Ford looked out the window as he waited for his pack to arrive. Earlier this month Ford suggested to implement a pack run as a part of Destress December, a way to teach his pack healthy ways to wind down. He had hoped if people turned to exercise, they might turn away from other habits such as smoking and drinking. Ford noticed members of his pack starting to arrive and decided to transform before he stepped outside.

Wayne, his best friend and Alpha waved to him from across the street as he stepped outside. Being in wolf form, Ford couldn't exactly wave back, so he simply nodded his head to acknowledge him. When the pack had all gathered, Alpha Wayne announced, "Good morning everyone, I want to thank you all for joining us this morning. We won't keep you long, just three laps around the perimeter of our territory. There will be some warrior pack members mixed throughout the run to keep you safe, but I caution you to always have your guard up. Ford and I will be leading this run and those who arrive back first will have first dibs on the buffet. Now, let's get moving."

As they ran, Ford already regretted his health initiative. He hated running… or anything physical for that matter, but he pushed himself forward knowing it was for the benefit of the pack. As Ford ran he noticed a strange smell, it was a mixture of milk and honey that seemed to be calling to him. Ford mind linked with his Alpha, "Do you smell that he asked?"

Wayne nodded and said, "Rogues."

"Yes, I smell them but there is something else," Ford suggested.

Wayne wasn't sure what he was talking about, but mindlinked "We have to go deal with the rogues anyway, let's go investigate. He commanded his pack to go without them as they followed the scent."

…

'So cold,' Holly thought to herself as she pushed through the heavy snow. She had to keep going, it was the only way she could protect herself. Holly climbed over yet another tree that had fallen in the road to discover a small cave. She knew her owner would come after her soon, so she decided to take shelter in the cave in hope that he would pass her by. Holly tried to keep herself warm, but her fur was drenched and she was starving. She looked at the sun high in the sky and determined it must have been 12 hours since she left the only place she knew as home. With this strange transformation, there was no going back now.

She rested her head on her two front paws when she heard a growl. Holly crouched down unsure of what was there, she hid in the shadows when she saw a large reddish brown wolf walk in and roar, "Who are you and what are you doing in my den."

Holly whimpered and unintentionally gave away her hiding space. The wolf saw her and started to circle her menacingly, "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he asked. He looked at her white fur coat and sapphire blue eyes and said, "You are just about the prettiest thing I have ever seen on this side of the mountain. Bare my pups, and I would be happy to share my den with you," He suggested.

Holly shook her head no, and he chuckled, "Oh, how cute. You thought that you had a choice." The wolf lunged towards her. She quickly rolled out of the way, but she wasn't fast enough. His jaw bit down hard on her side, causing her to stumble slightly. She kicked dirt in his eyes and took off towards the entrance of the cave when she saw two more wolves. She whimpered thinking they were with the other wolf and shrunk down into a submissive stance.

Wayne growled at the she wolf who dared enter his territory, but knew that she was not alone. "Who are you with," he demanded.

She whimpered again and that was when he noticed red staining her white coat. "Deal with her," he demanded Ford, as he leaped over her to go after the other rogue he smelled.

Ford looked the she wolf in the eye and had a strange feeling, she seemed familiar to him, although he was positive he never met her. Ford quickly transformed into his human form and said, "transform back so I can help you."

Holly shook her head fearfully and ran past him, out the entrance of the cave. "Shit," Ford cursed, quickly transforming back and going after her. Wayne then mindlinked with him, "What's taking you so long? You should have defeated that she-wolf easily."

Ford answered his Alpha, "She's not trying to fight. I think she's just scared. I'm going after her."

Wayne finished with his opponent and followed Ford's scent, "She's a rogue, why are you going easy on her?"

Ford didn't answer, because he was uncertain himself. That was when he saw her collapse in the snow. No longer having energy to support her wolf form, she transformed back. Ford was about to transform as well, when he saw Alpha Wayne's wolf running in his peripheral vision, ready to tear out her throat. Ford slid to a halt and did something completely out of character, he turned to his best friend barring his teeth.

Alpha Wayne stopped in his tracks, not out of fear but curiosity. Ford was never the confrontational type, but he was literally sticking his neck out for a she wolf he never met. That was when it hit him. Wayne transformed into his human form and said, "Let's get her back to the clinic."

