"Mother!"

She looked over her shoulder as Mikhail raced on all four towards her. Laughing, she swept him up into her arms and felt him lick her cheek. His tail was going every direction and she put him down. She watched him tail after other runts and she shook her head. Zeke and Angel joined her as Mikhail disapepared from sight and she felt an arm slip around her shoulders.

"How are you doing?"

Kara smirked and said "We're holding together."

Angel sighed and said "I do wish Joseph would come home soon."

"He will be. I don't see him missing his first niece's birth."

Zeke rolled his eyes as they laughed and watched Kara's attention settle on a pair of wolves approaching from the wolves. They kept a reasonable amount of distance and she left their protection.

"Kara!"

She kept her back to them as she slowly grew closer to the waiting pair of wolves and shifted as she stood mere feet from them. They slowly lowered their heads and looked up at her.

Come with us. We need to show you something.

She glanced back at Zeke and he nodded as he drug Angel back inside. Kara turned her focus back to the wolves and allowed them to lead her into the woods. She was led alongside of the old stream and found them traveling deeper into the woods than she ventured regularly. The wolves stopped suddenly and she glanced around.

Inside

Kara followed their point of view and saw an old den partially hidden by fallen branches and debris. Slowly she approached the mouth of the den and stepped passed the covering leaves. Her paws fell on the cold damp floor as she walked away from her exit and deeper into the den. Slight noises drew her ears up straight and she noticed the slight movement coming from the shadows. Her muscles tensed up as the body came closer and she felt her hackles rising as the power brushed against her.

Her eyes narrowed as she made out the black wolf and a low snarl met her ears. She responded with her own snarl and she watched him stare back at her with pure black hate.

Get out

"No."

He lifted his head and asked "Who are you?"

She held his stare and sighed "Maximus."

His ears went back and he stepped away from her. She watched him slip halfway back into the shadows and released her wolf form. Her eyes met his again and she knelt down on one knee to be level with him.

"You look like someone I used to know."

"Please don't compare me to that old treacherous fool."

"How do you know Leon?"

She sighed and said "He's my grandfather."

Slowly Maximus came closer and took in her scent. He could smell the familiar bloodline mixed with one unknown and then he caughta different scent. It swept through him like a breeze and he stepped up to her. His nose slid over her hand and he carefully sniffed her neck and hair.

"How? How do you smell like my son?"

She stared into his black eyes and watched him sit down. He kept his focus on her and she pulled Joseph's necklace out from hiding. She watched the wolf study it and focus on the ring resting in her hand.

"He gave it to me."

"He's alive?"

She slid the necklace back around her neck and nodded. The surprise was evident in his gaze and he glanced over his shoulder. She watched a gray brown she-wolf slowly step into sight and lowered her head. Maximus watched her draw closer and stand before Kara.

That scent.

Maximus nudged her face with his and she met Kara's gaze. They studied one another until Naomi finally sat beside her husband and Kara extended her hand. Slowly the she-wolf placed her paw in the warm palm. A low growl echoed from the entrance and she looked over her shoulder. A young gray wolf was drawing closer and broke into a charge.

"Damon no!"

He ignored Maximus's order as he jumped for her and Kara met him in the air. Her paw hit his throat and she pinned him beneath her momentarily. He jumped free and circled her with weary eyes.

"Damon stand down!"

He glanced back at his father and said "She is intruding. I'll handle this."

Maximus stood up and tried to get between them but Zeke charged into the cave and threw Damon into the wall. He shielded Kara from the idiot and stared back at Maximus.

"Zeke?"

"You're supposed to be dead."

"You don't sound surprised."

He snorted and found Damon trying to sneak another attack in. He threw the pup to the wall again and Kara shoved him behind her.

"Enough!"

"Kara. I am just protecting you."

She stared into his black gaze and said "I don't need everyone one of you boys fighting my battles."

Zeke looked down at her and said "I gave my word to Joseph to keep you safe."

She flicked him with her tail as she walked away and it left his muzzle stinging. He responded with a warning growl and she approached Naomi.

"I'm sorry about that."

It's natural for them.

Maximus walked over to Damon and watched him look up. The pup slowly rose to meet his father's gaze and felt Zeke focus on him again.

"Zeke."

He tore his gaze away from the threat and looked at her. She released her form and stared at him.

"Who is with Mikhail?"

He stood over her with a serious look on his face and said "Angel and the others."

She sighed and heard "Apologize."

"To a female? No."

