8 comments/ 19700 views/ 7 favorites Serving The Council By: catman71 This is a restart to the story. LOCAL YOUTHS FOUND DEAD July 6 1979: Chatsworth NJ A group of 15 teens feared dead after the bodies of 13 of the group found murdered at a campsite in the Wharton state forest in Burlington county. Names of the youths being withheld upon identification of the bodies and notification of the families. July 15 1979:chatsworth NJ The bodies of 13 youths identified after what appears to be an unusual and unprecedented animal attack deep in the Wharton State forest near Chatsworth, Two youths still missing and feared dead J. Catania , 18 , of Middlesex county and Anna Pulise ,also 18 of Hunterdon county unaccounted for. Items at the scene and blood trails leading away from the area indicate that what ever attacked the group, possibly a large group of feral dogs spotted in the area, may have dragged the bodies of to be eaten. State, local and federal authorities are looking for the group of dogs and hope to locate and destroy the animals before any other individuals are attacked. The state forest is closed to all hikers and campers until further notice. 2025 Upper Rocky Mountains near the US-Canadian border Well to quote Samuel Clemens ( Mark Twain) "The reports of my death have been greatly aggregated " is a rather true statement, but to the world and my family I am truly dead. I am know known by many names in the world I now inhabit : The Beast, executioner, word of death and many more depending on who or what you are talking too. To explain, I do not remember much if any of the night my friends and I where attacked and what I do think are memories are rather haphazard and make little to no logical sense, but then again in what I have become that is a rather humorous thing. What I am now is the enforcing force for the council of others ,a group of elementals ( witches in common speak) vampires and were's( shape shifters of various types). These are the individuals chosen by there respective packs, covens, and flocks to enforce the rules against harming humans and/or revealing our existence to the general human population. There are councils of this type on the other five continents that are inhabited by man and other, but the North American one holds the most power due to its stability of membership ( the shortest serving council member is Caleb of the witch's) who has been on the council for I think 70 years. Most of the council had served since its inception at in the middle of the 1800's. My job was what its sounds like , I was to go to the various groups and at times individuals of there possible breaking or near breaking of the laws of our kind and if they did not heed the warning, to rectify the problem. If doing so lead to there demise, well it was their choice and I had no regrets in doing so. I did have my own code, which the council allowed ( I think it was because even they had not found a weakness in me or a way to actually kill me, but more about that later), I would only kill those who had done a wrong and I would never kill a woman or child unless they physically attacked me and even then I was rare that I had to kill one. One of my greatest strengths was the fact that in exception to a few on the council and one or two "loners", those who choose to live outside the normal group way that we lived, no one has even lived to see my full form as a shifter. I did not like shifting into my were form and in the case of children and most women my human form was enough to contain them in a fight. How I came to be the enforcer of the North American council I do not remember because my solid memories only start 10 or so years after the incident that left me as a were and dead to my family and friends. The leader of the council answered to the title "REX AMERICAUS" , and I should say leaders because he is a Tiger-were mated to the elemental named lily and they share the responsibility of leadership as each is old even for there kinds. Oh, all the leaders of the six councils answer to "REX' whatever continent the oversee excepting for the witch he leads the Australians as they include what is known as Oceania which includes all of the islands of the Pacific. Well "REX" who is named Leon says he came across me in the wilds of the Rockies in Colorado when the enforcer at the time was sent kill me because I was attacking livestock in my hybrid form and generally scaring the crap out of the local pack who had lost three members trying to stop me. The enforcers name was Bran and he was an old and powerful werewolf from the British isles who brought fear just by his arrival most of the time. Well to make a long story short, he found and challenged me and I killed him while still in human form. Leon and his mate then came and attacked me after I had been shot over 30 times and all they could do was subdue and take me to the councils stronghold and put me in a area I could not escape from. Both Leon and lily said that I was more animal than man at the time and that by feeding me and slowly coaxing me to talk that I told them all I could remember was waking up covered in blood and that I went looking for something and that I ended up in Colorado because I felt comfortable and that there was abundant food for me. After the council looked around they tracked down who I was and where I had been attacked. They asked me about Anna and I told them I remembered nothing. After several months the two of them brought me before the council and the council asked me the same questions, to which I answered the same " I do not remember anything that makes sense, just little snippets of being attacked by what looked like giant German Shepard's and then waking up covered in blood" The council enquired to the local were's and they all denied involvement in the attack and being that 10 years had passed and the fact that was not a were of the canine Varity( sort of) and those pacts where all wolves and coyotes they where absolved. The council then decided that being no "sire" could be found to take responsibility for me and that I proven to be , well rather tough to kill, would I like to be trained to be the next enforcer. I agreed and within months I had learned what I needed to know to kill were's, vampires and elementals and I did so for the next almost thirty years. During that time I attempted to learn the reason for the attack on me and the others and also what happened to Anna, I also tried to figure out why I seamed even though not the biggest of the were, nor the strongest, that it seemed that I had little problem in destroying others that where far older and seemingly far stronger than I. That was when an assignment the council sent out on turned my life as I knew it upside down and brought the fate of the North American council and all of the councils into my hands ( well not directly, but my mere existence allowed for things to go into a spin that no one was either prepared for or in most cases willing to accept) Serving The Council Ch. 02 Rockies 2019 "Beast " called out Leon." I need you to go to Europe and pass a personal message to the Rex there. "Yes, my liege , and what do you wish me to convey." Leon stood and walked over to the beast. " I need him to know that I will give his daughter permission to mate with the Alpha Karl , but that I am not happy that he plans to bring his entire pack and his allies onto my territory at such short notice." The beast nodded his head in showing his servant status and asked, " When do I leave and do you wish me to tell him to leave the packs home?" Leon pondered the thought, telling the beast that was what he wished. ------------------------------------------- THE REX OF EUROPES HOME Roux stood and looked at the were standing in front of his desk, taking in his demeanor and thinking ' The stories that he is a beast does not jibe with what stood before him, yes he was large and bore numerous scars, but many were do.' "So Leon does not wish for me to bring my allied packs to America with me." He received a nod too the affirmative and the large were spoke," That is the case , and my liege will take you bringing them anyway as a challenge to him and he will act accordingly." As the two men spoke , Roux's younger daughter entered the room and walked to her father , ignoring the other man at first. Neither father nor daughter saw the standing mans eyes flare momentarily , as if he recognized her. " Ash , can you not see I am meeting with the Rex of America's envoy?" Ash turned and momentarily felt a pull on her wolf, but it faded as quickly as it had came. Turning to her father , she shrugged her shoulders and gave a child's smile, " Daddy when are we leaving for America?" Roux told her in 4 months , for that was the fullest of the years full moons, one worthy of the mating of a Alpha and a Alpha princess. He looked up and told the envoy ," I will do as Leon requests to a point . But my pack comes in its entirety , as that is the way it is done." The big were again nodded his head and asked for Roux's leave to return to his lord to report. Ash waited for the man to leave and turned to her father asking, " Who was that daddy?" " that was the beast my daughter." She glanced at the door he had left through and thought to herself, ' He does not seem to be a beast , and why did I feel a momentary pull when I looked at him?' -------------------------------------------- THE ROCKIES THREE DAYS LATER "So Roux agreed to only bring his own pack and to leave the others in Europe, this is going to be easier than we thought." Lily said , looking across the room to where Leon stood by a window. Turning towards her he answered " Yes , it will be that, but then again the last time I tried to seize the descendent of Ajax when I thought it would be easy was not , now was it." Lily raised an eyebrow at that , and ponder an answer. Leon took the time as she thought to cross the room and sit down beside her on the couch. " I do not think there will be any surprise's like the last time Leon , and even if there is , we have him to take care of thing, do we not." She pointed to the retreating back of the beast. Leon nodded his head in agreement , but he still had a bad feeling about something and decided to think upon what it may be at a later time. ---------------------------------------------------------------- JAMESBURG NJ 4-1-79 "Hey Cat , " yelled my oldest friend Micah " what you doing for the fourth. " "Nothing , unless you consider helping my pop pull the engine out of old man Dukes truck and putting it in the new truck fun." "Well speaking of your pops , think he'd mind the gang borrowing you and his truck camper and going down to Wharton for some camping. " he asked "My pops truck and Wharton , you think I got at death w...," "Junior," I heard my father yell from under an old Buick 225 " Your leaving for college in less than a month and have helped get me caught up, take the truck and go with your buddies. " I turned back in shock at him as he had never let me touch the truck. "Hey this is your last lazy summer for a long time, I hope ,' he said " Just remember three things : I want the truck back in one piece, you back in one piece and I am to damm young to be a grand pop to someone!" " Hey I'm 18 and well never mind thanks dad ." "So Micah, who else is going to be going?""Well there's me, you , my girl Tim, Tom , Mark , Jim and Todd there girls , Shel and a cousin of Shels from up near Ringos. " "Shels is coming , I thought we working class guys where beneath her fathers contempt?" I asked "Well she said she is coming, but that is contingent on your presence. " "What does that mean?" From behind me came a voice that I had known for most of my life " Because I like you . You silly bear," I turned and saw what up to that time was the most beautiful face I had ever seen ( and had been a whack-off fantasy since I figured out what the plumbing was for) "Shel I thought you where afraid of me with half the rest of town?" I asked "No I am not afraid of you , but more to the point are you going?" "Yeah I'm going just got to get some shit together as this is a last minute invite ," I said as I gave Micah a face for springing it on me late. Later that night " Joe so when do you leave for state college?" asked Micah " Well I'm due there the first week of August for frosh orientation and practice starts around the 15th of the month ." I answered. To Joe and the rest of us was the toast going around . Micah spoke " So Joe which side of the line they putting you on?" asked Tom " I think there leaning towards d-tackle, but which ever side, they told me I am playing as a freshman barring injury ." "Well at 6'4 , 320 you will be a monster on either side of the ball for Joe Pa ," called out Tim from the far side of the group. " Hey cat?" I heard from over behind the tents, " Come over hear and talk to me ." I turned and saw Shel standing in the shadows and thought ' Well here goes nothing.' I walked over and stood behind Shel to see what she was looking at . Which turned out to be a bird flitting around in a tree. I looked down and for the first time I realized that I had never seen anybody with eyes quite that shade of green , well other than my father and myself, which I found rather strange. I also thought ' My god she is gorgeous , what does she see in me ( even though I was a super athlete , I was rather awkward around women) Shel looked up at me over her shoulder as I asked" Shel we have known each other for our entire lives and you have never shown any interest in me until now, and I have to wonder why that is?" She answered " Well , I have always liked you but my parents do not like your father and have always thought you where to much like him, violent and unpredictable ." - - Little did I know at the time why - - - I thought about that for a minute , I knew that my father had a reputation for being easy with his fist , and I had been too until I realized that if I wanted to play ball I could not be getting onto fights which would have precluded me from playing and made my dream of being in the NFL hopeless. So I said " I know my rep , but I have never been in a fight since freshman year and I get good grades, so I thought that would ease peoples minds about me." "Joe , the last fight you had you beat three seniors up pretty bad, if I remember you broke the arms of two of them and dislocated the shoulder of the other ," she answered. "Shel , they had it coming for shoving Nick into a locker after he asked one of there sisters out ." " Joe, you did it without breaking a sweat, then again you where pretty big even then ." " Shel , you did not answer my question , why now?" " Joe we are both eighteen now and off to college , I just wanted to see if we have chemistry or if my attraction to you is a crush and likewise I think you are thinking the same thing now. Besides I want you to be my first. I have thought about you being my first since sophomore year ." " Your first?" I asked "What about the guy you dated most of our junior and senior years ."" My father and his put us together as it would be mutually beneficial for them for us to be together, but he is , and do not tell anyone this , gay and I agreed to be his beard while he saw his boyfriend, so as you can guess I am a virgin ." I looked down at her and laughed a little. " Joe I tell you I am virgin and I want you to be my first and you laugh!" as she started to walk away from me. " No Shel I am not laughing at you , I am laughing at your ex being gay , I thought up until just before graduation he was going to ask to marry you ." as I reached out and pulled her from her feet and into my arms giving her a quick peck on the lips " Well that's not funny, I have been interested in you for years and hoped that you felt the same ,'" she whispered " Shel , I have been interested in you for a long time my self, and I have a confession myself, I am a virgin as well." "You , big football star , the one with the cheerleaders and other girls always around you, a virgin!" her eyes twinkled as she laughed lightly . "Yeah , I enjoyed the company and got some offers from some of them , but it never felt right ." "Shel are you sure about this?" I asked as we walked towards my father's camper. " Yes I am you silly bear ." was the answer I received . A funny thought crossed my mind at the time , she had called me a silly bear since freshman year and with everybody calling me cat because of my last name I had wondered even from then if she liked me and that was her way of doing so, then again I will admit to being rather dense at times. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leon turned to Lily And Franz , " Are you sure she is her, I have looked for 18 years and she can be mated know and I want that right ." Franz answered " Yes the one you described is here and I know that there is at least two other were's with them , but I do not know which they are ." Lily turned and said " she went into that thing on the back of that truck with a large human, should we attack that first or last ." Last ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- " Joe I have a question for you?" I looked at shel as she undressed in front of me " and it may seem strange, do you remember your mother. " I will admit that it was a strange question, but I answered " All I remember of my mother is the few stories my father has told me about them dating and her getting pregnant with me, and the fact that she left not long after my birth, and I have a picture that my father gave me and that's about it . Why do you ask? " Shel know stood naked in front of me and as had only shorts on I stood and dropped them and stepped to her and took her in my arms and kissed her. She looked up at me . I was at least a foot or more taller and said " I have to tell you something before we go any further . " I looked up thinking she had changed her mind suddenly when she told me " I am a werewolf ." I proceeded to start laughing hard when I caught movement in my eye through the window in the camper and realized that there where dogs running in to camp. Just as I was going to say something to Shel, I heard screams coming from the general direction of the camp . Then the door to the camper came flying off and something flew at me and I threw up my arm. Pain radiated out as I felt teeth hit bone, the to my shock I watched Shel, well she changed into what looked like the classic movie werewolf. If not for the pain , I would have thought that one of my buddies had slipped me a magic mushroom. I then suddenly realized even though my arm was in pain , It felt normal otherwise, that was until my entire body felt like some one had set it on fire and that Is all I remember. Well I do remember one other thing , that suddenly the animal biting my arm looked a lot smaller than when it started to bite me, and that its eyes had grown wide. Serving The Council Ch. 03 Thanks to my editor cannd, and as a warning there is a scene that is both violent and cruel, there to establish the mindset of a character, but if you wish skipping is an option Three months to the fullest moon summer 2019. *** The beta walked up to Leon. "My Alpha, there has been no word on the location of The Beast since the enforcers where ambushed." "No word at all?" "No." Leon looked over to Lily and pondered, "Of all other enforcers, he is the one I would have expected to return, no matter how injured." "As would I have," answered Lily. "I wonder where he is." *** ONE MONTH THE FULL MOON "A month to the mating and my best warrior is still missing?" "Yes, my Alpha, we cannot find any sign of him, nor has his body been found either." Lily stood and watched Leon pace the room while talking to himself out loud, pondering ways to mate with one of the daughters of Roux. "Leon, no one has put a claim on the younger one and if you mate her you become linked to the line and can work on eliminating the sister and Karl." "Yes, I have thought of that, but do you think it would work?" "Yes it would, no one knows of your first attempt on the bloodline and with me to muddle the minds of other challengers, you should win easily." *** THE FULL MOON NIGHT The Elders asked if there were any challenges or claims on the daughter of Roux, Allysin. None in the gathered mass of weres called out to challenge Karl for the rite to mate Allysin. Ashlynn stood and watched her sister approach the raised platform and disrobe. Looking over at her father, she asked with a childlike innocence, "Father, do I have to watch this?" "No, you do not. If you wish you and Anna can join the warriors on the outer sides as guards." Ashlynn turned and motioned to Anna, her appointed protector, that was what she wished to do. They set off with Vanya, her father's sergeant at arms and best warrior. As they walked, Anna looked down on her charge and said, "It will not be long until you are eighteen and males can make claims on you , you do realize that?" At first all Ash did to acknowledge the remark was nod, then she turned to look up at Anna and said, "I have met the male I wish to mate with recently, but I do not know if he will feel the same." "And who is that?" "You met him once, not scant months ago, for a moment." "THE BEAST!" "Anna, he is not a beast, I sensed that in meeting him." Anna thought to herself that she must talk to Roux about this revelation and said to Ash, "How can you say that when you met him for mere moments?" With typical youthful assurance Ash answered "I just know!" *** DEEP IN THE WILDS OF CANADA late spring 2026 A large form moved towards the two men who were holding a child between them, their voices carrying, "After we are done, kill her and bury her and no one will ever find her." With sudden yet quiet fury the creature burst out of the tree line and hit the man on the left of the child in the head, crushing his skull. Soon, the other man met the same fate. The child, who could have been no more than eleven or twelve, just stood and stared into space. She didn't look at the men who had held her, nor did she look at the massive animal standing before her. With a surprising gentleness, the creature nudged the girl, getting her attention. It dropped its head and she instantly hugged it around the neck, her arms not even close to fully circling his neck. With care, the creature shifted itself and encouraged her to climb up onto its neck and shoulders. Holding on tight, she rode it through the woods. Feeling the girl shivering, the creature moved as fast as it could, soon approaching a set of buildings deep in a small clearing near a river. The creature let out a rumbling sound and a small man with a cane came from one of the structures calling out as he walked, "Ah, Issohko, you're back." The creature lowered itself to the ground and gave a slight shake, the little girl, sensing that it wanted her to get off, slid to the ground and stood next to it. She reacted silently as the animal which she had just ridden changed shape and became a man who spoke, "Grandfather, I have just killed two men who were about to kill this child." The young girl stared at the two of them and it was obvious, even to her young eyes, that the two could not be related. The old man was obviously first nation and the man/thing that had rescued her was obviously not. The man who had rescued her watched her expressive face as she pondered this. He said, "Let me get some clothes and from your reaction, it seems that the fact that my grandfather and I are obviously not blood related perplexes you more than the fact that I just changed from an animal into a man." Soon her rescuer returned dressed as you would expect a man in the mountains to. The old man approached her finally and asked her for her name. When she did not answer right away, he reached out calmly and put a hand on her shoulder. "Worry not child, we are not going to hurt you." Sudden movement from the other man made her jump as she heard him speak, "Grandfather, get her into the storm house, someone is coming and they smell like the men I just killed." The old man and the girl hurried into a low slung building as the younger man walked out to the edge of the compound. As he stood and looked into the woods, a group of men entered the edge of the clearing and caught sight of him. "Have you seen a young girl by any chance?" came a question from one of the group. "No I have not," he answered. As the men spoke amongst themselves, the younger man heard the words: Were, princess and dead. He knew that this meant one of two things, though why he felt this way he did not know, but it brought fleeting images of what he thought was a past he could not quite remember. The group of men started to fan out and he knew he was in for a fight, so he decided to tell them he had heard them. "It is obvious you know that I am not human, but what is this talk of princess and death?" The eyes of one who seemed to be the leader grew large and changed color, causing a visceral feeling to rise up from his chest and realizing that he was truly in for a fight, he decided to try one last thing to calm the situation. "I do not know what you want with this girl, but I must tell you, if you do not leave here immediately, none of you will do so alive." The leader of the group laughed, "One Were against a group of blood bound means it is you who will die!" Knowing that grandfather would realize the danger and act accordingly, the man charged at the vampire warriors. How he knew what they were, he didn't know, but somehow he knew that he had the knowledge to kill them all quickly. As he charged, he shifted in to his animal form and went after the leader, knowing that that one was the greatest threat and needed to be dealt with first. The vampire's eyes changed colors and turned black and his fangs and talons came out, but his face showed the shock of recognition of what he faced. His only and last words were "HE LIVES!' echoed in the were's mind. Of the seven vampires he faced, six died in the battle and one escaped. The injuries he had incurred in the fight were almost non-existent and heeled quickly. He returned to the camp and shifted back to his human form, calling out to the old man, "They are all dead except for one and I am sure that he will bring back more than I can fight." The old man opened the door to the building and spoke, "Then we must leave and I think it is time I told you who I am and, more to the point, who you are." The young man looked at him and said, "What do you mean by that?" The old man sighed and looked right at him, "Your name is Joseph Catania and you are called, among other things, 'The Beast' and 'The bringer of death.' I am called, in its English translation, 'The ghost of the woods' and am one of the last of my kind. I'm a true shaman, what you would call a witch or warlock in the European way, and I think it's time I took you somewhere, as it seems the time I thought I had has run out." *** I stood there and wondered what he meant by that, my battle with the vampires had brought back memories of what I once was, but they were fragmented and sparse. Grandfather, I asked (despite him having given me his name, it still felt more appropriate to call him that) "Where do we need to go, and what of the girl?" He answered me, "I believe she's not just a simple girl and if I am correct, she is the princess of the blood bound, last link to the old ones." I looked at him, "What does that mean?" He looked at me, "I will explain while we pack a few things, but first, go open the far barn and get the ranger ready to go." I turned and went to do as I was asked, hoping that answers would be forthcoming soon. As I walked, I noticed I had a shadow, the young girl, who now looked a little older than I first realized. "So who are you little one?" I asked. She just gazed back at me with two huge eyes and a sniffle, so I decided not to question her for a little while. We got to the shed and pulled out the ranger, which was grandfathers little toy, an old military ATV/snow machine/whatever and it was pretty ugly, but it got grandfather where he needed to go, so who was I to disparage it. I got it running and drove it over to the cabin and when I got there grandfather was waiting. "You drive, and I will explain." "Where to?" I asked. "Just take us to where I showed you the old caves a while back." "Ok," I answered. *** As we drove, he explained what he could. Grandfather began speaking, "Grandson, you know I found you bloodied and battered two years ago. The reason I found you is because one of my gifts is foresight, which means I can see the future or more to the point, points in time where one action or inaction can lead to various outcomes." Joseph nodded his understanding. "Well, on the day I found you, I was actually waiting for the ambush that injured you. For the first time, not only did I have the vision, but the desire to force an outcome, and to do that , I had to take you so your leaders could not find you. I also put blocks in your memories so you could learn to be your own man. You were the killing arm of the REX of North America and his bitch of a mate. I have the ability to show you your entire past, but before I do that, I want you to meet someone, someone who can explain certain things better than I." Joseph looked over at him and nodded, used to these kinds of statements. "But your finding our passenger today, well that changed everything, for while I saw you two meeting, it was not to happen for a while yet. You said that people wanted her dead and that means that something else I saw is closer to fruition than I, or those I am about to introduce you to, are comfortable with." *** ELSEWHERE Leon and Lily where watching a sparring match between two female weres who were in human form. Both of them were admiring the females' naked forms. As they watched from the seats above the sparring area, one of the other council members came up to them and Leon called down to the combatants, "Break for a moment." "Yes, Michael, what is it?" "News, sire, the princess lives. Both teams failed in the mission and we know who she is with." "And who is that?" "Sire, she is with The Beast and they are with the ancient called Ghost." "What!" spoke a startled Lily. "And sire, it is The Beast who protected the vampire." Leon and Lily looked each other, both in shock, but not because The Beast lived. They were in shock that he was protecting the vampire and that he was with one of the ancients made it even more troubling. Leon spoke, "Assemble the council in three hours." Michael bowed his head and went to do his REX's bidding. "This is bad, Leon. If Joseph is with an ancient, it means he has had my spell broken and that is definitely not a good thing for us or our allies on the other councils." Leon , now both annoyed and worried, called out to the females weres, "A change, this is now a death match, with the usual choice to the vanquished." Both women looked up at the REX in horror, knowing what that choice was, bare there throat and die, or become one of the "service" girls for the pack. Neither was a good choice in either of their opinions and both looked at the other and decided that they would be the winner. "Sire, can we fight in any form then?" "Yes" answered Leon. Both woman shifted into their hybrid forms and went at one another with vicious intent. After ten minutes of battle, the slightly smaller of the two ended up on her back with the other's teeth at her throat and shifted back to her human form and yielded. Leon then asked her choice. "I prefer death," was her answer. Leon looked down on her and made a decision. "Stay there, I honor your choice and I choose to carry out the sentence." Both women looked at him, knowing this was the normal course of events. Leon hopped down in to the arena and told the loser to get on her hands and knees and face away from him. She complied and Leon knelt down behind her and ran his hands along her sides and back. "Are you sure that death is what you prefer?" "YES!" was her answer. Leon reached down and opened his pants, freeing his member. "I will honor your request, but first, as I know you have never lain with a man, I will make sure you do not die a virgin." Before she could voice her protest, Leon shoved his cock in to her dry ass. Burying himself deep inside her and ripping her sphincter. As she screamed and protested, Leon pounded into her ass, all the time saying, "What a waste of flesh, what a waste." As he neared climax he reached up and put his hands on the sides of her head gripping her head tightly. He pounded as fast as he could until he climaxed, and snapped her neck and shot his load into her ass. After he finished, he pulled out and told the winner of the fight to suck it dry. With revulsion, but knowing her life depended on following his order, she did so, cleaning the blood and semen from his cock. He reached and grabbed her head, forcing himself deep into her throat, causing her to choke. Lily watched her mate's brutality with an appearance of dispassion, but loved it. Neither saw another set of eyes watching the spectacle, or knew that because of it doom was already assured. *** As they rode along, the old man continued to talk to Joseph. "Grandson, I searched through your mind and suppressed many of your memories of what you were before we met. In doing so, I found out your whole history and the things that have happened to you. The people we are about to meet are ancients like me, people of great age and wisdom, ones who have, due that great age, chosen to remove and hide