"And the answer is both." Jeremiah said softly. "None of us that come here want to kill. So the walls keep us in, all the usual staff are gone for the four days so it's just us. The guards at the gate and posts around the reserve know about our situation under the strictest of confidence and are armed with tranquilizers should something go terribly wrong. In the local towns there are rumours and stories about this estate under the full moon; it's from hundreds of years of hunts when my predecessors where entrusted with this estate and ran hunts without the aid of our modern technology. As you can imagine some accidents did happen and their stories live on. We encourage them; it gives us a reason to close the reserve and keeps trespassers away but accidents will happen. We've had two incidents since my tenure here. It's unfortunate, but as you saw we do everything we can to ensure everyone inside and outside is happy and safe."

House frowned slightly. Such honesty and openness radiated from the man.

"So you just want to keep us happy and safe?" Cameron asked softly.

Jeremiah smiled down at her softly. "Indeed." He said with a soft bow of his head in respect.

Lucas smiled. "I told you he was worth trusting." He said with a smile as he felt the couple warm to the stranger.

"I think in order for there to be trust, we should be properly introduced." Jeremiah said with a parental smile in Lucas's direction, as if the man were still a child. "Jeremiah Wesker." He said holding his hand out to them.

House took his hand and shook it firmly still slightly shocked that all the instincts in his body were telling him that this distinguished wise werewolf as an equal.

"Greg House."

"Allison Cameron." she murmured, taking his hand next.

"George Sands."

"Ah, a fellow limey. Where are you from?"

"Bristol."

"My father worked on the Clifton suspension bridge."

"Doing what?" George asked confused.

"Building it."

"That bridge is 150 years old." he exclaimed.

"Yeah, and I was just a tyke when he took me across it during the opening ceremony."

"You're 150 years old?" Cameron murmured in awe.

"The big 1-6-oh next year."

"Looking good for it."

"Thank you. Come on through and we'll have a bite to eat. Lucas, why don't you just leave those things there. We can figure out if we'll be staying here or heading out to the barn later."

"The barn? Bit Silence of the Lambs isn't it?" House asked.

Lucas finished setting down the bags, "You won't say that when you see the place." he muttered passing him and heading deeper into the house.

"Shall we?" Jeremiah asked waving them down the hall. "We have a lot to discuss besides where to sleep this evening."

"You mean about how we're special." House grumbled as he followed the older man.

Jeremiah sighed. "It is a long story that should be told in the proper circumstances when our bellies are full and minds can wander with ease through the imagination and the words of a legend that spans the ages."

House and Cameron were far from satisfied by his answer but there was something about the man's tone that said that it wouldn't do well to question him. George took his cue from the couple and followed them down the hall with Jeremiah bringing up the rear.

They followed Lucas through the door at the side of the stairs into a long hall that spanned left and right. A red carpet, the same as that which coated stairs, lay thick and plush beneath their feet until they found themselves on the checkered tile floor of a massive kitchen dinner. On the right hand side was a larger kitchen with a huge country style cooker that somehow still managed to look homely between oak cupboards and a deep trough sink. Contrasting with these throw backs to the past, where the most modern of kitchen appliances littered across the counter top as well as massive double door fridge freezer that Lucas was currently raiding; swathes of delicious smells wafted from inside but the new comers were distracted by the sight beyond the appliance. A large double glass door that lead out to the splendour that was the reserve lit by the silver light of a nearly full moon.

House and Cameron's hearts sang at the sight of it spreading out before them ripe and luscious green, at least twenty times the size of any city park.

"We'll be out soon enough." Jeremiah said with a smile as he took a seat at the head of a 12 foot long oak table surrounded by six benches, two along each length and one at each end.

"George, give me a hand will you?" Lucas asked holding out a large platter.

He turned to the couple to check that it was okay, House tipped his head as he and Cameron took a seat on Jeremiah's left.

There was a tense silence as Lucas and George covered half the table in a selection of meats, cheese and bread. Lucas also set a six pack of European beer on the table and got a pitcher of water and glasses and plates for each of them.

"Forks and knives are rather overrated I think." The grey haired man said with a smile, as he took a slice of bread and laid it thick with ham and cheese before folding it carefully. "Much like living in a city. I don't know how you do it." He continued before setting the sandwich between his lips.

"It's all we know." Cameron said softly as she choose a piece of thick bacon for herself then began picking at it somewhat demurely. "Though we have been feeling a little cramped in the parks in the city."

"Yeah, it would be nice to stretch our legs a bit." House said picking up a turkey leg and taking a huge bite.

Lucas stayed quiet as he chewed on his choice meat.

"I'm sure it would. It can't be all that great skulking around dodging cars and drunks coming from clubs." Jeremiah said thoughtfully with some distaste at the memories he had of modern city living. "Though, I'd imagine you two have little trouble with that."

House frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He was getting tired of all the secrets and the thinly veiled comments that hinted at whatever craziness had brought them here.

"Right enough of this. It's time you told us why the hell we're here."

He hated being in the dark. Always had.

"You've hardly touched your meal."

"I don't care! If you don't tell us what's going on now we're leaving." House said crossing his arms.

Beside him he could feel Cameron agree with him resolutely, though their hearts did both long for the freedom just beyond the doors they were willing to sacrifice it for the curiosity of their own minds.

Jeremiah sighed taking his time swallowing his current mouthful and taking a sip of water.

"What do you know of wolf packs? Real wolf packs." He said softly.

"I've seen a few documentaries." House murmured slightly confused as to how this would clear things up.

"Not much." Cameron added.

"Well, there's a certain order to things. Everyone has their role and everyone pulls their weight. Leaders lead, hunters hunt and sitters sit. Everything for the benefit of the pack."

"Lucas keeps saying we're different, does that mean we're not a benefit to a pack?" Cameron asked.

Jeremiah smiled. "You're different in a good way, at least to me and the rest of our pack. And I'm sure certainly to yourselves once you find out what the benefits are."

"Oh yeah like what?" House said disbelievingly.

"Like the ability to save lives."

"Hello? Doctors."

"What about making life?"

"But I'm pregnant." Cameron said with a frown.

"Yes you are. But betas both in real packs and werewolf packs are supposed to be unable to mate. They're supposed to be infertile." He said piercing them with a dark stare. "And you are not. Clearly."

"So what does that mean?" House asked.

Jeremiah sighed softly looking down not sure he wanted to divulge the rest of the tale.

"I'm not sure I care, we have our babies and that's what matters." Cameron said taking House's hand and resting it on her stomach.

House's confusion and anger faded in a single heartbeat of his unborn children. "I know." He said leaning forward and kissing her softly, those fast beating sounds brought him comfort but he wasn't sure how comfortable felt knowing that the other werewolves in the room could hear it too.

"It may be what matters most but I regret to inform you that it is most certainly not all." Jeremiah said heavily.