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I noticed how much younger than the rest of the guards this particular one was. The helmet didn't even fit properly on him as he kept pushing it up from slipping over his eyes. Frowning, I felt my fingers' grip on the gun loosen and even though to him it was expected for an Advanced Hunter to be merciless, I didn't have it in me to take this kid out. He was just a kid... 

I groaned out a frustrated huff and straightened, lowering the weapon. Seeing my reaction, the kid blinked, obviously confused as he looked at the lowered gun and then back up at me.

"Get out of here," I warned him who was still just staring oddly at me. "Get out of this while you still can."

Then I left. I ran back to where Thea was shooting off a few shifted guards getting in her way. To assist, I closed an eye and aimed at each Were, putting a bullet in between each of their eyes. Thea blinked, looking at me before I nodded at her to keep going.

"I've got your back," I promised, turning around and walking backward cautiously with the gun raised at the ready.

As we closed in on the raving Werewolf, I could hear Maddie's screaming cries from inside. It sent chills down my spine. Then there was Eli's struggling grunts to keep the door locked while the Were was doing everything in its crazed power to get in. Originally, it didn't seem too aware of what it was trying to get into since its brain was clearly out of sorts. And I say originally because now its crazed gaze fell to the small opening at the bottom of the door where Eli's sneakers could be seen.

Thea growled, lifting the gun and started shooting at the Were's back. Its abnormal fanged mouth stretched open and let out that blood-curdling screech then jerked its head in our direction. My cousin's eyes narrowed, raising the gun at the Were and continued shooting. The Were slammed back against the shed, screeching and gnashing its jaws at Thea and me.

Then the creature ran off. Into the treeline.

Thea and I stepped around to face the trees, guns raised for any surprise. When I felt like it was clear, I continued standing guard while ordering Thea to get the boys. She didn't even hesitate.

"Eli!? Maddox!?" She had dropped the gun off the side and was trying to wedge open the door. With a grunt she managed to yank it open and reveal her two boys; the teenager had stepped back and standing in front of his younger brother whose arms were wrapped around Eli's shins.

"Oh thank God!" Thea gasped, her shoulders relaxing.

"Mom!"

"Mommy!"

Thea knelt, pulling Maddox into her arms before lifting him up so she could pull Eli into her embrace. I turned away from the family a moment, looking back at our surroundings where it was starting to grow calm. The Council---the few that were left---were just as injured as some of our group; with scratches and cuts in various places, clothes were torn and holding their hands to more open wounds.

I stepped forward, glancing behind me where Thea was bringing the boys out and I cautiously studied the remaining opposed side. I didn't trust them as far as I was concerned so I needed to make sure that nothing got past me.

With the gun still raised, my gaze scanned those gathering from the fizzled chaos and I felt someone stand beside me. I glanced at them without moving otherwise and my Moody-Asshat's ice-colored eyes narrowed at the others. I faced forward, frowning, "Where the hell have you been?"

I could hear him growl and I grinned, knowing where he was but I figured that I could ease my tension by bugging him. Easton huffed that most of the Council were dead, albeit the High Councilman was still alive.

"Dennison didn't kill him?"

Easton was still looking around, lowering a brow and shook his head, "No... He didn't get a chance because that asswipe---I don't mean Auric---got away. Auric was ambushed with a few others councilmen and so Jonah, his dad, and I had to help him out. All we did was yank them off before Auric took care of it himself."

He nodded in a particular direction where I looked to see the bodies of the Councilmen but... but some were torn in half. I raised a brow, blinking that if Dennison was capable of that kind of killing then I was definitely going to have to remember not to burn the Christmas tree again.

"Or give him my crappy ass apple pie..."

Easton chuckled, glancing at me with a small shake of his head. "It's alright, Red... I'll eat your apple pie."

My gaze flicked to his, lowering a brow to wait for---

"And whatever else you offer me," he winked.

I could already feel my eyelids lower half-mast and lowered the gun while tilting my head at him. The Moody-Asshat wiggled his brows a few times and yet he still looked fucking appealing with the dirt, blood, and scratches on him. Fucker...

"Really, Easton..." I groaned, shaking my head and walked behind Thea and the boys. I could hear him following behind us as he replied, "What...? I adore your apple pies, Red! Burnt crust and all!"

I ignored him for the time being, seeing that Thea was looking around for Dennison. When I stood beside her, I asked her if she wanted me to watch the boys while she went searching. My cousin licked her lips, worry filling her brown eyes and nodded that she'd appreciate that. 

The boys were standing between Easton and I. Easton looked down at Maddie sniffling and wiping at his face. Bending, the Were picked him up and held him on his hip. Easton grinned, helping to wipe the kid's tears and muttered that he was okay now. That the creature wasn't going to get him anymore. 

Maddie nodded, hiccupping in between sniffles and hugged Easton tightly. Easton sighed, frowning as he held the little guy closer before switching his attention to me. I could see how exhausted he looked, just like Thea and Eli, and probably even me. 

