Chapter Seven: Just Comfortable Enough…

Seneca walked alongside Michael, taking it upon herself to show him about the labyrinth that was the Underworld. She watched his actions carefully as he was forced to interact with the other Lycan's in the den. His reserved nature amused her in a way, but she knew if he continued, he was going to be challenged.

He'd learn soon enough.

Much more interesting was most of the pack's reactions to him. As they moved through the tunnels they encountered other Lycans in pairs and small groups. She had expected hostility as she introduced him to key pack members. Without exception the Were's cowered respectfully and wouldn't meet his eyes. Seneca was unsure if it was because of his reputation after the battle with the vampire elder, or they sensed something else. She had felt some sway as a result of his pedigree herself, though he was unconscious of the power he held over her den.

Michael became flustered by their deference, begging them not to stoop before him. In several instances he pulled them to their feet and asked them to look at him. Inwardly she was groaning, knowing that this was going to become a problem sooner than she thought.

Seneca pulled him aside when they had a break between introductions.

"Don't," she growled.

"Don't what?"

"If you are serious about leading us you cannot show that kind of weakness."

"It's not weak…"

"In this world," Seneca snarled, cutting him off, "not all are equal. You lose status each time you treat them as if they were on level with you. You will find yourself challenged if you continue to do so. What you are doing is nearly as bad as exposing your throat to a rival."

He seemed shocked by her words, and she frowned at his reaction.

"Stop thinking like a human, Michael. The social order of the pack is nothing like what you are used to. There is no equal rights movement here, no level playing field. You either learn that, or you will be ousted before you can get your feet under you."

"I'm beginning to see that."

His interactions improved but she could tell it was against his very nature to act so harshly to another being. She caught his eye rolling, and his grimaces. His expressions were guilty each time she locked his gaze. The others would sense this as well - the reluctance to be the disciplinarian of their group would give them leverage over him.

"How is it you beat William?" She posed as they came to the main chamber.

He glared at her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're not a fighter – you show no comfort for the warrior's way. What did you do before you were marked?"

She noted his reluctance to respond, "I was…a medical intern."

Her eyes ached as her pupils narrowed sharply, "You were a savior, I see. That explains a lot."

He looked as if she had found a flaw in him, and he didn't like her assessment.

"Down here such caring is a weakness."

"Seneca, I've had my share of fights since then. I've held my own. The power is there - when I need it."

She inclined her head, "You had better start anticipating better when it is needed then. You will be challenged for dominance, I would say before the day is out."

"I don't see a point in letting what I have become change who I am!"

His frustration with the inevitability of her statement was evident. Seneca saw a flicker of the power he was speaking of flit across the backs of his brown eyes. She needed to push him a bit harder to bring it closer to the surface. It was the only way she was going to prepare him for what he would face. The man was obviously too hard headed to actually listen to what she was saying.

"Then you will not lead this pack, none will have a weak Alpha take charge."

"Is power so much about brute strength among you? I don't believe that's the case."

She blinked, startled by the statement and then looked away from that angry and intent expression.

"It used to be that strength was only a part of it. Cunning, smarts, and wisdom had equal footing with physical prowess…before."

"Before Lucian upset the balance. Damn it, Seneca don't you think the time has more than passed to restore that balance?"

"Peace would have to be attained first. We cannot continue the war and try to restore the women to equal standing. The vampires cannot know that the women exist yet, they would most certainly target them for the Death Dealers to take down. Even if we can hide the women, pups cannot be raised in the environment that we find ourselves in now."

Her eyes strayed to the dreary surroundings.

"Are you really so few now?"

"This den has a total of six Lycana. Six – for a hundred plus men. It's no wonder the men fight so often, they have no where else to place their energy."

Michael looked curious a moment.

Her voice dropped so low she was having a hard time hearing herself. "Each Lycana is mated to one of the pure borne lines, what's left of them. Lucian's fodder are on their own. They are made to take precautions mind you. The last thing we need is a rash of half-bloods running through the streets of Budapest."

She sighed, "It will be a long time before balance can come about again. The men need to be broken up, sent away, or killed. Only when the war ends can we even consider starting."

He appeared pained at her choices for evening out the numbers. He did not voice his discomfort, saying instead, "You have to trust that I can help that happen."

"You'll forgive my pessimism, Michael. I have heard too many similar claims to put much faith in your enthusiasm. Lucian's plan sounded more than a little tempting as well. You know how that ended."

It was Michael's turn to look away. "I want the opportunity to try."

She paused mid-step and gazed at him, "Does that mean you have come to a decision?"

It was too much to ask, and she knew it.

"Uh, no."

She grinned at his consternation.

Further discussion was cut off as angry snarls echoed across the expanse.

What now?

Seneca spun catching sight of two males locked in mortal battle. She glimpsed over to catch Michael's fascinated expression as the two proceeded to cut each other to shreds. She then moved through the melee around the two, satisfied when the crowd parted at the sense of her approach. Michael was one step behind her. She had to give him credit, he didn't back down easily. He was implying something by sticking so close to her, something she didn't mention to him. After all Seneca wanted him as her Alpha, so she was not going to discourage the unspoken assumption she saw in the pack members. To them he was already Alpha, or at least – to most of them.

