Peter Green's Story

Charlie


As the car moved through the street and eventually into town, Charlie stared out calming down from the slight anxiety from the hostility that still lingered in the car. This was familiar. Riding along the pack's house street towards the town she spent just as much time in as the house. Familiarity was key to calming her anxiety and the lull of the car was doing wonders. She could drive the route to the town with her eyes shut... if it wasn't dangerous or illegal. A smile formed as they passed streets and stores she knew too well. The tea shop she bought bubble tea. The park her friends and she would hang out at. The music store down a side road that was basically her second home. The people milled about like any ordinary day and to be fair to them it was. She even recognized a few, not that she waved or anything. Charlie even chuckled quietly as a little boy hopped happily along the side walk with an ice cream in hand. This was life and she loved seeing it.

Her anxiety-free mood was slightly killed when Phoebe parked the van outside a bar and grill she had never been in. With some caution, Charlie unbuckled and slipped out of the car somehow without stumbling. She slowly did a circle taking in her surroundings. They were in a part of town she had only walked through a few times. It was where werewolves frequented more than humans and since her friends mainly consisted of humans now, werewolf watering holes weren't her forte. Granted Mica had dragged her numerous times to different werewolf clubs to dance and drink. Rarely did she do either, but she played DD and often got free drinks while she occasionally chatted with the bartender. One thing she learned while trailing behind her energizer bunny brother, always make friends with the bartender. They would protect you if they liked you... and if they weren't skeevy. Most weren't which was lucky for her. Those clubs and bars were not on this street however. This environment was almost completely new to her. Taking a deep slow breath, Charlie calmed down so her heart rate wasn't thumping like a birds. That only portrayed her as prey which would be the worst idea ever when entering a room filled with unknown wolves.

As Phoebe started towards the building, Charlie began to follow but looked back to catalog where everyone was. Her eyes caught Eve's wonderment of the town. Unconsciously, her head cocked slightly at the younger girl. Eve was looking at the town as if it was something precious to behold and Charlie supposed it was. Unlike Eve, Charlie was never restrained to the pack house. She was only home schooled until Morgan was old enough to attend school and by then Mica had annoyed her parents enough for them to send them to public human school. From second grade to now, Charlie had attend school with humans and frequented town often. She loved the place but the awe had worn off once she became a regular. Maybe next time Cal and I hang out I can invite her. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton shouldn't have any qualms about it if I ask. I may be invisible and shy most of the time, but I am responsible and my friends would look out for her. It was a nice idea, she just hoped the Alphas would be okay with their daughter hanging out with humans. She would talk to Rachelle before she brought the idea up to Eve, she didn't want to get the girl's hopes up.

Taking another calming breath, she walked into the establishment to find it full with boisterous wolves. The room's volume decreased as the small group entered. All eyes were on them. Charlie shifted so her back was closer to the wall and she was hidden more behind Phoebe. Her eyes swept the room slowly only snapping to attention when a tall young man approached. Something about him put Charlie on alert; he was too charming. She rarely trusted people who were too charming because she learned long ago they tended to mean trouble. Her analysis of the young friendly man broke when Eve stepped forward to talk with him. Her fingers twitched, wanting to grab the other human but knew better. Movement in Charlie's vision told her some of the other werewolves stood ready to defend the young man. Peter, his name is Peter Green. The wolves only settled down when Peter offered the small group to sit and talk. Instead of listening to what Eve and Peter had to say, Charlie kept her eyes on the other wolves. They were outnumbered if something broke out. These wolves were ready to defend their friend. This couldn't be a large pack and Peter didn't seem tied to anyone. While keeping track of the mood of the other wolves, she mentally noted exits and places to hide if anything happened. Please, let nothing happen. A blood bath is not something we need... Looking back at Russell and Aziel she took note on their reactions of the situation.

---

---

Aziel had noticed Eve's hospitality as she had got into the car. He ignored her actions as her feet appeared beside his head as she sat behind him. With a heavy sigh, he leaned back and watched the scenery as Phoebe started up the car and began to drive into town. He smiled at Charlie's as she offered to donate a maze. Soon familiar buildings began to pop into view as they left the canopy of trees that made up their estate and trailed down a few dirt roads. He recognized the garage they passed he often visited when in need of spare parts to fix up one of his motorbike projects. Humans milled through the streets laughing their hands full of shopping bags as they blissfully lived out their lives. They had no pack to worry about.

Soon Phoebe pulled up into the carpark of a familiar Bar and Grill Aziel had spent a few nights in the past drinking at. He hadn't visited in very long time due to one particular disagreement with another wolf they ended up in a blood nose and hurt pride on their part.

As they trickled out of the car one by one Aziel hovered nearby to make sure they were all out of the car before closing the doors behind them. He saw Eve's slight hiccup with the seat belt and her attempts to brush it off naturally making him grin behind her back. She was clumsy sometimes it was amusing to him as it reminded him she was still his little sister. Eccentric and boisterous as always.

As they reached the bar door's Phoebe's expression showed she was on full alert as she spoke
"Stay together, and as inconspicuous as possible. We need to find out exactly what is happening and how to correct it."

"Easier said then done" he muttered as she opened the doors.

Instantly the smell of wolf struck Aziel. All them were different, unique. However, he could pick up the undertones to some of the scents signifying their were pack members. When a wolf was a part of a pack their scent always had a very slight undertone which was the same of the packs. It was their Alpha's smell, it was buried in them as wolves. Only pack wolves could notice their pack, wolves outside of a pack wouldn't be able to tell. Aziel had always found it strange but it made it easier to tell friend from foe. The bar was busy, the bar women winked at a customer some of the men rowdy, others sticking to themselves. They were a few women, most of them were with other male wolves clearly having a good time either eating or drinking more than likely with their mates.

As the volume of the room decreased slightly upon their arrival Aziel glanced around taking in more of his surrounds. A few eyes watched them curiously, a few didn't seem too welcoming.

"Hey guys. Can't say that I've seen you here before. Unless I'm mistaken, you lot are a bunch of fresh new faces. Mind if I take a gander as to what brings you all here?" suddenly a young man approached them. Aziel immediately looked him over, he was tall much like himself. His hair was a wispy brown, his eyes a clear blue. His accent threw Aziel a little, he wasn't expecting to see a British wolf in these parts. It irritated him that he didn't know this wolf living so close to their estate, in their pack territory. His father more than likely knew him, no wolf outside of the pack was allowed to enter another's territory without greeting the resident Alpha first. As per tradition.

"The name's Peter. Peter Pan James Green. I know, genius, right? As in Peter Pan and the Lost Boys? I thought it was creative too," he introduced himself with a grin.

Aziel scoffed a little under his breath. What unusual parents to give their son such a silly name.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Peter. I'm Evangeline, but most people call me Eve. My friends and I," Eve responded so comfortably with this wolf as she motioned to the group. "Are visiting from out of town and simply looking for a place to eat. We've been traveling for quite a while and would love to sit down and order some drinks and food,"

Aziel glared at her a little bit. How could she be so comfortable around a foreign wolf. She needed to learn to put up more guards for her own protection. He was impressed that she knew to lie though, she was smart enough to know not to reveal who their really were.

"Well, you lot chose the right place than. There's no better place to eat in town than Zum Schwarzen Adler. Why don't I sit down with you all? I could answer any questions you may have about the town, seeing as you're visiting," Peter's tone hinted he didn't quite believe Eve, but he didn't seem to be calling her out on it. It may cause trouble if he did.


"Well, I can't speak for all of us, but I wouldn't mind learning a bit more about this town from the man who seems to know it all," Eve smirked, tilting her head up and giving him a challenging look. Peter simply chuckled in returned and shook his head before turning his gaze to Phoebe.

"Well? You seem like you're the one in charge, m'lady. What's your say on the matter?" Peter bypassed Evangeline, he clearly could see Phoebe held a dominance well. She was a strong woman and wolf. Any amateur of body language would be able to see she was taking the lead on this group.

Glancing towards Charlie Aziel could see the hesitation in her eyes. She must be uncomfortable in this sort of place, as a shy girl she probably didn't go to places like this often. Stepping forward in front of Charlie he intentionally put her behind him as a guard, he needed to keep Charlie and his sister safe. His sister may be more difficult though with her clear enthusiasm for not showing unease.


"Peter is it?" Aziel didn't falter eye contact with this wolf folding his arms defensively. "Name's Aziel, how about I get some drinks whilst Phoebe picks a table. She has her preferences" Aziel said knowing Phoebe would choose a good spot out of the way, Peter may take them to a table in a busy area. It was best not to be sat near too many open ears. Though in a wolf bar that may be difficult.


"Eve I'll get you the usual, what's your drink, Peter? From a guess, I won't say your a cocktail guy" Aziel raised his eyebrows at him, he wondered if Eve's usually was still the same as of five years ago. A few eyes watching them caught his attention but Aziel didn't remove his gaze from Peter. They were pack wolves, they more than likely knew who Phoebe was but may not recognize him after his 5 years away. He needed to do some damage control and make sure they didn't blab unintentionally.

"I could use a hand carrying the drinks back if anyone cares to join" he said looking towards the group. It was best not to go anywhere alone and stay in pairs.

♫ Touch of Grey ♫

Russell followed behind the group silently as they made their way towards the bar. As they immediately got out he noticed that Evangeline made a b line for a nearby fountain to drop a coin in it. Russell let out an amused huff, and rolled his eyes as he went on to follow the others. Before they even entered the restaurant Russell could already sense other wolves inside. He rolled his head on his shoulders uncomfortably as his wolf was already starting to get riled up once again. With Phoebe's order on keeping a low profile, and Aziel's following comment about it Russell let out a sigh.

"Yeah, it'd be a lot easier if one of us didn't look like an Evanescence roadie." He softly stated, obviously referring to Evangeline. Once they entered the restaurant they drew the attention of the other werewolves immediately. Russell kept his eyes on the look out for trouble, scanning the room, and taking note of everyone there. They were soon approached by one of the wolves, a British young man. Growls flooded Russell's ears as this Peter introduced himself, and especially with how causal Evangeline was with him. 'ENOUGH OF THIS! SPLATTER THIS FOOL'S BRAIN ACROSS THE FLOOR, AND SHOW THESE MONGRELS YOUR DOMINANCE!' His wolf howled in his mind. Russell closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Unfortunately my parents weren't too worried about being clever. Last names Talbot, and they seriously missed the opportunity to name me Lawrence, you know like the original Wolfman." Russell commented about Peter's name. "Though I guess they weren't the only ones who missed out on being a classic werewolf movie, I think it'd be more appropriate for the British Werewolf to be in New York wouldn't you say?" He added with a small smile on the corner of his face. Contrary to popular opinion Russell does know how to be sociable when the need arises.

When Russell was ordered to help Aziel with the drinks by Phoebe he let out a small groan. 'DAMN BITCH, ORDERING US AROUND LIKE WE WERE COMMON MUTTS! BEAT HER SKULL IN TO TEACH HER SOME RESPECT!' Russell took in a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Russell gave her a nod, and followed behind Aziel as they went to order the drinks. "I don't trust One Direction over there. We need to watch him. He's crafty." Russell softly stated to Aziel, though it was most likely his wolf talking.

As they were at the bar getting drinks, with himself ordering a water as well as some of the others, he could hear the commotion start with the girls. It was this bit of tension that allowed Russell to slip for a moment. Without thought Russell grabbed hold of a empty beer bottle, and broke it in half over the bar as he marched his way towards the growing mob of hostile werewolves, with him growling, and snarling lowly. His eyes briefly flashed bright yellow before returning to it's normal color.

As he approached the crowd he raised up his makeshift shank, and was about to stab the first wolf he saw. But luckily things began to quiet down, giving him a moment to catch his breath, and regain control. Russell looked down at the beer bottle, and tossed it into a trash can hopefully before the other wolves noticed. Russell returned to Aziel, and awkwardly looked forward, undoubtedly Aziel had saw that he was about to get stab happy. "I don't trust them. I don't like how they look at Evangeline and Charlie. I'm ready to move anytime." He stated. At that point he had already gotten an exit plan in his mind.

The unease that had settled upon the group was obvious even to the most clueless of fellows - and while Peter himself was a bit clueless when it came to book smarts at times, he was extremely intelligent in other fields, especially when it came to street smarts. He could read the group like an open book, and the unease was clearly stemming from the small amount of protectiveness and hostility that radiated off of the silent onlookers that surrounded them. The group knew they weren't in very friendly territory, but they also knew not to overstep their boundaries.

Another smile blooming across his face in an effort to make the group feel a bit more at ease, Peter lifted his hand and itched slightly at his forehead. It seemed to be a signal of sorts, for immediately the wolves that had been poised to jump to his defense settled down, silently simmering at their tables. Slowly the normal sounds of the bar arose again, although a bit more softly, for the quiet chatter was mostly focused around the current events and the odd group that had entered the bar.

Although he had been slightly focused on keeping the peace, he hadn't missed the male with the sandy blonde hair sliding in front of the young girl with longer, straight brown hair. It was obvious he meant to shield her from any possible danger, and a small amount of respect for the man rose inside of Peter. Any man who stood to protect a woman was a well-respected one in Peter's views.

"Peter is it? Name's Aziel, how about I get some drinks whilst Phoebe picks a table. She has her preferences. Eve I'll get you the usual, what's your drink, Peter? From a guess, I won't say your a cocktail guy. I could use a hand carrying the drinks back if anyone cares to join."

Peter nodded in response to the man, Aziel's, words and he chuckled a little. "You'd be correct. Whiskey Coke on the rocks, please."

A chorus of what each person in the group wanted followed Peter's request, and with that, Aziel and the man he now knew as Russell walked off, both of them seeming a bit unnerved by the current circumstances and having to leave the women alone with him. Phoebe, however, seemed more than capable of keeping everything under control in his eyes.

