Alex took her spot beside her father once more. She hadn't realized just how much she missed the security of his arms. Nathan and Eyal had taken the couch across from them. Aaron had excused himself, saying this had nothing to do with him.

"How are you alive?" Alex dived right into the one question she wanted the answer to. "I saw you and mom get killed the night the pack was attacked."

"You saw us getting ambushed." Clay corrected. "In the mess of things, they didn't realize I was still breathing. Mind you I was more dead than alive, but I was alive. Those few wolves that managed to escape, came back looking for survivors. They found me and helped patch me up. It took a few months to get back to full strength."

"That was three years ago." She whispered.

Clay grabbed her chin, making her look up at him. "And I never stopped looking for you. I knew you were alive. But I didn't know where you had gone. Derek moved constantly from place to place. When I finally caught up with him, he tells me you are in the wind."

Alex frowned. "Our pack was attacked by hunters. Killed every female, with the exception of me."

Clay let out a low growl. "Funny, he said you ran off. Found your mate and left the pack. He did tell me about the silver, but from the looks of it, it's completely out of your system." Alex nodded, snuggling into his side. "I've also heard of all your little adventures with the pack of humans."

"Yeah, it's been a crazy few months." She chuckled. "Have you ever heard of someone finding both their mates?" Clay nodded. "At the same time?"

A look of confusion crossed his features, his eyes turning to the two wolves in front of him. "Them?"

"Eyal? God no." She pulled a face, gesturing towards Nathan. "Nathan is my mate, we mated a few months ago." She flinched at the deep growl her father gave. "But before him, I also met my other mate."

"I have heard of wolves meeting their second mate, but it usually happens when the first mate is lost." Clay mumbled. "Still, you shouldn't have known Nathan was your mate. Neither of you. In fact, it shouldn't have affected you."

"What do you mean?"

"When a wolf meets their mate, it's game over. You live and breathe for only them. Should your second mate ever be presented to you, you wouldn't even know it." Clay explained. "Your wolf is only interested in one. If by whatever reason you lose your first, then and only then will the connection with the other be announced."

"I met Jethro first." Alex thought back. "How was I able to feel Nathan as well?"

"Did you reject him?" A light dark-skinned woman asked from the doorway. "Did Jethro do anything that may have caused you to sway the other way?"

"He got a girlfriend." Nathan answered.

"Not to mention he is human." Eyal added. "Oh, and he has done a few things that may have harmed her connection towards him."

Clay's eyes jumped from Eyal to Alex. "What things?"

"Nothing I didn't handle." Alex cast a death glare at the alpha. "Besides it's not like they know what I am, to them I am just a wolf." She turned her attention back to the she-wolf. "You were saying?"

"Right." She walked over to them, standing beside Clay. "You may have not sensed it, but you may have rejected your first mate."

"That's not possible." Alex scoffed. "I felt no pain or grief."

"It wasn't a full rejection little wolf." Clay replied. "This man didn't reject you back. But you did the moment you walked away from him. He although not knowing, made his choice in his mate. Giving you the chance to connect with your second mate."

Alex sighed, placing her head in her hands. "I swear I will never learn any of this." She glanced back at the she-wolf, giving her a smile. "Forgive me, I am Alex. Clay's daughter, but you already knew that."

She grinned back. "Molly a memb-"

"She's my mate." Clay was quick to add, taking her hand in his.

Alex gapped at the two. "Holy shit you found your mate?!" They both nodded. "She's your se-"

"No." Clay chuckled. "Your mother and I were never truly mates. Her mate died a few months after they had gotten together. She went into heat and well you know what happens after that."

"Thank you for holding off on the details." She cringed at the thought of her parents doing the dirty. She paused, a thought coming to her. "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Is Matt your son?"

Clay shook his head. "No, he is the offspring of her first mate."

Alex had always seen a difference between her and Matt. Her mother always drools over him. He was never able to do any wrong in her eyes. "Did she ever resent having a child with you?"

Clay shared a look with Molly, before turning to her. "It wasn't about you Alex. Your mother and I mated without realizing it had happened until after."

Eyal scoffed. "How is that even possible? You either mate the female or you don't."

Alex had noticed the attitude the alpha had towards Clay from the moment he walked in. She wasn't sure what that was about, but she knew one thing. Eyal was not going to touch her father.

