Devil Dawg Donnelly

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 obsevations are welcome if presented respectfully.

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Devil Dawg Donnelly's: Revelations

Chapter Six:

"Poor boys are easier than middle-class or rich ones. Boys who've been busted are easier than boys who have not. Southern boys are easier than Northern boys. Marines are easier than Masturbation." -John Valentine

The sun hung heavily in the western sky late Saturday afternoon. Max, Carl, and Danal had spent the last couple of hours going over the events of Friday evening with Billy, who had awakened earlier, roughly about two PM.

It had taken them a while explaining about the Heritage and even more time about the events afterward and during his ceremony.

He seemed to readily take the news about who and what the Heritage well, but was definitely having issues with his own actions after his ceremony.

Though he remembered in detail what he had done to several of the invaders, it was his revelation that it was the wrongness he smelled in his brother Mike and Kent's scent that seemed to intrigue both his Dad and Danal, while Billy seemed more disturbed and upset by how easily he had taken the invaders lives and the seeming brutality his beast was capable of.

It took all three of them quite a while and considerable effort to reassure him enough that he would learn to control the more bestial aspects of his wolf's nature.

As hard as that had been for him to take, it was his brother Mike's and Kent's betrayal and the death of his mother at the hands of his own father that he was still trying to wrap his brain around, which led to him almost insisting on talking to Mike himself. It wasn't until Carl had pointed out his younger siblings facial bruises and his split lip, which were inflicted when he attempted to confront Michael about his actions before Billy had relented, though his mood seemed to grow even more somber and pensive as he internally dwelt on and tried to process all of it.

It had been almost a relief to all three of them when they got the news from Elizabeth, that Timmy had awakened and was insisting on seeing both Max and Danal and Billy had left to check on his little brother.

Their relief lasted only as long as it took Timmy to start explaining what had transpired while he was out. While neither Max nor Carl seemed at first to take Timmy's "dreams" seriously it was the look of consternation and concern that subsumed Danal's facial features that gave them both pause as he sat there raptly consuming everything Timmy recalled and related to them, concluding with Danal taking Timmy's hand, the one in which he had picked up the silver medallion they used as the catalyst for the Heritage ceremony, to examine it closely, leaving Danal's face with even deeper lines of concern etched throughout.

For his part, after Timmy had finished saying everything he could remember about the encounter, he now seemed to lose complete interest in the topic, snatching his hand back from Danal's clasp as he said merrily, that he was starving and was off in search of something to devour, and with that he quickly departed the Lodge, making a beeline toward the bivouac.

As soon as Timmy departed, Carl turned toward Danal: "Surely you're not taking a word of that seriously?" he insisted, eyeing Danal dubiously.

Danal shot him a chilling glance: "I could stand here for hours going over the historical literature that comports with much of what he just imparted, but I don't need to..." Danal said dismissively before adding: "When he woke up, didn't Elizabeth also report that she had given him a preliminary physical assessment, and did she not say that he seemed alright except for the burn marks on the palm of his right hand?"

Carl just looked at him quizzically before responding: "I get that we don't know why he seemed to be affected by the same metal that affects us, but a burn mark hardly constitutes as any sort of confirmation that his dream or hallucinations mean anything more than he possesses an overactive imagination."

Danal shook his head disdainfully: "Perhaps not, but what I do find fascinating is the fact that in the span of half an hour, since he related what he saw and heard while unconscious, his hand has completely healed."

Carl and Max both glowered at him suspiciously as he continued: "I do hope I'm not the only one who also noticed how his scent of honey and freshly dug Earth has almost tripled and that there is now a golden ring around the irises of his eyes?"

It was at that moment Elizabeth interrupted them, presenting the silver medallion she held in one of her gloved hands to Danal and a second pair of latex gloves in the other for his use; "As per Max's request, I have taken a couple of blood samples from Timothy. Perhaps a detailed analysis might reveal more about his possible connection to the Heritage." she stated matter of factually, before turning to Max and informing him that she needed to get back to her lab with the samples she had taken from both of Billy and Timmy while they were still viable.

Max winked at her, stating almost conspiratorially: "Agreed, but please keep me informed not only about that but the other matter we discussed earlier."

Both Danal and Carl couldn't help but observe how Max's response had made her blush before she nervously turned and walked away murmuring her acknowledgment: "Yes, of course...I haven't forgotten."

While Danal just shot Max a quizzical look, Carl had no problem vocalizing his concerns: "Care to explain or elaborate what that was about?"

Max took note of the aggressive way Carl crossed his arms over his chest as his eyebrows furrowed harshly, a not-so-subtle maneuver that denoted his displeasure, knowing all too well from whence it came.

Smiling disarmingly and placing his hand on Carl's shoulder reassuringly, and meeting Carl's stern gaze head-on, Max responded: "I said I would explain everything..." he paused momentarily, carefully gauging Carl's disposition before continuing: "...And I will explain, but first, Danal and I need to have a meeting with Marshal Griffen, Paul Lakatos, and Jason."

As almost an afterthought, Max leaned in and gently caressed the side of Carl's head, before planting a quick kiss on his forehead: "I also need to check on JD and let him know what to possibly expect about tomorrow's meeting."

Carl of course knew that Max had convened a meeting with the district Grege Quorum comprising all alphas in their district, something Max had been putting off until after Billy's ceremony.

Both of them were experienced enough to know that though most would be primarily concerned about what had transpired at Billy's ceremony and what that would mean going forward, there would be those who would also expect Max to address his youngest son's flagrant violation of the code.

Realizing these things needed to take prescience, Carl reluctantly acquiesced, stating, however: "I understand the urgency of both matters Max, just so long as you understand the only reason I'm still here is because you promised to explain your actions over the last few days." to give further weight to his declaration, Carl quickly added: "I'm serious Max, I'm not going to keep being a secondary consideration any longer."

Max tried to offer him a reassuring smile, but fully knowing that at this moment in time, for a man like Carl, actions spoke louder than words: "Your patience is duly noted and appreciated..." Max replied, adding as he drew Carl next to him, his hand tenderly caressing the back of his head: "Bear with me, for just a little bit longer."

As they pulled apart, Max locked gazes with him, smiling broadly before stating heartily: "You can be such a bossy bitch sometimes..." adding quickly, with a quick smack to Carl's ass: "But you're my bossy bitch and don't ever forget it!"

Carl knew Max's humor was his way of defusing the tension between them, but he also knew that Max had to fully understand the precarious line they were traversing that could ultimately tip them in either direction if not addressed.

As if on cue, Jason, Paul and Marshal with Merrick in tow came through the front door of the Lodge.

With a nod to Carl, Max and Danal escorted them to the far end of the room, where a table and chairs had been set up temporarily to use as the makeshift conference/strategy planning area of the compound.

