Sanctuary

Email: laney@realitiescollide.com

Paring: W/A

Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to Joss and Mutant Enemy. I’m just playing. Don’t sue.

Rating: Eventually around R-ish.

Summary: Willow returns after being missing for five years.

Spoilers/Authors notes: From Graduation onwards it verges off into an AU but everything up to the end of season five Buffy and season two Angel happened. Just with no Willow. You’ll see what I mean. I plan to write a sequel if people like it.

Feedback: Yes please.

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~Part: 1~

I wondered, as Angel sat down in front of me, emptying the contents of his first aide kit, if coming here had been a mistake. The moment I had arrived at the Hotel, I could see the questions in his eyes. I knew they had been looking for me. For five years, Buffy and Angel had never given up trying to find me. It was only sooner or later that they would succeed in their quest of finding me, and since I was bleeding like hell, I thought sooner might be better . So I decided to save them the trouble of looking for me any longer and I went to them. Well to Angel.

The reception had not been what I had expected. I had always thought our reunion would be full of tears and joy. Not with me badly injured and Cordelia fainting at the sight of me. But it wasn’t Cordelia’s reaction to me that bothered me so much. It was Angels.

So far, he had said nothing too me, instead he took me up to what he called the " medical room" and sat me on one of the two cots that occupied the room. There was no offer of a hospital, I think he knew I would refuse or maybe he thought I might run. Either way, his silence made me edgy. It was like a prelude of what was to come. More silence? Anger? Hatred?

" Put this in your mouth. " Angel handed me a piece of wood. He sounded furious. Was he pissed because I had been gone for so long? His expression matched his voice. I’m going to go with yes.

I took the wood, not sure of what he was doing, and put it in my mouth. Ordinarily I would have asked, but since those five words were the most he had said to me since I arrived…other than sit down, I was going to be a good girl.

" It’s going to hurt. " He told me.

My entire upper body was slashed, scratched and bitten. I wasn’t sure how bad it was, but from the expression on Angel’s face. It was pretty bad. And well, Cordelia’s fainting had given me an indication too.

I screamed the moment he touched my body with the antiseptic swab, dropping the wood out of my mouth and onto the floor. " Shit. " I closed my eyes and waited for the pain to pass.

Angel picked up the wood and handed it to me again. " You’re supposed to bite on it. "

I laughed slightly. His voice sounded gentler now. I bit down on the wood, hard, as Angel began cleaning the wound. This hurt more than when it had happened. Again I closed my eyes. " Stop." I said finally, begging. The pain was almost too much.

Angel stopped instantly, his eyes full of concern. " Are you going to pass out? "

I nodded. I took deep breaths, trying not to lose consciousness. I don’t know why it bothered me. But I didn’t want to pass out. Truth was, the last time I had seen them all, was just after graduation. Five years was a lifetime on the hellmouth or in LA as the case may be and they were more strangers than friends to me. I was no longer their little Willow. In fact, I didn’t even babble. I didn’t trust them. I didn’t know them, none of them. Not like I knew Buffy or Xander. Cordelia was the only one I was remotely close too.

" Wesley " Angel called out to the ex-watcher.

" Yes, Angel. "

I noticed Wesley avoided looking in my direction.

" Watch Willow, make sure she doesn’t pass out. "

I watched Angel dip the cloth into some more antiseptic and braced myself. I turned to Wesley. " Talk. " I said to him and put the wood in my mouth. I bit back a scream when Angel began cleaning again.

" Ah…well…..I began working for Angel….."

I didn’t really pay attention to his words…just the sound of his voice. It was a technique that I had perfected over the years. I used his voice to stop drifting into unconsciousness. I don’t know how long he was talking for, he could have told me his whole life story for all I knew. But the minute he stopped I realised Angel had finished. I opened my eyes to see him watching me carefully.

" Are you ok? "

I nodded. Not trusting myself to speak. I removed the wood and handed it back to him. " Thanks. " There was silence again. But this silence was worse than the silence before. He was waiting for me to give him answers. Maybe if I was lucky, he would let me tell him in my own time. Which was never.

" Do you know what attacked you? "

My hope for not being pressured for answers went from small to nothing. Then it dawned on me. He wasn’t angry at me….he was angry at whatever had hurt me. " Yes. "

He reached over and took my hand. " Willow, I can’t kill it unless you tell me what it is. "

A small tear escaped. For a second I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to stop being the strong one. For one second I wanted him to save me. But he couldn’t. No one could. " Don’t say that. " I hated the feeling of hopelessness that was swamping me. I wanted to give in to the desire to have Angel save me. Hadn’t I dreamed of this so many times over five years. Angel saving me…killing anyone who tried to hurt me.

" Willow, tell me who hurt you, please. Let me help you. "

Thing was, I was long past saving. " I don’t think I can…"

Angel’s gently stroked my hand with his free one. " Willow, tell me what did this to you. And we’ll put this all behind us. "

I smiled. " You want to know who scratched me, bit me and well had a party with my skin? " I sounded cold, but I needed to spell out the implications of what I was about to say.

" Yes. " The anger flared in his eyes.

" Werewolves. " If it were possible. I swore Angel went even paler.

~Part: 2~

Wesley, who had been silently watching our exchange, gaped at me in horror. Angel squeezed my hand so tight it hurt. Well…my big secret was out. OK, there was more to it than what I had told them, but it really didn’t matter…not yet. All that matter to me this second, was their reaction. I hadn’t been this nervous since my first alpha battle. Only difference now was, I wouldn’t die if I lost.

" Are you sure? " Angel asked quietly. The look in his eyes was awful. He looked almost heart broken.

I nodded. " This wasn’t the first time…." I stopped when I saw the alarm on Angel’s face. " I mean…I’ve been a werewolf for a while now. "

I watched the emotions flow across his face as he process what I had just said. I wanted to say something to reassure him…but I couldn’t. I was too afraid. His grip on my hand tightened. At least he didn’t let go. " Wesley, can you leave us alone? " Angel didn’t take his eyes off mine. " Oh, don’t say a word to Cordy or Gunn, not until I say so. "

Wesley nodded and walked quietly out of the room, not before giving me a reassuring smile before he left. He wasn’t a bad guy.

I was nervous. Actually, nervous was not a strong enough to describe how I was feeling. Terrified was a good word…scared shitless was even better. Why did Angel want us alone?

