Gibbs scoffed a chuckle. "Why is it that Dinozzo is the one to always get into these situations?"

"Because he's Tony." I shrugged. "Do you really need any more reasons?"

"Suppose not." Gibbs leaned forward placing his beer on the coffee table. "About earlier with Lisa.."

"I get it, you had dinner plans and she was upset." I offered him a smile. "Don't worry about it."

"Alex, sh-"

"Leave it." My tone had gone down to a whisper. "Please, it's hard enough being here. Digging into whatever this may be, will do neither of us any good. You know that. I don't want you to end up getting hurt and I don't want to get hurt." I made my way to the back door, glancing out into the backyard. "Let us just leave things as they are for now. I'll see you in the morning."

I wasn't sure where I was going, but I couldn't be in the same house as he was. His scent alone was making my system go in overdrive. My restraint was close to snapping and crossing that invisible line. By the time I looked up, I found myself at a small cliff over a creek. The place looked rather familiar. Then it clicked, this was where we did our pack trials. I was so lost in thought I hadn't realized I walked down here.

'Out for a stroll?' Ned approached from behind, taking a seat beside me.

I nodded my head. 'Sleep hasn't come easy for me these past months. These nocturnal walks have become my dear friends.'

He chuckled. 'Why not spend them with your mate?'

'I don't think Nathan and I are in the best spot at the moment.' I had noticed a lot of distance between me and him. He was still there when I needed or called for him. But that was as far as the course went.

The larger wolf laid down, his paws dangling over the cliff's edge. 'Listen, Nathan's not that complicated to understand. All his life he has come second. Not something I have wanted him to endure, but that's pack life. No matter what he did or how well he accomplished something, our parents never saw him for who he was. I tried being there for him. Showed up at every major event in his life, but I was never enough.'

'Why are you telling me this?'

'So you can understand him.' Ned whispered. 'Nathan had given up on love. He had given up on ever feeling the approval or love of someone he cared about. When he learned about Mates, he got some of that hope back. He always talked about her. How she will love him unconditionally and he to her. When he met Aaron's mom he was infatuated with her. It wasn't love, just the want for someone to care for him.'

'I haven't exactly been the most caring mate.' I mumbled. 'Hell, he is always the one to instigate things between us.'

Ned nodded. 'I am not saying you are a bad mate or that you don't love him. But in the end, you have put everyone before him. Especially Gibbs.' He was quick to put a pause on my response. 'I get it, he is also your mate. But at the end of the day, you are mated to Nathan. You are carrying his pups.'

Ned was right in a way. 'But how can I not put Gibbs ahead? Nathan is a strong male. Alpha to a pack, he doesn't need protection. Gibbs and the others are humans. They can easily be killed.'

'So can we Alex.' He whispered. 'Look at Eyal. For trying to help that human, he nearly died in an alley. The man has been through enough in his lifetime. But because of what that human was to his mate, he helped. Eyal almost lost the chance to meet his pups.' He sat back up, his dark gaze overlooking the creek. 'I hate to say this, seeing how much they all mean to you, but this needs to stop. You and Ziva need to put some distance between the humans.'

'What?!' I growled. 'We can't abandon them now. Elijah is still out there. He is targeting them-'

'Because of you!' Ned snapped. 'He is targeting you through them. He knows about Gibbs. He knows what that asshole of Tony feels for Ziva. Using them, he gets to the both of you. Getting either one of you, is a direct blow to me, to Eyal, and Nathan. Elijah is not stupid.' Taking in a deep breath, he relaxed. 'I am not saying we abandon them. I will leave a few packmates behind. Watch over them, but you and Ziva need to be away from them and their scent.'

I refused to give up. 'I can't.'

Ned sighed. 'I figured as much. Then I will tell you this. If you can't give the love you so desire to give the human, let Nathan go.'

'What?'

'My brother has suffered enough to still be suffering. Finding his mate should bring nothing, but joy for him. Instead, he had to go home alone, while his mate stayed with another man.' I flinched at the truth behind those words. 'If you can't let go of one, let go of the other. Nathan might just be lucky enough to find someone else. Then, you can go about your business.'

I glared at the wolf. 'Just because you had the cold heart to reject your mate doesn't mean we all do. I can't let him go, he's my mate!' I yelped at having been pinned to the ground. The large wolf growled over me.

'Unlike you, I had the balls to know what was best for my mate. I was not in the right mind or place to give Ziva what she deserved. I at least had the sane mind of putting her beyond my own needs and want.' His teeth snapped inches from my snout. 'Because of your selfishness, you will get a lot of people hurt. Pick one and let the other go.' With one last snap of his teeth, he took off.

