by Sammy Girl

Alternate Universe - Two Blood ATF

Part 10

Nathan didn't really known what to think. He might have been raised in the north, but it was still a southern Baptist upbringing at heart. Yet alongside that, was his parents' passionate belief in civil rights. They had fought for them, been beaten up for them, threatened with hanging and burning, and been imprisoned for them. Buck had civil rights, he shouldn't be forced to leave his home because of his 'race' or for that matter, his sexuality. The part of Nathan that was at home in the Bible belt said it was a sin, and although he could accept it in others, it wasn't part of him. But that side of Jackson, was at war with the part of him that said he had to fight to let Buck, and for that matter all of them, continue to live their lives any way they wanted, so long as they weren't hurting others - felons not included. Then right at the back of his mind, was that annoying little scientist's voice. That driving curiosity that made him a good forensics investigator. The voice that was always seeking more information. That voice was whispering in his ear, 'this is your chance to find out what's it really like', no strings, no risk.

In the gathering gloom, he rounded the house to find Buck and Ezra had got the barbecue stoked up and were preparing to start cooking. This involved Buck actually doing all the work, while Ezra offering advice and tossing the salad.

"Are we eating now?" he asked.

"Josiah and JD are ready to eat, but you don't have to yet," Buck explained softly all the time looking deep into those chocolate brown eyes, and trying to gauge how the serious medic was going to vote.

"I could eat, in fact I'm in the mood for a nice big, fatty burger with all the trimmings," Nathan announced. With that he smiled and turned to enter the house.

Buck turned to Ezra to see if he too, believed Nathan had decided on a 'yes' vote. He received a smile of conformation.

Nathan was barely inside, when Chris and Vin strolled over from the barn. Nathan had looked relaxed, in contrast Chris looked apprehensive and Vin just plain worried.

"Buck," Chris began,"…we need to ask you something, in private."

Buck sighed inwardly. Chris still didn't seem to understand the concept of openness that went with being pack. Then he corrected himself. They weren't a pack yet; they might not ever be a pack.

"Chris, whatever you want to say or ask, you can ask in front of Ezra," Buck assured him.

+ + + + + + +

The Blood Moon pack roared down the highway, approaching Denver on the back roads to the west of the city. They had licked their wounds, rested and regrouped, now they were ready to take on new territory, and a whole new life as an independent settled pack. Zac saw a diner up ahead and since it was now almost dark he signalled to the riders behind him to pull in, so they could eat. As they dismounted and pulled off their helmets, those of them who were at the back of the parking lot, the ones closest to the surrounding forest, caught a scent, something both familiar and alien, something totally unexpected. Zac cursed loudly. This was one complication he had not anticipated.

"I thought you said this was vacant territory," Franco Henry accused. He was the next most powerful dominant in the pack, the only who could ever realistically threaten Zac for dominance. Franco was happy, in the most part, to go with the flow, really wasn't that interested in being an alpha, but he knew the others tended to look to him for a lead if they were unhappy with Zac's decisions.

"It is, I'm sure of it. How many do you smell?" Zac asked, distinctly irritated, and thus short tempered.

"One," someone confirmed.

"A loner, that's what he is, a loner," the young alpha confidently announced. "We find him, he joins us - if we like him. Otherwise, he leaves or I kill him. Simple." His pack just stared at him. "Right?" he prompted.

"Right," Henry finally admitted.

"I hired a cabin, we'll stay there until the land deal has gone through. In the meantime we find this loner and deal with him." With that, the undisputed alpha of the pack spun around and strode into the diner. There would be no more discussion.

+ + + + + + +

Buck didn't need to wait until midnight. After their discussion with Buck and Ezra, Chris and Vin went inside and cast their votes, leaving the lovers alone beside the grill. No more than a minute later Josiah came out and called them in.

"We have all voted, brothers," he informed them in a soft, quiet voice, filled with understanding and compassion.

Ezra glanced at Buck, then took a deep breath as he crossed to the table where the box sat. How, Ezra wondered, could such a small, insignificant little object hold so much power - power to hurt, power to heal. He stooped to open the box and, without looking at the contents, scooped up the five marbles, and returned to Buck.

"Well?" Wilmington asked.

Slowly he held out his closed fist. Then, ensuring everyone could see his hand, he uncurled his fingers to reveal five blue marbles. Buck's hand came up to his mouth, covering it, just for a second. Eyes brimming with joy and gratitude scanned the room. The others smiled back, nodding their conformation. Whatever it took; they would do it, for him, for the team, for their pack.

In the end it was Nathan who spoke. "So what do we do now?"

"Now?" Buck responded. "Now we eat. I don’t know about you guys, but I'm starving."

+ + + + + + +

Buck insisted that the next move belonged to the other pack. All they could do now was wait; the rogue pack would find him soon enough. Since the next day was Sunday, they agreed to return to the ranch for the trail ride they had planned, but had never had. It wasn't just a pleasant way to spend the day; the horses were desperately in need of a good run, only Steele had had any significant exercise in the past week.

It was a good day; they all avoided the topic of pack and Two Blood, concentrating on neutral topics like sport, beer, cars and horses. A lot of the time they said nothing at all; words just seemed unnecessary. When there was the majesty of the Rockies to see and the sounds of the forest to listen to, who needed words? They were heading home as the shadows lengthened, tired, dusty, but happy, even Ezra was happy, in spite of his dust-covered state, when Buck suddenly leapt from off his horse. Steele stood still and unfazed as his master walked forward along the well-used trail, then he froze, head raised, facing the slight breeze.

"What is it?" Chris called from Pony.

For a moment Wilmington didn't respond, then he turned to face them, a small smile on his face.

"They're he-e-re," he announced.

Vin's hand went instinctively to the stock of his trusty rifle, tucked into his saddle scabbard.

"Easy, Junior," Buck cautioned as he walked back toward them. "I mean, they're in the area, it's hard to tell how far, since I don't know how old the scent is."

"So we go look for them - right?" JD asked.

Buck shook his head and swung himself back up onto the ever patient Steele. "Nope, like I told you, we wait, it's their move. Hell, they might just decide to move on; you never know."

"Duck," Ezra instructed lazily.

"Why?" Nathan enquired.

"Low flying pig," Josiah supplied, sharing a wry smile with Standish.

+ + + + + + +

Nothing happened that day or the next. Chris almost wished it would, his team was next to useless they were so wound up. Only Buck seemed relaxed. After the first day, a day that saw all but one of Team Seven acting like long tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs, Chris had asked Vin his opinion.

"The decision's been made, we're gonna be a pack, reckon that's all ol' Bucklin's ever wanted. You know," … Vin rolled over; they had been spooning in Chris' big bed but now the young Texan faced his older lover. "…Buck could die, if he has to fight."

"I know, God help me, I know - except I ain't gonna let that happen, if it looks like that's gonna be how it ends, I'll stop it, no gun rule be damned!"

Vin smiled, his teeth flashed white in the moonlight that filtered in through the open bedroom windows. "Yeah, kinda thought you might feel that way, 'sept that weren't what I was gonna say. See, I reckon Buck's so happy now, he could die happy. He's in love, he's no longer alone in the world, he's got a pack - wolves they ain't loners b' nature, ain't natural fer em - and he don't have to hide his true nature any more. Must have been hell all these years, hidin' like that, even t' Ezra. Shit! - Livin' with JD must have been murder, boy's got the curiosity of the devil as it is."

Chris smiled, though it was unseen by Tanner. With his back to the window all Vin could make out of Larabee was a slight halo of golden hair. He couldn't remember the last time Vin had said so much in one go, at least not of his own volition.

"Buck invited JD into the condo, hell, he practically hog tied him and held him at gun point 'till he said yes - as I recall!" Chris pointed out, remembering the way 'mother hen' Wilmington had taken it upon himself to teach the twenty one year old rookie when he first arrived in Denver, more than a little lost, alone and still grieving for his mother.

"Yeah, I know, and why? 'Cause before JD arrived it was Buck ragging on you day and night that he was too young."

"Okay Sherlock, tell me?" Chris prompted.

"'Cause he needs people, he needs physical contact. That’s why he used to chase the women. I don't know about these Two Bloods, but I seen wolves in the wild, an' m' granddaddy, he used t' tell me stories about them too." Chris knew Vin was referring to Red Feather, his Comanche grandfather. "Wolves are very close, they touch, they rub against each other, they all sleep together in one big heap."

"You're saying that's what he's been looking for all these years?"

Vin reached out and ran one finger down Chris' fine boned cheek. "Don't you get it? He had it, he had a pack. He had you - you're his alpha, you always have been, that made Sarah his alpha." He felt the man in front of him stiffen. "I don't reckon he and Sarah ever … you know? He wouldn't do that without your permission, and I don't reckon - from what I've heard - that Sarah would have stood fer it."

"Well, you got that right," Chris confirmed.

"But you two was still pack to him, and Adam was his cub."

"And he lost them," Chris added so softly it was barely a whisper.

"Ya both lost them, but then he nearly lost you as well - didn't he?"

Chris thought about that, about Wilmington's tenacity, his unshakeable loyalty, his stubborn refusal to give up on him, despite everything Chris had thrown at him. No matter how often his kindness, patience, hard work and sacrifice was thrown back in his face, he never left.

"Shit, he didn't deserve that," Larabee finally admitted.

"No, he didn't, but it weren't your fault neither, we all grieve in different ways, deal with things differently. You were true to your nature, he was true to his. It's the way the world is, we have t' be who an' what we are. Yer try pretendin' t' be something yer not, it's gonna end up killin' ya, little by little. Reckon Buck was heading that way. To thine own self be true - ain't that what Shakespeare said? Smart fella Shakespeare."

Chris gazed at the man before him with renewed wonder. "Just when the hell did you get to be so smart?" he asked.

"Always been smart, Cowboy, I'm jist good at hidin' m' light under a bush is all."

"More like a whole fucking forest. Come here." Chris' hand snaked out to wind behind and around Vin's warm neck, pulling all too eager lips to his.

Eventually lips moved down, nibbling and sucking and devouring warm inviting skin. Tanner arched his head back, gasping as Chris nuzzled his throat then moved on to map his collar bone. The warm, soft, damp caresses moved on up to his ear which made him laugh and giggle because it tickled, until his whole body trembled and shook. Finally Chris whispered into his ear.

