Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Together forever,

never apart.

Maybe in distance,

but never in heart.[1]

Simon’s eyes travelled from the open children’s book next to their nest back to his Johnny.

He liked the story, because it formed the words which his tongue couldn’t form. When Luna had been with him here just yesterday, he had tried to lull her to sleep with reading the story to her. It was a gift from Gaz, who couldn’t have picked a sweeter story. A young pup, who got separated from his pack in a storm, fighting their way through the night until the echoes of howls lead them back to their family.

While he had read the story to the little pup in his arms, Simon’s thoughts had been with Johnny, taken from him in the living nightmare Makarov had created. But now?

Now Johnny was in his arms, and again he was dreaming. His eyes switched a little restless behind his eye lids, but Simon’s fingers brushed the remains of the nightmare gently away, pressing Johnny’s shivering body close until he relaxed. Soft kisses on Johnny’s face made the Beta purr and cuddle closer into his arms, and Simon couldn’t bring himself to sleep himself.

He was tired, exhausted and his muscles hurt, but he didn’t dare to fall asleep.

Having Johnny here, so close under his fingers and his scent in his nose, was finally being home again. He was irrational, he knew it, but if he slept and woke up, and all this was just a dream?

Simon shuddered at the thought, and settled closer to Johnny. Watching him sleep, settled everything in Simon’s mind which was agitated, haunted or restless. It was like a cure to a sickness, a balm for a fresh wound. It was like breathing in the cold forest air, after crawling out of your own grave.

Johnny was here. Johnny was really here.

The time of lonesome dreams was over, and cold worry and fear had to make room for warm cuddles and kisses.

Leaning forwards, Simon buried his face in Johnny’s hair, breathing in deeply to drown in the beautiful mix of cinnamon and honey, the scent of home he hadn’t smelled for far too long. From now on, there wouldn’t be the stinging scent of loneliness in the wind, but the promise of his pack, safety and his Johnny.

His whole family was united, and safe. His pack was complete again.

Simon was complete again.

Johnny stirred in his sleep, but didn’t wake. Simon smiled warmly, daring to pull Johnny closer even more. Gently brushing a lose strand of hair out of Johnny’s forehead, Simon smiled and allowed himself to close his eyes for just a moment.

The bone-gnawing, unsettling howl of an angry Alpha ripped him wide awake.

At once, his wolf heart raced – Simon’s eyes turned golden, his wolf itched under his skin to shift at the sound of alert, ready to fight any intruder who dared threatening his mate.

But it was Alejandro howling, and Simon’s wolf loosened his jaws, when the sound of anger and rage turned into a pitiful, heart-breaking whine.

Simon’s eyes snapped to Johnny, who had jolted up at the howl as well. Ocean-blue eyes were full of fear and confusion. He looked around as if not knowing where he was and blinked a few times, holding his head. While Simon’s wolf ached to run out into the living room where the whining came from, to see what the fuck had happened now, he instead leaned forward and pulled Johnny into a tight, protective hug, until their heartbeats beat in unison.

Promptly, Johnny relaxed under his touch, and Simon’s wolf calmed down right away.

“Whit happened?”

Simon gently kissed Johnny’s temple, before pulling him up. “I don’t know.”

He helped Johnny getting dressed, stuffing him up in an oversized shirt of his own, while slipping into a lose pair of sweatpants himself. The honey in his nose was too sweet, and the cinnamon had a sharp aftertaste – Simon stopped and turned around, staring into those eyes he had missed for too long. Johnny was tired, deep bags were under his eyes, and he looked as if he needed to sleep for a whole week nonstop. Simon hesitated, but then he smiled, cupping Johnny’s face tenderly.

“No matter what happened now, Johnny – you’re safe. I’m here. You’re here. You’re home. Everything’s going to be alright.”

It just had to.

Johnny squeezed Simon’s hand and there it was – his smile. The smile of a warrior, smiling through the pain, even if he didn’t feel like doing so. It was Johnny’s typical smile, the smile of the bravest man Simon knew.

And Simon would fight like hell that that smile would reach his lover's eyes again.

Leaning forwards, Simon nudged Johnny gently, pressed a kiss on his lips and then pulled him along.

Opening the door alone made his wolf flinch immediately. Anger and rage, mixed with-

Simon blinked, his heart dropping.

-mixed with grief filled his nose.

Scanning the room quickly, Simon’s eyes snapped down to Alejandro on the floor. He was human, in the moment, held his head and cried. While most of their pack gathered around him, Gaz approached him carefully, but Alejandro flinched under the touch and let out a deep, fierce growl. Price was next to Gaz at once, eyeing Alejandro sternly.

Simon squeezed Johnny's hand harder, a nauseous feeling forming inside his guts, and remained quiet.

"I'm gonna kill her. I'll rip her head off her shoulders, I'll skin her alive, I'll make her wish she was never born!"

Having an Alpha threatening one so deeply usually even put the most confident Alpha into alert. Price seemed deeply calm though. Simon frowned, only now noticing thick bandages showing through at the corners of his sleeves.

Gaz' hand gently pulled Price back, but the Alpha didn't move.

"You can do anything you want with her, Alejandro... But first, we'll do as Laswell says."

Alejandro snarled, and for a moment Simon thought he'd snap and attack. Nik was moving in the background instantly. Though clearly exhausted and injured himself, his eyes fixed on Alejandro threateningly as he growled.

It only took one second until Alejandro's growl changed into another whine.

A grieving whine. Simon didn't dare to ask, because whatever he just watched, this couldn't be. Johnny was home now. Everything was supposed to be alright now.

He couldn't-

"Where are Rudy and Luna?"

Johnny's voice was as steady as his grip around Simon's hand. All eyes moved to them - Price and Gaz and Nik, Farah and Alex. Only Alejandro kept hiding his face behind his hands, sobbing quietly, a broken man and Simon didn’t dare to ask himself why.

Simon fixated Price patiently until the Alpha answered, his heart clenching more with every second, because despite his thoughts, his pack wasn’t united. Johnny was right.

Rudy and Luna should have been home by now.

Price’s voice was quiet. "It seems they never reached the safe house."

Together forever,

never apart.

Maybe in distance,

never in heart.

Simon's hand almost crushed Johnny's fingers. He felt ocean-blue eyes staring at him, and that Johnny's fingers were cold and tensed. Price's gaze was sharp, but a softness spread within them. He didn't take his eyes from Simon.

"Laswell located the GPS signal of her car. Her men are dead. We don't have sign of neither Rudy nor Luna yet, but..." Price made a grimace. "Scents. Of the Garza pack. And Roba. I'll go with Alejandro and track them down as long as they're fresh."

Gaz scoffed and Nik grunted at the same time. They exchanged a glance, before Gaz eyed his mate sharply. "That's not going to happen. You're lucky they even let you out of hospital. You'll stay. I'll go."

Price sighed tiredly. "You're exhausted. You said so yourself and I'll-"

"Who's not injured?"

Simon's own, steady voice sounded strange in his own ears, but at least it cut off the starting bickering between Price and Gaz. His eyes travelled over his family - he saw wounds on everyone, even if their shifter blood healed them faster. Price and Alex were clearly supposed to be in bed, given their states of being wrapped up in bandages, bruised and sporting scarring wounds. Nik probably should be in bed, too, a deep tiredness speaking out of his eyes. Farah and Gaz seemed to be fine, but they looked over exhausted and pale. Simon made a grimace and let out a huff, turning his head to Johnny, as the only reasonable answer formed inside his head.

"I'll go with Alejandro."

He moved forward, raising Johnny's hand to his lips to plant a soft kiss on it. Johnny didn't disagree, but the wave of worry was strong in Simon's nose. He didn't want to leave Johnny so soon. He had wanted to spend the rest of the whole month inside their nest, but he was the only one who wasn't a complete mess right now. At least he thought so.

Maybe he hadn’t really understood just what the others were saying, because a part of him was crashed, but another part of him was just strangely… calm.

Rudy and Luna were gone. They needed to be searched for. They had a scent to follow, tracks to find, before they vanished by rain and with time.

The others had fought in battle, he had only fought Makarov shortly. Simon had to go. It was a logic decision.

Shoving all thoughts aside, Simon crooked a smile at Johnny, brushing gently over his cheek. "Keep our nest warm. I’ll be home in a bit."

Johnny didn't speak, but after a long moment, he nodded. Simon let out a deep breath, looking back to Price and Alejandro, who had stopped sobbing and whose eyes were now filled with hope. Seeing the Alpha cry, grieving for his mate and pup already it seemed, woke some unease in Simon, but he quickly pushed it away.

The strange calmness which had taken possession of him, he didn’t understand, but it certainly was of use right now. He looked back to Price. "Where is Laswell?"

Price grimaced. "Injured herself. She said she'll send some trucks over here though. They should be here soon."

Simon nodded. He hesitated, before pressing another soft kiss on Johnny's head, letting go of their physical connection with their hands only reluctantly. Looking at him, grounded him, but it also woke the desire to stay here, drag Johnny back into their nest and just forget about anything what might be the truth.

A part of him didn’t want to go. A part of him didn’t want to know, because it just couldn’t be. He swallowed hard, pulling Johnny to his chest. The Beta didn’t fight back, and Johnny’s cold fingers brushed over his back in a soothing, familiar way Simon wanted to drown in. He breathed in heavily, before he forced himself to turn his attention back to Price. "What about Reyes and Chuy?"

Price shook his head. "Reyes had to stay in hospital. He'll heal, but it was close. Chuy is with him."

Simon nodded briefly. Another time, he pressed a kiss on Johnny’s head who was so unusually quiet. Stepping forward to pull Alejandro up, Simon cleared his throat. His friend was a mess, and injured and healing himself, but Simon knew that Alejandro never would stay back.

Simon wouldn't stay back, if his mate and his pup were-

He turned sharply to Price. "In case they attack, you need to put on watch everyone who doesn't need to lie down immediately.”

Simon overstepped in the line of command, but right now, he didn’t care, acting on instinct. Price didn’t object, and so Simon continued, side-eyeing Alejandro. "And I think it's time to call in another favour from Graves. We need every man we can get."

Alejandro growled straight away. "Graves was the one who called Valeria here. When I’m done with her, I swear I’ll-"

Simon narrowed his eyes. "Graves is in fucking love with your boyfriend, Alejandro. He's an asshole, but he'd never do-" He stumbled over his words, his heart beat skipping a beat.

Snow covered the path to the house. The door was open. It was quiet.

He clenched his hands into fists, paling, pushing those memories away. “He’d never do this.”

A silence spread, in which Alejandro grinded his teeth so hard, that it must hurt. Eventually, he let go, huffing and rubbing his forehead. "Damn that pendejo. You're right."

Price and Simon shared a long look, until Simon broke the contact with turning around to Johnny. As if being magnets, they found each other again, hiding themselves in each other’s bodies from the world, at least for a moment. Breathing felt easier when Johnny was around, and Simon didn’t want to leave.

He didn’t want to leave Johnny.

And he didn’t want to find what they were looking for.

“They shouldn’t be alone, John.”

Gaz’ voice was quiet, but loud enough to hear. From the corner of his eyes, Simon saw Gaz whispering to Price, both mates also entangled in a hug. Everyone seemed to be shocked, not quite processing what this meant.

Rudy and Luna hadn’t reached the safehouse. Laswell’s agents were dead.

There were scents of Valeria’s wolves and of Roba.

Tommy was dead.

Beth was dead.

Simon already felt like throwing up, but the fucking silence in the house made his ears ring, because there was still someone missing.

Simon’s grip tightened around Johnny, and fighting away a sudden upcoming anger, he pulled himself free. After another long, passionate kiss, he moved away.

Outside, the den laid in moonshine. The night was dark, but refreshingly cool, and the recruits outdoors immediately looked up as soon as Simon stepped outside.

Questions laid in their eyes, as well as exhaustion, tiredness and grief. Promptly, Simon caught sight of several body bags - seven of them - and his heart tightened in pain.

They had lost seven recruits. Seven members of their family.

"Whit happened?"

Simon turned around sharply, confused and angry with himself that he hadn't heard the other Alpha approaching.

Johnny's father stood in front of him. Someone had given him something to wear. The man looked more alive than any of them right now, even if his skin was grey and thin, and it was visible now that he was slightly malnourished. Despite his state, the man looked at him seriously and when his gaze travelled over to Johnny who had stepped out behind Simon, Simon felt Johnny's hand at once in his own.

He watched father and son for a second, but before he could answer, Price already did.

"One of our Omegas is missing, including our pup."

It didn't really sum up what they felt in the moment, even if it was true. Simon side eyed Price as his short explanation, noticing a glassy expression in his eyes, and a small tremor in his hands.

They needed to rest. All of them.

And Simon should bring Rudy and Luna home, and then they all could just lay in the living room together, cuddling and sleeping and-

Alpha MacTavish stepped forward, ocean-blue eyes turning golden in the moment, and Simon realised that he didn’t even know his name.

"Let me help ya."

Simon hesitated, his gaze wandering over the man in front of him. "You should probably rest."

The Alpha chuckled. "Rest? I ken finally run. And huntin’ down someone who steals pups..." His gate travelled to Johnny for a moment, his jaw tensing. "I will help ya tear his flesh from his limbs, no matter who that fuckin’ bastard is."

Maybe this man would exactly be the help they needed. Alejandro was lost in emotions, Simon wasn’t sure what he was. And none of the others could help them, and someone needed to protect the den, and-

“Who are you even?”

Alejandro frowned at MacTavish, and the Alpha smiled briefly. “James MacTavish. I had hoped tae talk later. And we should.” James MacTavish gazed back to Johnny another time. “This is about pups. We shouldn’t waste any second longer.”

He was probably right. Simon squeezed Johnny’s hand, not fancying the idea of leaving Johnny back, but at least he was at home and safe and surrounded by his pack.

“You’re his father?”

Alejandro frowned again, then shook his head. “Well- yes. Please, let’s just go, and let’s just… talk later. And to all the rest of you.”

The rest meant the variety of wolves who apparently hadn’t landed in hospital. There were a lot of shifters Simon recognized from the cages in Makarov’s hideout, cuddling with each other and watching them quietly.

Shifters without a home, or at least without a direction what to do right now. Laswell’s men were probably overworked with what they found in Makarov’s base.

Simon hesitated and huffed. “Yes. Let’s go, please.”

Shifting into their wolf forms, stepping onto the forest ground at night under the glowing moonshine usually was something freeing, joyful. Right now, the shimmering moonlight was the only thing which guided Simon’s steps and helped him to focus.

He heard the trucks before he saw them, and more than he had expected. Laswell let down a window, an arm in a sling, and a pissed expression on her face. “Get in.”

They didn’t get told twice.

The drive wasn’t long, though hearing Alejandro’s suppressed whining made it difficult. Watching Johnny’s father distracted Simon from the haunting sound at least. The Alpha had his head out of his window, his tongue in the wind, and reminded him so much of Johnny that it hurt.

Very fast the Alpha’s mood changed though, and as a wave of distressed pheromones hit Simon unprepared, he flinched his nose.

MacTavish howled.

Simon’s hair stood up on end, and agitated he jumped up. Alejandro already scratched restlessly at the door, until his paws opened the handle. The truck only managed to stop in time. Alejandro landed face first in the mud, Alpha MacTavish was already gone with a single, graceful leap. Simon looked back at Laswell.

“My men will follow, be careful.”

He nodded. Alejandro already was gone, and Simon made way fast to follow him close behind.

The faint scent of blood laid in the air. And something else, way thicker – fear.

Simon’s heart clenched, but he jogged forwards, easily catching up with Alejandro. MacTavish seemed to have something else in the nose, because he went somewhere else. Simon and Alejandro stopped their tracks, looking at each other and then leaping after the Alpha.

While Alejandro’s nose was on the ground, barks and snarls accompanying his every step, with an occasional whine from time to time, Simon’s mind and senses were sharp and focused on their environment. He did smell Rudy, but only faintly. Traces of Garza’s wolves were thicker, but spread throughout the area. No trace of Roba.

Confused and somehow relieved, Simon followed Alejandro’s tracking. MacTavish was out of sight already.

They stopped after a while, when other scents joined into the mix of wolves, and the smell of fear and blood became thicker. Simon stopped, hesitating and sniffing now as well.

Someone had fought here. Stranger shifters had fought with Valeria’s wolves. And there was-

Alejandro barked once, hopeful, pained and leaped away. Simon cursed as he caught up, worried his friend would run just in another trap, worried that Valeria indeed had planned this just to-

He froze.

Simon blinked, irritated watching the scene which occurred before him.

There was MacTavish, cuddling, whining and licking another wolf. A smaller wolf, with the same shade of almond brown as his own.

There was… another MacTavish.

Alejandro’s heart-breaking howl ripped him and both MacTavish and his friend out of their thoughts. Shifting as he stumbled forwards, Alejandro dropped on his knees, sobbing, and mumbling some incoherent, Mexican words.

Simon’s heart dropped.

“Rudy…”

Rudy’s body laid still. It was covered in blood, his pale skin reflecting the bright moonlight. Simon perked his eyes, his heart beat fastening, trying to locate a heartbeat.

“I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her, I’ll kill her, I’ll-“

Alejandro’s hands shivered, his whole body shook with rage. Simon stared at Rudy’s body, then he leaped forward and shifted, pressing a finger on Rudy’s throat.

“He’s alive, Alejandro.”

A faint, but existing heartbeat. Relief washed over Simon, and he started to shiver as well, but some part inside him also started working. He examined Rudy’s body for still open wounds, and didn’t find any. He had multiple biting wounds, deep wounds, but all of them were healed. The biggest problem probably was the blood loss and Simon looked up, when he noticed that Alejandro had frozen.

Probably under shock, staring at his unmoving mate, Alejandro simply sat there, doing nothing. Simon snapped at him, grabbing forward to pack his neck, pulling their foreheads together.

“I need you awake. Your mate’s alive. He needs to go to hospital immediately, his heartbeat’s weak.”

Alejandro woke from his shock. He nodded, but didn’t speak, hands travelling over Rudy’s body, unsure what to do. Simon cursed, and looked over to MacTavish and the other shifter, both now shifting back into their human forms.

Next to Johnny’s father there now was a young woman, with dark eyes. She swallowed, clearly fighting with tears. “He’s alive. Me pack’s after those other wolves, I’d hoped ya would look for yar friend.”

Simon wasn’t sure who she was, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. This was too much right now, and his mind surely would explode soon. But he was the fucking Alpha here right now, and he had to concentrate, and Rudy needed him, and Alejandro was a fucking mess and-

“Elsie. Call them back. There are shifters and humans after us who will help.”

MacTavish wiped over his face, brushing over the woman’s head softly, suddenly stepped forward and squeezed Alejandro’s shoulder, while kneeling next to Simon. “We’ve got him. He needs ya now, alrigh’? So, pull yarself together. Ya ken break later.”

Alejandro blinked, wiping away some tears and nodded. MacTavish sighed, gently squeezing Alejandro’s neck and Simon was surprised his friend allowed the gesture from a stranger. With another glance to Rudy’s unmoving body, Simon shivered himself.

“Take his hand. Talk tae him. Yar friends will be here soon.”

While the woman – Elsie – had shifted back, and howled at the moon, Alejandro gently took Rudy’s hand, led it to his lips and kissed it softly. Simon hesitated, exchanging a glance with MacTavish.

The Alpha’s eyes were serious. Simon swallowed.

Rudy needed blood, and that soon.

“Where’s the nearest hospital?”

MacTavish spoke quietly, but Alejandro heard him nevertheless. His gaze flickered over to them, and Simon shrugged, trying to lower his voice into a tone which Alejandro wouldn’t hear.

“Too far with a truck.”

MacTavish made a grimace. “Fuck.”

Indeed.

There wasn’t much he even could do right now. Simon only could keep watch, and gathering some hope when in Elsie’s howling joined in other ones, answering and promising of a soon arrival. He could only sit next to Alejandro, watching him holding it together for his mate, who couldn’t even hear him.

At some point though, Simon heard footsteps, and in the distance, something else. Looking up into the sky, the night suddenly lit up with light and the Shadows’ helicopter never looked more beautiful.

“I dunno why yar friends with the Shadows, but I’m glad me son’s mate has so many helpers.”

MacTavish nudged him, a gentle smile on his lips. Elsie perked up at that, her head spinning around and Simon felt stared at. Ignoring her for now, simply for the fact that he was overwhelmed in the moment, he grunted and kept an eye on the helicopter searching a spot to land nearby.

“They’re not really our friends.”

“They’re not?”

MacTavish frowned and Alejandro grunted in answer for Simon. “No. It’s… complicated.”

Complicated didn’t do their relationship with Graves any justice. For now, Simon was grateful they had him. Or maybe he was just grateful for the man’s crush for Rudy.

A deep venom spread in Simon’s veins, as he watched like from afar Laswell’s men and Shadows alike moving forward, lighting up the night, talking and working. As if under a spell, Simon saw Graves kneeling next to Alejandro. The man’s lips moved, but Simon didn’t understand him.

He felt like under water, when the impact of his actions finally hit him.

Simon had wanted Valeria’s wolves. Alejandro had warned him about them and he hadn’t listened.

Valeria’s wolves had almost killed Rudy. Their brat, their annoying brat, but he was their brat.

Luna was nowhere in sight.

“We found a photo, Commander.”

Simon perked up at that. His head snapped to the Shadow approaching Graves, who was watching someone moving Rudy gently into the helicopter. Alejandro was with him, and someone had been decent enough to give him a blanket to cover himself.

Simon however, eyed the man next to Graves sharply, and as if feeling his gaze, he turned around. It was the one called Oz, Graves’ lapdog.

Simon growled. “What photo?”

After taking and staring at it, Graves’ jaw tensed. He passed it to him wordlessly.

‘He’s next.’

The venom in his veins transformed into a deep, bone-gnawing snarl. His hands clenched around the photo, his wolf heart beating so loud and so fast that it nearly jumped out of his chest.

The thing about nightmares was, that one could never prepare for them. You could try whatever remedy you had home, but when you felt cosy, when you felt home and safe and protected, it would sneak up on you. Out of the shadows. When you were the most vulnerable.

Shifting and howling at the moon, he hoped Roba would hear it.

He had gotten his message, but it wouldn’t become true.

Roba would be the next.

[1] after Helen Keller

Chapter Text

Soap had ached for this, dreamed about this.

Returning to his home, to his den, his pack - cuddling and playing and napping together, that was everything he had ever wanted. Dozing off, knowing the others were simply there, around him.

Just that his dream had turned into another nightmare.

He didn't know who Valeria was, but he sure as hell got to know Roba. And now that monster had Rudy and Luna in his control.

Soap’s inner wolf whined uncontrolled, he shivered and was freezing. All he wanted was to shift and hide in his nest, just that it was empty.

Simon, his mate - already gone again.

"Soap."

Soap turned around, stopping in his whining. Before him stood Gaz and the Beta's dark chocolate eyes scanned him thoroughly. And then, without further words, Gaz pulled him into a tight embrace. Soap’s inner wolf immediately wiggled his tail, though Soap’s body froze for just a second.

Gaz pulled him tighter to his chest. "I missed you."

Carefully raising his arms, Soap needed a moment until he pressed himself closer to Gaz. The familiar mix of pomegranate and peppermint soothed his mind and his muscles relaxed. Soap's breath calmed down, at least a little.

"You know, it was very quiet without you."

An honest chuckle escaped Soap. Gaz parted from their embrace slightly, cupping Soap's face. Observing him sternly, Gaz' eyebrows furrowed in deep thoughts.

The direct attention caused Soap's skin to tickle. He swallowed and averted Gaz' gaze at his obvious questions in his eyes - questions he didn’t want to answer right now. Maybe never.

Gaz seemed to notice his mood, because his friend leaned forward and pulled him into another, quiet hug. Soap's smile returned to the warmth and he pressed his face in Gaz' neck, trying to hide the shiver in his body.

This was it - what he had missed, what his wolf had ached for the last weeks - his pack. Cuddling.

And Simon.

He wanted Simon.

Gaz eyed him, poking his cheek so hard that Soap made a grimace. "I think pack time is in order. Plenty of it."

Soap whined quietly at the thought, wondering if he ever could control that sound coming from him again, but he nodded. Shaking, he pulled himself free out of the tight embrace. His gaze flickered to the others, stopping at Price.

Steel-blue eyes were watching him thoroughly, but warm. And most of all, tired.

Soap swallowed, taking a look at the rest. They all looked tired. They had fought to free him. There had been deaths.

His heart clenched and he chewed his bottom lip nervously.

Dead wolves. Because of him. His heartbeat raced again, and he yearned for Simon, ached for the simplicity of a hug and nothing else. He didn’t want to think.

"For now, everyone who can keep their eyes open will watch out. Let the others know to be prepared." Price let his gaze wander over their little family. "The rest of you, tend to your wounds, shower, eat. Rest. We'll have pack time as soon as Alejandro and Ghost are back." He made a pause. "With or without the others."

The thought alone made the air inside their living room thicker. Heavy pheromones, mourn and grief and exhaustion mixed up into a terrible smell. Price looked at Soap, before he turned to Gaz.

"You make sure Soap gets something light into his stomach. And then rest. Both of you."

Gaz instantly glared at his mate. "I can watch out, too."

Price shrugged. "You do. You watch out for Soap."

Soap looked between them, unsure if he should interfere. He didn't want to be alone, yet he didn't want to have a babysitter, nor did he want to cause further problems.

Though maybe that's why he needed a babysitter after all.

