Devil Dawg Donnelly

Devil Dawg Donnelly's

Standard disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to people or actual events is purely coincidental.

You may contact the author at ulfr57@gmail.com All comments, suggestions and/or observations are welcome if presented respectfully.

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Chapter Three:

"Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" [GySgt.Daniel J. "Dan" Daly, USMC; near Lucy-`le-Bocage as he led the 5th Marines' attack into Belleau Wood, 6 June 1918]

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." JD didn't know how or why this line from Macbeth, which had been part of his tenth-grade literature class curriculum, came first and foremost to mind as he lay there, still stunned by the backhanded blow dealt him by his eldest brother, which had sent him careening across the room with a now throbbing split lip, but he felt himself shrinking back into the comforting, reassuring embrace of the ever stalwart and fastidious gentle giant he had come to know as Jake Bauers.

As terrifying as Jason's sudden transformation into, what he could only describe as something straight out of a horror movie and both his brother Mike's and Carl's subsequent shifts into bestial creatures, the likes of which he had only seen in movies like Underworld or An American Werewolf in London, none of that could have prepared him for the nightmarish seven feet tall monstrosity, his Dad had just identified by his mother's name... Monaca.

He was only six years old when his mother had seemingly just abandoned him, his Dad, and his two brothers. He could barely remember her face after the ten years that had passed since then, but one thing was for certain, she sure hadn't looked anything like what now stared down and confronted his Dad.

JD didn't know which he found more disturbing, the creature that was now being identified as his mother or the fact that he was just now beginning to realize, that this thing his father and others had spoken of as the Heritage, was nothing more than an allegory that obfuscated its true nature. Was this what his Dad had meant all those times when he spoke about them being old enough to claim their Heritage? That in actuality he meant to turn them into bestial monstrosities? Is this what he was doing to his brother Billy just moments ago and had done to both his older brother Mike and his friend Kent when they turned eighteen?

Pivoting his head up to look into the concerned amber-colored eyes of Jake Bauers, whose arms surrounded him in both a gesture of comfort and shielded defense, he was forced to ask himself, if Jake was also like everyone else in his life. Was Jake also one of these creatures, all the while and simultaneously knowing that he most assuredly was and that any moment he as well would transform if the need arose to defend both JD and himself.

But the biggest question of all, the one that now sent cold shivers down his spine, was this what awaited him in the future, was there something hidden deep inside him that could cause his future self to transform into a wolf-like beast?

As JD considered the possibilities, he couldn't help but wonder, was this a voluntary thing or was it just his fate and something he would have to reconcile himself with. But even more troubling, why was it so important to keep this a secret, why wasn't it something his father prepared him for, how could he and the others keep something this momentous a secret?

While he contemplated these things, JD watched as Timmy and Carl attempted to pull the lugubrious form of his brother Billy further away from the central part of the room, leaving his Dad and the nightmare-inducing monstrosity that was his mother, to continue to stare each other down.

"What, no hug for your estranged wife Max?" JD heard his mother's ghastly, misshapen, fang filled mouth to snarl at his father, with all the contempt and malice she could infuse into each and every syllable and word spoke.

JD watched as his Dad's head lowered, his eyes glaring from under his heavy brow at the bestial form of his mother, the irises of his eyes blazing a brilliant azure, his entire body looking like it had become a resolute slab of granite, immovable and as solid as the very foundations of the Earth. H Dads arms folded like twin iron bars across his chest, his demeanor one of absolute confidence and stoic cynicism: "If you want a hug Monaca, come and get one" his Dad crooned as his lips curled into a sardonic grin, his tone sending a sudden chilling shudder throughout his body.

His mother's gruesome visage seemed to ripple with cruel intent as she laughed malevolently: "I'll be more than happy to wipe that grin off your fucking face Max but not before mommy gives her other two little disappointments a final kiss goodbye."

With that, Monaca snapped her jaws several times leaving no doubt her murderous intent was anything but motherly, and as she turned her attention to the prone form of his brother Billy, JD watched as Carl once again transformed into his wolven shape, moving to put himself between Monaca and his supine, unconscious and otherwise defenseless brother.

"You're not going to touch one hair on their heads you fucking demented bitch!" JD heard Carl spit in defiance, his large clawed hands spread out menacingly by his sides, every muscle in his body growing taut, coiling as if to leap directly at her looming grotesque shape.

