Mike knew that the forest that he had gone into was owned by Ben. He also knew that if Ben found his wallet he would be accused. The town wasn't as fanatic with keeping animals alive as Ben was but most of them were wiccan. He hated witchcraft. It had been his wife's idea to move to the town and after finding that the forest was full of wolves he had played the loving husband. Granted he was grateful his wife was now happy and selling the wolf fur he was catching was making him a fortune. He had successfully become a respected member of the community so when rumours of the wolves being killed started spreading no-one had accused him. He swore again. He couldn't afford to loose his cover. He couldn't believe his own stupidity. Well at least he could go and get the wolf he had shot, after all the had a brilliant coat with a strange streak in her white fur. He wanted to have a closer look at that.

***

Marc had been trying to get back into his book for some time but couldn't. Eventually he gave up and sent a thought out. He firstly went to search for Kat but found nothing. He sent a thought out to Tristan and all he could feel was his sorrow. Marc quickly withdrew his mind in order not to absorb to much. He decided not to even search for Darryl or Jade's mind. Instead he got up and went looking for Kat. She had gone upstairs and so he went and had a look. Jade's bedroom door was wide open and another door which he had never noticed before was slightly ajar. He crept closer and peered in. Kat was sitting in the centre of a room with her back to him. He couldn't tell if she was crying or not. In fact the room seems strangely void of any noise. As he opened the door more he saw several symbols. Some he recognised, some he didn't. The runic at the bottom of the door scared him. He stumbled back and Kat turned. She opened her mouth to say something but the noise didn't reach him. Instead he got up and ran. He had no idea how Kat had found that room but he knew that she shouldn't be in it. As he ran he wondered if she even knew what the symbols meant. He ran and ran until he could run no more and then he collapsed. As he leaned against a tree he forgot why he had run. In fact Marc had no memory at all of the secret room in Jade's bedroom.

***

Jade howled in pain and Darryl went to send her relief but her mind was shut off to him. He yelled at her in frustration. All thoughts on the elders question forgotten.
Damn you Jade let me help he said in wolfish
No
I can help you
You will be hurt
I don't care
I do, I wont allow it.
You will die otherwise Tristan suddenly interjected.
His words rang true in Jade's mind and she hated him for telling her that and so calmly. She howled in pain and the howl echoed through the woods.

***

Mike Robinson heard the howl and moved in that direction. He was careful to approach silently, and from down-wind, so the wolves did not sense him. He silently moved into position and aimed at the alpha male. He was surprised to see the two boys there, and cursed under his breath. Then he hatched a plan.

Mike casually shot the alpha male, and the alpha female. Then he shot 2 more wolves, leaping out of the bushes and running over to the boys as the wolves scattered.
"Boys! You're lucky I was here! Quick, we'll leave before they come back!"
Both boys were looking at him in a kind of horror. Mike looked around and saw Jade on the ground. "Damn, I thought I got all clean shots," he muttered, glancing sideways at the boys, then lowered his gun to the point where it would do the least damage to her pelt. Darryl knocked the gun away, and had to think quickly for a reason that he wouldn't let Mike put the animal out of it's misery - letting her suffer was out of the question, because Mike would then just give him a disappointed look, and be "merciful". So Darryl pretended to be scared.

"You're right. We have to leave. Let's go. Please. It will be ok."
Mike gave him a curious look, and bent to pick up his wallet from where Tristan had dropped it, then put it in his back pocket.
"Ok. Come on. I know the way."
And Mike led Darryl and Tristan out of the forest towards town.

By morning, the tale of how Mike had rescued Darryl and Tristan from a pack of savage wolves was all over town. Rumor had exaggerated, as rumor often does, and Mike was able to play modest, toning down the story whenever he heard it, letting other people tell the story, boosting his own popularity. In public, he was sorrowful about having to shoot several wolves, but told a few select people, who then told the rest of the town, that he considered the lives of the 2 boys worth the lives of 4 wolves - no matter how much it "pained" him.

Darryl and Tristan were fuming. Having to "play dumb" while the man who had deliberately set traps in the woods and harmed Jade was extremely frustrating. A group of men had left town in the early hours of the morning, and collected the wolves Mike had shot. Just looking at the pelts strung out in the sun made Darryl sick, and as soon as was possible, he went home. The only thought that was keeping him going was that the hunters hadn't brought back Jade when they brought the other wolves, which meant that she had moved away from the clearing with the rest of the pack.

Irene was waiting for him when he arrived home. She fussed over him for half an hour - until he assured her that the stories were much exaggerated, and that he was fine. Then he moved upstairs to his room, where he flopped on his bed. His mind had been racing ever since he'd realised what Mike Robinson was intending to do. Try as he might, he could not come up with a way to make people realise the truth. Groaning in frustration, he rolled over and fell to the floor. It wasn't fair. And he had to find Jade, but he knew his mother wouldn't let him out of the house, and would be keeping a close eye on him - and knowing Tristan's family, Nicole would be doing the same.