…

When back in town, people were shocked to see Ford carrying an unconscious stranger back. No one dared to question it though, noticing how tense he was. When Ford laid her on the stretcher inside of his clinic, He saw Wayne grab one of his scrub pants and ask, "What can I do to help?"

"Wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves," Ford instructed as he did the same.

While they worked on the stranger, Ford let out a sigh and said, "I'm sorry I growled at you back there. I don't know what my problem was."

Wayne chuckled and asked, "Are you really so naïve?" Ford raised an eyebrow, uncertain of what he was referring too. Wayne let out a sigh, realizing he was going to have to spell it out for the dense doctor. "First, there was that strange smell you noticed earlier today. Is she what you were referring to?" Ford nodded and waited for him to continue, "Then you decide to disobey me and try to help the she-wolf, when I wanted you to finish her."

"To be fair, you didn't specify at the time what you wanted to me to do with her, you just said deal with her," Ford argued.

"Finally you stood up to an Alpha to try to protect her. Ford, you idiot, this is your mate," Wayne concluded.

Ford's eyes widened and he looked down at the woman he was carefully working on. She was of moderate height, thin, curly blonde hair. To say she was attractive to him would be an understatement, but to be his mate… that was impossible… wasn't it. Ford shook his head and replied, "I'm certain your mistaken, I just didn't want to see someone innocent put to death."

"Right…Well, now that she appears to be largely patched up, I am going to leave you alone in your denial to eat breakfast. See you later, Ford." Wayne said with a smirk.

With Wayne gone, Ford looked the woman up and down. He noticed she had scars that were from long before today, but she didn't even know how to transform back to her human form. This meant it was either her first transformation (which usually occurred at 18, but not impossible at her age) or she was lying about not knowing how to change. Ford doubted it was the latter, he was fairly good at detecting a lie.

Ford heard her whimper in her sleep and checked her over thoroughly, with the medicine he had in her iv, she shouldn't be in pain, but he could add a different pain medicine if necessary. He placed his hand on her forehead and all of a sudden the whimpering stopped. His hand tingled as he touched her. Ford stared in shock and slowly removed his hand only to hear her whimper once more.

Seeing how his touch seemed to sooth her, he pulled up a chair and placed her small hand inside his. She calmed instantly. Something about seeing her warm up to him so easily made his wolf purr. Ford's eyes got wide and he silently wondered if Wayne was right.

…

Holly woke up in a hospital room confused and disoriented. She tried to get up, but her legs gave out on her the instant she tried to put weight on them. Ford was in the other room when he heard a loud thump. He quickly stood up and hurried over to his patient's room and found her on the floor trying to cover herself with a sheet. Ford quickly shut the door and helped her back on the table, "Calm down Miss, you won't be going anywhere for a few days. What's your name?"

Ford watched as she pulled herself from his grasp and backed away fearfully. "I c…can't stay here," she said struggling to get her legs too cooperate. Her breathing was ragged as she desperately tried to escape.

Ford walked up behind her to prevent her from falling and said, "Really Miss, your body is still adjusting from transforming. You're not going to be able to stand let alone walk for at least a few hours."

"Transformation… Y…You know?" she asked.

Ford nodded, "That you're a werewolf? Of course."

"Then why I'm in a hospital instead of a jail or better yet dead?!" She screamed at him with tears in her eyes.

Ford felt a pain in his chest when she said she was better off dead. Ford shook his head and replied, "Calm down, you're just confused right now, that's all."

She shook her head, "No…I hurt him…I didn't mean to, but I did."

"Hurt who," Ford asked, "Miss I'm a doctor. I might be able to help him if you tell me who."

She looked him dead in the eyes and said, "my master."

…

Ford gave the she-wolf a sedative while he contacted his Alpha. Wayne was over within the hour. "So she transformed while being disciplined by her master?" He asked.

Ford nodded and replied, "She said that she accidentally broke an expensive vase in her master's home. He started beating her with a horse whip and that was what triggered her transformation. This wasn't the first incident of abuse, but it was the first time she transformed. I went back to the home she worked for and saw police all over the crime scene."

Wayne let out a sigh and said, "Don't worry Ford, this isn't the first time we've had to deal with the police, and I doubt it will be the last. Was her owner dead?" Ford nodded and said he died from a bullet wound to the head. Wayne popped his cheek in an annoyed fashion, "Well that's not typically how werewolves handle things, but considering she was scared, I suppose anything could happen. I'll handle it, just keep her calm and prevent her from doing anything stupid."