Maximus snapped at him and growled "She is family."

Damon snorted and said "We don't even know her."

Zeke approached slowly and watched the pup cower at his approach. Maximus stared down his son and watched the approach stop. He wasn't going to allow the youngest to be bullied by the others. Naomi watched Maximus release his wolf form for the first time in years and walked over to him. He rested his hand on her head and rubbed her ear.

"After the attack on our home Namoi hasn't been able to leave her wolf form. It was the only thing that kept her alive while recovering from her wounds."

Kara held the mother's gaze and spotted Damon releasing his form. He stared back at her a younger version of her mate and his distrust stirred the longing in her. She felt the hand rest on her shoulder and she looked at Zeke.

"I see Joseph isn't the runt anymore."

"Runt?"

She saw Damon push past his parents and stare up at Zeke. The man held his gaze with annoyance and she heard someone approaching. Damon left his silent disput with Zeke to hault another intrusion and she broke in a run after him. He was inches from Mikhail and she threw her body into his. Damon rolled across the ground and looked up at her.

Kara stood over her son with her head down and her fangs bared. Her eyes flashed and he slowly stood up.

"Keep away from him."

"He shouldn't be charging in here."

"Zeke."

They watched him slowly approach and she shifted to hold his gaze. He actually stepped back in front of Damon and it startled him. The man was lethal compared to him but shirked when she stared him down. The pup slowly shifted into a young boy and Naomi trotted over to him. Mikhail shifted behind his mother's leg as she approached and Kara watched the she-wolf sniff her son.

He looks just like him

Naomi looked up at her and she nodded. The she-wolf sniffed Mikhail again and looked back at Maximus. He let out a sigh and approached as Kara picked Mikhail up. The boy wrapped his arms around her neck and stared back at Naomi.

"Where is Angel?"

Mikhail winced at her tone and whispered "I slipped away when she wasn't looking and tracked you and Uncle Zeke."

Kara held his gray gaze and said "You know the dangers."

He nodded slowly and she looked back at Naomi. Maximus stood next to her and studied the young boy.

"Where is his father?"

Mikhail looked at Maximus at the mention of his father and heard "He had to leave for a while."

"I can't see my son leaving his own family."

Kara held the man's dark gaze and said "He didn't have a choice. He needed time."

"Time?"

Zeke could feel the anxiety growing as she was forced to discuss her missing mate and growled "Stop harassing her. Joseph left because he found out about Leon and you two."

Maximus looked at his eldest and then slowly back at the woman before him. Her son burrowed into her neck but kept an eye on him. Those gray eyes were proof of his mixed blood but he had every trait of his father stamped over his built.

"What does he know?"

"How the government found you."

Naomi's cry drew his hand to her and she met his gaze. He nodded slowly and looked back at Damon. The young man was watching them with distance and the usual annoyance when his siblings were discussed. The jealousy he felt for his full blooded brother was evident in his stare but it wasn't fair. He had grown up under their love and care compared to his older brother and should feel lucky.

"I think it's time to go see Leon and set the record straight."

"The rest of my siblings are there. You will only ignite a brutal fight."

Maximus let out a sigh and met Kara's gaze. She slid a hand through her son's hair and focused on Damon.

"If Damon goes in your place it may lessen the blow."

"As long as Joseph doesn't find him. If he finds out Damon threatened both of you he'll kill him."

Damon snorted and said "I'm not scared of the almighty Joseph."

Kara's eyes flashed and she felt Mikhail looked up at the man. His eyes were narrowed and his growl silenced the room. He jumped down from her security and shifted as he approached Damon. The man stared down at him and he stared back with pure hatred.

"No one insults my father."

Damon stared at him amused and Kara picked the pup off the floor. He swatted at the man as he was pulled away and Maximus couldn't hold back his chuckle.

"Very protective. He's a lively spirit for his age."

Kara held the struggling pup in her arm and glanced at Naomi. The mother stood in front of her son and Damon lowered his gaze. Maximus held out his hand and slowly she took the gesture. Zeke watched the connection form and waited until Kara pulled back. She held the man's gaze a little longer as she etched his features into her mind and slowly she lowered Mikhail to the floor.

He looked up at her and she shifted as she led him outside. He trotted by her back legs as they distanced themselves from the den and moved along the stream. Zeke kept to their rear to ensure their safety from blind attacks and watched them come to a stop in the clearing before their home. Mikhail looked up at his mother and she slowly led the way into the temple.