Bob knew that he still had a punishment coming, Mikey wasn’t one to let things slide, especially if his brother was involved...but time was ticking by and Bob's resolve to not run was starting to slip a little. He was pacing back and forth outside the other Alpha's house, dreading the moment the door would open. He had been summoned...this was it.

"It won’t be that bad..."

Patrick said as he and Pete watched the worried Alpha from their spot on the now dry grass.

"The brat lived after all."

Bob stopped pacing to look at the boy, who was draped lazily across the other Beta's lap.

"You need to stop that Patty...if anyone but us hears you talking like that..."

He left the warning unfinished in the air. Patrick rolled his eyes and snorted.

"I’m not scared, I’ll say what I want."

"Don’t be dumb babe..."

Pete piped up.

"Mikey will skin you if you disrespect the pup...you know how serious he is about him."

Patrick huffed, pouting cause Pete normally made fun of the little Omega as much, if not more than him. Bob walked over and leaned down, taking Patrick’s chin in his hand and tilting the boy's head up.

"Don’t frown, you’ll get lines."

He smirked, squishing Patrick’s cheeks before letting go and straightening up. He turned as Mikey’s front door opened, the smile slipping from his face.

"Robert..."

Ray said seriously.

"Come in."

Bob took a breath then nodded, following the Beta inside. The door closed with a click behind them.

"What do you think's gonna happen to him?"

Patrick asked, looking up at Pete nervously. Pete shrugged.

"I don’t know...nothing good."

The two Betas cuddled up with each other as they waited to see what would become of Bob.

*

*

*

Gerard was curled up in Mikey’s lap with his head on his older brother's shoulder and his finally unwrapped hands curled against his chest when Bob was lead into the living room. The boy offered Bob a small smile, it was tiny and over in a second, but it was somehow enough to steady the Alpha's nerves. Mikey set down his coffee cup on the table next to his chair before addressing the other man.

"Robert..."

A lesser man would start begging for mercy now, but that wasn’t Bob's style. He stayed silent and waited.

"You were given a job. It was your responsibility to keep the pack safe, and you didn’t..."

Mikey raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have anything to say in your defence?"

Bob took a breath, then shook his head.

"I have no defence. I was selfish and thinking with my dick, not my head..."

He hung his head submissively.

"I’m sorry. I’ll take whatever punishment you deem appropriate."

Mikey hummed, nodding thoughtfully.

"One month..."

Bob looked up curiously.

"I’m giving you a one month ban on all sexual activity...even with yourself."

Mikey knew this was a severe punishment. Lupo, and especially Alphas, are known for their high sex drive...this was going to be Hell for Bob.

"A month?!...but..."

"You said you’d take whatever punishment I deem appropriate...are you taking that back now?"

Bob swallowed, dropping his head.

"No Alpha. I accept my punishment."

"Good. Now I know you, and I know you’ve been spending a lot of time with Pete and Patrick...so for the next month, you will have no contact with them. You are on house arrest and will remain in your quarters except at evening meal, when you will be permitted to join the pack. Understood?"

"Yes Alpha."

"Good..."

Mikey looked toward the door and smiled.

"Ray sweetheart, would you please escort Robert home?"

"Of course."

Ray crooked a finger at Bob and the Alpha nodded to him. He turned to follow the Beta out, but paused at the doorway to look back.

"I really am sorry, and Gerard?..."

The little Omega looked up.

"I’m glad you’re ok."

Gerard gave Bob a shy but genuine smile, and Bob smiled back before following Ray out of the room and out of the house.

Pete and Patrick were still waiting outside. They sat up quickly as the door opened.

"Bobby!"

"What happened?"

"Are you Ok?"

Ray cleared his throat as Bob went to answer. The Alpha huffed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Robert isn’t going to be talking to either of you for the next month...or doing anything else with you either."

Pete’s jaw dropped.

"Alpha gave him a...ban!?"

Ray nodded.

"Yes he did. Now, if you’ll excuse us...come on Robert."

Bob nodded and let himself be lead away toward his home. He hated this!...if he wasn’t in trouble already, he would never let a Beta talk to him like that. He seethed as he followed Ray through the village, passing others of the pack as they whispered and giggled. No, this wouldn’t do at all.

*

*

*

Frank stood at the tree line, staring into the dark wood. There was something moving out there and it made his hackles rise.