When the girls began to move off towards a table, he quietly followed behind them. In an instance, the entire atmosphere changed. He barely registered the hand reaching for the girl with the long brown hair - Charlie, he thought was her name - before Phoebe had gripped the man's arm and pinned him against the table. Immediately his friends shot up to his defense, but a quick sputter of words mixed with pain later and they had lowered back into their seats. When she released the man, he glared daggers at her, but a warning look for Peter as he passed was enough to get the man to turn around.

Pulling out a chair at the table, Peter spun it around and sat in it backwards, facing the young women who had dropped into the seats across from him.

"Apologies for David. He's positively smashed and a bit of a tosspot. There isn't much to be helped in his regard, but I'll ensure that doesn't happen again," he said. It wasn't long after that the two men of their group appeared with drinks, both seeming a bit on the angry side due to what had happened. He accepted the Whiskey Coke and leaned against the chair, his arms resting on the back of it due to it being in front of him.

"Now, what is it that you lot would like to know?" he asked, entirely comfortable with his back to the whole of the bar. He had friends - in the surplus, might he add - and wasn't in the least worried about one of them allowing someone to catch him off guard.

After answering Evangeline's questions, he turned to speak to Phoebe, but was cut off by the door exploding inwards. Immediately people in black gear filed in, brandishing large weapons and others strapped to their bodies. Loud sounds ricocheted throughout the room, which immediately began to fill with smoke. He barely registered Eve falling to the ground, the smoke stinging his sensitive wolf eyes and nose. Letting out a gagging cough, he lifted his shirt to his face to attempt to block out a bit of the smoke, and searched the room in a daze. He saw someone snag Eve, but other than her, Charlie was the only other one that the people seemed to be after. Gunshots were fired at the ceiling, causing people to hunker down behind tables and chairs. Some attempted to be brave and charge the humans, but were quickly loaded with gunshots and promptly fell to the floor.

Reaching out, Peter roughly grabbed Russell's shoulder and yanked on it, caring naught for what the man might do to him.

"The cowards took Eve! They're going for Charlie, also!" he shouted through the gunfire, turning his gaze to Aziel. "What do we do?"

---

Eve stepped off to the side, allowing those in charge of their group to take on their roles. She had said and done all that she wanted to say and do, and that's all that mattered. When Aziel left to gather drinks, with Russell in tow, she turned her gaze to Phoebe, who immediately turned off to search for a safe place for all of them to sit.

On the way there, however, a bit of a fiasco between Charlie, Phoebe, and a man and his friends occurred. Phoebe quickly shut the events down with her strength and speed, and a warning look from Peter completely ended any further retaliation. Eve, however, made a large circle around the men, ensuring to stay out of any of their reaches. Grabbing a chair beside Phoebe, she pulled it out from the table and dropped down into it, happily accepting the raspberry lemonade that Aziel had brought her. She lifted the straw to her lips, sipping contentedly while Peter began to speak.

Choking a bit on her lemonade, she set it down quickly on the table and scooted her chair forward a bit, leaning towards Peter in excitement.

"What's the town like? What are the best places to visit? How are the humans? Are they accepting? Respectful? Kind?" she asked hurriedly, speaking like a little girl excited to try something new.

Peter blinked at her, his surprise evident in his eyes, before chuckling and shaking his head a bit. "Excitable gal, aren't you?" he drawled, his accent an endearing one. "The town itself is beautiful with some very interesting places to visit, ranging from shops to nature preserves. The humans are weary when it pertains to wolves, but none are outright hostile towards us. The wolves, however, can be a bit on the instigating side, and seem to enjoying causing unnecessary tension between the humans and the wolves. It's only certain wolves though," he said. Clearly he knew said wolves, but was unwilling to provide more information towards her. Instead, he turned his gaze to Phoebe, fixating those blue gems on the older woman. "Would you happen to have any questions, m'lady?"

It seemed that as soon as the words had left Peter's mouth, the entire bar went to shit.

The front entrance was thrown open, and immediately a group of people who held the scent of humans burst through them. Covered from head to toe in black gear, they held guns of various degrees, and even had small objects tied to their bodies. Something made a loud sound, and instantly the room began to fill with thick clouds. The first sound was followed by three more, the room billowing with thick, putrid smoke afterwards. Eve launched from her seat, the smoke stinging her eyes and causing her to cough and gag as it entered her throat. Tears clouded her already dulled vision, and she leaned heavily against the table in an effort to catch her breath. Dark figures moved through the smoke, hands reaching out and shots being fired into the ceiling as a warning. Eve's hand slipped off of the table as she collapsed to the floor, her opposite hand clutching her throat. Stars dotted her vision, and a painful crack slammed into the back of her head, causing darkness to spot the edge of her eyes.

Hands grabbed her underarms and dragged, pulling and throwing her roughly over a shoulder. Hands reached through the smoke towards Charlie, something that Eve very dimly registered, but her vision flickered and she was unable to see if the people reaching for the other girl had actually succeeded in grabbing her.

Lifting her hand, she formed a fist and weakly slammed it against the man who held her.

"Put ... Me down," she wheezed, ending on a cough. When her captor said nothing, but instead continued towards the door, she lifted her head just enough to look towards the area that she had been sitting with everyone. Lifting a trembling hand, she held it out towards the area.

"Aziel ... Russell ... Somebody ..." she whimpered, her voice dry and cracking.

---

---

Pheobe was only half listening to the conversation between Peter and Evangeline as she was focused on their surroundings. Too many wolves, too many variables. She didn't like the odds if something happened. Phoebe's nails clicked gently on the table as she examined each and every patron.

"The wolves, however, can be a bit on the instigating side, and seem to enjoying causing unnecessary tension between the humans and the wolves. It's only certain wolves though," Peter said peaking Phoebe's interest, but Peter made an obvious attempt at changing the subject as he turned his charming smile towards her.

"Would you happen to have any questions, m'lady?" Peter asked her, his eyes meeting hers. Phoebe took a moment to think. She could take him on head on, ask her questions regarding the recent incidents and demand answers... or she could play his game and attempt to charm him in return.

Phoebe let a small seductive smile slide across her face as she leaned forward, accentuating her cleavage.

"Well.." She started to answer but was cut off.

The front entrance exploded inward, and the room was flooded with a group of five...maybe seven peope Phoebe counted as she threw herself in front of Charlie as she was the closest to her.

"Protect. Protect the pack Her wolf howled.

Phoebe caught the scent of the intruders, humans and unchanged wolves commingled....but...they had another scent...Rouges. Phoebe stood, still attempting to put herself between Charlie, Evangeline and the Threat. The men where covered from head to toe in black gear, and they held guns. Pheobe heard four thuds and the room was suddenly filled with white clouds of thick smoke. The intense smell burned her eyes and stung her nose and throat. She ripped the bottom of her shirt off and wrapped it around her nose and mouth, then ripped off her sleeves and passed one to Charlie.

'Who dare attack my pack?!' Her wolf bayed.

Phoebe turned to give the other piece of cloth to Eve, only to see she was no where to be found. She spun around and caught sight of a man throwing Eve over his shoulder. Fury burned through Phoebe suddenly. She felt her eyes shift, sharpening the focus. Pain burned through her jaw and hands, as claws sprouted and her canines elongated.

She jumped on the man closest to her's back, and ripped into his throat with her sharpened teeth. He didn't stand a chance as she tore through his jugular. She stepped away from him and started in on the next man. She clawed at one of the men's face, tearing through his facial skin and blinding him. She used a roundhouse kick, her boot connecting with the jaw of one of the men sending him flying backwards.

Phoebe didn't see the gun raised in her direction, but she definitely felt the bullet tear through her lower abdomen. Pain bloomed through her as blood poured out of her. She had to get to Evangeline....but there where too many of them, too many bodies to get through. Failure was not and option. She felt her limbs get heavy as she fought but she refused to give up. Fury bit through her. She would not be weak again, she would not let her alpha down.

She tore through the man headed for Charlie, unwilling to let them have another of her pack. She would save them all if it was the last thing she did.

Charlie


Peter asked if anyone in the group had a question and Eve immediately drew close and asked about the town."The town itself is beautiful with some very interesting places to visit, ranging from shops to nature preserves. The humans are weary when it pertains to wolves, but none are outright hostile towards us. The wolves, however, can be a bit on the instigating side, and seem to enjoying causing unnecessary tension between the humans and the wolves. It's only certain wolves though," he said. Charlie watched him knowing he knew more than he was letting on. She was tempted to ask her own questions to see if he actually knew this place rather than give them the general. She knew the humans probably better than he did, but before she could decided if she wanted to say anything he moved on. "Would you happen to have any questions, m'lady?" Peter asked directing his question at Phoebe. The she-wolf remained quiet a moment. As she opened her mouth to reply, the door to the bar burst open.

As Charlie turned, her eyes opened wide. People dressed in all black rushed in letting out smoke bombs. Seeing the first one go off, Charlie sucked in a deep breath and held putting her flutist lungs to good use. She was knocked to the floor with Phoebe throwing herself in front of Charlie to protect the younger girl. Clutching the mace in her hands, Charlie only started towards a window when Phoebe went to save Eve. She didn't make it far as someone grabbed for her. Letting out a surprised yelp due to being grabbed and shots being fired, Charlie turned and knocked the mans mask off that protected him from the smoke that currently was filling her eyes and lungs. Coughing, she held down the trigger for a second releasing enough to cause him to back off. "You bitch!" He yelled back handing her across the face. As he clawed at his eyes, Charlie shook the pain away and tried once more to get away but again did not succeed.

"Let go!" She growled as a stronger man manhandled her. She bit her lip as her hand slipped across a broken bottle. "No you don't!" The muffled deep voice of the man barked, hauling her up and throwing her over his shoulder. She flailed, but found it pointless. He was far stronger than her. Fine. She continued to thrash but not as hard as before, masking her true purpose. Dark clothes hide blood. You have been marked. Follow the bread crumbs. As she passed people in black, her bloody hands touched them leaving semi-hidden smear marks of her scent for her pack mates to follow.

"Hurry, throw them in the back!" One person yelled right before Charlie yipped as she was tossed in the back of a van. The door shut leaving Charlie in the dark with an unconscious Eve and three kidnappers. She quietly scooted over to Eve to make sure the girl was okay, trying to focus on her junior rather than freak out. Freaking out could happen later when she and Eve weren't being kidnapped.

---

---

Aziel nodded to the bartender as she prepared their drinks order.

"I don't trust One Direction over there. We need to watch him. He's crafty." Russell softly stated to Aziel beside him.

Aziel pulled a hand through his hair looking back for a moment to inspect said 'One Direction' fellow. "I don't trust half the people in here. If they're anything like I expect they're out for themselves and don't give a shit about anyone else." Aziel paused for a moment to pick up his bottle of beer taking a large gulp emptying it before placing it back on the bar. "Peter is just intelligent enough to try and figure us out forwardly than sneaking around".

As Aziel finished his sentence he suddenly tensioned his hand tightening into a fist as a commotion broke out with the girls. He stepped forward but restrained himself when he saw Pheobe's quick movements protecting Charlie from the mutt that had tried to touch her. He was glad Pheobe was as skilled as she was. Relaxing his hand slightly he flexed his fingers glaring at the mutt who now meekly walked away from the girls towards his own table of lowlifes.

-KILL THEM- A dark and angry snarling echoed at the back of Aziel's mind. His lip twitched slightly as he held back his wolf's desire to tear them apart.

Taking heavy deep breaths to try and calm his wolf and control the rage that shivered through him Aziel pulled his gaze away from the lowlifes and brought it back to Russell. Shattered glass littered the bar which once used to be Aziel's beer as Russell awkwardly looked away from him.

"I don't trust them. I don't like how they look at Evangeline and Charlie. I'm ready to move anytime." Russell said mirroring Aziels thoughts.

"A fight here wouldn't be wise. There are too many wolves from different packs" Aziel looked around again as some of the patrons had noticed their reactions and were not watching them more intently than before. It would be bad to make a bad impression against other packs, and he knew if he were to release his rage blood would spilled. If he were here alone without the pack he would have slung them without thinking. But he knew in this situation it would only threaten the packs safety.

As the bartender served up the last remaining drinks onto a tray for them Aziel looked back over to Russell spoke in a quieter tone to try and prevent eavesdroppers. "You held yourself back well. I trust in your instincts" he said knowing full well how difficult it was to restrain your inner wolf when it desired blood. He knew he could rely on Russell's quick reactions if anything were to arise.

Returning to the group with their tray of drinks and a fresh beer for Aziel he handed out their orders and pulled up a chair as Peter began to answer some of Eve's questions. Aziel quietly listened observing the area for any more idiots, it was hard not to notice that peter was holding some of the truth from his answer's. He was playing them to some degree.

Peter moved his attention from Eve then and gazed at Phoebe "Would you happen to have any questions, m'lady?" as his words left his lips Aziel's senses became overloaded.

The front door smashed open the hinges snapping at the force as suddenly a group of humans piled into the room dressed in black their faces obscured with gas masks. Seeing the masks Aziel's instincts caused his eyes to burn as his vision shifted to his wolf's eyes the colour of golden brown. A click sprung and instantaneously clouds of smoke billowed throughout the bar. It wrapping around them stinging Aziel's eyes but the pain was less than it would have been had he not shifted them. Clutching his throat as the smoke clung to his lungs Aziel kicked back his chair as he sprung from his seat.

Phoebe was ripping her shirt for protection handing one to charlie when through the smoke Aziel saw one of the humans blur towards them. Aziel's heart thumped with rage as his body twitched.

