Beta Eric almost dropped the limp alpha in his jaw when Damien entered the clearing. He had successful found the girl. Her leg was wrapped in a red cloth—or perhaps a blood-soaked cloth. Damien was shirtless. Murder was written across his face.

Naomi was unconscious; Eric has seen Damien carry wounded members before, but he held her differently. He clutched her close to his chest protectively. His muscles were shaking, not from effort, but from unconcealed rage.

Eric stared, trying to figure out what message his eyes were communicating to his brain.

Damien's anger didn't cause Eric any confusion; it was the girl.

She had huge golden wings jutting out from her back.

Alpha? He asked.

Damien ignored him and gently set her down on a small incline off to the side of the clearing. Eric noted the sudden care and shift in demeanor from wanting to kill to wanting to protect.

Damien turned and looked at the alpha stuck in Eric's jaw. Suddenly, Damien was back in kill mode.

"Shift into your pathetic human form," Damien commanded. Eric dropped him and Maximus transformed into his human form, blood smeared across his throat. Damien stepped closer and stepped on Maximus' outstretched hand, making him shout in pain. "Did you know?" he asked sharply.

"Know what?" he asked, grimacing. Damien stepped of his hand, which Maximus drew into his chest. "That she's gullible and would fall for my trap?" Maximus spat at Damien, spit mixing with blood.

Damien grabbed Maximus by the throat and lifted him up. Maximus began to squirm. "Did you know what she was?"

Maximus's eyes widened in panic, almost popping out of his head. He nodded fervently, and Damien dropped him. Maximus grabbed his throat and gasped for air.

"Who else knows? Surely the Wereking would be interested in an angel."

"This birdling?" Maximus asked, cackling. He was smiling, but his eyes were unfocused, the blood loss obviously getting to his head. "And the Wereking is aware. He told me to keep her hidden until she blossomed. Then, I was to hand her over to him, of course after a little fee for taking such good care of her."

If Maximus were in his right mind, he would have known to leave out the fee part.

Eric bowed his head instinctively as Damien growled. "Why did the Wereking want her?" he asked.

Maximus just laughed. Damien lashed out and smashed his fist against his face. Maximus's laughter grew even louder.

"You know nothing of the winged ones?" he asked. "Surely you have not all forgotten! First, you forget the Hunt and now you know nothing of her? The winged one? You know nothing of the old magic. And you are too late."

Damien whirled and saw that Maximus's pack had arrived. Hundred of wolves watched on, standing at the edges of the circle. A single word was all that it would take.

"And there is my backup," Maximus said, laughing and wiping blood from his face. "Leave the girl, and we'll leave you and your beta in one piece. Each. Maybe."

Damien just smiled and snatched Maximus by his foot. Maximus growled, fear creeping into his eyes. Damien whirled him around and hung him over the bear trap that he had thrown into the clearing. Maximus realized what was happening and tried to shift.

Damien's eyes began to glow blue, and Maximus froze. He tried to shift again, but his wolf would not come out. "What are you?" Maximus accused, frantically flailing. He had never looked so pathetic, and his pack knew that very well. He looked like a dying rabbit in the jaw of a wolf.

"You think I know nothing of the old magic, do you?" Damien taunted. "Oh, I am well acquainted."

"I invoke the right as her alpha. Give her to me," he said weakly, stretching out his hand. A rabbit, panting for mercy.

"Her alpha will have her," Damien said.

With that, Damien dropped Maximus.

Shouts of terror escaped the pack as they watched the bear trap snap around Maximus' neck.

Damien brushed the dirt off his pants and turned to Eric. Eric nodded solemnly and shifted into his human form.

"To your meeting room now!" he shouted. He grabbed one of them and pulled him close. "Make sure your entire pack is there. Your alpha demands it." He nodded, fear lit in his eyes, and the werewolf sprinted off, forgetting to shift in his fear.