"What y' lookin' at?"

Frank glanced down at the little blonde girl, then back out into the dark.

"Can you do something for me Milly?"

She looked up at him.

"Sure."

"Go find your papa. Tell him I need him here, then take your brother and sister into the main house...and hide. Do you understand?"

He looked down at Milly and she nodded, then turned and ran back toward where the other pups were waiting for her. Frank turned his eyes back to the trees and frowned...whatever it was, was still there...and he wasn’t at all sure that it was friendly.

Milly grabbed Billy and Tilly...no one ever said that Brendon had imagination...and headed back up to the big house, where Brendon was sat with Ryan curled up asleep in his lap, as Dallon poured them all glasses of fresh lemonade.

"Papa, papa!"

Brendon and Dallon looked over, smiling at their pups.

"Hey there. You been having fun?"

"Yes papa..."

Milly said as they reached the steps up to the porch.

"Mr. Frankie said he needs you papa, over near the old well..."

Brendon stiffened, glancing at Dallon before looking back at the pups.

"He said for us to hide in the house."

Now Brendon was worried. He quickly woke Ryan.

"Sweetheart, take the babies into the attic and hide with them in the blue room...Ok?"

Ryan rubbed his eyes tiredly, but nodded and got up quickly, ushering the pups into the house. He knew not to argue or ask questions if he was sent to the blue room.

Once the front door was closed, Brendon and Dallon headed toward the old well at the edge of the woods, grabbing the other two Betas along the way, and sending the other three Omegas to join Ryan and the pups in the blue room. They saw Frank as they got close. He was staring into the trees and there was a tenseness in the way he stood that they hadn’t seen since he’d arrived. Brendon moved to stand at his right with Dallon by his side.

"What do you see Frank?"

Frank glanced at the other Alpha briefly, then looked back into the trees.

"There’s something out there. I’ve heard it and smelled it, but I’ve not seen more than the slightest glimpse."

"Lupo?"

Frank shook his head.

"Not sure, but I’m fairly certain that it’s not here to make friends."

Brendon nodded.

"I think you’re right Frank. I’m really glad you decided to stay."

"Yeah...me too."

Brendon sent the two Betas, Ashton and Steven, to skirt the edge of the woods to the West, just in case there were others out there...while he and Dallon headed to the East. Frank stood and watched the trees as the sun began to set...he had a feeling that tonight was going to be a very long night.

*

*

*

"Alpha?...I think you need to come."

Mikey looked up from the book he was reading to see two young Betas called Daniel and Phillip in the doorway. They looked scared and were clinging to each other. He raised an eyebrow as he put his book down on the table next to his chair and stood up.

"What’s going on?"

Daniel chewed nervously on his lip and looked down, so Phillip was the one to answer.

"The other pack...they’re here."

Mikey’s hackles rose, his lip curling and eyes flashing yellow.

"Urie's pack?...here?"

"Yes Alpha. They’re...they’re hurt."

Mikey felt his stomach clench. He and Brendon were no longer friends, but the thought of the other Alpha being injured disturbed him more than he’d care to admit.

"They’re hurt?!...what do you mean?...who’s hurt?"

"All of them...I think. Please come?"

Mikey took a breath and nodded.

"Of course..."

He looked to where Gerard was curled up asleep on the rug by the fire, then back at the Betas.

"Daniel, would you stay with my brother please?...I don’t want him waking up alone."

"Yes Alpha."

Daniel said, detaching himself from his best friend's side and moving to join the slumbering Omega on the floor. Mikey gave him a grateful smile then turned to the other Beta.

"Take me to them."

Phillip nodded, leading his Alpha out of the room and out of the house.

"We put them in the big house. The children are so scared Alpha...and so little."

"We'll take care of them. Who’s with them all now?"

"Ray, Pete and Patrick. We were all sat on the grass by the big tree when the other pack arrived. Ray send Daniel and me to fetch you...did we do right?"

Mikey gave the boy a reassuring smile.

"Yes, you did good. Would you go and fetch Robert from his room please, I think I’d feel better with him there too."

"Yes Alpha."

Phillip nodded quickly then changed direction to head for the restricted Alpha's dwelling. He wasn’t fond of the older Lupo, but he understood why Mikey wanted him with them now.

---

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Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

So so I just spent the whole day without internet, so I got some writing done. Hope you enjoyed this chapter...more coming soon.

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