"You cannot imagine how glad I am to see you again, brother." Gunnolf wrapped his muscular arms around Draco and crushed him to his chest, till he heard Draco wince in pain.
Gunnolf wore a sheepish look when he finally let go of the blond man. "Sorry, but you better brace yourself for a few more hugs like that welcoming you back home."
"So, you heard?" asked Draco.
"The better question is who didn't? The Death Eaters who attended were shocked enough to talk about it to anyone who cared to listen and with the Black Cloaks here being as chatty as they are the news was bound to reach us. Thankfully, we received news of your dreadful ordeal along with news of your recovery; otherwise I can't say how the pack would've reacted. It was most peculiar..." Gunnolf trailed off. He appeared thoughtful for a moment or two, and then gave his head a little shake. "Come on," he said, "I'm sure you must be eager to see your pups."
Draco nodded, feeling relieved. During his recovery he had been plagued with worries about Hermione and his pups. While he had no way to check on Hermione, he could at least do so for the twins. As soon as he was cleared for travel Draco begged his friends to let him return to Bleidd to check on his sons himself.
"They're okay?" he asked wishing to confirm it even if he knew the pups would never face any harm while they remained under the protection of the pack.
"Yes, of course... but something odd did occur in your absence that I need to report to you."
Gunnolf was unaware he was walking a little behind Draco instead of beside or in front of him like he usually did. But, as was common with their kind, Draco was far too conscious of their social hierarchy to miss the deference shown by the senior beta.
"Soon after you left with that Death Eater, the alpha took the twins saying they were going on a trip. None of the older pack members were around at the time to object. When we were informed about him leaving with the pups, we panicked, not knowing what to make of his actions. We didn't believe they were in any kind of danger but it still bothered most of us that he would take the children away from the safety of the pack without offering a good reason for doing so.
"We'd just barely put together a search party and started out when the alpha returned. Not sure what they did while they were gone, but we didn't dare question the alpha since Wilbur and Martin appeared to be in better spirits than they were before they left." Gunnolf paused, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
"What is it?" asked Draco. When Gunnolf still wouldn't speak Draco tried a different approach.
"Tell me, what is it you hesitate to say?"
"The alpha was missing during the full moon- not strange in itself, I know- he returned in the early hours of the morning. He was badly injured. I've never seen him like this... He was both wounded and somewhat subdued when he returned."
Though Gunnolf had stopped Draco sensed he wasn't telling him all yet.
"Go on, Gunnolf, you can tell me the rest of it."
Gunnolf looked to his left and then his right, a pointless action meant to delay the inevitable.
"He had clearly been cleaned and treated by someone before he came to us, but I still managed to pick up a familiar scent on him- a scent I knew had no reason being anywhere near the alpha. So I asked Ash to take a sniff..."
Draco nodded in understanding. Ashley or Ash as she was known in the pack, though an omega was already one of their best trackers thanks to her sensitive nose.
"She said, well she confirmed, that I was correct. The scent we caught on Fenrir quite clearly belonged to Hermione."
Draco wasn't thinking, his body merely acting on instinct as he let loose a growl and rushed Gunnolf, slamming the head beta's body against the nearest wall before wrapping his fingers around his throat in a menacing manner.
"What the fuck are you trying to imply about my mate, beta?" he snarled in a way that left the more muscular were cowering.
"Calm down, Draco. I meant no disrespect. I'm just letting you know that the alpha has been in contact with Herm- with your mate."
Gunnolf's arms hung limply at his side, his eyes were cast down and his neck bared in submission.
It took Draco a few moments to calm down, gather his wits and let go of the head beta.
"Have we received any cauldron orders since I left?"
Gunnolf stared at Draco in astonishment, questioning his sanity.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" snapped Draco impatiently when Gunnolf continued to silently gape at him instead of responding.
"No, I just wasn't sure if-" a withering look from Draco had Gunnolf cut himself short. "No. No, we haven't had any cauldron orders."
Draco growled and punched the stone wall with enough force his knuckles made a loud crunching sound as they broke on impact.
"Sonofabitch!" Draco cursed.
"Come on; let's go show this to Cora."
"No, let me see my pups first. I'll be able to think and act more rationally once I've calmed a bit."
