A/N – I spoil you too much, but somehow that's the only thing my mind can think about writing, so here is chapter number three.

o-0-o

Several next months of the Warp travel were in a way a living hell for Harry, Ranek and several of Ragnar's Wolf Guard kept him running or training in one way or another for most of the day and if it wasn't physical training they educated him about things he needed to know. By the end of each day he slammed into his bed with an exhausted sigh as almost his whole body was on fire, every single muscle fiber and nerve screaming in pain. Yet even in that hell he could feel that he was getting faster, stronger, more endurant and with faster reflexes. While his teachers were still blurs to him when they moved at their maximum speed, he was sometimes able to avoid strikes that previously sent him hurling onto the floor of the training yard. He still got knocked out by the Wolves, but it was far less frequent and his chances in most duels when they controlled their strength were increased by quite a lot.

As he looked at his body in a mirror he discovered in his bathroom, his previously normal and quite thin body started to quickly get covered in lean, hard muscles as well as myriads of scars from various cuts and scratches he had collected during his training by the Wolves. He shook his head, banishing those thoughts and finished getting himself ready for the day as according to Ranek they were just minutes away from being at the Aett. He dressed into the clothes given to him and tied his hair with a piece of leather that held them in a ponytail and away from his eyes.

The moment he stepped out of the bathroom door to his quarters opened and through them stepped in Ranek. His gaze darted around the room before noticing Harry and nodding in approval. "Very good," he said. "First impression will be important, come with me."

Harry gulped in fear, but nodded and followed the Wolf Priest through the corridors of the ship and soon they found themselves in one of massive hangars where Stormwolves, Stormfangs and Thunderhawks waited to take them onto the surface of the planet. Harry easily recognized colors of various kinds of troops belonging to the chapter, from Blood Claws, through Grey Hunters and Long Fangs to the Wolf Guard. In the middle of the largest group of the Wolf Guard he saw the form of Ragnar, Wolf Lord and obvious leader of this group.

"You will travel with them and me," Ranek said, placing his gauntleted hand on Harry's shoulder. "Do not speak unless spoken to and obey commands as long as I or Ragnar confirm them. Many will be curious, but you need to know that wolf never let's go of its prize and it always protect its pups."

Harry nodded and followed Ranek, the Wolf Guard and Ragnar into the Thunderhawk that once the compartment was locked took off and left the hangar heading towards the planet below them. Looking through one of small, circular windows placed in the side of the craft he could see a massive peak pierce the cover of the clouds that covered the planet and reach even higher.

"The Aett or the Fang," Ranek explained. "Our fortress and your home for the next few centuries or even longer. Inside you will find everything you will need or require and it is the place where you will be transformed into one of us and later trained."

Harry nodded and felt the Thunderhawk shake as it passed through the upper reached of the atmosphere before touching down in a hangar that was at the peak of the Aett. Harry slipped of his seat and let the massive forms of the Wolf Guard pass him before he followed Ranek out of the compartment. When he stepped onto the stone floor of the hangar he almost lost his breath, in the hangar in even lines was gathered whole chapter. Ranek taught him colors of each Wolf Lord and the Great Wolf, and looking around he saw five Wolf Lords and the Great Wolf. Each standing at the front of their Great Company.

Harry felt Ranek place his gauntlet palm on his shoulder and nudge him forward, so he walked right behind the Wolf Lord and stopped when Ragnar also stopped.

"I must say that I didn't expect such a warm greeting," Ragnar said and threw his head backwards. "Not that I mind it, but what's the reason for so many of fellow Wolves gathered to greet me."

"Because you caused quite a stir," someone said and it took Harry a second to recognize that person as the Great Wolf. "But also you deserve such greeting as you are one of the best commanders we have."

Ragnar threw his head backwards and laughed for a little while before calming and getting serious. "I would like to present to you, the Great Wolf, an Aspirant we found when on Holy Terra in the House of Belisarius."

