Declan wiped the condensation from the mirror. His eyes looked blood red which had come from a severe lack of sleep. He had sat at the side of Noelle's bed for forty-eight hours straight. Maria, Kelvin, and Dustin had offered to take his place, just so he could sleep. That hadn’t been an option, and he’d told them all to just keep him supplied with strong coffee. Declan had turned to his inner wolf on a few occasions when his human form was not able to stay awake. A wolf had much more stamina, and it had helped him to get as far as he had.

Noelle still remained unconscious, and apart from the claw marks on her face clearing, and the giant hole in her shoulder closing slightly, she hadn’t yet shown a single sign of being turned, or slipping in the other direction. Declan clearly saw that Noelle was having a rough time inside, something happened as she’d tossed and turned for the most part of two days. She groaned and screamed, but her eyes hadn’t opened.

He looked back at his reflection in the mirror. He had, no, —they had come too far to let it all slip away. He had made his decision, and he knew what Noelle wanted. The time hadn’t been right, but thanks to the bite, his timeline for asking Noelle to be his mate had very-much changed and was now brought forward in time.

Declan combed his hair and walked back into the bedroom. Noelle had kicked off the bedsheet, and her body had curled into a ball. Declan felt her head and wondered if she’d be back in the land of the living before Monday. Three days was the time they had to get into position in the woods. A scene had to be set that Noelle's parents and the hunters would believe. Declan took his chair back at the side of the bed and closed his eyes. He let his mind wander to Monday afternoon and the final confrontation with the hunters.

Noelle and I, plus a handful of the pack at the bottom of the rocks. Hunters would’ve taken their place at the top and would be hidden and waiting. Gabriel and the bikers would wait for the call and make their way from the west and circle around to the east. Maria, Kelvin, and Dustin would mount a charge downhill. Maria center, with Dustin and Kelvin on her flank. Hit the clearing and then all hell will break—

Declan opened his eyes as Noelle's fingers dug deep into his arm and drew blood. Her gritted teeth ground together as she writhed and wriggled on the bed. Saliva and foam found its way from her mouth and her nose as she breathed out and snorted at the same time. Noelle’s back arched, she rested on her heels and shoulders. Declan could see that the bones under her milky white skin moved strangely. Her shoulders broadened as her legs elongated down the bed. The sweat-ridden bedsheet ruffled and caught on her toes. Claws sprang from her toes and shredded the white linen with ease.

Declan grabbed ahold of Noelle's arm. Her fingers gripped him tightly as she started to pull the flesh from his bone. Her eyes flashed open. He could see the silver glint. It had been his bite that had turned her, for sure, and the same silverish hue meant she would be his mate. A perfect match. Noelle's jaw stretched and widened. Declan could see fangs that started to sprout from her new jawline. Her head rolled from side to side and back over her shoulders. Noelle’s jaw opened as she let out a snarl that emanated from deep inside her.

Noelle’s wolf incarnation stared at Declan. Her head rocked side to side as Noelle fought with recognition. Declan knew her body would put her through hell. She had been a hybrid and to be turned again would play havoc with her biology. Noelle released Declan's arm. She looked at the blood as it poured onto the side of the bed. Her muzzle fell closer as she sniffed the wound. Her tongue started to lick at the gouges she had made from her claws.

Noelle looked up. Her jaw opened. She made a croaky sound that Declan understood. Noelle tried to talk, but it was still too early. She had to change back, and that might be just as painful; if not more painful than what she’d already been through.

Declan grabbed hold of Noelle's pure white fur, she felt soft to his touch. Her head craned to the side of her body. “Declan,” she said.

Declan smiled. He ran his hand under her throat. “You can talk?”

Noelle shook her head as her mouth opened “Eerrrgg,” she said. “Declan.” It was a start, she said his name, which was a good thing.

“Noelle! I need you to concentrate. Call to your human form and change back. When you do that, it will be complete,” he said.

Noelle’s wolf closed its eyes. Her head lolled from side to side as her body fell to the ripped sheets. Noelle’s body twisted and turned. She rolled back from her hands and knees. Her body shrunk in size and curled into a tight ball. Noelle’s human form gasped for breath. Her skin now covered in sweat.

She rolled onto her back and looked over at Declan. “Where am I?” she asked.

