Vivian's POV

"When are we looking to hit the Sheridan Pack?"

"A couple of days," Gabriel said. "We have to plan, scout, and wait for the best time. Plus, it's a good long day's drive to get there."

"Good," I said. "Gabriel, I need each of your men to rotate up to the clinic for blood donation and typing."

"Blood?"

I nodded. "I have a supply of human blood, but no werewolf, and it isn't compatible. If you're going into battle, I'll need a full stock for the injured. No better way than to get it now, that gives your bodies time to recover before you fight."

"That makes sense. I'll make sure it happens."

"I'll go set up. Teri, can you send Meghan to help me?" She nodded. "All right, I'll see everyone at church. Snake, can you take Eve for the morning?"

"I've got her," Kelly said. "The two of them can have tummy time together." I smiled and went upstairs, setting up for the draws. "How are you feeling this morning, Zephaniel?"

"Much better, Doc. Pain isn't as bad." I gave him a pill and checked his wound, it was healing well. "Stay put in bed and rest, it's going well."

"I'm getting bored, and Uriel isn't the best way to kill time," he said.

"I'll have Meghan bring in her portable DVD player and some movies," I said. "Uriel, come over here and lay down, you're donating blood."

"Blood? Don't I have to volunteer?"

"You've been volunTOLD," I laughed. "I cleared it with Gabriel, everyone is giving a pint so I have blood for the battle." It didn't take long to get the line started. "I don't want to lose anyone because I can't get blood, that's already happened once here."

The rest of the morning was busy. Meghan got Zephaniel set up with the Die Hard movies, then helped me with the blood draws. We had most of them done before it was time for church.

Viper's POV

Gabriel and I sat at the center of the room, the doors locked for church. We had sequestered the children and family not involved upstairs in the classrooms with a movie, our usual way. Kelly was supervising the group with the help of the older kids.

I was just about to start when Vivian came down the stairs, Snake by her side. She had Meghan with her, both were in scrubs since they had been drawing blood all morning. She came over and kissed my cheek. "How are you doing, Pops?"

"Good, is Eve with Grandma?"

"Of course, has been all morning. I swear sometimes I just get in the way of her time," she laughed.

"She waited a long time for babies, you can't blame her for spoiling them." Snake took a chair at a nearby table and pulled her down to an adjacent chair, whispering something that made her blush. I stood up and held up my hands for quiet, which was immediately given. I looked out at my family, and the new friends with the Knights. All of them were present except the four on patrol and the one in the clinic. "Thank you for coming, everyone. Our Club is on a war footing now; the Sheridan Pack has already killed Carson, and they attempted to kidnap DeWalt. They won't stop, and she and Eve can't be safe until that Pack is stopped."

Gabriel took it up. "The Sheridan Pack's Alpha Stanton is the worst kind of Alpha. Right now, he's desperate and pissed because we took out his Beta and his men. He's force mated a thirteen-year-old girl, the younger sister of one of ours, and his doublecross on the blood shows he can't be trusted. There's no telling what he will do, and we aren't going to wait for him to attack. We're taking him out."

I stood side by side with him. "This is a first, few humans outside this room even know of the existence of werewolves. This gives us an advantage because they will not expect humans to cooperate with werewolves. This will be dangerous, the Pack is dangerous, so I will only take volunteers from our Club. We will need people back here, so I'm limiting it to ten men other than me." Immediately a bunch of my men stood up, volunteering. "Hammer, I need you here with Teri and Kelly. Snake, you too. We need to protect Vivian and Eve while we are gone."

"Come on, Viper," Snake started to argue, "Carson was practically my brother-in-law, we lost him on a mission I was in charge of. They came after MY wife, I want in."

"Sorry, Snake. You need to stay with DeWalt."

Vivian stood up. "Good, Snake is going, because I'll be there with you."

The whole place went into an uproar. I heard a bunch of "Hell No's" and other challenges. "DeWalt, I appreciate your willingness to fight, but we're trying to PROTECT you. I'm not letting you anywhere near that battlefield."

"With all due respect, Mr. President, I need to be there. This is a war, wars have casualties, and I'm the ONLY medical person you have available. Who takes care of the wounded werewolves if I'm not there? Maybe you take the Club members to a hospital in Sheridan, but how do you explain why they have bites or bullets in them?"

"We will find a way, Blessed One," Gabriel said. "We haven't had a Doctor before."

"Yes, and you'd be one member short right now if it wasn't for Meghan and I. Tell me honestly, how many of your men can expect to be hurt or killed in this war? Why would you keep me from saving them?" She looked directly at me. "The men you take are my family too, I can't sit back and hide here in the Clubhouse while my family is dying. I can save them, it's why I'm here."

"You could get hurt, captured, even mated!" Snake was furious, his face showed his dislike of her being in danger.

"And you could die without my help," she told him. "Look, I'm not asking to be on the front lines of the attack, that would be stupid. I am asking to be in the area, able to come to your aid when the battle is done, or when casualties are brought to me. I'll be like a M*A*S*H unit, close to the lines but not close enough to get hurt, and I'll treat werewolves."

"Call it a W*A*S*H," Meghan said as she stood by Vivian's side.

"I don't like it," Snake said.

"You'll like this even less. I want Meghan with me." The room exploded again, I had to bang my hand on the table a few times to quiet it down. "She's my assistant, I need her by my side."

I looked over at Hammer, he had sat down in shock. Meghan ran over and hugged him. "Dad, this is what I've always wanted to do. It's what I was born to do."

She buried her face in his shoulder; his hand slowly came up her back. "I know, baby. You're going to be an amazing doctor." He pulled back so he could look in her eyes. "You know your Mom is going to grill my balls for dinner for this."

"No, she'll see it has to be done, she just won't like it."

Hammer stood up, pulling his daughter to his side. "I am going, I'll protect these two while they are out saving the others," he said.

"I'll volunteer to be their escort as well," Maalik said as he stood.

"As will I," Urial stood by his friend.

I just rubbed my eyes, wondering where it all went wrong. Kelly was going to barbecue my ass in molasses, but Vivian was right. "Fine, but you stay well clear until we tell you to come up," I said. "If it goes bad, you get the hell out of there and don't worry about us."

"I'll keep Meghan safe," Vivian said. "I have my own family to return to."

"How are you going to do this?"

"I'll outfit one of the panel vans to be an ambulance," she said. "Coolers for blood, machines, drugs. A portable generator for power. I've got all the stuff, it's a matter of getting it stowed correctly."

"I'll help with that," Scrape said. "I can weld in racks, beds, anything you need. It might be easier to just buy an ambulance, though."

Vivian was thinking, she liked the idea. "See what you can find, I'll buy it," she said. "It will be a lot less suspicious if we have to transport wounded back here, and it will work better."

The whole meeting had spiraled away, I was starting to wonder who was really in charge here. "You guys figure that out and make it happen. Snake, go with them. Four men ought to be enough to protect those two, you'll need another vehicle and I want you loaded for bear, ready for anything." Snake nodded. "Get out of here and get to it. I want all the Club volunteers with me, I'm picking eight more."

Gabriel looked at his men. "We will leave six here to protect the Promised One, plus Zephaniel. The rest of you come with me."

"Church is over, those going to Wyoming will meet in one hour so we can start giving out assignments." I looked around the room, no one was moving.

"Pres, what's the plan?" Crash was itching for a fight.

"We distract them and the Knights swoop in and kill their leaders," I said. "Now clear out, we've got work to do." I watched as they started to get up. I selected the other eight, then gave Hammer a resigned look. "Ready to talk to the old ladies?"

"Why not, I didn't NEED to get laid this year," he said. "I don't know who is going to be more pissed off."

"Does it matter?" I threw my arm around his shoulders and walked him towards the stairs. "DEAD MEN WALKING," I said to the laughter of the Club members still downstairs.

Vivian's POV

Scrape went off to look on Ebay for an ambulance after I gave him a dollar limit. "Find something not too far away," I told him, "We can't waste half our prep time going to get one from Texas or something." He walked off, shaking his head, while I followed Snake and I back upstairs. The tension was still high, and as soon as we got the door closed to our room, he was in my face.

He wasn't mad, he was worried, and his hands held my head steady while his forehead moved to touch mine. "I can't lose you," he whispered.