Angel searched my eyes….For what? I had no idea. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of the staring game, he spoke.

" Why didn’t you come to me? "

Huh? Not the first question I thought he’d throw at me.

When I didn’t say anything he sighed. I never did get why Angel sighed. It’s not like he had to breath. " Willow, I would have helped you. We all would have. "

I shrugged. I knew that. I looked downwards, I felt like a whipped puppy. No pun intended.

" I don’t understand. We had no trouble dealing with Oz, two of you wouldn’t have mattered to us. "

" I know. " Man, did I know. That knowledge, that my friends would be able to handle my wolfiness, made is so much harder to stay away. " It was too dangerous. " I said truthfully.

Even after everything that I had gone through. I still wondered if I regretted what I had done in the weeks after I had been bitten, I honestly didn’t know. My actions had changed everything….not the fact that I was a werewolf. If I were just a werewolf, I would have been living a semi-normal life in Sunnydale. I had the choice of turning away and letting it all lie….or going pay-backy.

" Why was it too dangerous? " He wanted to know.

Why? Oh! " Oz was killed, just after I was bitten. " I said it as though it was someone else’s life I was talking about. " After that, I….I mean things went a little crazy. I couldn’t go back to Sunnydale, not without the craziness following me back there. " OK, it’s official. That was the vaguest response I had ever come up with. I was quite proud.

" When did Oz die? " Were they tears in his eyes?

" Two weeks into our vacation. " I responded automatically. The day Oz died was forever imprinted in my brain.

" WHAT? " Angel roared.

Oh shit.

" Two weeks into your vacation? " He repeated.

I nodded, too afraid to speak.

Angel let go of my hand and got off the bed. "Willow…that was five years ago! You mean to tell me, two weeks after graduation, when you and Oz went away together, you were bitten? Oz was killed? "

" Yes. " A small tear escaped from my eye.

He sat back down on the bed when he saw the tear. The anger was replaced by sadness and confusion. " Willow..why didn’t you call Buffy or me? "

" After Oz….after it happened. I freaked. Going home was the last thing on my mind. " I told him honestly. He was holding my hand again. Yay.

" What was on your mind? " He sounded almost afraid to ask, which worked out well because I was afraid to answer.

" Revenge. "

He closed his eyes at my response. " What happened? "

If he thought I was going to tell him what I had done….he was not as smart as I gave him credit for. So, I did what any female would do. I ignored the question. " After everything went down, I needed some time away to figure stuff out, I didn’t want Buffy and Xander to see me like that. "

That was only part of the reason. I had to hide. I had stepped on some pretty big toes when I sought my revenge, which made it impossible to go home. I didn’t want Buffy or Xander to pay for what I had done, plus…when they actually found out what I had done, they would possibly chain me up for all of eternity. I wasn’t their little Willow…..she died with Oz. In her place was a stranger. I didn’t know how the would handle the new Willow….actually I didn’t know how Angel would handle it. I had done some pretty horrible things….things which Angel would take blame for, even though it was not his fault. Not directly. All those years of reading watchers diaries had paid off…Angelus really gave me some good ideas on how to torture my enemies. How would they react if they knew I had done some of the same things Angelus done?

" I’m sorry. " Angel spoke quietly.

I smiled sadly. " I still miss him. " I stiffened when I felt his arms go around me.

" It’s ok. " He assured me.

I relaxed slightly and leaned back into his embrace. In high school, I had a serious crush on Angel. I spent so many hours dreaming of what it would be like to have Angel’s arms around me. It was nice. My fantasy had come true. I was on a bed in the arms of the object of my first desire. Wow. There was only one thing that wasn’t the same as my fantasies. In them, I had been me…the old me. Not the monster that I was now.

~Part: 3~

" Morning. " Angel whispered into my ear.

I had really hoped Angel had left before I woke up, but I should have known Angel wouldn’t have left me alone. He promised to take care of me. " Morning. "

" How did you sleep? "

He knew how I slept. Badly. I woke several times though the night with nightmares, each time Angel had been there. Holding me, lulling me back into sleep. Making me feel safe. I didn’t want to feel safe, not with him. It was too dangerous.

" Thanks for staying. " I didn’t know what else to say.

I could feel him smile against my hair. " You’re welcome. "

" I didn’t hurt you or anything did I? " I’ve been told I have the habit of lashing out during my nightmares. A few friends have ended up with a broken nose because they got a little too close. Angel would have had the strength to hold me down if I got too rough, but I still didn’t like the thought of hurting him.

I had hurt them all enough.

God, what a mess this was. Coming here had been a mistake. If I had a choice, I would have gone anywhere else, but the wounds had been a little too bad to leave unattended. My pack had still been busy fighting the rival pack that had attacked me, to help me heal, they had been trying to get me out alive.

They would know where I was, they knew everything about my life before I had been turned, they also knew where Angel Investigations was. After all, I had sent them here and to Sunnydale enough times for them to know. I may have been unable to go home, but I couldn’t abandon my friends. They haven’t seen me for five years, but I’ve seen them frequently throughout the years.

We protect them.

I knew everything. Glory, Wolfram and Hart, the prophecies, everything. I have wolves watching them constantly, not that I would ever tell them that. Buffy and Angel would not appreciate my help. They couldn’t even take help from each other let alone from someone they hadn’t seen in over five years.

" Hurt me? " He sounded confused.

" I get a little wild when I have nightmares. " Especially the ones where Oz died.

He chuckled. " No. "

I stiffened at the sound of amusement in his voice. It wasn’t the fact that he found what I said funny, it was the fact that he didn’t see me as dangerous.

" Willow? " He shifted so he could look at my face.

" I could have hurt you. " I reiterated.

He shook his head. " No, you couldn’t have. "

It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t know about werewolves. None of them did. Hell, Oz and I didn’t know. We thought it was just turning into a wolf once a month and that was it. Simple. God, how wrong we were. It wasn’t until that vacation did we realise how many werewolves there actually were and how many of them were not nice.

Truth was, werewolves were far more dangerous than any of them realised. I had tried so hard to keep them from finding out. Not because of my own wolfiness, but because there was nothing they could do to stop werewolves. Short of silver bullets but the last I checked, Buffy and Angel didn’t use guns.