"You ever been around a female in heat?" Clay growled, his wolf reacting at the disrespect from another alpha. "I may have been full-grown back then, but I was still a warm-blooded animal. Julie was in her heat that night. I was just an unknown wolf to her. She had just lost her mate and had a pup, which triggered the heat. Her instinct was to find a male. And I had just come back from a fight, my blood was running hot. Neither of us had control of our actions."

"That night she got pregnant." Alex stated.

Clay nodded. "We had thought and agreed about breaking the bond, but the moment I found out about you...I stayed." A small smile appearing on his lips. "There was no way in hell I was leaving my pup."

"I have a question?" Nathan raised his hand, a shy look on him. "Alex told us you were a beta. Yet your name has been passed along like an alpha."

"Passed along?" Alex asked. "What do you mean?"

"Clay here has been making a name for himself." Eyal stated. Clay tossed him a warning look. "We are being honest here, that includes yourself."

"Eyal." Nathan growled.

"Dad?"

"After gaining my strength, I knew I wouldn't be able to find you on my own. And I also knew Elijah would come after me when he found out I was still alive. I needed a pack." Clay began. "It started with the few that helped me. Then I met Molly and her pack. We reached Garett's pack in Yellowstone and took over. Yellowstone to San Diego belongs to us."

Alex shrugged, not getting what the big deal was. "So, he has claimed lands. What's the issue? Every alpha does"

Eyal growled. "It's how he has done it, Alex. Your father has claimed the lives of innocent women and children alongside those lands! That's how his name is known. Where he passes, death is not far behind. He was the reason my mate and pup were killed!"

In a blink of an eye, Clay had Eyal down on the ground. His hand wrapped around the younger man's throat. "I have no fucken idea of what you are talking about, but I have never killed anyone that doesn't deserve it. I will not have you slander my name and imagine in front of my daughter or in my home!" Squeezing his hold, he leaned closer. "You want to blame someone, blame the ones that actually did it." Letting go of Eyal, Clay stepped back.

Eyal sat up growling, his eyes fixated on the alpha. "Five years ago, my mate and pup were ambushed by a group of scouting wolves. Led by a red wolf with green eyes. They massacre them for no good reason."

Clay shook his head. "I am not the only wolf in this world with a red coat and green eyes Eyal. Five years ago, I was still a beta. I lead nothing, but myself."

Nathan placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Why don't you go check on Ziva." Without another world, Eyal bolted out of the house. "Forgive him. It's brought some forgotten memories back."

"No apologies needed." Clay sighed, taking his seat once more. "Now, how about you two tell me, any name for the pups yet?"

Alex nearly choked on her drink. "You know?"

"Well, Molly was the first to hear them." Clay chuckled. "But yeah, I know."

"We haven't decided anything yet." Nathan replied.

"Do I have to have the threatening talk with you?" Clay asked in the calmest of voices.

Nathan was dumbstruck. "Sorry?"

Putting his bottle of beer on the table in front of them, he leaned forward. "Do I have to tell you of all the horrible things I will do to you, should you ever harm her? How if I hear you betrayed her, I will castrate you. Or if I get word you made her cry, I will scoop your eyes out." Alex bit her lip, trying not to laugh at the look of fear in her mate's eyes. "Do we need to have that conversation?"

"N-no sir." Nathan gulped. "We do not."

"Good." Leaning back into the couch, he pulled both his girls into his sides. "I know today has been a lot, but I have one more thing I need to share."

"What?"

Clay grabbed her hand, placing it on Molly's belly. "You're going to be a sister."

Alex's eyes widen at feeling the pup squirm around. "Boy or girl?"

Molly shrugged. "We don't know."

"Decided to leave it a surprise." Clay grinned.

Alec tossed him a playful look. "Aren't you a little to old for this?"

Clay gapped at her. "I'd let you know I am still in my prime." With an annoyed grumbled he stalked into the kitchen. "Nathan get in here and help me!"

Nathan tossed his mate a 'help me' look. Getting nothing, but a shrug back. "Thanks."

"Have fun."

Time jump:

Alex knew there was still going to be some amends needed, but at least Nathan was no longer angry with her. After some talking and begging, Eyal had accepted to come back. Clay gave him his space, not once bringing up the situation about his family. What Alex didn't expect was Ziva and the team tagging along.