Soap’s heart clenched another time. Squeezing his hands, he stared to the ground, as Gaz turned to him. His voice softened. “Well, maybe John is right. Your wounds might have healed, Soap, but it was close. I don't want Simon to return and have you fainted. Imagine what he’d do with me." Gaz walked forward, raising his chin and shrugged with a smile. "I’ll make you some chicken soup. With lots of chicken. And then we'll wait for them and chill on the sofa. How does that sound?"

It sounded like a dream. All what was missing was Simon. His mate.

With a heavy heart, Soap nodded, forcing himself to put up a dishonest smile. The motion hurt, and he felt terribly exhausted, his gaze flickering between the others restlessly. Guilt and grief worked up inside him, and a restlessness he didn’t know. Maybe he could escape to his own nest. Maybe he could take a look at his atelier. At his journal. Maybe he could draw.

Maybe he could scratch Makarov’s and Roba’s names on the paper, again and again and again and then - tear them apart.

A wave of sweet scent reached Soap’s nose, pulling him out of his dark thoughts and the spiral. Farah and Alex both approached him, warm smiles on their faces and a question in their eyes. Soap swallowed tears back, before he nodded. At once, both Farah and Alex pulled Soap into a hug, warm and tight and protective. Kisses on the top of his head made it harder to swallow the tears away, and maybe noticing his vulnerable state, they only whispered quiet words of welcomes into his ear, before they left for outside

While Price went to talk to Nik, Soap caught the serious gaze in both Alpha’s eyes, but Gaz’ hand around his wrist pulled him gently from the scene. Following Gaz reluctantly into the kitchen, Soap blinked and stared at everything as if it was new.

When had been the last time he was even here?

Gaz filled his silence with meaningless chatter. Soap was glad he didn't ask any questions. Instead, his friend told them about the new recruits, about the changes in their defences, about Farah and Alex and Chuy and Reyes, the changes in the garden, about the mess Simon had been when Soap was away. About how much Gaz had missed him himself.

He left out anything about Rudy or Luna, and Soap was grateful for that. His mind was foggy, loaded with too much and he felt restless despite having slept, almost anxious.

After slurping down the soup, his wolf itched terribly and he shifted without further ado. Not even waiting for Gaz, Soap jumped down the stairs and onto the sofa, burying his muzzle into the cushions until he found his ball by accident. Whining surprised, he took it between his teeth and chewed on it, his eyes fixed on the door.

Simon. His wolf, his heart, everything in him ached for Simon.

The familiar weight of the Beta dropped on him soon after. No questions followed, no more stories. Shifted himself, the beautiful dark brown wolf cuddled up behind Soap and a gentle nudge later, Gaz started to groom him, licking gently over his head until Soap's heart quietened down.

Soothing pheromones filled up the air. Soap still whined, hating himself for the pitiful and weak sound, but it turned into a peaceful purring as soon as Gaz chewed on his ear.

Rolling around, Soap buried his face in the Beta’s neck. He didn’t know how long they laid like this, when howling filled the area.

Perking up at once, Soap was wide awake immediately. He stormed off the sofa with Gaz close behind, out of the den and joined into the howling.

The sound of trucks and the smell of wheels filled the air. Agitated Soap stormed forwards, his tail wiggling wildly and he got nudged by more than one to stay behind.

Price stood at the front, with Nik directly next to him. Soaps' heart quickly scanned the arriving cars, more which had left. Some had the Shadow Company sign.

Whining impatiently, Gaz bit him into his ear.

When the trucks stopped and the doors opened; Soap couldn’t be stopped – the scent in the air didn’t find his nose, but his brain and his heart.

Whiskey. Honey. A sunny day in the cold forest.

Simon.

Jolting forward, Soap ran past Shadows and Laswell’s men, finding his mate without having to look. He barked once happily when he saw him and leaped up at his mate, Soap's muzzle driving all over Simon's body, happily barking when he found him unharmed. His tail wiggled so hard that it hurt, but Simon's arms were around him, his face buried in his fur and nothing else counted.

After a too long moment, in which Soap didn’t want to part from his mate, he smelled the stress radiating from his lover.

Looking up and around irritated; he searched for Ale, Rudy or Luna. He yowled worriedly, when he saw that Phil wasn't here as well. Just Oz who was talking to Price at the moment.

Anxious, Soap looked back to Simon, who smiled warmly.

"It's so good to return home and have you here."

Simon looked tired. The absence of their friends worried Soap nevertheless. Shifting back reluctantly, he reached quickly into the truck and wrapped the blanket around his hips, his eyes slipping through the Shadows.

"Where are they?"

Simon’s hand cupped Soap’s and despite the stress in his heart, Soap felt himself relaxing by the touch alone. Leaning into the hand, he stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his lover himself.

Simon let out a heavy breath. "We found Rudy. Graves brought Ale and him to the hospital."

Soap froze. Simon waited for a moment before he leaned forward and pulled Soap into a tight warm hug.

"Luna's missing."

The words sank in like clashing teeth. Soap's heart clenched painfully together, and before his inner wolf could attempt anything himself, a pitiful howl came from his right. Turning his head, Soap saw Gaz howling in pain, and soon every shifted member of their pack joined in.

But within seconds, whine, grief and mourn turned into something else - loud, angry, rageful barking and snarling. The mood and the air shifted and with it, some of the Shadows. They eyed the wolves carefully, but Oz only raised a hand and the men fell back, stepping back to their trucks.

Price's eyes found Soap’s and Simon’s and he didn't need to say a word. Words weren’t needed, nor possible, for what hat happened.

Someone had taken their pup. Their little, innocent, defenceless pup.

That meant another war. And they hadn’t even cleaned up after the last one.

Soap quickly buried his face back in the crook of Simons neck.

No thinking. He didn’t want to think, this was just too much.

A cloak of safety wrapped around him as well as a pair of arms. Sweet honey fogged his mind in a calming, reassuring way and Soap found himself purring.

In the next moment, he got pushed, landed with a surprised sound painfully on his butt and stared at two balls of fur rolling over each other. Simon had shifted back, growling barking at another wolf. The sharp scent stung in Soap’s nose even in his human form, when Simon placed himself protectively in front of him, his fur raised and his fangs bared.

Soap furrowed his brows and looked past Simon to the stranger wolf, freezing when he noticed the sweet almond fur. He blinked a few times, getting a headache. Lavender. Too much of it.

“El! Back down!”

Howling, whining - Ghost still growled at the wolf who kept staring at Soap. His father appeared seemingly out of nowhere, glaring at the wolf but quickly his gaze softened. He threw a glance to Soap, then raised both hands and wrapped them softly around the wolf’s body. “It’s complicated. They just lost their pup. Not now, Elsie.”

Elsie.

Soap’s jaw dropped. Ghost retreated, shifting back, and pulled Soap up from the ground. He became calmer, but still placed himself protectively in front of the wolf.

In front of Elsie.

Elsie, who was whining at him

Within a second, she shifted, sobbing helplessly, staring from Soap to their father and she looked exactly like he knew her. “But Da-.... I…” She sniffed, looking back and Soap had to look away, the headache throbbing heavily in the back of his head.

No thinking. This was just too much.

“Pumpkin?”

Soap twitched, freezing in Simon’s warm embrace. A shudder ran over his spine, a coldness spreading throughout his body.

Pumpkin.

“That’s me part of the cake, pumpkin! Go get yarself another piece!”

Playful fighting, a cake in his face. His father chuckled in the background, while his mother let out an angry yell. “Pumpkin – that’s enough!”

A needle in his arm and the next time Soap woke up his friend was there again, smiling softly. “Ah, you’ve become sick again. But don’t worry. You’re on a good way, Pumpkin.”

Throbbing, a sharp pain, no air in his lungs. Simon was here, but the embrace was cold. The blood rushed in Soap’s ears and he felt dizzy. He heard someone talking to him, but he didn’t want to listen, didn’t want to think, didn’t want to have to deal with all of this fucking mess, all he wanted was to be alone!

Shuddering, he shifted and leaped away without listening to anyone. He heard his father calling after him, but he didn't stop. Rushing through the crowd back into the den, Soap jumped on the sofa and stuck his muzzle into the soft fabric where Gaz had laid before, which still smelled like the Beta, and like Price, and Simon and….

He whined pitifully, catching a whiff of Ale and Rudy, even of Luna. Immediately looking for his ball, he chewed on it whining, the motion helping him to stay focused and distracted.

He didn’t want to be alone. He wanted to be alone with Simon.

And he didn’t want to think about what had happened.

He was home. He was back in the den. Simon was here. Everything was fine again.

Just that it wasn't.

Only a few moments later, the door opened. Soap stopped chewing, when a wave of Whiskey cloaked him and he promptly relaxed. Simon’s heavy wolf form dropped on him. Soap let go of his toy and turned his head, licking over Simon’s face until his own chest vibrated with his own purring, his heartbeat calming down with every second Simon simply laid on him.

No questions, nothing. Simon only watched him and allowed Soap to groom his fur until it was fluffy and almost curly.

Soap didn't want this moment to end. He wanted this, forever, and not to think.

The others came in one after another. Gaz and Price were first, and Gaz pushed his mate immediately on the chair. Soap stopped in his motions to lick over Simon's face, but cuddled nearer to his lover.

When Farah and Alex joined, their eyes found him. At once, Soaps' tail wiggled.

There were hands on his fur, kisses on his head, soft words of relief in his ear. His wolf sensed their restlessness to shift, but they didn’t do.

Looking at their pack leader Soap knew why.

There was no time for cuddling or playing or dozing. Not even to rest. They had to plan. They head to protect. They had to work.

Soap whined when he saw Price's defeated tired face and freed himself out of his own self-made hug prison. Alex and Farah let go of him at once, though Simon chewed on his ear, half-heartedly trying to keep him back.

Moving almost silently and with a hanging head, Soap approached his pack leader quietly. Gaz eyed him irritated but with a tired smile. Even Nik, who came in right now, found a smile and Soap’s tail wiggled a bit harder.

This was what he wanted. He wanted them to smile and be happy, to stop the nightmare from coming alive and consuming their every thought.

But he didn’t trust his own mouth, he couldn’t think of a joke he could say, or a motivational phrase to slip of his tongue, because his own mind was still consumed by the dark.

But if his human self couldn’t comprehend what was happening, he would simply trust his wolf. Price’s steel-blue eyes softened, when Soap picked up the ball and dropped it in Price’s lap.

With a warm smile, his pack leader huffed, leaned forward and scratched Soap between his ears. “It was about time to have you back, sunshine.”

Soap’s tail wiggled at the smile and the nickname. His eyes switched to Gaz, who sat down on the armrest next to his mate, wrapping an arm around him. Soap sat down, allowing Price to bury his hands into his fur, even when the Alpha’s eyes grew tired and serious again.

“We need to set up a plan for our defences. Patrols. Controls of our cameras. As soon as Kate is back on her feet, we need to discuss how to approach.” Price made a grimace. “We defeated Makarov, but we still got his Alphas in custody. His followers in the world, we need to make a public announcement of his death and his defeat, and we need to find a solution to what to do with those others shifters we saved, help them find their families. For now, they need beds and…”

Price closed his eyes, a sharp twitch running over his face. Gaz quickly slid nearer, brushing over his head sternly. “We will do all that. We will talk to Kate, to the Shadows, find and kill Roba and Valeria and get Luna back.”

Soap’s eyes flickered over to the Beta when Gaz spoke of more killing. Unsure, he got up, and Price let go of him easily, even if brushing over his fur once more. Tapping back to the sofa behind him, Soap hopped up to Simon, crawling to his side. At once, Simon put an arm over him, licking over his face lovingly.

Gaz huffed. “But first - we’ll take a nap. You especially.”

Gaz sounded almost pissed, but the hitch of his worry laid thick in the air. Soap looked up between moments of Simon’s affection. Nik walked up tiredly, squeezing Price's shoulder as stern as Gaz looked.

“Your boy is right. We will solve everything. The ones who are still standing will start to check the defences but all of us need sleep.” He crooked a sad smile. “And tomorrow, we’ll bury our fallen ones. That's the first thing we'll do. Together with those we found.”

Soap felt Nik’s gaze on his, the memory he had tried to bury right now, coming just back up - his father, his sister – Soap shuddered, turned around and buried his muzzle in Ghost's fur.

Just this. Breathing in. Breathing out. With Simon.

He didn’t want to think about the fact, he had to deal with his family later. He didn’t want to think about how he was taken, about the lies he had been told, about his pack and… He yowled pitifully in Simon’s chest, feeling his tongue gently on his head.

“John.”

Gaz’ voice became softer, while Price groaned tiredly. Gaz let out a sigh. “We all need pack time.”

“Alright, muppets.”

Before Soap knew what was happening, a heavy weight crushed on him. He yelped up in surprise but his wolf wiggled his tail as soon as he smelled Gaz. Ghost was growling annoyed, but not angry, shoving Gaz playfully away.

Landing on the ground, Gaz barked at him, and then Soap couldn’t be stopped.

Chasing his friend through the living room, that was everything important right now. Everything he was able to process right now.

Farah and Alex soon joined in into the chase, though Alex was unusually slow. They all jumped at him when they realized he couldn't keep track, and the four of them united in a ball of fur, rolling around over the ground and chewing on each other's ear, barking at each other happily and playfully to keep the other one going.

From time to time, Soap looked up to check up on Simon. The Alpha watched them lazily, but with a keen expression on Soap himself. When Soap started to become tired, he dropped away from the game, yawned heavily and treaded over to Price and Nik. Nik had shifted and laid behind Price, allowing the man to rest his back on the broad back of the alpha. Soap took his gentle nudges from both the Alphas before he retreated back to Simon’s side, immediately being welcomed with soft licks and nudges and an adamant pull to his side.

Simon purred, wrapping an arm over Soap and kept him down.

Weariness washed over him. Exhaustion, tiredness and worry mixing up to a numbing feeling. With an eye to Farah and Alex now cuddling with each other and Gaz returning to Price's side, Soap blinked a few more times until he finally could fall asleep peacefully where he wanted to be for weeks.

Home.

Chapter Text

The only thing which could kill Alejandro, was Alejandro himself. That was what Valeria and his pack always had said, the people back in his village, his enemies.

For a while, Alejandro had believed in that, cocky and self-confident as he was.

That was until he met Rudy.

Alejandro had never been a man of sadness. He had had many Omegas, even a few Betas and Valeria had been his big love, or so he had thought. An Alpha, strong and sophisticated and fierce as himself, someone who understood him, who didn’t burn themselves at his fire, who accepted his temper.

The only thing which she had understood to do was ripping his heart out. And now, finally, she had managed to take hold of it again, but he wasn't dead. He was very much alive and he was furious.

Sitting in the hospital at Rudy’s bedside - again - was already enough for him to decide he would kill her. But abducting his own child?

A dangerous growl escaped Alejandro's lung at the thought alone, and he moved forward, enforcing his grip around Rudy's hand.

The only thing which kept him sane right now was imagining different ways to skin Valeria. The thought had helped him through the time Rudy had been checked upon, had helped him through the hours while he sat restlessly at his side, waiting for him to wake up, not trying to get desperate at his too slow heartbeat and all those tubes in his body.

He would kill her. He would bathe in her blood.

“You should take a break.”

Alejandro twitched around, golden eyes glaring at the man whom he hadn't heard approaching. Graves looked tired. He wasn't pale anymore, but grey, the lack of sleep clearly wearing on him. Alejandro backed down, but still snarled.

“I don't take orders from you.”

Graves smiled tiredly. “You take my help quite often though.”

Alejandro snapped at him. “You have a lifetime to make up for your crimes!”

A sudden rapture in the steady beep sound of Rudy's heartbeat caused both men to shut up and stare at the Omega. At once Alejandro felt bad and leaned forward to plant a kiss on his mate's hand. He threw an angry glance to Graves.

“Don’t make me kill you in front of him. He needs to rest.”

Graves sighed. “As do you. Go catch some sleep. He is monitored. If something changes in his status, I will wake you up.”

Alejandro growled dangerously. “ No .”

Graves rolled his eyes, but moved forward. Alejandro considered killing him, right here and right now, just for the sake of it, when Graves gently squeezed one of Rudy's feet. The way the expression in Graves’ eyes changed when he looked at his lover wasn't anything Alejandro liked.

“Then I will move back to my base. I will check up on my men and then I'll reach out to your Captain.” Graves' eyes found his, seriously. “I am quite surprised you didn't kill me yet, for bringing Valeria here.”

Alejandro narrowed his eyes. "Don't worry. I'll kill you. But first I’ll kill her.”

Graves chuckled. “Well, I can't blame you.” He looked back at Rudy, and his face became more serious again. “But I have to correct you. I will kill her.”

Alejandro watched him for a while, before he grunted. “I can't hate you for loving him. It's the only understandable trait you have.” Alejandro hesitated, and growled another time. “But he's my mate.” 

Graves let out a deep sigh. “I know .”

The silence between them was thick and the only sound in the room was Rudy's heartbeat on the monitor.

“I will help you find her. And your child.”

Alejandro's gaze flickered to Graves. The man hasn't left yet, his eyes fixed on Rudy. Alejandro grinded his teeth, squeezing Rudy’s hand by reflex.

“Thank you.”

At any other point, saying that to Graves would have hurt, but right now the only thing he felt was a heavy stone on his back, a stone so thick that it was almost a rock. Maybe even a mountain.

Rudy needed him, his pack needed him, and his little Luna was somewhere alone with a fucking monster.

A headache built up behind his eyes and tiredly, Alejandro leaned back in the chair.

“Let me know if you need something. Anything.”

If Graves could stop acting fucking nice, Alejandro could at least distract himself with hating him and planning how to rip his head from the shoulders.

“And let me know when he wakes up. I can give you a ride home once he’s stable.”

Alejandro closed his eyes. “I will.”

When Graves left, Alejandro finally could cry. Quiet, deep, shoulder shaking, ugly crying. He didn’t know how long he cried, but when something brushed over his knee, he froze, all tears gone, and looked up.

Chocolate brown eyes - or eye rather. One of Rudy’s eyes was dull, greyish, the one Shepherd had shot into last year, but they were open. Alejandro’s heart almost collapsed, stopping and starting again painfully fast and hard.

He pressed the button to call the doctors faster than anything else in his entire life, almost stumbling over the tubes hanging next to Rudy, and tears filled his eyes as he reached for his hands, squeezing them tight.

“Rudy. Rudy , mi amor, mi alma, mi vida…” He sniffed, shaking his head. Rudy's eyes were fixed on him, and Alejandro cupped his face, constantly letting out a soothing wave of his scent.

“You're safe, my love. Safe. Everything’s going to be fine, I promise.”

Rudy watched him, but Alejandro wasn't sure if Rudy could even hear him. Worrying even more, Alejandro hastily looked up to the incoming doctors and nurses. He was pushed to the side, and the sudden fastening beeping sound of Rudy’s heartbeat did not help to calm him down any further at all.

When Rudy’s heartbeat stopped, Alejandro's did as well.

“Rudy?!”

One of the nurses made the mistake of touching him. His wolf flared up, his Alpha stressed out to the fullest. Fangs, snarling and golden eyes caused one of the doctors to call the fucking emergency button, and not moments later security shoved him out of the room.

“Cabrons! Cabrons, he’s my fucking mate! What the fuck is happening?!”

The doors closed, security pushing him away. One Alpha and two humans, and while one of the humans already pulled his restrainement pistol, the Alpha simply pointed at him.

For the flicker of a moment Alejandro considered giving in. Allowing his wolf to roam - to fight .

The sweet smell of Omega, a familiar Omega, yet not his own, held him back.

Chuy touched him carefully,  sending manipulative waves of pheromones to calm him. Turning his head angrily at the Omega, the other Alpha backed down.

Golden eyes peered into his. “ Alejandro . You need to stay calm or they'll throw you out.”

Like a prayer Chuy formed his words and cloaked him into his scent - the scent of family. Alejandro's stress and anger broke into tears. Pulling the Omega close to his chest, he hugged him so tight that it must hurt but if it did, Chuy didn’t say a word. Alejandro sobbed, pressing himself closer to the Omega.

“His heartbeat stopped, Chuy. He woke up, he looked at me, and then he just…” Like Alejandro’s heart, his voice broke. Chuy caught him when he fell, brushing softly over his back and shushing him. The security moved away, and Alejandro dropped down on the floor.

It took an eternity until the doors opened again.

The first doctor sighed heavily, but gave him a smile. “He’s stable again. Breathing on his own. But he’s asleep now.”

Alejandro fought himself up. Chuy was still at his side and Alejandro felt a flash of guilt for not asking him after Reyes, though he already knew that Reyes was on a good way again. But Rudy had been on a good way either and now-

The doctor stepped closer, making a grimace. “Though I have to say, there will be remaining damage. We are not specialized on shifters, least of all male Omegas. But he lost a lot of blood we had to exchange. It seems as if previous injuries are flaring up again.” 

Aljandro was close to choking the man. If he didn't spit it out soon, then-

The doctor shook his head. “His left eye is blind. It does not react anymore. I am not sure what could have caused this, because it wasn't wounded. And he lost a lot of blood. It might be possible he cannot carry anymore again.” The doctor lowered his voice. “Though I advise transferring him to a specialized clinic as soon as possible to check up on this. This is strange and I also am concerned about that allergic reaction on his arm. For now, he’s weak but stable. You can see him now if you want to.”

While Alejandro didn't wait, he heard Chuy mumbling thankful words to the doctor before he felt the Omega's presence next to him.

Rudy's heartbeat was back, steadily so, and he laid on his side now, sleeping a restless sleep. His face was torn into a grimace, and Alejandro quickly slipped next to him and under the sheets, careful to not tuck at any tubes.

Chuy squeezed Rudy's leg gently and gave Alejandro a smile. “I'll bring some fresh clothes for both of you, when we go home tomorrow. Alright?”

Alejandro already had his arm around his mate, golden eyes flickering shortly to Chuy. Nodding exhaustedly, Alejandro's body hurt more than it had done after the fight.

Chuy crooked a smile, and leaned forward to squeeze Alejandro's knee. “I'll go back to Reyes. We'll drive home around midday, then I'll come back. Alright?”

Omega pheromones were the worst when they were manipulative, shrouding and cloaking you into a soft cloud to calm you down. If Chuy did this to him, Alejandro only could imagine how much he had to stink .

The Omega held promise though, and Alejandro only woke up when he was back again, and quiet voices woke him.

Chuy, speaking softly to Rudy. His mate.

Alejandro blinked himself awake, his heartbeat racing so fast that it almost stumbled over itself.

Immediately, Rudy's head turned to him. A chocolate brown eye peered into his, and while his other one was grey and seemed dull, the good one had a small sparkle again which hadn’t been there before. Rudy looked at him, not like yesterday, but different.

Alejandro teared up immediately. “ Rudy .”

A small smile slipped on the Omega’s features. It should be Alejandro supporting him, the Alpha supporting the Omega, but no - Alejandro let himself be held, kissed and caressed.

“I’m fine, Ale. I’m fine.”

Nothing was fine. Lies which Rudy told him, which Alejandro desperately wanted to cling to. But having Rudy speak to him, soothed Alejandro enough to wrap his arms around his lover and no further words were needed.

He didn't know when Chuy left, or when the doctor arrived, but the rest of the day nothing else happened than sleeping, cuddling, trying to get some food into his mate and more sleeping. A nurse mumbled something about him going home, but Alejandro refused stubbornly.

When night fell again and both of them were awake at the same time, Alejandro intertwined Rudy's fingers with his, sitting up and allowing his mate to rest his head on his chest. Rudy still was awfully tired, but his heartbeat at least was steady now, his breath calm and his good eye not seeing through him anymore.

But neither of them spoke. Brushing through his mate’s hair, Alejandro kissed the top of Rudy’s head, his heart clenching painfully at the thought of their loss.

At the thought of whom Alejandro almost had lost on top.

Reaching over to the night table for his phone, Rudy's hand brushed over Alejandro's chest to play with his chest hair, already half asleep again. At least he wasn't in any more heavy pain at the moment, but his silence worried Alejandro more than any complaints could do.

“You should return to the pack, Ale. They need you now.”

Distracted from his phone, Alejandro frowned at his love. “You’re my pack, too. You’re my mate . When I return to the pack, I will do so with you. Together.” He swallowed hard, his jaw tensing under the pressure of keeping his grip together. “I shouldn’t have left you in the beginning.”

Rudy looked up. His blind eye moved with the other, but it was dull and even greyer than before. Again, tears formed in Alejandro’s own and a burning shame rushed through him.

He was the fucking Alpha. Rudy was in the hospital. Alejandro couldn’t break now.

“You couldn’t know what happened. Soap needed you. The pack needed you. Don’t put blame on your shoulders which isn’t your own.”

Soothing pheromones cloaking him under a calming blanket. Rudy’s fingers, cold but tender, cherished his chest and Alejandro leaned into the thin pillow, tired and exhausted.

“This is my fault, Rudy. I should have-”

“We won’t do this, Ale.” Alejandro blinked himself awake again. Rudy’s eye rested sternly on him. “You say it’s your fault, which is bullshit. I can say it’s my fault, because I was too weak. I had one job. One fucking job, to protect my child, and I failed.”

Rudy swallowed and for the first time since he awoke, there was something like a tear in his eyes. Alejandro furrowed his brows when he realized it wasn’t a tear of sadness, tiredness or grief.

It was a tear of anger. Burning, hateful rage.