themselves from the world." "Grandfather, even though we have lived these years out in the wild, how can people 'hide' from the world with satellites and such?" "Joseph, you know that I could hide our home from those who traveled near to us, well the other ancients can do this as well and being that there are many of them, they can do so even more effectively." Not quite understanding what he was being told, he decided to change the subject to the girl he had rescued. "Grandfather," I asked, "what do you know of our little friend in the back, it is obvious that she is not a vampire, yet those I just fought referred to her as vampire princess?" The old man answered me, "She is a chosen one and upon her eighteenth birthday she is to be turned. She'll be joined with the most powerful of the vampire families, because for a period after her change, she can give birth to a child of a vampire, an ability female vampires lose after a few years." I pondered that and soon realized we were at the caves he had told me to go too. I drove into the opening of one of them and drove it in a few yards to hide the ranger. We got out and grandfather walked over to a small pool of water that lay in a depression on the wall of the cave, he murmured words that I did not understand and a face appeared in the water. "Yes old friend, what do you want?" came a voice from the air. "Homer, I need to come to sanctuary. And I have two people to come with me." Homer's answered back, "And who are they?" "The first is Joseph, also known as Leon's Beast, and the other is apparently a vampire princess." I whirled as I felt something behind me in the cave and saw an opening that had not been there scant seconds before. Out stepped a smallish man who spoke, "Ghost, please come and bring your charges, it is apparent that what you foresaw is coming to pass." The young girl looked terrified and had started to back away. I reached out and pulled her to the front of me, encircling her in my arms. "Whoever you are, just know that this small one is in my protection and I take that seriously," I said. "I understand that completely, as Ghost has spoken of you to us, but never has he told us who you are." I looked at Grandfather and he spoke, "Joseph, may I introduce you to Hermes, the messenger of the ancients. Hermes, do not annoy him, as even your fabled speed wouldn't serve you well against him." Hermes gave Ghost a questioning look. To which Ghost simply said, "He is vastly more than he appears." Ghost motioned toward the opening and I looked down at my little charge, she just reached up towards my neck, so I bent and as she grasped me around the neck I put my arm under her legs and carried her into the opening. It seemed as if we walked a mere few feet, and we exited another opening into a field surrounded by buildings. There were men and women walking around talking. Hermes walked towards a building that was slightly apart from the others and imposing. I followed along, glancing at my little charge as we went, wondering what else could happen to me this day. As we entered a doorway, I had a flash of familiarity, as if I had walked through that door at another time. The hallway was short and opened onto an interior court. I glanced around noticing a few people were clustered around a small raised dais. Hermes led us towards it and the voices quieted as we approached. We came to a stop behind the group and Hermes cleared his throat, gaining the attention of all standing there. As I was taller than my two companions and still in a protective frame of mind, I gently set the girl down to stand in front of me, and glanced to see if any others where in the room. As I did this, I noticed a man sitting on a chair on the dais and he looked straight at me as if he recognized me. He spoke as those around him moved to either side of the chair. "Ghost, it's good to see you after so much time. We are only waiting for Diana to get here so we can talk." As we waited I looked at the group in front of me, again feeling a sense of déjà vu. I heard a person walk into the room, approaching me from behind, I turned to see who it was and I am sure I looked as pole-axed as I felt. There was no questioning the fact that I knew the face of the woman who stopped not five feet from me. It was a face that had haunted me from my memory and from a single picture. "Mother," I said. "Yes, my son, it is I," she answered. Serving The Council Ch. 04 Thanks to cannd for editing, I I hope she will put up with it for a while, she has rescued me from poor grammar and missing narrative more than I can be thankful for, so thanks. * "Diana, what do you mean he is your son, you never told anyone this?" spoke the man seated upon the raised dais. "Yes, Diana what do you mean a son?" I looked at the man who spoke, he was about my height and well-muscled, but it was his eyes that concerned me because they had malice in them as he spoke. I started to say, "I have a pictu---." Those were the only words I got out before he leapt towards Diana and since she was on the opposite side from where he was, he had to go through the area the Grandfather, the young girl and I occupied. I moved to allow him to pass, as did Grandfather, but the girl, was frozen in place by his rapid movement towards us and the invective coming from his mouth. I think his shoving her was nothing more than his impatience to get to Diana, but it elicited a violently protective feeling in me and before I realized that I had moved, I had him held in the air by his throat. His attempts to remove my hand where proving to be quite futile. *** To the assembled group, the speed and obvious power of the young man were startling, but it was the fact that, with seemingly no effort, he was holding the man off his feet as the man clawed and kicked out striking him and did not seem fazed or affected by the blows, many of which echoed with the power behind them, that really amazed them. Ghost spoke out, "Grandson, release him." The others stood in awe as another of the assembled group attempted to grab the young man's arm and was soon in the same situation, which now had Ghost yelling for him to release both of the men. But, it was the young girl who got through to him with a simple touch on his side and the word 'please.' He responded by dropping both men and scooping her up into his arms. *** "That, Achilles, is how I know he is my son. He has his father's temper and violence, as well as his calmness," the woman named Diana said. The young man looked down at the girl in his arms and before he could speak, the young girl said, "My name is Michele, but everybody calls me Shele." Ghost gave a moan of despair, knowing that things he had intentionally buried in the young man's mind where coming to the fore. The young man he called grandson had experienced many episodes of great pain, and was about to relive some, if not all of them at one time. His only hope was that at the end, he would still be sane. 1979 *** I glanced at what had attacked me, it seemed so much smaller than it had moments ago. As it held onto my left arm, I swung at it with my right hand, registering what it looked like. It had huge claws and was covered in fur. When my fist made contact, the animal's head exploded like a watermelon hit with a hammer. I saw others approaching me, so knowing that I was in for a fight, I decided to leave the camper so I would have more room. *** Leon watched as the back of the camper where the daughter of Ajax had gone exploded outwards and a huge were in hybrid form came crashing out, throwing the body of his second to the ground like trash. "Everyone attack him. He protects what I desire." Leon and Lily looked at one another and Leon asked, "Have you ever seen a wolf that big?" Lily answered, "I do not think he is a wolf, Leon." They watched as the giant hybrid stood its ground and decimated its attackers, but after a few minutes the vast number of wolves it faced simply overwhelmed it and it went down. *** Michele and Anna stood on a rise watching the carnage below. Anna turned to Michele, "What were you thinking? You are to be mated to a REX, are you trying to start a war, child?" "Anna, he felt like my mate. I am sure of it, he was my mate!" "Well, he is dead now, no one could survive that battle down there." Michele swung a branch she had picked up, striking Anna behind the ear, stunning her. Then she shifted and ran, thinking 'I don't know where I will go or what I will do, but whatever it is, it will be for me.' When Anna got her senses about her, she glanced down one more time at the battle, which seemed to be over and wondered to herself, 'How did he last that long, only an alpha could do that, but I sensed no alpha in him.' She then shifted and went in search of her ward. *** "Lily can you do anything to make him ours?" questioned Leon. "Yes there is something I can do, but I cannot do it here, I need to return home and work on it." Leon nodded his head in understanding. "For it to work though, we will need to keep him in one of his shifted states for a while and it will allow me to cloud his memories or suppress them," Leon called to his warriors, "Tie him up and get him back to the compound immediately!" The warriors did as their Alpha wished, tying the hybrid up and loading him onto a truck. Leon then asked if the girl had been caught. The highest ranking of the surviving warriors spoke, "She escaped, fighting him took all our attention." Leon was not happy with this, but what was done was done. He turned to Lily and pointed at the truck as it left the area, "Let's return home and see what we can do with this one." *** I now remembered seeing the bodies of my friends strewn around the campsite as I fought. I also remembered that I did not wander the woods as I was told I did and that my killing of Bran had been an order, to see if I would obey in killing my teacher. I finally saw the ambush that led to my being found by grandfather. And the person whom I had arranged it and I saw the memory of all those I had killed for no other reason than Leon wished them dead. *** The only one in the room who had not moved away from Joseph was the girl, who was still in his arms, holding on tight. *** "Grandfather, I know you told me you suppressed my memories, but why is what I want to know?" asked Joseph. Grandfather looked straight at me, "Because I was not sure how you would react to knowing what actually happened to you." "And what did you think my reaction would be?" "I feared you would either go mad or go on a killing spree," answered his Grandfather. "Grandfather, you do not have to worry about the former, but as to the latter, that is a forgone conclusion. There are many who are going to die, some who deserve it, others because they will try to protect them those who are doomed." From behind him he heard his mother, Diana, speak, "And that confirms that he is my child, does it not?" From the floor, Achilles and the other man nodded their heads in agreement, as did all the others, for the statement Joseph made sounded as if they had come from Diana's mouth. *** The den of Karl and Allysins pack *** "Karl we must pass this information to my father, not only for the fact that Leon is obviously insane, but because he wishes to claim my sister as a mate, and that thought terrifies me!" Karl looked at his mate, knowing that she was correct on the former, and the idea of Leon claiming his sister made his blood run cold. The Den of Roux in Europe *** "Ah, to what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call son?" asked Roux into the phone. "Father, I must report bad news and even worse news." Karl then proceeded to tell Roux about Leon's actions and his desire for Ashlynn. He then asked Roux if there was a way to get other REXS and Alphas he trusted to meet to discuss the problem. Roux pondered this and came up with a solution that he thought would work. Out of the other four REXS, he trusted only one. He had children that had just been born to his mate, who was a cousin of Roux, and he thought a meeting could be setup through him in a few months, knowing that it was still several months before the first moon when Leon could make a claim on Ashlynn. Months later *** "Joseph, what do you know of the history of the weres, elementals and vampires?" asked Diana. "Well, the elementals and were races are just different branches off the evolutionary tree and the vampires are affected by a virus that alters their genetic code and stops the ageing process, gives them their great speed, and the need to live on blood," he answered. "All true, my son, but do you know the how weres and elementals differ?" "Yes, elementals' brains allow them to tap into the energies that surround everything, much like the force from 'Star Wars.' Weres have genetic codes that allow for their physical body to transform and tap into the same energy as elementals, which explains their ability to gain mass over there already existing body mass. Some just can tap into more in both cases." "True as well," answered Diana. "Mother, why are you asking me these questions?" Diana looked at him and answered, "Because our healer cannot figure you out, my son. You have shown in your short time here abilities that are thought not to be possible in one entity." "What do you mean?" Letting out a sigh and looking at him she said, "Son, you have shown the ability to shrug off damage from silver like an elemental, the strength and power of a were and the speed of a vampire. No one here has ever seen such power and, the fact is, it frightens some of the ancients here." *** Elsewhere in the same area *** "Fen, your grandson shows all the signs of being a were, yet he also has elemental and vampire abilities." "Yes, I know Alexander, and I know that were and vampire abilities do not come from my daughter. Has anyone found out the ancestry of his father?" asked Diana's father. "Our contacts around the world have been back tracking down the information and we know that the boy's father has blood from five of the seven continents of the world and that they are as varied as Indians from the New World, the four corners of the old world from China in the east to Ireland in the west, and Norway to the north and down to northern Africa." "And how does this help us?" "Well we know that he has warrior blood from all of these cultures and it is possible that most or all of them may have dormant genes and that when they were combined with Diana, they all became active traits." From the back of the chamber came the voice of Homer, "There is a prophesy about a being such as this which predates even my birth." "And what is that prophesy?" asked Lilith, the ancient vampire. Homer walked to the front of the chamber. "The being in the prophesy has many names for it, but the one I think you all would recognize is, the arbiter." A flurry of shouts and curses rang through the hall. For, all knew of this prophesy, as it was a part of all of the races. Were, elemental, vampire and even human all had a story about a being that would either lead the world into peace or would lead it to its destruction. As the voices continued to bounce off the walls, no one heard Joseph enter the hall. He listened as those of the gathered group spoke over one another. He tried politely to get their attention and after a minute of trying, decided how to get the attention of the group. *** "HEY!" he yelled. He was not expecting for them all to go silent at the same time. *** To the surprise and discomfort of the group, they all stopped talking as all of them felt the power that came along with that single word. What they all felt was the power of an Alpha. The part that actually frightened them was, as ancients, they were the most powerful of each of their kinds, most so old that they had watched the pyramids of Egypt being built and a few being old enough to remember the first attempts to establish permanent settlements of their human cousins. No one should have been able to do what he had done. *** I stood, shocked that the room had quieted so quickly. So I asked what the argumentative yelling had been about. *** It was Homer that spoke first. "Joseph, you know that those in this hall are amongst the oldest of our kinds, ones who have removed themselves, for one reason or another, into a setting where we can refrain from influencing the young of our race." Joseph nodded his head and asked, "But, what does that mean when one loud yell from me quiets you all?" It was Diana who answered, "Son, you got the alpha/master/lord reaction from everyone here, which means that our inner natures recognize you as being stronger than us." "But, I am but a young were, how can that be?" responded Joseph. "It is probably because from what Diana and you have told us of your father, we