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"Hey, Jack! Here're those letters we was waitin' on." Fern leaned into the window to hand his Alpha the officially sealed and stamped letters. "I caught the courier just as he were pullin' up."

One was larger than the other, and it made Jack frown with a gnawing dread. Setting down the smaller one, he popped the wax seal of the larger one, glancing over the elegantly written document that explained all hostile field acquisitions were considered exile worthy offenses until the council had time to discuss and settle an unspecified issue.

"Well?"

Shaking his head sullenly, he shoved the paper back at Fern to keep him busy while he opened the one marked "Alpha Jack Radkial." Hardly did he breathe until the end. Setting it down, he looked so troubled that Fern perked and hooked his elbow over the edge of the window to lean in but he didn't get the chance to speak before Jack sucked in a breath.

"Yeah, this were 'bout Anubis," he answered Fern's unasked question grimly. "I'm required ta 'pear 'fore the council in a week. Anubis gotta come 'long."

Handing Fern the letter, the Head Beta's brows drew together tighter and tighter until his whole face was wrinkled up in a snarl. "What!?" he barked in outrage. "'Feral an' muzzled?' 'Under control?' The fuck is this?"

With an angry breath, Jack set his head back against the wall. "Go get 'im."

Returning the letter to him, Fern spun away, snarling to himself. Staring at his ceiling, Jack had several entirely too long minutes to gather his thoughts before he heard Fern and Cloud going back and forth as they returned, Anubis towering behind and Nova practically trotting to stay close enough to hear them.

"Lemme see that letter!" Cloud demanded, snatching it away to read it to herself before she shook with fury. "He ain't a animal!"

"That's what I were sayin'," Fern agreed indignantly.

"Settle down," Jack snapped. "I said bring me Anubis an' ye bring a party."

"But, Jack," Cloud returned, "I'm Alpha, too. I got a say...."

"It says 'Alpha Jack' on it, dun it?" he retorted sharply, glaring between them. "'Sides, there ain't nothin' worth sayin' over it. That's what the council wrote, we kin all read it. We kin be so outraged it could blow out our ears, but showin' up any other way'd put us in bad graces with the council. So drop it, an' git!"

Ears back, Cloud let out an angry snort and shook her head. "It's just awful."

Hunched over to lean his head through the window that his shoulders were too big for while the others walked away slowly, he was quiet until Jack was ready to speak.

"Whatever this is 'bout, Anubis, I won't let 'em spin it like it were somethin' ye did," he assured softly. "I wish I could say this were a stern talkin' to an' a slap on the wrist, but they wouldn't ban field takin' if that's all it were. This gonna be a fight."

"I told you I would give my life for this pack."

Jack gave him an unamused glare. "Stop it. Dyin's the easiest part o' livin'. I need ye here to do the hard work." Sucking in a breath that made him wince, he shook his head slowly. "'Sides, this ain't that sort o' fight. It's the verbiage sort."

"The pack that neighbors my brother's tried to have him hung," Anubis opened up quietly after a silent moment.

Jack perked and peered up at him. "Are ye serious? What happened?"

"They sent letters to Khade'grr claiming Caesar had threatened their lives because he wouldn't let them assault any of the women, and he showed up. He was... quite upset that they wasted his time."

Jack smirked, scoffing humorously. "Ahh, Khade'grr. If ever there were a man ta follow to the ends o' the earth." He looked up at Anubis. "An' I'll take this ta the ends o' the earth if that's where it's gotta go. We'll play this like they want, much as it infuriates me, but I got the feelin' we can make this work fer us.

"Now, we got a week. I'll, uh, do my best ta heal up a bit more in that time, an' least this means we ain't gotta worry 'bout the fields, so that's one worry off my mind. Both o' us should try not to stress over it too much cuz there ain't nothin' ta do 'bout it 'til then, a'ight?" After Anubis nodded, he settled back down into his bed. "I'll have Fern get yer Rankin' done. I want 'em to see it. Now, send 'im back over here, an' go, uh, do somethin' not useful so I don't gotta give ye more rank."

Smiling warmly, Anubis left him and was soon replaced with another black face that fit a whole lot better in the space. "Yeah, Jack?"

"Make sure Anubis got his rank beads 'fore the weeks over. They ain't gonna be as pretty as what he came with, but I want the council to see 'em. An' ye know, speakin o' rank, think it's time for Denver to have one, too. Talk to Cloud 'bout it for me. Boy deserves it."

Hesitating a second, Fern smiled and nodded. "Yeah, yeah he do. I'll get on it."

Wiggling down a bit to get more comfortable, Jack looked up at his Head Beta with a tired expression. "An' Fern, 'less it's real important...."

Brow pinching together with brotherly concern, Fern nodded at him. "Yeah, Jack. I got thin's." He grinned wickedly before he left. "Good thin' fer ye I won't be fuckin' yer bitches while yer out, but Silver might!"

***

Fern wasted no time in getting Anubis through his Ranking. It wasn't entirely unlike a Ranking ceremony among his own people, but there was a great deal less competitiveness and posturing.

It had surprised Anubis when Denver stopped at the door and wished him a good time.

"But I thought you'd be there?"

He had fidgeted harder than usual, ears down. "W-Well, ye know, the men, they talk 'bout things I-I don't like talkin 'bout, l-l-like fuckin' the women an' s-stuff. It just... mmmakes me real uncomfortable." Then his face was bright. "But I'll, uh, I'll be 'ere when ye get out!"

It had made perfect sense to Anubis then, and it made even more sense as the men sat around naked, brushing the same sweet smelling oil through his cleaned pelt and boasting of their adventures and relations and giving each other a great deal of crap over it. Iron Gale and Garth had the unique positions of taking no crap, for as Iron Gale put it lovingly, "my dick gets stuck in this bitch, an' I look in her eyes, an' she straight makes me forget how to deflate."