Alejandro swallowed, tightening his grip around his lover, whose hands clenched into fists, tucking involuntarily on Alejandro’s chest hair, but the pain at least ripped him completely free of his numbing thoughts.

“But both of us know that won’t help us. None of this helps us. There are two fucking monsters out there who are to be blamed and I want to see them punished .”

Drool left the wolf’s muzzle as he snarled on top of his prey, protecting it, fighting for it. Paws firm on the ground, claws ready to slash. Slim and beautiful, but ready to pounce, ready to fight, ready to kill.

Alejandro was stunned, staring at the wolf in front of him. Even the two Alphas behind him didn’t step in front of him, watchful, thoughtful, more peaceful than the Omega among their midst.

This wolf was an Omega indeed.

A loud bark, a jump forwards, fangs ready to bite. Alejandro twitched and ran away with his tail between his legs - he was scared, but for another reason than fear.

This Omega was an Alpha. Small and little, but an Alpha at heart. And he had managed to make Alejandro’s heart beat again after Valeria had crushed it, and that was exciting and beautiful, but also a little bit scary.

Because he wanted this Omega to be his.

It had been love at first sight - the promise of death in Rudy’s eyes, the only thing which held him back to go after his rage being his weak body. Alejandro crooked a smile at the predator in his arms, cupping Rudy’s cheek.

“The doctor said the blood on you wasn’t entirely only your own. He said you must have fought like hell.” Alejandro lowered his voice, burying his face in Rudy’s hair. “He said you had blood in your mouth. You’ve fought like an Alpha, Rudy, and I couldn’t be prouder of you. Luna couldn’t be prouder.”

Rudy didn’t answer. Instead, the hand on Alejandro’s chest became loose, and their hug became more desperate, as if speaking out their little pup’s name had set something free.

“But I can’t punish them alone, Ale. I need you. I need the pack.”

Rudy shifted in the bed, so that his lips brushed briefly over Alejandro’s. Alejandro’s wolf wiggled his tail, his blood becoming hotter, as Rudy breathed warmly against his skin.

“I want Valeria and Roba destroyed. I want to skin them, tear their limbs from their bodies and see them in pain .”

He shouldn’t like what he heard, but the predator in Alejandro perked up, dark brown eyes shifting golden. Rudy’s good eye shifted as well, the other one watering and he made a grimace, brushing over it almost annoyed.

“...I want to go home, Ale.”

Home.

The urge to shift and to howl was big, but Ale suppressed it by pulling Rudy close and kissing him as gently as he could muster in his agitated mind.

Home. Nothing else he wanted to do - to bring Rudy home and bury him in their nest, shower him with affection and feed him until he was fine again, but a stupid, reasonable part in Alejandro knew that this time, time wouldn’t heal everything.

Connecting their foreheads, Alejandro peered into Rudy’s blind eye, something which the Omega had simply accepted, the urge to go home and hunt for his child bigger than processing his own near death experience.

Alejandro licked his lips, letting out a deep sigh and reached for his phone, opening it again and staring at the number he already had searched before Rudy had distracted him.

Hating Graves to the fullest, he loved Rudy even more. And the Commander was right.

Alejandro would ask for his help again and again and again , if it meant making sure his little family was alright.

Turning his head to plant a quick kiss on Rudy’s cheek, Alejandro wiggled himself out of the embrace, tucking Rudy under the blanket and squeezed his hand. “I’ll just make a quick call and talk to the doctor. For the papers and everything, and to make sure you’re ready to go.”

Rudy nodded, rage subsiding to make room for exhaustion. Alejandro’s heart beat heavily when he closed the door to the room, his knees were weak and his body shivering as he pressed the number.

Graves almost picked up at once.

“Is there a problem?”

Alejandro grit his teeth. “He’s awake. We could use a safe lift back home, he’s weak.”

Rustling on the other side, then a suppressed sigh of relief. “I’ll be there in a few hours. If not personally, I’ll send a trusted Shadow.”

Alejandro hesitated, going around the corner and lowered his voice. “He also needs your doctors.” Silence at first. Alejandro leaned his forehead against the cool wall, trying to focus on his breathing. “You gave him something the last time he almost died. Your doctor. I think he needs that again. His old injuries have come back.”

For a while, Alejandro heard nothing and he checked on his phone if he still was connected. Graves’ voice was careful when he spoke again.

“Milena worked for Makarov and went into hiding. But I know what she gave him.” Graves let out a deep breath. “His body won’t be able to hold all those meds. We gave him already so much, Alejandro.”

Alejandro bit his lip, tears building in his eyes as another wave of anxiety hit him. Now where Rudy wasn’t in his intermediate reach, where he couldn’t smell or touch or see him, the panic of almost having lost him grabbed for him again.

“I cannot lose him. I cannot lose him.” Graves stayed silent, listening quietly to Alejandro’s panic. “They can’t treat him here well, this is a human hospital. I can call Laswell, but you gave him that shit, Graves. You.” He swallowed angrily, burning anger fighting itself up within him. “ You gave him that fucking Alpha-injection when we fought Shepherd. You brought that doctor to him when he almost died while giving birth. Whatever she gave him, it was you who is to be blamed for all of this. Hell, the first moment you met him your fucking man put a silver blade into him. You are leaving nothing else behind than a fucking mess and chaos. So you’ll fix this.”

Alejandro was unreasonable and he knew it. He also didn’t care.

“I will be there in a few hours.”

The call ended. Alejandro stared at his phone, closed his eyes and took the biggest breath in his entire life.

“How far would you go for him?”

Ghost was quiet, his eyes resting on Soap with a softness in his eyes he only had whenever he looked at him. Alejandro’s gaze flickered over to the Beta, who grinned happily at Rudy, helping him in the garden.

“How far would you go for Rudy?”

Alejandro frowned and smiled, but when the seriousness of his own answer caught him, he lost it and furrowed his brows.

“Too far. If needed.”

Ghost looked at him, studying him quietly and didn’t answer on his own.

Opening his eyes again, Alejandro swallowed and dropped the phone in his pants. Chuy had been right. Graves had been right.

He needed rest .

Chapter Text

“You smell like Alejandro.”

Before Chuy could even close the door to the hospital room, Reyes' arms were already around him, his mate’s face buried in his neck and his hands reaching for his.

Locked in a tight embrace, Chuy let out a deep huff and intertwined their fingers, feeling a smile slipping on his features. “You’re supposed to be in bed, Reyes.”

“And you’re supposed to be in bed, too.” A trail of kisses all over his neck and throat. Chuy shuddered and leaned into the embrace, his heartbeat slowing down alongside his breath. “ My bed. Then you wouldn’t smell like another Alpha.”

An amused chuckle escaped Chuy. “You’re jealous of Alejandro? Seriously?”

Breaking out of the hug, Chuy swallowed when he stared into the golden eyes of his lover. Reyes looked tired and beaten, but he was alive, and the fire in his eyes was already back. They would be able to return home soon, and the thought of being home with the others, out of this sterile hospital room - back in their nest - itched under his skin.

Reyes brought Chuy’s hands to his lips, leaving kisses over kisses on his fingers. Ripped out of his thoughts, Chuy swallowed. “You should be more reasonable. You were almost dead, so be glad about your damn luck to regenerate so fast. You could be  like Rudy, almost half dead.”

Reyes smiled a half-smile, gently putting a finger under Chuy’s chin. “It could be worse. I could be like Alejandro, begging for you to wake up.”

Reyes' lips lingered in front of Chuy’s own. Hot, warm breath met Chuy’s skin, the shudder running through his spine raising a coldness and a heat he didn’t need right now. Chuy forced himself to look from Reyes’ lips up to his eyes, licking over his own mouth.

“I am fine, Reyes. You fought like hell. You protected me. Stop worrying.”

Reyes smiled, cupping Chuy’s face and pulling him back to his chest. “I didn’t like the way those assholes looked at you.”

“ A fresh Omega.”

The Alpha stared at him like prey. Chuy’s fur and tail raised but he didn’t back down, snarling and hissing and ready to fight.

He didn’t have a chance, he knew it, but all Ghost needed was time.

“That's your Alpha?” The man in front of him nodded depreciatory to Reyes and chuckled. “Time to show you how an Omega should be treated by a real Alpha.”

Reyes had jumped forward, fighting and fighting again even when the wounds had been deep and the blood around him had numbed Chuy’s ability to smell.

“I don’t like how you look.”

More kisses, now all over his cheeks, and nose and eyes. Chuy purred into the touch, welcoming the sweet apple smell which cloaked him.

Only reluctantly he freed himself out of the tight embrace, letting out a deep sigh.

“You need to rest, Reyes. You lost awfully much blood. Your body heals fast, but give it some time.”

Reyes kissed his temple, lowering his voice into his sweet, sulky bedroom tone. “I don’t like the frown on your face, sweetheart. Let me chase it away.”

With one quick push, Chuy pressed his hand on Reyes’ chest and glared at him. “We are in a fucking hospital . Behave or I’ll go home and only return tomorrow to pick you up.”

Reyes chuckled, with that deep, baritone tone, which managed to run shivers over Chuy’s skin, to make his inner Omega purr at the sound alone. Looking up to his love, his mate , Chuy felt himself becoming calmer, and more worried again.

Reyes’ warme gaze became an itch sharper. “I said I don’t like this look on your face, my love.”

Chuy crooked a smile, tiptoed and pressed a kiss on his lover’s cheek, leaning into the embrace and the broad chest. “I’ll look better when home, Alpha.”

With a surprised yelp, Chuy found himself swept from his feet, and carried bridal-style to the hospital bed. Glaring at his love, Chuy pulled Reyes instantly down.

“The doctor said-”

“ Shh .”

Kissing Reyes always felt like a revelation.

Even years after they first met - and fighting terribly, only to lose themselves in a passionate night - it was as if they were freshly in love. Chuy’s skin itched and tickled and every kiss caused another butterfly to start in his stomach even after all this time.

“Yes. Tomorrow, we’ll go home, my love. And then I can make the sweetest love to you in our nest.”

Sweet whispers in Chuy’s ear, and he couldn’t help but purr satisfied. His Alpha was at his side, and so much better again than before. And despite Reyes being an absolute macho in the bedroom, Chuy trusted him enough to take care of himself.

To not risk leaving Chuy back.

Images of Reyes - bleeding, without consciousness - flickered up in front of his eyes, and Chuy shuddered, an ice-coldness spreading through his veins, a coldness so fierce that Reyes’ kisses couldn’t distract him. With a frown, Chuy’s Alpha studied him, before he pulled him into a tight embrace and tucked them both under the blanket.

“I want to have a pup with you, Chuy.”

Well , that distracted Chuy.

He twitched, jolting up in the bed and staring at Reyes. The Alpha blinked surprised and then chuckled, running his fingers over Chuy’s chest. “Don’t look so surprised.”

Chuy huffed, a sudden anger raging up inside him. “ Surprised? We talked about this. And more than once! And you always said-”

Reyes silenced him with a finger on his lips. Chuy hated the charm and the power Reyes had over him, at least in their bedroom, at least right now . A bit stubbornly, he still glared at him, fighting to stay angry, but Reyes looked at him with such a soft gaze that his anger subsided quickly.

“I always said, I don’t want to have pups if they keep you from being at my side in battle.”

A quick kiss followed, and Chuy frowned. “A pup would always keep me from your side in battle. And I won’t stay home and wait for the notification of your death. Nothing changed.”

Reyes crooked a smile. “A lot has changed. We have a pack now, Chuy.” Reyes took his hands, and pulled him into another, inviting kiss, before parting and leaving Chuy breathless. “Luna is Alejandro’s and Rudy’s, but she’s our pup. Imagine us having pups, Chuy. They would be protected. Even if we’re on a mission.” Another kiss, but this time chaste. “Even if we died.”

“I want to be your Alpha.”

Golden eyes, fangs bared and ready to bite. The anticipation in Chuy was high and almost too much, his inner wolf wiggling and itching within, aching to take over the control.

But something in Chuy hesitated. Reyes noticed it, his golden eyes flickering, but not with anger. Patience - understanding. Maybe with a silent question.

Chuy swallowed hard, connecting their foreheads together.

“And I want to be your Omega. But-”

Reyes growled, the sound a mixture of desire and need and happiness. No anger and Chuy took a deep breath, focusing on his human mind.

“You know me. I want to fight at your side. I want us to be together.” He lowered his voice, chuckling as he whispered into his ear. “When we’re alone, you can be all bossy and macho as you like. But you’ll respect me as an equal partner when we have company. And during our work.”

Reyes licked his lips, moving forward to bite him gently into his ear. “I wouldn’t want to be parted from you for any stupid, antiquated reason. Be mine, Chuy. Be mine and I’ll treat you like a queen.” Reyes leaned back, crooking a smile. “Except when you don’t want to.”

During their mated years, Reyes’ desire to have pups had grown, but Chuy’s desire to be at Reyes’ side had always been stronger. And Reyes had accepted Chuy’s decision, and agreed to it without any complaint. They had given up the thought of a family, because they mainly wanted each other.

But now?

Now they weren’t longer contractors, wandering through the world. Now they had a pack. A home .

A safe place for their pups while they could work. Someone who would take care of their pup if something happened.

“Imagine. We could make a little, pretty boy, with my chest hair and muscles, and your beauty and intelligence.” Reyes bit Chuy’s ear like all those years ago and like so many other times since then. Chuy growled, half-annoyed by the sudden invitation, half-filled with desire. “He could marry Luna. She’ll have Rudy’s stubborn head and Alejandro’s temper. Imagine the kids they’d raise. Imagine the ruckus they’d cause.”

Chuy grunted, pushing Reyes angrily back to the sheets, climbing on top of him. He wanted to punch and kiss that smug grin out of his mate’s face, but before he could do either, he was lifted and switched around within a single motion. Having Reyes on top of him caused another shudder to run over his spine. Chuy swallowed, by reflex backing down. Reyes breathed in and out heavily, that smug grin only deepening.

“You took so good care of me. I think it’s time I take care of you .”

Chuy swallowed, but all doubts quickly got brushed away with the affection and demand Reyes showered him with. For now, he would submit - give Reyes the control and bathe in the safety of his arms and his lead.

The only thing which distracted him from Reyes' kisses and touches was the thought of having a family on his own - after all this time.

Because Reyes was right. Makarov was dead. They’d won. And his followers would be silent soon.

Valeria, Roba - it was only a matter of time until they had Luna back and gave them what they deserved for taking her.

Maybe this, right now, was finally their time.

Chapter Text

He knew he shouldn't freak out. But he did.

Johnny almost died. Johnny almost had been gone, forever, and they didn't even spend twenty-four hours together.

And now he was gone. Again.

“Simon - chill.”

Gaz perked a brow at him, both hands raised in annoyance. He looked tired and with Price’s boxers around his hips and with his ruffled hair the Beta looked extra tired.

But Simon had enough.

“What did you say?”

His voice was pure venom, but the Beta remained unimpressed, arms akimbo, and glared at him.

“He is in our fucking territory. And Nik went with him.”

Simon grinded his teeth. He didn't care. He still was mentally in their nest, waking up and seeing Johnny gone.

Again, like the last time.

He didn't want to be reasonable. He was worried.

“Seriously. Go after him, but relax, mate. Nik went with him and I saw his father, too.”

Simon growled angrily but shook his anger off. Running his hand through his hair, he didn't look at Gaz when he spoke to him.

“Sorry for snapping at you.”

“Easy, mate.”

Gaz crooked half a smile and then stretched his arms, tapping over towards the kitchen. Simon watched him walking straight to the coffee machine and hesitated.

“Is Price alright?”

Gaz side eyed him, annoyance replaced by a more serious expression. “I would like him to stay a month on the couch at least, but I guess that's impossible.”

Taking in the bags under Gaz’s eyes, his tired movements when he grabbed two mugs to fill them with definitely too strong coffee, it was visible once more that they needed a break. Every one of them.

But with Luna gone, and Roba and Valeria still on the run, and all those unattended problems Makarov caused…

Simon let out a huff. “I’ll get Johnny, then I’ll be back. You don’t have to do anything alone, tell him that. We’re a pack. We’ll solve this together.”

Chocolate brown eyes peered at him for a moment, then Gaz smiled and nodded with a tired smile. With that, Simon was gone.

Leaping gracefully into his wolf form, he didn’t bother to take something with him. Rushing outside, he jumped past the scattered wolves outside. They didn’t have enough place for all the freed wolves, and though they didn’t seem to mind sleeping under the sky - finally catching free air and out of their bars - they needed to be tended too.

His head hurt at the thought of stuff he had to do and his ever growing to-do-list, but his paws dragged him further, through the forest, over the morning dew, finding their way by heart.

From all the places Johnny could have wanted to see, why had he gone there?

Catching his scent easily, Simon followed it without the need of it, and when he spotted the broad back of Alpha MacTavish several metres away, he slowed down. The Alpha’s gaze was fixed on somebody else, and following it, Simon breathed out a sigh of relief seeing Nik lying lazily on the ground, his eyes fixed on Johnny.

Johnny, who was sitting in front of Roach’s tombstone.

A tiny bit of guilt flashed up inside him for not being here more often lately, but Simon quickly shook it off and slowly closed the gap on Alpha MacTavish.

Not even turning his head, the Alpha shifted, shaking off his fur quite roughly and stretched his neck. “I have one million things tae ask and tell ya, but I think we need tae set priorities at the moment.”

Simon shifted as well, taking position next to the Alpha while keeping his gaze on Johnny. His mate didn’t seem to have noticed him yet, still staring at the tombstone with an openly tired expression. He was still pale, and Simon’s oversized hoodie he wore couldn’t hide how much weight he had lost in the past weeks. Only the thought of Johnny in Makarov’s hands turned Simon’s rage to flare up, but he quickly swallowed it down.

Johnny was safe now. He was back in their pack, back here, with him.

“He said he needed tae come here. Who is Roach?”

MacTavish nodded towards the grave and Simon let out a long breath. “My first mate.”

Silence fell over them. MacTavish grimaced, and after several moments of watching Johnny silently together, Simon turned his head to the Alpha.

“Thank you for watching over him. But we’ll go back now. We may not lose time and Johnny is safer in the den.”

MacTavish’s eyes sparkled with half a smile. “I’m glad ya’re so protective of him, but he was locked up for weeks. The boy needs fresh air.”

It was understandable. It was right.

But Simon didn’t have the nerve for this right now. The anxiety and exhaustion started to crawl over his spine and he shook his head, letting out a small groan. “Once Roba is dead and Luna is back, he can do whatever he wants to do. But it’s too dangerous right now. None of us is in top shape, least of all Johnny.”

“Well, he has quite the sturdy bodyguard.”

Simon side-eyed Alpha MacTavish, whose eyes now laid on Nik’s broad back. Nik’s ears twitched, but otherwise he acted as if he didn’t hear them, even if his wolf ears must have picked up every word.

“And I’m grateful for that. But Nik is only one Alpha.” Simon rolled his shoulder, still feeling some pain from the fight with Makarov yesterday when he had landed badly. “And one who should rest, too.”

Before Simon could step away, MacTavish’s hand grabbed his arm. Suppressing the reflex to shake the man’s hand off or attack - he might be Johnny’s father, but he was still a stranger to Simon’s wolf -, Simon growled and MacTavish released him quickly with an apologetic smile. “Sorry. It’s just - We’ll have time tae bond another time, but thank ya for takin’ care about my lad.” He shrugged. “I’m James.”

Simon peered into the ocean-blue eyes of Johnny’s Dad. They were so similar to Johnny’s, but when he looked at them now, without the stress and adrenaline of yesterday, he could clearly see they were different. They were a shade paler, and the sparkle of mischief and Alpha clearly jumped out of them.

“I’m Simon.”

They shook hands, without the subtle dominance of who was the stronger Alpha. A handshake of respect, a brief touch and Simon let go, feeling undeniable restless without Johnny in his reach.

Approaching Johnny quietly, but loud enough to not scare him, his gaze passed Gary’s name on the tombstone. A familiar feeling of grief took hold of his heart, but it wasn’t as numbing as it used to be.

Johnny turned his head, ocean-blue eyes finding his, and the small smile around Johnny’s lip hunt every shadow around his heart away.

Kneeling down and resting his head against the back of his mate, Simon breathed softly into his neck, smiling when Johnny leaned against him.

Simon sighed, wrapping his arms around his lover. “I woke up and you weren’t there. If you want to scare the shit out of me, you’re on a good way.”

Johnny chuckled quietly, nuzzling into his embrace. “Sorry. I wanted tae let ya sleep, that’s all.”

Allowing himself a moment of simply bathing in the scent and the warm touch of Johnny’s body, Simon’s eyes rested on the grave. The moss, the ants, the life which crawled on the tombstone and he knew that Gary would have loved this.

“I just needed some air. And I wanted…” Johnny turned in his embrace, running his fingers over Gary’s name. “I needed tae tell him that I’m yar mate now. But also that I won’t steal his memory from you.”

Simon let out a heavy breath, deeply touched by the gesture, but before he could respond, Johnny’s hands intertwined with his. “And that I’ll stop scaring ya with doin’ solo decisions.” He crooked a smile, rubbing his nose in Simon’s neck. “That I’m selfish. That I don’t want ya tae die on a heart attack because of me and join him. That I want tae keep ya a little while longer.” Johnny breathed against Simon’s lips, and Simon felt a shudder running over his spine.

Johnny kissed the corner of Simon’s lips softly. “That I won’t pull another Rudy.”

Simon had to chuckle at that, but he felt a ping of pain at the memory of the Omega. He was still in hospital, and Luna was still gone.

Breathing softly against Johnny’s head, Simon squeezed him tight. “And I promise to not shut you out anymore.”

Cinnamon and honey flared up, and all Simon wanted to do was to bathe in it, to get lost in the sweet smell of Johnny, but he had to push his wolf down. Swallowing hard, he pulled both of them into a standing position and cupped Johnny’s face. “We need to go back now. We need to make decisions. And we need to act. And you…” Simon smiled softly, rubbing his thumb against Johnny’s cheek. “You need to sleep, like the whole day.”

The small pout on Johnny's lips Simon quickly replaced with a smile when he leaned forward to kiss him.

Wrapping an arm around Johnny's shoulders, he played with the string of his hoodie. “Does shifting hurt you?”

Johnny shook his head. “No. I am just tired, but otherwise I am fine.” He smiled, tiptoeing to plant a kiss on Simon’s cheek which sent his heart racing. “Thanks tae ya, Si. Ya saved me.”

The image of Johnny’s hurt, wrecked body was still too fresh on Simon’s mind, and he shuddered as a sudden coldness took hold of him at the memory.

Leaning forward, he pressed his face in Johnny’s hair, breathing in deeply. “I was just selfish. I cannot live without you.”

“Good God, get a room!”

Taken by surprise, and a tiny bit of embarrassment, Simon turned to Nik without breaking the contact to Johnny.

Nik stood as Simon knew him without shame next to James MacTavish in his human form, two proud Alphas who were eyeing them amused. Simon swallowed down a blush and cleared his throat, trying to ignore the situation.

“We’re going back home.”

Nik chuckled. “Since I’m not needed anymore, I will go ahead.”

A mischievous sparkle appeared in James' eyes, and he tilted his head almost cockishly at Nik. “Hmm, I might need some help with directions back.”

Nik perked a brow, and the smile on his lips was honest, taking Simon by surprise. “Do you now?”

James chuckled. “We could make it a run. My wolf craves for runnin’. And I bet I could still beat ya even with my untrained legs, I was the fastest wolf of my pack.”

Huffing out loud, Nik built himself up in front of the other Alpha, smiling down at him. “Fastest wolf my ass. I’m gonna beat your old ass.”

Without another warning, MacTavish shifted and leaped away, causing Nik to quickly jolt after. Simon stared after them honestly surprised but amused.

“What was that?”

Johnny frowned, obviously irritated. Simon let out a chuckle, planting a soft kiss against his forehead, pulling him closer to his chest. “That was…”

The first step of courting.

He smiled. “An Alpha thing.”

Johnny didn’t seem to believe him, or maybe he didn’t follow. Simon couldn’t imagine what the past weeks must have meant to Johnny. Still not entirely sure what it means to be a wolf, only to fall into the hands of Makarov and be brainwashed right away.

When not even the Shadows’ influence was completely gone.

Simon’s gaze traveled to Johnny’s arms, and even if the hoodie was hiding the endless bruises from the injections he had gotten, Simon knew they were there, and his worry, his anger, and his determination that this was the last time someone laid hands on his mate growing stronger.

Breathing out, Simon pressed a kiss on Johnny’s temple. “Let’s go home.”

Home.

Home was right here, with Johnny in his arms, but when Simon thought about his nest, and the possibility of burying Johnny under blankets and pillows, bringing him food and something to drink, lying lazily around, cuddling and snuggling…

“Can I keep the hoodie?”

Simon blinked, chuckled and pulled on the loose string with a nod. “Of course, you can.”

Not that Simon had expected it back.

Both shifted at the same time, and when Johnny attempted to take the hoodie into his muzzle, Simon quickly nudged him and did it for him. He ignored the annoyed huff of his mate and started running forwards.

Not even a few minutes passed when he noticed that Johnny couldn’t keep up the pace. Falling back and slowing down, Simon joined his side, sending over a wave of his scent to soothe him. Johnny was unusually silent, even in his wolf form.

The walk back lasted longer than Simon had expected, but the fresh air, the forest ground, and the leaves under their paws seemed to relax Johnny after all. His stress and worry fell away from him, but when they returned to the den, it took only a moment and it was back again.

