Chapter 1 : Plans
"Kurt, are you sure this is a good idea?" Mercedes whispered as she followed the other Alpha into the diner. "I know this is what we promised Shue, but dealing with hunters is dangerous business and if things don't going according to plan –"
"We're dead either way, Mercedes," Kurt dismissed, stopping and glancing around the interior of the diner, looking for the hunters. He pushed down the feelings of discomfort and worry from his own wolf as they reared, sensing that danger was close. "Rachel's idea is the only way we'll be able to deal with the Chicago Pack and guarantee our entrance into the Columbus one."
"And you don't think it's odd that Shue all but appointed Berry as the Alpha-Leader of the Columbus Pack? Shouldn't she be the one here acting for Shue?"
"We are not going to question Shue's motives as long as he brings me Blaine Anderson, I don't care what he does," Kurt stated, eyes landing on the three occupants in a back booth. He knew that these three were the ones Mercedes and he had been sent to meet if his wolf's reaction was anything to go on. He made his way over, eyes roaming for any other danger aside from the three teenagers huddled together.
Stopping at the table, he allowed his eyes to appraise the three occupants. He quirked an eyebrow at the female who was protective centered between the two male humans. The dark-skinned boy looked up and narrowed his eyes at the two wolves. "Move along dog," he snapped darkly, hand inching into his jacket for his silver knife.
Eyebrows rising into his hairline at the tone of voice, Kurt let out a small growl of disapproval. "You will watch your tone, Boy," he hissed in return, eyes flashing his wolf. "I come in peace as emissary for William Shuester and the Columbus Pack."
"Relax, Jake," the other boy stated, laying a calming hand on his friend's forearm. "We figured Shue would have sent a human."
Mercedes smirked. "We try not to let the low-bred deal directly in wolf business," she stated, eyeing the three humans with distaste. "We are reduced to this to achieve our means."
The boy, Jake, smirked in return. "Ah yes, we heard there was some trouble with the Lima and Indianapolis Packs. Seems they tried to kill each other off and the Chicago Pack stepped in to stop a war. Makes our lives easier when you dogs try to off each other."
"Watch your tone," Kurt stated. "And we didn't come here to discuss the merits of Pack wars, but rather to do business."
"That's right," the girl chipped in, eyes darting between the two boys and the wolves. "You wanted to hire us to hunt and destroy the Chicago Pack."
Kurt nodded, dropping an envelope of money onto the table. "William Shuester sends his greetings, Hunters and pays handsomely for services rendered. Half now, half when the deed is done."
"We had heard that the Primary-Alpha of the Columbus Pack wasn't always willing to get his hands dirty," Jake muttered dryly, eyeing the money envelope with distaste. "In some circles they say it was really his second, Bieste who killed off everyone and made him Primary-Alpha."
"Politics," Kurt waved away the words, not carrying how Shuester had achieved his position, only what said position would do for himself. He looked around the diner, before leaning forward and quietly dropping another envelope onto the table. "This is a bonus if you kill the Alpha-Leader whelp and bring me his mate. I will reward you further once Blaine Anderson is brought to me, but I want him alive and unhurt, do you understand?"
The three hunters exchanged looks, and seemed to discuss their options non-verbally, before Jake responded. "We understand, Dog. We'll take care of the Chicago Pack and kill off the Alpha-Leader. Don't even want to know why you want the mate, though. You dogs are just plain weird."
"Good," Kurt nodded his acceptance and stepped back from the table. "I expect a progress report in two weeks. We'll meet back here and you can explain how you intend to destroy the Chicago Pack."
"Fine, whatever," the human waved him away. "You're the one paying the bills, after all." Kurt nodded once more and led Mercedes from the diner.
"Are you sure it's a good idea for us to get involved in a Pack feud, Jake?" the other boy asked once the wolves had pulled out of the diner's parking lot.
"We're being paid for the job," Jake stated, eyeing the envelopes of money. "We do what we're paid for, nothing more, and nothing less." He contemplated the other two. "Besides, this allows us to actually get rid of two or more packs in the mid-west. We'll kill the Chicago Pack and then take out the Columbus one. The Lima Pack was all but obliterated in the last war, their casualties in the hundreds after Sue Sylvester's attack, what's left has joined the Chicago Pack, so we don't have to worry about them. "
"And Blaine Anderson?"
