get somewhere with them, don't you think?" Guillame turned to his fellow Archivist. "We can muddle our way through. I wonder if Leona's reincarnated self could help us?" Alistair almost bit through his tongue. "Jenna does not know how to read thousand year old Sardinian." "Actually, according to my reading, the packs used a sort of combination of languages, incorporating Latin, Phoenician, and the local Sard language. I think..." Rhys looked up and saw Alistair glaring down at him and decided it best to stop. He sat back in his chair and quietly added, "Guillame and I will give it a try." "Thank you, my friend." Alistair didn't like the idea of his mate getting involved in this at all. She was already having dreams about Orsolya and Kelly, or Orsolya's twin, Zsálya. And Jenna had been making comments recently that she thought Alistair was actually Leona's mate reincarnated. He wasn't so sure he liked the idea of sharing his mind and/or body with anyone else. He especially did not appreciate the thought of sharing his mate with her former self's mate. You are my only mate, my white wolf. His heart warmed at her words in his head. Thank you, my love. Alistair was jolted out of his moment with his mate by the Baxter Alpha. "What are we going to do with our two prisoners? Old 'one ear' and 'blinky', as my brother so aptly put it earlier today." Carr had to laugh. His brother made it his life's work to crack Carr up at least once a day. Cole felt his older brother was too serious. Sometimes Carr had to agree. Cole certainly kept him on his toes. "I think for now, let's leave them where they are. They may become more useful when Erobos arrives in the area. For one thing, we should be able to tell if he still has his bond with them. I'm not sure if that will be good or bad, but it will be important, I think." Alistair felt like his head was going to explode. It just seemed there was so much information they needed. And what information was coming to them didn't fit anywhere, yet. Maybe the arrival of Kelly's grandfather would lead them somewhere. "Carr, any word on Kelly's grandfather?" Alistair hoped he was the key to unlock the mysteries. "He's on the plane and should be here within the hour." "Do your people have any opinion about him yet?" "Well, we own the plane, but the crew is human, so no first impressions. Sorry. I haven't been able to talk any of my Betas into taking flight training. We don't like leaving the ground unless we have to." Everyone else present in the room flew all the time, but they could understand the reluctance of the average were. "James is meeting him at the airport. I'll know more then." Alistair nodded and was about to open his mouth when the exuberant yells from outside carried into the office. They could hear the cheering from the opposing crowds during the fight. Obviously, the Bertrand/Kardos Pack members were backing Zsigmond, and the Baxter Pack was rooting for Nathan. They were quite a distance away, but the boisterous yelling was carrying into the office. Alistair could see that Carr and Guillame were distracted, wanting to be there to support their Betas. Actually, all of those present seemed more interested in the fight than Erobos who was mere hours away. Alistair sighed loudly and gave in. "Let's go watch the fight. I doubt we can get much done here right now anyway." He smiled as the two Alphas jumped out of their chairs and ran out the door, the members of the two Councils following along. Rhys patted Alistair on the back as he walked next to him. "I think a friendly fight is good for morale, Alistair. Who knows if there will be a battle shortly? We don't know for sure that Erobos doesn't have an army. The packs need some good-natured fun. Let's enjoy ourselves while we still have the chance. What do you say, old friend?" Alistair laughed and nodded. "You're right as always, Rhys. It's a small diversion. Maybe it will release some of the tension that's been thick enough to cut with a knife the last few days." Ever since the arrival of the injured wolf, there had been a sense of dread hanging over the compound. Whether it had to do with the thought of another battle, or something else, Alistair didn't know. But he had to admit that he hadn't heard this much laughter here in weeks. Carr and Guillame walked through the crowd, which immediately opened a path for the Alphas to move to the front of the animated audience. Alistair and Rhys stood to the rear, their height allowing them to make out what was going on in the middle of the clearing. They could see the two wolves, both massive but evenly matched, stalking each other like prey. The difference in colors helped immensely. Zsigmond was black as night, and Nathan a bright blond. Since it was a sparring bout and not an actual fight, they weren't biting down, but used their teeth to hold the scruff of their opponent to pin. Mostly they used their front legs and massive bodies to wrestle each other to the ground. Each fighter had a second, Cole and Istvan, who were their point counters. And like a human wrestling match, there were points for takedowns and escapes. So far, the match had been tied, point for point. It looked as if this was going to be a draw. Nathan thought he saw a weakness and moved in quickly to dive underneath Zsigmond at the same moment the black wolf lunged forward to attack him. His plan was to knock the black wolf's legs out from under him, but he slid in the well-trampled grass, forcing his canine teeth deep into the flesh of Zsigmond's inner thigh. The blood poured out of the fresh wound and caught everyone by surprise. Zsigmond was so caught up in the fight that he didn't even feel it. Carr and Guillame spotted it together and both ran into the ring, stopping their Betas in mid-fight. "Okay, sorry, that's the end. Let's call it a draw and get Zsigmond to the hospital." Carr watched as the Betas shifted, both breathing hard, their massive chests heaving to take in more air. Nathan felt horrible. "Zsigmond, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." He barely noticed the Alphas standing nearby. Now that he was in his human form, Zsigmond felt every bit of the gaping wound in his leg. But he managed a smile at the blond giant standing next to him. "Nathan, it was a wonderful fight. I haven't had a better one in about one hundred and fifty years, eh Guillame?" He looked over at his Alpha, who was the last wolf to really test his mettle. "Brother, let's get you to the hospital. There's a lot of dirt in that wound already. Don't want you to get an infection before we get our chance at Erobos." Istvan knelt down to help his brother up. It was a huge wound. Zsigmond had moved just as the teeth had punctured, causing an enormous tear down the length of his leg. They carefully made their way to the hospital, the worried crowd following close behind. Istvan tried to take as much of Zsigmond's weight off the leg as possible, or rather, as much as Zsigmond would allow. "I'll be fine, I'm sure it's just a scratch. It will heal over in a few minutes." Zsigmond had tried to hide his pain from his mate, but he was too late. She'd sensed his pain and was already on the run from their quarters. I'll be fine, Margareta, it's nothing. Hmph, nothing! I'll be the judge of that! I'll meet you at the hospital. I know Istvan won't let you out of his sight until I'm there. Margareta would take no chances with her mate's health. He was the only surviving member of her family. Istvan could feel Zsigmond having difficulty walking. The muscle had been shredded by Nathan's canine teeth and was really worse than Zsigmond would let on. "Ash, give your old man a hand, would you? Zsigmond is just too heavy for me to handle alone." He saw the look on Zsigmond's face but ignored it. "Uncle, I have to help my dad. He is an old wolf, you know. He doesn't have as much strength as he used to." Ash winked at his father behind Zsigmond's back. The entire crowd followed them to the hospital but were stopped at the doors by the two Alphas. "All right, he's safe here at the hospital. We'll put out a message after he's been treated. I'm sure he'll be fine." Carr smiled and waited as the last of the pack walked away. He opened the door for Margareta who smiled in thanks as she ran in. Carr spotted Nathan and Cole standing across the yard and sauntered over to them. "Carr, I didn't mean to hurt him." Nathan couldn't believe he'd been so careless. He could barely look up at his Alpha. "Nathan, no one thinks you did it on purpose. You were both tired, and that leads to injuries. Don't worry about it. It was one hell of a fight, and I'm damn proud of you. The whole pack is proud of you!" Carr slapped him on the back with a huge smile on his face. Out of Darkness Ch. 12 Carr caught sight of Lila approaching with Karen. He saw Nathan's face light up at the sight of his mate. He laughed; Cole had the exact same look on his face. He noticed Lila was already showing signs of her pregnancy. She had a nice baby bump going. In fact, she was the same size as Lee, who was three months pregnant with triplets compared to two months for Lila with just one cub. The jokes were flying that Lila was going to give birth to a full sized wolf instead of just a cub. Lila slipped her arms around her mate and nuzzled his neck. His whole body relaxed as he took in her scent. She was just what he needed right now. Cole put out his arm, and Karen slid in just where she fit best, against his chest. She snuggled in while he closed his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. Her baby bump wasn't showing yet, but he couldn't wait. He was going to love every second of taking care of his pregnant mate. Nathan was the gentlest Beta that Cole had ever known. He was a great fighter, but with a huge heart. Cole knew Nathan could be ferocious and would tear an enemy apart without a thought. And he knew the big male was heart-broken that he had hurt his friend during a practice bout. "Let's go to the lake and sluice off. I'm a dusty mess from being so close to you guys; and you, Nathan, you're covered in sweat!" Cole smiled at his friend. Nathan looked down at his chest, streaked with mud, grass stains, and blood. "I guess I am kind of a mess, huh?" "I'll let you know whatever the doctor says, I promise." Carr thought a jump in the lake would be good for all of them. It was February in the high desert; it'd be nice and cold. The wolves loved cold, icy water. Carr watched as the foursome walked away, chatting amongst themselves. Nathan would be fine, and so would Zsigmond. Jeff would have him good as new in no time. In fact, Jeff was already with his latest patient. Carr walked through the hospital entrance and made his way down the hall towards the emergency room. Carr, you got a minute? Hey James, kinda busy at the moment. Is it an emergency? No, no emergency. I promise, just a few minutes. Okay, I'm on the way back with Kelly's grandfather. Interesting guy. Got it. See you soon. James checked the rear view mirror and saw his passenger sitting tall in the back seat. Damn, he was big. He might be bigger than Nathan. On his way to the emergency room, Carr passed Drago's room. He peeked inside and saw Kelly sitting close to the bed, her face close to the black wolf's head. Carr could hear her whispering but did his best not to listen in. Drago's parents were sitting on the other side of the bed, dozing in the chairs. The three of them had barely left his side since he'd been here. Logan had said Drago would probably be safe to shift in a day or two. Cubs were always taught to stay in whatever form they were injured in until they had healed. Since he'd been in his wolf form, it was best if he stayed that way until the major injuries were healed. Carr really wanted to have a long talk with Drago after he was better. He wanted to know everything he could about Erobos before he arrived. He hoped he'd have the time anyway. The Alpha stopped in front of the emergency room and stood outside the glass doors. Guillame noticed him there and stepped out. Guillame was watching his second as he pretended to not be in pain. Guillame felt it. "He is always the strong one. He thinks if he shows any emotion everything will come crashing down. Did you know he brought Orsolya to this country? He helped to raise my daughter." Carr watched Guillame out of the corner of his eye. He could tell that Zsigmond was just as important to Guillame as Cole was to Carr. He was a brother, if not by blood, then by something even stronger. Carr didn't say a word, just nodded as Guillame spoke. "It was a good thing we didn't listen to him about his leg not being that bad. Jeff said that there was hair and grass and dirt deep in the wound. It would never have healed correctly." The two Alphas stood side by side watching through the window as the doctor bandaged the wound. Zsigmond put on a pair of sweats and was arguing with Jeff about staying overnight in the hospital. Margareta stood quietly next to her mate, her hand never leaving his arm as he argued. She was always the calming influence. Suddenly, she looked out the open door, and let out a bloodcurdling scream. No one was more startled than Zsigmond. His mate was usually almost as stoic as he was. Was she upset about his injury? He stared at her as her face blanched, and she dug her nails into his arm. Margareta, what's wrong? What's happened? Mine! With that one thought to her mate, she shifted and ran out of the room. Her shredded clothing lay on the floor where she had stood. Guillame was stunned. Margareta, Margareta, where are you going? What is going on? The female ignored her mate and her Alpha as her claws slid on the slick hospital floor. She slammed her body into the closed door of Drago's room, hurtling herself over and over. The reinforced door didn't move an inch. Margareta's mate, the Alphas, and the doctors and nurses ran after her and were speechless as she mindlessly threw herself at the door. They watched through the window and could see the terror on Kelly's face while she held on tightly to Drago. Carla looked frightened as well, clutching the chair where she was seated. Silvano looked as if he would tear apart the first being that came through the door. He had shifted and stood his ground in the middle of the floor, his hackles up, saliva dripping from his mouth. Margareta, please, stop this! He'll kill you if you go through that door. Stop it! Zsigmond couldn't understand what was wrong with her. She'd never done anything like this before. She wouldn't answer him, and all he heard from her was a single word: "mine!" Drago struggled to sit up in the bed. He could see his father in a defensive stance in the middle of the room. He looked at Kelly and saw how frightened she was. He had to be able to hold her. He had to protect her. He knew the doctor wouldn't want him to shift, but he was well enough, he was sure of it. He had to protect Kelly from whatever or whoever was on the other side of that door! He took in a deep breath and willed himself to shift. Kelly couldn't see what was happening in front of her. Carla had run in front of her and seemed to be blocking her from full sight of the door. Kelly heard the snarling from the other side of the door, the shouting; it sounded like someone yelling "Margareta" over and over. She had a hand on Drago's neck, trying to hold him down. She could feel him struggling to sit up. She wanted him to stay down, but she was trying to see what was happening in front of her at the same time. Suddenly she felt human skin under her fingers and whipped her head around to see Drago laying in front of her, the human, not the wolf! "Drago!" she whispered to him. "Drago, please, lay down, don't try to get up. Why did you do that? The doctor said you shouldn't shift yet!" Now what was she supposed to do? She looked at Carla for help, but Carla was fixated on the wolf in the middle of the room. "Kelly!" Drago's voice was hoarse. He struggled to breathe through the pain. Maybe the doctor had been right after all. He felt dizzy and grabbed for Kelly to help steady himself. He didn't notice the blood coming from his arm. Kelly could see where the IV catheter had pulled out of Drago's arm during his shift. Blood was pouring from the vein that had been damaged by the catheter being dislodged. So much was happening around her. She tried to concentrate on helping Drago and reached for some gauze lying on the table next to the bed with one hand while trying to hold him down with the other. He wasn't cooperating with her. She wasn't sure if he was trying to help his father or what. She fumbled for the gauze while she tried to hold Drago still. She wasn't able to stop him as he slid off the bed and hit the ground with a loud thud. Kelly's anguished scream added to the confusion inside and outside the hospital room. She bent down to try to help Drago who seemed momentarily stunned. His eyes looked almost vacant. Had he hit his head? She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. "Drago, Drago, can you hear me?" She didn't see Carla come up behind her and only felt the hand come down on her shoulder. Carla barely managed to evade the teeth as they snapped closed less than an inch from her hand. The sleek black panther switched her tail from side to side. She snarled and growled loudly, roaring her challenge to those in the room not to come any closer. Carla backed slowly away, plastering herself against a wall. Silvano glanced over his shoulder when he heard the roar and was dumbfounded by the sight of the cat standing in front of his son. She seemed to be guarding him. Kelly? Guillame and Carr exchanged bewildered looks as they could do nothing but watch through the glass. It was Kelly! Up until a minute ago she had smelled like a human. She definitely was not! Carr, I really need to talk to you! James, now is not the time. Things are kind of crazy here right now. Can't it wait? Carr ignored the Beta's messages and tried to help keep down the pandemonium going on around him. Zsigmond tried to calm his mate and ignore what had everyone else mesmerized, but he couldn't ignore the obvious sounds of a panther coming from the hospital room. He couldn't get through to Margareta, she had but one thought in her head, "mine!" "Excuse me. Pardon me. May I get through please?" Jenna gently made her way through the crowd that had formed in the hallway. She knew what she'd find when she reached the room. She stood on tiptoes to look through the window and saw the cat, her ears twitching as she listened to the wolf still pounding into the door. Her tail twitched from side to side. She leaned into the male who lay dazed on the floor, still bleeding from where the catheter had been. Her low, menacing growls kept Silvano and Carla against the wall. Jenna motioned to Orsolya when she arrived. Take care of Margareta. She'll listen to you. In the meantime, the two Alphas had regained their senses and started moving people out of the hallway, away from the wolf who had exhausted herself and could barely move but would still not let anyone near her. They made room for the remaining panthers who had been drawn by the jumbled thoughts of their newest sister. Orsolya had approached Margareta and slowly put out her hand. The little wolf sniffed at her and then collapsed as she shifted, the human woman falling forward into Orsolya's waiting arms. Orsolya rocked her brother's mate, stroking her hair and whispering in her ear. She nodded to her brother, who came forward cautiously and reached an arm around his mate, drawing her closer to hold her to his chest. He didn't say a word, just let his sister speak. Both females had lost their children. They had a bond he couldn't share. "Margareta, what happened? Why were you trying to get into the room?" Orsolya and Zsigmond were both stunned by her words. Margareta struggled to speak as she gasped for breath. "My son, my son is in that room. He's alive! Arthur is alive!" Now it was Zsigmond that was ready to fling himself at the door. It was only the immediate order of his Alpha that stopped him in his tracks. He wanted to ignore him but knew that he could not. Tears fell from his eyes. He inhaled deeply and had the scent. His mate had noticed it first and acted. The two sobbed in each other's arms as Orsolya held them both. Orsolya looked at Guillame, her own tears welling up. How could this be? She had been there when the local Sheriff had told them that a witness had recounted seeing the little boy fall into the lake and drown. They had dragged the lake for weeks but never found a body. But the Search and Rescue team had concluded that the lake was just too deep, or that a little boy's body could have been pulled downriver before they even began the search. Guillame stood near Zsigmond, ready to physically restrain him if his order was disobeyed. He could see the grief in the trio's faces. He hadn't been present thirty years ago when the boy had disappeared, but Orsolya had recounted the horrifying events to him. Zsigmond and Margareta had been unable to conceive for over two hundred years. And then, finally, she had given birth to a son they had named for Zsigmond's father, Ártur... only to lose him six years later in a senseless accident. Or so they had been led to believe. Erobos! It must have been him! Guillame needed every bit of his strength to keep from roaring out his own anger at the werewolf that had continuously destroyed his family for centuries. His death couldn't come soon enough for Guillame. And the more painful, the better! He focused his attention on his mate and her family to control his growing rage. He needed to keep himself in check. There was too much at stake. And where did Kelly fit into all of this? She was obviously a panther. But then why had she smelled human? And how did she come to be here? There were so many questions with even fewer answers. He barely noticed as the panthers gathered at the window to watch their new sister. The black panther was obviously guarding the injured male on the floor behind her. She paced near him, never taking her sparkling blue eyes off the male and female on the other side of the room. Silvano had shifted back to his human form and was holding Carla in his arms protectively. It was clear to those watching that the panther was not able to control her feral nature. She was controlled by instinct only. Her human half was silent. She would kill without hesitation to protect her mate. Orsolya patted Margareta on the shoulder and stroked her brother's cheek as she left them to join her sisters at the window where they stood, hand in hand, focusing their thoughts. She didn't seem to understand their words, so they concentrated on images to show her they were her friends, they were her family. But her thoughts were confused. Her need to protect her mate outweighed any and all other thoughts. Carr, seriously, this is really important. James, it better be, because all hell is breaking loose here right now. Yeah, well it's breaking loose in my car too. This guy is a were! He was sitting quietly in the back seat and then all of a sudden started screaming in my ear to get to his granddaughter fast! I'm kind of worried that if something happens he doesn't like that he's gonna rip me to shreds! Shit! What's your ETA? About five minutes. The sooner he's out of my car, the better I like it! Come straight to the hospital. And James, I'm sorry I put you off! No worries, Carr. I figured there must be something big going on. Be there shortly. James floored it, making the last few miles in record time. He pulled up in front of the emergency entrance and immediately jumped out, opening the door for their latest guest. James reflexively stood back as the giant of a man climbed out of the back seat. He stood to his full height and scanned the area. He knew where he needed to be and didn't wait to be shown the way. Carr had just made it to the doors when the tall, black-haired man swooped inside. "Hello, I'm Carr Baxter, welcome..." Carr stood with his hand out as the man walked past him. The tall man turned his cold blue eyes to Carr. "Where is my granddaughter? Take me to her now." His commanding tone and bearing were unmistakable to Carr. Kelly's grandfather was an Alpha. "Follow me." Carr saw heads turn as the tall were followed him down the hallway. They stopped when they reached Drago's room. Carr saw the look of recognition on the man's face when he looked at Jenna. Now how could he possibly know Jenna? The man seemed surprised for a brief moment before his face became a blank slate. He looked past Jenna into the room and saw the male and female holding each other as far from the panther as possible. He stared at his granddaughter. She looks just like her grandmother, he thought. "Let me into the room." His voice was emotionless. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea." Alistair had moved close to Jenna. He slid his arm around her waist. He didn't like the way this stranger had looked at his mate. "Kelly is my granddaughter. I will take care of her." Alistair and the male stared at each other, neither giving an inch. Logan leaned in close to Carr. "Drago doesn't look good, Carr. We have to get him out of there." Carr nodded and cleared his throat. "Alistair, I think Kelly's grandfather knows more about this than we do at the moment." The white-haired male spun around. A deep growl rumbling in his chest, and he looked ready to attack, but he was quickly calmed by the soft touch of his mate's hand on his shoulder and her soothing voice in his mind. Carr is right, Alistair. Alistair looked into Jenna's face as she smiled and put a hand to his face. I know what has you upset, Alistair. I don't know Kelly's grandfather. But he knew Leona. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. He was just surprised. Alistair's hand covered hers and brought it to his lips. My wolf is possessive. I should know better. Alistair knew they were waiting for him to make a decision and pulled himself from Jenna, turning to face their newest guest. "Alright, we're counting on you to control her. Silvano, unlock the door and do whatever he says." Kelly's grandfather barely nodded and put his hand on the doorknob. He halted for a moment and looked over at the six women standing together. "She doesn't understand what's happening to her. I know you think you are helping her, but stop. You're only confusing her more." With the bewildered women watching, Kelly's grandfather opened the door and slipped through the opening. He walked slowly into the room, the sleek panther making eye contact with him. Her growls reverberated through the room, punctuated by quick lunges towards the male, her front leg swiping close to him, the sharp claws fully extended. Tracy stood with her nose to the window. "Her thoughts are so confused. They don't make any sense at all. I don't feel her human half at all." Katy stood close to her, a hand resting on her shoulder. She turned a worried look at Rhys, standing quietly with Alistair. Is Kelly gone? Out of Darkness Ch. 13 As always, a huge thank you to Archangel_M. He is my Knight in Shining Armor and pulls me out of dangerous grammar and punctuation situations at every turn. I am beginning an intensive two week class and I'm not sure how much time I'll have to write, so I'm warning you in advance that the next chapter will be about two weeks. Please be patient with me. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Island of Sardinia, 1152 A.D. The enormous black wolf ran through the hills, the wind in his fur. His ground-covering stride brought him to his destination in record time. He stood at the top of the hill overlooking the castle, his sides heaving. His small black eyes blinked when he realized where he was. He shook his head in disbelief. No, no, I do not want to be here. Erobos had not set foot near the Vampire's castle in one hundred years. He had sworn to himself never to return. After coupling with the female dire wolf he had felt nothing but shame, disgust, and remorse. He had sullied his love for Leona. He had promised himself to find the she-panther and make her his mate; the thing in the castle dungeon could never be his mate. There could be no bond with it. The wolf felt drawn to approach the castle. His nostrils flared when he caught the scent. His cock hardened, and his brain became muddled with lust. He couldn't stop himself from coming to the door, which was already swinging open. He slid to a halt with surprise. The Vampire smiled down on the winded wolf at his front door. "Hello my young wolf." He chuckled to himself. "Not so very young anymore, are you? She is waiting for you. I knew her scent would bring you here. She is in heat, and awaits her mate. Of course, once again, you must fight for her. You must kill for her. Follow me." He turned without another word and walked towards the staircase. He didn't have to look to know the wolf was behind him. He smiled. All was going as he'd planned. The wolf was a slave to his instincts. The Vampire continued to speak as they wound their way into the bowels of the castle. "As you now know, the female dire wolf goes into her heat once every one hundred years. She will draw you here." He stopped and looked behind him at the wolf that followed him closely but carefully. He bared his teeth in his evil version of a smile. "Do not fight it, my young wolf. Dire wolf instinct is strong, and you are as much one of her kind as you are a werewolf...or a vampire, for that matter." He laughed when the black eyes met his. "She awaits the victor. Let us not keep her waiting." The Vampire continued his way into the darkness. The passageway was dimly lit with torches, but bright enough for a vampire and a werewolf. The smell from the female assaulted Erobos' senses as he entered the dungeon. He wanted to immediately mount and plunge his cock into her, but she was already biting at the bars of her cage, snarling and baring her teeth. Erobos heard the growling from the two males and spun around to look at the cages across the room. The dire wolves were bigger than the last ones had been. And they were black. The dire wolves he'd seen before had been grey. For a moment he wondered where they had come from, but only for a moment. The first cage opened and the male rushed out, crashing at full speed into the surprised werewolf. They rolled on the ground, biting at each other's throats, their claws digging into the sides of their respective opponent. Erobos struggled to take control of the fight. The dire wolf adapted quickly to each of the werewolf's moves. Erobos was surprised. It fought more like a werewolf than a mindless beast. He would have to actually put out some effort this time. The fight had been ridiculously easy the last time. Erobos tore savagely at his foe and when he had the male on its back, he slashed as its throat with his sharp teeth. Bright red blood spurted into his face, and he watched as the light went out of the dire wolf's eyes. The body lay limp on the ground. Erobos turned just as the second cage door opened and came face to face with his second snarling rival for the female. He saw the intelligent look in its eyes, so different than the vacant eyes that had glared at him one hundred years ago. The two animals circled the room, each waiting for an opening to dive in and tear out the belly of his enemy. The Vampire watched from a distance. He saw the female pacing, snarling, growling. "Do not worry, my dear. Your mate will be with you soon." He leaned forward, watching with excitement as the two remaining males fought to the death. "A much better fight than last time, is it not?" Of course he didn't expect any answer from the beast caged next to him. Erobos saw an opening and struck quickly, eviscerating the slower dire wolf. It screamed in pain as its entrails were pulled from its body. It lay on the ground, panting, howling in pain. It watched helplessly as the victor stood over it and reached down with his open mouth and ripped out its throat. Erobos lifted his bloody face when he heard the final cage door open. The female crawled out of her cage, sniffing the blood soaked floor. She made her way to her waiting mate and presented herself for breeding, her haunches turned to the male who had won her. Mindlessly, Erobos mounted the female and thrust into her in one motion, pulling her tightly into his body with his front legs. He bucked into her body, feeling his cock throbbing inside her. His knot seated and his thrusts became more frantic as he erupted deep inside her. Erobos howled loudly as he took his mate. His lusts sated, Erobos slowly came to his senses. He remembered the last time and knew he had to move away from her before she attacked him. He backed slowly away and turned in time to see the vampire motioning him to come up the stairs. He felt his strength and reason returning as he made his way slowly up the winding staircase. Once out of the depths of the castle, Erobos shifted and stood before the vampire, blood streaking his skin. The vampire smiled. "Your sons fought well." Erobos stared in disbelief. "My sons?" "Why, of course. How else will you find dire wolves to fight each time your mate comes into her heat? There are no others. You have killed them all. So you must breed your challengers. She will not accept you without a fight for her favor." The vampire smiled smugly. "What have you done to me? I will not come back again. I will not kill my own sons again now that I know." Erobos was confused. Werewolves mated for life. He could never have cubs with a female other than his mate. "Then you will never breed your mate again. And you will never beget a son to be the next Alpha of your pack. You are the end of your line, Erobos." ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada -- Present Day The six panthers squeezed together to gaze into the window at their newest sister. But something was wrong. Her human half was silent, gone. Could she ever be whole again? Kelly's grandfather put himself between the menacing panther and Silvano and Carla. He spoke to them without losing eye contact with the cat. "Go, now!" Silvano hesitated. He glanced at his son, lying on the floor, still dazed. "I will get your son out of here, but you must go!" It was a command. While the panther's attention was riveted to the new arrival, Silvano took Carla by the arm and backed slowly out of the room. Once they were in the hallway, he heard a loud growl behind him. He turned his head and saw the male who held his sobbing mate. The male looked like Drago's twin. Silvano's heart sank. He held Carla tighter. Silvano could see the rage on the male's face. And from the restraining hand on his shoulder by Guillame, who he knew as the Alpha of the Bertrand/Kardos pack, Silvano knew that that was all that kept him from being killed on the spot. Drago's parents had never been dead. They were alive and well and had grieved for thirty years a son they thought dead. I should have said something as soon as I realized. Silvano, I'm sorry. Silvano stared into his mate's sad eyes. When did you know? When I hunted with the panthers the betas from both the packs guarded them. I saw him. Drago looks so much like him, I knew. And his scent, it was so similar to Drago's. I should have told you, but I was afraid of losing our son. I thought if I didn't say anything, no one would know. I'd hoped that when he was well and Erobos was gone, that we would leave with Drago and Kelly, and no one would ever know. Carla buried her head in her mate's shoulder and sobbed. His arms surrounded her in a reassuring hug. I understand cara. They stood silently, waiting. There were too many people crowded around the window to see anything. All they could do now was hope Drago would be out of there soon. Inside the room, the panther twitched her tail, her ears flattened against her head. She couldn't take her eyes from the man in front of her. Her snarls quieted to growls. Her heart pounded in her chest. She must protect her mate. But she was so tired. Maybe she could rest, just for a moment. She laid down, next to her mate, her tail moving slower. She would close her eyes for just a moment. Jenna and Katy exchanged glances. What was he doing? How did he get the feral panther to do that? They turned their attention back to the scene inside the room. Kelly had lain down and looked asleep. Logan and Jeff watched from the doorway as Kelly's grandfather stepped over the sleeping panther and effortlessly picked up the still-dazed Drago. The doctors were waiting when Drago was carried to the door and handed off to them. They rushed him to the treatment room, blood dripping from the wound made by the catheter. It wasn't healing! Silvano, Carla, Zsigmond, and Margareta all began to follow the doctors. The four of them stopped mid-stride, Zsigmond and Margareta growling loudly at the couple that had stolen their cub. Alistair stepped between the couples. "Let the doctors take care of your son." He purposely didn't specify which couple he was speaking to. Zsigmond glared at Silvano, ready to tear out the Italian were's beating heart as soon as he was given the opportunity. Guillame couldn't deny him his revenge forever. Stealing a cub had been punishable by death in the old country. Zsigmond saw no reason for that to be different here and now. Carla couldn't look at Margareta. She couldn't imagine the pain she had gone through all these years. Carr had been watching the two couples closely and had a feeling he knew what was going on in their respective minds. Things could get ugly pretty quick if they didn't straighten things out right away. "I think we need to leave Kelly and her grandfather alone for a while. Why don't we go to the office and talk? Guillame, you good with that?" "I think that is a wonderful idea." Guillame gestured for Zsigmond and Margareta to walk with him. "Brett, Bryant, keep everyone away from the window. Let Kelly and her grandfather have some privacy. Who knows what she's gonna do when she wakes up and Drago is gone." Carr took one last look in the room where Kelly lay on the floor, her grandfather sitting cross-legged on the floor next to her. Carr couldn't wait to sit down and have a conversation with him. Carr was the last to make it to Jeff's office where Drago's parents, all four of them, sat in stony silence, glaring at each other. Sandalio was there, as the closest thing Silvano and Carla had to an Alpha. Orsolya stood next to Guillame, keeping a supportive arm around Margareta, who was still recovering from her earlier outburst. Zsigmond looked like he could shift and attack at any moment. Carr couldn't remember ever seeing the big Hungarian Beta in such a rage. He had always been gruff and stoic, almost emotionless. Not anymore. Alistair decided it was up to him to break the silence in the room. "It's time to clear the air. Zsigmond, Margareta, I am glad you have found your cub after all these years. But Silvano and Carla did not take him from you. They were told he was an orphan. They treated him as their own and raised him. They had no idea what had really happened. They had no reason to believe anything except what Erobos had told them." Carla looked into her mate's face. He smiled and nodded at her. She turned her attention to Margareta, trembling in Zsigmond's arms. "I am so sorry. I asked Drago about his parents, but he said he remembered nothing. If I had known, I would have returned him to you. I'm so very, very sorry." Margareta looked at Carla, really for the first time. She saw a woman as heart-broken as she. She knew Carla was speaking sincerely. Her voice was almost a whisper. "Why did you name him Drago? What does it mean?" "It means 'strong as a bear'. I read it in a book one day. It said 'Drago is masculine, exudes power and authority, and is not without a certain amount of magnetism.' The name just seemed to fit him. I knew it was a name he would grow into." She stopped for a moment. "What is his real name?" Margareta smiled for the first time since she'd caught the scent of her long lost cub. "His name is Arthur. It means 'bear' as well." Zsigmond gritted his teeth in frustration. "This changes nothing! He was stolen from us, obviously by Erobos, and you kept him from us. I demand to extract my revenge!" He leaned forward and snarled menacingly at Silvano. "You are right of course. I deserve to die in retribution. I should have, at the very least, contacted the Council here to be sure Erobos was telling the truth. Even though he was my Alpha, I knew he was lying. I just couldn't bear to believe he could steal a cub." Silvano moved in front of his mate and lifted his head to bare his neck. "I'm ready to die." Guillame threw out his arm in front of the advancing Zsigmond. "Enough! You have both been wronged, as has Drago... or Arthur." He looked between the two males, one ready to kill, the other, willing to give his life. "Erobos is the one who should die, not Silvano. Zsigmond, Silvano raised your son, I think, the way you would have. We should stand together against our enemy, not against each other!" Zsigmond breathed deeply, attempting to hold back the inner fury that threatened to break loose at any moment. "I will wait, for now, Guillame. But you will owe me my revenge if it is proven he helped steal my son!" "Yes, of course, Zsigmond. I don't think anyone here would deny you that." Guillame scanned the room as each of the Council members nodded in agreement. They were interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Carr opened the door for Logan and watched both sets of parents whip their heads around. He could see the concern etched in their faces. Logan wished he didn't have to be here. The tension in the room was palpable. "We had to give Drago another blood transfusion. The catheter lacerated the vein so badly it couldn't heal. And we haven't been able to figure out what's causing his mental state. He's just not 'with it'. The sooner Kelly is back with him, the better." "Is he going to be alright?" Margareta's quiet voice broke the silence. "I don't know. We just have to wait. I think there's a lot going on here that we've never seen before. So anything I say would be a guess." Alistair stood up and walked the doctor back to the door. "Thank you, Logan." Alpha? Carr heard the twin voices in his head in perfect unison. He shook his head. They must have learned from their mates. Rebecca, Danielle, is it important? Yes! It's about Drago. We think we can help him. Or rather, our panthers KNOW we can help. As before, both voices were perfectly in unison. Rebecca and Danielle had been brought to the compound to keep them from being kidnapped by Gary and his Dire Wolf pack. Rebecca had been good friends with Katy, but after Katy met her mate, Rhys, Rebecca had been left on her own. She had almost immediately become good friends with Danielle and they were practically joined at the hip. They were nothing alike. While Rebecca was outgoing and thoughtful, Danielle was bubbly and ditzy. They were an odd couple but had bonded quickly. And then they met their mates, within seconds of each other, Trey and Troy, twin Betas in Carr's pack. Carr filled in the rest of the group. "Rebecca and Danielle would like a chance to speak to Drago. Apparently, their panthers are telling them they can help him. One more of those 'things we've never seen before', I guess." Carr shrugged his shoulders. "What the heck. We might as well give it a try. It can't hurt, right?" ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Rebecca and Danielle stood outside Drago's room, waiting for the okay to go inside. They held hands nervously. They wished their panthers could explain things a little better than "we can help him." But if that's all they were going to get, it didn't help to push. The panthers knew what they knew and there was no use asking why. But when they said they knew something, they were certain of it. Trina opened the door and smiled at her friends. "C'mon in ladies, he's as ready as he'll ever be." She led the two women to the side of the bed. "Drago, this is Rebecca and Danielle. They're friends of mine. They're going to talk to you." The male lay quietly in the bed, looking off into space like he hadn't heard a word. His dark eyes were lifeless. Rebecca took a deep breath and looked at Danielle. Here goes. It was a weird feeling to talk to a stranger who looked like a carbon copy of a friend. She just expected him to act like Zsigmond. But she had to put that thought from her mind. "Hi, Drago. Can you hear me?" Rebecca watched for any sign he even noticed she was there but saw none. I don't get it. Why doesn't he even look up? Danielle bit her lip and then smiled. She took Rebecca's hand in hers and, together, laid their hands on Drago's forehead. Rebecca gave her friend a quizzical look. "My panther says it'll work. Don't ask me." After about ten seconds, both women gasped and pulled themselves away from the bed. There was no one else present to see the startled expressions on their faces. Alpha, they're driving him crazy, literally. He's feeling the strong emotions from all four of his parents, it's overwhelming him. He can't block them out, so his wolf is shutting everything out. Carr cleared his throat. How do you tell worried parents to leave their cub alone? He scanned the worried faces of the four parents as he relayed the information. "Um, we need all of you to shield your thoughts from Drago. He's picking up your emotions, and it's at least part of the problem." Zsigmond closed his eyes for a moment. If he'd known his actions were hurting Arthur he would have found a way to correct it. He hadn't even known Arthur could feel his presence. There was no bond that Zsigmond could feel. He clutched Margareta and leaned in close to her, resting his forehead on hers as he stroked the side of her face. I never meant to harm him. Margareta looked up at the male she had loved for as long as she could remember. I know that, my dearest. I don't feel a bond either. There was no way for us to know. She reached up to grasp the hand that held her face so gently. Most thought Zsigmond was just a soldier, hard and emotionless. But she knew the real Zsigmond, who felt the need to protect those he loved. He felt he had failed his son when they lost him, and it had changed him. Silvano and Carla held hands and sat nervously across from Drago's biological parents. If they were allowed to leave with their lives, would they ever see Drago again? Rebecca and Dani watched, amazed, as they saw the light come back into Drago's eyes. Drago looked around the room, bewildered, then at them. His voice was hoarse. "Where's Kelly? Where are my parents?" Out of Darkness Ch. 13 "Kelly is safe. She's with her grandfather. Your parents are with the Council." Rebecca looked at Dani for a moment. Their panthers were guiding them through this and they sure hoped the cats were right. She swallowed hard and had no idea what to do next. I will help you. Her panther was going to have to do more than help. Rebecca's hand shook as she brought it back to Drago's forehead. But this time he watched her intently. "What are you doing?" He cocked his head. "I have no idea; bear with me. Dani, I think I need you." Danielle didn't want to feel that shock ever again. The sensation of all those strong emotions at once, anger, fear, regret, sorrow, grief, rage; it was just too much! No wonder his wolf had blocked it all out. But their panthers had felt it all. She hesitated for just a moment. Her panther gave her a mental shove. Go ahead. You have to help him remember. Danielle bit her lip and tried to force a smile as she joined hands with her best friend and closed her eyes. She felt connected to Rebecca in a way she'd never felt through their bond before. It was like they were one person. It's okay Dani. I'm here with you. Danielle took a deep breath and relaxed with the thought she wasn't alone. Rebecca was on this journey too. The panthers spoke in one voice. We need to help our sister's mate. He needs peace. He needs to remember. A cub should never forget his parents. His wolf thinks he's protecting Drago, but he's hurting him. He must remember. Danielle and Rebecca were both startled to hear each other's panthers. They had never spoken together like this before to both women. Prior to this, they were silent when the women communicated through their bond. Drago watched the women standing above him. He looked from one to the other; their faces were making the same movements, a look of surprise, followed by a shy smile. Drago watched them closely but felt so tired. His eyelids felt like lead. He fought it, but finally, had to give in to the sudden wave of exhaustion that overcame him. Drago's wolf did not like this invasion of their privacy. Leave him alone! He's better off not knowing any of it. Leave him alone. The wolf growled defiantly at the two panthers that had come here without an invitation. His hackles were up, his tail flagged. The panthers spoke together, in perfect unison, perfectly matched. We are here to help him. We know you think this is best for him, and as a cub, you were right. But he is an adult. He deserves to remember his past and his parents. They love him. They have grieved all this time. They deserve to know their son. Trust us. We are your mate's sister-panthers. We want only what is best for both of you. Please, trust us. The wolf thought for a moment. His human half used to wonder why his parents had left him. He didn't understand. The wolf had thought it best to take away any memories. Had he done the wrong thing? I will let him see the memories. The panthers swished their tails and spoke in unison. Thank you. Your human half will be the better for it. We will help him to remember. The panthers retreated from his mind. Drago's eyes fluttered open. The two women still stood close by but no longer were touching him. Drago blinked a few times and brought his eyes into better focus. Rebecca smiled at the handsome young man. The only differences between him and Zsigmond were the crew cut, and that he looked a little younger. She knew that Drago was thirty-six years old. His father was well over three hundred. She spoke in a soft voice. "Drago, what do you remember about your parents, your biological parents?" Drago's eyes suddenly went cold and hard. "Nothing." The muscles twitched in his jaw. "There has to be something. Just try. Your wolf had hidden everything from you, to protect you. You don't need protection anymore. You need to know. Think for a moment. Tell me what you remember." Rebecca laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and could feel his muscles tensing. "They left me." "No, Drago, they didn't. You were taken from them. Do you remember anything about what happened?" Drago frowned and narrowed his eyes as he looked at the woman. "Why do you care? What difference does it make?" Are you going to tell him? Danielle arched an eyebrow as she looked across the bed. I have to. He has the right to know. Rebecca looked back at Drago and took a deep breath. "Your parents are here, Drago. They live here. They thought you were dead." Drago was silent. Drago's wolf crawled forward into Drago's mind. It's true. I hid the truth from you. You were too young to understand what was happening. The wolf let loose Drago's memories of his childhood. Drago's mind was bombarded with faces and sights he didn't remember ever seeing. There was a beautiful raven-haired woman who hugged him tightly when he fell and broke his arm. There was a large male that carried him high in the air. He saw a woman that looked like Kelly, but with red hair who always gave him treats behind his mother's back. His mother... how could he have forgotten his mother? Rebecca and Danielle watched the tears form in his eyes. Drago made no move to hide them. He just lay there, deep in his own thoughts. His face hardened and became a stony mask. They watched the rage come to the forefront and, for a moment, they were frightened. Did he mean to harm them because they'd forced him to remember? They backed away from the bed. "Erobos! It was him! I'll kill him myself." Drago's voice was terrifying to the two women. Was it the wolf speaking through him? They had never heard such hatred in so few words. But they could understand it. Rebecca softly asked, "What do you remember, Drago? Tell us." ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Ohio, 1982 Big fluffy clouds floated through the bright blue sky. Arthur thought it was always prettiest after a storm and the sky was clearing. He saw the jackrabbit and bounded after it through the tall weeds. This was fun! He'd been cooped up all week at the farm during the rain. Now that it was nice out, Mama had said he could play. The little black wolf ran as fast as he could, jumping the tree stump in front of him. The jackrabbit saw him and ducked back into its burrow. Arthur, what are you doing? Mama, I'm chasing a jackrabbit. I almost had him! Margareta chuckled to herself. That cub was so much like his father. Always chasing what he couldn't catch. It's getting late, and you've run too far. I can't see you anymore. Come home now. Auntie Sally made you an apple pie. If you aren't home soon your father will eat it all. If that didn't get him home soon, nothing would. Oh boy! I'm on my way, Mama. The little wolf spun around and ran into something solid that had been waiting behind him. He looked up and saw a man taller than his daddy. He'd never met anyone taller than Daddy before. Margareta finished feeding the chickens and started for the house. She had a roast in the oven. She didn't want to leave it in too long; they all liked their meat rare. She waved to her sister on the front porch. Margareta smiled to herself and shook her head. Sally spoiled Arthur so much. But Margareta couldn't get upset with her. Sally's daughter and grandchildren had died years ago. And Sally's great-grandchildren were scattered throughout the country. Arthur took their places in her heart. The tall man grabbed the black ball of fur by the scruff and picked him up as he wiggled in his grasp. "Hello, little cub. Now, who do you belong to, hmmm?" The man had a weird way of talking. Arthur could barely understand him. He had a strange scent too. He was a were but different. Arthur kicked his back legs and tried to wriggle free but the man tightened his grip. Arthur snarled and turned in his loose skin, trying to bite the man's wrist. Erobos laughed while the little cub's teeth snapped shut, scraping the skin on his arm. "And here I came hunting panthers and caught one little wolf cub." He dropped the cub to the ground. Margareta stopped in her tracks. Her face blanched. Arthur! She felt her son's fear and anger. Arthur, where are you? Sally saw the horrified look on Margareta's face. She ran over to her, taking her by the shoulders. "Margie, what's wrong?" The cub fell to the ground, his head striking a rock. He lay still in the wet grass. "What do you want to do with him, Boss?" The man pushed the little body with the toe of his fancy Italian boot. He was definitely unconscious. He saw the pile of clothes that must belong to the cub and picked them up. "Bring him with us. And which idiota told us there were panthers here? He doesn't know the difference in scent between a panther and a wolf? Teach him the difference before you kill him, Magnus." Erobos may have not found the panthers, but this little cub was going to solve another problem for him. Silvano's mate wanted a cub to raise? He would bring her a cub. As soon as they were far enough away, the parents wouldn't be able to find him. Their bond would be useless. The man with the Italian boots picked up the lifeless wolf cub and carried him to the waiting car. "Here, you take him." He handed the cub to the female waiting in the back seat of the car. "Aw, he's so adorable. Where did you find him?" Seraphina stroked his soft fur. She'd given up on the idea of having cubs of her own. The boss was never going to let her find a mate. It was obvious hers was not a member of their pack. And he was very careful about allowing her to meet unmated males. She cradled the unconscious cub and checked him over for injuries. She felt the lump on his skull. "What happened to him? Is he alright? Should we find a pack with a doctor?" Erobos sneered at her concern. "He's fine, Seraphina. He's not your cub. Don't get comfortable with him. We're delivering him to his new home." Erobos slid into the car next to the female. "Let's get going. I don't want him to wake up until we are well away from here!" Magnus got behind the wheel and skidded through the mud on their way to the road. Within minutes they were almost at the main highway. He thought he saw a wolf running near the tree line. He guessed he must be the cub's father. Well he wasn't going to find him now. Zsigmond had never felt such fear in his life. As soon as he sensed that something was wrong with Arthur he had dropped his pitchfork and shifted, running out of the barn, scaring the horses that started bucking in their stalls. And then there was nothing, like Arthur was just gone. It wasn't like when he had left his home in Hungary and his father just seemed farther and farther away as they traveled until he finally could not sense him at all. This was different, abrupt. His blood ran cold as he stretched his stride to cover more ground. He felt Margareta's anguish as he ran. "Magnus, stop at the lake. Fold his clothes neatly and put them at the edge." Erobos glared at the cub, still in the arms of his female. He didn't like the motherly looks Seraphina was giving the cub. "Don't get attached, Seraphina." "I know, Boss, I know." She rocked him, hoping the head injury wouldn't have any long lasting effects. "Magnus, we will split up. Seraphina and I will deliver the cub to his new home. You take care of the stupido that fucked this up! After that, find the polizia and tell them you saw a little boy fall into the lake. Give the time that we found him in the field. And get wet so it looks like you went after him. Tell them you searched for some time in the water but couldn't find him." Magnus nodded. "Cosa sicura, Capo." And remember to speak English! You forget that sometimes. Magnus winced when he felt the reprimand through his bond and mentally kicked himself. "Yes Sir, Boss." "And Magnus, be convincing! They have to stop looking for the cub as soon as possible. I don't want any chance of his picture being on a wall at a postal office." Magnus nodded as he drove and began formulating his story. It had better be a good one or he could find himself in the local jail. ~~~~~~~ The next day The county sheriff hated making these kinds of calls. He really liked the Saber family. They'd been here for generations and had a nice little dairy farm. And they had doted on their little boy. He saw the cars blocking the driveway into the farm that he recognized from just about every family nearby. He saw Vic sitting on the porch with a couple of the men that had helped them search the area last night. Zsigmond stood up and walked slowly down the stairs. He hoped to see a smile on the Sheriff's face, but all he saw was the red and white shirt in the Sheriff's hands. He turned to look at the front door of the house as Margareta ran out, Orsolya and the neighbor women behind her. Her hopeful look was gone when she watched Zsigmond take the pile of clothing from the outstretched arms of the Sheriff. "I'm really sorry, Vic. I wish I didn't have to tell you this. We found his clothes folded up next to the lake shore. He must have decided to go swimming. But after the rains, the water was a lot higher than usual, and colder. Search and Rescue has been out there all day, Vic." The Sheriff took off his hat, wiped his brow, and looked over at the woman who had fallen to the ground, her friends trying to console her. "I'm awful sorry, ma'am. I wish I could give you some hope. But I can't. A little boy just couldn't survive." Zsigmond was in a daze. He almost didn't respond to his American name, Vic. He forced himself to look away from the clothing he clutched in his hands. His voice didn't sound like his own. "Thank you, Sheriff. I know you did what you could." It was like there was someone talking in another room. It just didn't seem real. He felt Margareta's pain through their bond, but he shielded her from his. He wouldn't burden her with more. Zsigmond, could we have missed his scent near the lake when we searched there? Orsolya, or Sally, as the locals knew her, just couldn't believe they would have missed his scent. She and her brother had crisscrossed the entire area, including the Lake and the River. They never caught his scent anywhere but in the field less than a mile from the house. And that was where he'd said he was just moments before his bonds with his parents were silenced. Arthur had never lied before. Why would he now? I don't know, Orsolya, I don't know. He would never go to the lake without me. I had told him how dangerous it was and that I would take him swimming on the weekend. He would never disobey me, at least I thought not. Zsigmond managed to find the energy to walk to his mate, who sobbed as she knelt on the hard ground. "Margie." He whispered in her ear. "Margie, we need to go inside." He gently took her elbows and lifted her to her feet. His arm supported almost all of her weight and she leaned into his comforting embrace. "Vic, he was just a baby. It was too soon, too soon." She could barely form the words. Too soon. Zsigmond couldn't believe it. Orsolya was right. They would never have missed his scent. He helped his distraught mate into the house and left her to the women's care. The Sheriff was talking with his neighbors when he came back out. "Sheriff, who was this guy that saw Arthur fall into the lake? Are you sure he's telling the truth? Maybe he did something with him? Can I talk to him?" The Sheriff had seen parents in denial before. They always wanted to believe their child was still alive even when there was no hope. "Vic, he seemed pretty shook up. And he was soaking wet. He was a tourist and was picnicking at the lake with his family. When they saw him fall in, he jumped in after him, said he searched for almost an hour. Then when he got back to his car to find a phone, his car wouldn't start. He had to walk to the payphone at the gas station out on the highway. He was near frozen by the time we got there. After he told us everything he left to get his family on home. I'm sorry, Vic, he's gone." The more Zsigmond thought about it, the more unsure he was. Arthur's clothes were found neatly folded. Arthur never folded his clothes. He always left them in a heap. He knew not to go to the lake alone. He knew he wasn't allowed past the fields on their property. The lake was three miles from their fence line. Something wasn't right. No, Zsigmond didn't believe his son was dead. He wouldn't believe it until he saw his body. He was out there somewhere, he was sure of it. He wouldn't give up. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada -- Present Day Carr, he wants to meet his biological parents. He remembers them. Carr looked up and smiled at Zsigmond and Margareta. "Drago's ready to meet with you. Do you want to see him?" Zsigmond jumped up from his chair, his arm out to help his mate. They followed Carr out of the room. Silvano looked at Carla as they sat quietly. What was there for them to do? They'd lost their son. They deserved it. They held hands, their faces showing every bit of what they were feeling. Sandalio saw their despair. "I'm sure he has room enough in his heart for you as well. You raised him into the strong wolf he is now. And I think that once Zsigmond and Margareta get over their initial shock, they will have a place in their hearts for you as well." Silvano smiled gratefully at the Spaniard. ~~~~~~~ Rebecca answered the door when Carr knocked and held it open for Zsigmond and Margareta. She and Dani hugged the appreciative parents as they walked out. The looks on their faces were something that neither of the panthers would ever forget. They held hands as they left the hospital. Trey and Troy were just getting off their shifts at the police department, and they'd be home waiting for them. They both needed a hug from their mates. Carr stayed outside the door. This was their time together. He watched Rebecca and Dani walk down the hallway. Thank you, ladies. You're welcome, Alpha. Margareta stood next to Drago's bed and just stared down at him, her face glowing. Her son was so handsome. He looked just like his father. She looked from one to the other. Yes, other than his haircut, he looked exactly as Zsigmond had when they met. She reached out a hand to him, and grinned from ear to ear when he took it in his. His voice was a whisper. "I remember. I remember the smells from the kitchen and picking strawberries for you to make into jam. I remember the farm. I remember playing in the hay loft, and hunting for jack rabbits. I remember Auntie Sally's apple pies." He looked at the man standing at the foot of the bed. It was almost like looking in a mirror. "I remember my first shift. You talked to me the whole time. You taught me how to fish, as a human, and as a wolf." Zsigmond smiled and nodded. He swallowed, not sure he could speak if he had to. There was a knot in his throat. His heart felt like it would burst. And then he felt it-- the bond had returned. He could feel his son again, for the first time in thirty years! "I remember you!" Drago couldn't help it, he started to cry. He felt like he was a cub all over again. All these years he'd thought he had no past, that his parents had abandoned him. But all along they'd been waiting for him to come back. They'd never believed he was dead. But through the new bonds that had reformed, Drago also felt the animosity towards Silvano and Carla. They are my parents too. I love them. They cared for me. Please don't hate them. Without them, what would have happened to me? Zsigmond knew he was right. But it would take some time. Out of Darkness Ch. 13 ~~~~~~~~~ They will accept you, give them time. Carla gasped in surprise when she felt Drago through their bond. Yes, of course. Oh, Drago, thank goodness. You're okay! We were so worried. Carla and Silvano hugged each other. Everything was going to be alright. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Kelly's grandfather sat quietly in the room next to his granddaughter. He had pulled a blanket off the bed and laid it over her sleeping form. Something had gone wrong. He could tell she hadn't mated, and yet, her panther had taken over. That shouldn't have been possible. He watched over her carefully and was relieved when the panther calmed down and left the body to her human half. Kelly was startled awake by a strange dream. Or was it a nightmare? She had turned into a panther! It was strange enough to know that werewolves were real, but now she was having weird dreams about a whole other kind of animal. She bolted upright before she noticed she was nude. She grasped the edges of the blanket laying over her pulled them close around her body. She turned to look around and gasped when she saw the large man sitting next to her. "Grandpa, you're here!" She had talked herself into believing she hated her grandfather, until she saw him watching over her. She fell forward into his waiting arms and cried into the crook of his neck. She immediately felt like a little girl, with Grandpa holding her tight and rocking her. He stroked her hair and held her tight, whispering in her ear. "I've missed you, little girl. I've missed you so very much, you have no idea." She suddenly stiffened and pulled away. "Drago, where's Drago? Did something happen?" She began to panic. "He's fine. He has his own family drama to deal with, but all will be as it should soon. We will fight Erobos together, and then we can discuss your future with Drago." Kelly was surprised. Did her grandfather know who Erobos was? She snuggled into his shoulder as she thought about it. There was a lot about her grandfather she didn't know. She had a feeling she'd be learning more in the very near future. Out of Darkness Ch. 14 Thank you for your patience during this last two weeks. My class took all of my time and there was none left for writing. As always, a huge thank you to Archangel_M who helps me more than he'll ever know. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada -- Present Day Kelly nestled into her grandfather's chest just like she used to when she was a little girl. She felt so safe in his arms that she felt like purring like a contented cat. But there was so much she needed to know. She reluctantly pushed herself away, clutching the blanket tightly around her naked shoulders. She saw her shredded clothes strewn around the floor and the blood, smeared into the linoleum, and whispered, "Grandpa, what happened to me?" "Kelly, we'll talk about it later. You need to rest." He slowly stroked her hair as he spoke quietly. "Come, I will take you to Drago. You will both be better when you are together." He stood and took her hand, helping her to her feet and then swept her into his strong arms. He strode towards the door which opened wide for him. He saw the two Betas standing outside the door. "I would like to take her to Drago." Brett nodded and sent word to Carr who gave the go-ahead. "This way, Sir." Brett could tell an Alpha from a mile away. Carr allowed his Betas a lot of leeway but insisted on manners with high-ranking guests. Bryant took up the rear as the foursome made their way to the room given to Drago. By the time they'd reached the room, a second bed had been set up next to Drago's. Kelly's grandfather gently placed her in the bed and covered her with the blankets. He watched approvingly as Drago's face lit up when she entered the room. "Drago!" Kelly began to cry as her hand stretched out for his. When he closed his hand around hers, the tears flowed freely down her face. She imagined she could feel a spark as their hands touched. It was like they were linked somehow. "Kelly, I'm here. We're together. Everything is going to be alright. We're going to be together forever. I promise." His hand held hers tightly. He swore to himself that he would never let go again. Drago gazed into her beautiful blue eyes, not able to look away for a moment. He had never felt as lucky as he did now. He had found his mate and his birth parents. Now the only thing left was to kill Erobos! Logan watched from the doorway for a moment, but then began shooing the spectators away. "Why don't we let the two of them rest for now, hmm?" Carr nodded. Good idea, Doctor. I think we have things to discuss anyway. Carr held the door for Kelly's grandfather and Zsigmond. Margareta was lagging behind. "Logan, maybe Drago's mother could stay for a bit?" "Sure, that'd be fine." "Thank you, Carr." Margareta had a thoughtful look as she watched her son with his mate. "Would you ask Carla to come in? I think I need to learn to share my son with her." Carr grinned. He saw the surprise on Zsigmond's and Drago's faces. "I think she will be very happy to join you." The females would make their new family work. Carr had no doubt about that. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ As soon as the door shut behind them the silence was broken. "I don't believe we even know your name." Alistair stared into the stone-cold blue eyes of Kelly's grandfather. "And we'd like to know why Kelly doesn't seem to know she is a were and why she smelled like a human until her shift." Alistair didn't trust this male. Something was odd about him. And how could he have known Leona? The large black-haired male sat with all eyes on him. He scanned the room and appraised those in attendance. They were all Alphas and all wolves. He hadn't expected to see the panther earlier, especially one that looked exactly like Leona. And then to see there were five others. It was a shock to say the least. "My name is Leonardo. I am from the Island of Sardinia. My brother was the last Alpha of the werepanthers, Leander." He gazed around the room at the shock obvious on everyone's faces. "Leona was my niece. My brother sent me away from the Island with my mate and our cubs to escape Erobos. We traveled through Europe for centuries. I took the surname of Creighton when we moved to Scotland in the year 1569." He paused for a moment and looked at Carr, noting the distinctive chocolate brown hair and emerald green eyes. "I recall a werewolf pack using the name Baxter. The Alpha looked much like you." "That would have been my great-grandfather, Angus Baxter. My grandfather, Ewen, came to America to start his own pack four hundred years ago. Did you know either of them?" Carr wasn't sure what to make of this. "No, I stayed as far as possible from the werewolf packs. We kept to ourselves. By chance I found one of our former pack, a cub who had grown to adulthood but been separated from his parents. He joined us in the early 1600's, and that got me thinking about trying to find whoever still lived and bringing them together. But it would be dangerous to stay in Europe. When America became a viable alternative, I took it. I moved my family here and began doing what I could to find any of my pack that I could track." "That is incredible!" Rhys was stunned. "And you were able to do this all without being discovered by any other were pack." Rhys shook his head in disbelief. "An amazing feat, Leonardo." Rhys was impressed with the Alpha. He had been able to reunite part of his decimated family without being detected. "Please, my friends call me Leo. I think we will become closer than friends soon." "I believe, Leo, that we are family. My mate and the other panthers are Leona's descendants, as are many more females associated with this pack. Your family has grown quite quickly." Rhys grinned and held out a hand to the formidable male who stood in front of them. Leo hesitated for just a moment before reaching out his hand to grasp Rhys' in a friendly handshake. Alistair still wasn't sure he trusted this panther. "So tell me, how is it that Kelly had a human scent but is a were?" Leo sensed Alistair's distrust. He couldn't blame him. "We are very careful. Cubs are not. When we came to this country it wasn't an issue. It was wide open land and we were able to keep to ourselves. But in the last hundred years civilization has encroached upon us, and we felt the need to keep a tighter control on our cubs. I made the decision that every panther cub would be bound by an order, irrevocable by anyone but myself or the acting Alpha. The panther was ordered to stay dormant until such time that the cub was mated, or the decision was made to allow the panther to come forward. I was confused by the fact that Kelly has obviously NOT mated as yet. But her panther felt she needed to protect her prospective mate, and so disregarded the edict." "So that explains why the panthers didn't sense Kelly. She and her panther are not really connected. They are two separate entities." Alistair was dumbstruck. He didn't know an Alpha had that much power. At least he wasn't aware of any werewolf Alpha with that power. "But Kelly doesn't seem to know anything about her were history." "No, the cubs aren't told anything until they are ready to mate. I've always searched for more of our kind but have found none since 1878. I had hoped to widen the gene pool. The panthers won't mate if they are too closely related. I made the assumption that if she didn't find a mate in our pack she was destined to live as a human for the rest of her life. I didn't even think of the possibility that she would find a werewolf for a mate. I know, that seems ridiculous considering Leona. But since Kelly was ignorant of her heritage, the thought didn't come to me." Rhys, ever the genealogist, had to bring up the obvious. "Leo, she and Drago are related. Drago is Leona's great-grandson." "Not to worry, Rhys. They are second cousins twice removed, not close enough for it to be an issue. And aside from that, female panthers will not choose a mate who cannot father their cubs. And they seem to know. No, the panther has chosen, they will be fine." "So what else can panthers do that we are ignorant of?" Alistair wasn't really sure he wanted to know. Leo watched the white-haired were closely. "There is nothing to be frightened of, I assure you. The females are far more powerful than any mere Alpha." He smiled at Alistair's surprise. "The Seven Sisters were the most powerful, and were our Council in Sardinia. My grandmother was the eldest. She held the most power, the power of Sight, both past and future. Another had the power of empathy; she could feel the emotions of others." Alistair mouthed the words, "Jenna and Tracy." He looked over at Konstantin who stood open-mouthed in disbelief. Leo continued. "Another of the sisters could see the future of our kind, but only that part of it that was good." "Katy." Rhys whispered her name. "Still another had visions but they were difficult to discern and required much study to understand." "That is Orsolya's gift." Guillame looked around the room as he said it. "And then there were the twins, who, together, could reach into the minds of others and communicate with their beast." Carr almost fell off his chair. "Rebecca and Danielle have just become aware of that ability." "But that's only six. What did the seventh do?" Guillame couldn't believe this. "And what happens when the seventh sister joins them?" "The last sister had the power to heal. As to what happens if they are reunited, they become more powerful." Carr suddenly remembered something and sat up straighter, looking straight at Leo. "Did you know that Kelly has the healing power?" Now it was Leo's turn to look surprised. "No, I did not. How do you know?" "Logan said that Drago's healing improved when Kelly was with him. At the time, he had no idea why, but now, I think we can pretty much figure it out." "If the Seven Sisters were so powerful, why couldn't they stop Erobos?" Alistair thought it best to be blunt and stared into Leo's blue eyes, the same color as Kelly's. "The sisters were powerful against non-humans. But they had made an ancient pact to never harm a human, no matter the consequences. Erobos sent humans after the pack. They could do nothing but watch our pack die." Konstantin found this history amazingly interesting. "Why would they have made a pact like that?" "Half a millenniim before, the werewolves, werepanthers, and vampires were all at war with each other. Humans were becoming collateral damage in the battles. Eventually, the panthers and wolves banded together to conquer the vampires, who were given an ultimatum; leave the Island or stay in peace." "And the vampires left?" Alistair didn't believe that. Vampires had never been ones to be truthful, at least in his experience. "All but two or three left the Island. They had thought they could wipe out the werewolves and then come after us. They had brought thousands of Dire Wolves to the Island and set them on the werewolves. They outnumbered the werewolves and, eventually, would have destroyed them. But the Vampires didn't count on us banding together. The vampires didn't know that panther saliva was poison to the Dire Wolves." Xylon practically jumped out of his chair. "So it is the saliva. I thought so!" Up until now the geneticist had sat quietly in a corner. But now they had his attention. "We found that out for ourselves by accident. I'm sorry to interrupt, please, continue." "You have Dire Wolves here?" His head whipped around to face the Greek were. Leo had never heard of Dire Wolves in the Americas in this age. "One of our own kind found a way to turn certain werewolves into Dire Wolves. They carry a latent gene that he was able to 'turn on' by using a combination of proteins. But we were able to defeat the last of them when we realized the panther's bite was poisonous to them." Xylon had hypothesized this very thing after the prior Jensen Pack Alpha had demonstrated accelerated tissue death after the bite of one of the panthers. In fact, subsequent bites had led to his being overpowered and killed. "And now they are all gone?" "We don't know. We don't know how many Gary made, or if there is still a viable formula in existence. For all we know, there could be everything they need to make more in Erobos' hands now." Alistair felt a nervous energy crackling throughout the room. The wolves, and now one panther, were readying themselves for the unknown. Would they be facing a lone werewolf? Or an army of Dire Wolves? "I'm sorry, Leo. I still don't understand why the Seven Sisters couldn't hurt humans." Konstantin tried to fathom what they were being told. But he just didn't have it figured out. Leo eyed the silver-haired Czech. So far, he had found all the Alphas here to be honorable wolves. It had been so long since he'd had many dealings with werewolves. The last he even remembered ever speaking to had been over six hundred years ago. "After the panthers tracked down every Dire Wolf they could find, they destroyed them. The vampires were given their choice and left. But when they surveyed the damage on the island, they saw that the humans had been decimated." "They soon realized that the amount of game on the island was not sufficient to sustain both packs. But the humans farmed animals for food. Some of these animals would escape and breed in the wild. The were do not breed animals for food. We hunt! If the humans were destroyed, it was felt there could never be enough food for both packs to survive. It was then that the Seven Sisters decided that the humans were too important to the continued health of the island to allow their numbers to be lessened for any reason. So they decided that no matter what the reason, a were could never harm a human. And so it was until the time that Erobos used them against us." "Do you know why he killed your pack?" Leo spun around to face Alistair. "He wanted Leona, and thought it was my brother that kept her from him. Erobos was insane. He was never a normal werewolf as a cub, and a week before the attack, he became a Dire Wolf. I saw him myself. As to how it happened, I don't know. But I think that's what added to his paranoia about our pack. He expected to have Leona give herself to him to save the pack. But Leander sent her away, as he did with all the cubs and their parents. Only the old and infirm stayed." "But it still doesn't explain why Erobos wanted to make more Dire Wolves." Carr voiced what they were all thinking. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Margareta sat next to the bed, watching her precious son sleep. His hand still held that of his mate, Kelly. She looked around the room, uncomfortable, not knowing what to say to the female who sat next to her. She finally found the courage to say what she felt. "Thank you, Carla. Thank you for raising my son. You and your mate helped make him into a strong, fine Beta." She looked at her hands, twining them nervously in her lap. Carla looked at Drago's mother. She had lived through so much heartache. Carla had heard the whole story of the Hungarian pack and reached out to take her hand. "I only tried to be the mother I knew he deserved; the mother you would have been for him if he hadn't been stolen from you." Carla knew in that moment that the two of them would be friends. And they would be wonderful grandparents someday. But she wondered if their grandchildren would be wolves or panthers. Zsigmond stood outside the door, eyeing Silvano. "I suppose I should tell you I'm grateful." He looked away, towards the door to Drago's room. "I am... grateful, I mean." Silvano nodded. Silvano was a scientist, not a soldier, like Zsigmond, like Drago. "I think he is very much like you, Zsigmond, more than you know. You will be proud of him someday." "I'm proud of him now. He escaped from Erobos, kept the girl alive, and made his way here, all without assistance. You raised a fine son." Zsigmond had to say the truth, as much as it pained him to know someone else was the reason for his son's courage and strength of character. Silvano slowly shook his head. "No. When he came to us, he already showed the kind of Beta he'd become. We just helped him along the way. He grew into the wolf he was meant to be from the moment he was born." Silvano looked at his son's biological father. It was almost like having a discussion with Drago. They looked alike, they sounded alike, and Carla was right, their scent was almost the same. "Margareta would like us to become one family. Silvano, I can't promise that I'll be good at it, but I promise to try." Zsigmond couldn't look at the Italian. He stood with his back to the wall, hands in his pockets. Silvano moved to lean against the same wall, a few feet from Zsigmond. "I too, promise to try. I'm sure our mates will have our lives mapped out for the next few years, at least through the first grandchildren." He looked up in time to see the smile on Zsigmond's face. Silvano smiled too. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Sardinia, Italy -- Present Day "Álvaro, I think I found something!" The Omega had his nose buried in an old, dusty book that had been lying underneath a pile of papers. Álvaro jumped to his feet, glancing at his mate who had been helping comb through the old records and translating when needed. He smiled at her and winked. The sooner Erobos was dead, the sooner they could relax and enjoy their new life together. He could feel her tension and fear. And she seemed to be more worried about him than herself. But he knew Erobos would never accept her as a mated female. If he caught up with them, he would kill her on sight. Álvaro had no intention of allowing that to happen! The brown-haired Spaniard stood looking over the Omega's shoulder. "What did you find, Ernesto?" "This book discusses a female Dire Wolf and how to properly care for her. And..." Ernesto looked up at the Beta, surprise etched into his face. "And it looks like someone is still caring for her." "What?" Álvaro turned his head, his eyes boring into Seraphina's. "Did you know anything about this?" "No, Álvaro. I've never heard a word about a female Dire Wolf here." She leapt up and joined her mate. I've hidden nothing from you, Álvaro. I've told you all I know. He felt her body close, could feel the heat emanating from her. He knew she wouldn't lie to him. I'm sorry, my little wolf. I know you would keep nothing from me. He looked down at her standing at his side. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Now, what do you know about a castle? This book talks about a Dire Wolf and a castle." "The Vampire's castle?" Her face blanched. "I don't know. Why? Why are you so frightened?" Álvaro reached out to pull her chin up to look into her terrified amber eyes. His fingers stroked her face as he held her fast. "Erobos forbade the pack to go anywhere near the castle. He said the vampire would kill any wolf who dared to come there. Every so often an Omega would disappear and the boss would say that they had ventured too close and were killed by the vampire." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I've never seen it... up close." "So you know where it is?" "Yes, I know." "Take me there." Seraphina bit her lip. "But the vampire..." "You don't think your mate can take care of one vampire? Hmm? Trust me, little wolf. I am far more dangerous than you give me credit for." His hand slid down her neck, lingering on the ugly scars that marred her otherwise perfect skin. He took a deep breath to hold in his anger. "Take me there, Seraphina." A few hours later, Seraphina stood with Álvaro and a group of Betas overlooking the dark castle. She watched his handsome profile as he looked out over the landscape. She tried to calm her fears. He was more than capable of taking care of himself. But just the thought that she could lose him made her shudder. Out of Darkness Ch. 14 Álvaro didn't miss her involuntary movement. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his chest. "You won't lose me, I promise! You're stuck with me for at least a few hundred years." He smiled down at her and kissed the top of her head. "Stay here." "No, please, Álvaro. I want to go with you. I'm a good fighter. I am a Beta, you know." She stood with her hands on her hips, letting him know he wasn't going without her. Álvaro was quiet for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "You're right, I should know better than to try to protect you. You are a force to be reckoned with, that is obvious. Alright, you may come." Álvaro's scouts ran back up the hill, and the two black wolves stopped in front of him, tongues hanging down as they panted. Álvaro nodded as they spoke through their bond. He turned to the others. "They only found one werewolf, and he is an elder. We'll approach slowly. But keep a tight perimeter in case anyone tries to escape." He waited for confirmation that everyone understood before starting his way down the hill. They had almost reached the door when one of the scouts called out. "I caught someone." He walked forward with a blond female who looked petrified but didn't say a word. She kept her eyes down and didn't utter a word. Álvaro took a quick look, and his eyes were riveted to the scars that ringed her neck. He looked from her to Seraphina and back. Seraphina, do you know her? No, I've never seen her before. "What is your name?" Álvaro spoke softly. She was like a scared rabbit. She might faint if he scared her any more than she already was. "Zosime, Sir." "And what are you doing here, Zosime? Are you here alone?" "No, Sir. I live here with my father and... I live here with my father." He noticed the slip but said nothing. Who else was here? "Call your father out." The old male opened the door and walked out, approaching cautiously. Álvaro could tell immediately that he had been a high-ranking Beta in his day. "My name is Acasio. What brings you to our home, Sir? This is a forbidden place. Erobos allows no one to come here." "I know, and that is why we are here." Álvaro appraised the elder closely. He and his daughter were old, very old, and broken. "Erobos will kill you for being here. You should leave now. I won't tell him you have been here." The elder looked around, sniffing the air. No signs of Erobos yet. "If you hurry, you might escape in time. He always knows if someone has been here. He always finds them, and kills them. You must leave, now!" "Erobos is no danger to me or you, old one. His pack has been disbanded and taken over by the Council. And he is in America, where he will meet his death. None of us are in danger from him." "You're sure?" He held out his arm for his daughter who looked at the male holding her arm. He released her and she ran to her father, hugging him around the waist. The look of relief on her face was noticeable to Álvaro. "Erobos did that?" Álvaro pointed to the female's neck. The old man nodded sadly and then gasped when he noticed the same marks on Seraphina's neck. "Yes, he did that as well. But he'll never touch her again. She is my mate now." "You took her as a mate even after she'd been marked by Erobos?" The female seemed in awe of him. No male dared look at her after she'd been marked as belonging to the Alpha. She'd spent her days here with her father to escape the stares and whispers after he'd released her. "Of course; she is mine." Álvaro felt nothing but pity for the two old werewolves. "How long have you lived here?" "We have been here since the Alpha killed the Vampire. We are the caretakers." The old man seemed nervous, his eyes scanning the horizon constantly. "Taking care of the castle?" Álvaro wondered what it was about this building that was so important. "No, not the castle. The Alpha's mate. She lives here, and we care for her." Seraphina was stunned. A mate? But he was obsessed with Leona. How could he have a mate and think of another female? Seraphina found her voice after a moment. "When did he take a mate?" "A thousand years ago. But, she is not a werewolf. She is a Dire Wolf." His voice lowered, not wanting anyone who might be nearby to hear. Álvaro tried to hide his surprise. "That explains a little bit. But why isn't she with him then? Why does he keep her here?" "Dire Wolves are not werewolves. She is a wild beast. She is not bonded to him. She will only tolerate his presence when she is in her heat, and the Dire Wolf female only comes into her heat once every one hundred years." "But why keep her here?" "If she were to run loose, she would kill anything in her path. And the Alpha was worried that if any of the panthers survived, she might die. They can kill a Dire Wolf with a bite." He held his daughter tightly to him, his body shaking as he spoke about his Alpha's mate. "The Alpha has become more and more desperate, though. His mate has not accepted him in the last several hundred years. It affects him." Seraphina gasped. "That explains his erratic behavior. When I was first given to him he seemed somewhat calmer and more in control. But over the years he has become more violent and... evil, maybe? If that is possible, that is." "And why has she rejected him?" ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Island of Sardinia -- 1352 The cloud seemed to lift from his senses, and he looked down at the female lying next to him. All he needed to do to end his torment was to snap her neck. He opened his mouth wide, his sharp, white teeth reflecting what little light shone in the room. He was poised over her throat. Just one quick bite and this will be over for all time! No! She is our mate! We must protect her, not kill her. I will not allow it! Erobos was stunned. His wolf had never disagreed with him in the past. Never! He held his mouth there for what seemed like hours, although he knew it was but seconds. The two halves of his mind warred with each other; the wolf won. He slowly closed his mouth and retreated to the stairway. The door to the cage at the bottom of the stairs swung shut behind him. His mate would be there to greet him in another hundred years. Erobos moved like his feet were stone, dragging himself up the stairs. Again, he had killed his own sons. Their lifeless bodies lay in a heap in the middle of the floor. He was drenched in their blood. The vampire watched with amusement as Erobos trudged up the stairs. He laughed, his teeth prominently displayed. "Ah, my young wolf, you play your role well. You are but a slave to your werewolf instincts. It is a shame that your mate does not share them. And now you know that your wolf will not allow you to kill her." He seemed almost gleeful at the werewolf's obvious misery. "Why, why have you done this to me?" Erobos couldn't think. What had he ever done to the vampire to cause him to torture him this way? "The sins of the father are visited upon the son." He laughed at the confused look on the werewolf's face. "It is a human saying. You are paying for the wrongs brought on my kind by your father and his panther allies. And now, I have my revenge, Erobos. You killed your father and took over his pack. You then manipulated the humans to kill the panthers. Marvelous!" The vampire's pale face was alive with amusement. Erobos seethed as his ears rang with the dead thing's taunts. He had been used! His breathing quickened. He could feel the pulse of his blood in his head. The vampire had planned it all, exploited his weakness, his love for Leona. And now he could never have her, even if he found her. "And now, you are doomed to be tied to this beast for eternity. And your cubs will never lead your pack when you are gone. Is there anything worse for a werewolf?" The vampire let his head fall back as he laughed heartily. Yes, this had been the finest hour for his kind. He had brought down his vengeance against the werewolves and the panthers. And all it had taken was duping one foolish cub. Something inside Erobos snapped. The rage that had been building erupted, and he lashed out at the unsuspecting vampire who had thought himself too powerful to be hurt by a mere werewolf. But the vampire had forgotten, he had strengthened Erobos with his own ancient vampire blood and that of the Dire Wolf. This was no mere werewolf. This was something unknown to the world. Erobos shifted into a massive black Dire Wolf and leapt at the throat of the vampire who tried to fend him off with an arm to his head. But he was too slow and too weak to push the wolf away. "No! No, you can't hurt me!" The vampire attempted to back away but merely backed into the solid wall of his castle. There was nowhere to turn. He couldn't run. He had to face the monstrosity he had created. The sharp teeth moved closer to the long white neck. He could smell the blood just under the skin. He didn't feel the long, gnarled fingers as they grabbed at his thick coat. He didn't hear the screams of indignation, followed by fear, and finally, pain. He didn't hear the snap of the bones in the vampire's neck. He didn't stop until he had severed the vampire's head and held it in his bloody mouth. The wolf lapped at the blood that spurted from the severed arteries and basked in the warmth that filled his veins. His body felt more alive than it had since the first time he had tasted the vampire's blood. The strength that had been drained from him by the vampire's words had returned ten-fold. Slowly, his senses returned and he surveyed the carnage before him. Fool! You have now paid for your revenge! His eyes were pulled away from the rotting corpse by the howls of his mate in her dungeon. What did he do now? His wolf implored him to help her. He didn't give Erobos a chance to think. His insistence at caring for their mate reverberated in his skull. His hands clasped his head, trying to think past the raging wolf. Alright! We will care for her. Erobos soon found himself at his camp. He barely remembered the path home. He sat dazed in front of the fire in his cave as Zosime stood watching him carefully. He looked up to see the little blond wolf cowering in the darkness. At this moment he wished nothing to do with any females. He wanted her gone. He could tear out her heart and it would be done. But she had served her purpose for some three hundred years. Acasio, I have a task for you. You will go to the vampire's castle. Take your daughter with you; I am finished with her. Acasio felt a wave of relief. Nothing could be worse than what they had lived through in the last three hundred years. Any task the Alpha set for him would be preferable to staying with the pack. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Island of Sardinia -- 1753 Acasio did not look forward to seeing the Alpha again. And the news he had for him was not good. He had warned Zosime of the steps to take if he did not return. He approached the pack cautiously. Much had changed since he had been here last. Instead of their caves, the wolves now lived in buildings, more like humans. He greeted those few of the pack he knew, but there were many new faces. He knew that Erobos had been going to the mainland to overthrow the younger Alphas and take over their packs. His power and wealth had grown much in the last four hundred years. Acasio knew that the Alpha lived in the large castle at the top of the hill. He moved slowly, not sure he should go. But he didn't want the Alpha to hear the bad news when Zosime was anywhere nearby. If Erobos wanted to take out his frustrations, let it be on himself and not his beloved daughter. He stood at the heavy door and stared up at the stone face of the fortress. The iron face of a wolf stared back at him. it was an exact likeness of Erobos' Dire Wolf, and was terrifying to look at. I must speak with you, Alpha. The door opened and behind it was a female. All Acasio could see of her was her light blond hair and the most interesting eyes, almost an orange. What was the word for it? Ah, yes, amber. Her face was covered by a veil. Obviously, Erobos favored the human custom of covering a female's features from other males. He could see the fear in those beautiful eyes. He knew that this must be the poor female that had taken Zosime's place. He pitied her. "Come this way. The Alpha is waiting for you." Seraphina closed the door and led the visitor to Erobos. She left quickly. Erobos did not like her to be in the presence of males, even old ones. Erobos stood facing away from the doorway. He didn't turn around when he heard Acacio enter. "What is it that you thought was so important to risk death? I had ordered you never to leave her. If anything happens to her while you are gone, you and your daughter will die. And I won't be merciful, Acacio." "I beg your forgiveness, Alpha. But it is important. You need to know." Acacio stood nervously, facing the Alpha's back. "Then tell me and leave!" Acacio swallowed hard, trying to find the courage to speak the truth. "The cubs were born dead." Acacio flinched when he felt the flood of rage coming through the Alpha bond. Erobos whirled around, his face contorted into a mask of fury. "No! She will never accept me without them!" Erobos was beside himself. What would he do now? In ninety-nine years he would be drawn to her and there would be no males to fight. What would happen? Erobos paced as he thought to himself. Maybe he could find other Dire Wolves somewhere. He had to. He stopped in the middle of the floor. Panthers can track a Dire Wolf. He slowly faced the trembling Beta before him. "We never found Leona's body, or the bodies of any cubs. There are panthers out there. We must find them; they can find more Dire Wolves." Acacia stood mutely. Does he actually believe the panthers would help him? "Yes, that is what I must do, find the panthers." Erobos suddenly realized Acacio was still staring at him. "Go back to her and do your duty!" Without another word, Erobos stormed off. "Seraphina!" His voice reverberated through the halls. Acacio watched Erobos as he strode away and winced when he heard the Alpha call for the female. She ran across the room, but Acacio caught the fear in her eyes as she glanced quickly at him. He shook his head sadly. He knew what Erobos had done to Zosime when he was angry and what the amber-eyed female could look forward to. He found his own way out of the castle and started the long journey back to his daughter and the Alpha's mate. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada -- Present Day Drago lay in bed, sensing the bonds with all four of his parents. This would take some getting used to. Sorting out their feelings wasn't easy. The only feelings he really cared about were those he had for Kelly. He turned his head and smiled when he saw her sleeping soundly in the bed next to his. Their hands were still clasped. His hand looked so huge compared to her tiny one. He straightened one long finger and stroked it lightly along the soft skin of her wrist. He watched her silently and smiled when her eyes fluttered open. "Morning, sleepy head." Kelly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the handsome face of the man she knew she'd love for eternity. Something felt different though, it was like she knew they were meant to be together. She had realized her attraction to him when they were back at her apartment in Rome. But his was different, deeper somehow, like she'd somehow always known she'd find him. Weird. She smiled up at him, feeling electricity where their skin touched. "You're in the next bed but you feel so far away." Her voice was just a whisper. She glanced around the room. "Where are your parents? Both sets, I mean." "They're talking with your grandfather and the Alphas. There's a lot of planning before Erobos gets here." He wanted to say so much to her, but where to begin? Kelly had learned in their short time together that she only felt safe when she was in Drago's arms. She thought about it for a moment before making up her mind and flipped back the blankets covering her. She looked down and realized that, at some point while she slept, someone had decided to dress her in a hospital gown. "What are you doing?" Drago couldn't believe she could even make a hospital gown look sexy, but she did. He grinned when he realized her intent and pulled his blanket up for her. He scooted over to the edge and savored the feel of her warm body against his skin. His wolf had been on edge since he'd awakened and, just now, felt at ease. Drago's arms surrounded Kelly's shoulders and he couldn't resist burying his nose in her neck and inhaling deeply. Now his wolf was satisfied with her scent of lavender and orange filling his senses. But she still smells human! Drago shook his head a little. His wolf wasn't making any sense. Of course she still smells human, we haven't mated yet. Silly wolf was confused. The wolf decided not to share his knowledge of their mate with his human half. He would learn the truth soon enough. Out of Darkness Ch. 15 Island of Sardinia – 1952 Acacio was glad he had sent Zosime into the mountains to hunt for food today. He had known the Alpha would not be pleased, and he had been correct. He had thought watching the Alpha tear apart a few Omegas had been a horrible thing to watch one hundred years ago. It was nothing compared to what he had just witnessed. He felt the bile rising in his throat as he listened to the piteous begging of the Betas as their own Alpha slaughtered them in a misguided attempt to please his Dire Wolf mate. Acacio sadly shook his head. He had known it would be to no avail. The female would not allow just anyone to mate with her. Her potential mate must fight other Dire Wolves, not simple werewolves. The old Beta had taken the time to read the writings left behind by the Vampire who had studied the Dire Wolves closely for some time before hatching his plan. Erobos had always been impetuous, and many times it was deadly for his pack. This time was no different. Acacio waited silently for his Alpha, trying to ignore the evidence of the carnage that had played out in front of him. He watched the female in her cage, snarling and roaring with rage, mindless, driven solely by the instinct to mate. Acacio wondered if the amber-eyed female still lived. What was her name again? Ah yes, Seraphina. He almost hoped not. He knew that when the Alpha was enraged, females usually suffered for it. His daughter had suffered greatly until she had been released. Acacio stood his ground when the blood-covered Alpha strode purposefully towards him. "I need Dire Wolves! I must find Dire Wolves." Erobos paced as he spoke, the blood of his Betas dripping from his body. "But how?" "Alpha." Acacio spoke softly, afraid to interfere with the Alpha's ramblings. Erobos spun around on his heel to face the worthless caretaker who had been silent until now. "What is it?" "I was just thinking. I've been reading the newspapers you bring me. There have been so many scientific discoveries in the last several years. Perhaps that could be of some help to you?" Erobos stared at the old male. He should just rip him apart. But then who could he trust to guard his mate? Science? Perhaps. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada – Present Day Carr, we've got trouble. Rhys noticed Carr's sudden change in posture and knew something was wrong. "What is it? Erobos?" Carr nodded slightly and motioned for them to leave the room. He caught Alistair's attention and waited for him to follow them as well. Carr was more glad than ever that he'd insisted on his Betas keeping their jobs in the local Police Department. All of them at one time or another worked as officers. Not only was it good for tactical training, but they always knew what was happening in town and the surrounding areas. The trio made their way through the hospital corridor to a quiet area. Carr leaned into the wall. "During briefing before the shift, the Sergeant mentioned there were a lot of strangers coming into town, congregating around the west side of town, near the highway. James and Steve were assigned to keep an eye on them." Carr waited a moment before continuing. "They're definitely werewolves. They haven't seen anyone that looks like a dire, yet." Alistair sighed and ran a hand absent-mindedly through his white hair. "How many?" "Couple hundred. Wilson sent word that Erobos left Reno about thirty minutes ago. So we have three to four hours before he meets up with his pack." Carr looked out the window and smiled at his mate. She was talking to some of the other pregnant females. She looked happy, and her growing stomach looked so beautiful. He couldn't believe they had triplets on the way. He had to protect them, no matter what. "And how many fighters do you and Guillame have between you?" Leo had seen them walk away and followed. Panthers moved silently in both their forms. "Not enough." Carr wondered what else the panther had up his sleeve. "My people are on their way. I have thirty Betas, not many, but good fighters." They had lived their lives hoping for the day they could avenge the deaths of their families. They would fight to the death if needed. Leo was proud of his pack. They would make their ancestors proud. "We're outnumbered. How can we hope to win?" Alistair had never felt so defeated before. "Is Wilson sending anyone?" "Nope, they were pretty banged up after the last fight with Gary. He said he was sorry, but he couldn't spare anyone." Carr did the figuring in his head. With Leo's panthers, they had a whopping hundred and fifty Betas. James just finished counting the newcomers and, with more still arriving, he'd reached two-hundred-sixty-four. "I'd say it's going to be at least two-to-one." "How does he have so many Betas here?" Rhys knew how many problems the packs had been having with breeding. How could Erobos have such a large number of pack members in the States? "He's had operatives here for the last hundred years. They could have found mates here and been breeding the whole time. And, James says quite a few of them look like rogues. So chances are Erobos has been picking up strays." Carr knew that, no matter the odds, they had to win! "We'll need the Seven Sisters. They will help us to overcome Erobos and his followers." Leo looked off towards the hospital room his granddaughter shared with her new mate. "We don't have the Seven Sisters. We have six panthers and a female who doesn't even know that she's a were." Alistair couldn't believe Leo could even think of Kelly and Drago mating at a time like this. Drago was still recovering from massive injuries that he'd incurred two days before. True, he'd been healing remarkably quickly, but still, to mate already? ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Drago's cool skin felt so good against hers. Kelly rolled over so she could watch his handsome face. Her hand strayed to his brow and stroked slowly. "I can't believe I ever distrusted you." Drago frowned. "I can't believe you ever did trust me. After all, I was your jailer for over a month." Drago thought back to the first moment he'd seen her behind the glass. There had been something intriguing about her even then. But in the cage, her scent had been hidden from him. He hadn't known she was his mate. He tried not to think of the things that Erobos might have made him do to her. Did Erobos know she was meant to be his mate? He wondered. There seemed to be so much Erobos had orchestrated in Drago's life. Kelly saw the worry in his dark eyes. "I know what you're thinking, Drago. Stop it! You didn't know how evil Erobos was. You had no way to know. Besides, if he hadn't kidnapped me, would we have met?" Her finger lightly traced his jawline. She smiled when she saw his sudden intake of breath. She knew he was trying to control himself. She wanted him to finally lose control. She used her nails to scrape his skin and moved down his neck to his chest. His hand quickly snatched hers away from his chest. "My parents and your grandfather are right down the hall." She smiled and leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "I happen to know that these doors have locks." "Not here." He looked out the window at the mountains beyond the clearing the compound was in. His wolf wanted to take their mate in the open, not in a building. The wolf had let his human half take the lead since they had known she was theirs. Now it was his turn. "Outside?" She looked into his serious face. "Do you feel well enough to go outside?" His wolf was struggling with his human half. He wanted out, now! Drago breathed deeply, trying to keep the beast under control. Why was he acting like this? There was no danger they would lose her now. Why the rush? Drago could only manage to nod his head. Yes, he wanted to go outside. His hand closed tightly around hers. He flipped off the blankets, never letting go of her hand. If he had his way, he'd never let go again. Kelly had her first clear look at his body since his injuries. She tried not to show emotion when she saw the jagged scars from the wounds made by claws and teeth. But it had only been days! Werewolves had amazing powers of healing. He'd healed even faster than Logan had predicted! Drago could see where her eyes were locked. He looked down and saw what she saw. He whispered, "Soon you won't even know they're there. They'll fade. I promise. You won't have to look at them." Kelly couldn't believe he thought she'd be repulsed. She leaned forward and gently kissed the ugliest of the scars, across his stomach. She was a veterinary surgical nurse. She knew what that wound was meant to do, disembowel him. She took her tongue and slowly drew it all the way across his belly, the entire length of the healing wound. She looked up and saw his look of relief. "Outside, please, now." Drago could barely spit out the words. He swallowed hard, trying to hold his wolf back for just a few more minutes. He'd never been so insistent before. What was his problem? It is time. We must mate, now! Drago checked the window and was happy to see it opened easily. He smiled. The last time they had gone through a window together was in Amsterdam, when they had just barely made it out of that room without being caught. The cool spring air flowed through the window. Drago saw Kelly shiver and grabbed a blanket off the bed and arranged it around her shoulders. "Better?" Kelly nodded. "But what about you? All you have on is a pair of sweatpants." Drago grinned. "Werewolves like the cold. I'll be fine." He climbed through the window, helped her through next, and sniffed the air. No one nearby to let their families know they were leaving. They might have a little time before everyone panicked. His wolf wanted to get as far away from the compound as possible before he could relax and concentrate on his mate. The idea of mating for the first time inside a building was upsetting for him. He wanted to be under the blue sky, to feel the wind in his fur and the hard ground underneath his feet. Kelly tried to put her bare feet down carefully on the cold ground and winced every time she hit a rock. It didn't seem to bother Drago at all. She knew he wanted her to be quiet so they wouldn't attract attention, but when she hit that sharp rock she just couldn't help it. "Ow!" She hopped on one foot, steadying herself by holding onto Drago's arm. She leaned on him as she held up her leg and looked at the small cut on the bottom of her foot. "Dammit!" Drago grinned. "It won't bother you for long, I promise." He swept her into his arms. He really should have done this to begin with. He'd forgotten a human would be tender-footed. As soon as she was turned they wouldn't have to even think about it anymore. He jogged with her in his arms. Her scent filled his head and brought his wolf closer to the surface. Kelly felt the change in Drago's grip around her body. He tightened just a bit. And then she heard quiet growling coming from his chest. Was it the wolf? She was frightened for a fleeting moment, but then remembered it was his wolf who had fought so hard to protect her at the mine. He was just as much the one she loved as the human Drago. She had nothing to be afraid of! She held onto him tighter and tucked her face into his chest as he ran. She could hear the steady beat of his heart. He was barely breathing hard. Two days ago she wasn't sure he'd live through the night, and now he was carrying her into the forest. She looked over his shoulder and couldn't even make out the compound anymore. They'd traveled deep into the forest land surrounding the pack home. She finally felt him come to a stop in the middle of a meadow. He carefully set her down and sat next to her, a big smile on his face. "Now we can be alone, at least for a little while." He couldn't take his eyes off her as he grinned and reached out to smooth down her long black hair. Her blue eyes held his gaze. They were the same color as the blue sky. Was that possible? Kelly felt like a teenager on her first date. Here she was sitting with the man that had single-handedly saved her from a madman... mad werewolf? And she was nervous. What did she have to be nervous about? She loved him more than she'd ever thought imaginable. She would do anything for him. She looked into his dark eyes. They looked a little different, somehow. More alive? Feral? "Have you had a chance to talk to anyone in the last few days? I mean, about being turned into a werewolf, what will happen to you." His hands slid up and down her arms. He was afraid if he let go of her she'd get up