My sleeve was tugged on for a moment as Eli pointed, "There's my dad!" and I looked up. Sure enough, Dennison was making his way over to us and he turned his head with a frown, blinking a few times when his name was called. He stopped, waiting until Thea practically ran into him and he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. Dennison kissed her head, looking down at her when she said something. He shook his head, shrugging then gestured towards us so they could continue walking. 

"Daddy!" Maddie cried, already reaching for the tall man. The father grinned, relief on his face as he pulled his son into his arms. Eli left my side to go to his parents; burying his face into Dennison's side. 

Maddie pouted, his gray eyes teary again as he whined, "Daddy... Daddy, I want to go home! Please, let's go home!" 

"Yeah, Bud. We're going home..." Dennison nodded, reaching up to wipe his son's face.

"Don't count on it, Auric!" 

Dennison's eyes looked upward, growling under his breath before turning around to face Jalen. The man looked like shit compared to the former alpha. Jalen's pants were torn and didn't have the robe he'd shown up with. The dark half-moons under his eyes might have been mud but from me glancing at Dennison's hands that held his son which were bleeding at the knuckles, I am going to assume Jalen made it out of the fight with two black eyes. 

"It's over, Jalen... We just want to go back home," Dennison tried to keep his voice steady. His brows furrowed more. "I need to get my boys back home."

He said that last part for Jalen to know that Dennison wasn't asking.

The High Councilman sneered, snarling at the father that his boys were the cause of all this mess! That the boys were why he was here, to begin with! 

"Had you not defied the laws of our world, Auric Dennison, then we wouldn't be in this predicament, now would we!?" Jalen snapped, fists curling at his sides. 

Thea frowned, shaking her head as she tried to explain to the man that her boys didn't do anything to anyone; they never did anything that would be cause for concern, or even risking exposure of the Werewolf world.

"I don't need some Huntress-Bitch telling me about what's at risk for my world!" the High Councilman spat in my cousin's direction. 

Easton's brows and mine shot up at the same time. Easton muttered under his breath, "Oooooh, shit... Here he goes again."

Without breaking his hard stare from Jalen, Dennison carefully handed his youngest son to his wife before straightening. 

"I'm going to ask for you to watch how you speak to her, Jalen. Human, Advanced Hunter... whatever she may be... she is still my wife and I will defend her over and over again." the taller of the two stepped forward, lip curling a bit when Jalen's eyes widened a fraction. "This crusade you lead is pointless. My boys are not the danger here!"

Dennison's teeth grit as he pointed a finger at the other man's face. 

"You! You are the one who decided to take your shitty-ass tirade of seeking out my boys and bringing a God damn Werewolf here who has absolutely no control! It's a raving animal! It's no longer a Werewolf from our standards and yet you think my kids are the problem!? Are you out of your fucking mind!?" 

Just from the way Jalen started off with the same pissed-off scowl at the beginning of Dennison shouting at him and then having his face pale by the end of it, it seemed pretty clear to the High Councilman that he let things get out of hand. What he'd been trying to prevent was happening because of him. 

Dennison huffed, shaking his head that we had a crazed Werewolf on the brink of exposing them to worry about at the moment. He eyed the other man, frowning as he muttered, "And then maybe we should discuss the requirements and psychological testing needed to become part of the Council. Seems almost every time we've dealt with the Council, there is some power-hungry moron running it!" 

He turned away from Jalen, the man's lips parted as he watched Dennison take hold of Maddie and wrap his arm around Thea who took hold of Eli so they could walk towards the vans. We were all gathering together now; minus the Councilmen (or those of them remaining, anyway). While a few of us had injuries, there was nothing major and everyone was present and accounted for. 

Easton looked over at his twin already snuggling up against Maddox, Sr. who grinned down at her before kissing her forehead. I glanced at my boyfriend, seeing the calmness on his face. I think it was going to be never-ending for him to always have that fear of losing Langley again. But she was still alive... that's what was important to him. I reached over, my fingers entwining with his, the blond Were looked down at this then up at me. 

I grinned at him, mouthing, "She's okay." to which Easton's shoulders relaxed more. Like he needed the confirmation and then squeezed my hand a bit. 

When I saw the frown on Mr. Dennison's face from the side of the group, I turned to see where he was looking. He'd been eyeing my Aunt Emeel who was approaching our group finally as the last person, but it was the heavy amount of blood that drenched the front of her blouse and pants. Everyone was now staring at my aunt. She didn't seem to notice the attention on her since she was scowling at the ground while she walked, throwing out a curse every few steps. 

My aunt stopped, lifting her eyes and widened them when we all stared at her. Her nose scrunched, looking down at herself before scoffing and snapping at us that if they were really all that surprised to see her like this when we all should be looking the same.

Thea lowered a brow, quietly asking, "Are... are you alright, Mom?"