do not think you are solely a were. We traced his family line and it is possible that you received dormant genes from all three races from him. We think that your father and Diana's mating may have fulfilled a prophesy that predates even I," answered Homer. "And still, what does all of this have to do with me?" "To be honest, we do not know, but we are searching all the scrolls to find out." *** THE DEN OF THE REX OF AUSTRALIA The group of assembled alphas spoke with one another, trying to figure what to do about Leon. "I would say, have Karl challenge him for the spot. It has not been done in a long time, but it is within the laws." Karl looked around at the assembled. "I would try, but I am not sure of the outcome and I will not risk my mate because as you all know, the winner of the challenge keeps what he kills. And you know if I lost he would claim Ally ." Roux spoke up as well, "And as Rex of Europe, I have no standing to challenge him. Yet, if I deny a claim to Ashlynn, he can challenge me on it and I do not know, with any certainty, that I could stop him." The Australian Rex, a small man who was a were-dingo, spoke next, "Then, unless we can find someone to challenge him, and/or claim Ashlynn, we are at a loss of what to do. I also bring the news that the vampires are greatly upset about the missing princess and they are claiming that a were stole her." It was an alpha from Canada that shocked the assembled weres. "It is sort of true, for I know where she is. And more to the point, if what I have heard of the one who apparently took her is true, I think I may have found the answer to the problem with Leon." All eyes focused on the alpha, one of the few female alphas in the world. Another asked, "Why has this information not been passed on to the vampires, and who is this were you speak of?" The woman, knowing that she was in a precarious position because she had been told the information in confidence, weighed her options and figured all where bad. She made a choice and said, "She is in sanctuary with the ancient named Ghost and with Leon's Beast." A flurry of voices yelled over one another, asking her how she could keep such information from the vampires and the REXS and yelling how it would cause such great problems, when out of the corner of Leon's vision, he saw his daughters and Anna enter the room, seemingly on a mission. Sensing his mate's entry into the room, Karl stood and went to her and the others. Allysin spoke into her mate's ear and he returned to the group and got their attention, "My mate, Anna and her sister wish to speak to us, apparently my worry went through our mate bond and she picked up some of what was said through me. She talked to Anna who said she had something to tell us." Anna looked at those in the room and turned and spoke to Roux first, "Roux, we must tell them of the Beast's origin and the connection to Ash and I." Roux looked at her, a pained expression on his face, for he knew what she spoke of. She began slowly, "The Beast is named Joseph Catania, and I was there when he and Leon first crossed paths. It was the first time Leon and Lily tried to gain a mate of the blood line of Ajax and Iona. Karl, I am sure your father told you of the 'rogue' attack in your pack's territory in 1979?" Karl nodded his head, wondering what that mess had to do with this discussion. "It was not a 'rogue' attack, but an attempt to kidnap the last living female descendent of that line, Michele, who was Roux's mate and Ashlynns mother. Ash and Ally looked at one another, wondering what Anna had meant by that, but before either could voice a question, Anna had continued, "Ally, you are actually my daughter, I am Michele. , I switched names with my guardian when I came to Europe, and the reason that Leon desires you and did not desire Ally is my fault, because as the youngest daughter, you are the last of the line, the prophesy he thinks he is making come true says that it's the youngest daughter of the line." Anna/Michele looked at the group. "we hid the facts from everyone by sending me away on 'missions' every time I became pregnant, which was timed to concur with my guardians, we just did not expect her to die in that accident after your and your sisters birth." All around the room, jaws hung open, not knowing what to make of the information. Sanctuary *** "Grandfather?" "Yes, grandson?" "Hermes has just told me that Shele's still being here is causing problems, because they know she was last seen with a were and the vampires are threatening war over her disappearance ." The two men sat next to one another on a bench, watching Shele run around and play with some animals, like nearly tame deer and sheep that the vampires and others kept as food sources. "Grandson, why have you not had Hermes or someone return her to the Vampire king, or done it yourself?" "For the simple reason that I have asked her what she wants, knowing that I am the only person she speaks to beyond a simple request like food and drink, and she does not want to go to him." The old man looked at him. "She is but a child, why would you give her the choice?" "It's simple, she turns 18 in a few days and she was not asked if she wanted the 'privilege' of going to him, they simply killed her family and took her. The ones I rescued her from are rebels against the king, and they thought her death was better than her freedom!" Ghost, looked at him with horror and asked, "Have you told anyone else?" "Yes, my mother, Fenrir, Achilles and Apollo." "And they agree," asked Ghost. "With her staying here?" "No," he answered. *** "They told me that if and when I leave, she is to go with me, that I am her guardian until she is 18. Then she is on her own in they're eyes." Grandfather looked at him and asked, "And when she turns 18?" He looked down at her, "She is free to do what she wants, if she wishes to leave my protection, she is free to do so, but I asked and she wants to be wherever I am." "Do you intend to mate with her?" His look startled Ghost, "NO, I DO NOT! She is like a sister to me, that is how I feel about her!" Ghost gave a little chuckle, saying, "For a minute there I thought you were going to hit me." "Old man, I would break you if I hit you, just ask Apollo and Achilles." Ghost just chuckled again, "I have witnessed their trips to the healer after your training sessions and no thanks, even if I am immortal, it still hurts to heal!" Ghost suddenly turned and with an even more grave seriousness about him than usual said, "Joseph, as I have told you, I am a seer and have seen some of your future and I have to tell you that you have to be somewhere the next mating moon." Joseph looked down at Shele and nodded his head saying, "I know that, the others have told me the same thing, that I have a destiny to fulfill. But, I think that they are wrong in a sense." Ghost looked at him with a puzzled frown upon his Native American features, "What do you mean by that?" Joseph looked at him, "Grandfather, I have heard you say repeatedly that things happened at times you did not foresee, you saw the meeting of me and Shele, but it was not to happen when it did, so 'destiny' is a constant moving target to me. Yes, I might be destined for something, but it is dependent on the actions of many, not me alone." Serving The Council Ch. 04 Ghost stared at Joseph for what felt like a long time to him, then simply said, "Though I cannot claim you by blood, you are more my grandson than any of the blood descendants I have." Joseph told him what an honor it was for him to say that. He felt much the same about the old man. KARLS DEN *** "So my mate, are you ready for bed?" asked Ally. Karl looked at her with hungry eyes, "Of course, my mate, but what is it you wish to do in bed?" This was how the two of them had been since the night of their mating, playful and passionate. Karl dove towards the bed, landing on top of his mate, giving her a deep kiss and reaching down to her slick folds, feeling her wetness and desire. Slowly, working his way down her body, he paused to worship her nipples, taking one into his mouth and sucking it to taut hardness and making his mate mewl. Moving to the other nipple, he took the one he had abandoned and pinched and twirled it. Ally bucked and grasped his head, pulling it to her breast, attempting to make him take the entire breast into his mouth. He continued down her body, passing up her fragrant and wet pussy and licked down the inside of her left thigh. Getting to her foot, he switched sides and migrated back to her center, shifting his tongue into that of his wolf form and delved deep inside of her, taking the tip and laving it against her cervix. His nose rubbed against her clit and Ally growled and bucked of the bed, arching herself to force his tongue even deeper. Wanting to get to his manhood, she told him to roll over, which he did, never removing his tongue from within her. He allowed her to spin and take his cock into her mouth. She first licked it from tip to base and up again, causing Karl to hum in appreciation, which just hit her clit and sent her into an orgasm, coating his tongue and face with cream. As she came, she enveloped his cock, taking it as deep down her throat as she could. Karl could feel his cock hit the back of her throat, making him groan. He removed his tongue and told her he wanted to be inside her. Ally stopped what she was doing and rolled away and over, coming up onto her knees. Knowing what she wanted, he quickly came to his knees and got behind her and as he entered her he started to shift. Ally felt her mate changing into his wolf form, and looked into the mirror opposite them. She watched his eyes go bright and his muzzle grow, soon she had a brindle wolf over her, pounding into her and licking her back. She felt his knot form as he redoubled his efforts, Ally screaming and panting the entire time. Karl felt his mate approaching another orgasm and laved at her shoulders. Ally threw her head around the whole while and just as she reached climax , she spoke, "Karl, I am ready for cubs!" This threw Karl into a frenzy as he pounded Ally as hard and as fast as she could take, both of them reaching a plateau at the same time as Karl bit into her mating scar, drawing her sweet blood. Ally felt his knot filling her, stretching her as it had never done before. Karl let out with a howl that left no question as to him being Alpha of the pack, and he soon shifted back to his human form, taking Ally into his arms and holding her tight to his chest. He had only one question on his mind, "Why do you wish to have cubs now, not that I am complaining, but why now?" "There are two reasons, Karl. You said risking your mate was a reason not to challenge Leon, and the fact that it is time for them."Ally reached back over her shoulder as Karl licked her mating scar, "And I think you did it this time, we shall see in a few weeks, but I think we just gave the pack its heirs." Serving The Council Ch. 05 THANKS TO CANNED FOR EDITING Roux's den --------------- "Yes, Ash, you have a twin sister who is younger by 15 minutes. Your mother, Anna, and I hid her because we knew of Leon's first attempt and wished to hide her in an attempt to protect her from him. The prophecy, which he believes is his right to fulfill, says the youngest of the descendants of Iona and Ajax is needed." "Why didn't you ever tell Ally and I though? We would not have told anyone," Ash asked. Roux looked at his daughter and replied, "Because we could never be sure that it would not slip, but the problem now is that we have lost track of her." Ashlynn glared at her father, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOST TRACK OF HER?" Michele and Roux looked at each other, wondering how to explain the situation. It was Michele who spoke first. "We sent her off with an Elemental who was going to place her with a family after binding her were abilities until her 18th birthday. The problem is I cannot contact him and he never told us where he put her. Until your shared birthday, I will not be able to sense her location. "He did not even give you an idea of where she is?" Roux and Anna shook their heads and shrugged. "So Ally and I have a sister that you never told us about and you lost her. That's fucking unbelievable!" Ash yelled as she stormed from the room. SANCTUARY ------------------- Fen looked as his grandson entered the meeting chamber looking a tad troubled, his little shadow not a step behind him. "Joe and Michele, what can I do for you?" Joe glanced back at the young girl and as he had for his entire time at Sanctuary, wondered why she followed him so intently. "Grandfather, Achilles, Alexander and the others have told me that I have yet to train with the best of the ancient fighters and that against him I would lose. Do you agree? And on another matter, I know that Michele does not talk to anyone other than me really, but I can tell by her body language something bothers her and I am at a loss as to what it is, but she will not even tell me." "Joe, as to the first question, I do not know if Atlas could best you, but it is a contest that I would enjoy seeing. As for the latter, there may be someone that would put her at ease, but she is not here at the moment and I would have to call for her." Joe pondered the answers and turning to look at Michele, he asked, "Would you like to talk to someone about what's bothering you?" Michele turned a little red and answered, "Yes, I would." She looked up Fen, "Maybe talking to another woman would help, because I will admit something is bothering me, but what it really is, I do not know." Fen looked at the both of them and started to speak but Joseph interrupted him, "I wish to meet this Atlas in the sparing circle." Fen nodded his head, "Both will be done as soon as possible." ====== Leon's Den --------------- "Two months until the highest moon and then I can lay claim on Ashlynn. It cannot come soon enough," spoke Leon to his second. They stood watching a challenge for position in the pack. Both the weres were in animal form and they were ripping one another to shreds because Leon believed in the concept of you keep what you kill. This meant all challenges had to be to the death, making them hazardous not only for the combatants, but their mates as well. Many chose suicide over becoming the forced mate of another, but all knew the rules about cubs. The winner was responsible for the welfare of any defeated opponents cubs. His second answered, "Do you think Roux or Ashlynn will deny your claim?" Leon looked at him and answered with a evil glint, "I hope so, I really hope so." ----------------------- Sparing ring, Sanctuary --------------------------- "So where is this were that has bested the two of you?" asked Atlas. Alexander chuckled, "At, not only has he beat us separately, but has beaten both of us at the same time." Atlas looked at his two friends in disbelief, but before he could speak again, he saw someone entering the area and heard in a laughing voice, "Ask them about our first meeting and the predicament I had them both in." Achilles and Alexander both looked at their friend and looked chastened, "Not going to tell him? I guess I will then. Achilles knocked over a person in my protection and when Alex came to his aid, I ended up with each in the air by their throats and neither could escape." Atlas looked at him like he was telling a joke. Alexander confirmed the story by adding, "In our defense, Joe caught us off guard." "Well, knowing that, I will not make the same mistake," answered Atlas. "We will see then, I still may be able to surprise you," Joe responded. ---------------------------------- Michele walked into the room, wondering if the woman she was about to meet could help her with her feelings of unease and worry. As she stopped, a voice came from the shadows, "Come in, please come in. I have been waiting for you." Michele walked further into the room and saw a woman who looked to be much older than her, and since she knew that many people here were quite ancient, she knew old was a relative term. The older woman motioned her closer, "My name is Electra, and I think that I can help you." Michele looked at her, "And what makes you think that?" "Well, my young friend, I already have an idea of what your problem may be," the woman answered. Michele looked at her incredulously and asked, "And what is my problem and how do you know when you have only just met me?" "Because you look just like your mother and sound like her too," said Electra. Michele stared at the woman and laughed, "Are you sure of that? My mother and I looked entirely different in hair, eye and skin color." Electra stood and walked over and stood in front of Michele, "I meant to say, because I know your birth mother, even