Time jump:

Nathan and Ned stepped up on the small rock in the shape of a cliff. Both ours and Eyal's pack were gathered below. I stood behind Nathan with Gibbs and the team beside me. The murmurs from both packs were overwhelming. Many questioned what was going on. Others wondered why the scent of humans was present.

"Quiet!" Ned roared.

In no time the packs were silent and gazing up at the alphas. Gibbs leaned in closer to whisper. "They do everything they are told?"

I chuckled. "Sometimes, it varies on who is giving the order."

Gibbs glanced at the alphas in front of them. "What do you mean? I thought alphas ordered and the other followed."

"It's a bit more complicated than that." I gestured to Nathan and Clay. "Them, just like Aaron are alphas. They lead and control their packs individually. A beta from Nathan's pack will not always submit or follow the rules of another alpha. The only one that gets a response from everyone with no hesitation, including the alphas is Ned."

"So, that's why you have Ned here." McGee jumped in. "To control them."

"Yes and no," I muttered. "The only pack he is keeping watch over is Eyal's. The rest will not do anything unless given an order from their respective alphas. And also because Ned's pack is in the bunch as well."

Nathan stepped forward, stopping at the very edge. "I know many of you have wondered what our next move will be concerning Elijah and his allies. As well as the status of Eyal."

"We want to know where you took him!" Zion was the lead beta to Eyal's pack and the most vocal in his disagreements. It was no secret the male wolf wanted Tony's blood.

"That isn't going to happen." Ned jumped in. "Eyal is being taken care of by the best doctors in a safe house. We cannot run the risk of Elijah getting ahold of him. We nearly lost him once, we will not let that happen again." He glanced at Zion. "I understand the frustration but remember you are not the only one. His daughters haven't had the chance to me him yet."

A Korean boy stepped up next to Zion. "What is the status of his health? We still feel the connection, so we know he is alive at least."

"Doctors have told us he is fighting to get the toxin out. He will most likely be out for a day or two before he is awake." Nathan replied. "Kuan, why don't you take your mate back to the pack compound? What I am going to say I wish to say to him alone and not here."

Kuan nodded, taking Zion's hand and pulling the growling beta away. "Come on sour wolf."

Gibbs raised a brow. "Two males?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"I thought that wasn't a thing?" Tony mumbled. "Isn't the whole reason for mating to continue the bloodline?"

"Mating is about finding your soulmate. The one person will always be by your side, no matter the hell that falls upon you. It has nothing to do with preserving the bloodline." I rolled my eyes at hearing him scoff. "You have a lot to learn."

Ned made sure Kuan was out of sight before speaking up. "Like I was saying, you all are aware of what happened to Eyal. As well as the threat that looms over us from Elijah. That threat has not only fallen over us but to Agent Gibbs and his team." He glanced over his shoulder at the team. "After some heated conversations, we have decided to allow them into the compound. To deter the attacks wa-"

"Are you insane?!" A young girl spoke up. "You expect us to live in the same place as the one that nearly killed our alpha!"

"Listen-"

"No, you listen to us for one!" She yelled. "For months we have followed you blindly. You say Eyal is safe and we have trusted you. You tell us everything will be alright and we don't question it. We have followed your every order up to this point. We have stood on the side as you have ordered. We used to be a feared and respected pack. You and the rest of the alphas have turned us into a speck in the corner. We will not stand by, while you put us all at risk for a group of humans!"

"Ymir, I am not putting any of you at risk." Ned spoke with a soft tone. "If we separated we are giving Elijah and his allies the perfect chance to attack."

"By law, if the alpha can't decide the fate of the attack we are entitled as a pack to have a pack trial!" Another male growled.

Ymir roared. "You swore to protect your kind from any danger! Wolf or human. I have stood by you in many battles! We have saved each other's lives countless times. Do not ask us to bare our necks in favor of some humans! Not when it's their fault our alpha could still die!"

"Ymir, please," Ned whispered.

I looked up to see the look on Ned's face. He seemed split in two. At first, I didn't know why, but then it clicked. Ned had no connection to Gibbs and the others. They didn't fall in his pack, nor did he care for them. The only reason he was protecting them, was to keep Ziva happy. But in doing so he was going against his true nature. His priorities have always been to protect his kind. Against humans and other wolves if necessary. Yet here he was standing between his kind and his brothers' pack. And then there was that look in his eyes as he stared back at the female. I couldn't distinguish what it was. Hurt?