His tail tucked in between his legs, Johnny froze when they passed the doors, and every single pair of eyes looked at him.

Reacting by reflex, Simon let out a warning growl, stepping in front of his mate and nudging him gently.

Johnny didn’t smell scared, but his uncomfortable aura was even itching under Simon’s skin. Thankfully everyone seemed to notice the situation and even while several of the freed wolves were wagging their tails, no one jumped them.

At least until Simon slowly managed to lead Johnny over the path towards their den.

The Beta from yesterday, as fierce and snappy as Simon had experienced him the day before, built himself up in front of them, ignoring Simon completely and glaring at Johnny in a way which caused Simon’s Alpha to growl.

“I helped you, now you help me.”

The daring tone in his voice turned Simon to shift. Horangi, if he remembered right, eyed him once up and down, obviously unimpressed, his golden eyes sparkling with suppressed aggression.

If Johnny’s fingers didn’t touch his, Simon perhaps would have snapped.

“It’s fine, Si. He’s a friend.”

Simon growled and Horangi hissed at Johnny. “Before you call me a friend, you’ll hold your word and help me find my mate.” The Beta growled, tensing up a bit, and Simon finally saw through the edge and aggression a deep, hidden worry. “I searched that whole saw mill. I searched everything. Every injured. Every dead. He is not among them. He is not anywhere, which means that Roba still has him.”

The mention of Roba’s name unsettled Simon enough to squeeze Johnny’s hand, pulling him closer to his side while eyeing the Beta. “You helped my mate. I won’t forget that. And we will help you, but don’t look at Johnny ever again like that.”

Before either of them could start a fight, driven by hormones and stress more than real anger, Johnny stepped around Simon with an annoyed huff and turned at Horangi.

“We’ll find yar mate. Ya can trust me, I’m not done with Roba yet. We’ll just have tae plan this carefully. Alrigh’?”

Horangi glared at Johnny and crossed his arms in front of his chest angrily. “I want to be part of that plan making. He has my mate.”

Knowing how the Beta must feel like, didn’t help Simon to calm down. It wasn’t even twenty-four hours ago and he thought Johnny’s life was still in danger, and for what it was worth, Simon hadn’t been good company the last weeks and days as well.

Letting out a long sigh, feeling his stress crawling up his spine again, he snitched Johnny’s hand and pushed himself past the Beta, walking straight to the door.

Inside, the rest of the heart of the pack had already gathered. Price sat on the big chair in the centre of the living room, looking up when they approached. Before their pack leader could say something, Johnny’s hand already left Simon and a ball of almond fur jolted away.

Buried under Johnny’s wolf body and wiggling tail, Reyes laughed wholeheartedly, scratching Johnny’s ear with a broad smile.

Simon’s eyes traveled over the Alpha to his mate. Reyes sat on the sofa next to Alex and Farah, who Johnny greeted with licking and snuggling as well, but Chuy had retreated to the other sofa, looking drop dead tired but overall relieved.

Carefully, Simon let them have their moment, picked up the nearest pair of sweatpants and watched Johnny jumping happily from Reyes to Chuy, licking over his face, a pitiful, but happy whine escaping him.

Looking over his shoulder, Simon eyed Horangi who stayed out of the door – for now. Visibly fighting with not just bursting in, but still already on the edge of entering, he stood there and Simon let out a huff, turning to Price.

“I think that Beta needs to be heard upon. He helped Johnny after all.”

Price’s eyes took in Horangi, before he raised from his chair, nodding towards the door. “We’ll do this outside. Boys! Farah.”

The sharp tone of an Alpha pack leader stopped the others to play. For a second, Simon was worried Johnny would be scared – the Beta stopped playing, his tail tugged in between his legs for just a second, but it started wiggling soon after when Johnny trotted towards Simon.

Commanding, but not suppressing.

Price wasn’t Makarov and Johnny knew that.

It would take time, but Johnny would be able to heal now.

Without the need to call them, every single wolf came.

While Simon pulled Johnny close to his side, helping him to get in the oversized hoodie he still carried, the others followed outside as well. Alex sat down on the stairs, rubbing his stump, while Farah took her place next to him. Reyes had an arm around Chuy, protectively and a tiny bit possessively just like Simon had around Johnny, while Nik strolled towards them, lighting himself lazily a cigarette. Gaz gently wrapped an arm around his mate’s waist.

And Price eyes every single one of them one by one.

Their new recruits, those who had survived, looked expectantly to Price and almost hopeful. Some of them were still injured, and though they were still recruits, Simon missed a few faces among them. Those who had died freeing Johnny.

He swallowed hard, feeling touched and respect at the determination in their eyes.

The wolves they had freed looked exhausted, but at least they didn’t look as shaken anymore. They stood together in a group, mainly Omegas, eyeing everyone a bit suspicious, but frightened, their gazes fixed on Price as well.

So many were here, and no sound escaped any of them.

Price had never wanted to become a pack leader of so many wolves, and now he was it – they had killed Makarov. They had ended him, but not yet the war Makarov had started.

Simon’s eyes traveled to another group of wolves, one which was neither freed nor their recruits – but the one they had brought from searching Rudy.

James stood among them, an arm wrapped tightly around Elsie’s shoulder, as if holding her. And Simon realized why.

She was the only one who didn’t look at Price. She looked at Johnny.

By reflex, Simon pulled Johnny closer.

“Yesterday, we showed the world what a united pack can achieve.”

Price’s voice was demanding, and the scent of Alpha passed through the air. Simon looked away from Elsie and James, focusing on Price, though his arm around Johnny was tighter than before.

“And we did what they thought wasn’t possible – we defeated Makarov. But that came with a price.”

Several of their recruits looked to the ground. Simon’s gaze flickered over to Horangi only a few metres away, whose teeth grinded so hard that it was audible for Simon even in his human form.

“We lost friends. We lost family. Many of us are injured. One of us is still in hospital and it’s looking grim for him.” Price lowered his voice dangerously. “And the most vulnerable of us they took.”

The silent obedience shifted into anger and grief. It wasn’t needed to know Luna, it was enough that she was taken. A pup, not even having shifted once, not even grown enough to crawl. Taken.

Everyone felt the pain: The pack felt sorrow, the Omegas anger and the wolves who had come with Elsie burning anger. Simon could smell the different emotions, and his nose itched with all the kinds of scents which were passing through the air right now.

Focusing, he concentrated on the honey and cinnamon right next to him, and his starting headache subsided.

“Today, we’ll bury our fallen. We’ll honor them. We’ll rest.” Price looked over the crowd. “We’ll grieve, and we’ll tend to our injured, we’ll find room for those who want to stay, and I’ll call Laswell and ask her for help for those who want to leave.” His eyes stopped on the freed Omegas. “Those who want to return to their own families. Their own packs.”

The hope returned to the faces of the Omegas, but some of them looked to the ground. Simon pulled Johnny closer, pressing his face in his hair, the outgrown mohawk, the one which they would tend to. Later.

Some of them couldn’t return to their packs. Perhaps they were killed. Perhaps it was too long ago.

But Johnny was home here. Johnny was safe.

Focusing on this thought kept Simon safe.

“And when we settled today, we’ll strike again tomorrow. They got our pup. And I want her back.”

Those who were in their wolf forms, howled in agreement. The sound echoed through the forest, and more and more howls joined in when more of them shifted.

Simon stayed silent, holding Johnny close who pressed himself to his side, and let his gaze wander over his mate.

He was pale, cold and he shivered. He needed rest. He needed silence. Before Simon could open his mouth, someone raised his voice, stepping forward challenging.

To no surprise, Simon’s eyes fell on Horangi.

“Roba doesn’t only have your pup. He has my mate and still many of the others. If they want a war, they can have it.”

Price stayed silent for a moment. “A war is not what we want. Makarov’s Alphas are in custody. Roba and the Garza pack are on the run, but we will find them.” Price grinded his teeth. “We managed the unmanageable and killed Makarov. Roba and Valeria will fall, too.”

Horangi huffed. “We didn’t kill anyone. He did.”

The way Johnny froze when Horangi pointed at him and when every wolf turned to look at him, clenched Simon’s heart together. Johnny didn’t look at anyone, his face pressed on Simon’s side.

Spreading a soothing wave of pheromones didn’t help.

“Those Alpha shits will listen to him. They are powerful, and with them we can kill the Garzas and Roba and his men easily.”

Horangi eyed Johnny without mercy and Simon narrowed his eyes down in a glare.

“We should call your Shadow and CIA friends, and let them just find them. They will listen to you, Soap. You’re as good as their pack leader now.”

Johnny shivered, looking up to Simon, then to Horangi. Ocean-blue eyes travelled over all those expectantly looking wolves, before he shifted in the blink of an eye and Simon only could catch the oversized hoodie in his hands.

Vanishing in the den, nothing was left of Johnny than his distressed scent.

Horangi opened his mouth, but Simon growled at him. “It’s not twenty-four hours since he almost died!”

The Beta blinked, but didn’t back down, even stepping forward challenging. “But he didn’t, and that was partly thanks to me, so I want some fucking help to find my mate!”

Sharply stinging lemon, directly in his nose. The Beta was taunting him, asking for a fight, and Simon’s wolf was close to accept it.

A breeze of autumn cloaked around him, distracting him, calming him and Simon shook the feeling of, glaring slightly at Price but stepping back at once.

Price let out a deep breath, smiling down at Horangi. “Why don’t we two call Laswell right now, while the others start with the work. But let Soap be for the time being.”

Horangi narrowed his eyes, but nodded with some inaudible grumbling. Price nodded towards Simon, putting a hand gently on his shoulder. “We’ll handle this. You two just rest today. You both need it.”

At every other opportunity, Simon would have objected. He would have helped, he would have worked, dug graves or helped the injured. Would have gone hunting, would have driven to the next town to shop groceries, because the forest didn’t hold enough boars for the number of wolves right now.

But Simon felt the exhaustion in his muscles, his bones, the injuries from the day before, even if healed by his shifter blood, still echoing as memory in his human body.

And the worst of all was his head.

Foggy, cloudy, he wasn’t able to concentrate too well. He was tired, exhausted, his thoughts distracted easily with worry about Johnny.

Johnny, who he wanted to bury in his nest and didn’t leave him for the rest of the day.

The week. The month, ever.

“I will let you know when something changes. When Alejandro brings Rudy home, whatever. But now go, Simon.”

Price’s hand disappeared, and with one last glance to his pack who smiled at him understanding, even if tired themselves, Simon didn’t think about it twice.

He felt the gazes of the wolves, he felt the smell of lavender all that way over here, Elsie’s demanding, stubborn eyes, and James calm, steady aura.

If this was too much for Simon, how must this feel for Johnny?

Closing the door behind himself quietly, Simon allowed himself a moment to breathe and close his eyes.

Their rooms, their home, only Johnny’s smell and his own. While their nest smelled like the others, Johnny’s sweet honey and cinnamon was the strongest, almost becoming a bit too sweet.

Following the scent of distress, Simon walked past Johnny’s atelier into their bedroom.

He frowned when he found their nest empty.

A small, pitiful whine turned his attention to the wardrobe.

Nothing but Johnny’s tail was to be seen, sticking out through the last open slit. Lying in the darkness, hiding from the world and his own thoughts, Johnny whined in his wolf form.

Simon swallowed hard.

Approaching slowly, but loud enough to not startle him, he knelt down, resting his head against the wooden door of the wardrobe.

Johnny was chewing on his plushie, half-asleep, half-agitated. His whole body was still shaking, and the usual ray of sunshine was only a ray of stress.

Reaching forward slowly, Simon gently brushed over Johnny’s fur, and with every moment which passed, the Beta became more relaxed, quieter and even turned around after a while, dropping the plushie in front of Simon and pressing his muzzle in Simon’s armpit.

After one moment of hesitation, Simon slid into the wardrobe. It was narrow, but doable, and Johnny crawled on his lap, his wolfen heart still beating faster than it should.

Crooking a smile, Simon buried his face in Johnny’s fur. “Why are we hiding in the closet?”

It took an awful lot of time until Johnny shifted, but when he did, his arms were around Simon in an instant and his lips found Simon’s immediately.

Resting their foreheads against each other, Johnny shivered in Simon’s arms.

“I smelled Ale. And Rudy. And Luna.”

Simon stayed silent, then he wrapped his arms around Johnny and kissed him again. Johnny relaxed under the affection and his body warmed up a bit. Cupping Johnny’s face with his hands, Simon planted several kisses on his cheeks, eyelids and nose, until Johnny was purring under his touches and his breath and heartbeat had slowed down.

If he could, Simon would stay with Johnny in this closet, hiding him from everything he didn’t want to see.

But not only was the wardrobe way too small for both of them, he also wanted to help Johnny get rest.

With his body and soul.

“They are not dead.” Simon intertwined their fingers and nodded towards the nest. “Ale’s fine. He’ll bring Rudy home soon, and Rudy is too stubborn to die. You know him.”

Johnny smiled shortly at Simon, looking to the ground. Simon breathed out heavily, kissing his temple. “And Luna will be home soon. I promised her to bring Uncle Johnny back home and I kept my promise. And I promise you, we’ll bring her back in no time.”

“Do ya need tae leave?”

Ocean-blue eyes peering into his, afraid and scared, but also brave enough to accept a ‘Yes’. Simon shook his head. “No. Tomorrow I’ll do stuff for the pack.” Leaning forward to distract Johnny with another kiss, he smiled. “Today I’ll only do stuff for my mate.”

Simon had dreamed about this day, when Johnny would finally be his mate. He had planned it through – the bite, the hunt, the time in their nest.

Nothing of it was like he had imagined.

But that didn’t matter. Johnny was his mate.

“I’m gettin’ a bit of a headache.”

Simon tilted his head, nestling Johnny against his chest. “Not really a surprise. Is it alright if we lay down in the nest?”

Johnny gave a nod, and with no effort, Simon picked Johnny up who made a surprised noise. Giving another smile, Simon gently carried him to their nest, settling him into the soft cushions and tucking him in. The plushie found a place next to the nest, easy enough to reach, and far enough to not distract Johnny.

Laying down next to his mate, Simon didn’t speak. He didn’t ask. His fingers travelled over Johnny’s naked chest, his old scars, his new scars, the one enormous one on his neck. While Simon’s mating bite was visibly sparkling in the light, an echo of Makarov’s teeth still was visible. Not for every eye, but Simon saw it.

“He made me almost forget ya, Si.”

Johnny’s voice was barely a whisper. He blinked tiredly, nestling closer into the cushions and Simon’s chest, while Simon pulled the blanket around them. Kissing his forehead, he breathed softly into Johnny’s hair.

“But you didn’t.

Running his fingers over the tender mating bite, he felt Johnny shuddering under his touch, but not wincing.

“Your body remembered when they tried to trick your mind. You remembered me, Johnny.”

Wrapping his arms around Johnny, Simon pulled him closer.

“And you’re my mate now.”

“I love you, Simon.”

Simon smiled warmly into Johnny’s hair, even if he felt Johnny’s tears at his chest.

“And I love you, Johnny.”

Johnny cried himself to sleep, but his breath and body were calmer once he was done. And while Simon held his mate through his sleep, no nightmare disturbed his lover’s sleep this time.

And they had cried enough.

Today was the last time he had seen Johnny cry. From now on, Johnny would smile again.

Chapter Text

Soap had never been on a burial before and it was one of the few things he could have done without.

The silence was deafening, whimpers and cries were the only thing breaking it. The scent of the earth, freshly dug up. The scent of grief.

The whole atmosphere itched Soap’s wolf. He had to stand still, he had to be quiet, and everyone was here. While everything inside Soap ached to shift and to run away, to hide in the silence of his wolf form, he forced himself to stand his ground.

These people were dead because of him.

He hadn’t killed them, but it was his fault they laid here now.

His pack, his family, strangers who haven’t ever seen him before, ready to give their life to free him. Because Soap had been foolish enough, proud enough, to run away without asking anyone.

And still, they came to rescue him. To defeat Makarov.

To get him out of Vlad’s hands.

The least thing he could do was to endure the time it took to bury them all, to listen to Price’s careful, but strong words, to listen to the cries of the families who had lost their brothers, sisters, daughters or sons.

To endure all the stares and glances and whispers aimed at his direction.

Stares of awe and appreciation, as if he was a fucking war hero. All Soap wanted to do was to set things straight - he hadn’t done anything. He might have resisted Vlad’s influence, he might have attacked him, he might have bitten him, but if Simon hadn’t been there, if Phil hadn’t been there, if the others hadn’t fought there, then Vlad would still be alive, and Soap probably long gone.

Something touched his hand, squeezing him softly, and Soap leaned closer to Simon, focusing on the familiar mix of Whiskey, honey and forest which distracted him from his mental chatter.

“Are you alright?”

Simon’s voice was barely a whisper, but it managed to fade out all the rest. For a moment, Soap allowed himself to close his eyes, focus on the touch of Simon’s hand in his and the warmth the Alpha radiated next to him, before he gave a short, brief nod and opened his eyes again.

And he was fine.

He was here, back home, back with Simon and his pack. He was safe.

Vlad-… Makarov was dead.

His mind played tricks on him, but he was stronger than this. All he needed was a bit of time, a bit of sleep, and later, when they’d be home, some cuddle time with Simon.

Nothing else.

His grip, however, clenched tightly around Simon’s hand.

The burial ended with a united howl of the wolves. Soap shivered at the haunting sound of pain in the air, his own voice breaking at the combined grief, anger and ache in the forest. Tucking his tail between his legs by reflex, not only Simon stepped closer to nudge him, Soap also felt the presence of his pack stepping closer, taking him in in their midst, cloaking him in the scent of family.

Soap remained there, frozen, hypnotized, frightened to the bones, when the first wolves already left back to their den.

Protected in the middle of his pack, Soap felt Gaz chewing on his ear, Reyes and Chuy nudging him softly, while Alex and Farah were licking over his muzzle gently. Nik bumped him with a paw, and when Price joined them, he scented Soap carefully. They left, one after one, as soon as Soap’s tail slowly relaxed, and only Simon remained at his side.

Stoic, patient and reliable Simon.

What would Soap ever do without him?

Soap’s gaze travelled back to Roach’s grave, to the name engraved on the tombstone and for a second Soap’s heart skipped a beat.

What once was his place alone in the woods, he was now accompanied by seven more graves and tombstones.

A single whine escaped Soap’s lungs, and instinctively he moved forward, approaching the tombstones with a hanging head.

He had wanted the den to grow. His pack. Not this place.

And for a selfish, selfish moment he was relieved that he hadn’t buried Simon today.

“Can I have a moment?”

A different smell, distant, unknown, yet achingly familiar. Rain, thick and clouding, nurturing but on the edge of drowning. Soap looked over his shoulder, locking eyes with his father, his tail wiggling once.

His father tilted his head, crooking up a smile, and Soap’s gaze flickered over to Simon who was watching them from the distance in his wolf form. Soap swallowed and shifted back, quickly accepting the hoodie his Dad held in his hands.

“I wanted tae wait for the righ’ moment, but I don’t think there ever will be one.”

Soap looked up, hesitating. His father gazed past him to Roach’s tombstone, before he locked eyes with him again.

“I thought ya’re dead.”

Soap swallowed, unsure how to respond. A headache built up when he remembered foggy clouds in the forest of his home, his own pitiful cries for his father, the growls and howls in the forest, and the shots silencing it.

He remembered it, but the memory was vague, distant, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay in those memories, his hair straightening by the thought alone.

“I know we can’t continue where we left off, but… I’m yar Dad, John.”

His father moved, but not forwards, shifting in his own stature as if holding himself back. The pain on his father’s face was the same Soap felt inside, the urge to run forward and hug him as if he still was the welp from back then fighting with the urge to run away, because this man was a complete stranger.

“I just want ya tae know that. I’ll protect ya. I didnae do a good job the last time, but the only thought which kept me alive for more than twenty years under Makarov’s care, was takin’ revenge. For my pack. For my family. For you.” He swallowed. “Now he’s dead, but ya’re still havin’ enemies. Allow me tae help ya at least with them.”

Images flickered up in front of Soap’s eyes - a forest, a home, his father picking him up on his feet, throwing him up and down under laughter until only Soap’s mother scolded both of them, afraid he’d throw up.

Memories from a lifetime ago.

From another life ago.

For his father, Soap still was little John - Pumpkin. For Vlad, he had been that friend from back then – a cursed version of Pumpkin. For Phil, Soap was a friend, accustomed so he’d fit in into the structures of the Graves family, distant and cold.

Soap swallowed, tears filling his eyes and he looked to Simon.

But for Simon, he just was Johnny.

Johnny with all his flaws, Johnny who was all the pieces of his old life. The remains of the little John, fighting with Soap from the Shadows. Simon had wanted him even with his shattered mind, and even after Vlad - after Makarov - had stomped on that mind, crushing the newly glued pieces of Soap, he still was ready to scratch him up from the floor, turning him back into his Johnny.

And Soap didn’t want to be anything else than that.

But he wasn’t just Johnny. He wasn’t living in the nest, hidden and buried away from the world, even if he’d loved to do this right now.

He was all of these memories.

He was John, the pup. He was Soap from the Shadows. He was the mess Makarov had done to him.

He just had to make himself whole again and put all of these together.

“I cannot imagine what’s goin’ through yar head righ’ now… I’m sorry.”

Distracted by his father’s voice, Soap looked up, shivering and silent. If a wolf, his tail would be tucked closely between his legs, and given the look of his father’s eyes, there was no need to explain his level of discomfort.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect ya back then.”

"Ya made the biggest mistake with comin' here, Makarov. I'll kill ya. I swear, I'll kill all of ya."

Vlad's Dad chuckled and John gave up. He shifted back uncontrolled, causing the man behind him to almost drop him, but he caught him just in time.

"Empty threats weigh nothing. And now say goodbye to your pup."

The desperate eyes of his father were the last thing John saw, before he felt a terrible sharp pain on the head.

Soap furrowed his brows, stepping quickly forward before his father could turn on his heels. When his fingers gripped around his Dad’s wrist, he hesitated, averting direct eye-contact.

“I… I remember ya’re the strongest Alpha far and wide, Da. Ya were outnumbered. Ya didn’t have a chance.”

Letting go of his Dad, Soap stood there for a while, allowing himself to study his father more closely now. He still was exactly like he remembered and still so very different. When he had seen him the day before, it had been a shock, but now he saw - and remembered - the details. The wrinkles under his eyes from all the laughter, now emphasized with the age. The muscles, proving him to be the strongest Alpha Soap ever knew, now thinner and under pale skin from years of being captured.

Makarov had kept him alive, but hadn’t let him live. Frowning, Soap looked up now, shaking his head.

“Why… I thought ya’re dead. I… I didn’t remember anythin’, really, but…” He swallowed. “Then I remembered. A bit. I thought they killed all of ya.”

His father grimaced. “I thought so, too. But Elsie told me a few of them made it out and went into hidin’.”

At the mention of his sister’s name, Soap flinched. His heartbeat went faster, a mix of joy and scare and overwhelm. His eyes searched for her automatically, but he didn’t find her.

“They united with the survivors of other packs Makarov destroyed. We weren’t the only ones, but we seem tae have been the last.”

Soap furrowed his brows. He thought of Vlad, petting his head, bedding him into soft cushions, whispering of a bright future together -

“Yar sisters made it.”

Soap opened his mouth, then he froze. Blinking at his father, he straightened his back, holding his head.

Sisters?

“I hope it will be a boy.”

John pouted, pressing his ear closer at the grown belly of his mother, who laughed quietly and brushed over his hair. “Why?”

John looked up, beaming up at his Ma. “So that I have backup against Elsie of course! If she gets a sister, it will be two against one!”

“I think ya’re forgettin’ someone, lad.”

Being picked up easily from the ground, John chuckled brightly when he hung head-first from his father’s grip. Ocean-blue eyes were smiling at him, tickling his belly.

“Even if we’ll get another lassie in the pack, it will always be the two of us against the world, righ’?”

John chuckled, kicking his legs when his Da tickled him more. Buried in arms and hugs, he pressed himself between his Da and his Ma, hugging her belly and smiled happily.

Soap gasped, jolting forward and grabbing his Dad by his arms, panic and joy in his voice. “Ma made it?! Ma’s alive?!”

His Dad grimaced, cupping his face. There was an echo of a tear in his eyes, but soothing, reassuring Alpha pheromones washed over Soap to calm him down, and Soap’s joy quickly subsided.

“Elsie said Ma took her and the car, and didn’t look back. She gave birth tae a little girl, but… died durin’ it.”

His heart, beating three times faster, coming to a stop abruptly and painful. Soap’s face lost all colour, the grief washing over him all at once, even if he hadn’t thought she had lived before.

And a sister? He had a little sister?

“Elsie told me. Her name’s Amber. She’s with the rest of their pack gathering other folks who were raising against Makarov’s wolves.”

A shudder ran over Soap’s spine, and out of a sudden, he felt extremely exhausted.

He loved his father, he wanted to hear everything that he had missed, and he wanted to hear nothing.

As if noticing his thoughts, Simon appeared next to him, shifting back into his human form and wrapping an arm around Soap’s shoulders. Instantly, Soap leaned in into the touch and wrapped an arm around Simon’s body himself.

Breathing in the familiar smell of his mate, he relaxed, but his headache stayed.

“He needs rest.”

A warning growl accompanied Simon’s voice, and Soap quickly squeezed him reassuringly, throwing a glance to his father. “It’s alrigh’, Si, I’m fine.”

