TW: slight violence and blood

Zack's POV~

I didn't hesitate as I ran into the blaze. I needed to find Eric and Brian. Brian probably moreso since Travis likely has Eric kept safe. Even so, I needed to be sure.

John called out to my name, following close behind, probably so he can protect me. Very much needed. I can't help but wonder what's going on through John's head. He must be reliving a nightmare right now. I can't imagine how bad this feels to him.

"Brian! Eric!" I shout as I look all around me. John reaches me and holds me close to him. "Hey! Anyone out there?!" John calls after I do.

Me and John run through the blazing building, helping any wolves we see make it out of the blaze. Luckily most wolves of the pack had already escaped thanks to the help of the Lunar Star Pack. I heard Liz say the only person left was Brian himself. John, Liz, and I all ran to the office, where he most likely was when the blaze started.

We enter and see him breathing heavily with his eyes a bright red. His eyes were glowing and he was covered in blood. But it wasn't his.

On the floor was him. The Zack Henderson that was to be Brian's true mate. Brian looked at the corpse on the floor with anger in his eyes.

"You were never my mate..." he says with anger. His claws were still out and he was breathing heavily. He looked at us and his demeanor changed. He went back to his normal self and smiled upon seeing me.

Suddenly, we hear a large cracking sound as a pillar from the hallway began to fall. John and Liz escaped easily, due to their werewolf instincts. But I'm part werefox, and my reaction was delayed. I tried to move out of the way, but knew I wouldn't be able to escape. But the pain of burning wood landing on me didn't come.

I look up and see Brian staring down at me. He holds an affectionate stare in his eyes as he smiled down at me. He presses his forehead against mine chuckles.

"Mine again, as it should be. I told you, didn't I? I'm coming for you, and I came back. I'm gonna keep you safe from now on. I really love you, Zacky." Brian says as he kisses my forehead.

From the side, we both hear a growl, that growl coming from John. Before anything could happen, Liz got between us.

"Enough! You two can be sappy and you two can argue later! We have to get the hell out of here and now!" Liz says, giving them a reality check as they both remember we're in a burning building.

We all ran out of the burning pack house and watched as it burnt down to the ground. As I watched my old home burn to the ground, Brian was keeping track of everyone to make sure no one had gone missing.

Blake stepped in while Brian sighed with relief that everyone seemed to be okay.

"Brian, your mate. Zack Henderson. He... didn't come out." Blake said with a hint of nervousness. He probably was well aware of the disdain Brian had for his goddess chosen mate.

Brian looked his way and sighed. He approached Blake and held his shoulder with one hand.

"Henderson is dead. He was a threat to the pack, and he was the one who caused that fire. I had to do what was necessary to prevent this thing from happening again. I know that he's done it before, and there's no doubt he'd do it again." Brian says as Blake nods. Brian turns away from him and looks over at Travis.

"What's the status on any rogues other than Henderson?" Brian asks. Travis nods with a serious look, but a nervous one. He grits his teeth.

"Most got away. We managed to make them weak enough to do no more harm, but they managed to leave." Travis said with guilt in his voice.

Liz then stepped in. She smiled victoriously. As if she just won a game.

"They didn't get away. My pack's tougher omegas managed to contain them. They're being transferred to the Lunar Star Pack dungeon for questioning." Travis then hugged Liz and Liz chuckled before hugging him back. She pat his back as she went around, checking on the people of the Northern Lights Pack for any damage.

I was suddenly tackled into a hug from the side and see Eric. "Dude, I'm so glad you're alive! I heard you got kicked from the pack, then there was chaos because of some wolf that I guessed replaced you, and then there was fire..." Eric started leaking happy tears as he hugged me. I hugged him back tightly as well.

"I'm glad you're okay, Eric." I say as I pat his back to comfort him. I look over at Brian who seems to be troubled. Good reason to be since he just lost his home, as well as the rest of the pack.

Liz went over and patted his shoulder. They began to whisper with each other and nodding.

Liz cleared her throat before breathing in and out. Her eyes began to flow a bright yellow color as she then called out. "Northern Lights pack!" She called out and got the attention of the pack members. They all gazed upon her as she made herself loud enough to hear.

"As a neighboring pack alpha, I'm taking it upon myself and my pack to give you all a place to stay. A number of my pack and your pack will be gathering together to rebuild your pack house. Perhaps better than what it was. Until then, everyone will be taking refuge at the Lunar Star Pack territory. Because of the numbers, we ask that mateless wolves find a member of the Lunar Star pack to roommate with for the time being. Understood?"