"You'll be with me, you won't let anyone hurt me," I said. "I trust you, Hammer and the boys can keep Meghan and I safe or I never would have brought it up." His lips crashed into mine, and I jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us over to the bed. As soon as he was setting me down, I was pulling his shirt over his head, my sandals flying across the room. He was just as urgent, pushing his jeans and underwear down and letting his Python out. I lifted my hips, letting him pull my shorts and underwear off, then he plunged inside me in one long thrust.

"Oh yes," I moaned as he touched deep inside me. I moved my shirt up, unhooking my bra to let the girls out as he pounded into me fast and hard. It was hot, it was urgent, it was just what we needed. The room filled with the sounds of our love; the smack of his hips into me, the wet squoosh of my sex around him. He didn't let up, he didn't slow down, he just pushed us higher and higher until I couldn't remember my own name, I could only feel. He claimed me, shooting his load inside as I arched my back with the pleasure. His hands lifted me up, fucking me through my orgasm and into the next one. Finally, I had to push off him, doing a backflip in the bed as I tried to get my body to listen to me again.

"Holy shit, that was intense," he said as he collapsed next to me.

I couldn't even talk, I was all tingly and still breathing hard. He pulled me over until I was lying on top of him, both of us hot and sticky. We stayed until I could feel his seed draining out of me; cupping my sodden folds, I got up and went into the shower. He joined me there, getting me deliciously clean again before I returned the favor.

I finally left him when I heard Teri come in with Eve, who was crying. I pulled on a T-shirt and panties, leaving the steam-filled bathroom. "My my my, she must have missed me," I said as I took her into my arms.

"She woke up fussy," Teri said. "She's been changed, I was coming to get a bottle." She started to prepare one as I sat in the rocking chair. I went to the window and opened it up, letting the breeze blow the smell of our sex out. "Thanks for that, it smelled like a cathouse in here."

I just laughed. "Snake was a bit wound up after the meeting," I said. "How are you doing about Meghan coming?"

She slumped into a chair. "It scares the shit out of me, but I'd never forgive myself if someone died because you didn't have the help you needed. Then I think about how Hammer would find a way to go, and at least this way I know he'll stay out of the fighting. I'm glad I'll have the babies to distract me from thinking about how dangerous this all is."

"You know I'll protect Meghan with my life," I said.

"I do, but I'm a Mom, we worry." She looked out the window. "Meghan's growing up so fast, she'll be at medical school before I can blink."

"Look at the bright side, she isn't chasing after boys yet." I giggled as she shivered in fear. "She's going to have to beat them off with a stick."

"Hammer is already putting the fear of God into some of those boys," she said. She handed me the bottle and Eve started to drink it, her little hands waving in the air. Snake came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist, and went into the closet to get dressed. "When are you getting a tattoo?"

"I don't know, I need one to be a proper old lady, don't I?"

"Damn right. Get yourself a big ol' snake."

"She just did," Snake said as he walked out with a shit-eating grin on his face. "Repeatedly." I smacked his arm as he walked over to kiss me.

"Teri thinks I need a tattoo," I told him. "I'm thinking of getting a Rod of Asclepius. It's a symbol of medicine with a snake wound around a staff." I showed him the cover of one of my medical textbooks.

"I think you need a snake wound around a cordless drill," he said with a grin. "Or maybe one climbing up the front leg of a wolf."

Eve had finished eating, so I gave her to Snake to burp and change while Teri and I left. We got downstairs and Scrape ran over. "I found one in Rochester," he said excitedly as he showed me the printout. It wasn't bad, based on a Ford chassis it didn't have too many miles and the internals hadn't been stripped. The price was in range as well. I talked to Viper and Gabriel, they sent a couple guys with us and by dinnertime our new ride was parked in the garage.

I hopped out as Snake ran over to me. "Everything go all right?"

"Yep, we got ourselves of werewolf ambulance."

"A Wambulance?" I cracked up. It was going to be a long road trip with that man.

Three Days Later, Eastern Wyoming

Snake's POV

"We're stopping at the steakhouse and saloon ahead for dinner," Urial said as he pointed to the small town in the foothills. "Gabriel said it's safe."

I just nodded, that was part of what we had to deal with out here. Our route had been planned to avoid known Pack areas, but there were still lone wolves around and we didn't need Vivian to be sniffed out. We had eight vehicles in our convoy, and the lead SUV had gone ahead to make sure no werewolves were in the diner. Our ambulance was in the middle of the group, Urial and I were splitting the driving. Vivian was with us, and the third person could use the chair in the back or lay down on the gurney and get some sleep.

The back was impressive, they'd done a good job outfitting it with everything Vivian said she needed. She had a good supply of blood, both human and werewolf, all labeled and matched and kept in coolers. The oxygen canister was full, the vitals monitor and other electronics in place, and she had a complete supply of battle dressings and supplies for a war. As much as I hated to see her near the battle, I respected her for her dedication to our Club and allies. If she hadn't been the person she was, she never would have come to the club and she wouldn't be my wife.

I looked out at the vehicles ahead of us. The lead vehicle had Viper, Gabriel, Crash, Hesediel and Dumah. Hammer and Meghan were in the next car with Jopheil, Nuriel and Scrape. The third had Tiny, Viking, Abaddon, Uriel and Maalik. Fourth was Michael, Zachariel, Samsiel, Raguel and Stain. We were next, behind us was an old pickup driven by Shakes. No one rode with him, his truck was set up with removable steel plating for the driver and a pop-up gun mount in the bed. He had a bunch of other stuff in there, I swear the guy was giggling as he prepared for this run. The trail vehicle had Muriel, Phanuel, Puriel, Sarathiel and Dagger. The rest of the Club and the Knights remained back home to protect Eve.

The line stretched out, and some of the vehicles pulled over so we wouldn't all show up at the saloon at the same time. The last thing we needed was to attract notice as a big group, especially if werewolves stopped in. The wolves in the trail vehicle were going to remain outside, Dagger would get them to-go meals, and they would monitor the parking lot while we ate. It was all very organized, and all to protect Vivian.

We entered the steakhouse about ten minutes after the lead vehicles did, and asked for a table. I could see the men had split up strategically; tables had been taken near the entrance, the back exit, the bathrooms and the bar already. We took a spot more in the center. The waitress, a buxom older lady with bottle blonde hair, was busy with the other tables.

Meghan's POV

I was so glad when we pulled over, being stuck in a vehicle for hours at a time, squeezed between two big guys in the back, wasn't on my list of fun. I had my Walkman and a box of compact discs to listen to music, which was good because these guys all were listening to talk radio the whole way. When I finally got out, I stretched and bounced a little to get some feeling back in my butt. "Just stay with us," Dad told me. "Or Vivian."

"It's not like I can go anywhere, Dad." We walked in and took a table near the restrooms. The waitress's eyes lit up when she saw us, and my skank alert started to alarm. Too much makeup, too low a cut in her top, and too high heels for working in a place like this. As she handed out menus, I didn't miss how her ginourmous boobs ended up on my Dad's shoulder, and her hand on his back.

Bitch. Can't she see the ring?

Dad was nervous, he tried to pull away from her but she kept finding ways to brush up against him. When she started to take drink orders, it was my time. "And you, young lady, what can I get you?"

I smiled a fake smile as I looked at the menu. "I'd like some bottled apple cider, please, but only if you have my favorite, Harry Dixon's."

"I don't know if we have that kind," she said.

"Can you check, please? It's my favorite."

She nodded and sauntered off to the bar. "Bitch," I said under my breath.

We watched as she got to the bar, the bartender was at the other side so she had to raise her voice. "Hey Bob, can I get a Harry Dixon's Cider?"

The bartended stilled, trying to hold back a laugh. "I don't know, Lila, check with the manager."

She walked over to the kitchen door and pushed it open. "Larry, do we have Harry Dixon's Cider?"

"Not until after we close," I heard him say before the whole place broke out laughing.

Dad laughed until he cried. "Remind me never to get on your bad side," he said as the other guys congratulated me. "And check your food for spit, I don't think you made a friend here."

"Totally worth the risk," I said. "I've been waiting to use that one for a year."

"Remind me to monitor your internet use more closely," Dad said with a smirk.

"I think it was genius, Meghan, that was the best joke I've seen in ages. You're going to be a great member of the club when you can ride!"

"Don't remind me," Dad said.

"What, that in two years I can get my permit? Or that you promised me a dirt bike next summer?"

"Both."

I felt a tap on my shoulder, Vivian was walking towards the restroom. "I better wash up," I said. I got up, so did my Dad, and we walked back to the restroom, the men at that table alert as we walked by.