"Want you, need you, take me."

"Ain't going no place, Cowboy, I'm right here." Vin levered himself up a little, his warm, callused hand pressing down very lightly on Chris' shoulder, encouraging him to roll onto his back. Even as he moved over so he could face Larabee, his arm was reaching out to the bedside cabinet to grab the lube.

Vin ducked his head to kiss Larabee again but he didn't linger, moving down instead. Light kisses brushed Larabee's chin, throat, and chest, then Vin finally latched on to one erect and responsive nub, to suck, nuzzle, and nip it until Chris was squirming and arching off the bed in desperate need.

"Oh God," he gasped as Vin moved to the other side, giving it equal attention.

While his lips were busy, his hands quickly uncapped the tube and pushed out a generous amount of the clear gel onto his palm. He tossed the tube away and coated his now rock hard member. By now he had released Chris' nipples and his ever-eager lips were working their way down the rippled harness of Larabee's abdomen. Without ever stopping his oral ministrations, one, now well lubed, finger breached Chris, whose legs were already spread wide and inviting.

"Shit!" Chris yelled out as he felt Vin's finger enter him at the very moment his cock was enveloped in the warm wetness of Vin's mouth. In truth, it didn't take much to get Chris ready; he was more than receptive as Vin worked him open. Breaking off to lift Chris' legs up over his shoulders and line up his aching and leaking dick, he eased his way in slowly but surly. Once he was in, and displaying a degree of flexibility few men could match, Vin doubled over to re-capture Chris' long slim cock in his mouth again, even as he was gyrating his hips to pound into Larabee. Chris still had enough brain working to grab hold of his own legs behind the knees and pull them back even further. After that, he gave way to the amazing sensations the double assault on his pleasure centres was creating, bucking his hips up to meet Vin's thrusts, arching his back to push his cock deep into Vin's skilled mouth. All the time shouting a mixture of profanities, his lover's name and incoherent sounds, as his brain found it increasingly hard to hold on to rational thoughts.

When Chris came, it was so strong Vin barely managed to react in time to swallow it. As he slowly pulled up, releasing the now soft and spent member from his mouth, he gazed at his lover. Chris had released his own legs, which now rested on Vin's shoulders again; he was lying on the bed, a boneless, senseless heap. Vin smiled dreamily as he pulled his own spent cock out of Larabee and moved over so that he could lie down beside Chris. He was relieved that, though out for the count, Chris was breathing deep and even. Using one finger, he brushed a lock of sweat drenched hair out of his lover's closed eyes.

"Hey there, you?" he whispered.

"Mmm," Chris murmured.

"You with me here Cowboy?"

"Wha…?"

"I asked if you were back with me?"

"I guess - that was …"

But words failed him at his point. "Yeah, for me too," Vin confirmed. "I love you."

Chris smiled back, now finally awake. "I love you too, and that will never change - no matter what," he confirmed.

Vin relaxed down onto the bed, wrapping one powerful leg over Larabee's lean hips. He just hoped Chris remembered that, and tonight's lovemaking, when it came to the 'submission'.

+ + + + + + +

Nothing happened on Wednesday, nothing happened on Thursday until they were all heading down to the parking garage at the end of the day. Suddenly Buck froze where he was, lifting his head and turning to face the exit.

"Is it them?" Chris asked, coming to stand beside him.

"Yeah, they've been here, not right now, but recently." He looked over to the others, smiling. "They're getting closer guys," he warned.

"And we still have to wait?" JD asked, praying the answer was no, JD hated waiting, he wanted to go after them, confront these interlopers that were threatening the most important thing in his life.

"Yup, this is our territory, if they want to stay they have to come to us, we don't go looking for them," Buck confirmed, he threw an arm over JD's shoulders, giving his head a playful rub. "Patience JD."

"Hah!" JD pulled away. "Patience he says, this from the man who starts looking for his Christmas presents in November!"

"Me? Never!"

JD gave him a pitying look. "Yeah, right," he muttered sarcastically.

+ + + + + + +

Buck was dreaming of running free, he was in a meadow, the wild flowers were sweet and intoxicating. He was running fast, paws barely touching the ground as he flew over the never ending carpet of flowers, lush grass and soft moss. Then suddenly, with one of those seamless changes of location that only happen in dreams, he wasn't running, he was curling up next to another wolf. This wolf was smaller than him, where Buck's fur was thick, shaggy and silver-grey, this wolf had the finest coat of chestnut fur, not one hair out of place. His eyes weren't yellow like Buck's; this wolf had jade green eyes. Buck and the green eyed wolf were wrapped around each other in the middle of the wild flower meadow. The breeze was cooling, air thick with scents and bird song.

Ezra had been sleeping; he was woken by the movement of his bed partner. Buck had been sprawled out beside him, spread eagled as usual, snoring softly, also as usual. Suddenly he rolled in to face Ezra. One impossibly long leg drifted up to lie over Ezra's thigh, one long arm now trailed across his chest. Buck's thick, soft hair caressed his shoulder, as his lover tucked his head under Ezra's arm. As he looked on, in the weak dawn light that filtered in past the drapes, Buck began to make those little yips and grunts, dogs make when they dream. As he dreamed, the Two Blood seemed to burrow even closer to his partner, seeking ever-closer contact. Ezra lay there a full half-hour, just enjoying the way Buck was sleeping, and dreaming, and clinging to him. His enjoyment was only ended when the phone rang. As always when they slept, the answer machine cut in on the first ring. On the machine, Ezra's educated southern drawl explained in polite, but dismissive tones that he did not wish to be disturbed.

"Buck, it's Chris, I know you're there, pick up it's urgent."

Buck lifted his head a fraction, and reached out his hand. Ezra would have left it a bit longer to see how serious Chris was, but Buck wasn't like, that so he handed over cordless hand set to his lover.

"Wha…?"

"You awake?" Chris asked.

"Some of me, wha's up?"

"Vin went out to check the stock, I swear that boy runs on energiser batteries, anyway, he's just run back in to say there's wolf tracks all along the perimeter of the yard, says they're fresh too."

"I'm on my way over," Buck stated, already hanging up and climbing off the bed.

Part 11

Buck pulled up outside Larabee's house in a cloud of dust and gravel; he then sprung from the cab. Behind him, Ezra climbed out slowly, looking distinctly unhappy at the early start to the day. Vin waved at them from the front of the barn. Before he jogged over to Tanner, Buck stopped to sniff the air. The scent trail was faint but unmistakable; this was the third time he had encountered this pack's scent markers, from now on he would know them anywhere. He could now pick out a member of this pack even in a whole crowd of Two Blood. The tracks were still fresh; the pack had scouted the perimeter, and assured themselves that this was marked territory, but that the one they sought was not here.

Chris and Ezra had watched the other two from the porch, coffee in hand. As their partners returned across the yard, they retreated inside, only to emerge once more with more coffee.

"It was them, I take it?" Ezra asked, handing Buck his coffee.

"It was. If they don't make a move by Friday, I'll come out here for the weekend - if that’s ok?" Buck looked at Chris.

"'Course it's okay. You think they'll come back here?"

"I'm sure of it, they won't want a confrontation in the city if they can help it. Now they've found this place, they'll check it out on a regular basis. You got any breakfast in there?" The lanky Two Blood brushed past them and into the house.

"How does he stay so calm?" Vin asked Ezra.

"Your guess is as good as mine Mr Tanner, let us break our fast."

+ + + + + + +

Work was very routine, they had no big case on and spent most of their time compiling reports and updating files. Buck insisted they do everything as normal, so at the end of the day, it being Friday, they headed for the Saloon.

"Ah," Buck inhaled deeply as he crossed the parking lot. "…home sweet home."

"I told you, don't mention anything to Inez about scent marking," Chris warned.

Buck just cast his eyes up and shook his head, but kept on walking.

Team Seven took their usual booth, and Inez brought over their usual drinks. It was an odd evening. To anyone watching, it looked like the men were having a good time, winding down at the end of the working week. But there was a nervous edge to the group, an undercurrent of tension and anticipation. They broke up the evening early, unable to sit there and not talk about what was on all their minds, but unwilling to talk about it in public, even though it was highly unlikely anyone in the bar could have overheard them, or indeed understood.

As they exited the saloon, all seven of them, Buck froze, his eyes scanning the dark parking lot and then zeroing in one dark, distant corner.

"Is it them?" JD asked. "Were they here?"

"Not were - are." Buck corrected softly, as he began to walk forward.

The others hesitated, then - led by Ezra - followed. In a few paces, Chris had caught up and was shoulder to shoulder with Buck. "What do I do?" he hissed.

"Just be yourself pal, be bad ass, pissed off Larabee. They're trespassing in our territory, remember," Buck advised.

By now, even the One Bloods could see the figures standing in the dark, four of them, dressed in black leathers. The one standing a little in front of the others, was Franco Henry.

Chris steeled himself mentally and stepped out to face him. Henry was in his early twenties, a burly man, with close cropped, dark blond hair that was wiry and tightly curled. Chris thought Josiah's hair must have looked like that, when he was young, and then wondered why he was thinking that at that particular moment in time. The apparent leader wasn't that tall, taller than Ezra but shorter than Vin, but he was stocky, and though it was hard to tell under the black motor bike leathers, Chris was willing to bet it was all muscle.

"What are you doing here?" Chris demanded, in his best 'scary as all hell Larabee' voice.

The young Two Blood looked at the men before him, he looked at Chris and then turned to Buck. "We're the Blood Moon Pack and we claim this territory."

"Hey pal, I'm the alpha 'round here! You talk to me and no one is claiming our territory."

Henry looked from Buck to Chris and back; a look of total confusion on his face. When he did speak it was still to Buck. "What the hell is this crap?"

"I told you who you talk to!" Chris snapped, stepping forward and jabbing the young man in the chest.

Instantly the other three moved forward, provoking the rest of team Seven to do likewise. With the tension rising, Chris continued.

"We're the Denver Pack and this is our territory, you tell your pack to move on, you're not welcome here." He kept his tone measured and even, never breaking eye contact with the Two Blood before him.