Just then, the family cat, Midnight, walked into Darryl's room, and jumped onto his bed in the morning sun. Darryl stared at her for a few minutes, before he remembered Kat. She would be allowed to leave the house, and Irene wouldn't have a problem as long as she didn't look to be going towards the woods. Darryl jumped up, and moved downstairs to Kat's room.

He opened the door to Kat's room and saw her sitting in the middle of the room with her back to him. It was obvious she hadn't heard him. He noticed a braclet beside her and focused on it as it was glowing. He realised it was his mothers but that had been put in the secret room ages ago and Jade would have never gotten it out. That could only mean that Kat had gotten into the room but how he wasn't sure. He shook his head and coughed to get Kat's attention. She spun looking shocked and ashamed before regaining composure and smiling weakly when she realised who it was.

"I'm sorry"

Kat said as she looked towards the floor but it wouldn't swallow her like she wanted. Darryl moved and sat next to her slipping the braclet into his pocket without her noticing. He reached out and held her in his arms and she cried.

"There is nothing to be sorry for" He whispered

Kat pulled away and looked at him in disbelief

"But..."
"Shh... If you need forgiveness you have it already, I am not mad at you."
"If only I could help someway"
"Actually you can..."

***

Irene was in the lounge room wondering why she hadn't seen Jade for the last couple of days. Darryl had told her that she was at Tristan's and she had let it drop but when she spoke to Nicole that morning at the shop she was told otherwise. She was upset that Darryl had lied to her and decided to scry for Jade. She hadn't done so for ages and was daunted by the thought as she went to the secret room. She was careful to close the door behind her to keep the energies in and went to look for the crystal ball. It didn't take her long but she noticed her braclet wasn't beside it were it should be however the room had been tidied so she presumed it had been moved.

***

Tristan was pacing around his room when Marc walked in. He didn't bother looking up even when Marc sat down on his bed.

"I can't sense her anymore"

Tristan stopped pacing and stared at Marc. He hadn't thought to reach her with his mind. He sat down and Marc was already ready with a link to farseek. They reached out and first sweep brought them nothing except Darryl who was preoccupied. When they swept again they sensed Darryl join them and strengthen the link. This time they felt Jade but she was weak and sleeping. Carefully Tristan pulled his mind back in and snuck out the window and went that way. Marc sighed and then went to leave when his mother walked in.

"Where is Tristan?" Nicole asked
"He left"
"I thought he might do that, don't tell your father for he will be furious"
"I wont"

Tristan spent close to half an hour travelling to the alpha lair which was by far the best spot in the forest and very secluded. He had only been there once before and even then he shouldn't have been there. He had found it when Darryl had slipped on some moss and landed infront of the very well hidden entrance.
When Tristan arrived he noticed another wolf he hadn't seen before. He lowered his tail in submission and loped towards Jade. He didn't get far before the dominate wolf growled and moved to stop him.

What do you think you are doing? It snarled
I am here to see Jade, I am Tristan?
I am named David and am the new Alpha and this is my lair?
I mean no disrespect, I just want to see Jade?
The Alpha female will take no visitors
Alpha female?? Tristan asked with suprise however got no answer.

He left as there was nothing more David would allow him to do. He changed into human form and turned to face another human. Tristan jumped and the human laughed.

"Where did you come from?" Tristan asked and the human laughed again
"I'm David"
"Your a wolf / human too?"
"Yes, come lets move away then talk"

Tristan walked off and David followed. They sat down and then David talked about Jade. He said she had refused to see anyone and after the alpha wolves had been shot she had become the alpha female the same time David had become an Alpha male. He also explained that despite the fact that David stayed wolf most of the time he could still change back to human form which was very rare. Tristan was extremely mad when David had said that Jade and him had mated already and stormed off leaving a rather dazed David behind. When Tristan was out of sight David grinned evilly.

Tristan ran blindly through the woods and was pounced on by a huge black panther. He screamed until the panther turned into Kat. She got up and dusted herself off.

"Kat! Don't do that"
"Sorry"
"Where is Darryl?"
"At home" Kat looked at him then asked what was wrong
"David is wrong"
"David who?"
"Buggered if I'd know," Tristan snarled. "Some guy that Jade slept with."
Kat raised one eyebrow.
"She... slept with him?"
"They 'mated'."
"Recently?"
"Yes."
"After Jade was shot."
"Yes."
"With a bullet wound in her shoulder."
"Uh... yes..." Tristan was beginning to look somewhat sheepish. Kat raised an eyebrow again, as Tristan slowly came to realise how ridiculous the entire idea was. He blushed. Kat laughed.
"Go home, Tristan. Darryl asked me to go and look after Jade, and your mother is worried."
Tristan nodded briskly and went home, before further embarrassment befell him.

