Were in the City

Jessie's POV

Hundred Lakes Pack

As dawn broke over the trees she walked stiffly onto the porch and sat down, wrapping a blanket tightly around her. It was time for another patrol shift change, several dozen people were moving in and out of the large communal kitchen on the ground floor of the house. There was nowhere to be alone, but she was grateful all of them just nodded as they passed by and didn't try to talk to her.

Jessie hadn't felt this sore, hadn't been this black & blue all over, since she'd been flung around inside her house when it blew up just over six months ago. Had it really only been six months? She'd read somewhere that a single major life change can significantly affect a person's mental and physical health, and can take anywhere from a year to eighteen months to adjust to. What happens to a person when almost everything in their life changes completely, when even the notion that they are just a plain human being gets taken away? Was she making rational decisions about anything right now? Could she? Eight hours from now she'd be making a claim for the Richard Trust, a claim to be recognized as an Alpha in werewolf society ... Kyle was right, she knew nothing. What the hell was she thinking?!

She let out a long low groan and hunched over, her head in her hands.

"Not a morning person? Do you need some caffeine to start your day?"

Jessie lifted her head to see Beth standing beside her chair, looking far too awake and cheerful for the time of day.

"Whoa! Your face looks awful."

"Gee, thanks Beth. Nice way to give a girl confidence on such an important day. I feel like I've been run over by a fleet of trucks."

"I'll get us some tea and something to eat. Back in a minute."

A short while later as she ate very slowly (it hurt even to chew) Beth looked at her, "What's wrong? You've hardly uttered a word since we all met at the challenge circle yesterday."

Jessie sighed, "Some things Kyle said. Beth, I have the ability to shift into a gryphon ... wolf-like but NOT a wolf ... and I've only been able to do that for less than six months. I know nothing about how to live like one of you. I've never seen any bit of pack life until I came here -- so a couple of days total. What if gryphons don't live in packs? What if I can't do it? And I'm apparently too small to be a proper wolfpack Alpha. I don't fit in, maybe I never will."

Beth nodded, "Don't try to fit in. Be yourself. You are an outsider, you'll question everything ... use what works, change what doesn't. If, as the curse says, you are meant to 'build a new pack on the bones of the old' then maybe it's going to be something different, something more than just a new group of wolves following the same old ways."

Jessie groaned, "Great. You know how hard it is to be different don't you?"

Beth laughed, "Well, the curse didn't say 'build a new pack on the bones of the old ... and it will be easy, no problems at all'. I think you are stuck with the basic instruction and the details are all up to you to figure out ... and different isn't wrong, it's just full of challenges and opportunities!"

"You are so full of sunshine and positivity this morning ... just so you know, it's rather hard to take at the moment! Well then, step one: my claim is accepted and I get the Richard Trust. Does that mean I have to live on the property right away? It would put my pack in the middle of the war won't it? I'm on Helen's side, which means the Algonquin Pack might attack us. The four of us can't possibly defend the whole place alone. Hum ..."

Beth stared out at the trees for a few moments, then said "There is something you could do, if you can figure out how to do it ... I'm not sure I should even tell you ... somebody is bound to give me hell later for bringing it up."

"Tell me. I need all the ideas I can get right now."

Beth sighed, "Challenge the Algonquin leader. If you win, you get the Algonquin Pack and you can stop the war."

"Beth, I can barely walk at the moment! I'm praying nobody challenges me during the Council meeting today. And Kyle pretty much said I don't have a chance against Alphas or Betas right now or maybe ever!"

"Did Kyle tell you that the challenger gets to pick the place, the time, and whether you fight as wolves or in human form? You are in control of the challenge if you make it. So wait until you are ready, and choose to fight in human form -- your special abilities will give you the edge that way. Wolves want to fight as wolves, but you can be different."

"Ok, let's believe in miracles for a minute and say I can win that challenge. Won't that just mean others start challenging me for control of the pack? There are more beta wolves in the Algonquin Pack and in other packs, won't they all just come after me?"