His father didn’t take the challenge in Simon’s golden eyes, but the muscles around his lips were tense.

“I know. And I want tae give him that, Simon. I want him safe and sound, and I want nothin’ but the best for ya two, but while Makarov’s dead, we’re still at war with his people.”

Soap hid his face in Simon’s chest, his headaches growing stronger.

“Ya can turn off the TV, ya can hide the news from him, ya can hide him in that fortress ya’ve built but at some point, if we don’t silence the last voices of Makarov’s people, the war will come here. Because they see yar pack as the enemy. They see John as the one who killed their leader, and while some will take him as their new leader, some simply want him dead.”

“It’s alright, John.”

Vlad’s hand was cold on his hot cheek, and Soap’s head rang dizzily.

“We’re together now. Nothing can part us. We’ll be connected. Forever.”

Vlad rubbed his cheek while Milena pulled out the needle, leaving Soap back into a numb feeling.

“With you, I can finally change the world.”

“I want tae protect him, too, Simon. I want nothin’ else, and if it means Elsie and me need tae disappear, then I’ll drag her ass away from here, but we need tae react now as long as they’re weak. Ya’re havin’ too many enemies by now tae risk another war and ya need us.”

Simon let out a small growl which echoed and roared within his chest. Soap swallowed hard, rubbing Simon’s chest gently, before forcing himself to concentrate and look at his father.

“Thank ya. Really. I’ll… We’ll talk tae Price. We’ll take any help we can get.”

The sound of a helicopter in the distance made all of them turn their heads. Simon tensed up, while his father frowned, side-eyeing them, but Soap let out a relieved sigh when he recognized the sound.

“Shadows. Phil must be comin’.”

“Taking any help ya can get, eh?” His father looked up at the sky, but the forest was too thick to see it yet. “Even sidin’ with the Shadows. Still wanna know how that friendship developed.”

Simon looked from the sky back to Soap’s Dad, a hard edge in his voice. “We’ll talk later. Inform Price and see what he wants. I’ll take Johnny and will be with you shortly.”

Soap frowned, but stayed quiet. He saw his father nodding firmly before jumping away, and Simon instantly pulled him away.

“Can you shift?”

Restless, a bit on edge. Soap hesitated, but nodded, wordlessly shifting before taking the hoodie between his teeth, watching Simon doing the same with his sweatpants.

The sound of the helicopter grew louder before it went quieter again, clearly aiming for the glade nearest to the den. While Simon aimed straight for the way back home, Soap stopped after a while, nudging him gently towards the glade itself. Simon shook his head, but after some nudging, whining and some demanded cuddles, he gave in, following Soap into the other direction.

Still tired, awfully slow and easily exhausted, Soap didn’t only fight his growing headaches, but his battered body as well. His wounds might have closed, but his energy still was drained and hadn’t recharged from the sleep. Perhaps it would take more than just a handful of nights until he’d be fine again, but that wasn’t something he wanted to worry about right now.

The engines and the sounds of the helicopters had stopped, and Soap froze when he heard familiar voices.

When the familiar mix of vanilla and cherry and fresh cookies and a smokey-sun-kissed smell reached his nose, he couldn’t help but skip excitedly, his headache fading away for the briefest moment.

Running with a sudden burst of energy towards the direction of the scent, he jolted through the forest, only slowing down because he couldn’t breathe. Simon closed in on him easily, taking place guardingly in front of him when Soap caught breath.

But he saw the helicopter.

He saw Phil.

Alejandro. And Rudy.

The most puppy-like whine left his lungs, and even if exhausted, with burning lungs and a throbbing pain in the back of his head, Soap stumbled forward, dropping his hoodie somewhere on the way and approached Rudy whining and with a tail which wiggled so hard that it hurt meeting the ground.

The nearer Soap got, the slower he became, and his excited whines turned into questioning, worried ones.

Rudy looked terrible.

He was pale, thinner than ever before, the bags under his eyes were almost black, and he had new scars Soap didn’t know of. Some were still pink, fresh and recently healed, but what confused Soap the most was the grey of his left eye, which was looking right through him.

“Soap! God, what are you doing here?”

Leaving Rudy’s side, Alejandro jumped at him, burying his face in Soap’s fur and leaving kisses over kisses, while petting him roughly. Soap whined pitifully, pressing his muzzle against Alejandro’s chest and neck, sniffing that the man wasn’t severely injured at least.

Finally they were back.

“We’re back home, Soap. All of us now.”

Alejandro’s touches stopped, and Soap heard him swallowing. A shadow hushed through Alejandro’s eyes, before the Alpha clearly put up a smile, brushing over Soap’s head. “Almost all of us at least. But soon we’ll be united. And you’re back. I’m so glad you’re fine, hermano.”

Another kiss, but then Alejandro went back to Rudy, putting an arm around him to help him stand. Staggering a bit, Rudy stumbled forward and Soap quickly rushed forward to press his muzzle into Rudy’s hands, shivering under the desperate grip of the man until he shifted, pressing Rudy into a hard embrace.

“I’m so sorry.”

He hadn't realized that he cried until he felt Simon's hands on his shoulders, and a blanket quickly following after. Rudy gently pushed him away, shaking his head.

No tears left the Omega’s eyes. Being so close, Soap saw the bluntness of his blind eye, smelled the absence of scent awfully painful, and recognized the beaten up look from a man who had almost died.

Before he could apologize another time, Rudy squeezed his arms.

“Nothing of this is your fault. It's Makarov’s, Roba’s and Valeria’s, and one of them is already dead.” Rudy's face hardened. “You killed one of them. Leave Roba to me.”

“Easy there.” Alejandro wrapped an arm around Rudy's shoulders, pulling him at his chest. “We talked about this. Let’s head back home first.”

Alejandro side eyed Phil at that. Soap dragged the blanket around his shoulders before he peered at his friend, his heart aching at the familiar urge to hug him, while another voice still told him to be careful.

Yet Phil had saved him. And not only him, he had saved Simon’s life as well.

Sky-blue eyes met his and a tired smile slipped on his friend's features. “Good to see you back up on your feet, Soap. You had me worried for a second.”

No voice in his head, no doubt, no fear could Soap back after that. He jolted forward, shifting not so gracefully during the process and crushed Phil's body under his, licking all over his face while whimpering.

A surprised yell escaped the man, but for the briefest moment Phil returned the affection with a short, tight hug, pressing his face in Soap’s neck, before he pushed him gently off him, scratching his ears with half a smile.

“You should be glad Oz can handle his reflexes. He is trained to shoot everyone who jumps on me, did you forget that?”

Soap knew that, but his inner wolf was too overwhelmed with everything right now to care. Licking over Phil’s hand, his tail was an unstoppable force, wiping every leaf or dust on the ground away which had not escaped when the helicopter landed.

His pack was -almost- complete now. Alejandro and Rudy were back, and Phil was here, safe and sound, with Oz keeping watch over him from a distance. Soap looked up to the man, but didn’t head to him, simply accepting his nod as a sign of approval and exhausted, Soap dropped on all his paws, letting out a long yawn.

“What are you doing out here anyway? I had expected you to lay it low for a while.”

Alejandro’s voice was clearly aimed at Simon, and Soap stayed where he was, putting his head on Phil’s feet, who was scratching his ears briefly, before pushing him gently off.

“You missed the burial. We were on our way home when we heard you.”

Alejandro grimaced, pulling Rudy closer to his chest. The Omega was unusually quiet, and Soap looked up between him and Phil.

Phil grinded his teeth and forced up a smile. “Heed the doctor’s advice. I’ll pick you up in a few days.” Phil let out a sigh, throwing a glance at Soap. “And you should come with Rudy when I take him. Let’s run a few checks on whatever Makarov gave to you.”

The thought of injections, laboratories and the Shadow’s base made Soap shudder. His tail tucked in between his legs he whimpered by reflex, but pressed his face quickly between Phil’s feet.

He should.

He didn’t want to. But he should.

“We will talk about that.”

Simon barked, almost annoyed, stepping forward and within the next moment, Soap was picked up, easily carried in Simon’s strong arms. His tail wiggled softly, as he leaned forward to lick over his mate’s face, causing the stern expression to soften slightly.

He didn’t like being weak enough to be carried enough, but his paws hurt enough that he’d allow Simon it – for now.

“I will accompany Rudy, Ghost. I will keep an eye on Soap.” Alejandro put a hand on Simon’s shoulder, squeezing it gently. “The Shadows also have Makarov’s Alphas caged up. They can help us find Luna, hermano. They will listen to Soap.”

First Horangi, now Alejandro. Soap couldn’t blame them – Horangi wanted to find his mate, Alejandro his pup. What would Soap do in their cases?

Pressing his muzzle into Simon’s armpit, he closed his eyes.

He would do anything to make this right, to help his family and friends. But he wasn’t sad that he hadn’t to go there right now.

They’d go home now, he could cuddle with Simon, sneak up to Rudy’s nest if he allowed, and hide in the blankets until Alejandro would carry him over to his own, so he could snuggle up against Simon’s chest.

For a few more hours, for a few more days even, he could just do that – nothing.

Being with Simon, living an illusion, hiding in his nest and the scent of family and safety. Calming down. Resting.

Settling his messed-up mind so he’d feel whole again.

Breathing in the familiar smell of Whiskey and honey, Soap relaxed in Simon’s arms, not listening to the conversations of the others. They seemed to disagree about the Alphas, then about something else, then they talked some more, but Soap didn’t listen, not even looking up when they started walking.

Being carried in Simon’s strong arms, nothing else mattered. They were together again.

And he’d make sure nothing would ever part them again.

Chapter Text

A ray of warm sunshine greeted Gaz as soon as he opened his eyes. Blinking lazily into the light which shone through the window, he groaned tiredly as he stretched his limbs. Rolling over to the warm body next to him, a smile slipped on his features and stayed there, when his fingers found their way to a familiar, muscular chest. The urge to close his eyes again, to drift off into a warm, heavy form of half-sleep was big, but a big hand on his back convinced him otherwise.

John’s fingers left traces back of an intense shudder, and Gaz opened his eyes for real this time, snuggling nearer to his mate’s body.

“How long have you been watching me already?”

John gave a smug smile. “Not nearly long enough.”

Chuckling, Gaz climbed on top of the Alpha, sitting down and leaning forward, until he met John in a long, gentle kiss. John’s hands caused a familiar fire to rise on his skin, and for a short moment Gaz thought about just giving into the feeling, not caring about the time or the endless things they had to do.

Just John and him – he didn’t want anything else right now.

“I love you so much.”

John’s quiet whisper made his heart skip a beat. Smiling, Gaz left kisses on John’s cheek and throat, until he rested tiredly against John’s chest, intertwining his limbs with John’s. “I can’t wait to marry you, you big flirt.”

Letting out a chuckle, John pressed a soft kiss on the top of Gaz’s head. “I’ve been wanting to speak with you about a date for it actually. But with all that's going on…”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. Looking up into that pair of steel-blue eyes Gaz had fallen in love with, Gaz sighed heavily, forcing himself to look away. “I know.” After a moment, he tucked one of John’s chest hairs, not feeling guilty the slightest when the Alpha winced shortly at the sensation. “But I heard Paris is also quite pretty in winter.”

John’s lips formed a smile. “I think Paris is pretty whenever you’re there.”

“Ah, say more things like that...”

They didn’t speak more, at least not with words. Indulging in his mate, Gaz first left their bed when the sun was already high in the sky.

He didn’t want to leave their area, their room, their bed, didn’t want to leave John, but not only was he starting to get hungry, he also wanted to check on the others after all.

John already was dressed, stretching his neck, and the familiar stern expression which was in his eyes nowadays was back. Tiptoeing one last time to press a kiss on John’s lips, Gaz breathed in the familiar smell of cigars, fire and autumn.

“I’ll check in on the boys. Will you call Laswell?”

“I’ll do. I think it’s best if she comes here, let’s see when she manages.”

Gaz nodded, but before he could leave, John pulled him back, wrapping strong, broad arms around his body, leaving kisses all over his face and throat, until Gaz had to giggle when the beard tickled his skin.

“There are so many new wolves around.” A small growl left John’s throat. “I want them to know that you’re mine.”

The words cast a shudder down Gaz’s spine. Turning around and developing another long, intense kiss with his mate, he finally pressed his forehead against John.

“I’m your mate. Soon I’ll be your husband. I’m not interested in anyone else.”

“Good. Because I’m not sharing.”

Golden eyes peered into Gaz’s, a small smile on John’s lips. Gaz tilted his head, tracing the form of John’s lips with his thumb. “Neither do I.”

A hinge of jealousy he couldn’t keep out of his voice. John crooked a smile at it, letting out a long breath, before slowly parting from him. “There is nothing going on between Nik and me, Kyle. I promise.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt you, but does he know that?”

John’s eyes sparkled once. “I can’t speak for him… but I know what I see. And I think…” He leaned forward, planting a quick kiss on Gaz’s cheek. “...Nik’s attention is elsewhere in the moment. Maybe it stays there.”

Irritated, Gaz leaned back with a frown, but John didn’t elaborate any further, squeezing his hand before moving past him. “I’ll give Kate that call and then I’ll check in with the newcomers. And later we’ll have some pack time.”

Pack time sounded heavenly. With Rudy and Alejandro back, they'd finally be complete - as complete as they could be without their pup, but it was a start. Gaz had missed playing with Soap, cuddling with Rudy, hunting Alejandro throughout the living room… he had missed his pack. His family.

Leaving only reluctantly, Gaz followed the smell of coffee throughout the den, which led him to the kitchen. He perked a brow, surprised when he saw Farah handling the coffee machine and Alex resting his medical leg on a second chair. The Beta looked awfully pale and beaten, but otherwise fine, while Farah almost seemed to have her whole power back.

“I didn’t expect you two here. Is the coffee machine in your house broken?”

Farah turned around with a smile, while Alex grimaced. “No. But I walked into Reyes and Chuy this morning and almost got killed. Don’t want to trade my life for coffee like that again.”

Gaz blinked, while Farah pushed a mug with hot coffee into his hands, nudging him gently. “Don’t worry. Judging the smell, Chuy stopped taking his suppressants. I think they’ll be in need of the rut room soon.”

Adding that on his mental to-do-list, Gaz took a sip from his coffee, considering her words. “He stopped taking them now? That seems a bit sudden. Didn’t he have a planned heat coming in a few months anyway?”

Alex hid his face behind his mug. “I don’t think it’s a planned heat.”

The weight of Alex’s words took a moment until it dropped. In the next moment, Gaz almost choked on his coffee, tears of pain in his eyes as he coughed. Farah pitifully clapped his shoulder. “Easy there.”

“They want to have a pup, now?!”

He stared first at Farah, then at Alex. Farah shrugged. “The ‘best’ time for a pup is never. They are looking forward to the future.” She crooked a smile. “They have hope. Maybe we should have some, too.”

Despite the truth in her words, Gaz grimaced. A worried, yet excited nausea rose in his stomach at the thought of their pack growing and changing once more.

He wasn't as scared of change as John, but he was worried about Rudy’s and Alejandro's reaction.

“Alejandro asked after Price, by the way.”

Gaz frowned, wondering if that already was the reaction. “Why didn't you get us?”

Alex huffed. “I walked in on Reyes today already. Do you think I want to walk in on your mate?” He chuckled. “I already lost one leg. I want to keep the other one.”

Wincing at a slight clap on his head by Farah who shook her head, she nodded at Gaz seriously. “Ghost was already up. I think Alejandro just needed an Alpha to speak to. He seemed more relaxed after their conversation.”

They hadn’t ‘formally’ spoken about John being the pack leader again, though everyone had just taken him as such. Gaz wondered if John would see a threat in Ghost’s decision, but he hoped that John just would see it as the help it was meant to be.

“Where’s Soap?”

Alex crooked a smile. “In the shower, last I saw him. Ghost is currently outside.”

Gaz hummed, slurping from his coffee. Not really wanting to be a responsible adult right now, he let out a deep sigh, resting his head against the back of the wall he was leaning on.

“How’s Price?”

Farah asked carefully, quiet even, and in both hers and Alex’s eyes he saw hidden worry. Gaz shrugged. “Fine. Fine enough, at least.” He hesitated, giving a shrug. “But I want him to see the doctor again. He exhausted himself in the fight below his limit. I don’t know if…” Chewing on his lip, he shrugged. “I want the doctor to say what he’s capable of and what not.”

Capable of being a pack leader. Capable of shifting, regularly. Capable of being active in the field.

Gaz could live happily ever after knowing John would remain with desk duty, with him in safety and leading from afar. But he knew that John wouldn’t like this, nor that he would accept this.

Farah leaned forward. “Good idea. Anyway, Alex and I will take a truck to buy groceries. We can’t hunt with so many wolves in here, or there will be no animal left alive in our territory within the shortest time.”

Gaz groaned, the responsibility they would have to deal with crawling back up his spine. “I’ll add that on the list to ask Kate. Guess we need more budget.”

Farah grimaced. “There’s also the matter of that MacTavish girl. She’s quite adamant in wanting to see her brother, which I can’t really deny.”

Gaz huffed. “When did we start to become that complicated?”

Alex crooked a smile. “I’m sure we can blame the Shadows for that, like everything.”

Chuckling, Gaz finished his coffee, even if it meant he’d have to leave the kitchen and go outside to deal with all the problems they had. “Alright, enjoy the coffee… I’ll see what I can manage without John.”

It was more than he thought, actually. Answering questions, providing phone calls for the rescued wolves without a phone, checking in on what was needed immediately and what was needed in a bit. For now, their two guest houses were full to the brim, and many of the newcomers slept outside in their wolf forms. Still, the nights would become chill, and it wouldn’t stay warm forever.

Some of the leaves already changed their green dress into a more colourful one, and in the wind, there was the promise of change - the change of temperature, weather and season.

Gaz sighed.

A change from stress was needed though. With fall in sight, he yearned for afternoons full of cuddle, for hot cocoa in front of the television, for burying John under their blanket and not getting up the whole day.

For years they had fought, and since Soap had joined them, everything had currently changed. They didn’t have a break for months, and it was about time they finally got one.

And while not everyone from them celebrated Christmas, a tiny part in him had hoped they would finally celebrate it, together, this year - for Luna.

Ripping himself out of his thoughts, Gaz nodded to Ghost, who was coordinating some of the rescued wolves. Thankfully, everyone stayed calm, patient or helped themselves. It was obvious that the rescued wolves were just content and happy with being here - out of the grip of Makarov and their cages, enjoying the fresh air and the calmness, but it was only the first day after, and soon they needed a real doctor and no first aid, they needed rest, a place where to live and to catch up on what had changed while they had been locked away - with their families, with the society, with their lives.

For Soap’s father it seemed to be the worst.

While the Alpha put on a grin, it was obvious he distracted himself with physical work, setting up makeshift tents or helping carrying stuff, and while the obvious similarity to his son was visible, there was an edge in his eyes Gaz couldn’t entirely grasp yet. They had the same height, the same sparkle in the eyes, similar movements - and still, Soap was somehow softer. More gentle, not as rough, and still they shared the same energy.

Being locked away for more than twenty years… He hadn’t been in touch with his pack or his family, had thought they had been dead - but Makarov obviously hadn’t told him much about what had happened with the world within the last twenty years as well. Gaz had seen him frowning over newspapers, growing frustrated when Nik had tried to explain a smartphone to him, and Gaz couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be for the man. And for that, he was coping well enough, for now at least. He was calm, responsible and had his emotions under control.

Soap’s sister however, was a completely different matter.

“I want tae talk tae him, now, or I’m goin’ tae break into yar fuckin’ livin’ room, I swear.”

Gaz breathed out deeply, focusing on staying calm. He had told her three times today already, that Soap needed rest and would stay inside, and that he would speak with her whenever he wished to, but not before.

But Elsie didn’t care about that. She also hadn’t been impressed when Ghost had towered above her, baring his wolven teeth when she had demanded entrance to their den with brute force.

“He’s my baby-brother and I thought he’s dead. Don’t ya think ya’ve got any righ’ tae know him better, because you’ve known him the last months! I've known him since the time his butt was small enough tae fall through our damn toilet lid!”

Gaz blinked, swallowing down an upcoming chuckle at the image, but Elsie didn’t back down. Her fangs grew as she stepped forward and the glare in her eyes showed clearly that she almost had become an Alpha instead of a Beta. He wondered what would happen if Rudy and her became friends.

“I want tae see him.”

Gaz couldn’t really blame her. But he finally had Soap back, and he would keep him safe, even if it meant protecting him from his own sister.

“You can see him. When he is ready.”

The scent of cigars and fire reached Gaz’s nose, and instantly, he relaxed into the presence of his mate. Getting closer by reflex, he purred shortly when John wrapped an arm around his chest, pulling him closer.

“Though Laswell and me would like to talk to you.”

John’s voice was steady and demanding, but polite. Elsie’s eyes sparkled once, obviously thinking about snapping back at him or not.

Out of his corners, Gaz saw a movement. Alpha MacTavish stepped forward quietly, ears clearly perked and a bright spark in his eyes. John’s chest raised and fell heavily with a breath.

“Some of Laswell’s colleagues worked years on the case of the disappeared clans. With you back, and all of you here now, I think it’s time to settle the case.”

Gaz leaned into the chest, wrapping his arm around John’s waist while keeping a keen eye on Elsie, whose lips were pursed and her fangs already grown.

“I know it can’t be easy for you. To speak about what happened. But we want to help you. Laswell wants to help you. She’ll be here tonight.”

John’s voice was calming, his scent soothing. Gaz wasn’t even agitated, but he enjoyed the gentle wave coming from his mate and nestled himself closer.

Soap’s father stepped nearer, nodding seriously. “I got so many questions meself. And everyone. And…” He stopped, looking at a spot behind John and Gaz. When Gaz turned around he saw Soap in his wolf form sitting at the window, watching them closely and quickly ducking his head at the attention.

“We got a tradition, in our old pack.” MacTavish’s eyes narrowed down sadly. “The nights of the Harvest Moon. Do ya know it?”

Gaz frowned and threw a glance to his mate. Being raised in the city, most of the old traditions and ways were unknown to him as well, or at least he wasn’t familiar with them. John frowned.

“I don’t think so.”

Alpha MacTavish crooked a smile. “The Harvest moon is the full moon nearest tae the autumnal equinox. It’s celebrated in different parts of the world, in different ways, but we…” Soap’s father glanced to his daughter, smiling at her. "It was the time of the year we gathered together in the evenin’. Two weeks, every day, until the full Harvest moon was there. It’s a time for the pack, for family, for tellin’ stories, for bein’ grateful for the hunt of the summer, and thinkin’ about the colder time which comes next.”

Elsie’s eyes filled with tears. “It was my favourite time of the year. We celebrated it every year, father, with the scattered wolves. We remembered whom we lost, and whom we still searched for.”

A wave of grief and heavy rain reached Gaz’s nose. He watched father and daughter quietly, clinging closer to John by reflex.

He hadn’t lost his mate. He hadn’t lost any of his family, and though Luna was still in the hands of Roba, he didn’t dare to compare himself to what had happened to them.

A whole pack, extinguished, nothing left but a few survivors, not sure where your children were, your brothers and sisters, your parents, your mates… Gaz’s hand tightened around John’s waist, and he felt John’s eyes on his head, but didn’t look at him.

“Ya do so much for us, Price. Allow us tae do this for yar pack tonigh’.”

MacTavish’s eyes burned golden, determined though full of grief. “We’ll talk. We’ll answer questions. We’ll grieve and be thankful, and we’ll harvest everythin’ tae prepare for the fight.”

MacTavish narrowed his eyes. “Because the next full moon will be the hunter’s moon. And then, we’ll get yar pup back.”

“She has your nose.”

Gaz blinked, then he snorted, rolling over to cling himself to John’s free arm. The other one held Luna safely and warmly to his chest. The little girl was sleeping peacefully - finally - and the picture of his mate holding a baby was so endearing that Gaz couldn’t get enough of it.

“You know, I can assure you that is definitely not possible.”

John crooked a smile and turned his head, pressing a soft kiss on the top of Gaz’s head. Gaz leaned back in his cushion, gently brushing over John’s arm while watching Luna.

“Didn’t think she’d change us so much.”

“Pups change everything.”

They never had thought about having a pup, since it wasn’t a possibility. Gaz never had the desire of having one, and he knew that John didn’t mind having none, as well. They loved each other and were family enough on their own, and given their dynamic pack and all the action they experienced with them, they didn’t even have the time for a pup.

But when Rudy had been pregnant, and when Luna finally had been born, something had changed. She didn’t need to be of Gaz’s or John’s blood - Luna was theirs, just like everyone else's.

Wolves were a family. They cared for the child of their next as if they were their own, and Gaz wanted her back.

Unlike some others, he didn’t even doubt bringing her back. Makarov was dead, and Roba couldn’t be worse than the terrorist they had tried to track down for years. He was more than convinced that they’d get her within the shortest amount of time.

“It would be an honor for us.”

John and James shook hands, and with a soft pressure on his shoulder, Gaz followed his mate inside, trying to ignore the venomous gaze of Elsie on his back.

Soap greeted him in his wolf form inside, his tail wiggling and his muzzle pressing into Gaz’s belly. Chuckling, Gaz gently scratched Soap’s ears, but looked up when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eyes.

Alejandro dozed off on the sofa, obviously exhausted. His head rested in Rudy’s lap and while Rudy caressed his cheek, the Omega peered at them. Gaz threw a quick glance to John.