"That was what the sedative was for," Ford explained guiltily. "As soon as she calms down, I will try to explain things to her. Please do everything you can to keep her out of the police's custody."

Wayne let out a sigh and said, "Unfortunately they are going to want to question her, but I have a plan that just might work, but first we need her awake."

Wayne picked up a glass of ice water off her tray and threw it on her. Holly gasped and shot up straight.

"What the hell Wayne?" Ford asked angrily.

"Well, I needed her awake. I generally wake my captives by force but considering this is a lady I decided to use a more delicate tactic." Wayne replied.

"She's not your captive," Ford argued.

Wayne ignored Ford's comment and asked, "Now Miss, what's your name?"

Ford watched as his mate started to tremble in fear, seeming to sense Alpha Wayne's dominance over her. Ford's eyes started to glow bright red as he sensed her distress. Holly noticed his eyes flicker and started to cry. She was trying her best not to pass out from fear. Ford realized this and forced down his rage, his eyes turned back to their normal violet color. "Please Miss, if we don't know who you are, we won't be able to help," Ford explained.

The beautiful blonde closed her eyes as if she was thinking before finally confessing, "Holly… My name's Holly."

"Last name?" Wayne asked.

Holly shook her head and said, "I don't know. I was abandoned as a baby on my master's doorstep. He fed and clothed me, but I meant nothing to him. So, I was not allowed to take his name."

Ford frowned and said, "This town you're in is full of werewolves just like you. Wayne and I are both wolves. We can help you learn to control the wolf and protect you from the police, but you are going to have to trust us."

"What do I have to do?" Holly asked.

"Join our pack," Wayne replied simply, "A pack is like a family, we work together to build and protect each other. You will be safe, but you will also have to follow our rules and guidance."

"If I do this, will I be able to stop myself from hurting anyone else?" She asked.

Wayne nodded and said, "You will have the ability to control and the power to kill if necessary. Our pack does not harm anyone without reason. However, that doesn't mean that I will allow any of my members to be defenseless, you will have to train with the rest of the pack in case we are attacked."

Holly didn't like the idea, but she didn't see any other options, "I…I will join your pack."

Wayne smirked, "Smart girl, now here's what you need to do. First you will atone for murdering your master. You will spend 20 years under house arrest. You will live with Ford and do as he asks you."

"Murder? I didn't kill him. I pushed him out the second story window," Holly said.

Wayne raised an eyebrow and asked, "Say that again?"

"I pushed him out a window," Holly repeated.

"No, the first part," Ford explained.

"I didn't kill him," Holly said firmly.

Both Wayne and Ford looked at each other. Her heart did not murmur or skip, so they knew she was telling the truth. "Then who did?" Wayne asked.

Holly shook her head, "I don't know. I took off after I threw him. He was hurt, but very much alive."

Ford cleared his throat, and apologized, "I'm sorry, when you came in so distressed, I assumed you shot him."

"You assumed I was a monster," Holly said sadly.

Ford realized his mistake and replied, "No, of course not… It's just, your first transformation can be confusing. Had you have killed your master, you wouldn't have been the first. Transforming is fueled by tapping into your anger, and without proper training, it's easy to lose control."

Holly looked down at her lap, uncomforted by his explanation. Ford let out a sigh and suggested, "Wayne, I think she's been through enough tonight. Can this wait until after she's healed?"

Ford smiled at his beta and said, "I'll do you one better. Give me a chance to earn your trust Holly, but in the end I am certain you will have me as your alpha."

Ford's eyes lit up in fear and argued, "Wayne I appreciate you giving her a choice, but a lone wolf is easy pickings. She will constantly be in danger."

"She will learn how to defend herself, and until she does you will be there to protect her. But there will come a time when she must depend on the pack. Hopefully she will come to her senses before then," Wayne said in conclusion.

Ford frowned but trusted his Alpha's judgement.

Holly bowed her head nervously and said, "Thank you Alpha."

Alpha Wayne smiled and said, "Good girl, now get some rest."

Holly nodded and Wayne left the clinic. Ford was about to chase off after him, when Holly said, "Wait, please."

"Yes, Holly?" Ford asked, stopping in his tracks.

Holly looked down at her lap for a moment before asking, "If Ford is your last name, what's your first?"

"James," he replied simply before walking out the door.