Chapter Eight


A hum of magic and agonizing howls tore Hermione from a dreamless sleep. Bleary eyes opened just as the pack's curse ended, starting the monthly cycle anew.

Her companion for the past two nights had rolled away, whimpering in pain as the cursed magic took root. Entirely helpless, she could only watch as silver fur from the wolf Malfoy peeled back to reveal blood and muscle underneath. Hermione grew nauseous at the sight of so much blood.

Malfoy howled a mangled scream from a throat, unseen, as viscous fluid fell in thick globs on the ground. Spurts of the fluid flew in every direction as tissue and bone snapped and re-formed; with her proximity, some landed on her. It was hot and thick to the touch. The howls morphed into painful cries of pure agony as Malfoy and his pack shifted in front of her.

This multiplied the harrowing events she had witnessed in third-year.

Her mouth froze in silent shock as she witnessed a werewolf's painful transformation. It was not seamless, it was not quick, but it was unforgettable. Handfuls of fur shed from the wolf's form as new skin stitched itself over reshaped muscle. Malfoy collapsed from standing on four legs, as his paws shifted back to a man's arms and legs.

Minutes passed as she watched the man re-form itself; remnants of the silver wolf he had been littered the ground. By time it was over, her shirtfront was covered in sticky clear fluid, bits of blood, and other bodily fluids as the curse released them all into their human forms.

She sat on the ground amidst them. They were unaware of her presence, which was fine, because she was too shocked to move. The building nausea became too much as she leaned forward and expelled the contents of her stomach onto the forest floor. She retched until there was no more, and hastily wiped her mouth with the back of her arm.

She moaned in disgust, before she was hastily pulled to her feet by the back of her shirt.

Stark naked, and unashamed, Malfoy glared at her as he held the back of her shirt. The transformation left him covered in fluids, as if he had been dunked in river. He exhaled harshly through his nose as he pushed wet, blond locks from his face.

"What are you doing here?" he grated, his voice rough from non-use.

Gritting her teeth against the backlash that was sure to come, Hermione wrestled Malfoy's hand from her shirt and replied once her feet hit the ground, "I left the tent…"

"What?!" he roared, the intensity rising.

"I know!" she tried to equally give back to him, but was uneasy from the nausea. Between gulps of air, she explained, "I know, alright. There was an incident, but you found me. It was sort of difficult to leave after that."

Malfoy's eyes raked down the length of her body. "Are you hurt?"

She would have shaken her head in the negative, but nausea had her doubling over again. Hands on her knees, she retched over the top of her feet as Malfoy left her to it.

A cry from behind the pair interrupted the fothcoming scolding.

"No!" someone screamed.

"Laina is dead," a wail sounded behind her.

There were more whimpers and cries as the werewolves mourned the decapitated wolf who had not shifted back with the rest of them.

Hermione straightened again, as pairs of leery and accusing eyes settled on her.

"It was her!" a voice, decidedly male, accused. The accusation had Malfoy throwing her behind him.

The werewolf she recognized as Greyson, reformed with new scars across his face and chest, approached his Alpha pointing at the lone human among them. "I recognize the severing spell. She is the only one who could have cast it."

Malfoy snarled in warning to Greyson, who wisely kept his distance, "And she did that you your face, as well?"

Greyson did not answer, as heated eyes settled on Hermione. "You killed our kin!" Shifting his gaze back to his Alpha, he spat, "You know the rules!"

"I make the rules!" Malfoy shouted as his pack shuffled back in fear at the power behind his words. Even Hermione hesitated, though she remained behind his shoulder as Malfoy defended her to his pack.

Disgusted, Greyson stalked back and forth in front of them. "You would defend some mere human who killed our kin?" he sneered looking around at their pack for support. Some nodded in agreement with him.

Malfoy did not miss those who agreed. He rolled his shoulders in agitation. "I would defend the woman who carries my children. Our future," he reminded them all.

"She doesn't belong here," Greyson growled, though he would not look Malfoy in the eye. He would not challenge his Alpha openly.

Malfoy looked over his shoulder with a look she could not read. If he was displeased with her actions, she could not tell. "She carries the future of this pack and is under my protection," he spoke directly to her. Turning, he lifted his voice then so that all could hear. "Hear me well, I will not hesitate to kill anyone who seeks to harm her. In this matter, I, alone, will deal with her. Do not make the mistake that Laina did, or you will deal with me afterwards. Do I make myself clear?"

Slowly, they nodded in submission. They quietly picked up the body of their fallen pack member to bury its remains. One-by-one, they retreated into the forest until only Hermione and Malfoy remained.

Hair rose along her neck as Malfoy turned from his pack's exit to pierce her with a deadly look. There were no words that could make this right, as she rubbed sweaty palms on her skirts, but she would try anyway.

But Malfoy interrupted before she could start her apology, his anger directed solely at her. "You. Could have been KILLED!" he roared as he stalked towards her. If she hadn't been pregnant, he would have killed her, she was sure. He regarded her with that much contempt.

Armed with that knowledge, she stood her ground before the irate werewolf and looked him square in the eye. "I know. I'm sorry."

His eyes narrowed at the challenge, "I don't think you do, you bloody ignorant witch!"

Hermione defiantly lowered her chin. "Calling me names will not change a thing."