Fern sighed dramatically with a dreamy smile. "Yeah, that happens ta me with Baxter."

Iron Gale poked the brush at him. "Now I know we told ye he can come 'ere anytime he wants. Would be a bit weird with a deer 'round, but no weirder than this fella!"

They all nodded their heads with murmurs of agreement.

Fern smirked and shrugged. "I know, an' he knows. Hell, his herd said the same thing 'bout me. Guess we're just comfortable with it fer now. Gives a spice ta my life, eh?" He waggled his brows suggestively with a wicked grin and the men chuckled. Placing his elbow on Anubis' shoulder to lean against him, Fern tilted his head towards him. "'Sides, now Denver 'n' I got this godly hunk to play with, ain't that right? Oh shit, Anubis, are ye alright?"

Just like that, it had hit him. Right about when Iron Gale had made his assurance to Fern, like a light switch, he had realized how normal discussing it had become. How normal it had all become. A deep ache had grown like a hungry black hole, the weight of its gravity pulling in his chest until he could hardly breathe. Sucking in air with a ragged gasp, he struggled to keep the gravel of his voice steady. "Uh, just... just Terra would've... really liked it here. She was... never allowed to talk so openly. They always... called her a freak."

The men flashed each other glances from the corners of their eyes, but every expression was one of concern.

"Aw, shit, Anubis," Fern said softly, putting his hand on his shoulder. "She's watchin' through the trees an' the grass. She went back ta Mother Nature an' that means she's all over."

Anubis shook his head slowly, staring at his hands. "Actually, she's... probably still alive. At least, I hope she still is."

"Didn't ye say...?"

"She survived the ambush," he replied in a thick murmur. "She showed up in my room. I got to hug her one last time before everything... came crashing down. I told her I hoped she... she found someplace she'd be happy. But instead, I found it, and I have no idea where she is or how to tell her. I feel like that's what makes it worse... that I know, but there's just nothing I can do about it."

Silver leaned into the corner of his vision with a smile. "Naw, see, that's the best part. Means someday, she's gonna come lookin' fer ye, an' yer stuck here, so that should be easy."

"Yeah," White Toe interjected with a grin, trying to brighten the mood, "cuz if we could track ye down, shouldn't be too hard for 'er."

Anubis' brow knitted together with a perplexed frown. "What?"

"Oh, yeah! Iron Gale an' I were the ones who tracked ye down when, uh, well, when ye took Nova."

Iron Gale nodded, his gruff voice solemn. "Yeah, we was 'er escorts when Khade'grr called fer 'er to show his engineers what she meant cuz guess 'er letter weren't so clear fer 'em. Then he said he weren't gonna send nobody to go after 'er, so we went after 'er."

"Oh, yeah. Omma woulda killed us," White Toe added hurriedly with a hint of genuine panic and there was a subdued snicker among them.

"We had to spend most o' it on foot," Iron Gale continued. "But then so did ye, an' we was catchin' up, but ye made it to the base 'fore we could. Soon as we saw it, we went runnin' straight back to let Khade'grr know."

"Well, ye huffed most the time," White Toe sassed him.

"Hey!" he barked back. "I'm near a elder! I were doin' pretty good all thin's considerin'!"

"How did you avoid the soldiers and other packs?" Anubis glanced between them in disbelief.

White Toe and Iron Gale looked at each other and smirked.

"Ye guys never look up!" White Toe bragged with a smug grin.

Giving a small nod of agreement, he pondered a moment, trying to process it all. "So it... really was all my fault."

"Uh... yeah, s'pose it were, kinda. But, we don't regret it. We're glad Nova were so persuasive."

"Ah, admit it, Iron Gale," White Toe replied, "she's too cute with 'em pup eyes an' none o' us kin say naw."

Even Anubis nodded along to that before changing directions to shake it a little. "Honestly, I think the part I regret the most now was that I didn't make Terra stay. But, I was certain that was going to be the end."

"Kinda were, in a way. End o' that awful place!"

"Yeah, an' if yer sister is alive, it's a good thing fer 'er to be outta there too! Now she's free to be findin' ye!"

Fern grinned. "Ha, yeah, an' that day she do, she'll be a Radkial, too!"

"Oh fuck, we'd have 3 Wogtal!" Silver marveled in horror.

"Three an' a quarter!" Iron Gale added with a chuckle. "Fletcher just won't let that 'part Wogtal' go!"

It made Anubis smile and the others chortle. "Well, he does have the spirit of one."

"Oh, so then that makes ye part Aroogar!" Eli offered, all the heads nodding along with murmured agreement.

Pursing his lips at first as he thought on that, Anubis smiled. "I can't think of higher praise."

***

The days were slipping by so fast. It didn't help that sleep was fleeting and rife with images Anubis had hoped he had escaped. Only when pure exhaustion took him was he able to find any rest, however briefly.

Finding him passed out in bed after lunch, Denver left him and joined Nova waiting outside. "Sorry, Nova. I, uh, I d-don't, uh, don't think it'd be smart to poke 'im now, heh!"

Giving a playful pout, she smiled at him. "That's alright. He seemed real tired this mornin'. Thanks fer checkin'."

As she walked away, Denver perked to his name, spinning around to find Fern standing above him on the mound of dirt on the other side of the hall entrance.

"Hey," he started once Denver had hurried up to him eagerly. "Ye, uh, wanna go for a walk with me?"

Tail wagging, Denver nodded. "Oh, uh, sh-sure!"

As they walked, Fern looked down at him with a warm smile and slid his hand into his to interlock their fingers. Denver beamed up at him, getting a little closer. "What'd ye w-wanna talk 'bout?"