The young man was angry but also confused, and even indecisive.

"This is bullshit, One Blood can't be pack, and a loner can't claim a whole territory, you wanna stay here, you submit to us."

Even as he was speaking, Chris had a sudden moment of clarity. He just prayed he was right, because he couldn't exactly ask Buck to confirm his suspicions, at that moment.

"We need to get this settled, but not here and not now. You tell your alpha to meet me and my pack at the ranch, tomorrow, an hour after dawn. If you don't come and you don't move on, we'll be hunting you." He closed the gap between them even more; now he could see deep into the young man's eyes, eyes that betrayed total confusion. "Got that - boy?"

Without bothering to wait for a response Chris turned away and led his pack to their cars on the other side of the lot.

Once he reached the Ram Chris finally spoke. "They still there?" he whispered to Buck.

"Oh yeah."

"Can they hear us?"

"Not at this volume, no."

Chris released a long breath. "I have never been so nervous in my life," he admitted. "Was that right - I mean about him not being the alpha?"

"Spot on, pal." Buck slapped him on the back.

"Guess it takes one to know one," Vin added, grinning with pride.

Ezra was shaking his head. "An hour after dawn - what was wrong with high noon? Is that not more traditional?"

"Ez, love," Buck put his arm around his mate. "It isn't like we're gonna be doing much sleeping tonight."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of motor bikes being fired up. As they watched, the four Two Bloods rode slowly toward them. Franco Henry stopped next to the Ram, his helmet resting on the fuel tank of his big Kawasaki Vulcan. He was tucking a cell phone into his jacket.

"Tomorrow it is," he confirmed tersely, then he locked eyes with Buck. "You better say good bye to this place, 'cause by tomorrow morning you're gonna be homeless, or dead." With that he pulled on his helmet, gunned the bike and roared away in a cloud of dust, the other three following on behind him.

Buck watched him go and then turned back to face the others, a big grin on his face. "Guess the waiting is over boys."

JD looked positively ashen, the others not much better, even Ezra's poker face had slipped to reveal his concern.

"Don't panic, kid." Buck crossed to JD. "I'll be fine, you know what you have to do?"

JD nodded. Buck looked over at Josiah and Nathan, who also nodded. "Great, so I'll see you guys at the ranch. Just before dawn?"

"Buck, I …" JD whispered.

Before he could finish, Buck enveloped him in a huge hug. "Trust me, okay?" He looked over the young man's head toward the other two. "See you tomorrow, take care of the kid for me."

"We will," Nathan confirmed. "Come on, JD, let's go." Nathan was trying to sound calm, but mentally he was going through the contents of his emergency kit and hoping he had everything he might need.

Josiah gave Buck's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he passed the Two Blood on the way to his car.

Once the others had gone, the four remaining members of the pack stood in uneasy silence. "Well, I guess tonight's the night," Chris said hesitantly.

"So it would appear," Ezra added.

"We'll be out at the ranch in, say, two hours?" Buck suggested.

"Two hours? Yeah okay, come on Tanner, let's go." Chris swung an arm over his young lover's shoulders. Vin hesitated for a second, then gave Buck a nod and allowed Chris to steer him toward the Ram.

+ + + + + + +

Buck slid into the driver's seat of his old Chevy truck, pulled the door closed and took hold of the wheel. Ezra gazed at him then placed a hand over his mate's.

"Buck, are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

"Sure I am, I'm…"

"Buck," Ezra interrupted. "…you're trembling." He could feel the tiny tremors running through the hand under his.

"I know, I don't seem to be able to stop it - stupid, ain't it?"

"No love, no it is quite understandable. Come here." He pulled the trembling man into a hug, cradling his head against his chest. "Feel that? Feel my heart?" Buck nodded. "That’s as much your heart as mine."

Buck's arms came up to encircle Ezra's powerful torso. He held on tightly for what seemed like ages, until the tremors finally began to subside.

"Would it be an idea if I drove tonight?" Ezra asked softly.

"Yeah, it might at that, thanks." Buck gave his lover one last hug before releasing him so they could change places.

+ + + + + + +

By the time they reached the ranch, it was later than they had anticipated, but Ezra considered the extra time well used. Before they set out for Chris' he had made Buck lie down and given him a massage, not the sensual massages he sometimes gave before they made love, but a real muscle tension releasing massage. The ranch looked as it always did at night, the low, soft light over the door of the barn, another over the door of the wood shed. The porch light was on and inside the softer glow of the table light by the living room window. If Chris or Vin noticed they were late, neither said anything. In order to allay some of Vin's fears that he might lose Chris to Buck, they had agreed all four of them would be present at all times. It was Chris' idea and Vin agreed. Ezra had been somewhat taken aback, but he was determined that this would work as he agreed. Buck was delighted, though he tried to hide that, simply saying he understood and would go along with whatever the others wanted.

Inside Vin greeted them, he was still dressed in his jeans and T-shirt, but was barefoot. Buck could smell Chris all over him, his lips, full and flushed, only served to confirm that the two of them had been - if not actually fucking - very actively enjoying each other just moments earlier. Chris came in from the area of the bedroom, his hair messed up, black shirt half in and half out of his pants.

"You two want a drink?" Vin asked, already pouring himself a generous shot of scotch.

"A glass of Dutch courage would not go amiss, thank you, Mr Tanner." Ezra crossed to the Texan and retrieved a glass of the amber liquor for himself and one for Buck.

"If this goes on much longer, I'm gonna have to start charging, that stuff ain't cheap, you know." Chris commented as he collected his own glass. "We, me and Vin, we thought if you guys used the shower in the spare room and met us in the bedroom?" he suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Buck downed his whisky in one and took hold of Ezra's hand. "Let's go."

"I have not yet finished my drink," Ezra complained.

"Ezra," there was a mixture of warning, excitement and frustration in that one word, and Ezra picked all of those emotions up instantly. So, he too, up ended his glass and followed his lover toward the back of the house.

+ + + + + + +

Chris' spare bathroom was plain and functional. The walk in shower was a generous size however and there was more than enough room for two men. Buck noted the pile of fresh towels and the tube of lube on the shelf under the mirror. Familiar with the shower, Buck set the controls to a setting he knew to be comfortable, and turned on the water before he started to shed clothes. Ezra took slightly longer to undress because he refused to leave his clothes on the floor where they fell and what was more, he refused to leave Buck's on the floor either. By the time he entered the shower Buck had already dealt with the most intimate part of the job and was methodically soaping his chest and under arms.

"Let me," was all Ezra said. Not even waiting for an answer, he took the wash cloth from Buck and set about his task.

Ezra finished what Buck had started; he soaped, massaged and then rinsed his lover's chest and arms, then he moved to clean his powerful shoulders. He worked the soap over and back in a figure of eight pattern; watching the way the soapy water ran down the Two Blood's spine and disappeared between the twin globes of his tight ass. He continued with the back of his legs, running his hands up and down the long legs, feeling the hard muscles, letting his fingers rise up to linger just below the heavy balls hanging low in their velvet soft sac. Finally he began to wash his lover's groin.

Buck had said nothing, he just stood still, lifting and moving his limbs to facilitate Ezra's ministrations. Now he reached one hand down to stroke Ezra's cheek, making him look up.

"Not there, not yet," he instructed.

+ + + + + + +

Chris and Vin stood under the warm jet of water, bodies pressed close together, hungry mouths exploring, claiming and reclaiming. Hands roamed freely. Their erections were full and hard and needy, close pressed bodies began to move, desire blindly seeking friction, release, fulfilment. Chris' hands slid down Vin's soap slick back, one long finger sliding down between twin globes that parted eagerly for him, brushing over the puckered opening, teasing and exciting.

"Oh Jesus," Vin gasped out, then he suddenly pulled back. "Best stop there, Cowboy, gotta save it fer Bucklin."

"You can get it up twice a night, ya damn near do it three times some nights," Chris protested, his hand still playing with his lover's anus.

Vin gasped and arched his back. "Oh shit, I know …oh God …but …but…"

Chris pushed his soap slick finger in just a fraction. "But what, lover, my own Energiser Bunny?"

"That's fer you, don't know if'n - oh God - I can do it fer Buck, please." With that and more will power than he thought he possessed, he reached around and pulled Chris hand out. Then he ran his own hand down Chris' torso, finally encircling his engorged penis. "When this is over, I promise, I'll show you just how often I can get it up," he teased, then he tilted his head to bestow kisses to the nape of Chris' neck, something that always drove him crazy.

"Careful boy, I need to save it as well, you know," Chris warned.

+ + + + + + +

Ezra stood reluctantly. He had been looking forward to washing what Buck called the 'family jewels'. An act of such intimacy, was an act of love, a bonding, a reinforcement of their love. He frowned as Buck lifted his hands away.

"Get me ready first," he asked softy. For a moment Ezra didn't understand. "For Chris, I want you to be the one." He switched off the water and reached for the lube he had brought with him into the stall. "Please."

Ezra finally understood. As he took the tube, Buck turned his back, moving his legs back and spreading them apart as he braced his hands on the wall. Ezra dropped back down to his knees behind his mate. Laying the tube aside for a moment, he ran his smooth and skilled fingers over the inviting crack before him running one finger down it, smiling at the instant shudder of response his actions produced. Slowly he ran one finger up and down, teasing the perineum each time, knowing he was getting a response. Then he leaned forward, brushing the gentlest of kisses to just the outer rim of his mate's anus.

Buck hadn't expected that. He gasped, fighting the urge to push back. Ezra's tongue brushed over the entrance; it pressed against the opening but didn't enter - not yet.

"Oh please, Ezra, don't torture a man," he gasped.

Ezra didn't respond, his tongue being otherwise engaged. He pressed home, entering just a little way, moving that warm flexible tip, stimulating and teasing, stretching oh so gently. Even as his tongue worked, his skilled fingers stroked the tender skin behind the scrotum. Now he moved his other hand between Buck's spread legs and captured his cock. It was already almost fully hard. It was tempting to continue the rimming and use his hand to bring Buck off, but the objective was to get him stretched and ready, so reluctantly he pulled back and lubed up three fingers. Buck had moaned in disappointment at the loss of the tongue so expertly stimulating him. Now he moaned in pleasure as the first finger entered him. Ezra's other hand continued its attention on the now fully hard cock.

