It was time for a story.

A good Church girl found a sick boy in her library. At first she wasn't sure what he was, so she waited to tell her superiors wanting to avoid the severe punishments they passed down. But he was looking for the books they had hidden away so she called them. To make sure he didn't escape, since he nearly had, she brought him to her house.

Luckily his family came for him in time. They took the girl with them for interrogation and to be killed, just like all Church members, but this one was clever. She offered her should-be-killer something that made her decide to spare her life. Here the details of the story are fuzzy because the beterna skill refuses to speak. We don't know why she decided to save her life that day.

After convincing the beterna to turn against her family she had her help start to destroy it. Members kept showing up dead after education visits. A fire was set to burn an entire den alive- watched over by a group of Church members. No matter how tightly the Pack tried to make security, betern after betern was killed. All of this set up by a well trained human.

On the night of the fire, the girl called the beterna and they pretended to save some of the den to encourage the Pack to trust her. The others they burned alive. She was to become a hero. How funny would it be to claim she was a spy for the beterni side? She was charismatic, an actress. She began to break up the family's loyalty from the inside, reminding them of their caged life. Encouraging them to speak about it. Turning them against their true selves.

She reported back to the Church as soon as she was able, but had to try to get rid of the betern following her. They tricked him into a bren while he was injured, to learn more about it and hoping it would kill him, but he was stronger than they thought and he survived. The traitor beterna managed to pull her out before her cover was blown.

And of course there was the betern from the library. He quickly became part of their plan, especially when he began to show promise. She tricked him into protecting her. She lured him further and further away from his Pack and responsibilities by swearing that he was special- the only betern cared about by a human. And then finally, she made him start wishing he were human...

This is the only story that makes sense.

How else do you explain the coincidences? The library books requiring time to gather. The fact a stranger was invited into a house despite the danger. She was housed with the daughter of a Pastor from the Church. Why would a human be brought back to a Pack. Why were so many beterni slaughter by Church members after a visit from the beterna? Why would the human volunteer to help go to the Church if she was told it was dangerous? And most importantly, most obvious- why was that human allowed to live in the first place?

If not for this, why else? Do you understand now, Christopher?"

For the entire story Sheira had paced in front of them, her silver fur bristling more and more. Scott stood over Mariah, who lay unconscious with blood on her muzzle and hands. She'd killed Prim and Hannah. Tore open their throats to the bone. Hannah was so small Gabby could see the white glint from her exposed spine. Gabby was on her knees. They threatened to have the same happen to her if she did go sit next to Mariah.

"That story is insane." She heard herself say. "It's not true.

"Explain then. Now is your chance. How did you just happen to have all Henry's books and why did they take so long to acquire if not to keep him in place?"

"I- don't know."

"Why did so many beterni wind up dead after Mariah went to educate them?"

"How could I know that?"

"Were you housed with the Pastor's daughter?"

"I... yes."

"Why did Mariah kill Prim and Hannah?"

"I don't know! Chris I was with you!"

"Why didn't Lily kill you?"

"Lily?"

Sheira looked past her now to Mariah's form. "You're a good little actress but I know you know. You never would have let yourself be captured if you didn't think you'd finally get to see her. Our Protector. Turned against us by a human. No wonder all those beterni died. She marked them for the Church. She didn't even attempt to protect them." Her eyes were bright and tears began to fall. "I should have seen it. I didn't want to."

Scott frowned. "I warned you."

Sheira turned away.

"Chris. You can't believe them. I don't know what actually happened but they are confused." Gabby pleaded.

He believed it.

She could see it in his eyes, in his horrified and wounded expression. "You did want me to be human." He mumbled and Gabby cursed her earlier self. The timing of that conversation couldn't have been worse.

"We'll have to take it away from her." Sheira wiped her eyes. "and quickly before she can attack again. If she fully wakes up she will be able to kill half the pack."

"What?" Chris said the same as what Gabby was thinking.

"Lily. She cannot wake up and with have a Gift. She is the one with Rose's Gift. The Alpha Command of Protector."

Gabby tried to think back. They'd mentioned it in Henry's play. The Alpha Command they couldn't replicate for Rose. Chris seemed to recognize it more fully.

