Stalking through the forest following an elk trail was a pure black wolf with a metal leg, a grey timber wolf, and a brown and black wolf leading. They had been tracking the elk trail for a while. Their noises were to the ground occasionally, helping them follow the fresh scents on the ground. Careful to not step on branches or underbrush that would possibly give their positions away. As the scents grew fresher and closer, they would slow down despite the clear anticipation in their bones. The brown-black wolf raised its head, ears twitching. The two wolves flanking either side of the other wolf paused mid step, listening to the calls of the elk herd. There were younger elk, but they would need a bigger one for the sole reason they came for the elk.

The golden hazel eyes of the brown-black wolf swept over its two pack mates. Pointing with its nose in opposite directions. Seeming to understand, the two split off and went in either direction. The leading wolf headed straight. A herding tactic they had learned over the years to help bring down large prey.

Nervousness prickled at the wolf's fur, but he bit it down. Even if they had a newer pack member on this important hunt, he had experience hunting on his own. How else would he have of survived on his own? Shaking his head, golden hazel eyes refocused on the task at hand. Letting his body's instinctual response take over to the smell of the elk, hyper focus setting in.

Stalking forward, he would wait for the subtle signal that his two pack mates had settled and were awaiting his move. Once given, the male locked his gaze onto the grazing elk herd. Oblivious to the three wolves as they stayed upwind to avoid being caught. Time seemed to slow down as the brown-Black wolf launched from the underbrush covering him. The elks heads shot up in surprise and they cried out in startle, some quick to flee, others taking a moment to realize what had just happened. The wolf locked his sights onto a slower moving, older, elk. Golden hazel eyes catching sight of a leg injury that helped to slow the large herbivore down. Paws hits the ground, claws digging in and helping propel him forwards. The elk called out, trying its best to outrun the wolf gaining on it. He began herding it from its herd, his other two pack mates launching out of hiding to aid.

They circled around the elk, forcing it to turn away from its fleeing herd. Nipping at its ankles and taking bites here and there to encourage it to move. They began leading it back the way they came, to help lessen how far they had to drag the carcass. After all, it was a special carcass for a special event. The elk looked distraught at being herded away, but didn't want to succumb to the inevitable doom of the wolves at its heels. The black and timber wolves ran ahead of the other male, flanking the elk to ensure it didn't try to veer off on either side. The elk jumped a log when the brown-black wolf went to take a bite at it. He bit back a yelp as searing pain came from his left side where the elk had kicked him mid jump. If he had stumbled, it went unnoticed by his hunting party. They were focused on the stumbling and slowing elk.

The leading wolf, who was at the back, leapt forwards and up. Ignoring the pain in his left front leg and part of his chest. Grabbing ahold of the backend of the elk and digging both claws and teeth in. The herbivore cried out in pain, that gave the signal to his other pack mates to join in. He jumped off when the elk stumbled and threatened to fall. The three wolves took turns biting at the elk until it began to topple on its front legs. The black wolf with the metal leg snapped its jaws around the elk's jugular, quickly ending its life as the elk, now simply a corpse, fell to its side.

The three backed off, taking a few moments to pant and catch their breath. Giving each other pleased smiles and huffs of happiness and encouragement. Tails wagged and they soaked up each others appreciation for one another. After that, each of them grabbed a part of the elk and began to drag it the way they were leading the hoofed animal. Back towards the compound where they could store the elk and keep it fresh until it was needed for its intended purpose.

Once back at the compound, the timber wolf and black wolf dragged the elk off to the freezer to keep it fresh. The brown-black wolf trotted to the forest line and shifted.

Tony got dressed, running a hand through his hair. He cursed in pain when he used his left arm, deciding to cradle it to his chest instead. He poked at his chest where the hoof of the animal grazed it, finding it tender and sore. Luckily it didn't look, or feel, like he had any broken bones in that area. Brushing it off, he began his trek back up the hill to the compound's residential building where the pack resided. Upon entering the building, he made a beeline down the hallway to his room. Hoping to change out of his clothes and get a better look at his body and injuries. After all, an elk hoof could kill a wolf if hit in the right spot. That made Tony's anxiety rise.

