Gerard’s thin body shook with every breath he took. He was all out of tears, and time. It was mere hours till moonrise now and he could already feel his wolf clawing to get out. He could hear it bay and howl and he was terrified that he wasn’t going to make it through the night. He was weak. He hadn’t eaten in days, he wasn’t sure how many though, and a first shift was always rough on the body...Lupo needed to eat a lot in the days running up to their first. He needed Frank or Mikey, or Hell, even Brendon or Bob would do right now. But he had no one, and the moon was calling his name like a Siren, drawing him in only to rip him apart.

"F-Frankie..."

He whimpered into the dark, windowless room. His voice was scratchy and weak.

"Help m-me...please?"

Only silence answered him, save for the distant howling in his head, and the desperate pounding of his heart.

*

*

*

"You chained him?..."

Andy asked.

"You’re sure he’s secure?"

"Yes Alpha..."

The Beta said quietly, eyes cast to the ground.

"But..."

"But...what?"

Andy demanded, his voice sounding rough and strained, like he was holding himself back. The Beta swallowed nervously.

"But I...I couldn’t put the m-muzzle on him. He tried to b-bite me."

Andy stood from his chair to loom large over the cowering Beta. He brought one hand back, then struck the Beta around the face with a devastating blow, sending him sprawling backward across the hard stone floor.

"THAT'S WHAT THE MUZZLE IS FOR, YOU STUPID CUNT..."

Andy raged. The Beta whimpered, holding his hand over his mouth, blood dripping through his fingers as he stared up at the approaching Alpha.

"NOW, GO PUT THE FUCKING MUZZLE ON HIM..."

Andy grabbed the Beta by the hair roughly, pulling the boy up so they were eye to eye. The Beta cried out as some of his hair was ripped out by the roots. Andy lowered his voice to a quiet and dangerous growl.

"...or you will be the pack's first meal when we change...are we clear?"

The Beta nodded quickly...as much as he could with Andy's iron grip still tugging at his scalp.

"Y-yes A-Alpha..."

He stuttered, blood dripping from his chin.

"I’m sorry Alpha. I’ll do it right away Alpha. I’m s-sorry."

Andy stared at the boy like he was nothing, an insect for him to squash.

"You better."

He dropped the boy and turned away, returning to his chair as the Beta scrambled quickly out of the door and raced toward the room they were using as a cell. The Beta, a boy called Caleb who Andy had recruited to his pack just a month ago, wished now that he and his sister had never run away from their family pack...even if their big brother was a nasty arrogant asshole. It was still better than this.

Approaching the room, Caleb saw the muzzle right where he’d left it, on the table outside the door. The muzzle was a horrid thing, designed to be used on an Omega for the protection of whichever Alpha wanted to "play" with them. It was designed so it could be put on when the Omega was still in their human form, and it would stretch to a certain degree to accommodate their snout once they’d shifted. The use of such a device was strictly prohibited by Lupo law, but Andy never seemed too interested in playing by other people's rules anyway.

Caleb picked the muzzle up, shuddering slightly in revulsion...he didn’t want any part of hurting that poor little Omega. On the other hand, he didn’t want to be lunch either. Taking a breath to steel himself, he unlocked the bolt on the door and stepped inside, clicking on the light switch on his left. The little Omega whimpered in fear, curling up as much as his shackles would allow.

"P-please don’t h-hurt me. I just w-wanna go h-home."

Caleb swallowed down the pity he felt for the boy and stepped closer.

"Sorry kid, but if I’ve gotta be here, then so do you."

The little Omega cried, shrinking in on himself while baring his teeth in a weak approximation of courage. Caleb advanced on him, quickly grabbing him by the hair to still and control him as he fixed the muzzle into place.

"I’m sorry."

He said one more time as he fastened the straps behind the boy’s head, then turned and left the room without another word. Gerard whimpered behind his muzzle, dropping his head and closing his eyes. This was it. This was the end for him and he was going out...alone.

As he stepped outside, Caleb came face to face with his twin sister, Mia. She frowned at him, glancing worriedly at the door.

"This is wrong Caleb, you know it."