Beth nodded, "Yes, that is the tricky bit. How many wolves in that pack would be unwilling to accept your leadership for whatever reason? How many betas there want to lead that pack if given the chance? Wolves may choose to leave when leadership changes, as long as there is another pack willing to take them -- otherwise they'd become rogues. You don't have to accept every wolf that's there either. If you touch each one before accepting them, you'll find out who the bad ones are and you can refuse them. You'd need to fight your challenge in the Algonquin circle so they can see you win, see and feel your alpha strength, so you can choose and bond with pack members immediately after you win. You can insist they are all there, which would be interesting given that a lot of them are currently surrounding Helen's property."

Jessie actually found herself becoming intrigued by this idea, though the details of it were complicated. "I want to discuss this further with the others. We need to talk this through before the meeting this afternoon".

Jacob! Liam! Wake up! We've got lots to do before the meeting today!

She and Beth laughed at the grumpy responses that came back. Jessie had no sympathy.

I am in MUCH more pain than either of you so stop fussing and get down here for breakfast. Beth has an interesting idea and I need your help to consider it.

Beth chuckled, "You remember, don't you, that Mark and Stephen Richard are betas in the Algonquin Pack. How would you like to be their Alpha ... or better yet, refuse to take them and hope nobody else does either. They could end up rogues."

Jessie almost choked on her tea, "No way that happens. They've got enough to bribe somebody to take them if no Alpha volunteers. But do they have to be present if their Alpha is challenged in case they have to bond to a new leader? Would it force them back to this country?"

Beth nodded, "You could insist all pack members be present at the challenge. They would have to come, or relinquish their bond and find another pack. You may be wrong about them being able to bribe an Alpha. The Algonquin Pack took them because the Richard Trust came with them - it won't if your claim is accepted, and would any existing Alpha really want them topping from below? They may be in a very precarious position, even though they are still incredibly wealthy and scary."

Jessie sighed, "Trying to figure out all the ways your idea could play out is going take forever and we have very little time. I hope Billings and Jenkins have time this morning to talk about this."

She was about to ask Beth to find Billings when he walked out of the house with a phone in his hand, "Jenkins needs to talk to you."

She nodded, "Put it on speaker. No secrets."

"Jessie, I've had the call from Gordon."

It took her a moment to remember. Beth got it before she did. "The Algonquin wolf!"

Jenkins sounded excited, "Yes. He knows a lot more than just who the leaks were in Helen's group. He knows everything! He can back up your accusation about the murder of the Algonquin Alpha and his family, he knows the Algonquin wolves were ordered to attack Helen, he knows what's going on inside that pack and he's desperate to get his mate and himself out. Jessie, your accusation yesterday has set off a tidal wave of anxiety in that pack. We need Gordon as a witness this afternoon. Somehow you have to get the two of them ... right now!"

"How do we do that? They are too many hours away from us right now even if they started driving this minute. Can they even do that? Can they get away on their own?"

She heard Liam speak up from behind her, "Billings, I need a phone. Maybe Helen can help."

Billings nodded, "Another one is being brought out now."

"Gordon is going to call me back in less than an hour. I have to tell him something then, so you have very little time."

She looked at Liam, "We'll call you back in the next 30 minutes."

*********************************

Helen's POV

Location unknown

She reluctantly opened her eyes as Julie shook her awake. "What now?"

Julie held out a phone, "It's Liam. It's urgent."

Helen groaned, "What isn't these days" and took the phone, "Liam?"

"Helen, remember that Algonquin wolf Jessie sent back to his pack after the attack at the beach? He phoned Jenkins early this morning. He needs to get out, he and his mate, and he's got a tonne of information about what's going on in that pack. We need him available as a witness for the Council meeting this afternoon, so we have to get him out now. Can you help?"

She let out a long sigh, looked at Julie and nodded. "Where are he and his mate now?"

"Pack land. They are too far away to get to us by meeting time. Somebody needs to get them to a secure location, some place that has videoconference capability, by 2pm.

She looked at Julie and whispered, "Pull up a map of the ways out of that pack property. I need a route and a meeting point."

She asked Liam, "Can they leave right away?"

"Yes, I think so. He's going to call Jenkins back within the hour, so as soon as that happens we can tell them to go. We just have to tell them how."

"Ok. Tell the two of them they can only take a backpack each, nothing else, and not heavily loaded. No devices of any kind - phones, computers, Fitbits, whatever they have they must leave it all behind. And no weapons."

