Following her surprise transformation some weeks ago, Evey had quickly realised that playing basketball – or any sport or game, really – with the other werewolves was akin to cheating. They always let her win. So, in the spirit of fairness and sportsmanship, she simply sat on a bench and watched them as they dribbled and dunked. Jabbar and his mates were playing against the kids. Evey was cheering the cubs, and it really did seem to motivate them. They were running around wildly, but were surprisingly accurate in their passes and throws. They were playing as a close-knit team. It was pack dynamic at its finest.

Everyone was having fun, and it was a crisp, sunny autumn day. Greyback still hadn't returned, and the werewolves, just like Evey, were all the happier for it. Even Scabior appeared a little less tense than usual. He was almost…friendly.

Evey felt slightly guilty at the thought, but she was now fully acclimated to her environment. She was beginning to think that, if worst came to worst, and Greyback did find a way to safely get rid of her, at least she'd had pleasant last months. She'd made new friends. She'd learned new things. She'd laughed a lot. She'd run as a wild wolf under the full moon.

The sensation, the thrill of it, was impossible to put into words. Evey figured that only werewolves could ever understand it. It was…true freedom. It was peaceful and liberating and exhilarating. She couldn't get enough of it, but she was only allowed outside the prison when Scabior was there to keep an eye on her. He was her official chaperone; Greyback had given him full control over her.

Which was why she was so desperate to befriend him, of course. He was being agreeable, most of the time, but Evey could sense his reluctance to let himself fully accept her. Greyback had left him in charge, and Evey was now his responsibility. It was like Scabior knew perfectly well that, if he allowed her to get too close, she would eventually convince him to let her go. Which was something he could do, now. His orders took precedence over everything else, when Greyback was away. That was how much the Alpha trusted him.

Still, the possibility of an escape was not Evey's sole motive for befriending Scabior. He was a genuinely good guy, and he would make a fair, competent leader, if only Greyback could be permanently removed from the equation. Scabior would be a good friend to anyone, if he let people get close enough to try. He was loyal and (somewhat over-)protective of his packmates. Younglings and old-timers alike looked up to him. But even if Evey somehow managed to foment a true, full-fledge revolution from within the pack, there was no way that they could defeat Greyback. He was pretty much invincible, for one thing. For another, his subordinates were terrified of him. And yes, they did respect him. The fact wasn't unfathomable to Evey, not anymore, but she still wished it weren't so. They were good people, all of them. They were wasting their lives here, and Evey had a feeling that Greyback would eventually demand that they participate in the ongoing war, one way or another. It would ruin them.

Thinking about it made her sad, but she didn't know what to do. She was making some progress with Scabior, but she wasn't hopeful about her chances of escaping before the year was out. Or before Greyback returned, whichever occurred first.

Marko, one of the younger cubs, only six, had just scored a three-pointer, and everyone was cheering him, even his supposed adversaries. Evey whooped and whistled like some crazed fan, which made Marko laugh in delight.

And then all the werewolves gathered on the basketball court froze, apparently listening for something that Evey couldn't make out. Heads turned toward the main gate, and she followed their gaze. A big, muddy four-wheeler was parked just outside the entrance, and three men were getting out of it.

If they'd come this close, they must be able to see through whatever charms and wards concealed the place. Evey knew that there were some werewolves, pack members all, who lived outside of the prison and visited once in a while, but the others were watching the visitors with narrowed eyes, obviously suspicious. A few cubs even growled.

Scabior wasn't around, so Evey decided to meet the newcomers as they stepped inside the perimeter. As a captive, she couldn't be in charge in Scabior's absence, but she knew that nobody else would take the initiative.

One of the strangers, a tall, imposing man with a bushy black beard, grinned at her. "Miss Kane?"

"I'm the only woman around here, so you can't really get it wrong," Evey replied flatly. Her mind, however, was working furiously. How did he know her name? "Who are you?"

"I'm Ted," the man said. Well, that was very...vague.

Before he could introduce his fellows – if that was his intention – Scabior marched out of the main building. "What do you think you're doing?" he barked at them. "Greyback's not here."