It was much later that a composed Draco sat beside his pups, who were fast asleep, exhausted from playing with their father. The sight of them peacefully sleeping, along with their soothing scent helped Draco feel calm enough to process everything he was learning from the pack. At some point Cora had healed his hand. Right now Draco appeared to be holding court in his quarters; he was seated on his bed while Cora, Oskar and Gunnolf stood around the room.
"Lord Malfoy visited us the day you left. We managed to convince him that Ginevra Weasley still carries his heir," said Cora in response to Draco's question about Ginny's condition.
"That doesn't answer my question. Is she awake? Is she sensible? Does she have an explanation for what happened?"
Maintaining his tranquil state of mind was turning to be a real struggle when all Draco wanted was to tear apart every person that stood between him and the information he needed to find his mate.
Cora, though stunned at Draco's snappy manner, didn't admonish him like she would have normally. He couldn't help but grow irritated by how oddly they were all behaving, nothing like their usual selves.
"Can you just sit down already?" he barked at Oskar, who had remained standing even though the old man was usually the first to sit down since he tired more easily in his human form.
Instead of demanding his submission for daring to order his sire, the elder shocked Draco by silently moving to the nearest chair. Draco closed his eyes and refocused his thoughts. He would have to ignore their unusual actions for now as there were more pressing matters needing his attention. He turned his cold grey eyes upon Cora, waiting for a response from the pack's healer.
"She's awake. We don't have a skilled legilimens who can take a peek inside her head, but according to Ginny it was an accident. She says she overheard Hermione and you talking and believed Hermione meant to return to the Order as a spy for the Death Eaters. So when Hermione raised her wand to obliviate her, Ginny grabbed her wand and turned it on her friend. Unfortunately for Ginny the wand was loyal to Hermione and her spell backfired."
Draco considered this narrative and expressed his doubts.
"Can we trust that she isn't just playing us? She sounds far too reasonable, not at all like the witch we've seen the past few months."
"I can see why anyone who hasn't spent as much time with Ginny as I have believe that to be the case. But I assure you, there's been a remarkable alteration in her mental state since she woke up. She knew she lost the baby and expected to be sent back with Lord Malfoy. She began to reassess her opinion of us once she realised we were all lying to make sure she wasn't returned to those monsters.
"It wasn't as simple as it sounds now... I've spent a lot of time talking to her since her arrival here. She told me that after Lord Malfoy left she reflected on how she's been treated by the werewolves at Bleidd and concluded that we weren't the enemy. Once she heard about what your aunt did to you, she was fully convinced that she was wrong about all of us. Above all she feels shame over her attitude towards Hermione."
"And you believe her change of heart to be genuine?" asked Draco closely observing each were in the room.
Oskar and Gunnolf nodded subtly, only Cora spoke.
"Yes. The pregnancy was a continued source of trauma for her; the child growing in her womb was a daily reminder of the hell she'd lived through. She resented carrying her rapist's child to the extent that she couldn't think rationally enough to discern the difference between her situation and Hermione's. As horrible as it sounds, losing the child did her a world of good. Over the last two days I feel like I've seen glimpses of the woman Ginny must've been before she was taken by the Death Eaters."
"Cora may not be a mind healer," said Oskar, softly interjecting, "but I trust her judgement on this."
Draco nodded. "Good, because I need to make sure we can trust Ginny Weasley as I plan to return her to the Order."
Everyone looked on in shock.
"Hermione was supposed to contact me once she made it back to the Order, but we've had no news from her. Fenrir was acting so suspiciously when Hermione escaped I worried about foul play on his part. Soon as I had the opportunity I made my enquiries at the Ministry. If Fenrir crossed paths with Hermione at some point and took her captive, one thing is for certain, he is acting without any assistance from the Death Eaters. This leaves him very few options when it comes to places he can hide her."
"But, if you believe the alpha has taken Hermione why do you wish to send Ginny Weasley back to the Order?" asked Gunnolf. Everyone appeared to want to hear his reasons.
"Well for one, I would like confirmation that Hermione didn't make it back to the Order, but I also wish to establish contact with them. I believe it's time for the pack to reconsider our existing alliances."
Oskar stared at Draco like he was some curiosity. "Does this mean you wish to break some of the current alliances?"
Draco turned his gaze upon Oskar and flashed him a cold smile.
"Considering how unbeneficial the current one has proven to be, wouldn't you say it was about time?"
