Nothing.
They find nothing, see nothing, learn nothing new.
Somebody knew who took them. And that someone wasn't telling. And they had not heard from Lyssa since her initial scream.
Emmett was growling continuously.
Randall was short, and trying not to bark orders for the sake of doing something.
Ariel was still in estrus and barely holding it together. She was trembling, feverish, and not at all her normal self. Unfocused, she was unable to think clearly and could only stand by, helpless.
Erich and Samuel had the males, and a couple of the females, running close and wide sweeps around the den.
As time passes, and darkness begins to fall, Roland continues to look for his sister and Lyssa, windows open, scenting the air for the women, for other werewolves.
They looks for lights, they look for shadows, they call for their pack members.
The Severn pack is on alert as a result of the kidnapping. They had connections the other packs didn't have, so, as requested, they begin looking into some things.
No one had claimed responsibility.
It was hours later and still no call from Lyssa.
Was she dead? Were they both dead?
Would he ever see his mate again?
Emmett burst into grey fur and shot out of the house.
[Lyssa? C'mon, Lyssa, wake up.]
Joanna, frightened, tired, falls asleep on the bed.
It's after midnight when Lyssa jerks and groans.
Gerry, currently on watch, grabs a syringe, jabs it into her leg, and pushes the plunger.
Lyssa whines and lays still again as Joanna wakes and realizes what's happened.
The Wyeth pack sleeps fitfully, those who sleep at all.
The next day dawns to a completely unnerved pack of werewolves and some unwelcome, but not unexpected, news.
Calvin Ross has handed over control of his pack to his son. Michael Ross has become Alpha.
In an exchange with Randall, Roland, and Emmett, Calvin introduces Michael as the Ross Alpha.
"Michael, Alpha Ross, we look forward to working with you in the future."
"As do I, Alpha Wyeth. Until I install my Beta, Sampson will continue in that capacity. I hope this will smooth the transition."
"Certainly. I understand. I'm sure there is much to attend to."
"I have one more item that I need to discuss with you." Randall raises an eyebrow. "You understand, with the upset, the need to maintain pack solidarity. We cannot have other wolves on the pack lands. We will investigate the matter and report back to you."
Randall closes his eyes briefly. "Of course. Good day to you, Alpha Ross, Calvin."
"We should check the area for more clues."
"We cannot, Emmett. It is their range."
Emmett stands abruptly, turning away, clenching his fists, and growling. "They've taken my mate. Your daughter. We've had no word. We have to look at it again. See how they came in."
Randall's response is quiet, deadly. "Emmett. If any part of you believes I don't want to be examining the route taken by the kidnappers," Randall stands and turns to face his Beta, "then we need to have a very frank discussion of your place in this pack." Emmett freezes at the tone. Now was not the time to push his Alpha. But he couldn't let it go.
Roland sucks in a breath at the statement and the fact that the two were trying to stare each other down.
Randall grits his teeth, the next words coming out clipped. "We cannot start a pack war over the fact that the kidnappers crossed their range."
One breath. Two. Three. Four.
The tension climbs between the two. Roland stands, transfixed.
"Outside. Now."
Randall shifts to a large, dark brown wolf, Emmett to the large grey.
Randall breaks open the door as Roland yells, [EVERYONE, OUT OF THE WAY!]
As they run down the stairs, [Someone, open the front door!] The two wolves harry each other on the way to the circle.
Curious, several wolves follow, to find out what was going on.
[Roland, what's happening?]
[Mom. It's... it's nothing you need to worry about right now.]
[Tell me.] Although a bit shaky, there is command in her voice.
[Michael Ross is now Alpha. We have been forbidden from going onto Ross range. Dad and Emmett disagree and have gone to the circle.]
Ariel gets up from the bed, mumbling, "Idiots!", under her breath.
The two wolves circle each other, snarling, looking for an opening. They were about the same size and fairly evenly matched in fighting ability.
Emmett rushes in, trying to shoulder Randall aside and got a rip across his ribs for it. He twists, quickly, and rips into Randall's haunch.
They break for a moment and circle again briefly before coming together, head to head.
[STOP THIS!] Ariel stands at the upper end of the circle, arms crossed, glaring at the two males. [This doesn't help us find them.]
They stop briefly, teeth buried in each other's pelts. [This is not the time to get into some macho pissing contest. Stop. Think. We need to find Jo and Lyssa.] Randall and Emmett both growl. [Finish this AFTER..]
One breath. Two. [NOW!]
The two break off, backing away from each other. "We have to work together. You know that. This may be what they're after. Has anyone heard from Lyssa?"
[No.]
The two wolves shift back into men.
"So, either unconscious or dead."
"They would have killed her at the meadow."
