Alex and the others crowded uncomfortably in the back of the SUV holding hands over their ears. Hail rained down battering the vehicle. It was like having your head in the pot a preschool class was allowed to bang on with hammers. The chunks of ice increased in size to the point that the windshield cracked, but did not break, under a particularly hard impact. The loud crack of the ice colliding with the windshield caused Alex to involuntarily grab Kate in a protective maneuver. Trip smirked. Once the torrent was over, Alex released Kate and gave her an apologetic look, they waited for a while.

“Should we call the Bright Moon members back?” Trip inquired.

Alex, “No need, they’ll be on their way shortly, we’ll just wait.”

As if on cue, there was a knocking on the SUV door. Battered and pissed off, the Bright Moon men looked ready for the ride home. Alex looked at Trip and Brice, “One of you two drive them, I can’t do it again.”

Trip regarded Brice, who was setting protectively next to Red, “Guess that’s me then.” And hopped out of the vehicle into the rain. The Bright Moon men were already getting into the other SUV and changing in the back.

The ride back into town was fairly uneventful. The Bright Moon men were silently nursing their hail inflicted wounds in no mood to converse. They were ticked that Red and all of the Arch Alpha’s people managed to escape the brunt of the storm. One made the mistake of muttering something to the effect that Alex’s group hadn’t ever left to track the trail. The grumbling halted when Trip swiveled shooting them his best Alpha stare.

Due to the cracked windshield, Alex did not want Kate riding upfront with him. She insisted on it, again giving him that pleading look that twisted his chest. She reasoned the crack was only a few inches in length and off on his side. If it grew any she promised to move to the back immediately. After an hour of driving in silence, Kate’s hand resting lightly on his, Alex looked in the rearview mirror. Trip was still driving behind him, a tired expression on his face. In the seat directly behind Alex, Red was slumped asleep nuzzled into Brice’s side. “What did I miss there?” Alex wonders. ”Guess the kid is definitely coming back with us whether or not we find Cungr.” And then it hits him, he is starting to give up. Just a day and a half in and he is starting to think negatively. No, he knew Cungr was still out there somewhere. They would look again as soon as the weather passed. Hopefully, the Arch Alpha would contact them before that.

When they arrived at the ranch most of the other groups had already returned. The Bright Moon men piled out of the SUV and took off angrily to the house.

Alex through the pack link. “You all stay here, keep Red with you, I’ll be right back.” Kate and Brice nodded as Alex got out of the vehicle. Red was still sleeping soundly nestled next to his dark-skinned protector.

Once inside Alex, Davin, and Thompson went into the back office.

Davin, “We didn’t find anything. The guys we sent with you said you all didn’t either.”

Alex, “I don’t think anyone will at this point.” “Maybe best they don’t know we found a trail”

Thompson, “Would have been nice if your folks participated instead of just sending our guys out.”

”That’s what they told you?” anger begins rising in Alex’s chest. He knows he needs to be careful, without Cungr here this pack could turn on them. While his group could hurt the pack badly, there were just the three of them. No matter how powerful, three wasn’t enough to take on a pissed off fully-assembled pack. It wouldn’t matter to him what the council did about it afterward if he and the others were dead. Alex calms himself “For the record, we did go out. A lucky break made us turn back before the weather got bad. It doesn’t matter, we are calling the search off for now. If we resume the search, I’ll call the council. Have them bring in blood trackers so we don’t tax the Bright Moon pack anymore.”

Thompson bitterly retorts, “What do you mean it doesn’t matter? We have dozens of injured wolves that were out there looking for your…”

Seeing Alex’s expression darken Davin cuts Thompson off, he doesn't want this massive Beta ripping a hole through his pack “Hold your tongue Tom! My Apologies Beta Alexander. We are more than happy to still assist in any way needed. Hopefully calling in outsiders won’t be necessary.” No sane Alpha wanted blood trackers in their territory, things always got messy. 

Alex hears the veiled threat in Davin’s words, “Don’t push us.”  Still, Davin has given him an out Alex is glad to take.

“Thank you Davin, I am sure it won’t. The Arch Alpha would not want the council involved if it can be avoided. I will consult with you before making any such decision. Have a good night”

Davin, "I'm getting ready to head home anyway. I'll show you out. Goodnight Tom."

Alex and Davin walk out of the house towards the SUVs, the eyes of Bright Moon boring into their backs. Alex can feel the situation becoming dangerous.