“Back in the Towers. You’ve been through two days of personal hell.”

“What do you mean?” Noelle said as her chest rose and fell with a mad beat. “I was in the woods. I was running with Maria, and then…” Noelle looked at her shoulder and touched her hand to her face.

“Have I been dreaming?” she asked.

Declan shook his head. “I wish. Kelvin and Maria saved your life.”

“Declan, you’re talking rubbish. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Declan saw that the wound on his arm had finally healed. He moved from the chair to the bed and rested his head on the plumped pillow. “Noelle, don’t be shocked. You’re a wolf again. Not a hybrid like before, but a pure —one hundred percent —kosher —authentic —genuine…” he started to say.

“Declan, you're winding me up, unless I’m still dreaming —am I, am I still dreaming Declan? Please tell me I am,” she replied. “Please tell me I’m dreaming, for fuck's sake.”

Declan brushed Noelle's hair from her face. “Noelle, you’re not dreaming.”

“OH FUCK!”

“You really do have bad language, you do know that, right?

“I get it from my dad!”

* * *

The trail of cars moved down the track to Declan's old home. None of the pack had any idea where they were. The area was unchartered territory. The vehicles parked in a single line and the pack members piled out. It had been a long time since this many wolves had congregated in the forest at any, one time.

“Everyone listen carefully. You know the plan. Noelle's parents are not to be harmed. The other hunters, well, you all know how to deal with them. Everyone has had plenty of Maria’s supplements, but you still have to be careful, and you will heal, unless you take a full-on body shot,” Declan added.

Noelle paced in front of the pack. “I know what has happened to me is still a shock. I haven’t really got my head around it, myself. But after this, everything’s going to be different. That, I promise you.” Noelle spoke like a true alpha mate. “We have all come too far to fail, and if we stick together, failure isn’t an option. Watch each other’s backs, and we can all come out of this in one piece.”

Declan stood back and admired the way Noelle had taken control of her feelings. She had taken it quite badly over the weekend and had sobbed, yet as her inner wolf had become a fuller part of her, she’d accepted the change. She had blossomed into something completely different.

“We need to set the scene. Those of you with Kelvin and Dustin, off you go and get into position. Those with Maria, head to the undergrowth where you trained. The rest must follow us to the rocks. It’s time to set a trap.

“And Gabriel is definitely going to bring up the rear?” Greg asked.

“Yes. Kelvin found him. As soon as I call on the cell, he and the bikers will fall in behind, just as we planned.”

“Gabriel is still human though, right?” Greg asked.

“He is, but if he gets through this, he has earned his right.”

“He isn’t going to come back to the Towers, is he?”

Declan frowned. “Good-god, no. There’s no place for him there,” Declan said as he slung some of the climbing ropes over his shoulder.

The pack marched and headed to the rocks. Declan knew the hunters wouldn’t have waited too long. They would want to be fresh. Declan reached the rocks and looked over the edge. Noelle stood next to him.

“You think it’ll work?” she asked.

Declan grinned and huffed as his shoulders shrugged involuntarily. “It should. We will set the ropes. Half will be here, and a few of us will be at the bottom. The hunters will arrive from Vista View,” Declan explained as his finger pointed to different parts of the forest. “Your parents will be taken as soon as they are clear. I’m not sure if it’ll be down there, or up here. They will be safe, though.”

“And the rest of the hunters?” Noelle asked.

“The pack know exactly what to do.”

Declan fastened ropes around the boulders and the tree stumps at the top of the outcrop. He dropped them over the edge. He grabbed hold of one and wrapped it around his foot. He leaned back over the edge.

“Are you going to join me?” he asked.

“I’m scared,” Noelle replied.

“You won’t hurt yourself, you might break your arm, but you’ll heal.”

“Jesus Declan, there’s no need to say it like that.”

Declan loosened his grip and slid over the edge. Noelle watched as he lowered himself down the rock face until he reached the forest floor. He waved as she grabbed the rope and slithered past the sharp rocks that jutted out, just inches from her face. Her feet touched the floor, and she sighed.

“Now, back up,” he said.

“Hang on, will you!” she replied as she watched some of the pack kick their boots into the rock and start to climb.

Declan's head tilted. He heard a twig snap. He whistled, and the rest of the pack at the top of the rocks vanished. He heard as Kelvin, Dustin, and Maria returned with their whistles.