Taking a deep breath, Fern looked around before replying. "Well, I... had a long talk with yer brother."

Denver's shoulders slumped and he looked down. "Oh."

With another breath, Fern seemed to have difficulty getting the words out. "He were under the impression that I... ain't always been as good o' a partner as I could be, an' that I ain't... always had yer happiness in mind, an'... he may o' had a few good points."

Denver's head snapped up to look at him. "Well, I-I-I don't think ye've been a bad partner."

Nodding slowly, Fern gave him a little smile. "Good, I'm glad, but ye also ain't ever had nothin' to compare to. 'Sides maybe Baxter."

Again, Denver looked down, his ears laying back. "Well, I-I-I know ye love 'im more than me."

Fern stopped in mid-stride and turned to look at him in disbelief. "Is that what ye think? Is that how I make ye feel?"

Blinking in surprise, he scratched at the back of his neck nervously. "Oh, w-w-well, it's just, uh, well, y-ye say thin's 'b-b-bout 'im that ye d-don't ever say 'bout me."

"But, I say thin's 'bout ye that I don't say 'bout 'im, too!" Fern hurriedly explained. "An'... an' there's thin's I say 'bout Jack that I don't say 'bout either o' ye, an' I know Jack'll never give. That's the whole fun o' it!"

With a pensive breath, he took both of Denver's hands. "What Baxter an' I've got is somethin real special. It's always been this intense, tingly kind o'... explosive love. Like fireworks. But, fireworks don't last an' the show's always gotta end sometime. We both gotta wake up, an' go on with our lives cuz when it comes down to it, he ain't gonna howl with me, an' I ain't gonna spar with 'im. We just ain't compatible like that, an' I think that's what gives it that spice, that we know it ain't s'posed to work, but we make do.

"Maybe... maybe I ain't always got that with ye, but I think that's the best part. Maybe there's no big show, but that means there's no end. It means yer gonna be there next to me when I wake up, an' ye'll howl with me fore bed, an' I don't gotta go on with my life cuz... ye are my life. It's that warm kind o' love that makes me happy to be home. That kind o' love that... home could be anywhere so long as it's with ye. An' Baxter don't make me feel like that."

His eyes blurry with tears, Denver's tail wagged, and he slipped his arms under Fern's to hug him tight. "That just made me feel real special."

Holding him close, Fern nuzzled the top of his head. "Good. Cuz that's how I want ye to feel, always. But, I ain't done with what I wanted to say. I just didn't want ye ever thinkin I loved Baxter more than ye. I just... love 'im different, that's all."

With another breath, he glanced around again and started walking slowly once more before continuing. "When ye was a pup, I shoulda let ye grow up like all the other pups. It weren't fair that I'd go after ye an' keep ye 'way from bein' a pup just cuz I were... scared o' losin' my chance o' havin' somethin' here... o' havin' someone. My reasons been pretty selfish, an' that were what Long Fang were so mad 'bout- that I didn't just want ye safe, but that I wanted ye safe fer me. I... I realize now it weren't fair to ye, or even to 'im, but I can't take none o' it back now. All I can do is try to be better 'bout it now."

Stopping again, he turned to face Denver. "When I thought ye'd run off cuz o' me, I near panicked. Then ye found me, an' I hear ye stood up to a _skaowl_, an' even Anubis when ye thought he'd hurt Jack! I woulda been scared ta death ta do that!"

The boy blushed, fidgeting nervously, though there was the hint of a smile to the corners of his mouth. "W-W-Well, I, uh, I really were," he admitted softly.

With a little smile, Fern put his hand on his shoulder. "Course. Anybody woulda been. But, ye still faced the fear, an' that's what made me realize... yer a good boy but also a big boy, an' I really don't gotta worry so much 'bout ye takin' care o' yerself an' more worried 'bout helpin' ye grow to be a man."

Reaching into his pocket, he opened his hand for Denver to see. His eyes grew wide with a gasp. "Rank beads! F-Fer me? But, these are Omicron...."

Fern nodded. "Yeah, well, I feel like I... kinda stole a rank from ye cuz I never encouraged ye to do any better, an' kept ye from yer chores an' such. I know ye'd take on more responsibility if I weren't the one convincin' ye not to." Then he grinned deviously, waggling his brows. "Plus, I thought it'd be funny if ye was higher rank than Anubis...."

Denver thought it was funny, too, strutting out to meet the Dire after his Ranking in the females hall. He utterly beamed with pride and sass until Anubis felt the need to remind him of his place with a tight grip on that braid the entire time.

***

A week could take a lifetime. Then, in the blink of an eye, that eternity can come screeching to a halt.

The morning was vivid and clear with that sweet chill of autumn. Gathering around the truck, the pack was wishing Anubis luck and encouragement. Smiling down at Nova holding his hand, Anubis perked and felt the pocket of his kilt with a mild panic.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"My letter!" Anubis replied to her softly. "I forgot my letter to Caesar."

By the time he was returning from dashing off, Jack had hobbled over to the truck. The pack wished him good health and strength while Berry, River and Soot fussed ceaselessly, trying to convince him to at least take his doctor with him. Rather than perturbed, he found it entertaining and kept them annoyed with off handed quips under his breath until all three women could deal with him no longer and threw up their hands.

With a victorious chuckle, he noticed the letter in Anubis' hand. "That's for yer brother, right?"

Anubis looked down at it. "Yeah. I was hoping to send it a while ago but... well, I guess someone can send it after this council."

"Yeah, ye will," Jack retorted sharply.

"Ha, hope ye told 'im all 'bout us!" Fern chuckled as he started to get into the truck.

"I did, actually. I just... wish he could meet you all."

