Time jump:

The forest floor shook from the pounding of running paws. The critters scattered to hide from the upcoming blur of colors. The birds squawked away as the aftermath wind blew past them. To anyone looking it would seem nothing more than a blur flying past them. But to those that could see just as fast as they could run, could distinguish the colors and forms of the wolves running.

I lead the small group, pushing my body past its limit. She could see Nathan and Eyal flanking her on both sides. Clay and Hotch are just in the rear. I knew they weren't at full speed, if they wanted to, we'd be seeing their tails right about now. Spotting Eyal making a move at passing me, I snapped at his feet, forcing him to fall back. There was no way in hell I was going to let him beat me.

'Cheap shot!' Eyal growled.

I glanced back at him, allowing my tongue to slip out the side of my mouth. 'Like you haven't thrown cheap shots today.'

'You did trip her in the stream.' Nathan jumped in.

Eyal scoffed. 'That was an accident.'

'Su-' I turned back to the front, taking a Whiff of the air. 'I think Molly's baking!' Taking off even faster, I put a gap between myself and the others. 'Smells like doughnuts!'

'Alex slowdown!' Nathan yelled after me.

Eyal shared a look with Clay and Hotch before they all bolted after me. I had to roll my eyes at the three of them. It was like looking at teenagers, shoving and tripping. Breaking through the tree line at the same time, I spotted Ziva standing on the porch with a tray of doughnuts and coffee. Ziva was quick to get out of the way, as we all ran into the house to change. Within seconds we were back downstairs, only to have Ziva stop everyone.

"Sorry boys, but Alex gets first to pick." She grinned. "She is feeding two others."

Grabbing the bread, I took a bite in Eyal's face. "Yeah, what she said."

Eyal growled. "Bite Me."

I narrowed my eyes at the older wolf. Approaching him slowly, I wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him in closer, my mouth just by his ear. "Had you been mateless, I wouldn't have to be told to."

"Can you not seduce another man in front of me." Nathan grumbled.

"Please, Ziva would have my heart in her hand before I had a chance." To my point, Ziva nodded. "See."

"After Eyal's," Ziva added.

Eyal gapped at her. "What? Why?"

Ziva pointed an accusing finger at him. "Why are you letting another woman seduce you?"

"First of all, I didn't let anyone seduce me." He growled. "Secondly, you can't blame her for having good taste."

Nathan raised a brow. "Not sure you even understand the meaning of good taste." He snatched a bite of my food, before turning back to Eyal. "Besides if she ever considers you good taste, I will mark it off as a moment of insanity."

Eyal frowned. "Hmm?"

"Because there is no way in hell that could ever happen while she's sane."

I couldn't deny his statement. He was correct in that. Eyal was a very handsome man, but he was not my type. "He's not wrong."

"Puff, like I would ever care." Eyal scoffed, pulling Ziva into his lap. "The only opinion I care for is the one, my beautiful mate."

"Who would have thought, Eyal-"

We all froze at a loud deep howl ripping through the woods. The howl ran like ice-cold lava through our bodies. No one moved. Not even the packs reacted. In fact, as I looked around I noticed every pack mate of all three packs, were kneeling with their heads bowed.

Nathan gently pushed me to the side. Giving me a stay-put look, he along with Eyal and Hotch walked to the bottom of the porch and shifted. I stood beside Ziva, who like me was confused. Clay and Molly walked out a few moments, and like the others shifted and stood beside the alphas.

We all stood for what felt like hours when to my shock a large pack of white wolves broke through tree lines. It wasn't a small pack either. They surrounded the entire compound, creating a circle around everyone. My attention was drawn to a man walking in after the pack. He was tall, about Nathan's height. Lean and muscular. His midnight hair ruffled from the wild winds and his eyes were a striking blue color.

Nathan was the first to make a move, trotting over to the man. To my surprise, he fell to his side and bared his neck. The stranger crouched down, offering Nathan a grin. Nathan stood upcoming face to face with the intruder.

"It has been a while, little brother." His voice was smooth. "You have grown some since then. Not so much of a runt anymore."

Nathan growled playfully.