Ned shook his head. "You still have an alpha, whether you see her as one or not. Ziva is mated to Eyal and she has brought up two pups from his bloodline. It was her choice to wait until Eyal was well, before sentencing his attacker." He raised a hand to stop the younger girl from yelling out once more. "Like you, I have not come to trust those apart from us. I still find myself walking down the streets glancing over my shoulder from time to time. But, we also protect those that can not do so themselves."

"Why them?" A small female pup in the front asked. She couldn't be much older than Seth and Noah. That must be Ty's daughter. "Why must we protect this group?"

"Because we protect our pack. Before the incident between Eyal and Tony, Eyal along with Nathan had claimed the group into the packs." Ned explained.

"But he attacked Alpha Lavine." The pup whispered.

Ned sighed. "There were many factors played that led up to the events. It wasn't all Tony's fault. Elijah and the hunters had their hands in this. At this moment they have both man and wolves waiting for their return to slaughter them."

"Alright." The she-wolf from before spoke up. "We will not touch the humans as long as they stay clear from us. Especially that one." Her green eyes landed on Tony. "But do not expect any of us to lay our lives down. We will fight to defend our pack mates and ourselves that is it."

Ned bowed his head in a thankful gesture. "Understood."

"Let's go." She led the pack away from the others heading back to the compound.

I let out a sigh of relief. Eyal's pack was the one that worried us. If we couldn't get them to come through, the others wouldn't have followed as well. "Who was that anyway?"

"Ymir is Eyal's second in command," Nathan answered. "She is only loyal to Eyal and her pack, everyone else be damned."

"Isn't that what a beta is meant to be?" McGee asked. "Loyal to the end?"

Nathan shrugged. "There is my second in command Ty loyal and then there is Ymir."

"What's the difference?" Tony asked.

"Different being Ty wouldn't jump off a skyscraper if I asked him to." Nathan chuckled. "The bastard would probably throw me off first."

"Ymir?" I mauled over the name. "Last name?"

"Reese."

"Reese?" Where have I heard that name before? "It sounds so familiar. I know that name."

"Nathan stop torturing your mate and tell her," Clay grumbled. "I can see steam coming from out her ears."

"Reese comes from a warrior line." Nathan began. "They were protectors to the pure families. Also assigned second in command, allowed them to keep an eye on the alphas and their pack mates."

"Why would you need protectors?" McGee asked. "Aren't you stronger than the rest?"

"We may be strong now, but we don't start off like that." Ned approached the group. "When the three first wolves, discovered that the wolf gene was indeed heritable, they became aware of the dangers. They couldn't always be present with their families so they each assigned a protector for the pure ones. From there on as the pure line continued, there was always a protector at his side."

"How were they picked?" Tony asked.

"They weren't picked, they were born into the role." Clay sighed. "Look at it this way. We have many breeds of dogs in the world. Each breed was bred to perform a task of sorts. The same system with some of us. Those in the pure line are born to become alphas. Those from the protector's line are born to protect said alpha."

"So, Ymir was born to protect Eyal." Gibbs stated.

Ned tilted his head side to side with a hum. "Yes and no. Ymir is only a year younger than Eyal. Preferably it's best if the protector has a few years over the next alpha. She wasn't meant for Eyal, Ymir was to become the protector of Eyal's family. Which she did."

"But Eyal's family was killed by other wolves," I recalled what Eyal had said once about his family.

"And Ymir gave it her all." Ned jumped to the she-wolf's defense. "As I said, they are born to protect the first line. But even they have their weaknesses. When Eyal found her she was on the brink of death. After the two had killed the mother and pups, Ymir somehow managed to chase after them with silver and wolfsbane in her system. But the two easily overpowered her." Ned glanced down at his hands clenching them. "In her eyes, Ymir had failed her alpha and her purpose. She attempted to take her life multiple times. Punishment for letting Eyal's family die. She thought she wasn't good enough or that her training was below adequate for her. She went as far as laying her life before Eyal and giving him the right to end it."

"How did Eyal convince her?" We all turned at Ziva approaching.

"This is her punishment," Ned replied. "We all knew she would continue down the reckless path until she accomplished her death. She hasn't found a mate just yet, so there is no other protector to take her place. Besides, Eyal didn't want to lose the one friend he had. So as his punishment for failing in protecting his family, she was to continue living with the guilt. Until Eyal gives her permission to die."

"Which he never will." Ziva sighed. "I have to head to my old apartment and turn in the keys."

"Take someone with you," Ned ordered.

Tony took a small step. "I-I can take her."

Ziva raised a brow but nodded. "Fine, but one complaint about my driving and I am leaving you on the spot."

"Ziva the girls?" I asked.

