It's been a while sorry about that but Real Life doesn't wait for anyone...

Disclaimer: I wish though give me any of the Pack Boys anyday although i feel privlidged to be able to say Ethan, Belle and Angela are creations from my head.

Reviewers:

Gemini629: Thanx for the review! Here is the next chapter!

Forestwife: Thanx for the review! Here is the update later than i'd like but hey its here!

Kali. J. Wolfram: Thanx for the review! Here is the next chapter!

The Black Magician

Chapter Two: Elena

After the call from Lucas it didn't take long to get our plans sorted. Clay and I had automatically assumed we would go and sort out the problem and Jeremy and Antonio would elect to stay with the twins.

At ten they liked to think they are older than they are. Logan thinks he's strong enough to join he Pack and Katherine, well she doesn't see the reason why she should be left out.

But Logan hasn't hit his first Change yet and Katherine, well Clay wouldn't let his little girl go outside Stone Haven without an escort let alone to Miami.

But Jeremy and Antonio did nothing of the sort. Jeremy called Savannah and arranged to drop them off while Antonio gathered Nick and Ethan together though I really wasn't sure why. But hey, Jeremy is the Pack Alpha and I trust him so I didn't say anything and neither, to my shock did Clay.

Nick and Ethan met us at the airport after they had been to take care of a Mutt that was causing problems. Ethan grinned at me. 10 years ago he hated me, me and most of the Pack. He didn't let me or Clay near him or Jeremy for that matter.

Antonio, occasionally but that was only because Nick was his son. Ethan trusted Nick and only Nick. He knew Nick had saved him and slowly as Nick taught him to hunt and Change he became less aggressive and started to trust us.

The kids, well they had only been born but Ethan loved them and now Logan and Katherine loved him just as much. They listened to him when they thought their parents were being stupid.

So now at nineteen Ethan was unrecognisable as the nine year old that hated us all and was terrified of what was happening to him. He'd grown into his shape and moved with a confidence and an ease that Nick oozed. Ethan may not be his child by blood but Nick was his father. And we were his family. And God help the person that tried to tell us otherwise.

"You leaving your kids?" He teased. "Nick should have left his." Clay grinned. "I'm useful." Ethan grinned. "Jeremy wanted me to come." "I don't see why." Clay said.

"If we're taking care of a Mutt why do we need the full Pack?" "Because I said so." Jeremy said quietly. And that was the conversation over.

I knew right away when we entered the building something was off. I could smell the werewolf but something was off, something was different. I looked at Clay and his eyes narrowed but he said nothing just squeezed my hand.

I was worried about Paige and Lucas I knew how Mutts behaved but Jeremy seemed unconcerned which concerned me more. "What do you know that I don't?" I demanded of my Pack Alpha. "I know enough Elena." Jeremy said quietly. "We're here to help out friends nothing more."

"Then why bring the whole Pack?" Clay demanded and I knew it was a question that had been bugging him for hours because Jeremy had yet to give a proper answer.

"Because I think it will be needed according to Lucas." And only then did Clay shut-up. Clay had grown to tolerate Paige though it was nowhere near respect but there had always been one person outside the Pack, the only person outside the Pack that Clay had trusted and respected and that was Lucas.

So if Lucas had told Jeremy that they needed the full Pack that was fine by Clay and he finally calmed down enough to concentrate on what we were doing.

I was starting to get agitated as the scent became stronger and then I recognised Paige and Lucas' scent. The Mutt was close. That worried me I knew how volatile Mutts could be. Finally we reached the room where Paige and Lucas was and I knew the werewolf was close.

Paige and Lucas were facing away from me so I grinned and pulled out my cell phone and tapped in Paige's number I heard it ring through the glass. "Hello?" She said into the phone.

"Turn around." I said grinning into the phone. I had missed her and I couldn't wait to catch up through I wished it be in better circumstances.

Paige turned and smiled and I waved through the glass. Paige laughed and put the phone down before waving us through the door the whole Pack following in behind me. I barely had time to smile at Paige's shock seeing the whole Pack before I stopped dead.

