House of Wolves, Plus One

Mikey felt like his world had collapsed when he ran into the clearing and saw what was laying there. His mind flashed to that moment 11 years ago when he got the terrible news, when he lost so much.

His breath hitched in his chest and he felt frozen to the spot, unaware as Ray caught up to him and gasped in shock at the sight.

"Oh Goddess..."

Ray breathed out shakily as he stood wide eyed a half step back from his mate.

"Is he..."

He trailed off, unwilling or unable to finish voicing his query. Mikey blinked slowly, coming back to the present. He took a breath and a hesitant step forward. There on the ground, nailed down with wooden sticks through the palms of his delicate hands, blood darkened ground beneath him and a stillness Mikey hadn't seen in any but the dead...was Gerard.

Mikey swallowed back the bile that threatened to rise up out of his throat, and the panic that threatened to shatter his heart and mind.

"Keep lookout..."

He said, his voice sounding shaky and alien to his own ears. Ray nodded and Mikey walked slowly toward his brother's lifeless body. He crouched down, his hand going slowly to Gerard's neck to check for any signs of a pulse.

It was weak, but it was there.

"He's alive."

"Oh thank the Goddess..."

Ray breathed from behind his mate.

"Let's get him out of here, yeah?"

He was nervous being this far inside another pack's territory. He continued to scan the trees around them for movement. Mikey hummed agreement.

"Help me get these out."

He murmured, indicating the wooden steaks. Ray paled, not being too comfortable with blood, but he nodded, dropping down on the other side of Gerard and gripping the stick in his shaking hand. He placed his other hand on the boy's pale, blood covered hand to hold it down, then looked up at Mikey shakily to see his mate in the same position.

"On three?"

"Yeah. One, two..."

They both took a breath, looking down.

"...three."

They pulled the steaks out at the same time, gaining an almost silent whimper from Gerard...at least they got something. Fresh blood spilt sluggishly from the wounds as Mikey leaned in close to Gerard's ear.

"Hold on baby, we're gonna get you out of here..."

He carefully scooped the pale boy up into his arms and stood, Ray coming to his side, stroking his fingers through the little Omega's damp hair.

"Keep your eyes open Ray, be ready to run if I say."

Ray nodded, nuzzling his face against his Alpha's shoulder for comfort before taking a breath and straightening up. Mikey gave him a reassuring smile and headed back into the trees, Ray staying close to his side.

*

*

*

"Damn it!..."

Andy growled, punching the trunk of a giant redwood tree and watching in mild satisfaction as a large chuck of splintered wood and bark hit the floor.

"They weren't meant to find him so fucking fast..."

Lynz whimpered, cowering away from her mate's rage...she knew better than to try to talk to him when he was like this.

"Well, it's not all lost, the locals will likely find them before they're out of the territory anyway...this could still work. Come on, let's go."

He indicated for his Beta to follow, then moved off through the trees to watch the results of their efforts.

*

*

*

Mikey and Ray moved quickly through the thick woods, though not as quickly as if they could shift. If Gerard were conscious, Mikey would shift and his brother could ride on his back...they’d be out of their rival's territory in no time if they could do that. But no, Gerard remained stubbornly and worryingly unresponsive.

Ray’s eyes flicked around their surroundings nervously.

"A-Alpha?"

He whimpered, moving closer to his mate. A low growl rumbled in Mikey’s chest.

"I know. I smell them..."

There was someone in the trees, tracking them.

"Here, you hold Gee."

He reluctantly passed the silent boy into Ray's arms and took a defensive stance. He could hear movement, they were being circled now. He bared his teeth, moving to stay between whoever was there and the two people he loved more than anything in the world. Ray cowered with his back against a tree and Gerard held close to his chest.

"It’s gonna be ok. It’s gonna be ok. It’s gonna be ok."

He chanted quietly, pressing his face into Gerard’s hair as Mikey shifted part way, his fangs growing out, eyes turning yellow and claws growing to nearly two inches long and razor sharp. He growled, lip curling.

"Show yourself!"

A laugh sounded through the green as two figures jumped down from the branches.

"Don’t throw orders around...Way. This is our territory, not yours."

Mikey sneered at them.

"We’re just here for my brother. He was taken. The trail lead onto your land and we found him...hurt..."

Mikey’s eyes flashed as his lip curled in a sneer.

"You wouldn’t know anything about that...would you...Urie?"

The other Alpha chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"You really think I want to start a war with you, when we’ve held this fragile truce for so long now?"

"You didn’t answer my question."

The shorter Alpha sighed heavily, his expression turning serious.

"No Michael, I have nothing to do with what’s happened to your brother..."

He tried to peer around Mikey at the boy in Ray's arms. Mikey blocked his view and the other returned his attention to him.

"Is he ok?"

Mikey frowned, he didn’t trust Brendon as far as he could throw him...but the man wouldn’t lie about this. He shook his head.

"No, he’s not. You have no idea who did this?"

"I have an idea, but you won’t like it."

"Tell me."

Mikey demanded through gritted teeth.

"One of my Betas caught a scent the other day, a familiar one."

"Who?"

Brendon took a breath, running his hand through his hair, uneasy with the name about to leave his lips.

"It was Andy Black."

"Fuck!..."

Mikey growled, hearing the nervous intake of breath from Ray behind him. He didn’t look back...he wouldn’t turn his back on Brendon for a second.

"I thought I recognised the scents, but I couldn’t place them. You’re sure?"

"Yes. Dallon came and fetched me when he found the scent...it was definitely Black, and that bitch of his too."

"I thought we’d seen the last of them. They’ve got some nerve coming back."

"I have my pack on alert. If we catch them on our turf, I will send word to you that they aren’t an issue any more...ok?"

Mikey nodded.

"Yeah, and I’ll do the same."

"A-Alpha?"

Ray's tentative voice sounded behind him and Mikey chanced a glance back. He saw how pale his baby brother was now. He cursed quietly as he looked back at Brendon.

"Well if we have an accord, then I should be getting my family home...or are we going to have a problem?"

Brendon shook his head sadly.

"Michael...we were friends once. You know I never had anything against Gerard. Of course you can go. Go take care of him."

Mikey breathed a relieved breath.

"Thank you...Brendon."

The two former friends and current rivals smiled slightly, nodded, then Brendon signalled for his companion, a tall thin Omega with messy brown hair, to head back the way they’d come. Brendon spared Mikey one last look, then disappeared through the trees after him.

Mikey sighed heavily and shifted fully back to his "human" form.

"Come on sweetheart, let’s get Gee home."

Ray nodded, then they turned and continued on their journey back to the village.

*

*

*

"FUCK IT! FUCK IT! FUCK IT!..."

Andy raged, ripping low branches from the nearest trees and tearing at the trunks as Lynz shrunk back in fear.

"It should’ve worked! What does it take to start a fucking war these days?!..."

He turned glowing yellow eyes to his mate.

"Let’s go. We'll just have to find another way to make them destroy themselves, won’t we."

He didn’t wait for an answer and Lynz knew he didn’t really expect one. He turned and stormed away through the trees with the girl a few steps behind.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, hows you?

So here we meet the rivals, but don’t worry, we’re only just getting started. ;)

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT and peace out babies!
<3