"Oh shit!" Buck suddenly shouted as Ezra found the sweet spot within his lover and massaged it. "Oh shit, don't stop."

One finger was joined by another. Very, very gently Ezra worked his partner open, concentrating on doing a good job; the last thing he wanted was for Buck to get hurt in any way. Nevertheless his ministrations were winding Buck up nicely, he wasn't even aware of his other hand as it pulled, squeezed and stroked. Pre cum now leaked freely, and Buck was actively pushing back as Ezra added a third finger and more lube. Time and time again Ezra hit Buck's prostate, making him shout and buck, thrusting back, craving more contact.

"Ez I'm gonna come, oh my God, I'm…" With that he came, one long powerful jet shot out and hit the tiled wall in front of him, as well as coating Ezra's hand. His arms began to shake, and he sank forward to rest his forehead on the cool tiles.

"See, love, told you we needed to leave cleaning the jewels till last." He grinned down at Ezra still kneeling behind him. "Am I ready now?"

Caught up in the moment Ezra had almost forgotten why they were there. The satisfied smile on his face and his own burgeoning erection died.

"I believe so."

"Sure feels that way."

Ezra stood and hit the water again.

+ + + + + + +

Chris and Vin were in the bed as the others entered the bedroom, looking flushed, fresh from the shower, water still clinging to their hair and fresh towels wound around their waists. The lights in the bedroom had been turned down to a soft glow. It was clear that Vin had been giving Chris a hand job under the covers, he gave Buck a soft smile, one of those long building Vin smiles, that could melt the steeliest heart and made him look ten years younger. Slowly he pulled his hand up from under the covers and, clutching his own towel, stood beside the bed.

"You ready, Cowboy?" Buck asked.

"As I'll ever be. We gonna do this the old fashioned way?"

"Used to work pretty well as I recall." Buck let his towel drop and walked over to the bed.

Standing beside the bed he smiled at his alpha. "You hiding in there or something?" he asked, taking hold of the sheet and pulling it back. "'Sides, I'm the one who's meant to be on the bed."

Chris sat up, his erection jutting out proudly from its nest of golden curls. While Ezra had seen Chris naked, he had never seen him erect and flushed with desire. He moved to the side to get a better look. Buck looked over his shoulder. "What do you think?" he asked cheekily.

"Um, well, I think Mr Tanner is a very lucky man," Ezra replied diplomatically, glancing at Vin and winking.

By now Buck had knelt down on the bed and Chris was moving to stand behind him. Buck beckoned to his mate. Needing no second bidding, Ezra climbed on to the bed, settling beside Buck, close enough to kiss, stroke, nuzzle and fondle. Chris ran a single digit down the crease between Buck's ass cheeks.

"Ready and waiting I see," he commented.

Buck just looked over his shoulder and grinned. Vin, unsure where he fitted in this strange dance, moved to stand beside his lover. As Chris positioned the head of his engorged member at Buck's stretched and slick opening, he found, to his surprise, he was turned on. The hard on he had acquired in the shower had been flagging, now it all but leapt back to life, as he watched the man he loved enter another man. He couldn't help it, his hand pushed down under the towel and took hold of his dick. The towel fell way as his other hand sought out Chris; needing contact, he let his hand caress the broad back of his mate. Chris pushed into Buck, causing the Two Blood to arch and gasp as he was filled and Chris found the centre of his pleasure with unerring accuracy. Even as Chris began to move, Ezra took hold of Buck's face in his two hands and kissed him deeply, all but consuming him in his desperate, frantic claiming.

Buck was pushing back to meet Chris' thrusts, arching his spine, and momentarily losing contact with Ezra.

"Come on Chris, you can do more than that, go for it, harder," he encouraged.

"God, you're so hot," Chris muttered, "… I'd forgotten how it felt." With that Chris sped up, his thrusts coming almost too fast for Buck to match them.

Vin couldn't quite believe how this was affecting him. He suddenly found his hand was damp; his cock was drooling pre cum all over the place. That was no good, he had to save his current erection for Buck, so reluctantly he released the aching shaft and turned his attention to Chris. His lover was flushed, a sheen of perspiration covered his lean frame, his muscles stood out in relief, fine tremors visible as he edged ever closer to the inevitable eruption. Vin wanted to be a part of that climax, he wanted to be a part of the sexual energy the two of them were creating. Ezra and Buck looked like they were eating each other, so he tilted his head to find Chris' gasping, sweat salty mouth and claimed it. When Chris came, it was with Vin's tongue down his throat, his climax so sudden and powerful he almost bit both their tongues. Vin could almost taste his lover's seed as it flowed into the Two Blood below them.

Chris pulled back, twisting his body to drop on to his back beside the Two Blood. Buck pulled away from Ezra to look at the man panting at his side.

"Well?" he asked.

"Oh God, damn, but you're good."

Ezra lay down so his face was almost between them.

"Don't worry, I know he's yours, but it was good, you can't blame a man for enjoying mind blowing sex." He grinned, then looked at Vin. "Shit! I'm glad we aren’t gonna do this often, if I have to fuck you and the 'Energiser Bunny' I'll have a coronary!"

"You ain't never complained yet, old man," Vin countered.

"Well, maybe you should show me some of this energy?" Buck cocked his head back over his shoulder. "My," he commented, eyeing what was about to enter his body.

Vin gave a crooked half smile, ducking his head to look at the man waiting so invitingly for him. Vin knew he was attractive, he had been aware of his power to attract since his adolescence. In school he was attracting women, but he had never been interested in women, thought it had taken him some years to work out what he was interested in. It didn't take him long however, to work out how to get what he really craved. It was so easy, he was always popular, he always had his pick.

Ezra also looked up, made a mental calculation and grinned. "Well, Mr Tanner, you have quite perfected that shy, gauche look, and that is…" He let his gaze drift down to Vin's groin, his cock was a good length, full but not over thick and ramrod straight. "…well, quite impressive."

Vin was proud of his body and his dick in particular, not that he would ever admit it. "You had better?" he asked the other man cockily.

"Every single night," he boasted, leaning back to brush his lips over Buck's shoulder, looking up at Vin through long lashes.

Buck was all but overloading on the smell of sex and arousal that surrounded him. He needed someone and he needed them now. All but whimpering he dropped his head and raised his butt. At the same time he looked down the length of Ezra's fine body, stretched out in front of him, smooth, soft skin over hard muscles just inches from his face.

"Looks like you need some good Buck loving yourself here lover," he commented, eyeing Ezra's own weeping shaft.

Standish needed no second bidding, he moved over to give Buck's skilled and eager mouth access. Before he turned his attention to Ezra, Buck looked back at Vin and winked. "Go on, I'm ready," he encouraged.

Vin lined himself up and entered Buck in one smooth manoeuvre. He was well stretched and still slick, lube mixing with Chris' seed. Since Vin was noticeably thicker than Chris, his entry did stretch Buck more. The tight slickness felt wonderful to Vin, not better than Chris, just different. Buck pushed back, meeting the intrusion willingly.

"Mmmm," Buck murmured as he was filled, moving instinctively, even as he lowered his head to capture Ezra's cock.

Ezra was so desperately in need he practically came off the bed the moment Buck's mouth closed around him. Hands clutching desperately at the sheets, back arching, hips thrusting up into the skilled mouth that now surrounded him, sucking and pulling, overloading his senses.

Chris was still in a post-coital haze. Lying on his back beside Buck, he had a grandstand view as his mate pounded into the Two Blood. His cock might be a spent force for now, but he was still feeling that tingle of arousal.

Buck was past all rational thought, his ass was being filled, prostate pounded repeatedly and his mouth was sucking on the sweetest cock he had ever had. His pulled on Ezra as if he could pull the whole shaft into his mouth and swallow it. In his aroused state, Ezra didn't need much attention to bring him to climax. His stream shot up into Buck's eager mouth before he could give any warning. There was no way he could swallow it all, so he pulled back, collecting what he couldn't swallow in his hand and then, very deliberately, smeared the creamy fluid over his own chest - there would be no misunderstanding about who belonged to whom.

Vin was usually a vocal lover, but had done little more than gasp and grunt; his hands digging into Buck's flanks so hard he would have fingerprint bruises for days. Just seconds after he had milked Ezra dry, Buck felt Vin erupt deep within him. For a while no one moved, then, almost in slow motion, Vin sank down, coming to rest on Buck's broad back. Buck just stayed where he was, supporting Vin's weight, gazing at a flushed and sated Ezra. Ezra let his head drop onto the bed, his breathing shallow and rapid. All this time the new alpha of the Denver Pack, smiled up at his oldest friend and his mate, one long finger absentmindedly stroking the soft hair on Buck's forearm. Vin shifted slightly and his flaccid cock slipped out of Buck. Chris looked over at Buck, and that very moment Buck looked at him. Chris didn't think he had ever seen Buck look so beautiful; bathed in perspiration, flushed, eyes bright and twinkling. The smile on his face spoke of contentment and peace. Finally Chris sat up; he reached out and gently took hold of his lover and, tugging gently, pulled him from his resting place on Buck's back, rolling back as he did until they were spooned together on the bed beside the Two Blood.

"Wow," Vin finally breathed. "… that was hot, so damn hot."

Buck's contented smile became a huge grin. Slowly he pushed himself up until he was sitting on his heels, gazing down at the other three men on the bed. None of them could fail to notice his prominent erection.

Vin, pressed contentedly back against Chris, eyed the long thick shaft. "I thought you and Ez …in the shower …didn't you?" he asked.

"Yeah, we did," Ezra confirmed with undisguised pride.

"Shit, I can't do that," Vin admitted, "… well, not that fast."

"Looks like someone needs some help," Chris observed. Slowly he untangled himself from Vin and sat up beside Buck. "Well, stud, what do you say? Want some help?"

Buck tilted his head to look, not at Chris, but at Ezra. "Wouldn't say no," he conceded.