Just as his mother took one step toward Carl, JD heard the sound of a minor scuffle coming from the kitchen before observing Elizabeth Dunne breaking away from Brock Gryzinski's restraining grasp right before stepping into the main room, right past the island counter.

He watched as she ran her hands upward, gathering the loose strands of hair that had slipped free from the bun she had gathered her hair into, before shuffling her palms and fingers over her disheveled clothing and straightening her shirt: "If you don't mind Ms. Donnelly, I would like to ask just one question..." she paused momentarily as she warily confronted the bulky creature before her, almost absentmindedly adjusting her glasses: "Just out of curiosity, one scientist to another, how exactly did you solve the replicative diminishment inherent in the RNA sequence to derive a permanent and stable gene splicing?"

Monaca turned her baleful grimace toward Elizabeth, looking her up and down like she was appraising her right even to exist let alone deem her worthy of responding too: "Simply put, I bleached a virus and infused it with the genetic markers I desired to effect specified changes to the subject's genome." Monanca snarled, tilting her grotesque head haughtily into the air, sniffing arrogantly before dismissing the woman, turning her attention back to Max: "I see you're still true to form Max." rolling her smoldering red glowing eyes between Elizabeth and Carl: "You've had both of them within the last twenty-four hours and now you're letting your pawns fight your battles for your own amusement?"

"I don't know what's more pathetic--" JD's Dad interjected, his expression cold and clinical, devoid of any emotional scrutiny: "Your continuous, over-emotional feelings of inadequacy in regards to your gender or your hyperbolic need to self perpetuate your own sense of victimhood."

JD watched as a small hint of a smile curled one corner of his father's lips as the visual effectiveness of his assessment caused his mother's body to stiffen, and the rage behind her glowering eyes build almost to the boiling point. He also observed as Atticus began to rise up regaining his composure, a fact not missed by Kent who moved slowly toward him to take a position between his father and Atticus, an action that was now eliciting a growling response from Jake who also moved from his protective position behind him to a more aggressive posture in front, almost blocking his view of the events unfolding in front of him.

The tension in the room continued to build, shifting focus only when Elizabeth Dunne took a step closer to Max, but still focusing her attention on his mother Monaca: "So--" Elisabeth began cautiously: "Let me see if I understand this correctly--" once again she adjusted her glasses, pushing them up further on the bridge of her nose, before waving her right hand through the air in front of her indicating the speculative nature of her train of thought: "All you have done is create a virus that infects the host just like any other virus?"

Even to JD it was obvious Jason's Mom had struck a nerve with his mother, whose full attention was now raptly turned in her direction, regarding her now with absolute malice, which Elizabeth ignored completely, positing speculatively: "It seems to me, that all you've accomplished is to temporally infect them with a pathogen their own innate immune systems will most assuredly reject!"

JD's Dad turned his head slightly to Elizabeth, her line of thought bristly in his eyes as he considered her words, taking them to heart: "Are you saying what she has done is temporary?" his Dad queried.

Elizabeth's look acknowledged his assessment with a barely perceptible side-eye, never letting her focus venture away from Monaca: "It's an infection, one their body's own self-defense mechanisms will most assuredly combat, the real question should be whether they can survive the infection. If left untreated, it may very well kill them, they may very well be left immune-compromised. "

The growl from JD's Dad could be felt by everyone in the room: "Is that what she's done to herself as well?" he asked, the intensity behind his eyes causing the bright blue irises to glow more vibrantly.

"There is no known method to biologically change one's sex without killing them and since the lycanthropic genes only adhere to the Y chromosome, I suspect it's safe to assume she's devised a serum that temporarily and artificially mimics that chromosome as it floods her vascular system, and judging by it's, albeit physiological effects, is rapidly burning through her system at an accelerated and magnified rate."

"Meaning?" Max queried, still intensely staring at Monaca.

Elizabeth's brow furrowed, giving JD's Dad a quizzical glance: "To put it bluntly, she's Jekyl and Hyeding it right now and can't maintain this form for very long before it burns through her system, however..."

Turning sheepishly toward Michael and Kent and wringing her hands, looking at them with what JD could only describe as sympathy: "What she has done to these two may be causing them permanent or sustained damage if not properly treated, if it hasn't already."

Michael glowered at her for a second, his brow sweating profusely as he began to growl, struggling to raise up in an attempt to dislodge himself from the two sword blades pinning him by his thighs and calves to the floor: "Shut the hell up you fucking bitch, my mother has made Kent and I stronger than we've ever been !"