Aunt Emeel switched her gaze to her daughter. Immediately my aunt relaxed and a small smile tugged the corners of her lips. She tilted her head a bit, nodding as this heavily relieved sigh accompanied, "Are you kidding? After that woman's grudge against me for what I did? Yes, Thea. After all these years... from first meeting that woman... I'm alright."

Thea tilted her head, lowering a brow before she looked her mother over again; the crimson color covering the blue material of her mother's shirt, the same blood splattered all down the front of her pants, and then the amount of blood that was smeared on her hands and arms; like my aunt just dipped them into two paint buckets. 

I think that's when it hit Thea what this meant and she raised her eyes to her mother once more.

"Red's a good color on you," my cousin grinned which made my aunt smile back before turning to Mr. Dennison who pulled her against him.

Vrable had started up the conversation of how we were going to deal with the crazed Werewolf; how we were going to find it, capture it, and then take care of it so that the humans wouldn't find out about it. Because if they did... the Werewolves would be in trouble. 

While we were all discussing a plan, a high siren drew our attention behind us. A police car was driving up the bumpy road; it bouncing slightly as its tires crushed the gravel underneath them. The police car slowed a few yards then stopped completely about ten feet from us. 

Dennison's jaw tightened, looking everyone over and was already trying to figure out how to explain what happened here. From the second group not far from us, Jalen's eyes widened at the officer, who had been driving, getting out of his car. His partner was now opening his own door to get out too. They both stared at us all, frowning while remaining by their doors as the driver questioned us.

"Afternoon everyone..." He glanced at us before clearing his throat. "You all are in a less populated part of town. Not a lot going on in these back parts but the residences near here can still hear just beyond the trees."

He gestured to said trees behind them and then faced us again. His hand lifted, using the back of two fingers to lift up his officer cap a bit more. "We got quite a number of complaints of hearing gunfire and such... Mind explaining what's been going on here?"

His partner had been looking around, obviously seeing the number of wolves lying on the ground around us and then some in their human form. The officer's hand slowly rose to his side where his gun was. The man glanced at his partner who had addressed us to nod at what was behind us.

The officer's eyes widened, his lips parting. The look on his face made him turn to us and order us all to line up on the side of the vans. He was now holding a hand to his holster too.  The officer looked over where Jalen and the remaining four councilmen stood, ordering for them to also stand in line with us. 

Tilting his head, the first officer kept an eye on us while using the small radio attached to his shoulder to call in to report a possible illegal hunting party.

My brow rose, lowering the other and glanced at Maddox, Sr. beside me who smirked as he muttered under his breath that the officer wasn't that far off. He glanced at me with that amusement still and I rolled my eyes.

"Alright," the officer who called in with the radio stepped in front of us. He placed his hands on his hips, looking us all over and demanded to know what we were doing in this part of the town and to present our licenses to him; for hunting and being in possession of weaponry. His partner was behind him in the background, slowly walking around to inspect the dead animals he was passing.

When no one moved because we were all watching the officer in the back, the officer in front of us snapped at us; raising his voice that he gave us all an order. Again, we all didn't move. We were not exactly sure how to explain ourselves.

How do you tell a human that we were Advanced Hunters and Werewolves? That's a one-way ticket to the crazy house.

A small intake of breath was heard near me and I glanced over to where Eli was standing. His nose scrunched and he was leaning forward with a hand clamped on his ear. He'd done this back at the house when he and Maddie could hear the crazed Werewolf's screeching cry... and then again when Eli was trying to hold back the inevitable change his kind went through.

Fuck... One of those things was happening right now to him and neither were good!

Dennison could see what was happening to Eli too and looked up at me wide-eyed. I swallowed, facing the officer who was pointing at Easton down the line and warning my boyfriend to stop giving him lip or the officer would have to sit Easton in his squad car and handcuffs.

"I will make an example out of you, boy!" the officer warned, shooting Easton a challenging look.

To play off Easton's unintentionally good idea, I looked back to the officer and scoffed, "You seem to be all talk, Officer." and I could feel my dad's gaze on me along with Thea's. "Armed or not, bet I can kick your ass."

Hooooo, fuck me! Dennison fucking owes me. For life!

Narrowing his eyes, the officer started towards me, "What'd you just say to me?" the grip on his gun handle tightening while I continued to rile him up despite my dad telling me to stop. I just needed the officer to keep his attention on me long enough that Dennison could steer Eli away from us. Just for now.

When the officer was practically nose-to-nose with me, I frowned as he hissed that my "twig-ass" couldn't stand up against someone who was on the force for seven years. I raised a brow, seeing how proud he was of that. Kudos to him, I guess. The officer shook his head, eyeing me up and down before sneering that I wasn't worth his time anyway since I was just some "snot-nosed kid" trying to impress my friends.

He shot me one more look before blinking hard as he turned his back. His mistake.