Ezra took the invitation, moving to kneel beside his lover, instantly joining his lips with Buck, pressing his tongue into the all too inviting mouth, tasting the residual of his own cum. Chris' hand dropped down, his palm spread out over Buck's chest and slid down until he finally encountered the erection, where it closed around the shaft. Vin didn't want to be left out, so he moved off the bed to stand behind the three men kneeling on the bed. He started to kiss Chris' back and shoulders, moving to nibble and suck at his ears and shoulder, finally he reached his lips. All the time one hand was ghosting over Buck's spine, running down to his ass. By now Ezra's lips and hands were exploring every inch of his lovers upper body, brushing gentle kisses, nuzzles, small bites, to his neck, ear lobes, shoulder, collar bone, chest and nipples. Vin's fingers hand moved down, running down between the invitingly spread ass cheeks to find the tender, receptive patch of skin between anus and balls. He was stroking it, the movement of his arm providing friction against the spread buttocks.

Buck lifted his head, gasping in air just to stay conscious, as these three men pleasured him. His body hummed, alive with sensation. His hands reached out, fists opening and closing blindly, seeking, searching, for anything to hold on to. Suddenly he was closing on something, dimly aware that it was Ezra's hand. The hand around his aching cock had been pumping him expertly, now Chris stepped up the pace, in response he began lift himself up and down on his heels, thrusting into Chris' hand. He came with a shout of sheer joy, his back arching, Ezra's lips on his, Vin's expert fingers fondling his balls.

+ + + + + + +

It took them some time to return to the land of the rational, then to untangle their boneless, unresponsive bodies. Vin propped himself up on one elbow; he was lying behind Chris, the two of them were facing Ezra, who was pressed up against Buck.

"What happens now?" he asked the Two Blood.

"I hunt," came the simple response.

"When do you have to go?" Ezra asked, tightening his hold on the strong arm wrapped around him.

"Soon."

"Can we wash?" Chris asked from his position in Vin's embrace.

"If you need to freshen up, a quick shower shouldn't be a problem, just don't use any soap, not 'till this is all over."

Only five minutes later Buck pushed himself off the bed. "Already?" Ezra asked.

"Yup, best get on."

"I'll come and see you off." Ezra rose to join him.

"We'll all come," Chris confirmed.

+ + + + + + +

The three tired, sated and naked men stood on the porch and watched the huge wolf lope off into the night. Long after the wolf had been swallowed up by the darkness, Ezra still stood there.

"He'll be alright," Chris assured, coming back out onto the porch, now dressed in a pair of black 501's. He draped an afghan over Ezra's naked shoulders.

"I know, I know, I just wish…" Ezra was still looking away toward the mountains.

"You wish you could be with him, at least see him," Chris finished for Ezra.

"Yeah." Ezra reluctantly turned away and disappeared into the ranch house.

Part 12

Buck ran freely, with great, ground eating strides, eating up the mountainside, working off any stiffness or soreness he had picked up during his submission to Chris and Vin. He needed to make a kill; Vin had offered to take a rifle and a night scope and shoot whatever he needed. But that was no good, this had to be his kill, and his alone. Not that he wasn't up for some help. Along the shore of a small lake that was really not much more than a pond, Chris had put out some feed; this was where the local deer came to drink, normally just before dawn. It was a good half hour's run up to the lake and it would take him twice that, dragging a carcass, to get back. When he reached the lake, he found a spot downwind, where he was well covered; there he settled to wait. The local deer were used to finding cattle feed around the lake. Chris - displaying a sentimental side he would deny existed to his dying day - would bring up a sack or two in particularly bad winter weather.

Sure enough, just as the sky began to pale, the deer came down to drink. Buck watched them intently; he wanted a lame one, partly because it would make the kill easier and partly because it would be doing the poor thing a favour of sorts, a swift bite to the neck had to be better than slow starvation in a Colorado winter. Finally he spotted the perfect quarry. A yearling from the size of it, which was also good - he had to get the body back to the ranch on his own. It was limping heavily, there was no way to know why and he didn't care, injured it would never survive the winter anyway. Keeping himself low to the ground, hidden behind the long grass and downwind, he edged sideways until he was in line with the hapless animal. Then he began to creep forwards. There was no way he could ambush the deer, but that was not his plan. Suddenly one of the other deer raised its head and sniffed the air, others followed, finally one looked around and, seeing a huge wolf sneaking up on them, took off at full speed. Once one went, they all went, as Buck knew they would.

He set off after the young wounded deer. His long, ground-eating stride was remarkably economical and he could run at the same speed for long periods of time. Little by little he would simply wear his victim down, pouncing when it dropped from sheer exhaustion. This, however would be a short hunt. The wounded animal began to falter after only a few minutes, Buck began to gain rapidly after that, just seven minutes after the deer first began to run he was beside his chosen victim. Once, twice, three times he tried to close his powerful jaws around the slender neck and three times it evaded him, but not the fourth. Hanging on for all he was worth, Buck sank his razor sharp teeth into the soft flesh under the deer's neck, and punctured the main artery. With a heavy wolf hanging from her neck, and haemorrhaging blood, the doe didn't last long. As she stopped struggling and dropped, he prepared to deliver the kill bite. With lightning speed he released the throat and snapped his teeth down on the back of the deer's neck. As he bit down he felt and heard the animal's spine break. Instantly the last vestiges of struggle left his prize and it slumped, boneless and lifeless. For a long minute Buck held on, savouring the power of life and death that he held in his jaws, then he slowly lowered the doe to the ground. He stood over his kill, lord of all he surveyed, and throwing his head back, he howled.

Down in the valley six men looked up from their coffee as they sat on the porch and waited for Buck to return.

The blood, warm and fresh, tasted good, sweeter than he remembered. It had been a long time since he had hunted to kill and he had forgotten the potent, intoxicating flavour of fresh blood. He was tempted to sink his teeth into the sweet meat on the deer's flank and feast - but he didn't. Digging his teeth once more into the already ravaged neck of his kill and straddling it, he began to drag the carcass down hill. It was hard going; even though it was only a yearling and a doe, the deer was heavy and the terrain rough. It didn't help that he didn't hunt often, he wasn't well practised at dragging a dead animal for the best part of five miles. As he struggled on it occurred to Buck that in recent years he had become more and more distanced from his Two Blood heritage. He almost never hunted, he only sang to the Hunter's Moon two or three times a year, and making the change was something that had to be carefully planned and done in secret. All that was wrong; sure, all Two Blood lived secret lives to a degree, but Buck had almost abandoned his wolf side. No one should deny what he was, especially something that was at the very core of his being.

+ + + + + + +

Zac Miller was seriously pissed. How the hell had it all suddenly become so complicated? What the hell did this loner think he was playing at? Loners were rejects, outsiders, cripples, and sell outs - Two Blood who denied their wolf side and lived as One Blood, never changing. No feeble, lone reject was going to stand between him and his ambition to claim his own territory, maybe even form his own clan. Denver was the juiciest vacant territory in the whole damn country, and how was this loser trying to keep him from it? By calling a bunch of mangy, weak, feeble One Blood ‘pack’! How dare he? Sure, some packs had One Blood, but they were mostly females, mothers of cubs. There was no way you could have a pack with only one Two Blood.

Well, if the poor fool wanted to fight, let him try. Zac had fought for dominance so many times he couldn't remember them all and yet here he still was, and if the One Bloods didn't like the result, well, they'd find out just what a pack could do. He smiled to himself as he rode along. That was the wonderful thing about living under One Blood law, no one came looking for a wolf for murder, you could just leave the evidence of your handiwork lying around.

He turned his Harley off the road and up the driveway to the ranch house. The rest of the pack, minus the youngest female, who had remained behind with the cubs, followed. As the track widened out, the pack spread out into an arrowhead formation and sped up so that they arrived in a cloud of dust, with a great roar of engines.

The six One Blood members of the Denver Pack stood in a line in front of the house. Ezra waved a hand in front of his face and coughed dramatically, as the dust cloud wafted over them.

"There seems to have been a shift in the wind," he commented as the bikes all came to a stop, though their engines continued to rev loudly.

Zac surveyed the men before him. The tall blond, dressed from head to toe in black, was the alpha, no mistaking him, and he posed some threat. The tall black man was impressive physically but his body language was not that of a dominant, he would wait and then react, he wouldn't initiate. Beside him was an imposing older man, he was clearly a threat, tall, strong, experienced. To the right of the alpha was a slightly shorter, younger man, his hair and body language was that of the People; his stance, though apparently relaxed and slouched, was actually tight with tension, his eyes taking in every detail. He was a credible threat. Beside him was a smaller man, who, though wearing casual clothing, had an air of money about him; he was groomed and neat. Fear and apprehension radiated off him, Zac dismissed him as a weak peacock. Lastly there was a boy, an adolescent, not much more than a cub, too young and too small to be a threat. But there was no Two Blood.

"Where is he?" the leader of the Blood Moon pack demanded.

"Boy, you mind your manners," Josiah warned.

"Don't talk to me; in fact, don't even look at me - One Blood," Miller sneered.

Sanchez took a step forward, only to freeze and then step back in response to the slightest rise of Chris' hand.

"This is our territory, move on." Chris' voice was low, icy with implied threat. All the time he was eyeing up Miller. He was about Chris' height, broad shouldered; the jeans, white T-shirt and black leather jacket did little to hide a powerful frame. He had dark blonde hair, not dissimilar in colour to Vin's, but where Vin's was long, flowing and soft, this man's hair, while shoulder length, was lank and lifeless. His hooded eyes were hard to see, let alone read.

"One Blood can't be pack." Zac maintained eye contact with Larabee.

"They can if a Two Blood submits..."

The encounter stopped there, as the line of men behind Chris parted and Buck walked in, still dragging the dead deer. He dropped the carcass and padded back and forth in front of the men, eyeing the pack of Two Blood before him. Then he finally came to rest beside Chris with Vin on his other side; he sat down and made the change. Sitting naked beside Chris, he said nothing.

"As I was saying," Chris continued. "…your law says if a Two Blood submits to One Blood, the One Blood can be Pack and the Two Blood can fight on their behalf, true?"

Zac kept his eyes on Buck, kneeling so still and docile beside Chris. "What's the matter with you?" he asked, but Buck just continued to stare at him. "You're a loner, if we liked you, we might have let you join us, you could have had a pack, a real pack." Zac said it, but they both knew he would never have let a dominant Two Blood of Buck's size and age join his pack. "You can't seriously want to be Pack with …with…" He waved his hand dismissively at the rest of Team Seven. "…that! They're One Blood, weak, feeble, they don't understand our ways."