I went in and was immediately pulled into Vivian's arms. "That was genius, Meghan."

"She was hitting on Dad, for crying out loud. It was either that or bitch slap her."
"Trust me, that was better." We finished up our business and walked out together. The rest of the meal was uneventful; Hammer had pulled the manager aside and we had gotten a new waitress, in fact they all had because he sent her home. I'm glad Dad wasn't paying because these boys could EAT. King cut prime rib? Yes please. Side of shrimp? Sure. Texas Toast? Keep it coming. They were eating like it was their last meal, then I realized for some of them it might be.

We pulled out almost two hours later, there was only an hour's drive to Sheridan left. The feeling in my gut got stronger, something bad was coming and I didn't like it.

Viper's POV

With our bellies full, we were back on the road for Sheridan. There was an empty parking lot for a closed down business about ten minutes away from the turnoff to the Pack road, and we all pulled in there to go over the final preparations. The plan was fairly simple; Gabriel and his men would park in the State Park land on the north side of their territory, and attack in wolf form. I would take my men and create a distraction at the south side entrance road. Meanwhile, the ambulance would remain here at the parking lot, safely out of the way.

We didn't have good intelligence on how many people were in the Pack; we knew how many warriors they had with them when Zephaniel was there, and how many we'd killed, but not how many were gained or lost in the past few months. The Pack was over two hundred people when Zephaniel fled.

We had one last go-over of the plan. We would attack at 12:30, watches were synchronized, and Gabriel would give five minutes for the Pack to respond to our distraction before they would cross the lines. They didn't expect us to reach the Pack House, our job was to draw the Alpha and the Pack fighters away, giving the women and children time to reach sanctuary. We didn't need any of them injured in this.

Three SUV's left carrying the Knights to their insertion point, while we waited in the setting sun. "Get some sleep," I told Meghan. "Use the gurney, it's going to be a long night." She walked to the ambulance while the rest of us gathered by the cars. All except Shakes and Scrape, they were busy on the other side of the lot and around the corner, a good hundred yards away. When your bomb guy says to stay back, you do it.

We passed the time, made sure our weapons were cleaned and loaded, and waited. An hour later, Shakes called us over. They'd done some redneck engineering, surrounding the driver and the gunner in the pickup bed with steel plate. In the back was a swivel with a mount for the M240 machine gun that Shakes had obtained illegally. He had a couple of boxes of belt-fed ammunition with it under a tarp. On the outside of the pickup were some plates that seemed kind of familiar. "Shakes, are these the plates you made for the cabin?"

"Yep, I told you I'd find another way to use them." He was practically bouncing with excitement.

At 11:45 we loaded up, everyone except the ambulance and their protectors. Our plan was simple, run the gate and attract all the defenders to us. If it got too hot, we'd beat a hasty retreat.

We stopped by the side of the road just short of the turnoff, letting Shakes and Scrape go first. Scrape was in the back of the technical, the machine gun loaded and ready, steel plates covering him up to his waist while standing. They pulled into the entrance, accelerating towards the gate. We followed a few hundred yards behind.

As the gate came into view, we saw the flashes of machine gun fire then the crash as Shakes drove through the barricade. There were howls of warning, howls of pain, and then we were through the gates and racing down the path after him.

Ch. 47

Viper's POV

We pulled to a stop just outside the gate, bailing out to take positions along the road so we could cover Shake's attack. We were all outfitted with the same basic gear; AR-15 rifles with starlight scopes we'd bought, they were Russian surplus. I turned mine on, the big scope amplifying the limited light of the moonless night. I could hear Scrape hammering away on the big gun, firing at anything he could see. They'd made it a hundred yards or so in when we heard the tires go, and the truck started to skid until it stopped in the shallow ditch. "Cover them," I yelled as we opened up.

The border guards were already dead, but wolves were pouring in over the hill towards them. We couldn't fire effectively at that range, but the silver in our bullets would hurt them even if it wasn't a killing blow. The machine gun fire continued for a few seconds until it stopped, and I could see him struggling to reload, his right arm hanging limp at his side. We did the best we could, but without that big gun they couldn't hold the Pack off.

Shake's POV

I put the truck in park, knowing it was knocked out of commission. We hadn't expected spikes, but at least we still had cover. I could hear the rounds going over us, and Scrape firing the big gun over the cab. When he stopped firing, I knew something was wrong. I looked back, he was struggling to reload, his right arm wasn't working. "You hurt?"

"Broke my fuckin' arm," he said. "Can't get this reloaded."

I looked out, I could see the shapes approaching. "Bail out the back, run for it," I told him. "They'll cover you." He didn't argue, he hopped over the tailgate. I saw him running, holding his arm to his side. One of our cars started up, driving through the busted gate to go get him.

"Come on, you fuckers, come to Daddy," I said as I watched them approach. I had steel armor around my cab, they couldn't get to me easily and I couldn't get out quickly either. There had to be twenty or thirty of them out there, and they were smart enough to use the truck for cover, figuring they wouldn't fire on their own man. "Fire on my position, I'm protected," I radioed back to the guys as my hand hovered over the switch.

"You sure?" Viper was worried.

"Those popguns can't penetrate this plate. Duck until after the boom." The rifle fire stopped, which caused the wolves to surround the truck and try to get in. When they were all around or in front of me, I ducked down then turned the detonator switch. There were a bunch of little explosions, all so fast together it made for one big one.

I looked up and smiled. The area around the truck was a pile of blood and gore, my homemade Claymores had done their job. The few that hadn't been taken out were quickly shot by the riflemen behind me. I waited until the noise stopped, then got on the radio. "Any more out there?"

"Nothing yet, and the others have already crossed the border."

I looked around, I was a sitting duck with no explosives or guns. I unlatched the sliding bolts that held the right side of my protective plating in place, allowing it to drop onto the seat. Sliding across, I took out my Glock before I pushed the passenger door open. Looking around, there was nothing moving, so I went around to the back and got back in the bed. I unlatched the M240 from the mount, setting it on the tailgate along with the remaining ammo can. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the white phosphorous grenade and pulled the pin, tossing it through the broken back window of the cab.

I jumped off, grabbed the gear and made it five steps before the grenade went off. The night lit up as the burning metal set the truck ablaze. I ran back towards the gate, seeing the guys lit up by the blaze behind me. All of the sudden, I heard screams and shots. "WOLVES," I heard Viper yell.

They'd been flanked.

Gabriel's POV

We stood together just outside the border, the sixteen of us waiting for the clock to count down. When it was less than a minute, I gave the signal to shift. Moments later, I was surrounded by wolves of all colors and sizes, none as large as my black wolf. As soon as we heard the gunfire in the distance, we knew it was almost time.

We had to wait a few minutes before we could go, to make sure the reinforcements went the other way. I paced back and forth in front of my men, counting down in my head. When it finally was time, I turned and took off, my men following close behind. We thundered across the prairie, our paws tearing up dirt and grass as we bore down on the Pack House.

We heard an explosion in the distance, and the sound of rifle fire. Viper was doing his job, and now it was ours. Our group split in three, two veering off to surround the main house while my group went right to the front door.

The first opposition showed up as we broke into the clearing around the house. A dozen wolves had formed a line in front of us, hackles up. They had no chance, I could see the fear in their eyes and their bodies as we approached. These weren't the fighters, these were the old, the young, the injured. "Stop in front of them, do not attack until I say," I sent to my men.

"The back is unguarded, we are holding position," Abaddon said.

I shifted, drawing myself up to my full height. "THERE IS NO NEED FOR FURTHER BLOODSHED," I thundered. "ALPHA STANTON, I AM GABRIEL. I CHALLENGE YOU FOR THIS PACK."

The wolves in front of us sat down, as did mine, while we waited. Nothing happened. Finally, one of the wolves in front of me, his black head flecked with grey, shifted and stood before me. "The Alpha has refused your challenge, he said he will not accept a challenge from someone who uses humans in a sneak attack."

"What do you think? You are a worthy adversary, your age and your scars attest to your life. Will you die to protect a coward?"

The man knelt down on one knee. "He is not worthy of my life. He is an evil man, I was protecting the women and children. Give us your word they will be safe, and we will stand aside."

"I have no interest in harming the innocent, I'm here to take out the cancer." I put my hand on his head, feeling is allegiance shift to me. "Show me to where he is hiding."