All the wolves nod their heads and we began to walk back home to the Lunar Star Pack. I started getting tired from the running and panicking from earlier. I was soon picked up and look to see John holding me with a smile.

"Go ahead and sleep, Zack. I'll take care of you." I nod my head before feeling myself being taken into another set of arms. I look and see Brian glaring down at John.

"It'll be awhile, Zack. Rest against me and I'll take care of you." I nod my head and feel a dark aura between the alpha and the beta as they glare at each other. I didn't know whether I should sleep or force myself to walk.

However, after a bit, John looked away, and I look up to see Brian smiling in victory. Brian then gazed down at me before giving my head a kiss and nuzzling his face against mine.

"Mine again. I'm sorry for everything. I won't let go this time. Never again." Brian said as he nuzzled into me. I once again hear John's growl, but it quickly stopped when Liz gazed back at him.

After awhile of walking, we finally made it to the Lunar Star Pack. My head was rested against Brian's chest as he continued to lovingly stare down at me. John's face with very full of malice and envy, but he didn't do anything to intervene.

The pack members of both sides found comfort with each other as pack members found other wolves to roommate with. I was soon grabbed by John as he hugged me close to his body.

"Let's go to bed, Zack. Today's been crazy." He says as he starts to walk back to our building. However, a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

The aura of Brian's alpha voice began to show as his eyes glowed red. "I believe you have someone that belongs to me." Brian said with a growl. John looked back at Brian and his own eyes started to glow. "No, I believe I don't."

The two glared at each other. Suddenly, the glaring stopped when Ella came along and handed the both of them some warm, still steaming bread rolls. The two thanked her politely and began to eat their bread rolls. Ella came over to me, still in John's arms, and gave me a pat on the head before giving me one.

Liz came over and gave Ella a quick kiss on the head before approaching the three of us.

"John, Brian, and you too Zack. Meet me in my office." Liz says before heading back to her office. John and Brian stared at each other before  walking behind Liz with me in John's arms.

Once we got to her office, John sat down in one of the chairs as Brian sat in the other. Brian then snatched me from John's hold and immediately began to hug me close.

Liz looked slightly annoyed but took a deep breathe.

"I know your situation is complicated between the three of you. It's obvious that the two of you really like Zack. Both of you know that this goes against the Moon Goddess. Especially for you, Brian."

Brian becomes angry. "I don't care anymore! She paired me up with that killer! I won't follow her words anymore! Zack Andrews is my mate! I don't care what the goddess says! He's mine!" Brian says as he holds me possessively. His hold is tight, but comforting oddly.

John stands and looks at Brian with annoyance.

"Last I checked, Zack Andrews is also the one you released into the wild after finding Zack Henderson. That's some true love if I've ever seen it." John says with annoyance. The two wolves growl and glare at each other.

"Enough!" Liz says with her alpha tone.

"It's for this exact reason some changes are going to be made around here. We can't have you two at each other's throats like this. Zack, you're no longer John's assistant. You are to find a place to stay in a separate room. From now on you'll be assisting Ella with her tasks. John, you are to only talk to Zack if given permission by your Luna. As for you Brian, I can't exactly command you since you're an alpha yourself. So, as your friend, I ask kindly that you limit your visits with Zack. Understood?"

The two of them growl in disagreement, but it's obvious Liz has the authority here. The two take a bit before they finally agree.

"Good. Zack, starting tomorrow you'll be heading to my home to assist Ella in any way she pleases. Mostly with cooking and baking. I'm sure she'd love the help, and perhaps teach you." I nod my head and Liz guides us to some rooms in the building.

"These are your rooms you'll be staying in." She says as she shows us three rooms. All next to each other. The two look down at me and I get a shiver. There's no way Liz decided to place me in a room between the two of theirs." Liz leaves and I enter my room. John enters his own.

I turn to close the door and Brian walks in. I go to speak before Brian places his finger over my mouth.

"Shhhhhhh. Keep quiet." He says with a wink. I slowly nod my head.

Brian smiles before leaning down and giving me a kiss on the cheek. I blush a bit and he nuzzles into me.

"Just wanted to give you a good night kiss." Brian says with a quick hug before leaving the room and entering his own.

Things from now on are going to be really crazy.