We weren’t just about biting people and running through the woods at a full moon. There was hierarchy, rules, laws and societies. Packs. Oz, I had discovered, was the rarity. Rarely do we travel alone. Most of us seek out a pack to join, once in a pack, we stayed. Sometimes for life, sometimes until we died or our pack was taken over by another.

There were pack wars and territorial wars.

Then there were alpha’s. The leaders, the one who held all the power. I was an alpha. I had seventy wolves that belonged to my pack, that belonged to me. They were my family and I loved them all. Would they understand that? Would Angel and Buffy stand back while my pack fought against another pack for territory? Or to simply stay alive? No. Buffy and Angel would fight with us and either be killed or they would be wolves themselves.

Or they would be used as a target because of me.

My pack was a target, I was a target. Not just because I went through and tortured several members of the pack that had attacked Oz and myself, but because of what I was before I was bitten. I was a witch, which as it turns out, makes a different kind of wolf. Those that belong to me got a share of my power.

We don’t change at the full moon and we could draw our strength without becoming wolves. We were strong both physically and magically. Which was why I was wanted, either for a mate or to be killed. LA and Sunnydale were under my protection, as were the surrounded suburbs. Which was how I had gotten here in the first place.

Someone was trying to edge into my territory. Here in LA. Still, Angel wasn’t going to believe me until I gave him a little demonstration. I extracted myself from his arms and motioned for him to stand up. My wounds had mostly healed, but a few were still red. I would live.

Unfortunately.

" I’m a dangerous person, Angel. "

Angel stared at me in disbelief. " No, Willow. You’re not. You may be a werewolf, but that doesn’t make you evil or dangerous. "

I really wish I could tell him he was right, that I wasn’t a monster, but I was. I walked over to him and put my hands on his hips.

" Ah…Willow? " Angel really looked cute when he was confused. Much cuter than he looked when he was brooding.

" Relax. I promise I’ll be gentle. " I took a deep breath. I threw him across the room in one swift motion, slamming him against the wall. He stared at me in shock. " So, you were saying? "

I really hate it when I’m right.

~Part: 4~

Cordelia approached me with caution, I must have looked terrified because she almost turned and ran back to her seat. Almost. " I’m sorry about Oz. "

Angel told them what happened to me, great. I shot Angel a quick look. After my little display earlier today, he was wary of me. I should have just lifted him up or something, throwing him hadn’t been a good idea.

" Thank you. " I let Cordelia hold me as long as she wanted too. It was awkward, Cordelia and I were never really friends. We merely tolerated each other because of Xander, then after Xander and I had the clothes fluke, things went to hell.

It was nice, though, knowing she didn’t hate me. She really had changed. Out of all of them, Cordy was the one that had impressed me the most.

" You ok? " Cordelia asked uneasily. We weren’t talking about Oz now. She had no idea what to say to me, ‘sorry you’re a werewolf’ just didn’t sound right.

" I’m good. "

Gunn, Wesley and Fred were all sitting around Angel’s desk. Looking very serious, Angel and Cordy sat down next to them.

" Willow, why don’t you sit down. " Wesley motioned to the empty chair behind the desk.

Me on one side, them on the other. Why do I get the impression that they want to talk?

Wesley cleared his throat. " Willow, Angel has told us all about your…condition. "

Very nicely put.

" Can you tell us anything about your attackers last night? "

Now I get it. They are taking me on as a case, sweet but completely out of their league. If it were Angel alone, then maybe I would have considered it, but it wasn’t just Angel. As a vampire, Angel had a chance against them, an attack would have absolutely no effect on a him.

Although, one vampire against a dozen wolves, well…let’s just say it was possible to decapitate him, but not in a nice way.

" They were werewolves. " I repeated what I told Angel last night.

Wesley didn’t seemed deterred by my reply. " How many? "

How many? Five had jumped me, but I could sense more. I’m not really sure it was a full rival pack, or just a break away. " Five, maybe more. "

" Do you have any idea why they were after you? "

Territory? Power? My pack? " Not precisely. "

He nodded. " We’ve already made some calls …."

"What? You made some calls?" I couldn’t believe how stupid I was, I should have realised they would do something. "Did you mention me by name?"

He frowned. " No, why? "

" A werewolf is most vulnerable after an attack, during the healing time. If the wolves who did this to me find out where I am, they’ll make another attempt. "It was my fault, I didn’t tell them how dangerous my situation was. " A wolf separated from it’s pack AND wounded is doubly vulnerable. "

" You’re a part of a pack? " Wesley was stunned.

I’m not telling them I’m the alpha, not yet. They’re struggling with everything I’ve told them so far. " Listen, guys. I know what you’re trying to do and I really appreciate it, but there is nothing you can do for me. I didn’t come here for you to help me, I came here for sanctuary. "

Angel didn’t take that little bit of knowledge too well. " So you expect us to let you walk out of here once you’re healed and let them try again? " He was outraged.

" Angel, I expect you to trust me to take care of myself. This wasn’t the first time, won’t be the last. " God, even to me that sounded lame. I was covered in blood last night and I was expecting them to forget it? Like that was going to happen!

" You didn’t seem to be able to take care of yourself last night. " Gunn reminded me.

I glared at him.

" Willow, you can’t expect me to turn my back on this. " Angel argued. " I won’t turn my back on you. "

What could I say to that? Angel’s desire to help me was touching, it warmed me to my soul. Now I know why my wolves were convinced he was in love with me, I still thought they were wrong, but it touched me that he cared so much.

I reached across the table and held my hand out to him. I waited for him to take it before I spoke. " Angel, I’m not asking you to turn your back on me, I’m asking you to understand and to trust me. If I thought it would make a difference, I would ask for your help, I swear, but it won’t. They will kill all of you without question."

" Willow…"

" I don’t want you to die, Angel. " That was as close as I wanted to get to admitting how I felt about Angel. To him or myself. For years my wolves have been asking why I wanted to protect Angel. He was a Master vampire in his own right, he didn’t need my protection, help yes, but protection no.

Angel opened his mouth to protest but Wesley beat him to it.

" Willow’s right. "

Brave guy. The death look Angel was giving him was enough to make anyone run screaming from the room.

" What? " Cordelia said in her ‘are you nuts?’ voice.

Wesley shifted uneasily. " Angel, if we were truly meant to help Willow. Cordelia would have gotten a vision. Which means, as much as we want to help, the powers don’t want us to. "

" Cordelia gets vision from the Powers That Be. " Gunn explained to me though I already knew. " We help people who all the time who come to us, why should this be any different? " He directed the question to Wesley.