Our men shifted behind me, my group staying with me while the others made sure no one would escape. The old man led me into the house and up to the office of the Alpha. The door was locked. "He had it reinforced, it's basically a safe room," he told me.

"Fine, we'll do this the hard way. Gather the other Pack members in the front, they can shift their allegiance or renounce their Pack ties at their option. He won't be an Alpha for long if his Pack abandons him, and they should."

Stain's POV

One moment we're reveling in our victory, the next we're being torn apart by werewolves. I stayed in the SUV, window down as I struggled to pick up the dark forms in the night. Scrape was in the back seat, his gun in his left hand. I could see almost nothing, just the flashes from pistol fire. It seemed like forever, but probably was a minute before it was quiet again. "Who's wounded," Viper asked.

A few shouts went out. "Load them up, Scrape, you get them back to DeWalt." The doors were opened and I saw the guys as they came in. Dagger was being helped, he had a shirt tied around his left calf, it was already soaked in blood. He was gritting his teeth in pain as he hopped in the passenger seat.

"Move over, Scrape." I recoiled as I saw who it was, and what he looked like. Viking was shoved onto the seat, his head in Scrape's lap. He had a shirt tied around his neck, his right hand had been bitten off at the wrist, and he had bites all over. The bandages were soaked, and he wasn't conscious. "Get going, Stain, he doesn't have much time."

I didn't have to hear any more, I tore out of there like I was being chased. I almost rolled the SUV when the tires hit the pavement, but then I righted it and accelerated. I screeched to a halt behind the ambulance, jumping out to get the door.

Vivian was already waiting with the gurney, and Snake and I slid Viking out of the back seat onto it. I couldn't believe how much blood there was. We moved him to the back of the ambulance, where the interior lights could show what was going on. She checked his wrist, then his neck. I saw her use her stethoscope, then she shook her head. "He's gone," she said. "Take him out."

We pulled the gurney back out and latched the legs, then Snake and I picked him up and set him on the ground next to the ambulance. We covered him with the now blood-soaked sheet. "Who's next," Doc said.

"Dagger is," Meghan said. She had placed a combat dressing on his calf and was applying pressure as he sat in the open door. I pushed the gurney over and Snake picked him up and laid him on his stomach. Meghan kept the pressure on as we moved into the back of the ambulance.

As soon as he was in, Doc gave him a shot that knocked him out. Between her and Meghan, they had an IV started. I went back to my vehicle, opening the door for Scrape. "You all right," I asked.

"He's gone," he said as he stared at the body on the ground. "He died in my lap."

I looked past him, the seat and floor were soaked with blood, he was soaked with blood. "Come on," I said. "Let's get you moved." I helped him stand up and walked him to the ambulance, setting him down on the bumper. "Doc, his upper arm is broken," I said.

"Sling is in that cabinet down there," she pointed. I dug around and found the blue sling; it hurt him, but I got his arm into it. "Just don't move."

"No shit. This is all Shake's fault, hitting the ditch like that."

I grabbed a few towels from under the seat and went back to the car and the puddles of blood. I felt like that scene in Pulp Fiction where they are cleaning Marvin's brains out of the back seat; it was gross as hell. It had to be done, though, and it was better than worrying about Dagger.

I heard engines approaching and tires squealing. "Doc, we got more wounded!" The lights lit us up as they pulled in, and they were almost on top of us when I realized something was wrong. "THEY AREN'T OURS," I yelled as I reached for my pistol.

One car stopped in front of the ambulance, another behind my car and men poured out and shifted to wolves. I started firing, I got two. I was shifting to the third when I was tackled from behind. I heard a loud snap, all too late I realized it came from me. My vision went fuzzy and I prayed God would understand as I faded to nothing.

Ch. 48

Vivian's POV

As soon as I pulled the dressing off Viking's neck, I knew it was hopeless. Major arteries had been cut, and he had stopped bleeding. I checked his heart, no pulse. There was no way to help him now, and I had other people to treat. "He's gone," I told Stain and Snake. Their faces fell in shock and loss, but there was no time to grieve now. I watched as they took the gurney back out, taking him off and setting him down somewhere. "Who's next?"

"Dagger is," Meghan said. She was standing at the doors, watching him being brought over. It looked like his calf had been bitten badly, Stain moved the gurney over.

"Put him face down," I said and they did so. They wheeled him up into the ambulance, and Meghan and I got to work. His vitals were still good, and Meghan started a saline drip right away. I gave him a sedative, no way he wanted to be conscious for what I was about to do. I pulled the cloth away from the wound; a big flap was torn, and it looked like a chunk was missing from the muscle and skin. It was bleeding, but not badly, it hadn't taken out the artery. "Warm up a bag of O positive," I told Meghan as I finished inspecting the wound. It would be an ugly scar, but it was fixable.

Scrape was led to the back of the ambulance as I was cleaning the wound with alcohol. "Doc, he's got a broken arm."

I didn't have time for it, a broken arm could wait. "There's a sling down there," I pointed at the cabinet. I was busy, light on my head, instruments in my hand as I opened the wound on Scrape's calf and cleaned it out. It would take lots of internal and external stitches, maybe even a skin graft later, to put the muscles back together. If he was lucky, the nerve damage wouldn't be bad enough to Meghan was moving around, getting the blood prepped, and setting up the suture tray when I heard tires squealing and cars coming closer.

"Doc, we got more wounded," Stain yelled from out by the car. I looked down, I could wrap it for now if a more critical case came in and do the stitching later. The cars skidded to a halt, then Stain yelled, "THEY AREN'T OURS" and all hell broke loose.

I could hear the pistol fire start, it was like firecrackers as they tried to hold off the attacking wolves. Scrape pulled his pistol, firing with his left hand as he moved to help Stain. I grabbed Meghan, pulling her backwards and shoving her down behind the cabinet next to the chair. I reached down and pulled a pistol out of my jacket, which was on the back of the EMT chair by me. "STAY DOWN," I told her as I moved past the gurney towards the back. It was bedlam.

I could hear Snake yelling around the corner as he fired his pistol, but Stain was in sight. He shot two wolves, I saw too late a wolf approaching from behind. The wolf jumped him, breaking his neck, before running past. I got off a couple shots but hit nothing, they were too fast, and I dared not leave the ambulance and Meghan to get a better shot. Scrape screamed, then his scream was cut off as a wolf tore out his throat. I could hear the fighting out of my sight, Urial and Maalik were in wolf form, and they were in pain. I snuck a peek, Urial's wolf was fighting three and losing. The attacking wolves were avoiding me, and I was helplessly listening as Maalik's neck was broken with a loud crack. Urial went down howling, they tore him apart.

I heard the door to the front open, Hammer had crawled in the passenger seat. His face and shoulder were covered in blood, and Meghan rushed forward with a towel to help him. "There's too many," he said.

As soon as it started, it was quiet again, and there was a pit in my stomach as I realized I couldn't hear Snake out there. I heard one of them shift, and a strange voice yelled, "STAND DOWN." I looked at Meghan and Hammer, then back outside, this wasn't good.

A man knocked on the side of the ambulance. "Doctor Vivian DelMara, it's over. This human won't make it long without help. I'm coming around to talk, don't shoot or he dies." I could see wolves starting to gather at the edge of the lot, covering my exit. I didn't have a choice.

"Come talk," I said as I lowered my pistol.

The large naked man came around to the back of the ambulance, an unconscious Snake being held by his neck in front of him. He was wheezing, he probably had a few broken ribs, maybe a punctured lung. There were bite marks on his hands, forearms and leg. The man let do, causing my husband to smack down against the pavement on his face. "It's over, Doc. Your guards are dead. You've got three more in there plus this guy who will die if you don't come quietly."

"How do I know you'll let them live if I come with you?"

"You don't. I really don't care, Doc, when we drove by I could smell you and the Alpha told me to bring you to him, no matter the cost. Now toss the pistol and come down here before I get upset."

I looked back at Meghan, she was holding the pad to Hammer's bleeding shoulder, she was frightened and she was my responsibility. I tossed my pistol on the floor of the ambulance. "I'll come," I said.

He raised his hand, helping me jump down from the back. His men shifted, going back to their cars and pulling on clothes. The man had a steel grip on my left arm as he dragged me to the big cars. "I lost four men getting you, bitch, you better be worth it."

"Maybe Alpha will let us have a taste, you know, for the effort," the driver said as I was pushed into the back seat, my captor with me.