"You let me worry about Anderson," Jake promised, leaning back and beginning to count the money the wolves had left.
"You can't kill him, Jake and you can't hand him over to Kurt Hummel," the girl stated quietly, eyeing their leader.
"Don't worry about Blaine," Jake repeated. "I plan to take Hummel's money and worry about the Beta later."
"Um," Jesse St. James mumbled around the mouthful of blood he had ripped from his victim's neck, letting the body drop to the ground with an unceremonious thump. "I think I'm going to like Lima, Ohio," he stated with a bloody grin, glancing over at his companion.
"I don't know, I was pretty partial to New York City," Unique Adams stated casually, letting her own body drop with groan to the ground.
"Of course you were," Jesse smirked. "You were the talk of the town while we were there; New York's very own "Jack the Ripper"."
Unique laughed gaily, and stepped around the two corpses to link her arm through her vampiric friend's. "I did make a bloody splash, didn't I?" she grinned.
"Hm, you did, my dear," Jesse agreed, leading towards the glowing city lights. "I am ever so glad the Lima Pack has left us their territory to inhabit, and I understand we're going to want to make nice with the Columbus Pack in the upcoming months."
Unique quirked an eyebrow at his comment, "Not the Chicago Pack?"
"No, Dearest, I have it on good authority that it's Columbus we want to make nice with at the moment."
Keeping her thoughts to herself about how she didn't agree with the other vampire, Unique secretly made a mental note to extend the olive branch to both Packs. It would do neither of them good to get involved in the pack politics embroiling the region. She just wanted some quiet time to contemplate her afterlife, especially after the fiasco in New York which had forced them out of the city on the run. Sighing softly to herself at the feelings of unrest sitting in the pit of her stomach, Unique allowed Jesse to lead her into the town proper.
"When do my son and his mate plan to return, Nick?" Nathaniel Smythe looked up from the paperwork he was reading to regard Sebastian's Second.
"They're due back in three days," Nick replied, glancing over at Noah Puckerman and Hunter Clarington. Both Alpha-Leaders nodded in agreement.
"Myself, and Nick will be on site to provide security and bring them back to the estate," Hunter added. "We're going to fly down with the private jet and meet them at the airport in San Francisco. Noah will remain here with Santana, my Second, and Wes who is acting in Nick's stead."
Nate quirked an eyebrow. "Do you think all the security is necessary with Sebastian there?" he asked, slightly amused.
"With all due respect, Alpha," Noah interjected. "After the fiasco with Blaine being kidnapped from the private jet and hanger, Sebastian doesn't want to take any chances. We feel it's safer for the Beta and our Pack-mate if we have at least two other Alphas there to guard him."
Frowning, Nate studied the three Alphas before him, sensing something they weren't telling him. "And why is my son so insistent?" he asked, settling back in his chair and regarding the three boys before him. "Usually Sebastian is comfortable in the ability to protect his mate."
The three exchanged a look, knowing that the Alpha-Leader had sent word about the unborn pup Blaine was carrying, wanting to ensure the safety of his mate and needing the help of his pack-mates and brothers. They also understood that Sebastian wanted to break the news to his father in person, especially since he and the Beta had not yet been mate-bonded. They all knew Nathaniel would be ecstatic to know of the pup, but wanted to reserve the right of their friend and pack-brother to share it with his parents. After Sebastian's amusing account of Cooper Anderson's reaction, they were looking forward to being witness to the other Alpha-Leader's discomfort. According to Sebastian, it had taken Blaine and Heather several threats to keep Cooper from disemboweling Sebastian after learning about the pup, especially since Sebastian had deflowered his pup out of mate-bond. All three were looking forward to their pack-mates recounting the story to the rest of the Pack upon their return.
"With all due respect, Alpha, it would be best if Sebastian explained it to you when he and Blaine return," Nick replied carefully, hoping the Primary-Alpha would not push the matter.
Pursing his lips, Nate regarded the three before giving a brief nod in acceptance. "All right, but I expect a full de-briefing on your return. Now out and spend some time with your Packs before you leave."
The three scrambled to reply, each saying good bye to the Primary-Alpha before heading into the common room where the rest of the Packs lounged. Nathaniel was looking forward to the story his son was going to recount about why he was calling in the help of his pack-brothers in ensuring the safe return of his mate to the Chicago Pack's estate.