" Because she’s not coming to us for help. " Wesley replied.

I was torn between thinking Wesley was freaked because of my ‘condition’ or if it was something else. He seemed awfully intent on them not helping me. Maybe he knew something the others didn’t. I wondered who he called?

Angel was still giving Wesley his death glare. " Wesley, we are helping Willow. "

" Yeah, Wesley. " Cordelia jumped in. " What the hell is wrong with you? "

I wanted to talk to Wesley alone. " You know what, why don’t you guys figure it out. I’m going for a walk. " I stood up and headed towards the door.

Angel reached out and grabbed my arm. " It’s not safe out there alone."

God, he was predictable at times. I knew he would say that. " Wesley, will you keep me company? " Mission accomplished. It was daylight so Angel couldn’t take me and well, Gunn hated anything not human and I wasn’t keen on finding out if that extended to someone who was only human part time. Cordy was possibly the weakest physically, aside from Fred. Wesley was the likely choice.

Wesley was clearly startled by my request but he quickly agreed. He wasn’t about to stick around when everyone was shooting daggers at him.

" Well be back in a while. " I assured Angel. He needed time to cool off and I needed to find out why Wesley didn’t want me here.

We were two metres from the house before we both visibly relaxed. It was way too tense in there. " What have you heard? " I had a feelings the phone calls earlier gave him some information he shouldn’t know.

Wesley glanced back towards the hotel. " My source said there was an Alpha battle going on. "

Fuck.

Damn, I had been wrong, they didn’t want the territory…they wanted me dead. Someone was going to challenge me, the attack last night had been to soften me up, weaken me so my challenger could win. " Son of a bitch. "

Wesley took a deep breath. " He mentioned that the Alpha that was being targeted had become too difficult to the other packs. "

I couldn’t help but feel a stab of pride, I knew who one of the other Alpha’s were. One of them had involved in Oz’s death. I hadn’t been stupid enough to take on an Alpha back then….well not from the lack of trying. Two wolves that helped me back then simply refused to let me challenge him. They still did. It was likely that he was going to challenge me, or one of his allies was. So far, we hadn’t crossed paths in five years.

" I gather from the attack last night that you’re from the Alpha’s pack…the one being challenged that is. " I nodded. " Is there a way you can warn your alpha? "

Sanctuary was going to be short and sweet. The minute I left the hotel for good, I was gone. The challenge would begin and I would be left to fight on my own. Packs don’t get involved with an Alpha battle, it was one on one.

" I’ve been doing some reading and from what has been recorded, once challenged, the Alpha can’t turn it down. It sounds as if the one who has issued the challenge wants your pack weakened for the battle. "

Half right but I wasn’t going to correct him.

Wesley’s face was grave. " Willow, I don’t have to tell you what would happen if an Alpha battle occurred within the city. "

" Wesley, does Angel know what you’ve just told me? " I ignored his comment, there was more important information I needed to know.

He shook his head. " You came downstairs before I had a chance to tell him. "

" I need you to promise me you won’t tell him what you’ve just told me. You can’t….I don’t even know how you know, but you can’t tell him or anyone please. " I wasn’t too proud to beg. Angel couldn’t know about this.

Wesley hesitated. " He needs to know if people are going to be in danger. "

" That will be the least of your worries. "I needed time to think, time to get away. " Wesley, I need your word that you won’t tell Angel. It will only make things worse, he can’t know. "

Come on, Wes. Think about it, what would Angel do if he knew about this?

" Please, Wesley. People will die. "

Finally he nodded.

I glanced around quickly. " Listen, I need to talk to your source. I need to find out exactly who is issuing the challenge, then I need to talk to a few sources of my own. " I quickly assessed what Wesley was wearing. Thank god it wasn't tweed. He was wearing black jeans and a blue shirt. " Lose the tie and untuck your shirt. I need you to look not so geeky." I needed someone who could pass for intimidating with me.

He looked a little offended. " Are we going to tell your alpha? " He was curious and a little nervous. Wise man.

He had given me his word he wouldn’t tell Angel and he was going out with me, which made him a target. I guessed he deserved something more than what I had given him. " No need. "

Wesley frowned in confusion.

" I’m the Alpha. "

~Part: 5~

" Try not to move. " I told Wesley as I removed his shirt. Angel, Gunn, Cordy and Fred were looking on in concern. We fucked up and Angel was seriously pissed.

" What happened? " Angel wanted to know.

I ignored the question while I cleaned Wesley’s arm.

" We were attacked. " Wesley told him, trying his best not to scream as I put the antiseptic on his wound. Wesley was like Giles in his talent for understatement. We had been attacked while talking to his source, though I had a feeling Wesley wasn’t going to tell him that. " A werewolf tried to attack Willow. "

Which Wesley had very bravely stood in front of, getting his arm scratched in the process.

" Did it bite you? " Fred asked alarmed. " That’s how you get turned into one, right? A bite? Like a vampire? "

" Yes, and no, I wasn’t bitten. Just scratched. " Wesley assured her.

I remained silent.

Angel knelt down beside me, inspecting Wesley’s arm. " What happened to the wolf? "

Wesley hesitated before replying. " Willow took care of it. "

Translation; Willow ripped it’s throat out. Wesley threw up afterwards, but since he’s being so nice to me, I not going to mention it.

The wound was nasty, he should go to a hospital….but I didn’t like separating at a time like this. " Wesley, how does it feel? "

He was pale and looking a little green. " Throbbing. "

" Wesley, it’s very deep. " I told him solemnly. " There are two things we can do, we can take you to the hospital….. "

Cordelia was the one to protest, to my surprise. " They would be looking for him there, they’d hurt him again. "

" Or I can heal you. " The saying ‘ you can hear a pin drop’ really summed up the moment.….that was what it was like in here. They were staring at me stunned. " It’s a dog thing. "

Wesley took a deep breath, he was in a hell of a lot of pain. I knew from experience how bad it was. " OK. " He knew we needed everyone on board for the upcoming battle. Our little expedition had given us a little more information. Two more packs had entered the territory, I’m not sure if they were my allies or not, but I wasn’t going to take the chance. I had to leave pretty much straight away. Right after I healed Wesley and convinced Angel to leave LA till this was over.

