Ulrich and the others filed out of the van onto the side of the road. Ulrich was still in his human form so that he could talk to the other alpha. He wanted to try and talk things out before they just went in and killed everyone. He paused when he saw Mai readying her guns. The humans couldn't just charge in there with them, what if they shot the wrong wolves in the confusion? Ulrich growled as he made his decision.

"Mai, you stay here with the car." Ulrich told her as she started to protest. He raised his hand to stop her. "I need you safe. Our goal is to get Zack and Conor out of there as quickly and safely as possible. I know you can defend yourself and you will make a fine getaway driver once they are back. Ben, you will go with Tony in case the boys can't make it out on their own. Don't shoot anyone unless Tony attacks them first. Our goal is not to collect the corpses of our enemies, but to extract our pack and get them home. Protect yourselves, protect each other. Try not to kill anyone if you can avoid it." Ulrich told the eager wolves as they shifted on their feet nervously. Since the group was all wolves, except for him and the two humans, they just sort of nodded in agreement.

"So do you have a battle plan?" Mai asked as she pouted by the car. She didn't like it, but she would try to do things his way for now. Ben smiled at her eagerness as she blushed and looked away grumbling. Tony put a paw on her thigh as she pouted at him. He smiled happily up at her and winked making her growl at the happy mutt. Damn wolves. Always getting into her personal business, just based on her scent. Tony scurried away hiding behind Ben as Ulrich chuckled.

"Yes, we have a battle plan. Hass, Marie and Gabby are our most aggressive fighters..." Ulrich paused to frown at his growling brother. "I said aggressive fighters, stupid dandelion. Tyson and Kamron are the most skilled fighters since they have the most experience. Antionette and Alois are our silent stalkers. I will lead the charge with the aggressive and experienced fighters. The stalkers will move around to locate the targets. Once the boys are found, they will signal Tony and Ben to extract them. As soon as they are safe, we get out of there. Every one clear?" Ulrich asked as the wolves nodded and headed into the woods. "Stay safe." Ulrich told Mai as he headed off after them.

"We'll bring our boy's home." Ben told her, not willing to make promises he couldn't keep, but he silently prayed they would be alive. She nodded as she hugged him briefly. The human man who had been a stranger to her less than five hours ago, now knew more about her family than anyone else in the world and he still looked at her like she was just a normal woman trying to find her son.

"Thank you. Please be safe and bring them home." She told him as Ben nodded. He hesitated before he kissed her briefly.

"For luck." He told her with a wink as he followed his son's lover. It felt odd knowing this wolf boy had had sex with his son. Maybe it would be better if he didn't think about it. Mai watched them go before she allowed herself to mentally freak out over this growing attraction for her son's friends father. She climbed into the car and waited for them to hurry back....

Zack held on to Conor as the fighting outside escalated. He hated not being able to see as Conor pulled him around the room. He could make out the blurry outlines that made-up Sabina as she paced along the windows. Well, he assumed they were windows since they were just bright spots in his vision. Conor growled as Sabina turned to hiss at him.

"You think I like any of this?! My father is just a blind idiot!" Sabina told him as Conor frowned.

"Then why do you follow him?" Conor asked as Sabina growled and turned away.

"I ask myself that same question. If didn't exist, then you wouldn't be here in this room, because he wouldn't desire you to be my mate. If I just submitted to death like the pack wants, then the war would be over, and a new leader would take my father's place." Sabina told the window as she watched the pack divide itself and chose sides.

"Then run away with us. We may not be family, but we could easily be your friends." Conor told her. He pulled Zack over to the couch where he sat him down gently before going over to Sabina. She looked at him with her deep blue eyes as he paused. She was enchanting when he wasn't terrified, she was going to kill him or Zack.

"Zack saved my life once before and now you are inviting me to change my life, for better or worse, who knows. Are all humans like you two?" Sabina asked. Conor frowned as he bit his lip looking at Zack.

"No. we're all a little different." He told her softly as she shifted watching him.

"You said before you would willing die for him. I didn't believe you then, but now I do. You're the wolf my father has been looking for and you have been lying so we wouldn't kill your friend. You know we would kill you too, don't you?" Sabina told him as Conor frowned.