"That's enough!" Chris fumed, "Let's do this."

With that Nathan stepped forward and pulled a knife from his belt, Buck's knife. Chris had never given much thought to the fact that his friend always carried a knife. It was a full size, classic, 'Buck' - naturally - folding hunter's knife. Jackson opened it, locking the blade into position. All evening he had worked on the already sharp blade, first on a whetstone, then on a leather strop; it was now as sharp as any laser cut razor. He stepped up to the kill Buck had just dragged in and knelt down at the animal's haunches. With a deft hand he stripped away the hide and revealed the lean, tender meat below. Then he used the fine blade to cut a wafer thin strip of meat which he handed to Buck, who in turn stood and handed the meat, meat from his kill, to Chris. Nathan had cut the meat so thin it was all but transparent - none of them was too keen on eating raw meat, by cutting it so thin they could at least pretend it was sushi. As Zac and his pack watched, Chris ate the meat. As Nathan cut, Buck presented his new pack with fresh meat, after Chris, Vin, then Josiah, followed by Ezra, Nathan himself and finally JD; the order was no accident.

Buck once more knelt beside Chris; Nathan handed the knife to JD. With his back to the other pack, he gave the nervous young man a smile of reassurance. JD stepped up to stand behind the man he considered his surrogate brother. Buck responded by lifting his head and exposing his vulnerable throat. With a hand he was struggling to keep from trembling, he held the knife to the exposed jugular. Buck sat quite still, but his eyes rose to meet the alpha of the Blood Moon pack. JD glanced to his side and then handed the knife to Nathan. Once he too had held the deadly blade at his friend's neck he handed the knife to Ezra. As he took the blade, Ezra felt physically sick, the idea of holding a knife to the throat of the man he loved was abhorrent to him, but it had to be done and he summoned up all his undercover skills to hide his true emotions. Ezra was followed by Josiah. When he was done, he didn't give the knife to Vin, but simply returned to his place in line.

In one fluid, graceful move Buck stood.

"Yeah, very impressive - you trust them, you're willing to feed them, that isn't submission - not to an alpha," Miller sneered.

"He submitted." Chris' voice was icy with threat and power.

Miller's eyes moved from Buck, to Chris. "Really?" There was clear incredulity in his voice.

"Yes, really."

After staring at Chris a few minutes longer, Zac moved forward. He already knew Buck's scent, and it was all over the man in black, a powerful mix of body odour and sex. As he moved from the alpha to the other man who had not taken the knife, his eyes widened in surprise. He looked from Vin to Chris.

"You are mated to him?"

"I am," Chris confirmed.

Then he looked at Buck. "And you submitted to both of them," he shook his head as he walked back to his pack, but then stopped and looked at Ezra. Stepping closer, he sniffed.

"Do you mind." Ezra waved his hand in front of his face, to ward off some supposed odour.

Zac ignored him and went back to face Buck. "You submitted to them?" he asked again.

"Yes." This was the first time Buck had spoken.

"And you're mated to him?" he pointed at Ezra.

"I am."

"Fuck! It's gonna be a pleasure killin' you. Your kind are a disgrace to all Two Blood!"

"Hey!" JD blurted out indignantly.

"JD, hush," Chris warned, holding up one hand. "So," he turned to Zac. "You accept that we are a pack?"

"Much as it sickens me, yeah, I guess so." Zac stepped back to once more stand in front of his own pack.

"So?" Chris prompted. "You challenging or leaving?"

"Oh yes, I'm challenging! Fuck , yes!"

"Then Buck fights for me." With that Chris stepped back and left Buck standing alone facing the other alpha.

Miller looked at the man before him as an opponent for the first time. Buck was taller than him, but leaner, and while he looked calm the smell of fear was radiating off him.

"Well?" Buck asked, still standing there impassively.

"Let's do this." With that Miller started shedding clothes. The moment he dropped his undershorts Buck held his hand out to Josiah, who still had the knife. Sanchez handed him the weapon handle-first and stepped back with a nod.

Now naked Zac looked at the knife in puzzlement. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked.

"Gettin' ready to fight. What are you doing?"

"What's with the knife, ain't we gonna …"

Buck swung his blade in a practice arch. "No."

"Damn, stupid, fucking, One Blood loving, loners! Shit!" Zac grabbed his boot and pulled out a knife.

+ + + + + + +

Buck's knife had a moderate, straight five inch blade. When Miller pulled a Bowie knife, Ezra barely stifled a gasp, JD didn't. Somehow JD no longer found it odd to see his friend naked, all he could think was how vulnerable Buck looked. Both packs moved back now, forming two shallow semicircles surrounding the two men. Buck swung his blade in a low horizontal arch, forcing Miller to bend and hop backwards to avoid being gutted, but he countered quickly, bringing his own huge blade back, aiming at Buck's forearm. It was a classic counter attack and Buck avoided it by spinning away. He continued to spin, bringing his arm around, knife in hand, to slice into the back of Zac's biceps.

"First blood, Zacky, wanna quit now?" Buck moved around his opponent who was trying to ascertain how bad the injury was and keep Buck in sight at all times.

"Fuck you!"

"Not at chance, that's why we're doing this." With that Buck made a lunge for Miller's already damaged arm.

While Buck had mobility and reach over Miller, the pack leader's larger blade cancelled out the extra reach and he was physically stronger. That said, some of the Denver Pack's fears were being allayed, Buck clearly knew how to fight with a knife. Chris even found himself wondering how he got to be so proficient. He said he'd never fought for dominance, so it wasn't fighting Two Blood, yet clearly at some time, he had relied on a knife to keep himself safe or even keep himself alive - not a nice thought. Larabee glanced at Ezra, wondering if he knew the truth, and realised it was impossible to know. Beside him, Chris could hear Josiah; he was speaking quietly, if Chris concentrated, for just a second, he could work out that the big man was saying 'Hail Mary's' one after another under his breath. That Josiah had a strong faith they all knew, but he had long left his Catholic upbringing behind; that he fell back on it now was a measure of his fear. On his other side he could feel Vin moving with their Two Blood, anticipating the moves and instinctively weaving and turning in his head to avoid them, looking for openings. The movements were so small as to be all but imperceptible to anyone but Chris. Ezra stood rigid with tension, his face showed no emotion, his body radiated concern. And at the end of the line JD was all movement; like Vin he was shadowing Buck's moves, but unlike the Texan, he made no attempt to hide it, his shoulders bobbing and weaving with his friend's. Chris was about to look at Nathan when Zac dodged a sweeping cut of Buck's and managed to drag his knife along Buck's ribs just under his left arm.

Blood ran freely from the cut, making a great curtain of red, yet Buck didn't so much as flinch. Nathan was now moving, prowling along the line of men, trying to gauge how bad the injury was.

"Well?" Chris hissed as Jackson passed in front of him.

"Not bad, scraped the ribs I reckon, looks worse than it is." With that Nathan continued along the line to retake his position next to Josiah.

Chris looked over at the other pack. Though they looked relaxed and unconcerned, he could almost feel the tension building. They had expected this to be a very short fight.

Suddenly there was a flurry of movement; Zac brought his arm up to block Buck's knife arm while swinging his body around to give him clear access to Buck's vulnerable belly. Quick as a flash, and with a move that Vin would have been proud of, the tall Two Blood swung away from the blade and kicked out with one long leg, catching Miller mid-thigh. The stockier man staggered but didn't drop. Seizing the small advantage, and using his extra height, Buck darted forward and grabbed his opponent's right wrist. Even as Zac was registering what had happened, Buck pulled, off-balancing his opponent. As Zac stumbled forward, he brought the heel of his right hand, with the butt end of his knife handle in it, into Miller's shoulder with such force that his knees buckled. Buck drove home his advantage, swinging his fist over in an arch to impact with his opponent's jaw with a sickening crack. Miller's head snapped back and he dropped back on to the dusty ground.

By now Buck was straddling Zac, holding him down with his knees. He might be able to fight with a knife but he preferred his fists. He tossed his own knife toward his pack. Keeping hold of Miller's wrist, smashing it against the ground a few times until his grip slackened and the knife fell free, this too, he tossed away.

"I do not want to kill you," Buck snarled. "Do you understand that?" There was no response from his opponent. "I said, do you understand?" His fist slammed into the younger man's jaw once again.

Zac understood alright, understood all too well that living as a One Blood had made this loner weak, in mind if not in body. He understood he was down, but he was not out and he would not yield. So, desperate as he was not to lose, for to lose would mean losing everything, not just the territory, he used the only weapon he had left. He knew it was wrong, Pack Law forbade it, but he didn't care. In his mind Buck was so far beyond the Two Blood pale that he was no longer under the protection of Pack Law.

Before Buck or anyone could register what had happened, it was a wolf below him, a huge, black, shaggy-coated wolf. Buck was so shocked, that as the wolf struggled and squirmed to get out from under him he lost his grip, and it got free.

"He can't do that!" JD bellowed, taking two steps forward even before he realised he had done it.

"JD!" Chris warned, then the alpha of the Denver Pack turned his gaze not on man and wolf, but on the Blood Moon Pack. They looked as shocked as his men, horrified even. A girl took a step forward.

"What are you doing?" she called to the wolf, but it was too late. In its struggle to get free from Buck, it had raked its long claws over his chest and now, having rolled free, it charged.

Buck was still in shock, trying to get his confused, pain and fatigue befuddled brain to take some action when the wolf lunged at him. Buck swung at him, bringing both his hands together in one clenched fist. The wolf took the impact on the side of the head, but it didn't throw him off completely. As he fell away, his snapping jaws found Buck's thigh and his needle sharp teeth tore down into the naked flesh, gouging out great chunks of meat and muscle as they did. Buck threw back his head and screamed in agony; no longer able to block the pain, he dropped and instinctively wrapped a hand around the ragged open wound.

"Stop this or I will!" Chris bellowed at the other pack.