“Act normal. Your parents won’t shoot while you are here, and they don’t know you’re a wolf. Yet.”

* * *

Garrett held his hand up. He heard the voices by the rocks. He signaled for the flanks to spread out as Abigail, he, and the other twenty would make their approach, very calmly. Garrett and Abigail headed up the path in front as the hunters followed behind. As soon as he signaled, they’d make a charge and take who was at the bottom, and then they would ascend the rocks and make a stand.

Garrett reached the clearing. He saw Noelle halfway up the rock-face. He clenched his fist. The hunters paused. Abigail and Garrett walked forward calmly as “Noelle's parents.”

Declan turned his head. “Noelle,” he yelled. “Your parents are here.”

Noelle looked up from the rock face. Her fingers dug deeply into the shallow crevices. She let go with one hand and waved. “Hi Mom, hi Dad,” she yelled out.

Noelle followed the plan. She let go. Her body fell through the air as Abigail screamed. “NOOOOOO!!!!” Abigail and Garrett ran forward. They were all alone in the clearing.

* * *

Declan cracked his neck and changed. His head tilted back, and he howled. Noelle landed on her feet and smiled at her parents as they looked left and right. Two blurs ran toward them and carried them in each direction. Noelle stood alone with Declan. Her parents had vanished into the undergrowth. Declan stepped forward. Garrett’s silver whistle sat in the half-rotted leaves. He inhaled as he reached for the whistle. He had faith his body would not burn up.

He picked it up and placed it between his lips and blew as hard as he could. Noelle had started to reclimb the ropes as the other pack members pulled her up from the top. Declan dug his claws into the rock. He began to climb as he saw the first line of hunters enter the clearing.

* * *

“Where the fuck’s Abigail and Garrett?” Peter shouted as he picked up the whistle. His head lifted. He saw Declan as he climbed slowly to the top of the rocks. “Use your bullets wisely. Fire at will. And make your way to the top,” he shouted.

Bullets hit the rocks close to Declan. He turned his head as splinters crashed into his face. A bullet hit the back of his leg. He paused as his fingers grasped the top rock. Hands grabbed at him and dragged him over the lip of the rocks. The hunters made their way up the steps. They gasped for breath. They walked across the rocks and the shallow earth. Peter looked around. They were all alone. He saw drops of blood that laid next to the cut ropes. The trail of blood stopped.

“We hit one,” he said. “Now form lines.”

The hunters fell into a double row. Silver-tipped spears wedged into the face of the rock. Rifles were held over the heads of the knelt hunters.

“Make every shot count,” Peter said as he picked up his radio. “Flank one, come in. Flank one, come in.” The sky darkened as the sunlight moved from above.

“Flank two, come in.”

* * *

The leaves brushed against the pack's fur. They sat, huddled. Their eyes peered through the leaves, and they could smell the fear. Kelvin and Dustin had taken the flanks. If the hunters fled, they could escape back to Vista View.

Declan changed back to his human form and picked up his cell from on top of the small rock. “Gabriel,” he whispered.

“Yeah. Are they in position?” he asked.

“They are, swing in and make a line at the bottom of the rock clearing. When they bolt, they are yours for the taking.”

“Right, got it,” he said, as Declan cut the call.

Gabriel stood in front of the bike club pack. The wolves stood ready behind him. “Why haven’t you changed yet?” the old bearded guy asked in his wolf form.

Gabriel turned. “There is one little thing I forgot to mention,” he said. “I’m human at the moment, and this is my moment of redemption.”

“Holy fuck, we are being led into a fire fight by a human.”

Tanya stood and faced the pack. “He saved three of you lot, you didn’t complain then! Give him his chance to prove himself.”

Gabriel didn’t wait for an answer. “Charge!” he yelled as he vanished into the forest.

“Oh fuck,” the bearded guy said as he charged after Gabriel.

They ran through the undergrowth and down the path. The rocks approached as they passed the bodies of the left flank of hunters. Bodies had holes in their necks and chest. Blood lay splatted on the pine needles and the leaves of the bushes. The radio crackled as it sat fastened to a hunter’s shoulder.

The biker pack spread either side of Gabriel. He sat in the bushes with wolves that formed a semi-circle. They sat and waited.