"Amos was my father. I am an only child, but if I had a brother like Zack I would consider myself lucky. I don't know anything about this 'wolf' side of me that you keep talking about, but it's clear that I am the one you have been hunting. Zack just made friends with the wrong guy." Conor told her as Zack got to his feet.

"No. wrong time and place maybe, but I will never regret being your friend." Zack told him as he unsteadily made his way over to them. Conor smiled and hugged him, making Zack squeak and turn red. Sabina watched them quietly as Zack pulled on Conor's shirt. "Conor, I can hear Ulrich. Ulrich has come for us." Zack told him in shock as the other two peered out the window at the tall dark haired stranger surrounded by wolves.

"Oh, I like him." Sabina purred as she let her eyes travel over his bare torso.

"Yeah, me too. Its why I am dating him." Conor told her as she glanced at him in doubt.

"Well good for you. He's hot. Think he has any single hot brothers?" She asked as she continued to ogle the mostly naked boy. Conor frowned before he shrugged.

"Maybe, I don't really know." Conor told her as Zack smiled.

"You need to work on you stalking skill's. Ulrich has three older brothers. Two of which are married. His brother Tyson was still in the running for the top ten wealthiest bachelors last I checked." Zack told them. When they didn't say anything, Zack blushed and grumbled. "After you slugged Jasmine, I did a little research and found out that Ulrich had been in your neighborhood and Jasmine had been reward for the information. I just simply connected the dots. Researching local billionaires isn't exactly spy work." Zack told him as Conor smiled at the pouting boy. He grabbed Zack's chin and kissed his cheek making Zack turn several shades darker.

"Oh, god he is so cute!" Sabina declared hugging the small boy. Zack squeaked from the sudden attention making her giggle at him. They paused when someone growled making Sabina turn on her father's mate. The woman who had abducted them stood by the door with two wolves eager for blood at her heels.

"While daddy is busy with the young alpha, why don't we pick up where we left off?" She growled as she shifted forms. Sabina shoved Zack out of the way as Delilah crashed into her, sinking her fangs into her arm. Sabina screamed as she pulled away shifting into her own black form. Conor grabbed Zack lifting him to his feet and pulling him away from the fight. He growled when he noticed the two other wolves coming towards them with fangs visible. Conor pulled Zack with him as he put himself between the attacking wolves and helpless boy. Well this sucked, Conor thought as they launched themselves at him. Zack stiffened confused as he turned his head to the side.

"Dad?" He wondered as a gun shot went off and a black and white wolf crashed into the wolf that hadn't been shot dead mid attack....

Ben sat crouched in the bushes watching the little brown wolf circle the cabin. Tony was listening to the other wolves around them as Ulrich spoke with the other alpha. From the sounds of thing's, negotiations were splitting into three main groups. Ulrich, old alpha, and the rebels tired of said old alphas rule. Tony sighed and shifted back into his human form to stretch. His wolf had many senses, but the human was a better form for others.

"What is it?" Ben asked as Tony watched Alois. The little brown wolf had found away in, but it was going to be tricky.

"Alois found us a way in. It's going to be a little tricky though and you will have to be careful because for a moment you will be vulnerable. He is going to scout out a bit more and let us know when it is safe." Tony told him as Ben nodded. Tony grumbled something in German as he ran his hand through his hair, keeping his eyes on Alois.

"Yeah, that's not exactly something a father wants to learn about his son. His personal life should be just that." Ben told him keeping his eyes on the wandering wolves at the edge of the cabin. Tony blushed as he glanced at him making Ben laugh softly. "I can understand German just fine. Speaking it is another thing. It was how I won over my beautiful Caroline while she was going to school. I just don't always let Zack know I know. Give him his small rebellions where I can." Ben told him as Tony blushed and nodded embarrassed. Well that was just great. Ben knew all about him and Zack at the movies earlier that day. Seemed so long ago now.

"I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but I do love your son. Wolfs by nature are more loyal and true to their chosen partners. It is why we hardly date and never get physical unless we are serious about them. I am very serious about Zack." Tony told him trying to keep the heat out of his cheeks. Ben smiled as he ruffled the boy's hair.