I stared at the girl in front of me. It couldn't be. Female werewolves were rare and besides me and my daughter I had never even heard of another female werewolf but her scent said it all.

The girl seemed to ignore our looks of disbelief as she stood up and introduced herself. "Hi I'm Isabelle Rider CSI to the case Lucas called you about." Clay growled at the statement.

"You're also a Mutt." "Oh smooth." Isabelle said rolling her eyes. "Absolutely no tack at all. Yes thank you Mr. Denvers, I'm aware I'm also a werewolf and not by choice."

I stared and that was the first time I saw there was also another girl in the room a blonde girl and she smirked at Isabelle's statement. I didn't see what was funny.

"Get out." Clayton said. "I don't want you anywhere near our Alpha." "Who Jeremy?" Isabelle said looking at Jeremy. "I think at this present moment in time I have more cause to be scared of him than he of me." "You're a Mutt you wouldn't know anything." Clay snarled.

Isabelle's eyes darkened. "I know enough. I know that a Mutt has entered Miami and without my help you're not going to be able to catch the killer of seven women." "This is werewolf business." Clay snapped stepping forward. "But you're also in Cabal territory." Isabelle snapped back.

"And although you're friends of Lucas and Benicio the women were members of the Cabal and I'm the lead CSI on this case. You need me." "We have no need of a Mutt." I said quietly.

My head was reeling looking at the girl, for that was all she was she looked like she had just come out of her teens and I was astounded that she had survived the bite let alone had the ability to keep changing.

"We have our own resources." Nick said quietly but he was respectful.

I wondered how he could be respectful we were talking about a Mutt here and he turned and looked at me as though he could hear what I thinking. He looked at me and then tilted his head in Ethan's direction.

I suddenly wondered if Nick saw things differently since Ethan had joined the Pack. But that was totally different. Ethan had been nine, caught in the crossfire and Bitten through no fault of his own. This was totally different. But the way he was looking at me suggested otherwise.

I didn't agree so I simply turned away and I looked at Ethan who said nothing seemingly waiting for something.

"Enough." Jeremy said quietly. Instantly there was quiet.

"Lucas told me about Isabelle it's one of the reasons I came instead of looking after the twins." I stared at him. I couldn't believe it and evidently neither could Clay. "That's why you called Savannah?" Jeremy nodded. "It is."

"Savannah is looking after the kids?" Paige asked. Jeremy looked up at her and smiled. "She is. She was more than happy too." She smiled. "We love looking after the kids."

Jeremy nodded and then looked at Isabelle. "So you are Isabelle Rider?" Isabelle looked at Jeremy and nodded. "I am." He nodded and said, "Can you tell me about the case?" Nick and Clay stared at him and Ethan I noticed hid a smile.

Isabelle looked shocked for a moment before she covered it quickly and set out to talk about the case. Antonio smirked, out of everyone he would know how Jeremy would react and simply sat next to Jeremy waiting for the report.

I should have realised this is what would happen. This was Jeremy's way of dealing with things and since it was obvious Isabelle was no threat but I was still shocked. We were working with a Mutt I couldn't get my head round it.

Ethan quietly sat the other side and it forced the others to do the same. As Isabelle outlined the case, using what she had found in evidence form and what she had found using her senses, the tension was almost suffocating.

Jeremy and Antonio didn't seem to notice and asked questions about the case and about the evidence found and soon Clay, Nick and I had no choice but to follow their lead. Ethan seemed perfectly comfortable with the situation and asked Isabelle directly. I didn't like it but it didn't seem like a good idea to protest I'd argue with Jeremy later, for all the good it will do me.

Paige and Lucas offered up their own opinions about the case what they knew and what they had seen judging from the latest crime scene, but other than that they said nothing obviously feeling the tension in the room.

I had a hard time checking my temper but I listened to what Isabelle had to say. It was then I discovered that her profession was a CSI, a crime scene investigator which I found astounding since she could not be more than nineteen.