"Nobody touches her, we deliver her to the Alpha unharmed," he said. He then looked at me, a smirk on his face. "After that, we'll see." The car pulled out, following the other vehicle. I looked back at the lot, at the blood and destruction, and hoped to Luna that Snake, Dagger, Hammer and Meghan would somehow be safe.
Gabriel's POV

I looked out the window to where the Pack was starting to assemble. His time was up; I would steal his Pack from him, whether I killed him before or after didn't really matter to me. I sent Michael with the old warrior to the shop. He might barricade himself in, but acetylene torches could fix that. If it was too much, I'd let Shakes have some fun. I'm sure that crazy fucker brought some extra.

Our plan had worked perfectly, and my men imbedded with Viper's attack group confirmed that the reaction force from the Pack had been wiped out. We had basically waltzed in to his compound, and the pussy had hidden in his office while his Pack members fought and died for him. I'd felt the loss of a couple of my Pack, but I didn't have time to figure out who yet.

Good men died today because this piece of shit Alpha wasn't honorable enough to fight with his men. What a waste.

I turned towards the door when I heard the sounds of sliding bars and turning bolts. Maybe he was going to come out and fight after all? At least then he would die with honor. If I had to come in there, I'd slice his neck while he knelt before me. I stood before the door, arms crossed, my men behind me. Finally, the door opened and Alpha Stanton came out and stood before me. He didn't look like a man who was about to die, he looked positively giddy.

He held out a cellphone towards me. "It's for you," he said.

I hesitated, then reached for the phone and put it to my ear. "This is Alpha Gabriel," I said.

The voice on the other end I instantly recognized. "Gabriel, they've got me," Vivian said as her voice broke. "The guards are hurt or dead, they need help."

"Where are you?" My hand was shaking.

"We're coming to the Pack House. I'm to tell you that if anyone does anything stupid, they'll kill me." Her voice lowered. "I'm sorry, Gabriel. I shouldn't have let you do this."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Vivian. It's I who should apologize. I'm at the Pack House, I'll see you soon." I clicked the phone closed.

Alpha Stanton was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. "Stand your men down," he said, "And tell the humans to back off." I sent out the mental command to my men, along with the reason. "The key to playing Capture the Flag is to know how important protecting your own flag is," he said. "It was foolish to bring her so close my men could scent her. Tell all your men to gather together out front by my Pack," he said.

I gave the order, and they started to head outside. "Tell Charles to go there as well." I raised my eyebrow, not knowing who it was. "The former warrior who abandoned his Pack and joined yours," he said.

I sent the command, knowing what was coming. We walked together down the stairs and out the door; the Pack House had a sweeping curved driveway, with a oval grassed section in front. The Pack was gathered there, and emotions were widely varied. Some were angry, looking at us with murder in their eyes as they blamed us for the deaths of family members. Some with relief, hoping that we would rid them of their Alpha. Still others, it was resignation. One way or another, people were going to die here.

The old warrior was brought before his former Alpha. "You are a traitor," Alpha Stanton said.

"I regret nothing except following a man such as you. May Luna avenge me," he said just before Stanton sliced his throat, leaving him to bleed out in front of his Pack.

It took about ten minutes before we saw the headlights in the distance, two vehicles approaching. They stopped in front of the house, their doors opening as six men got out. The last pulled a dejected Vivian with him. He walked her in front of us, forcing her to her knees. "Alpha, your Doctor Vivian DelMara."

Alpha Stanton walked forward, clapping the man on the shoulder. "Good job, Beta. When we are done here, if you want her as your mate, she is yours." I saw Vivian shiver, she didn't like this man, she was dreading the fate I was powerless to prevent. "Warriors, restrain his men." Men moved forward, silver knives drawn as they forced my men to their knees in front of them. He turned to me, but didn't demand the same. "You get to watch. This is what we do, we take over Packs, we take their women, and we mate them. We are the richest Pack in the country, and with this Doctor here, we can deliver our heirs alive and save the mothers."

"Luna laughs at you," I said as I shook my head. "Men like you are the reason Luna has cursed our people. The Doctor will not be able to stop her judgement; your women will all die, your children with them. The more you try, the faster you die," I told him.

"Once she is mated, she is bound to our will," he said. "She will save them, she will save herself. But first, she must pay the price for the losses we have suffered."

"What have I done?" Vivian's voice was weak, it cracked as she talked.

"You hid yourself from your people when you had the power to save our children," he said. He moved in front of her, bending over to take her chin in his hand. She struggled, but his grip shifted to her throat as he forced her to look into his eyes. "I lost mates, I lost heirs because of you," he said as he lifted her by the neck until her feet were dangling in the air.

"Too... bad..." In a move I barely caught, her right hand reached under her scrub top in front and came out with a silver dagger. Before Stanton could react, she plunged the blade into the left side of his chest, directly into his heart. He dropped her, reaching for the blade, and I reacted. I grabbed his head with both hands, twisting it until there was a loud crack before I dropped him to the ground. "I had that," Vivian said as she tried to catch her breath.

"I can't let you have all the fun." I turned to the Pack, my men were well trained and took advantage of the pain caused by the Alpha's death to escape their guards. Now they held the blades to his men. "Line them up," I said. "He's gone, and those who shared his poisonous beliefs will go with him."

It would be a long night, but this Pack would be purged.

Ch. 49

Meghan's POV

I moved forward to the front seat, grabbing a thin towel and pressing it over my Dad's shoulder. He'd been bitten, badly, and was losing blood. "There's too many," he said as he closed and locked the door, leaning back into the seat. I pressed down with the towel, knowing pressure would help. The shooting stopped, the growls as well, and it was suddenly quiet.

"STAND DOWN," I heard outside.

Dad shivered, his bloody hand reached down and pulled a fresh magazine out of his pocket. He ejected the magazine from his pistol, releasing the slide he handed it to me. "Don't let them take us without a fight," he said to me as his eyes started to close. "Tell Mom I love her."

"Tell her yourself," I said as I moved his hand to his shoulder. "Keep pressure on that." I hid the pistol in my scrub pocket, reaching back to get a combat dressing I ripped it open. Vivian had explained that these were coated with a clotting agent to help stop bleeding; I removed the towel and put this in place. I tied it down while I listened to the man telling Vivian to give up quietly. I took another towel and started cleaning his face, he had some cuts but nothing life-threatening. I checked his right leg, it was broken and swelling, with a bite mark; the wolf must have grabbed it and twisted. I couldn't do anything now, I was trying to stay low and out of sight.

"How do I know you'll let them live if I come with you?" Good question, Doc.

"You don't. I really don't care, Doc, when we drove by I could smell you and the Alpha told me to bring you to him, no matter the cost. Now toss the pistol and come down here before I get upset."

I looked at Vivian as she turned and looked at me, she was looking sad and her face was filled with guilt. I just nodded, 'we'll get through this,' I whispered. I stayed down as she stepped out of the ambulance; sneaking a peek out the driver's door, I saw her being pushed into the car that had stopped in front of us. The car took off, turning out of the lot and speeding down the road towards the Pack entrance. "Hold on," I told my Dad, "I have to check them."

"Be safe, take the gun," he said. I kissed his head before moving through the back, past the unconscious Dagger and to the back. I jumped down, keeping the pistol in front as I checked both sides of the ambulance. I checked Snake first, he had a good pulse and wasn't bleeding badly, so I moved on.

I went to Stain and Scrape next. Stain's neck was broken, his head nearly torn from his shoulders. I moved to Scrape, he wasn't moving and he was in a big puddle of blood, face down. I checked his pulse, not finding any. Rolling him over, there wasn't much left of his neck to speak of. Pushing back the nausea, I went out to where the wolves were. I hadn't seen Urial or Maalik's wolves, but they were both dead, as well as the four other wolves.

I put the Glock back in my pocket and ran back to Snake. He was moaning and starting to move, I rolled him onto his back and his eyes opened. "Vivian..."

"Shhh... she's all right for now."

"Where?"

"They took her."

His eyes got wide and he rolled onto his hands and knees before sitting back down. "Everything is spinning," he said before he threw up.

"You probably have a concussion," I told him. "Can you stand?"

"I think so." I helped him to his feet and we slowly walked to the ambulance. I got him to step up into the back before he stumbled, nearly falling on top of Dagger. "I'm all right," he said.

