AN: The term 'norm' or 'norms' is short for 'normal human', someone with no supernatural abilities.

Bowers is a real place. I couldn't find any information on population so I used the population of a similar community near where I live. No offense meant to the people of Bowers, Wisconsin.

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CHAPTER 4

Dominance

A few days after the full moon the team and the McEllens landed at the General Mitchell International Airport. Hardison had made his usual arrangements so the five of them were headed to the car rental. Hardison noticed that Eliot and Ewen had taken the lead and were several paces ahead of the rest of them.

"They always like this when they're together?" Hardison asked Abby.

Abby smiled. "Oh heavens yes. I think it's a wolf thing." She shrugged.

They had to slow a little for cross traffic and Parker noticed that Ewen kept a half step behind and to Eliot's left even though there was room for them to walk next to each other. Parker had noticed their two man formation when the three of them had gone out for a run the morning after the McEllens had arrived and again when they had gone to Eliot's cabin for the full moon. Anytime that they went anywhere together Eliot and Ewen were out front and Ewen took up a defensive position to Eliot's left.

"It's because Eliot is the alpha. Ewen is second in Natali's pack right?" Parker was holding Hardison's hand and had to lean a little past him to see Abby when she asked her question.

"Yes Ewen has been second for…hmmm… let me think." Abby's face turned thoughtful but her pace didn't slow.

"Just over fifty years." Ewen called over his shoulder without looking.

Hardison rolled his eyes. "Werewolf hearing man." He grumbled even knowing the two men up front would hear him. A little louder he said. "We weren't talkin' ta you two. Just keep your super hearing to yourself."

Within a few minutes they made it to the rental desk and Hardison pulled out his ID. "I'm Joseph Miller. I'm here to pick up my van."

The rest of them were waiting to the side of the room where Eliot could keep an eye on entrances and exits without being in the middle of foot traffic.

"Joseph Miller?" Abby asked quietly.

Eliot leaned a little toward her and whispered. "We're the bad guys." He had a grin in his voice even though his face was mostly serious.

"We are each wanted criminals in a lot of places. It's best not to travel under our own names." Parker whispered very quietly from Abby's other side.

"Oh…I hadn't thought of that." Abby sounded chagrined.

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After picking up their boxes from a local post office, the drive to Elkhorn should have taken a little less than an hour but Hardison decided on a purposeful detour. Turning off of Interstate forty-three Hardison headed for Bowers. The scenery had already been pretty rural for a while now with farms and huge fields on either side of the interstate. When they turned off of the interstate onto Bowers Rd. things felt even more remote. The two lane road was narrow and the shoulder was crumbling with age but there were practically no other cars so the narrow lanes weren't an issue. Hardison slowed to a stop at a four way intersection. There was one house on either side of the road and nothing but fields and trees as far as they could see in any direction.

"Hardison are we lost?" Parker looked around while they waited for a cattle truck to roll past.

"Nope, mama, this is the great metropolis of Bowers, Wisconsin." Hardison teased as he made right onto highway eleven.

"Metropolis huh?" Eliot rolled his eyes.

"There are so many people here they haven't even counted them!" Hardison faked indignance.

"You mean they couldn't find anyone to count." Eliot countered.

"Actually there's at least fifty people who filed taxes last year with a Bowers address." Hardison sounded smug.

"Hardison if we're lost it's okay." Parker patted his arm.

"I am not lost. Have a little faith woman!" Hardison paused before taking a left off of highway eleven. "I thought yall might wanna see where our werewolf guy been hanging out." Hardison pointed to the sign that clearly read 'Bray Rd.' Hardison pulled onto Bray Rd. and kept the van a little below speed limit.

Eliot moved up to crouch between the two front seats for a better view out of the windshield. Abby and Ewen watched the countryside disappearing behind them through the windows in the van's rear doors.

Parker stared out the windows. "How are we supposed to find him out there?"

"I'm betting we can get him to come to us." Eliot's grin was wicked and his eyes flashed yellow for just a moment.

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It didn't take long to make it to the south side of Elkhorn. There weren't many hotels in and around Elkhorn; it was just too small for there to be very many options. As they drove through town they passed a small brightly painted Victorian style house with a sign out front advertising it as a bed and breakfast.

"Oh isn't that just the cutest little place!" Abby cooed when she spotted it.

"Sorry. We can't stay in a place like that." Parker shrugged from the front seat.

"Why not?" Abby looked around.

"Eliot. Yeah, mostly Eliot." Parker said it like that would explain everything.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Eliot growled at Parker. Abby tried to swallow her laugh.

"I think what Parker is trying to say is that in a small place like that we would be too memorable. We try to stay in places where we are more likely to blend in. Some place where no one will take notice of us." Hardison explained to Abby and Ewen while he made the turn that would take them to their hotel.

"I think you and I would blend in just fine." Parker said to Hardison. "It's Eliot. Sometimes he comes back from a job with blood on his shirt or, other stuff." Parker tried to hide her grin but Eliot and Ewen could both smell her amusement at teasing Eliot.

