Time jump:

It was three months before I saw him again. But during that time a few things have happened. Cases came and were solved. I have been kicked, punched, and hit with objects. I finally got over my fear of helicopters. And Gibbs was currently dating someone. Some lady he met at a bar he and the team went to. She tried to play nice with me, feed me, walk me, and even toss the ball. 'I am not a dog!' I resisted the urge of ripping her heart out, whenever she would touch or kiss him. But I was happy, he was happy. He smiled more. Went out more. Things I couldn't do for him.

I actually felt neglected in a way. The only times he would pay any attention to me was whenever she wasn't in the room. Then and only then, would he remember I was there too. It hurt in a way really. I no longer slept in his bed. No longer woke on his chest. I was to sleep in the living room and in my so call dog bed. I wasn't allowed on the furniture when she was around. Which was almost every day.

The good news was that during office hours and casework, we were back to just him and me. Still allowed me to ride in the front. Drink his coffee and lay on his desk. Lisa was not to interfere with this part of my world.

Or so I thought.

Hearing the elevator open and getting a whiff of the scent, I growled. Lisa had just walked into the bullpen, a stupid grin on her lips and a plate of food in her hands. Seeing her get closer, I quickly moved to Ziva's side, not once stopping my growls. She greeted the team, before turning to me. As she tried to pet my head, I snapped at her hand.

"Luna!" Gibbs yelled, stepping between me and her.

Ignoring his glare or the fact that he was checking her hand, I crawled underneath Ziva's desk and laid there. I would hear her giggling and squealing. 'I think I'm gonna be sick.' Ziva, Tony, and McGee decided to leave for lunch, leaving me alone in the office with these two.

"I brought Luna some food as well." Lisa said, taking the containers out and spreading them on his desk.

Gibbs grabbed the food, placing it a few feet away from my nose. "Luna." I refused to move. "Hey, lunchtime." Seeing I wasn't moving, he kneeled and lowered his head down to see me. "Not hungry?"

'Leave me be!' I growled, semi-lunging at him. 'Go back to Lisa!'

Gibbs frowned, leaving the plate on the floor, he re-joined Lisa at his desk. "Suppose she isn't hungry."

"Maybe she is sick?" Lisa suggested.

"I don't know, she hasn't been herself lately." Gibbs grumbled. "More angry than usual."

Lisa gave a small chuckle. "Maybe it's me. She doesn't like me."

'Well, you aren't as dumb as you look.'

Gibbs chuckled. "I don't think so. She just needs to get used to it all." Although he knew that wasn't it. Something else was bothering her.

The moment she left, I crawled out from underneath the desk and stretched. Who knew she could talk for so long! As I approached Gibbs, I shook my head. He reeked of the woman. He no longer smelled of wood and old spice, but of her. Stepping away from him, I curled into a ball. Regardless of him being my mate, he was never really meant to be mine.

Getting home I went to my spot in the living room. Gibbs filled my plates and sat on the couch with his food. He would glance at me a few times, his frown getting deeper. Not able to deal with having him look at me like so pity case, I bolted out the house and into the woods. I could hear him calling for me, but I refuse to go back. What was I thinking anyway?! I am a wolf! A human being, not some agent's pet! I should be with my real pack. Running in the wood with them. Not here.

Stopping at the top of a rock and laying on the edge, I stared out into the deeper woods. I could hear the nightly critters scurrying throughout the forest, minding their own business. It has been a while since I have come out here. Gibbs didn't like the idea of having wild wolves roaming near the house, so it's been a while since my last wolf interaction. I missed seeing the moon. Feeling the cool night air over me. The softness of the forest floor under my paws. The smells invading my senses. I missed it all. I missed being what I was, a wolf, a free animal. Jumping to my feet I tossed my head back and howled. I wasn't surprised in getting any answer. Midnight was gone and wasn't sure he'd come back. If there were any other wolves in the area, they were staying hidden.

'I would recognize that howl anywhere.'

I jumped, startled by the sudden voice behind me. The wolf that stood before me was no stranger at all. 'Elston?'

