Maia stood on the cropping rock overhang that allowed her to rise above the pack, naked and covered in mud and war paint, feathers in her hair. It was the night of their first full moon as a whole pack, staving off the change until she had spoken.

"We stand at the cusp of this great, new beginning, together as brothers and sisters, parents and children, husbands, wives and lovers. This is a night to cherish and love one another, to give in to our inner animals," she shouted, baring her teeth as the wolves around her barked and snarled. Maia smiled and gestured to her mate standing behind her, Derek's eyes glowing dimly, "And this is a night to bring the newcomers into the fold. They are all fair game here ladies and gentleman – and I must say that if any of you get your teeth into Isaac, you better hold on to him. But this big Alpha is all mine!"

There were both catcalls and wolf-whistles from the men and women, Maia looking up through the clouds as the moon began its ascent towards the center of the sky.

"Prepare yourselves…"

Some of the mated pairs with children began to start away from the other wolves, knowing that the rest of the pack was headed towards a frenzy.

Deucalion looked up at Maia as she closed her eyes and howled at the moon, growling deep within his chest. "I would ease myself, brother. You cannot have her – she is mated," Kali whispered as she turned her back on the Alphamega, gripping his shoulder. Her pack mate bared his teeth at her, his eyes a bright, burning scarlet, "Should I take you tonight then?"

"Oh, of course not. You are much too tame for my tastes, sweetheart."

Maia kissed her husband's neck and chest as she started to feel her wolf rearing up inside of her, almost breathless with anticipation. "I have never been more in need of a full moon with you than I am tonight," she whispered, her heated flesh brushing and sliding deliciously against his. Derek, however, was in no mood with the burning haze washing over his eyes and he turned away from her, the Alpha male trying to ignore his more basic instincts. "You should enjoy your night with the pack, Mai – I want to be alone tonight," he relied quietly, his voice uncharacteristically calm. She stepped back just enough to question him, but was caught in the pull of the moon, Maia letting out a bellow that put even Boyd to shame.

Derek followed after her, his wolf falling from its hind legs to all fours, the massive beast shaking his fur out and blowing a huff of air at Maia. She bumped her snout against his jaw and he snapped at her just close enough to make her pull away, the white wolf ignoring the howling and snarling going on behind her.

His wolf was much larger than it had been during the last full moon – due to being this very unique wolf's mate and basking in her power – but he still was not as large as her, Derek eyeing his wife before taking a step back. She stayed where she was before he turned and started off into the woods, Maia making to follow after him with an insistent bark. Derek's head snapped around and he growled, baring his teeth at her and watching her eyes narrow. He took off into the forest then and Maia stood to her full height before racing after him, heavy paws like thunder against the hard packed dirt.

The trees blurred into a solid wall of black on either side of Maia, and it was easy to dodge the ones in her way, leaping over fallen trunks as if she were flying. She took in the sensation of her muscles bunching and releasing, her wolf falling into a rhythm as she raced after her mate.

Maia kept calling out to Derek, his wolf silent and quick, turning as she heard someone join her. It was Deucalion, the male coming up alongside her left flank quickly. She looked back at him as if to ask why he was there, just as they barreled through the trees. Neither of them was prepared for the forest to suddenly turn into a cliff face, Deucalion digging his claws in to keep from flying out into the ravine. His pack mate was not so lucky however, Maia barking as she slid over the edge, her paws clambering for purchase.

Derek turned as he heard her whine in distress, seeing Deucalion torn between helping Maia and chasing after him. They both knew what he was doing now – Derek was breaking away from the pack, running into the darkness and away from his mate. Maia cried out again and attempted to pull herself up, her white eyes affixed on her husband, her hind paws trying to find some purchase on the rocks.

He gave her one last mournful look before disappearing over the ridge and into the night, Deucalion lowering his head to drag the Alphamega back onto solid ground by her scruff.

"Are you okay," Deucalion questioned when she had phased, bending down to wrap his hand around her shoulder. Maia reached up to grasp his fingers, staring down at the dirt; she knew why Derek had run and it was something he needed, but with the pack laws, it was a virtual death sentence.

Her companion seemed to know what she was thinking, stroking her hair and sighing, "We should go after him before Derek has a chance to get too far-"

"We are not killing him Deucalion."

"Look Maia, this was your rule – your law! And you made damn sure we enforced it," he said before he found himself on his back, his Alpha's hand around his throat. Maia ground him into the dirt for emphasis, her teeth bared and her eyes a blinding white, "This is different: Derek is not leaving the pack and he is not leaving me. You know how difficult it was to go from an Alpha to a de facto Beta underneath me and he is dealing with the same thing – we will give him his time and his space. He will come back."

He growled and threw her off of him, standing erect as they faced off. "I have given blood for you, taken lives for you, followed you blindly-"

"Its what you are supposed to do, Deucalion. You are meant to follow me: my word is law."

"I need you to track him down and bring him back Peter."

Maia and Peter stood in the backyard, staring up at the sky that was empty save for a few twinkling stars. She had her hands tucked into her back pockets, Peter watching as she threw her head back and shook out her curls.

"They want to kill him, don't they," he questioned, sighing when her eyes moved to meet his. "They would not be the first to want to cull the little-"

"Mind your words, love. That's still my husband you're talking about," Maia warned, even though her voice was light and nowhere near threatening in tone.

Peter crossed his arms over his chest and sighed, knowing that he would do as she asked. "I'll do what I can – find him and follow closely enough not to lose him, but not closely enough that he'll… eat me. I know that your campaign starts tomorrow; when will you be sworn in?" Maia smiled at his blind faith in her abilities and moved to lean against his shoulder, closing her eyes, "If I win, then about eight weeks from now. Six weeks to campaign and generate interest and votes, a full week for the constituents to cast their votes, and another week to count them all and prepare for the swearing in. I want him back by then; can you do that for me?"

"I will try."

She smirked and nodded, knowing that he had his hands full with Derek. "And I guess that's all I can ask for."