"Want to introduce me to the others?" Grabbing Nathan by the scruff of his neck, he pulled him forward and laid his forehead over the wolves. "I have missed you."

Nathan gave out a small yelp, running back to the others. Jumping over the steps and into the house, he came back a few moments later shifted back. Jogging back down the stairs, he pulled me down with him.

"Ned this is my mate, Alex." He practically shoved me in front of the man.

Ned grinned. "Ah yes Clay's daughter." Grabbing my hand, he gave it a slow shake. "My pack has been keeping me informed of all the goings-on around here."

"Excuse me?" I was confused. His pack?

"You didn't think I would leave my younger brother without protection, did you?" He laughed.

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Ned's pack is a little different than ours. They are scattered across the states, keeping an eye on other packs and reporting back to him. Let's say they need help with hunters, they let him know. Also keeps tabs to ensure our secret remains a secret."

"So, what he is-this is going to sound so stupid-but the alpha of alphas?" I cringed as those words left my mouth.

"In a way he is." Hotch having shifted back, stood beside me. "Nathan like Eyal and I are from the first families. When the three of us are together, Eyal is higher in the ranks seeing he is the oldest of the three. Ned was the firstborn of the first family and out of us three. When their parents died, Ned took over his father's position."

I glanced over at my mate and his brother. He didn't look like much, to be honest. Nothing that screamed he had the power or authority they said he did. "And no one has challenged him for the position? Or can it not be challenged?"

"It can and it has." Hotch replied. "No has ever been able to knock him down."

"Simon?" We all turned around to find Ziva staring wide-eyed at Ned. A grin broke across her lips.

"Ziva Da-vid." Ned appeared in front of her in three large strides.

"Wh-what are you doing here?! Of all places here!" To the surprise of everyone, she lunged forward wrapping him in a tight hug.

Ned secured her in his arms, before stepping back and hugging her closer. "I could ask you the very same question. This was the last place I would have thought you to be in." Placing her feet back on the ground, he refused to let her go. "I hate to admit this, but I have missed you."

Ziva let out a watery laugh, her face buried in the crook of his neck. "I had been told you were killed years ago. You disappeared."

"You two know each other?" I glanced over at Eyal, surprised to see the lack of response from him. I mean his mate was literally in the arms of another male. "How? And who the hell is Simon?"

"Simon was my alias." Ned had pulled back enough to speak clearly. "Ziva and I worked together for a few years on and off. It was during Mossad and CIA joint missions."

"This was way before I came to the states." Ziva added.

"Her first-ever mission was a simple drop and swap exchange. Of course, nothing is ever simple. Things went south and we had to find cover at a safe house."

Ziva suddenly shoved him. "Where you tried to strangle me with a piano wire."

"In my defense, I didn't know you were my contact." Ned snapped back. "There is a reason we set code words."

"Anyways, after that, we tended to bump into one another a few times on missions." Ziva replied.

Ned nodded, his mesmerizing eyes landing on her belly. "It seems you have been busy since we last saw each other." He leaned closer to her ear. "That's not mine, right?"

Ziva scoffed. "Please, as I would ever."

I was still baffled by Eyal's lack of response. The man was flirting with his mate in front of him! "Eyal, you alright?" All I got was a stiff nod. "Okay."

"Ned, any news on Elijah?" Nathan asked.

Ned finally released Ziva, turning his attention to his brother. "Not yet. I have scouts all over looking for him. Wolves at known relatives and friends that would help him. He hasn't been at any of them. After his little stunt in front of the humans, we are working around the clock to find him. Elijah has been a non-stop bullet since the death of his mate. He seeks revenge and will stop at nothing to get it." His eyes landed on Clay. "And to finish that I will be needing that way wire son of yours and his alpha."

"Matt?" I asked. "What do you want with my brother?"

Ned raised a brow, looking at Clay and then back at Hotch. "I gave you a month to get her up to speed and you couldn't even do that."

Clay sighed. "Ned, I just found her and you wanted me to just drop the bomb."

"Yes!" He growled. "This would have been over should you five not stopped to play house, and done what I had ordered!"

"Ned." Nathan tried to calm his brother but failed.