"I know. I knew when you reacted to his disappearance. He's lucky to have someone like you in his life." Ben told him as Tony smiled happily.

"Now you can focus on Mai. I will take care of Zack." Tony told him with a devilish smile. Ben blushed as the boy shifted back into a wolf shaking out his speckled fur. He led the way to the cabin with Ben close behind. Alois stood watch as Tony squeezed through the hole first. He waited quietly as Ben worked his way in. Someone screamed and Ben swore under his breath as he made it inside drawing his gun. The two of them entered the main living room from the small bathroom as two wolves leapt to attack Conor and Zack. Tony charged across the room as Ben shot one of the wolves in the eye. Tony crashed into the other wolf, getting a mouthful of matted brown fur. Tony knew Ulrich said no killing, but...

"Tony!" Ben bit out sharply as Tony froze. He sat starring down at the limp animal beneath him covered in blood as he began to panic. Killing rabbits and deer was one thing, killing a wolf was another. He couldn't remember causing so much damage and quickly backed away from them only to be stopped by human hands. Ben grabbed his muzzle forcing him to look up at him. He frowned at him before he nodded and rubbed his head. "It's okay. You're okay." Ben told him as Tony calmed down. He wasn't a fighter and even the fights he had gotten into, he had always lost. The moment those wolves had charged at Zack he had lost himself to rage. Ben continued to pet him as he watched the fight on the other side of the room. The black wolf was losing as the grey wolf above her quickly overpowered her.

"Sabina!" Conor called out as Zack held him concerned. He seemed even more lost and confused since his father had shown up. Was Tony here too since his father called his name? Where? Was he working with his dad? Ben glanced back at him as Conor explained. "The black wolf is our friend. She protected Zack." Conor told them trying to figure out why the speckled wolf answered to Tony. Ah shit, Conor grumbled, no fucking way. Not him too. The wolf glanced at him and then Zack before snorting and going to join the other fight. Ben stood waiting before going back to join the other boys.

"Are you two alright?" Ben asked as he gently touched his son's face. Zack threw himself into his father's arms as Ben held him closely. Conor nodded keeping his eyes on the fight. "I heard you had an interesting day today. Your boyfriend seems nice." Ben told his son as Zack blushed brightly. Ben chuckled as he shuffled in his pocket pulling out the pair of glasses. He put them in Zack's hand as the boy quickly put them on his face seeing the cabin for the first time. It was worse than he thought. More run down. Three wolves struggled in the corner as they tried to figure out who the enemy was. Both wolves were attacking Tony and each other, while Tony struggled to only attack the grey wolf and ignore the black one that bit his shoulder. Tony backed out of the fight to glance back at the others. Blood stained his coat and Ben began to worry over him as he held the gun unsurely. Tony snorted before turning back to the fight. He needed to fight it his way.

Tony rushed in quickly, changing as he went. The grey wolf stumbled as she missed the speckled wolf she had been aiming for, not expecting the toned blond boy. He twirled over her head, dodging out of the way. In his human form, he felt he had more control as he danced and weaved around them. The black wolf paused to look at him as he hit the grey wolf hard enough in the side of the head to knock her unconscious. One kill was enough for him. He searched the grey wolf quickly as the black one lunged for her. Tony quickly rolled using his legs to knock her off her feet. He twisted on his knees, elbowing her in the side to give her short-term paralysis. Sabina fell to the floor coughing hard at the stomach spasms he had given her.

"Tony!" Ben called as he threw him his belt. Tony caught it out of the air and tied up the grey wolf so she wouldn't be able to hurt them once she regained consciousness. The black wolf shifted and Tony turned to look at the beautiful creature, before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Tony sat startled, biting her lips as he shoved her away from him. She yipped in pain as she grabbed her mouth.

"Why are you such a jerk?!" She asked as he growled at her.

"You just assaulted me, damn whore." Tony told her as she growled and tried to hit him. Ben caught her wrist making her freeze and glare at him.