though I have not seen her since the day of you and your sister's birth." Michele let out a gasp, "What do you mean by that?" Electra's cryptic answer was, "In a few days you will know. For now, I have to speak to your protector, as he needs to be someplace in a few day and you must go along with him." ------------------------------------ Atlas looked at Joseph, measuring him up as he warmed up. He saw the obvious strength in his build, and was aware that he was a shifter. Both had agreed that for the challenge to be fair, Joe must remain in his human form. The two men finished warming up and came to the edges of the circle. Fen walked to the middle, as he was going to referee the match, and asked if both of them where ready. The area looked like an old gladiatorial arena, thus it was surrounded by seating which was filled to its capacity, for many wanted to see if Atlas could best Joe. Just as they were preparing to engage, Fen saw Electra and the young girl enter and take a seat. Electra made contact with Fen's eyes and he knew she wished to talk to him. He simply nodded and pointed to the man, which she understood to mean, we will talk after. Fen backed away from the center of the ring and waved for the men to start the match. For the first minute or so they circled and feigned, trying to look for weaknesses and tells as to how the other would fight. Atlas, tiring of the game, charged and was met head on by Joe. To Atlas's surprise, even though he had three or four inches in height and more weight over Joe, he was pushed back by the collision. The two separated and circled one another some more. This time it was Joe who charged, but instead of going straight into Atlas's body, he angled and took out one of the bigger man's legs. He held on as he rose up again, sending Atlas crashing face first into the ground. Atlas now understood how Joe had repeatedly defeated the others because not only was he strong, he was fast and agile too. This time Atlas decided to try a different tack, so when they came together he attempted to use his height to lift Joe from the ground and hip throw him. When they met this time Atlas started the maneuver, using Joe's momentum against him. What shocked him was instead of landing and sprawling in an attempt to slow his fall, he instead just rolled with the landing and before Atlas could shift to meet him, the smaller man was up and onto Atlas's back and had knocked him forward and pinned his arms to his side. Atlas tried to shrug the bear hug off, and found that every effort only allowed Joe to cinch his grip in tighter. "I submit," Atlas called out. The assembled group looked on in quiet awe, for they had all seen Atlas in action and had never thought he could be bested in such a quick manner. They watched as Joseph helped the big man to his feet and it was Atlas who first saw the change in the young man, as his head suddenly whipped up and looked into the crowd. In two strides he was at full speed and leaped into the stands, shifting into his animal form, and though a few of them had viewed it when he was exercising and hunting game in sanctuary's forests, he never failed to impress them with his size and color. Electra gave a loud gasp when the animal landed in front of her, the shock of its speed and the violence that its eyes bore made those standing near her worry for her safety, as they did not know what his intentions were. It was the next thing that startled them even more, as the young human girl suddenly growled, the gigantic were stopped and looked at her, its head cocked to the side as if it was seeing her for the first time. Electra backed away as the girl stepped towards the were, she put her hand out and he approached and lowered his head, allowing the girl to stroke his muzzle. Fen had followed Joe, wondering what his grandson was doing, but it was the voice of Ghost, the other man that Joe called grandfather, that tingled through the air, "Grandson, what are you doing? This is Electra, the woman who Fen asked to help Michele." It was Electra that answered for the massive were, "He has met me before, in my other guise, and the meeting was not a good one." Alexander spoke, "Electra that is interesting, but did the girl just growl?" Electra looked at Fen, Ghost and the rest and let out a sigh, "I suppose what I wish to tell Fen will now have to be brought out into the open, as he recognized me, even though he never met me in this form." Questioning looks came from the group but it was Michele who asked, "What do you mean?" Electra looked pained and spoke, "First things first, I was present when Leon first attacked him." At which point Electra's body started to shift and phase into the body of a young man. At the same time Joseph shifted back into his human form and one of the elementals summoned up some sweatpants for him to put on. "Yes I remember seeing you prior to the attack, you where hiking and stopped at our campsite and had dinner with us, but you left," spoke Joe. "Yes, it is I, and your being here means that what has been foretold is coming to be. I must tell everyone that the reckoning has arrived. Next to me stands the youngest of the daughters of Ajax and Iona, and before me stands her guardian. They were destined to meet and to bring the new age to the earth." Michele and Joseph looked at each other, wondering what the man/woman was talking about. "The reckoning, you mean to tell us he is, Fenrir?" "No, he is not, he is more than that, he is the fulcrum, for there are two that can influence him, one stands before you, the other is unknown, but they are to meet soon." Ghost spoke before anyone could bring a thought, "No, she is known, that explains Lily and her ability to cloud his mind as she did." ----------------------------------------- I stood and listened to what was being said, all the time looking at Michele, knowing that she was important to me, but not as a mate, but as someone that I had to instinctually protect. As we stood and had people talk about us like we were not even there, a thought came to my mind and with it a decision. "Grandfathers and you, whomever you are, it doesn't matter why you were at the camp site that day, none of this matters at this moment. I have a mission to complete, and if what little I understand is true, it is no longer my mission, but a mission for Michele, am I wrong?" Michele looked up at me with questioning eyes, I knew that she had no idea what was going on, but I had a guess, actually more like I knew it to be fact, even without information to back it up. ------------------ Everyone grew quiet as Joe spoke, but it was his next sentence that stunned them into complete silence. "Michele, you are the sister of my mate, how or why I know that does not matter. Fen, it's clear from what I've gleaned in my short time here that all you say about the ancients staying out of the business of the younger ones is obviously bullshit. The only destiny that is going to be filled is the one where I kill Leon and Lily and after that, except for claiming Ashlynn and continuing to protect Michele, I do not care what any of you do or think. You have said I am more than a were, but that isn't true. I am only a were!" Everyone stood quietly, not wanting to anger Joe any further. They all knew that in a fight, none stood a chance after watching him best Atlas. The sudden appearance of Hermes made everyone glance at him and his words did not make sense at first. "He is not a were, but he is, but he is not," is what he repeated several times, until Fen and Diana got him calmed down. When he calmed he spoke again, "the healer was looking at Joe's aura and just realized that he is not showing his true animal form." The ancient named Niva looked at Hermes, "What do you mean by that? Every were turns into their one animal form, there are no multiple forms." Hermes simple that this was what he was asked to tell them and if they had any questions, to go to the healers for more of an explanation. When the group arrived at the building the healers used as an office and lab, it was Niva who spoke first to them, "What was Hermes babbling about in regards to Joe?" Pharos, the elder of the healers answered, "What Hermes was trying to say is that when we look at his aura, along with Michele's they show more power than any of us have ever seen, including what I know of Ajax an Iona." "And what does that mean exactly?" Asked Diana, who had just arrived. Pharos continued, "It means that the both of them are stronger than any one were, elemental or vampire." Joseph spoke, "But what exactly does that mean? Are Michele or I Alphas or something entirely different?" This seemed to stun the assembled group. Those who had experienced Joe's power in the fights with Atlas earlier and against those who had sparred with him before, clearly were wondering why he did not understand his and Michele's obvious power. This time Fen answered, "I truly do not know, but it seems that the two of you can or will be what you wish for, good or bad, and I know of no one who could match you two in power." "Where is Hermes, I need him to do something for me," was Joes answer to the statement. "I want him to contact Roux and tell him that his youngest daughter is here and that I wish to bring her to him." Fen asked, "Is that wise?" "Joe answered, yes, I think it is and I want to add one thing to the message." "And that is?" Fen inquired. Joe continued, "That I wish him to make sure every alpha, lord and master of the realms is at the mating moon ceremony as I am going to tell them of Leon's treachery and violations of the law," Joe said. "Then, I am going to kill him and any that stand with him!" --------------------------- Roux's compound ----------------------- "My alpha, there is a messenger from the ancients here to see you," said one of his guards. Roux looked up from the paperwork he was reading and asked, "Did he say what it is about?" His man continued, "Yes, it's about Leon and your youngest daughter. The odd thing is, he said it's not Ashlynn that he speaks of and the message is from Joseph, Leon's beast." Roux's eyes grew large as he heard this, "Send him in immediately then." Hermes soon entered the office, not looking quite happy about his mission. He quickly relayed Joe's message and as he was finishing, Ashlynn walked into the room and heard it. Before Roux could even give Hermes a message to take back, she spoke and said she wished for Hermes to take her to see her sister. Both men started to tell her that she could not go when she suddenly went stiff and spoke, "He is near , is he not?" Shouts started to come from outside the office and Roux felt raw alpha power start to wash over him, not knowing who or what was throwing off such power he shifted into his hybrid form and stood up to go to see what was causing it. Before he could even exit the room, two of his largest warriors came flying through the wall, shattering tables as they landed and right behind them was the biggest Hybrid he had ever seen. To his shock and amazement, Ash went right up to it. It was Hermes who put a humorous twist on the whole thing with a simple statement, "Impatient are we Joe? I thought you were going to wait in the forest?" The massive creature shifted into its human form and spoke, "Patience is not my strong suit, but my beast makes me look like the paragon of restraint and he sensed Ash and wanted to claim her immediately." Hermes laughed and Roux looked perplexed, he knew that over 50 of his best warriors must have been in the compound, yet it seemed that they had been nothing but a simple nuisance to Joe, which both pleased and worried him. Ash walked up Joe and he lifted her in his arms and engulfed her in a bear hug. Joe spoke, "Hermes, I know I just wanted to pass a message, but Shele convinced me to bring her immediately to meet her family and I could not argue with her and my beast's desire. So, go to where Atlas is and bring her, as she's probably is driving him nuts by now," laughed Joe. Hermes did his usual blink out of view and popped back moments later with Shele and Electra, whose presence shocked Roux and made Joe laugh even more, "What did you do? Wait for Atlas to leave and then follow." Electra gave a smirk, "No shit. Obvious is it not?" Joe turned Ash around in his arms, speaking as he did so, "Shele meet your twin Ash, who is also my mate." The two girls stared at one another. Except for Ash being taller, they were mirror images. It was Electra who spoke first, "The height difference will disappear after Shele's first change." "And tomorrow, after Shele's first change, I am going to mark Ash as mine just as a little surprise for everyone at the ceremony. Until the ceremony we all must disappear because Leon has spies in your den, and I do not want Shele's existence found out until then," Joe said. No one, including Michele, who had just arrived, was about to argue with the assertion. "Hello," spoke Michele. She watched Joe's eyes grow large as he recognized her, "Long time no see, and I guess that I was right and wrong, about your being my mate, but I guess I was just a little early in my assessment. Having you as a son is going to be interesting." Joe just stared, seeing Michele alive, but he quickly got his bearings back, "Michele, it is a surprise to see you, and yes being your son is going to be interesting but being your daughter's champion is going to be even more interesting and my killing Leon for what he did will be the thing to look forward to most." ------ The next day, somewhere in the wilds near Ghost's camp "Ok, Shele," spoke Ash, "Just look inside your mind and call for your wolf." Shele looked at her, "What do you think I have been doing for the last few minutes, I'm just not getting an answer," she said, clearly frustrated. Serving The Council Ch. 05 From across the compound, Roux, Joe and the others watched and listened to the two girls, "Electra, are you sure your charm is no longer in effect on her," asked Roux, glancing back at the two girls. "Shouldn't she be able to shift if it is no longer active?" "I set it to lift upon her eighteenth birthday, so I feel that there is something else preventing the shift, but I cannot think of anything that would do so." Ghost took a few steps away from the group and thought aloud, "Perhaps Joe could try, as we all know that he did not consciously attempt his first shift and that it happened due to his emotional reaction to the attack on his friends. Perhaps we need to attempt something similar with Shele." "What do you suggest we try?" asked Michele. "Should we introduce something that will elicit her fight or flight response, hoping it will bring her beast to the fore? The only thing I can think of that she is fearful of is Vampires." "And do you know of a vampire that could be trusted?" "Yes and no, there is an ancient that we could ask, but I do not know if she would agree, as she has fought hard to distance herself from her past, not to mention that as soon as Shele becomes known, we have the problem of the Vampire king's claim on her. This is the reason the vampires are so disagreeable lately, due to her disappearance and Joe's abduction of the princess." In almost unison, the group shouted, "What?" Before Ghost could explain, Joe walked up and told them what had transpired when he, Ghost and Shele had first met. Roux and Michele yelled at him, "What were you thinking, and more to the point, how did you kill the princes anyway?" Staring off towards his mate to be and her sister, Joe remained silent for a few minutes, trying to organize his thoughts so he could answer their question. When he thought that he had the information as organized as possible he turned and began to elaborate on his and Shele's histories. "To start at a beginning, apparently I am a 'sport.' I am the son of the elemental Diana, and my father carried the recessive gene of weres, elementals and vampires. This combination has given me the resistance to Vampire venom, the healing ability of vampires, allows me to not suffer the typical effects of silver on weres and vampires, and makes me less vulnerable to the powers of elementals. It seems that both Lily and Ghost can alter my perceptions and memories to a certain extent, but to do so means constant reinforcement of the suggestion, and even then, if I am angered enough, I can break them. Joe walked over and leaned on a split rail fence and continued, "You know why Leon put the claim in on Ash, and you know that he is incorrect in his idea about her. But I will tell you this, Shele has twice stopped me from killing people by bringing my beast back from an uncontrolled rage just by speaking to me and putting a calming hand on me. Because of this, I think that even though she is not my mate, in so much as I