They were talking treason and yet Draco noted not a single one of them shuddered at the prospect as they should have. If anything their bodies appeared to imperceptibly sag in relief.
There were a few moments of silence before Gunnolf spoke. "Are you going to question the alpha about your mate?"
"Don't you mean challenge the alpha?" Cora corrected the head beta before returning her gaze to Draco. "Fenrir may be weak right now, recovering from his injuries. But then, so are you."
"I have no plans to challenge the alpha." The words barely out of his mouth, Draco realised how untrue they were. He quickly added, "right now."
"Do you believe Hermione could be-" Cora hesitated "-in danger?"
Draco figured Cora really wanted to ask if he believed Hermione was still alive but didn't wish to risk his wrath by suggesting his mate might be dead. He had considered the possibility since hearing about Fenrir returning with Hermione's scent; however, every instinct he possessed affirmed his mate was alive and out there, waiting to be reunited with him.
"We may not have completed the bonding ritual, but we do share a bond. During the little time I spent awake the last few days I never sensed any distress from Hermione. Still, with Fenrir somehow involved, my mind won't know peace till I've verified for myself that she is really okay."
"Had Fenrir not arrived sporting the injuries he did, I might've grown concerned about the presence of Hermione's scent. As it is, I think it's safe to assume she must be among friends. How else could she have succeeded in delivering such a walloping to the alpha?"
Draco looked to Cora in surprise. "You think Hermione had a part in what happened to Fenrir?"
From what he had been informed, Fenrir's injuries had been so bad that, despite receiving timely treatment, the alpha was bound to sport a scar across his face for the rest of his life. Even armed with a wand Hermione would be no match for their brute of an alpha during a full moon.
"He was feverish for the major part of the day when he returned," explained Cora. "More than once I heard him mutter the same thing in his sleep- 'I'm gonna kill that bitch'. Since we all smelled Hermione on him, I believed she was responsible for his injuries."
"If she had help, it had to be the Order," added Gunnolf.
"Except, she was supposed to send word once she met with the Order. And since she hasn't so far..."
Draco sighed. "Well, for one reason or another, it looks like we need Ginny Weasley to establish contact with the Order."
They all nodded in agreement.
"If Fenrir has taken Hermione captive are there still members in the pack who would willingly help him?"
Everyone looked to Oskar. No one was as in tune with pack politics as the elder.
Oskar shrugged. "Depends on what he's promised them in exchange. I'll say this, Fenrir and his mutts are definitely up to something. They've been acting like they're in on some secret the rest of us know nothing about. But other than Fenrir and you, none of the weres left Bleidd during the past week. So unless he's got her stashed somewhere on the castle grounds, Greyback's working on his own."
"Apologies, but I'm going to have to correct you, Oskar," said Gunnolf. "The day Hermione went missing and the next, we sent out hunting parties. We only have their word for whatever they were up to during the time they were gone."
Oskar shook his head.
"As someone who runs the pack, Gunnolf, you should endeavour to find out how many are truly loyal to the alpha. I made sure to conduct my own debriefing on the hunt and I can confirm that everything went as officially reported during their time outside Bleidd."
"So, we know Fenrir is working alone. And, he hasn't left since he returned?"
"Yes," replied Cora confidently. "Whatever happened to Fenrir, he's looking to settle a score, but there was something different about this incident... I've tended to him after many fights in the past, but I've never seen him shaken up like this before. He's determined to fully recover and be at full strength before he considers leaving the castle grounds again."
"The best course of action then would be to closely watch Fenrir and follow him the next time he leaves Bleidd. He's bound to lead us to Hermione, if he has her," stated Draco.
"It won't be easy to follow the alpha without tipping him off," pointed out Gunnolf.
"Surely we have some skilled trackers with a scenting range greater than Fenrir's?"
The head beta nodded and looked to Oskar.
"I'm going to run some names by you to check which ones can be trusted."
With pack loyalties currently divided they needed to be wary of the ones who still followed Greyback.
Throughout their exchange Draco took note of an uneasy expression on Cora's face; there was something else she feared revealing.
"If you're withholding information that relates to my children I'll be angrier over that than anything you may have to say, Cora," warned Draco growing further annoyed with the way everyone was acting today.
"A couple of omegas claimed to have spotted an elf with the alpha at the portkey point, both, while departing as well as when he arrived with the twins."