- PROTECT THE PACK - PROTECT THEM - PROTECT HER- KILL THEM ALL AND FEAST ON THEIR FLESH - Aziel gave in to his wolf's demands. Pain blurred throughout his body travelling towards his mouth as his jaw broke and reset allowing the elongated sharp teeth of his wolf to have full freedom.

Facing the human he charged towards the black figure raising his arm in an uppercut punch. His fist connected with the mans jaw throwing his head back as his body fell back to the floor. Laying motionless two other humans ran towards Aziel from either side of him holding what appeared to be semi-automatic guns. Seeing the threat Aziel waiting until the last moment as they raised their guns and moved his body ducking down as they ended up shooting one another. They were knocked down by the force of the shots but the bullets didn't pierce their chests and were instead blocked by bulletproof vests. Snarling furious Aziel quickly tried to make out the figures within the smoke.

He could smell the wolves in the bar, most of them had fled, either through the windows, back exit he didn't know. The humans, they stank of sweat, fear and rage. However, a distinct smell settled on their clothes. Rogue. They stank of it now Aziel had attuned to it.

-ROGUES!?- his wolf's rage rose up bubbling within him. Rogue's, he despised rogues. Unable to contain his rage any longer Aziel fell to his knees his hands flat on the floor supporting his body as it visibly began to shake. He couldn't withhold his wolf any longer. As his back arched his bones breaking he ears began to morph his hearing changing to that of wolf before the rest of his body.

Half way through his shift suddenly several more humans filtered in through the front door. Backup.

The pain of his shift was incredible but it was something Aziel had experienced before, forcing his feet to move part shift he jumped upon one of the humans that had entered. Bearing down upon the human his teeth tore into the man's throat his wolf's rage tearing into the man's flesh as his shift began to quicken. His skin prickled like goosebumps as shades of brown fur began to sprout along with black and white undertones.

Thats when he heard a crackled voice through the commotion.

"Aziel ... Russell ... Somebody ..." Eve's distinct voice was barely audible but with his wolf's ear it had reached Aziel.

Looking up from his kill Aziel froze as he saw his sister thrown over the shoulder of one the humans running out of the bar with her.

"E-van-geline!!" Aziel called towards her however his voice broke as his vocal cords shifted. Fear for his sister and the mix of rage pushed him through the last phase of his change as his bones re-set, his face lengthened into a muzzle and his body overthrown with fur.

Pain sizzled throughout him as Aziel shook his head at the numbness of his shift his vision now at a new eye level. Standing over 3 feet tall an incredibly large wolf towered over a now mauled human. His senses heightened Aziel snarled at the human who left with his sister now out of view.

More humans filtered in blocking the exit. blocking his path to his sister. Unafraid Aziel charged at the blockade they began to form. Leaping he knocked down two of them his weight and strength hunkering them down as his quickly ripped through them avoiding their chests protected by the bulletproof vests.

Searing pain suddenly ripped through him as a bullet flew through his right leg. Stumbling for a moment Aziel turned to the human who shot him. The woman was recklessly shooting in all directions, her fear reaked. He saw her aim towards Phoebe the shot a direct hit as Phoebe's blood drifted towards Aziel's nose. Growling Aziel ran at the girl his teeth sinking into her leg as she screamed. She fell to the floor shaking with fear as she pointed the gun directly at Aziel's head. She pressed the trigger but the gun didn't shoot. She had used all of the bullets. Tearing into her other leg Aziel immobilised the girl but didn't kill her. He resisted his wolf's desire to kill her as he knew it would be best to keep at least one of these human's alive for answers.

As Pheobe pushed through her wound she attacked a wolf that had been gunning for charlie. It was then that Aziel saw Charlie trying her best to defend herself against one of the assailants using her mace. As the man backhanded her fury coursed through Aziel. -PROTECT! - his wolf screamed at him. Unconsciously his feet had already moved on their own as he ran towards charlie. As he neared her she was thrown over the man's shoulder. He growled and was about make his move when suddenly pain burst throughout every cell of his body.

He dropped to the floor his body twitching with uncontrollable muscular convulsions the sound of sparks pumped beside him. Aziel's moved his gaze to see the first human he had attacked smirking as he held what Aziel could only imagine to be a taser.

He tried to growl but the electricity that moved through out his body was too intense, he couldn't control his muscles. This was no ordinary taser. Helpless Aziel saw Charlie being carried away in the same direction Eve had been taken.

Phoebe, Russell Aziel's mind's called out to them but he knew they couldn't hear him in human form. God damn it! he cursed. If only the wolves in this bar hadn't been afraid and ran this may not have happened. He couldn't see if Peter was amongst the smoke.

---

---

Aziel's muscles twitched as he snarled at the man who had tasered him. He tried to push himself up but his muscles weren't responding to him. 'Damn it he growled frustrated. Suddenly fire bloomed across the man's chest as it ignited against the man's clothing. He writhed in pain screaming his burnt flesh flooding Aziel's nose.
Looking up Aziel saw Rusell's form standing above him. They shared eye contact for a moment before Russell ran ahead out of the bar. Aziel was grateful for his help, but he couldn't deny his irritation at not having the pleasure of killing the human himself. Though he knew it couldn't be helped he couldn't move in his state.

Smoke was now growing, darkening as it began to rise flames spreading throughout the bar. He needed to get out if he wasn't going to be burned alive. Growling at his body's lack of response he tried again to stand but fumbled again. As he continued to struggle to stand on his four paws Phoebe's distinct smell approached him, moving his head towards her he relaxed as she bent to pick him up. Trying to make it easier for her he didn't struggle as she carried him away from the flames.

"Sorry, I'm going to bleed on you" she commented as the smoke filled his lungs causing him to cough which came out as a raspy snarl his is wolf form. He nodded his head to her in appreciation and to try and show he didn't mind. However, he worried that his weight would put too much of strain on her bullet wound as she struggled to carry him outside.

Gently he was laid down upon the grass, Aziel was glad to be free of the clogged bar's atmosphere as it burned the flames rising. Sirens could be heard in the distance and a small crowd of bystanders had begun to gather. Some of them gasped when they saw Aziel stepping back and shielding their children. Aziel raised his lip towards them showing them his canines before turning away. He hated the look humans gave him, the look of fear they possessed. He wouldn't harm them unless provoked.

As Phoebe walked toward Russell who stood over bodies Aziel attempted to move his muscles again. It was easier, this time, they were slowly beginning to respond to him again. It was then that he noticed it. He stiffened, he knew the scent and it ignited a new coarse of anger throughout him. It was faint and hard to pinpoint amongst all the other smells in the chaos but Aziel knew it was Charlie's blood that he smelt. He swore to himself in that moment he would have the pleasure of ripping apart anyone who had harmed either of them. He was going to hunt them down.

Determination enthralled him as Aziel forced his legs to respond. They shook before he managed to stand for a moment, taking a deep breath he absorbed as much of the smell of Charlie's blood as he could before it disappeared. He tried to move forward, to begin to track them when he felt a pair of hands scoop under him again.
Phoebe picked him up to his dismay. He wanted to tell her, to tell her they had to follow, that they had a lead but he couldn't communicate it without his vocal cords.
He wanted to struggle, to break free of her grasp but held himself back from doing so, Phoebe was injured, if he struggled he could open up her wound.

Torn Aziel growled his frustration as Phoebe placed him into the van before calling his father.

'Charlie , Eve be alright

♫ Blood On My Name ♫

Russell gave Phoebe an affirmative nod at her conditions. Though he wasn't gonna wait around sitting on his thumbs once he found them. Russell looked towards the road, where the girls scent led to. 'Just hang on. I won't let anything happen to you.' Russell proclaimed in his mind as he glared at the direction they went, with determination almost burning in his eyes. When Peter joined him, and began speaking to him Russell just stared at him up and down. "Don't sell me short. I got one advantage on them, surprise. They left their boys back there to take care of us. So we got a finite amount of time before they realized that." He stated.

"And we're wolves Peter, that means we're never alone." He added. "If you want to help me, then fine. I won't turn you away. But you follow my lead." He said as he stared Peter down. "This isn't my first time dealing with holier-than-thou human supremacist paramilitary wannabes like these assholes." He stated as he tucked some of his hair behind his ear, showing off his facial scar to Peter. "And I'm gonna find them, and RIP THOSE BASTARDS TO SHREDS."

Russell then looked around at the vehicles surrounding them, he needed some wheels. Russell went over to a dead body of one of the men that attacked them. He searched the body, patting his hands up and down it. He stopped the moment he found what he was looking for, a pocket knife. He grabbed the knife, along with a couple extra shotgun rounds, and made his way towards a nearby parked truck, picking up a shotgun off the ground along the way. Once he got to the truck he bashed the window out with the butt of the shotgun. He unlocked the door, and brushed away the broken glass in the driver's seat.

Russell got in, and unlocked the passenger's side door for Peter. Russell opened up the pocket knife, and placed it in the ignition. After lining it up Russell used his enhanced strength to violently jam the knife into the keyhole, and then turning it to start the truck up. Once the car was started up Russell sat there for a moment staring at the steering wheel. His body was shaking from anger and frustration from not being able to save Eve, and Charlie. "Te voi salva. Trebuie să." He softly muttered to himself before he drove off towards the scent.

For roughly twenty minutes Russell sat there in complete silence, focusing on driving, and following the scent, barely registering Peter even being there. "I don't get it. Why would hunters take two females that have yet to shift? Unless they're looking for the pack. But even then there was a lot of wolves in that bar, they'd have no reason to believe that wasn't our pack to begin with." He finally spoke. "If they were wolves then it would make since. They'd want the two for their pack. Since they haven't shifted yet, they haven't officially established an alpha. Makes them much easier to mold."

"I've heard stories about rogues doping up captured females to get them under control." Russell then tightly gripped the steering wheel at the thought of what they could be doing to the girls. "Not to mention psychological damage that could be used to change a person. A person's mind is much more fragile than we like to think." He explained. He then increased the truck's acceleration, going well over the speed limit. He couldn't let this happen to them. He knows all too well what this sort of thing can do to a person.

"But those hunters were humans weren't they? I didn't sense any werewolves." He added. Russell was clearly shaken by the whole ordeal. The blood, the smoke, the gunshots, and the screams were all too familiar to him. "What the hell do they want with them?" The more he thought about it, the more pissed off he got. "Dammit, I should have been faster. If I was faster I could have stopped the van. This is all my fault." He groaned in frustration. Russell then let out a relaxing sigh. "Sorry...it's just this pack....my pack....they aren't my first pack. I was in a rough place before I met them, and they still took me in. I owe them too much to let this happen."

The rest of the ride Russell remained silent, quietly contemplating what those men could possibly want with the girls. The drive seemed like it lasted an eternity. And for Russell it really felt like it. He couldn't stop thinking about how much time they've been with those monsters, and the possible horrors that's being inflicted on. And his wolf has a vivid imagination about worse case scenarios. He shook his head, he had to focus on rescuing them. No matter what he has to do.

After sometime they came down a very bumpy, and winding road, and Russell stopped the truck, pulling it over on the side of the road. "We're close, real close. We go the rest of the way of foot." He stated as he got out of the truck, and grabbed the shotgun he picked up. "Listen, Peter, you don't owe us anything. I won't think any less of you if you want to stay back here." Russell stated to him. He might not know the young man, he still doesn't want to see him get hurt over something that he's not involved in, though he doubted that he'd listen to him.

Russell quietly sneaked his way through the forest, and towards the increasingly strong scent of the girls, and the van that took them. He could smell it's exhaust. After some intense sneaking through the forest they finally came upon where the girls were being held, a militia-style compound, complete with fences, and guards patrolling the perimeter. Keeping hidden in the forest, Russell pulled out his phone, and checked his location. Once he got his coordinates he sent them to Phoebe's phone.

Russell stared out at the compound, closing his eyes, and focusing on his senses of smell, and hearing. He listened closely to the sounds that people make. Footsteps, breathing, and even heartbeats if they were close enough. He focused his nose in on the girl's scent, particularly Eve's since she always had a strong scent to begin with. 'THEY'RE GOING TO DIE UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING! THE PACK IS TOO FAR OUT, BY THE TIME THEY GET HERE IT'LL BE TOO LATE! AND ALL YOUR FAULT! THEY'LL DIE BLOODY, AND BROKEN JUST LIKE THE OTHERS! AND JUST LIKE THEM IT'LL BE BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO WEAK! BUT IF YOU LET ME OUT, I CAN GET TO THEM.'

Russell growled lowly to himself as he continued to think about it. His eyes began to turn a burning yellow once more, with his fingernails beginning to turn into claws, and teeth began to change into fangs. Russell then let out a sigh. [color=#872600]"Uniți în ceartă, împreună în pace. United in strife, together in peace." Russell softly repeated to himself to calm himself down. Once his body parts returned to normal he let out another sigh. He looked down at his phone, and let out another sigh.

He was right. They didn't have the luxury of time. He had to do something.
[To: Phoebe]
[I can't wait for you. They can't wait for you. I can slip in unseen alone, and get to them. You guys need to get here ASAP. It's our best option.]
Once the message was sent he proceeded to turn his phone off, so as to avoid any phone calls from them telling him not to. "We've got one advantage. Numbers. The two of us can slip by them without detection. Once we're inside we need to rely on our sense of hearing, and smell. If you focus hard enough you can practically distinguish them from their heartbeats. Our senses are going to keep us alive in there. You need to trust your instincts." He stated as he looked over at Peter. "Like I said before this isn't your fight, you can walk away right now. I won't hold it against you."

---

♫ Evil Ways ♫

Contrary to their beliefs, the mysterious rogue captive was in fact awake, he had been for sometime. He was merely playing opossum. He was surprised that even worked at all. He listened with his eyes closed, faking being out. He took note of the heartbeats, the scents, and the names that were spoken. Once the Alpha had left, and the elderly gentlemen that accompanied him had took his place. Calvin was what they called him. Once Calvin was there the Rogue's torso shot up from the ground, him sitting up, and staring at Calvin, all with an unsettling grin plastered across his face. He took a big whiff of the air, and let out a satisfied sigh. "Smells down right homey in here!" He smirked, followed by a chuckle.