Jack perked with an idea. "Well, maybe he can't meet us, but he could see us! Yeah? Yeah! We ought to get a pack photo, eh?"

It didn't take very long to gather the rest of the pack once the word was out that it would be a pack photo. Nova ran off to bring Veka with Parval in her arms. He had doubled in size by now, as large as those who were several months older than him. Anubis could not help but to take him in the crook of his arm, nuzzling his soft belly to make him wiggle and whimper. Kneeling to the side between Veka and Nova with Fletcher on one shoulder and Arrow on the other, it was the only way to tell his great void among the crowd as he all but vanished, save for the line of his grin and glow of his eyes.

"One for us, an' one for yer brother!"

Handing him a dark glossy square, Anubis watched in wonder as the image came into existence before his eyes while the pack slowly dispersed.

Once the only ones left were those who were going along, Jack turned to discover Nova holding Anubis' hand tightly, already giving him her most pleading puppy eyes. Fixing her with a stern look, he shook his head. "No, Nova...."

"Please, Jack! Please let me come 'long!"

Glancing up at Anubis, his expression softened and motioned with his head for her to approach him. Standing before him, she tried again, but he was still unmoved, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Listen, Nova. I'm gonna bring 'im back, alright? I promise ye, but ye know low ranks ain't allowed in council."

"I swear I'll be quiet! I won't...."

Jack shook his head, gently stroking her, following the curve under her ear and along her jaw to cup her snout. "Ye an' I both know they're gonna say somethin' that'll make ye see red an' yer sweet, fiery heart just won't stay in yer chest. Yer stayin' Nova, an' that's what it's gonna be. He's gonna be back for dinner, alright?"

Lowering herself defeatedly, she nodded. After a last kiss and hug, Anubis got in the back with Iron Gale and White Toe while Fern started up the truck and Silver shut the door for Jack, leaning into the window to wish them luck.

The near two hour drive was mostly quiet. There was some discussion when they came by the place they had been stopped by Red Paw's group, but the rest of it was spent with Anubis staring off at the fields and woods they passed. Just... thinking.

Pulling into the parking area, Anubis could feel all the eyes on him as soon as he stood out of the truck. Straightening his vest and kilt, he took a deep breath, stepped back and fell forward as his body shifted, looking down at his hands as they finished their transformation into paws.

Looking at him sadly, Jack's gaze moved to the muzzle laying on the tailgate. Reaching out, he picked it up, holding the massive thing with both hands. "I... I forgot how heavy this thing were. I even... forgot ye'd worn it for a li'l bit there, an' it weren't even that long ago."

Slipping his snout into it when Jack turned it over, he met his Alpha's gaze. Looking down at him, Jack sucked in a breath and forced a smile. "Big ol' pup. What ye lookin so glum for? Ye think this is yer funeral?" Anubis turned his gaze away while Jack let Fern finish hooking it on. "Naw, see, we ain't like yer kind. This is a circus. A big show. Won't be no teeth. Lots o' documents an' words. An' in the end, I'm thinkin' things'll turn out alright. Dawson's got a lot o' sway cuz they're big, but the Radkials got allies."

White Toe smirked. "Well, least half the council's related to granomma, an'll vote how she votes most the time. She's, uh, real persuasive."

"An' the Hammers always been Radkial allies," Jack added as they started towards the council hall. "Never had no reason to compete cuz the river divided us. Maybe the Hammers got bad blood together, but that's a mighty big vote for us, cuz most the packs 'round 'em'll vote what way they do, too."

As they approached the building, they could see Grr'siv with several council members and a very troubled look on his face. The expression only deepened when he saw them. The council members also saw them and tried to hurry him inside, but when he was close enough, he stopped and all but whispered, "I swear I didn't have nothin' to do with this, Jack," before he was called away.

"Just tell the truth, Grr'siv," he called after the other Alpha with a shake of his head.

Fern growled quietly, watching him leave with narrowed eyes. White Toe glanced at him with concern and a tight mouth.

Standing near the front double doors as the council members walked past, Anubis practically curled into a ball, his nose near touching the ground in an attempt to seem small and harmless. The breeze through the door brought a familiar scent that piqued his attention.

Escorted by 2 other women, Mother Meadow hobbled in slowly. Stopping in her tracks, she loudly sniffed the air and squinted towards Anubis. "Eh? That Anubis? Ye slouchin' 'gain, boy? Didn't I tell ye not ta bother with that nonsense?"

Glancing at each other, Jack cleared his throat. "He... ain't slouchin', Mother Meadow. He's shifted, like the council ordered."

"What!?" She let out a shrill bark, before shaking with fury and looked up at one of the women beside her. "Who the fuck ordered that!?"

Ears back, the two glanced at each other before the one she had turned to spoke up. "It were voted on, Omma. Ye didn't show up."

Mother Meadow staggered as though the words had been a physical blow, and she needed to lean on her cane. "An'... no one thought that might be a bit odd?"

Again glancing at each other, the same responded once more. "Well, ye was sleepin', Omma."

"Cuz I didn't even know there were a council meetin'! 'ave I ever missed one!?"

Shrugging, the other one tried to hurry her along inside. "Well, it were a informal vote, granomma, an' it's kinda late ta worry 'bout it now. We need ta get in there."

She did not leave quietly, a loud trail of profanities heard all the way inside. The five of them glanced at each other before smirking.

The sound of Fern's fur fluffing up was enough to draw all their attention. Tilting his head back, a smug pair of amber eyes were looking down at him from intimately close behind him for he had turned his back to the door. The immense antlers were sharp and bejeweled, tinkling with delicate gold chains.

"Were ya even gonna come say hi?" the stag pouted.