At those words Ranek lightly nudged Harry forward and at the same time Ragnar moved to the side and let Harry stand besides him. The moment it happened Harry could feel gazes of the whole chapter that was present focus on him, it felt as if everything else didn't exist and he was the most important thing in the universe. However being looked upon was one thing, he also felt powerful mental probes enter his mind and look around.

"A thing that didn't happen since the formation of the legion," the Great Wolf said, walking closer, closely following him a group of priests. "He looks strong and like a warrior in the making, a worthy candidate for our chapter, one that we need."

"Will we accept him into our ranks?" Ragnar asked and Harry could feel the Wolf Lord move to a more challenging position, hand resting on the handle of his sword.

"We will," the Great Wolf said and looked at Ranek. "Do your duties while I talk in private with the Blackmane." Then Great Wolf's gaze switched to the chapter gathered behind him. "Return to your duties, Wolf Lords meet me in the war room once I'm done talking with the Blackmane."

Harry followed Ranek who led him through several dozens of corridors that ran through the mountain until they stopped in front of a wooden door placed in stone wall. Ranek opened it and indicated the room inside. "This is your room until you will begin your transformation and training," he said and Harry nodded. "However before you can get rest Iron Priests will need to examine you."

Harry let out a small sigh and followed Ranek through even more corridors carved out of the stone. With each step he felt temperature slowly rise, at first he didn't feel it that much, but after a moment he felt as if he was walking into a roaring heart of a volcano.

"Forges are ahead of us," Ranek explained seeing his confusion. "Main duty of Iron Priest is to provide us with everything we need or require, but that's not their only task. They also test our Aspirants before we begin your training."

Harry let out a feeble gulp, but nodded and following Ranek they entered something that looked like a weird effect of mixing laboratory and examination room. Inside there was a Space Wolf in a power armor with two cybernetic arms growing from his back. The moment they entered the Space Wolf looked at them and nodded.

"Not a Fenrisian," he said and looked at Ranek. "Where did you find this one?"

"Holy Terra."

"Interesting, very interesting," the Iron Priest said and looked at Harry. "Lay down on that cot in the corner. I need to take samples and you'll need to answer some questions from me."

Harry nodded and did as he was told while he heard Ranek and the Iron Priest talk with each other in a strange language he had troubles understanding. He managed to pick up some basic phrases of it during his life on Terra and later during travel, but everything else was beyond him. He just saw Ranek bow his head to the Iron Priest and retreat into the corner, while the Iron Priest walked towards him.

"How old are you?" Iron Priest asked leaning over him.

"Twelve years old, m'lord," Harry said "Was eleven before the travel through the Warp."

"Hmph," the Iron Priest huffed as his cybernetic arms started manipulate things out of sight of Harry. "Not the youngest we recruit, but also not the oldest. And seems healthy."

"Is it rare?" Harry asked and quickly added. "Pardon, that is if I can ask."

"Not quite," the Priest said its artificial eye focused on Harry. "Fenris causes only the strongest to survive, but there tend to be some minor flaw in them. You, you are the purest human being I have ever seen, not even the slight mutation of your DNA."

Harry nodded and saw one of the arms give the Priest a small syringe.

"I'll take blood samples and we will be done," the Priest said and Harry nodded, not even wincing when the needle pierced his skin. "It should be beyond our expectations, but I want to be safe before we start."

Harry nodded and slipped of the cot before going to Ranek who seemed deep in thoughts about something.

"I'll show you training yards and places where you can get food," he said, snapping out of his thoughts. "I expect that you keep doing the same training you were doing when in travel."

o-0-o

"Can you explain to me what caused you to claim that boy as an Aspirant?" Logan Grimnar asked.

"I saw something special in him," Ragnar said. "Something that made me claim him, I cannot explain what it was Great Wolf, but I know that his Wyrd is special and Ranek also agreed on that matter."

"That explanation is good enough for me," Logan said and Ragnar almost winced. "But what about the Inquisition, not that I have much love for those idiots. They never ever stop pursuing their targets and it is obvious that he is a special one to them."

"Induct him into the chapter," Ragnar said. "Induct him so that they don't have a way to get him out of our hands. They might be the most powerful organization that has agents everywhere, but even they acknowledge our autonomy and authority to do what we deem necessary."