It was not odd that an elf would be used to take care of the boys as elves were commonly employed as nannies in the wizarding world. However, it was remarkable that Fenrir would have an elf since he did not come from a prominent Pureblood family and was unlikely to find an elf willing to bond itself to a werewolf.
"I didn't know Fenrir had an elf."
Cora shook her head.
"He doesn't - if he does, it's news to me. No, this particular elf, from the description I heard of the crest on its garments - Draco, the description of the crest sounded far too much like the Malfoy crest."
Draco wasn't sure what to make of the news that a Malfoy elf had accompanied his children during the time they went missing. Could it be that Fenrir took his sons to see their grandparents? Why would one of the Malfoy elves be involved unless his parents were involved? But he had not heard from his parents ever since the birth of his children. No, that wasn't entirely true. Even if he was unconscious at the time, from what Theo had told him, his mother did indeed come to see him in his time of need. She was possibly the reason why he was even alive today.
"It would be selfish of us to take complete credit when it was someone else who played a crucial role in saving your life," said Theo.
"Who are you talking about?" asked Draco.
"She wanted to come see you once you were recovered but she needs to maintain appearances... She asked me to tell you that, no matter how she's acted towards you since you were turned she has never stopped thinking of you as her little boy."
Draco gasped when realisation dawned upon him.
"That- that's not possible."
"I told you I wasn't good with healing spells, Draco, but I remember you telling me about how Narcissa would sneak into your bedroom late in the night to heal you after Lucius was done disciplining you. When you were dying I thought, if there's anyone that can be relied upon to save Draco..."
"So my mother?" Draco was too overwhelmed by the revelation to coherently express himself.
"I showed her my memory of the revel and what they did to you. She didn't even need to watch what Bellatrix did before agreeing to help any way she could. She attended to your wounds that night while Pansy and I merely assisted. She came back on your birthday to check on you and make sure there weren't any setbacks to your recovery."
"Mother?" he asked again, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Draco, you really don't realise what it's like for Pureblood women in this new world. Witches no longer get to make decisions for themselves, not even those of high standing like your mother. Narcissa never agreed to have her son turned into a werewolf and thrown out of her home. And she certainly never agreed to have her husband rape and impregnate a witch the same age as her child just so he could have a Pure heir. It doesn't help that despite being unhappy with the way things have turned out Lucius still continues to follow every one of the Dark Lord's commands.
"Narcissa may play the compliant little Pureblood housewife, but she is among a growing group of individuals who are against torture and have grown weary of the never ending war. Not only did she help save you, she has also agreed to pass on any useful information that will help bring about a much needed regime change."
As much as it hurt him, Draco had been resigned to the fact that his dear mother would never be a part of the new life he had built for himself. Just when he had given up the hope of them ever having a relationship again, Theo had dropped that Muggle style bomb on him. Regardless of what he knew about his mother's role in saving his life he couldn't imagine her contacting Greyback to arrange a secret meeting with her grandsons. So, what was the connection between the Malfoy elf, Fenrir and his sons? At least now he had someone reliable to investigate this mystery for him- his mother.
Before Draco could mention it to the others Gunnolf spoke.
"I have nothing on the creature accompanying the alpha, but I do have a lead on where the alpha may have gone with the boys. Before the alpha returned the search party managed to pick up traces of his magic along with another unknown creature at the portkey point- from what Cora says the elf must've been the unknown creature. It was impossible for our trackers to pinpoint their destination without contacting the Ministry for travel details, but they all concluded that it was definitely an international portkey."
"Did you examine the boys when they returned to confirm that they were okay?" Though the question was addressed to Cora and Gunnolf, Draco was looking at his sons, inspecting each of their precious little bodies for any signs of harm.
"Yes," replied Gunnolf; Cora added, "If anything they looked healthier when they returned. They were definitely well looked after wherever it is they were taken."
"International travel isn't safe for children," stated Draco growing angry once again.
"It explains the presence of the elf," offered Cora.
Elf magic was better suited to transporting infants than any wizard mediums. Draco let out an angry breath immediately seeing her point. He would floo Theo straightaway and ask him to contact his mother.
"Let me look into this business of the elf. But, I want it made clear to everyone: my sons are not to be handed over to Fenrir ever again and they are never to leave the castle grounds without my express authority."