As if in answer to Michael's sudden outburst and declaration, Kent moved from behind him, his grotesque bestial maw nearly foaming as he snarled, leveling his malevolent seething grimace on Elizabeth as he moved toward her like a predator eyeing his prey.

JD could feel the heat from Jake's body suddenly increase, heard the deep guttural growl building and rising from deep in his chest as he gently moved from his position right in front of him to crouch like a coiled spring of massive muscle, sinew, and chocolate brown fur, the large fangs protruding his wolfish like muzzle, snapping at his older brothers aggressive, and inexorable step by slow step advancements.

"Oh, for fuck sake Michael..." his mother admonished, her voice a distorted mash of slurred vowels through a snout to deformed to properly articulate human speech: "Quit being a fucking pussy and get up and do what we came here for."

JD didn't need to think what that something was, as his mother's virulent gaze stared intently at his brother Billy's prone unconscious form just a few feet away from him, her look unmistakably covetous, and though his jaw still ached and his head still felt woozy, JD forced himself up on his hands and knees to crawl over beside Timmy, who was still crouched down protectively guarding his sibling.

Of all the recent events that have been pummeling JD's senses and the course of his family's day to day life, he couldn't help note, that one of the most significant of those changes had been with Timmy himself; from meek and timid, scared of his own shadow mere weeks ago to a fearless brave defender crouching over his brother's helpless body protectively and confidently warding against any would-be threat.

As if in complete contrast to Timmy's calm, stalwart and confident defensive posture, the raging howls of his oldest sibling subsumed the attention of all present as he now began forcing himself upward forcing the twin blades of the impaling swords to slice through the meaty flesh of his calves and thighs in a herculean attempt of extricating himself.

The crazed, pain-induced grimace and eye-bulging glower helping to channel and focus his near-insane rage, his body shifting once again into his monstrously grotesque werewolf form, the sickly, horrific sound of the twin razor-sharp blades cutting through his flesh as he used every ounce of his strength to free himself.

Through the cacophonous din, JD could see his Dad, standing like a beacon of resolute and stolid strength leaning his head slightly sideways speaking calmly to Carl, who with a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgment, quickly turned toward him and Billy, striding over to them in rapid steps to scoop Billy up and motioning JD to follow.

JD felt Timmy's strong muscular arms encircle him, dragging him to an upright position, his almost serene-looking beautiful blue eyes conveying the urgency for motion as he half dragged, half carried him off to the side and closer to the cabin door, right before all hell broke loose.

From over Timmy's shoulder, JD watched as Jake slammed into his brother Kent just as he launched himself toward JD and Billy, in what was obviously an attempt at stopping Carl and Timmy from moving them from harm's way.

Though Kent was older than Jake, Jake had long ago surpassed his older brother in sheer physical size, but now, as their shifted forms clashed, Kent now seemed proportionally his equal, something JD was certain wasn't natural, even JD's untrained and unaccustomed eyes could see the "wrongness" that exuded from every deformed bulge and ripple of Kent's veiny, mottled blackened flesh

From the other side of the room, JD caught Atticus's movement toward Michael, who had already freed his right thigh and calf from one of the embedded blades and was now working to free his left. He could almost feel the concussive impact as the two muscular forms clashed together, Atticus driving his brother backward until he slammed sideways into the back wall with a bone-jarring thud.

From the somewhat protective cover of the kitchen island, JD observed Brock Gryzinski dart to Atticus's assistance, wielding a cast iron frying pan in one hand and a long butcher's knife in the other.

He watched as the two worked in concert assailing his older sibling, front and back, each delivering blows that would have more than disabled any normal opponent, but JD watched in trepidation, as Michael rose up, finally free from his impalement, and to JD's horrified amazement, watched as the huge gaping wounds on his thighs and calves seemed to knit together, staunching the flow of the nearly black blood that had been seeping from the gashes.

Within seconds the wounds had almost completely healed over, as Michael began to regain some measure of his focus and was now effectively deflecting the brunt of Atticus's frontal assault even scoring a few hits of his own as Atticus howled in rage as Michael's right misshapen hand raked his claw-tipped fingers across Atticus's abdomen, leaving four gaping, bleeding gouges.

To JD's relief though, he noted how the wounds seemed to close and heal right before his eyes, though at a slower rate than Michael's.

Similar events played out less than six feet away from him, between Jake and Kent, as they repeatedly gouged, raked, and bit into each other, scouring each other's flesh repeatedly only to heal over leaving only gout's of blood dripping down their skin as evidence of their struggles.