"Mariah's The Lily? That's not- how-"

"I warned you about her as well, Alpha Shiera." Scott pointed out coldly.

"I know you did." She spat looking between him and Chris. "But we don't have much time. We need a new Protector. The Protector to take Rose's Gift. Will you do it? She's been corrupted by that human- by the Church. We cannot let her wake up."

Gabby was confused but thought she got the idea. Somehow Rose's abilities could be passed on. No wonder they were scared of The Lily. She could massacre an entire Pack. A shiver went through her. She didn't want to believe it, and yet there was the proof on the ground in their own congealing blood. Mariah was a monster.

"I will be under Alpha Command then." Chris said slowly.

"Yes." Sheira looked solemn. "But it's not as scary as it sounds. Its similar to a Howl requesting you return. When you get used to it, you could fight it. However I hope it would never come to that- an Alpha and the Pack Protector should be on the same page over who must be killed. When possible I'd discuss before a Command. You would not be my puppet."

"Alpha Sheira- why can't you just give this Command to Scott?"

"Betas and Alphas cannot take Commands, only give them. There is a balance for safety. It requires an agreement with one to pull the energy, but it cannot be used by the one who collects it. That's why it is a Command, the order is already concluded."

"Like a Howl doesn't affect the one calling for others."

"The exact same. You can only collect and give the energy. That is why we have splits of dens and packs. We are linked, as I'm sure Henry explained. That's why you were able to bren so easily the first time. Lily called to you. She shouldn't have, even if you were ready. The point is the energy will be lost if it is not passed on. It's been passed on to four Roses and to lose it now would be dangerous for the Pack. We need our Protector."

"Are you sure she can't be saved?"

For some reason Sheira's head turned to Gabby. "After nearly three years of indoctrination I'm afraid not."

Chris looked at Gabby as well. She tried to make her eyes express what a mistake this would be. He hated blood. Living the rest of his life covered in it would be pure misery for him. Please Chris, don't do this to yourself.

He turned away from her. "How?"

Sheira sighed and went to Scott to retrieve something from the fallen robes they had been wearing. It looked like a two sided knife. Part glinting silver, part crumbling rust. Without any type of ceremony as Gabby had been expecting, Sheira sliced open Mariah's arm and coated the blade in her blood. Gabby stared at the knife and back at Chris. Something tightened in her stomach, after watching that this felt even more wrong. But what could she do? Her arms which had been tight around her knees loosened. She was going to die after this, or undergo torture. Mariah was a murderer and Chris was about to become the same.

Apparently being cut finally woke Mariah. Gabby watched her twitch and then her eyes opened suddenly. She growled, head lolling to one side. "'s fuck you hit me for Scott? Right in the head- ouch- fucking hurts-"

"Shut up." Scott shoved her back down when she tried to sit up and put an arm around her neck.

"Fucking hallow bitch- get off me! Why did you cut my arm?" She looked down at the flickering chemical reaction and spit bloody phlegm on his foot. Chris stood still, watching her trying to throw him off weakly. Her eyes finally went to him. "Why are you here?" she looked around. "Why is Gabby here- you absolute idiots. What is going on? Sheira why-"

"Just stop." Sheira growled. "Stop pretending. You have blood on your face still. We know you killed them."

Mariah stopped struggling and narrowed her eyes. "You know I killed them, huh?"

"And the U-Den."

To Gabby's horror Mariah just laughed. She had been hoping that somehow Sheira had been lying about Mariah. She'd been wrong about her part in this, after all.

Chris looked like he might be sick.

"I'm not with her." Gabby blurted. "I did not help her kill anyone."

Mariah gave her a strange look before chuckling again. "That's actually not true."

Chris was sick now. Gabby watched him turn into the bushed and retch.

Sheira put a hand on his back. "Now. We need to do it now. I won't force you but you need to understand-"

He wiped his mouth, looking at Mariah with bright eyes. "I'll do it."

"Do what?" She asked but Sheira and Chris were already walking away. "Do what?!" she looked at Gabby for answers.

Gabby eyed Scott who seemed focused on keeping Mariah in place.