Caleb swallowed, looking down shamefully.

"I know Mi...but what am I meant to do? Andy will kill us both if I don’t do as he says."

Mia sighed, taking her brother's hand, squeezing it lightly.

"But you know what he has planned for the boy. We can’t let that happen. This is bigger than you and me Caleb."

Caleb nodded sadly.

"Yeah, I know..."

He looked around to make sure they weren’t overheard.

"So, what’s the plan?"

Mia grinned, then pulled Caleb away toward the room they’d been sharing since they got there...there was a lot for them to discuss.

*

*

*

Brendon hated that he was staying behind, that he wasn’t in on the rescue...but he knew that the other Omegas and his pups needed to be protected, and he was damned if he would let anything happen to any of them. The other Alphas and Betas had headed out toward what had once been Brendon and his pack's home...that’s where they’d found out that Andy had holed up. He had brutally attacked Brendon and his family, killed two of their number, driven them from their home, then taken over...he had vengeance coming to him, and it was coming tonight by the light of the wolf moon.

*

*

*

Frank and Mikey lead the rescue party silently through the dense forest. They were all shifted and knew their rolls for tonight. Bob stayed at the rear of the pack, keeping watch on their backs...they didn’t want to be caught unawares.

They all knew that they were probably expected, but that was not going to stop them and they would do whatever it took to get Gerard back home...even if they had to kill every single member of Andy's pack to do it.

Frank and Mikey stilled as the scent of other Lupo met their noses. They were approaching Andy's new territory downwind, but they knew that the wind could change and reveal them at any moment. The others stilled behind them, sniffing the air with interest. Frank looked at Mikey, then nodded to their right. Mikey nodded then headed slowly off in that direction, his group- Dallon, Patrick and Phillip, following close behind him into the trees. Frank looked back at his own group- Ray, Pete and Daniel, and they all nodded slightly before following him to the left. Bob and his group- Steven and Ashton, took their place where the other two Alphas had been. Everyone was getting ready. Just an hour now till moonrise...just half an hour before they attack.

*

*

*

Gerard whimpered, feeling the moon and his wolf calling. If he wasn’t shackled, muzzled and bound, he would be clawing at his skin now. And if he were home, he would be begging his mate to fuck him...it was the best way for an Omega to get through their first shift. Gerard wouldn’t have that, and it scared him more than he’d care to admit.

*

*

*

"I get why..."

Bob growled quietly, part-shifting to speak.

"It’s family. I get that..."

He looked back at Ashton sharply.

"But the boy...why him?"

Ashton frowned as he part-shifted too.

"What do you mean?...I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Bob chuckled darkly.

"Oh I think you do know...Ashton Black."

"What?!..."

Steven asked incredulously, turning wide eyes to his friend.

"Black like...like Andy Black?"

Bob nodded, glad at least that the other two were keeping their voices low still.

"Yeah, they’re brothers. Ain’t that so Ashton...you’ve been spying on us, right?"

Ashton hung his head.

"You don’t know Andy like I do...it’s not like I had a choice."

"You could’ve told me..."

Steven said, frowning deeply.

"I thought we were friends."

Ashton looked up with tears in his eyes.

"I’m sorry...for everything."

Bob sighed deeply.

"Well this is fun and all, but right now we need to know...does Andy know we’re coming tonight, how many are in his pack, and where are they keeping Gerard?"

Ashton wiped a hand over his eyes and took a deep breath.

"He knows, but not that we’re coming before the moon...Mikey and Frank changed the plan too late for me to tell him. He has seven in his pack, plus himself. They’re all Betas except him...he'd never trust another Alpha to not fight him for dominance. And the boy...is in the blue room..."

He swallowed.

"How did you find out?"

Bob snorted.

"I suspected something a few days back, and I followed you."

"And...and what happens to me n-now?"

Bob sighed and turned to Steven, who was looking confused, hurt and angry.

"Steven, would you please go tell Frank and Mikey what Ashton just told us?...I’ll stay with him."

Steven swallowed heavily, looking at his friend once more before fully shifting again and slipping off through the trees.

