Fenrir Greyback sat up as his men entered the room he was presiding over, a grin spreading across his face as he saw what - or, rather, who - they had clutched between them. Greyback sat up as Ellie Lyson fought against their grip. She nearly wrenched free, but Greyback made a lazy gesture with his wand and the magical bindings flew about her, tighter and less comfortable than strictly necessary.

Greyback held out his arms for the baby, and Ed stepped forward and handed the child to him. "It took you long enough," he growled as he lifted the child from Ed's hands. Greyback smiled at the little girl, his fingers stroking the gentle wisps of her hair. "Welcome back, Mrs. Lyson," Greyback said, a creeping sinister edge sparked along the syllables of his words. His eyes flashed menacingly to Ed, expectant, "And where, do tell, is Mr. Lyson?"

"Got away," murmured Ed. "But he's as sure as in the bag with these two innit' 'e???" His tone was hopeful.

Greyback growled lowly and Ed flushed, diverting his eyes.

Ellie pleaded, "Let us go."

Greyback laughed and shook his head, "I've put in a considerable effort to find you, I will certainly not be letting you go, dear Mrs. Lyson... You see, you are valuable to me. Your husband most especially, though it appears he was not captured." He shot a glower at the cluster of his men, who quickly, nervously cowered. "However, you and your daughter are certain to draw him in."

Ellie's breath caught in her throat as Greyback practically purred as his hands moved across the baby's scalp once more.

"Please don't hurt her," Ellie said.

Greyback smiled, "I won't.. You know how I love the children." He smiled, adding, "But I won'g hurt her - as long as your husband complies and returns in a timely manner. It would be a shame if something were to mar the child... she is so young, and perfect, isn't she? Like a sweet little doll... so breakable."

Ellie's eyes were brimming with horrified tears as she struggled against the bonds holding her, pleading quietly, but Greyback smiled and shook his head at her. "Calm down," he said, his tone changing to a command, like instructing a dog. Ellie's stilled and Greyback smiled. "Good to see you still obey your Alpha." He looked at the baby. "We shall hope your dada does as well, shan't we!" His eyes twinkled and he snapped his teeth playfully at her.

The Underhill house was quiet in the clearing of the woods. Aside from the doors that has been busted in, one might not have known it was anything other than completely peaceful. Just the same, Underhill had elected to bring the children in to London to see to their safety.

Remus stared into the dark, waiting... smelling. The stench of Greyback and his men was strong on the air and it turned Remus's stomach. There was a coppery, dirty sort of scent that he equated with Greyback exclusively. Spencer Stewart stood beside him, staring between Carl Lyson and Remus Lupin as Carl spoke, voice trembling with nervousness. "They came 'round through these trees here and captured Ellie just down this way..." he walked across the lawn, "Took her back to the pack-house, I reckon."

Remus's arms were crossed, hugging over his torso as he stared at the empty yard and sinister tree-line.

"It was definitely this - this Greyback fellow?" Spencer shivered.

Remus and Carl both replied in unison, "Yes."

Spencer nodded. "So long as we're certain, then."

"The scent of an Alpha lingers in the blood of those in his pack," Carl explained. "The werewolf venom that turned them will keep for decades. Or until they've been brought into a new pack." Carl glanced at Remus, then turned to Spencer. "That is why you have a different smell than I do. You're one of Remus's."

Remus's face dipped into a grimace.

"I didn't notice," Spencer admitted.

"You're new," Carl replied gently. "You've got a lot to learn yet. But you will."

Spencer nodded nervously.

"How does the scent change if its in the blood?" Spencer asked.

"Magic?" Carl whispered.

Both sets

Remus glanced around the bushes as the other two spoke, then bent down, finding a small stuffed doll. He plucked it from the ground and looked it over before he held it out to Carl. Carl's face softened at the sight of it. Reaching for the doll from Remus's grasp, he held it to his broad chest protectively.

"Where would they have taken them?" Remus asked.

"The pack house, most like," Carl replied.

Remus hesitated, "How many werewolves?"

Carl squeezed his fingers around the doll. "A - a couple hundred, likely, all total..."

Spencer's eyes went wide.

"And... how many are loyal to Greyback of them? How many were Ned's?"

"Most of the werewolves at the pack house were determined to pledge ourselves to Ned," Carl said, "But they are all actively Greyback's."

Remus sighed.