Julie was holding up an iPad and pointing at a location. "Tell them to take Highway 113 west to Junction 63. Go north exactly ten miles, pull over and stop. Wait to be met there. If someone doesn't arrive by 10am something has gone wrong and they are on their own. Liam, I hope they are smart enough to take a vehicle that can't be tracked, please emphasize that."

"Will do. His name is Gordon Brooks. I'm going to switch phones to talk to Jenkins now. Jacob wants to talk to you."

She looked over at Julie, "Do the rest of the pickup coordination. Can we get them to Unit Five by 2pm?"

Julie nodded. "Good, thanks ... Jacob, how are you?"

"A few more scars but otherwise ok. Helen, we hope we can get Gordon in time for the meeting, but if we can't we need a backup plan. Can we get your singing bird to testify? Who is it? What do they know?"

She sighed, and said sadly, "It's Paul."

"What! No! He's been with you for so many years Helen, a close friend."

"Yes, which is why he is still alive. But he has his weaknesses. He has always loved the jewels he studied, he's a collector as you know ... I'm sure he was played ... he hid his debts, his deals, enough dubious activity that if it had gotten out his reputation would have been ruined, and he needs the access for his books and his collecting habits. He tried not to give away more information than the minimum needed to keep his secrets. Damn him, if he'd come to me we'd have dealt with it somehow, but he didn't."

"What does he know?"

"That the Algonquin Pack attacked us first. They were let in by the other leak: one of the wolves in our security detail who took down the cameras and the sensor grid. Paul vouched for that wolf when he first came to us. Paul knew he was a plant."

"Shit. If we need him can you get him in front of a camera this afternoon?"

"Yes, I think we can figure that out. I'll see to it that he's ready."

"Thanks. We'll be in touch with information on how to join the Council meeting to provide witness testimony later this morning. I don't want your name to come up unless absolutely necessary. For Gordon, no mention of you. For Paul, we might not be able to avoid it. We'll have to sort it out as we go through the meeting."

"How's Jessie?"

"Nervous, full of doubts, determined, excited ... what you'd expect I guess. She might end up with a record for the shortest time as a pack Alpha though. If they accept her claim, she'll be required to follow Council decisions and she won't agree to do so if they vote against you Helen. Our little pack will be finished."

"Does Beth know what to do if that happens? Make sure she's safe Jacob."

"I've already talked to Billings. He'll take her in, and will make sure she gets back to Jenkins."

"Good. We've got eyes on three wolves watching the Billings property. We are ready to take them out if needed. If you need to leave in a hurry, there's now enough support within 15 miles to keep you protected until we can link up. One good thing ... with the cease-fire agreement in tatters, you and Liam are now free to be part of us again and Jessie would be a welcome addition."

Jacob sighed, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I really hope we don't have to. This is the best chance we've ever had to change things, somehow it has to work. But it is good to know you've got our backs, thank you."

"Always my friend. Take care. Phone me an hour before the Council meeting and we'll see where things are at."

*******************************

Gordon Brooks' POV

Along Highway 113, Quebec

They had made it out ... but he was scared and fighting to keep his foot from flooring the gas pedal. He must stay at the speed limit.

He'd had an excuse to leave pack land, to bring supplies to wolves patrolling the boundary of Helen Lavalle's property. His mate had been in the trunk, with everything piled on top of her. They'd taken all the cooked food they could find, to disguise her scent. It had worked. If it hadn't they'd both be dead, no excuses, no second chances. It would have been over.

Charles, the beta wolf who was now the Algonquin leader, was increasingly paranoid and rightly so. Things were coming apart. He had resorted to keeping mates and families hostage to ensure compliance with his orders. He had just enough wolves still loyal (why?!) to intimidate the rest. Being an Algonquin wolf had gone from difficult to horrendous.

Junction 63 was less than an hour from the pack boundary. He turned there and watched the miles tick by. At exactly ten miles, he stopped. There was nothing and nobody there. They sat for a few minutes, but nervous energy got the better of them and they got out of the car to pace up and down the shoulder of the road. His mate started to cry. He held her, trying to decide if they should wait or run. It wasn't anywhere near 10am yet, they had to give it a chance.