" Did you want to do this in private? " He didn’t know what to expect and I don’t think he wanted Fred to see what was about to happen. He was in love with her, poor guy. She was head over heals in love with Gunn.

Angel cleared his throat. " Why don’t you girls go upstairs. "

" No way! " Cordelia yelled. " I’m staying here till I know Wesley is all right. "

" You’re not going to turn into a werewolf are you? " Gunn asked.

I shook my head. " No. I can do this like this. " Only the alpha could heal one of it’s pack.

Wesley nodded.

" I’m going to lick your wound, it will feel strange. It will hurt at first, but then it will start to tingle. " I wasn’t going to do anything that he wasn’t comfortable with. " It will help if you touch me while I do this."

" Ewww! " Cordelia cried out.

I rolled my eyes. " I meant my hair or back. "

She blushed.

Angel was practically growling.

" It’s not a sexual thing guys, it’s a…." I bit off saying a pack thing. They were seriously freaking out. Gunn, however, was looking at me a little strange.

Had he worked it out?

" Ignore them. " I couldn’t help but smile. Wesley took a deep breath, he was going even paler and the wound had started bleeding again. " Trust me, frater "

He raised his eyebrows at me, but I didn’t elaborate on my meaning. I bent my head and licked his blood. God I loved doing this, the healing, the touching. Wolves are pack animals, we loved to be touched. I loved to touch. This act alone was filling the void that my pack left behind, whenever they weren’t near me.

The coppery taste slid down my throat as I heard him gasp in pain. I kept my licks as gentle as I could, not wanting to hurt him any more than he already was. I pulled away.

" Are you ok? " I asked him. I was practically on his lap, which disturbed me, since I didn’t remember moving. Guess it’s been a while since I’ve had fresh blood.

He nodded. " Hurts. "

I gave him a sympathetic look before licking his wounds once again. I could feel Angel eyes burning in the back of my skull, I could also smell his arousal. I don’t know what was turning him on, either the blood or me licking it? Possibly both.

I felt Wesley’s hand card in my hair, I’m not sure if that meant he was hurting more or less but I decided to hurry it up. I licked in long strokes, taking in as much as I could. His blood was helping me as well, healing me and connecting him to me. This would bond us together. Under normal circumstances I would never have done this without telling him what it meant, but nothing about his was normal.

By stepping in front of me, taking our attackers first blow, he declared his loyalty to me, and in essence ensured my protection as well as that of my pack. Which meant I could do this, heal him, help him in anyway.

We always took care of the newly born.

I pulled away again, but I was still close enough to him that our bodies touched. His eyes were closed but his face had colour to it again. The wounds had almost healed completely. " Better ? "

" Yes, thank you. " He gazed down at his arm in amazement. " Wow. "

I laughed.

Angel examined the wound when Wesley held up his arm. " Are you in pain still? "

Wesley shook his head.

" Were you hurt? " He asked me.

I lifted my shirt, displaying a bite on my right side. " It’s not bad. "

He moved in closer and touched it gently. " Are you ok? " The words were a whisper.

" I’m ok. " I told him honestly. My mind was still reeling from the event of the last hour. " Angel, can you all give Wesley and I some privacy, I need to talk to him. "

Angel was about to argue when Gunn pulled him away from me. " We’ll see about finding some weapons. " He led them all down to the basement, Cordelia and Fred included.

Wesley was still staring at his arm in amazement.

" Wesley. " How to begin this. " I need to tell you something. "

I had his full attention now.

OK, here goes. " Wesley, there are two ways of being infected by a werewolf. " Technical talk always worked well for me.

He said nothing, just waited for me to continue.

" Biting is one, the other is…." I didn’t need to tell him, his face told me he already worked it out.

He went green. " A scratch. "

The doors to the hotel opened suddenly, both of us jumped to our feet. Wesley cried out for Angel, while I wished the world would swallow me up. Of all the bad timing….I should have known they would show up.

All seventy of them.

" Welcome to the family, Wesley. " Kane smiled warmly at him.

Great. Just great. This couldn’t possibly get worse. But then…

" Who are you? " I heard Angel ask behind me.

I just had to think it didn’t I? I didn’t turn around, instead I kept my eyes firmly on the people in front of me.

My pack.

~Part: 6~

The only thing stopping Angel from attacking my pack, was me. Literally. I was standing in front of him, making any attempt to save me, from what he thought were bad guys, impossible.

My pack was being as difficult about this as I figured they would. They’re not exactly pleased that I’m here and probably less pleased that they had to come and get me. My two Beta wolves, Joseph and Kane were standing, in human form, just behind me. Looking as threatening as they could.

They were testing Angel…..I hated to admit it, but they were testing me as well. They always had this thing about my loyalty. Oh, they knew I would die for them, without hesitation. They didn’t know, however, what I would do if I was had to choose between my friends from my past or them.

I knew what I would do.

" Angel, it’s ok. You can trust them. "

My pack take everything I say very seriously, and quite literal. They listen to what I say….and also to what I don’t say. They do the same for my actions.

My one phrase told them what they wanted to know, I hadn’t confided in Angel about Pack business…nor did I trust him enough to tell him about me. If they talked to Wesley, however, they would be surprised to find out that he knew about Pack business. It’s not that I didn’t want to tell Angel, I just didn’t trust him enough to not react badly.

Angel searched my eyes, probably for some sign that I was lying or scared to death. " Are you sure? " He whispered the last phase needlessly.

Wolves have really good hearing and my pack just heard that. Shit! My pack also take what others say literally and they’re not the most forgiving people either. Angel had just questioned me, which meant he didn’t trust me.

Isn’t this a ball of fun?

" Angel, I would die for them. " I chose my words carefully.

One wrong word and my pack would kill them….er Angel.

My pack was seen as one of the weakest around. My fault entirely, my humanity….what was left at it, was seen as a serious weakness. My pack inherited it from me and because of it, they don’t infect or kill humans purposely. What other packs didn’t know, was that my pack was the most deadly. We simply choose not to show it.

I had reasons for it.

Finally, he nodded and motioned for Gunn, Cordelia and Fred to lower their weapons. " Are they the pack you are a member of? "

I winced. " Yes. "

" You ok, Red? " Joseph asked. No one called me Willow, unless they were close to me. He was, but him calling me Red was Joseph being cautious. He didn’t trust Angel. I turned to face them. Joseph was pissed as hell. He didn’t like Angel, which was not a good sign considering they had never officially met.