It was the crouching movements to his left that caught JD's peripheral vision, as Gavin Hollis inched his way toward the nearly fear frozen form of Elizabeth Dunne, clasping her hand in his and pulling her back toward the relative safety behind the kitchen island, but it was the wailing howl of Brock Gryzinski that pulled his attention away, as his brother Michael now had Atticus's throat clenched between his fingers with one hand as he overpowered him with thunderous blows with the other.

Brock hurled himself through the air, discarding the frying pan as he landed on Michael's back using his freed hand to claim a handful of Michael's patches of sporadic fur around his neck as he began ruthlessly stabbing Michael repeatedly with the butcher's knife all along his upper shoulder and back, sending arcing splashes of blood spraying in all directions, forcing Michael to relinquish his focus and hold on Atticus as he grappled to gain a handhold on Brock's evasive but relentless assault.

To JD's mind, it looked almost like a cowboy riding a raging bull intent on dislodging its unwanted rider.

Atticus of course used Brock's distraction to score a few of his own blows as his talons dug repeatedly into Michael's straining, heaving belly, and chest, ripping handfuls of flesh, fur, and blood from his torso and abdomen in a shower of blood and rent flesh, but from JD's perspective, as ferocious as the bloody battle seemed and as relentless as they fought to rip each other apart, their wounds seemed to knit and weave their broken and sundered bodies back together, leaving only the splatters and small pools of blood and gore as evidence to the brutality of their attacks and assaults, that is, all except for Brock. Several deep scratches and gouges from Michael's fumbling grasp, were starting to slow Brock down, and as heroic as his defense and aid to Atticus was, it was obvious the battle was taking its toll on him, and though none of his wounds appeared to be life-threatening, it was apparent he lacked the healing stamina and strength afforded the near-supernatural nature of the other combatants.

It was his mother's nearly insane-sounding cackle that drew his attention away from the melee that played out on either side of the room and JD's focus was drawn back to the parental standoff and confrontation in the center of the room.

JD couldn't help but notice the disparate size difference between the two, his mother standing a good foot taller than his father, with a substantive body mass, that looked equivalent to twice his size, yet his Dad seemed nonplussed by this discrepancy, appearing resolute and inviolate of the ongoing battle raging around them, completely at ease with JD's mother level of threat, his gaze, and mannerisms one of near disdain, as if he felt her malevolent presence were nothing more than a minor inconvenience, barely worthy of his sustained interest, a fact that seemed to only further outrage his mother.

"Is this little family reunion boring you Max?" his mother quipped, snarling her vehemence at his father with as much contempt as she could muster verbally through her deformed, fang suffused and slavering snout: "

"What exactly do you envision happening here Monaca?" his father asked, a faint dispassionate grimace barely cracking his facial features, his mood otherwise completely unreadable.

JD stared at his Mom, stupefied by the brutality of her next words: "Why Max, I thought my message was rather clear, I'm here to destroy everything you stand for and hold dear, starting with them" she said, her massive left arm sweeping a taloned finger in his and his brother Billy's direction.

"You're our mother..." JD shouted back at her,, his hackles rising regardless of her gruesome persona and insidious and baleful accusatory tone: "What did we ever do to you?" he concluded, the emotion of his words catching in his throat almost causing it to crack. JD just couldn't believe or fathom that his own mother could foster such ambivalence, and malevolence for his and his brother's very existence.

His mother snarled at him, her jaws snapping, her monstrous fangs clicking together threateningly, her malevolent, mocking guffaw a growling retort in an outright rejection of any maternal connection he had always supposed inherent between a mother and her offspring.

Her eyes flashing a sickly, eerie red, his mother sneered: "Had I truly understood what you and your brothers would turn out to be..." She paused, taking a single step toward him, leaning forward to flex her massive shoulders and muscular arms threateningly at him: "I would have taken a clothes hanger and dug you out of my womb myself"

JD stared at her, open-mouthed and chagrined at her horrific words, his mind racing, re-imagining every memory he had of her as a small child, trying to reject the mental imagery her words now supplanted and usurped from his youthful recollections, knowing now it had all been a farce, the overactive imagination of a child who supposed a bond that never truly existed.