"Human." She growled in a way that made it sound like an insult. Tony got to his feet grabbing her by the throat and shoving her against the wall. They growled at each other as she struggled before he released her. She smiled at him as she chuckled softly. "Oh, I like you. Why don't you become my mate?"

"Be matted to a feral whore of ill breeding? Tempting, but I think I can do better." Tony told her as she pouted at him.

"You are one of those kinds. The kind that tend to the human side more than their wolf side. Your nothing more than a caged animal. Trying to live among the humans. Pathetic." She told him as she snorted making Tony fold his arms across his chest. He frowned at her for a moment before he slammed the wall on either side of her.

"You may fool the rest of your so-called pack, but I am the master at the art of acting and I call your bluff. You have nothing against the humans, two have saved your life in the last day from what I hear." Tony told her pointing at Ben and Zack. "Now you may not like humans because they are dangerous to us, but I like them just fine and I will not let you insult or cause them harm." Tony growled softly. She growled back before she paused wrinkling her nose. She stuck her head into his neck, ignoring his warning growl as she inhaled deeply. She pulled away staring at him with wide eyes.

"You?! You're the one who tainted my Zack?" She asked as Tony threw her into the floor, ignoring the others in the room. She squeaked under him as he fought the urge to tare her to pieces.

"Zack is mine. Lay claim to him again and it will be said using your last breath." Tony growled letting his wolf show through. She quieted and nodded, submitting to him without a fight. He released her getting to his feet slowly.

"If your pack finds out about the two of you, they'll kill you both. Our kind has no room for wolves like you." She told him softly as Tony scoffed.

"Think what you will. My alpha accepts me as I am." Tony told her as she stared at him stunned. "We need to go." Tony told Ben as he nodded. Tony glanced at Zack briefly before turning into a wolf so he wouldn't have to talk to him. He didn't want Zack to know he was a wolf. What if he thought he was a monster? What if he left him? Tony tried to push those thoughts aside as he made his way back out through the crack in the wall of the bathroom. He stood guard as Alois waited quietly in the woods a few yards away. Zack and Conor made their way out as Sabina and Ben followed them. she was still unsure about leaving her pack, but even a wolf that didn't much care for her had shown her more kindness than her own pack had in her entire life. She shifted into her pitch-black wolf form making Tony pause. It was unusual for a wolf half to resemble their human half so closely, and he had only ever seen Ulrich's wolf keep the same eye color. She stood glaring at him before she licked his nose making him growl at her laughing face. Damn whore. Someone touched his back and he paused to glance up at Zack as he stared down at him. Zack seemed nervous as Tony watched him with his yellow eyes quietly. He sighed before he moved forward leading the group towards Alois. Ben took up the rear as he followed the two boys. Sabina walked beside him making Ben frown down at this wild creature. They cleared the cabin when Tony came to an abrupt halt. Sabina sat alert too as Zack grabbed Conor's hand.

"Someone has a gun; I think they are going to shoot Ulrich or Kalmar." Zack told him with his eyes closed. Alois whined as Tony ran across the field quickly. He was the fastest and now was the time for speed. Zack watched him go with worry and awe before the gun went off and Tony fell, lifeless at Ulrich's feet. "Tony!" Zack screamed as his father caught him and held him in place. The fight changed as Ulrich stared at the wolf at his feet and the wolves launched themselves into a fighting frenzy.

"We have to get out of here." Sabina told them, gently pushing on Ben. Zack struggled against him as he tried to go to his fallen lover. Alois growled as he shifted forms.

"She is right. This is a danger zone for humans." Alois told them as Conor growled. Someone had tried to kill his Ulrich and succeed in causing Tony and Zack harm. He was going to make them pay. He stripped out of his shirt as the memories of his father filled him and he changed into his other half. It had been so long and yet the whole thing felt so natural as he raced toward his mate on his four furry feet. Alois sat swearing at the grey wolf that had been Conor as Sabina struggled with Ben and Zack. Finally, she grabbed Zack's glasses forcing him to pause as he lost sight of his fallen black and white wolf.

"Humans do not listen to reason. He will die like his lover if he stays here. He must leave." She told Ben hoping to encourage him to move. Ben paused as he looked at his son before pulling him into his arms.