Carl took this as a sign that he was being left to make arrangements for Elizabeth Dunne's transportation back to her lab, not that he minded, having noticed that Barin Young had returned right before he, Max, and Danal had begun their own meeting and he was anxious to get a report from him on Gavin and his mother's current status.

On his way out, Carl practically ran into Jake Bauers, who was standing to one side of the main door with Paul Lakatos's Gamma, Dalton Becker, on the other side, both in a parade rest stance, one that was typical of guard duty.

Carl eyed the young men up and down before addressing Jake: "Where's JD and why aren't you with him?"

It was a simple enough question, but Jake's hesitation in answering it sparked Carl's curiosity, that and the way he continued to stare forward as if to avoid eye contact.

"I believe I just asked you a fucking question corporal!" Carl reiterated, noting the slight flush of Jake's cheeks and a smidgen of a wince in one eye before he stammered haltingly: "JD is with Timmy right now back at the camp."

Carl took that in for a second before getting right up into his face: "That explains where it didn't explain why you're not with him!"

It took only one sniff from Carl at that close of a proximity to hazard a guess even before Jake could even muster up a response.

"Are you fucking kidding me, does Max know what you and Jason have done?" Carl snarled at him, close to losing his temper, jabbing his finger in Jake's chest, nearly ranting: "Forget Max, does JD know you've been with Jason?"

That got a response.

Jake's eyes locked on his nervously blinking, his lips twitching as he tried to croak out an answer: "Uncle Carl, it's not what you're thinking...I'd ne...I'd never cheat, never... not on JD!"

The sweat that now formed and dripped down Jake's forehead was testimony to the emotional distress playing out all across his face and in his trembling voice.

Carl fired back his rising indignation: " Fuck that uncle shit, my nose says differently..." pausing to tap the side of his own nose before concluding: "To think, Max and I both trusted JD's care into your hands, hell, I even steered him in your direction, all because I thought you had real feelings for him and would always at least try and do what's best by him, now I see I couldn't have been more fucking wrong!"

Jake's eyes went wide as saucers at Carl's vehemence, near panic his sole expression now. Genuine fear mixed with Jason's scent, now permeating from every pore of his body, his lips fully quivering now as they attempted to move, trying to plead his own defense.

"Save it!" Carl fumed as he turned away from an obviously stricken and shaken Jake and began walking away from him in the direction of the camp, growling over his shoulder back at him: "Stay away from JD from now on, if I catch either you or Jason anywhere near him I'll cut your fucking balls off !"

The sky had grown overcast as the early evening progressed, making the sky darker than would normally be the case, which only seemed to add to Carl's already dark, somber mood.

Carl was still pissed. He'd done his best to console JD over the plethora of issues that consumed his state of mind, not least of which was the perception of betrayal he felt about Jake defecting to Jason's side, something he had noted when they came back together from a hike in the woods earlier.

JD had said Jake tried to reassure him that wasn't the case, but his actions seemed to contradict his words when all Jason had to do was nod his head from across the camp where he stood with his grandfather, in the direction of the Lodge to get Jake to rush from his side and follow after him like a lovesick puppy.

It was little wonder JD was now feeling more than a little abandoned by those he had placed his trust in, and that was definitely something Carl felt he could relate to.

From JD's perspective, Jason had abandoned him, changing into a monstrous beast and leaving him in the very real danger of being killed, to go on a killing spree of his own, while his oldest brother had attacked him and his mother had threatened to kill him, ending with his own Father ripping her head off right in front of him.

Everything in his world had been turned upside down and he had turned to and leaned on Jake, who he thought was his rock, his one true constant during all of this, only to learn he was now all chummy chummy with Jason and appearing to now prefer Jason's company and companionship to his own.

Billy was being of little help in any of this, nor did Carl expect him to. Considering how consumed he was by his own problems and the demands both Max and Danal had contributed to by means of lengthy meetings and conversations that seemed to weigh even more heavily on Billy's shoulders, it was surprising he wasn't curled up into a ball somewhere hiding.

He did try though, reassuring his little brother, even giving him a hug at one point, before being pulled away for yet another conversation with Atticus and then several alphas that had stuck around since his ceremony.

The one ray of sunshine in all of this had been Timmy. More than anyone or anything else Timmy's near inexhaustible enthusiasm and warmheartedness helped stem the tide of JD's mounting mental and emotional turmoils, even to the point of eliciting a wane smile and a small giggle from him during one of his more brazen games he had concocted and coined as "How Big Is It" where he would look at various men he found attractive in the camp and make outrageous guesses to the size of their cocks by the prominence of the bulges in the crotch of their pants.

When Max's meeting with Danal, Jason and the others had finally come to an end a couple of hours later and both Jake and Jason looked on in trepidation between him and JD, as if gauging which would be worse, attempting a dialogue with JD or risking Carl's wrath, Carl had been thankful that Timmy had had the foresight to suggest that he and JD go for an evening swim and check out any cute boys who they might catch skinny dipping.

As he watched the pair walk off arm and arm together toward the lake, Carl made it a point to shoot both Jake and Jason a very icy glare, staring the two down as if to say "don't even try it." until both dropped their gaze and sat down together near the fire, occasionally shooting him furtive glances as if to gauge his resolve or their own.

It wasn't long after that, Max concluded his conversations with Danal, Marshal Griffen, and Paul Lakatos and sauntered over to him, his brow furrowed, deep in thought as he approached him.

Eyeing Carl speculatively, carding his fingers through the short hairs on the top of his head, he practically sighed: "I need a nice long run, care to join me?"

Carl didn't say anything, he just nodded and swept his hand through the air indicating for Max to lead the way.

Without another word spoken, the two of them veered off into the woods at a slow trot until they gained some distance and Max quickly picked up the pace into a full out hard sprinting gallop.

Carl did his best to keep up, matching him as best he could as they wove between the various natural obstacles of trees, rocks, and underbrush.

There wasn't a square inch of the compound that he and Max hadn't traversed like this over the years. For both of them there was nothing more freeing and mentally cleansing than a good hard run; letting go of their day to day human problems and letting their beast, their inner wolves romp and dash with reckless abandon, pacing themselves against each other, controlling their breathing until their very heartbeats reached a certain parody, an equilibrium that was simultaneously both physical as well as mental.

They ran like the wind, two men in their prime, joined together by the thrill of each other's proximity, each other's scent, and most of all, by a natural bond that had always drawn them together like two opposing magnets since the day they first met.

Here, in the wild, their beast given reign, there was never any doubt or question in either of their consciousness that they belonged together, no feelings of angst or jealousy, no pressure from external forces or expectations. Here, like this, they were just Max and Carl, at one with themselves and with the wilderness that surrounded them.

