The meeting hall was ablaze with light as the sleepy, grumbling members of the Gathering assembled. For the first time, it was an Alpha only meeting, even Melanie staying in her room.

It was well past midnight, and even though few were as stressed as Keith, all were exhausted by the long meetings and endless political machinations. Nerves were frayed, and none were happy about being roused from their sleep. "Assembled Alphas, I apologize for...." the white-haired chairman began, before being cut off by the Alpha of the Blanc Loup.

"Can the shit, my friend. No offense," he said, "If you are gathering us at this fucking hour, then we don't need any ceremony."

"So be it. I turn the floor over to Kimberly Waldwyck."

Kim stood from her position at the table, still clad in her black clothing from her earlier activities, although she had taken the time to remove her knit cap and change into more normal shoes. There was no need for the assembled group to know that she had been planning on violating one of the most sacred of Gathering rules this night.

"Gathered Alphas, I regret to inform you that less than thirty minutes ago, I overheard a cell phone call between a member of a Clan's delegation and what I believe to be the Silver Bringers. I also have reason to believe that this Gathering will be attacked soon."

"What evidence do you have?" asked one of the Alphas, an Alpha Female aligned with the Thornbloods. "I have greater suspicion that you wish to end this Gathering early, before some of the important votes at tomorrow's meetings."

Kim rolled her eyes, vaulting the table to land in the middle of the space between the ten tables. "Listen well, and listen on my honor. I overheard this conversation. Now, I personally do not give two fucks about who sent the message, and I have spoken directly with their Clan Alpha Female to discuss the matter. I leave the discipline of her own Clan members to her. But know this: danger is coming. If you wish to continue this Gathering, you are playing with all of our lives."

The old chairman raised his hand for silence, as others clamored to be heard. "I have known Kimberly Waldwyck for her entire life," the old man said, "And I believe her. As such, I have asked Clan Lockwood to mobilize all of their forces in the area, to act as protective forces. If the Assembly wishes, we can continue our Gathering in the morning. If not, we shall make a temporary adjournment to reconvene next month at our alternate location."

"And let the Lockwoods use their political muscle to choke the life out of our Clans?" another Thornblood ally said contemptuously. "I would rather risk my life here, now. If you lack courage, please, go ahead and take a respite. I'm sure the Lockwoods would appreciate it."

Keith's fingers gouged deeply into the oaken table in front of him as he stood to his feet, his eyes blazing as he barely controlled his rage. He could control himself against insults to himself, to his Mate, to even his own sister. But to challenge the courage of his entire Clan? He could feel his teeth lengthening when suddenly the faint sound of helicopter rotors could be heard in the distance.

"What the hell?" he asked, as an explosion bloomed against the side of the estate, shattering the stained glass windows of the hall and sending shrapnel flying throughout the entire room. Keith closed his eyes and ducked in time to avoid being blinded by the flying shards of glass, but could still feel the pain as sharp slivers sliced into his arms and cheek.

"Incoming!" he yelled, vaulting the ruined table and heading towards the explosion. Already he could see bodies, at least two of the Alpha wolves were bleeding from the throats, their jugular veins sliced open in the explosion. They would not survive.

"Kim! Kimberly!" he cried out, looking through the swirling smoke and dust for his sister. He found Kim on the ground, covered in fine shards of glass, the concussion of the blast knocking her to her knees. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Brother," Kim said, regaining her feet. "I seem to have warned us too late."

"No time for that," Keith said, looking toward the direction of the incoming fire. He couldn't see anything yet, but he knew the helicopter had to be close. "Kim, I need you to go get Melanie. Keep her safe."

"But I'm...."

"You're the only one I can trust fully with this, Sister," Keith said, his eyes ablaze with meaning. "Keep my Mate and my son safe."

Kim closed her eyes and nodded, dashing through the hole torn into the side of the Lockwood Estate and sprinting off into the night. Keith watched her go for just a moment before he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Keith!"

Turning, Keith restrained his immediate desire to rip Nioclas Thornblood's head from his shoulders. He must have known his daughter was a traitor to their people. "What do you want, Sir Thornblood?"

Thornblood swallowed deeply, before holding his hand out in a gesture of peace. "You were right. Morrigan betrayed us all. But her mind is not my mind. Let us end this rift between our Clans, and defend our people together, with honor."

Just as Keith reached to take Thornblood's hand, the sound of machine guns could be heard coming from the direction of the road. Keith quickly clasped his arm against Thornblood's and nodded. "I think there is plenty of honor and glory to be found near the front gates, Nioclas. We shall speak of your daughter and our Clans later."

Both Alpha Males sprinted out through the smoking hole in the wall, followed by their respective allies. As they ran, their bodies changed, flowing like water into their wolf forms, as chilling howls echoed through the night sky. Already at least a hundred men armed with heavy machine guns and night vision goggles were streaming through the front gates of the Lockwood estate, which lay in a smoking ruin, the bodies of ten Lockwood Clan members laying torn among the rubble. They quickly set up firing positions, backed by a military-style Humvee armed with a Mk 19 grenade launcher, unleashing hell against the Lockwood forces and the assembled Alphas.

Bodies began to fall, but the brave wolves pressed their counterattack. There were gaps in their enemies abilities, they knew. Their night vision goggles paled in comparison to werewolf senses, and their automatic weapons offset by their weaker bodies and slower reactions. It was just a matter of how much advantage their surprise attack would give them, and if it was enough to tip the balance in the attacker's favor.