Author's Note: Hey guys! I know it's been a while, but I got sidetracked with other projects. Anyway last time, Clay told Jeremy his theory of why the Mutts' flunkies were successful in their changes, and he thinks that the pack could improve on it.

Chapter 3
Research

When Jeremy left Clayton's room, Clay was still eating. Jeremy began to reflect on what Clay had hypothesized. Was it really that possible? he thought. Could the change really be that successful, only requiring the support of a loving pack family? True, the number in their pack had declined much in the previous decades, more from attrition than anything else. While werewolves lived significantly longer than humans, there hadn't been the birth rate of new ones. But could biting really be so effective?

Jeremy was walking back to the kitchen to have his breakfast as he was thinking about what Clayton had told him. Antonio and Nicholas had finished eating by the time he had returned, and Jeremy saw that they had cleaned all of the dishes and they were sitting on the counter to dry.

Jeremy made some fresh coffee as he reheated the leftover bacon and eggs. Unfortunately the Sorrentino's had finished all of the pancakes that Jeremy had made. It was immaterial, as after Clay had told him about his theory, he wasn't all that hungry.

Elena had left her iPad behind, and it was left on the table. To assist in Clayton's research, Jeremy had reluctantly agreed to have internet access installed in Stonehaven. One of the mutts who was still on good terms with the pack worked as an IT specialist, and agreed to install a secured and well firewalled internet connection in exchange for allowing him a small amount of territory so he wouldn't have to be a nomad any longer. This wasn't unprecedented, as a few mutts had been granted territory in exchange for services rendered at Stonehaven. This mutt in question had fallen in love with a human after having a child together, a girl. He wanted to allow them to live as a family, and vowed to not have any more children. That was enough of a guarantee, as Jeremy had graciously granted this mutt territory in North Dakota. With the oil boom in that state, he was able to find well paying work with a drilling outfit and was true to his word. He had a vasectomy immediately after moving into their home, not even telling his wife about the procedure.

Jeremy opened the device, and began to perform a search on Philip. If they were really thinking about biting him, then Jeremy needed background information about him. He started with Facebook, opening Philip's profile. In there, there wasn't much that Elena hadn't told Jeremy about Philip, but there was one picture that peaked his interest in his photo album.

Jeremy had been doing research on Philip for about an hour when Clayton, Nicholas, and Antonio came downstairs. The younger pair were going outside for a run, and they had begun to shed their clothing. By the time they reached the door, they were completely naked. Secretly, Jeremy wished to join them, but knew that Philip would most likely be at Stonehaven later that evening or the next morning at the latest. This couldn't be put off; it had to be done immediately if they were actually going to proposition him.

Antonio stayed behind. He knew that he needed to run as well, but he would wait until that night. His alpha was doing research on something, and he wished to be of assistance. "Something wrong, my friend?" Antonio asked.

Jeremy was slightly startled. Sure he had heard and smelled the three coming down the stairs, but he assumed as he heard two of them stripping, that all three of them were going to run. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with, my friend," replied Jeremy smiling.

Antonio saw the dedication with what his friend looked to be scouring the internet for information on someone or something. He knew that Jeremy wouldn't be searching for a mutt online, as only the ones that relented to pack conditions and granted territory could even risk posting public profiles. For the others it was almost suicidal. He looked on the printer, and saw several pieces of paper in the output tray. Antonio grabbed them to bring them to his alpha. As he looked at them, he realized what they were and who his target was. "Google and Facebook sure make things easier to track people, huh?" Antonio joked.

Jeremy smiled at his top advisor as he invited Antonio to sit and review what he had found. Antonio started on the top, pages and picture printed from the Facebook. The first page simply had basic information about their target. His name was Philip McAdam. Upon seeing that this man lived in Toronto, Antonio looked up from the papers and asked him, "A friend of Elena's?"

Jeremy smiled again as he answered, "Something like that."

Antonio reviewed all of the basic information on him, reading most of it out loud. Born, January 27th, 1981 in Mississauga, Ontario to Anne and Larry McAdam. Education: Graduated Holy Cross Catholic High School, Kingston, Ontario, Class of 2000. Royal Military College of Canada, BS Civil Engineering, Class of 2006. University of Toronto, Class of 2012, MS Architecture.

Antonio looked up from the first page, saying his thoughts out loud, "Hmm, an architect and a civil engineer; interesting. Could be helpful."

"Especially in your line of work," Jeremy said with a slight laugh. "I thought so as well, but keep looking," he added, inviting his friend to continue.

The next few pages consisted of many photographs of this Philip McAdam, including a few with him and Elena. "She can't be this sloppy!" Antonio growled.

"I've already told her about that, but pictures on the internet are difficult to completely scrub, and I assume she never asked Philip to remove them. But keep going."

On the third page he saw what he assumed his alpha wanted him to find. It was a page on some hockey database that included statistics on the man they found. Antonio began by reading the profile. Philip McAdam, Drafted 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 7th round, 197th overall. He looked further, next going over his transaction history. Antonio understood some of what he read, as one of Nicholas's failed ventures had been a professional sports team, and Antonio had learned some of that business to be of assistance to his son if he ever asked. Let's see, March 22, 2002 Agreed to Amateur Try Out contract with Atlanta (NHL), Assigned to Chicago (AHL). March 29, 2002 Released from ATO contract. "Is that all of it? His last transaction was 13 years ago?" Antonio questioned.