Calvin watched him carefully as he got up, and gripped the bars of his cell. Staring directly at Calvin. "Oh you caught me! I was faking being asleep the whole time. Give me some credit old man. Pain and I have come to terms a long time ago. One little geriatric punch wasn't going to keep me down." He stated with a smug grin. "Yeah you keep smiling you bastard, in about five minutes you won't have any teeth left to smile with!" Calvin growled as he turned around to go get Jason. "Aw Cal leaving so soon? I can call you Cal right?" Calvin stopped at the foot of the steps.

Before Calvin could respond footsteps could be heard coming towards them as Jason returned. "Well, rain check on that Cal." The man smirked. Once Jason was close enough the man let out a laugh. "Ah Mr. Sutton. Come down for a friendly chat? I gotta say, this is a nice play room. Tell me, you take the wifey down here to have some fun? Or are you more interested in the younger gals?" He snickered. "Do you know the difference between a wolf and a jackal Mr. Sutton? You see wolves are weak alone. They need a pack for strength. Jackals on the other hand work best alone. Jackals are able to survive in some of the most barren conditions. You know why? Because they're survivors. That is their strength."

"Now, let's talk about people. You know who are the most dangerous people? They're the damaged ones. Because they're the survivors." He continued. "Tell me Mr. Sutton, have you ever been through a crucible? At some point, either now or later everyone goes through something so traumatic that it either kills them, or changes them to who they are meant to be." He explained. He then ran his hand down his burnt face. "Oh I've went through my crucible. More so than you'll ever know, and you know what happened? I became something so much more. Makes me wonder what will happen to those two little weak girls. Your people should really learn to quiet down, I can hear the whispers from here."

"Oh how much I wish I was there right now. I wonder what's happening to them? Tell me do you know? Some sort of Alpha connection to his wayward pups? Tell me do you feel every cut they are getting while you're here with me?!" He shouted as he shook the bars to the cell. "Tell me what's happening to them?! Can you feel it?! They're probably being raped out of their minds while their Alpha is here!" He howled. "You see Mr. Sutton, you're the wolf, and I'm the JACKAL! You can burn me, break my bones, cut me to pieces but you won't kill me! You know why? Because you will NEVER forget my face, my voice! Even if you get your pups back, they will still have gone through unspeakable horrors! And every time you look into their eyes you will never forget it! And you will ALWAYS remember my face, my words! You see Mr. Sutton, even if you kill my body, I will always be with you now. That nagging voice in the back of your head reminding you that....You....Couldn't.....Protect.....Them."

"But you know what Mr. Sutton, like I said before, I'm a Jackal. I'm a survivor. And I also am your best chance at getting your pups back." He stated with a sly grin. "You see, I might not hold all the cards, but well....someone once told me to 'Focus on what I can control, and everything else will fall into place'. So I'm gonna do that. I'll walk you right up to the damn gate, and you can get your pups, and then you let me go. Two for one? Not half bad if I do say so myself. Oh! Where are my manners? You can call me Jack. Fitting ain't it?"

The vent was coated with cobwebs and held a dank, disgusting air to it. Eve was forced to fight back sneezes and sounds of disgust, along with hisses of pain as she army-crawled her cut and bruise body across the metallic floor. Charlie's sobs had diminished and she could no longer hear them, making it impossible to find her without blindly crawling through the vents, but she wasn't worried about the girl no longer being alive - she could still make out the faint smell that was her life force, despite her unchanged state.

After a few minutes of blindly crawling, she finally huffed and stopped. She had no idea where she was going, and she was surrounded by the enemy. Even if she found Charlie and somehow managed to escape with her, they had no idea where they were or even what city they were near - if they were near one. It could be hours to the nearest town, and even without knowing Charlie's current state of being, Eve knew for a fact that she wouldn't last a trek that long. That's to say if they didn't get caught, because who knew how many people were at the warehouse, and how many people were scouting the perimeters and guarding it. They could be running head-long into the same people that wanted them dead, and Eve couldn't take those risks - not with Charlie's life at stake. Now, if it was just Eve, it wouldn't be as dangerous - she could easily hide herself. But to hide not one, but two injured, unchanged, female wolves in enemy territory? That was an incredible feat in and of itself.

As she mulled over her options, she quirked her head. A small sound of metal grinding on metal filled the air, and a split second later, the bottom to the vent screeched and gave out under her weight, which had been placed fully upon a weak point for far too long. Her eyes widened and in an instant she plummeted to the ground below.

Landing in a heap of dust and metal, Eve groaned and slowly rolled onto her back.

Only to look straight into the faces of three of the men patrolling the hallways.

"Well, would ya' lookee 'ere," one of them snickered. A disgusting hand shot out, gripping her wrist roughly and yanking her to her feet, nearly dislocating her shoulder in the process. He pulled her body against his, her back to his front, and wrapped both arms around her, one hand reaching up to grip her jaw. Pressing his face against hers, he breathed heavily in her ear, his one hand freely roaming over her body.

"Looks like we found th' 'scaped princess, di'n't we, boys?"

The two other men snickered, reaching out to poke and prod at her blood-soaked clothes and -streaked skin.

"I think we oughtt' have some fun with th' princess before we return 'er t' Royce. What about y' boys?"

The disgusting men nodded in response, and with a revolted sound, Eve drove her elbow into the man's gut. He released her with a grunt, and she managed to stumble almost completely out of his reached before he grabbed her wrist once more, yanking her back over. He spun her so their fronts collided, once again gripping her face, but this time pressing his hand across her mouth. He pushed her stumbling back into a wall, trapping her roughly against it.

"I'm goin' to have a bit of fun with y' before I return y', understand?" he snickered out, an evil glint flashing through his eyes. His hand fumbled at the bottom of her torn shirt, attempting to find an entry point, and in an that brief moment he loosened his hand just enough for her to open her mouth and clamp down on his fingers - hard. With a howl of pain, her ripped the hand away before using the opposite one to backhand her across the face. Her cheek exploded with throbbing and for a moment she saw stars, her previous head injuries and concussion not helping her current state. She fell to the floor, and before she could move, a hand wrapped around her ankle and she was yanked and pulled until she was being held upside down above the floor by one of the men.

"Now listen here - either you're going to cooperate for us, or we're going to rape you so violently that you're dear mommy and daddy are going to hear your screams all the way back home, " he snarled. He dropped her immediately afterwards, and the only shield she hand from the floor was her arms. She connected hard, causing a small, unfiltered sob to escape her lips. Her entire body hurt at this point - almost to the point where she couldn't move. Lifting one trembling hand, she dropped it to the floor as her energy disappeared entirely, leaving her body limp. Her vision darkened and flickered around the edges, and the men's voices echoed in her brain, as though she were hearing it on a different level entirely.

"Good girl - it's about time you gave in."

"You can have first dibs, big guy - and from the looks of it, I think she may yet be a virgin."

"I'm goin' t' enjoy fucking this lil' one ..."

The dim awareness remained as a hand encircle her calf. Her skin felt as though it were sliding, and the lights above her flickered and changed, the ceiling moving as the man dragged her to God-knew-where. A small blood-streak was left behind her body on the shining, white floor, and before she knew what was happening, a door was slammed, the lights were dimmed, and she was thrown roughly onto a couch.

It was then that the disgusting man was on top of her, his breath revolting and causing bile to threaten at the back of her throat. Tears stung in her eyes, which she pressed tightly shut, and she evened her breathing in an attempt to push through what was about to happen to her.

Her mother and father would come for her.

Aziel would come for her.

Russell would come for her.

Silver would come for her.

The images of the faces of those that she loved and cared about - of those that she held dear to her heart - flashed before her closed lids. The love in their faces was immense, even as memories of the day haunted her. The small thought that those were the last words that she would ever exchange with Aziel held a chilling effect on her body, and a couple of tears escaped her closed lids.

"You don't know me. You couldn't possibly know anything about me! I can't protect myself? Don't you dare pretend to know anything about me, Big Brother, when you haven't been there to see or even bother to get to know me. I'm not the one who left, and I'm not the one who abandoned his family.

Tightening her lips, more memories of her words echoed in her brain.

"I can't even stand to be in here. The air's too toxic."

The man's revolting touch on her body caused a soft sob to escape her lips, mixed with the pain of regret of words long said and passed. Perhaps this was her punishment for being insolent and cruel - hotheaded and ill-tempered.

The soft words of a prayer filtered through her lips, as the religions that she had studied throughout the world held a great importance in her life.

Behold me, my beloved Jesus,
weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings,
I cast myself at Your feet,
that You may renew my strength and my courage,
while I rest here in Your Presence.
Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart,
for only Your infinite goodness can sustain me;
only Your love can help me bear my cross;
only Your powerful hand can lighten its weight.
O Divine King, Jesus,
whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted,
I wish to live in You;
suffer and die in You.
During my life be to me my model and my support;
At the hour of my death,
be my hope and my refuge.

---

The ride with Russell that followed the events at the bar was quiet and uneventful - almost a bit awkward, if Peter could pinpoint a word for the situation. He could feel the anger radiating off of Russell, yet knew it wasn't aimed towards him but instead the situation and the men that took his pack's women. It wasn't just a mentality of it being the women of the pack - it was also the mentality that it was members of the pack in general. His rage, however, was balanced a bit too precariously on the edge of dangerous, so in an attempt to diffuse the situation a bit, Peter straightened and listened patiently to Russell's words.

"I don't get it. Why would hunters take two females that have yet to shift? Unless they're looking for the pack. But even then there was a lot of wolves in that bar, they'd have no reason to believe that wasn't our pack to begin with. If they were wolves then it would make since. They'd want the two for their pack. Since they haven't shifted yet, they haven't officially established an alpha. Makes them much easier to mold."

"I've heard stories about rogues doping up captured females to get them under control. Not to mention psychological damage that could be used to change a person. A person's mind is much more fragile than we like to think."

"But those hunters were humans weren't they? I didn't sense any werewolves. What the hell do they want with them? Dammit, I should have been faster. If I was faster I could have stopped the van. This is all my fault."

"Sorry...it's just this pack....my pack....they aren't my first pack. I was in a rough place before I met them, and they still took me in. I owe them too much to let this happen."

After a few moments of mulling over Russell's words, Peter's cleared his throat and spoke.

"You're correct in your viewpoint of it not making any sense - and it doesn't make any sense to me either. Why would they attack that bar at that specific time - and when strangers to the bar arrived? That's the part that stumped me at first. But then I thought - what if it was planned? What if they had been following you since you arrived in town - or even longer than that? Wherever you came from, perhaps they were following you from there. I'm guessing that you came from your pack's territory - who's to say that there aren't Rogues hell-bent on destroying your pack that have been watching the whole lot of you for some time now - planning this attack?"

Peter chuckled a bit, shaking his head. "As for doping those girls up ... I believe the only one that there's a chance of that happening with is the tinier, doll-like one - Charlie was her name, if I remember correctly. The girl is smart and has a keen awareness of details, but she seems a bit weak-willed. I feel she would be easier to manipulate, or torture into submission. The other one - Eve - seems too stubborn to allow that to happen to her. I don't know who you're more concerned about because of your own separate emotional feelings towards them as individuals and not just as pack members, but it should ease your worry to know that Eve would never allow that to happen to herself, and would put her own life at stake to keep it from happening to Charlie."

Leaning back in his seat and studying the surroundings that they passed, he smothered a small sigh.

"From what I can tell, you aren't a bad person - a bit out of control, yes, but not bad. If anything, you're one of the pure-intended people I've met. I know that those girls don't blame you for what happened, and I know that they wouldn't expect you to blame yourself, either. None of this could have been prevented unless someone had known it was going to happen - but no one did. It was a petty ambush launched when everyone's backs were turned, and the people that attacked us must live with their cowardice for the rest of their days. But it's not your fault, Russell - it's not your fault," he said sternly, turning his head to look at the other man. "I saw the way that you fought back there, and your wounds are proof enough of it. I'm sure the girls know that you did your damnedest to help them, and when they see you, I expect that they'll give you a good ol' snogging as a thanks," he winked, grinning a bet. "Because we're going to save their princess-in-distress asses and take them back home."

Hopping from the vehicle as it rolled to a stop, he stretched slightly, his joints popping. He was ready for anything, his senses heightened in his awareness.

"Trust me - I won't be leaving you all on your lonesome today. You're stuck with my annoying, British, perverted ass," he chuckled, crossing over so that he stood nearer to Russell. "You can't get rid of me quite yet. I'm eager to see the outcome of this fight, and I'm most definitely rooting for you guys."

Their quick and quiet travel through the forest brought them to the outskirts of a large warehouse. When they dropped down on top of a highly-positioned hill where they could see the base, but the base couldn't see them, he studied it intensely.

"We've got one advantage. Numbers. The two of us can slip by them without detection. Once we're inside we need to rely on our sense of hearing, and smell. If you focus hard enough you can practically distinguish them from their heartbeats. Our senses are going to keep us alive in there. You need to trust your instincts. Like I said before this isn't your fight, you can walk away right now. I won't hold it against you."

Without even looking at the other man, he shoved his shoulder slightly.