"Or somewhere she can't send to us."
"This was a planned attack. They came prepared. Did they want one or both?"
"We believe they threatened to kill Lyssa."
"Then, probably Jo."
"Still, could be both. Easier than carrying them."
"But, for what purpose?"
"Since no one has contacted us we can only conclude it's for one reason."
The word comes out of all three of their mouths. "Breeding." All three then growl at the thought.
Thomas had watched, and listened. And he had an idea.
Joanna woke to two of the males watching her, and Lyssa, and some crummy movie.
[Lyssa? Lyssa, wake up.]
She's hungry and feels her nakedness before these strange males. She claws through the chest and finds a dress to cover herself.
She then goes to check on Lyssa.
"She reeks."
"Yeah. Clean her up while you're at it."
Lyssa was alive, unconscious, still, again, and had voided her bladder in the night. Joanna wets a cloth and begins washing her off, then drags her out of the mess and cleans up the rug. It was smelly, dirty work but she couldn't leave Lyssa that way.
After washing up, Joanna goes into the refrigerator for something to eat. It seemed that the males, she refused to acknowledge their names, had been in there. Most of the better stuff was gone. She grabs a couple of hard boiled eggs and a sandwich and crawls back on the bed to eat.
Michael takes a few moments to take it all in. It was happening, at last. He was Alpha of the Ross pack.
His mother gone, his father had stepped aside. His things were being moved into the Alpha suite.
He was working with Sampson, until he could get his own Beta installed. He hadn't told the pack who it was or where he was at present.
Jason is, of course, currently guarding the rest of his treasure.
He groans, thrusting his hips upward. His dick is firmly seated in the throat of a black haired female. He howls as he shoots cum down her throat.
It feels wonderful as she swallows convulsively, her throat constricting around him.
She releases him from her mouth, looks up at him, and licks her lips. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Alpha Ross?"
"Naw, Erica. I gotta talk to Sampson. Get going."
He puts himself back in his pants and watches Erica walk away, swaying her hips. He admired the view and thought about keeping her around after he was mated. His little bitch probably would take some training to become what he expected in a mate.
Maybe Erica could help train her. Mmm. Maybe both at once. That made an entertaining fantasy. One dark, one light. Hmm. He'd have to think about this.
Samuel alerts the pack to the arrival of two wolves on motorcycles.
Two Severn males had arrived to get a look around before the gathering.
They stand, tensely, just inside the gate as the Wyeth Alpha and Beta approach.
One of the Severn wolves was older. Dirty blond hair was shot with grey. His eyes a blue that was almost silver. He stands stiffly, eyes roving, appraising the approaching Wyeth wolves.
The other was much younger, with darker brown hair, and blue eyes. He also carefully watches the men that came toward them.
Samuel speaks as his Alpha closes on them. "Alpha. These two are here from Severn, to get an assessment of security and strength needed for the gathering."
Randall looks at them and grinds his teeth. "I'm sorry that you have come all this way for nothing. The gathering is canceled; we should have informed you earlier. We are otherwise occupied."
The elder wolf speaks. "I understand, Alpha Wyeth, that two of your females have been taken, but your daughter still reaches maturation this week, doesn't she?"
Randall closes his eyes and counts to ten. Of course they wouldn't know, the information had not gone outside the pack.
Emmett speaks up. "The Alpha daughter is one of those taken."
The younger wolf starts, his eyes wide. "Joanna?"
The question has all of them looking at him closely. Randall plants himself before the young Severn wolf while the other tenses, expecting an attack. Through gritted teeth, Randall manages, "What do you know, pup?"
The young wolf stands straight, staring at the Wyeth Alpha's upper chest. "Sir! I was out on patrol. A green Mini Cooper was driving over the limit. I pulled them over. Your Beta female introduced us."
Emmett asks, "Nathan Severn?"
"Yes, sir."
"My mate was also taken."
"How can I help?" The older Severn wolf growls at him and Randall and Emmett eye him critically.
"Don't you need to talk to your Alpha, pup?"
Nathan stammers. "Y, yes, sir. I mean. I only want.."
"Enough, Nathan. We should leave them to their hunt. We apologize for disturbing you. I will inform our Alpha."
"What is your name?"
"David Ellison, Alpha Wyeth. Good hunting to you."
The two mount their motorcycles and leave, Nathan glancing back once at the Wyeth compound.
"I'm getting sick of sitting here. It's dark and it smells."
"Quit whining. We only gotta stay here a couple of days."
"Why doesn't he just take her and be done with it?"
"If it's contested and he loses there'll be hell to pay. We can afford to wait a couple of days."
"Would you two shut up?!"
"Hey, Jason, we just..."