I laid there for a good moment, going over his words. He was right, I was being selfish with both of them. Nathan had done the impossible to keep me happy. He's practically moved his entire pack here, all because I wanted to keep Gibbs in my sight. He's put up with another male because I asked him. And yet all he ever asked in return was my love and loyalty. And I even failed at that. Placing my hands over my stomach, I took in a deep breath. Gibbs had Lisa and the team. Lisa although I didn't like her, had been able to give him what I couldn't. In a way, she was good for him. My mind wandered back to Nathan. I needed to let him know. For him to understand that I was his. No matter what.

Jumping to my feet, I took off into the woods. Not once slowing down. Diving and diving any trees and logs in my way. My sole goal in going home. Coming to a skidding stop just in front of our place, I frowned at seeing him sitting on the porch. His bright green eyes fell on me the instant I broke past the tree line.

'Hey.' Nathan offered me a small smile.

'I thought you'd be asleep by now.' I panted.

Nathan shook his head. 'Can't.'

'How come?'

'I've gotten used to having you next to me.' He mumbled.

That was just salt to the wound. 'I'm sorry.'

'For what?'

I scoffed. 'Let's start by me being a shitty mate. Putting everyone before you. Forcing you to endure-I have no ideas how much-by having Gibbs so close. By-'

'Alex enough.' Nathan clenched his jaw. 'It's true I didn't expect this would be the way things were going to be, but I don't care. As long as I still have you, that's enough.'

I shook my head vigorously. 'But it's not! I should have never done any of this. I should have left with you the first chance I had. We wouldn't be in this stupid war.'

Nathan reached for the robe draped over the porches railing. Standing up slowly he walked down the steps. Stopping only when he was in front of me. Crouching down, he asks me to shift back. Draping the robe over me, he stepped back as I did what he asked. Stepping to me once more, his hands cupped my jaw. Without a single word, he pulled me in for a kiss.

My hands found the end of his shirt, sliding underneath and running over his abdomen. Pulling away from the kiss, I leaned against his chest. The beating of his heart was an obsession of mine. It meant he was here with me.

"Regardless of what we would have done, we'd still be on the verge of war." Nathan whispered into my hair. "Regardless if Gibbs was your mate, you'd still stay and help him. Because above it all, he and the others are your packs. You would never abandon them."

"But it has brought you pain."

"Perhaps." Nathan sighed. "But the joy and peace you give me are enough for me to forget about the pain." Pulling me tighter in the hug, he let out a content huff. "You still haven't understood that just having you like this, in my arm is enough for me. In the end, we were made for each other."

Pulling away from him, I grabbed his hand and led him back into the house, "I have found it hard to sleep without next to me."

Nathan laughed following me into the house. "Sure, you have."

Time Jump:

Eyal had fallen into a coma. It's had been three days since his shooting when we got the news. Based on what the doctors said, it was to be expected. Eyal's body was fighting the toxins in his system. Usually one would be able to clear the wound, by burning the toxins out. But if even attempted on Eyal could lead go his death. The only good option here was wait and see if he would pull through on his own.

Ziva was taking it well at the moment. Hell, with the of Clay and Ned she took control of her pack. What she ordered, they obeyed. But she still refused to talk to Tony. It has gone to the point where Gibbs was avoiding pairing them up. I was on doggy care for the moment making sure the pups didn't chase after our agent. Ziva may be keeping her composure, but has yet to order the pack from trying to hunt down Tony. I don't blame.

"How are the pups?" I asked.

Ziva smiled softly. "Kicking."

"And the mother?"

"Worried." She let out a shaky breath. "I can't help, but worry about them and myself. I know I promised Eyal I would be fine, but after everything, you all told me."

"I know. It can be scary for a human." I moved to sit beside her. "But I also know their mother is strong."

Ziva chuckled. "I don't know about that."

I raised a brow. "Remind me again when has a human stood up to her mate's pack? Ziva you are the second human that has ever been accepted into a pack. Wolves don't allow it unless that person has earned it. Being mates is not enough."

"Second?"

I nodded. "Hotchner's mate is a human."

"Oh, I always thought Kate was a wolf. She acts the part."

"It rubs off on people. Live long enough with them and you'll be howling at the moon." Grabbing my phone, I frowned at the missed call I had from Derek. Sending him a quick message, turned my focus on Ziva.

'Nathan?'