"Aww, has mommy hurt your wittle feelings?" she chuckled mockingly, her horrendous maw gaping sardonically into a twisted mask of repellent vulgarity: "Don't worry, mommies, come back to fix things," she said, adding flippantly: "Just think of it as a postnatal abortion. Your father did teach you about a woman's right to change her mind didn't he?!"

Revulsion supplanted any maternal memories or feelings JD had ever harbored for the creature that stood before him as Carl pulled him backward, putting himself between him and her: "Fuck you ya demented cunt!" Carl quipped, spitting on the floor as if even that small amount of acknowledgment had left a bad taste in his mouth: "I've always thought it was a mistake for Max to force you to leave all those years ago instead of just killing you outright when we caught you taking blood samples from the boys without his approval for your twisted experiments."

That revelation reverberated in JD's head, sending everything he thought was true from his childhood spiraling and coruscating into a myriad of conflicting memories. He and his brothers had all thought that their mother had just abandoned them, ditching them for some unknown reason, but now it all made sense, realizing that this was just one more thing their father had done to protect and insulate them from the vagaries of their adolescent recollections and the insurmountable truth of her cruel intentions and indifference.

The truth was and is, their mother was a monster, not only physically, but mentally as well. This wasn't something their Dad had done to her, this wasn't the result of a relationship that turned sour, this is who she was, as a person, right down to her rotten core.

JD felt no sense of loss over this newfound revelation, what was really toiling within him was how bad he felt for his Dad, wondering how his father had tolerated this creature for as long as he had, but even worse, how could his older brother Mike not see her for what she really was, why would he side with her, over his own father and brothers?

The throbbing sting in his jaw and the painful split of his lower lip where Michael had backhanded him moments ago, a stark reminder of his elder siblings' leanings in all of this, and JD was having a hard time reconciling which betrayal was worse, his mothers or his brothers? One resounding question kept burning in his consciousness, did Michael know about her sadistic intentions toward Billy and himself?

The sudden thunderous basal growl emanating from the bestial form of his childhood friend Jake reverberated and shook the walls of the cabin, instantly drawing JD back to the current situation playing out mere feet to the side of him where Jake now had his older brothers twisting and thrashing, distorted body hovering over his head.

JD barely had time to assess the situation as he watched Atticus dodge sideways away from his brother scooping Brock into his embrace as they rolled to the side just as Jake, with an incredible display of herculean effort, hurled his brother Kent missile-like at the exposed back of his brother Michael, with such magnitude and force it slammed both their body's against the large stone fireplace, filling the air around them with the sickening sound of splintering and shattering bone, the results of which left both combatants in a heap of broken and shattered limbs on the floor.

Within seconds, both Jake and Atticus yanked them up by their necks from the floor before swinging them around and clutching their exposed throats with their clawed fingers, threatening to rip their throats out if they continued to struggle against them.

Now helpless, the pair succumbed to their commands, their bodies growing limp as they struggled to heal from their broken bones.

"Useless, the pair of you!" Monaca sneered contemptuously: "Go ahead and kill them, chances are their bodies will reject the viral carrier anyway.. then again..." her husky, throaty voice cackled: "It might be interesting to see how painful that's bound to be."

JD watched as the color seemed to drain from both his brothers and Kent's faces as they stared balefully at her wide-eyed, incredulous at the thought of her callus dismissal and betrayal.

"Oh, don't look at me like that Michael..." JD's mother taunted and jeered: "maybe if we make it back to my lab in time, I might be able to stabilize your condition..." she paused surreptitiously as if it were an afterthought or consideration: "of course that depends on how long it takes Mommy to kill your Daddy and the rest of these other fools."

"How do you intend to do that Monaca..."JD's Dad interjected quizzically, the corner of his lips lifting into a slight sneer: "Bore us all to death with one of your never-ending diatribes?"

If it had been his fathers intent to get a rise out of his mother, judging by the way every muscle in her already gargantuan body swelled and rippled as she stood fully erect to her towering height, her head nearly touching the floor to the back loft, it appeared he was extremely successful: "I didn't know you were so anxious to die my darling husband.. " she growled, drool dripping from her sizable fangs as her eyes flashed a brighter, more sickening shade of crimson: "I had planned on savoring the moment by making you watch me kill your little faggot boyfriend and your precious little litter of mongrels first..."She paused, raising her massive fist over her head, clasping them together, obviously intending to use them as a cudgel: "But if you insist on going first..."