The stunned silence of Redwood did not last long. One by one, they bowed their heads to their new alpha.

"Go," Damien said softly. Obediently, they turned and ran back down the mountain.

Damien carefully walked over to where Naomi lay. He gingerly picked her up. Eric peered at his alpha, trying to read his mind. Nothing. "I am taking her to the clinic. Keep them at their meeting house until I am finished there," he said. "When I know she is in good hands, I will contact you and find you there."

"I have enough juice for a jump, alpha," Eric said.

Damien nodded. Eric reached out and his eyes glowed blue for a moment. Suddenly, they were teleported to the doors of the clinic. Damien nodded his thanks.

Eric pulled the door open and heard an exclamation inside. His ear pricked. A sudden urge pulled him inside, but he yanked himself back and jogged off to the meeting room.

"Naomi?" a girl exclaimed.

Damien looked up to see a small, brown-haired girl running up to them. Her eyes were huge with concern. She accused him with her eyes.

"What did you do to her?" she asked harshly. As the words left her mouth, she felt his dominance roll off him. She squeaked in panic and knelt into a bow. Suddenly, the rest of the room followed suite. "Alpha," she added in confusion.

"She needs medical attention now," he stated simply. The girl nodded and gestured for them to bring a cart. When they pulled it up, he set her down carefully. Damien noted that the brown-haired girl had tears running down her face.

"You'll be okay, Naomi. You'll be okay," she muttered. They started to roll her back and Damien followed closely behind. She placed her hand on her ankle and winced. She moved her hand higher up and gasped as she suddenly saw the wings. Her eyes flashed blue, and she swore. "Get her into operating room one. Get the IV prepped now," she barked. They continued to roll Naomi, but she stopped. She brought her hand to her mouth, and Damien saw her take a deep, controlled breath. 

"You are gifted?" Damien asked.

She nodded carefully and turned to him, keeping her eyes on the ground. "Yes, sir. What happened to her?"

Damien tugged on her chin to look up at him. She blinked. "You have nothing to fear from me. She shifted, but not in the way you expected. Maximus had planted a trap for her. Her leg got caught in his bear trap."

"He's dead," she stated simply. She was clenching her hands together to keep them from shaking. "We all felt it."

Damien nodded. "Yes. I killed him."

She took a step back in fear.

"What is your name?"

"Berry," she said softly. She sniffed softly, catching a scent off him. Damien frowned.

"Well, Berry. As your new alpha, let me assure you that you are not in harm's way. Tell your team to ignore the call for a mandatory meeting. For now, focus on keeping her alive."

Here eyes widened, and she whirled around to where they were holding Naomi.

He turned and walked out of the clinic. She would make it, but recovery was never a fun journey. He gritted his teeth and left, walking over to the meeting hall.

Eric met him at the door. "Everyone should be here shortly. There's maybe half already inside."

Damien nodded.

"She is your mate," Eric said shortly.

"She and I are connected," he said sharply.

Eric bowed in respect. "I mean no offense. I guess that makes our path forward considerably easier. Instead of finding the winged one and using alternative means, you've been led together and strung together. And now your army has doubled in size. Although half of them fight like children."

Damien nodded. His head was killing him. He shook it off. "Speaking of special connections, I found your mate," Damien said, glancing at Eric.

Eric nodded and grimaced. "I can smell her on you. In the clinic, yes?"

Damien nodded. "The two are close. That will make their transition easier. She can discern wounds. Which makes her perfect for you," Damien teased, looking down at the many scars that crossed his body.

"I gladly bear these scars. They represent our protected pack," he said. He winced again. "You are lucky to be my alpha. Her scent on you is..." he paused... "aggravating." He took a deep breath.

"Let us finish here. Once Naomi is out of her hands, you will be free to find her. I see no reason that your connection should remain quiet." Eric nodded. Damien clapped a hand on Eric's back. "Thank you, Eric. I am grateful to call you my beta."

"Thank you, alpha."