John’s and Rudy’s relationship was still fragile, but after all what happened…

“Soap? Get the rest.”

Steel-blue eyes looked from Rudy to Gaz, pulling him back to his side. “We deserve one more afternoon of pack time. Tonight, we’ll celebrate with the others.” The hand in Gaz’s grew more firmly, the expression in John’s eyes more determined.

“And tomorrow, we’ll hunt.”

Chapter Text

The night was asleep and the fire crackled, in a soothing way, almost like a lullaby. If Simon closed his eyes, maybe he could even drift off. With Johnny in his arms and the blanket around their waists, with the familiar scent of his pack in his nose… maybe he could even relax, in the midst of so many other wolves.

“I’m not sure why we have time for this.”

Opening his eyes, Simon set his gaze on the rather straining Beta close to them. Horangi scowled into the ground, restless and clearly annoyed, and while his attitude had led to more than one conflict already, Simon didn’t have the heart to be angry with him.

Only a few hours had passed really, and he had been in his place, desperate and worried about his mate. Tightening the grip around Johnny, Simon pressed a soft kiss against Johnny’s neck, who chuckled under the touch.

Sweet cinnamon and honey, mixing together into that intoxicating scent Simon adored so, so much -

“This night is about gatherin’ strength, my friend.”

James’s voice echoed through the night and Simon opened his eyes with a natural reflex to follow.

The Alpha’s eyes shimmered golden, and it wasn’t just the fire reflecting in them. While the Alpha’s dominance was clear, it wasn’t pushing or controlling, it was simply there. Simon breathed slowly out, intertwining his fingers with Johnny’s, who leaned back against his chest, cuddling up closer against him.

Comfortable, for a part, but also still seeking shelter.

Johnny hadn’t left the den the whole day, and since they had stepped outside, Johnny hadn’t left his side. Simon didn’t mind the slightest - having Johnny always in his side soothed him, but he also knew that it meant that Johnny still was scared.

“We will harvest stories tonigh’. Memories. Combine our strength, our pain and our joy from them. I will start with my last memory of a free wolf before Makarov took me.” James’s eyes wandered to Johnny, and Simon tightened his grip around him when he felt Johnny stiffening under the sudden attention, kissing his temple.

“When they took my pup away from me in front of my eyes.”

A sudden increase of distressed Omega to his right side, caused both Johnny and Simon to glance over to Rudy. The man must have noticed it, because the scent quickly disappeared again, and on the pale face was a hardened expression now. Simon caught his attention briefly, and when he stared into Rudy’s dull eye, he remembered his promise of a hunt together. Maybe he could distract the Omega soon, when his body was better.

Or maybe Simon could simply sink his teeth into Roba and bring Rudy Luna back.

Johnny shifted in his arms, snuggling deeper though tensing up. Simon’s attention wandered back to the round - the wolves throwing glances at them, some in awe, some in fascination, some in pity and some rather emotional.

Elsie’s gaze was fixed on him, and Simon sighed, placing himself in such a way that Johnny didn’t have to look at her.

It wasn’t as if he couldn’t understand her, but he also could understand his Johnny.

“The Makarov pack was… known. For bein’ very… traditional.”

Simon looked back up. James sat behind the fire, staring at its blaze.

“Our own pack was small, but strong. We had the rumour of bein’ quite stubborn, I think.” James crooked a smile. “Not wrong.”

There was a small silence. Simon watched James drifting off in thoughts, before the Alpha shook his head and grimaced. “But since there are so many wolves who were raised among humans, maybe I should start with a general story. Once which was passed from wolf to wolf among their packs, through every country and every stone.”

Simon furrowed his brows, squeezing Johnny’s hand in his, not quite sure what James was hinting at.

James’s eyes sparkled once dangerously, his smile vanishing. “The tale of the Enigma King of the wolves.”

“Ya want tae be what?!”

James stared at Sergey Makarov, then he let out a cackling laughter. With the burning forest and the chaos around him it was obvious that Makarov was crazy, but this?

Sergey didn’t even blink.

“You’re blind to what is happening, my friend. The wolves are merging with the humans, and moving into town. We’re losing the essence of what we are, MacTavish.”

Sergey moved forward slowly, tilting his head and James’s wolf wanted to slash out, but Makarov’s Alphas were too strong, even if he at least got them bleeding and bruised.

“Humanity always wanted to get rid of us. They said they stopped, but what are we doing?” The Alpha locked gazes with him. “They’re infiltrating our packs, luring our pups into their towns with promises and lies, and wolf after wolf is more human than wolf in there. We need to stop this. They are killing us, MacTavish. They’re just doing it hidden.”

James grit his teeth, cursing the day he invited this man and his pack on his territory. “And ya want tae keep traditions, with forcin’ them up on them?! How does that make a difference?!”

Sergey smiled briefly. “I don’t force anything up on anyone. My son will beat his sickness, and the wolves will follow.” The Alpha turned his head to Vladimir, who stood there quietly, and if it was possible, the boy seemed at least to be uncomfortable.

James let out a deep, long growl, turning his attention back to the man. “Ya’re kid is not sick. He just didnae get yar wolf blood.”

The punch was hard, and the metallic taste in his mouth promised blood. James spit it out, and Sergey’s scrawny fingers dug into his jaw, piercing his skin, but James didn’t back away.

Anger, rage and an absolute wrath fulfilled him. The moment he would be loose from the Alpha’s grips, he would kill this man.

“You’ve forgotten our tales. Our stories, MacTavish.” Sergey’s gaze travelled to James’s neck, and for a moment James was afraid - he couldn’t be killed now, he wasn’t allowed to die, because he smelled his pack in the wind, his family, his mate and his pups. They needed him.

“Our Enigma. The King who will unite and rule all of us, MacTavish. You will bend his knee to him before you die.”

Again, James’s gaze travelled to young Vladimir. Only a bit older than his John, and he wondered what this boy must have gone through. Unaccepted by his own father because he couldn’t shift.

And James knew that Sergey must know the reason, he just didn’t want to see it. If the Alpha was the father of his mate’s child, Vladimir should carry the shifter DNA, but he didn’t.

James couldn’t blame Sergey’s mate to seek warmth somewhere else – the Alpha obviously didn’t have any inside him.

Huffing, James looked back at Sergey. “How shall this work? Our Enigma, the man who rules all wolves, a human child?”

He expected a punch, but none came. Instead, the man’s fingers travelled down over James’s throat, and another wave of fear flashed up within James - not because he was afraid of dying, he only was afraid of not being able to protect his family.

“You see, that’s where you join our plan, MacTavish.” Sergey’s face hardened, locking eyes with him. “I searched for the perfect Alpha DNA, but no matter what pack we eradicated, there wasn't the one among it which would turn my boy. We asked you for your help and you declined. You thought we left, but we only prepared to take over this territory.”

Furrowing his brows, James’s heart skipped a beat, his face losing all colour. Sergey couldn’t be serious - he was crazy, but he couldn’t be that serious. How could someone do that to their own child?!

“I will wipe every pack from this planet who isn’t ready to join us and who won’t give us their blood willingly. And you, MacTavish seem to be another perfect candidate. Maybe you’ll be the last one.”

Out of the corner of his eyes, James saw someone moving closer. He frowned when he noticed the absence of pheromones and then let out a single laugh.

“A human? Ya’re speakin’ of that Enigma tale and then ya’re workin’ with humans?”

Sergey stepped away from him and the human approached him, not even looking at him when he inspected him.

“Meet Markus Graves. You two will meet more often now. I find his operations and views very interesting and fitting to our cause. He’ll be your handler from now on.”

‘Handler’.

A sudden rage went through James’s body at the old term, at the disrespect Makarov was showing him. He growled and cursed, but he still couldn’t shift, and he glared at the empty needle which was on the ground.

“The weak wolves will disappear, MacTavish. Say goodbye to your old family. If you promise to be useful, we’ll be your family from now on.”

Something sweet filled James’s nose. Something familiar sweet, and it shouldn’t be here. He had told his wife to get Elsie and John and run, so there shouldn’t be a possibility that that sweet honey and cinnamon smell should be here right now, fighting the air of Alpha dominance in the air.

But there he was - his John, his pup, his own blood, and James’s heart clenched together, pure rage consuming his entire being.

But John was taken, by that Graves man, and inspected like a thing.

Makarov didn’t even look at them. “That pup didn’t present yet. Take the Alpha and get rid of it.”

James wanted to kill. His wolf wanted to leap out of the grip, out of his skin, he wanted to get to his pup and protect him, no matter the cost.

"Ya made the biggest mistake with comin' here, Makarov. I'll kill ya. I swear, I'll kill of ya."

John shifted back, obviously uncontrolled, causing the man behind him to almost drop him, but he caught him just in time.

"Empty threats weigh nothing. And now say goodbye to your pup."

Graves turned his head around, wrapping his unconscious little pup into his cloak, bringing him away and something in James died.

“I thought they killed ya. But that man was smart… I suppose he wanted tae keep ya for himself, as an ace against Makarov if ya turned out tae be an Alpha.”

Only now Simon noticed his tight grip around Johnny, blinking himself back into the present. Johnny’s body was cold, his breath quiet and his muscles all tense - relieving the memories weighed hard on him and Simon couldn’t imagine the pain his family must have gone through.

“So he kept you as his personal blood bank, all those years?”

Nik’s voice was steady, but Simon knew the Alpha long enough to see the subtle signs of stress on his face - a wrinkled nose, a furrowed brow, a blink sooner than usual. James shrugged and grimaced.

“Aye. My blood managed tae activate Makarov’s shifter DNA. But Graves got killed soon, and after the death of his father, Vladimir Makarov had his own interests.” James shook his head. “Still workin’ with the Shadows, doin’ sick experiments tae make Alphas stronger. That’s why he needed all those wolves, that’s how he created his pack - that, and unconditional obedience.”

Johnny shuddered in his embrace. Cold fingers wrapped around Simon’s wrist, and Simon quickly gave his mate what he needed - more of the blanket, being hidden and protected and safe.

But how could he protect Johnny from this? He had saved him from Makarov’s hands, had managed him to get him out of the Shadows’s. But how could he save him from the horrors of his own mind, when memories and twisted pain still echoed in there?

“What was Soap’s role in this then? He had you already.”

Simon’s gaze flickered to Gaz, who rested within Price’s arms just like Johnny did. The Beta also seemed shocked and shaken, but his fingers were intertwined firmly with his mate’s, and Simon quickly leaned forward to do the same with Johnny’s.

“In the last weeks, he kept talkin’ about a surprise. I suppose he took him as another triumph, to blackmail me. I don’t know.” James made a grimace. “But he didn’t achieve it. Because John killed him. Whatever he planned, it’s nae important anymore.”

Johnny opened his mouth, then closed it again, turning his head away from his father and peered into Simon’s. Simon brushed over his cheek, waiting patiently for his mate to speak quietly to him.

“I didnae kill him, Si. It wasn’t me.”

Simon pressed his forehead against Johnny’s. “You fought through his brainwashing, Johnny. You defeated him. You attacked him. Without your attack, I would have died. Graves only gave him the rest.”

Johnny chewed his bottom lip, clearly not happy about what he heard. The pressure of the crowd weighed heavy on him, and Simon cupped his head, pressing a kiss on top of it.

“It’s fine, Johnny. You’re home. Everything’s fine now.”

Simon wanted to. He really, really wanted to, for Johnny, his mate, and his pack and his family. For all those wolves who had suffered under Makarov for decades, but…

“Makarov’s Alphas are still with the Shadows.”

Alejandro’s voice was unexpectedly steady. Simon didn’t have to look at him to smell the angry scent which lingered around him constantly now, and to see his arm firmly wrapped up around Rudy’s shoulders.

“The news still tells of his supporters, who don’t accept his death announcement by Laswell. There are still battles between wolves, and there are humans being attacked by Makarov’s loyalists and terrorists. Makarov might be dead, but we still got a fucking war going on.”

Only the fire crackled as the mood shifted. Wolves averting Alejandro’s gaze, smells of plenty distressed Omegas, and Simon let out a deep breath.

Alejandro growled quietly. “And he worked together with that Roba guy. Who still has my pup.”

“Roba has more than one hostage.” Horangi’s voice was sharp, cutting Alejandro like a knife. “He got my mate, and plenty of others probably. That’s why we need to find him. We need to use his Alphas, they will listen to Soap, because he killed their pack leader.”

Johnny tensed up and Simon shared a glance with Price, who had been silent for now. The Alpha looked pale, even if stronger than before.

But Simon was no longer the pack leader. It had been temporary, and he didn’t want to challenge Price. He didn’t even want to be the pack leader. He had Johnny back now, and he wanted to focus on him.

Mumbles and quiet conversations followed, every wolf clearly having an opinion on that. Some wanted Makarov’s dead, mainly those who had suffered under their torment. Others wanted them jailed, others wanted them for their own…

Rudy said nothing, and Johnny stayed silent as well. Simon’s heart clenched together.

Finally, Alejandro became louder once more. “We should work with Graves. He has technical possibilities, and he follows Laswell's order now.”

Thoroughly surprised, Simon perked a brow at Alejandro. Rudy didn’t stay a word, his face hardened and without an honest emotion. Peering at both of them, Simon stayed silent, quickly throwing a glance to Laswell, who had stayed quiet so far, watching Alejandro attentively.

“He got the Alphas encaged, and we should use them to hunt Roba down, to hunt Valeria down.” Alejandro growled quietly. “I want my pup and I want those bastards punished.”

“Uncle Si!”

Joseph’s smile was bright and wide, the hug warm and firm. Simon closed his eyes, pressing the boy to his chest and immediately the battlefield in his head slipped away.

“I missed you so much!”

Simon swallowed, closing his eyes and let out a deep, heavy breath.

Cinnamon and honey in his nose, Johnny in his arms - a pair of ocean blue eyes watching him, as if knowing what he thought. And maybe he did. Johnny knew him so well by now, even if they didn’t know each other for very long.

They shared a long glance, and then the suppressed fear in Johnny’s eyes was gone, replaced with a tired determination.

“I will talk to Phillip because of the Alphas.”

Every pair of eyes switched to Johnny, who shrunk under the attention. Simon let out a small growl, and a wave of soothing Alpha pheromones, sliding closer to his mate, who faced Alejandro and Rudy bravely.

“If I hadn’t walked away without tellin’ anyone, ya wouldn’t have needed tae help me. It’s my fault Luna’s gone, so I’ll do whatever’s needed tae get her back.”

Furrowing his brows, Simon glared at his mate, but before he could disagree with him, Johnny looked at Price, squeezing Simon’s hand firmly.

“I want tae help. And I trust Phillip… enough tae help us for gettin’ her back at least.”

Joseph’s body shivered, the whole boy shaken with fear, exhausted from all the crying. His face was still red-faced and swollen, and Simon cupped his head, enduring the tight grip of the small arms around his neck.

“Daddy forgot to pick me up. Daddy forget me.”

How did you explain to a kindergarten child the horrors of the world? Even with Tommy in hospital, beaten up by Roba’s men, Simon couldn’t help but feel angry with his brother. Tommy had started this, had brought Roba to his family, to Joseph, and Simon had to fix it now.

He would, because this was his family - his pack, even if human.

“I thought no one would come and get me, Uncle Si.”

Simon swallowed, slowly carrying the boy in his arms away and towards the car, after throwing one more glance to the concerned kindergarten teacher.

“I’ll always come and get you, munchkin.” Simon swallowed, pressing Joseph closer to his chest. “Always.”

“Then so be it.”

Price’s steady voice echoed through the night. Simon shuddered under the sound of Alpha, his inner wolf submitting naturally without being forced.

“Tomorrow, you can go. The rest of us will put up patrols and more cameras, we will strengthen our defenses and I’ll make a public announcement to Makarov’s followers.” Price’s eyes shifted golden, exchanging a glance with Laswell. “We will fight, but our injured will heal. We will help you to reunite with your families and lost friends and we will allow you to stay who wishes to.”

Simon’s gaze wandered over the crowd. Only a few months before, it just had been Price, Gaz, Alejandro, Rudy, Johnny and him. With Alex, Farah, Chuy and Reyes they had grown, with Nik, and now…

“We also will expand our territory. It is something I’m going to speak about with my inner circle. Our pack grew strong, but we may not risk unbalancing the natural order in this forest.”

Surprised, Simon frowned at Price, who didn’t look at him. “Laswell already is in conversations to expand our territory to the lands which borders on ours. If you decide to stay, we’ll have room for you, we just need to ask you to be patient.”

Expanding? Simon peered at Price, surprised and confused, playing with Johnny’s fingers subconsciously.

The pack already was too big for Price right now, but now he wanted to expand it again? And their territory?

“But tonight, we’ll harvest more stories. Stories of loved ones, and lost ones.” Price’s eyes met his and Simon felt a small ping of pain in his heart.

Gary.

Simon had believed his story had been told, finished, but besides all the last days and his constant worry about Johnny, he hadn’t forgotten.

Makarov had worked with Roba and with Shepherd – obviously to find the perfect Alpha, someone who would rule over every wolf which was there. While everyone probably had other intentions with the plan, Simon couldn’t help but fear that though Shepherd and Makarov were dead now, Roba would stop persecuting this.

If you had the one under your control, who could bend any Alpha’s knee – who would be able to stop you?

Johnny’s lips on his distracted Simon enough from his thoughts to phase back into the present. Obviously tired and strained, Johnny still smiled at him, gently brushing over his cheek.

“Control. Everything leads back to that.”

Roba’s fingers pierced into his skin and Simon shuddered under the touch, not daring to speak up against the man. A human, but with a mind of a monster.

“You’re an Alpha, and still you’re on your knees for me.” Roba lowered his voice, and his breath was way too close. “And remember. If you don’t do as I say, my men will make a visit to your lovely little nephew.”

Pressing his face into Johnny’s neck, Simon only half heard that one of the Omegas had started another story – of their home, of their family, the friends she missed.

Simon missed Tommy, Beth and Joseph and Gary… and however Roba had managed to make Shepherd kill Roach for him – he would make sure that this wouldn’t happen again.

“We’ll get Luna back, Si. Don’t worry.”

Johnny’s voice was quiet, but soothing, and Simon grimaced sadly. “I know. I’ll make sure of that.” He looked up, cupping Johnny’s face in his hand. “I’m just so, so glad that we didn’t meet before. That I didn’t bite you. That Roba didn’t know you’re my mate.”

Losing Gary had almost killed him. Losing Johnny?

Simon wrapped Johnny into a warm embrace, breathing out slowly, but there was no tear on his face and no sadness left inside of him.

Only a slow, burning anger.

“I’ll join you when you’ll go to the Shadows, Johnny.”

Johnny shuddered in his arms, clinging closer to him, and Simon pressed a kiss on his temple.

“And the next time I’ll meet Roba, this time I’ll make sure he’s dead.”

Looking over Johnny’s shoulder, he saw Alejandro watching them, quietly with the same burning glaze in his eyes which probably shimmered in Simon’s own.

Valeria he would leave to Alejandro – but Roba was his.

The night was asleep and the fire crackled, in a soothing way, almost like a lullaby. If Simon closed his eyes right now, maybe he could even drift off – but he wouldn’t.

This night was a magical night, a night of the wolves and a night of harvesting. And then they would hunt.

He couldn’t help but looking forward for the winter time though – when the hunt was over, Johnny in his arms, together in their nest, and they would watch the snow falling from the sky.

And maybe, just maybe, this Christmas would be the last time he would think of Roba.

Chapter Text

”I thought Price said no wanderin’ around alone.”

Nik blinked and turned his head to the side. The night was dark, but the light of the moon was covering everything into a beautiful tone. He let out a chuckle when he saw James standing between the trees, bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief and an energy Nik hadn’t expected from someone who had been under Makarov’s care for such a long time.

There was something stubborn about the MacTavish’s, and from the little he knew about Soap’s father, he wasn’t surprised at all that Soap was simply too stubborn to break.

No matter what had happened - being ripped away from his pack, growing up in the Graves family, and then living his life among the Shadows, only to end up with Makarov, fighting being brainwashed - Soap still smiled. Still radiated life. Still was kind.

Something had broken inside the boy, that was to be sure, but he had Ghost now. His mate. They would work through it.

Nik grimaced, and gazed back over the glade, chewing on the blade of grass between his lips.

‘Mates’.

A beautiful, romantic concept, but they weren’t meant for everyone.

“Guess I’ll have tae stay here then. Tae keep an eye on ya.”

The other Alpha dropped silently next to Nik. Far away enough to keep a polite distance, but near enough to be considered close. Close enough for Nik to be unable to not smell him - the heavy scent of rain, which was right now a refreshing, gentle wave. No sign of drowning.

Nik side-eyed the man shortly, offering him a small smile, while the Alpha didn’t seem to expect an answer.

They sat in silence, and while time passed the moon moved onwards on the sky, and the proximity wasn’t uncomfortable. Which was strange.

“I didn’t think someone would ever make you settle.”

Kate’s eyebrow was up so high that it almost disappeared under her hair, and Nik chuckled, taking a puff from his cigar. “Don’t worry your pretty head about that. John and I are not…”

He frowned, trying to find a fitting word, but failed. They were not. Perhaps that was the right word.

They were not and yet they were everything.

Kate sighed deeply and stepped beside him, following his gaze. John was barking at some recruits, who were following him almost naturally. While it wasn’t easy for a shifter to have respect, especially among the human recruits, John had gained it with respect and natural authority quite easily.

John belonged into a pack.

Nik? Nik didn’t.

“I will look away as long as neither of you fucks anything up with some Alpha-Alpha nonsense.”

Nik chuckled, and inhaled some more of his smoke. “Don’t worry. We got ourselves in control.”

John more so than himself. All the time, actually, and that was what Nik adored about the man, and about their relationship.

For Nik, John was able to let go, to lean back and relax. To give away control and leadership.

And while Nik knew this, knew them, it was only ever a moment. He cherished them like nothing else in the world. When John was in his arms, his restless wolf heart beat more slowly and when they watched the night sky together, he sometimes caught himself thinking about doing this forever. When they shared a cigar in silence, he felt understood, seen and respected. There was no need to impress anyone, and there was no need for any act. Neither of them needed to be an ‘Alpha’ when they were alone. They were simply themselves, and didn’t need to be anything what society - human’s or shifter’s - awaited.

Nik had never really felt home among humans and he had never felt home in a pack. He was a loner, a stray, but with John -

- with John he was home.

“I heard ya said ya’ll leave after the fight with Makarov.”

Nik blinked and turned his head to the side another time. James’ eyes were set on him now, his head tilted to the side in a studying matter. Grimacing, Nik shrugged, and spit out the blade of grass he was chewing on.

“Yeah, that was the plan. But with the pup gone now…” He sighed and gave a shrug. “I didn’t really talk to John about it yet, but… I guess I’ll leave after we got her back.” Gnawing on his own teeth, he leaned back, resting on his hands. “And with all which is going on in the world right now, I guess it’s better to stick with the pack for now. At least until everything is settled and the others are back to top shape.”

He worried - about Rudy, the pup and Soap especially, but mainly about John. And while his inner wolf always became restless when staying at a place for too long, this pack was his family. And he would fight to protect it.

John was getting old, and stressing his body more than was healthy, for a too long time now. His various injuries throughout his life finally took their toll on him. And the injection he had gotten had changed something inside him which didn’t seem to be repaired completely. John didn’t want to see it himself, but he needed to step back. Let someone else lead the front.

It wasn’t easy for no one - but for an Alpha, it was like a strike directly into the chest. Nik understood him, but-

But things had changed, hadn’t they?

They had changed things. John had changed things.

He had his own pack. The first shifter pack working for the military and it was respected. They had defeated Makarov. And the pack respected him as well, and it would surely not mind if their pack leader was showing weakness.

If they wanted to finally let go of the stereotypes and humanity to respect them completely - shouldn’t they finally let go of their own expectations as well?

With a sigh, Nik took a cigar out of his vest and lit it slowly.

John needed to let go. But he wouldn’t let go with Nik anymore.

It was Kyle’s turn now, to settle the man down, to caress his stressed mind and body and to take care of his heart and soul.

He couldn’t help but feel bitter at the thought. Still.

“Ya love him.”

Nik stopped in his movements. The cigar between his fingers lingered in front of his lips, before he took a small puff.

James knew. Everyone knew. Nik couldn’t really keep it a secret.

He didn’t want to.

“Is… the Beta the reason that you two are not together anymore?”

Nik side-eyed James shortly, giving a shrug. “Gaz? Perhaps. I don’t think so.” He let out a deep sigh. “I think he…” He ponders, then took another long puff. “Maybe he was just the cherry on the cake.”

The moon shone brightly at them, and Nik finally turned around, looking at James directly now. The Alpha still seemed somehow pale and thin, though Makarov had taken care of his little blood bank, that was to be sure. James was healthy, physically at least, and while his mind was strong, Nik smelled the restlessness in the Alpha’s bones – almost similar to his own.

A small smile slipped upon Nik’s features and he found himself staring into those sparkling eyes. “I love John. I will always love John. But Gaz is the right partner for him. All I want is him to be happy, and Gaz makes him so.”

There was no lie in his words, and still he felt a certain ache in his chest. It didn’t sting as much as it used to though.

“That honors ya, but…”

The scent of rain became stronger, as if a storm was near, though it rather felt like one which was overdue. Nik frowned, feeling that his own eyes changed when he saw the gold slipping into James’ eyes.

The Alpha slid nearer, leaning forward and Nik stopped breathing. Merely inches separated their faces now and for once, Nik was frozen.