* * *

Kelvin pushed his way through the pack and stood next to Maria. Declan turned his head. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he snarled as saliva dripped from his fangs.

“The hunter flank are all out of it. Noelle's mom is under guard, she’s safe,” Kelvin said. “I wasn’t gonna miss this for the world. What is that they are holding?”

Declan explained. He said, “They seem to be spears with silver tips. And that can only mean one thing.” His head turned to Kelvin and Noelle. “They are short on silver bullets. If you get stabbed, push through and get clear from the silver tips.”

* * *

“Stand firm guys, we can do this,” Peter yelled.

“What makes you so fucking sure?” one of the hunters asked.

“Our rear is protected,” Peter replied.

“And where do we run to when we need to escape?” the guy asked again.

Peter looked over the edge of the rocks. He saw the bushes move in the distance. Fuck. I never thought of retreating.

* * *

Declan looked at Noelle and the rest of the pack. “Is everyone ready?”

Declan heard the pack rallying, snarls filled the air in the undergrowth. The bushes shook as the pack shuffled their readied feet. Declan readied himself and grabbed hold of Noelle.

“Charge!!!” he yelled.

The undergrowth exploded as the pack of twenty (or so) wolves lurched forward. The hunters held the silver spears firmly in the ground. The rifles were pointed toward the pack.

“Spread,” Declan yelled as the pack zigzagged across the clearing toward the hunters.

Wolves cocked their heads as bullets skimmed their fur. Kelvin glanced over his shoulder and watched the bark splinter as bullets embedded themselves into the towering trees.

Noelle ducked and dived in a hail of bullets. One grazed her leg and sent her rolling through the dirt. She stood and snarled as she chased the rest of the pack. Declan's shoulder shot backward as a bullet tore through it. Noelle saw his fur darken as his crimson blood seeped from his skin.

The pack reached the hunters. The hunters lunged their spears forward. Declan lashed at Peter and sent him flying into a bunch of three guys. Arms and legs flailed as four wolves pounced and tore into their human flesh. Their fangs dug deep and tore holes in their bare necks and ripped through their jackets. Bodies piled up as hunters waved the spears. Empty guns now laid on the forest floor.

Kelvin screamed as a hunter thrust his spear. Kelvin felt the silver sear at his skin. He snarled and pushed his body forward. The hunter let go of the spear and held his hands in front of his face.

Kelvin pulled the spear from his shoulder and smiled at the hunter. “Welcome to my world motherfucker,” he snarled, and his jaw locked around the hunter's neck. His head wriggled, and his head shot back as he spat the hunters adam's apple to the floor like it was a child’s toy.

“They are retreating,” Declan yelled.

The hunters clambered down the large earth steps to the base of the rocks. They looked up and saw the pack watching. Gabriel stepped forward. “Thank fuck,” a hunter yelped.

Gabriel grinned and waved his fingers. The biker pack shuffled their way from the bushes.

“Oh, fucking hell,” the hunter said. “But you’re human.”

“Never! And once a wolf always a wolf,” Gabriel replied. “Take him down, boys.”

The last thing the “last hunter” saw before darkness washed over him was Declan and Noelle staring into his eyes. A silence fell into the forest, apart from the howls of the wolves.

Dustin walked Garrett into the clearing as Abigail was marched from the other side. “You have killed them all,” Garrett said.

Abigail cried as she watched Noelle change back into her human form. “What have you done? Oh God, you’ve murdered them all,” she said.

“Mom, I’ve always told you since I’ve been with Declan, you have misunderstood the life of a pack,” she said. “We haven’t killed anyone. That was Declan’s idea, he wanted to teach you all a lesson.”

Abigail looked at the bloodstained clearing, the lifeless bodies that she stood among were unmoving. “They look very dead to me.”

“Mom, they’ve all been turned. There’s only you and dad who were spared from the whole ordeal. You two have been through enough.”

“I don’t understand… why?” Garrett asked.

Declan put his arm around Noelle's shoulders. “Why? I'll tell you why. I loved your daughter as a human, and I love her as a wolf, now. We want a life of peace for all wolves,” he explained. “We’ll never be beaten if we stick together. There’s no point in anyone trying to take us down.”

“Mom; Dad, I think we need to have a seriously-long conversation.”

“Better to fight for something than live for nothing.”