Eliot rolled his eyes. "How about next time I let you get blood on your shirt." Eliot offered.

"Ewe gross." Parker shook her head and smiled.

Hardison had booked them three rooms next to each other. Two of the rooms had a connecting inner door and that was the pair of rooms that the team took. Hardison reminded everyone that they had an hour until they were supposed to meet Kempton Foxman at Babe Mann Park.

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Hardison had chosen Babe Mann Park for its open space. They should be able to find a place where they could talk openly without 'norms' as Eliot called them overhearing. It was also a semi neutral location. Kempton insisted that he hadn't claimed territory and that had caused Eliot and Ewen to both roll their eyes when they'd heard it.

Stepping out of Lucille seven-point-five Eliot stretched and enjoyed the nip of the chill wind. Autumn was settling in, as was evidenced by the little pops of color where the leaves were changing here and there. Eliot could smell the weather front moving in. It didn't smell like snow but the rain was going to be bitterly cold when it got there. Parker hopped down from the passenger seat and zipped up her fluffy winter coat. She slid her mittens out of the pockets and pulled them on. Eliot leaned back into the van and pulled out a bag. He rummaged through it for a moment until he drew out a handful of knitted items. He draped a scarf around his neck took a scarf and hat each to Hardison and Parker. Eliot looked around to make sure everyone was ready before he started off down the path that circled the pond in the middle of the park. Ewen settled in behind and to Eliot's left and the rest of them followed.

About halfway around the pond Eliot slowed. Parker noticed Eliot's shoulders stiffen just slightly and Ewen's chin tilt up. Looking ahead she saw Kempton approaching them from across the park. Eliot turned to the side and waited. Parker and Hardison stepped up next to Eliot and Abby joined Ewen just slightly behind the three of them. Kempton stopped ten feet away and bobbed his head in acknowledgement of the group.

Kempton scanned their faces for a moment but settled on Eliot. Kempton kept his gaze just a little below Eliot's eyes. "Alpha. Thank you for coming."

"I'd like to introduce Parker and Hardison, my pack. And Ewen and Abby who have been sent to help. I'm Eliot Spencer, alpha of the Portland City Pack." Eliot motioned to each as he introduced them.

"I am Keme of the Meskwaki people, lone wolf." Keme bobbed his head again.

Eliot could smell Keme's sadness when he introduced himself as a lone wolf. He'd never minded being a lone wolf and hadn't understood Ewen and Nati's fierce pride in being part of a pack until he'd found a pack of his own. He couldn't imagine leaving them and it made him think more of Keme for putting his brother before his pack after all this time.

Eliot put a hand on Parker's back and encouraged her forward. Parker extended her hand and waited for him to close the distance. "Mr. Foxman we think we can help your brother but first we need to find him."

Keme stepped forward and gently shook Parker's hand. Once he was that close he was able to smell the subtle difference that marked Parker, Hardison, and Abby as human. Keme's eyes went yellow and he looked directly into Parker's eyes. "Humans?!" Eliot could smell anger and betrayal coming from Keme.

Eliot stepped forward and put his hands on Parker's shoulders. Ewen tugged Abby behind him and stepped closer to Hardison. Eliot's eyes went yellow. "Mine." Eliot growled. Shifting Parker behind him Eliot reached into a pants pocket. "We have offered to help you. I have told you before that you will work with my people and not just me alone. If you can't handle that, then you only have one alternative." Eliot drew a fifty-caliber round out of his pocket and tossed it to Keme. The bullet at the end of the cartridge was solid silver.

Keme dropped the round when the bullet burned his palm. "I am sorry alpha. I meant no disrespect. I am an old wolf and too set in my ways. I offer my apologies to all of you. Please, stay, talk. I am grateful for your help."

Parker peeked around Eliot's shoulder and reached for Hardison's hand. She stepped just a little past Eliot and extended her hand again. "It's okay we can start over." Parker smiled at him. Eliot kept a hand on Parker's shoulder and waited.

Keme reached for Parker's hand and shook it again. "Truly, I am sorry if I offended you. What can I do to help you find my brother?"

Eliot's eyes went back to blue and he stepped back just a little. Parker could be sweet when she wanted to be, but she was still a little unpredictable and Eliot was glad to see that she had chosen to deescalate the situation. He was still a little on edge himself, and took advantage of everyone focusing on Parker to regain a little better control.

Hardison stepped forward with his tablet and held it out for Keme to see. "The red dots on this map show all the places that your brother has been sighted. We need a better idea of what his territory is." Hardison and Keme focused on the map and got down to business. Parker stepped back just a little since she wasn't needed.

The wind kicked up a little and Parker shivered at the bite of it. Eliot stepped up behind her to shield her from the wind. Leaning close he whispered just loud enough for Parker to hear. "You did good Parker." He ran his hands up and down the arms of her coat to try and encourage a little warmth. Ewen said nothing but patted Parker on the shoulder.

