If it's getting harder to face every day,
Don't let it show, don't let it show.
Though it's getting harder to take what they say,
Just let it go, just let it go...
And if it hurts when they mention my name,
Say you don't know me...
And if it helps when they say I'm to blame,
Say you don't owe me...
Even if it's taking the easy way out,
Keep it inside of you.
Don't give in.
Don't tell them anything.
Don't let it,
Don't let it show.
-Alan Parsons Project, "Don't Let It Show"
Five in the morning, and the entire Pack was assembled out in front of the main house as they waited for the FBI team to arrive. "We WILL cooperate," thundered Robert. "Do not resist and do not say anything. Use the pack bond for any communications while they are here." He shifted his voice, turning to the Alpha command. "NO ONE will provide any information or answer any questions other than their name and age without clearing it with an Alpha first. If you are arrested, we work through the human system. Keep quiet and wait for our lawyer. Understood?"
There was a chorus of "Yes Alpha!"
He then pulled Linda to the side. "Linda, I know this will be tough, but I need you to be strong for me. Call your station, let them know the FBI is arresting you and you don't know why. We need some public pressure, if this is related to Enrique we have to keep them from keeping the whole thing quiet in the name of national security. Have them send a cameraman to our Pack border to get video of them taking you out."
"I understand. I just hope I can handle this."
"You are stronger than you think, Linda. Make sure they understand you are pregnant, I will make sure you get medical care in the meantime. We will arrange a lawyer soon and get you bailed out. Be confident and defiant, even when you don't think you are." He gave her a hug as the cars approached, she was holding on to Andy's hand with a death grip. The line of black SUV's and Sherriff's Department cars rolled into the parking lot and dozens of agents poured out. Most headed for the Pack house, while the rest surrounded the Pack. Their leader, a man in his fifties with short gray hair, strode confidently to where Robert was standing in front of his people.
"Special Agent in Charge Henry Warren, FBI. I have a warrant for a search of the premises." He handed the paper to Robert and he glanced through it. They could take papers, computers, or evidence related to [redacted]. It was a National Security warrant under the Homeland Security Act.
"Alpha Robert Hastings. Why is the search warrant redacted?"
"National security, I can't stay. You need to stay out of our way and let us work, or we'll arrest you for obstruction. Are all Pack members here?"
"Yes, with a few exceptions. We have sentries stationed at each road entering the territory, there are six of them. I also have a nurse and a patient in the pack hospital." Agent Warren walked off then motioned to an agent to come over. "Have our men pick up the sentries and bring them here. Send a team to bring the patient from the hospital out as well." He ran off and grabbed some men.
"AGENT WARREN, that patient is on full bedrest, she CANNOT be moved."
"I need everyone here, that means everyone. I have medics along, they will ensure nothing happens." His orders were clear, he was to get what they needed and fast. His personal beliefs were that these wolves had been coddled too much since the war. He just didn't trust them, and he wasn't going to have any loose ones about. They were too dangerous. It was time that they learned their place. The men had been briefed and equipped on what to do in order to take down a Werewolf; their guns were loaded with wolfsbane tipped silver bullets, and each carried an autoinjector with a heavy dose of sedative. They had been issued special stun guns for non-lethal force, which had been optimized for use against them. Finally, each member of his team involved with security was wearing full body armor. No one wanted to be scratched if things got rough.
Wendy was standing at the bedside checking the monitors when she heard the men rushing in. She stood aside until one of them went to disconnect the machines from the sleeping Renee. "Don't do that, she is under observation."
The man didn't even look at her, another agent brought a wheelchair in and the machines started to alarm as they were disconnected. Renee woke up when they grabbed her arm, she didn't understand what was going on as she had slept through the morning excitement. Pulling back her arm, she punched the agent in the throat and all hell broke loose.
The four agents moved to immobilize her, leaving Wendy alone. She immediately shifted to protect her Alpha, and let out a blood-curdling howl that drew attention to her. One of the agents drew his sidearm as she approached. She knew enough to stop, leaving them in a standoff. Meanwhile, Renee stopped struggling as she felt a pain in her stomach again.