Steadying his breathing, he closed his bedroom door behind himself. Heading for the walk in closet. Tony stripped free of his long sleeved shirt, grinding his teeth at the pain of using his left arm at the moment. 'Sir, if I must, may I suggest seeing the compound's doctor?' JARVIS piped up, having already scanned the engineer for the extent of his injuries internally from the hit. Tony thought over it for a moment, about to answer JARVIS when a text message list up his phone's screen. So that's where he left his phone this morning. On the table in his wardrobe, lovely. "Sorry J, Alpha Righteous calls for a team building exercise." He sighed, grabbing a long sleeved shirt that allowed his skin to breathe and pulled it over his head. Grimacing at the pain. 'But sir-' Tony cut JARVIS off. "I promise I will afterwards, okay? I- I can't mess this one up." Tony muttered the last part, but JARVIS surely heard it. 'I shall hold you to your word, sir.' JARVIS assured, coaxing a gentle smile out of Tony. "I hope so, buddy."

Tony emerged from his room, heading to the gym in the compound as instructed. He adjusted his shirt sleeves nervously. He shook his head viciously, clearing his mind of any anxieties. Well, attempting to at least. He didn't know what made him so nervous about this entire thing. He was the damn beta of this pack! With that thought, he tried to steel his expression as he waltzed Into the gym. Looking around, he was fashionably late as always. The last one to always show up, because he was Tony fucking Stark and he did what he wanted.

Steve Rogers looked over to him and narrowed his eyes. "Late as always, Stark." His tone was scolding and Tony did his best to hide the subtle flinch that was his response. The others were gathered around in a circle, Tony took notice of Peter being there too. He gave a friendly smile to the kid, ruffling his hair in passing. Peter squawked, fumbling to fix it. "Mr. Stark!" He whined. Tony laughed, grinning over his shoulder at the kid. "Calm down, kid. It's just hair." Peter huffed at that, but couldn't help but smile. Tony had to admit, with the whole transforming into a wolf thing, it helped his relationship with the kid grow even more.

"Alright." Steve began, getting everyone's attention. "Today is a team building exercise, I decided Peter would be a good addition today. Plus it will be a good lesson for the yearling." Captain Self Righteous explained. Tony was secretly hoping to be placed with his apprentice, after all, the kid was his responsibility. Seemed the Star Spangled Banner had other plans though as he started naming off pairs. "Natasha and Clint." The redheaded assassin and archer split from the group to take a place on the mat. "Bucky and Thor." The metal armed man and the Goldilocks look a like also took a spot on the mat. "Bruce and Peter." Peter looked surprised, and Bruce looked nervous. Peter gave the scientist a reassuring smile and the two went to a corner of the mat. "That leaves you with me, Tony." Steve declared. Tony gave a smirk to the super soldier. So perhaps he was mentally regretting not taking JARVIS' advice and skipping this to get his arm checked out.

As everyone claimed their spots on the mats, Steve and Tony stared each other down. Split from the other pairs a bit. The two wolves circled each other, focusing on the other's movements and placement of limbs and weight. Tony took his chances and struck first, going for a hit to the blond's arm. Steve dodged the hit, but didn't dodge the other attack from Tony. Tony had wrapped his foot around his ankle and pulled it out from under him, unbalancing him. Steve stumbled, moving to quickly stabilize himself. He grabbed Tony's arm and pulled the male towards him, attempting to spin him around so his back was against his chest. Tony allowed himself to be pulled to the male's chest, before he brought his foot back and kicked the alpha in the balls. Steve's face contorted and he let go of Tony. Cheap shot, but totally worth seeing Steve fall to the mat in pain. Serves him right. Tony backed up, awaiting the male to get over hi initial shock of the kick to the nether regions.