Pursing his lips hard to avoid the smile tugging at their tips, Fern looked away with a shrug. "Well, I only been here a few minutes. I got this council to attend."

Stepping to his side, Baxter acknowledged everyone before noticing the shadow within the shadows. "Hey, is that Anubis? What's with the getup?"

Sighing indignantly, Fern replied. "Council demanded he be 'under control.' So here we are."

Cocking a brow, Baxter shook his head with an eye roll. "Wolf politics," he muttered with disdain before looking back at Fern. "Think ya can stay after?"

Again, Fern shrugged, that smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I dunno. We'll... see how this goes."

"Well, if things go real good, ya can stay with me tonight, an' I'll drive ya home tomorrow. How's that sound?"

There was simply no hope for Fern to hide the giddy grin that he tried with every ounce of his self control. Finally just giving in to it, he looked up at Baxter excitedly, his tail wagging close to his legs. "A whole night with ye?"

"Maybe even two?" He hinted with a waggle of his brow.

Considering it a second, Fern shook his head playfully. "I'll... think 'bout it."

Smiling at him, Baxter's long neck made an elegant curve as he leaned down to murmur warmly in his ear, "I'll even cook breakfast."

Fern sucked in his breath, and his fur fluffed all over.

Jack made a sound of disgust and shoved him against the stag. "Ugh! Just say yeah! Yer 'bout to have a orgasm standin' there."

Now in Baxter's arms, Fern leaned against him, wrapping his own arms around the stag's chest. "Hmm, is it gonna be wolf stew?"

Baxter touched noses with a wicked grin and waggled both brows. "Even better. How 'bout buck balls?"

The groans of anguish came from all but Fern, his tail simply uncontrollable at this point. "I'm already starvin'!"

With a triumphant smile, Baxter gave him a quick kiss and wished them luck, flicking his tail at Fern with a wink over his shoulder as he left. Fern clutched at his chest and staggered a bit with a wistful sigh.

"What'd ye ever need me fer?" Jack teased. "Yer smitten. Might as well be on another planet." Reaching up, he flicked Fern's ear to make him yelp and wince.

"Hey! Oh, well, it's simple." He leaned over entirely too close to Jack's face with a waggle of his brows. "Ye was my first love!"

He rolled his eyes in a wide and obvious arc with a fond smirk, but before he could reply, a woman's voice made a visceral reaction in his whole body.

"How unseemly. A wolf with a deer. Though, who better to be queer than the queer."

Anubis had never seen so many expressions happen all at once on a face like that. The roulette landed on a spark of realization, and Jack bristled.

"Grr'landra," he growled, turning to meet the disdainful yellow gaze of a dark grey, tan and white woman with red on the lower half of her limbs. She was fairly tall for a woman and had a pompous tilt to her head in an attempt to look down at those around her, even if she had to look up. Wearing a squared dress with sharp angles, she had an ornate cane that was clearly for show. "An' just like that, it all makes sense. Just waitin' for yer chance, were ye? Can't believe I didn't think o' it. Just didn't think ye had that kind o' sway. Who's dick did ye have ta suck to pull this off?"

She bristled a little, nearly baring her teeth, but quickly recovered, her eyes burning a hole through him in her mind. "Should be holdin' yer tongue with council members! I happen to've made my position on my own merit."

Jack's brows shot up, and he barked out a laugh. "Merit? Oh, that were s'posed to be a joke, right?"

"Keep it up, Jack," she warned with a sneer. "Yer real hot with yer dog standin' there. Let's see how yer jokin' by the end of this."

Jack's face snapped to stone, cold and indignant, leaning forward so he could glower down at her. "Bring it on, bitch. Ye turned my boys 'gainst their brother, an' then ye drag me out o' bed to threaten my pack mate in a rigged council. Ye didn't really think this were gonna turn out well for ye, did ye?"

Looking him up and down, she smirked. "Too bad. Skaowl are such majestic beasts, unlike that... mongrel." She eyed Anubis with disgust. "How do ye even live with it?"

"Least that mongrel don't fuck pups."

Now her dress puffed with the bristle of her fur and a growl bubbled in her chest. "Shut yer mouth! This ain't about 'im! This is 'bout yer bark licker. Now, ye got anythin' else to say to me, it'll be in council."

As she walked away in a huff and vanished inside, the others were clearly upsetted, muttering to one another about her. Shaking his head with a growl, Jack turned to them, and realized Anubis was looking at him, his head slightly tilted to the side with expectant curiosity. He had to suck in a breath and calm himself. "That'd be Red Paw's mother. She's been after me since I caught 'im just as he were gonna rape a pup from Renorn pack. She were only 11." He let out a snarl with the memory. "I beat 'im senseless, an' then pa banished 'im that day. She were beggin' 'im to reconsider cuz he were her only pup. Pa told 'er he'd send 'er off too, so she left, an' went to Dawson."

"Beowulf weren't the kind o' wolf ye fucked with," Iron Gale nodded to himself idly in fond memory.

"Yeah, an' I got that from 'im." Curling a finger around the end of his chin, Jack thought quietly a moment longer and pursed his lips. "She tried to bring it to council that pa didn't use old traditions an' whatnot, but they wouldn't even hear it. Paneesh were smart 'nough not to entertain 'er. Probably why he didn't want to retire, even after my pa died."

With a breath, he shook his head slowly, continuing to mutter. "Grr'siv were just a puppet in this. Think she's his... second cousin, maybe? She came over from Connry." Lifting his head when he heard a sharp rapping bring the atmosphere of the hall to something more formal, he gave Anubis a reassuring smile. "I got this."

They entered the council hall when called in. Arranged in a large U, each pack had a set number of seats, and each was separated by low partitions with their pack symbol and name hung behind them on intricate tapestries. Most of the elders who peered down at Anubis curiously were women with only a scattering of men among them.

