Part 25

"Damn it, Gabriel," rumbled Randy glaring at the trees surrounding him, "Where the hell are you?"

"I don't think growling at the trees is going to help," called Punk, his voice dripping with sarcastic amusement.

Glancing over his shoulder Randy levelled a hard stare at the sarcastic wolf but all it did was make Punk chuckle to himself and blow Randy at kiss. But before Randy could reply, he stumbled slightly, wincing as Hunter's voice suddenly echoed in his head. The alpha's all too familiar growl asking, "Have you found anything yet, Pup?"

Randy grunted again, shaking his head as if trying to clear the fog. He hated it when Hunter communicated telepathically with him. The alpha only used it in a real emergency but even so Randy hated it.

"No," replied Randy, balling his fists as he forced himself to concentrate on the mental connection.

"Randy?" asked Dan, the first to notice that Randy seemed to be in distress, "You oaky?"

"Oh I'd say he's hearing the voices," teased Punk straightening up a little. He watched Randy a moment before he called, "Hey Randy – are those voices counselling you again?"

Flipping him the finger, Randy concentrated on what Hunter was saying before replying, "No nothing. No trace. We're gonna try the path up in the hills. I know he likes heights, maybe he ran up there and got lost."

"Good plan," transmitted Hunter, "We're heading down towards the lake. If you find him send up a pack howl we'll find you from that."

As Hunter pulled back from his mind, Randy stumbled slightly swearing under his breath. He really would never get used to that part of his lupine self.

"Wow the voices really are affecting you today, aren't they," continued Punk, obviously enjoying Randy's discomfort far too much.

Barely surprises a snarl of annoyance Randy snapped his head around and ordered, "Dan you're the best tracker out of the four of us. Shift form and see if you can pick up his scent as we head up the hillside."

"Sure thing," replied Dan jumping up from where he'd been lounging. He gave a little sneeze and then shifted, a scraggy blond wolf standing in his place looking expectantly at the others. Punk – unable to resist the temptation – bent down and scratched the blond wolf behind his ears, cooing sarcastically, "Who's a good dragon, then?"

The scraggy wolf snapped his teeth at him playfully before bounding out of the clearing, a clear single bark forcing the others to follow him. Breaking into a run Punk called," Hey no flying ahead you little dragon."

A chuff of wolfish laugher floated back through the clearing but that was the only response Punk got. Keeping easy pace with the sprinting wolf Randy glanced back and realised the fourth member of their team was lagging behind. Slowlng down slightly, he looked at Punk ordering, "Keep up with Dan, report back if you find anything."

Punk was about to make a comment but then, seeing the look in Randy's eyes, he bit his tongue for once, simply nodding in a agreement and speeding up to catch the fast disappearing lupine.

"Something wrong?" asked Randy as Ted drew level with him.

The younger man looked flushed and not in healthy way.

"No," lied Ted, his wolf already howling in submission at the look Randy as giving him, "I just...I'm still feeling the last few days in the ring."

Randy regarded him closely, the crystal clear eyes seeming to bore into Ted's soul, making the younger man squirm on the spot.

Closing the gap between them Randy stepped straight into Ted's personal space, forcing the younger man to lift his head and look at him. After what seemed an age, Randy gave a slightly head roll before rumbling hoarsely, "I don't blame you. I never did."

Then without waiting for Ted to reply he simply spun on his heel and set off at a dead sprint, chasing after Punk and Dan, leaving Ted alone in the clearing. Ted bowed his head, fighting to hold back the howl that burnt his throat. His wolf though was howling in distress. He glanced down at his hand, staring at the ring he wore on his left hand. He knew what was coming. He knew that things were coming to a head and he knew, deep in his heart, the time was coming when he was going to have to choose between his mate and his pack. And if he was honest the thought of it was ripping him apart.

X x x x x x x x

"How are you feeling, Chris?"

Chris looked up as Shawn wandered into the den. He was fed up, in pain and sulking about being left behind, none of which he bothered to hide from the Alpha mate. Instead he simply glared at the older man before turning his attention back to his annoyingly loud computer game.

Shawn smiled knowingly and taking the chair beside Chris, he leant back and waited. It didn't take long for Chris to glance at him and confess softly," I feel like shit."

"I know, kid," sighed Shawn pointedly not looking at the younger man. Knowing if he did the shuttered would come down and right then he needed Chris to be as open and honest with him as possible. "Have you tried shifting?"

"No, I told you!" snapped Chris, his frustration at the whole situation finding a slight release, "They wouldn't leave me alone. I didn't have time to shift before they started to work on my leg. I..."

"No," interrupted Shawn gently, "I mean since you came home. Have you tried to shift while you've been here?"

Chris didn't reply for a moment and glancing over Shawn frowned. It seemed as if Chris had forgotten they were talking. The younger man was paying far too much attention to the violence on the screen.

Shawn waited a few minutes but when there was no response, he prompted, "Chris? Answer me. Have you tried?"

Chris flicked him the strangest of looks before looking away and murmuring, "He's scared."

"Who is?" asked Shawn a frown creasing his face and suddenly making him look his real age, "Who's scared? Lex? Of course he's scared. You know how much he needs you to..."