"Buck!" Ezra's voice was unmistakable. Buck registered his lover's cry of distress and alarm and saw Zac getting ready to charge at him again, teeth bared in a snarl, blood - his blood - making the dark fur around the muzzle glisten. Buck was on his knees, his injured leg all but straight, one hand clamped around the wounded area, trying in vain to stem the flow of blood. His other hand was on the ground, helping to keep him from keeling over all together. It had come to rest on something hard. Instinctively he closed his hand around the object as someone, a woman, shouted,

"Look out!"

Buck turned and lifted his arm just in time. For a millisecond the low dawn sunlight glinted on the polished metal and then Zac Miller impaled himself on his own Bowie knife.

Part 13

Buck remained where he was, his arm outstretched, the huge knife buried to the hilt in the wolf's chest. Zac raised his yellow eyes; there was no hatred, no malice or revulsion in them, only surprise. And then they closed and he slumped, the dead weight dragging Buck's arm down.

"No!" the girl shrieked. She ran forward and sank to her knees beside the wolf.

Buck slowly let go of the knife and pulled his hand back. All the time he kept his eyes on the young woman. Her hands explored the wolf's body, searching for a sign of life.

"No, no, no, no," she wailed.

Buck found the scent of the man he had just killed all over her and the unmistakable scent of cubs. He hadn't, he realised, just killed her mate but the father of her children as well.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean … this isn't how it was supposed to happen, I only…" he stammered out. All he had ever wanted to do was make Zac back down, he had never intended to kill him. By now the rest of the Rogue pack were gathered around their former leader.

"Is he...?" Franco asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Buck replied. "Nate?"

The Denver Pack were standing behind Buck, Jackson bent down slowly, wary of the Two Bloods watching his every move. His skilled hands quickly searched but found no sign of life. Dark brown eyes, eyes that were filled with compassion, looked up at the young woman before him. Seeing her desperation, he wanted very badly to give her some good news, but there was none.

"I'm sorry my dear, he's gone."

She gave a great hitching sob and buried her head in the thick coat of her mate. Chris was now standing beside Nathan.

"Nate, get Buck inside. Josiah help him." The order was clear and the tone made it plain this was no time to argue. "Ezra, go with them," he called over his shoulder.

Ezra needed no second bidding, his desire, his need, to be with Buck was almost overwhelming. He moved instantly to kneel beside his naked and bleeding mate.

"Are you…?" he asked, all attempt to hide his concern gone.

"I'm okay." Buck looked up into desperate emerald eyes and managed a smile.

Ezra looked over at the young woman, hanging on so desperately to the dead wolf. He hated himself for it, but he was glad it was her mourning and not him. Almost as if she had read his mind she looked up, and she understood.

"It's not your fault," she whispered, looking at Buck, then she looked at Ezra. "It's our way."

Ezra nodded his understanding; Buck turned away from his handiwork, resting his head on Ezra's shoulder.

"Come on, let's get you outta here," Nathan encouraged.

"JD, see if Nate needs anything set up inside," Chris instructed.

JD's raven black hair bobbed once and he darted over to Jackson. There was a brief conversation and then he sprinted for the house. Josiah helped Buck to stand and then, with Ezra in attendance and supported between Josiah and Nathan, he limped into the house. Only as he mounted the steps to the porch, did he look back - briefly, then he disappeared inside.

Chris and Vin, now the undisputed alphas of Denver, faced the intruding pack. The stocky blond whom they had spoken to outside the saloon stepped forward.

"We'll be going now," he stated simply.

Chris said nothing.

Two young men picked up the dead wolf and carried him to the Norton, placing him in the sidecar, where they covered him up. The girl, now more composed, climbed onto her bike beside her dead mate. The man, who appeared to have assumed the role of alpha, walked over to the pile of abandoned clothing and picked it up. As he did, he pulled a simple black leather pouch from inside the jacket.

"To the victor the spoils," he said bitterly, tossing the pouch to the ground at Chris' feet.

+ + + + + + +

Once inside the house, Buck pulled his arm from Nathan's shoulder and wrapped it around Ezra. The two men held on to each other, in silence, for what seemed like hours. Eventually Buck raised his eyes to find himself looking over Ezra's shoulder into Josiah's compassionate, pale blue eyes. Reluctantly he uncurled his arm from his mate and wrapped it around the big man's neck. Sanchez had hugged his teammate before, but somehow this was different, he felt a closeness he had never sensed before. The feel of Buck's warm, naked body pressed close to his, seemed so right, so natural, that, heedless of the man's injures, he pulled him closer. Buck smiled contentedly, a smile that touched Sanchez's soul. They had done a good thing; as he looked into the eyes before him, he knew they had healed a soul. Almost in slow motion Josiah tilted his head and brushed a gentle kiss to Buck's lips. So wrapped up in the embrace was Buck, that he hadn't even registered that Nathan was kneeling at his side, applying a pressure bandage to his torn thigh. He did register JD, who was now standing beside him. Releasing one arm from Josiah, he pulled JD into an embrace.

"I was so scared, when he changed and charged I didn't…" JD knew he was babbling, but he couldn't seem to stop, he was just so relieved to have Buck safe, he couldn't help it. Buck rested his chin on JD's head, holding the younger man against his chest. Somehow JD didn't feel even slightly embarrassed hugging Buck so closely, it felt right, it felt nice.

"Come on, we need to get you laid down," Nathan's words were soft, but there was no disguising the urgency in his voice.

As Nathan helped him on to the bed, he took the time to run a tender hand down the side of Buck's cheek. "I'm gonna take care of you, don't worry," he whispered.

Buck smiled, turning his head a little to get more contact with the large, yet tender hand. "I know."

Ezra hovered nervously, while Nathan worked. By the time Chris and Vin walked in, Buck lay on the bed, under a sheet, his legs raised up on a stack of pillows; he was looking distinctly pale. Ezra sat on the bed beside him, his arm under Buck's neck.

"How is he?" Chris asked.

Nathan looked worried. "The scrapes down his chest I can deal with, I've closed the knife wound to the ribs with closure strips - for now, but it needs stitching. However…"

"What?"

"That leg needs to be closed by a doctor, he needs antibiotics and a drip, he's already in mild shock."

"Hello? I am here you know?" Buck muttered, but in truth, he felt so rotten he didn't have the energy to protest more.

Chris looked at his friend, taking in the red stain on the sheet covering his legs; if the blood was seeping through with whatever dressing Jackson had applied, it had to be bad. "Right, so we're on our the way to the hospital." Chris turned to leave.

"No," Buck called.

"No?" Chris asked.

"How the hell am I gonna explain these injuries to the hospital - let alone the ATF? Nate, can't you do it, please?"

Buck was right, they could claim a dog attacked him, but that wouldn't explain the knife wound. Of course Ezra could not doubt come up with some story, but he didn't want to go to hospital; he wanted to be with his pack, his family, he needed to be with Ezra, not stuck in some sterile hospital room, the very smell of which would make him feel sick.

Nathan looked back. "I'm sorry Buck, but that leg needs to be seen by a doctor and I can't prescribe the medication you need. And doctors don't make house calls these days."

"Vets do." Everyone turned to face Vin, who was leaning against the doorframe.

+ + + + + + +

Rachel Levy's Explorer skidded to a stop outside Chris' ranch house. Larabee was a good customer and he had said the dog was bleeding badly so she had driven over immediately. It didn't hurt that Larabee, who was standing on the porch waiting for her, was drop dead gorgeous. She wasn't a beauty and she would never grace any catwalk, so reckoned her chances of winning a man like him were zero. Of course Larabee seemed far more interested in a certain young Texan who seemed to be at the ranch every time she called.

Why is it always the cute ones? she asked herself, as she pulled her bag from the car and mounted the porch steps.

"In here." Chris opened the front door for her.

As they approached the guestroom, she got the first impression something was wrong. When she saw her patient, she stopped dead.

"That is not a dog."

"I know, he belongs to an old buddy of my father's, I look after him sometimes." Chris could see she wasn't convinced. "He's totally tame, lived as part of the family since he was a cub - honest."

She regarded the huge wolf on the bed. He wasn't looking good, an IV running into his left foreleg and a huge, blood soaked dressing across his left upper hind leg.

"Who did the IV?" she asked.

"I did ma'am," Nathan admitted. "I'm a paramedic. He was as good as gold, stayed still, didn't so much as whimper. He's a good wolf. Aren’t you boy?"

In an attempt to look like the perfect canine patient, Buck managed to flick his tail a few times, though in truth he now felt very weak and more than a little sick.

"Well okay, but if he bites me, I'm gonna sue your ass off, Larabee."

"Fair enough Rachel."

"Do we know what happened to him?" She asked as she started to make a preliminary examination.

"No ma'am, he went off at dawn, to do what a wolf has to do, limped back in about an hour later," Vin explained.

Nathan and the vet worked together for over an hour. All the time Ezra sat on the bed beside Buck, stroking his soft neck fur and whispering encouragement. Since they weren't in a properly equipped veterinary surgery, Levy wasn't prepared to use a full anaesthetic, so Buck got by with just a local. The chest wound, as Nathan had told them, was fairly superficial; the leg wound wasn't, but once the worst of the internal bleeds were tied off, it was a simple - if time consuming - job to put in the numerous external stitches to close the ragged wound.

"Okay, that should do it, I've put the first dose of antibiotic in the IV, that will do him for today. Are you happy you can get a tablet down him, or do you want me to leave you suppositories?"

Buck heard that, he lifted his head and managed a weak growl at Nathan.

"Well ma'am…" Nathan was trying not to laugh, "I reckon I can get the tablet down him, but if he starts to play up I'll give you a call, get the 'other' kind."

There was another weak growl when Doctor Levy said she was going to put a sedative in the IV as well. But this time the others were on her side. "Now boy, you need the rest, so just be quiet," Jackson scolded.

"For me, my love," Ezra whispered in his ear.

"I swear that wolf understands everything I say," the vet commented, as she finished adding the medication to the drip and started to pack up her equipment, shaking her head. "You do know that chest wound isn't a bite - don't you?"

"I know, reckon he got into a fight with a dog, the owner probably tried to break it up," Nathan lied smoothly.

"Must have been one big dog," she commented.

By the time she was at the bedroom door, Buck was asleep. Ezra lay behind him, one arm resting over the wolf's shoulder.