Tightening my jaw, I rushed forward and pulled my arm back before swinging it as the officer was turning. The sound of my fist hitting his face came with a crunch and I may or may not have broken the officer's nose. He stumbled back, holding his hands to his nose and his partner turned to see what was going on and I could hear him shouting for me to put my hands up.

Yeah... okay.

I took another swing at the bleeding officer, this time knocking him down to the ground before quickly putting my hands up when the partner had pulled his gun from the side holster and was now sticking the barrel in my face. My chin lifted, frowning as I took a step back.

"Get. Back. Now."

He reminded me that I just assaulted an officer and I was already going to be arrested for that alone, but that for me to not add to those charges by "doing anything else that was just as stupid". Dennison used to say that a lot to me so having an officer tell me the same thing really wasn't daunting.

I played it off as though I was giving in and the officer began to lower his gun. I glanced at it a second before looking back up at him before kicking my foot up at his hands that made the gun fly out of his hold. He had been startled but still standing. So after I had jumped up to grab onto the gun and was now holding it in my hand, we both stared at the gun then looked at one another.

Before I shoved him.

The officer went back a bit, tripping over a wolf's body and fell over. That's when I looked at the others and shouted for them to scatter. I jumped over the first officer I'd hit who tried to lunge at me from where he'd been lying. His partner was calling for backup while grunting to stand up again.

Dennison was running beside me, Eli being held against him as the teenager groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. The father panted out that when he thought I was going to make a distraction, he wasn't expecting me to attempt any of what he just saw. I scrunched my nose, looking over my shoulder then faced forward.

"Got---Got your distraction though, no?"

"Yeah," Dennison grinned, chuckling a bit, "Yeah, it did."

We were heading for the backroads and the pathway was clear from what we could see. The others were running in the same direction so Dennison shouted for them to hurry up. He had to slow down for a moment, me staying with him, as Eli's knees gave out so his dad had to catch him.

"Dad..." Eli groaned, shaking his head as he looked up at him. "Dad, it hurts!"

Dennison frowned, shaking his head at me that this wasn't normal. That Werewolves went through shifts but it was not painful. It wasn't supposed to be. He frowned, holding Eli to him when the teenager cried out into his dad's shirt. Dennison looked at me, wondering out loud if this might have to do with what his son was.

I shook my head, shrugging that I didn't know but that we weren't going to be able to question that right now. That we had to go.

The father bent, scooping Eli into his arms and we started running again. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the officers shouting at us to stop and were shooting at a few. Nearby, I could hear police sirens closing in. Of all the fucking times that police were known to not get anywhere fast enough and today they wanted to prove that wrong!

"Where the hell are we going to go without a car, Dennison!?"

"We'll figure it out! We just need to get away from here! And fast!"

Eli groaned for his dad again, this time gritting his teeth and a rumbling growl slipping through. The former alpha lifted his gaze once he noticed Eli's eyes focused on the woods. The leaves rustled with the light breeze but the father was trying to look past that. He was trying to pick up on what his son was already sensing.

"Kale..." Dennison muttered, his gray eyes locked on something in the trees. "Kale, take Eli."

I got closer, lifting Eli into my arms who groaned in protest for his dad to not go.

"I'm not going anywhere, Eli," Dennison promised, narrowing his eyes still in the same direction. He assured that he would be right behind us, but wanted to have his hands free in case he needed to handle surprises. He started backing up, his breathing picking up.

"Run... Run now!"

He turned, shoving me a bit as I grabbed hold of Eli and lifted him up to run as instructed. The piercing screech made me wince but it was doing wonders on Eli who clamped his hands over his ears and screamed.

"Get him out of here, Kale! It's agitating him!"

"I'm trying!" I shouted back, seeing the others waiting for us. They were shouting and waving us over.

The police were now on our tail, hearing the gravel crunching under their tires while an officer spoke through a megaphone, demanding for us to all stop.

"C'mon!" Thea shouted, waving us over. I could see Easton beside her, that worried frown on his face.

There wasn't that much distance from our group and I was already breathing out in relief... a little too early.

The snarl from the woods, rustling the trees made Dennison and I falter in our steps a bit but then the former alpha cursed under his breath once we recognized the piercing screech prior to the crazed Werewolf breaking out of the treeline and rushing at us. 

"Run, Kale! Run!" Dennison shoved me again and I had to tighten my grip on Eli. 

There was a loud pounding in my eardrum that could have been a few things; my heartbeat going fucking crazy, Dennison's and my footsteps, or the heavy ones from the Werewolf behind us. 

I looked over my shoulder, eyes widening when the Werewolf was catching up to us. It was bleeding in various places from when Thea had shot at it, but it was like it didn't affect it at all. Like it didn't feel it! The blood from its mouth was mixed with its dripping saliva and its wild crazed eyes locked on me. 

Grunting, I tried to pump my legs faster; keeping Eli in mind. 

The police sirens were closing in too and I didn't know which was worse! 

"Auric! Auric, what are we going to do!?" I cried, hearing the Werewolf behind me snarling again as it was closing in. 