The tall man – Ted – shrugged his massive shoulders. "Doesn't matter, lad. We're here to get the girl." He turned to Evey again. "To rescue the damsel in distress, as it were."

Scabior moved closer to her. He was in full protective mode, muscles taut, jaw clenched, senses alert. "They're…like Fenrir," he whispered to her. Wolves? Had Greyback finally revealed her existence to them, or had they found out on their own, somehow? "That one," Scabior went on, indicating a short, pale man with greying hair, "is Demonslayer. Hernán Cortés. I've seen him here before. I don't know the other two."

Evey looked up at the large man with the black beard. "Let me guess," she said with a smirk. "You must be Blackbeard."

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, but it was Cortés who spoke. "How do you know this?" He seemed outraged, not only at Evey's easy guess, but at the fact that Scabior had named him, epithet and all. Evey had been right: the Wolves were not happy that Greyback would so carelessly reveal their identities to anyone who asked.

She decided to add fuel to the fire. "Greyback told me all about you," she said. "Your names, and your little pet names for each other." It was only partially true – the Alpha hadn't named them all – but it should undermine him for good among his own kind. If they couldn't entrust him with their secret…

Cortés muttered darkly, too low for Evey to hear. The last man had to be Miyamoto Musashi, judging by his appearance. He remained silent as he studied her impassively.

Blackbeard shook his head slowly. "Damned cub. What the hell was he thinking?" He sighed heavily. "Well, nothing we can do about it now. How about we proceed to getting you out of here, sweetheart?" he asked Evey with a bright smile. She glared at him.

"You can't do that," Scabior growled, eyes fixed on the ground. "You can't take her. I have orders."

Blackbeard let out a booming laugh. "And who's going to stop us, boy? You and that rabble over there?" He snorted. "You can't even look me in the eyes. How're you going to fight me?"

Scabior raised his head and stared unblinkingly into the former pirate's eyes. "It's not your gaze I'm avoiding, you twat," he said fiercely.

That brought 'Ted' up short. He blinked, then frowned down at Evey. It was her turn to grin. "Neat trick, huh?"

"You submit yourself to a woman?" Cortés asked Scabior incredulously.

"In the end, don't you all?" Evey wondered idly.

That made Ted laugh again, and even Musashi allowed himself a small smile. "What in the blazes are you?" Blackbeard asked. "No one said to expect this." He made a vague gesture encompassing all of her. "That scent…"

"Yeah, speaking of that. Who sent you?" she demanded, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"The Mother did," he replied simply.

She glanced in Scabior's direction, but he looked as confused as Evey felt. "Mother? Whose mother?"

Ted scowled. "No, the Mother. You know, the Ancients' leader. You do know about them, don't you?"

Did he mean the Bloodmother? That made no sense. Evey didn't even know the woman. Had Tony told her about Evey? Could he have gone as far as to involve the Ancients in this matter, just to find her? Or had Walden forced his hand until he made it happen? That sounded like something her fiancé would do. Was he alive, then? Had Greyback lied? She didn't dare hope, but…

"Was Walden involved in this?" Might as well ask them directly.

"Don't know anyone by that name," Ted replied indifferently. "The Mother was the one who contacted us and requested that we get you out of here. Preferably in one piece. No one else was mentioned."

"Now, if you're done with the questions, may we proceed with the extraction?" Cortés said impatiently. "We all have better things to do, I'm sure."

"I'm not quite done," Evey informed him coldly. "Where are you taking me, exactly?"

"To the rendezvous point. Stonehenge."

Of all the places…but it didn't matter. "Who will be waiting for me there?"

"The Mother, I suspect, as well as her flock." Blackbeard, for one, didn't seem in a hurry to leave. He scratched his beard. "We have an arrangement. Why so distrustful, lassie? We're trying to rescue you. Surely you want to get out of there, no?"

Of course she bloody well did. "I'm just concerned as to what will happen to Scabior and the others, once Greyback realises I'm gone," she explained. It was the unaltered truth.