If only this was the totality of their lives, but it wasn't.

In the real world, the one created by men, they had problems, loads of them. Most were easily overcome but some mounted with the passage of time and after all, was said and done, no matter how freeing it was to give their beast reign and let the call of the wild consume them for a time, inexorably, their paths always led them back to the human world, with all their very real human problems.

As Max began to slow down, eventually coming to a stop, Carl took a moment to take in their surroundings and finding himself mildly surprised at where Max had led them.

For the second time that day, Carl now found himself facing Max in the small clearing, on the other side of the lake, in the one place in the world they had both always recognized and acknowledged as theirs, the very spot they both regarded as where it all began for them.

"I don't mean to start things on a sour note..." Max began, standing directly in front of Carl, eyeing him cautiously before he proceeded: "But did you really have to go all-in on Jake like that, the boy is devastated?"

Almost instantly Carl's hackles were up and in his current mood, he had no problem going straight for the proverbial jugular as he huffed sardonically: "Of course you wouldn't have any problem with fucking anyone you felt like fucking no matter how it affects those around you. Seriously Max, with everything that JD has been through the last couple of days, I would have thought his own Father might at least show just a smidgen of concern for the emotional state of his youngest son."

Carl whipped around, turning away from Max, folding his arms over his chest, barely able to control his anger and the growing sense of frustration with the man he had shared so much of his life with already.

He could hear Max sigh behind him before he felt his strong callused hands clasp his shoulders gently turning him back around to face him, his voice only slightly more than a whisper to his ears: "Jake did not cheat on JD."

Carl fumed instantly: "It is cheating when you have sex with someone other than the person you say you love and that person neither knows about it or has given their prior approval. It may not be that way in your lexicon of what constitutes cheating but it is in mine and judging by the way JD took it, I'm going to hazard a guess that he feels the exact same way as I do!"

Carl locked eyes with Max, his rage at Max's apparent lack of concern for his and his son's feelings in the matter, was the driving impetus that sparked the anger-infused flash of bright green in his irises.

Max boldly held his gaze, not backing down, while still not appearing as confrontational, but calm and understanding.

His voice still soft in nature but a matter of fact in tone, Max asked: "Is it cheating when a young alpha claims the first member of his pack, is it not an emotional bond that binds them both together?"

The fire in Carl's eyes died instantly replaced with one of shocked confusion before Carl finally managed to stammer: "But... Jason's only seventeen...and Jake... he's... " Carl was so confused he couldn't think straight: "How could Jake agree to that knowing how it might affect JD?" he finally concluded.

Max just held his gaze, his look unreadable to Carl as his hands came up to rest on his shoulders: "Oh, I don't know Beta, why don't you explain to me how it feels when an Alpha claims you as part of his pack." Though framed in part as a question, Max's tone was more of a declaration, a salient distinction Carl hadn't missed, as well as Max calling him Beta.

In that moment, Carl knew what he was supposed to do, he knew what almost any other member of the Heritage would have done in his stead, they'd be kneeling expectantly before Max, waiting for that final command, the one word that would forever bind them to him.

Carl wasn't just anyone however, since their youth, they had crossed a certain line by becoming lovers before they even knew of the Heritage.

Max's father had made it clear, companionship was one thing, but his son had a destiny to fulfill, he had even made this clear both before their ceremony and after it was the main reason Max had never pursued starting his own pack, he followed in his father's footsteps as did his father before him and his before him, back thirteen generations.

Marcus had no pack and had convinced Max he had to go it alone as well, but one of the things that was most troubling to Carl at that very moment was remembering how they both had sworn themselves to each other, it had been their plan right from the start. Max had made it perfectly clear he had no interest in being the Alpha Regent of the Southern District, that claim lay with the most worthy alpha in the entire district and that alpha had clearly been Bannor Griffen, Max didn't even want it.

But as events played out and their best-laid plans fell apart, unraveling the fabric of their lives until Max was left holding the bag, by being the only person who could take up that mantle. In the end, his Father had gotten what he had expected and wanted of Max all along.

Even back then, it never sat well with Carl and it still didn't until this day, this moment precisely, when Max stood in front of him, with his hands on his shoulders, having just called him Beta for the first time while staring expectantly and waiting for Carl's compliance.

Despite his desire to do so and against the whimpering pleas of his inner wolf, all Carl could manage was a two-word response, which came out barely more than a whisper: "Why now?"

The smile that spread across Max's face wasn't exactly what Carl had expected, something deep inside him told him he had missed something, something important, thus forcing him to ask: "What have you done Max?"

Max's smile just broadened and his eyes took on a glint and that special twinkle, a look that most closely resembled what he had often coined as his "cat who caught the canary" look.

He saw Carl's confusion, stifling a chuckle, Max expounded further: "I've done everything I promised my Father I would do, now it's my turn to do what I've always wanted to do..."

Carl gulped, unable to break eye contact with him as he forced himself to mumble, though he half feared what his response would be: "And what is that exactly?"

Max gave him a sly grin and a wink: "I turned over control of the Southern District to Jason Griffen, or at least it will be once he gets his last name legally changed as per his grandfather's stipulations for recognizing his lineage."

Of all the things that could have come out of Max's mouth, that wasn't one of the things Carl would have ever expected. No alpha had ever stepped down from that kind of responsibility unless it was from extreme age or physical incapacity.

Max seemed to take great delight in the total look of confusion that played out on Carl's face, as he added, beaming: "Don't worry though, I had a couple of stipulations of my own."

Carl almost feared to ask what those might be, before timidly asking: "Those being exactly?"

Without hesitation, Max responded: "That I will serve as Alpha Consul Pro Tem until Jason reaches the age of twenty-one, though he will be involved in all major decision making and that he will honor Danal's and mine request to assist in pushing the Council of Greges and the Quorum in approving and accepting that alphas be allowed to build full packs once again and that Jason would start by building the compounds security team and bolstering our defenses."

Carl just nodded his head, though still wondering what all this meant for Billy since they still didn't fully understand what he was or even how to place him within the Heritage hierarchy.

Max didn't give him long to consider, disrupting and distracting Carl's thoughts by suddenly pulling Carl into his arms, tilting Carl's head back, and staring him wickedly in the eyes: "There's one more thing..." He paused, reaching down to squeeze Carl's buns playfully before finishing: "I also procured one hundred and fifty acres of land within the compound, to be used as I see fit and to be passed down in perpetuity as long as there is a Donnelly left living."

Feeling almost dumbfounded by almost everything Max had related to him, that last one held the most angst for him, there was no way for him to know exactly Max's reasoning for wanting land within the compounds borders, but there was a small hopeful part, deep down, that still dared to dream, leaving Carl to afraid to ask the question out of fear it may not come to true.