It just happened to be one of the men who stood and looked at his paperwork with a pair of glasses he adjusted up and down his snout. "This council has 'ereby been called to session to discuss the use o' the Wogtal, Anubis Zaro...."

"Radkial!"

"Excuse me?"

"Radkial," Jack repeated himself without hesitation. "His name is Anubis Radkial."

The elder cocked a brow, peering at him over the glasses. "Ye claim 'im?"

Jack gave a sharp nod. "I do."

"I do, too!" Several women sitting around Mother Meadow shushed her.

Staring at him a second longer, the elder turned back to his paper. "Very well. This council is to discuss Anubis 'Radkial' an' the use o' 'im in territorial disputes. Council is now open. As Dawson Pack petitioned for this council, they may have the floor to begin. Whenever yer ready, Moon Eye."

A man among the Dawsons stood tall and arrogantly at the front. His suit was flashy, and his black arms made his gold bracelet all that more vivid. One eye was a dull brown that disappeared into the brown fur of his face while the other was a piercing pale blue that drew all the attention. Anubis took one glance up at him and instantly felt a seething dislike. The man's affable and aristocratic voice grated in his ears like another charming devil he had once known.

"I'd like to start this council by expressin' our concerns with the use o' this... unnatural advantage given to the Radkial Pack. The packs o' Riinvolf follow the rule o' the mighty Khade'grr an' consider this slaver to be nothin' more than property, like any beast o' burden. What respectable pack would use their animals in a territory dispute? Perhaps we ought to question any Alpha willin' to make such a decision. As this animal's no more to our society than a hound, Dawson petitions the council to consider eradicatin' the threat that this beast poses to all o' us considerin' Alpha Jack's reckless use o' this power."

The council immediately became loud with mutters and outrage of all sorts. The mediator had to rap on the table to regain silence. "Council will listen to evidence to convince us o' this danger, granted Dawson can provide it."

"But o' course!" he remarked with a smile. "I'm sure most the council's aware by now that Paneesh passed away 'bout 3 weeks ago an' Dawson now looks to Grr'siv for its guidance. Recently, he sought to take a field from the Radkials to feed his own pack." There was a disapproving murmur through the crowd, and Moon Eye hurriedly continued. "Course, we all feel awful for havin' to take food from the mouths o' our neighbors, but Nature gives us all the right to feed our own when we got the advantage. A natural advantage. Maybe it were bad manners to take a field so close to harvest, but it's still a right all our packs possess."

"An' it's our right to defend it!" Mother Meadow exploded. While there were a few mutters to quiet her, the rest were in concurrence of her statement.

"Course!" Moon Eye quickly replied. "All packs got the right to fight back. But, when Aroogar quarrel, that's natural an' a whole lot fairer than that monster! Look at the size o' it. It could take off our heads in one bite! I hardly think three men were 'nough."

"Oh, they ain't here to control 'im," Jack replied smoothly with a smirk. "White Toe an' Iron Gale're here cuz my mates wouldn't let me leave without someone ta watch me, an' Fern's just here fer a good time with Baxter after we're done." The 3 men could barely contain their snickers. Mother Meadow did not even bother trying.

Moon Eye glared at him, glancing at the mediator, who was mildly amused and stayed silent.

With a sneer, he addressed the Alpha standing on a low stage opposing the others. "Tell us, Grr'siv. When ye went to take the field, did Jack even try to handle it without the use o' his... 'guard dog?'"

Swallowing hard, he shook his head slowly, the words coming out with much effort. "Not... exactly. But, uh, there, uh, weren't much else he coulda tried. He... didn't have the numbers."

"So yer pack were the bigger one? Had the right to take the field to feed yer pack an' ye was the stronger. Perfectly natural. But then, Jack were given a unnatural advantage, one he didn't hesitate to use. Did ye feel threatened, Grr'siv?"

Sucking in his breath, Grr'siv glanced at Jack and his brothers, then Anubis' great form sitting behind them before gulping hard again. "W-Well, I mean, he... had a real intense look in his eyes."

Brows furrowed, Moon Eye rephrased sternly. "Did ye think ye was in danger?"

Clearly uncomfortable, Grr'siv was struggling to find words. "Uh, well, he, uh, looked like he... woulda done anything Jack told 'im to."

The elder's eyes narrowed. "An' did ye think Jack woulda told 'im to attack ye if ye had pressed?"

Inhaling sharply, he glanced at Jack again. "Uh, my, uh, Fao, my Head Beta told me the men didn't... feel like riskin' it to find out."

Pursing his lips, Moon Eye was growing annoying. "But did ye think he woulda ordered his dog to attack ye if ye had 'risked it?'"

Swallowing hard again, Grr'siv looked down. "I, uh, I were concerned he... might not be bluffin'."

Jack pursed his lips, but it wasn't anger in his eyes for the other Alpha.

Standing tall with satisfaction, Moon Eye addressed the council. "Well. If he were able to bluff ye that well, how can we even be sure he were bluffin', at all? How can we be sure that he won't 'bluff' again? What will we do should he decide to go 'bluff' with this animal for his own expansion? An' who would even fight 'im? If he's bluffin' that well, then who would dare try? It'd be smart if this animal were removed from his possession so as to return us to the natural order!"

Frowning, Jack looked around at the muttering council. "What can I say? I got a great bluff face." He flashed a charismatic grin. "Got it from my pa." There were more than a handful of muffled titters from both Hammer packs. "So," he continued solemnly, "what's it gonna take? Do I need to promise? Do I gotta sign a document?"

"Ledgers are not chains!" Moon Eye rebuffed. "How can ye yerself even ensure that this hound will obey ye at all times?"