"No, you're not. Sit down in the chair and buckle up." I closed the back doors then followed him as he sat heavily into the chair, then I helped him buckle up. "Try to stay awake," I said. I handed him a few big gauze pads to hold on his bites, then moved into the front. Dad was barely awake, I grabbed an Ace bandage and wrapped the combat dressing on tight to keep pressure on it. "We've got to get you to the hospital," I said.

"I'll drive," he said as he tried to sit up, but he couldn't do it.

I slid into the driver's seat, pulling the seat all the way forward and starting it up. "Remember how you feared me learning to drive in a few years," I said.

"Don't remind me," he mumbled.

"Well, no time like the present." I put my foot on the brake and put it in drive. When I released the brake we started moving, then we jumped forward when I touched the gas. I may have run over a wolf on the way out, but we did get to the road without incident. Making the hospital ten miles away? That would be fun. I turned onto the empty road and floored it, we were running out of time.

Viper's POV

We watched Scrape drove our wounded away, it was like a gut punch. One moment we were doing great, the next I had badly wounded men. "Can you contact Gabriel and update him," I asked Hezediel. He nodded, then his eyes glazed over. A moment later, he looked back at me. "They are almost to the house," he said. "He is sorry to hear of your wounded, but says you did a good job drawing them away."

I nodded and moved off, checking with my other Club members. The adrenaline crash was coming, it always did. I encouraged them to sit down, focus on their breathing, and stay alert. We spent about twenty minutes this way, just decompressing from the excitement.

I heard a vehicle approaching, it was starting to brake as it approached the turnoff for the Pack. "We expecting anyone," I asked Hezediel.

His eyes glazed over. "They've captured Vivian," he said softly. "Gabriel says to stand aside, if we resist they will kill her."

"FUCK!" I turned and yelled at my guys. "Take positions, stay out of sight and NO SHOOTING! They've got Vivian in that car!"

I ducked behind one of our cars, my pistol holstered, as the car drove by. The werewolves didn't even look at us, they knew we wouldn't do anything, but I could see Vivian in the back and our eyes met for a brief second. She was resigned to her fate, a fate I'd promised to protect her from, and I failed.

As the car drove out of sight, I fell to the ground and started to cry.

Vivian's POV

Gabriel and I were looking over the Pack members, most of whom were between nervous and terrified, when I heard a child scream behind me. I tuned and a young teen girl, thin with curly brown hair and striking green eyes, ran out towards us, tears streaming down her face. She was in agony, and she ran straight to the dead Alpha Stanton. "My mate," she sobbed as she almost fell on top of him.

It was Lisandra, Zephaneil's 13-year old sister, who he had mated as soon as she had her first female cycle. My heart went out to her, I went to her side and put an arm around her. "It will be all right," I whispered.

"You killed him!"

"Yes, I did." I looked up to Gabriel for help, and by the time I noticed her hand it was too late.

"STOP," Gabriel yelled as he jumped for us, but the silver blade had already been driven into my stomach, just below my ribs. I screamed in pain as the silver burned my flesh. He knocked her away, she attacked him next. I didn't pay attention to the fight, he quickly killed her, but it was too late for me. I pulled the knife out, screaming as I did so, and I saw the spray of blood out the open wound. The silver would retard healing, and the wound was deep.

Michael ran to me, pulling off his shirt and pressing it over the wound. I moaned in pain as they laid me down. "Vivian..."

The shirt was already soaked, there would be no stopping this. The only person who could save me was back at the ambulance, and even that was a stretch. "It's all right," I said, spitting the blood out of my mouth. I was weak and cold, it wouldn't be long. "Tell Snake I loved him and I'm sorry. He was my love and my life."

"You're going to be all right, Vivian, just hold on."

I put a bloody hand to his face as Gabriel knelt at my other side. "Take care of my Eve for me. Help her grow strong, tell her about me..."

"We will protect her with our lives," Gabriel vowed.

"I know." I coughed, the blood spraying out. I was cold, so cold. I closed my eyes, the darkness faded into light and I heard a voice in my head. "Mother..."

I ran through the field, my wolf leaping over the grass towards my parents. I was home.

Ch. 50

Viper's POV

"LOAD UP," I yelled as soon as the car carrying Vivian was out of sight. We ran to the remaining cars, turning around and heading back to the main road. "If they took Vivian..."

"We don't know anything yet," Shakes said, the light machine gut muzzle pointing up out of the window. "Let's just get there." I accelerated hard out of the turn, nearing a hundred miles an hour as we flew down the road towards them. We turned into the parking lot, there was one car there that wasn't ours, and no ambulance.

I pulled to a halt, the other cars behind me went to the ends of the lot. Guns and flashlights in hand, we burst out and quickly realized there was nothing here for us. Some of the guys were hunched over Scrape and Stain, I could see their grief already. Hezediel ran around checking the wolves; he identified Urial and Maalik's bodies, and told me the others were Sheridan pack. "What do we do, boss?"

I looked at Crash, he was devastated, Hezediel and Tiny were with him. "Load the wolves, including our two, into that car and have Hezediel drive it back to the Pack entrance gate and wait for direction from Gabriel," I said. "Tiny, load Viking, Stain and Scrape into the back of one of our SUV's, lay a tarp out in the back first. Make sure they are wrapped in a tarp and covered with blankets or something."

"What should I do with them? They can't be found here."

I looked at Shakes. "We need them to die in a car fire or something. Shakes, you follow them, figure out a way to make it look like they crashed then the SUV caught on fire."

"That sucks," Tiny said as he looked at his buddies. "I hate having to do that to them."

"Got a better idea?"

"I don't know, but whatever we do, we better have the same story as the others," Shakes said. "We need to find out where the others are."

Hammer had a flip phone, I pulled mine out and called him. I nervously waited as it rang a few times before an answer, and it wasn't who I expected. "Hello?"

"Meghan? It's Viper. What's going on?"

"I'm kind of busy, I'm driving the ambulance into Sheridan. Dad, Dagger, Snake, they're all hurt bad." I closed my eyes, thanking God they were still alive.

"Meghan, when they ask, say they were attacked by a bear," I told her. "Act hysterical, don't calm down, don't answer other questions and don't lead them back to the lot," I said. "I'll be there soon."

"OK gotta go bye." The call ended.

"Change of plans, we'll keep it simple. Remove all traces of us and leave their bodies where they are. Leave their guns, all the casings around them, and leave one of the SUV's here with the keys in Scrape's pocket. Pick up anything else." I looked up at the sky, it was starting to rain. "Perfect, that will help wash away evidence." It only took us five minutes to cleanse the area, removing the evidence of the fight with supernatural beings that had just taken place here. The parking lot was open, near enough to the woods and the trees. I went into the SUV we were leaving, pulling the bag out with all the fast food wrappers from the trip, ripping it and scattering it on the ground. I grabbed the one from my vehicle and did the same near where the ambulance was.

"Good thinking, boss. We can just say the bear came after the food and they got in the way." Crash put his hand on my shoulder. "Now what?"

"We go after our ambulance and get Meghan back. I will stay with the guys, I want you guys to park a few blocks away from the hospital. We can't exactly explain a 13-year-old driving a fully outfitted ambulance to the hospital with three severely wounded people, so we won't. We'll just get her the hell out of there. I just hope she hasn't said anything to the cops."

We loaded up and pulled out, leaving our dead behind. It was going to be a long night.

Gabriel's POV

I watched the life go out of Vivian's eyes, her end came quickly, and I didn't have a chance to properly say how I felt about her. She was the Blessed One, she cared for my men, putting herself in harm's way to save their lives, and I couldn't save her from a crazed teenage bride now dead beside her.

I shifted into my large wolf, sitting and raising my nose to the heavens, letting out a mournful howl. When I started the next one I was joined by my men, even most of the Sheridan wolves. They had lost a lot tonight; at least two dozen warriors, two Betas and their Alpha pair. When my grief was appeased, I shifted back to human form. "We aren't done yet," I said to the gathered Pack. "Luna has cursed our race with the loss of our females, as punishment for how we have forsaken Her ways and blessings. Chief among these sins against Luna is the practice of forcibly mating a female wolf. Every man who has taken a mate this way, step forward now and receive the quick execution you deserve."

I didn't know what to expect, I couldn't Alpha command them, but a half-dozen men stepped forward anyway and knelt down before me. I nodded to Abaddon and Michael, they and four other men came up behind them. At my signal they grabbed their heads and twisted, breaking them instantly. Their mates screamed in loss as they died; several of them raced forward to their mates, two killed themselves. My heart broke for them, some were not even sixteen yet, and they were already widows, without hope of a true mate in their future.

