Just a quick note to my readers. If you aren't familiar with the Sable color in dogs and wolves: Black-tipped hairs; the background color can be gold to yellow, silver, grey, or tan. The darkness of the coat depends on how much of each hair is black versus the lighter color.
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Brett watched as the remainder of the Baxter Pack carefully gathered the wounded to be transported back to the compound. They did quick triage and had the most seriously hurt on their way. But there were those like Owen McDonald who refused to leave until Paul had been taken care of.
The Alphas walked among the wounded, speaking to each, commending their bravery, and promising to contact family members. Once the wounded were enroute to the compound they turned their attention to the dead. The Alphas found their pack members, identified each, and gently closed their eyes before contacting their loved ones to tell them of the loss they already felt. They had died with honor and would be treated as heroes by all the packs.
Bryant had a list of the wounded, their names, pack affiliation, and type of injury. He did the same with each of the dead. The deceased's Alpha told him whether or not the family wanted the body returned to them for cremation, or preferred he remain with his comrades. They wanted to make sure each family's wishes were adhered to.
Gary's bloody corpse lay where Alistair had dropped it, in the dirt. Those who had to walk near the area kept a wide berth, like they were worried he might come back from the dead.
The wounded and dead were on their way back to the Baxter lands. Now all that was left were those in the cave. The Baxter Betas still present were here only to take the Betas when they came out. They didn't know what was going on inside there anymore. Paul had found the cameras and destroyed them just as he had the explosives. All they could do was wait.
The eighty plus Werewolves were scattered around the clearing, some in wolf form, some human. They shifted their positions, impatient to end this and return to the compound. They could hear Paul now. He was screaming unintelligibly. If they hadn't thought he was insane before, they did now.
Crane gathered his Betas, explaining what he wanted to do. He would take on Paul himself. He owed that to his pack and the others. He should have killed him years ago but had thought he could channel Paul's strength and anger. He had failed but he couldn't now. If he fell he expected his Betas to rush Paul. If they couldn't finish him off, then the others were free to step in. They all nodded in agreement. This was their pack's fight.
The sound of falling rocks startled several of the wolves. One was hit by a rock that suddenly came flying at him from the mouth of the cave. There was a yelp of pain when it hit him in the leg. They all moved as far from the cave as they thought wise and stared, ready to fight. Snarls and growls were heard from all sides as they saw the human Paul emerge.
"How dare you defile our camp and steal our women!" Paul was enraged. His eyes practically bulged from his head and the veins in his neck stood out in relief. But he had lost some of the stature he'd had when the Dire Wolf gene was activated. Now he was the size of a normal Were Beta. "Wait until Gary finds you!" And with that statement, those that were blocking his view of the body moved aside so he could have a clear view.
Paul was striding forward towards Crane when he saw Gary laying bloody in the dirt, his throat fileted open. He stopped in his tracks, stared, and cried out. "NO! You killed him, you killed the Alpha." He shifted into a large grey wolf, but no larger than the Betas. He turned, baring his teeth, ready to avenge his Alpha.
We was met by Crane, a huge black sable colored wolf. They faced off, circling. The Crane Betas encircled them, ready to keep Paul in the battle area if he tried to escape.
With Paul occupied, the others turned their attention to the cave and it's last occupants. Three of the former Dire Wolves walked out and immediately laid on their backs, submitting to the waiting Alphas. They were quickly jacketed and put in a vehicle for transport.
But where were the other three? The cave was dark and no one really wanted to enter blind. But they heard moaning and calls for help. Torrance walked forward and called quietly to one of his own who had left the pack to join with Gary. "Asa, come out, we won't kill you." He stood outside the opening and strained to see inside the darkened hole.
Asa limped out of the cave, his face torn open, flesh hanging from his right leg. He fell to the ground in front of his Alpha. "Please Sir, please, I want to come home." He had tears in his eyes as he looked up at his father who he had disowned and left.
Torrance bent down and looked his son in the eyes for the first time in almost a year. He felt the bond between them that they had lost so long ago. He tried to hold back his own tears but couldn't. "Son what happened to you?" He gently stroked his son's face.
"When the Dire Wolf Gene was reversed, we all realized what had happened to us, what we'd become. Paul knew we were horrified. He turned on us." Asa turned to the opening. "Will, come out, they won't hurt you."
Another of the rogues walked outside, trying to ignore the fight in the clearing and Gary's mangled body in the dirt. He walked to Asa and Torrance, holding the wound in his side, hoping to keep the organs inside before the tissues healed around them. He collapsed at Asa's side. "I want to go home Alpha, please." He had been Asa's best friend since they were cubs, and another of the Torrance Pack.
Torrance turned to speak to Brett who was watching close by. "I will vouch for them. They will not hurt anyone in the packs. Please, take them to the hospital."
"We still have to restrain them Alpha. I hope you understand, for their own safety as well as ours." Brett tried to sound apologetic although he didn't trust them as far as he could throw them. But he didn't want to disagree outright with an Alpha.
"I understand." He turned to his son. "They will take care of you, but cooperate, both of you. Or I will kill you myself." He looked sternly at them even though he wanted to cry.
"Where is the last one?" Trey was still looking towards the cave. He didn't hear a sound from inside. One of the Betas was still missing.
Asa's voice was so low he could barely be heard. "Paul killed Trent." He put a hand on Will's shoulder as they both glanced fearfully at Paul.
Brett signaled for his men to take Asa and Will into custody while he and the twins slowly approached the cave. They waited at the entrance for a moment for their eyes to adjust. The only light was from the moon, not quite full yet but still bright. After a moment they continue into the cave and stopped.
"What is it? What do you see?" Alistair stepped up behind them. He looked into the cave and then back at Paul. He hoped Crane disemboweled him and let him die slowly. He turned and walked away disgusted. "Brett, take your men and leave. We'll take care of the rest of this."