Clay snuck up on his daughter, leaning into her ear. "Which one is he?"

"Damit dad!" Alex yelped. "Am I going to have to put a bell on your collar?"

"Not much for jewelry." He chuckled. "Well, which one?"

Alex gestured to the man sitting behind his girlfriend. "That one's Jethro."

Clay clicked his tongue. "Did not having me around give you daddy issues?"

"Seriously?"

"Just saying." Clay chuckled. "Nathan is what, 12 years older than you?"

Alex shook her head, so over this conversation. "I am not about to have this conversation with my father."

"I thought daughters wanted their fathers involved in their lives?" Clay asked, grabbing another beer from the cooler.

Alex snatched the beer, taking a swing from it. "Not in that sense."

"Clay leave her alone and go watch the meat." Molly came out from the house, carrying a batch of raw meat. "No girl or woman wants their father meddling in their love life."

Clay wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss. "As my queen wishes."

Alex rolled her eyes at the childish behavior her father showed. "How do you deal with him? I've only been with him a few hours and already want him gone."

"I have come to love his child side." Molly laughed. "So, I take it the silver fox is Jethro?" Alex nodded. "Handsome man. Blonde next to him is...?"

"Yep, that's his mate." Alex couldn't help but growl at seeing Lisa lean in and kiss him.

Molly noticed the sly sneak glance Jethro cast at her step-daughter. "Has anything happened between you two?"

"What makes you ask that?"

She raised her brow, picking a piece of the meat. "One, he keeps looking your way. Two, you are smelling like a female about to go into heat. Three, his mate is looking at you. Talk about death glares." Tossing the meat into her mouth, she turned to face the younger wolf. "Spill."

"We kissed, once." She mumbled, the label on the beer suddenly becoming more interesting. "It may have triggered my heat once more. And I don't know what to do."

"Well, there is good news and bad news." Molly counted out. "Good news is your mate; Nathan can stop those heats. Sleep with him and it should stop the heat."

"Bad news?" She was actually dreading the answer.

"Until you mate with the one responsible for the trigger, your heats will continue to return every month." Molly felt for the young she-wolf. She herself had gone through the same issue. Having been mated by an arranged marriage, she suffered the same effect Alex was. It wasn't until she mated with Clay that the heats stopped.

Alex sighed, taking a large gulp of beer. "What will happen with Nathan? Our bond?"

"Nothing really." Molly shrugged. "It would be best if you talk with him and see if he can come to terms with it. If he is able to, you will simply be a wolf mated to two males. If he does not, then you will have to choose between one or the other. Not every wolf is okay with sharing."

"That's what I am afraid of."

Molly sighed, placing a hand on her arm. "You don't have to worry too much about it. When Nathan mates with you the heat stops right away until next month. You and Nathan have time to talk this thoroughly."

"Thank you."

"Anytime."

Molly had run off back inside, to deal with the rest of the food. After Eyal and the team had arrived, her father was quick to play the good host. They had turned the meet and greet into a cookout. Not that she minded, but there were many things that could go wrong. For one Elijah could attack at any moment. Jethro and she hadn't spoken since the kiss. Nathan wouldn't stop glaring at the man. Gibbs wouldn't stop sneaking glances at her. Not to mention you had a handful of humans with a pack of wolves.

"Hey." Ziva approached her from the side, grabbing one of the chips on the table. "You, okay?"

"Hmm? Yeah." Alex gave her a quick glance, before turning back towards Nathan. "Why?"

"You haven't moved from your spot in the past hour and you keep staring at Nathan." She pointed out.

"No, I'm fine." At the moment Clay walked over to them. Giving her a kiss on the head, he placed the plate of cooked meat down.

Ziva raised a brow, watching him walk away. "Who's the new guy? He's is h-"

"My dad." Alex stopped her before she could finish that phrase.

Ziva knitted her brows together, her eyes jumping from her to him. "Father?" Alex nodded. "But he looks so young."

"He had me at a young age." She blurted out. "Besides he isn't that young. I am 25. He is 43 I think."

"Alex, I am 31." Ziva chuckled. "He is not old."

"Thank you." Clay had appeared behind Ziva. "I have been telling her that nonstop." Glancing down at the exotic woman, he gave her a charming smile. "Clay Winters."

"Ziva Da-vid."

Grabbing her hand and pulling it up to his lips, he smirked. "Pleasure." Letting go of her hand, he walked away with a deep chuckle.