"They are taking away your 'Gift'. You won't be able to hurt anyone like before." Gabby told her slowly.

"My gift." Mariah flattened her ears, head tipped. "My gift? Fuck." Her yellow eyes opened wide and suddenly she and Scott lurched forward as she tried to throw him off. "Chris! CHRIS NO! YOU HALLOW DON'T YOU GIVE IT TO HIM! NOT HIM I WONT GIVE IT TO HIM!" She was flinging her body both directions now but still seemed to be dizzy as she moved. "Nononononono... get off! Get the fuck- DON'T!" she slipped so she was laying on the ground under Scott's considerable weight. "Sugar you can't take it from me!"

Gabby realized if she were going to run it needed to be now. She took a step backward as they continued to wrestle and was about to sprint towards the gates when a howl forced her to freeze. She felt it in her core and it even made her teeth buzz. Scott and Mariah reacted as well but Mariah more so. She howled back, laying on her side with her face in the dirt as though unable to stop it.

She'd expected Chris to look different when the returned, perhaps for his bullet wound to have completely healed but he looked exactly the same if not breathing a little harder with a cut healing across his arm.

Mariah wasn't fighting anymore, only staring off into the near distance.

"It's done." Sheira smiled, apparently exhausted. "Now all that's left to do is test it."

"Test it?" Chris looked down at the sling on his arm. "You told me not to bren like this. I won't be able to do much as a human."

"Well not that kind of test. We need to test the connection."

"Connection?"

"Correct. For the Alpha Command."

"Ok. What would you like me to do?"

"Well... it has to be something you don't really want to do...

Chris looked nervous. "Ok..."

Sheira nodded her head a few times. "I know, kill her."

"What?"

Sheira was pointing at Mariah who still had not moved. She handed him the knife. "In your current state you will probably need this, of course."

"I- I can't kill her." he whispered.

"Of course you can." She put a massive hand on his shoulder. "That's what the Command is for. To help you overcome obstacles."

Gabby put a hand over her mouth, looking between the knife to Mariah and back at Chris. Her eyes came to rest on the knife and went wide. It was too late. They'd already done the ritual. But still, he had to know. "Chris- this wasn't an accident! Why did they have the ritual knife with them at the reunion?"

Chris turned to look at her right as Scott slapped her. She dodged the worst of it. She could have had half her arm removed.

"What?" Chris looked back at Sheira who was frowning at Gabby.

One of Mariah's ears had flicked towards her but otherwise she didn't seem surprised by this information. There was no chance she hadn't killed Prim and Hannah but now Gabby understood. She'd been Commanded.

Chris continued to look at Sheira.

"We simply had a hunch we might be needing it tonight." But her voice had gone sharp and irritated. "Chris, Bracken, kill her."

Chris stepped forward. He bent. Gabby shut her eyes tight and plugged her ears and started humming. She wasn't sure how much longer she had to live but she didn't want to include this in her memories.

None of the expected sounds came. No yells or gurgles or coughing. She waited but still no sound. Was he fighting it? Tentatively she opened her eyes. Chris was still bending down, but he hadn't moved. He didn't appear to be shaking or sweating. Sheira seemed to notice this too.

"Bracken, slit her throat. Now."

Chris didn't move.

"Kill. Her."

He threw the knife, still bending over Mariah. She lifted her head. She started laughing again.

Sheira stumbled backward and Scott was forced to let go of Mariah as she threw an elbow into his gut. A single finger caught the pendant hanging around Chris' neck and a wicked smile replaced her laughter.

"I knew it. I fucking new it. You're both tails. I told you that you didn't need to know Chemistry for it to apply to you. Gabby- did you wear this the entire two years you had it?"

"Y-yeah."

"And it was a gift from your Grandma?"

Chris seemed like he might be beyond speaking. He nodded.

Mariah's smile grew Cheshire wide. "This is the Evil Eye you know. It's for protection."

Now it was Sheira's turn to look horrified. Scott didn't have a chance to look anything because when he tried to grab Mariah again she ducked his advance and then turned to slam an elbow and then a clawed fist into the side of his face.