I wasn't done yet. "Are there any men here who didn't go forward? Point them out." The mates couldn't do it, there wolves wouldn't let them, but that didn't stop family and friends from pushing them forward. Five men were dragged to me, forced to their knees. "You don't have honor, and your death will not be quick or painless. Restrain them." My men came forward, cuffing their hands behind their backs with silver that would prevent them from shifting. "Run," I told them.
I watched as they got up and ran for the woods, the scent of their fear thick in the air. "Where do you burn your dead," I asked one of the Elders. He pointed towards a clearing down the hill near the river. "Take who you need, those who do not seek revenge, and start preparations," I told him. He started to gather people together.

"Now," I told the gathered Pack, "The ones who raped and took away the choices of the shewolves are out there, running for their lives. Bring them to me in pieces, those who want revenge. The rest of you help gather the dead for the burning."

There were howls as about twenty Pack members, joined by Abaddon and a couple more of my men, shifted and took off into the woods. The men hadn't got far, and their howls of pain continued for several minutes before they finally ended. I saw wolves carrying arms, legs, even dragging torsos down to the burning area. "I don't want them burned with those who died honorably," I said.

"We will burn them tomorrow," one of the men said, "With the garbage." He spit on the ground, disgusted by what his Pack had become. "It wasn't always this way, this used to be a good Pack."

"Perhaps it will again," I said. "Speak with the other Elders, come to me with someone who has honor and morals, who would be a good Alpha for you."

He looked shocked. "You aren't going to take over?"

"It's not my destiny. Luna has given us a different task."

I heard a car approaching, Hezediel told me it was him and he was bringing Uriel and Maalik. Michael and I met him as he stopped by the Pack House. Michael reached in and picked up Maalik's wolf while Hezediel picked up Uriel. "They fought with honor," he told me, "But there were too many."

"We will honor their sacrifice," I said. I picked up Vivian, her body limp in my arms as I turned. Tears were falling from my eyes as I as I joined the group going down to the burning area. The pyre had been quickly constructed from the dried stacks of logs of various sizes. It was a rectangular box construction with thick branches laid over the top, the bodies of the dead laid atop them. The men covered most of the pyre, the Luna and four other women who committed suicide after losing mates on the right. The center was for my men and Vivian; we laid them carefully on the pyre, all of us bowing to her before stepping back.

The center of the pyre was stuffed with smaller twigs and branches, and after the Elder said the blessing of the dead, torches lit the kindling. The fire spread quickly, its heat pushing us back as the flames rose thirty feet into the sky. The smell of burning flesh was in my nose as I cried for the dead. Vivian had ended the threat to her daughter, but at the ultimate cost.

We could not fail the Promised One.

Meghan's POV

It was a good thing this town shut down this late at night, because I needed all the room on the road I could get. I couldn't blame all of my bad driving on my lack of training and experience, some of it was because I was scared to death someone was going to die on me before I could get there. The phone call from Viper ended just before I hit town; I saw the blue 'H' sign and managed to stop the ambulance in front of the Emergency Room without hitting anything.

It was the first miracle of the night.

I laid on the horn until the doors open and a few people came out. They opened the back, I heard them yelling for a gurney as I unbuckled my Dad's seatbelt. "Dad?" I slapped his face lightly, trying to get him to wake up. His eyes opened, he looked around. "Can you get up," I asked him.

It didn't matter, the door opened, and a nurse yelled for another gurney. "He's got a bad bite on his shoulder, he's lost a lot of blood," I told her. A man came up and the two of them helped him out and onto the gurney. Only a minute after I stopped, and the ambulance was now empty.

The back doors were closed, I pulled the passenger door closed then got back in the driver's seat and buckled up. I knew we couldn't be caught, we couldn't explain the supplies and the blood, that alone could expose werewolves. I put the ambulance in gear and pulled back out, heading back to the parking area I had come from. They'd know what to do with this rolling hospital.

Ch. 51

Viper's POV

We had almost made it to town when I saw the ambulance coming our way. Locking up the brakes, swerving a little as we slowed, I saw Meghan's face as she recognized us. By the time we had all turned around, she had pulled over at the side of the road. As soon as I stopped behind her, she was jumping down from the cab and running towards me. "Viper!" she cried as she jumped into my arms, tears rolling down her face.

"Oh Meghan," I said as I held her tight. "The guys?"

"At the hospital," she told me as she moved her head from my chest. "They took them out of the ambulance, you said not to say anything, so I just drove out of there before they could ask any questions."

I kissed her head, she had done well and I told her that. "I'm sending you home, kid."

She looked horrified. "NO, Daddy needs me, he's hurt!"

I hugged her again as I motioned for Shakes and Tiny to go to the ambulance. "I know, but you were seen bringing them in. It's too much of a risk to have you visit them. Our story is paper thin, your dad is safest with you back home."

She looked at me, but she could see in my eyes I wasn't going to change my mind. She'd grown up in the club, she knew how things worked, how sometimes you just couldn't risk the others. "Fine," she said as she looked over to Crash.

"Crash will take you in the car, I'll stay here for the guys and make sure they are taken care of," I promised her. "Crash, you guys put some distance from here before you stop. Swap drivers when you can, it's best if you don't get a hotel. If you have to stop and rest, choose wisely," I ordered.

"We will." He gave Meghan a hug and led her to the car. "I'm the lucky one, I get to drive the hero home!"

She bumped hips with him. "Can I drive?"

"Hell no!"

"Oh, come on, it can't be harder than driving the ambulance!" I just laughed a little to myself as they got in the car, still bickering. She was a great kid, but Hammer and Teri's worries were just starting. They were going to have their hands full as she got older. I thanked God she wasn't into boys... yet.

Snake's POV

I woke up as I was being rolled down the hallway. My head felt like there was an iron spike through my eyes, and when I opened them the light was blinding. I moaned in pain as I moved my head to see where I was. "Sir, you've been in an accident, you're at Sheridan Hospital," a female voice said. "I need you to relax, we're taking you to get a scan of your head."

"Viv?" I could barely say her name. "Vivian?"

"I don't know who that is, sir. Just relax, we'll take good care of you." I closed my eyes and drifted back to blackness.

Viper's POV

Ten minutes later I had parked at the hospital and ran into the emergency room. I rushed to the desk, an older lady was there. "Hi, I'm looking for my friends, I think they were brought here? Henry Jenkins, William Hardigan and Dan Worley?"

"We had three people brought here a few minutes ago, but I haven't got their information yet."

"Can I see them?"

"You'll have to wait, sir, they are all being examined right now. Are you next of kin?"

"To William Hardigan, he's my son-in-law," I said. She tapped on the keyboard. "OK, none of them are in the system yet. Take a seat, you'll have to wait."

"I need to speak to the police as well," I said. She didn't even look up, she just dialed 911 and handed me the phone.

"911 dispatch, what is your emergency?"

"I need Sheriff and ambulance, my friends were attacked and killed by a bear," I said.

"A bear? Where are you, sir?"

"I'm at the Sheridan Hospital emergency room, three were brought here. Three of my friends were killed, though. They are at the old Smith Auto Repair lot on County 74," I said.

"Deputies are responding now, sir, please remain at the hospital and one will be by to take your statement," she said before I hung up.

I went back outside, not wanting anyone to overhear the conversations I was about to have. My first call was to Kelly. "Hello?" She sounded dead tired.

"Kelly, it's me."

"It's four in the morning, Viper."

"I know, baby. Sit down..."

"Oh God... No..."

"The attack didn't go as planned," I said. "While we were at the Pack, some of their warriors circled behind. They found Vivian and the others."

"No... noooo..."

"Viking, Scrape and Stain are dead, as well as Uriel and Maalik. Vivian was taken by the Sheridan Pack, I'm waiting to hear back from Gabriel." I heard the phone drop, it hung up. I frantically called her back, she picked up after a few rings. "Baby?"

She was barely understandable through the crying. "The... Snake? Meghan?"

"Snake, Hammer and Dagger were all hurt badly, Meghan is all right. I sent her home with Tiny and Crash, I'm here at the hospital now. I know Meghan got them here alive, but I don't know anything more yet."

"I'm going over to Teri's now. We'll be there as soon as we can be, baby."

"Do you want me to call Teri now?"