"If I wasn't with Eyal, I might just have been your stepmother." Ziva sighed.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Down girl. He's married."

"A girl can dream." Ziva whispered.

Alex glanced at the murderess look Eyal was throwing Clay. Ziva was really about to cause a war between both alphas. Giving a low growl she successfully caught Eyal's attention. 'Don't go starting anything I will have to finish.'

'Then tell your father to stay away from my mate.'

'Seriously?' Alex swore males were much worse than females. 'She was looking Eyal. We do that. We look at other guys, but we don't touch. Get over it.'

"I thought your father was no longer in the picture?" Ziva suddenly asked.

"I am sorry, what?"

"At our last gathering, you and Matt stated your father was dead." Ziva stated.

Alex cringed at the forgotten detail. "Matt's father." Alex blurted out. "Matt and I have different fathers. His was around more. Mine was always out on the job and I rarely saw him."

"Oh." Ziva knew she was lying, but she had to have her reason. Right? "Makes sense."

"How's work going?" Alex wanted to divert the conversation away from her family. The less Ziva asked the less she had to lie. "I am surprised you were all free."

"No case. It appears all criminals have decided to give us a break." Ziva replied. "We were actually gathered at Gibbs when Eyal called."

Looking over at the team, she locked eyes with Gibbs. A flashback to their kiss replaying in her mind. She needed to steer clear of all thoughts of him. "So, Eyal tells us you are expecting."

"Expecting what?" She gave a clueless look. Seeing Alex make a baby bump over her stomach she laughed. "Yeah, I have two months left."

Alex grinned. "Really, can't tell at all." She focused on her hearing. Blocking out every other noise and sound waves. Tuning in on the two heartbeats of her pups. "Do you know the sex?"

"No, but Eyal wants girls."

"Of course, he does, until he realizes he'd be fighting off the boys."

Ziva placed a hand over her stomach in a loving gesture. "I don't think he's thought that far."

"Men never do." Alex chuckled. 'Eyal?'

'What?'

'Does she know that I know anything about wolves?'

Eyal glanced over at her, giving a stiff nod. 'I told her yesterday actually. She doesn't know what or who you are, but she's aware.'

'You could have told me earlier.'

'Never got the chance, besides you might want to focus on your mate.'

A look of confusion crossed her usual relaxed features. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

Eyal jerked his head in Nathan's direction. 'The pups about to snap.'

She suddenly understood what he meant. Nathan was close to snapping at how close Gibbs was to him. Gibbs may be a part of Nathan's pack, but that still didn't stop the hostile feelings the alpha felt for the man. He wouldn't deliberately hurt Gibbs, no alpha would to their betas. But he was still seen as a threat towards him and his mate. And add a pair of unborn pups, you get a much more sensitive alpha. 'Shit.' Excusing herself from Ziva, she hastily made way towards Nathan. Without hesitation, she grabbed his arm and sat in his lap.

Nathan broke from his fixation on Gibbs and turned towards her. A look of gratefulness in his eyes as he buried his face into her neck. Nathan hated feeling like this. It wasn't who he was. Sure, he was known for having a short temper, but that was every wolf. He could be possessive at times. He held nothing against the agent. It was neither his nor Alex's fault, but it bugged him nonetheless. Nathan had won the first battle. She was carrying their pups. Living with him and loving him. Yet the war was far from won. He had no intentions of losing.

Alex wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers scratching gently into his scalp. Nathan's breathing had settled down to a normal rhythm. She hated being the reason he was being affected. Being mated should be nothing but wonderful. Yet here he was nearly losing control over something that shouldn't have happened. Kissing him on the head, she laid her cheek on his head. Her eyes landing on angry blue ones. As much as it pained her, she whispered a 'sorry' at him. It wasn't sorry you had to see this or sorry I'll make it up to you. It was sorry the kiss ever happened. Sorry I have dragged you into this mess. Sorry I betrayed you. Looking away from him, she glanced down at her and Nathan's hands entwined. This was going to be hard.

'Do you love me?'

Nathan's body went stiff, relaxing just as quickly. 'Yes.'

'Why?'

'Because you are-'

'Not because I am your mate. Why do you really love me?'