With a howl of snarling rage Monaca's massive clawed fist sliced downward directly toward his fathers head, causing JD to momentarily wince from the expected deadly impact only to be gratefully disappointed as his father's right fist shot upward so swiftly, his arm left an untraceable blur in the space between them before his right arm seemed to easily block her intended target, a fact that didn't escape his mother's notice, judging by the surprised look on her distorted, grotesquely featured face.

"Ya know Monaca..." his father Max declared as he pivoted and twisted sideways, clasping his mother's left wrist with his left hand, his body shifting effortlessly into his bestial form, his claws digging into her wrist as he swung backward: "For someone who is always bragging about how much more intelligent she is compared to everyone else..." His father's body leaped upward, accompanied by the horrid sound of cracking and splintering bone and rent cartilage as his mother's arm splintered as he twisted it back and upward, his legs locking around the back of her waist: "You would have thought you would have learned the genetic differences between alpha and beta Heritage genes..."

The howl of pain and demented rage issuing from his mother's throat as his father almost snapped her arm off as he locked his ankles around her waist and threw his right arm around her neck before securing it by clasping his own right wrist with his left hand and began squeezing her massive muscle swollen neck, compressing it with such force it seemed his mother's eyes were going to bug out of her head as she clawed and dug at Max's shoulders desperately trying to extricate herself from the tightening pressure of his ever compressing stranglehold.

"I think it's safe to assume not even Ryker Von Krause was stupid enough to trust you with a sample of his genetic makeup, so I'm assuming you used Michael's... " his Dad continued as his mothers head began to slump, the hateful fire that once burned in her eyes now superseded by absolute fear and what JD would like to think, as her sudden realization, that she had greatly underestimated her opponent's strength and abilities.

"Do you want to know why you've lost Monaca..." his Dad paused, as the lines in his face grew more intense, and the sounds of gurgling mingled with the eerie snapping pop's of blood vessels and bone: "You lost because you're a two-dimensional thinker in a three-dimensional game, strength and size is easily overcome by superior speed and skill."

With a bilious and nauseating sound, JD and the others watched in slack-jawed wide-eyed dread as his father's eyes flashed a brilliant blue, his grip tightening even more as his exposed teeth clenched even tighter causing Monaca's arms to drop to her sides as her body slumped to it's knees and Max's feet dropped to the floor, bracing his left knee against her back and ripped the Wolfen shaped head from her body in a blood-splattering display of primal ferocity.

JD just stared, dumbfounded and numb as several arcing spurts of blood spewed into the air from the mangled stump of what was his mother's neck before the body finally slumped forward to land with a wet meaty thump to the floor.

A pervasive silence subsumed the room as they all watched Max raise the now slacked jawed head level to his own, twisting it around to gaze into its lifeless dead eyes as its jaw dropped open and its long wet tongue lulled out one side of its mouth before the fire faded from his own eyes and he casually tossed it on the floor before him, announcing loud enough for everyone in the room to hear: "Consider that our divorce."

Stunned into silence, JD's eyes glued to his father's visage as he moved slowly through the room toward his other brother Mike, who glowered vehemently at him through tempestuous eyes, struggling to free himself from Jake's iron-like grasp on his throat.

"Release him" his father commanded Jake, who complied instantly, letting go of his throat and taking a step back as he did so.

The rage on his brother's face contorted his once handsome features into a vitriolic mask as he spat at their father, yelling: "You murderous bastard, you killed my mother!"

JD didn't have a clear view of his fathers face but he could see the tension building in every muscle of his body and with a swiftness barely perceptible by the naked human eye, his father's right hand shot up, then down with such impact against the side of his face that it slammed Mike face-first into the floor.

Without so much of a word by anyone else in the room, they all watched intently as Max bent over and grabbed Michael by the neck and dragged him across the floor to where their mother's corpse lay.

A sudden shiver of icy cold sent shudders down JD's spine as he observed his father shove his brother's lips against their mother's decapitated face: "Kiss mommy good by shithead, kiss the bitch that so poisoned your feeble mind that you were willing to help her kill not only me but your innocent brothers."

Their Dad paused only long enough to drag Michael's face to within an inch of his own, the irises of his eyes flashing a brilliant azure blue: "Look around you, you and Kent have almost killed everyone who has ever loved and cared about you and for WHAT!?"

Their father's voice was full of anger and disappointment: "Because your mother lied to you when you were a little kid, filled your head with delusions of grandeur knowing full well it wasn't true, manipulating you into believing you were something you were never meant to be"

JD's Dad's voice grew cold, abrupt, full of disdain: "The truth is, she used you, and whatever it is she has done to you is even now slowing destroying you and Kent, that's what she really thought of you boy!"