"There's nothing she can do, I'll be there in twenty minutes. Call me if you hear anything more."

"Baby?" I waited to make sure she was still there. "Don't let Teri take off. Meghan is going to be home by tonight, and she'll need her Mom there."

"All right. Call me back, I'm not going back to sleep. And Viper?"

"Yes love?"

"Find out about Vivian."

"I will. I love you, Kelly." I hung up, seeing the Sheriff's car pulling into the parking lot, lights on. The Deputy got out of his cruiser and walked toward me. "Deputy," I said quietly.

"Did you call in the attack, sir?"

"I did." We spent the next twenty minutes giving my statement, which basically said I didn't know anything. I told them we were meeting up in that lot to go hiking in the morning, and when I arrived, I found the three dead men. "I figured the rest might be here, and here I am," I said.

"Go inside, sir, I'll be with you shortly." I left him out there as he was talking over the radio to Dispatch; they had found the three dead men in the lot, and the report was it looked like an animal attack.

Hopefully the other guys would be smart enough not to say anything until we had our stories straight.

Gabriel's POV

The flames were burning down when one of the Elders came to see me. "Alpha, there is a matter requiring your attention," he said. "We got a call from the county coroner; he's human, but he has helped us in the past. He said he picked up three bodies from a deserted parking lot, wanted to know what to do with them."

"What to do?"

"Yes, he's been on our payroll for years. This isn't the first time someone showed up with their throat torn out. We can't have our men autopsied, but we do need birth and death certificates, he's how we take care of that human paperwork."

"Lead me back there." On the way back to their Pack House, I called Viper. He picked up after a few rings. "Viper, it's Gabriel, can you talk?"

"Not long, the Deputy Sheriff is right outside."

"We got a report on three bodies out at the lot. What do you want the death certificates to say?"

"Bear attack, it was tragic," Viper said.

"I'll make it animal attack. Viper... I'm sorry. Vivian is dead." I could hear his reaction, it was like he had been gut punched. "She managed to kill Alpha Stanton after she was brought to him, but his widow, Lisandra, she stabbed her."

"Oh... noooooo..."

"I'm so sorry, Viper. She was a good woman." I waited, he didn't say anything for a long time. "You know the bodies are burned, we burned her with the others. I'll add her to the list of death certificates we need the Coroner to sign," I said. "How is Snake?"

"I don't know, I haven't gotten updates on any of them."

"I'm taking my men back to St. Paul," he said. "With the Blessed One gone, we have to focus all our efforts on keeping Eve safe."

"I'll see you there," he said. "I have to get my guys out of here first."

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Viper. Her last words were to make sure we protect her baby."

"Thank you." He hung up, and I walked into the house to the Alpha's office. I didn't know how much they were paying this crooked coroner, but I thanked Luna he was helping us take care of this mess.

Snake's POV

Five Days Later

Kelly came into my room where I was looking out the window, holding the urn with Vivian's ashes in it to my chest. "It's time," she said. I wiped the tear away and she helped me to my feet. I slowly moved over to the wheelchair, sitting down slowly as she helped. "How are the headaches?"

"Not as bad today," I said. I had spent three days in the hospital in Sheridan, I had suffered a nasty head injury and had post-concussion syndrome. It left me with headaches that could be incapacitating at times, dizzy spells, and balance problems. I had been brought back on a bed in the back of the SUV, and spent most of my time in our bedroom, resting or sitting with the lights off.

My Vivian was gone.

Three of my brothers were gone.

Today we were having the funerals, and I didn't know if I'd be able to cope.

She wheeled me out into the hallway to the freight elevator, down to the ground level by the loading dock. She pushed me out to the SUV that was waiting, Viper was there making sure Vivian's motorcycle was secure on the trailer behind us. Her picture was secured between the handlebars, and floral arrangements were on each side. Viper had asked me what I wanted to do with her Harley, and I told her it was Eve's now, for when she was old enough to ride herself.

I got in the back seat, next to the car seats that held Eve and Andrew. Looking back, the tears were flowing. The bodies of Viking, Stain and Scrape were all going to be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, as they were all former Army. We had arranged a joint service at the Fort Snelling Cathedral for the three of them and Vivian.

With Viper driving, Tiny took the lead motorcycle position with Gabriel at his side. We were next, behind us another SUV driven by Teri, her family in the car. Hammer's injuries had been repaired in surgery, they were hopeful for a full recovery of his arm and shoulder function, but it would be spring before he could ride again. Dagger was in the car behind them, along with some friends and family members who weren't riding. As we pulled away from the clubhouse, I could see all the members of the Northwoods Riders and Knights of the Moon falling in to the procession.

All of them except Zephaniel, the man Vivian and Meghan had saved from the gunshot wound. When we got home, we found out that Zephaniel had called his little sister to warn her we were coming, and that they would bring her home. She immediately told her mate that we were coming, as well as how Vivian was going to be bringing an ambulance to the area to care for any wounded. The ambush of our men was no accident, and Gabriel had kicked him out of his Pack then killed him.

The parking lots at Fort Snelling were already full, but a large area up front had been reserved for us. Viper pulled us through a spot, and we waited until all the procession was here. At Tiny's signal, all the engines were cut at once. I opened the door as Viper went around to get my wheelchair, Kelly already coming to pick up Andrew. "Hi Meghan," I said as she appeared at my door.

"Snake, can I take Eve in?"

"Of course, Meghan." I popped the latch on the baby seat and handed a sleeping Eve to her in her carrier. Viper got the wheelchair ready for me, and we led the large group into the crowded church. It was packed, I could see cuts and familiar faces from a dozen or so Metro area clubs. The outpouring of love and support was amazing; these four had affected many people in their lives. I saw some active duty soldiers standing near the front, all had served with the men. I shook many hands and received many condolences as I was wheeled to the front row, where I placed her ashes on a stand underneath a large picture of her. It was one of my favorites, taken when we were in Florida. Her black hair moving in the wind, eyes sparkling, she was so alive in this photo taken as we stopped for dinner following a long ride.

The church went quiet as the doors opened and the pallbearers, a mix of Club members and uniformed military, brought Viking, Stain and Scrape to the front. Viking's mother was loudly sobbing, her husband holding her, while Stain's girlfriend just looked lost. Their caskets were covered with American flags.

The tears kept falling during the service, a combined effort of the Base Chaplain and Crash. I expected to hear some smartass comment from him, but this was a somber occasion he wasn't going to ruin. All too soon the service was over, and the pallbearers were taking the three back out for their final ride. Viper wheeled me forward, I took Vivian's ashes in my hands and we followed them out.

The caskets were loaded, then we went to the cars. We had a police escort for the short drive to the National Cemetery, and the line was almost a half-mile long with everyone that had joined us at the church. We wound through the rows of headstones to where an honor guard was standing by three empty holes in the ground. We stopped, and all of the bikes behind us were routed so we surrounded the big block completely. Tiny led the Last Rev; every bike was revved at full speed for a few seconds, then when his arm dropped every engine was cut at the same time. It was a way to let God know that a Biker was on his way home.

I sat by the graves during the burial service, Vivian's ashes on my lap. When they were all ready, I stood for the Honor Guard firing their 21-gun salute, followed by the bugler playing Taps. The flags were carefully folded and presented to the families present, and then they were lowered into place.

My friends were at rest.

We weren't done yet, though. I had given a lot of thought to what to do with the ashes Gabriel had brought back. They weren't guaranteed to be hers, after all there were a few dozen bodies in that pyre, but he had scooped the ash the next morning from the area she was placed. The rest had been scattered into the Wyoming wind. I thought back to her family, and there was only one place her ashes belonged.

We went back to our vehicles and the procession headed back onto the freeway, joining Highway 52 South to Zumbrota. Her old Pack land had been sold, and was now being developed into single-family housing, but the trail along the river remained open to us. We parked by the side of the road, and did one Last Rev for her. Viper pushed me down the trail, everyone else walking behind us, until we reached the rocky point over the river. I got up, and Viper helped me get up the trail to the top. I waited until everyone was up top. "Dr. Vivian Hardigan was the love of my life, and on this place where she scattered the ashes of her family, she joins them today." I was led to the edge, the wind at my back, I opened the urn and the plastic bag inside. Holding it up to the breeze, the white and gray ash was carried over the river until it was all gone. I dropped to my knees as Viper pulled me to him as I broke down.

If it wasn't for Eve, I would have found a way to go with her.