"She is right, you need to go. I can't leave yet. There is a chance Tony is still alive, it didn't look like the bullet had a straight path. I must go and check, but I can't if I know you are in danger. You must go with them where it is safe. I promise I will do what I can for the others." Ben told him as Zack grabbed his father's shirt.

"But what if you don't come back either? Dad..." Zack started as someone lifted him into the air. He recognized the feel of Sabina's hold and growled when she carried him away into the woods. "Wait! Dad!" Zack yelled worried he might never see his father again, that that might have been the last time he heard his voice. Sabina carried the upset boy through the woods as she followed the little brown wolf. They paused when they ran into a group of wolves she didn't recognize. Alois backed up as she set Zack down and shifted, going to protect the submissive and the human. The large tan wolf stared down at her as she growled warningly. Alois stood beside her, licking her face to let her know they were allies. Damien licked Alois's muzzle as he moved on by him, ignoring Sabina as he led the rest of the pack to join the others. Ulrich's family had come to lend their support as well as the rest of their pack. Alois's older sister paused to kiss his face worriedly before hurrying after their father who followed his alpha. Zack listened to the activity around them before Sabina picked him up again. He was getting tired of being carried around by her.

"We are almost there." Sabina told him softly as he growled at her. They left the forest to find a minivan waiting for them. Sabina paused as a woman got out of the car. "You." She mumbled as Mai paused frowning at the dark-skinned young woman. Alois shifted forms and opened the side door.

"Where is everyone else?" Mai asked him as Sabina set Zack down and backed away. Alois flinched as he looked at her worried face.

"Someone tried to shoot Ulrich and Tony took the bullet. Conor changed like you said he could and rushed to Ulrich's side. Ben stayed behind to try and help Tony and Conor." Alois told her as he grabbed some food and water for Zack.

"So what? They expect us to leave without them? Over my dead body." Mai growled. As she looked at the stressed boy on the ground. Sabina handed him his glasses as he got to his feet angrily.

"I could have stayed and helped! Everyone keeps thinking I need to be protected and it sucks because they keep getting hurt." Zack growled as he took the food angrily from Alois and threw it into the woods. Alois frowned as he watched him. He knew the feeling. He knew why Ulrich had picked him to be the guide and it wasn't because Alois was good at it. Everyone protected the submissive, but who would protect them, the dominate wolves? He paused when he heard a gun being loaded and cocked.

"Right then. You know how to use one of these?" Mai asked Zack as he stared at her. He nodded slowly as she handed him the gun. His father had taken him shooting a lot when he was younger. "The way I see it, those idiots think they can just count us out of the fight because they misjudge us. I am going in to get my son and kick your fathers sorry ass for being a god damn idiot. You want to come?" She asked Zack as he nodded and wiped his face on his sleeve. Hell, yes he wanted to come.

"Wait your supposed to stay here and stay..." Alois started as Mai turned on him.

"Safe? That's another way of saying let the big boys handle it. Why don't we show them how the little guys do it for a change?" Mai asked him as Alois paused. She looked at him as he frowned. He had orders, they couldn't be ignored so easily. "Are you really okay with letting Gabriella fight while you sit in the van safe and sound?" Mai asked as Alois growled. That was the only motivation he needed.

"Hell, no." Alois told her as he shifted back into his wolf form ready to go. Sabina watched them as she shook her head.

"Then let's go show them how we fight. Besides, no offense Zack, but against these wolves I think I am more suited than your father to fight this battle. I know them better than anyone else. Kalmar may be the alpha, but Delilah is the one to look out for. That bitch lost her fucking mind the day Kalmar betrayed her, though you didn't turn out so bad." Mai told Sabina as the girl pouted.

"You never change. It's no surprise he turned out to be a lot like you." Sabina told her with a small smile. She shifted into her wolf form ready to fight alongside them. She still had some unfinished pack business to attend to. Mai grunted at the small troupe and pulled Zack into a hug.

"For luck." she told him as she kissed his forehead. She patted his shoulder as he nodded and they headed back into the woods as the sun began to set, determined to get their pack home safe and sound by morning.