Panting, Steve clambered to his feet. Enraged by the cheap shot the beta gave him. He lunged for Tony, pulling his punches less this time. He kicked the brunet's feet from under him, grabbing him by the left arm and holding him somewhat up by that. Tony grimaced at the sharp pang of pain radiating in his left arm. It took all of his inner strength not to whimper. Steve got closer to his ear and he shied away slightly. "Cheap shot, Stark. Pathetic of you." He snarled in a whisper before dropping the male and backing up. "That all you got? Get up and come at me, Stark." He growled challengingly. Tony panted silently, his brain telling him to give up and get out of there. But he clambered to his feet, glaring Steve down.

Tony lunged for Steve, hitting the male across the face. Anger behind his punches. He circled around the back of Steve after hitting him in the jaw, kicking him in the back of the knees. Steve fell forwards, but he reached backwards with his left arm and threw Tony over him to the mat by his left arm. Tony yelped out in obvious surprise and clear pain. The cry of pain managed to get others' attention.

Steve straddled Tony, pinning his arms down with unneeded and unnecessary force. Tears sprang to Tony's eyes at the ever growing pain in his arm and he whimpered. Unable to control or hide it anymore. His whimpers were desperate and full of pain, averting his attention. When Steve pushed on his left arm further, he cried out again. Tears brimming his eyes began to leak out and down his face at the sharp pain that Rogers was only making worse.

A red and black blur appeared and Steve was off of him. Tony panted heavily, trying to get up to see what had just happened. Bruce who had appeared behind him, helped him sit up. Peter was at his other side, watching in awe at the tackle and, looking to Tony in concern for his well being.

Natasha had sprang at Steve, tackling him off of Tony with enough force to send both the redhead and the blond super soldier tumbling. Rage in her eyes as she pinned the frisbee wielding alpha below her, the anger seeping through as punches to his face and other appendages. The sight of seeing Steve over Tony and the brunet crying out in pain had sent her into a feral type state of mind. Her vision red at the edges. Her attacks were constant and Steve had a hard time trying to cover his face to block them. Hands grabbed at the back of her workout shirt and pulled the enraged redhead off. Clint wrapped his arms around her and pulled her away, Thor positioning himself to block her path to the now Injured, and stunned, alpha. Natasha panted heavily and angrily, glaring daggers at Steve. Her attention turned soft when her emerald eyes fell on Tony.

Tony looked around the room, his breathing turning heavy quickly. It felt as if all eyes were on him. His head was beginning to spin from the rising sea of anxiety and the pain in his arm. He scrambled to his feet, ignoring the voices calling his name and trying to hold him back. He snapped and clawed their hands off of him. Running from the room in a confused and panicked manner. Nearly running into the door on his way out.

It was a haze to him on where he was going, but he somehow ended up in his room. Sitting against the door on the floor, tears streaming down his face and stumbling to catch his breath. Which seemed nearly impossible. The pain in his arm was searing hot and it only made his crying worse. He gently cradled it to his chest, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. 'Sir?' It took a few repeats of the call before Tony realized JARVIS was attempting to get his attention. 'Sir would you like me to call someone? Ms. Potts perhaps?" His A.I. offered quietly, to not startle him further. Tony viciously shook his head no. "R-.. Rhodey. Call Rhodey." He rasped our through panted crying and breathing. His voice shaky and broken. The voices in his head taunting him on how pathetic, weak, useless he was. 'Calling James Rhodes.' JARVIS responded.

It took a few rings before the call was picked up, Tony's phone lighting up with Rhodey's face popping up on the holoscreen emitted from his phone. "Tony?" He questioned before realizing the state of matters the brunet was in. "Tony, oh my gosh. What happened?" His tone was soft, concerned, and worried. Never had he seen his best friend like this. Not since his parents passed away. Tony took a shaky breath before recalling to Rhodey what had happened. Fumbling over his words, most of them choked out and broken as his voice shook with unseen tears.

It took a bit to get through the explanation, but James Rhodes took it well, listening to his every word and waiting for him to finish. With a steeled expression and a voice low and cold, Rhodey started at his best friend.

"Tony. I am coming down there."

A/N Hell, writing this made me tear up because poor Tony. But uh oh! Rhodey's coming down for a visit!

Anyways, have a good day/night! <3