Jack gave him a puzzled look. "Obey me? Me?" He glanced around at the council as if confused. "I ain't the one who told 'im to be like this. The council told 'im to show up like this, an' he obeyed the council like a civilized wolf."

Letting out a humorous scoff, a smile brightening his face. "Though, when he first showed up, I thought that same thin'. How were I even gonna control this giant? I ain't got a whip. I mean, look at 'im. How do I even whip 'im if I had one? Would it go through his fur?" Shaking his head, he glanced at Anubis. "Even if I could whip 'im, I ain't had a reason. He obeys cuz I'm his Alpha. Cuz he wants to be part o' civilized pack society. An' he'd tell y'all that 'imself if he weren't made to sit there, obediently, in silence like a animal. That is why ye wanted 'im like this, right? To pass 'im off as a animal?"

"Damn right, Jack!" Again there were several shushes to quiet Mother Meadow.

Looking over at Anubis again, Jack shook his head sadly. Other than the occasional glance, the mighty Dire kept his eyes on the ground and showed no outward reaction.

"When he first showed up, I admit, I made 'im wear that muzzle cuz I were scared half to death. I made 'im look just like that. Only, heh, he didn't have no clothes, cuz I wanted 'im to be livestock. An' trust me, he's that big all over!" There was a scattering of snickers while he continued. "But, that's how I wanted to see 'im, like livestock. I can hardly believe it really weren't that long ago. What? 3 months? Near 4? There'bouts. Hardly any time, at all. I never woulda believed a soul had they told me I'd be standin' here, defendin' 'im. But, he didn't need a lot o' time to prove to me that there were a good man in there. Not a mongrel. Not a beast. Not a dog, or a animal, or even a slaver. So I know that if ye actually wanted 'im helpless, ye woulda demanded 'im to be human! They're soft, an' squishy, an' ain't got teeth. But then, he wouldn't need a muzzle. He could speak, an' remind ye that yer talkin' to a man. An' well, that would shatter this whole illusion ye got here, that we're talkin' 'bout anythin' less than another wolf!"

"A wolf that gives yer pack a unnatural advantage!"

"Unnatural!" Jack exclaimed in dramatic disbelief, placing a hand over his chest. "Why, pray tell, sir, what's unnatural 'bout the Wogtal? This one's a purebred, straight outta the deepest nature most o' us would find quite challengin'. Still flabberghasted over Iron Gale an' White Toe makin' it back."

"Yer pack were givin' that advantage unnaturally," Moon Eye rebuked. "He ain't there cuz he wants to be! He were ordered by threat o' death."

Jack's brow pinched together. Looking around at the council, he put his hand on his side where his bandaging showed under his nice button up shirt. "I just had a threat o' death mehself, from the same skaowl that took Wild River, an' many others from the packs 'round us. Now that were a real animal, an' real brazen. We was in the woods an' it came after me. I woulda died a natural death. Instead, I'm standin' here cuz this man made a choice to protect me. No one woulda punished 'im. An' for the second time, he offered his own blood to keep members o' his pack alive! When I woke up, he were sittin' there, blood pumpin' 'tween us, an' he... he told me he'd be happy to be my ox for the rest o' his life cuz he were treated better as my ox than he'd been treated by his own pack. Damn. That's deep. I don't think any o' us can even imagine a life where bein' a ox were the better option."

"What's yer point?"

"My point is when ye say he ain't there cuz he wants to be, I wanna give the reasons he'd stay even if he weren't made to on 'threat o' death.'

"Now, as to why I were given the advantage in the first place." He turned to the other Alpha. "Grr'siv. I assume ye went through all the paperwork when ye took over Dawson, right?"

"Uh, least the last year, yeah. Why?"

"Oh, good. This war's only been what, 8, 9 months now? That's 'bout when Khade'grr got real pissed. So ye'd likely recall seein' Khade'grr's signature on anythin'. An', believe me, ye'd know it if ye'd seen it. Looks like this." Jack produced a document with a large and elegant signature scrawled across the bottom. Hobbling back, he offered it to Grr'siv to peer at closer. "Man's got one helluva name an' his handwritin' just can't be missed."

Handing it back, Grr'siv shook his head. "Naw. I don't 'member seein' anythin' like that."

"Oh? Really? Great big Dawson Pack don't got a thank ye note from Khade'grr for donatin' to end the war? Huh. Now see, the Radkials, we got three o' these letters, for donatin' food, tools, blankets an' even bodies to his cause. In fact, I got two o' those veterans right here. Iron Gale an' White Toe were the whole reason we even won! They found the base, an' they warned Khade'grr in time to save a whole lot o' lives on both sides.

"So when ye accuse me o' bein' given this advantage, just 'member that this were my pack's restitution for all that we gave to end a war that woulda eventually made it to all our fields if left unchecked, includin' Dawson. We wasn't simply given this gift, we was repaid."

"Ye've left out a important detail."

"Oh?"

"Who were it exactly that yer two veterans was chasin' after?"

Nodding slowly, Jack admitted, "It were Anubis, yeah."

"An' why exactly was they chasin' that beast to begin with?"

Jack nodded solemnly. "I'll be honest. They was chasin' Anubis cuz he stole one o' my pack mates. Nova. Some o' ye know 'er. She's a Sigma now. She's always been real smart with the gadgets. Can read diagrams like a pup book. So she wanted to help with the war when Khade'grr called. Technically makes her a veteran, too. But, what she became were one o' the Honored Free, an' Anubis became a gift. Khade'grr sent somethin' to all the packs that took the Honored Free. So all I've done is put my gift to good use. Ain't that my right?"

"Ye subject yer Honored Free to her tormentor?" Moon Eye gasped in dramatic horror. "What kinda Alpha would do such a thing?"