"Well Chris, that was not my usual call out, I give you that," she admitted to Larabee as he helped her load up the car. "I'll put the bill in the post."

"I appreciate you coming Rachel."

The vet turned to face the tall rancher. "Your friend, Ezra is it?" Chris nodded. "He seems very close to the wolf."

"He's very special to all of us, but he and Ezra are especially close, they have an …understanding."

"So where's Buck today - wait, don't tell me - he's not back from last night's date?"

Chris smiled. "Something like that."

"Just not the same around here without him flirting with me all the time." Rachel shook her head; there was something going on she didn't understand, but frankly she didn't want to understand, so she just got into her car and headed home.

+ + + + + + +

Since he had fallen asleep in wolf form, that was how Buck remained as he slept the day away. Only when the sedative wore off did he begin to stir.

"Hello," Ezra greeted as Buck opened one eye. Buck yipped feebly in response; he then gave Ezra's face a good licking. "Much as I appreciate it, I'd rather be kissed - Nathan thinks it won’t pull the stitches out, but you know be…"

Even before he had finished speaking Buck was before him, a little pale, a little battered, but there and alive and safe. Ezra leaned further over to capture his beloved's lips. A long, slow, very deep, kiss that made Buck feel one hundred per cent better. Finally Ezra pulled away.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"Honestly?"

"Yes, I would appreciate the truth."

"I'm sore, and thirsty, and hungry, and I love you."

"I'll get Mr Jackson, do not try to get up until I return."

"Would I?"

"Most assuredly."

+ + + + + + +

Nathan said Buck could be moved into the living room, on the couch. He had to keep the IV until the next morning but he could and should drink and eat, to build up his strength again.

"So, boys," Buck began from his new bed. "…what are we eating?"

"Venison - what else," Josiah explained with a grin, as he headed to the kitchen, dragging Nathan along with him.

While they cooked, Chris brought the leather pouch Franco had tossed to him, over to Buck.

"They left this for you."

Buck frowned, but didn't try to pick it up. "What is it?"

"Papers on his Harley, it's in the barn, guess it's yours now."

Buck shook his head. "No, you’re the alpha, I fought for you."

Chris looked down at his old friend. Somehow until then he hadn't really taken in what all this meant, how being the alpha was different to being the leader. As team leader he would never have accepted the bike - Buck had fought, he had prevailed, the bike was his. But as the alpha it was his by right, Buck didn't fight for himself, he was doing his alpha's bidding; he was serving the pack. The bike was not his, it wasn't Buck's, it was theirs. Slowly he nodded.

"Very well, it's our bike."

"Hey cowboy, we can go out together - matching bikes!" Vin exclaimed happily, throwing an arm around Chris.

"Together? That heap of crap you call a bike don't even go!"

"Now come on Chris, you know I got her to turn over only last mouth, you just gotta have a little faith, is all."

For all his bravado, Buck was asleep almost before the meal was over. Nathan told them not to worry, sleep, healing sleep he called it, was the best thing for him. Ezra became worried when he detected a slight fever the next morning, but Nathan told him not to fret; it was, he said, to be expected. And for all that time, the rest of the pack stayed close to him, making him feel safe and reinforcing the bond. There were hugs and touches, even kisses. Nathan, JD and especially Josiah became more and more relaxed with the physical side of the pack life. On Monday, Buck moved back to Ezra's apartment. Nathan insisted he stay off his leg and rest for at least two days. This new infirmity was explained away as, a fall from the corral fence and catching his leg on a nail. While having someone stay with him at the apartment might have looked strange to outsiders, the rest of the pack managed to ensure he was never alone for more than two hours, and they fell into the habit of eating their evening meals together. While Buck was off work. they all assembled at the apartment to eat. After he returned to work, they started to eat together at the Saloon, lunch was eaten together in the break room or at the local diner, and eventually even breakfast became a communal affair, taken together at a coffee shop around the corner from the federal building. Most weekends were spent at the ranch, from mid day Saturday until Sunday evening. Chris even started looking into converting the loft into two large bedrooms and a bathroom.

+ + + + + + +

Three weeks after the fight at the ranch, the seven members of the Denver Pack found themselves outside the Dragon Studio.

"We all ready?" Chris asked.

"Um, I guess," JD admitted nervously.

"Don't get cold feet now kid, this was all your idea," Vin scolded.

Buck threw an arm over JD's shoulder. "And it was a damn good idea too. Look, even Nate's gonna do it."

"Yeah, only after he interrogated the owner for like a hundred hours!" JD countered.

Nathan had not been exactly enthusiastic about the prospect of getting a tattoo. JD had suggested the tattoo as a way to mark them as 'Pack'. Vin and Josiah both had tattoos already and agreed instantly. Buck thought it was a wonderful idea. And his enthusiasm, and only that, made Ezra agree. Chris had some reservations but went along with it. Nathan was persuaded, on condition that he chose the studio. The Dragon Studio was as far from the traditional tattoo parlour as it was possible to get. This was where the bright young things came to get the latest in fashionable body art and jewellery.

Josiah had found a design, a stylised wolf, from the art of the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. He had altered the design to better reflect their situation. Three artists would work simultaneously, so it would take just over an hour for all seven of them to get the tattoo. It was about an inch and a half square, and would be placed on their left hip.

"It's gonna hurt, isn't it?" JD asked as he psyched himself up to go in.

"No pain, no gain," Buck reminded. He put his other arm around Ezra and guided the two of them through the door, the others following in his wake.

+ + + + + + +

By the grace of God, it had been a quiet time at work, but they were now on a big case. So far it had been a paper trail and some very routine and boring surveillance, but the paper trail was leading toward a legitimate shipment of explosives, passing through Denver next week, that was likely to be hijacked. Chris needed his team fit and ready for action. It would have been logical to get the tattoos the week before, but Buck insisted it had to be this particular Friday. He refused to explain, promising it would all become clear. They had gone to the studio straight from work, everyone expected to adjourn to the saloon for their evening meal. But Buck said there wasn't time, he insisted they grab burgers to keep them going and head out to the ranch.

Ezra protested at having to eat fast food, but went along with the others. On arriving at the ranch. Buck headed out to the barn as soon as he was out of the truck.

"What are you doing?" Chris called.

"Come on guys, we need to get the horses ready." Buck walked on. It was cold, there was frost in the air already and in less than an hour it would be dark.

"Stop!" Chris command.

Buck froze where he was and turned. "Please guys, this is important - trust me?"

"It's not a matter of trust, it's dark - almost - too dark to ride safely," Vin argued.

"Horses can see where they're going, I'll lead you, don’t worry."

"And how will you…" And there he stopped, it was still hard to get used to the idea that Buck could see in the dark, among other things.

Ezra strode past the two alphas to join his mate, the others waited to see what Chris would do.

"Alright, but if anyone gets hurt - man or beast - it's your fault," he finally conceded.

+ + + + + + +

Buck lead his pack, like some Wild West posse, up into the mountains to the same rock outcrop he had gone to the day he decided to ask them to become a pack. There, below them, the lights of Denver twinkled in the night, above them in the crystal clear sky the full moon shone.

"Today is exactly 84 days since I stepped in that damn trap," Buck announced. "I was up in the mountains that night too, because this is the Hunter's Moon," he explained.

"And?" Chris prompted.

Buck shrugged. "Just follow my lead."

With that he stepped up onto the rock outcrop, threw back his head and let loose a long single note. It rose steadily and then he held it for what seemed like an age. It wasn't a howl, it was something apart, a unique sound. Finally he stopped; for a moment; he stood there, gazing up at the moon, before risking a look at his pack.

"Cool," JD gushed.

"Come on then, have a go." JD joined him, it took him a couple of goes to get the right technique, but he joined his lighter voice to Buck's, singing a different note. One by one the others joined in, each singing a different note, Nathan's voice, by far the lowest underpinned everything. Together they made music, a strange primeval harmony of voices rising on the still, cold air. The Denver Pack had arrived and this was their territory, others take note.

Three Months Later

Franco Henry had taken his pack back on the road. No one challenged him when he assumed the role of alpha. As was his duty he also took on the role of father and protector to Zac's cubs, until their mother mated again, returned to her home pack or died. Those of the Blood Moon Pack who had wanted to settle, had returned to their home packs. New recruits had joined the Rogue Pack, as they once more wandered the country. After three months they were down in the Deep South. One of the cubs was sick. So they sought out the closest Two Blood doctor. It turned out to be the doctor belonging to the biggest, richest, most powerful clan in the whole of North America. To say that Franco was nervous, as he approached the formidable alpha of this small empire, was an understatement of the highest order.

"I'm told one of your cubs needs a doctor?" he asked the young alpha.

"Yes sir, if that would be possible."

"Naturally." He made a small gesture with one hand and instantly someone took Kelly and her whimpering cub to find the doctor.

"Now, while we wait for them, tell me of your travels, young man." The words were polite, even welcoming, but that was all they were, words. Franco was in no doubt that if he did or said just one thing to anger the alpha, he would regret it, possibly permanently. He was a tall man, with a strong, clean jaw line and a full head of hair that was probably once very dark but was now turning grey. He could have been any age from mid fifties to early seventies, but however old he was; he was in very good shape. Franco told him about the lone Two Blood in Denver and of his One Blood pack.

"Tell me about him."

Franco swallowed; this was the first time the man had interrupted him. "Um… well, they called him Buck, I don't know what his other name was. He, well, I think all of them, worked for the federal government."

"Interesting."

"Yes… well, he was tall, mid thirties, dark hair - kinda wavy."

"Eyes?"

"I'm not sure, dark."

"And he fought well?"

Franco nodded. "Zac was good, very good, but this guy killed him."

The clan alpha nodded then stood. "Thank you, you have been most helpful, be sure your pack stock up on supplies before you leave."

Henry was shocked; offering to feed a visiting pack was rare, supplying them almost unheard of. He stood to face the other men. "That is very generous, sir."

Jon Doe watched the Rogue Pack leave, the cub diagnosed with an ear infection and dosed up on antibiotics and eardrops. He smiled; it had been too many years, he had thought the trail cold. Time to finally bring the prodigal son home, where he belonged. As he turned back to the house, he was already making plans to travel north.

The End

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