"Are you willing to risk your honor, reputation and position so that he can become one of us?" Logan asked.

"I am," Ragnar said, his fangs bared and almost snarling. "Letting him go, especially now, would be a huge lose to our chapter. I saw him spar with Ranek and my own guards and what he lacked in strength and speed he certainly compensated in ferocity, courage and cunning mind. Also he received training, or at least beginnings of it from the Navigators, in the ways of scheming and politics."

"Very well," Logan said and Ragnar calmed a bit. "He will be allowed to be inducted into the chapter and if he passes and survives training he will be allowed to join Wolfblades as that's a thing you want to happen. I won't give him to the Inquisition and by the Allfather, they need to be humbled and I will never discard such a perfect opportunity to hurt them."

"We had a minor clash with them on Terra."

"I know," Logan nodded. "An emissary from the Celestarch was here and explained what had transpired there. She also said that you had tails when you jumped into Warp."

Ragnar snarled and his eyes blazed with fury. "Who?!"

"A minor detachment of the Navy and a couple of Inquisitorial ships."

"I should have expected that," Ragnar said and shook his head. "I forgot how vicious they can be."

"They will land in a trap," Logan said grimly. "But that's for every Lord to hear, just know that they will learn to leave Wolves what Wolves claimed as their."

Ragnar smiled at those words, yet it wasn't a smile that was pleasant, no, it was one that was visible on a face of a predator when it found prey.

o-0-o

The Celestarch gave one last look the throne room and her household gathered inside before nodding to the chamberlain and a pair of guards that waited by the massive doors of it. They bowed to her and the doors slowly opened and revealed a hooded and cloaked person dressed in red. It was Fabricator Locum of Mars, one of the most powerful beings in the whole Imperium and one of the most heavily augmented ones.

"Welcome to House of Belisarius," the Celestarch said. "And thank you for your quick arrival."

"Fabricator-General sends his words of gratitude and apologize that he cannot be in person here, but politics of the Imperium stopped him," Fabricator Locum said. "When we heard of the fact that you consider letting us inspect treasures hidden inside of your vaults, including wonders of long lost technology we couldn't wait."

The Celestarch briefly smiled, but her face quickly became the unreadable mask she managed to perfect. "They belong to our allies, the Space Wolves, so you can only inspect them without taking them to Mars as they are adamant that they lay here and wait for the time when one of Vlka will need to use them."

"Of course," the Fabricator nodded and she could feel his cybernetic eyes focus on her. "Logic makes me ask, what's the price of them as nobody sells their secrets for free."

"There's a price, but that's for a lesser amount of ears than we have in this room," the Celestarch said. "I can assure you that we will both benefit from this agreement and that the Priesthood will be most happy with the terms."

She saw him slowly nod as he realized what were the ears that shouldn't hear of their agreement. "Of course, Lady Celestarch, if it isn't a problem I brought with myself few of my most trusted Priests that could start inspecting your vaults immediately."

"No, it's not a problem," she said. "In fact, I wanted to offer that it is started immediately as my House has gathered many wonders since the time of the Crusader and the task is long and daunting."

"In the name of the Quest for Knowledge we will do it," Fabricator said.

She nodded and snapped her fingers, making a commander of guard step forward, he was a tall man in a carapace armor and an artificial eye. "Adrian, take the priests to the vaults and show them wonders of technology we have gathered."

Fabricator looked towards the doors of the hall and score of lesser priests filled in. "Obey their commands and start inspecting the technology," he said and looked at the Celestarch. "As they do it perhaps we shall begun negotiating the true deal, without those ears that shouldn't hear our talk."

"Of course," she said and stood up from her throne.

o-0-o

Logan Grimnar sat on his throne on the command deck of his massive flagship, Retribution-class battleship, known as the Pride of Fenris and waited. If divination attempts were right their highly unwanted guests would arrive in few moments. He glanced at the display showing placement of the fleet and grimly smiled when he saw several battlecruisers and battle barges flank the Pride. Unless Inquisition was able to get some battlefleet, they would need to submit or risk being blown to pieces and that was without the defense systems of the Fang that were armed and ready to unleash their wrath onto the enemies of the Space Wolves.