Swallowing, I tried to shift Eli into a better hold without stopping and it was lucky I did since he was able to see behind me. Eli's eyes widened and let out a hoarse, "Kale! Behind you!" just seconds before I felt the Were's claws slice into the back of my calf.

"Argh!" Holy mother of Sweet baby Jesus! "Fuck!" 

I stumbled, feeling the burn from the claw marks but I didn't stop, though now I was somewhat half hopping and running at the same time. My mistake was looking behind me to see how close this Werewolf was and ended up tripping over a small hole in the ground which brought both Eli and me down. Eli cried out from the hard fall, the side of his face smacking into the gravel. I was lying beside him, gritting my teeth and groaned as I twisted around, swallowing to look at where the cut was. 

"Eli!" 

The teenager beside me widened his eyes, fear crossing his face and I grunted while pulling myself towards him. I could see the Werewolf closing in and I knew that I wasn't going to get him up in time. So I hurled my body over his, shouting, "Shut your eyes, Eli! Shut them now!" 

I cannot express how fucking painful it was to have not five but ten clawed fingers digging into my back. It was repetitive; clawing from one hand and then the other and I let out my agonized cries all while trying to keep myself hovered over my younger cousin whose eyes were covered with his hands, but started to blubber. Through the clawing, I grit my teeth when I could but then cried out again, shouting, "Keep--- Argh!" and panted, "Keep them closed, Eli! Don't loo---Arrrrrgghhh!" 

"RED!" 

"KALE!" 

The next moment, I felt the heavy weight of the Werewolf being hauled off me. My breath was shaky as I squeezed my eyes shut; purposely tensing my back but then relaxed it to let out another pained cry. Panting heavily, I opened my eyes to look down at the teenager who was slowly pulling his hands from his face.

His brown eyes were wide, scanning my sweaty face and then he frowned, whispering, "Kale... Are... are you okay?"

I weakly grinned, nodding, "Yeah... Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just going to be a shit-ton of Ibuprofen when we get---" I winced, "To the Alliance." 

Sighing, I frowned, nodding, "You have that, right?"

Eli blinked, shrugging, "I don't think so..."

"Well, fuck..." 

The screeching Werewolf was at it again but this time it was going up against Dennison who had shifted and was now roaring his warning for the other Werewolf to back off. But the creature gnashed its slobbering jaws at the former alpha and lunged at him. 

"Dad..." Eli's eyes widened, trying to twist to the side to get up. I slowly shifted backward until Eli could slip out from underneath me. He stood up and ran over to my side, looking behind me and sighed, "Oh, Kale..." but I waved him off, shutting my eyes for a second. 

"I'm... I'm good... remember?"

"Red!" 

Oh, great... 

I winced when Easton took hold of my face and I peered an eye open to see those ice blue eyes welling up in tears. He was scanning my face over and over while his mouth was trying to say something. Everything sounded muffled though and I frowned, slowly closing my eyes again before sighing, "Ease... I'm... I'm okay. Really. It hurts like fuck... but I'll live. I promise."

"I couldn't get here fast enough, Red! I'm sorry!"

"It's fine, Easton... Who do you think I am...? Thea?" 

My cousin stood next to Easton, holding Eli to her, and gave me a look and I weakly grinned at her as she huffed that if I wasn't so injured that I would have gotten a hard smack to the back of the head. I closed my eyes again, shrugging my shoulders though I was barely able to and let my head rest against Easton's shoulder. 

The police sirens were now a few feet and the doors were being slammed shut but I could faintly hear a few officers crying, "What the fuck!?" or "Holy shit! What the hell is that!?" I wasn't sure if they were referring to the raving Werewolf... or Dennison. Probably both. 

Opening my eyes to look at the officers, they were raising their guns where Dennison was and I groaned, trying to sit up. Easton helped me to stand and I winced that he needed to go in there and help the former alpha. 

"You're hurt, Red. I can't just---"

"I'm fine! I told you already! But I'm not the one having guns pointed at me, now am I?"

Easton frowned, groaning before nodding for me to stay here but then we looked over to where Dennison was at it with the Werewolf that was clawing at him, in the same manner, he had to me but Dennison didn't falter. The Werewolf screeched, turning to latch its teeth onto Dennison's shoulder making him roar out. He swung his arm to claw at the Werewolf but it was now latching its own claws into Dennison's chest and back.

"DAAAAD!" Eli tried to go forward but Thea grabbed hold of his arm. "No, Eli! No! You can't go out there! It's too dangerous!" 

"Mom! Mom, I have to! It's dad! He needs me!" he pleaded with her then turned to shout, "DAD!" again.

The police officers were so confused, switching back and forth between the two Werewolves and us. A few stepped closer, raising their guns and taking shots at the pair. 

"No! No, stop it!" Eli cried, still trying to get away from Thea. 

More officers opened fire and Thea's horrified face made her lose her grip on her son. Eli tugged his arm out of her hands and started running but Easton ran over to haul him off his feet. 