"The next page may explain it," Jeremy answered.

He looked at the next page; it was an article from The Kingston Whig Standard. The headline read "Frontenacs Star McAdam to Forego NHL Career, Enrolls at RMCC." Antonio began to read the article which consisted of only two paragraphs. "Local Kingston Frontenacs star Philip McAdam has decided to forego an NHL career and will serve in the armed forces. He was accepted into the RMCC last winter, but was granted an extension on his decision on whether he would enter the college until April 1st. McAdam played in one game with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL over the weekend, collecting one hit and two shots in the Wolves 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. No statement has been made by McAdam on why he had chosen to enter the service academy. Atlanta had drafted McAdam in the 7th round of the 2000 Entry Draft, and the club also has not released a statement. The club released McAdam from his ATO contract yesterday."

Antonio kept focusing on the name of the team he played for, the Chicago Wolves. Could it be simply coincidence? No, he knew better. Sure it was possible, but extremely unlikely.

"Next page," Jeremy whispered to Antonio, and he obliged his alpha.

The next page was a picture of Philip in his Wolves jersey before they game he played. He looked to be skating during a warm-up period as he was not wearing a helmet. He was dressed in a red jersey. Unknown to the two of them, this was the same one that Elena had seen him in as he entered the apartment. The logo looked realistic, unlike many in sports that look to be cartoony, this one looked as if an actual grey wolf had been the basis for their logo.

Antonio went to the next page again. It consisted of a record of the Class of 2006 from the Royal Military College of Canada. Halfway down there was a name highlighted. 'Philip McAdam, Magna Cum Laude, BS Civil Engineering.'

Antonio continued to the next page. It looked to be a local newspaper article that informed the citizenry of the commissions of the recent graduates of the RMCC. Once again, halfway down was an underlined entry. 'Philip McAdam, Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, assigned to Canadian Military Engineers.'

Antonio finally made it to the final page. The article in a newspaper was dated September 18th, 2011. The headline read, "Local man awarded new 'Canadian Sacrifice Medal'. A man born in Mississauga had been awarded the new medal, which has criteria similar to the United States' Purple Heart. Philip McAdam, a member of the RMCC's Class of 2006 was wounded in an ambush in Kandahar, Afghanistan in early 2009, when an IED exploded on a roadside while he participated in a convoy. During a brief firefight, Lieutenant McAdam was alleged to have helped to carry one of his American compatriots back to the safety of an armored vehicles. The event is under examination for further commendations for his act of bravery and heroism."

Antonio looked up at his alpha. Jeremy returned his glance and said, "If there is anyone who could not only survive the first change on his own, but master it, it would be him."

Antonio looked questioningly at his leader, thinking, Could he possibly be proposing what I think he is?

"We may not have a choice," Jeremy answered Antonio's thoughts. "He saw both Clayton and Elena change, but not only that, he tried to save Clayton after Santos injected him with whatever he did."

"But the rules!" Antonio pleaded.

Jeremy let out a slight chuckle. "What good is it to be alpha, if you cannot make exceptions or change them. And I wouldn't feel right killing a human who acted with such valor, regardless of the reason."

Clayton and Nicholas went only for a short run, about 20 minutes long. Nicholas only went to look after Clayton, since it had been so long since he changed. Clay's screams of pain seemed even louder than normal; this was common when a werewolf tried to procrastinate a change for too long. The two only did a few laps in the forest surrounding the house before changing back.

After they both were back to their naked human forms, Nicholas sensing that something was distracting Clayton asked, "What's been eatin' at you?"

"Nothing," Clayton snapped at his friend hoping he would drop it, but Nicholas knew Clay better than even he knew himself. He raised his eyebrow at Clay and the PhD revealed what he had talked to Jeremy about.

A slight look of horror came over Nicholas's face as Clayton told him that Philip had seen his change. What Clay didn't confess to was that he had deliberately changed in front of Philip, hoping that would justify silencing him. That look left when Clay informed Nicholas that Philip had tried to save Clay from being kidnapped.

"There's more," Clayton said, "I think that the first change isn't as dangerous as we thought it was." Nicholas just stared at Clayton in shock. The two had sat down on large rocks in the forest still naked. "Three out of the four the mutts changed were successful, and we have something better that we can offer the bitten. We can give them a sense of family."

Nicholas held his mouth open, his bottom lip so low that if it was any lower his jaw would be on the ground. "Okay, let's just assume for a second that Jeremy agrees to let you test your theory, and I don't think your chances are fifty-fifty. How do you test it? I mean, the mutts found people who were willing to be bitten; how do you do that? You know Jeremy won't let you use ex-cons."

"I already know who should be first, if he's willing. I think that he will be, because he cares for Elena as much as I do."

If Nicholas wasn't in shock before, he was now. He knew who Clayton was referring to; his rival for Elena's love. Nick worried that this wouldn't end well for either of them. "Are you sure?"

Clayton didn't know about the fact that Philip had received a military commendation for what happened to him in Afghanistan, but knew what he had tried to do for him in Toronto. "He tried to save me from two mutts. I think we can trust him, and I know he won't hurt Elena."

"I don't know about this," Nicholas said.

"Neither do I, but I don't know if we have a choice."