"Inquisition's fleet just left the Warp, m'lord," one of crewman reported. "Seven light cruisers, one battlecruiser and escorts."

"Do they expect that we give them what they want without fight?" Logan asked, his fangs bared.

"Looks like it," Ulrik said. "Too weak to be a challenge for us and defenses of the Fang can smash apart battleships."

Logan nodded and studied the plot for a moment, trying to see any traps that could be planned by their adversaries. Yet there was nothing that he could spot, it seemed as if Ulrik was right.

"They're hailing us," Captain of the Pride reported.

"Answer," Logan said and moments later on a hololith display appeared a face of an Inquisitor. "Who dare to invade the Fenris system?"

"Inquisitor Lord Marcus Carrow," the Inquisitor introduced himself. "I'm here for a boy that was stolen from us by one of your barbaric and independent Wolf Lords."

Logan growled and bared his fangs. "Control your tongue or your ships will be shredded and your head will join our collection of trophies."

Inquisitor briefly paled, but then regained his composure, apparently it was one of his first encounters with one of more savage chapters of Space Marines. "Of course, the Great Wolf, yet it is the fact that one of your Lords stole a boy that belonged to the Inquisition."

"Lord Inquisitor, correct me if I'm wrong, but the boy was a member of the household of the House of Belisarius," Logan said and before the Inquisitor had a chance to say a word he continued. "And as such his future was in the hands of only the current Lady Celestarch and she chose to ask him and he decided to join my chapter and he now belongs to us. So Inquisitor Carrow, take your fleet back, return to Terra and report to your superiors that the next such attempt will end with some new trophies for my chapter."

Inquisitor looked as if he was about to explode from embarrassment, but swallowed and nodded. "Of course, the Great Wolf, it will be done as you wish, yet know it that my superiors will know about this and they might be greatly displeased by those events."

"As they are always with my chapter, so it will be nothing new to me, but might be a very precarious and dangerous path for the Inquisition if you decide to reclaim the boy by force."

Inquisitor didn't say anything more before cutting the link and letting Logan laugh.

"What a fool," Logan said once he calmed a bit and then looked at Ulrik. "Start the procedures as soon as possible, I thought that we had more time than this, but it seems I was wrong."

"Iron Priests need a week to check if he is compatible and they started their tests two days ago, so in five days I should be able to start testing him mentally before we start implantations," Ulrik said.

"What about Canis Helix?" Logan asked. "From what I remember it is crucial for the change and is the first step."

"Aye, it is," Ulrik nodded. "However the old ways used it later and in a more diluted form than what we use on our normal recruits."

"To make the mutation more controlled and slower?"

"Most likely," Ulrik said and looked at his liege. "I'll go to oversee preparations and make sure that the trials of mind are ready."

Logan curtly nodded and heard his main advisor walk away, leaving him on the bridge and letting in peace ponder the situation which for the chapter was quite interesting.

o-0-o

Ulrik the Slayer followed Ranek as both of them were summoned to the lair of Iron Priests, they entered one of chambers prepared for examination of blood and DNA of any future Aspirants to see if they were compatible and saw an Iron Priest looking at a hololith display showing double-helix of DNA.

"Why did you summon us, Rustmane?" Ulrik asked as they entered and the red-haired Iron Priest noticed them.

"Because of the boy brought by the Blackmane," Anvarr Rustmane said. "He is a very unique human, at least when it comes to his genes. I've compared them with those of our Aspirants from the current batch and he seems to have avoided any and all flaws that can exist in our genome."

"What does it mean?" Ranek asked.

"That when the implantation process will begin, he should avoid any and all of the side-effects that can happen to our Aspirants or any Aspirants for that matter. Those side-effects are usually caused by miniscule flaws or mutations within the seed or within the genome of one receiving them. This one is pure, so pure that his helix reminds of the helix of the Wolf King that I once saw."