Joseph was a contender for my mate and he didn’t like sharing me with any other male…..except one. Kane.

I gave him a look that told him what he wanted to know. I wasn’t at all pleased with their sudden appearance. " Any major injuries? " Pack business first, I had to heal my pack.

" Only Wesley. "

Oh crap.

Poor Wesley looked even greener than he had a few minutes ago. We hadn’t even had a chance to talk about him being a werewolf, or my healing him or what he was going to tell his friends. " Wesley is fine, I’m taking care of him. "

I prayed to whatever god was listening that Angel didn’t work out what Joseph meant. He raised his eyebrow at me and I shook my head at his unasked question. No, Angel did not know and I was not going to be the one to tell him.

Wesley being infected changed everything, I couldn’t just walk out of here…none of us could. We were tied to Angel because Wesley was one of his friends and Angel was tied to us because Wesley was now pack. He just didn’t know it yet.

They’d ease him into it gently. Wesley’s upbringing would make the first few weeks awkward, but he’d get used to us eventually. Then, he’d either leave us for a normal life, or stay with us until he died.

He looked to Angel. " We would like to stay with Willow until the upcoming.…"

I coughed.

" trouble is over. " Joseph didn’t miss a beat. Joseph, Kane and I had been wolves almost the same amount of time. I had met them back when Oz died, the three of us were very close. We knew what the other was thinking almost constantly and they could read me with just a glance.

Our closeness was why I was a little nervous about Joseph and Kane being here. They saw Angel as a contender for mate. He wasn’t…not until he asked me officially, then if he was challenged, one of my wolves could fight him.

" I’m not sure if I have enough room for you all. "

Thank god he didn’t say no straight off. " We just need two rooms. " It was Kane who replied. " We sleep together. "

I just had to turn around to look at Angel’s face. " We’re pack, Angel. We never sleep alone. " I was talking about sleep, not sex, but the look on Angel’s face told me that he was wondering about the sex part.

" Um, ok. " Angel brow furrowed. " I’m not sure if I have enough blankets…." His voice trailed off when he saw Kane shaking his head.

" We keep each other warm. "

The look Angel gave him was lethal. I was so going to kill Kane. He was bating him. We slept…as in sleep. Not sex.

What could I say? I couldn’t deny Kane’s statement, yet I could tell from Angel’s expression that he had me figured as being forced to do this. He didn’t know or understand pack life…I got that. But did he really think I would do something I didn’t want to?

Hello! Resolve face!

Angel looked at me expectantly. He wanted my assurance? Oh god, his protective act was only reinforcing my pack’s belief that Angel was in love with me and was a threat to them.

He was reinforcing it to me.

I think Angel was in love with me.

****

Joseph, Kane and I sat on the bed in the room Angel had assigned to me. He had made it clear that I didn’t have to sleep with the pack. An opinion he had no trouble expressing….three times! I figured it was a good idea to separate Angel from my pack. Everything he did just screamed mate. He was possessive, protective and gentle with me. The only thing stopping me from asking Angel if he wanted to be my mate was the curse. I still hadn’t found a cure.

" You didn’t tell him. " Joseph pointed out the obvious.

I sighed. " Nope. None of it, except the pack part. "

Kane put his arm around me. " Why? " No judgements, just curiosity.

" Why do you think? I’ve been here almost twenty-four hours and Wesley is a werewolf. Telling Angel will get him and his team killed and I don’t think I could deal with that. " I snuggled closer to Kane, pulling Joseph closer to me as well. " He’ll tell Buffy eventually, and she’ll come running. "

Joseph agreed " What are you going to do about Wesley? "

Odd question. I would take him under my wing like I did with every new wolf. Teach him to control what he was, then he could live a normal life. " Same as usual. "

Both Kane and Joseph stared at me incredulously. " Willow, why? Because he’s Angel’s? "

" No. Because that’s what I always do. " I replied. I didn’t know what the big deal was.

Kane frowned. " Willow, what do you remember about the attack? "

Why do I get a feeling of impending doom? " The wolf came running, Wesley stepped in front of me, I tried to push him out of the way. He got scratched by it, I transformed into my wolf form and killed it. "

Why weren’t they looking at me?

Joseph tightened his hold on me. Not a good sign. " Almost right. "

" Almost? " That’s how it happened. I was sure of it.

" You are a little out of order. "

Out of order? " Spit it out. "

Kane still refused to meet my eye. " The wolf came running, Wesley stepped in front of you, you transformed into your wolf WHILE you were trying to push him out of the way and scratched him….before the other wolf. "

I bolted from the bed and headed downstairs. Transformation was my most vulnerable and dangerous time. We keep our consciousness with us once we are in wolf form, but during transformation our consciousness hasn’t moulded with the wolf’s. The result is we’re more likely to do something dangerous.

Wesley was with Angel and the rest of the AI team, having some kind of meeting, but that didn’t matter right now. I had to see this for myself.

" Willow what’s wrong? " Angel could see the alarm on my face.

I ignored him. " Wesley, stand up. " He complied, somewhat confused. I pulled the shirt from his pants and looked at his back. It was there, small, but it was enough.

I had scratched Wesley.

No wonder Kane and Joseph seemed so upset when I was willing to let Wesley go. He wasn’t just one of the pack. He was one of MY wolves, which until now, had only been two in total.

Kane and Joseph.

" Willow? What’s wrong? " He reached out to me but I moved away.

This was a nightmare. I was the one who infected Wesley. Oh god, I was going to be sick.

" Willow? " Cordelia was looking from me to Wesley then back again. It had been an accident. If I hadn’t scratched him the other would have, but at least he would have had a chance.

There was a question my wolves often asked, to remind me of my responsibilities. What is the most wanted thing after my power?

The power of my childe.

Welcome to the family, Wes.

~Part: 7~

I heard Kane and Joseph walk up behind me. They knew how upset I would be. I NEVER infected people….only if it were an accident, which it….hang on a minute. How did they know I was the one who infected Wesley?

I spun around. " You were there. " I didn’t bother to hide the accusation in my voice. They witnessed the attack on Wesley and I.

Kane nodded.

They formed my personal guard, of course they would be there. They probably showed up this morning after I didn’t go back home. " You didn’t think to yell a warning? " I yelled. I was furious.