Glaring at him, Jack could hardly contain the snarl that wrinkled his snout. "She were the one who asked for 'im, an' that's on record, written an' recorded! Don't ye try to twist it any other way."

Unable to hold her tongue any longer, Grr'landra had to interject with a sneer. "So, ye allow this rapist in yer pack unchecked? Don't that seem a bit hypocritical comin' from ye?"

Struggling with the smile that pulled up one side of his face despite himself, he wagged his finger at her. "Ah, I knew ye'd bring that up, an' I'm glad ye did. I admit, I had to wrestle with that one for quite a long time. What a pitiful punishment fer such a crime, I thought. But, I started learnin' 'bout where he came from an' what it were like, an' I quite honestly can't say I mighta done all that different. Even Khade'grr did awful things cuz it were expected for his own life, an' now look at 'im! Not a one o' us here's ever been faced with such a choice; to beat another wolf so that we did not join 'em in bein' beaten. Easy fer us to make the choice, safely sittin' here, but what a punishment it already were to grow up in that hell as a sane man."

Turning away, he addressed the council as he walked around slowly, taking note of the expressions of the other elders. "Since he been in my pack, he been nothin' but exemplary, the very definition o' a gift. He's taken it 'pon 'imself to protect the pack so many times, I think I've lost count. I seen the power his kind's got under all that fur. Believe ye me, I ain't never seen nothin' so ghastly in all my life. Broke that skaowl to pieces. Couldn't even eat it, it were so full o' bone bits. I seen the wild side o' the Wogtal, an' I can attest ta their strength. I imagine it'd take least a dozen o' our men to take out one o' his folk, so it's a joke ta think a muzzle an' a leash could hold 'im. Yet, he's had the utmost respect fer our rules. Given the same freedom as any pack mate, he chooses to help us in ways it'd take many o' us to accomplish without expectation o' thanks. In fact, it's, heh, it's even become a bit o' a game fer us. I'd even trust 'im with the smallest puppy long 'fore certain folk we all know of."

Smirking just a hint, he stood in front of Dawson pack again, glaring up at Grr'landra. "So when ye call it hypocritical, I think that's a li'l repugnant comin' from ye. Given the choice, he makes a better Aroogar than yer own flesh an' blood, raised in a lovin' pack. Least he never fucked no pups."

There was a mutter through the council, and a cruel little titter from Mother Meadow. The mediator banged the table to quiet it, glaring at Jack and giving a disapproving shake of his head. Jack put up his hands in an apology, lowering his head.

Grr'landra was shaking with fury, but Moon Eye gestured for her to stay quiet. "Ye've no idea what he did! He were a soldier, so by its very definition we can 'sume he murdered pups! Murdered our kin in their homes! Do he not deserve to be punished for that?"

Glancing back at Anubis, his muzzle nearly resting on the ground, Jack took a pensive breath and shook his head. "I'll be honest. I ain't got a clue what he did durin' the war. Maybe he did. I really find it hard to believe knowin' 'im, but I won't pretend that possibility don't exist. I ain't never bothered to ask. An' I won't defend who he used to be. I think that man already died.

"But, he ain't on trial 'bout what he mighta done durin' the war. That's what Khade'grr already decided. An' part o' that judgment were that he come to my pack, to repay us an' reward us for what we sacrificed to bring this war to a close. An' in that judgment, right 'ere, he left it up to me how I'd put my gift to use. Well, only seemed perfectly natural that I'd use my most powerful asset in protectin' my land, which is well within my natural rights."

"We don't even gotta listen to what Khade'grr said. He ain't our Supreme Alpha," Grr'landra growled bitterly.

The entire council roiled with discussion and movement in the same instant Moon Eye's head snapped around to glare at her. Some were outraged at the suggestion, others questioned why they had to obey a ruling with no teeth.

The mediator rapped the table to little avail. Pursing his lips as he peered around, Jack smirked with a thought, and his voice drew more attention than the mediator's attempts. "If there's question 'bout followin' Khade'grr's rules, then we ought to take it to vote." Moon Eye growled under his breath, and Jack's smirk only grew. "This letter in my hand be the only thin' we got decidin' he's property to begin with. Without it, there ain't nothin' stoppin' me from declarin' 'im a formal member of my pack, with rank, to be recognized as a free man to all the packs! An' I think that's the real issue we ought be votin' on today."

A cane slapping on a table brought a stunned silence, everyone turning to Mother Meadow. The old woman pointed down at Jack. "Spot on, Jack! That's exactly what we ought to be doin'! This slave business ain't got no place 'ere wit' us! Were some sorta irony Khade'grr were thinkin', not this madness 'ere! Callin' a council over whether it's fair fer a pack ta protect its land! Ludacris! Ye call 'im a animal, but I ain't heard a civilized wolf 'ere 'sides Jack! I vote we throw out the whole rulin', an' be discussin' this as equals, like proper Aroogar!"

"What!" barked Grr'landra. Growling, she scowled at Meadow. "That ain't what I meant, at all!"

"Well, it's what I meant!" she retorted firmly, glaring in her general direction.

There was a great deal of noise again as the elders discussed it with those beside them. The Dawson elders were angrily muttering to one another.

Fern leaned close to Jack's ear. "I could just blast yer ass right now."

"Save it fer Baxter," he replied playfully without hesitation, smirking smugly as he observed the chaos.

Honestly, Anubis shared Fern's sentiment right about now. Listening to Jack talk about him, he had to swallow the lump in his throat that had accompanied the other warm sensations in his body. Deciding that he was tired of his back hurting, he straightened up a little and leaned forward, nudging his head against Jack's good side.

Looking down at him, Jack smirked again. "An' ye thought this'd be yer funeral."