"So he should survive the process?" Ulrik asked

"Unless there's a thing we missed, he will come out of in better shape than most of our Aspirants," Anvarr said. "Also he is fully compatible with the Primarch and there are no other reasons for it to be rejected."

Ranek looked at Ulrik and a frown appeared on his brow. "If he is compatible, we should start as soon as possible. I don't want second visit from the Inquisition demanding that we give away one of us."

"Indeed," Ulrik said. "Tomorrow we will do it, Njal needs to finish preparing the trials of mind that he will pass once through the Gate of Morkai."

o-0-o

Harry woke up to a heavy pounding onto the door of his quarters, he knew that it meant that he expected to be ready five minutes ago so he dressed hurriedly and got out of the room as quickly as possible. He did it and once outside he found Ranek waiting for him.

"Today your training starts," the Wolf Priest said mysteriously and gave him one last look. "Follow me."

Harry nodded and followed him through the maze of corridors before finally stopping in front of a massive gate covered in carvings showing a two-headed wolf. He looked at the gate and then at the Wolf Priest.

"The Gate of Morkai," the Wolf Priest explained. "Your first test will begin once you pass it."

Harry nodded and gulped slightly, feeling something behind the voice of the Priest that he came to treat in a way like a father. He stepped closer to the gate and its wings opened on their own, massive slabs of stone moving to the sides and revealing gaping blackness. He stepped through the gate and into the darkness beyond and almost immediately felt as if he was falling through the endless abyss. At the same time he felt powerful psychic probes slam into his mind, so strong that he felt immense pain as they looked around and that was the last thing he felt before his mind was enveloped by a fog.

o-0-o

He found himself standing in front of a stone altar, holding a crude stone knife in his hand, before him on the stone was spread out the form of his hated uncle, Vernon.

"Kill him," something whispered in his mind. "Kill him for all the wrongs he had do to you. Kill him and have your vengeance for what he had done to you in the past."

Harry looked at the knife and later at his uncle before closing his eyes and trying to remember his previous life and what he remembered about his uncle. True, he wasn't a caring person, but he provided him with place to live inside.

Opening his eyes he looked at the altar and later at the knife before throwing it away and walking away from the altar. As he did the thing his mind was once again enveloped by a strange mist.

o-0-o

Next vision came in front of him standing on a balcony overlooking massive parade grounds filled with billions of troops, vehicles and beings. He was dressed in a golden armor and he could feel on his head a beautiful crown. Before he could enjoy the view he felt whispers flow into his ears.

"Swear your allegiance to us and all of this and much more will be yours," something whispered. "We will make you the greatest king the universe had seen and all we want is that you worship us."

He felt that those whispers were something more and somehow in his mind appeared a suggestion to focus on them and squash them like an annoying bug. He considered that for a moment and later looked at the image in front of his mind and with a smile squashed those thoughts like annoying mosquitos. The moment he did it his mind was once again enveloped by a strange mist.

o-0-o

Once his vision again focused and mist was gone he laid on a greenest grass he had ever seen and a beautiful female walked to him. Her body completely naked and causing his teenage hormones to act up and cause a reaction from his body. Yet as he looked at her he could tell that something was amiss with her, he couldn't tell what it was, but he had a nagging feeling that there was something wrong with her.

Then he realized what it was, she was too perfect to be true and he didn't even know her, he felt something deep inside of his mind stir and wake before shouting at him in alarm. It once again suggested using his mind on the vision and once he focused it on the image of the females she immediately changed, her perfect teeth changed into those of a predator, sharp and pointy, her hands morphed and instead of hands she had pincer-like claws and her skin became too pale for a human.

He looked at her with disgust and backed away, the moment he did it, he felt mist once again envelop his mind.

o-0-o

Njal staggered as he let go of the mind of Harald, this boy was a gifted psyker that even with the slightest suggestions could rip apart visions and suggestions that drove mad much more experienced Wolves. He looked to the side and saw that four of his most experienced Rune Priests were barely standing on their knees, most supporting themselves on their staffs.