'Hello lo-oof-' Elston fell to his side, as I tackled him. 'How you been?'

'Besides missing you? Alright.' Pushing myself off him, I couldn't help, but look him over.

Elston was big, as would any wolf. He stood about three-four inches taller than me. His coat was unique. He was a black and tan phase wolf. Meaning his black coat was had swirls of tan patches in it. Yet his face and chest were completely black, making him nearly impossible to see at night. His eyes were amber gold. His fur was long and loose, something I always loved.

'Alright?' He asked. 'Did I miss something?'

I couldn't help but scoff. 'Well, work has been good. And Gibbs is dating. So yeah alright.'

'Ahh, so that's it. Your human mate has found someone.' He hummed, moving to lay on his belly. 'Does that really surprise you, Alex?'

I frowned. 'What do you mean?'

'Have you known of any wolves successfully mated with their human mates?'

Come to think of it, I haven't. 'No'

'That's because we were never supposed to mix Alex.'

I laughed. 'That is just stupid Elston. Why else would we have mates, if not to be with them.'

'Didn't your alpha ever teach you the history of our kind?' He scoffed. 'I swear Derek can be impossible sometimes.'

'So you tell me.' I urged, nudging him gently.

Elston sighed but gave me a small nod. 'This is what I have been told, what all young pups are told. So do not get angry at me, alright.' I nodded. 'Our kind was the first of the first supernaturals. We stayed to ourselves, ruled the woods. We didn't mess with the humans and they didn't mess with us. To them we were nothing, but wolves. Until one day, an alpha male found his mate. In a female human. He proceeded to try and make peace with her. Going every day to her tribe, getting her to trust and care for him. He would help them hunt, protect them from any danger and other tribes. That was until he decided to show her what he was. The day she found out what he truly was she lost it. That day she and her tribe killed him and nearly wiped out his pack. Word spread of the 'monsters' ability to shift into the mighty wolf. Many didn't believe it, but we are still hunted by those that do.' I was still a bit confused. 'What I am saying is that, no matter what we do, what we say, we will always be the monsters. Every wolf that has outed to their human mate, has either been killed or rejected. Not to mention putting their pack in danger. Gibbs might be a strong lad, but do you really think he will accept what we are?'

'He saw another wolf, Elston. He saw him shift and heal.' I growled. 'He could be the exception.'

Elston sighed. 'Well, that is your call, Alex.'

Suddenly I remember. 'Elston, what about your mate? In the last letter, you told me you had found her.'

'I did and she rejected me.' He whispered.

'Human?'

'Yeah.' He chuckled softly. 'As I said, no matter what we say or do, we will always be the monsters.' Looking out into the woods, he smiled. 'I have my pack check in on her time after time. She is married and expecting her first child.'

'But how could she?'

'Alex you need to understand, to us mating is special. Sacred even. Our emotions are heightened because of what we are. We find our mates and we find what completes us. Humans don't have that. They might feel...affection at the most. They care for us but do not feel that fire in your blood. Or hear the way your heart pounds against your chest, the first time you see them. They say no and we are broken, but they can continue on as nothing has happened.' He spoke with certain pain and defeat. 'That is all you get for being mates with a human. Pain and rejection.'

Walking over to him, I nuzzled my face into his chest. 'Is it possible to love two at the same time?'

He chuckled. 'Anything is possible.'

I wondered if I could learn to love Elston, even though Gibbs was still in the picture. I mean like he said, they didn't feel as strongly as we did. To him, I was probably just a pet. A companion he cared for. Now that hurt. But I also knew he was happy with that woman. Leaning against his side, I took in a deep breath. 'So did you get out?'

'Yes.' Giving me a small lick on the muzzle, he laid us both down. 'I figure you'd want to stay here until the silver has left your body.' I nodded. 'Well, that is why I rented a house. Just end of the woods, opposite from here.' I laid my head over his paws, as he draped his neck over mine. 'Anytime you want to get away, my place is open. Consider it your home as well.'

I debated in asking the next question. 'Elston?'

'Hmm?'