"Hey!" All eyes turned to me. "What about my brother and Derek?"

Ned let out an annoyed growl. "Elijah was never your mate. He was not trying to mate with you, in some stupid plan of wanting to unite the packs. Nor did he want to mate because he fell in love with you at first sight. This is a vengeance plan against you, your brother, Derek, and anyone associated with the death of his mate and daughter."

"Ma-daughter?!" My brain was crossed wired. "He never-"

"Of course, he never said anything." Ned huffed. "It is true that Elijah and his father were behind the attack on your pack, where your mother was killed. But they did so after Matt and Derek killed his mate and two-year-old daughter. They claimed they didn't know who they were the night of the attack."

"You lie!"

"Alex!" Clay growled loudly, stopping me mid lunge. "He isn't. Matt and Derek know Ned is looking for them. They are aware of the real reason Elijah is doing all of this. That is why he was gone for so long. Derek sent him into hiding after the attack on the pack. That's also why he sent you away, to keep you away from Elijah."

"I-I don't understand. If this was a vendetta against Matt and Derek, why come for us? For Nathan and Eyal? For Gibbs!"

"You are a link to Derek and Matt. Derek although no longer your alpha, still has that whisper of a connection between you two. Matt, well you are his sister after all. He gets to you, he gets them." Ned explained. "As for you, Nathan, Eyal, and Hotchner he blames all of you for the death of his father. He is aware of all your weaknesses. Something you all stupidly failed to hide."

"What do you plan on doing for Matt?" Ziva asked.

Ned sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I have only two options in regards to all of this mess. One is, that I offer Elijah a pack trial for both Matt and Derek. Let him get justice for his mate and pup. As for the other thing, that is a bit more complicated. Word around the woods has been, that he has been recruiting wolves for a war."

Nathan growled. "War? He can't be that stupid, you would destroy him."

Ned shook his head. "War is not won by the number of wolves little brother, but the strategy of the pack. I said he was recruiting wolves, but I don't know how he plans on executing his next move. For all, I know he could be in wait now. Eyal?"

"Yeah?"

"You still have a good relationship with that hunter?" Eyal nodded. "Good, call her. Nathan, I know both Alex and Ziva are close to their due date. You will need to find them a place away from here. At least until this is handed or the pups are a few days old. Elijah could ver-"

"Be waiting for them." Nathan whispered. "Where should I take her?"

"I am not going anywhere!" I snapped.

Nathan sighed. "Alex, this is for the best. We can't risk putting the pups in harm's way."

"Nathan, we have three packs united here. The place is surrounded by wolves ready to defend our children. Elijah would have a better chance in taking them somewhere else, than here." I pleaded with him. I couldn't leave him or the other here. They were my family and no matter what comes our way, we always stuck together. "Besides, you know I can't leave my team on their own. They have been through hell ever since they met me. If I leave, there is no here to protect them."

Nathan was going through an inner battle of his own. He knew when she said team, she meant Jethro. He couldn't be upset with her, he understood the bond and ties, but it didn't mean he needed to like it. But in the end, he would do anything for her. "Ned, will you be staying here?" The older wolf nodded. "Would it be possible if a few of your packmates paired with ours and watched over her team?"

"You mean the human mate and his puppies." Ned scoffed.

Ziva slapped him on the arm. "That would make me one of his puppies."

Ned grinned. "If the shoe fits darling."

Walking over to Eyal I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the group.

Eyal frowned, pulling me into his side. "We have been over this Alex; you are just not my type."

"Shut up, what's your deal?"

"My deal?"

"Yeah?"

"I am not following."

I grabbed his chin, turning him to face Ned who was still clearly flirting with Ziva. "That! What's your deal with that. Any other male that simply looks at Ziva, you had his throat in your claws."

Eyal reached for my chin, forcing me to look that way as well. "What do you see?"

"An alpha male flirting with your mate." I mumbled.

He shook his head. "Look again."

I rolled my eyes, looking over once more. I stared at Ned. His eyes were full of passion as he spoke to Ziva. Never wavering away from her regardless of anything going on around him. His hand always touching her in one way or another. It reminded me of the way Eyal would look at her. "What the fuck."