In the distance, coming towards them from the direction of the highway, they heard the sound of motorcycles ... dirt bikes, he thought. Sure enough, two of them. He readied himself to fight if needed. The bikes stopped by the car.

"You Gordon Brooks?"

He nodded.

"No phones, no devices of any kind, no weapons on you, yes?"

He nodded again.

"Good. Get your backpacks. One of you on each bike. Move it."

They headed further north, then turned onto a dirt track that followed transmission lines west. For quite a while they travelled along a variety of trails and gravel roads, sometimes north, sometimes south, but generally west. Eventually they met a paved road and moved along it as fast as the bikes could go. Gordon saw a truck pulling a large 5th-wheel RV trailer ahead of them and assumed they'd pass it, but it pulled over and someone got out to open the back of the trailer. Both bikes drove up a ramp and into the back as the back door shut.

The Were (she wasn't a wolf) on his bike pulled off her helmet and grinned at him, "Welcome to Unit Five".

*************************************

Jessie's POV

Hundred Lakes Pack

They had tried to stuff everything she might need to know into her head in the past six hours. Eventually it got too much, she had stood up and said she wanted to go for a walk ... alone please, no more talking! She'd shuffled past the barn and into the trees to sit on a log, taking some deep breaths. Her eyes and arms shifting, she shredded chunks of wood with her talons, trying to lessen the tension and worry that had been building through the day.

Less than two hours now until the meeting was to begin. There were so many different ways things could play out, many dangerous, some potentially fatal for her and her pack and her allies. She was as ready as she could be ... and nowhere near ready enough.

Kyle had come up with a clever plan should she need to challenge someone. What came after that would be uncertain, but they'd all agreed that she could probably get one victory and she should use it if the result would be valuable enough. Jenkins and Billings had been getting calls all morning - other Alphas that had sided with them to vote 'no' were being threatened to change their votes. She was going to have to give them hope, a lot of hope, that things could change. She had to try to eliminate the need to vote so that they were not forced to choose their pack's safety over Helen's.

She stood up and started slashing wildly at the log. Her other half wanted bloody vengeance ... badly ... wanted Mark and Stephen Richard at the mercy of her talons. They must pay for her grandparents' deaths, her mother's misery, the sentences of death for the two men she loved, the ways they set wolf against wolf for their own greed. Somehow, some day, she would find a way grind their bones into the dust. For now, she would settle for taking their empire apart, removing their influence, making them smaller piece by piece.

Letting her gryphon come all the way out and giving her free rein, Jessie started to run flat out through the forest, all aches and pains ignored. She had a couple of mad, delirious minutes before she surprised two wolves guarding the pack boundary. Startled by their aggressive, violent reaction her other half instinctively went for high ground ... straight up a large tree. Holy crap! Wolves don't climb trees do they?

She was a long way up when she stopped moving, her talons buried deep and her back claws braced against the trunk. It had somehow made sense going up but coming back down was going to be a problem. She could now sympathize with how cats got stuck up trees or poles unable to figure out how to get down. She'd fall if she shifted to human form unless she could quickly grab a sturdy branch and it didn't look like there were many, if any, of those. She couldn't move, her aches and pains causing her limbs to tire quickly. Shit!

Feeling ridiculous, she didn't want to call for help, although she was sure the two wolves she could hear pacing below her were already telling everyone in their pack what she'd done. She decided eating a bit of humble pie was better than breaking every bone in a fall.

Help! I'm stuck!

What's wrong? Where are you?

I'm up a tree, too far up to fall safely. Near the fence, south-west corner.

Climb back down the way you went up.

Yah, about that ... I'm in gryphon form right now. My back feet and claws are just bracing me, I'll slide if I pull my talons free. Very few branches, none looking safe.

WTF!

She could feel her whole body stiffening up, she had to move. Concentrating, she was able to get the talons on only her left hand to retract and her arm came free. The strain on her other arm increased so she quickly shifted her left arm down and pushed the talons into the tree again. When she did the same with her right hand, her back legs slipped and she flopped around hanging from her front legs until she got her back legs braced again. It was going to take forever this way, she didn't have the strength for how long it was going to take.