But Malfoy would not be moved by her stubbornness. He may have looked like a drowned, blond dog, but the man radiated magic and power that stilled the forest around them. He grabbed her upperarms, struggling not to shake her. "You could have been bitten, if not outright killed, and the pregnancy would have been lost!" He squeezed until she whimpered in pain. "If you had been bitten, as your Alpha, I would had you killed. Do you know what you've done!? You killed Laina. She was Greyson's lover! By rights, you should be his to kill." He released her just as quickly as he had grabbed her.

Hermione swallowed, uncomfortable with the strife she had unknowingly caused as she rubbed her arm. "I didn't know. I'm sorry," she repeated the apology with true remorse. She had killed during the war, but in her mind, killing Death Eaters or Snatchers was justified. Now, she had taken an innocent life because of a careless mistake on her part. Tears welled in her eyes. "I feel awful, you have to know that."

He spat in disgust as he stalked around her, "You don't get it! Your bloody books don't mention shite about werewolf life, or rights, or the hierarchy I've carefully instilled. And then you fuck nearly everything up by disobeying my order."

Hermione tracked his movements about her person, the distinct feeling that she was prey to his predator. "You said yourself, I am not pack," she reminded him. "You cannot presume to order me."

"Would you rather I let Greyson have you, then? If it weren't for the fact that you carry my blood, he would. Do you understand what I'm saying, witch?"

Both fumed at the divide, too sharp and wide, between them. He was a werewolf and she was not. He was a man, a stranger, when she desperately craved a friend. Hermione shook her head at the challenges that strained this arrangement. Admittedly, she gave that she was not accustomed to his rules and their way of life, though she was learning. But still, "What more do you want from me?" she asked, exasperated. "I've already apologized. Yes, it was incredibly reckless, but you've kept me bound in that tent for too long. I needed some air, some space. And when I was attacked unprovoked, I acted accordingly," she finished, firmly standing by her actions. "I told you, I would protect this pregnancy to the best of my ability. But it's become increasingly clear that this arrangement is dangerous for us all. I should leave." Greyson was right, she did not belong there with them.

His eyes darkened, but she continued, "Let me return to the Order. Some space would be beneficial to us both. You can smooth things over with your pack. I can inform the Order of our alliance, so we can properly prepare."

Malfoy stepped closer and snarled down at her, "No."

But stubbornly, Hermione continued with her logic, "It's apparent we shouldn't be around the other during the full moon. I'm doing much better thanks to Clara…"

"No," he persisted.

Huffing, "This is best for everyone involved. I can come back before the delivery."

"I said, NO!" he hissed, his silver eyes slowly bled to yellow.

"Why?" she threw her hands up in frustration. "Give me one reason."

"You carry my blood," he answered quickly.

Dirty curls bounced against her cheeks as she shook her head. "You need to do better, Malfoy."

"There is nothing more important than that. I can't assure your safety, their safety, if you are away from me."

"Then come with me," she offered, before she could think on it.

Malfoy reared back as if the offer offended him. He remained silent as he considered, before slowly responding, "I cannot leave my pack for an elongated amount of time. I'm required to be back for the full moon."

"Sari says you leave to treat with other packs often," she argued. "Think of it as the same. You'll be treating with a different type of pack to further our shared goals. Your wolf will be at peace, if you need to physcially guarantee my safety. Not that I couldn't on my own, mind you." Briefly, she wondered how the Order would react to them returning with news of their alliance, but the option of seeing her friends again was enough to make her bloom with hope.

Her thoughts scattered as Malfoy lifted a hand to entangle fingers in her hair. He tugged on her hair until she was forced to bare her neck to him. "You want to see this 'Ron'?" he sneered, the beginnings of growl fanned across her neck as he licked the rapidly pulsating vein her neck presented.

Hermione quickly sought to temper the flame of jealously before it could grow. "My pack," she explained to the trees above, as she was unable to see his face. "There are others who are waiting for me. They want to make sure I am safe." His nose pressed into the crook of her neck as a memory unabashed came back to her.

"I should have said this earlier, but thank you," she whispered. His hold slackened on her hair, though he did not release it. However, it gave her the leeway to lower her eyes until she could meet his. "You, and Sari, I'm guessing, saved me that first night of the full moon. You were correct to mark me with your scent," she whispered as his nose traced its way up her neck and into her hair. "Your wolf recognized me because of it, and kept me safe from the others until you shifted back. I might have been killed or bitten, otherwise."

Malfoy pulled back from her hair, which was surely ripe with the need to be washed. But he seemed to not mind the smell he found there. "And have you thought about what else I said to you that night?"

Her throat went dry. She had.

Swallowing, she carefully replied, "It's was the wolf's blood, and the lead-up of the full moon that brought on the onslaught of emotions. I apologize for my actions, and any confusion they may have brought," she replied evenly, as his brows lowered in confusion. Even though her heart raced, she continued, "Our alliance is predicated upon a shared investment. That is it. That's all it ever can be," she finished, a breath away from his lips.

His eyes bled back to their normal silver, as he moved a step back from her; ice settled where his warmth had been. "Fine," he scoffed. "I will accompany you on your trip to the Order. To protect our shared investment."

He turned and marched to his tent, she wagered, as Hermione followed just as determined, a few steps behind.


an: I am so amazed at theresponse to this story. Thank you all for your the alerts and notes, they mean the world! Til next time ~L