Curling his arms around Max's waist, feeling the warmth of his body next to his own, he waited patiently for Max to elaborate.

Max pressed his lips against Carl's ear and whispered softly: "Don't you want to know what land I asked for?

Carl couldn't respond, Max was toying with him, playing him like a fiddle until all he could do was bury his face in Max's chest and dare to dream.

Max's fingers tilted his head back up to him, their lips mere inches away, their eyes staring deeply into each others before he answered his own question: "You're standing on it right now beautiful."

Neither of them hesitated, their lips came crashing together, grinding passionately until they were left breathless, clinging to each other as only lovers could, before one thought brought Carl crashing back to reality and he pushed away from Max: "Oh no you don't asshole." Carl exclaimed, a bit of fire returning to his eyes as he added scoldingly: "I ain't that easy, you still haven't explained that whole Elizabeth bullshit."

"Geez, talk about ruining the moment.." Max quipped, running his fingers through his hair as he rolled his eyes skyward, watching bemusedly as Carl's arm folded over his chest once again, his head upturned and his lips nearly pouting.

Max frowned thoughtfully: "Do you want the long, drawn-out explanation or the cliff notes version?"

Carl retorted sardonically: "All I want is the fucking truth."

Max couldn't help the slight smile that lifted the corners of his mouth. Admitting to himself how much he enjoyed the feisty and often fiery nature of the auburn-haired man before him.

Carl was never a yes man, it was one of the many qualities that Max adored about him, that and his laser-like focus that often reminded Max of the old adage about a dog and his bone, and while Carl stood there expectantly and impatiently awaiting his answer, all Max could imagine were those pouting lips wrapped around the base of his big fat cock slurping down his cock snot until his balls ran dry.

"I am so going to pound an impression of his back right on the very ground he is standing on," Max said to himself as he pictured Carl's strong hairy legs wrapped around his waist as his fingers clutched the cheeks of his ass while Max ruthlessly plowed him a new cunt.

Max looked at Carl, seeming almost flippant as he responded coyly: "As I recall after I fucked you and dumped a nice big load up your snatch that night, I lay there for a few moments relishing the idea of waking you up and doing it again when I heard Elizabeth crying."

Carl just sighed and rolled his eyes skyward, realizing Max had no intention of making this an easy conversation.

"So I pulled on my sweat pants to cover my big ol' cock so as not to frighten the children and that poor... distressed... woman..." Max batted his eyes as he contorted his face into a sad mocking mask.

"Keep it up funny guy" Carl warned, his own expression growing sterner, adding: "Forget what I said give me the readers digest version."

Max frowned playfully: "Can't we just skip it, and cut right to the make-up sex instead?"

"No" Carl shot back, adding heatedly: "Then again, if you'd like, I could go back to camp and fetch a can of gasoline and come back and torch this entire area with you in it, now that would be a real hoot."

Max's arms shot up defensively: "Alright, alright, no need to get testy babe, abridged form only then."

True to his word, Max outlined the events of that evening. He described how he had engaged her in conversation, at first, solely with the intent of getting at the heart of her current distress causing her emotional, tearful state.

It, of course, had been a culmination of things, varying from her fear of losing her son, or more precisely her son's love, yet knowing full well it had been her own fault for keeping the truth about who and what he was from him and now regretting that decision and not being able to see a path forward or how to fix the bond they had always shared.

But surprisingly she revealed that she had overheard the intimacy between him and Carl and it had only served to remind her of how lonely she had been without Bannor all those years and reminding her of him and what she had lost nearly twenty years ago with his sudden and unexpected demise.

Max had guessed but didn't know for sure, but Elizabeth finally confirmed, she hadn't been with another man, that, in fact, she hadn't had sex with another man since the night before Bannor left and that listening to him and Carl had reminded her of just how lonely she was and how unthinkable it was to even contemplate losing her son.

She knew what she had done was wrong and she wanted to make amends, but she didn't have a clue about how to do that.

Max told him how he then plainly laid it out for her, that first, she had to accept who her son was, that she couldn't control or attempt to stifle him, that it was a parent's duty to guide, to know when to back off and allow their child to make mistakes, that she couldn't protect him from all the dangers that were just a natural part of his development.

He hadn't tried to suggest that she stop caring, just to listen and support when possible, but most of all, be there for him when he needed her, kick his ass when he's wrong, comfort him when he's hurting, but most of all, let him live his life and be his own person.

She had agreed, though admitting how difficult it was to truly let go, but realizing that if she didn't, she could lose Jason entirely and that was an unbearable thought to her.

What Max related to Carl, helped him to see how that evening had been a very emotional and pivotal one that had culminated in her change of perspective regarding both her son and his place within the Heritage.

Max helped her to see, that despite the fact it was a very real possibility that Jason might very well end up like his father, that the best way to avoid making bad decisions was a balanced upbringing, that what Jason needed now, more than anything else was discipline and structure as well as love and support and that he would always turn to her for the latter if she didn't try to keep him from the other.

It was then, Max had laid out his plans for Jason to her, something he, Danal, and Marshal Griffen had been discussing at length.

He had opened up to her about how Bannor's untimely death had changed his own future, how Carl had probably paid the biggest price of all so that he could fulfill the demands made upon him by his Father and his duty to Heritage and how very different his life would have been if he had never been made the District Console and had been allowed to build his pack and share a life with Carl by his side.

For Max, the emergence and subsequent revelation of who and what Jason was and what he potentially represented was like a salve for what had been an unwanted burden that should have never befallen him.

To Max, Jason presented a possibility, one that would free Max from something he never actively sought or wanted and could potentially restore the balance that had meant to be in the first place.

It was Jason's birthright to be Alpha Regent of the Southern District.

At first, the idea frightened and even terrified Elizabeth, that what Max wanted to do, was only highlighting her worse fears. Max had assured her, the difference this time around would be that, unlike Bannor, Jason would have the benefit of being surrounded and guided by the best the Heritage had to offer, that from the start they would encourage him to build a strong and healthy pack, not just a couple of beta's and a few gammas that waged endless battles to just maintained the status quo, but a full pack with delta's and even kappa's and omega's. There was a strength in numbers, security inherent in a healthy diverse community. It was those qualities that he had learned over the years had made the military strong and he related to her how he truly felt that it was the answer to most of the problems now endemic within the Heritage.

Max had made it clear he wasn't trying to just dump his responsibilities onto Jason, that he in fact would continue to serve as Consul Regent alongside him until Jason reached the age of twenty-one, affording him plenty of time to build and strengthen his pack.

Assuring her of this seemed to help assuage Elisabeth's fears.