Nathan chuckled. 'I was going to say because you are you, Alex. The day I first saw you I was caught off guard. I had never seen someone like you. The way you held yourself. Your presence. The loving way you watched over Aaron. Your selfishness. Finding out you were my mate was just an added bonus.' Nuzzling into her neck, he kissed her lightly. 'What brought this question on?'

'I just wanted to know.' Pulling back, she leaned down for a quick kiss. 'I wanted to hear you say it.'

Nathan's lips tugged at a smile. "I love you."

"I love you too!" Eyal yelled from across the table, raising his beer in a cheer.

"Fuck off!" Nathan growled.

Alex groaned, dropping her head on his shoulder. "Next time shave his damn hair off."

"You come near me or my hair again I swear you-"

"Wait, you dyed his hair pink?" Ziva stood beside Eyal, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Nathan nodded. "He messed with Alex, so I got a little payback."

Eyal rolled his eyes as Ziva busted out laughing. "Yeah, laugh it up."

"How can you no-Jethro!"

Alex wasn't sure what caused her to turn, but the moment she saw the dark figure running towards Gibbs, she jumped. Leaping off Nathan's lap she shifted just as she slammed into the coming wolf. Causing them both to tumble a few times, Alex yelped at slamming into a large rock.

"Clay!" Nathan tossed his beer to the ground running towards his mate. 'Hey. Hey, Alex.'

'I'm fine.' Pushing herself to stand, she glanced at the attacking wolf. It was slowly standing to its feet as well. 'Who the fuck are you?!'

The wolf crouched down, mouth open and drooling. A low growl coming from him. Without a word to either of them, he ran towards them. Both Nathan and Alex ready for the attack, only to have something else tackle the wolf mid-leap. Clay had bolted out of the house as soon as he heard his daughter yell. Wasting no time, he jumped onto the table and tackled the attacking wolf. Latching onto the side of his neck, he held him down.

'You must really be dumb to attack in broad daylight. Suicidal to try and harm my daughter.' Clay growled. 'Who are you?' Getting no response, he bit down harder. The wolf whimpered, his claws digging into the dirt in an attempt to claw away. 'Who ordered you to attack the human?!'

'Dad?' Alex gave a shaky breath, her eyes on the tree line a few feet away from them. 'We need to get Gibbs and the others out of here.'

Clay looked up, the wolf still in his mouth. Had the situation not been as graved as it was, Alex would have laughed at the resemblance to a rag doll. 'I don't believe we have time for that.' Not bothering with his prisoner anymore, he snapped the wolf's neck and dropped him.

Just a few feet in front of them stood a pack of wolves. Taking a sniff of the air around them, she frowned at not catching any scent at all. It wasn't uncommon for wolves to know how to hide their scent, but this pack was going extra lengths in doing so. Glancing over her shoulder she froze. Gibbs and the others stared at her in complete shock. In the course of stopping the wolf from hurting Gibbs, she completely disregarded them.

'Don't worry about that now.' Nathan stood beside her, still himself. 'Right now we need to focus on them.'

"Ziva?" Eyal grabbed her by the arm, moving her back. "Hey, look at me."

"A-Alex just...wolf?" Ziva stuttered over her words, for once drawing a blank mind. "Eyal, she's a wolf?!"

"Listen!" Getting her to snap out of her trance, he sighed. "I need you to get everyone into the house. You understand?"

"But..."

Cupping her face, he forced her to look at him. "You and the others are the targets. I need you all to stay here, why we hold them off. Do you understand?"

"T-Target." Taking in a few breaths she nodded, her training kicking in. "Understood."

"Get them inside. Now." Jogging over to the others, he stood beside Nathan. "What's the plan?"

Nathan chuckled. "Not die."

Alex glanced back watching as Ziva pulled the others into the house. 'Dad, any other way of getting into the house?'

Clay shook his head. 'Just the back door, but that's always locked.'

Nathan stepped forward, standing between his pack and the attackers. "You are being given one warning. Leave now and you are granted your life." All he got in response were growls and snaps of the teeth. "Attack and you will die like dogs."

"Who ordered the attack on the humans?!" Eyal bellowed. "Not only have you attempted an attack on humans from our packs, but on our mates as well." Stepping up next to Nathan, he stared down at the wolves. "Who ordered the attack?"

A loud howl broke through the silence. Alex knew who it belonged to and it didn't come as a surprise. 'Elijah.'