and run back to the compound. He didn't want to scare her. That was the last thing he'd ever want. His fingertips skated across her skin. He could feel the goose-bumps on her arms. Was it the cold? Or fear? Kelly nodded slowly. "I want to be with you forever, Drago. I'm ready!" Drago swallowed hard. "There's one more thing I'd better tell you." His face blushed bright red. "I've never been with a female." He watched her for a surprised expression but didn't see one. Did she hear him? "You know, had sex." He looked away from her, worried she'd burst out laughing at him or something. A huge smile spread across Kelly's face. "Then we're even, me neither, had sex I mean. But I thought werewolves had sex all the time, even if they weren't mated." "Yeah, a lot do, but my wolf wasn't interested. He wanted to wait for you. Me too." Drago had been worried for nothing. "I need to warn you, though. My wolf is close. I want to have as much time with you as I can, but he'll only let me take things so far, and then he'll take over. Are you okay with that?" "You and your wolf are a package deal, Drago. I know that. I trust him as much as I do you." She leaned forward, putting a hand on his hard, muscled chest, brushed her lips against his and whispered into his ear, "And I want him as much as I want you." He wasn't sure if it was her breath in his ear or her words that made his cock jump. He didn't care. He agreed with his wolf; it was time. Drago brought his hands to Kelly's face and held her gently as he kissed her, waiting for her to open to his advancing tongue. He pushed her down to the ground where she lay on the blanket. He couldn't stop kissing her, his hands roaming her body and finding their way to the hospital gown, finding the tie at her waist. He peeled it away from her body and slid his hand along the warm skin of her stomach. His lips traveled over her eyes, down her nose, and across her jaw. He could feel her pushing her body up into his. In the back of his mind he was afraid she'd push against him, wanting him to stop. The wolf could never stop now. She wants us. Kelly moaned as she felt his cool hands on her hot skin. It had seemed cold when they first left the hospital, but now she felt like she had a fever. Her skin was so hot that the only thing that made it bearable was his touch. Everywhere his hands touched she pushed harder into him and moaned. "Drago..." All she could say was his name. She'd always stopped her dates after a kiss, never letting them touch her. Drago was the first, and he'd be the only one. Her hands found his head and moved across his crew-cut hair. God she loved the feel of it under her fingers. His lips were on her neck and her head fell back to let him take what he wanted from her. Drago heard her call his name and wanted to hear her say it over and over. Her moans were all that the wolf heard. He couldn't wait to be the one making her moan. Drago kissed across her collar bone, inhaling her scent deeply. It was like a drug to him. She was like a drug, giving him pleasure, and making him come back for more. Everything about her gave him pleasure, from hearing her laughter to feeling her fingers that slid along his back. He could feel how she traced each scar with her nails. He found his way to her breasts, uncovered in the spring sunlight. He kissed his way to them, using his tongue to lap at each nipple. When he latched onto one and started to suck he felt her fingers dig into his flesh. She lifted up into his mouth and whispered. "Drago, oh yes, just like that." She'd read so many romance novels in her life, and always wondered what this would feel like. Now she understood. She felt his tongue and teeth pulling at her nipples and felt a corresponding pulsation in her pussy and a wetness. She knew what she wanted, what she needed. "I want you, Drago, so badly." Her voice sounded so strange to her, like someone else was speaking through her body. Drago could smell her pussy. It was like her scent of lavender and orange, but even stronger and irresistible to both the human and the wolf. He kissed his way down her stomach to her thighs and licked the inside of her legs, pushing them apart. His fingers found their way to her lips, peeled them apart, and inhaled. His wolf was insistent but Drago had to hold him back just for another few seconds. He wanted just a few more seconds to savor this moment. He moved his mouth closer and felt the urge to lick. His tongue tasted her, and the scent he knew so well already was now the taste on his tongue that exploded in his brain. His tongue lapped at her folds, drinking in the nectar she gushed from her depths. He had to hold on tight to her thighs to keep her in place as her body bucked against his mouth. He could barely feel her hands grasping at his shoulders, gasping for air. Warmth flooded her body as she felt his tongue tasting her. Her fingers dug into his skin, she didn't worry about hurting him. She knew she could never hurt him. Her hips moved on their own, pushing harder into his face. She was reaching for her orgasm but he wouldn't let her. Suddenly, his tongue reached deep inside her, deeper than she thought possible. And then she noticed she was no longer grabbing at his skin, but now had handfuls of his fur. She opened her eyes and saw the wolf between her thighs. He looked up at her with Drago's eyes. She smiled at him. "I love you, Drago." The wolf was ecstatic. Their mate had told him that she loved him! She wasn't afraid to have him touch her. Even though he knew she was a were, he had been worried since she had no idea. Now he would no longer worry. He would only please his mate. His tongue dove deeper inside her, drawing her closer and closer to her release. But his instinct told him to not let her achieve it. He forced himself to pull away despite her pleas for him to continue. He moved to her side and pushed with his nose. Kelly was confused. Why did he stop? She looked up at her beautiful black wolf who had started pushing at her hip with his nose. "What do you want, Drago? I don't understand." She reached out to touch his soft fur but instead of licking her he growled. "I don't understand!" Why didn't he just become the human Drago and tell her what he wanted? She felt his head butt against her hip again. Drago tried to take control of his wolf but the mating instinct was too strong. The wolf wouldn't relinquish control now. He would make their mate understand. He continued to push his head against her side, licking at her soft skin whenever she moved in the right direction. She seemed to be getting the idea because eventually, he was licking along her back, and she had moved to her hands and knees. "Well why didn't you say so?" Kelly giggled and looked over her shoulder at the familiar dark brown eyes that watched her intently. She wiggled her hips at him. "I'm ready, Drago. Please, do it now." The wolf approached her slowly and sniffed her wet pussy, his tongue snaking out to taste her again. He pushed his face between her thighs to spread them wide and drank her fluids, which flowed freely into his mouth. Her moans filled his ears, and as he heard her begging him, he knew she was ready for him. He drew himself up onto his hind legs and, as gently as a wolf could, held her sides with his paws. He concentrated on not gouging her with his claws. She'll heal. I shouldn't worry. But he couldn't help thinking of her as a human even though he knew soon enough she would join with her panther. Out of Darkness Ch. 15 Kelly felt like her whole body was on fire and the only thing that could put out the flames was Drago. She wanted to feel him inside her, now. She felt his front legs grab hold of her body and the fur of his belly over her back. She knew what was coming. She wanted it, wanted to feel him, but a part of her was still scared. She braced herself and felt the probing tip of his cock as it found its way to its mark. She gasped when the head pushed into her slick channel. She was more than ready for him. Her body welcomed the invasion and pushed back towards him. She screamed when his cock plunged through her barrier. The pain lasted a moment and then was followed by the most amazing feelings deep inside her body. She knew he'd be worried he'd hurt her and rushed to reassure her wolf that she was fine. "Please, Drago, more, I want more." Drago had been shocked by her scream and almost pulled away. But her words urged him on and he began thrusting, deeper and deeper, feeling her body meeting his each and every motion. He pulled himself higher up onto her body, licking her neck, pleased when she turned her head to allow him better access. The time was close. Her tight sheath massaged his cock as he pounded into her, and he pushed forward, sinking his knot into her tight hole. Kelly jumped with surprise when she felt the added girth at the base of his cock. She forced herself to open more to him and felt the urgency of the wolf as he pushed deeper. Once his knot was seated, and she had grown used to the pressure and the stretching of her flesh, she could feel herself becoming more and more anxious, ready, waiting. His breath was hot on her neck, his tongue wet and smelling of her pussy. And then, unexpectedly, she felt his teeth clamp down through her skin and deep into the muscle. The pain was excruciating and blended with the pleasure in her pussy to bring her to an impossible state of euphoria. She heard herself screaming, but not in pain, in immense joy and ecstasy. Never had she hoped to experience feelings like this. Her body jerked and spasmed as she felt his cock explode inside her. How could she ever describe the immense feelings of love she felt right now? She would do anything for the wolf that rode her, the man who had saved her, her mate. Drago thrust again and again, draining himself inside his mate. He barely registered the blood dripping from her sides as his claws raked her skin. He was unable to hold back and was controlled by instinct alone at this moment. He howled to the clear blue sky his pleasure in his mate. She was meant for him, and he would keep her safe or die trying. The wolf collapsed over his mate's back, his breath ragged as he recovered. He finally regained his senses enough to realize they were tied and turned them to their sides on the soft grass. He shifted back to human, his knot still seated tightly inside her warm body. His hand slid slowly up and down her skin, and he held her tight to keep her warm. Drago felt her stir in front of him and whispered, "Did I hurt you, Kelly?" Kelly smiled to herself. "Hurt so good!" She giggled while she enjoyed the feel of him inside her. "That was the most amazing experience! Will it be like that every time?" Drago laughed. "I have no idea; this is all new for me too. I sure hope so." He was amazed at how soft her skin felt under his fingertips. If they could stay like this forever he'd be happy. But Erobos was coming. Their time alone would be short-lived. Kelly was surprised how warm she felt. She saw the wind moving the leaves on the trees. It just didn't feel that cold out. It must be his body that's making me so warm. Kelly looked around the meadow and noticed how green the grass looked. She didn't remember the color being so bright. Guess I was a little preoccupied. Boy those birds are loud. Maybe Nevada birds are louder than those in Idaho. Kelly chuckled to herself. She was being silly. "So what happens now?" "Now we wait for your wolf to take over." His lips couldn't stay away from her skin. They brushed everywhere he could reach while still tied. He loved how she shivered when his tongue dragged across her cool skin. "What will she do? How will you know it's her?" Now it was Drago's turn to laugh. "Oh I'll know. Believe me, she won't be shy about being noticed. Are you afraid?" He really doubted she was. So far she had handled everything that had been thrown at her without missing a beat. His mate was a remarkable woman, and would make a remarkable wolf. Yes, our mate is amazing. But would you be upset if she wasn't a wolf? Drago was startled by his wolf's question. Why wouldn't she be? We bit her as we mated. She'll turn. There's no reason to worry about it. Of course she'll become a werewolf. His wolf had been acting strangely since they had come here. Maybe it was the shock of their injuries or finding their parents. He shook his head in bewilderment. "So is there anything I should be prepared for? I mean, will I feel different? Will it hurt?" She tried to turn to face him but he held her steady. Until she tried to move she'd forgotten they were joined by his cock lodged tightly in her pussy. "Oops, sorry, did that hurt?" She couldn't help but giggle at the picture they must be. "No, not really, just don't try it again for a bit. As to if you'll feel different, I don't know. I've always been a werewolf, so I don't know anything different. I guess maybe we should have done more thinking about this before we did it. Or rather, I should have thought more. I should have suggested you talk to one of the females who had been human. One of them could have prepared you for it." His first test as a good mate and he had failed. We have failed nothing. It won't matter. Drago's wolf was talking in circles today. Maybe it was the excitement of mating. "You didn't answer me about whether or not it's going to hurt." Drago smoothed her silky black hair over her shoulders. "Kinda picked the wrong time to be asking that, don't you think? It's too late to stop it now. You should have thought of that before." He slid her hair away from her shoulders and kissed them firmly. "I promise you, it will be nothing more than what you can take. I think the first time it's just more of a surprising feeling than anything else, at least from what I've been told by those who were turned. You'll be fine, Kelly." He reached around to cradle her face in his hand and turned it so he could kiss her cheek. "You'll be fine." He rubbed his cheek against hers and felt her body relax in his arms. Kelly felt totally relaxed and snuggled into Drago's warm embrace. But minutes later she grew restless. Her hands slid across his arms that were tucked neatly around her body. Drago held her tighter in response and then released her when she dug her nails into his skin. "Ow!" He yelped more in surprise than actual pain and smiled to himself. The wolf was here. "Let yourself follow your instincts, Kelly. Trust her!" He felt his knot shrink and his cock slip out of her warmth. Kelly spun around and faced him, her blue eyes different than he remembered. Drago could see the animal behind them, the wildness, and smiled as she sat up quickly and then swung a leg over his hips to straddle him. Kelly shook her head. What was it she was hearing? Bite him! Now! We have to mark him as ours before another female challenges us! Kelly looked down at the handsome man she was hovering over. Drago could see the confusion on her face and whispered, "Listen to her, Kelly. Don't fight her. She's a part of you, you're a part of her. Just go with it." He waited for her next move, not wanting to interfere with her beast. Kelly was breathing hard, trying to concentrate. What was it she had to do? She could hear Drago talking but didn't register everything he said. It was so confusing listening to him and the voice that whispered inside her head. Was she going crazy? He is ours! He is a fit mate for us. We have waited a long time to find him; we cannot lose him now! Waited a long time? What the heck is my mind doing to me? Kelly tried to relax and not think for a change, just do what came naturally. She looked down at his cock, lying soft on his belly. She gasped when she saw the blood there and was surprised to see him laughing. "You were a virgin, remember? It's your blood, not mine." Drago gently stroked her breasts, savoring her soft skin. Her hair fell over her face, adding to the feral look about her. He moved and spoke slowly, not wanting to spook her wolf. Kelly suddenly swooped down on him and kissed him hard, her tongue darting into his mouth, taking control. She felt his arms moving to hold her but grabbed him by the wrists, pinning them to the ground above his head. She held him there, kissing down his neck, licking each jagged scar she came to. We will heal him. We will make him whole again. Drago gasped as he felt her kiss his scarred flesh. It tingled where she touched, almost like he'd been shocked. Even when she released his wrists, he left them where they were. He would let her lead. He felt his cock twitch back to life as she kissed her way across his large chest. Kelly stopped just for a moment at his nipples and took them each in her teeth and bit down slightly until she felt him tense. Then she continued her exploration of his body. She moved down his belly, again, licking the long, ugly scar that had been meant to kill him. Our mate is strong. See what he withstood to save us? He is destined to lead the pack. Kelly ignored the inner voice and took her pleasure in Drago's body. His skin felt so amazing under her lips. It was like there was an electric charge everywhere she touched. As inexperienced with men as she was, she knew what to do next. She gently held his cock, already starting to harden again, and began to gently lick it, cleaning it of their mixed cum. The flesh came alive in her hand and she tentatively closed her mouth around the large head and sucked. She turned so she could see his face and looked up, his cock held softly in her mouth. Drago groaned and gritted his teeth. It was hard not to start thrusting but he held back. He could tell she was unsure of herself and, frankly, so was he. Damn she looked hot! He let his head fall back and shut his eyes, just enjoying the sensations of her tongue and lips and her hand that was now sliding up and down his hardening shaft. Within minutes he felt like he was going to burst, and then he felt her moving above him, her mouth leaving his cock to the air. Kelly didn't know what was controlling her; she just seemed to be along for the ride, and what a ride it was! She moved above him until she was hovering over his hard cock and slid down onto it, feeling him impale her to the hilt. She gasped and moaned, reveling in the unbelievable pleasure of it. She began to move, slowly at first, then faster, pushing herself off his cock and lowering herself again. She felt his hands move to her hips as he held her while he thrust up into her. She heard sounds that were more animal-like than human. Were they coming from Drago? No, they were coming from her! She was so close to her orgasm but something held her back. She had to do something. Bite him, now! She leaned over him and sniffed at his neck, flicking her tongue out to lick at the pulse at his throat. She felt his chin tip back to give her room and heard growling. So close, so very close; any second now. She opened her mouth and leaned down close to him. She thought she could even hear his heart beating and the breath in his lungs. Her teeth seemed sharper than usual. Amazing what imagination could do to you. She felt his knot as he forced it into her tight pussy. Do it! Kelly heard the voice in her head and closed her mouth, feeling the warm blood spurting into her mouth as his cock exploded again inside of her. His thrusting was frantic as she kept hold of his neck, feeling her body spasming, every muscle firing in succession. She drank the warm blood that flowed across her tongue as her pussy seemed to milk his cock. She heard a roar that couldn't possibly be coming from Drago. It was coming from her! Drago felt Kelly's body stiffen just before she draped herself across his chest in utter exhaustion. His arms closed protectively around her and he felt their hearts begin to beat in unison. How do you feel, baby? Are you alright? Kelly's head popped up, surprised at hearing his words but not through her ears. It was in her head. How did you do that? We've bonded. We're mated now. And all that's left is waiting for your wolf to show herself. But humans take a while to change. It could be days or weeks. Drago wrapped his legs around hers and gently turned them both to their sides again to await the end of their second tie. But this time they were facing each other and he smiled as he watched the amazement on her face as they spoke through their new bond. Kelly was so confused. She heard Drago in her head, and this new part of herself, but there was another voice as well. Her grandfather? Sleep now, Kelly. Soon you will be one with your beast and all will be revealed to you. Kelly drifted off to sleep, safe in the arms of her mate who held her tightly. Suddenly she awoke with the urge to run. His knot had shrunk and they were no longer tied so she rolled away from him and jumped to her feet. Drago looked up at her sleepily and grinned. "Feeling energetic?" "Yes, I don't know why, I just want to move." She giggled and twirled around in the meadow. The cool breeze felt so good against her skin. She plopped down next to Drago and leaned in close to him, a satisfied look on her face. "I thought so, you smell like cinnamon. Did you know that?" She moved as close as she could without touching him and inhaled. "Yup, definitely cinnamon." Her eyes focused on the healing bite on his neck, and she leaned forward and swiped her tongue along it. "Mmmm, you taste like cinnamon too." Drago chuckled as he watched her leap to her feet again and run around him in circles. "You're going to make me dizzy." But when Kelly began to climb the small tree nearby he cocked his head in confusion. He whispered to himself, "Wolves don't climb trees." "Watch me, Drago." Her smile lit up her face as she jumped down off the branch, nimbly landing on her two feet. She stood rooted in place for a moment. "I feel tingly all over. Am I going to change?" "I don't know, ask her if she's with you." Are you with me? I have always been with you. Kelly gasped as she finally understood. Her panther's memories flooded her mind. And now, on top of her beast, Drago, and her grandfather, she could feel the minds of other panthers. They are our sisters. We will meet them soon. The panther walked forward in Kelly's mind, her large feet padding silently. She sat and picked up a paw, licking it non-chalantly. You're a panther! Of course. We have always been a panther. Drago thinks I'll be a wolf. He'll be disappointed. Our mate will be pleased with us. We belong to him. Rest, and I will explain to him. Kelly watched mutely as the panther walked past her, to the forefront of her mind, while the human Kelly lay down and curled up into a ball, closing her eyes to sleep. Kelly slowly stretched, her hands out in front of her, and swiftly shifted. Her long black tail curled around her tightly as she twitched her whiskers in the wind. She turned her head and fixed her gaze on the handsome male that watched her, dumbstruck. Drago was speechless. The striking black panther watched him through Kelly's deep blue eyes. Isn't our mate beautiful? Yes, yes she is, amazingly beautiful. Drago grinned and stroked the big cat's soft fur as she rubbed against his leg and purred. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Margareta and Carla ran into the office where the Alphas and Council Members were meeting, their faces white as a sheet. Their panicked voices competed to be heard. "They're gone!" "We went to their room and the window was open and they're both gone!" The two females were frantic, just sure that Erobos had snatched them from their hospital room in the middle of the compound. "Neither one of us can feel Drago through our bonds. We have to go find them!" Leo stood up, a calm smile spread across his face. "They are fine; they've mated. The Seventh Sister will be joining us shortly. And I believe I have a new Beta." Leo was very pleased. He had hoped Drago would bond to him. Most of his pack was old, very old. They needed new, young blood. Drago would make a fine second. Drago, Kelly, it is time to return to the compound. We have much to do before Erobos arrives. My pack can't wait to meet both of you. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Elko, Nevada – Present Day The black limousine drove slowly into town. The driver looked nervously at the throngs of men lining the road, watching them arrive. He couldn't wait to dump his fare and the get the hell out of here. He had practically salivated when the foreigner had offered him big money to drive him from the Reno Airport to Elko. Now, he regretted it. The sooner he got away from this weirdo, the better. The driver glanced in his rearview mirror and saw the pale, gaunt man sitting quietly. The whole drive here he'd had a pissed off look on his face. Now he looked kind of smug with just the hint of a smile on his face. The driver was impatient as the man went through his wallet and threw the bills towards him. Damn! Euros. He should have known the guy would pull something like this. Whatever, he wasn't going to argue with him. He'd keep his fingers crossed on the exchange rate and just get the hell out of Dodge, or Elko, whatever. The limo spun around on the shoulder and peeled out, gravel spitting out from under his spinning tires. The men gathered around the newest arrival didn't notice as it hit them. The police cars were parked at a distance, the officers watching silently. James exchanged a quick glance with his partner. Carr, He's here. Out of Darkness Ch. 16 Nevada -- Present Day "But I'm not ready to be a werepanther." Kelly paced in front of Drago as he pulled his sweatpants on. "Kind of too late to say that now, Kelly. You said you wanted to be a were." Drago sat on a rock and watched her walk back and forth. "You said you were ready." "Yes, ready to be a werewolf with you! But a werepanther? No, this is more than I'd bargained for." Drago sighed. "We can't do anything about it now. You're just gonna have to live with it." Drago waited a moment and then added softly, "Do you regret mating, Kelly?" "Oh my God, no! No!" She ran and knelt in front of him, taking his hands in hers and holding on for dear life. "Never! I'm so grateful to have found you, to be your mate. Wolf or panther, I know my life with you will be amazing. I guess more than anything I'm a little annoyed with my grandfather for never telling me." She smiled when his hand found the side of her face, and she rubbed her cheek against it, purring. He smiled down at her and leaned forward to kiss her soft lips. "Speaking of your annoying grandfather, he is our Alpha and must be respected. I think your panther will remind you of that in the future." The panther was busy grooming herself but stopped long enough to agree with their mate. She would be sure to show proper respect to the Alpha, grandfather or not. "For now, we'd better get back to the compound. All hell is gonna break loose soon. We need to be ready." Kelly had to stifle a laugh and covered her mouth. "What?" Drago stood and stared at her. What was so funny? "You're starting to sound like the Baxter Betas. Were you awake more than you let on in the hospital?" "Maybe my wolf was paying attention. He's always been good at adapting to new places. I moved a lot as a cub, remember." Drago smiled and put out his arm. "May I escort my new mate to introduce her to the pack?" Kelly giggled and hooked her arm in his. "You may." Kelly and Drago walked arm in arm back to the compound. But they weren't prepared for the congratulations from everyone they passed. Apparently, news had traveled fast. By the time they made their way back to their room in the hospital, they were surrounded by Drago's parents, all four of them, and Kelly's grandfather. "Congratulations, my boy. I know you will take good care of my granddaughter." Leo clapped a surprised Drago on the back as he passed by. "I'm so happy. I've gained a son and a daughter in the same week." Margareta dabbed at her eyes as she smiled at her son and grabbed Kelly to give her a quick squeeze before making room for Drago's other mother, Carla, to do the same. Kelly and Drago exchanged confused looks. I didn't know we'd cause such a stir. Usually all the excitement is confined to the matings of prospective Alphas. Drago wasn't prepared for the answer from his new Alpha. You will be my heir, Drago. I have waited for centuries to find a Beta strong enough to someday take my place. I love my pack, every member, but none are strong enough to lead. You are the one I have waited for, the one my mate foretold centuries ago. I had given up hope when Kelly decided to leave the pack. I had thought my mate's vision flawed. But all has come to pass as she predicted. Welcome to the Creighton Pack, my boy. Welcome! Drago was suddenly enveloped in a bear hug from the panther Alpha. He wasn't sure what to do and begged Kelly through their new bond for help. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. This was certainly not what she had expected either. She'd been wondering how to tell her grandfather she was going to become a werewolf and then found out she had been a werepanther the whole time. The joyous mood was quickly ended by Alistair's serious tone. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Carr says we have about three hours to prepare for Erobos and his minions. I'm afraid we'll have to continue the congratulations at a later time." He wished he could have waited, but there was no time. "Please, the Alphas and their seconds need to meet with the Council in the dining hall now." Alistair took a moment and then continued. "And the female panthers will be meeting in Carr's office." Drago wasn't happy about being separated from his mate so soon, but his human half assured his wolf that she would be safe surrounded by the other panthers. As long as she doesn't think she is going to fight against Erobos. And why shouldn't I? My panther says she can take on any wolf and win! We will discuss it later! Drago reluctantly followed his new Alpha, part of him wishing he could stay sequestered with his mate, away from Erobos, away from any more fighting. But the other part was ready to fight, ready to win! Silvano watched with mixed emotions as Drago walked with his new Alpha. Although Silvano was technically a Beta, he had never been a warrior. He was a scientist. He felt Carla wrap her arm around his waist and move in close to him. He looked down and smiled, kissing the top of her head. "You're proud of him, aren't you?" "Of course, cara. Why wouldn't I be? Our son is now second to an Alpha! And he will fight side by side with his father, as it should be." Silvano wished he could be there, fighting with them. But he knew he would be of no assistance. He hoped that Xylon would find something useful for him to do during the fight. After the meeting, he would speak with him. Xylon wasn't a fighter either. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Kelly was the last to enter Carr's office. She felt all eyes upon her as she looked for a place to sit. She had met Jenna and Orsolya once, but the others were pretty much strangers. She looked at each of them, and suddenly realized they were looking at her mating bite. She self-consciously tugged at her collar and turned beet-red. "Males don't like you to cover up their bites. They get downright mad about it! Troy wouldn't let me cover mine for weeks." The woman giggled and turned away, whispering to the blond sitting next to her. They shared a private joke and just couldn't stop laughing. What the heck is her name? I have it on the tip of my tongue. My name is Danielle, but you can call me Dani. Kelly whipped around and saw the hazel eyes laughing at her. "I'm sorry, I forgot we can all hear each other, can't we? There are so many voices in my head, I'm getting kind of confused." Kelly could make out snippets of conversations between the different women, but couldn't tell who was who. Each voice was different, but she was just downright lost. Orsolya walked over and sat down next to her, taking her hand and patting it gently. "Don't worry, Kelly. It will get easier. The other girls have adjusted well. They were all human until just a few months ago. Until then, I thought I was the only panther left. Remember that we met briefly yesterday? I am Drago's aunt. You are among friends and family, my dear. We will all help you." She smiled warmly and hugged Kelly around the shoulders. Kelly watched Orsolya closely and saw tears forming in her beautiful pale green eyes. "What's wrong?" Orsolya gently held Kelly's face. "I just can't get over how you look so much like my dear sister, Zsálya. You even sound like her. It's like having a part of her back with us." She smiled and leaned back in her chair, still holding Kelly's hand. "Orsolya, what are we supposed to do now?" Jenna looked to the older woman for guidance. None of them had a clue. "I'm not sure. Kelly's grandfather insists that we can do something to help. But I really have no idea what it could be. The only panther I ever knew from home was my grandmother, and she was alone. She never spoke about the Seven Sisters or any other special powers other than visions." Orsolya sounded sad that she had no information to help them. Tracy spoke quietly. "Maybe we shouldn't try so hard. What if we just relax, and see if our panthers tell us what to do. They certainly seem to know things we don't." She looked at each of her sisters in turn, her grey eyes hopeful. The women smiled at the little blond, who was usually so meek she barely said a word. She seemed such an unlikely mate to the big Czech Council member. He was boisterous and outgoing, while she was quiet and subdued. Maybe between Konstantin and her panther, she would come out of her shell. "That's not a bad idea, Tracy." Katy was amazed at the things that came out of Tracy's mouth. It seemed that when she did decide to talk, it was always something of importance. "Let's just sit back, relax, close our eyes, and wait for our panthers to tell us something." Katy was the first to take a deep breath, relax her body, and wait. One by one, the other six women did the same. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. But something had changed. There was a presence in the room. Orsolya was the first to open her eyes. Something was calling to her. She gasped and smiled broadly, whispering, "Grandmother!" The other females opened their eyes and sat, open-mouthed, watching the apparition in front of them with silent awe. Jenna could only stare. The other panthers looked from the floating figure to Jenna and back again. They'd heard that Jenna looked exactly like Orsolya's grandmother, but they hadn't been able to compare for themselves. Now they could see it! Hello, my dear. I have missed you so. But I have watched from afar. I was pleased when Guillame found you again. I had hoped it could have been sooner, but such is fate. The ghostly presence looked at her granddaughter with a loving, warm smile. Grandmother, how..? I have been sent by the ancestors to guide you as best I can. You are now the Seven Sisters, but you are un-trained. The hope is that, with my help, you will defeat Erobos once and for all. He is an abomination that never should have been born. My great-grandmother, Lysandra, regrets she did not take the one opportunity she had. Orsolya couldn't believe her eyes. Grandmother looked exactly as she had when she'd last seen her in Hungary. Grandmother, why have you never contacted me before if this was possible for you? My dear, it is only because of the Seven Sisters that I am able to be here with you now. The seven of you have drawn me here from Beyond. You needed help. Your panthers called out, and I was sent. Danielle had never seen anything like this before. She clutched Rebecca's hand so tightly that Rebecca pinched her until she let go. "Ow!" The apparition whirled around and faced Danielle, smiling warmly. Danielle, you and Rebecca are very powerful together. You have just learned that yesterday. But today you will learn how much more you can do. You must be brave. Danielle nodded slowly, unable to even form a thought in her head. Leona turned slowly in mid-air, the flowing gown she wore billowing around her. Her long black hair floated about her like she was in a wind. She looked like Jenna's twin, but different somehow. Jenna, what do your visions of the future tell you? What have you seen for the packs? Jenna took a deep breath, afraid to put it into words, afraid to share what she saw. I see death, broken families, orphan cubs. There were tears in her eyes. These visions had been coming to her the last few days. But she'd been preoccupied with Leona's memories coming to her and had tried to fool herself into thinking they were just nightmares. Katy leaned over to her friend and whispered, "Jenna, why didn't you tell me? You've carried this around yourself? I'm so sorry!" She wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her tightly. Jenna smiled gratefully at her friend. "I didn't want to burden you, Katy. There's been so much going on." Tracy suddenly found herself staring into the transparent eyes of the spirit in their midst. She tried not to show her fear and bit her lip nervously. Tracy, you must tell us what the enemy is thinking. How would I know? Tracy looked around at her fellow panthers. She didn't know anything; she hadn't been out of the compound in weeks. All you have to do is think, Tracy. Concentrate, you can do it. Focus on the strangers amassing at the edge of the town. Tracy shut her eyes and tried to do it, but didn't know what the heck she was doing. Nothing is happening. Katy had a thought. "Tracy, James and Steve are watching them. Maybe you can connect with one of them somehow and that will lead you to them. Tracy looked at her for a moment and nodded, shutting her eyes again and furrowing her brow in determination. She found the familiar minds of James and Steve. She was good friends with James' mate, Sarah, and could feel his fear for her and their unborn cub. She tried to ignore it as she pushed forward to the werewolves the two Baxter Betas were focused on. There, she had it. I feel... excitement, anger, fear, uncertainty. Tracy's eyes popped open. Okay, now what? Leona turned to Danielle and Rebecca. Now it is your turn. You must find those that feel fear and uncertainty, and amplify those feelings in them. Make them so frightened they turn and run. Danielle and Rebecca exchanged a quick glance before taking each other's hands and focusing. They would use the same trick Tracy had, find James and Steve first and then move on from there to the strangers. Their panthers moved together, finding the frightened first. The fear seemed to radiate from them. They moved into their minds, unknown to them, linking them all at once, enabling the panthers to speak to all of them as one. Some of the werewolves stopped in their tracks, listening. Was it their wolf speaking to them? The voices spoke together, in almost a hypnotic cadence, hoping to magnify their fears. You will die a horrible death, your bodies scattered for miles. The Baxter pack destroyed a pack of Dire Wolves. Do you really think you will survive? And now they have been joined by two packs that have a need for revenge against Erobos. They will not surrender. They will not run away. They will fight to the death! And that death will be yours. Among the scattered groups of werewolves that had gathered along the highway, individuals began to sweat, their faces turning a ghostly white. They looked for their friends and whispered. They were able to sneak away, unnoticed by the crowds of wolves trying to get a look at their leader, Erobos. James and Steve cocked their heads as they saw the few start to back away from the group, then turn and run. The larger group didn't seem to notice. Carr, the odds are getting a little better. I'd counted up to over four hundred, but about forty just ran out of town. Carr sighed. "Don't know if it's because of the panthers or not, but their numbers are down a few, but it's still going to be more than three to one." "What is our plan?" Leo spoke up. Drago fidgeted next to him. Leo acted as if he didn't notice. Drago, all will be well. But you must remember that you are now my second. Watch your father; he shows no emotion, regardless of what is happening. Drago snuck a glance at his father, standing next to his Alpha, Guillame. He watched everything going on around him, but giving no hint of his own feelings. Zsigmond felt eyes on him and looked up to see Drago staring at him. Being a second can sometimes be very frustrating, my son. You cannot show your own emotions or fears. You must be his support. If you are unsure of anything, ask me. I will help you. The corner of Drago's mouth curled up into a half smile. He stood at his Alpha's side, a slight nod to his father his only movement. "The packs will meet Erobos and his wolves at the midpoint between here and Elko. We can't let them make it to the compound." Carr would not let anything happen to the females of his pack if he could help it. "The female Betas who are not pregnant will guard the Omegas and other females, and the members of both Councils will guard the compound." Zsigmond could feel Drago's restlessness. My son, you could not hope for better to guard your mate. Three of the panthers are mates to Council members. They would die to protect them. I know it's hard to leave a new mate, but you will, and you will fight to protect her. Thank you, father. Drago was grateful to Zsigmond, and called him father for the first time since he had been taken away from his parents as a cub. He could feel his father's love through their new bond and returned it, wholeheartedly. "Gather your Betas, and we'll meet outside the compound in fifteen minutes." Carr swept out of the room, Cole hot on his heels. "Our goodbyes have to be fast, Cole. Don't be late." Carr never gave Cole a glance and took the stairs two at a time to the third floor and his mate. Cole watched his brother for a moment before running out the door to find Karen. He knew she was waiting for him at the well where he had first seen her wolf. The first sight of her was always the same, wonder that they were together, all-encompassing devotion to the only woman he would ever love. Her long auburn hair fell over her face as she sat on the edge of the well, her fingers gripping the edge. He sat down next to her and closed a hand over hers. "This is all my fault, Cole. If we had never met, you wouldn't have come into contact with Gary and the Dire Wolves, and Erobos wouldn't be coming here. It's all my fault!" Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "Pet, nothing is your fault. Even if you weren't in the picture, it still may have ended up this way. Now stop it! I have less than fifteen minutes to say good-bye, and I don't want to waste it talking about what might have been, okay?" Cole pushed the hair out of her face so he could see the dark brown eyes he loved so much. They were full of tears, and he leaned forward to lick the saltiness from her face. "But this is so much worse than the fight against Gary, so much worse." She grabbed her wonderful wolf and hugged him close. Would she ever see him again after this? She couldn't imagine her life without him. "Don't go, Cole, please, don't go." Cole held her trembling body and stroked her hair. "If I had a choice, I would never leave you, Karen. But you know there's no choice. I have to help protect the pack, not just you." He held her tight, feeling the waves of fear and dread she couldn't keep from coming through their bond. "And if this is my last fight ever, I wouldn't change one minute of my life with you. We're going to bring another life into this world, what's more important than that?" He reluctantly pushed himself away from her and tried to catch her eyes, ducking down until his green eyes met hers. "And you have to tell him everything about his father if I'm not here to do it myself." He felt Karen's nails dig into his skin. "It could happen and you have to be prepared, pet. But believe me, I will do everything I can to make it back to you, everything!" Karen threw herself back into his arms, sobbing. "I know, I know." She whispered in his ear, kissing his neck and hugging him tightly. Cole backed away from her embrace. "I have to go, pet. Knowing you're here waiting for me is the best incentive I could ever have. Before I met you, I had nothing. Now I have everything, and I aim to keep it!" He took her face gently in his hands and kissed her, not wanting to let his lips leave hers for one second. I love you pet, more than you'll ever know. Karen wished this kiss would never end, but knew it would, far too soon. I love you too, Cole. They walked hand in hand back to the compound which was filled with females in tears. Karen looked around and found Sarah, standing alone, crying. Karen had forgotten that James was on patrol today, watching Erobos and his gathering army. He wouldn't even be able to say goodbye in person. She gave Cole one last look and a quick kiss, and mouthed the words she said through their bond. I love you. Come back to me, Cole. Out of Darkness Ch. 16 Cole watched his mate run across the driveway to Sarah. I will, Karen, I will. Cole found his brother, standing with the other Alphas and giving them last minute information. "Luckily, the Chief of Police is a friend. He knows us and knows what we are. He's letting our pack members close off the roads where we'll be meeting up with Erobos and his wolves. There won't be any humans wandering into our way." "Good luck, Carr." Alistair wished he could be with them, but in this case, his place was here, guarding the panthers, guarding the future of the Were. If Erobos were to win this fight, they would take what was left of the packs and find them new homes. And then figure out how to defeat their newest vicious enemy. Rhys stood by his friend as they watched the Alphas leave with their packs. "They are the best of our kind, my friend." He watched the dust clouds as the dozens of SUV's drove out of the compound. "Hopefully, they will return." "Have you felt anything through your bonds with Jenna?" Rhys spoke quietly, especially since he thought he knew the answer and knew it would not please either one of them. "No, and I'm sure you've felt the same." Rhys nodded silently. He didn't like this but realized it would be far too distracting for the panthers to feel their mate's presence in their minds right now. But he wished he knew what it was they were doing. Alistair looked at his oldest friend for a moment. "Let's get the Council members organized along with the female Betas. With the security perimeters in place I think we'll have a good thirty minute cushion to get everyone out of here if need be." The two old friends walked back to the main building, their hearts heavy. How many friends would they lose in this fight? How many females would cry out as their mating bonds were silenced forever? ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "Now what?" Rebecca looked around the room at the bewildered faces surrounding her. "I mean, we managed to scare a few away. They still outnumber us. Can't we do anything else?" She held Dani's hand as tightly as she could. They both were worried about their mates, who were on their way to fight. And she imagined Kelly and Orsolya held the same fears. You will do much more, my dear. But you must be patient. All will happen as it must. And you will do whatever you can to help the packs. Leona peered lovingly down at her granddaughters. And since Kelly was the reincarnation of her dear Zsálya, she included her. She was so proud of them. They would fulfill their destinies. Grandmother, what is it that I can do? I don't even know what help my gift could be? My visions have never been helpful for the present. Orsolya felt helpless and useless. I feel the same, Orsolya. Being able to see happy futures doesn't seem very useful to me. Maybe we should be out fighting? Katy had thought her gift wonderful, until now. It just seemed pointless at this moment. Leona's figure turned to face her two red-headed granddaughters. They looked so like her great-grandmother, Lysandra. My dears, it is not just your individual gifts that are important. It is the bond between you that makes you strong. Tracy, Rebecca and Danielle could not have done what they did without all of you, without all of your strength. If even one of you is gone, the Seven Sisters are no more and are as powerless against Erobos as any other were. The women were confused. It made no sense to them. "Maybe it's kind of like an electrical circuit? If one part breaks, the current doesn't flow." Tracy blinked as her head swiveled to see if anyone agreed with her. Jenna smiled. "Yes, Tracy, I think you've hit the nail on the head. We are a circuit." The apparition of Leona seemed to glow brighter. What do we do now, Grandmother? Orsolya would give everything of herself to help her sisters, help her mate. Tracy, continue to search the minds of the enemy for those that have doubts. When you find them, Rebecca and Danielle will help to make those thoughts impossible to ignore. When there is need for more, you will know. Jenna and Katy exchanged a quick glance. Nothing like being vague. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "I don't know if they'll be expecting a frontal assault. But I figure this is our best bet." Carr stood in the middle of the road with Guillame and Leo, showing them the narrow mountain pass. "Once Erobos and his followers have made it into here, there won't be anywhere for them to go but straight at us. And James will have the barriers put up at the entrance to the pass as soon as they go through so they won't be able to retreat. We have to end this, once and for all!" Leo scanned the cliffs on either side. He nodded. It was a good spot for a fight. "He won't be expecting panthers. Leo, you should hold your Betas in reserve. Let us take the brunt of the fight, then bring them in when you can see Erobos first hand. Panther bites can kill a Dire Wolf, so do your best." Leo nodded. "Drago, we'll wait over there, out of sight." The tall Alpha pointed to a curve where they could wait, unnoticed, but see everything. Drago gritted his teeth. How could they wait while the others fought? You will do your duty to your Alpha and your pack, Drago. You will get your time to fight. Zsigmond stood silently next to his Alpha and gave his son just the hint of a smile. Drago took a deep breath. This being a second is hard work. Drago watched his father's smile grow and smiled back before joining his new pack in their position. Couple miles out, Carr. Carr ran a hand through his hair, the long scar still clearly visible across his forehead. "Okay, James says they're close. Let's get ready!" Cole took a last look at the barricade they'd constructed across the narrow road. It seemed pretty solid to him. Soon the landscape was filled with wolves of all sizes and colors. The Baxter pack waited on the north side of the pass, the Bertrand-Kardos pack on the south. The Creighton pack of panthers hid among the rocks to await the right time. Drago looked around the panthers surrounding him. Kelly had been the first he'd ever seen, and now he was in the midst of some thirty sleek cats. They had accepted him whole-heartedly as their Alpha's heir, surprising Drago. It felt a little strange to be among the cats, but soon enough, it wouldn't matter. They would be fighting together, and perhaps dying together. The immense black panther stood in front of the lone wolf. His blue eyes were fixed on the slightly smaller were. We fight to avenge our ancestors and to remain what we are. You and Kelly are the future of the Creighton Pack, and I know you will make me proud, Drago. We will fight well together. I will fight, Alpha. And I will prove you right about me. The wolf's ears twitched as he heard car engines approaching. They both turned their heads and then found a good vantage point to watch unseen as the procession of cars slowed to a halt in front of the barricades that blocked their way. The first car slid to a halt inches from the first concrete barrier. The SUV's behind screeched to a stop one by one. The males got out of the lead vehicle and stared, dumbfounded, at the large grey obstruction. "What the hell?" A tall male walked slowly around the mass of concrete sitting in front of them. The Boss wasn't going to be happy about this. "What is the delay?" The tall pale figure moved quickly to the front. He stopped, narrowing his eyes as he surveyed the obstacle in their way. His gaze shifted to the cliffs surrounding them. "We will go back and find another route." Alpha, I was scouting behind us, a barrier has been constructed at the entrance to the pass. We're trapped. Erobos stood motionless. It was a trap. And the Beta who had just given him the report was attempting to flee. I will deal with him later. If he lives through the battle, he will die a most painful death! "Move the barriers!" The driver of the lead car looked at the Alpha in disbelief. "But Alpha, they must be here watching us. They'll slaughter us if we take the time to move the barriers." "I will slaughter you myself if you do not follow my orders! We outnumber them. Move as many barriers as you can before they strike." Erobos was disgusted with these so-called Betas. They had no discipline. One hundred years on their own in America had made them soft. Their lives would not be so easy when he was finished here. If they waited to move the barriers until after they won, they would be weakened by the battle. It would give those still at the pack home more time to escape. He had a strong feeling that what he sought was waiting for him in the Baxter compound. He was not going to allow them to escape. He had seen the pictures of the women Gary had lost to the Baxter Pack. And Leona was among them. He would have her! What did he need the Dire Wolf for if he had Leona back? The Betas did what they were told. It took all their strength to move the heavy blocks of concrete. They had gotten the first few moved when they saw the wolves coming at them. "Shit! Here they come!" Erobos' followers barely had time to shift before the gathered forces were upon them. A few felt teeth in their human limbs before they had the chance to shift and paid the price with a quick death. Drago watched from his vantage point as the wolves met in battle. He didn't know the Baxter Pack well enough to know who was who, except for the two distinctive chocolate colored wolves that moved forward through the throng of snarling, biting beasts. Carr and Cole led their pack well. I don't know if I would recognize Erobos after a thousand years. Tell me if you see him, Drago. Yes, Alpha, I will. I'll know him in a second. Drago caught sight of his father and knew the huge brown wolf next to him was Guillame. He guessed the black wolf next to Zsigmond must be his uncle, Istvan. They fought well. The two packs were coordinated, well trained, battle-ready armies pitted against a group of misfits. They may have been outnumbered three to one, but they would fight through as many wolves as they must to save their families. Drago craned forward as he saw one of the chocolate wolves go down under a mass of bodies. He couldn't tell if it was Carr or Cole. His eyes never left the sight. He saw blood on the muzzles of the wolves tearing at the animal that lay beneath them. It took every bit of strength he had to stay put and not rush in to help. But he had been ordered by his Alpha to wait. Drago thought back to the fight at the mine. He hadn't felt it when the wolves tore at his body. He had thought of only one thing, saving Kelly. He hoped the chocolate wolf was spared the pain like he had been. A large blond wolf streaked through the crowd of warring beasts and tore out the throat of the first wolf he came to on top of his friend. His large jaws closed on one wolf after the other, breaking necks and backs with one strong bite each. Drago had been distracted by the wounded wolf and had forgotten his job for the moment. He scanned the field of battle, looking for the Dire Wolf that was Erobos. He didn't see the giant black wolf anywhere, yet. His attention was brought back to the killing field in front of him by the screams of wolves being torn limb from limb. He suddenly spotted the blond wolf, pulling the chocolate one across the ground, his battered body so still. Another wolf came to help and they managed to drag the still living wolf behind the barriers and left him there, alone. Drago could see he was still breathing, but for how long? Drago forced himself to look back into the pass, searching for Erobos. The sooner he was dead, the sooner the battle would end and the fewer of their kind would die. The chocolate wolf lay stil;, the snarls and howls from the fight sounded so distant. He had hoped to make it home to his mate, to raise his family, but if that was not his fate, then at least he knew he'd fought well. The cool desert wind howled around him, almost louder than the fight. Was it his imagination? His breath was labored, but he felt no pain, just sadness. He wanted to kiss her one more time. I love you, and know that I would never have left you if I had had the choice. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ The seven panthers sat around the office, silent, waiting for whatever it was they were supposed to do. They heard the cries of anguish at the same time. It is time, my dears. You must care for the fallen. Grandmother, what do you mean? They are miles away. How could we possibly? Orsolya couldn't even imagine what her grandmother had in mind. They cringed as they heard screaming from the females on the other side of the door. Bring the families of those that are gravely wounded. They will help you find your way to them. Then you will use Kelly's healing power, if it is not too late. Jenna went to the door and looked out into the foyer, filled with sobbing females. Lee was doing her best to calm their fears, but at the moment, most of her attention was on Karen, who had collapsed, hysterical, on the floor. "Lee, bring her in here." Jenna opened the door wider as Lee half carried the distraught woman into the room. Karen's voice cracked as she tried to talk. "He's dying, and I'm not there with him! He won't last until they can drive him back. What am I going to do?" Karen's eyes were filled with tears and all she saw around her was a blur. She wasn't even sure who the figures were surrounding her, and she didn't care. All she cared about was Cole. Kelly felt her panther urging her forward. She stood and tentatively took a step towards the auburn-haired female, sitting quietly next to her. Kelly looked to Leona for a sign that she was doing the right thing. The apparition nodded slightly at her. Kelly took a deep breath, bit her lip, and then took Karen's hand in hers. "Karen, we want to help you, help Cole. You have to share your bond with us. Can you do it?" Karen looked at her incredulously. Share their bond? Even if it was possible, why would she want to share their private feelings in such a horrific time? Jenna got on her knees in front of Karen's chair, her hands resting lightly on Karen's legs. "We think we can help Cole, and the other wounded. But only with your help, Karen." She handed her friend a tissue. She tried to exude confidence where she had none, but hoped Karen would feel it and have some hope. Tracy came and sat on Karen's other side. "Please, Karen, let us help Cole." Her quiet voice sounded the most sure of them all. She did believe they would be able to help. Tracy carefully took Karen's free hand, and held it gently. She felt Karen's grief and fear, but from Cole, she felt only his love for Karen. She smiled to herself. She was sure they could help him. The seven panthers crowded around Karen's chair. If they weren't touching Karen, they were touching each other, holding hands or putting a hand on an arm. Each of them felt Karen's and Cole's emotions, and the full extent of his injuries. They exchanged glances. Could they do this? Tracy's expression said they could. Then they would. Kelly had no idea what she was doing, so she trusted her panther. We healed our mate, didn't we? We did? I didn't do anything. I wasn't even a panther yet. We were always a panther. I was just hidden from you, but I was always with you. And I helped you to heal our mate. He would not have survived without us. And now we will heal her mate. The panther looked sadly at the auburn-haired little wolf next to them. We will help her. She needs him. Her cub will need his father. Kelly felt like her head was spinning, and she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she was sitting next to a horribly injured wolf. He had wounds on every limb, his throat, his belly. How would she ever be able to help him? She looked up for a moment and saw the battle raging in front of her on the other side of the barricades. But it was like there was a gauzy film surrounding them, keeping them separate from the fight. His eyes fluttered open at the shimmering vision before him. His breath was shallow, his vision dim, what he heard sounded miles away instead of yards. At first he thought it must be Karen to say her good-byes on his way to his ancestors, but no. Kelly? Why would he be dreaming of Kelly? She saw the green eyes, dulled by pain and fear. She put a hand lightly on his chest and stomach. Somehow she could feel his injuries. She felt strength coming to her from her sisters and warmth transmitting through her hands to Cole's broken body. It was almost as if she was sending the panthers' strength directly into his body. Cole looked up and thought he could see Kelly's face more clearly. But she still looked almost transparent, like if he were to hold up his hand, it would travel right through her. Did he fell stronger? Or was it his imagination playing tricks on him before he died? Just like the vision of Kelly. Cole, you are going to be alright, and you will make it home to Karen, I promise! The green eyes sparkled as they stared up into Kelly's face. She smiled back and stroked his head. She didn't know why, but he was healing. Whatever it was, it was the strength of the Seven Sisters that seemed to amplify her own panther's powers. She watched as his breathing became stronger, his heart beat more steadily. She looked to her left and there was another wolf laying there, just as badly injured. She moved to him and began the process again. Jenna watched Kelly's face as she sat in the chair. Lee had helped Karen get up, and Lila had brought another female whose mate had told her he was wounded and would not see her again. And now Kelly's hands had gone to hers, holding one as Tracy held the other. They all felt what Tracy felt, saw what Kelly saw. How many could they save? Kelly moved from one wounded wolf to the other. She didn't know which pack was which, or which female sat in front of her in the office. All she knew for sure was that she could save them, at least most of them. She sat down next to a sable wolf who could feel nothing from the neck down. She knew immediately that she couldn't help him. Kelly could see in his frightened eyes that he knew the end was near. She stroked his head as she spoke softly to him. You've made your pack very proud. Can you tell me your name? Even through the mental bond, his voice was so weak. Jason. Jason. Kelly sat, holding a paw, stroking his blood streaked fur. Tears slid across her cheeks. She hadn't noticed the chocolate wolf had dragged himself to their position. He was looking much better already. Jason, you fought well. The chocolate wolf, Cole, lay next to the gravely injured Beta. He moved as close as he could, trying to give the dying wolf some little comfort in his last few moments. He rested his head over the head of his friend. Sleep, Jason. Sleep. I'll watch over you. Your family will be well cared for. I did my best. The words were softer than a whisper in Cole's head. Cole closed his eyes for a moment. You are one of our finest warriors, Jason. Carr will be so proud to have had you in his pack. Thank you for your bravery. He watched as the sable wolf's breath slowed. His chest barely rose, and then it was still. Kelly lingered for a moment but had to move on to the next of the many wounded. She would never forget those eyes that had looked at her with such hope. She tried to keep herself from looking for Drago. If he was injured, her panther would know. So she forced herself not to even think about him. She shook her head and moved on. Out of Darkness Ch. 16 Drago couldn't see what was happening behind the barriers. They were bringing the wounded there to get them out of further harm's way. How many would be alive when they were done? Suddenly he caught movement out of the corner of his eye, movement that seemed familiar. He saw the giant wolf that used his own Betas as shields. He'd never noticed what a coward Erobos really was before. Alpha, he's over there. Drago directed Leo's line of sight to the Dire Wolf that cowered from the onslaught. It's time. Leo picked his way down from their precarious position, Drago and his Betas close behind. The panther Alpha was amazingly agile for a beast so large. His tail flagged behind him like a counterweight as he walked through the loose rocks. Drago kept an open eye as they moved towards their quarry. They moved silently past the wolves engaged in mortal combat on either side of them. Their job was clear, to cut the head off the dragon. Drago could see another group of wolves fighting behind the convoy of cars. Carr's Police Officer Betas must be attacking from the rear. He watched with disgust as Erobos shifted and ducked into a vehicle to hide in the back seat. Did he only fight when he knew he could win? Drago and the panther Betas made short work of the twenty or so wolves who had been left behind to guard their so-called Alpha. Leo and Drago shifted and stood next to the tinted windows. Leo nodded and Drago rapped his knuckles on the hard glass. There was no response from the car. Drago knocked again. "Vieni fuori, capo." Drago waited a moment. "Ho hai trovato qualche pantere. Non è quello che volevi?" Drago noticed his father watching him from nearby, drying blood on his fur. He cocked his head. What did you say, Drago? Drago smiled and looked at his father. I said "Come out, boss. I found you some panthers. Isn't that what you wanted?" Zsigmond laughed to himself. His son had a sense of humor. Yes, Erobos would have all the panthers he could handle. "Come out Erobos. Face your enemies like an Alpha." Leo's voice roared in anger. Drago thought for a moment and a grin slowly came to his face. He reached for the car door and pulled on the handle. Erobos never did know anything about cars. The door opened without a problem. Erobos flattened himself against the far door. Drago bent down and peeked into the darkened car. "What's wrong, Boss?" Erobos looked about him for a way of escape. They would have to come in after him. He could keep them at bay that way. Drago looked at a large black panther on the other side of the car and grinned. The male immediately shifted, and grinned back at Drago before opening the opposite door. Erobos slid out of the car onto the ground, landing with a loud thud. He looked up and saw that he was surrounded by panthers! Leo quickly strode to the other side of the car and looked down at the pathetic creature before him. "You will pay for your crimes now, Erobos. You have much to answer for." "What crimes? I have only lived as a werewolf. I have committed no crimes." Erobos almost sounded convincing. Almost. Leo stood tall in front of his prisoner. "For the crime of killing my brother and the remainder of the werepanther pack in Sardinia, I condemn you to death." A large brown wolf shifted and Guillame stood next to Leo. "For the crime of destroying the Vlkolak of Hungary, I condemn you to death." Zsigmond followed his Alpha, standing at his shoulder, staring down at the filth at their feet. "For the crime of stealing my cub, I condemn you to death." The chocolate wolf shifted, catching his breath before speaking. "For the crime of setting a pack of Dire Wolves loose in my territory and endangering my pack, I condemn you to death." "Does the condemned have anything he wishes to say before the sentence is carried out?" Leo spoke as the males stood over the contemptible beast at their feet. Erobos kept glancing at his Betas who had slowed their fighting and looked in his direction. But none came his way to assist him. He looked around him at the ring of panthers surrounding him. His voice croaked, "I... I have nothing to say." He hung his head. A thought suddenly came to him. "Is Leona here? May I speak with her?" Leo looked at Guillame. "Leona is long dead, Erobos. You killed her." "But I saw her picture! Gary found her. She is living here, with this pack." He looked at the faces looming over him. "I swear, I saw her!" His voice sounded almost desperate. Carr wondered if the Dire Wolf was even sane. From those few examples he had met, he highly doubted it. "That was not Leona. She is dead." "No, no!" The long gaunt fingers covered his face as he began mumbling to himself. "No, Leona shouldn't have died. I could have made her what I am. She would have lived forever with me." Leo growled menacingly. "My niece would NEVER have allowed herself to become what you are, Erobos." Zsigmond gnashed his teeth, gritting them as he spoke. "Why did you take my cub?" His nostrils flared as he breathed deeply, trying to control the rage that had been building since that day, thirty years before. The pale face looked up at the Beta and sneered. "That was just fortuitous chance. He served a purpose, that is all. If I had known he was Vlkolak, I would have killed him where he stood and then slaughtered your entire family!" Zsigmond had been growling quietly to himself but erupted with the fury that had been growing deep inside him since learning of his son's kidnapping. He leapt forward before Guillame could stop him and shifted in mid air. Zsigmond, no! Guillame reached for him but his arm slipped through his fingers as he shifted. Erobos transformed in response, and the much bigger Dire Wolf was able to deflect the black wolf in time and save himself from major injury. The wolf was sent several feet into the air before crashing down onto the hood of the car, stunned for the moment. The concussion caused the car alarm to sound off, echoing through the remote mountain pass. The sound reverberated around them, loud in normal circumstances, unbearable to the wolves with their sensitive hearing. Leo stood with his hands over his ears, trying to keep the noise out. The fighting had essentially ended, and both sides stood staring at the group near the car. One of the rogues ran to the car, bowing to the Alphas. "Alphas, would you like me to turn off the alarm?" They looked at him in disbelief. "Yes, please do." Carr watched the male closely as he got into the front seat and found the keys where he had stashed them in the console. He disabled the alarm and backed out of the car, standing in front of Carr, his head bowed. Carr looked out at the dead and dying bodies strewn around the roadside. He looked back at the male in front of him. "Why did you fight us?" "He is our Alpha; we had no choice." The male spoke with remorse. "Where are you from?" "Sardinia, Sir." "How long have you been in this country? You have no accent." "I came here in 1753, Sir. Many of us were sent about that time to search for living panthers." "And did you search?" The male hung his head. "I did for a time, Sir. But after a few decades, I had found a mate and settled with her pack." "Why did you come here to fight for him?" Carr nodded in the direction of the Dire Wolf. "When I mated I never formed a bond with my mate's Alpha. When Erobos came to this country, I felt the bond with him immediately and was drawn here. I had no choice, Sir. It's the same for most of us, Sir. We couldn't go against our Alpha." The male couldn't look up. "And do you still feel the bond with your Alpha?" "No, Sir. It's been broken. He is no longer an Alpha. He's shown himself the coward he probably always was." "Do you have cubs?" "Yes, Sir." The male grinned. "My mate and I have several. They range in age from two hundred years old to two, Sir." "And are any of them here?" "Oh no, Sir. I would never let them meet Erobos, Sir. Never!" Carr looked at Leo and Guillame. They nodded solemnly. Carr turned back to the male, but looked out at the others who had gathered around them. "All of you, go back to your homes and families. We know you had no choice; he was your Alpha and ordered you. Now that you are free of him, maybe you'll bond with other Alphas. Go, now!" The male bowed again to the Alphas and ran to his friends who scoured the landscape for their brothers, dead or alive. The packs watched as Erobos' army left him in the dust. The line of cars drove away, past the barrier that had barred their escape earlier. Now only the one car remained, with Erobos cowering behind it. His wolves had deserted him. Carr finally took a moment to look for Cole. He spotted him walking slowly behind the barrier, tending to the wounded. He knew he'd been badly wounded and, for a time, Carr had thought him close to death. But he had regained strength enough to heal. It must not have been as bad as he'd first thought. Bryant and Brett appeared at his shoulder within minutes of the retreat of their foes. "Gather the wounded and get them back to the pack. Jeff and Logan are waiting. Make sure Cole goes with you." "Nathan, you stay here with me." Nathan nodded. This was an honor, to be asked to attend the Alpha in the absence of his second. But why? There were others that outranked him. "I saw what you did for Cole. I will always be greatful, Nathan." Carr turned away and walked quickly back to Erobos, the tall blond Beta on his heels. Carr took his place next to Guillame. The three Alphas stood in front of Erobos. His fate was decided and there was no turning back. Zsigmond had regained his senses and stood behind his Alpha, still fuming, but far more under control. "Well, Erobos. Do you want to fight for your life?" Leo stared into the small dark eyes of his lifelong enemy. "Yes, I will fight!" "And you will die!" Leo shifted and stood, waiting for his foe. Erobos shifted and faced the panther. He had forgotten how big some of these panthers were. When he had fought Leo's brother he had been strengthened by the blood of the Dire Wolves. It had been hundreds of years since he had slaked his thirst on the strong blood of a Dire Wolf. Leo circled the wolf, watching closely for any hints at his fighting style. It was quickly apparent that he had none. He relied exclusively on his size and speed, but had no skill. The panther smiled to himself. He would make the Dire Wolf suffer. He jumped forward and nicked the wolf's forearm with his fangs. Erobos howled in pain. Impossible. He barely touched me. Why does my leg feel on fire? The wolf limped as he moved, trying to block out the searing pain. The air was filled with the sounds of the panthers growling and roaring, cheering on their Alpha as he made the abomination pay the price for sending them into exile, killing their families, and destroying their pack. Leo jumped in again and bit down just enough to break the skin on another of Erobos' legs. Again he backed off and enjoyed the sounds of painful cries from his opponent. Erobos could feel the blood in his veins, and it felt like it was burning him from the inside. What was this? What had the panther done? He went on the attack and jumped forward, only to land on the empty ground, the panther having easily evaded his attack. He realized he was now facing the brown wolf. He watched it carefully, unsure what was happening. The wolf flew into the air and came down on his back. Erobos reared up on his hind legs, trying to use his front paws to dislodge his attacker, but to no avail. He felt teeth sink into the his neck, severing the muscles. His head dropped, and now he was unable to raise his head. He was reduced to watching his enemies from lowered eyes. The Dire Wolf now saw his next opponent. It was the chocolate wolf. He saw the bright green eyes approach him. He watched it warily. He tried to follow the wolf's movements, but his blood felt cold, his legs heavy, his head unmoving. The emerald-eyed wolf bowled him over with a body slam and tore into the Dire Wolf's belly, ripping him open from navel to the bottom of his rib cage. Erobos was confused when he saw the long loops of pink bowel laying on the ground. Had he injured the wolf? But soon he realized it was his own! He was doomed. There would be no hope now. They were exacting their revenge. He was reminded of the red panther's last words to him a millenium before. You have sealed your fate, Erobos. Your end will come, and it will be horrible to behold. But you will have brought it upon yourself. Again another wolf hovered over him, tearing at his throat, laying it open to bleed profusely, but still they did not kill him. He lay there, breathing deeply, but his life lingering. Why didn't he just die? None of his wounds healed. He blinked up at the wolves and panthers that were now human and looking down at his body. He could hear their faceless voices. "Do we leave him to die on his own? Or kill him?" "I say we let him suffer, for as long as it takes." "I want to rip his beating heart out!" Leo looked up at the setting sun. "It will be night soon." He heard the coyotes in the distance. "We need to make a decision." Guillame still harbored a hate for this thing that he'd never thought possible. "Stake him out for the carrion eaters. The more he suffers, the more he pays for his atrocities." The other two Alphas exchanged a look and nodded. "Agreed." Leo called Drago over. "Do you wish to have someone else do it? You have known him since you were a cub. I won't make you do it." "Alpha, he destroyed a part of my life that I can never regain. Who knows what he would have done to Kelly if I hadn't stolen her away. I will do whatever you ask." Stake him out! Leo turned on his heel and with his Betas in tow, returning to their vehicles. "Help the wolves gather their wounded and dead." Drago worked with his father to tie the wolf spreadeagled to await death. Drago looked down at the thing he used to call Alpha and was sickened. How could he have been so duped? Zsigmond stood back, his hand on his son's shoulder. "We will wait in the darkness until he is dead. Then we will bury his body. I hope the animals rip him apart as he lives. Whatever he is, he isn't a werewolf. Any werewolf would be long dead by now." "The older panthers told me even a regular Dire Wolf would be dead. They said their saliva can poison a Dire Wolf with a single bite, and yet he continued to fight." Drago looked up at the darkening sky. He could see the taillights from the departing vehicles on their way back to the pack compound. "When the darkness lifts, our lives will start anew. No more shadows, my son. Only the light to guide us." Zsigmond smiled and sat down on a rock, his son next to him, to await the day. Out of Darkness Ch. 17 The end has come for this series. I hope I've been able to answer most of your questions, although maybe not all. But fear not, I have plans for the future. One of my plans is to re-work Wolf's Pet a bit. So if you see it being posted again, it will be the re-edits. Also, there may be some surprises in store for you in the coming months. When I write something that is more in the middle of these various storylines, I'll put in the tag line which story it is a part of. As always, a huge thank you to Archangel_M! What would I do without you AA? Please enjoy, vote, and comment if you feel the urge. lilgirlsix ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Nevada -- Present Day Kelly slumped back into her chair, exhausted. Orsolya sat next to her, taking her hand and patting it softly. "You were amazing, my dear, just amazing." "It's over." Jenna stood looking at her sisters, a smile spreading slowly across her face. "Erobos won't threaten us ever again." "Grandmother, what do we..." Orsolya spun around in the chair. "Grandmother!" Orsolya jumped to her feet. "She's gone. She's gone." Orsolya slowly returned to her chair. "Grandmother, please, come back!" She whispered in the direction where her grandmother had last been. Jenna came over to Orsolya and knelt in front of her. "She's not gone for good, Orsolya. She'll be back if we ever need her again." "How can you be so sure?" Orsolya was on the verge of tears. She'd felt as if she'd lost her grandmother all over again. "Because she's here with me." Jenna pointed to her heart and smiled. "I think she's always been with me, but I never realized it. I do now, and I know how to ask for her guidance if we need it in the future." Kelly got up without anyone noticing and stood at the window looking out at the sky. The winter sun had almost passed beyond the mountains. Why did she suddenly feel the urgent need to run? She looked down at her hands, turning them over and over. In her mind's eye she saw them as huge furred paws with deadly claws. But they were still human hands. Hurry, Drago. I need you here so badly. I feel funny. I'll be there as soon as I can, baby. I promise. I have one more job to do. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Almost everyone from the Baxter and Bertrand/Kardos packs were outside waiting for the return of their fighters. They already knew the outcome, but they wanted to welcome their heroes. The two packs, along with the panthers, had beaten the odds and destroyed their enemy once and for all. The full moon above portended a new future. For many years their numbers had dwindled. But now, there were many new cubs expected in the fall; it was the dawn of a new day for the Baxter Pack and the were as a whole. A cheer went up from the gathered Omegas when they saw the headlights in the distance. The long line of SUV's drove slowly into the compound and were immediately surrounded by family and friends. There was another group waiting silently outside the hospital entrance. They watched for the line of cars that would break off and pull in to deliver their wounded comrades. Sarah stood with her arm protectively around Karen who stood wringing her hands. Karen knew that Cole would live, but he'd come so close to death, she had to see him to reassure herself he wouldn't leave her. The first SUV stopped and was quickly met by the waiting medical team. Jeff had his stethoscope out immediately and heard the loud, regular heartbeat in the chest of the big chocolate wolf. He turned around, spotting Karen, and smiled. "Let's get him into the treatment room." Jeff stepped to his next patient, shouting out orders as he triaged the wounded. I think I had some help, but I made it back to you pet. You won't be rid of me for a long, long time. The sparkling green eyes sought out their mate and found her. Her face lit up when she met his gaze. Karen grinned and hugged Sarah. "I'm fine now, Sarah. Go find James. I know you're dying to." Sarah returned the hug and dashed off. She knew where he'd be. The patrol cars were escorting the dead to the other side of the hospital. She stopped running when she saw the blue and amber lights flashing. I'll wait for you. Thank you, baby. I won't be long. James, Steve, Troy, and Trey somberly carried the bodies of their dead to the area where they would await their final sendoff to their ancestors. Sarah backed into a dark corner as Carr arrived with Nathan. She watched with appreciation as the Alpha went to each of his fallen Betas and touched them, saying something quietly into each one's ear. It was only the Baxter Pack that had lost fighters. She was thankful there weren't many, but any was more than they'd hoped for. Carr spoke with each of his on-duty officers before walking away, Nathan right behind him. Sarah cocked her head. She knew Brett was okay, so why was Nathan acting as second? Very odd. But she really didn't care. She just wanted, no, needed to touch James to know he was fine. She was practically dancing around with anticipation as she waited for James to be finished with his duties. While she waited for her mate, Sarah saw Lee walk purposefully towards Carr, never showing the emotion that Sarah was sure filled her heart as much as the rest of the females that had waited for their mates to return. The Alphas still had their duties to attend to before they could be selfish and think of themselves. Sarah smiled when she saw Carr take Lee's hand in his. They stopped walking for a moment, and she saw Nathan nod his head and walk away. Sarah knew their final duty for the night was to meet with the families of the dead. A tear fell down her cheek as she thought of them. I'm glad I don't have that job. It's hard enough to face you after a fight, much less parents and mates of the fallen. Sarah whirled around and threw herself into James' arms. She hadn't even realized how worried she'd been until this very moment. But now, feeling his arms tighten around her, she felt nothing but relief running through her. She almost melted into his embrace, and every bit of her body that touched his felt like it molded to fit his perfectly. "And I always thought being married to a cop would be horribly nerve-wracking. Being mated to a werewolf who's a cop is even worse!" "Ha! Well it's a good thing this werewolf cop is tuckered out, 'cuz with the full moon, if you weren't already pregnant, you sure would be after tonight!" His hands traveled over her body which he'd grown to know and love so well in the last few months. Sarah looked up into the brightening sky. "Guess we've all been so preoccupied we didn't even realize it." "You're just easily distracted. Most of the pack remembered, but we had to ignore it. There will still be a few out tonight." "Who could possibly have enough energy to go on a hunt tonight?" "Remember our first hunt under the full moon?" James pushed Sarah's long black hair out of the way so he could inhale her scent. He closed his eyes and nuzzled her neck, his teeth just barely nipping at the scar from her mating bite. Sarah shivered when she felt his teeth and remembered that first full moon. "I remember." She whispered as she moved her head, hoping to invite him to bite down a little harder. Her hands found her way to his arms, sliding along his hot skin. His fingers slipped slowly across her skin where his teeth had just grazed. "That first mating under the full moon is what seals a mating bond. So any new mates will be out there tonight, tired or not." Sarah felt a long, jagged wound on James' arm. "Well we are headed to the hospital to get this tended to, and then we're going to our place to spend the night alone. No hunting for us tonight." She took hold of his arms and spun him around towards the hospital. "Yes, ma'am. Anything you say, ma'am." James grinned ear to ear. He liked it when Sarah thought she was in control. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Zsigmond looked up at the rising moon, so bright in the sky. He gazed at his son, still throwing rocks into the pit that held the remains of the creature that had once been Erobos. He had destroyed so many lives in the last thousand years, but his reign of terror and destruction was over. It was a new day for the were, both in America and Europe. It was a new day for his family, his son. "That is enough, Drago. Even the carrion eaters didn't want him when he was alive; I doubt they'll want him now that he's dead. They had sat in awe as the coyote had come down from the hills, sniffed at the dying dire wolf and slowly backed away, not daring to turn their backs until they had reached a suitable distance. Vultures and crows had landed, pecked once, and flown off to find other food. Zsigmond had thought the idea a good one, but the scavengers weren't playing by the usual rules. He had finally decided he just couldn't wait forever. "Drago, would you start collecting rocks? I'll watch him." He waited as his son dutifully stood up and went searching for rocks to throw on top of the makeshift grave. Zsigmond climbed off the boulder where he'd been seated and moved slowly towards the still-breathing thing tied spread-eagled on the ground. His stomach had been flayed open, and the two limbs that Leo had nicked with his teeth were quickly becoming gangrenous from the panther saliva that was poisonous to dire wolves. The muscles in his neck had been severed, so he couldn't move his head. His throat had been slashed and he'd bled out almost all of his blood, but still he drew breath. Drago was newly mated. He needed to finish their mating tonight or wait another month to the next full moon. Zsigmond thought his son deserved to live a normal life. He deserved his chance at fathering cubs. As far as Zsigmond was concerned, the sooner the better. Waiting here tonight would delay that. He had thought the animals would finish the job for them while making Erobos suffer more than he had already. But such was not to be. Zsigmond knelt down next to the shaggy black head. He leaned in close to the wolf's ear and whispered. "You tried to destroy my family, but you failed. We have survived. We have thrived. And my son will carry on my family line. What sons have you fathered, Erobos?" He smiled when he saw the pained look. "You have failed. You are a failure. You have left nothing to carry on for you. And your life is now over." Zsigmond stood up as the black eyes followed his every move. He held the shovel high above his head and brought it down with tremendous force, slicing through the dire wolf's neck in one motion, separating the head from the body. The head of the dragon! I know why you did it, father. Thank you. Zsigmond turned slowly and gave his son a small smile. "Let's bury this filth and get home. Your mate will be impatient." ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Rebecca and Danielle stood on their tip-toes and looked out the window when they saw the reflection of the light bars from the patrol cars. They waited until the cars had left the back of the hospital before racing out the door to find their mates, turning long enough to wave a quick good-bye to their sister panthers. Orsolya wiped her tears and gave Jenna a long, lingering hug that was really meant for her grandmother. She knew that Jenna understood. She caught a familiar scent in the air and smiled. "My big brown wolf has returned to me, once and for all. No more shadows from the past for us." She hugged each of her remaining sisters and flew to his arms. Guillame felt her leap into his embrace and laughed as he twirled her around. "It's over, it's finally over." He whispered in her ear. He felt an overpowering urge to inhale deeply, the intoxicating scents of lilac and birch going straight to his brain. His eyes focused on his flame-haired kitten. He couldn't keep from smiling. "What are you looking at, Guillame?" Orsolya looked behind her but didn't see anything unusual. "Is something funny?" "It's the full moon, my love." "Yes, I know. My panther feels the pull. But you must be so tired." She could see the slightly feral look to his beautiful eyes. "What are you thinking?" "Haven't you noticed?" He laughed at her look of confusion. "My wolf noticed as soon as we walked in the building." Orsolya didn't understand what he was talking about. My love, you are in heat. And my wolf and I would very much like to have more cubs. We are ready. Are you? Orsolya gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise. This prompted a few strange looks from those still in attendance. "Orsolya, are you alright?" Jenna looked for something that could have surprised her friend. From the mischievous look on Guillame's face, it was obviously something her mate had said through their bond. Orsolya began to giggle. We have not had a cub in many years. I would like to have another. Orsolya was surprised at her panther's admission. She had thought the panther was disinterested in any more cubs. She had never brought up the subject. Only because it distressed you so. And we had no mate for so long. Now that we are with him again, I would like to have a little one, perhaps a male this time. Orsolya blushed and looked at her beloved Guillame. I would love to have more cubs with you, Guillame! Guillame swept Orsolya into his arms and strode through the house, a spring in his step he hadn't felt in decades. Katy and Jenna were still giggling when Rhys and Alistair arrived in the room. The two males looked at their mates and exchanged confused shrugs of the shoulders. "We will be having a quick meeting with the Alphas, other than Guillame, I suppose. Then we will be free for the evening." Alistair gazed longingly at his beautiful mate. But something, he wasn't sure what, something was slightly different. Rhys sat down with a loud plop and pulled Katy into his lap. She sighed and leaned back, holding his arms that he had wrapped tightly around her waist. "I'm so glad it's over." "Yes, we must decide what we will do now." Rhys absent-mindedly stroked her long red hair. The silky smooth feel of it between his fingers was mesmerizing. When was the last time they'd had some quiet time to be alone? He couldn't remember. So much had happened since the day they had met just a few short months ago. So much. "Do?" She pushed herself a little away from his arms so she could twist in his lap. "What do you mean, what we will do?" "Where we will go next. The Archivist travels to gain knowledge of the different packs. That is my duty to the Council. Had you forgotten, little one?" He could feel the tension in her body. She relaxed her body into his and leaned back. "I had forgotten. I'm sorry, Rhys. I just naturally thought that now that we had the Seven Sisters we would stay together." Kelly had forgotten the others in the room until she heard Katy talking about the Seven Sisters. She pulled herself away from the window where she had been staring at the moon. "No, Drago and I are going to live with my grandfather's pack, in Idaho." Jenna noticed the almost hysterical pitch to Kelly's voice. "Don't worry, my dear. We haven't forgotten. When the Seven Sisters need to be reunited, we'll find a way." Jenna gave her a quick wink. Alistair cocked his head. That didn't sound like Jenna. He'd never heard her speak to one of the women in that way, calling them "my dear". Jenna saw his strange expression and stifled her own laugh. I'll explain later, my love. I have so much to tell you. Indeed? Alistair raised an eyebrow and smiled. He had a feeling a great deal had happened in this room that he had not been privy to. He hoped she would share it all with him. I promise not to leave out a thing! Tracy sat so quietly in the corner that they had all forgotten she was even there. But as soon as Konstantin arrived, the little blond was suddenly a different person, animated and lively. She giggled when he tickled her before squeezing her between his big arms in a long hug. "Now that the drama is over, and I am staying in America, we must decide where to live, můj anděl." He tucked her under his arm as he gazed at her lovingly, his steel grey eyes meeting hers. She was so tiny he always worried that he could crush her by accident. He was always very careful of his anděl. Tracy gave him a worried look. "I'd always hoped we would stay here. My friends are here. Where would we go?" "I don't know. I know no one but those I've met here. I just thought you would like to find your own place to live. We can live anywhere we want. A member of the Council owes no allegiance to any one pack. We can live with a pack, or away by ourselves, if we so choose. I will leave the choice to you, můj anděl." "May we stay here?" She looked up at her silver-maned mate hopefully. The tall were dropped to his knees so he could look up into his mate's lovely grey eyes. "I will ask for permission from the Alpha, můj anděl. My life is wherever you are, so if this is where you wish to be, I will move heaven and earth to make it so." He took her small hand gently in his large one and brought it to his lips, kissing it lightly, as he watched her beautiful face light up. Tracy blushed a bright crimson as her fellow panthers giggled behind her and waved imaginary fans in front of their faces. "Now why can't you be that romantic, Rhys?" Katy playfully hit his arm with a balled-up fist, then shook it as she silently mouthed the word "ow." "I am at my most romantic when we are alone, little one. Unless you would like me to show my love more in public. I am more than willing to take my mate right here in the house." He mockingly leered at her and took a step closer, his hand at his pants zipper. She laughed as she put out her hand to tell him to stop. "I think I like my romance more in private, thank you." "As you wish, little one. As you wish." Rhys winked at Alistair as he sat down, pulling his mate back into his lap to wait for the rest of the Alphas and Council members to arrive. Sandalio sauntered through the hallways, his voice reverberating through the large rooms as he spoke on his cellphone. "¿En serio? ¡Qué maravilla! Estoy tan feliz por ti, Álvaro. Sé que tú y tu pareja se Alphas espléndidas. Te llamaré más tarde para más detalles." The tall Spaniard had a wide smile on his face as he entered the room and found a seat. He grinned as he looked at his friends. "Isn't it wonderful?" He saw their blank stares. "What? You don't think it is wonderful?" "Sandalio, unless you would like us to use "Google Translate", we have no idea what you're talking about." Alistair thought his friend must be having a nervous breakdown brought on by the stress of not sleeping enough. When he wasn't in meetings with the Alphas or on his cellphone with his Council, he was playing with Julia, the Baxter female who had caught his attention. "I am so sorry. I was just speaking with Álvaro. He has informed me that about fifteen minutes ago the Sardinian pack, as a whole, felt their Alpha bonds dissolve. So I assume that means that Erobos is finally dead. A few moments later, they bonded with a new Alpha, and that is what is so wonderful." Sandalio could not believe they didn't understand the implications. "They have bonded with Álvaro. He is the new Alpha of the Sardinian pack. Of course he will be hard for me to replace, but I think it is well deserved." Alistair cracked a grin. "Yes, Sandalio, I agree, it is a wonderful thing." "And with the death of Erobos, I believe I am no longer needed here. So I will be leaving in the morning. I have just one more bit of business with Carr before I leave." Alistair watched the Spaniard closely. For the first time since they had known each other, Alistair thought that Sandalio seemed nervous. Out of Darkness Ch. 17 Sandalio jumped up when Carr and Lee entered the room. He was about to speak but thought better of it when he saw the weary faces in front of him. He slowly took his seat. He could wait. Carr ran a hand through his chocolate brown hair, the white scar clearly visible across his forehead. He didn't notice the frown on Lee's face as she looked at it. He leaned against the wall and let his head fall back, making a loud "thunk" sound when it hit the wood. Closing his eyes, he sighed loudly and smiled when he felt Lee's hand take his and squeeze. "How many did you lose, Carr?" Alistair hated to ask the question and knew from the Alpha's face how much it pained him to think about it. "Four. I don't know how some of them made it. I saw Cole go down and thought for sure he was dead when he hit the ground. I really didn't expect him to make it back alive. But I sure am glad he did, thanks to Nathan pulling him out in time." He squeezed Lee's hand. "Actually, The Seven Sisters had a hand in that. I'm not sure how, but I'm sure we'll learn more later." Alistair lifted an eyebrow as he looked at his mate who smiled and nodded her head. "Well I'll take any help I can get. I wish they could have saved them all. Jason was the only son in his family and had no cubs of his own. Luckily, he hadn't found a mate yet." Carr paused for a moment and thought back to the meeting with Jason's parents. It was heart-wrenching. And it was the same with the other families. "Only one was mated. No cubs for any of them. I never know what to say." Lee wrapped an arm around Carr's waist and hugged him close. "You always say the right things. The families know it was for the good of the pack. Isn't that what a werewolf lives for? The good of the pack?" Carr held a hand to Lee's face and stroked her cheek, moving forward to lean his forehead against hers. "I think you're the one that always knows what to say." He brushed her lips with his. "Thank you." As much as he wanted to take his mate into the woods under the full moon, he knew he had business to take care of. Carr turned slowly to the Spaniard. "Sandalio, I heard you wanted to leave but you wanted to speak with me first." "Yes, well, as you know, I have been spending a great deal of time with one of your females, Julia." Carr cocked his head. Where was this conversation going? "So I've noticed. And?" "Before now, my wolf wasn't really interested. He played along for my sake, as always. But when I passed her on my way in here, now that the fighting is over, my wolf has suddenly realized that she is our mate. So I would like to take her back with me." Carr and Lee exchanged amused glances. "And she has agreed to this?" Carr winked at Lee. Sandalio seemed surprised at the question. "Agree? Why wouldn't she agree?" Sandalio suddenly panicked. He hadn't thought to speak with her. Would she possibly refuse him? Lee laughed. "Don't worry, Sandalio. She'll agree. She's known you were her mate since the Wolf Moon. But she was smart enough to wait for you to realize it. She knew you were distracted." The look of relief on Sandalio's face was amusing to the group surrounding him. "In fact, I believe she's packed and waiting for you now." Lee looked through the open door towards the foyer, where her former Beta waited for her new mate. She smiled as she watched the female pacing nervously. "How did she know I had a charter waiting?" Sandalio whispered under his breath as he smiled at the beauty who would accompany him home. Rhys grinned. "She will make a fine mate, Sandalio. She seems rather resourceful, doesn't she?" Rhys ducked, evading Katy's slap across the shoulder. "So I take it you'll be waiting to mate then?" Alistair knew that Sandalio and Julia would have a difficult trip. Their wolves would want to mate, but he knew the Head of the European Council was expected to mate during a lavish ceremony. Julia would enjoy being the center of attention. Sandalio stood up, clearing his throat loudly. "Yes, unfortunately, I have no choice in the matter now." He turned to the Alphas and bowed, reaching out to take Lee's hand and kiss it in the European fashion of his time. "It has been a pleasure. Thank you for your hospitality, and I hope to someday repay it in kind." Sandalio made his way around the room, saying his good-byes to this group of new friends. He saved a bear hug for his old friend, Konstantin. He whispered into his ear. "Take care of your little mate, old friend. Don't crush her by accident." The big silver-haired were roared with laughter. "Never, my friend, never. Můj anděl will be the safest when she is in my arms." He looked down lovingly at the tiny woman ,whose skin had blushed the brightest red he'd ever seen. Kelly hadn't heard a word of what was happening a few feet from her as she stared at the rising moon. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the ground moving quickly beneath her four big paws. She felt like she couldn't hold still. He will be with us soon. Kelly really needed to get used to her other half talking to her. Drago will be back soon. Perhaps it would be best to wait outside. Kelly sighed to herself. She needed to get used to her grandfather talking to her too. She quietly excused herself from the room and walked out of the big house. But where should she go? She stood in the middle of the driveway and looked around. The full moon lit the area all on its own without any help from electric lights. She saw the lights on inside the surrounding homes and heard laughter and giggling coming from some, sobbing from others. She thought for a moment of Jason and felt a tear rolling down her cheek. She'd never forget his face, watching her with so much hope. I'm proud of you, baby. You helped so many. Drago's voice was like a soft whisper in her head. Drago, when will you be here? Soon, baby, soon. Wait for me in the meadow. I'll join you there. But how do I find it? Your panther will know where it is. Let her show you. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Kelly rubbed her crossed arms with her hands. She wasn't cold, just antsy. She couldn't hold still for a second. She looked down at the ground and realized there was a track in the grass that had formed in the last fifteen minutes. After all they'd been through today, and all that she and Drago had been through in the last few weeks, why was she so nervous now? The soft wind blew through the trees surrounding the meadow. Kelly didn't feel scared at all, which surprised her. She'd never been one to go out alone in the dark, especially in the middle of nowhere. She stopped for a moment, listened to a wolf howling in the distance, and smiled. She knew there were no wild wolves in Nevada. It must have been one of the pack with his mate. It was cold by human standards, maybe thirty degrees. Kelly didn't care anymore about things like that, but her skin felt so hot she wished there was a lake nearby. Maybe I should just strip. What was it going to hurt? Anyone she might run into here would be from the packs and nudity was an everyday thing for them. She couldn't get her clothes off fast enough. Her whole body felt like it was on fire! Maybe the cold grass would make her feel better. Am I sick? She lay down, stretching out in the wet grass. But her relief was only momentary. Too soon the overwhelming heat returned. What's wrong with me? In frustration, she closed her eyes, her face pressed against the ground, trying to cool her burning skin. She felt him near before she heard him. How had she missed his approach? "Are you sneaking up on me?" Now as she listened carefully, she heard the cadence of four paws on the ground. Never, Kelly. She felt a large, wet tongue slide along her skin from her tail bone to the nape of her neck. She wasn't cold but she shivered nonetheless. Where his tongue had passed felt momentarily cooler as the wetness was cooled by the breeze. Drago, what's wrong with me? I think I'm sick. Maybe you should stay back. She felt his cold nose on her neck and his course shaggy hair along her body as he lay next to her. No, you're not sick, Kelly. You are in heat! This is the first full moon after our mating. Tonight we will seal our mating and our bond. And I might get pregnant? Kelly felt his laughter more than heard it. Yes, baby. You might get pregnant. I want cubs, as many as we can have. So many nowadays have none. Kelly had never really thought much about children. But, she had to admit, since becoming a werepanther she had been thinking about children, cubs. Could I have gotten pregnant yesterday when we mated? She felt him pressing against her body, the whole length of him against her side. She found herself snuggling into his furry body. No, you weren't in heat yesterday. But today you are. I can smell it. Again she felt more than heard his amusement. This was going to take some getting used to. It was almost like she was inside his head and sharing his emotions just as much as his thoughts. Only when I let you. We can shut each other out when we need to. But I hope we don't make it a habit. Kelly rolled over and looked at her handsome, strong, brave black wolf. His dark eyes seemed to shine under the light of the full moon. I never want to shut you out, Drago. Again, she felt his laughter without actually hearing it. Someday you will, and that will be fine. We'll learn when to share and when not. Drago gazed into Kelly's deep blue eyes. His nose drifted along his mate's neck, inhaling deeply, lavender and orange filtering through his nostrils into his brain and every cell of his body. And there was another scent there, the evidence of her heat. He knew he would soon lose any control he had over his wolf. Kelly stretched languorously as she felt the slow exploration of her skin by her mate. When she felt his tongue lapping at her nipples she surprised him by purring loudly as she lifted up her body, pressing her breasts closer to his tongue. When she felt the sharp points of his teeth biting into her tender flesh she didn't scream or jump away; she bit her lip and moaned loudly as he lapped at the blood that came to the surface. The small wounds quickly healed. She watched his every movement as he slid down her body, to her boiling center. Her purrs became roars of pleasure when his tongue delved deeply inside her, drinking her. Drago, Drago please! Let your panther take over, baby. Don't fight her. Kelly closed her eyes and gave herself over to her waiting other half. The wolf watched his beautiful human mate roll to her hands and knees and become his stunning black panther. She was lovelier than he had ever imagined possible. He stood in awe, watching her long tail as it flipped back and forth behind her. The panther turned her head to look behind, and Drago saw his mate's gorgeous sky blue eyes looking back at him. Kelly's whiskers twitched as she scented her mate; her ears swiveled to listen for his breathing. The black wolf who stood behind her was imposing, his size much larger than most of the wolves that she'd seen since coming here. The only ones of comparable size were the Alphas and Drago's own biological father. He will be a fine father for our cubs. Kelly had to agree whole-heartedly with her panther. They had been lucky to find him. She knew that fate was involved somehow, but she would never understand it. Drago, the wolf, pressed his nose to his mate's wet and swollen opening, flicking his tongue to taste her. He was shocked at the difference between the taste of his human mate and his panther. It was like the flavor and scent had intensified to an almost unbearable level. Drago, the human, was shoved backwards in their shared mind, and the wolf fully took over. It was time to breed, and he would control it. The wolf reared up on his hind legs, his stiff cock entering his mate swiftly, impaling her in one thrust. He felt her hips rise higher to allow him even deeper inside. Her tail had moved far to the side to allow him unimpeded access. He heard her roar of pleasure and hooked his front paws around her rib cage, pulling himself forward to force himself as deep as he could possibly go. His hips bucked against her, propelling his cock into her tight sheath. His brain was flooded with pleasure as his cock was squeezed by her body. The instinct to plant his seed deep inside her drove him to mercilessly pound into her over and over. He was close and felt her body readying itself. The panther could feel her mate's need, equaling her own. A were fulfilled their destiny by bringing cubs into the world; wolf or panther, it didn't matter. The panther's body stiffened momentarily before her body clamped down on her mate's cock. She roared when she felt his knot force its way inside her and knew the time was close. The wolf leaned forward, steadying himself by digging his claws into the panther's sides. With his knot seated, his movement was curtailed and his thrusts shorter, but more urgent. He was close and found her neck, his teeth closing on the skin, tearing, tasting blood. He bit down hard and heard her cry out with her pleasure as he flooded her with his seed. His cock shot load after load deep inside her, his knot keeping any from escaping. He let go of her neck and lifted his head to the sky, baying at the full moon high above them. The wolf pulled them both, still tied, to the ground and they lay there together while he slowly licked the wound he had inflicted on her neck. He felt the wound heal under his tongue. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Guillame held his red kitten in his arms, stroking her soft skin while they waited for his knot to shrink. He heard her sigh and squeezed her tighter. "Is something wrong?" "No, everything is right, finally. I feel like the whole world is open to us. When we first mated, I knew we had so much heartache in front of us, but there was this sense that something good would happen, sometime. I just didn't know it would take one hundred and sixty years to find it." She turned her head and kissed him softly. They heard the roar of a panther and the answering howl of her wolf from a distance and smiled. "It sounds like Drago and Kelly have sealed their bonds." Guillame nuzzled the back of Orsolya's neck. "For the first time since the eclipse, the night your father and grandmother died, I feel hope, like the darkness has finally lifted." "Then that is what we will name our daughter; Hope." Orsolya slid her hands over Guillame's, moving them over her stomach. "My panther tells me we will have a girl, Guillame. You will have your chance to be a father. And this cub will know and love you as our first cub never had the chance to." She smiled when she felt his arms tighten around her. His love warmed her heart. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "Drago?" "Hmmm?" "Did you know that panthers can tell as soon as they're pregnant?" "I had heard that." "Can we name our son Jason?" "Yes, baby, we can." He held her tighter, so proud of his incredibly strong, beautiful, and brave mate. Out of Darkness He had her cradled in his arms, her head leaning against his shoulder as her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. It only took a second, before it hit him, the scent of lavender, with just a hint of orange. Shit! No wonder the boss wanted her secluded from the males. It never dawned on him why only females were allowed to take her out of the cell. He tightened his hold around her. This changed everything! ------------------------------------ The fire had been contained to one floor. The electrical system had shorted out. Luckily, the sprinkler systems had worked as designed and kept the fire damage to a minimum. The parking lot was filled with members of the pack, milling around, waiting to return to the building. Sylva and Susanna were talking animatedly about the excitement when they felt the boss approaching. They both looked up to see him striding towards them with Seraphina in tow. They exchanged glances. Fuck! They were in for it now. He looked pissed! He stopped inches from them and looked at first one, then the other. They were identical twins but he could tell them apart easily. "Sylva, where is the female? I don't see her. Shouldn't she have been with you?" To all outward appearances, he was calm. But his anger boiled and radiated out to his pack. They had all turned to see the who had drawn his ire. "The fire, boss. We didn't have time to get to the room. We had to leave the building. But I'm sure she's fine in there. Just maybe a little wet." She tried to stifle a nervous laugh that stopped as his hand shot out to grab her throat. She struggled to breath as her sister watched, horrified. "You think this is funny, Sylva?" He stared into her terrified eyes. And in that moment, she saw Erobos for the first time. She saw what he hid from the pack, and she knew she was doomed. She tried to beg him to let her breathe, but could not make a sound. "Please, Sir, please, we messed up, we know. We'll do anything to make it up to you, Sir, anything!" Susanna begged for her sister's life, and her own. She had never begged before. But she meant it now. He turned his head and eyed the fearful Beta. He dropped Sylva to the ground, where she gasped for air like a fish out of water. His fingers, which had just moments before clutched her by the neck, now gently stroked her sister's cheek. "Anything, my dear Susanna?" "Yes, Sir, anything." She could barely say the words. She had heard he had strange appetites. But it was better than death, she hoped. "Come with me." He turned and walked away without another word. Susanna helped her sister up and they ran to keep up with is long strides. Seraphina followed closely behind, a knowing smirk on her pretty face. They stopped in front of the open door. Erobos stiffened slightly. The sisters gawked, open-mouthed. There would be no hope for them; they knew it. That door had been closed and locked when they left it. Erobos entered and surveyed the damage, the remains of the partition scattered about the room. He took in a deep breath. Drago! Then where was he now? He reached out through the Alpha bond, and found ... silence. So either Drago was dead or had chosen to sever the bond and leave the pack. His rage emanated from him to all the pack. Find Drago. Kill him! Bring me the woman! He now turned his attention to the two idiots before him. Seraphina shut the door. Their screaming stretched for hours. The pack tried to shut them out, not wanting to hear the agony from the two Betas, but Erobos made sure they all heard, and knew the implicit warning. His orders were always to be obeyed!