"But it doesn't matter - it doesn't matter how many there are, Remus, you're challenging him. The pack can't do anything once you invoke the challenge. Not even to protect him. Nothing else about the situation matters except that you win against Greyback one to one; once you've won, it doesn't matter how many are loyal to Greyback as they'll be loyal, then, to you."

Remus stood quiet for a moment, then asked, "And what if I don't defeat him?"

Carl shook his head, "You will."

"But if I can't?"

"Remus - Ned believed in you enough to leave everything to you. I believe in you enough to risk everything to come to find you - enough to trust the lives of my wife and my baby girl to this... my life, my boy's life. The others in Ned's pack... we've been waiting for you, waiting for the one tiny shard of hope we've had left to believe in."

"I know I'm new to this and - and haven't got much choice, but I believe in you, too," Spencer piped up.

Carl nodded at Spencer, then looked back to Remus squarely. "It's time for you to believe in yourself."

The silence of the night fell over them, the noises of the woods creeping and shifting. The moon glowed through leaves, so close to full luminosity that the light almost burned on Remus's skin.

Wrapping his mind about the idea of someone believing in him was so hard - so hard to comprehend that anyone could believe in a monster with as much hope and pleading that now filled Carl's eyes. Even Spencer's stared at him with so much sincerity... they reminded him of Sirius's, in a way, the amount of emotion captured there.

Sirius - the man who believed in Remus more than anyone else ever had or ever would. Enough to do so much for Remus, to become an animagus and promise his entire life to Remus on a beach in Costa Rica. The other Marauders, too, and he pictured James and Lily, pictured the love and support they both represented in his life. And Peter, too.

Then of course there was Dumbledore, who had been the one to initially tell him about the possibility of helping the pack, who had been the one to start this whole thing. Who had once come and sought him out and gave him the chance that no one else had ever believed possible.

All these people who he loved and respected believed in him.

The words of Ned's letter swam before his mind's eye, the messy scrawl of his brother's handwriting so personal and raw. He could still feel the heavy, comforting presence of Ned Veigler everyday as clearly as he'd felt it sitting in the library at Fallengunder, knowing not far away Ned was there, somewhere in the room.

"Alright," Remus whispered. He drew a deep breath. "Where is the packhouse?"

The city of Blackburn lay near as silent as the woods, painted blueish lavender in the moonlight. The station was empty, their footsteps echoing as they walked 'round from the side of the building from the closest point that Carl could speak of to tell Remus where they needed to go. Remus had disapparated them there, first with Spencer and then with Carl, and now Carl walked across the checkered brick courtyard of the railway station to the directory that bore the map of Blackburn area.

You are here, a drawn arrow pointed in the middle of the board, the illustrated train station small compared to the area the map displayed, roads going every-which way. Carl's hand shook but he forced himself to point to the spot on the map.

They took the first bus leaving the station.

Remus didn't want to disapparate them so close to the packhouse - afraid for Spencer to be a lone there at the station or at the house for even a moment. The fact that he smelled different was more and more apparent the closer they got to the house. Remus wondered whether he ought to have left Spencer behind, back at home - Sirius and the lads knew what to do with a werewolf on the full moon, after all - but some deep instinct in the wolfish side of him wanted Spencer near by to him and felt ferociously jealous at the idea of anyone, even Sirius, being nearer to Spencer than he was.

The sun was up before they ambled up to the tower, the vendors already popping awnings over their tents, a cloud of school children listening to the stern words of their teacher as she stood before them. Carl's fist balled with nerves as he led them around the tower, through a door, and into dimly lit halls lined with paintings and artifacts marked by tiny placards.

The smell of Greyback clung everywhere, burning Remus's nose. He gritted his teeth. It was coppery and tangy, like bloody meat.

They walked through the museum area of the tower building until they'd reached a portrait on the wall in a library. The man in the portrait slept, but Carl cleared his throat - "Sir Antony. Sir Antony!"

Spencer gasped in surprise when the portrait moved, stirring awake.

"What do you want so early in the morning?" The Portrait demanded, utterly annoyed. "A man needs his rest!"

"Even a painted one?" Spencer asked. He was curious only but the portrait looked at him with contempt and huffed.

"We need passage through," Carl answered.

Antony eyed Carl. "He's going to be quite pleased to see you."

Carl nodded, "He will at first, perhaps."