"Of course, he'd be the only one stupid enough." Nathan growled.

'So, what do we do?'

'Nothing yet.' Clay replied. 'We do nothing until they make their move. Until then we stay put.'

Nathan, Molly, and Eyal were quick to shift. Eyal and Nathan pacing in front of the others. Every once in a while, tossing them a snap of the teeth or growl. Alex wasn't sure what they were waiting for, but it was making her even more nervous. They were planning something.

At that moment she turned around towards the house only to freeze for the hundredth time that day. Someone was attempting to enter the house. Making a run for it, she leaped over the table and rushed forward. She didn't know who it was or what it was, but she was not about to let them get near her team. Pushing herself off the ground, Alex took hold of the individual's arm pulling them to the ground. To her shock, it was agent Crest. Bitting down harder on his arm, Crest let out a loud scream.

"Let him go!" Gibbs grabbed ahold of her scuff and ripped him off. "He's an agent!"

'He just tried to harm you!' Of course, all he heard were growls. Looking down at Crest, she frowned at the smirk he had on his lips. 'What are you sm-' Whipping her head around, she nearly gasped at the pack of wolves running towards them. 'It's a distraction!' Her pack was tackled before they even had a chance to prepare themselves. Tossing Gibbs, a pissed-off look, she ran off to help the others. The man had a gun, he can hold them off for a while. Ripping the two wolves off Nathan, she did the same for Clay and Eyal. To her surprised neither was attempting to come after her or Molly. 'They are going after the males!'

'Let's show them what a mistake that was.' Molly growled.

Following the yellow and white wolf at full speed, they intercepted a pair going after Nathan. Alex was quick to dodge the animal's jaws, as they came down for her shoulder. Bitting onto his tail, she dragged him back and onto his side. Without a second to spare she dug her claws into his side and pinned him down. With a hard swift move, she gutted the wolf. Leaving him to bleed out on his own, she moved to the next wolf in her path. The rival pack having noticed the females, began diverting their attacks towards them. This gave the males the upper hand in their swift attacks. Alex had made the mistake of checking on the team, giving the wolf a clear shot at her throat. Feeling his teeth sink into her flesh had her in a panic. Her feet and paws clawed and kicked, attempting to get him off. His paw came down on her, pinning her to the ground. Refusing to show him any fear or beg, she retaliated with a growl. Snapping in the hope she'd grab ahold of anything. The wolf bit down harder, ready to rip her throat out.

Hearing his mate's desperate growls, had him seeing red. Looking around the field he spotted the beta over her. Taking off after them, he noticed out of the corner of his eye Gibbs drawing his gun out. Giving the agent a loud bark, he lowered his head and headbutted the wolf. Successfully getting him off Alex and giving Gibbs a clear shot. Three shots rang out knocking the animal to the ground.

'Alex?'

'I'm fine.' Shaking herself off, they turned back to the fight. 'They are backing out.'

'They didn't expect us to fight them off as we did.' Clay mumbled. 'Much less than the humans would join in.'

Looking around she cringed the how bad they looked. Everyone was covered in blood, both theirs and their victims. Molly's coat was no longer flowing but matted up. 'We need to get cleaned up.' Seeing the questionable looks on all of them, she elaborated. 'We look like hell and I have a lot of explaining to do.'

Clay frowned. 'They didn't know?'

'Ziva knew about wolves and Eyal, but that's it. I never told them about me, Nathan or my pack.' Alex spotted Ziva walkout cautiously, placing a pile of clothes on the table.

Nathan was the first to shift grabbing a pair of pants. Brushing past Gibbs, he grabbed a scrambling crest. Picking him up by the front of his shirt, Nathan slammed him down on the table. "You were a part of this."

"M-me?" Crest scoffed nervously. "I-I don't know what you are talking about."

"What did they offer you?" Eyal asked having just pulled his sweatpants on. "A hunter wouldn't willingly help a wolf unless they get something in return."

Crest's eyes looked like Ping-Pong balls, bouncing from one alpha to another. "I swear I don't know what you are talking about! I didn't even know werewolves existed!" He turned to Gibbs. "Agent Gibbs, please help. Tell them I had nothing to do with this! You called me over for the grill!"

Gibbs knitted his brows together. "No, I didn't."

"Not to mention this is my cabin." Clay added.