They all watched as Max shoved him away from him and stood up, turning his back on his eldest: "From this day forward you are no longer a son to me and furthermore, you are stripped of all duties and rank of the United States Marine Corp..." the pause that hung in the are only served to magnify his final words: "As Alpha Regent of the Devil Dawg Southern District I hereby rebuke you and declare you a disperser, no longer acknowledged by those within the Heritage, your name forever stricken from our family history."

They all hung their heads as Max crossed the room to the prone body of his son Billy and gently lifted him into his arms and as he approached the ladder steps to the loft, hoisted Billy over his shoulder, he ordered Atticus to secure Michael and Kent until their fate could be decided by the council and without further discussion, climbed the ladder steps to lay Billy on his bed and sat by his side, stroking his hair as he kept silent vigil as his son rested and recovered from the trauma of his first shift.

It was just a few moments later, as Carl checked the bruising of JD's jaw that Elizabeth Dunne approached him, timidly relating her concerns: "I don't mean to disturb you, but I wonder if you would allow me to examine those two young men, I think that whatever was done to them is now killing them and I think it gets worse every time they shift."

It was apparent to JD by the way Jason's mother looked at his brother and Kent that she was genuinely concerned for their physical well-being, even he and Carl could see how pale they both appeared and how much they both appeared to be sweating.

"I think it would be prudent Liz if we get them secured first before allowing you to do that, though I don't see why you couldn't after we do so," Carl stated, asking her if she would mind taking a look at Brock's wounds, to which she readily agreed before puttering off in that direction.

JD just stood there, feeling a bit disjointed and more than a little disoriented as he watched Carl drag Michael to his feet and shoved him toward the fireplace and Kent, calling over his shoulder to Atticus, instructing him of his intent to lock them up in the compounds storage shed, where they stored the canoes as soon as Brock's wounds were properly attended too.

As things room began to settle, JD still found himself numbly staring at the still monstrously grotesque corpse of what had been his mother, his mind drifting over the various startling revelations he had been witness to so far that evening. It was why he almost jumped out of his skin when he felt Jake's large warm hand on his shoulder: "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare ya." Jake said softly, genuine concern written on his face and reflected in the warmth of his eyes.

For a brief second, JD took in the image of the large man before him, noting the silly dichotomy of the flimsy apron he had wrapped around his midsection, barely hiding his nudity.

Gone was the gangling awkward boy of his youth, who laughed at his stupid jokes, or obediently gave into whatever mischief JD's brain could concoct, ofttimes sharing the punitive disciplines resulting in those actions without recrimination or blowback. The man that stood before him now was someone almost completely different yet oddly familiar and somehow comforting.

Even in the haze of his current confusion, JD still admired the incredible strength and presence of this boyhood friend turned man; his once awkward limbs now rippled with massive cords of muscle, more than he had ever thought could exist on one person, noting there was a density to Jake, a presence of being that seemed to defy description. But what he saw most of all, was an indisputable kindness and strength that radiated off him like heat from the sun, calling JD into the comfort and safeness of his arms, and that is exactly what JD found himself doing.

It seemed like it hit him all at once, waves of emotions he could no longer contain, just as Jake's arms embraced him, drawing him to his warmth, comforting and consoling him as he almost delicately stroked the back of his head, murmuring consoling words of encouragement as the tears began to pour uncontrollably from JD's eyes.

He didn't really know why he was crying or even if it was for one specific thing. His head was swimming in a veritable whirlpool that spun his thoughts incessantly around until he felt sick to his stomach from the vertiginous myriad of nightmarish events unraveling the previous course of his life, the upheaval of everything he thought he held to be true and immutable.

He felt Jake's comforting large hands caressing his back, and thinking he never wanted to leave the security he felt in those powerful arms, and it was also in that moment that a sudden flurry of movement caught his peripheral vision that noted the arrival of Hank and Danal standing in the cabin doorway.

They both turned to face Jake's father, who stood their eyes rapidly surveying the room and the pervasive carnage wrought by his mother, and their brother's; concern overshadowing his facial features as he was rapidly piecing the parts together like a grotesque, demented jigsaw puzzle swaddled in blood, destruction, and betrayal.

It took Hank two rapid strides two pull both of them into his arms, kissing his son on the forehead as he ruffled JD's hair, his eyes searching their bodies for injuries even as he asked them if they were alright.