'Yeah?'

'Derek wants to meet.'

'He called you?'

'Yeah, didn't answer. Sent him a text and he said he wants to meet. Alphas only, including Ned.'

'Very well. Have him meet up where the creek meets the river. Two hours.'

'Okay.' Sending the text back, I sighed. "Up for a trip?"

Ziva frowned. "What?"

"Derek just texted. He wants to meet. Alphas only and since Eyal is out for the while, you have to take his place and represent the two of you."

"I-I have never been in a meeting of alphas." Her heart was beginning to pick up speed.

Placing my hand over hers, I helped her calm down. "It's not a big deal Ziva. This meeting will most likely be about Derek wanting to make a deal with Ned. Something for their freedom."

"I won't even be able to understand any of you." Ziva grumbled. "I am not a wolf."

"We won't be shifted." I assured her. "Only reason we will show up shifted is if we had no trust in each other. Or looking for a fight, besides it's Ned's orders."

Ziva nodded shakily. "Does Gibbs know?"

"Most likely." That was a lie. Gibbs would never let her go. "Nathan, Aaron, and I will be there as well. No need to worry."

Of course, as I walked through the forest, I was worried. Glancing up, I looked around. Ned led our pack of Alphas. Nathan and I were just behind him. Aaron and Ziva are behind us. Clay and his mate bringing up the rear. No one spoke. All our focus was on our surroundings. Listening for any unusual noise. I knew Derek. I trusted Derek, but even he knows this won't go away. He and my brother needed to respond to what they did.

It wasn't uncommon for wolves to die in a war. It was collateral damage. We all knew that. But to go willingly out and hunt someone's mate and pup? That was a crime within our rules. And death was usually the punishment for such a crime.

"I thought this was supposed to be an only alpha meeting?" Ned suddenly called out.

I looked up, taking a whiff of the air. A small growl escaped at the scent of other betas. "Can't even trust old friends anymore."

Derek appeared on the opposite side of the creek, just over a ledge. "I am not stupid enough to show up alone. Not with 7 alphas in front of me."

"You called for this meeting." Nathan reminded him. "What did you expect?"

"For starters where is Eyal and why is his pregnant mate here?"

I stepped closer to Ziva, with a low growl. "She's here in place of Eyal. She is the alpha female after all."

"How about you tell us why the hell you asked us here?" Clay jumped in. "Not sure if you knew of this, but you are in some serious trouble. You do understand that right?"

Derek sighed. "I know, that's why I have come here. I want to make a deal."

Ned stepped forward, glaring at the man. "You slaughtered an innocent woman and her child. A pup who had not yet learned to shift. She never learned what her wolf looked like. The woman. She was with another pup. One you ripped out of her to prevent the bloodline from going on. What kind of deal could you possibly ask for?"

"Not for me." Derek replied. "For Matt. He was just a pup, following after me when it all happened. He doesn't deserve to go down for this. I will give myself up, pay for that mistake. But spare the young one."

Ned glanced at us, giving a slight shake of his head. "Elijah will not stop until everyone involved is dead. You killed his mate. Matt killed his pup. Why the hell would I give him a free pass. We have rules. Laws in our world. No one is above them. Not even the Alphas. There is no deal to make here."

Nathan stepped up next to his brother. "You and Matt can either come with us now or be hunted down."

"If we run, you will never find us." Derek growled.

"No pack will help you as of now." All eyes turned towards me. "Every wolf will have the order to attack on sight. Every hunter will be looking for you. All pack ties will be severed as of now. If you don't want any harm coming to your packmates, I suggest you do the right thing."

"You threaten your own brother?" Derek scoffed.

I shook my head. "No. My brother was long gone when I knew what he did. What you two did. Because of you two, Elijah has declared war on all of us. My pups are in danger of being raised in a bloody war."

"What will happen to my pack?" Derek's voice suddenly became soft. "What guarantee do I have they won't be harmed?"

To our surprise, it was Ziva that spoke up. "You have our word, from all of us, that no harm will come from us, or our pack mates. They will have the choice to either join one of us or go about their own lives. That is the best we can do. But should any of them come in vengeance for you, they will be put down."

Derek raised a brow. "Fair enough. All I require is their safety."

"We give you our word." Ned agreed. "You have two days."

Once Derek was gone, I turned towards Ziva with a raised brow. "And you were worried about your first Alpha meeting."

Ned chuckled. "Did better than expected."

"What brought that on?" I asked.

Ziva pulled a face, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "My water broke and I really needed this meeting to be over."