Kane shifted uneasily. " We were holding off a group of six wolves, he slipped through. "

Slipped through? I tried to calm myself by staying calm. I was a walking curse.

" Willow, what’s going on? " Angel was right behind me.

" You son of a bitch. " I know, it wasn’t fair, lashing out at Kane and Joseph. It wasn’t there fault, but I needed to blame someone.

Joseph stepped forward. " Willow, it wasn’t your…."

He didn’t finish because I jumped him, knocking him to the ground. I grabbed his throat and squeezed it. Not tightly, I would never hurt Joseph or Kane….too much. " Why the hell didn’t you warn us? "

Joseph pushed me away easy, but with a little too much strength. I went flying a few feet and landed at Angel’s feet.

" Willow, don’t do this. You’re not strong….." I silenced Kane with a glare.

I was strong as hell. I got back to my feet and launched myself at Joseph. We rolled over the floor, hitting and kicking each other. It wasn’t the most dignified of fights, but I was venting. I didn’t intend to do damage. Joseph knew that, his retaliation was only a fraction of his real strength.

Joseph and I had a serious fight once, a couple of years ago. We both had been hurting for days afterwards. We don’t hold back usually, not like now. But with an Alpha battle I couldn’t afford to exert myself too much.

Joseph rolled on top of me, pinning my hands above my head and keeping me in place with his body. I couldn’t move. " You finished? "He didn’t seem angry. Which was good.

" No. "

A smile played on his lips. Joseph always had a way of getting through to me when I went a little insane. He and Kane were the reason I was here, after Oz died, I wanted to kill everything. Joseph and Kane got in the way. I scratched them and since then they’ve attached themselves to me. They keep me from doing something really stupid.

" Yes, I’ve….Angel no! " I was too late. Angel yanked Joseph from the ground and threw him against the wall. My wolves, who had come down to watch Joseph and I fight, growled. Even Kane went to go for him. " NO! Angel doesn’t understand…he doesn’t know. "

This was really….oh god. He hit Joseph, sending him flying once again.

Oh crap.

" I challenge you for Willow. "

What did he just say? What is he doing? He can’t challenge him for position as my mate….Angel hadn’t formally approached me.

" What? " Joseph slowly got himself off the ground.

" I challenge you. I win, Willow goes free. "

I couldn’t move or breathe. He was trying to free me? Oh god, I think I was going to cry.

Joseph shook his head. " You can’t challenge me. "

Angel laughed. " Yes I can, we’ve been researching. Once challenged, you can’t refuse. "

Joseph wiped a stream of blood from the corner of his mouth. " You can’t challenge me because I don’t have that power. I’m not Alpha. "

Oh no. Please god no. This couldn’t….Angel wouldn’t. " Angel, no. " I begged him. " You don’t understand what you’re doing. Don’t challenge anyone. " Once the words were said, I couldn’t back down. At least this wasn’t a battle to the death. I’ve fought for wolves before.

Kane stepped up beside me. " Angel, you don’t know our laws. Don’t do this. "

" Please, Angel. Talk to Willow before you do anything. " Wesley joined in the ‘we have to stop Angel. ‘ group.

Angel turned to me. " Willow, I can do this. Trust me. I know what I’m doing. "

" No you don’t Angel. " Kane replied. " Our Alpha is in the middle of an Alpha challenge. While this won’t kill he….him, it will weaken him. "

Angel wasn’t going to listen. He had found a way to free me and would stop at nothing to do so. My hero. " I challenge your Alpha for Willow "

A walking curse, that’s me.

I gave Joseph the signal to act on my behalf. We were going to try to sweet talk our way out of this. " Angel, your challenge has been accepted. " My blood chilled at Joseph’s words. " What do you offer to us if you lose? "

That stopped him. Angel hadn’t thought of our end of the bargain. " What do you mean? "

" You win, " Joseph explained. " You get Willow. We already have Willow, so what do you offer us as a prize? "

" Weapons? "

Kane replied to that suggestion. " Has to be someone in your pack, you want one of ours, you can only offer the same thing. If you can’t, the challenge is off. "

" Angel, don’t you even think about it. " Cordelia yelled. " Angel, there has to be another way, don’t do this. "

Maybe this would work. I couldn’t refuse, but Angel could back down. I was going to kiss Joseph when this was over. " I can’t offer…"

" We want Wesley. " Kane said. " You lose, Wesley is apart of our pack. "

I was going to kill him. Son of a bitch. Wesley didn’t need this shit. " No. " I practically growled.

Kane ignored me. " Do you accept our suggestion? "

The room went silent. No one moved. Angel thought for the longest moment. Then finally, " I accept. "

" What? " Cordelia screamed. " Angel, are you insane? What the hell are you thinking? "

Love makes you do the wacky.

" Challenge has been witnessed by everyone in this room. Our Alpha accepts the challenge, to first blood. First to bleed loses. " Joseph declared.

I grabbed Kane. " Tell Wesley that I can’t throw the fight, explain to him what is at stake. " I didn’t want Wesley thinking I was going to lose.

Why didn’t Angel ask me if I wanted to be free?

Angel didn’t look so sure of himself. " So when do we fight. "

I moved to the middle of the room. " Now. "

He blinked in surprise. " Willow? What are you doing? "

" Accepting your challenge. "

His eyes widened as he realised what I was saying. " You’re the Alpha? "

I didn’t answer. Instead, I focused myself as much as I could, then drew the strength of my ENTIRE pack. I punched Angel, sending him flying across the room.

~Part: 8~

Angel scrambled back to his feet. He was stunned I had hit him without hesitation. It’s my style. I don’t wait, I don’t mess around. There was no punning, no talking. Once I’ve gone through all my options, once I know there is no way I can get out of it, I put everything I have into a fight.

I had no intention of letting Angel win. I couldn’t. No one in my pack was strong enough to fight Blake, I also had Wesley to think of as well.

Did Angel actually think winning would be the end of this? My pack wouldn’t let me go. Angel would have secured my freedom, but my pack would challenge him for me. Joseph wouldn’t even wait. The second I was scratched, he would challenge Angel. Then, if he failed, Kane would and so on…

Until Angel was either dead or almost there.

" Willow…." He shut up when he noticed the colour of my eyes. They were black. Calling on my pack’s power and my own wolf instigated my transformation process. My eyes were always the first to go. Luckily for me, I was powerful enough to stop the process from going further, but at a cost. I lost human abilities in place of the wolf which made stopping this fight harder than it looked.