"He is powerful," one of them said. "I've never seen such a powerful psyker in our ranks."

"Aye," Njal said and looked at the form of Harald that laid on the stone floor. "He is as pure as it can be and he needs to begin his training as soon as possible."

Njal walked forward and lifted Harald's body before placing his hand on boy's forehead and channeling a bit of his power into his body. Harald gasped for the air and opened his eyes.

"Did I pass?"

"Yes, you did, young one," Njal said and chuckled. "You almost put out of commission few od my Rune Priests."

Harry's eyes shone with pride and happiness and Njal helped him get up to his feet.

"Trial number one out of your way," Njal said and indicated stone gate at the other side of the chamber. "Go there and once you are on the other side your transformation will begin."

o-0-o

Harry nodded and weakly walked to the gate, his body still exhausted by the trial, when he passed the gate his nostrils were almost immediately assaulted by a powerful scent of incenses so common around machines and an even more powerful scent of antiseptics.

He looked around and he saw that he was in a small room with a door on the other side of it and an Iron Priest standing in front of it, besides him a wooden box.

"Undress," the Iron Priest said. "All the way, underwear too."

Harry looked at the Priest who just looked as impassible as before, his face hidden behind a helmet and nodded. He stripped off his clothes and placed them in the box to the side of the Priest who gave him a look and nodded.

"Follow me," he said.

Harry nodded and followed the Priest who opened the door, let him through and locked with one of the cybernetic arms. When inside Harry looked around and he saw that he was in a medical chamber with several more Marines and even more mortal kaerls preparing for the work.

"Lay down on the table," one that led him in said.

Harry gulped, but nodded and obeyed the command, pushing aside his fear he laid down on the table and almost immediately felt cold metal touching his skin. The next thing he felt was a light stinging sensation on his arm and then the world turned into darkness.

o-0-o

A/N – As said before canon might be visiting the airlock and here most of the implantation and transformation process gets dumped out as in case of the Wolves its probably the most wasteful thing they could come up with. Canis Helix is important, but giving it before giving them anything else that could help them survive the transformation seems like a waste of perfectly good soldiers.

The main change in what he undergoes is that the organs won't be implanted one after another like it was in the case of the Blackmane, but it will be more drawn out in time to let his body cope with the presence of new additions to it. And Canis will be given once he is comfortable and can use the first set of them, set that would help in managing the changes caused by the Canis if I'm completely honest.

Rune Priests being exhausted by him, remember that they kept the illusion while at the same time giving him a guiding hand to see if he takes it and has any power to smash apart what he is showed.

The Celestarch and her game, I think it is very obvious whom she hates and whom she plans to see as a decoration of the Aett, not that considering past actions of the Inquisition against her house it is a surprise. In the Wolfblade book that describes time when Ragnar was a Wolfblade it is stated in a very veiled form that the Inquisition tried to murder her at least once, murdered her predecessor and murdered one of Wolfblades.

Iron Priests and their responsibilities – I know that in the canon Wolf Priests are responsible for recruiting new Aspirants and this part is the same. However I made it so that Iron Priests handle all of the transformation and implants as they work with machines and that's a necessity when for the Black Carapace you need to basically remove skin from a better part of the chest and abdomen and introduce this implant below. It doesn't mean that they don't take part in it, they take, but most of the work is done by Iron Priests as also that additional pair of hands can help them a lot. On the field of battle, Wolf Priests handle healing and so on and Iron Priest tinker with their beloved machines.

Reviews:

Warlord Fellhammer – from what I remember blanks never were in chapters of Marines, at least we don't know about them. The only chapter where they could be are the Black Templars as they lack any Librarians and don't use psychic powers, while in every other chapter they would knock out quite a lot of brothers and would be stopped by the Gate of Morkai where they test them with psychic powers.

moops – Hammerhand is a thing he must get, it's cool to see a Rhino being ripped open with bare hands and it would suit Wolves combat doctrine.

ww1990ww – You also missed twin Primarchs whose loyalties are somewhere and we don't know where and Sanguinius or Ferrus don't need to be dead.