Chapter Three: The Packs of Toronto

Jo-Ann was as good as her word; by the time Team One had returned to SRU Headquarters, the parking lot had several older, battered cars parked there and Winnie was playing hostess to a group of threadbare, careworn men and women inside the station. The hunter, as opposed to taking the lead, all but faded into the background, letting Sergeant Parker take the lead. Parker guided the wary group into the briefing room, carefully judging the werewolves and grouping his team in one area, instead of placing them around the room and possibly alarming the weres.

"All right, welcome to the Strategic Response Unit's headquarters, ladies and gentlemen. Perhaps you could all introduce yourselves so we all know who you are?"

Jo-Ann let out a sound that was a bit like an amused yip. "I am Jo-Ann, Alpha female of the North York pack," she began.

Her mate, who'd returned to their home after a quick phone call and accompanied the impromptu caravan to SRU Headquarters, took up the baton. "Josiah, Alpha male of the North York pack," he rumbled. He had a thick, full beard and mustache, all of it going gray and a head of hair that was already gray, even as it grew like a mane around his face. Dark blue eyes flashed under thick brows and he was even stockier than Parker.

A slim, blonde, gray-eyed woman allowed a brief flash of teeth before declaring, "Deija, of the Scarborough pack."

Next to her, squat and wide, with thick, curly hair, her brunet mate announced, "Danik, also of the Scarborough pack." His expression was a bit impatient and he tossed a glare at Josiah.

The last two, both well-built with matching dark hair and eyes, traded looks before the man leaned forward. "I am Seward and this is my wife, Lindy. We lead the Etobicoke pack."

Parker nodded respectfully to the pack leaders. "I guess that makes it our turn," he quipped briefly. "I'm Sergeant Gregory Parker of the Police Strategic Response Unit." The rest of his team, as well as Roy and Giles, introduced themselves, earning polite nods from the werewolves.

Jo-Ann looked curious as to why a group of 'Muggle' cops knew about magic, but restrained her questions.

With a brief pause to formulate his plan, Parker explained, "We currently have three missing individuals: Alysie, a minor who belongs to the North York pack, and two members of my team, Constable Jules Callaghan and Constable Lewis Young. Alysie, according to her parents, disappeared last night; my constables disappeared two hours ago during a magic-side call."

Deija arched a brow, inquiring, "And why is this a matter for the packs?"

Onasi started to shift forward, an indignant look on his face, when Parker lifted his hand, forestalling the Auror's interjection. "We also have information that Fenris Ulf is here in Toronto and has been here for at least two months." Parker's expression hardened. "Although we don't know for sure that Constables Callaghan and Young were snatched by werewolves, considering the full moon tonight, we're asking for your cooperation to locate all three."

Seward rumbled, his expression displeased. "My pack has heard rumors," he growled. "Whispers of a pack seeking new members, regardless of the…consequences…to our own packs." His growl grew deeper. "We reported the rumors, but were dismissed."

"We heard much the same," Danik observed, his eyes thoughtful. "But one of my pack came to me only three nights ago with another whisper." He allowed a deep growl of his own. "A pack, seeking malcontents to aid in an attack of some sort during the full moon tonight."

"Any idea where?" Wordy asked, expression worried.

Deija's eyes narrowed when Parker didn't say anything to Wordy for speaking 'out of turn'. "You permit your pack to speak as they please?"

Parker gave it right back, meeting her eyes without a qualm. "My team is not a pack, ma'am. I imagine you would object if I tried to characterize your pack as anything other than a pack, so please don't shoe-horn my team into your view of how groups work. If a member of my team has a question or an observation, they have my permission to speak; that's how my team works."

The Alpha female of the Scarborough pack lifted one lip in a silent snarl, trying to dominate someone she saw as weaker, lesser, but Parker refused to back down, meeting her snarl with a calm expression. The contest of wills hung for close to minute before Deija abruptly pulled back, bowing her head in a show of submission. "My Beta came to me this morning," she admitted, "Pleading with me to intervene in a dispute; two of our females wished to join in the planned attack. I disciplined them and demanded they tell me of this outrageous attack. It is to be on the British Embassy, in retaliation for Britain's slaying of Fenrir Grayback and the continuing discrimination against our kind." Her eyes flashed. "The females have been…educated in why such an attack is unacceptable."