I asked one or two questions but for the most part I stayed silent I figured it was better that way because I didn't know whether I could hold my temper in check and I didn't want to embarrass myself especially in front of a Mutt. Despite that I had to grudgingly admit that her information was both useful and detailed and would help in the over all search for the Mutt that was killing the women.

But we also had the added problem of the Mutt sat in front of us. I was shocked at how in control she seemed to be although as I had learned after my years in the supernatural looks could be deceiving.

"Miss Micheals if you could stop looking at me as if I were an insect under a microscope I would appreciate it." The Mutt said quietly. I jerked up and looked her in the eye. It unnerved me when I found that she refused to look away.

"Yes, I think we've gathered I'm a Mutt. Yes I'm not part of your Pack, Yes I am female. Yes I can change. Yes I haven't burnt out. Yes surprisingly I'm not dead can we move past this please you can scream yell and generally diss me when we've caught the killer since the women in his path are who I care about now."

All my years as the Pack ambassador stopped my mouth from dropping open in shock. I had not been spoken to like that for a long time and if I'm honest I had probably forgotten what it was like. I was used to people respecting me because of my position.

"Well maybe people would respect you more if you didn't judge them first." The Mutt's voice broke into my thoughts. I stopped short I knew I hadn't spoken out loud so how had she known?

"Belle is used to appearing to be less than she is aren't you my darling?" The blonde asked smirking looking at me. "We have learned to adapt. And I've learned to keep Belle from death. As far as I am aware she is the only Mutt to date that can Change at will and control her Changes to the point of distraction."

This time I didn't manage to keep my jaw from ending up on the floor. That kind of control was not known about outside of the Pack I had to wonder how the hell they had managed it. By all rights Isabelle Rider should have been dead.

"It's a survival technique Ms. Denvers." Belle said softly. "Not something I enjoy doing or even something I do that often." I was reminded of the times when I used to make my body wait until the last minute to Change and the agony it caused me to do so. I found myself sympathising with her despite who she was.

Something must have shown on my face because she looked at me and said, "The time has disappeared when I needed sympathy all I want now is to survive." Again I couldn't help but think of the similarities between us and by the looks Nick, Antonio and Ethan were giving neither could they.

Isabelle looked between us and smirked. "Oh I bet you're thinking look at that poor little Mutt. Needs our help, she's gonna do all ends of damage to our Pack Alpha. You're all pathetic."

Jeremy looked up and looked between Rider and I and said, "Isabelle how about we have a little chat?" he motioned for her to follow him out of the room. Clay stood up. "Jeremy…" He said. Jeremy turned and said, "Clay I think I can manage." It was a clear order that Clay was to stay where he was. Clay scowled but sat back down Isabelle looked at Jeremy and then with a quite look at Angela followed Jeremy out the door.

Clay may have not been able to move but he moved to stand outside the door but frowned and I realised that even stood there he couldn't hear Jeremy or the Mutt anymore. Paige and Lucas went over the case again and Nick and Antonio asked questions and twenty minutes later Isabelle came back in followed by Jeremy and I couldn't be sure but it looked like The Mutt had been crying.

I watched the blonde, who narrowed her eyes at Belle and then looked at Jeremy who simply looked and said, "We understand each other." Isabelle nodded and smiled at Jeremy. "So we can get back to the task now." Isabelle nodded and continued with the case as if nothing had happened.

Clay looked like he wanted to complain but one look from Jeremy and he thought better of it. Whatever they had talked about Isabelle was more confident and Jeremy seemed to understand her better. As for the rest of us we simply had to follow the lead a few hours later we had collected all we could from the crime files and Jeremy stood and grasped Isabelle's hand.

"I'd like you to come with us on this." He said softly. "You don't have to do that Jeremy." She said softly. "You've simply survived so far I want you to come to Stone Haven." She laughed then. "The Pack is no place for a Mutt." She said. "You have my cell number if you need anything else."

She shook Jeremy's hand "Thanks for the offer Jeremy but I'd rather avoid The Pack if I can."

With that she gathered up her files, motioned to Angela who had remained silent for the most part and they left the room but I saw the look on Jeremy's face as she left and I knew it wouldn't be the last time we saw Isabelle Rider.