Brannon growled in frustration. Getting his mate to be his was taking longer than he realized.

“Luke, what’s going on? What did Caelan say?” Garrett demanded as they raced to Luke’s car.

“The kids are gathering in a clearing. They aren’t doing anything, just standing there swaying slightly. They’re facing the homes this time. It’s like they’re waiting for some signal,” Luke explained. “He asked us to hurry. He’s got the enforcers from all the packs, but he’s hoping our combined power can help quell them a bit.”

“Combined power?” Brannon repeated.

“Don’t blame me. Caelan said it. I’m just repeating his words,” Luke chuckled. “Kinda makes us sound like some kind of Saturday cartoon heroes.”

“I draw the line at Spandex,” Brannon interjected as they climbed into the car.

The short drive back to the mountain was made in silence. Brannon was torn between running back to the baby shower and demanding answers, and helping with the teenagers. If he was honest, he had no clue what they were going to do.

A few minutes later, they were standing next to Caelan, staring into the vacant faces of every pack teenager on the mountain. He wasn’t sure, but he suspected there were about eighty in total.

“This is going to sound bad, they are still alive, right? They aren’t the start of the zombie apocalypse, are they?” Luke asked half-jokingly.

Caelan shrugged. “Haven’t dared to get close to them yet. I’ve got all the enforcers lined up so if for some reason the kids decide to act aggressively, they won’t be able to get to the rest of the pack. I instructed them to knock them out or disable them but try not to hurt them if at all possible.”

Brannon wasn’t sure how long the kids stood there staring blankly, swaying. Each minute seemed like an eternity as they waited for something, anything to happen. When it did, it was the last thing they expected.

At the exact same moment, all the kids shifted into their animals, tearing through their clothing like paper. With dread in their hearts, the men prepared for a battle. Though not as matured as adult shifters, teen animals were fully grown and strong. They could inflict substantial injury, enough to kill.

Some of the enforcers shifted, knowing the human form was no match for a three-hundred-pound bear. Others remained on two feet in order to speak to the animal’s logical side.

The clearing resembled a strange zoo where several of the inhabitants had escaped. Many growled, roared, purred, and hissed, but none moved from their spot on the grass.

Brannon wondered what in the hell was happening. What kind of communication and with whom were the kids using? It had to be telepathic since nothing else appeared to be around.

A few of the younger ones fell to the ground, panting, their eyes glazed over. Whatever this was, was putting the animals under immense stress. More slid to the ground, exhausted. Then suddenly, the air filled with the sounds of breaking bones, tearing, and screams. Seconds later, the clearing held unconscious kids lying among green ground fill.

“What the fuck?” Garrett said.

“My sentiments exactly,” Brannon replied.

All at once the teenagers came to life again, their eyes lit up and they looked around in confusion.

“Alpha?” one dark-haired teen boy in the front of the group called out nervously. “What’s going on?”

“Jared,” Brannon barked. “Come closer, so we don’t have to yell.”

“Who is he?” Caelan spoke softly so only the other men would hear him.

“He’s one of my pack. Never given me any problems, natural leader to the younger kids. Very respectful and just an all-around good kid. His father’s dead. It’s just him and his mother,” he replied as he watched the kid walk tentatively closer, his fear and confusion growing stronger by the minute. Nakedness not bothering anyone.

“Okay, Jared. Relax,” Brannon called when the kid was only a few feet away. “You’re not in trouble, do you understand?”

Jared nodded and gulped audibly. “Sir, what happened? What’s going on?”

“That’s what we were wondering, too. How do you feel?” Brannon replied calmly, hoping to put the boy at ease.

“Fine, just confused. I don’t know how I got out here or why I’m not wearing clothes.” Jared stopped and licked his lips. “Sir, why are you all standing here staring at us like that? What happened?”

Brannon could hear the rising hysteria in the kid’s voice. He wanted to offer reassurance, but he wasn’t sure what he could say when they had no idea themselves what was happening. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

“I was hanging out with some of the others. We were just talking and stuff. Nothing bad, I swear. Next thing I know, I’m here and seeing all of you standing in front of us.”

“When was that? Did you happen to look at the clock at all?” Luke asked softly, startling the boy.

“No, but we were kind of watching TV. Well, it was on in the background, you know. I forget what show it was, but it had just ended, and I remember hearing the opening song for The X-files.”

Brannon nodded. “That’s perfect. Can you check on the others? If they’re okay, tell them to go home and stay there. Their alpha will be around to look in on them shortly and to talk to them.”

They watched him head back to the group and slowly spread the word. In small groups of two and three, they slowly disappeared into the woods.

“It’s five o’clock now. The X-Files comes on at two on Sundays,” Bastien supplied. “I watch all the reruns I can, so I know when it’s on every day of the week.”

“Three hours missing,” Luke sighed and ran his hands down his face in weary frustration. “Let’s split up and talk to everyone. When you’re done, meet back up at my house and we can compare notes. The women should be back by then, too, and we can fill them in at the same time.”

“Jeff, you want to come with me?” Bastian called out to the FBI agent.

“Sure, I’m curious as hell now. What about Chris?”

“He can come with me if he doesn’t mind,” Garrett offered with a smile. “Just don’t talk my ear off, will you?”

Everyone chuckled as he flipped off Garrett and rolled his eyes. It was just the thing they all needed to relieve some of the tension that was slowly building.