James smiled, breathing warmly against his face. “I think ya deserve a little happiness yarself.”

Nik’s wolf ached to urge forward, for dominance, shifting and running and biting and-

When James’ hand cupped his head, he twitched, clenching his hands around his cigar, but he didn’t back away. His wolf heart beat stronger, faster, and for the first time in an eternity, he wanted to kiss.

Someone else than John that was.

“We are alike, Nikolai.” James’ voice was pure liquid now, a soft whisper against his lips. “I’ll love me wife forever. But she is dead.” James grimaced, but pressed his forehead against Nik’s, and Nik felt the Alpha’s strength building up below his muscles. “But I know she would want me tae live, and I’m sure Price wants ya tae live as well.”

Nik hesitated, then he slowly cupped James’ face and leaned forward.

James was not soft. He was hard, rough and strong, and Nik almost could taste his stubbornness out of the kiss. And James was demanding, teasing, challenging him almost, and Nik growled into the kiss before shoving him off.

Breathing heavily, he swallowed. “I wasn’t sure you’-“

James grinned at him, licking over his fangs, the gold in his eyes now a thousand times more intense. “Stop thinkin’ so much and kiss me.”

John smelled like cigars and a fireplace – he smelled warm, comfortable and safe. James smelled colder and the rain in Nik’s nose had something refreshing, healing. Something which finally made his head clear enough to stand up from that fireplace which had stopped burning long ago.

“I don’t want yar freedom. I just want tae feel alive with ya, Nikolai.”

Alive.

After one more moment of hesitation, Nik leaned forward. And James made him feel alive.

Chapter Text

The cold air of the night, the soft light of the moon and the silence of the forest were almost enough to make Farah happy. She didn’t need much, never had done so before, never had the feeling that something was missing.

But something was missing.

Her hand reached out to find the spot next to her in the bed empty. With a frown, she rose into a sitting position and looked around the room. The window was still open, since she loved the fresh air, and Alex had adjusted to her preference. If it meant, the man would come a little closer to her at night to not freeze, that was a nice side benefit.

But no body was next to hers now, no arms around her body, no steady breath in her neck. It wasn’t too unusual. But something was off. Something smelled off.

Rising from her bed, she slipped into an oversized hoodie which belonged to Alex, and quietly tapped out of their bedroom. The house was quiet - Chuy and Reyes apparently finally slept as well, and though the heavy scent of Alpha and Omega still lingered in every corner, no matter how much they tried to keep it inside, Farah flinched her nose and smiled, shaking her head.

Passing the bathroom to see it unused, she tapped through the small shared living room and into the kitchen.

Sitting over an obviously already cold cup of coffee, there was Alex.

Without asking Farah knew that something was wrong.

He looked up when she entered, but quickly averted her gaze. Quietly she stepped to his side and pulled his head to her chest, gently brushing over his cheek and through his hair. For a while, neither of them said anything, and while Alex clearly was fighting with himself to speak, yell or cry, his breath became slower every moment she held him. With a last, heavy breath, he hugged her tighter.

“Sorry.”

She smiled and then grimaced, letting out a soft sigh. “What for?”

He didn’t answer for a moment, but he pushed himself away, staring back at his coffee and shook his head. “I’m just… that whole talking. I don’t know, I guess I’m just… tired.”

Farah had noticed throughout the night, that the shared stories didn’t have the impact on Alex she had hoped it would have. He was a reversed man, a quiet and considerate man and she loved him for it, but this was his pack. His family. He could be himself here and if he had wanted to leave, she had hoped he would have said so.

“Don’t you ever have the feeling that it doesn’t matter whether I’m here or not?”

Farah blinked.

Something in her chest clenched, but she quickly recovered, knelt down in front of her lover and eyed him sternly.

“ No .”

Alex’ avoided her gaze, but she saw him swallowing, smelled his stress and noticed the tensed muscles in his hands. Leaning forward, she lowered her voice.

“Never.”

He hesitated for another moment and Farah saw the man she had fallen in love with right here, right now, again.

Battered, but not broken, scarred, but healing. Alex was quiet and gentle. Kind, but strong. He just never showed this, to anyone. 

That was why she felt so honored he showed her.

“They’ve been talking about their packs, Farah. About people they lost and…” He frowned, staring at the floor. “All I could think about was how afraid I am of losing you .”

A small smile slipped on Farah’s features. Wrapping both hands around Alex’ waist, she nudged him gently. “I am here.”

“You could have died.”

Farah’s gaze softened. They looked into each other’s eyes until Alex’ eyes turned golden and with a quiet sigh, Farah got up, pressing her forehead against Alex.

“You could have died, too. But we are both alive, Alex.”

They were stressed. The whole pack was, but Farah hadn’t realised that Alex hid his emotions a bit better than he always did.

Looking back at him, she gently caressed his cheek. “Talk to me, Alex. Let me in into your head.”

He never did. Sometimes he spoke, gave glimpses into his thoughts, but never enough to quite grasp him. He was quiet and Farah loved him, and she loved that he gave her the privacy she needed as well, but in moments like this, she wanted to shake him and every bad thought out of his head.

“I don’t like the fact that we’re working together with Graves again.”

Alex only mumbled these words, but Farah heard them nevertheless - aside from the fear in his words.

With a gentle touch, she raised his chin, looking him seriously in the eyes. “Graves can’t hurt you anymore, Alex.”

Something in Alex’ eyes shifted, but a moment later, the Beta wrapped his arms around her and pressed his head against her chest. Breathing softly, Farah buried her face in his hair.

Alex never talked about his time with the Shadows. He always had appeared fine so far - his time with the Shadows was nowhere as long as Soap’s had been, and there were no signs of PTSD or anything else.  But at moments, when Alex became quiet, Farah noticed that there was something going on in his head.

Would the time scar that wound the Shadows had caused itself?

Farah’s gaze travelled to Alex’ artificial leg, and she swallowed an upcoming anger back. She hated the Shadows, but she couldn’t deny that not only many of Shepherd’s radical loyal men were no longer among them, and that Graves had changed. And she trusted Laswell.

“I’m glad that I’ve met you.”

Alex’ hands travelled over her back, up to her shoulders. Farah smiled into his hair and tightened her grip as well.

“I’m glad I’ve met you as well. I thought I’ll spend my life alone, but…” She sighed, and pressed a soft kiss on the top of his head. “But you’re making it complete now.”

Alex was scarred - on the outside and the inside, but he was stronger than he might think. And Farah couldn’t imagine a life without him anymore.

“Let’s go back to bed, Alex.”

Alex hummed, but stood up, one arm close around her body. 

Maybe Alex just needed time, but Farah had no problem with giving him it. After all,she planned the rest of her life with him.

Chapter Text

It was strange how one smell could mean family and danger at the same time. How it could make your heart beat fast for joy for being home and safe, and how it could add a little twitch into that beat, because you weren’t safe. 

Despite everything, Soap was agitated, but he kept up a brave face and a smile.

This was a matter of the mind, nothing else.

But that was easier said than done, training or not. Especially when your mind was… shattered.

Breathing out slowly, Soap allowed himself a moment to close his eyes, concentrating on his hand in Simon’s, on the spots where his arms brushed his lover’s. His mate’s.

Sometimes he still couldn’t believe they were mates yet and he stared at his own mating bite on his neck with surprise and in awe - Simon had bitten him. He had chosen him, willing to spend the rest of his life with him.

At other points, his gaze would travel to the spots where Makarov’s biting mark still shone through, and it always ended up with him pulling his collar high and burying his face in Simon’s back.

“For once, I’m trusting him, Soap.”

Opening his eyes, Soap found Alejandro’s intense gaze on him. The Alpha had one arm wrapped around Rudy, sitting on the opposite chairs while waiting for Phil. Rudy had been quiet the entire time during the drive, though the Omega had become very quiet overall lately. Soap briefly looked at him and smiled encouragingly, but Rudy only responded with a quick, short smile and looked away again.

No tears, no anger, no fear. Nothing. It was as if the Omega just had become silent.

But Rudy was never silent, and the fact that he was now scared the shit out of Soap, though he tried to not show it.

“Graves won’t do anything. And those Alphas are locked up safe, I trust him with that. No need to worry, Soap.”

Alejandro leaned forward and gave him a short pat on his leg, causing Soap to smile a bit. “Thank you.”

Alejandro was right, and, after all,... he wasn’t alone.

Simon’s presence was steady and strong. Soap reached for his hand, squeezing it gently, and turned his head to the Alpha to rest his chin up on Simon’s shoulder. His mate was calm, but obviously on alert. He eyed the entrance to the waiting room sharply like a hawk, though the touch of his hand remained soft.

Soap smiled, breathing in his favorite smell of Simon. “Thank ya for comin’ with me, Si.”

For the flicker of a moment, Simon’s gaze shifted, and the expression in his eyes grew soft and warm, but only a blink later, he eyed the door again.

No more words were shared, and Soap allowed himself to nustle against Simon’s warmth.

When steps echoed in the corridor outside, he felt the tension in Simon’s muscles flaring up.

Soap looked up, smelling Phillip before he saw him.

Sky-blue eyes looked between all of them, and then rested on Rudy, nodding over his shoulder. “Oz will bring you in a separate room, where the doctor will check you through. We’ll run a couple of tests and gather a few blood samples, but we should have the results back in a few hours.”

Phil’s gaze was unusually soft. Or well, it was unusual for most people - Soap still remembered those times where they had been friends, where Phillip had dared to be kind, and he had seen that expression returning into his eyes a lot more whenever he was with Rudy, but…

Soap looked between Alejandro and Rudy, keeping quiet.

Phil liked Rudy. They all knew that. He was the one person who was perhaps able to save his soul, but Rudy had a mate, and a wonderful one on top.

Was this what they called back karma?

Almost looking disinterested, Rudy nodded and stood up, while Alejandro stuck to his side. Not as jealous as he could be, but close enough to make a clear sign to everyone who was watching them. They belonged together.

Soap swallowed, his attention stumbling into little pieces and he let out a deep breath, focusing on Simon’s hand in his own.

They were mates.

Just like Simon was now his.

“They are locked up. Do you know what you will ask of them?”

Soap didn’t. He knew the basics, what he had talked about with Price, he knew their plan in theory, but the thought of seeing them again so soon, behind bars or not… it was suffocating him, causing his skin to itch and his wolf wanting to break out.

But he only pressed Simon’s hand tightly, before he gave a firm nod. “Yes.”

Simon’s hand squeezed his, and a gentle breeze of Whiskey, honey and the forest waved over to Soap, causing his muscles and mind to relax a bit.

He could do this.

The walk down to the cells was oddly familiar and yet not at all. Since their attack on the base and Laswell taking over, there apparently had been changes in the base. 

Soap remembered the times he had been taken into the laboratory and that terrible time where he had found out the truth about the wolves he had hunted down for the Shadows. They were gone now - or had been moved.

Soap wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer.

Phil seemed to notice his stress, because he eyed him intently. “It’s been quite a while. Seems like a lifetime ago, to be honest… that we’ve been here, together.”

Before Soap could react, Simon snapped. “And it will be quite a while until the next time.”

Blinking surprised, a small smile slipped on Soap’s features, but he tightened his grip around Simon’s hand and nudged him softly. Simon’s eyes were still their beautiful whiskey-brown, but he saw them changing before he even smelled the intense scent of stranger Alpha.

Soap froze.

It was weaker - a lot weaker than it used to smell like, but it was undoubtedly them.

“...I will give you a moment.”

Phil looked from Soap to Simon and then moved on, walking through the door leading to the next corridor. When the door opened, the wave was even more intent. Soap flinched his nose and stood still, his whole body tensed up to the fullest.

Simon’s free arm gently touched his chin, nudging him gently to look at him.

“We can still leave, Johnny. We can find-”

Abruptly, Soap twitched, his eyes furrowing into a thin line. “No. Luna needs them.”

If he hadn’t been sure before, he was now. Speaking it out loud, made it more clear for him. Averting Simon’s gaze, he quickly moved forward, wrapping his arms around his mate and breathing in deeply. His voice was barely a whisper. “For once, I want tae do the right thing, Si. I want tae help.” He swallowed angrily. “I want tae bring Luna back tae Rudy and Alejandro. Tae us.”

He bit his bottom lip, his gaze fixed on the door which separated him from those Alphas.

“This is what I learned, Si.”

He frowned at the sudden revelation of his own thoughts. Simon’s hand on his back kept him grounded.

“What do you mean, Johnny?”

“That’s my good boy.”

A hand on his head, scratching his ears roughly. Phil’s eyes were sharp – the man was clearly exhausted from the mission - but it was Soap’s duty to make him proud now. And he had done so.

Finding the runaway wolf had been easy, even if draining, and the feeling of Phil’s fingers between his ears was reward enough.

All those years he had learned to be a soldier. A ‘Shadows’ soldier, someone who would hunt down wolves to ‘help’ them. He hadn’t done anything else for years, his whole lifetime really.

And now for the first time he would seriously make use of that.

For the first time in his life, he would find a lost wolf to help them for real.

But he couldn’t do this alone.

“Will ye come with me?”

Despite his determination, despite trusting Phil – somehow, at least – Soap was scared. Looking right back at his mate to see the reassurance he sought, he found it in the form of a pair of golden eyes.

“Everywhere, Johnny.”

Chapter Text

“You are an Alpha, English.”

Roba’s scent was so deep in his nose that Simon almost became sick. The touch of those long fingers on his hair, the warmth Roba was radiating-

“My Alpha. You belong to me.”

Alphas were made to belong to no one. They were natural leaders and fighters. They were made to be strong and free and to control others - to spread a certain order among the packs, to lead them and stop fights among themselves.

Omegas were the ones made to follow. Mainly to continue the pack, but the truth was, they were the safe haven Alphas so desperately needed. They calmed them down, they were the place an agitated wolf heart could wind down. They were made to belong to the Alphas - and to control them. An Alpha might be almost unstoppable, but if you threatened their Omega, they were powerless.

Simon’s gaze shortly flickered over to Johnny.

Betas were made to be soldiers. With a usually calm and quiet mind and a strong, but not an overpowered body, they were made to be a perfect balance between Alphas and Omegas. They were made to follow the Alphas and to protect the Omegas.

But all of this had been centuries ago. An experimental virus breaking out of a laboratory due to the mistake of one single man, throwing a whole world into chaos and war.

Times had changed. The strict hierarchy had started to become loose already long ago. It still was a process, and while men like Makarov would fight to keep those old traditions forever - no one should belong to anyone.

And Johnny would never belong to him.

“It’s him or you, English. Alpha against Alpha. Which one of you will be the stronger one?”

Roba’s lips were so close to his ear that a painful shudder ran over Simon’s neck, and the whimpers of the Omega next to them made the world around him stagger.

“Who will get the price, English?”

The price.

Simon growled involuntarily, and every pair of eyes suddenly rested on him. Four Alphas, locked up behind bars, agitated to the fullest, challenged by such a simple sound, triggering ancient instincts.

Simon’s eyes switched from Alpha to Alpha, a warning, quiet expression haunting them. He wouldn’t speak to them. He didn’t have to.

And it wasn’t his task.

Johnny would be their leader.

A ‘simple’ Beta, a wolf who had known nothing about being a wolf, thrown into a pack of Alphas able to kill him within a second.

But-

It was working.

They eyed him like prey, but all the signs of submission were there, at least from those who were in their wolf forms - ears flat back, a slinking, slumping body posture as subtle as it might be… even the first sign of a tail tucked between the legs from one of them.

Johnny had bested their leader, Beta or not. Following their unwritten Shifter rules and those traditions they were so proud of, they would have to accept him as their new leader.

Unless someone challenged him and Johnny wouldn’t have a chance physically.

Not that Simon would give them one.

“I won’t accept the risk of Johnny getting hurt.”

Graves only looked at him briefly, but nodded. “Don’t worry. If they won’t be useful, it will be taken care of.”

While Graves clearly was looking out for the others to join them in the truck, Simon eyed him intently, lowering his voice into a thin line so that only Graves would hear it.

“Like you took care of Enrico Hernandez?”

Sky-blue eyes suddenly snapped to him, and if there had ever been a softness among them, it suddenly was back to the old Graves Simon had first met in the woods of their territory.

A liar, a betrayer, a dangerous, ice-cold man ready to kill without feeling the slightest regret.

But the moment passed as soon as it came, and the softness in his eyes returned - even if Graves clearly tried to hide it.

The man stepping into the woods hunting down his Johnny, had found someone else.

Maybe destiny didn’t want Rudy to be at his side, but Graves meeting him certainly made Graves meeting his true self.

“I don’t know what you’re speaking about.”

The familiar scent of cinnamon and honey came closer and Simon’s wolf instantly became quieter. It was enough to know that Graves was on their side - for now at least.

And if Simon didn’t know that monsters could change, then…

Simon’s jaw tightened and his heart started to beat faster in the anticipation of a fight. Some monsters could perhaps change, but every one?

These monsters had killed and slashed and-

“Makarov is dead.”

Johnny sounded more grounded than Simon had expected, but Johnny also clearly was worried. He tried to keep it hidden - his stress, his fear - but Simon smelled it, saw it, little signs of strain and insecurity. 

Johnny was good at hiding it by now, even in suppressing his own pheromones, but Simon knew him inside out. And Makarov Alphas, even if no longer enhanced by their meds, still were strong. Given their looks, they noticed Johnny’s vulnerability, too, but surprisingly, neither of them acted on it.

Nevertheless, Simon stared them down.

Did the bars keep them at bay? Was it the lack of their medicine? Was it grief?

“Whatever ye planned, ye’re done.”

Johnny’s voice was the only active sound in the room they were in. Cells, one Alpha on their own, not able to reach each other. The medical scent of disinfection and citrus lingered in the air which was so very Shadow, but the stink of the Alphas still was almost too much to endure. 

The neon lamp above their heads was the only source of light. No window, nothing else.

“You chose this man to be your mate over Makarov.”

Victor spoke up and Simon growled by instinct, but Johnny didn’t even blink. “Yes.”

The pride in his voice filled Simon’s heart with a strange, warm feeling, and a poisonous anger at the memory of the other mating bite on Johnny’s neck. It was faint and healed, but it didn’t matter how many scars or layers of clothes were there, Simon knew it was there and that was enough. Simon also knew how much it bothered Johnny.

If there was a possibility to kill Makarov again, he would do it, but he had to keep it together for Johnny. He couldn’t risk losing him because of unneeded shame.

Simon wasn’t bothered by the fact of a scar, he wouldn’t even be too bothered at the prospect of Johnny having something like an ex.

It was the fact that Makarov had placed it their, daring to bite him against his will, daring to-

Victor’s gaze fell from Johnny to Simon, and his inner Alpha itched dangerously under his skin.

“The Beta who managed to kill our leader, the Enigma of the shifters, and the only Alpha the Alpha-breaker Roba never managed to break. If you had pups together, they would be the strongest wolves ever walking on earth. A pity.”

Was that… awe? Admiration?

Simon didn’t like the way the Alphas looked at them, even if the weird respect they were showing Johnny was better than any disgust he perhaps had expected.

“We have a pup.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted - agitation, anger, surprise - Simon stepped forward involuntarily, but still stayed behind Johnny to not undermine his authority. Johnny however only looked at him, before he turned his attention back to the Alphas.

“She might not be our blood, but she is our pup as good as Rudy's and Alejandro’s. And she was taken from us.”

Lev and Kiril flinched their noses, stepping back and eyeing Johnny, but Viktor perked a brow and smirked at Graves, who had been quiet so far.

“Oh, the weakling’s pup. Milena told us about it.”

Offense and rage calmed down quietly with a sudden thought. Simon narrowed his eyes at Viktor, before he turned to Graves.

“Milena was working for Makarov. You brought her to us.”

Graves nodded calmly. “And I told you that. Also, Rudy’s life was at stake, as was his child’s. Do you want me to travel back in time and let him die?”

For a moment, Simon and Graves stared at each other challengingly. Johnny between them looked from Graves to Simon, until he touched Simon’s arm.

A simple touch, subtle and soft as a breeze, calming down Simon’s Alpha mind within a single second.

No Omega could break an Alpha, and not even Roba, the ‘Alpha-breaker’ could break an Alpha really.

Love could.

If Johnny had died, Simon would have-

“Roba betrayed ye. And Roba has our pup. I think that gives us a common enemy.”

Simon’s gaze flickered over to Johnny, and a wave of pride filled him watching his mate.

Johnny was scared to the brim, but he stood there, handling those Alphas who had pushed him through hell, almost making it look easy.

He reminded him of James - a man, who had been for almost two decades in prison, an Alpha ripped out of his pack, who thought his whole family had died - standing there, still with a spark in his eyes, ready to fight and go on. A man with a perhaps shattered, but an unbroken will.

Maybe that was the real reason Makarov chose to extinguish the MacTavishs.

“If ye’re really those proud Alphas ye claim tae be, then ye’ll help us. I know ye’re havin’ no respect for Omegas, but even ye know that pups need tae be protected.”

Johnny’s voice was quieter now, but no less challenging. Makarov’s Alphas waited for a while until they answered, and Graves stepped forward, tilting his head almost bored.

“Cooperation might as well help you during the trial which awaits you.”

They weren’t interested in that, probably. Grabbing them by their Alpha honor would be the only thing that perhaps worked, though it was to be seen what they would do without their original leader.

“I killed Makarov, so ye will follow my call. If ye don’t follow, I won’t care what Phil will do tae ye.” Johnny moved closer to the bars, and his arm brushed over Simon’s skin. “And I don't care how he’ll explain it tae Laswell.”

A heavy thick silence stretched. One in which stared at every single Alpha behind those bars.

They had hurt Johnny.

But this wasn’t about him now. They needed to stop Roba - Roba who still thought Simon belonged to him, that Ghost belonged to him, Roba who had taken Luna just to hurt him.

Johnny squeezed Simon’s hand tightly, clearly hesitating to leave his side but eventually he went to get his drawing utensils. Simon watched him leave with a bad feeling in his guts, but for now he turned to Gaz and let out a sigh. “Tell us what happened inside.”

“The first floor was unremarkable, though we found a picture below a loose tile of wood.” Gaz’ eyes hesitated. “It was a picture of our pack. Our old pack. You, John, Rudy and… and Roach. He was crossed out.”

This whole nightmare had to finally end.

Simon had thought he was free after Price had helped him to get out of that hell, then he thought it finally had ended after he had killed Roba. But nothing had ended.

Only Gary had died - because of him. And after thinking it had been an accident, Simon had been able to blame Shepherd, only to realize that Roba - somehow - was behind this.

And if Shepherd had worked together with Makarov, it was likely he would also work together with Roba.

But Shepherd was dead now, silenced and the only one able to give him the answers he seeked was Roba himself.

And Simon wanted to make sure this would be the last time Roba would play his sick games with anyone. He couldn’t do this again. Gary deserved to finally rest and Johnny-

Johnny deserved to finally live.

“I won’t follow a Beta. Never.”

Ivan hissed the words, pure venom in his eyes. Simon stepped forward by reflex, and if there weren’t bars separating them, Simon would have probably shifted and snarled at him, fletching his teeth.

They stared each other down, but Victor’s voice distracted both of them.

“I want to see Roba dead. He’s a human thinking himself better as us. And he’s a traitor.”

At his words, Ivan was jumping against the bars next to him and cursed him in Russian. Lev and Kiril however, stayed quiet, eyeing Johnny calmly.

If three out of four Alphas would follow him, then that was more impressive than Simon already had thought. Victor looked unimpressed from Ivan to Simon and then to Johnny, only letting out a quiet growl. “You don’t need us. You need Milena.”

Simon frowned at that, but Victor promptly looked to Graves.

“When you asked Milena for help, she made sure your weakling and his weakling pup would survive, but Makarov only did that to make sure that you owe us. And he made sure to have an advantage over you.”

Something in Graves shifted. Usually, the man wore a poker face or a mask - a very different kind Simon used to wear - but right now there was the real Graves shining through. Worried, perhaps scared, angry, until the moment was over as fast as it had come.

“Milena planted a tracker inside both of them.”

Simon froze, then he growled. “They were in hospital, someone would have-”

Victor only regarded him with a short, pitiful gaze. “A small, experimental tracker. No technique will find it if you don’t know what you are looking for.”

“Well, that plan backfired.”

Graves caught himself sooner than Simon probably would have. His hand found Johnny’s back by its own, and he needed that touch of connection more than maybe Johnny did. He felt his mate shifting under the touch, and a short side-eye, but he had grown quiet. Worried.

“Milena knows how to find the tracker. She got the device.”

“And where is Milena now?”

Johnny was strangely calm and focused. Victor watched him, before he inclined his head and Simon frowned surprised at the open sign of submission.

He acknowledged Johnny as his new leader.

“She disappeared the same day Roba did. But I know she was friendly with the Garza pack.”

Simon frowned. Victor grimaced.

“Makarov asked plenty of packs to join us. The Garzas declined, but were approachable. It was Milena’s task to convert them - I think she might have switched sides during the process.”

“If we have to find your doctor first, we can search for Roba himself. That is no help.” Graves narrowed his eyes. “Be more useful.”

Whatever was going on in Graves, he tried to suppress it. Simon studied him for a moment, trying to get into his head, but that man remained a mystery to him.

“Milena is a human. Her knowledge was a means to an end for our deeds. Makarov made sure to be able to track her down as well if something like this happened.” Victor shrugged. “She won’t go anywhere without her money. I can tell you her hideouts, I can tell you her banking accounts, the rest of magic you will have to do.”