Molly and Alex appeared from behind some bushes, fully shifted and changed. Alex passed by Gibbs, avoiding his heated stare.

Coming to stop by Nathan, she gestured to his leg. "Right after Derek's pack was attacked, I had run off into the woods. A hunter chasing me for a few days. When I finally confronted him, I left a bite mark on his left calf."

Gibbs pulled out his knife, cutting the man's pants. "Look at that a bite mark."

Nathan growled down at him a grin spreading across his lips. "Oh, you are going to love what comes next."

"The packs are here." Eyal said.

Ty and a few others appeared at the far end of the field. The rest of the wolves were shifted, staying put on watch. "Get the others together and help clear the trash out of here." Ty ordered, stopping just before Alex and Nathan. "Alphas."

"Hey, Ty." Alex greeted him with a quick hug. "Missed all the fun."

"Truly am sorry." Ty whimpered. "We had an attack of our own."

Nathan nearly got whiplash at how quickly he looked up. "Who? Where?"

"On our way here." Ty explained. "Only way of describing it, is that they were waiting for us. They knew you and alpha Lavine would have called for us."

Eyal frowned. "That explains our packs, but where is Clay's?"

"Where is your pack?" Alex repeated. The last time she checked Clay's pack had been patrolling the area.

Clay having just realized started looking around. "Molly I can't get ahold of any of them."

"Relax, I'll do a quick check around. I am sure they are fine." Jogging off with a few of Eyal's men, she called out for the wolves.

Alex noticed the grin on Crest. "What did you do?" All eyes landed on the man. "Where are they?"

"Probably dead by now." Crest laughed.

Alex jumped back as her father lunged forward. Ripping crest out of Nathan's grip, he slammed the man against a tree, knocking the wind out of him. "Where are my packmates?!" crest's eyes widen at the sight of Clay's canine teeth. "You have three seconds before I tear you limb by limb.

"Dad let him go!" Alex was currently keeping Gibbs back from crossing her enraged father. "He is just trying to get a rise out of us."

"Clay!" Molly came back running, placing a hand on her mate's arm. "I found them." getting no response, she gripped his chin and forced him to look at her. "I found the pack. But they need you now or they will die."

Debating for a moment, he released Crest with a growl. "If anyone dies, I will come back for you."

Alex sighed at avoiding another massacre. "Nathan we need to get him out of here. Dad isn't one to give empty threats."

"Ty, take Agent Crest here back to the packhouse." Nathan picked the man up like a damn rag doll. "Tomorrow we will conduct a pack trial. No one touches him until that night."

"Understood Nathan." Grabbing Crest by the back of his neck, Ty dragged him along.

Alex sat on top of the table; her feet planted on the bench. Now that everything had calmed down some, she was in shock. Well, more like disbelief. Her whole life has spiraled down into a circus from hell. Nothing but death and blood surrounding her from all sides. I mean you had wolves dragging dead wolves back into the woods. And for what? Her? She wasn't worth all those lives. She knew she should have left the moment she mated Nathan. Avoided all of this. Avoided putting Gibbs and the team in danger. Ziva wouldn't be in the middle of this with her pups. She should have just allowed Nathan to kill Elijah when they had the chance. Dropping her head in her hands, she took in a deep breath. Still, what was to come. Elijah didn't give any signs of backing down. He was pulling all the tricks he knew. Why was he so hell-bent on wanting her? They weren't mates so why?! Glancing to her side, she watched her team huddling together talking amongst each other. She still needed to speak with them. There was no more hiding about what she truly was. The fear she had now was will they accept her or tell her to leave. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay by their sides. Protect them when she could. Closing her eyes, she prayed they would understand her. Feeling something fall over her shoulders, caused her to jump.

"Didn't mean to scare you." Gibbs took a seat beside her. "I noticed you were shivering."

Looking down at herself, she noticed his jacket over her shoulders. "T-thank you."

"Sure."

They sat there for a fat minute, neither saying a word. And truth be told they both had a lot to say.

Gibbs was the first to speak. "So, you're a wolf."

"Yeah."

"Okay."

Alex glanced at him. "Okay? That's it?"

"What do you want me to say?" Gibbs snapped back.

"I don't know, but 'okay' was not it." She wasn't sure why she was getting mad, but it was really bugging her.

Gibbs scoffed, turning his gaze back to the cleanup crew. "You do not get to be angry right now."