Max had also made it clear, that in doing this, he was potentially heading off a direct confrontation with Paul Lakatos, who, since Bannor's death and the fact Marshal had no alpha heir to his territories, was selected by the Council of Greges to assume his stewardship upon his retirement or death. Max strongly felt if Marshal would cede his territories now and name Paul as his replacement, Paul in turn could become a potentially powerful ally to Jason, especially if he felt he had a hand in the decision, something Max was certain he could negotiate.

Elizabeth had considered everything he had said but maintained a healthy skepticism, wondering why, at this stage in Max's life, after all, he has already been through, why he would do this for her son and not his own, wondering why he would give it up at all, when he could just wait and pass it on to whomever he wanted later.

Max had made it clear, that whatever Billy turned out to be, that he was certain he wasn't going to achieve his purpose leading one simple district or even a singular pack. Max believed Billy was destined to do something much bigger, stating that even if he was wrong, the worst-case scenario for Billy, was the ability to shape his own life without the restrictions that come with being a Regent.

It had been that comment, more than any other that had elicited concern from Elizabeth as she had felt compelled to note the strong emotions behind it, forcing her to query Max further, and in a rare moment of openness and candor, Max had laid bare his life's biggest regrets; how he had wished that right from the start, instead of following his Fathers wishes he had had the courage to just grab Carl and made a run for it, though bemoaning that if he had done so he would have never had the children he had now, and while one of them had not turned out so well, he couldn't be more proud of the other two.

He related how he wishes he had never married Monaca, but pursued a relationship with Carl from the very start and perhaps fulfilling his obligations to his Father and the Heritage via surrogacy instead, noting how he was certain that all three of his sons would be far better off now had he done that instead, with Carl by his side.

It was then she asked him the biggest question of all, that if he could give all that to Carl now, the relationship, home, and even the possibility of raising a child together, would he do it?

Max hadn't even needed a fraction of a second to consider, answering resoundingly, yes!

It was at that moment Elizabeth had smiled nervously and offered him a proposal that had left him dumbfounded.

As a show of good faith, for all that he had already done and promised to do for both her son and for herself, that she would be not only willing to serve as a surrogate for him and Carl, but that she had the capability to actually make sure that the baby would be a true amalgam of both their DNA.

Max had to admit, that the idea intrigued him, asking how she could make that possible. She had elaborated in very technical terms but stated in its simplest form, she could take a fertilized egg, bleach her own DNA from it, much like she had when she impregnated herself with Bannor's sperm.

She could then introduce, a second set of DNA by filtering a simple blood sample from another host and introduce that to the fertilized egg, reattach the embryo into her uterus, and simply carry it to term.

But there was a catch, one that she was almost to nervously awkward to present until Max persisted.

Elizabeth revealed that she was in the last stages of ovulating at that very moment and though she didn't want to cause any problems between him and Carl, she wondered if he would mind fertilizing the egg the old-fashioned way.

The blushing of her cheeks and the sheepish way she had asked, her eyes flitting in awkward, nervous avoidance of his own, had made Max chuckle and shake his head in amusement.

He was about to thank her for the offer but decline it, when her hand grasped his before assuring him her motivations were genuine, adding that it had been over twenty years since she and Bannor had last had sex and though she knew he wasn't Bannor, he was an alpha and she would like to experience being with one, one last time.

Elizabeth made it clear, her offer to surrogate for him and Carl wasn't contingent upon it, it was more her way of remembering what it had been like with Bannor, that in a way she felt it would be a final farewell to him.

Max didn't know whether it would be as cathartic as she seemed to think it would be, but she was offering him a chance to give him and Carl something he had come to accept as having passed them by.

Resignedly, Max had acquiesced, he doubted he would manage the passion that Bannor had shown her, but if it appeased her while benefiting him and Carl, then he would consider it a small price to pay.

As Max finished relating the events of that evening to the best of his recollection, he stared somberly at Carl, scanning his facial features for any sign or clue as to how he felt about it all, recognizing it was a lot to take in as well as to process.

As far as Carl was concerned, though he was rather stunned into silence at the moment, it all sounded so typically Max.

In truth, though he had always wanted a life much like Max was describing, he hadn't ever truly believed that they could have a child that was exclusively both his and Max's. He had never even dreamed that it could be a possibility and now, here was Max standing in front of him, telling him that not only had a procured the very land where he and Max had discovered and consummated their love for each other, but he had also arranged to eventually free himself from what he had been certain, up until now, to be a lifelong commitment, just so they could be together. On top of all of that, Max had forged a deal that would even give them a child that was truly both of theirs.

Carl had always cared for Max's boys as if they were his own, all except Michael, who, after his mother had left, seemed to be more intent on trying to prove he was something he wasn't.

He had never bonded with Michael like he had Billy and JD, but even to them, he was more like their uncle instead of a co-parent, not that Carl had minded since he never expected to be a Father himself.

Max was now presenting him with a unique dilemma as well as a choice. At the age of thirty-eight, did he now want to become a Father himself?

Carl did the math in his head, Max was slightly one year older than himself, he would probably be forty before the child was even born and they'd both be well into their fifties when their son would be old enough to go through his own Heritage ceremony.

Another thought troubled him, if they forged a life here together, that child would grow up surrounded by members of the Heritage, the likelihood of keeping it from knowing what it was, growing up here, was highly unlikely, which made Carl wonder if keeping the Heritage secreted away from children until they were of age caused more problems than it prevented.

He knew Max might argue that Michael was the perfect example of how it could go wrong, but Carl wasn't so sure it didn't have more to do with not being upfront about it.

Michael had been sold a lie by his mother, what he thought had never been the truth, it had been his acceptance of his mother's lies that had fostered the enmity between him and his Father.

Michael had grown up determined to prove Max wrong and had railed against him when he was forced to face the truth. Michael blamed his Dad for his mother's lies, that was on Michael, not on Max, and to some degree not even on Monaca.

As determined as he had been growing up that he was what his mother told him he was, that when it turned out to be untrue, Michael was equally certain that it had been something Max had done, or not done and fully blamed Max for it, instead of laying the burden of that truth where it truly lay, on himself and his mother's deceit.

Carl wouldn't want that for any child he and Max raised together, especially if he had anything to say about it.

It was Max that finally jarred him out of his self-reflective state.

"Ahem, earth to Carl!" he heard him murmur questioningly, a mild mask of concern written across his face.

"Am I still in the shithouse or do I get a pass for thinking outside the box?" he moved in closer, letting his hands clasp Carl by the hips, drawing them a little closer together, though still trying to gauge Carl's thoughts and current mood.

Carl tilted his head upward, looking deeply into Max's sky blue eyes: "You can be such an unbelievable asshole you know that?"