JD just clung to Jake as he briefly described the current state of events, as Hank stared glowering at Monaca's mutilated corpse. But before Jake could finish with his assessments, Hank caught sight of his eldest son Kent. Shoving past them, he stormed over to where Atticus held him, now staring forlornly at the presence of his father, recoiling in fear as Hank snatched him away from Atticus, his hands encircling his son's throat, throttling him as he lifted him off the floor, kicking his legs and pawing at his father's arms as his eyes bulged out and his face turned crimson from the flush of blood into his head from the sheer pressure of his constricting, vice-like fingers.

"You traitorous bastard..."Hank raged into his son's face, his own eyes bulging in wide-eyed fury, his irises flashing a bright golden amber as the veins stood out on his forehead, like a roadmap to his venting anger.

"ENFORCER...release him!" came the booming voice from atop the loft, as all eyes in the room shot upward at the sudden appearance of JD's Dad, Max Donnelly.

Hank just stared at him, caught between exacting his rage for his offspring's treachery and the stalwart, commanding presence of Max's continence.

Every fiber of his Dad's being spoke to the commanding nature of his father's presence perched up there on the loft looking down at them, his eyes locked on Hank's.

"This is no time to stand on ceremony Gamma. As Alpha of the Southern region I claim you as my enforcer..." his Dad paused, letting his words sink in, adding: "Now follow my orders and help secure the prisoners, their fate will be decided by the council."

JD couldn't help note the tension in the room as the wide-eyed look of surprise on Jake's face attested too, but he did hear the audible sigh of relief when Hank released his hold of Kent's neck allowing him to drop to the floor, on his knee's rubbing his neck as he gasped for breath.

Only two words escaped Hank's lips as he bowed his head to Max, two words that broke the spell of wills in the room: "Yes Alpha." Hank blurted, turning immediately to Atticus and with a nod, indicated he should lead the way as he yanked his eldest son from the floor into a standing position.

The unexpected thunderous clap of Danal's hands, nearly drove JD out of his skin, before he saw the huge grin on the elder man's beaming face, shouting to no one in particular: "It's about fucking TIME!"

Over the course of the next half hour, members of Atticus's unit made their way to the cabin. JD couldn't help but note the full riot gear they wore and the assault rifles they carried, but it was the obvious state of their appearance that they had seen battle, gashes, and tears in their clothing a testament to the ferocity in which they had fought.

The room was starting to feel slightly claustrophobic when Brock let out a loud moan as he stared into his phone and immediately declaring that he had no signal. Others checked their phones, Gavin included and verifying that none of them had service.

JD listened as Brock told Atticus that they needed to go check the communications equipment at the lodge to determine the problem, Gavin quickly offering his assistance with Carl nodding his approval, indicating that Brock might find Gavin's offer of assistance an asset.

The three-headed out as another of the compounds security force showed up and indicated to Carl and a newly returned Hank that the immediate area had been secured and more and more of the guest were returning and wanting to speak to Max.

Jake and JD watched as Hank went up to meet with his father, who still sat by his brother Billy's bedside holding his hand when Carl suggested that maybe Jake should take JD and Timmy over to the campsite and maybe get them a couple of cold beers to calm their nerves, indicating there really wasn't much use for them to just stand around while he and a few of the guys who had also returned began to extricate the corpses and begin the cleanup process the interior of the cabin so desperately needed.

Timmy's disarming smile dimpled his cheeks as he led the pair out of the cabin door and into the cooler night air. JD had barely looked up to the sky to take note of the parting clouds and the full moon still shining directly over their heads, when Timmy suddenly stopped in the path in front of them, bending over and gleefully snatching what looked like a silver medallion from the ground, smiling broadly, his lilting voice cooing: "Oooo, pretty" as he studied its shiny surface in his open hand as Jake and he swept around him, to continue down the path toward the bivouac, shaking their heads, bringing a faint smile to JD's lips as he once again marveled at how strange but cute Timmy could be.

They had barely taken several steps when they heard a slight thud from behind them, causing them to quickly spin around, Jake's muscles already coiling defensively and protectively by JD side, until they both gasped, noting alarmingly that Timmy had collapsed behind them and now lay there on the ground, flat on his back.

As if that weren't alarming enough, as they quickly approached his supine body, JD could swear he saw the silver medallion glowing profusely right between it, and the skin of Timmy's clutching hand...