"Like I said before, you won't be rid of me yet, so don't offer for me to run away again - I'm not a scared little pup that's about to tinkle his pants and run away with his tail tucked between his legs," he chuckled. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, this time with a bit less lightheartedness. "Sometimes the right path ... It isn't the easiest one. To tell you the truth ... I know what it's like to lose your pack. I know what it's like to watch the ones that you love be ripped from existence right before your eyes. When I saw the look on your face back at the bar ... It reminded me of myself from not too long ago. I wasn't about to let you do this on your own, because I know how difficult it can be," he explained. Heaving a small sigh, he shook his head and chuckled. "And besides - I can tell that you have a bit more invested in this than just the packs best interest. You care about one of them - more than you should, don't you?" he asked, quirking his head to the side. When he was met with silence, he clapped a hand onto the other man's back.

"Well, if I can give you a word of advice, mate - after all is said and done and those two girls are out of harm's way, I would recommend admitting your feelings out loud instead of hiding behind them because you're scared of a rejection. I'm sure whoever it is, they'll accept them. Or at least admit them to yourself. Sometimes that's the first step to having the courage to say them to their face," he explained. Moving a bit away from Russell, he finished with, "And as shown today, you don't always have all of the time in the world to tell them. Now, let's go. We'll rendezvous back here if anything goes wrong. I'll go for Charlie and you can go for Evangeline. Whistle if you need help and I'll come straight there - and same goes for me, alright?"

With that, he disappeared down the slope, ensuring that he wasn't seen before doing so.

Peter made quick work of the wire fencing that surrounded the warehouse, breathing in relief that it wasn't electrified. Sliding through the hole that he had created, he took off at a low run towards the large building, pressing himself against a wall a two humans passed the position he was previously in. The main priority was rescuing the girls - the killing and pain could happen after, once they had backup.

Kicking out a vent set low to the ground, he shimmied inside and closed it behind him. It was one of the smarter ways to travel, seeing as he was less likely to be seen and could find the rooms quite a bit easier than he could while walking.

It didn't take long for him to reach the room with Charlie - her sobs echoed throughout the warehouse and cause a slight boil in his bloodstream. When he finally found the vent leading into the large area, he was positioned slightly above and to the right of one of them men towering over the blood-streaked girl. She was almost unrecognizable due to her bloodied state, but the brown locks and her scent were unforgettable.

As one of the men reached for her once more, he quickly dropped through the metal cover and landed directly behind one of the men in a nearly-silent swoop.

"Now, is that any way to treat a lady?"

The man went to whip around, but his human movement was far slower than Peter's wolf-enhanced eyes. In an instant he had the man's wrist in his grasp. A mere squeeze of his hand shattered the bones, causing the man to howl in pain. Before he could lift his gun, Peter caught his other elbow and turned him around, aiming and firing the pistol at the same time that he positioned it on the other man in the room. The sound ricocheted, the bullet sliding directly through his skull, and the man collapsed to the floor in a heap. Flipping the wrist upwards with another snap, he pulled the trigger once again and sent a bullet up and through the soft part of the under jaw of the man he held, instantly releasing him so he, too, could fall.

When the door flew open to reveal two more armored men, he easily under-hand threw a knife across the room. It connected with one of the men's eye, causing him to stumble and quickly collapse, and one shot from the gun sent the other crumbling to the ground.

With a moment of relief from the men, Peter crossed quickly to Charlie's slumped figure. Pressing his hand to her cheeks, he lifted her head so that he could look into her face, crouching so he was at her height.

"Charlie ... Charlie ... Look at me," he whispered, lightly patting one of her cheeks. Wiping a bit of the mixture of blood and tears from her face, he peered into her eyes. "I'm here to help you - with Russell. But I need you to trust me and work with me on this, okay?" he said. Turning to her ropes, he went to grip one, only to pull his fingers back with a hiss of pain, steam roiling upwards from his skin. "Wolfsbane?" he hissed out. A quick shake of his head sent him back into action. Ignoring the burning it caused his fingers, he tore the ropes from her wrists and ankles and in one swift motion he swooped her into his arms. Clearly the vent from above wasn't an option - she could barely stand, let alone pull herself up and into it. A quick survey of his surroundings wasn't very enthusing for his cause, so the door was his only option.

Setting Charlie on her feet for a moment and holding her with one arm, he stripped off his shirt and wrapped it around her upper body. "I need you to trust me, Charlie - can you do that?"

Charlie


"You belong to us now, she-wolf." The casual man grinned. Charlie let out another scream as he pressed the heated metal just below the previous mark. Instead of the insignia it was merely a line more to cause pain than to brand this time. Her scream died down to sobs again causing the man to laugh. "And three for good luck, right?" Instead of letting out a banshee like shriek, Charlie let out a silent one. Her body unconsciously doing its best not to let this man have any more joy in torturing her. "Boo, no more singing from you? Well, there's always next time when your body isn't in shock." Her turned on his heels. "Miles look after my new toy. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" He sang as he exited the room to report to his leader.

Around the time her sobbing decreased to more of exhausted hiccups and heavy breathing, her vision started to darken until she passed out. For once since she had been captured she felt at peace. No pain was welcomed in the darkness. She barely existed inside of it. The peace was broken however by someone calling to her and patting her bruised cheek. Charlie tensed at the person's touch. The person wasn't pack and at this point anyone not pack was an enemy until judged otherwise.

Looking up with heavy lids, her amber eyes barely focused on the face in front of her. "Charlie ... Charlie ... Look at me," Peter whispered, lightly patting one of her cheeks. Wiping a bit of the mixture of blood and tears from her face, he peered into her eyes. "I'm here to help you - with Russell. But I need you to trust me and work with me on this, okay?" he said. She barely nodded before he went into action. She shook her head gently trying to clear her foggy mind. When he recoiled from the ropes that burned into her skin she mentally sighed at her slowness. I should have warned him, but he does not seem to mind. The next thing she knew she was in his arms as he tried to figure out what to do next. While he though, she cradled her left arm to her chest, making sure her forearm did not touch anything.

When Peter found no way to get out he gently placed her on her feet. She swayed a little from not having used them in a few hours. Only stopping when he put his arm around her. "I need you to trust me, Charlie - can you do that?" As he put his shirt around her, she stared straight into his eyes. Reading his intent she nodded.

"Give me a minute." She whispered, the only volume she could manage at this point. She closed her eyes and pushed everything away allowing the primal part of her to seep through. Unlike most of the born wolves Charlie learned early on to dampen her enhanced senses. Going to school, existing in the human world was harder when you twitched at every new noise or scented the air. Trying to pay attention to a lecture when you could hear a pencil scratching on paper halfway across the building made learning nearly impossible thus Charlie adapted. The casual man was right, Charlie hardly acted like a wolf because she rarely let that part of her dominate. However, now was not the time to let her gift go to waste. Taking a deep breath through her nose slowly and letting it out through her mouth, she opened her eyes ready to walk out of the place on her own. She hated being a damsel.

Pulling away from Peter, she walked over to one of the men closest to her size. With a bit of a wince, she knelt down and stripped him of his bullet proof vest. It was large on her, but would do for now. While she carefully put in on, her eyes scanned the room. Next she swiped the man's knife and cut his short into two strips one for her arm and the other her hand. She bound her hand but found it nearly impossible to bandage the burns. Placing the cloth between her teeth, Charlie dropped the knife (it would be of little use to her) and instead took his pistol. She was no marksman, but her friend Adler's father was a police man who demanded that all of his friends learn how to properly use a gun. If they were going to hangout in a house with weapons everyone needed to know gun safety. Do not let me down now years of fire range practice.

Turning, Charlie walked back over to Peter. With a tired but determined voice she said, "I cannot bandage my forearm, could you please do it for me?" She held out her left arm to be wrapped. "I know parts of this place from when we were brought in and when I was taken here. I can get us around, but I do not know where Eve is. I can track her once we leave this room, but I am only good for so long. I fear I will pass out within the next hour or two." Before Peter could say anything, her eyes narrowed. "I will not leave her to these monsters so do not think of arguing with me." She would not leave behind her pack mate.

♡)●●●Deleted●●●(♡

---

---

As Luke wondered down the compound a smell of blood was thick in the air. He paused and sniffed taking in a large gulp his face spreading into an uneasy smile for anyone that witnessed it.

“Ah, the smell of sweet iron” he mused turning to his follower Kyle.

“Uh I guess” Kyle shuffled a little.

“It means something's happened” Neil turned the corner greeting the two men. “We should go look for Richard”

“Richard? Pah, he's probably already having all the fun, no, I say we sniff out these intruders and have a little fun, maybe a game?” Luke grinned maliciously.

Neil faltered feeling uneasy in Luke's presence. He had wanted nothing more than a simple life. With a heavy sigh he rubbed his forehead with his hand “Well, you do what you want. I'm looking for Richard” he said moving to turn towards Richards scent as it drifted through the halls.

“Spoilsport” Luke huffed at the boring man as he left his and Kyle's company. “I guess all the fun lies with us” Luke shrugged his shoulders and headed towards new smell which drifted around the compound. It was in the opposite direction of Richard and Cassie.

Walking with Kyle at his side the two men eventually came to an area of the compound which had been named 'the hollow'. It was a quiet area, aside from the screams that usually echoed from the people trapped in the cells.

Muffled chatter grew louder as they neared one of the cells, Luke could smell the blood of humans stinking up the place.

Wearing a sly expression Luke began to clap his hands slowly, the sound echoing off the metal walls as he walked down the hallway. Nearing the cell he stepped into the doorway to find two wolves.

One was a young girl, she seemed to be one of Richard's new toys. The other was a wolf Luke did not recognize. He was not of the Sutton pack, he had researched the pack in detail to prepare for his hunt.

“Now what do we have here” he said stepping over one of the human bodies. “A pair of what ? Hmm let me see” he turned to Kyle. “how about rabbits? Yes, I could just go for a hunt of some rabbits, I do love how they run now” he spoke spiteful but the sense of glee was obvious within his expression.

“Perhaps they may last longer than the others?” Kyle looked up big eyed at Luke, a little afraid, but also a little dazzled by Luke's unfaltering confidence.

“ooh I hope so. They even brought toys” Luke referred to the guns they both held. Luke was no stranger to guns. He was a vicious killer and had expert training thanks to his day job as policemen. Guns were of no importance to him, they only made him more excited for the hunt.

“Toys?” Kyle looked in the direction Luke indicated spotting the guns. “Oh yes, this makes it more difficult doesn't it?” Kyle said as he unclasps his own double revolver gun from its holster on his waist.

“We should fight fair now shouldn't we?” Kyle remarked.

“What fun would that be?” Luke raised an eyebrow at Kyle. “Just remember, Richard probably wants the girl alive for his experiment” Luke sighed. “Pity, she would be fun to carve”

♫ Blood On My Name ♫

A small wave of relief swept over Russell as Peter agreed to help him. He wasn't too keen on the idea of him having to infiltrate a compound with an unknown number of armed hostiles all the while having to search the entire compound, and getting both Eve and Charlie out, who were most likely injured.

Though Russell was taken by surprise by Peter's assertion that his interests went beyond that of the pack. He sat there for a moment, mulling it over. He never really thought about it. "It's....not like that. I'm not afraid of rejection...it's the opposite. Like you said, I'm not the most stable individual." He stated softly. He was thankful that Peter had brought the conversation back on topic. "Right. When we find one of them we meet back here. Who ever gets out here first waits ten minutes before we go back in for the other." Russell stated. "And Peter....thank you."

After Peter had slid down the hill, and opened up a hole in the fence Russell followed suit. Once he was through the fence he waited a moment to allow Peter to get in first before he found himself an entry way. Once Peter was inside Russell hurried around the building, finding a side entrance that was free of guards. He quickly broke the handle off the door, opening it. He then carefully sneaked inside. Using his enhanced it was a cake walk avoiding the guards. They were all paramilitary wannabes who wore body armor, and heavy boots. Their footsteps were rather loud.

Once inside Russell didn't need long to find Evangelina. He followed her scent straight to a blood trail. He looked at where it led, and heard a commotion up ahead, along with the pained screams of a man. He cautiously followed the trail of blood, with only the worse being on his mind. He silently approached the area where the commotion was coming from. Peeking around the corner he could see some man with his hands on Eve, along with a woman behind them. He was close enough to smell the wolf on them.

As soon as the man was through speaking with Eve, Russell quickly rounded the corner. By the time the woman could react Russell bashed the butt of his shotgun to the side of her head, taking her by surprise, and knocking her down. Once down Russell continued to bash the but of the shotgun into her head, landing five good strikes before he grabbed her by her hair, and then he proceeded to violently bash her head against the wall, knocking her out cold.

Russell then held up his shotgun, and pumped it. He glared at the man with pure hate, and anger in his eyes. "Move away from her. NOW!" Russell roared at the man. The man merely chuckled to himself, and proceeded to clap his hands. "So you must be the Russell Talbot I keep hearing about. Gotta say, I'm a little impressed. Were quick, and efficient. Just like advertised." He congratulated him. "Though you should have killed her. She's not gonna be happy when she wakes up." The man stated as he folded his arms.

"The night's still young. Now get the hell away from her!" Russell growled once more. The man growled back in response, clearly losing his patience with the boy. Russell needed the man to move away from Evangelina, he couldn't risk the buckshot hitting her. The man rolled his neck on his shoulders, creating an unsettling popping sound. "You come into my house, and start making demands of me?! This bitch is my new toy, and I'm not letting anyone take her! Not even you pup!" Russell griped the shotgun tighter as the man called him a pup.

"Ah! There it is! There's that fire I was promised! Such a stubborn little runt aren't you? Come on, let that beast out! Be true to yourself!" The man howled at him, inching his way closer to Russell. 'HE'S RIGHT. YOU CAN PRACTICALLY SMELL THE STRENGTH OFF THIS BASTARD! YOU NEED ME IF YOU EVEN HOPE TO STAND A CHANCE!' Russell winced slightly at the howl of his wolf. "Shut up! You know nothing about me! Let her go, and I might consider letting you live!" Russell growled at him.