Max smiled down at him, the dimples in his cheeks making a mockery of Carl's resistance: "It's been said before." he cooed back at him, reaching around and grabbing the meaty globes of Carl's muscular bubble butt and squeezing them playfully, kneading them like two firm loaves of bread dough.

"If I agree to this, I want us to live right here, in a cabin that I pay for but you and I build together, without any help from anyone else, just us." Carl's tone was stern, the look on his face reflecting the seriousness of his intentions.

Max cocked his head sideways, rolling his eyes thoughtfully as if considering it, before smiling broadly, bringing the tips of their noses together, his voice deep and soothing: "I find your terms acceptable."

Carl craned his head, bringing his lips closer to Max's seeking to seal the deal with a heartfelt kiss only to have Max pivot away from him, and take up a parade rest stance a couple of feet away, causing Carl to stare at him quizzically.

Max glowered back at him, his expression unreadable, the irises of his eyes flashing a bright blue as the air around them became awash in Alpha pheromones, his scent filling Carl's nostrils causing them to flare uncontrollably.

"Before we proceed there is one more issue yet to be resolved between us."

Carl watched in trepidation as Max pulled his olive drab t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground followed swiftly by his camo trousers.

Max stood there in all his naked glory, his massive twelve-inch cock sticking straight upward, his bloated thick-skinned hairy balls dangling directly below it.

"Strip!" was the one-word command, that passed deep and gutturally between his thick full lips.

Without breaking the lock he had on Max's intense gaze, Carl quickly shed his own clothes tossing them in the pile with Max's, until he too stood naked, silent and more than a little nervous, fully aware how his hands hung passively, shaking slightly in full anticipation of what he was sure would come next.

Max had forgone building his on pack, it was in keeping with his role as Alpha Regent of the Southern District, but technically, Jason now served in that capacity and Max served as Pro Tem Consul, at least until Jason was twenty-one, but nevertheless, Max was now free to do more than he could before and until this very moment, Max had never dreamed he could ever have something as much as he wanted this.

Carl felt like his dick would explode when it finally happened.

"Submit!" Max practically barked at him, the irises of his eyes still burning a bright blue, the intensity of his gaze feeling like it bore right through Carl's soul.

Carl dropped to his knees before him, his knees mere inches from his feet as he leaned slightly backward and slowly twisted his bare neck, fully exposing it to Max, to his Alpha.

Quivering with anticipation, Carl held his position, waiting for Max to accept his offering, doing what came instinctually to all those within the Heritage. This is the way it had been for over two thousand years, each new generation repeating the process, fulfilling their role in the grand scheme of things.

Submitting to an alpha like Max wasn't an admission of inferiority, it was the realization of who he was born to be, an answer to the age-old quandary of who am I, what is my purpose.

An alpha gave you purpose, being part of a pack, submitting to an alpha and his acceptance meant you were now like family, it was as strong as the bond of blood, part of something bigger than yourself, more important than any singular individual.

Carl's inner wolf rejoiced within him, it hungered to show his alpha his potential, to be deemed worthy of being part of his pack. The pack was everything and only alphas made that possible.

When it came, when Max uttered the words he and his wolf had so longed to hear, Carl could hardly contain his enthusiasm.

"You are mine Beta" Max growled, his hand coming down to clasp Carl's chin and turning it up toward him.

Carl stared up at him, completely lost in the moment, knowing full well the only response his Alpha would accept or acknowledge.

"Alpha" was all he needed to say and the word slipped past his lips as easily as a duck takes to water. All that was left was a display of submission and to that end, Max towered above him, his fist on his hips waiting for his Beta to complete the ritual.

Carl leaned forward, the irises of his eyes flashing green, locked on his Alphas as his lips sought the head of Max's prodigious cock, and kissing the tip reverently, eliciting a low guttural moan from deep within Max's massive, muscular hairy chest.

Carl didn't stop there, he kissed his way down Max's turgid veiny shaft slowly, until he reached the wide swollen base, before swooping down with his tongue, their eyes still locked, and scooped his bloated furry testicles into his hungry mouth and gently began sucking the sweat and musk form his twin testes, savoring the unique pungent flavor unique to every alpha.

It was here that his Alphas scent was strongest. It filled his nostrils and subsumed all his other senses, it commanded and compelled him, it was his musk, unique to him and would always pull him back, help him find him no matter the distance, and would always reassure him where and to whom he belonged.

Alpha. Pack. Life, all were the same thing. It was what they all hungered for, it was why Atticus and his men were here and worked so hard, because, like Carl, they all hungered for the same thing, drove themselves to peak physical condition all in the slightest of hopes of being chosen, to become part of that blessed triumvirate.

Carl had waited twenty years for his chance and now that it was here, he was going to savor every moment of it.

`But Max had other ideas in mind.

Yanking his spit-covered nads from Carl's mouth, he knelt in front of Carl pushing him back by his shoulders and slipping between Carl's thighs, drawing his legs upward and over his own shoulders until Carl's furry ass crack laid splayed out before him.

"Hold your legs back" Max grunted as his fingertips pulled the twin muscular orbs of Carl's butt apart, fully baring his tight little pucker and the source of Max's current, heated desires.

Under normal circumstances there were few things in life that came anywhere near close to the enjoyment Max got from eating Carl's furry snatch, he could literally devour it for hours and prided himself on being able to practically drive Carl nearly insane with his tongue and lips alone.

But that wasn't his intent at that moment, this was different this time, he was cementing his bond as an Alpha with his newly acquired Beta. Still, he had no intention of depriving himself of a little taste, just enough to lube the way for the main event.

Carl audibly gasped when Max drove the tip of his drooling tongue into his hole, nearly losing his balance perched as he was on the back of his shoulder, his ass upturned and his thighs dangling precariously over the sides of his head.

He wanted desperately to let go of his thighs and clutch Max's head, but knew if he did so, his ass would slip down and possibly cause his probing tongue to dislodge from his palpitating hole and he definitely didn't want that.

If there was anything in this world Max had mastered, his butt munching skills were second to none.

The only thing that gave Carl more pleasure was Max's big twelve-inch pole slipping and sliding the near baseball-sized glans of his cock against his ass clit.

Carl had learned at an early age, women weren't the only ones capable of multiple orgasms.

When Max wanted to, he could fuck Carl to orgasm multiple times until his balls ached and felt like they were pumping out dust, driving him repeatedly to orgasm even if his dick dry heaved its way through it.

But this felt different, Max didn't appear to be trying to push him onto the edge of ecstasy, it felt more like he was pushing toward a goal and Carl didn't need to hazard a guess as to what that goal was.

Max was his Alpha now and he was his Beta. There would be plenty of time for some real fun later, this was about his Alpha claiming him.

It was with that thought in mind Carl had a sudden realization, this is what had transpired between Jason and Jake.

Max had been right, once again and Carl had jumped to conclusions.