The Alpha looked at Johnny. “And if you want our help, we will follow your call. Our bodies might be weaker now, but we still are superior to your Alphas. And we want them dead.” Victor narrowed his eyes. “Allow us to be in your pack, John MacTavish.”

Johnny hesitated, his gaze flickering over to Simon. Without needing Johnny to word his doubts, Simon sent out a wave of soothing pheromones.

Johnny would always be part of the 141 and the pack, and whatever he said now, wouldn’t have any consequences. It was simply a ruse, and while Victor had to know that, too, perhaps the bitter betrayal of Roba – a human – was something more important right now.

“Ye’ll follow. There won’t be second chances.”

Johnny held himself together, but Simon smelled his stress. No doubt the Alphas smelled it, too, but they stayed quiet. Ivan still glared and growled, but he had retreated to the back of his cell.

Victor narrowed his eyes and eyed Johnny up and down, before he nodded. “I won’t expect anything else from our leader.”

Three out of four. Simon wouldn’t question Graves or Laswell what happened to Ivan. And what would happen to the others after they had proven to be useful or not, was another question.

One he would solve later.

He threw one last glance around, before he gently pressed a hand on Johnny’s back, causing him to leave the room.

As soon as the door closed and they went a few steps, Johnny broke.

He shivered, went down on his knees and immediately Simon knelt down, too, putting a hand in Johnny’s neck to squeeze and massage it reassuringly.

No tears left Johnny’s face, but he was exhausted.

Letting out a soft, quiet growl, Simon planted a gentle kiss on the top of Johnny’s head, sighing softly when Johnny turned around to cling to his body.

“Bring him home.”

Graves watched them with a strange expression in his eyes. Simon looked briefly up. “I promised Price to bring Rudy and Alejandro home with me. I won’t let them stay here.”

Graves narrowed his eyes. “If Rudy has that tracker thing in his body, I will make sure to find it and get it out of him.”

He almost had snapped and quickly averted his gaze, obviously trying to regain the control over his emotions. “Perhaps we can use it to locate the tracker in Luna’s body without Milena’s device after all.”

Unlikely, since no one has found it until now, but a chance was a chance. Simon huffed, but stood up, pulling Johnny up and wrapped his arms around his mate.

Johnny neither cried nor whined, but he hid his face in Simon’s chest, and the fingers in the back of Simon’s shirt were clenching and scratching.

Johnny needed rest.

“I’ll make sure to bring them home. Trust me.”

Simon’s gaze found Graves’ once more.

‘Trust’ him. This man who had held his Johnny like a dog, who had caused so much misery to wolves, who had helped with Gary’s death, who-

Growling, Simon pulled Johnny closer by reflex. “They’ll be back with us this evening, or we’ll come and get them.”

Graves eyed him, and a small smile slipped on his features. “I am glad he got you.”

Simon wasn’t sure who exactly Graves meant right now – but that wasn’t important. With a small, stiff nod, he led Johnny out of the corridor.

They had a hunt to prepare.

Chapter Text

“It’s alright to cry sometimes, you know.”

Rudy felt Alejandro before he smelled him, but he didn’t turn around. He ripped his gaze from the empty crib, realizing that he was staring, and turned his attention back to the laundry on their bed, folding it neatly together. Seeing only with one eye, even such a simple task was pushing him, not to speak about the headache he developed every day after a few hours. It wasn’t something he would tell Ale though.

It also wasn’t something he wanted to think about himself.

“You know, you don’t have to put up a face for me, cariño.”

Alejandro’s voice was so damn smooth. The Alpha’s warmth radiated from him like a heater, and when Alejandro put a hand on his neck - something which he would have hated a year ago-, Rudy relaxed involuntarily and leaned into the touch. It took his whole will to not let himself be smoothed down by Alejandro’s voice, warmth and soothing pheromones. Ripping himself free, he concentrated back on the laundry.

“I’m fine, Ale. Don’t worry.”

Alejandro neither answered, nor did his hand return. Rudy’s movements became mechanical under the intense stare of his mate, and when he attempted to pick up the pile of folded laundry, he was stopped by a gentle, but determined touch on his wrist.

“I miss Luna, Rudy. But I… miss you, too.”

Rudy looked up. By reflex, his eyes turned golden at the sudden worrying amount of stress he was smelling.

Alejandro, his mate, was tired.

At once, Rudy turned on his heels and cupped Ale’s face, forcing up a smile on his lips which felt painful.

It might be only days, but it felt like a lifetime - and while Rudy had suffered severe consequences of what had happened, Alejandro was at his limit, too. He just didn’t want to show.

“You are fucking kidding me.”

Rudy blinked. Alejandro stood next to his bed on which he sat, and the Alpha turned colours dangerously fast. From white to red and back to white, and in the next time his fangs grew and his eyes shifted.

Alejandro barely kept his Alpha under control, and Rudy quickly reached forward to grab his hand, brushing with his thumb over his mate’s palm to distract him.

The touch calmed Ale down at least enough to not jump at Phil, who remained impressively quiet. Oz behind him however, eyed Ale like a hawk, one hand on the pistol on his belt.

“We need to stay calm and use this opportunity, Alejandro. But we have to be cautious. If we break the tracker in Rudy’s body, Milena surely will be alerted. I don’t know her well, but well enough that she double checks her own safety and that she’s not hard enough to make responsible decisions when she gets the blade against her throat.” 

Phil exchanged a short glance with Rudy, and Rudy tightened his grip around Ale’s hand, worried his mate would jump the man after all. Oz still had his gaze set on Alejandro, which didn’t add to Rudy’s nerves.

Phil sighed quietly. “We know about it now, Alejandro. We can find and locate it - but I spoke with my people. It is not safe to remove it just yet. It will alert them that we know about this. As long as we don’t have Milena or her device, we cannot take the risk.”

Alejandro’s hand suddenly responded to his touch, and Rudy felt his hand squeezed almost painfully. He grimaced but remained quiet, looking up worried at the Alpha to his side.

He didn’t have time to be scared or angry himself. He needed to stay strong for his mate – he couldn’t do anything, so he at least had to manage to do that.

“I want one day where I don’t worry about his life.”

Alejandro became quiet, and he finally broke the stare at Phil. Instead, the Alpha looked at Rudy now, and a heavy, painful feeling in his chest rose.

“One day where he doesn’t get stabbed or shot, where he isn’t poisoned with silver or someone injects with him weird meds or some tracker shit. One day where no one is after him to kill him, where I don’t have to worry that I will lose him to someone or something.”

Rudy swallowed.

He wasn’t sure what to say, but he felt terribly bad. He didn’t mean to push this weight on Alejandro’s shoulders, and while he surely wasn’t responsible for everything Ale had listed, he at least-

“I think you should try to rest while our doctors check him.”

There was no taunt or tease in Phil’s words. Rudy side-eyed him shortly. Perhaps, in another life, at another time, these two could have become real friends, but Rudy wasn’t sure this would happen in this life.

Phil’s gaze shifted to him, and it softened for the flicker of a moment. “We will make sure to find this tracker and we will check what the doctor said to you. Maybe we can do something to get your sight back. And we’ll check everything else, too.”

‘Everything else’.

Rudy knew exactly what Phil referred to without saying it. The doctor had said that Rudy likely wouldn’t have another child, just that Rudy couldn’t care less about it.

He already had one.

Rudy had never expected to have a child, nor to love it so much.

He also had never expected to have another mate after Rico, nor to love him so dearly and deeply.

But he had both. And while he had lost Luna-

He shuddered at the thought, stepping closer and pressing his face against the crook of Ale’s neck where his scenting gland was, breathing in deeply where the scent smelled the most intense.

“I’m here, Ale.”

Ale might be scared that he lost Rudy, he might be sick of spending time at his bedtime, but the truth was-

Rudy couldn’t lose Ale.

Swallowing, Rudy buried himself in Ale’s embrace, feeling cold despite the warmth of his mate.

“I’m sorry for being such a bad mate, I promise to be-”

“You are not a bad mate, cariño.” Ale’s voice was like liquid honey, causing a shudder over Rudy’s entire skin. “And I don’t need you to put up a smile for me. I just need you to let me be part of you. No matter which part, Rudy.”

Ale’s breath was warm against his own neck, and when it breezed over his own scenting gland, Rudy whimpered by reflex.

“In good times as in bad times, Rudy. You’re my mate. No matter what.”

‘No matter what’.

No matter if he would remain half-blind or unable to have another pup. No matter if they got Luna back or not.

How did a broken Omega like him ever deserve someone like Ale?

“That bastard took my daughter, cariño. But I won’t let him take you from me as well.”

Rudy’s Omega growled in pain, and he quickly tiptoed to connect his forehead with Ale’s. Alejandro’s arms wrapped tightly around his chest and the sun-kissed, smokey smell in Rudy’s nose caused Rudy to relax slightly at least.

“I’m here, Ale, and I’m not going anywhere.”

He whispered softly into Ale’s ear. The deep growl going through the Alpha’s body caused his skin to tingle, and in the next moment, Rudy was picked up and dropped on the bed, the neatly folded laundry carelessly tossed aside.

Pinned down by the weight of Ale’s heavy, warm body, Rudy shivered, surprised but not afraid. Looking up at his love with big, golden eyes, an almost forgotten sensation of anticipation rose inside him.

Alejandro’s golden eyes were full of desire. “Let me love you, Rudy.”

Turning red within a second, no matter how long he knew Ale by now, Rudy quickly looked to the side to escape the intensity of Ale’s gaze.

His eyes fell on the empty crib at the other end of the room and every feeling of anticipation, every feeling of love quickly subsided into nothing.

As if sensing his thoughts, Ale’s nose gently rubbed against his cheek. “We will get her back, mi amor. I promise. But we, you and me, we are still here.”

His inner Omega was pulled back to his Alpha. Golden eyes stared into his, and the sun-kissed smell became more intense.

When Ale’s lips found his, Rudy closed his eyes, allowing the bitter pain in his chest to be filled with his mate’s warmth.

~~~~~

“Does it hurt?”

Rudy frowned and looked to the side. Soap had been unusually quiet so far, sitting next to him on the patio and watching the sunset. He was silent, comfortable company, and while Rudy had the feeling that they grew even closer since he had returned, he also had the impression that Soap and him were more alike than ever.

Not speaking about what they troubled.

Rudy hesitated. “What do you mean?”

With half a smile, Soap pointed at his arm. “The tracker.”

Rudy’s gaze fell on his arm. The spot was covered by his oversized hoodie, but since he knew that the red dot wasn’t just an allergic reaction after his injection of Milena, he almost felt it physically, even if it wasn’t possible. Phillip had said it was small enough to only be seen under a microscope.

Rudy grimaced and rubbed it thoughtlessly. “No, it never hurt.”

“When we got Luna back, Phil can remove it and all will be fine.”

Instead of answering, Rudy hummed and looked back over the yard. Most of the wolves had started to settle for the evening and retreated to their tents or makeshift housings, with the majority returning to the guesthouse. He could spot Soap’s father lounging around Nik’s helicopter with a bride grin on his face, and Alex tending to the garden quietly. The Beta had become rather silent lately, even during their pack time. Maybe it still was the aftermath of the heavy fight, or something else.

“How long will it take for Chuy and Reyes tae come out of the basement again?”

Rudy blinked and then felt a rare hinge of amusement, even if it only lasted a moment. “When you stop taking your suppressants after such a long time like Chuy had taken them, it will take a few days.”

It was obvious that Soap missed them. Even if he didn’t hang with everyone every day intently, the Beta craved the company and the proximity of his pack. If one wasn’t there, he would notice and ask immediately, and when it was pack time, Soap was sure to give attention in form of nudges, cuddles and licking to everyone before he would settle against Simon’s side and nap away.

Rudy never had been one to toll around and ‘play’ or have ‘fun’. With Soap, that had changed, even if he wouldn’t admit liking it. But with only one eye, he didn’t feel safe enough to join them now and he wanted to keep that fact as good as possible to himself. It wouldn’t help if Ale worried more or if the others started to worry, too. This was his problem. He surely gave the others enough trouble already.

“Are ye really fine with Ale joinin’ us tomorrow?”

Surprised, Rudy turned his head back to Soap. The Beta was studying him quietly, but he had his smile on his lips which he usually wore. It seemed honest.

Rudy sighed. “Of course, I am. Why shouldn’t I?”

“I wouldn’t blame ye if ye wanted him tae stay. I know I would want tae be selfish.”

Rudy perked a brow. “You would tell Simon to stay, even if he had first hand intel about the target and is a soldier in top shape ready to fulfil the mission and a perfect hunter?”

Soap hesitated, then he chuckled. “Yeah, no. Still, wouldn’t blame ye. I know I want Simon tae be close all the time.”

It wasn’t as if Rudy didn’t want Alejandro to stay. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want the Alpha to be around the whole day by now, but he kept himself from clinging with every fibre of his body. Alejandro didn’t need him to be whiny right now.

And-

“Alejandro would probably stay if I asked.” Rudy’s gaze wandered back over the other wolves, lingering for a moment on Farah, who was brushing over Alex’ head with a smile and a hug. “But this isn’t about me. You all risk so much to get Luna back and that only because I-“

-couldn’t protect her.

Growing frustrated, Rudy suddenly got up, nodding at Soap without looking at him. “It’s getting cold. I’ll go inside.”

Before Soap could say something, Rudy already turned on his heels and promptly bumped head-first into a broad chest. Startled at the unexpected impact, he growled by reflex, trying to hide his scared surprise.

It was Simon. Rudy smelled him first before he saw him, blinking up at him with another angry growl. “Do you have to sneak up like a ghost?!”

Simon perked a brow. “Was that a pun?”

Being held loosely, Rudy ripped himself free quickly. He muttered a quick apology, but averted the Alpha’s gaze.

With every day, he grew more used to only seeing half of what he saw before, but he also never would grow used to this. His inner wolf was unsatisfied and frustrated with not being able to run around like he used to, and his human part wasn’t any better. He couldn’t cook alone, he hadn’t been able to wash alone, and everything just was-

“We’re going hunting.”

Completely surprised, Rudy stared up at Simon. “What?”

Simon perked a brow, then he let out a deep, heavy sigh, before turning his head around to Soap, his gaze immediately softening a bit. “I’ll be back in a bit, Johnny.”

The Alpha leaned forward to meet his mate in a gentle kiss, which looked as natural as breathing, and Rudy stared at them a bit dumb-folded, before glaring at Simon. A hunt? Was this a joke?

Rudy wanted to help with the hunt and with any hunt, he wanted to be there when they would hunt Valeria and Milena down, but in this state, he couldn’t even walk straight without running into someone. How should he fight in this state?

“I promised you we would go on a hunt, haven’t I?”

Rudy blinked again, then, against his will, he blushed a bit. Simon’s gaze was intense, but calm, and Rudy had to look away.

His wolf heart skipped a beat at the thought of going on a hunt again – and just Simon and him, just like in the old times, that was-

“I already got my lecture from Alejandro. We’re back before midnight, I’ll bring you back in one piece, blabla. You really chose a macho Alpha as boyfriend, Rudy.”

A part of him was flattered, another part of him was angry. Most of all though, Rudy was scared, and he couldn’t hide it.

He hadn’t joined a hunt for a reason, if he-

“Just the two of us. As promised.”

Simon nudged him gently, lowering his voice into almost a whisper. A soothing wave of pheromones reached Rudy’s nose and he knew what Simon was doing.

Swallowing, he glared at him. “You’re busy, Simon. We can do this another time, when-“

Before he could finish his sentence, Simon pinched his nose. Interrupted by the sudden pain, Rudy grimaced and glared up, though Simon remained unimpressed. “Come on up, snail.”

“I told you to not call me a snail!“

“Pretty tough words for a snail.”

“You’re-“

Rudy blinked and stopped, chewing his bottom lip. The satisfied grin on Simon’s lip was subtle, but it was there. Rudy knew what he was doing.

It was stupid. Childish, really. They had more important things right now to deal with than-

“Even on your good days, you could barely catch a squirrel.” Simon leaned forward, lowering his voice into a challenging growl. “Snail.”

It didn’t matter that Rudy exactly knew what Simon was doing. It didn’t matter that he didn’t like it, even if he appreciated the thought – his inner wolf though, had enough.

Shifting on the spot, Rudy jumped out of his oversized hoodie and shook his fur. His wolf, finally free, let out a short, but satisfied huff to feel its bones again, his tail was wagging happily and the different scents in his nose immediately activated some dopamine. With a beating heart, Rudy started to run off towards the gate without waiting for Simon to shift.

He had shifted quite a few times since he returned, but only at home – when Ale was near, and he felt safe enough to be able to whine or snuggle into the blankets and cushions of his nest which still smelled like Luna.

But feeling the grass under his paws, smelling the mossy, earthy forest and hearing the birds in the distance made him remember how much he had missed this. He could barely believe this was only a few days, since he-

A sudden sharp pain made him whine and stop. Limping and tucking his tail between his legs at the burning sensation in his chest, he slowed down, shifting back by reflex and coughed his lungs out. It didn’t take long until he felt a hand on his back which helped him up, rubbing over his shoulders.

“Easy, Rudy. It’s all good, you’ve just run too fast. Alejandro said that might happen.”

Scoffing frustrated, Rudy wasn’t sure whether to shift back and sneak up into Simon’s chest, or to push him away.

This was it.

Rudy was weak and the worst thing was, he didn’t have the feeling as if he would ever recover.

“I know you don’t like this and I don’t blame you. But it is as it is and you have to adjust to the changes in your life, wanted or not.”

Angrily, Rudy pushed Simon off now, but Simon remained untouched, and simply watched him with his stoic patience Rudy always admired and hated about him.

“I don’t need your pity!”

“I don’t pity you.” Simon tilted his head, then nudged him. “But it’s good to see the brat being back.”

Resisting the urge to pout, Rudy stood up swiftly, ready to try shifting again, when he felt Simon’s hand on his elbow holding him back. Hesitating, Rudy turned his head, a cold shiver running over his body. While Simon never knew any shame, Rudy missed his hoodie dearly.

“You got to go back to the roots, Rudy. Why did Price ask you to join the two of us in the beginning?”

Surprised, Rudy blinked. He hadn’t expected that question, but Simon didn’t seem to expect an answer.

That time felt like a lifetime ago. It had been before Roach had joined them and Gaz, just the three of them. After Rico almost managed to destroy Rudy’s faith in himself.

And now, everything was-… different.

With a gentle poke against his forehead, Simon crooked half a smile. “Price wanted you because your strength is not physical. You are smart and strategic. You are strong mentally. Nothing ever managed to bring you down, no sickness, not your family, not Rico, nothing. And even now you try to be strong for Alejandro, though it can’t be easy.”

Simon lowered his voice, shaking his head, while a shiver ran over Rudy’s body. “You don’t have to be faster than me. You don’t have to hunt boars to impress Alejandro. You’re as much part of the pack as everyone else, and we don’t value you for the sharpness of your fangs.” A heavy hand gently rubbed his neck and Rudy bit his bottom lip. “We value you because you’re family. It was you who made us a pack in the beginning, Rudy. And that will never change.”

Rudy certainly hadn’t planned to cry. Surprised by himself, he averted his gaze from Simon, rubbing over his eyes as he was tearing up.

“Don’t try to win a fight physically. Use your head, snail.”

Simon ruffled through his hair, then he gracefully shifted and leaped away. Rudy coughed once more, before he shifted as well, shaking himself once afterwards. His body still felt sore, his lungs still heavy, but the fresh air and the dry leaves below his feet calmed him down. Whining quietly against his will, it took one moment until Simon came back to silently lick over his face. Nestling against the broad Alpha for a few heartbeats, Rudy shivered from the sudden decrease of stress, and the soothing wave of pheromones – the familiar scent of Whiskey, honey and a cold forest day – managed to calm him down even further. Simon smelled like family and safety, but there was something else Rudy missed right now. A warmer smell, one like sun and smoke.

But he wouldn’t go on a hunt without bringing something back. And if it wasn’t enough to feed his family, then perhaps it was something to feed at least one person.

The hunt continued to be rather… slow. There was no running like usually, no barking, no howling, no hopping or jumping each other, and though his inner wolf missed it, his body was glad about the calm change and Simon’s steady proximity. Moving with his wolf body felt natural again, and all the stiff parts went loser by the moment, even if Rudy knew he’d fall asleep like a rock later.

Following Simon’s advice, he pushed down the urge of his wolf to run and roam. Instead, he thought strategically – he couldn’t run fast, so he had to corner his prey to be able to kill it with one single leap. And if it ran away fast, Rudy wouldn’t be able to follow, so he had to take the moment of surprise. And there was no way he could fight with an animal about his size, so some critter it had to be, at least for the beginning.

During the whole next hour, Simon stayed at his side. They tried different spots, and they decided that couching up would be the most efficient way for Rudy to be successful. After several attempts, a lot of built-up frustration, reassuring nudges and cuddles of Simon and one angry leap later, Rudy stood over his slain rabbit and stared at it with full surprise.

It took him a whole moment until he realized that it had worked.

With a gentle nudge, Simon pulled his attention and Rudy looked up, a mix of absolute joy, relief and excitement in his wolf heart, and utter exhaustion building up slowly. He hadn’t been on feet or paws as long as today for what felt like an eternity, and they still had to walk home.

But before Simon could take the rabbit between his fangs, Rudy scoffed him away, his tail wagging proudly despite the tiredness in his bones.

With every step they walked back, Rudy thought of bringing it back to Alejandro. The Alpha would be proud and probably pick him up and drag him into their nest, shower him with kisses and praise – but he would also do that if Rudy hadn’t brought anything home.

And they would spend the rest of their lives together, as long as it might be. There were still plenty of opportunities where Rudy could impress Alejandro or make him proud to be his mate, where he could bring prey home for their family, but…

Once they walked through the gate – Elsie and Farah were on watch duty today and let them in – Rudy hesitated inside. The rabbit still between his fangs, he pressed his muzzle into Simon’s side, his Omega begging for some cuddles and attention it promptly got.

Trotting slowly back, Rudy stood on the back of his paws to open the door. Without having to look, he smelled that Gaz and Price were still awake, and that Soap and Alejandro were in the living room as well. He couldn’t even drop on all four before he was tackled.

The rabbit fell from his mouth when he was pushed on his back. Soap and Alejandro were all over him, muzzles searching his entire body as if checking for injuries. Both licked over his fur so hard that it tickled and without Simon’s help, who let out a short bark, Rudy wouldn’t have been able to get up. At once, Alejandro nudged him, licking over his face gentlier and slower now, and Rudy purred under all the touches. While Simon bit Soap playfully in his ear, leading him away, Rudy could only watch the Beta wagging his tail in a way which had to hurt. But…

Rudy hesitated, bit playfully in Alejandro’s muzzle and then shoved him gently away, picking up the rabbit again.

This evening had been… healing. But there was one more thing he had to do.

Inclining his head, Rudy trotted away from Alejandro slowly.

Gaz and Price were both in their human forms. While Gaz had clearly been napping and rubbed his eyes tiredly, Price’s steel-blue eyes lingered patiently on him.

Even if the Alpha grew old and his physical strength was shattered in the moment – this was Rudy’s pack leader, and he embodied the role with every fibre of his body.

Dropping his prey in front of Price’s feet, he couldn’t help but tuck in his tail slightly.

Simon might have been right that Price had wanted him in this pack in the beginning. But he had risen Price’s anger, more than once, and deeply so… would he-

“It’s good to have you back, Rudy.”

It didn’t feel like in the old times. But maybe that wasn’t necessary.

Being scratched between the ears by Price caused Rudy’s Omega to purr. He felt Gaz’s happy smile, smelled Soap fully relaxing at Simon’s side, his face nuzzled against Simon’s chest – and he knew that Farah and Alex and Chuy and Reyes were close, too.

They’ve grown, so, so much. And while it had been something he had been scared about…

Rudy looked over his shoulder, his gaze finding Alejandro’s. Pride shimmered in the Alpha’s eyes, and endless, pure dedication.

Tiredness spread through his body, and Rudy yawned. Turning his head and shifting back with an exhausted stretch, he snatched the nearest blanket to wrap himself around it, but before the fibre could warm him, a pair of strong arms already was around him and picked him up.

Letting out a surprised sound, Rudy’s complaints were silenced with a soft kiss of Alejandro’s lips.

“Guess we should all sleep. Tomorrow’s an important day.”

Looking over Alejandro’s shoulder, Rudy saw Price fighting himself up, picking up the rabbit and nodding at him. “The two of us will eat this one tomorrow, while we wait for them to return.”

The comfortable atmosphere in the room shifted. Simon and Soap got up as well, and while Soap let out a heavy, wide yawn, Rudy grinded his teeth.

Tomorrow they would all hunt down Milena and Valeria. Only Price would stay back with him.

“Goodnight.”

More goodnights were murmured or ruffed, and Rudy allowed himself to bury his face in the crook of Alejandro’s neck. The sun-kissed smell was the most intense here, and Rudy breathed heavily in and out, before he was dropped on his nest and buried under Alejandro’s warm body.

“You must be tired. We should sleep.”

Despite his words, Alejandro showered him with kisses, leaving a trail down his chest, while wrapping him out of his blanket. Rudy smiled and cupped his face, giving a shrug.

“I don’t want to sleep.”

For a moment, their gazes found each other.

They should sleep. Alejandro needed every ounce of strength for tomorrow, and Rudy was drop dead tired himself.

But sleep wasn’t something they found for quite a time.