Sir Antony considered this reply, then looked at Remus and Spender. "And who are these?" he asked, eyes roving over them over.

"The new Alpha of Fallengunder," Carl replied, "And his Second." Spencer looked at Carl in surprise of the title, but Remus manager to keep his chin steady as he gazed at Sir Antony.

Sir Antony looked at Remus with renewed interest. "Oh really?"

Carl nodded. "He has come to speak to Greyback."

Sir Antony raised an eyebrow as he looked Remus over, then back to Carl. "You've already reallocated your allegiance? Interesting. Your blood sings of Greyback."

"My allegiance has always been to Ned Viegler and his heir, whatever my blood says."

Sir Antony smirked, but he swung open, revealing a dark staircase. "Good luck," his voice was ominous.

A muggle torch sat on a shelf, and Carl took it and lit it up. Remus illuminated his wand as well, and Spencer shuffled closer as they moved slowly down the staircase, Remus wincing each step as the weight landed fresh on his pained knees. When they reached the last step, the staircase came to a dead end at a door.

Carl came to a stop.

The three stood there a long moment, and Carl turned to Remus. Spencer stood behind Remus, glancing around, a fearful expression on his face that reminded Carl of Storm - a child hiding behind his father's legs and peering out.

"He is through here," Remus said. It wasn't a question, just a certainty.

Carl nodded.

Remus drew a deep breath, and he stepped up to the door ahead of Carl. His heart pounded furiously in his chest. He lay a hand against the door but could not bring himself to push it open.

Carl murmured, "I understand your hesitation. This is a huge undertaking." He paused - then, "But we need you. I need you. My family needs you. Every werewolf here needs you, Remus."

Remus's jaw set in determination. He nodded, then shoved open the door.

There was an audible element of surprise as he pushed it open as every person in the room turned to look at the door, at the three figures that entered and crossed the room.

Remus felt his nerves fraying as he beheld the number of people in the hall they'd come into. They lay clustered about on the floor on blankets amd low seats, made small compared to the ornateness of the small plinth at the front of the room where, sprawled over a small couch, sat Fenrir Greyback.

Carl stiffened to see his daughter on Greyback's knee, his fingers petting her head as though she were a pet. At his feet, Ellie was held under a binding spell, her eyes full of tears, trembling from cold and clad only in her thin nightgown.

Greyback grinned as he watched them cross the hall, carefully stepping over the werewolves clustered about the floor.

"Remus Lupin?" Greyback chuckled, "Is that you?"

Remus came to a stop at the edge of the plinth. Every eye in the room was on him.

"To what do I owe this amusement?" Greyback asked, grinning.

Remus said, voice level, "You, Greyback, have falsely taken the title of Alpha of this pack - unmerited and with dishonor. You're a cruel, unfit alpha to these people... and I am... I am here to challenge you as the heir of Theodore Veigler, and as the true Alpha of Fallengunder."

Alpha of Fallengunder.

Alpha of Fallengunder.

The words echoed over and over in Remus Lupin's mind. The hall completely silent, the people all looking on in shock and fear.

"Some mistake must have been made," Fenrir said quietly, sitting up. "Surely you are running a comedy show round here, Lupin." He motioned and one of his men took the baby from him. He leaned forward as he grinned at Remus.

"I am not joking, Greyback," Remus replied, determination strong in his tone. "You have been a blight in my life, ever since I was a child. Yet I have overcome you. I have stood up to you, freed myself from the bonds of your control, a lone wolf who has chosen his family by love and not corruption and the ties of blood. You act as though you are not afraid to see me here, but in truth this day is one you have long dreaded.. is it not?"

Greyback's face did not falter, but his eyes did.

Remus stared into them, cold and hard and unyielding. "And you should be very, very afraid, Greyback because I challenge you - and we both know that I am going to win."

The truth shivered in Greyback's eyes for a moment - then they, too, hardened with determination.

"If it is a challenge you wish for, it's a challenge you shall have," he murmured, and he leaned back in his chair, "But such a challenge can only be enacted on the night of the full moon, in our wolf forms... and so, until then..."

The incarcerous hit Remus hard, the spell slicing against his wrists, pulling his shoulders backward so hard the joints cracked loudly and he was lifted up from the ground as his ankles and knees were bound as well.

"...we will see to it that you are quite... comfortable," mocked Greyback, and he smiled.