Barba:

Stepping out of his vehicle, Barba didn't miss the new scents mixed in with his pack's scents. Holding himself tall, he cautiously walked into his home. Turning into the kitchen he found Aaron sitting at the end of the table with Elliot Stabler sitting on his left.

"So we just letting anyone into my home?" Barba grumbled.

Aaron tossed him a look. "We need to settle this now."

"There is nothing to settle." Stabler spoke. "I don't even know why I was called for this."

Barba frowned. "There is much to work on. In the few weeks, you have taken the neighboring pack and you have attacked our pack."

"Forced marked an already marked wolf." Aaron added.

"Trespassed onto our land." Barba said. "Sent your wolves to take Benson. When that failed you broke into her home. So, yeah, we need to settle this."

"We understand the adjustment it takes when one becomes what we are and or rise the ranks." Hotch continued. "Your human laws do not apply in our world. You should be aware of that."

"The attack on one's mate is not something we take lightly." Barba growled.

Stabler growled. "You claimed what was not yours to claim."

"What?" Barba laughed humorlessly. "Olivia was never yours. You abandoned her 10 years ago."

"Enough." Aaron snapped. "I don't know what your sire has taught you, but you can not go after another's mate." Seeing the look Stabler was tossing Barba, he slapped his hand on the table to get his attention off the alpha. "Olivia Benson is to lead this pack alongside Rafael."

Eliot stood with an arrogance that rubbed the two alphas the wrong way. "I had already nothing would be fixed by coming here. Olivia has been claimed way before you came into her life. She has always been mine and she will be mine."

Aaron was quick to stop the younger alpha from standing up. "Should you continue down this path, you will be starting a war between the packs."

"It will be a war you cannot win." Barba growled.

"We will just have to see." Giving them a mocking bow, he walked out the back door and into the woods.

Rafael jumped from his seat, pacing in front of Aaron with a low menacing snarl. "Angelous!"

"Yes alpha?"

"I want double patrol both here and at Olivia's place. I will be with her as much as I can." Barba began barking out his orders. "Should you see any of Stabler's wolves off their territory, show them excellent why they call us the blood moon."

Angelous gave a crude laugh. "You got it."

"You can't go killing other wolves, Rafa." Aaron sighed.

"I can if I find them on my land, especially after their alpha declared war on us." Barba snapped. "I will not allow him to lay a hand on Olivia."

"I understand, but for now keep it civil." Aaron tried calming the alpha down. "Do not make the first move. If there is a war to come of this, let them make the first mistake. After you can leash all hell on them."

Barba knew his friend was right. Should a war break out, it would have to start with its opponent. Barba was never one that enjoyed what came of such wars. The list of lives and for what? Granted he would not give up on Olivia, but he wasn't about to have his pack slaughtered either. "I'll remain with Benson. Are you heading back anytime soon?"

Hotch shook his head. "Between the team and I, we have gathered enough vacation time to last us a few months. Plus, Pen wants to have the pups surrounded by the pack."

"Watch them while I am gone." Barba muttered. "Anything happens, you let me know."


Time jump:

Barba glanced behind him as a black car pulled up. Aaron stepped out, walking around the car and opening the door for Garcia. The poor she-wolf was barely able to walk, due to the size of her belly. They soon joined him on top of the small cliff overlooking the pack that had gathered. Raphael noticed one of the young pups sneaking into the crowd. Jumping off the low cliff, the pack stepped to the side making way for their alpha. Fishing the kid from the back of his shirt, he hauled him over to the side.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rafael recognized the kid. "You should be at home."

"I'm sorry alpha." Lowing his head, he whimpered. "I just wanted to see Alpha Benson. I hadn't been able to see her when she came by last time."

"Alp-" He should have known it would have spread like wildfire. "Benson is not here Harry." It wasn't uncommon for lower-ranking wolves and pups to search for the lead female. She would provide what love and protection they needed. "Next time I bring her, you will be able to see her."

"Yes alpha."

Ruffing his hair, he picked a female from the back of the pack. "Take him back to the pack house. Make sure the nanny in charge keeps an eye on him."

The she-wolf nodded. "Yes alpha."

"Rafael." Hotch stood where he once stood, motioning for him to join them. "Let's get started."

Giving the pup a stern look to get a move on, he joined Aaron and Garcia. As Hotch began talking Barba couldn't help but imagine Olivia at his side. Hearing his name being called, he snapped out of his daydream and stepped forward.