Jake had merely submitted to his Alpha just as he was doing right now. Carl felt a pang of regret at how he had treated him, and Jason as well, something he would have to correct later, whenever his Alpha was done with him.

Max yanked his mouth away from Carl's gooey, spit slick slit and lowered Carl's ass to the ground, gripping his hips and suddenly flipping him over and hauling his ass up and aligning his wet hole against the throbbing head of his dick.

Max let out a long stream of spittle that landed squarely on the head of his prick. Using his hips to grind the spit against Carl's ass lips with the velvety smooth tip.

Gripping Carl's hips tightly and using it for leverage, Max paused for a second, his head cocked sideways, a sneer on his lips before ramming the entire length of his cock balls deep into Carl's quivering quim.

Carl couldn't say he wasn't prepared for it, purely on an instinctual level Carl's wolf had prepared him for it, causing him to brace himself, knowing full well, that once again, this wasn't about sexual pleasure or release, this was Max's Alpha wolf, dominating Carl's Beta.

After a few deep plunges, Max settled in, wrapping his arms underneath his armpits and clasping his shoulders while his torso stretched out on top of his back until his head was nearly perpendicular to his left ear.

Carl could feel Max's heated grunting breaths upon the nape of his neck, he arched his back and thrust his hips back as far as he could, allowing Max's hammering phallus full, complete access to his deepest depths.

Max could feel the mounting pressure in his gonads as Carl's hole surrendered not only to him but his wolf.

It was in that moment Max realized that he was becoming one with his wolf, he could feel the snarling beast within him matching his pace, blending its will with his own.

He also sensed Carl and his wolf doing the same.

It was an odd sensation, one he had felt beneath the surface many times before while having sex with Carl, but this time was different, this time he was claiming his Beta and though mere minutes ago he had felt that that was all that he wanted, somewhere in the back of his mind, he and his wolf were linking and he was suddenly aware that this wasn't enough.

Both he and his wolf wanted more.

Max eyed the soft skin of Carl's neck, saw the way it glistened with sweat, the pulse of his veins as the blood flowed through them.

Max smiled wickedly to himself. This had started out as just him and his beast claiming his Beta, but Max now understood it was much more than that and he chuckled bemusedly to himself as he now realized what it was he was going to do.

There was a part of Max that told him that Carl and his beast were in sync with him and his wolf, it was as if he could hear Carl's wolf whimper its approval in his own head as he drew back momentarily, tightening his grip on Carl's shoulders as he prepared himself for what was to come next.

From Carl's perspective, he to felt the bond that was deepening between them. He felt and heard the whimper of his wolf, echoed by his own.

But there was more to it than that, as Carl's body tensed, preparing for the inevitable orgasmic release that had tightened his gut into knots, he was certain he could hear a mix of Max and his wolf inside his head. It was only two words, but the power those words imparted within him nearly drove both him and his beast mad with desire.

"MINE" quickly followed by "MATE" whipped through his consciousness like a hot knife through butter, filling every fiber of his being as it repeated over and over again building into cacophonous orgy piercing the fugue-like fog that befuddled his mind causing him to whimper as loudly as his wolf.

Max couldn't resist it any longer as he reared up, his irises flashing bright blue, his canines expanded into near razor-sharp fangs that filled his mouth causing him to roar loudly as his wolf mentally howled two words over and over again: "MINE" and "MATE."

Completely at one with his wolf, Max dove forward driving his fangs into Carl's neck and biting down hard.

Instantly Carl's body stiffened, his eyes rolled back into his head and he began to quiver and shake as a howl escaped his lips.

Max snarled, biting down harder into Carl's neck as the taste of blood filled his mouth with the twinge of copper and saline. Max's cock felt like it was exploding as the base began to swell and engorge, expanding and stretching Carl's hole, filling it beyond capacity, stretching and filling him completely before his dick erupted into a cum pissing fury that flooded Carl's bowels full of near molten jizz.

Carl's cock erupted too, in sheer orgasmic delight, firing volley after volley of ropy sperm that splattered on the moss-covered ground beneath him.

As the base of Max's cock first began to expand within him, Carl knew what was happening. Max was knotting inside him.

Carl had heard of this before, it rarely happened these days, and only happened when two members of the Heritage had found their true mate. It was one thing to love someone and have sex with them, but it was another thing when man and wolf matched in near-perfect syncopation with another and his wolf.

That was what was happening now and the feeling of Max's knot filling him so completely and his fangs buried in his neck, permanently marking him as his mate, nearly filled Carl beyond his capacity to contain it, forcing tears of joy cascading down Carl's cheeks.

For both of them, as their orgasms subsided and faded and as their sweaty bodies collapsed together on the soft damp moss, panting and grunting, with Max's knot still filling Carl's hole, and locking them together, to them both, this only confirmed what they had always conjectured and suspected... they belonged together, they always had.

"Well, that was new" Max managed to chortle into Carl's ear between panting gasp, a contented smile spreading across his face.

Carl didn't even bother to open his eyes, he feared it would all fade away like some fevered dream, choosing instead to continue savoring the moment as Max began to gently lick at the wound on his neck.

Four words subsumed Carl's thoughts like a mantra etched into the core of his being.

They were the heart of his existence and the fulfillment of his most ardent dreams...

"ALPHA, MATE, PACK, and LIFE."

Timmy Anderson didn't know exactly how long he had been lying there next to JD in the two-man only cramped tent he normally shared with Gavin Hollis, but for at least the last half-hour he had been absentmindedly stroking JD's soft wavy golden blond hair as he slept peacefully beside him.

He hated seeing his friend going through so much emotional upheaval in his life, especially someone who had been so instrumental in helping him out of the dark pit his own life had been before becoming friends with him.

JD was one of a kind. To Timmy, he represented what most people should aspire to. He was trustworthy, loyal, and most of all, a completely open book.

To Timmy's way of thinking, and through their shared experiences, he thought he had come to know him probably better than most and despite the nature of their relationship now, he would always consider JD one of, if not his best friend, and though he wasn't in love with JD, he did love him nonetheless.

Timmy chuckled to himself, realizing that it probably didn't hurt that he was adorably cute and one of the horniest fuckers one could ever hope to meet.

Unfortunately, it was that very innate quality of his that had landed him where he was now, torn between two loves and feeling slightly betrayed by both.

He admired his taste however, he, himself, couldn't have chosen two more succulent hunks to fuss over, even though his personal taste steered more toward slightly more mature men, he couldn't deny that boys like Billy and JD were fun for their exuberance and enthusiasm if not for their skills and emotional maturity.

Timmy had tasted both and there was no turning back as far as he was concerned. But still, he couldn't deny the many fond recollections he shared with JD.