He stumbled but didn't fall completely until she dove at him, snarling.

This was nothing compared to the fight with Louise. Gabby recognized the move that Chris had done gently with her throw Mariah onto her back. Where she had been clawing ruthlessly at Scott he now had the advantage. That was until her teeth met his arm and she flung her head back, taking a significant amount of flesh with it. Instantly the wound began to glow and Gabby watched as the muscle regenerated just like during a full bren. It still was enough to knock him off balance and she kicked him off. The two circled each other, both silent but with lips curled to show bloody fangs.

Gabby didn't know why she went to Chris but somehow she found herself sitting next to him as he remained on his knees looking down at his hands.

He didn't look at her. "Why would I do that. Why did I think- even for a second..."

"It's ok. You didn't touch her."

"I didn't believe you." His voice was very quiet. "Its like they knew everything I was worried about and used it. I shouldn't have listened though. I can't believe I thought you'd..."

"I know. I really should be punching you right now." instead she pressed her forehead to his shoulder and took his hand. "If they gave you any time to think I know it would have been different."

"I understand why you are scared of me, now."

She looked up to see his eyes narrowed in pain but then a howl interrupted her thoughts. She turned back to the fight to see they were now on all fours and Mariah had gotten Scott's leg in her teeth. He spun to lay claws into her side but at the same time there was a crunch of crushed bone and Gabby was sure that if he hadn't swiped when he did she would have pulled his entire leg off. Instead she nimbly retreated back, red freely flowing down her side. She was panting and sat back in a crouch to examine her wounds. Scott rushed her.

He was surprisingly fleet on only three legs and it was only when Chris hissed and shut his eyes did Gabby understand this was a mistake. Mariah had braced herself and right before he struck she leapt to one side, neck extended and jaws wide. She was nearly belly up when she caught his throat and latched on, her weight sending them both spinning. Their bodies slammed into the earth and rebounded once before they came to a heap. Mariah was under Scott and for a terrible moment Gabby thought she saw him start to stand before realizing it was Mariah dragging herself out from under his bulk. Her white chest was soaked crimson. She was limping. Gabby could see a dull flickering from Scott's body compared to the bright white coming off of Mariah's wounds.

Sheira sat, waiting for her looking altogether to comfortable considering what she had done for Gabby's liking. Mariah briefly showed her teeth. "I fucking hated that guy." She nudged Chris with her considerably sized foot and then collapsed beside him, sides heaving. "You never fucking listen to me. I told you not to do that."

He nodded. "Sorry, Mariah."

She grunted. "Sounds like they must have made a solid case for it though. They tell you about everyone I killed?"

"Yes."

"I'm sure they kept out the part about me being allowed to decide about that."

"Yes."

She pressed a kiss to her clawed hand and laid it on his forehead, leaving a trail of blood along with it. They sat quietly for a moment. "Did it take?"

He inhaled. "I think so."

"Well. Fuck. You'll have to be extra careful not to lose your temper then." Her eyes flicked to Gabby who leaned back in confusion. "You'll need to work on that with Henry and maybe Stephanie."

"Steph?"

"Or-" Sheira stepped forward. "You could take off the pendant and let me help you control it."

Mariah bristled.

"Shut up."

"I didn't just have Lily kill for fun, Bracken."

"Don't call him that."

"Those were very specific assassinations meant to keep the Pack safe." Her eyes narrowed. "You heard about how bad it used to be. Almost every month someone else was being killed because the last Alpha couldn't handle what needed to be done. Everyone of those who died was putting the Pack at risk."

Chris backed away from her as did Gabby. How could she even still be trying to offer this.

"How the hell was Hannah putting the Pack at risk?" Gabby heard herself ask. "That was a child."

"You wouldn't understand, human."

"I said shut it." Mariah was now circling her.

"Tell them about when you were younger. Lily, you helped save so many lives. It was time for you to switch over. Killing you, well, see how important it was I checked the Command?"

"I don't give a shit about that. I already told you before; not. Him. I swear we will need a new Alpha if you don't pick someone different."

Gabby didn't understand how Mariah didn't think they needed a new Alpha already.