There was a chorus of yeses in response to his order.
Just when it looked like there were going to be no more revelations that evening Oskar loudly cleared his throat.
"I thought in the spirit of full disclosure I ought to come clean about something I haven't discussed with the people in this room." He paused only long enough to ensure he had their complete attention before he continued. "By now, I'm sure you all know about the were prophecy that concerns the twins, but there's another lesser known prophecy which is considered a myth by even most Elders."
Everyone wore impatient expressions as no one cared for another one of Oskar's lectures on were history just then, but he proceeded nonetheless.
"In brief, decades after we were cursed to our current state by the wizards, a were possessing great powers of divination spoke of the arrival of a Promised One-"
Draco raised a brow. Great, even the werewolves had a prophecy about Potter!
"During a period of great turmoil the Promised One would find their powers awakened. It was foretold that the Promised One would be a powerful were destined to become the Alpha of all alphas. The Promised One would be responsible for the creation of a powerful alliance that would rid the world of a great scourge, ushering forth a time of harmony between the Beings of the world."
A powerful were, wasn't that how the original were prophecy had referred to him?
Draco pointed to himself and raised a questioning brow.
Oskar shook his head. "Right until recently I never even considered the possibility it could be you. No, I've had someone else in mind."
"Greyback? He's pretty formidable, but I don't see him-"
"If there's any truth to the prophecy, I believe the Promised One to be Hermione. I even told her so before she left."
"Sweet mother of-" started Cora.
"Merlin's balls!" exclaimed Draco at the same time.
Gunnolf was too stunned to form words.
"If I'm correct, we have no reason to fear for Hermione's safety- and having seen the state Greyback returned in, I believe I've been right all along. In my opinion it would be wiser for us to focus on establishing alliances and settling pack affairs."
"Even if true, I still need to confirm that my mate is safe," insisted Draco. "But, I won't neglect the pack's welfare pursuing my own selfish desires," he assured his pack.
Hermione slammed her forehead against the tree once and then again trying, as always, to control the beast. Her fingers cramped and cracked, her claws sliding forth under her nails, digging into the tree's trunk. She moaned, trying to remember who she was, as she thrashed about, her claws tearing chunks of bark free.
The she-wolf snapped at the air with deadly fangs and then cocked her head, listening. Her eyes reflected golden moonlight on a face dotted with dark black fur. She slid from tree to tree, amazed at how quickly she had grown used to spending all her time hunched down on all fours, feeling no desire to ever stand again.
Ever since she had recovered enough to leave the safety of the cave she began prowling the area around the cave marking the territory as her own. She noted the smells of other creatures who shared the woods with her, searching and failing to pick up the scent of another predator like her. She didn't know where her sire was, he and his scent had disappeared since the night of their fight.
At the sound of movement nearby, propelled by her hunger, she pounced on the creature, ripping it apart with her fangs and claws ignoring its pitiful whimpers. As a human she may have winced at the pathetic sound emitted by the dying animal, but as a beast she only thought of satisfying her own needs. And yet, not every attack was motivated by her desire to feed. There were times she sought out larger and more powerful animals for the sheer pleasure of satisfying her lust for blood. Engaging in acts of violence was the only means she had of abating the fury constantly churning within her. When she failed to find animals big enough to fight back, she took her anger out on the sturdy trees- tearing at their bark with her claws and slamming into their trunks till it hurt to move.
She patrolled the area around the cave regularly, and though she saw no humans, the magical barrier that prevented her from ascending to the top of the mountain was a palpable evidence of their presence there. The three children visited the cave two more times after the day they saved her life, but the she-wolf made sure to stay out of sight anytime her nose picked up their scent. She saw the disappointment in their faces every time they returned and failed to find her. The she-wolf was wary of the children. Even if they had not brought any grown-ups so far she did not know what to make of them. Still, she owed them a life debt and so she looked out for them and kept a watch on them any time she sensed their arrival on her side of the barrier.
The she-wolf grew restless with each passing hour. Healed now and having no leads on her sire she wasn't sure what she was meant to do or where she was meant to go. She desired revenge, she desired a reunion with her pups and her mate, but didn't know how to accomplish any of it. So in anger and frustration she continued to lash out at the trees and the animals in the forest till the staff of the magical school at the top of the mountain were alerted to her menacing presence at the edge of their school grounds.