The others stood quietly, waiting for their alpha to speak. "I am aware of what is being said about Olivia Benson and myself. Standing here I am going to clear any doubt." Taking a moment, he noticed two of his pack mates dragging two blindfolded men. "Olivia is the one my wolf has chosen as our mate. She will be your future alpha female." The pack hollered and howled in joy. "We all know the laws we live by. We also know the consequences when one is broken." Gesturing one of the men forward, Joe was brought to the front of the pack. He was forced down on his knees. "This...man held my mate against her will. He laid his hands on her and threaten her life." The second man was brought forward. Barba jumped off the cliff, circling the shaking man. "This one took her. Hit her. Branded her like some animal."

Aaron watched the pack go from joy to pure hatred in seconds. They were visibly trying to hold back from reaching the two men on trial. Jumping off the cliff, he kneeled in front of the men. Once the blindfolds were removed, he spoke calmly to them. "You are being trialed for your crimes as our law says. You will be hunted down as you have hunted us down. You will be shown no mercy or forgiveness, just as you have shown us."

Grabbing a knife Barba slit the rope tying their hands. "There is a river in the woods. Reach it and you have earned your freedom."

"No one has ever reached it." Aaron added with a low chuckle.

"Go." Barba ordered. "You will be given a 20-minute head start." Seeing neither make a move, he shoved them both. "Go! Now!"

The pack made a path allowing the two men to run off. Barba and Aaron followed slowly behind, stopping at the end of the path. Barba listened as they got further from the group. His instincts to shift and run after the prey was burning inside him. His anger boiled to the point of explosion.

"Who are you going after?" Aaron asked having heard the two split up.

Barba growled. "Lewis is mine."

"Very well." Shrugging his jacket, followed by his shirt and pants, he quickly shifted into his black wolf. 'Let the trial begin.'

Barba cringed. "Don't say that. It sounds so…lame." Doing what Aaron had done, he too shifted. Sparing his friend one last glance, he walked deeper into the woods.

The pack divided between the two alphas. Barba trotted calmly following the scent of Lewis. The man reeked of fear and desperation. Barely holding back from giving into the chase too early, he stopped for a moment.

'Alpha?' Spencer walked up to him, head low, ears back, and tail tucked between his legs. 'Are you alright?'

'I'm fine.' But he wasn't. Barba had never been a person driven by rage or hatred. He never liked drawing blood or the idea of taking a life, but for once he would make an exception. 'He's slowing down.'

Breaking from the pack he ran to the left, leaving the pack to continue on their chase from the rear of Lewis. Jumping over a small creek, he circled around and waited. He could hear Lewis running through the woods. His heart pounding against his chest. Seeing him trip over the root of a tree, Barba appeared in front of him.

Lewis turned coming face to face with the black wolf. "Please don't." He begged. "I'm sorry. I truly am. I will never-"

The alpha wolf didn't let him finish, lunging at the crying man. He wasn't going to end his life just yet. He wanted Lewis to suffer the equivalent amount of pain he had caused his victims. Biting down on the man's shoulders, he dragged him around the dirt. His pack caught up with them and wasted no time in joining in. The others went for the legs, arms, and sides. No one attempting to take the final kill.

The pack tore him apart. Legs, arms, fingers, all ripped. Lewis was nothing, but a pile of meat in a pool of blood by the time they were done. The stream ran red from his stained blood. An offering of forgiveness to the earth for staining her of this pig's blood. Glancing down at his reflection in the running water, Barba grimace. His entire face was soaked in blood, droplets still falling. Looking up at the others they looked just as bad as he did.

As they walked back, the pack met up with Aaron and his group. Aaron himself was soaked in blood. It was almost as if he had bathed in it. He noticed a few wounds on him, but nothing to alarm himself over. The remains were left to the scavengers of the woods. By morning there would be nothing.

'Feel any better?' Aaron asked.

Barba shook his head. 'You know I am not too keen on taking a life, but this one….this one I have no remorse for.'

'Joe didn't last more than a few seconds after we got him.' Hotch said. 'Lewis?'

'Made it last until he gave up.'

Aaron knew what the meant and although the man didn't deserve it, he felt bad for him. 'Let's go get changed. You need to hurry and get to Olivia. The boys must be anxious to come back. They were already upset with missing the trial.'