"But he's already trained. You saw how perfectly he ripped out that human's-"

Apparently Mariah had enough. She darted forward, sinking her teeth into Sheira's shoulder. The older beterna gave a yelp as she toppled backwards. For facing off with her own trained killer she put up an impressive fight. She wasn't made Alpha for nothing and Mariah was panting hard with bite marks along her legs and scratches on her face. Mariah held a claw hand around her throat, preparing to clamp down when she stopped. Gabby couldn't place the expression on her face. Sheira shoved the ritual knife into her chest.

---

"Pressure!" Chris snapped. "More pressure around the wound!"

Blood was bubbling out of Mariah's chest around the rusty side of the knife. She hadn't moved since Sheira kicked her away and started a limping gait up the hill.

"I'm trying it's not slowing!"

"Hey- dumbass- stop worrying about me and go stop Sheira from telling the Packs whatever lie she had cooked up! If they hear her whole story they are bound to believe it. There won't be much point if they decide to kill me. Go!"

"I am not leaving you."

"It doesn't take two of you to sit here doing the same thing. Gabby's got it."

"I do?"

Chris looked between Mariah and the hill. He gritted his teeth. "Fine. Right here Gabby- don't move your hands."

She watched Chris tearing off his sling and sprinting after Sheira. Even sick he was pretty fast for a human. There was a chance he could catch a healing old betera before she got through the made up tale.

"Move your hands." Mariah shoved her.

"Chris said-"

"Yeah well Chris is deluded if he thinks I'm coming out of this."

"But Chris was shot."

"This iron is rusted. It flaked everywhere. If you pull it out, I won't be able to heal fast enough for how fast I bleed. If you keep it in, I can't heal at all. His body could control the bleeding by wrapping around the bullet. Mine however... I probably have five minutes. Tops."

Gabby tried to catch her breath, the words slowly making sense. "Why did you send him away. He'll never make it back in time."

"Because I don't want him here. Duh."

"Why?? He's... he's going to be devastated."

"Truthfully?" She paused, the cold exterior fading. Gabby wondered if she'd ever seen Mariah's real face even once before. "I'm scared. I'm really, really scared. I don't want him to see me like this."

"He wouldn't-" she started to stand to try and stop him.

"Gabby-" Mariah caught her hand, eyes wide. "Please. I don't want him here but... I don't want to be alone. Please."

"Ok. Ok ok." She fell back to the ground. "I'm staying. Even if he manages to get back I'll run defense like a basketball player and hide you from him."

Mariah laughed. A red bubble popped at the corner of her teeth.

She held her hand. The fur was sticky with blood.

"The letters. Maps." Her words were getting slightly garbled. "There's safe house."

Gabby's heart was pounding. That only made sense. Whatever had happened here was about to be blamed on them. "We'll get there."

"Don't let him be like me."

"Never. You're awful. Hands down my worst friend."

She smiled vaguely, squeezing onto Gabby's hand. She tried to say something else but it didn't quite make it out of her throat. She tried again, seemed to get annoyed and stopped. Her eyes were starting to shut. Gabby felt panic rising.

"Moon is out early."

Mariah's eyes opened slightly. Gabby watched her breathing. It quickened here and there and then would stop. Sometimes she would shudder like she was trying to get up, trying to fight back, but the blood kept coming and her chest stopped moving. When her fingers went limp Gabby closed her eyelids.

---

It had taken her a few minutes to convince him to run. At first he didn't want to leave her behind, scared of what they would do to her body but he wasn't strong enough in this state to carry her. Finally they headed for the gates and down the road. When they felt they were far enough she'd pulled out the only thing they had other than their own bloodied clothes. A stack of letters. One of them was sealed in an envelope. They finally noticed they were numbered at least.

"Be careful." Gabby wasn't sure why she said it. They had no other choice but it still made her anxious based on his previous encounter. His eyes gleamed orange before he held the card up to his face and inhaled. A curious expression. He inhaled again.

"What? What's up where are we going?"

"I think I'm supposed to go home."

END

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 I'm not sure if I'm proud or sad to be honest but this is it- the final chapter. The story is done.

I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.