"Which British Embassy?" Roy questioned.

Josiah growled. "Even rogues would not be so stupid as to attack the Muggle British Embassy. It must be the magical British Embassy; to do otherwise would put them afoul of the Statute of Secrecy." His attention turned to Parker. "I know of a place, far from both magical and Muggle communities where wolves can range without fear. Deep in the country, any humans would have nowhere to run as the moon rises."

"Perfect for a forced conversion," Ed concluded, his expression just as grim as his voice.

"A wild hunt," Josiah corrected, "Such as we have not seen in many, many years." His eyes darkened. "They will likely pen or cage their targets, particularly since they hunt for new members, not for sport as would have been the case in times past."

"You got an address?" Spike inquired hopefully, his expression one of forced optimism.

"If you have a map, I can pick it out," Josiah replied.

Spike nodded and vanished to get his laptop out of the Command Truck. When he came back, he and Josiah hunched over the laptop, checking over the maps of the country surrounding Toronto as quickly as they could.

The other werewolves took the opportunity to give Parker as many details about both plots as they could; Deija in particular was quite helpful after Parker's successful stare down. Parker drew Onasi closer to the group, studying the Auror closely. "You're worried about something. What's on your mind?"

Giles paced away from the group, then back, his expression hardening as he thought. "Look, Parker, the truth is, most people still don't believe that you lot aren't magical…"

He was cut off by a gasp from Jo-Ann. "That is true?" she demanded, "You and yours do not have magic?"

"No, we don't," Greg confirmed, confused by the horrified look on her face and the matching horrified looks from the other werewolves.

She sat down, hard, in one of the briefing room chairs, going paler by the second. "Merlin's beard, they will kill us all," she whimpered. Looking up at the confused Team One, she explained, "Muggles rarely survive if they encounter a werewolf; one in perhaps a hundred can survive our bite. They do not have enough magic to become a werewolf and so the infection kills them, despite any healing they might receive afterwards."

Giles took over. "To bite an Auror, intentionally or not, is an automatic death sentence for the werewolf who does the bite. If they bite Aurors Callaghan and Young after kidnapping them for the express purpose of turning them and they die…" His eyes went dark. "The Auror Division would probably kill the whole pack in retaliation…and they might even expect Team One to lead the charge."

"Revenge is not our job," Greg pointed out, though that was easy enough to say…he wasn't so sure it would be that easy if Jules and Lou died.

"I know that and you know that," Giles agreed, "But it wouldn't matter. It would be an example, a message to all the other werewolf packs, even though they're helping us right now." He drew in a breath. "Look, I…"

"We," Roy corrected from the side.

"…we need to get this information to Madame Locksley as fast as possible. We'll handle the werewolf attack, you just get your people out alive."

"Boss, we got it," Spike called. "It's a field right in the northeast corner of North York and it straddles the line between North York and Scarborough. Looks like they're trying to use the North York and the Scarborough pack territories as cover."

"Okay," Sergeant Parker acknowledged crisply. "Giles, you and Roy head for the Auror Division and report the attack." They nodded. "Team One, we'll head for this field and get Jules and Lou back." He checked the clock, frowning. "Giles, take our friend here with you," he gestured to the werewolf hunter, "And while I appreciate all of you helping our investigation, I'm sure you need to get home before the sun sets."

The werewolves inclined their heads in agreement. "Thank you for listening to us, Sergeant Parker," Danik rumbled. "We will keep our eyes open for anything else of use. If we hear anything further before sunset, we will contact you." The six werewolves departed, speaking quietly with each other as they left.

Parker watched them go for a second, then turned back. "Team One, hit the locker room, change into the armor, and be back here in five. Spike, once you're changed, pull up an aerial view of the field. We need to be ready to move as soon as we get there, so we'd better plan our strategy now." He checked the clock again, frowning. "We have four hours before sunset and…twenty-three minutes after sunset before the moon rises."

"Right," Ed agreed, "We got to get in there, find Jules and Lou, and be out of there before moonrise." The team leader hesitated, then, with a sigh, ordered, "And break out the silver bullet magazines, team. We're going to need them."

Author note: I've finally got details for my onboarding. Unfortunately, they threw some plans my family had already made into disarray, but we'll manage. We've got time to figure stuff out and at least now I've got more details.