"How…chivalrous of you," Cortés said with a mocking grimace. "You leave Greyback to us, child. He'll get what's coming for him. His pack will be protected – although I doubt he would truly harm anyone here."

"He spent too much time assembling this little toy army to destroy it on a whim," Blackbeard concurred. He chuckled wryly. "Sounds a lot like Stockholm syndrome, if you ask me."

Evey had had the same thought, more than once, but it wasn't quite right. "Greyback is the one who abducted me, not them, and I certainly do not get along with him. I'm still very much intent on killing him, as a matter of fact."

She held Ted's gaze, but he just smiled. "If you can accomplish that, no one will blame you, doll. Our hands are tied, but not so yours." His two fellows nodded solemnly.

They wanted Greyback dead? What did he mean, their hands were tied? So many questions. But she had to go back to the Headquarters – provided that it was where she would end up. It could still be some sort of trap. She turned to Scabior. "Are they lying?" By all accounts, he was almost as good as Greyback at detecting lies. Ted laughed heartily, and Cortés huffed in annoyance.

"No, I think not." He hesitated. "But I have orders not to let you out. I have to try and stop them, Evey. Don't you understand?" He glared at Blackbeard. Damn, she hadn't thought of that. If the werewolves were forced to fight the Wolves…it would be a carnage. Evey shuddered at the thought.

"How come you don't submit to them as you do to Greyback?" she asked him abruptly. "Or to me, for that matter." It had been amusing to observe their reactions, but it didn't make much sense. They had to be at least as dominant as the Alpha, in all logic, and likely even more, considering the fact that they were older than he was, and more experienced. Or did that count for nothing? Evey wasn't certain. Much like mathematics, the whole dominance business still mystified her.

"They're not pack," Scabior muttered in response. Oh. Simple as that, was it?

"Alright, so you can't take orders or counter-orders from them." He nodded sullenly. "And we already know that I can't give you orders that contradict Greyback's." What a pickle. She was so close to being reunited with Walden and Tony… There had to be a way.

"Greyback left you in charge, didn't he, lad?" Musashi asked quietly. It was the first time he'd opened his mouth since their arrival. There was no trace of accent in his speech. Scabior nodded again, frowning. "Then your word is law. The pack must do as you command. You can choose to let the girl go." He paused, glancing at the werewolves who were assembled on the basketball court. "Ultimately, whether they live or die is entirely up to you."

"There are children," Evey hissed. "You wouldn't-"

Before she could register what was happening, Cortés was hauling her up and slinging her on his shoulder. Without another word, he made his way toward the gate. Clearly, he had run out of patience. Evey was too stunned to protest. She glanced back and saw Scabior gaping at them. He didn't follow. He didn't try to stop them.

Damn. She wished she could have at least said goodbye to everyone. And that she didn't have to leave in this embarrassing manner. But she was out of the prison grounds, she noticed. The Wolf laid her down near the car and opened the door for her.

"Wait, are we seriously going to drive there? All the way to Stonehenge?" Gods, it would take hours!

"Unless you can fly, poppet, I believe we are," Ted replied cheerfully. He sat down in the back of the car and patted the seat beside him. Evey sat gingerly. The interior smelled of leather and cigarette. "None of us are fancy wizards. That's just Greyback." The other two took their seats at the front, Musashi at the wheel. "And that new Ancient bloke, I guess, if his alias is any indication."

Tony. I'm going to see him in a few hours, Evey thought, marvelling. And Walden as well, hopefully. He had to be alive. After everything she'd been through, she couldn't imagine finally going home to find out he'd been dead all along.

The engine started loudly, and Evey realised that she was free at last. She had made it out unscathed, had survived Greyback twice now. The Alpha was going to have a fit when he realised that she was gone. Evey hoped that the Wolves were right, and that he wouldn't punish the pack. That Scabior wouldn't pay with his life for his decision to let her go without a fight. But surely, Greyback would understand that there'd been no other realistic option. Surely he would. He wasn't that crazy.

Musashi turned on the radio as he pushed the accelerator, and Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song blasted out of the speakers. At least they had good taste in music. It would make the long drive a little less tiresome.