believe in any fate or prophesy, the two of us are linked in a manner that is going to cause great strife and destruction amongst the 'supernatural' races." Roux and Michele stood there exchanging glances with one another as they both tried to absorb all the information that Joe had given them. They both had so many questions, but didn't know which questions to ask first. Michele spoke first, "What you have just told us is amazing, even in light of what has happened since that night long ago. While Roux and I ponder the ramifications, I think the idea about trying to help Shele and her change is a good idea, and if this ancient vampire is willing to try it, I," she paused and looked over at Roux who nodded his head in agreement, so Michele continued speaking, "I think we should contact her and see if she is willing to do so." Ghost gave a sly smile, "Oh, she has already agreed, we were just waiting for permission to act on the idea. Call Ash over here, Lara is already in the woods. Ghost glanced over at Joe, "But I am sure you knew that already, did you not grandson?" Joe simply gave and enigmatic grin and watched Shele continue to attempt to call forth her beast, unaware of the approach of the female vampire." Shele cried and cursed at herself, wondering why she could not call forth her beast side, when she suddenly felt a cold shiver run up her spine and glanced at a form coming towards her at great speed. Letting out a cry she started to run towards her parents and the others, wondering why they were not reacting to whatever was coming out of the woods towards her. Lara saw the small human running away from her and wondered why Ghost wanted to scare her, but she had never known Ghost to ask anything that was cruel or violent and usually he had a reason and so she had agreed to help. She could smell the fear radiating form the girl as she ran, but Lara also felt the power radiating from the girl and wondered where it was coming from, as she smelled purely human, with no were or elemental scent coming from her, and it was obvious she was not a Vampire. As she caught the girl by her shoulders, she allowed her talons to extend, so they would be in the girls vision. What happened next shocked Lara, as much as it shocked those watching the little scuffle. In what seemed to be less than a second, Shele went from a small, beautiful girl, into a massive snarling reddish wolf which turned and snapped at the vampire with its jaws, narrowly missing Lara's neck. Joe and Ash were the first to react, both shifting even before Shele completed hers. Ash was next to her sister in a flash, blocking the next snapping of jaws at the startled Vampire. The sisters looked identical, which was to be expected of twins, but it was Joes's size and coloring that caught everyone by surprise. Roux had seen Joe in hybrid form, so he knew Joe was huge, but his beast form was simply amazing. Ghost had seen him, just not this big. To Ghost, it seemed that every time Joe shifted, his form got larger. Michele's reaction was simply one of awe, as she had seen his first shift. He was big that time, but to her, he simply looked enormous now. What shocked her more was his animal form, because it was not what she remembered him looking like. Electra just grinned at the reactions of the others, for she and Niva had engaged in a conversation prior to leaving sanctuary, and Niva told Electra that Joe had not shifted into his full sized form just yet. Joe landed and put himself between the rather shocked vampire and an almost rabid Shele. He quickly shifted back into his human form and spoke to her. Shele quickly calmed, seeing that the vampire was no longer attacking. Lara and Joe now saw that the two massive wolves in front of them where nearly identical, save for one thing. While both had blazes down the muzzle, they were reversed in that Ash's was bordered in black, with the white down the middle, Shele's was black bordered in white. Lara spoke first, "So that's why Ghost asked me to do this, she was having trouble shifting." Joe just looked over his shoulder and nodded, "Ok you two, now that Shele has shifted, it's time for her to shift back." Shele half growled at the suggestion, her beast, having just been allowed to come forward after so long, did not want to back down." Ash shifted back, talking to her sister, "Shele, I know your beast is probably not happy being asked to back off, but I promise when we get you to the point where you can shift at will we will let her run as much as she wants. While this conversation, one sided as it was, was going on Joe glanced at Lara and told her to go talk to Ghost. Lara, after meeting the three giant weres, said ok and moved off. Even though she had run across the big male one at sanctuary, he seemed different now, and dangerous, so getting away from him seemed like a good idea. Joe then took the opportunity to survey his mate to be, in her human form she was about five feet tall. Looking much like a child next to his height of over six feet, and her body was lithe and lean, with visible muscle, not overly so though, and topping it off were a pair of rose tipped breasts, which fit her form perfectly. His beast growled, wanting to take his mate right at that moment, Joe told him maybe, but not right now, she was busy negotiating with her sister, and that was more important at the moment. Ash glanced back at her mate to be, still talking to her sister, noticing how he was massive even in his human form. She knew he was about 6' 4" and she guessed he weighed over 300 pounds. He was not your typical were male, ripped and almost like a body builder. To her he reminded her more of a power lifter or American football lineman, solid. On his body, she could see the scars of many, many fights, along with bullet scars. What made her wolf howl was hanging between his legs, which also unlike many males she had seen (and been with) was not overlarge but was proportional to his body. Her wolf huffed and cried, telling her to take him as her mate right now while he was right there and available. She argued that her sister took precedent and the wolf conceded the point, but said she would not wait long. Shele soon saw the wisdom in her sister's request and talked her wolf into giving up control, at least for the moment. As she shifted, she realized that she would be naked. Before she could even attempt to cover herself up, her sister said with a laugh, "Get used to it, we are shifters and nudity is standard among us." "It's not so much that, it's that other than my parents, no one has ever seen me naked and I guess it will take some getting used to." As she was speaking, the rest of the group, Lara included, walked up. "Can someone get us some clothes please?" asked Joe, sensing Shele's discomfort. Even as Joe was making the request, Electra was producing the clothes, simple sweats, as they were easiest to produce. Ghost and the others quickly apologized to Shele for the way they went about her first shift, the most apologetic being Lara. "Sorry, I thought Ghost was just asking me to play a joke, I had no idea that I would scare you so badly." "No problem, with the trouble I was having, the idea worked, so in the end, I have no problem with it," said Shele. "Now that we have gotten you through your first two shifts, it's time to start you on your training," Roux said. "And your mother and sister will start with that tomorrow, so until then, I will give you a lesson in what you need to know about being a Were princess and what it entails." A few hours later, while Roux spoke to his youngest daughter, Joe decided he wanted to hunt for his evening meal which he had not done since he met Shele for the first time. He was very hungry so he decided to hunt down a moose. As he stalked and older bull, he sensed that there was another predator in the area, so he angled off to higher ground to see what and who it was. Stretching himself out on a high rock ledge he watched a reddish wolf slowly stalk up to the moose then before it could strike the moose bolted, having smelled the wolf. When the moose bolted it ran directly towards the ledge where Joe was laying. Seeing that the animal's escape route passed where the path to the ledge started, he rose up and started down, timing his descent so that he and the moose met at the same spot. Ash was pissed that she had spooked the moose, so she raced after it. Just as she was about to leap onto its back, a massive shape appeared and caught the moose broadside, rolling it onto its side. As she skidded to a stop, she realized it was Joe and watched him dispatch the moose with little effort. As Joe stood over the moose, he looked right at Ash and growled low, claiming the moose as his. Ash chuffed and whined, annoyed that Joe had poached her kill. Instead of beginning to eat, he just stood there and cocked his head from side to side, a meal suddenly not a priority. He chuffed back and moved towards Ash. Sensing the change in Joe, Ash backed away, not knowing what his intentions were. She had no idea how he was going to react to her complaining about losing out on a meal and the change in Joe's eyes were what clued her in on what he was thinking. Her human side wanted to play hard to get, but her beast side just wanted its mate. While this internal argument was going on, Joe walked up and around her and sniffed at her sex, flicking out a tongue to see if she was aroused. The contact of Joe's tongue ended all arguments in Ash's head. Dropping her front legs to the ground and sticking her back end into the air, she wiggled it back and forth, making sure she stuck her tail high into the air. Taking the actions as an invitation , Joe got behind Ash and settled in behind her, leaning over her back, he placed his cock at her entrance and teased her a little by putting it against her and pressing lightly, teasing her. Ash, in no mood to be patient, shoved herself backward, spearing herself on Joe's cock. Joe pounded into her hard and fast and as they both approached climax they sped up even more. With a howl and a roar they came together and in that moment, Joe bit into her shoulder, marking her as his mate. As they came down from the high of orgasm, they shifted back into their human forms. "That was amazing, but I think we are in trouble now you know," Ash said. Joe hugged Ash back harder into his chest, answering her, "And why would that be, your parents and sister all knew that what just happened was my intention, even if you sort of started it." "But we were supposed to wait for the mating moon," she said. "So fucking what? Now or then, it does not matter, this is what we both wanted, is it not?" "Well yes, it is, but it complicates things a little in that there are no witnesses and with my being a royal, that means that technically this did not happen." "Bullshit!" Joe said as his knot subsided. "Walk over to the lake and look at your reflection in it, I think the proof is obvious!" Getting up and trying to walk was a bit of a chore. In all the times she had been sexually active prior to this time, no one had made her feel so sore. When she got to the lake, hearing Joe following her, she leaned over and looked at her reflection on the water. The size of the mating mark on her shoulder startled her, it was huge and it was only partially visible. The marks from Joe's lower teeth were not even visible. And what was visible showed below her collar bone. She felt Joe stop behind her and soon felt his arms come over her shoulders. She looked up and she had to ask, "Just how fucking big do you get in animal form?" Joe just shrugged, "Truth be told, I do not know, but it seems that every time I shift, I am a bit larger in size than the time before." Ash turned inside his arms, reaching around and hugging him, "I guess we have things to learn about each other then." She pulled her left arm away and reached over her right shoulder feeling where that side of the mating mark lay, "Shit, the other side of the mark is on my back, and it's huge! I guess trying to hide it would be rather irrelevant." "No doubt about that, so let's go face the music. Your mother is going to be thrilled, but your father, not so much, I think," he laughed. They both shifted and Joe went over and picked up the moose, not wanting to waste it. ------- Leon looked up from his desk as one of his betas, Alaric, entered the room,"My alpha, our spy in Roux's den indicates that he, Anna and Ash all left the den a few days ago. Where they went or for how long is not known." Leon pondered the information, and then sent a mental message to Lily, "Lily, something is going on with Roux and his daughter. Have you heard anything about this?" Lily answered him, "No, but it could be they are just taking some time away before the mating moon, it is not unheard for an Alpha who knows that there are claims on one of their daughters, to prepare them for the fights they will witness." Leon thought that was probably correct and decided not to worry, "And any word on the beast?" "No, there is still no sign of him, though after this long, I wonder if he is even still alive." ---------- Roux was truly angry, Ashlynn and Joe had mated both without permission or witnesses. He wasn't sure which of these two things angered him more. Michele, Ash, Shele and Joe where all standing, watching and listening to Roux rant and rave about proper matings and requirements. Michele was the one who spoke up first, "Roux, my love, this may work to our advantage you know." "And how would that be?" "Well, at the mating moon, we allow Leon to reaffirm his claim and then you inform him that he must challenge her mate for the right. At that point Joe will show himself, with Shele at his side, that will be when we introduce her, it will force Leon into a corner, does he retain his claim on Ash or make a fool of himself by making one on Shele?" Roux ponder this, for it did bring up a good dilemma for Leon, one which would and could discredit him." "Okay, sounds like a plan, but how do we keep Leon's spies from finding out and informing him?" "It's simple, we hide the three of them in plain sight." "And how do we do that?" Michele turned to Joe and asked, "How about we visit the old homesteads?" "Sounds like a plan, no one would recognize either you or I after nearly forty years. Being that it is in Karl's territory and I can tell you who the spy there is, or was, we should be able to hide there for the week until the mating moon, as it's the mating circle at Karl's which will be used that night, so it should be perfect." ----- Joe looked around as they drove thru town, amazed at how much had changed, but also noticed many things that were still the same. "Mendokers Bakery is still open, I thought that it would have moved by now. With all the retirement communities and developments, is there a farm left in the area?" Karl answered him, "Except for the few that where preserved as historical places or ones that could not be built on, no there are not." "That is such a shame, I can remember hunting with my father and Micah in those woods, it is such a loss." Karl could not argue the big man's statements. Joe glanced over at what was once his home and the garage that had been his father's place of business. He wondered what had happened to his father after his 'death.' Joe saw that it was still being run as a repair shop, so he turned and asked Karl who was running it, knowing Karl was not fully aware of his identity. Before Karl could answer Joe saw the door open and a figure step out, "What? Who is that coming out of the garage?" Karl looked over, as did Michele and the girls. Michele let out a gasp. "That could not be, could it?" She looked at Joe. "No Michele, it cannot be, he would be well over eighty by now." Looking at the person, he couldn't help but wonder. He turned to Karl and asked, "Can you find out the name and age of that man?" Karl was about to ask why, but the expressions on both his mother and the big man killed the question in his throat. Taking out his Cell, he called one of his pack, a computer geek who was probably breaking into government computers in his spare time and asked him to do an inquiry. "Lets go down to the den. I am sure you all would like to go out and have a run." The older weres murmured and the younger two laughed and said it was a great idea. ----- Ally took her two sisters for a run through her and Karl's territory. Her and Ash worked to hone Shele's wolf instincts. After the run, as they lazed by the bank of a stream Ally commented on the size of Joe's mating mark and asked just how big Joe was in animal form, and why his bite mark looked so different from hers. "Ally, when we mated, Joe made me feel tiny, and you know that Shele and I are even bigger than you. I would guess we