***

Kat observed the lair from a branch of a tree for half an hour before she went anywhere near the place. As she watched, she noticed several wolves bringing rabbits and other small animals into a cave. That must be where Jade was. Personally, Kat didn't buy Tristan's "alpha female" story. She wasn't well aquatinted with wolves by any means, but even she knew that the alpha female was always a "full time" member of the pack - which Jade couldn't be, given the amount of time she spent as a human. She also wondered about the "alpha male" Tristan had spoken to. If he was human too, it would stand to reason that he couldn't be the alpha male either. Unless the entire pack was actually human... Kat pondered this thought for a while, then shelved it for further review at a later date. Whilst she had been watching, she singled out "David" from Tristan's description. He was a very striking wolf, and easily recognisable. Kat, in fact, recognised him instantly. When he was slightly apart from the other wolves, Kat sprung from her branch, landing squarely on four feet, directly in front of him. She then shifted human.

"Hello, Dad."

***

Irene set up her crystal ball, and began to scry for Jade. She was, however, unsuccessful, due to the fact that Jade was in wolf form, and her mother had no knowledge of her mind or person in this form. After half an hour, Irene sat back and rubbed her eyes. Scrying was very tiring, and she hadn't even attempted it for many years. Irene pondered her decision to leave her coven. It had definitely been part of the healing process. Irene had joined the coven and learned her skills mainly at Michael's insistence, and then when she'd discovered his infidelity, she'd slowly stopped practising, until, when he finally left, she stopped completely. The final severing of all things Michael had helped her get over him. Perhaps now was the time to start practising again. She was fully over Michael, and maybe wicca would return her self of self-worth. Irene looked around the room at all the "magickal" items, and sighed. So many memories contained in the items within this room... And almost all connected with Michael.

Irene looked briefly for her bracelet. It had been the final gift Michael had given her, blessed with both their blood, as a symbol of the power that they together could control. Unable to find it, she selected instead Michael's athame, and sat on the floor with it beside her. Concentrating hard, the athame began to glow. After several moments, Michael's mind came into focus. Irene observed him in silence for a moment, aware that he knew she was observing him, as she had in several lonely moments over the years, but knowing he couldn't "talk" to her unless she spoke first, or he contacted her. The only thoughts that penetrated his shield were of his daughters - both Jade and Kat. Irene was puzzled as to why he would be thinking of them simultaneously, but was unable to probe deeper.

With a sigh, Irene broke the contact, put the things away, and went to make herself a cup of tea.

***

Michael also shifted human, and looked at his daughter.
"Hello, Kat."
"I was right. It *was* you seeking me the other night. Why did you block my return?"
"You were being monitored by Darryl."
"It shouldn't have mattered. I went to your old room, and got the bracelet you told me about, and used it as a focus. Why would it have mattered if Darryl knew you were around?"
"He would have told Jade, and Jade I can't trust. You I trust, because I brought you up. Irene I trust. Darryl I trust, because he remembers me from his youth, and we *have* been in contact over the years, albeit without Irene's knowledge, but Jade is an unknown factor. All I have ever felt from her mind is hate, and I don't know what she'd do."
"Oh, come on," said Kat with heavy sarcasm. "Surely people know how she feels."
"No," disagreed her father. "She keeps it fairly well hidden. She hates me because I abandoned her mother, despite the fact that Irene understands. It doesn't make a difference, but it does mean I have to step carefully around her. She and her "boyfriend" know me as David, and I would like to keep it that way."
"Pack loyalty," said Kat dismissivly.
Michael frowned.
"You're spending too much time as a panther, Miss. Bloody solitary creatures."
Kat laughed.
"You always say that, Father dearest."
Michael frowned.
Kat changed the subject, by asking about the "alpha" business.
"Are you and Jade actually the alpha male and female?"
"No, of course not. But I talked to them, and they agreed to the deception, to serve the greater good."
"So the pack isn't human."
"No. Now, listen to me, Kat. I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?"
"You need to tell Irene something from me. Tell her that Alex is back in the area."
"Alex? You mean The Alex that you've been making us follow around the world in order to save mankind?"
The sarcasm had returned to Kat's voice.
"You know how serious this is Kat."
"I know, I know. I'll tell her."
"Good. I only hope that she remembers everything I taught her. The hour of need is nigh, and we'll need everyone we can get."

Kat turned to leave, but then looked over her shoulder.
"How's Mum?"
"You mean you *do* feel some pack loyalty, after all?" teased her father.
Kat shrugged.
"Only human."
Her father smiled.
"She's fine. Completely recovered. Almost magickal, I'd say," he added with a wink.
Kat smiled.
"Good. I'm glad your "specialist" was able to help. I'll go talk to Irene."
Kat turned panther again, and bounded back to the house.

***

Darryl and Irene were having a cup of tea together when Kat returned. She walked into the kitchen, and glanced at them both. "Irene, I need to talk to you. It's about Dad."