"Not Lex!" huffed Chris barely keeping hold of his temper, "My...my wolf. That's who's scared. He…I can…I barely feel him," confessed Chris his voice heart breakingly fragile.

Shawn winced knowing how hard it was for a shifter if their wolf decided to retreat. Reaching over he lay a hand on Chris's exposed forearm and soothed, "He's not going anywhere Chris you know that."

"But what if the injury...what if he doesn't comeback?" asked Chris finally finding the courage to voice the very real fear he hadn't even confessed to Lex. "It's happened before," he murmured not daring to look at Shawn, "When someone is too weak to shift the spirit just fades away."

"That won't happen to you," soothed Shawn tightening his grip on Chris's arm, "Trust me. You're stronger than that. Your wolf is stronger than that." He took a deep breath and let a little power role over the distressed wolf beside him. He smiled as he felt Chris's wolf react to him. It was only a flicker but it was something. Smiling as he felt his pack member reach out toward him Shawn gave a little chuckle and mused, "Maybe he just needs a little nudge in the right direction."

He paused then offering Chris a comforting smile, he asked fondly, "Want me to see if I can coax him up to the surface? If we can get you to shift now, you might be able to speed up the healing process."

Chris didn't reply but the look of hope that suddenly lit up his face said more than words ever could.

Closing his eyes Shawn opened his mind, allowing his wolf to take control. As he felt the lupine side expand he gave a hum, loving the way his wolf's power started to seep through his entire system. Slowly opening his eyes he stared at Chris, not with his human gaze but with the eyes of his wolf. Chris's aura was all wrong. It screamed pain and fear and despair and they were emotions that should never be felt by any member of his pack, and certainly not by one of his favourites. Leaning over Shawn nuzzled his cheek against Chris's face, his wolf yapping in delight at the actual contact between them. With his voice echoing with his wolf's growl, Shawn sighed happily and murmured, "Let me in."

For a moment he felt Chris resist him. He could feel the all too human side of Chris blocking his wolf's access but then slowly the resistance melted and Shawn's wolf surged forward, racing down to reach Chris's lupine self.

In his mind Shawn could see the dark blond wolf. He could see him curled up into a tight ball whimpering to itself. With a burst of power Shawn's wolf hit the more submissive spirit sideways, forcing it to stand. Shawn was vaguely aware of a loud groan followed by grunt and exclamation of pain but he didn't stop. His wolf grabbed hold of Chris's spirit and all but dragged the reluctant beast back to the surface, forcing Chris to change as he did.

The moment his wolf broke the surface, Chris let out a scream of agony that turned into a howl of distress, the sound filing the whole house and causing Shawn and his wolf to recoil in total and utter surprise.

X x x x x x x x x

Lex gave a single grunt then stumbled forward landing heavily on his knees. He grabbed his head exclaiming, "Chris!"

A few feet ahead of him Hunter and John turned back just in time to see Lex tumble forward. He lay sprawled on the dank ground a moment before curling into a tight ball, groaning as if he was in agony. Josh – who was closest to their fallen pack mate, dropped to his knee calling urgently, "Lex? Alex? What's wrong?"

Without thinking he reached over to touch the shaking man but just as he bent forward, Lex's arm flew out and connected with his face. The blow caught Josh right across the face and sent the smaller man flying backwards.

As A-Ry and John ran to check on Josh, both of them paling at the way Josh was laying motionless on the grass, Hunter dropped down beside Lex calling, "Alex? Shelley? Come on. Damn it," he swore violently under his breath as he caught a glimpse of Lex's eyes. They were in full lupine mode and as Lex gave another howl of pain, Hunter managed to work out what the younger man was saying.

"Shawn?" demanded Hunter straining to make a connection with his mate given the distance between them, "What the hell is going on?"

"Ummm I'm a little busy right now, Darlin'," replied Shawn, his link crackling and breaking up. A sure sign he was stressed and under pressure.

"What do you mean busy?" demanded Hunter, fighting to stop Lex from throwing any more punches or accidentally hurting himself as he thrashed around in obvious distress, "I've got Lex having some sort of fit here," growled Hunter, "And he's screaming Chris's name. Is Chris okay?"

There was no reply and for a moment Hunter wonder if his link was strong enough but then he heard Shawn's voice in his head, his mate sounding more shaken and freighted than he had ever sounded before in his life, "I was only trying to help."

"What do you mean?" asked Hunter grunting as Lex managed to low blow him.

"John!" he glared at his lead gamma, not at all impressed with the way his 3rd in command was ignoring him. "A little help here!" he waited for John to reach his side before turning his attention back to his tenuous link with Shawn. Trying not to yell at his obviously upset mate he demanded gruffly, "Shawn, answer me? What's happened?"

"I didn't mean to hurt him," stammered Shawn, his link so weak it took all of Hunter's concentration to make out what Shawn was actually telling him, "I only wanted to make things better," protested Shawn, "I never meant to make it worse."

Hunter closed his eyes trying to block out the sound as Lex screamed his mate's name, the call echoing up into the brilliant blue sky and shattering the stillness of beautiful clear morning.

TBC