"Oh I'm willing to bet money that this bitch, or any of the other weaklings in the Sutton pack don't know you half as well as I do! Hell, I bet I know you better then you know yourself. Especially now, ain't that right pup? I'm probably the one person on Earth that knows exactly who you are." The man took one more step closer towards Russell. Russell was now starting to shake in anger. Despite knowing full well that he was saying all this to get under his skin, Russell was helpless to stop him.

"Tell me pup, does she even know about it? Huh? What happened to your last pack? How about what you did all that time before you joined their pack? Have you told anyone about that?" The man took one more step closer to him. Russell growled, and brought up his shotgun, about ready to fire. The man lunged forward, grabbing the shotgun, and pointing it's barrel straight up. The two struggled against one another, with an accidental shot being fired in the air.

The man finally yanked the shotgun out of Russell's hands, and bashed him in the gut with it, and then tossed it aside. "Come on pup! Let's see if you're even worth my time!" The man then punched Russell in the face, causing him to stagger back. Russell regained his footing, and wiped away some blood from his mouth on his jacket sleeve. He looked back up at the man, with his eyes briefly flashing yellow.

Russell growled, and rushed forward. Russell opened with a right cross, aiming for the man's face. The man easily blocked it with his forearm, and Russell then did the same with his left arm, only to be blocked once more. The man grabbed him by his shoulder's, and yanked him forward, delivering a headbutt to him. As Russell was dazed the man grabbed him by his shirt, and slammed him into a wall. Pressing him up against the wall, the man proceeded to deal out brutal punches to Russell's face.

After getting in a four good punches on him Russell blocked the fifth, and then punched the man in the kidneys, knocking the wind out of him, and allowing Russell to deliver a uppercut, causing the man to stagger backwards. Keeping up his assault, Russell punched the man in his chest, and then once more across his face. Russell then charged forward, tackling the man into the wall behind him.

Russell rapidly jabbed the man in his side with his knuckles as he pinned him against the wall. The man clasped his hands together, holding them high above his head, and then swiftly brought them down on Russell's back. Russell's back instinctively arched forward from the pain, as he released a low groan of pain. Grabbing Russell by his hair, the man used it to hold him in place, and then repeated pounded on his face once more, which at this point was beginning to swell up. The man released Russell's hair, causing him to fall backwards onto the floor.

The man grabbed Russell's back, and tossed him across the room. As Russell tried to get up the man charge forward, delivering a running knee to Russell's side. Russell groaned in pain as he fell back to the ground. Once more Russell tried to get up, only for the man to bring him back down by brutally kicking him in his side. You almost didn't need super hearing to hear Russell's rib-cage begin to crack. "Is that all you got pup?" The man gloated as he pulled his leg back to kick Russell once more.

Before his kick could land Russell caught his leg, and then proceeded to roll his body underneath the man, knocking him to the ground, actually catching him by surprise. Before he knew it Russell was up, and began striking the man at the back of his head repeatedly. Then Russell wrapped his arms around the man's neck, and turned him over on his back, and wrapped his legs around the man's waist, placing him in a choke hold.

The man struggled furiously as Russell tightened, and tightened his hold on the man. The man's body jerked up, and down, and side to side as he struggled to get out of the hold, all the while his face began turning red. The man then brought up his arm, and repeatedly jabbed his elbows into Russell's sides, focusing in on his injured ribs. After several strikes the pain was too much for Russell, forcing him to release his hold on him, and loudly groan in agony.

Desperately regaining his breath, the man rose up, and grabbed Russell by his shirt once more. The man lifted Russell up above his head, and then slammed him down through a wooden coffee table within the lounge area. Russell let out a pained yelp as his body was writhed in pain. He could feel splinters, and small shards of wood embedding itself in his back. The man then leaned over Russell, pulling him up to face him by his shirt collar.

"I'm a little disappointed pup. Maybe in a couple years you would have stood a chance." The man taunted. He wound his fist up for another punch, but as he was talking Russell had been feeling around the remains of the coffee table before he found a large shard. Russell picked it up, and jammed it as far as he could into the man's thigh. The man groaned in pain as he punched Russell once more.

The man released Russell, and stood up, and ripped the shard of wood out of his leg, holding in any sign of pain. Russell tried to crawl away, but the man caught him, and hoisted him up in the air, and pinned him against the wall. The man gripped Russell's throat with both hands, and began sliding him up against the wall. Russell struggled for air as he desperately tried to pry the man off his neck. His legs flopped around, trying to find something to leverage himself with, but it was of no use.

Russell's face began to go dark red as his eyes fell upon Eve. "Pathetic! You're still holding back! And you held such promise! Too bad! I suppose killing you in front of your girlfriend will just have to due pup!" The man roared as a sadistic smile began to cross his lips as he continued to choke the life out of Russell. Russell's eyes started to roll up into the back of his head as he desperately tried to stay conscious, but then they closed.

'MY TURN.'

Russell's eyes shot open, this time being a burning yellow. Russell released a low growl as his teeth began to change to fangs. Russell brought up his clawed hand, and dug them into his forearm. The man groaned in pain, and then Russell brought up his other hand, and dug them into the man's forearm. Russell then pushed the man's arms away, causing him to release Russell. The man jerked his arms away from Russell, and before the young werewolf could make a move the man punched him across his face.

Russell stood there for a moment, and then proceeded to spit out some blood onto the floor. Russell slowly turned his head towards the man, releasing a low growl, with his eyes burning with hatred, completely devoid of rational thought. Russell slashed at the man with his claws, which he blocked with his forearms. Though he blocked the attack from his face, Russell severally scratched up his arms. Then Russell kicked him in the stomach, causing him to stagger back.

Russell ran forward, and jumped off the wall behind the man, and latched onto his back. Russell opened his mouth wide, and then sunk his teeth into the man's shoulder. Russell dug his claws into his chest, and wrapped his legs around him to get a tighter grip on him. The man lowly growled in pain as he tried to get Russell off his back. But Russell clung to him for dear life, refusing to let go no matter what he did. The man repeatedly slammed Russell into the wall behind them, only causing Russell to cling to him harder.

The man continued to slam Russell against the wall, finally getting him to release him. The man grabbed Russell's left arm, and tossed him over his shoulder, and onto the ground. The man twisted Russell's arm, and placed his hand on his shoulder, causing bones to crack. Russell roared in pain as his eyes began to turn back to normal, along with his nails, and teeth. "Enough! Is this bitch even worth it! Someone like you pup, it'd be a waste to kill all that potential. You could be so much more!" He growled at Russell as he twisted his arm tighter.

Russell looked over at Evangelina, staring at her bloodied, and bruised body. Russell growled loudly, growing angrier every second he saw her in this state. And it was because of him. "W-whether she's worth it or not doesn't matter.......I care about her, and I'm tired of losing the people who are most important to me!" Russell then released a loud yell of pain as he twisted his arm around, causing it to crack and pop even more as he got loose of the man's hold.

Russell backed away from the man, and the two began circling each other. "You can break as many bones as you want! If you hurt the ones I love I'll kill you no matter what it takes! I'm gonna rip you in half, and drink your spinal fluid!" Russell roared at him as he proceeded to pop his arm back into place. Russell did all that he could to fight the tears that wanted to come out, along with any sign of pain. Though small groans of pain managed to escape his lips.

Once his arm was back in place, the two growled at one another. Russell rushed forward and kicked the man in his wounded leg, and then proceeded to punch him in his injured shoulder. The man countered by focusing on Russell's ribs with savage strikes. Russell then lunged at the man, forcing him back into the corner of the room which also had a lamp. Russell continued to strike him in his leg, only to be met with more jabs at his ribs. The man pulled Russell off him, and then tossed him against the wall behind him.

As the man had him by his shirt once more, Russell leaned in, and delivered a headbutt to the man, causing him to stagger back. Russell grabbed hold of the lamp, and then ripped it out of the outlet on the wall, and bashed the man over the head with the end with the light bulb, shattering the light bulb across his head. Russell swung the lamp around, striking the man with the base of it.

Russell continued to strike the man with the lamp. The man tried to catch the lamp, but Russell followed up with a kick to his injured leg, causing him to stumble back. Russell slammed the base of the lamp into the man's face, causing him to fall backwards to the ground. Russell lifted up the lamp high above him to bring down onto the man, but he was stopped mid swing by the woman he knocked out. She had caught the lamp, and then before Russell could react she swiftly delivered a kick to his ribs, causing him to release the lamp, and stumble back.

The woman lifted up the lamp, and bashed it across Russell's face. Russell fell to the ground, barely even conscious. Russell crawled over to the couch that Eve was on, and lifted himself up. Russell stood up, and turned to face the pair. His body was shaking, his vision blurry, and he was heavily breathing from exhaustion, all the while with a unsettling wheezing coming from him with every breath he took. Russell struggled to keep himself up right. The exhaustion from his fight with the man was beginning to set in.

The man stood up, and let out a huffed breath of exhaustion, he was beginning to feel the fatigue as well. "Well.....Cassie.....enjoy your nap? Pathetic that you'd allow such a thing to happen! You were taught better!" The man chastised her. "Sorry sir. It won't happen again." The woman said as he narrowed her eyes in on Russell. Russell spat out more blood that began dripping from his nose, and mouth. He glanced over at Eve, and then back at the two.

He realized that he didn't stand a chance. He's not even sure he could have beaten the man, but now not only him but this woman. He knew he couldn't do it. "I......I won't let you........let you hurt her......I'll die before I let that happen!" Russell managed to get out. "What a shame. Pup, you're either too brave, stupid, or stubborn for your own good......you heard him Cassie. Kill him. What a waste." The man ordered the woman, this Cassie.

Russell painfully took off his jacket, and hobbled over to Eve. The man watched Russell curiously as he held up his hand, signaling for Cassie to wait. Russell leaned over Eve, and draped his jacket over her, and leaned in to her ear. "It's gonna be ok. I'm going to get you out of here. I promise. I got this." He whispered calmly into her ear. As he pulled away he gave her a faint, and faked smile.

Russell turned around, and held up his hands, taking a rather poor fighting stance. Russell struggled to stay standing. The man nodded towards Cassie, giving her the go ahead. Russell rushed forward, and performed a combat roll underneath Cassie's punch. Mid roll Russell grabbed ahead of his shotgun, with them almost forgetting about it. The man's eyes widened slightly as Russell raised the gun, firing towards Cassie. Cassie rushed out of the way, and followed behind the man as they took cover behind the corner as Russell fired towards them. Though Russell's shots missed.

Keeping his gun trained on the entry way, Russell slowly made his way to the dead humans, taking one of the bodies sidearm. Russell fired once more at the corner to keep the two there. He carefully inched his way over to Eve. Every muscle he moved felt like a million knives stabbing into him. And that roll he did certainly did not help things. "Eve, come on. I'm getting you out of here." Russell reassured her.

Looking around for options, Russell then noticed a fire extinguisher on a nearby wall. Russell hobbled over to the extinguisher, pulling it off the wall. Russell huffed as he dragged it over back to Eve. Russell laid it on it's side on the ground, and placed his foot on it to prevent it from rolling away. He held up his shot gun, and fired another round at the corner, making sure those two kept their distance. Looking over at Eve, Russell held up the shotgun for a moment, then pointed the barrel at the extinguisher, and then pointed with the gun towards the entry way, singling to her what he was planning.

Russell rolled the extinguisher towards the entry way, with it stopping at the wall. The man, and Cassie stared at the fire extinguisher, then the man's eyes widened when he realized what he was doing. "Get back!" He shouted. Russell then fired his shotgun at the fire extinguisher, causing it to explode, and releasing a cloud of fog. Grabbing hold of Eve, Russell quickly used whatever strength he had left to get Eve out the entry way, and luckily the hallway that led to where Russell came in was clear for the moment.

Russell hobbled along the hallway, dragging Eve with him. Neither one was in any condition for a quick getaway. Along the way Russell fired several shots from the shotgun behind him to ward off Cassie, who he could hear coming after them. After several more shots the gun made a clicking sound as he tried to fire, he was out of ammo. Russell tossed the gun aside on the ground, and pulled out the pistol he took from the dead human.

Russell's head shook side to side as he tried to figure a way out for them. "Shit!" He groaned as he heard hastened footsteps from more guards coming their way. Looking around Russell spotted a janitor's closet or something. It'd have to due. Russell hobbled over to the door, and opened it up, nearly falling through the doorway as he mustered up the strength to even open it. "In here!"

Once Russell got Eve inside the supply room Russell followed. Grabbing hold of a metal shelf Russell used his body weight to pull it down, using it as a makeshift barricade. Russell fell to the group as he did so, landing on his back. Russell let out a muffled groan of pain as he bite down on his index finger. Russell crawled over to another shelf, using it to pull himself up. Once upright Russell flipped the light switch, illuminating the room.

Russell groaned in pain as he propped himself against the wall. Russell struggled to hold up his pistol as he pulled back on the hammer, pointing it towards the door. They were both injured, and in a windowless confined space. It wasn't looking super good for them. "Some......some rescue huh?" Russell huffed, followed by a painful moan. He held his ribs, being pretty sure most of them were broken. "I'm....sorry....I couldn't get to you....in time.....I tried to stop the van....I tried to stop them....I'm sorry."

Russell let out one more whimper of pain as he lifted up his shirt to look at the damage. His entire side was grotesquely bruised, being various shades of blue, purple, red, and even yellow. "I'm.....not a doctor......but I don't think my skin's.....supposed to be.....same color as your hair." He stated, trying to take the edge off. He looked over at Eve, seeing all the scars, and bruises they gave her. "The others are coming.....I went on ahead.....with Peter....he's going after Charlie....Phoebe and Aziel got injured at the bar....they're fine....don't worry.."

