Time jump: month

It had been a month since Bobby last saw or heard of Emilian. By the looks of it, Emilian had been keeping in touch with Eddie. He didn't necessarily like it, but he was no one to intervene. He will however intervene should he feel Eddie was in any danger.

Still, that hadn't stopped Ace and his pack. For the past month, Bobby had been on alert, keeping them away from his team and family. Not an easy job when it was one against dozen, who had been wolves their entire lives. Bobby was still having trouble controlling his night shift.

A few other things have happened in the past month that has not gone unnoticed. For one the team had become weary around Bobby for some time now. Hen was the first to notice just how short temper Bobby had become. More than a few times, they have had to pull him away from a scene. Just last week Hen stopped him from nearly squeezing a man's throat. Granted the man had attempted a sneak attack on Athena, while her back was turned to him. No matter what the team did they were unable to pull him away. It took Athena's voice to break him out of his trance. What Hen wasn't able to understand was how Bobby was able to cause so much damage to the attacker. He was barely holding onto him. Yet he had bruising and a fractured windpipe.

A few days later after that incident, Eddie told them of the pounding Bobby had given some guy at a bar. Turned out he said something disrespectful towards Eddie and Bobby snapped. Now everyone was aware of Bobby's overprotectiveness of his teammates, but this was some new level shit.

Bobby was acting like an animal.

Which brought the team to this very moment, standing at attention for their captain to show up.

When Bobby walked up the stairs he slowed his pace catching an uneasy scent. It was causing him himself to feel uneasy, his stomach-turning. Reaching the top, he found his team standing around the table. Each one holding a paper in hand.

"Please tell me this isn't some mass quitting event." He took notice of the weary laughter. "What's going on?"

"We-we need to talk." Hen took the lead, gesturing he take a seat.

Bobby complied pulling out the chair at the head of the table. "Okay, what's going on?"

"That's what we are wondering." Hen slid into the chair beside him. "What's going on with you?"

Bobby tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Don't play coy with us, Bobby." Hen scoffed. "You haven't been yourselves lately."

"I've been fine."

"Fine?" Hen scoffed. "You fractured a man's windpipe."

"He's was going to hurt Athena." Bobby snapped.

"You pounded on a drunken man." Eddie injected.

Bobby growled. "He insulted you and then proceeded to try and grope you. He had many warnings to back off."

"You broke the guy's nose and fracture his jaw." Eddie laughed with a scoff. "That's overkill, even for me."

He knew this was coming. His team wasn't stupid to not see his struggling. He had just hoped for more time to prepare. "Look, it's nothing you need to worry yourselves about. I am already speaking to someone about it."

"Who?" Buck jumped in.

"Now that is none of your concern." Bobby chuckled. "I understand and I appreciate your concern for me. But I'm fine."

"Cap, you losing co-" Eddie was cut off by Bobby jumping out of his chair in a jolt. "Cap?"

Bobby caught the scent before hearing his footsteps. With a low growl, he pushed past the group and hurried down the stairs. The others gathered on top, to see Bobby approach two males.

"Who are they?" Buck asked.

"Never seen them around." Hen muttered.

"Whoever they are, they aren't welcomed." Eddie mumbled under his breath.

Chim frowned. "Why do you say that?"

Eddie pointed at Bobby. "Look at his shoulders. They are tensed. His entire body is stiff."

"Should we go down there?" Buck was already heading for the stairs.

"No." Hen held out a hand, stopping the youngest. "If something happens we will help, until then we stay put."

"Ahh, there he is!" Ace grinned. "You are a hard man to find Bobby Nash."

"What are you doing here?" Bobby kept a safe distance between him and the two wolves. "I warned you to stay away from my family."

"Oh, why so hostile?" Ace gasped dramatically placing a hand over his chest. "I am just here as a courtesy visit. I like to make sure there are no hard feelings between us."

Bobby snorted. "Says the man that's been trying to kill me?"

"Well, that's just how things are to be." Ace shrugged. "In the end, it wasn't I who dragged you into this. That was Erick, I'm just trying to free you from that hold."

Crossing his arms across his chest, he stepped back at seeing the beta approach him. "Thanks for the concern, but I have come to tolerate it."

"You're being selfish Nash." Ace dropped the carefree mask. "You refuse to take on the role of alpha and that is killing the pack. I can take them off your hands, at the same time I can free you from the beast."

Seeing the wolf's claw begin to extend, he gave a warning growl. "You will never get them."

"You don't want them!" He roared. "You don't care for them!"

"They are my pack!" Grabbing the alpha by the throat he slammed him against the ambulance. "I am warning you one last time. Stay away from them."

Ace gasped for air, clawing at Bobby's wrist. "Watch it, Nash, you're changing."

"Stop." Hen stopped the others from approaching the men. "Bobby, what's going on?"

Eddie broke from the group after seeing Ace's friend make a run at his Captain. Standing between Bobby and the other man, he shoved him back. "Think twice before you think of laying a hand on Bobby."

"You messing with the wrong one."

"Luca stand down." Ace gurgled out the order.

"Listen to you master Luca." Eddie clicked his tongue.

Ace glanced back at Bobby. "I came here wanting to talk."

Leaning in close so only he could hear, Bobby snarled his words. "You came here hoping I would bare my neck and let you end this. You want what's mine? You will have to take it by force." Letting the man drop to the floor gasping for air, he turned to the other. "Threaten anyone from my team again-"

Luca flinched back shutting his eyes in anticipation of a blow. Not feeling the strike he opened one eye to see the alpha standing with his pack. Helping his alpha up, they rushed out of the firehouse.

"Call Jacob," Ace ordered. "Have Trey meet me back at the manor. It's time we get rid of Nash."

"Y-yes alpha." Luca glanced back at the firehouse, he met Bobby's blue eyes. He'd never seen an alpha put himself in front of his pack. Let alone for humans. "What about his team?"

"After we deal with Nash, we will deal with the rest of them." Ace slammed his hand against the wheel. "Even from the grave, Erick keeps fucking up my life."

Bobby kept his eyes on the retreating car for as long as he could. They were getting bolder. Coming at him in broad light and with others nearby. This needed to end.

"Cap, who was that?" Buck asked.

Bobby shook his head. "Not know Buck."

"Cap..." Seeing the look in Bobby's eyes, he quickly understood. "Let's give him some breathing room." Ushering the others back up the stairs, he stood at the bottom. He has seen that same look on Emilian before. He knew what that meant.

'Bobby?'

"If I agree to do what Erick wanted me to, can you guarantee the protection of my family and team?"

'Yes.'

Exhaling deeply, he glanced up at his worried team. "Very well, where do we start?"