"Noooo! Put me down! Put me down!" 

Everything felt like it was in slow motion---I just couldn't tell if it was because I felt lightheaded or what---but the bullets fired were muffled along with the shouting from the officers and Eli. My gaze slowly switched to where Dennison and Werewolf were. The Werewolf had hopped off Dennison, screeching at the officers who all fearfully stepped back, a few calling into their radios of what they were seeing. 

And then there was Dennison. 

The man fell to his knees, breathing hard; his bloodied chest rising and falling before dropping to his hands in front of him. His head bowed while trying to catch his breath.

Just as Easton placed Eli down to try to talk to him, Thea was now trying to run to her husband so my boyfriend turned away from the teenager to grab hold of Thea. She shrieked for Easton to let her go, calling for Dennison through tears. 

I saw it happen, where Eli's body hunched over and his fingers raking into his hair; gripping at it while this faded out anguished cry came out of him. I was just standing there though because I felt like if I moved I'd fall. So I stared numbly at the way Eli's spine looked to protrude against the skin of his back and the snarling growl coming out of him made him curl his fingers more in his hair.

Blinking hard, I tried to talk to Eli but again I was so lightheaded.

"Eliiii!" 

When I opened my eyes---not sure when I closed them---Thea and Easton were shouting for the teenager who I couldn't see. He wasn't anywhere until I noticed where the pair in front of me were looking. 

Across the way, standing in front of his hunched over father, was Eli. He stood protectively in front of Dennison with his own clawed fingers curling inward at his sides, his ears now those of a wolf and the lower part of his face having elongated into a wolf's snout so that he could bare his teeth. Those red eyes of his locked on the officers looking back at him in disbelief. Their arms holding their weapons faltered while blinking repeatedly, the look of confusion on their faces. 

Eli gnashed his teeth at the officers, leaning forward and letting out this violent, thunderous roar that had all the officers' jaws drop. Even the raving Werewolf ducked its head and cowered back, more so when Eli turned his roar onto it. The Werewolf tried to brave on by screeching its own warning but the teenager in front of it snarled and gnashed his teeth back that finally made the Werewolf run off into the woods again.

The teenager kept his attention on the woods, his back that faced us was rising and falling to control himself before he finally turned to look at us with the Eli we were all familiar with. The boy's shoulders sulked, his eyes droopy for a moment before falling to his knees and leaned over his father lying on the floor. 

Thea broke out of her stupor, running to kneel on the opposite side of Dennison. Easton, on the other hand, whistled, signaling something to the remainder of our group down the road. The cars they had found---I'm assuming from how the Council arrived---sped down the road. Easton came over to my side, muttering that we were going to need to take advantage of the polices' stupor to get everyone out of here. 

I nodded, wincing when Maddox, Sr. moved my arm behind his neck and I hopped over to one of the cars where my dad eagerly was trying to get me into. He kept asking if I was alright and I nodded, groaning out that I just needed to get some ice. My dad and Aunt Penny shook their heads, telling me how stupid but brave it was for me to take the beating for Eli.

I glanced at them both between wincing again. "Really...? You guys are going to scold me for risking my life? Well, fuck... Lesson learned!" 

My dad's hand braced the side of my face, this soft look on his face. I could feel Aunt Penny carefully trying to place sweaters from everyone as a cushion against my lower back so that I wouldn't rest my tender back against anything. 

"You scared me, Son." I nodded, knowing that I did but then my dad leaned forward to kiss the side of my head. "But I'm so proud of you, Kale." 

I grinned, shrugging a shoulder while my dad made room for Easton to climb into the spot beside me. My dad was sitting next to Aunt Penny, Thatcher, Ophelia, and Alice in the middle seats of the long car while Valentine and Athena were up front. Valentine looked in the rearview mirror to ask Easton if the others were okay and the blond nodded.

"Yeah. Hollow helped Auric into the other car. All of them are secure so let's get the hell out of here while we still can." He looked out the window, probably at the police. "The officers are still in a daze from what happened so let's not wait till they break out of that!"

Valentine nodded, putting the car into drive and sped off, turning the wheel and following out onto the dirt road that led out of Blood Moon Falls. The other car our group piled into was leading in front so I was finally able to let out a breath that I had apparently been holding for a bit.  

"Are you in a lot of pain still?" I heard Easton whisper. 

Blinking, I turned to him; seeing that worry on his face again. I smiled at him, reminding him that I was an Advanced Hunter and that as bad as it might have looked, or felt, that I was going to be just fine. I promised him. Easton's brows furrowed, growling at me that I better not leave him alone out in the Alliance. That he was going to need me to show him around. I grinned back at him, nodding that I would once I had some rest.

Yawning out that I was tired, the blond Were nodded, his brows furrowing while shifting himself to sit a certain way so that I could lay my head against him without hurting my back. He looked uncomfortable with his arms braced outward on top of the seats and his back pressed up against the door.