"They told me to....wait for them....but I couldn't wait....I couldn't have left you with them....for a second longer." He explained. "Sorry....not super experienced with....being the big hero." He added with another groan of pain. "Eve, look at me. None of this is your fault....we're both getting out of here. I promise.....I'm not gonna leave you.....your stuck with me....sorry about your luck." He assured her with a smile. "Pain....it's just.....a physical sensation....focus beyond it....think about something else....keep your mind occupied. You can do it.....you're stronger then you think."

Banging could then be heard coming from the other side of the door. Russell sighed as he held up his gun. He wasn't going down without a fight.

Despite the obvious pain it caused her, Charlie pulled away and steeled herself before Peter's eyes. As she gathered her energy and pushed away the clear agony that she was in, she went about readying herself for the fight that was undoubtedly going to follow their exit from the room. During her doing so, he went about arming himself also, managing to gather a couple of daggers that were hidden on the body of one of the men, what appeared to be a flash grenade, and one AR-15 rifle. Quickly checking the magazine already inserted in it, he clicked it back into place, searched the man for any backup ammunition, and found only a backup Glock instead. Not his first choice of weaponry, but it would have to do. Beggars couldn't be choosers, after all.

When the girl turned to him and asked for him to bandage her, a newfound respect entered him for her. She wasn't the damsel that he had taken her for; she was able to help herself when she knew tat it was necessary. And as much as he would love to play the dazzling prince charming coming to her rescue, he could use all of the help he could get - even if that was only her walking instead of having him carry her.

He made quick work of bandaging her arm, doing so rapidly in an attempt to qualm some of the pain that would occur when he did so. When she made the blunt statement that she wouldn't leave Eve, he snorted and dropped one of his large hands atop her matted, messy hair.

"You're quite the stubborn lass, aren't you?" he observed, letting a small smirk quirk up his lips. Smoothing down her hair on one side, he dropped his hand onto her shoulder. "Don't worry; I wouldn't dream of forcing you to leave when one of your pack mates is in danger. I know I wouldn't let anyone make me leave if it was my pack. But I need you to promise me that you'll listen to what I say when I say it, and you won't put yourself in any unnecessary danger. Can you make that promise?" he asked, peering down at her with an intensity rarely seen in his gaze.

It was then that clapping registered in his brain, and immediately he positioned himself before Charlie, blocking her from anything that may have entered through the doorway.

“Now what do we have here ... A pair of what? Hmm let me see ... How about rabbits? Yes, I could just go for a hunt of some rabbits, I do love how they run now."

Peter tensed as two men entered the room, one trailing behind the other with a look of complete awe in his eyes. Clearly he was bedazzled by the other man's charisma and obvious insanity - which was something Peter was beginning to notice was a trend in the warehouse - but he doubted he would fight very hard to defend him. He seemed more like a little kid following the big kid on the playground.

“Perhaps they may last longer than the others? Ooh I hope so. They even brought toys."

Clenching his hand around his armed assault rifle, he cocked his chin upwards, meeting the speaking man's eyes with an unfaltering gaze.

“Toys? Oh yes, this makes it more difficult doesn't it?”

The young man's movement immediately caused Peter to tense, an in a blurring movement he brought up the Glock, cocked and ready to fire.

“We should fight fair now shouldn't we?”

A low growl escape Peter's lips. The men were teasing them and were enjoying it, which irritated him beyond words.

“What fun would that be? Just remember, Richard probably wants the girl alive for his experiment. Pity, she would be fun to carve.”

Another growl of anger escaped Peter's lips without his control, and he narrowed his eyes at the two men.

"Are we going to stand here all day while you two ladies gossip away or are we actually going to do something? My sincerest apologies, but I came here for a little bit of action - not just the meek gossip of frightened children," he drawled, his British accent giving him a lazy sound to his words. The man who had been doing most of the talking jerked a bit, turning a narrow-eyed gaze on the Brit.

"It actually doesn't come as a surprise that you're a dirty Brit. I mean, after all, you two are rabbits, and if I remember correctly, that story with the rabbit and the girl that fell down the hole involved British people. What was it called again? Alice in Wonderland?" Lifting his hand to scratch idly at his head, he tilted it to the side. "Yup, that sounds about right. Filthy Brits - all of you, that's what you are. How a British werewolf ended up in this part of America is beyond me, though. Let me guess; your family disowned you? Or did you run away because mommy and daddy wouldn't buy you the Ferrari you wanted?" he snickered, tapping the butt of his pistol against his skull. "Or, better yet, did mommy and daddy die? Did everyone in your beloved pack die? I bet they were slaughtered before your very eyes - torn apart piece by lovely piece. Oh, God, how I wish I could've heard their bloodcurdling screams for mercy. And I bet they even raped the women, didn't they?" he chuckled sadistically, a mad look in his eyes as he refocused on Peter, who had grown extremely taut throughout the insane man's speech.

The only thing that was keeping Peter from diving for the man's jugular was the small figure behind him, trembling slightly in her weakened state despite her facade of bravado.

Turning from glancing at Charlie out of the corners of his eyes, he faced the men and spoke in a low voice.

"Charlie, I want you to find a place to hide out of harm's way, and while you're at it, I want you to cover your eyes and your ears. I don't want a lovely lass like yourself witnessing what I'm about to do - and besides, if you do, you might lose your admiration of my gentlemanly ways," he said, attempting to lighten the mood just a bit.

Stepping forward, he rolled his head and cracked his neck in the process, while simultaneously doing the same with his knuckles. Stripping himself of his weapons, he tossed them a few feet away and approached the two men.

"How about we settle this like men, instead of the filthy animals that you so clearly are?"

The first man quirked a brow up, obviously intrigued by his proposition, and after a moment, he dropped his weapons to the ground, a sadistic smile upturning the corners of his lips.

"I do love to play new games," he said, his voice holding a small purr. One motion with his hand stopped the other man, who had intended to join the fight, and he stepped forward. "I'll take care of this one on my own. You just keep an eye on that little doe over there and make sure she doesn't get any funny ideas, understand?" The other man simply nodded before turning and blatantly staring at Charlie in an almost comical manner.

There was no set beginning to the fight, but instead a mutual agreement that it had begun. It started with the man lunging forward in an attempt to tackle Peter, he barely managed to dodge his jump.

Fast. He's fast.

Bouncing slightly in place, he ducked as the man threw a punch, throwing out his own in return only to have it barely dodged with a hop back.

Faster. I have to be faster. Move, Peter!

Throwing out his hand, he managed to just barely connect his fingers with the tails of the man's shirt. It was enough, however, and Peter yanked hard, pulling the man towards him and using the momentum of the pull to connect his clenched fist with the man's jaw, who stumbled back, his teeth clacking loudly together and one tooth undoubtedly loosening in the process. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, stopping the trickle of blood that had begun.

"That all you got, Rabbit?" he asked, readying himself once more.

It was then that the fight became an all-out blood-brawl. It was a fight to the death, and they both knew it.

Throwing himself at Peter, the man connected with his body, tackling him to the floor and at the same time rolling both of them across it. He somehow managed to gain the upper ground, and before Peter fully realized what had happened. the man was atop him and pummeling his fists into Peter's face.

"After I'm done with you, I'm going to have some fun with that little doe over there. She seems like she'd be an absolute wild-cat in bed - I can't wait to find out," he cackled.

Red tinged Peter's vision, and a low growl escaped his lips.

"Like hell you will," he snarled out, his eyes gleaming a bright sapphire in color. Catching one of the fists, he twisted the man's hand until the wrist snapped, before rolling and throwing him off of him. He instantly tackled him to the ground, grabbing the man's jaw and throwing him over his head before slamming him into the floor. His body hit with a loud thwack, but before the dazed man could regain his footing in the fight, Peter was atop him, hand clenched in the hair at the back of his head.

"I'm not going to let you lay a hand on her," he growled, his voice tinged with the voice of the wolf buried deep inside of him. He then began to repeatedly smash the man's face into the floor, the grunts of pain slowly becoming a garbled mess, and before he knew it, the man had gone unconscious under his body.

Rising slowly, Peter wiped at the blood streaked across his face, running his tongue along his teeth and counting them as he did so. None were loosened or missing, but he was definitely going to be swollen and bruised the next day. On the bright side, it was only his face; on the down side, it was his face.

Looking up at a soft clicking sound, his eyes focused on the other young man, who he had actually completely forgotten about. He was holding a pistol clasped between shaking hands, and it was aimed on Peter.

Tilting his head to the side, Peter gazed directly into the young man's eyes.

"Now, do you honestly think that doing that is wise?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The young man hesitated, clearly debating whether or not he should be doing what he was doing. After a moment of searching, he slowly lowered his gun and dropped it to the floor.

"Unlike Luke, I know when I can't win a fight. Even in your injured state, if I were to try to fight you now, I'd undoubtedly end up just like him over there - unconscious and bloody. I have no wish to be in either state. I won't fight you, but I can tell you right now that neither of you are going to get out of here alive. Where there was one Luke, several other's stand by just waiting to take his place, and Richard has a whole army of them."

Approaching the hiding place that Charlie had chosen, he helped her up and out of it before turning to face the man.

"Wise choice and wise words. However, I'm not too worried about the others, because what this Richard fellow seems to have forgotten is that he isn't the only one with an army backing him up," he smirked. "I won't hurt you, so long as you continue to be smart and stay out of my way."

With that, he grasped Charlie's shoulder in a gentle grasp so as not to hurt any injuries, and quickly led her from the room, nodding at the young man as he passed him. He bent and retrieved his weapons as they left, and once in the hallway, he took off at a faster pace, being considerate of Charlie's slowed movement due to her numerous pains wracking her body. The scent of Russell's blood mixed with what he could only guess was Eve's was heavy in the air, and it didn't take long for them to find the two, along with Phoebe, an unconscious young woman, and a large man barreling towards them from the other end of the hallway. It turns out they were a lot closer to the others than they had thought - two turns and they had reached them - so apparently luck was in the stars today.

"Russell can you walk? I need you to pull yourself together and get Eve out. I will hold the Alpha back as long as possible."

Reaching Phoebe, he motioned for Charlie to help Eve and Russell.

"Such bravado from an Amazonian like yourself," he commented, standing beside her as the man grew nearer and nearer, his presence overwhelming and clearly holding that of an Alpha's - undoubtedly the Richard mentioned by the young man from before.

"I think you may just appreciate a bit of help in this case, wouldn't you? Because I know you were shot earlier at the bar. This means you're injured, which means you aren't in top conditions to fight. You could definitely go for some backup - unless I'm misreading the situation."

Eve was so far out of everything that she only dimly heard the crash that was the door being slammed open and off of its hinges. When the disgusting meat bag that had been on top of her was suddenly ripped away, she felt the world fly back into focus. She sucked in a large, strangled breath, for she hadn't realized until right then that she had been holding it for the past few minutes.

“What on earth gave you the impression you could ever touch my things?”

Blinking repeatedly in an attempt to rid herself of the stars dancing in her vision, she slowly regained her full eyesight and managed to focus on the large man above her, just in time to watch him completely crush the human's throat with his foot. For a moment he almost seemed like a savior, but as soon as he turned his gaze back to her, chills went through the entirety of her body. His presence alone was enough to do so, for he held that of a Rogue Alpha's, and the insanity buried deep within him was evident if one looked closely enough into his eyes.

“Now now then. What are you doing out of your room hmm? I do hate it now when my things disobey me. I suppose I should teach you some manners?.”

His attempt at a soothing voice didn't fool her for even a second, and when his hand began to reach for her, she pushed herself back along the couch until he had her corned. It was then that he grabbed her wrist, yanking her towards him and giving her what he undoubtedly thought was a handsome and devilish grin. Instead, it came of sadistic and she felt fear course through her.

This man was dangerous, and he was the first thing in her entire life to scare her nearly to death.

“Though I should introduce myself first shouldn't I? That would be manners. I am the man who is to be your new Alpha, my dear. To your father's delight, I will make the thing he loves mine, just as he took what I loved from me.”

Another flurry of chills went through her, and she was certain that under all of the blood and injuries, goosebumps were rising along her skin. Ripping her hand out of his grip, she cradled it against her chest as though his touch had been toxic, looking at him with a mixture of fear and defiance.

"Like hell you're going to be my new Alpha. I'll die before I lay down my allegiance to you," she snapped out, her glare dark and challenging. "I'm going to enjoy watching my father rip you to shreds," she snarled, her hidden, inner wolf begging to be released for its first time. It was the first time she had ever sensed it, for that's how deeply buried a female's wolf was before their first change, but it wasn't surprising - she was in a state of duress and near death, so obviously her wolf would find it prudent to show what little it could in an attempt to keep its host body alive.

The man simply grinned once more, following her until she had nowhere else to move, for she was cornered in the back of the couch.

"You really are your mother's daughter. I can see young Rachelle in the fire in your eyes. She used to hold that fire, too - before she mated with that piece of shit that is your father. It's so nice to see such flames resurrected in her offspring. I'll enjoy having you around so that you can amuse me each day with your stubbornness," he chuckled, patting her cheek in a patronizing manner. When she knocked his hand away instinctively, his touching giving her disgusted goosebumps, he responded in an instant with a hard slap across her face.

Needless to say, she was more than relieved when Russell appeared through the doorway, quietly enough at first to not draw notice and then launching into a surprise attack on the other woman in the room, who was none-the-wiser. He quickly knocked her out cold, and Richard had straightened and turned to face the commotion, one hand still placed possessively on her thigh, a touch that cause her entire leg to twitch with both pain and disgust.

The following war of words was nearly mindless babble to Eve in her jarred state. It was difficult for her to focus on much of anything - her head injuries were clearly becoming more than just a concussion - but everything shot back into focus when Richard shouted a specific taunt.