The fear and pain from his mate over the bond sent Robert over the edge. With a furious growl he tossed away the agents on each side like they weighed nothing, then he shifted and ran for the hospital. He didn't make it. Three agents got their stun guns on him, freezing his muscles and causing him to collapse to the ground in agony. He was quickly muzzled and bound as the rest of the pack looked on, their last order had been to cooperate, but they were itching for battle.
"ENOUGH!" Agent Warren roared over the radios. "Report in."
"Sir, we have a situation here. We have one wolf threatening us and one in human form in bed who resisted."
"OK, I don't know who you are down there, but we don't want to fight you. Shift back to human form and let us do our jobs so no one gets hurt." Renee looked at Wendy across the room and told her to shift back. She then linked with Robert to calm him down, but he didn't respond as the Taser jolts had left him unconscious. Expanding it to the Pack bond, she directed everyone to sit and cooperate.
Wendy was quickly handcuffed and taken from the room, while the other three surrounded Renee. "Get your supervisor in here," she said. Her command voice was unmistakable, and it wasn't long before Agent in Charge Warren was standing in front of them. "My nurse informed your people that I could not be moved, and yet they tried to. Any reason why you would try to move a woman on medically ordered bedrest out of her room when she has twins at risk?"
Henry pinched the bridge of his nose, this had gone from bad to worse. If he had known the patient was none other than Renee Hastings, he would have proceeded differently. No wonder Robert lost his shit back there. He looked at his men and motioned for them to leave. "My apologies, Alpha Hastings. We know you were not involved in what we are investigating as you were kidnapped during that time. We will leave you here, and I will send the Doctor in immediately." He was already calculating how to survive the shit storm that was coming.
"Not good enough. Release my nurse and get her back here. She was only trying to protect me, and she did nothing except growl at them. She saved you a ton of trouble, if I lose my babies because of your high handed tactics there will be hell to pay." She didn't even have to sit up to turn him white as a sheet, and she was trying not to move so as not to do any more damage.
"I'll take care of that right now." He left and a few moments later Wendy returned, a little shaken up but all right. She went right back to work, getting the monitors hooked up again and checking to make sure the babies were not under distress. Her husband walked in a few moments later and completed an exam, pronouncing her to be all right and reinforcing the direction to remain in bed and keep her blood pressure down.
He was just about done when there was a commotion in the hallway. Doc stepped out to see an FBI agent strapped to a gurney and being held down by four men. Agent-in-Charge Warren gestured to him. "Forced turn, we don't have time to get her to the hospital. I need your help."
"Any treatment so far?"
"We hit her with a high dose of sedative, but as you can see it hasn't taken her down yet." An agent showed him the packaging for the autoinjector, the dosage was enough. Going to a cabinet, he pulled out leather restraints and passed them out. Working together, they had her immobilized with a mouth guard in place a few minutes later. He went to a drawer and pulled out some heavy duty shears. "I need to cut away the body armor and clothing to treat her. Everyone out."
"Sorry, Doc, I can't leave my agent alone."
"Then send in a female agent." He nodded and left, soon to be replaced by a young woman in a gray pantsuit and badge who introduced herself as Tammy Rogers. Terry was still working on the body armor, so he linked Wendy to come in. "What is the patient's name?"
"Melody Olsen. Is she going to be all right?"
"We'll see. Right now the most important thing is to calm her down and help her through the change. The more she fights it the worse it will be. Are you two friends?" She nodded. "Good, then get up there by her head and talk to her. She can hear you, even if she doesn't respond." It took a few more minutes to get all the gear off her, and by that time the sedative had taken over so she stopped struggling. There was no ring on her finger. "Is there a significant other?" The agent shook her head no. "Does she have any friends or family? It would help when she comes out of it for there to be someone she trusts with her."
"No... not that I know of. I'm probably as close to her as anyone and I barely know her. She keeps to herself away from work." Melody ran her fingers through the hair of her friend, watching her chest rise and fall. She could feel the heat coming from her as the change swept through her system. Wendy handed her a bowl of ice water and a washcloth, and she started wiping her face and shoulders down with it. "Stay with us, Melody, it's going to be all right."