When I asked him if he was sure he was going to sit like that for long, Easton shook his head to not worry about him and just for me to get some sleep. He gently pulled me toward him; resting my head against his chest and I sighed, glancing at my dad who smiled from where he was sitting. I smiled back before shutting my eyes and snuggling a bit more against Easton.

"Just sleep, Red," he whispered against my head. "I'll wake you once we're home."

Home. That sounded pretty damn good to me.

Weird. Blood Moon Falls had been my home after leaving the Society. And now it was bittersweet to hear that word 'home' because while I was going to a safe place to hide from all this madness... We were unable to help those remaining in town. With that Werewolf on the loose, it would make its way into town and Aunt Emeel's vision will be set into motion.

It kind of already was though with the officers having seen what they did. 

But as I opened my eyes for a moment, lifting them to stare out the window, I caught a glimpse of the "You're Now Leaving Blood Moon Falls" sign that brought us to the main highway. I stared out the window still, brows furrowing as I thought about something that would be bugging me for a while.

Nothing was ever going to be the same after today. Nothing. And that's what worried me.

❦ღ❦  

❦Back in the woods of Blood Moon Falls❦

There was silence other than the heavy panting of the Werewolf wandering through the woods. Every step it took would snap twigs and crunch leaves under its dirt and blood covered feet. The Were's lip curled, snarling at the buzzing of a fly that past by, snapping its jaws together to try and catch it. 

When it moved on, the Were's body hunched forward to keep a better eye on its surroundings. The demented look in its eyes didn't falter as every noise, color, and bush that it bumped into was a threat; making it claw at everything. It's head jerked into twitching motions, the chirping noises that were faint more profound with its hearing. 

Eventually, the Werewolf came to a clearing in the middle of the woods where a small pond lay untouched. The water still and clear. 

Seeing the water, the Were's instincts kicked in and it ran over, snarling to each side of itself---at absolutely nothing---before shoving its head into the water to gulp down mouthfuls. It raised its head every now and then, its gaze quickly bouncing from one side of the area to another and another and so on then dipped to drink more. 

With its thirst occupying its one-track mind, the Were was unaware of those in the trees making slow and stealth steps from out of the bushes. Their guns held at the ready as they closed in on the creature slurping at the water. By the time the Were's ears picked up that it wasn't alone, it was too late. 

The Werewolf turned, baring its over-fanged teeth and widening its eyes while letting out the piercing screech at the invaders. It only lasted a moment though since someone came from behind the creature and use the butt of their rifle to knock against the Werewolf's head a few times. Another two moved quickly to use irons to place around the neck and wrists of the snarling Werewolf. Its screech now one of panic as it was being held captive. 

Once it was harnessed, the three men backed away while holding securely onto the irons chains. They turned their attention to the left side of the woods they came from and another uniformed gentleman stepped out and stood at attention. 

An older man in a similar uniform emerged from where the first man came, followed by a young blonde woman. They shared the same features and scowling expressions as they made their way over to where their men held the struggling creature screeching and trying to claw its escape. 

"Sir," one of the men greeted, saluting the man which his two companions mirrored. 

The man nodded, muttering, "At ease, Gentlemen..." then lowered his blue eyes to the creature snarling at him. His brow rose, humming to himself before saying to no one in particular, "They all turn out the same... don't they? This one looks nothing like a Werewolf now that it sounds like a bird. Nothing fearsome about that." 

He turned to the young woman beside him.

"What do you think, Saphina?" He paid attention to the way she was studying the Werewolf in front of her, her brow rising. The corner of her lip curled upward and turned her blue gaze to the man who addressed her.

"I don't you should be collecting them... They should all be destroyed." 

A smile tugged at the man's lips, his hand resting on her shoulder, patting it gently. 

"You're mother was the same, Saphina, which is why I feel she passed on her strong-willed spirit to you once you were born. She would be proud to see you think the same way as she did."

"Don't you think that way, Father?" Saphina frowned, narrowing her eyes. 

The man nodded, "I do, yes. But there's just something..." he looked at the Werewolf, "Something riveting of having them feel so helpless and lost before taking their lives. I was always the more patient between your mother and I."

Saphina lowered a brow, glancing at the Werewolf baring its grit teeth at her. She narrowed her eyes at it, turning back to her father and asked what he planned on doing with it. She never felt that a Werewolf was worthy of being anything more than an 'it'. If there was anything less than an 'it' Saphina would have called it that instead.

"What I have been planning for a long while, my dear." The man nodded at his men, ordering for them to bring the Werewolf with the others. As the men obeyed, following behind the father and daughter as they were hauling the Werewolf, Saphina let out a long breath that she felt this was a waste of time.

"What's the point of capturing them if you are just going to release them again!" 

Not bothered by her strong tone---something else she'd gotten from her mother---the man grinned at her scowl; her blue eyes matching his other than the fair hair color they shared. He explained that this minor step was necessary, that it was more for their benefit than anyone else's. 