"And you do?"

"Yes!" Gibbs snapped. "For the past year, you have been on my team. Not once did you try and tell us what you were. Not even after Hotchner." He was now staring at her, daring her to argue back. "Why the hell didn't you say anything?!"

"I couldn't!" Alex threw the jacket off her, jumping off the table. "When I was brought to your team I couldn't shift back. I wasn't physically able to shift back. I had nowhere to go and I couldn't go back to my pack. I didn't want to be a part of your team Jethro, but I had no choice." Running a hand down her face, she caught movement in the back. Nathan was currently taking everyone back inside.

"Why did you stay?"

"What?" The question both caught her off guard and hurt her.

Gibbs looked down into her eyes. "Why stay? You had many opportunities of leaving?"

"I don't even know how you can ask me that." Alex scoffed.

"You said it yourself Lu-Alex." Gibbs clenched his jaw. "You didn't want to be a part of this team."

"In the beginning yes, I didn't. Because everyone I joined in with ended up hurt. My parents. My pack and now you. I mean how many wolf attacks have you and the team suffered since knowing me?" Alex snapped. "But as the days went by, you became my pack. My family really. Ones I have vowed to protect and care for. And I have done a really shitty job at it, I know. But even if I wanted to leave now, I couldn't. I couldn't just up and leave my pack."

"What was stopping you from shifting back?"

"Silver. It was in my blood." Alex muttered.

Gibbs nodded, although he had no clue what that meant. "The day at the beach we-"

"No." Alex scuffed a chuckle. "No, that was only a season for me."

"Season?"

Alex knew she was going to hate this, but what the hell. "Like the animal, we go into heat. When doing so, I am allowed to shift back for those three days. Then back to being a wolf again."

"That's why you were gone."

"Yeah."

Giving her a side glance, he sighed. "You could have told me, Alex."

"I-I was afraid." She bit her lower lip. "I wasn't sure how you and the others would react. I wasn't too worried about Ziva. But you, tony and Tim. Tony already has a dislike for my kind. And ever since Hotchner nether you or Tim have said anything."

Gibbs gave her a 'Serious' sort of look. "What were we supposed to say? The man turned into a wolf and nearly died in Abby's lab. It's not something you can just chat about. Besides who was I supposed to chat it with. You ran off to Ziva for whatever reason I-"

"Whatever reason?!" Alex growled. "You threw me out of the house!"

"You attacked Lisa's dog!"

"The mutt came at me!"

"It was a puppy!"

"I don't give two shits if it was the holy of all mother fucken dogs! You grabbed me like some fucken animal and threw me out of the house! I am not some pet you can toss aside!"

"I-" Gibbs groaned, running a hand down his face. "I never saw you as a pet Alex. You were-are a member of this team. But you are blaming me for things I did when I thought you were just a wolf. You can't throw that in my face."

"The hell I can't." She took a step forward. "You locked me in a fucken cage."

Gibbs actually cringed at her words. "Again, I didn't know you were a damn person."

Alex sighed, dropping her gaze to the ground. "But you had your suspicions."

"Yes." Gibbs admitted. "After Hotchner, I started paying more attention to you. What you did and how you did it. Things a normal wolf wouldn't do."

"I wasn't the only one keeping secrets." Alex chuckled.

"I suppose not." Gibbs moved back, taking a seat on the bench. "Now what?"

Alex reached for his jacket and sat beside him. "I don't know. I don't want to leave you...or the team."

Gibbs chuckled. "So, what continue coming back to work as a wolf?" Alex nodded. "Alex it won't be the same."

"I know, this time you would know what I am." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Don't make me leave."

Gibbs stayed quiet for a few moments. He knew he should just break all ties here and now, but he couldn't. Something in him was tied to her. As much as he wanted to yell and scream for all the lies and secrets, he couldn't. He wanted her by his side. Ever since that kiss, it was all he could think about. Lisa no longer a thought in his mind. Without thinking, he leaned forward kissing her on the head. "I am not going to make you leave. I said it once already, you are a part of this team."

A wave of relief washed over her. She still had her pack and her team. Now the issue was if she was ever going to tell him just what exactly he meant to her.

'Nathan?'

'Yeah?'

'We need to talk.'

'I know babe.'

One thing was for sure, she was not going to lose either of them. Even if that meant keeping one in the dark.