He had sought only to comfort and console his friend and had done so to the best of his ability, but for the last half-hour he had been lying there next to him lost in his thoughts, rehashing the current events from his own encounters.

Most of what has happened to him, he had managed to take in stride, sure it had been somewhat alarming to discover that all the guys he had fallen for, in one way or another, were actually some kind of shapeshifting werewolf-like beings who had lived alongside the rest of the known world for longer than most could remember, but he had to admit, he kind of found that only added to his attraction to them instead of the opposite.

What had truly been consuming his thoughts though, was his dream-like encounter with that ethereal loony who had called itself Aphrodite.

It had all seemed so real, despite Carl's insistence it had all been some sort of fevered dream.

The fact he had been affected by the same metal medallion that was instrumental in changing all of them into some sort of shapeshifting werebeast, should have garnered him a little more credibility than that. At least the older one seemed to take him a little more seriously, even Max seemed reluctant to dismiss everything he had told them about his acid trip-like experience.

They had both seemed very keen about the whole white wolf thing Aphrodite told him about, but as far as Timmy was concerned, he was far more disturbed by what the entity had said about him accepting some challenge for the white wolf and finding and declaring his true name and of course the whole baffling Gemini thing. That one, in particular, was puzzling him most.

It was all these things that rambled aimlessly through his thoughts and were in part contributing to his restlessness, that, and the fact that ever since he had come around, after his little "vision quest", he had begun to notice various and sometimes subtle changes departing from his usual and accustomed norm.

Part of who Timmy was, a very skilled and devoted athlete, had fostered within him a rather keen awareness of his own body and capabilities, but since his experience, he was noticing a difference in not only his sense of smell, but his vision as well and though he hadn't had the opportunity to test it yet, he somehow felt lighter, stronger, more agile and if he wasn't mistaken, after having snatched several flies right out of the air earlier when they were eating out by the campfire, his reflexes had dramatically improved.

He didn't think that what had happened to him was anything like what happened to those of the Heritage, but something within him had changed and of course, there was that gold ring that circled the outer rim of his irises that had suddenly appeared, that wasn't there before, thinking it made him even more adorable and attractive than he had been before.

Growing more restless and aided by the fact his stomach was beginning to growl again, Timmy slowly extricated his arm from around a sleeping JD and moved as silently as possible to the entrance of their tent.

He had just poked his head out to see if anyone was still up and feeling slightly disappointed that the campfire had died down to mere embers, when he caught a lone figure, dressed head to toe in dark clothing heading from the direction of the Lakatos's camp area.

As the dark mysterious figure came to a halt at the edge of the clearing that comprised the whole of the bivouac, Timmy backed away from the entrance of the tent, peering as stealthily as possible out one flap as the lone figure paused to survey the campgrounds one last time before quickly scurrying into the thick underbrush and densely populated trees of the forest.

Timmy knew that a couple of guards had been routinely posted to secure the safety of the camp and traversed its parameters frequently, but it was obvious, even to an inexperienced Timmy, that this mystery person was aware of that and had timed their departure accordingly.

His first thought had been to alert the guards or to wake someone but quickly realized that though that might catch the mystery figure unawares, he doubted it would reveal what he was up to, if he was up to anything at all.

Timmy decided it warranted further investigation, that, and it afforded him the opportunity to test out some of the changes he had been noticing about himself.

As quickly and silently as he could, mimicking the steps and actions of the mystery man, Timmy followed after him in hot pursuit.

Almost instantly Timmy's improved sense of smell picked out the unique smell he recognized as someone belonging to the Heritage, it was a woodsy masculine kind of scent that all of them had to one degree or another, the strongest coming from guys like Max and Jason, what Timmy had overheard as being alphas.

He wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but he knew the person he was following wasn't anywhere nearly as potent smelling as one of them, but it wasn't that far off.

It took him a while, being as careful as he could to not make a sound before he was able to catch sight of his query.

Timmy hung deliberately back a ways, trying to keep himself downwind, neither knowing whether his own scent might alert the figure or if he was capable of distinguishing him from any of the other plethora of smells that permeated the forest, deciding it was probably in his best interest to air on the side of caution.

For what seemed like an hour, they had silently played this sort of cat and mouse game, with Timmy trailing behind, just out of sight and hearing, testing and pushing his new senses to the utmost of their abilities.

The waning moon overhead, that peaked from time to time between the bilious dark clouds overhead, more than served as enough light to practically illuminate the otherwise dead of night, like it was the early dawn to Timmy's newly acquired capabilities.

Again, Timmy was clever enough to assume that what he was capable of so to was the mystery man and he adjusted his pursuit accordingly, always with the best possible stealth techniques that Hank and Jake Bauers had been teaching them in part during their course training.

Before long, Timmy began to catch the scent of motor oil and tar and soon realized that the figure had taken them to the very edge of the compound, back to the main road.

Timmy hung back, as mystery man cleared the forest line and walked to the edge of the road, before producing what Timmy was certain was a cell phone, dialing before putting it to his ear.

He couldn't make out what the figure was saying but he had noted the peculiar accent, though not sure if or where he had heard it before, but it was shortly after that a black SUV pulled up beside him and mystery man strode up to the passenger side window and began talking in earnest to whoever was inside.

They chatted only briefly before mystery man stepped back, clicked his heels, bowed his head as the SUV pulled out onto the main road, making a U-turn, and headed back in the direction it had come.

As mystery man watched the SUV depart, Timmy caught the glint of metal from the retreating taillights in the hands of the dark figure. Timmy was no expert but he knew the sight of a handgun when he saw it and he watched with trepidation as mystery man stuffed it into the back of his pants and under his shirt before casually crossing the road and heading in the general direction Timmy was standing in.

Without panic or hesitation, Timmy darted as quickly as possible to the nearest tale tree and scampered up it rapidly, until he was hidden deep within its dense foliage.

He watched silently as mystery man passed closely below him when he suddenly stopped and started sniffing the air.

Timmy pulled back, trying to obscure himself as best as possible as he regarded the dark figure through the myriad of minute spaces between the densely packed leaves.

For a brief frightening moment Timmy had wondered if he was aware he was following him or had caught his scent, but after only a few, interminably long seconds the mystery man grunted and darted back the way he had come.

Timmy remained there, hidden in the safety of the tree for quite some time, for at least long enough that Timmy was fairly certain mystery man was long gone, before climbing down and making his own slow sojourn back to camp.

He didn't know with any certainty what mystery man was up to, but he knew he was now armed and he had gone through a lot of trouble to do so without anyone else finding out.

As Timmy made his way back toward the camp, deliberately taking his time, he pondered his next actions, wondering if or who he should trust or even burden with what he witnessed before coming to the only safe conclusion he could, he needed to find Max.