might be as big as Karl, and Joe is much larger than him. As to why the mark looks different than yours, you will find out at the ceremony tomorrow." The comment only peaked the other girls' interest. Serving The Council Ch. 05 ========= Karl walked into the messiest room in his entire den, but then again AJ was much like his mother, always with reference books and print outs and hand written notes everywhere. But, afterall, they were coyotes, and were-coyotes tend to be intensely curious and vast hoarders of things. It was normal for the room to look like a storm had just blown through. Finding his quarry sleeping, he did what he always did to the little coyote, he kicked the futon he was sleeping on and scared days off his life. "So, do you have the info I asked for?" True form, AJ jumped up and bitched, "Boss man, why do you do that to me, you know how I work," and as he sat down at his computer desk, he continued "The business in question is owned by one C. Catania, son of the late J. Catania Sr." "Shit, Shit, Shit." AJ turned as his Alpha left the room, deciding to send his little baby mining for anything that involved the two men in question, that is when he realized the picture on his screen looked much like the big were that had arrived with his Alpha female's mother and sister. === Karl went looking for Michele, finding her in one of the relaxation gardens on the grounds of the main den house. As he approached, Michele looked up at her son and saw that something was troubling him. Before she could ask he spoke, "The man we saw in Jamesburg, he is Joe's brother." The grimace on Michele's face caused Karl to pause and glance around, that is when he saw Joe standing in the shade of a tree, his eyes boring holes directly through Karl. "Shit, this day is just getting worse for me," said Karl. "Karl, do not worry, I am going to stay away from him and the garage, at least until things settle, and do not forget, once Shele becomes public knowledge, the bloodsuckers are going to be very unhappy." "And what are you going to do about that?" "I have sent a new friend to deliver a message, one the king will hopefully not ignore." "And this message gets delivered when?" "Two days from now, first thing in the morning." "And why do you think this messenger will live through this job?" "Because it includes a promise, and if I have to keep that promise, it will shake things up even more." At that, Joe turned, and said over his shoulder, "I'll talk to you both tomorrow, I'm going to my mate now." Joe entered the room where Ash was sleeping and sat down on a chair to watch her sleep, wondering how many might die tomorrow if Leon and his allies decided to fight over Ash. He also wondered how the assembled group would react to the fact that Leon had violated one of the core rules of their kind, that humans who were no threat were to be left alone and unharmed. As he sat and watched Ash deep in sleep, memories of friends long gone floated through his mind. He started thinking of the past, starting with that fateful night and then his mind thought of those lost in the interim. The faces of those he had killed on Leon's and Lily's orders flashed through his mind, some were just visions of the eyes of weres as they died. Of those he had killed, some simply were obstacles to Leon, not real threats, and those who had been loyal to them died for that loyalty. Tired of ghosts, but needing to see the place where those ghosts started in his mind, he rose and went to Karl's motor pool and took a small jeep, intending to visit the place where it had all started. Ash walked into her brother's office, intending to ask if he knew where Joe might be, as he was not anywhere in the compound. Karl was sitting at his desk, with Ally in his lap, being ravished with kisses. Ash heard Karl asking Ally, "So the healer confirmed it, we are having pups?" Ally grinned and kissed Karl, "Yes, I am three months along and should be showing rather soon. Oh. Ash, I guess you just heard, you are going to be an aunt!" "That's great news! Have you seen Joe, as he seems to be nowhere on the compound?" Karl glanced up and started to answer, his eyes catching the calendar on his desk, "Shit, shit, I forgot what today was. I think I know where he is." Reaching onto the desk, he picked up his phone and dialed Roux and Michele's room. When he heard the phone pick up he spoke, "Michele, you know what day this is?" He paused, "Yes, that and another, it's fifty years today." Another pause, "That's what I would guess. You want to go out there? Okay. You want to go by yourself? No, I do not think that is a good idea. No, Roux, Ash and some others should go with you, in fact I insist on it. Okay, see you here in a few minutes." Karl turned his attention to Ash and said, "Ash, Michele and I think we know where he is, we are going to take you and Roux there, along with some of my warriors." "Why?" "Ash, today is the fiftieth anniversary of the day Leon attacked, attempting to kidnap your mother, and I think Shele should come too." ______ DEEP IN WHARTON STATE FOREST Joe stood on a small rise, surveying the couple of hundred square yards where he'd been at the start of his second life, when he heard a vehicle coming. Sliding back into some heavy brush, he watched as a Crew cab pick-up pulled up on the opposite side of the clearing. A man hopped out of the truck and walked around to open the front passenger side door. Joe could not help but notice that the man looked much like he had forty years ago. The man helped a young woman out, perhaps his age or younger. They walked thru the clearing, stopping directly where Joe had parked his father's truck all those years ago. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on hearing what the man was saying. "Cathy, you and everyone from home has heard the story of my older brother's murder, even though nobody was ever found. Well, this is right where he had parked dad's truck, the one that sits out back in the shed. Dad could never get rid of that truck, always expecting Joe to show up one day. Well I am honoring his last wish, to put his ashes here, the last place anybody knew where my brother was." It took all of Joe's control not to step out from where he was hiding and talk to the man, who apparently was his brother. As the argument of revealing himself or not went on in his head, he heard another vehicle. Soon another crew cab showed up and out popped Karl and the others. Karl and Michele looked at the young couple, deciding that not talking to them would seem strange, and guessing who the man was, being that the truck said Catania garage, walked over. Hellos went back and forth and Karl decided to ask as few questions, knowing that Joe was only yards away, having seen him shift in his hiding spot. So he asked the man his name and started a conversation. He answered, "Hi, I'm Cat, short for Catalo, and I'm out here visiting something, what are you up to?" Karl glanced and noticed a small marble stand with a plaque on it, but before he could go on, Michele spoke out, "Oh, you're visiting the memorial to those kids that where killed and went missing back in the 70's?" Cat answered, "Yeah, one of them was my older brother." The faces looking at him showed confusion, which was faked, but looked real because when you live long enough and have to hide what you are, faking things becomes easy. Cat continued, "I am a little older than I look and was a late in life surprise for my father, whose ashes we are leaving here today because those were his wishes. Did one of you know someone who died that day?" "Sort of, one of the girls was my aunt and the great aunt of the two Ally and Ash. My name is Michele. This is the first time we have been in the area and I decided it would be good for them to learn some family history," said Michele. "That sounds like a good thing, oh, this is my fiancé, Mel," he pointed to the girl who looked very shy so the group just waved. Michele then introduced the others in their group. "Well, it was nice meeting you all. We have to get going since Mel and I both have shops to open. Are you going to be stopping by the High School this evening, they are having a memorial?" "No, unfortunately we have an engagement this evening that we cannot miss, but is the memorial done every year?" asked Michele who continued to speak for the group. "Yes it is, some of the old timers do it, and I guess until they are all gone, it will go on." Michele and the group murmured good byes and watched as Cat and Mel drove off. Once they were out of hearing range, Ash charged up the hill and was met by Joe. Ash jumped into his arms and hugging him, "I guess you got family around here, not that you are going to drop in, are you?" Joe said, "Nope, do not think so, and how did you guys happen to end up here?" "It was Karl who realized the date, so he figured he would come here to see if you were here, and we tagged along." Ash did not want Joe to know he had had her so worried. Karl and the rest arrived, concern on all their faces. "Do not worry, I have no intention of contacting him, but having an eye kept on him for a while might not be a bad idea." Karl looked puzzled, then understanding seemed to spread across his face and he answered, "Okay, I think I can guess the reason. I'll take care of it. It will be done." He continued, "Lets get going, we have things to prepare before the evening," said Karl. Joe said, "Ash will be along, I have one of the jeeps and would like to talk to her on the way back, if that's okay?" Karl and Roux both agreed and the group left. "You sure you are ok with finding out you have a brother?" asked Ash when the others were gone. "Yeah, and Ash, you realize we have not finished the mating?" "I know, but father wanted for us to complete that at the circle. But my wolf has wanted to bite you the last few times you took me." "Ash?" "Yeah?" she answered quietly. "What's a few hours early and ......." Ash was ripping Joe's clothes off and cut him off, not needing any more encouragement. Not wanting any foreplay, Ash shoved Joe backwards onto his back. Her wolf was howling in approval, both that she was going to complete the bonding and that her mate submitted to her, letting her manhandle him (or was it wolf-handle?) Joe was immediately hard, and as Ash surveyed her mate, she could not help but wonder how she got such a mate. Deciding that a small amount of foreplay might be nice, she spun around and stuck her sex right onto his face, at the same time swallowing his cock into her throat. Joe and his beast were in awe of the dominance that their mate was showing, but were glad to see it, knowing that she would need that characteristic soon. Ash took his cock as far as she could down her throat, as he shoved his tongue deep into her sex, licking at her nub and then shoving it as far as it could go. Ash soon wanted his dick in her, so spinning around once again, and without pause, she sank herself onto his massive cock. She forced herself down, the pain from being filled by a cock his size being overwhelmed by the pleasure of it. Riding as hard as she could, she experienced her first orgasm quickly and soon another. As she approached her third, Joe started to buck up under her, forcing his cock even deeper. Ash felt him speed up and knew that the moment her wolf and her had waited for was coming. She shifted her jaw into a muzzle and prepared to finish the mating and as Joe thrusted one last time and growled his release, Ash struck and tore into Joe's shoulder. She felt his knot expand and lock them together and she screamed and howled in ecstasy as Joe bit the spot where he'd left his mating mark on Ash, leaving a smaller, yet still impressive, mark. As they collapsed together, Ash spoke, "You are mine and I am yours, forever, and I will kill anyone who tries to take you away from me." Joe replied in the same way. ___________________________________ And in a few hours, the real fun would begin. Serving The Council Ch. 06 MORNING OF THE MATING MOON "Leon, all of our allies are here, including the vampire king" spoke Lilly . "Good, we have much to discuss, show them in." "OK" "Leon, good to see you, and I hope we both get what we desire on this night." "As do I Lazlo, but do not underestimate the beasts power, for I think it was he who destroyed the princes." "And what makes you think that a lone were could do such a thing?" It was Lilly that answered." because while his mind was weak when I enthralled him, his physical power is beyond any were that I have ever encountered in my long life, the only that I could compare him to was Ajax, and even Ajax could not absorb the amounts of damage I witnessed Joe survive." "yes I have heard that, and I also have news for you, he has a living relative, not far from here, a brother." "now that could be of great interest., and also give us another advantage in the near future." Lilly looked at the two men, "But as I said, do not underestimate Joe, it is going to take a concerted effort to regain control of him." On Karl's compound "Joseph ." "yes Grandfather." "remember what I have taught you , in hiding your aura until it is time." "yes Grandfather, and thank you for all you have been teaching me, I must go find Ash and speak to her." As the big were walked away, Michele the elder and Diana approached Ghost. Diana spoke first." How well has he learned to temper his aura?" "Surprisingly well, and I can tell you this, when he release's his aura tonight, he is also going to finally release his entire power." Michele lifted her eyebrow, wondering what Ghost meant, but before she could put voice to her question Ghost spoke." Michele, Diana I cannot tell you what is going to happen exactly, for the simple reason that Joe has already changed things that I foresaw, but what I can tell you is this, that the status of relations and power amongst the races is not going to be the same at this time tomorrow, and while I think that is going to be for the better of all the peoples, I also know that many will not except or respect what ever the new status is, but that man and Michele's two daughters are going to be at the heart of it." The two women stood opened mouthed as Ghost finished his statement and turned away, they looked at one another and , wordlessly, exchanged all the worries and concerns they had for their children. +++++++ Aj the coyote ran as fast as he could, attempting to reach his Alphas office. As he darted in and out of the throngs preparing for the mating moon and the feast to follow, he was for once glad that he was small and slight, which allowed him to streak along with out upsetting to many of the bigger were's. As he slid to a stop in front of the out office where Karl's intermediaries sat he caught the attention of Karl's, for lack of another word, secretary , a cute red headed wolf, who Aj had always liked, for she treated him with the respect many of the other were's did not. "Hey., Red. Boss man in?" "yeah he is shorty, but he is rather busy, is it important?' "yeah, tell him the worm turned up something, and it involves his brother. He will understand." Red, otherwise known as Lilac, gave Aj a strange look, as the Alpha had no brothers, but when it came to Aj, nothing he said ever was directly to the point, so she picked up the phone and dialed into the office. Karl was leaning back in his chair, Ally on her knees with his cock in her hands, " honey relax, everything is going to fine tonight, we have more than enough allies here, and my sisters mate is not anyone to trifle with." after saying her piece, she took Karl's cock deep into her throat and started to massage his balls, hoping that this little interlude would calm him down and help him relax. As he enjoyed his mates efforts, the phone rang. Karl debated for a moment or two and decide to answer the phone. "yes" "Aj is here, and wishes to speak to you about your 'brother' Karl looked down at Ally , speaking thru their mental link ' AJ is here, I need to talk to him, do you want to continue this later?' Ally answered by simply taking more of his cock into her throat, taking this as an answer he told Lilac to send Aj in. Aj entered the office , his coyote hearing, which was even more acute than wolf hearing, heard the sounds of his Alpha receiving a blowjob and he decided to make his report short and sweet. "Boss man, someone has linked Joe and his brother together, it was one of Leon's men, so that cat is out of the bag, what do you wish done?" Karl looked at Aj, knowing that the little dude knew exactly what was going on, and he admired him for his rather non-typical getting to the heart of things." Warn the watchers to be extra vigilant, and I will tell my brother about this." Aj nodded his head and turned to leave, but his jokester