In a hushed tone, Davin begins speaking quickly, "You and your group need to leave as soon as possible. I've already signed the papers for Red. Tom, well there are issues with Tom that might explode out of my control."

Alex eyes him warily. "Like?"

Davin's voice drops even further. "Tom started rumors regarding your Arch and K. Initially the pack was convinced the Arch chased after K to kill her in some epic show of prowess. I've encouraged that version. Tom was not convinced, he has been asking why the Arch didn't take her out when the strongest of the pack were assembled and could back him up. My Beta has convinced a large portion of the pack that…" Davin hesitates.

"That what?" Alex spits.

They get to the SUVs, Davin pulls out the paperwork for Red and hands it to him. Davin, in a normal talking voice. "Here's your transfer, good luck with the boy." He puts a "friendly" hand on Alex’s shoulder and whispers "They think she's his mate. Leave, leave soon. There's bad blood going back generations concerning K."

Patting Alex on the back jovially, "Well, have a good night. Remember Red's yours now so don't come back trying to drop him off."

At that Davin walks over to his truck where a group of men is gathered. There is laughing and a few vicious smiles thrown towards Alex.

Alex opens the door of the damaged SUV, "Move to the other vehicle." 

Brice gently nudges Red who yawns then stretches his arms up, not opening his eyes and settles back into the big man’s shoulder. A goofy grin spreads on Brice’s face.

Brice, "Hey there sleepy, wake up, we're going to get dinner." Red's thick lashes flutter open and his face blushes all the way to his ears when he realizes he's snuggled into Brice. The young man jolts up straight causing his messy red curls to bounce. Brice starts to chuckle then stops when he sees Trip, Kate, and Alex hurriedly moving bags to the other vehicle with stern expressions.

When they arrive at the hotel Kate goes to the front desk and picks up 2 new sets of Keys leaving the old keys. "We have new vehicles, the lease company will be out to pick up the others tomorrow, including the one at the ranch. Everything is out of them, right?" nods all around, "Good, dinner will be here about 30 minutes."

Alex, "Red, you bunk with me tonight."

Red, "I need to go home, it’s really late. My parents will worry."

Alex, lowering his voice, "Come up for dinner, we shouldn't talk about it down here."

The group goes up to the shared block of rooms, Alex has a suite connecting with Brice and Trip. Kate has the room next to them where she and Cungr shared. They all go into Alex's room and pull the table from the attached suite over creating a makeshift dining area. Kate's phone rings and she takes Trip down with her to fetch the food.

Brice is slouched back in a lounge chair watching through half hooded eyes. Red is setting on the edge of an ottoman at Brice's feet fidgeting.

Alex, "Davin gave me the transfer paperwork for you to move to Onyx Flame. I wanted to give you a choice, but it was heavily hinted it’s no longer safe for you to stay here."

Red gulps, "So I don't have a choice? Can I go home and get my stuff?"

Alex, "After we find the Arch Alpha. Think your parents can bring a few changes of clothes here for you?"

Red looks downcast, "No, my Mom doesn't have a license and... well my Dad won't."

Brice "No worries Red, I gotcha."

Kate and Trip return with armloads of Chinese food. 

Alex smiles, Chinese takeout is his guilty pleasure and Kate knows it. It was times like these he deeply regretted choosing her for the Arch instead of himself. Diving into a box of beef lo mien like a starved man, Trip asks while shoveling food "So what went down at Thompson's place?"

Everyone eats as Alex explains what happened at Thompson's house. When Alex mentions Davin's reservations about keeping Thompson in check the color drains gradually from Red's Face.

Alex, "The last thing Davin said to me was that the pack was beginning to think the Arch Alpha was going to take K as a mate."

"That's ridiculous!" Kate snorts. 

"Kate dear, not as ridiculous as you'd think" Alex thinks.

"No no no no…" Red mummers to himself.

Brice reaches over touching Red's shoulder, "Hey there lil buddy, what's wrong?"

The fear rolling off Red is palpable. Dropping his food Red pulls his legs up hugging them to his chest, hiding his face.

Brice rubs slow circles on Red's back, trying to soothe him. When that doesn't work Brice picks Red up and holds the young man to his expansive chest. Red is far from small, but next to the massive Gamma he looks like a child. Red shakes for a while and then relaxes.

Trip whispers, "What the hell freaked him out so bad?"

Kate, "I wasn't paying attention, not sure when he started panicking."

Alex, "Look, we're all exhausted. Let's just try to get some rest and finish this conversation in the morning."