"Tell me pup, does she even know about it? Huh? What happened to your last pack? How about what you did all that time before you joined their pack? Have you told anyone about that?"

Turning a purple-eyed gaze to Russell, she shook her head slowly. The curiosity that she had felt since he had arrived and joined the Sutton's was undeniable, and she had found herself wondering the same questions. The taunts were something that were clearly designed to goad Russell, however, and now was not the time for such a discussion, let alone for him to allow himself to snap.

It was immediately after that the actual fight began, a shot even being fired in the process. She was in too much of a state of shock to even move from the couch, let alone help Russell - not that she would be of much help in her current state. Looking around, she slowly took in her surroundings and searched for anything that could pass for a weapon. When she located an old fashioned envelope opener, she quickly pocketed it without Richard noticing due to the current fight ensuing. It was clear that Richard had the upper hand, both from years of experience and his heightened strength, but Russell was, of course, Russell and was holding his own just as well. He was taking a beating, however, and Eve was helpless to change anything.

"Pathetic! You're still holding back! And you held such promise! Too bad! I suppose killing you in front of your girlfriend will just have to due pup!"

Eve locked eyes with Russell, who was trapped in a choke-hold and held in mid-air. Gazing at him with a slightly-darkened gaze, she narrowed her eyes, her confidence in his abilities to hold out clearly written across her bloodied and swollen face.

Enough! Is this bitch even worth it! Someone like you pup, it'd be a waste to kill all that potential. You could be so much more!" He growled at Russell as he twisted his arm tighter.

[b]"W-whether she's worth it or not doesn't matter.......I care about her, and I'm tired of losing the people who are most important to me!"

Eve's heart thudded and skipped a beat, and she blinked a couple of times in surprise. She didn't have time to think about what he had said before he shouted again.

"You can break as many bones as you want! If you hurt the ones I love I'll kill you no matter what it takes! I'm gonna rip you in half, and drink your spinal fluid!"

Tears pricked at the back of her eyes, threatening to spill, and she quickly wiped them away. Those words were definitely something that she needed to hear on this day of all days, and a slight warmth spread throughout her body.

At one point in the fight, she found Russell to be collapsed at the side of the couch she sat on, and he slowly pulled himself up and to his feet, the pain in the movement clear by the slight wince on his face. When he met her gaze, he gave her a clearly-forced smile.

"It's gonna be ok. I'm going to get you out of here. I promise. I got this."

Tears prickled at her eyes and she clenched her fingers in what was left of her jeans, which had basically been reduced to skimpy shorts after all of the torture. She forced herself to nod, knowing full well that he was lying. She couldn't make herself look as the next portion of the fight ensued, and she winced with each grunt that came from Russell as a blow was landed on him.

Useless. I'm nothing but a useless little girl who can do nothing to help. He wouldn't even be in this mess if it wasn't for me. Useless little girl!

Clenching her jaw, Eve turned her face towards the fight once more as Russell spoke from beside her.

"Eve, come on. I'm getting you out of here."

When the fire extinguisher came into play, she immediately felt relief flow through her. It may have been their saving grace in that moment, and when Russell followed through with his plan, she forced her heavy body to move when he pulled her to her feet.

Every step hurt, and she knew she was dragging him behind. He would definitely be able to escape faster on his own, and she was nothing but dead weight holding him back.

When she found herself shoved inside of the closet with him, she dropped to the floor in the small, confined space, the moment of relief after running even that short distance something she cherished. She closed her eyes for a moment as Russell barricaded them in, and opened them only when he dropped down beside her. Their shoulders touched, causing the cuts in her arms to scream in agony, but she was in too much pain otherwise to move. And, she would admit, the small touch between their shoulders gave her comfort.

Some......some rescue huh? ... I'm....sorry....I couldn't get to you....in time.....I tried to stop the van....I tried to stop them....I'm sorry."

Letting her head roll to the side, she looked him directly in the eyes and forced a small glare to enter them.

"Shut the hell up, Rapunzel. You did what you could and that's what matters. What's happened has happened, and no one could have prevented it, so stop blaming yourself, because I sure as hell don't."

When he lifted his shirt to peer at his body, she felt a mixture of anger and something else that she couldn't quite pinpoint slam through her.

"I'm.....not a doctor......but I don't think my skin's.....supposed to be.....same color as your hair. The others are coming.....I went on ahead.....with Peter....he's going after Charlie....Phoebe and Aziel got injured at the bar....they're fine....don't worry.."

Clenching her jaw, Eve moved her hand onto his leg, letting it rest there gently.

"You're not funny," she said, but the faintest hint of a smile twitched at her lips. "I'm glad that ... At least they're okay. And Peter ... I may not know him well, but he'll save Charlie. I know he will," she whispered, letting her head fall back for a moment of rest.

"They told me to....wait for them....but I couldn't wait....I couldn't have left you with them....for a second longer. Sorry....not super experienced with....being the big hero."

Tears pricked at her eyes as she stared at the ceiling, but she quickly blinked them away, the banging on the door growing louder as it began to crack bit by bit.

"Eve, look at me." Rolling her head to the side, she fixated her gaze on him. "None of this is your fault....we're both getting out of here. I promise.....I'm not gonna leave you.....your stuck with me....sorry about your luck. Pain....it's just.....a physical sensation....focus beyond it....think about something else....keep your mind occupied. You can do it.....you're stronger then you think."

Letting out a small sigh of exhaustion, Eve closed her eyes for a moment. "Pretty shitty luck to be stuck with a shitty Prince Charming like yourself, right?" she joked halfheartedly. "But then again, you've always leaned a little closer to the side of Rapunzel than the prince," she teased a bit, her breathing shaky. When she opened her eyes, she moved her hand slightly, twining her fingers through his and giving his hand a squeeze.

"I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else at my Prince Rapunzel," she said quietly.

When the door was finally thrown open, Eve tensed, ready for the threat that was undoubtedly on the other wise. However, surrounded by the bright lights of the hallway, stood Phoebe. The lights made her appear to be a shining angel come from heaven above, and the relief that Eve felt when she saw the older woman, caused tears to well up in her eyes.

"Phoebe - oh, God ... Thank God," she whispered, her voice shaking a bit as she dropped her head. When Peter skidded before the closet, also, the tears trickled down her cheeks in relief, and Charlie coming staggering into view was the last bit she needed before she burst into full-on crybaby mode.

"I-I'm sorry ... I know that ... That now isn't the time ... But ... I'm just so ... Relieved ... That you're all okay," she sobbed out, lifting one hand to weakly brush at her tears. After a second, she drew in a shaky, steadying breath, before forcing herself painfully to her feet. Turning, she held out a hand to Russell to help him up, conscious of the thundering footsteps that belonged to Richard.

Charlie


Peter quickly tied the makeshift bandage around her forearm. Charlie winced a little at the material rubbing against her burns, but didn't do anything more. She looked at him a little startled when he commented, "You're quite the stubborn lass, aren't you?" He let a small smirk quirk up his lips. Smoothing down her hair on one side, he dropped his hand onto her shoulder. "Don't worry; I wouldn't dream of forcing you to leave when one of your pack mates is in danger. I know I wouldn't let anyone make me leave if it was my pack. But I need you to promise me that you'll listen to what I say when I say it, and you won't put yourself in any unnecessary danger. Can you make that promise?" he asked, peering down at her with an intensity rarely seen in his gaze.

With a sigh of relief she agreed to his terms. On top of being quite seriously hurt, she was not a fighter by any means. Using a gun was going to be the extent of her fighting and she probably was only going to nick the person. Her relief was short lived when both wolves tensed at the sound of clapping. Charlie's head turned towards the door while Peter moved in front of her. It wasn't long before two wolves walked in, stepping over the fallen men.

“Now what do we have here ... A pair of what? Hmm let me see ... How about rabbits? Yes, I could just go for a hunt of some rabbits, I do love how they run now." The man caused a shiver to run down Charlie's spine. He was unhinged and was quite similar to the man that had tortured her. Clenching her jaw, Charlie's eyes glued themselves to the wolf taking in anything and everything. Her eyes only shifted when the younger, more unsure young man spoke up.

“Perhaps they may last longer than the others? Ooh I hope so. They even brought toys." Peter clenched the rifle he held in his hands. Charlie could feel the tension in the room. At any moment it would snap and a bloodbath would occur.

“Toys? Oh yes, this makes it more difficult doesn't it?”

“We should fight fair now shouldn't we?”

A low growl escape Peter's lips. She could tell how annoyed her companion was becoming. She saw, like him, how they were teasing them and she wanted to get mad but found that wasn't the emotion going through her. Honestly, she wasn't feeling much. Knowing that if she let herself feel too much, she would fall apart thus she remained impartial. Emotions would come later, for now she needed to analyze her opponents and get them out alive.

“What fun would that be? Just remember, Richard probably wants the girl alive for his experiment. Pity, she would be fun to carve.” Charlie frowned at the man's last comment. What is with with psycho's love of carving people? Is it really that pleasurable to what another being bleed? She cocked her head with a furrowed brow. He looks familiar... Where have I seen him before?

"Are we going to stand here all day while you two ladies gossip away or are we actually going to do something? My sincerest apologies, but I came here for a little bit of action - not just the meek gossip of frightened children," Peter drawled, his British accent giving him a lazy sound to his words. Charlie's train of thought was broken by how nonchalant Peter spoke. She knew from the way he stood in front of her and the growl that had escaped his lips that his voice was faux casualness. He wanted nothing more than to rip these men, more particularly the unhinged man, apart.

"It actually doesn't come as a surprise that you're a dirty Brit. I mean, after all, you two are rabbits, and if I remember correctly, that story with the rabbit and the girl that fell down the hole involved British people. What was it called again? Alice in Wonderland?" Does this make me Alice or the White Rabbit? Does that make his leader the Red Queen? While the unhinged man went on about Peter being a filthy brit, Charlie tried to hide her soft chuckle. In her head was an unknown person dressed like the Red Queen from Disney's Alice in Wonderland. She was brought back to the present when the man started talking about Peter's old pack. " Let me guess; your family disowned you? Or did you run away because mommy and daddy wouldn't buy you the Ferrari you wanted?" The man snickered, tapping the butt of his pistol against his skull. Charlie's eyes widened and turned her head to look up at Peter. "Or, better yet, did mommy and daddy die? Did everyone in your beloved pack die? I bet they were slaughtered before your very eyes - torn apart piece by lovely piece. Oh, God, how I wish I could've heard their bloodcurdling screams for mercy. And I bet they even raped the women, didn't they?" Sensing and seeing how taut and furious Peter was, Charlie instinctively placed the palm of her right hand on her companion's back. She couldn't do much, but she could offer comfort even in stressful times like these. Peter faced the man but spoke to her, his eyes not leaving the crazy man.

"Charlie, I want you to find a place to hide out of harm's way, and while you're at it, I want you to cover your eyes and your ears. I don't want a lovely lass like yourself witnessing what I'm about to do - and besides, if you do, you might lose your admiration of my gentlemanly ways," he said, attempting to lighten the mood just a bit.

With a quirked up eyebrow, she replied just loud enough for him, "Be safe Cheshire. Show the Knave what happens when he speaks ill of family." She matched his light mood, but the undercurrent was just as serious.

While Peter stepped forward to challenge the unhinged man, Charlie stepped back and started looking over the room. There wasn't many places for her to hide. A metal desk against the wall, her chair, and some boxes. Nothing else. As she scouted out a place to hide apparently the younger wolf was put in charge of making sure she didn't run off. Barely giving him any mind aside from making sure he didn't shoot her, Charlie slowly slid towards the desk keeping her eyes on the younger man. He didn't seem to mind her moving as long as she stayed clear from the door. As promised while Peter fought, she crouched behind the desk so she was partially hidden. She kept her eyes on the young man who stared back at her with the same intensity but for a different reason. While she placed her hands over her ears and hummed to herself, she analyzed her guard. He was different than the men she had been encountering. He was definitely a follower, but to say this was the life he wanted was questionable. Whatever this life was. He was young, she wondered if it was possible to change his loyalties, to show him a better way of living.

Before long and about six songs later, the young man turned with his gun pointed off to the side. Charlie couldn't see anything but figured Peter had won. Then he warned, "Unlike Luke, I know when I can't win a fight. Even in your injured state, if I were to try to fight you now, I'd undoubtedly end up just like him over there - unconscious and bloody. I have no wish to be in either state. I won't fight you, but I can tell you right now that neither of you are going to get out of here alive. Where there was one Luke, several other's stand by just waiting to take his place, and Richard has a whole army of them."

As Peter replied he walked over and helped Charlie up from her hiding spot. Apparently they were going to let the two wolves go since one was either unconscious or dead and the other surrendered. As they walked by the young man, Charlie paused and once again stared at him. Under her amber gaze he twitched uncomfortably. Finally she spoke, for the first time someone other than her pack and Peter hearing her speak. It was soft with only a tinge of emotion. "You have options." Then she held out her left hand, having switched her pistol into her non-dominant hand. Reluctantly the young man handed over his revolver and the two wolves left. Peter set a fast pace that pushed Charlie to her pain limit. Normally she could run a mile in about six and half minutes, but she was nearly out of energy and the wall she placed between her and her pain was disintegrating.

At the scent of Russell and Eve's blood, Charlie let out a low growl and dashed to help them while Peter went to help Phoebe. Charlie slowed with wide eyes as Eve started to cry about how relieved she was that Charlie was okay. Offering a small relieved smile, she helped Eve with Russell. His wounds were great and needed to be attended to. Her mind rushed as she tried to think of a way to help him. "Here." She passed her pistol to Eve since Russell was in no shape to fight. Then she went under Russell's left arm to help support him. As more time passed she could feel her anxiety, panic, and tiredness starting to seep into her. This needs to end soon or I am useless. Please any deity out there, let our pack show up soon.