side won out and he could not resist saying" I hope madam Alpha has relaxed you my Alpha, you have been rather tense the past few days>" As Aj ducked the flying stapler Karl threw, he was regaled with the laughter of both his Alphas, and Knowing that both of them where in good sprits, he ran out of the office. Lilac could not help but laugh as Aj came shooting out of the Alphas office, followed by flying objects and rolling laughter "still the comedian are we" Aj simply smiled and looked over his shoulder." being that he is the only reason I still am alive, and that I owe him so much, making him laugh is the least I can do for him." Back in the office, Ally had Karl dancing in his seat" Yes Yes. I love that, more, oh I am going to cum." at which point Karl unleashed into the back of Allys throat, of which every drop she swallowed with vigor." Karl, I will never tire of doing that to you." "ally, I will never tire of you doing to me, for the rest of out lives." IN JAMESBURG ========== The cell phone on the belt of the warrior rang, as he pulled it from its carry case , he glanced up at the garage he was watching." Ron speaking." he answered. "Ron, be on high alert, the person you are watching over is under a threat for the vampires, and he is important to the Alpha." Ron answered that he understood and ended the call. "Everyone, on your toes, there is a threat to the man in the garage from the bloodsuckers, so keep an eye out." The group of were's around him nodded that they understood and moved of to take there positions and prepare for anything. KARLS Compound -------- Joe watched as his mate and her sister spared with one another. Even though Michele was new to being a were, she showed the instincts of a warrior and did not let her more experienced sister get much if any advantage in the fight. He could not help but admire both of their forms, as they where as beautiful in were form as they where in human, and it took a keen eye to tell them apart, as they where moving so quickly that getting good looks at the heads, they only place that they showed different colors , as to identify them. As he watched he felt several people move up near him, with out even looking he spoke to them." Atlas. Achil, Alex , mother, fenn, what do I owe this visit too?" It was fenn who answered." Grandson, we are here to tell you we are going to be with you when you announce your presence tonight. For your mother has business with this Lily." Joe looked over his shoulder, nodding to his mother," you all realize that but for Lily, you cannot interfere with events involving the were's?" The three big men nodded that they understood, with Atlas speaking," with the were's I agree, but to any elementals or others, they will and shall be fair game." "as long as that is understood, there will be no problems." The mating circle, nearing the fullest of the moon ---------------- Ashlynn stood next to her father, robed in ancient style toga, listening to the elder priest call out the ceremony . "Tonight , the night of the fullest of the moons, we bring forward the Daughter of Roux, who is of mating age , who wish's to lay claim to this woman?" "I do!" came the call from Leon. "Do any other lay claim to Ashlynn?" The crowed of were's looked around, wondering if any would answer Leon's claim. As Leon looked around , smug in his claim, a murmuring came from the crowd , Leon and those upon the raised dais looked as the assembled mass started to part , allowing a group to approach the dais. Many recognized the man at the head of the group, for most had heard and seen pictures of the Beast, and his reputation preceded him. As he stopped at the base of the dais, it gave Leon and Lily a chance to survey the group. Along with Joe was five other men, a woman ands a person wearing a heavy robe, the hood of which was up. Hiding the identity and gender of its wearer. "Joe, you are not of station to lay claim to a Alpha princess, and I doubt the others are either>" "that is where you are wrong Leon. On two accounts, the first is, well let me introduce my mother." as he spoke, Joe turned and pointed ." Diana , princess of the hunt, daughter of the ancient Fenn." The murmur got louder, for a were having a elemental as a mother was rare, and to be the child of the princess of the hunt a powerful thing. "And the other?" asked Leon. It was the gasp from Lily that caused Leon to spin. "The fact that I am already mated to him." spoke Ashlynn. Everyone within seeing range gasped, as Ash dropped her rob away from her shoulder, reveling the mating mark there. As Leon spun back to look at Joe , the big man spoke." and I have one more thing to say." Joe turned and held his hand out, the robed figure took it and came to stand next to him. "let me introduce some one , my mates twin sister, Michele." Leon looked as if had been pole axed, and he turned to Lily , who looked as stunned as he. Joe then spoke again." not only is she the youngest daughter of the line of Ajax and Iona, she was to be forced to mate to the vampire king Lazlo, and I readily admit that I killed the Princes sent to retrieve her for him, but let it be known, she is not going to be nor will be, subject to the blood sucker." Shouts and recriminations sounded out , and Leon and Joe stared at one another. Both men stared and did not move a muscle, as if they where waiting for the other to flinch. Joe then startled the assemblage into silence." I also call Blood rite, for the unprovoked killing of innocents , and before you answer the charge Leon, there is a witness amongst those on the dais to confirm the claim." Leon and Lily looked at each other , then at the others around them, both there mouths dropped when Roux's mate , Anna stepped out. "I am Michele, and I was there when Leon did the deed, for it was me he was after, and that was the day Joe found out what he was." Silence pervaded over the area, as the words of Joe and Michele where absorbed and pondered. Leon looked over at Lazlo then down at Joe , then back at Lazlo, " My friend I think it is time." At what seemed to be a pre-arrainged agreement, the allis of leon and the vampires moved towards on side of the clearing, with Roux, Karl and their allies moving away to the other. It was then that roux began to worry, as the group supporting leon included many more were alphas than he had expected, and throwing in the Vampires made it look even more dire. Leon left the dais and stood slightly behind the mass of his allies, speaking to Joe." Beast , I still do not think you are worthy of a one-to-one fight, so of you can reach me, then it shall be so, but if not, Ashlynn and her sister are mine and Lazlo's." "leon, I never thought you such a coward, but so be it. And to you alphas standing with him, I give you this offer, stand not in my path, for if you do , you most likely will forfeit your life." stated Joe as he turned to Michele at his side." go to your sister and parents, stand together in the fight, I will be alright by myself." Those amongst the allies of leon , even knowing of the reputation of the beast, could not help but wonder if he was mad. Before another being in the clearing moved, Diana spoke out," Lily, or should I say, Discordia lilva, you have caused much trouble cousin, and it ends today." Lily looked stunned, her face and body changed, revealing true identity," how?" "cousin , that does not matter, but this is the last time you cause trouble!" Michele the younger moved and stood next to her parents and sister, along with her brother Karl. As they stood next to each other, in would be most impossible to separate who was who, except for Ash's mating mark, which was causing some n Leon's camp to wonder about the true size and nature of the beast, for while canine, it was most defiantly not a wolf's mark. Joe turned to the five men behind him, " remember, the were's are not of your concern, but the vampires, well only those on the attack." Five nod's of agreement where the answer. As the groups still stared one another down, Karl turn to Ash, whispering in her ear, her eyebrows lifted and she immediately sent a message to her mate' Leon knows of your brother, he has put the guards on alert'. just as the thought entered Joe's mind, Hermes popped into existence in front of Joe." as you asked , I watched , they have been attacked, the were's are alive, but injured, it was a mixed group of elementals, vampires and were's.' and just as quickly he popped back in to nothingness. Joe sent Ash the information, and glanced at leon, speaking. " last warning, those in my path are DEAD!" Leon's allies split, the majority charging Joe, the rest directly for the sisters. Karl And roux shifted along with the sisters as they turned towards a advancing group of Leon's were's, startling them when the shifted in to huge Wolves, bigger than any female wolves they had ever seen, the girls matching their father in size. Just as they where about to attack the group a roar , louder than any had even heard echoed across the open field, glancing both groups saw Leon in his full tiger form, the biggest of the were race. Or so they had thought. Through her mates link , ash heard Joes voice' my love stay safe and stay by your sisters side, together you are more undefeatable, I will take care of Leon and the blood sucker king' It was at this time Joe decided to throw off his masking of his power, releasing it out through his Alpha power and shifted, allowing for his beast to run free for the very first time. Where once stood a large man , now stood , what truly was the largest were any had ever seen, but those old enough , or who had heard the stories , recognized the form, a form that had only once before roamed the earth, and that brought some of Leon's allies to a stop. Joe in his beast form charged, not slowing to actually engage those in front of him, just simply swatting at them as they attacked, many fell to shattered skulls and front shoulders, realizing that they could not match claw for claw, many shifted into Hybrid form, hoping to overwhelm him with numbers. glancing to see how his mate and family where doing , he saw that Roux was down and injured, the girls where holding there own and Karl was fighting alongside his mate , both in there hybrid forms , slashing and punching away to keep the attackers off Roux.. Joe let out with a roar and charged , shifting into his hybrid form, where as his beast was monstrous, his hybrid form was simply impossible, he had to be near 16 foot tall, and shear white, with one highlighting feature, a blood red stripe from the tip of the muzzle to the middle of his head. Meeting the first of the were's , he did not slow his advance, simply grabbing them as he got to them and ripped them apart. Fenn Atlas and the other elementals , save Diana, who was pursing her cousin, attack the vampires , attempting to reduce the numbers against Karl and the women, but they held to the agreement and did not touch the weres. It was Ghost who realized that Joe had let his feral nature take over, for he was no longer even attempting not to injure those who attacked him, he was simply ripping hybrid weres apart. Soon many of Leon's remaining allies abandoned the fight, for they knew that Joe was now in a bezzerker rage, and that leon was where it should be focused. Diana finally tracked down Lily, near the edge of the area," DISCORDIA,STOP AND FIGHT!" Lily looked at her cousin, knowing that while powerful, she was no match for Diana in a rage," I beg mercy, you cannot kill me , it is our law." she said , falling prostrate on the ground Diana stopped, knowing that her cousin was correct, she summoned her power and encased Lily in a bulb of power, essentially pinning lily to the ground. Leon , no longer shielded by his allies, charged Joe, knowing that winning the battle was his only option, to Leon's surprise, Joe shifted from his hybrid back into his animal form, which leon thought gave him and advantage, for as a feline, he was infinitely more maneuverable as a beast than Joe. With a bellowing roar, Joe charged and Leon attempted to leap out of the way, but to his shock and horror, Joe simply threw out his massive paw and snatched leon from the air, slamming him into the ground, knocking the wind from leon. As leon staggered back to his feet, he turned to meet Joes next charge, and was stunned to see Joe standing a few yards away, waiting for leon to get his wind back. Hoping that Joe was becoming over confident, leon tried a tactic that had helped rise to the pinnacle of power, a charge that feigned a leap and turned into a shoulder slide, one that usually had his opponents rise to meet the leap, leaving his belly exposed to a claw strike. Leon charged and gathered for the leap, and as he hoped, Joe started to rise . Shifting his weight, leon changed the leap to a slide, and as he started it, he realized , in horror and the knowledge that he was dead, that his attack was what Joe had been waiting for, because instead of rising to his back legs, Joe was side stepping and swinging his massive paw downwards, lions skull and Joes paw met , with Leon's head becoming the grape in a press. The sound echoed, and those who where looking directly at the strike, could not believe the result, Leon's head, now flattened , actual separated from his body do the momentum his body carried, Joes paw keeping the head from moving, totally decapitating leon. The five male elementals reached Roux and the others. the were's having retreated and the vampires continuing to attack. Ghost looked down of the injured Roux, and Knew that he was soon to be dead, Karl was is bad shape and Michele the elder was not much better, but to the men's surprise( thought ghost had a rather , well inscrutable look on his face, which he added to with a simple' more than even I expected) the girls where barley scratched. Joe lifted his paw, turning to search for Lazlo, shifting into his hybrid form, knowing that to face the vampire, he needed hands , not paws. Lazlo knew that he had but one card to play, and it was a desperate one. "What. I will trade you something for the girl." Joe slowed a bit , wondering what the vampire was speaking of. Shifting to his human form, Joe asked" and what would that be?" Lazlo pointed to a small hill at the edge of the open area, showing Joes brother and his girlfriend in the clutches of vampires." Joe looked at the two, hoping that the others where ready." Leech, there will be no deal." Lazlo laughed ," then they will die." Joe just smiled ." I think not, NOW!" The vampire king froze as Joe leapt , shifting to his Hybrid form and several elementals appeared out of nowhere and destroyed the vampires holding the couple. Before he could even raise his hands in defense or even attempt to move, the furious were land in front of him and in two swipes ripped him into three pieces. Serving The Council Ch. 06 All around the circle , weres and vampires fell to one knee, acknowledging Joes power, but Joe did not even react to the show of respect, he shifted back into his animal form and went in search of his mother and Lily, knowing they where near. Hermes and the other elementals whom had rescued Joes brother and his girlfriend approached Atlas and the others, Hermes speaking first" do we need to bring our healers?" Karl groaned." no, our healers will be here shortly, but if any of you have the ability, please ease Roux's pain, he is mortally wounded and deserves not to feel the pain. One other elementals walked over and knelt next to the were, laying his hands on him and taking the pain away. Joe located his mother, seeing her standing over lily. With out pause, Joe pushed through the energy surrounding Lily. Who was screaming." Diana, stop him he is going to kill me, I know it, that is not our way!" Diana shook her head," you lived and plotted with leon, surely you know the laws of the were's?" Before Joe could take Lily in his jaws, something bounced against him, looking he saw Michele the younger , in wolf form, standing next to him. Michele shifted and looked into Joes eyes, telling him." no , not at this time, there has been enough death today." Diana watched , as Joes eyes changed color, returning to his normal eye color, and he shifted to his human form," I will not kill her today, as you wish it, but she will die." "yes she will. But you have another problem you know." "as you told me, I should study everything in my father library, and I have, and I think you forgot a major rule amongst the vampires and our kind." Joe stood there, staring at his sister, and then the rule that she spoke of entered his mind, and he closed his eyes, for until now he had forgot the most basic rule. You keep what you kill. For a reference to what Joe is, look up this Ursus maritimus tyrannus