'If we hadn't been told by our packs that we were to mate and unite them, would you have ever paid any attention to me?' I have heard of many arranged matings and not all were with a happy ending. Many times the male never wanted the female. I frowned at hearing him laugh. 'That's funny?'

'And they say men are the clueless ones.' He laughed, dodging the snap I gave him. 'Alex I saw you years before we were told. Your first union pack run.'

I knitted my brows, trying to remember. 'I don't remember seeing you.'

'Well, that was a couple of years. You were what?'

'15.'

'That's right 15. I was 27 at the time. My coat was still pitch black. Just like you, yours was mostly red and black.' He grinned. 'But I saw you, with Derek and his pack. You were the youngest, yet the fastest of the pack. Nearly beat me to the kill that night.'

I suddenly remembered. 'That was you!' He nodded. 'Now I remembered, but I did get the kill.'

'I may have held back.' He mumbled.

'Great thanks.' With a huff, I laid my head back down. 'I would have beat you anyways.'

'I am sure you would have.'

'So you were saying.'

'I was saying, that ever since that night, I kept tabs on you.' He said. 'Derek was sure to send me updates on how you were doing. Although he forgot to mention, he pumped you with silver.'

'Until that night we met again.' I whispered.

He nodded. 'The next union-run, yeah I remember. You had just turned 17. It was a fun night.'

'Yeah, up until you tried to kill Jacob.' I mumbled, shivering at the reminder.

Elston growled. 'He tried to stake his claim on you. I wasn't about to simply sit back and do nothing.'

'I could have handled it myself, Elston.'

'I know, but you know the laws, Alex. If a possible mate can not protect his female, pack or himself, he is of no use.'

'Yeah, I know of the law. It's so caveman.'

He chuckled. 'But it has worked so far.'

I pushed myself up into a sitting position. I wasn't sure why I was even thinking this. 'I am not saying yes, but what happens if we do mate?'

'We unite our two packs, making them one.'

I couldn't imagine it. I mean yes, many wolves mate to unite and make their packs stronger, but having Derek's pack and Elston's pack unite would be insane. Derek's pack was the second largest in the world with a total of 18 wolves. Elston's pack, last I heard, was a total of 21 wolves. You are talking in unifying 39 wolves. And that was now, after the attack on our packs. That would make them the top vicious pack. But then comes the question.

'Who will lead the pack? I don't want bloodshed, Elston.'

He shook his head, nuzzling me gently. 'No bloodshed. Derek and I have come to an argument. We will both be leading the pack. Besides one that size needs more than one alpha.'

'Elston?'

'Hmm.'

'You do know I am the only female left in Derek's pack right?' He shook his head. 'The hunters made sure to try and clear out all the females. Stop us from procreating. Derek made sure I stay hidden and away.'

'I thought that was only happening in my city. We lost a good amount of females. We have about 6 left in the pack.' Elton paused, giving me a look. 'You want pups?"

I cocked a brow, not sure what brought that on. 'I have thought about it. I mean I am the last female in my pack. You can call it my duty. Help the pack grow once more.'

Elston growled. 'Don't say that!'

'It's the truth. Derek's mate was killed and she only bared him, sons. Every other female was killed, I am the only one that can produce pups.'

'I am not about to have my mate just bare pups to re-populate the damn pack!' Elston snapped. 'Listen, Luna, having pups should not be an obligation. It should be because you and your mate want them. Be a mother. Not a pack breeder, that falls on outsiders.'

"Luna!"

I jumped at hearing Gibbs calling me. 'I have to go.'

'Alright, but don't forget where I am.'

'I won't.' Giving him a quick lick on the muzzle, I ran towards the house. Gibbs stood by the sliding door, a flashlight in hand.

"You plan on staying out there all night?" Trotting past him, I went straight for the living room. Curling in my bed, I watched him turn off all the lights, before stopping in the hallway. "Want to sleep in the room tonight?" I perked at the offer, but just remembering Lisa's scent floating around, made me think twice. I heard him sigh before walking away. This was going to be tougher than I thought.