"With Noah, playing some game."

Gibbs stared after his retreating agents. "Do I have to worry about never seeing Tony again?"

I snorted. "You'll see him again. The question is whether you'll be seeing him alive or dead." I glanced over at Nathan to see him glaring daggers at the back of Gibbs's head. "Nathan."

"What?"

"Is Ty what Ymir is?" I wanted to snap him out of his fixation.

Nathan nodded. "He is. Aaron has one as well, only his is a bit more complicated."

"How so?"

"She's human and it happens to be his mate, Kate," Nathan replied.

"Why human?"

"Us wolves rely on our strength to subdue another wolf. The Hotchner's believes humans would make for better protection." He laughed as if remembering an old joke. "And I have to hand it to them, they were. His line of protection was the Callahan. Unlike us, they could blend easily. Undetected to the hunters, which worked wonders on their stealth. And in their minds, they had so much more to prove."

"But Kate ended up with Aaron. How does that work?" I asked. "I doubt their children will continue her line."

Nathan shrugged. "I don't know, but usually if a line is completely wiped, a new one starts." He glanced around seeing noticing the pack's expatriation. "Let's head back before they get any more restless."

"Ziva said the girls were with Noah." Alex followed the team back to the car. "Make sure you make it in time for dinner? I'll set a page for Eyla and Ewa."

"If you can pry them from the games."

With the pups:

Eyla growled for the hundredth time. Jumping out of the woods, she trotted into the house and into her room.

Ewa watched her sister with sad eyes. She understood the anger and desperation. Ewa herself felt them as well. "Eyla calm down, you're going to make a hole in the floor."

"I can't!" She growled. "Why would she keep us away from him?! We have ever right to see him!"

"I'm sure mom has her reasons." Ewa tried calming her down by nuzzling into her side. "You've seen how broken she comes back every time. How red her eyes look from the crying. Or have you also forgotten how she locks herself in the room and cries?"

"No of course not," Eyla mumbled. "But we have the right to see him. All we have are pictures and what little scent she brings with herself. She doesn't even talk about him."

"It hurts her." Ewa whispered. "I want what Noah and Seth have as well. A father that is devoted to us. Protects and teaches us things. You're not the only one that is angry."

"Then let's go find him." Eyla quickly sat next to Ewa, leaning in closer. "We can find him on our own."

"Are you insane!" Seth spoke in a harsh whisper standing in her doorway. "You can't do that."

"Why not?" Eyla challenged. "I want to meet my father." Her eyes followed Noah as he approached her.

"Eyla." Noah sat down in front of her, nuzzling her muzzle. Failing to see his brother narrowing his eyes down at him. "I heard mom and dad talking. Your dad is still in a coma, whatever it is he has it's still hurting him. Even if you find him, you won't get much out of it. He won't even know you are there."

"Noah is right," Seth grumbled. "You leaving will only cause the folks to worry. I mean more than they normally do. Not to mention we have your mom's team living here as well."

Eyla pulled away, brushing past the two brothers. "I need some air."

"You think she will go looking for him?" Seth asked.

Noah huffed. "If that were mom or dad would you stay?"

"No, of course not."

"Then there is your answer."

Time jump: later that night

Eyla poked her head out of the doggy door, checking to ensure no one was around. She noticed it was Alpha Ned's pack patrolling tonight. Which made this whole situation even riskier. To her luck, it seemed she picked the hour as the patrol wolves swapped with the next shift. Running across the wide courtyard, Eyla leaped over the hedges and into the wood.

"Woah, I did it!"

"Took you long enough."

"What the hell?!" She jumped back at the sudden appearance of her sister. "What are you doing here?"

"I knew you wouldn't let this go, so I figured why not come along," Ewa grumbled. "He's my father too."

"When mom and Uncle Ned find out, we will be in so much trouble," Eyla stated. "Are you sure?"

"You go. I go." Trotting off ahead of her, Ewa stopped with a confused look. "Do you even know where dad is?"

"Mom was there today, I am sure her scent is still fresh. We find that and we find where they are keeping dad." Eyla lowered her nose to the ground, sniffing around. "I also heard Alphas Stark and Alex, that he was being kept by mom's old apartment. It's being watched over a few pack mates of Uncle Ned."

"You have a very bad habit of eavesdropping." Ewa mumbled. "Mom's scent goes this way."

The two females took off running once they picked up on the scent. Reaching the edge of their territory, they froze. Stepping over the invisible line meant they no longer had protection. They would be a high chance of running into other wolves, hunters, and other humans. Sharing a look with each other, they both stepped over together.