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After their meeting with Keme they headed back to the hotel to plan and then rest up. Ewen and Abby had headed to their own room and the team had settled into their rooms as well. Eliot was reclining on his bed and flipping back and forth between a couple of sports channels. Hardison came in through the connecting door between the rooms, flopped down in the chair and propped his feet up on the bed next to Eliot.

"Something on your mind?" Eliot asked without looking at Hardison. Hardison smelled angry.

"Yeah." Hardison sighed, and Eliot muted the TV.

"So what's up?" Eliot turned a little more toward Hardison.

"Why is everyone freaking out over me and Parker? Especially over Parker."

"That's my fault mostly." Eliot pulled at one of his bracelets.

"How so?" Hardison crossed his arms and waited.

"You guys are wholly human but somehow you've become my pack. Everyone assumes that I'm alpha of a werewolf pack and I've encouraged that line of thinking… You guys are so fragile compared to some of the things out there. I've never heard of something like this happening and neither has anyone else so it comes as a shock to people like Ewen, who find out that you guys aren't wolves." Eliot readjusted a couple of his bracelets.

"Right. I guess that makes sense. But what's the deal with Parker? Everyone seems to be making a bigger deal over Parker, and truthfully I'm pretty sick of it. Parker has come so far and now all these freaks…" Hardison was angry but realized too late how Eliot might take what he'd started to say. "I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean you right? If anything, finding out about you has boosted Parker's confidence it's just, these other guys. They're making her second guess herself and I hate it."

"I know. That's my fault too." Eliot sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"Not everything is actually your fault you know? You can't actually run the whole freaking world." Hardison smirked and nudged Eliot with a toe.

"Yeah I know. But this thing with Parker is my fault. When we first started working together my role was pretty clear. I was the muscle and it was my job to follow Nate's orders." Hardison scoffed as he thought of some of the loud disagreements that had happened between Nate and Eliot. "But eventually I wanted to protect you all and I'd back Nate even when I didn't agree, because so often his plans came together despite everything. Then Nate and Sophie retired and Parker stepped up as our mastermind. She amazes me with the things she comes up with and frankly I'd probably follow her to hell and back if that's what she wanted." Eliot paused as he thought about how true that was.

"I get that but I don't see how that has anything to do with how these other wolves keep reacting to her." Hardison still sounded miffed.

"Because I follow her, that is their problem. And I mean that; it's their problem. If this was a regular wolf pack you two would have to follow me pretty much without question. There would be a definite pack order and no one would be able to deviate from it without violence. I don't want that. Not for me, and especially not for you. These other wolves can feel that I am alpha but I choose to follow a human woman and that sets them off."

"So there's nothing we can do about it?" Hardison sounded a little frustrated but Eliot could smell a shift in Hardison's emotions from angry to accepting.

"If we start avoiding the freaky side of life like we used to but otherwise no. I'll talk with…" Eliot stopped when he realized that Parker was nearby. He'd been so focused on Hardison and their conversation that he hadn't noticed exactly when he'd started smelling her perfume or hearing her heartbeat. "How long you been there darlin?"

Parker stepped around the corner and hopped onto the bed. "So I'm not doing anything wrong? I'm not making things harder for you?"

"You are doing nothing wrong. In fact, I think you've been handling things really well. You probably saved me from a nasty fight today with the way that you handled things with Keme." Eliot looked her in the eye and squeezed the toe of her sneaker, which was the closest thing to him.

"That's another thing." Parker said and looked intently at Eliot; almost glaring at him with how hard she was staring.

"What?" Eliot and Hardison asked at the same time.

"You look at us all the time and we look at you, but I notice the others don't look at you. Not even Ewen and he's your friend."

Eliot smirked. "Caught that did ya? It's a werewolf thing. It's sort of like good manners and it's usually a good idea if you don't want to end up in a fight. I can look Ewen or Keme in the eyes if I want to because on neutral ground like this or especially in our packs territory, I'm the most dominant wolf here. I know it, and they know it. Now if we were in Nati's territory I wouldn't want to look Ewen in the eyes. With his pack behind him on his home turf it would be seen as a challenge. Like if I wanted to take his place in the pack. When Keme looked you in the eyes today I wanted…well, never mind. I'm guessing you didn't feel it because you aren't a wolf, but it was a challenge."

"So why do you let us look at you or whatever?" Hardison reached over to hold Parker's hand.

"I don't want you guys to be wolves or have to act like wolves. We became family way before you guys became my pack and I don't want that to change. Besides, do you think I'm suddenly gonna start hacking into data bases or whatever? Or do you suddenly want to become our team's hitter?" Eliot addressed the last questions to Hardison.

Parker and Hardison both laughed. "I can hardly even picture it." Hardison chuckled at the thought of Eliot even logging into one of his simpler programs.

"We work together the way that we do because of the skills we each bring to the table not because of some dominance thing. I don't feel a challenge when you guys look me in the eyes I just feel like we're family." Eliot felt a sudden surge of happiness from Parker and he thought that if it was anyone else, they would have tried to hug him. Eliot palmed Parker's cheek for a moment. "You hungry?" Eliot looked at the two of them and checked the time. "Let's get something to eat. We'll need to leave soon."