She was interested to see how Michael would react to the fight she was about to bust up – the blood and the violence. As she broke through the inner ring of the audience, she heard one of the lesser males cut Michael's approach off.

Here it came.

"Where do you think you're going? This isn't your business."

Seneca spun. The two killing each other was suddenly the lesser of her interests. She saw Marko facing down the hybrid.

Michael was glaring down at the restraining hand on his bare chest. The Lycan across from him was taller and heavier set than Michael in his human form. There was a momentary lost look in Michael's eyes, but Seneca noted his glance her direction. After he caught her eye he squared his shoulders and met the challenger's gaze.

"You sure do place yourself pretty high up the order for someone not yet recognized as a pack member."

And here Seneca thought news traveled fast, this one was obviously not in the "in" crowd.

Marko also squared up his frame trying to cower the young man. Marko was nowhere near the top of the pecking order, but that only meant he had more to prove to himself and his fellow Lycans regarding his worth. Picking on the new guy was great sport for so lowly a warrior, and an easy way to move at least a notch up the organizational structure.

"Standin' there next to our Alpha like you own her. There are many more worthy candidates than you standing in this crowd tonight."

Michael didn't back down, which surprised Seneca. Considering his earlier actions, she had expected him to give berth to the other Lycan. Perhaps she had sold his determination to fit in short.

"I think Seneca can make her own decisions about a Lycan's worth – friend."

"You think you have Alpha locked don't you, freak?"

Seneca could barely hear Michael's voice. He was speaking low, and the cacophony at her back threatened to drown out the conversation. "You've got a choice, suggest you make the right one. Move aside."

"You ain't tough."

She saw Michael smile, his eyes bleeding until they were black from corner to corner, "Really? Then let's see who can slip their skin faster."

Seneca stood straighter, hearing the heat in the hybrid's words.

The Lycan roared his challenge and Michael's response was instantaneous.

She had been impressed by the young man's ability to slide into his alter form before. Seneca had figured it was only because she was surprised by his awakening that she imagined his speed earlier. He proved in that show that her assumption was wrong. Michael morphed within seconds to that blue skinned humanoid form she had first seen on the burned out grounds of the mansion. She catalogued his features in one pass of her golden eyes, noting what looked vampiric, and what most certainly was Lycan about his form. She was sure she would never forget his appearance – ever.

He returned the challenge, a snarl that shook the bricks above them. As the sound died, Seneca noted that the entire area had fallen silent. The Lycan who had posed the challenge halted mid-transformation and was staring at the enraged creature across from him.

Michael – once more surprising Seneca - took no pity on the challenger. He cleared the space between them in a blur that she didn't quite catch. Her eyes were unable to track his movements. Michael came to a stop some distance from Marko, standing among a knot of her den. The Lycans around him parted company as quickly as they could get their feet under them, unsure where he came from and most certainly not interested in becoming collateral damage to the fight. Michael turned to face the Lycan in a deliberate motion, and the challenger mirrored him.

On the Lycan's face there was pained surprise, and as the man straightened, Seneca noted gouges on his body that started on his left cheek and extended all the way to his right hip. She jumped when his entrails spilled from between the parallel gashes to slap wetly on the floor. As if they were an anchor, his legs buckled and his knees hit the damp floor with a bony thunk.

Michael started for him again, and Seneca made herself move, she'd seen plenty, "Enough!"

She inserted herself between the hybrid and her downed pack member.

Michael glared at her, meeting her eyes as an equal would. A bare flicker of irritation flared in her gut at his audacity, but it was gone again, longing followed in its wake.

"We are few enough in number now. We need not do the vampires any more favors." She placed a hand on the leathery skin of one shoulder, "Let him heal, he's learned his lesson."

She noted his slight nod as he stepped back from her, consenting to her judgment. Seneca twirled until she was facing Marko. His transformation was slower than normal; his scream of pain a testimony to how agonizing this kind of healing was for a Lycan. Soon it was the bellow of a wounded beast. That sound died out as the transformation began to heal the damage inflicted by the pack's newest member.

When he had once more assumed his human form, with not even a scar to show for his fight, Seneca returned her attention to the hybrid. He had not relaxed his stance nor had he shifted back into his human skin. He was expecting more fight, probably from other members gathered around. Michael's gaze moved about the crowd, challenging any of the remaining audience to meet his eyes.

If there was any question before in Seneca's or the other members of the pack's mind, Michael had just proven his right to lead. She wondered if he knew what message he had just sent to his future supplicants. He had assumed the role of Alpha whether he agreed to it or not. He had cemented his choice with action instead of words. In the eyes of the pack he was now their leader.

She was about to pull him aside and talk to him, when the silence was interrupted by the sound of gunfire deeper into the tunnels.