"What happens now?"

Ashton asked again in a small voice. Bob gave a sad smile.

"What do you think?"

Ashton let out a soft sob and closed his eyes.

"Make it qu-quick?"

"Of course."

*

When Steven returned to Bob's side, he part-shifted again.

"I told them. Where’s Ash?"

Bob gave the younger boy a tired look.

"Forget about him. He can’t hurt anyone now."

Steven choked out a sob, then nodded as they both got ready for the big rescue, shifting and edging forward through the trees.

*

*

*

Bob had told Frank and Mikey about Ashton when he first worked it out...that was why they’d changed tonight's plan at the last minute. The three Alphas had talked about what to do and decided that Bob should do what Bob actually does best, punishment...so Frank and Mikey were not surprised when Steven came to them with the news, they knew Bob was sparing Steven from seeing his friend's demise.

Frank wanted to see Andy dead for what he’d done...but he needed to get to Gerard. Mikey also needed to see his brother, but his part of the plan was to bring Andy and his pack down...for good.

*

*

*

Gerard was trembling and twitching, he could practically feel his bones snapping and shifting already. He jolted as he heard the bolt on the door click. He looked over as the door opened and a small pale figure slipped inside.

"Shh..."

The girl whispered, a finger to her lips to quiet his muffled questions.

"I’m Mia, and I’m gonna get you out of here."

She closed the door as silently as she could, then clicked on the light and stepped closer to the frightened Omega. Gerard observed her, pale flawless skin, hair as black as pitch and wide, bright blue eyes...there was something so familiar about her, but his moon-muddled mind couldn’t quite place it. She approached him hesitantly, hands out in front of her to show that she was unarmed.

"If I take off your muzzle, do you promise not to bite me?..."

Gerard whined quietly then nodded, lowering his head so the girl could get to the straps. Mia smiled softly and approached, carefully starting to work on the buckles.

"Me and my brother are going to get you back to your pack...you’d like that, right baby?..."

Gerard looked up through his lashes at the girl, it seemed like forever since anyone called him that. He nodded slightly, letting an almost purr escape his lips at her gentle touch and voice.

"Caleb's keeping watch..."

Mia said softly, doing what she could to keep the distressed boy calm. He wondered who Caleb was.

"He’s sorry for putting the muzzle on you. He didn’t have a choice...aha!..."

She exclaimed as the buckle finally let go so she could remove the offending item.

"That’s better, right?"

Gerard nodded slightly, still looking up at the girl submissively. He could tell she was a Beta...way too calm and gentle to be an Alpha.

"Yes. Th-thank y-you."

Mia smiled, gently stroking her fingers through his long, dirty hair. He leaned into her touch, starved of affection. Mia petted him for a minute, then sighed.

"Now, lets get you out of these shackles."

She had stolen the key from Andy's pocket...a trick she’d learned from their big brother long ago. He had all his younger siblings stealing and pickpocketing for him like Fagin out of Oliver Twist, and since Mia and Caleb ran away, they had continued to use the things he’d taught them to stay alive...but only when absolutely necessary. She worked quickly and quietly, trusting that Caleb would alert her if anyone was coming. After a couple of minutes, she had Gerard’s hands and feet free, and she was helping him up onto his feet. He was shaky and had to cling to her for support.

"We'll get you some food as soon as we can baby. Come on, let’s go."

Mia held the weak Omega up as they made their way out of the room and carefully down a set of badly lit stairs. Caleb was waiting for them at the bottom step. Gerard knew now why Mia seemed familiar to him when she first walked in...her and her brother looked surprisingly similar, even for litter-mates.

"Hi..."

Caleb said sheepishly.

"Sorry again about the..."

He waved his hand around his face. Gerard offered a small, pained smile. Caleb sighed.

"Sorry."

Mia chuckled quietly.

"Well, now that’s done. Let’s get out of here...yeah?"

Gerard and Caleb both agreed and the three started tiptoeing their way to safety.

*

*

*

"It’s time..."

Mikey whispered into the falling dark.

"Let’s go."

---

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Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

So I said this would be a longer chapter...hope you like it.

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