Brice sets Red down on the extra bed in Alex's room. The young man looks up at Brice with scared, red-rimmed eyes. "Get a shower lil buddy. I'll get you something to sleep in."

After Red goes to the bathroom and the shower starts Brice brings a shirt to Alex, “Here give him this to sleep in.” Brice motions to Trip and the two get up to leave, "We'll be back in a bit. You all right here with Kate?"

Alex "Sure, we'll be fine." Alex’s mind jumps to Kate, she's in that room by herself. 

He steps out to check on her, knocks on the door. No answer. Knocks again. Nothing. Panic grips him "Kate, where are you?" he demands through the mind link.

The door swings open and Kate is standing before him annoyed and dripping wet in nothing but a towel.

"What is wrong with you Alex? I was in the shower!" She snaps. The look of panic and concern on his face softens her expression.

Alex releases a sigh of relief. "Kate…" He looks down into her sky blue eyes. " I just… " - Damn she looks good- "I think it would be better if you slept in my room tonight. This entire thing with Thompson has me edgy, especially after Red's episode."

Kate "Cungr might not be happy when he gets back."

Alex, "I think he'd be more upset if something happened to you." "I'd be upset if something happened to you."

Kate " All right. I'll be over shortly. Neither of those beastly shadows of yours better snore though."

Alex returns to find Red still in the bathroom but the shower is off. He knocks on the door. 

"Who's there?" comes a meek voice from the other side.

"It's Alex, Brice left a shirt for you." Red cracks the door and takes the shirt. He comes out a few minutes later visibly shaken. The shirt is massive on him and makes the young man look even more like a child. In any other situation, Red’s muscular form would be the stuff movie heartthrobs were made of. If the young man weren’t so terrified it would be comical how the Gammas of Onyx Flame dwarfed him.

Red quietly explains "I came out and everyone was gone. I thought you all left without me."

Alex looks sympathetically at Red, "We wouldn't do that to you."

There is a knock on the door, Red startles at the noise, Alex can tell by the sound it is Kate. She comes in, her hair pulled up, wearing soft fussy pajamas and a long robe, carrying extra blankets and pillows. Giving a winning smile "Looks like we are going to have a sleepover Red."

Red relaxes and smiles back, walking over to help her with the bedding. The two of them pull out the couch bed and set things up for Red.

"You, my dear Red, have a very important job tonight. You are my chaperone to make sure this guy." indicating Alex " Keeps his hands to himself." Red giggles at the absurdity of the notion that he could stop the 6’10” blonde Olympian god from doing anything.

Alex goes into the bathroom to clean up and by the time he comes back out Red and Kate are sound asleep. There is a light on under the door in the connecting suite where Brice and Trip are staying; Alex barely hears their low rumbly voices on the other side. A sack full of clothes from a local superstore sets on the nightstand. Alex clicks the lights off and closes his eyes. He knows Brice and Trip will take turns keeping watch tonight.

The next morning is almost an eerie repeat of the previous, except the addition of Red.

Brice and Trip are already in the lobby with a pile of bacon and rowdy card game. Red is set between the two as they teach him how to play a bastardized version of Rummy. Alex settles in to eat and a little while later Kate comes down looking amazing, this time only Trip and Alex stare. Brice is engrossed in teaching Red how to play the game.

Kate clears her throat. ”Pack up the vehicles, we are moving accommodations.” She tosses a set of keys to Trip and hands the other to Alex. Alex releases a sigh of relief when he sees they belong to some sort of Chevy truck.

Out in the parking lot, Alex is greatly pleased to find two dark blue Suburbans waiting for them. Kate shoots him an impish grin.

Trip, teasingly ”These are nice, but Escalades would have been better.”

”There was a 20k difference. Buying these will tick Cungr off as it is. If you want to foot the bill next time you can choose.” Kate quips.

Trip tosses the cards over the roof of one of the Suburbans to Brice. Brice gets in the rear leaning back closing his eyes, Red piling in after him. Kate and Alex get in the other vehicle and the group pulls out.

Alex, “Where to boss lady?”

Kate,  "Oh, I like the sound of that.” Taking a serious tone “We need to pick up Wille. I contacted the Spokane pack Northeast of here, close to where we were searching. Once I explained what happened with Bright Moon they reluctantly agreed to allow us to stay with them. It was conditional on bringing Willie though.”

Alex, ”Why do they want Willie?”

Kate “Their Alpha wouldn’t say. He promised they won't harm him.”

Alex thought to himself, “Hope we aren’t jumping from the pan to the fire.”