"How do you figure?" 

They were making their way back through the woods, to where they were camped at the very ends of it. They were traveling through from Europe once they caught wind of one of their smaller based facilities being ambushed by Werewolf mercenaries and stealing one of the experiments that had been left behind.

"Well, my dear Saphina, you and I are certainly trained to detect when a Werewolf is near and how to exterminate it. But you know who doesn't...?"

Saphina frowned again, shrugging. 

"Humans." 

The man's daughter's brows furrowed more, dropping her gaze to the wood floor and listened to the crunching of the leaves. She raised a brow after thinking on her father's words and then looked up at him in surprise. 

"You're going to scare them."

The man grinned, staring ahead. "Indeed. I'm going to scare the humans so much they'll be helpless---more than they already are." 

They came up to their campsite; most of their men lounging around in various spots. The pair walked through the came, nodding as a silent acknowledgment when they were greeted. Saphina stopped beside her father once they were by the large metallic container they kept at the end of the campsite. There were two guards posted at each side of the locked door. 

Saphina glanced at the one on the right whose green eyes shifted to hers. Her gaze softened, relaxing a bit and offered a small smile to him. There was a slight twitch to his lips to acknowledge her back before he straightened when Saphina's father greeted the two men.

"We've got another live one for you boys!" He stepped back, pulling his daughter with him so that the three men following with the screeching Werewolf could move forward. 

The two post-guards moved to unlock the large metallic container; one of them flipping on a switch to his rifle and it hummed to life with electric bolts running up and down the thin rod at the front. The first guard looked to his partner who nodded as a silent gesture that he was ready then the first grunted, pulling open the door. 

Saphina stood by her father, frowning at the barbed wire cage holding fifty other of the same type of Werewolf captured tonight. They were all snarling and screeching; their arms shooting out of the small square spaced barricade to try clawing at their captors. The man with the electric-bolt rifle cursed at them to back up as he used the taser-rifle to zap at a few Weres. 

The three men moved forward to add the new Werewolf into the cage; now joining in with its other wild-minded companions to rage against the cage and try to claw their way out. Once the container was shut tight and securely locked, the two men returned to their posts and the other three wandered off to join a group of fellow friends. 

Saphina started following her father after he acknowledged to the guards of a job well-done. He walked in front of her so he didn't see Saphina look over her shoulder again to give a sultry gaze to the man who was already staring after her. She turned away then, catching up to her father who started speaking again.

"It's almost time, Saphina. Almost time that we can release the hounds---or in this, Werewolves---and return the Society back to its natural glory." 

His daughter frowned, questioning if they were going to step in right away once the Werewolves were released. The man shook his head, "No. Not quite." he led the way to his tent where they had dinner every night before Saphina went to sleep in her own tent beside his. He gestured at her that she needed to learn patience because that's when it becomes worthwhile to see everything fall into place. 

"Which is why we'll let the humans deal with the Werewolves for now. Watch them squirm a bit until their helplessness gets the best of them. That's when we'll step in. That's when we'll be able to take back control... and make sure to never lose it again."

Saphina stared after her father, brows furrowed as she crossed her arms.

"And what of the half-breed...?"

Her father was leaned over the already laid out dinner for them and using a hand to wave the steam in his direction to take in the smell of the lemon-peppered chicken. The man scoffed, brows furrowing as he spared Saphina a glance. 

"What of him? It's one out of the many normal Werewolves we have to deal with."  

He frowned more, waving off her question. 

"Half-breed... Ha! That child is nothing to worry about, my dear daughter. He's just that, a child! And the only of his kind!"

"Perhaps, Father, but children do grow up. Just as this one will. And then what do you plan on doing? Letting him roam free? He's a Hybrid! Who knows what he's capable of!?" 

Her father's blue eyes darkened, shooting her a look and ordered for her to take a seat so that they could enjoy their dinner. He waited, staring her down before she rolled her eyes and stomped over to sit down and grab her fork to pick up a forkful of mashed potatoes. 

"There's no need to worry about the Half-breed, my dear," he had paused from eating to say this to her. She was annoyed with him, he knew, which was why she didn't look up at him. The man grinned, "But I admire that you want to cover all the bases." 

Saphina glanced up at him, that small smile on her lips. She was proud to be so approved by her father. 

"Now no more of this nonsense of the half-breed, hm?" he raised his brows and Saphina nodded, looking back at her plate. Her father nodded back and put a piece of chicken into his mouth, chewing as he scoffed again at the idea of the what had been brought to his attention back in Europe of an Advanced Hunter giving birth to a Werewolf child with Hunter blood mixed in its bloodstream. 

"That child will fall in line just as the rest of these despicable creatures! He's just like them---no matter if he has Hunter blood. He's unworthy of our Advanced Hunter title which is why the boy will die when the opportunity presents itself. One day soon."

The man grinned to himself, nodding as he sighed, "Yes... One day soon."