Angel wasn’t even fighting back, so I was able to land another punch. This time it was my strength alone, not my pack’s, so all he did was stagger back a few steps.

I executed a perfect roundhouse kick, seconds later, knocking him to the ground. I was holding back in the sense that I hadn’t called on any magic yet. Real magic. Not pack magic. As a rule, I didn’t like to use magic. Kane was much better at it than me….I was just the alpha.

" Willow, please, don’t do this. " Angel was begging. I mean serious begging…in a heartbroken kind of way. Another punch and he was grasping for breath.

Would he at least try to fight me? He challenged me, and until I drew blood, conceded defeat or I lost, I couldn’t stop.

Kane moved as close to us as he could. I think he felt bad for Angel…or maybe it was me. I know that Joseph wasn’t going to forgive Angel any time soon for putting me through this.

" Angel, she can’t speak. " Kane told him.

" What? " Angel looked at him.

It cost me a lot to pull back. I won’t win a fight by default. It has to be fair, so I’d wait for Kane to explain things. Angel had the chance of understanding things a little more before I began my next tirade against him. At least he would know what he was up against.

Kane regarded me with caution. Even he wasn’t stupid enough to approach me through transformation. " She’s changing. "

Angel turned to me. " Does she understand what we’re saying? "

Well duh! If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here waiting for you guys to finish your little talk.

" Yep, she understands, but she’s just not….all there. "

Actually, that’s where he’s wrong. I was all here. My wolf and I were sharing my body, our minds just aren’t merged like they do once I’m fully transformed. I was the only one to be able to holt transformation like this, Kane and Joseph could…but not like me.

Angel got up off the floor. " Willow, listen to me. We don’t need to do this. "

Kane sighed. " Angel, we tried to warn you. She can’t back down until either one of you win or you concede defeat. "

" What happens to Wesley if I concede? "

He was not going to like this. " We still get him. Sorry, Angel, you know the rules. " Kane told him.

Oh no he didn’t. The embarrassed expression said it all.

I’m guessing Angel’s research extended to reading he could challenge for me and that was it. God, what a mess. I risked a glance at Wesley. Joseph was on one side, and my strongest female wolf Regan, was on the other side.

His eyes were firmly on me.

I raised my hand, signalling the time out was over. Angel face was a picture of heat break. This was killing him….hell, it was killing me.

" I’m sorry, Willow. I can’t let you take Wesley. "

I nodded. It was frustrating being unable to speak. I closed my eyes and pushed back the wolf. It was difficult but I had to…I needed to. Finally, when I felt it’s presence gone, I looked at Angel. " I’m sorry too. "

Then he ran for me.

I was really sorry. I held up my hand. " Thicken. " Rules really suck when they don’t work in your favour.

Angel slammed into an invisible wall. " What was…."

" Did you forget I was a witch in my life before a wolf? I kind of improved. " I shrugged as though it was nothing. I hated magic with a fiery passion. Pack magic was the only one I could tolerate.

" Hey! " Cordelia protested. " That’s not fair! "

Joseph put his hand on Cordelia’s arm. " It’s fair. We can only use what we have at our disposal. Our strength, magic, anything we have within our bodies. Angel neglected to find out who the Alpha was, and what she was capable of, so this is perfectly legal. Besides, Willow is using what she can to preserve her strength."

" Strength? " Cordelia was confused.

" If she uses too much strength, she’ll be weakened more than she already is, when she faces Blake if she’s not strong enough, she’ll die."

Angel was horrified. " Face Blake? Die? "

I dropped the spell and pounced. I knocked us both to the ground, and we rolled on the floor. Angel pushed me off him, sending me flying across the room. He used all his vampiric strength.

Why do I feel my heart breaking? This was what I wanted. Angel has stopped fighting for me and now was fighting against me.

We took turns, punching, kicking and throwing each other. Neither one of us drew blood or did any real damage. Usually I can tear a person apart, but this wasn’t just anyone. This was Angel.

" Stop! " Kane screamed.

Angel and I froze.

Shit! No! Oh god, Kane wasn’t telling us to stop, he was trying to stop Gunn, who had a tranquilliser gun pointed at me. He fired.

Angel tackled me to the ground saving me from the dart. Oh shit.

Kane held out his hand. " Come. " The gun flew from Gunn to Kane, a wolf behind Gunn hit him, knocking Gunn unconscious.

This so wasn’t happening.

I stopped Angel, from getting up, stopping him from doing anything. I pushed the wolf back down.

" NO ONE MOVE! " I yelled. I was talking to my pack as well as Angel’s team. I waited, making sure no one was going to attack. Gunn being unconscious bought me some time, but not much. He had broken a rule that was punishable by death. He had interfere in a battle. My pack would have normally killed someone for that in an instant, but Angel had saved me from the dart, which allowed us a little leeway.

Angel got to his feet. " Willow, what’s going on? "

I glared at him, I could feel the hatred pouring out of me. " Did you explain the laws to your pack? Did you even read the laws? "

" What ? " Angel wanted to know.

For crying out loud. " By challenging me, you put yourself and your pack under our laws. Gunn broke one of them. "

Silence.

" Punishment is death. "

" Oh god. " Cordelia cried.

Angel was horrified. " Death? No…"

I allowed myself to relax slightly. Angel didn’t know the laws, which gave me something to work with. Ignorance did not mean he was going to get away with this, but at least I might be able to save Gunn’s life. " Concede defeat and align you and your team with my pack, and Gunn will live. "

All the anger in the room dissipated at my comment. My pack were now listening very intently to what I was saying. They knew I was up to something. I never asked anyone to join the pack. Allies yes, but a non-wolf to join my pack….hell no.

" If you agree, you and your team will become a part of our pack. You will live under pack laws and our societies laws. " I went on.

My pack knew better than to argue with me when it came to Pack matters. Fact was, I never did anything to endanger the pack, everything I did was for the pack. Never for me. This possibly looked like I was trying to get Angel close to me, but it wasn’t. Joseph was looking at me with awe and fear.

" You’re going to make us wolves? " Cordelia was terrified.

Joseph placed a hand on her shoulder. " No. You’ll just be a part of our pack, but you won’t be infected. "

I hoped Angel knew what I was asking, their lives would be irrevocably changed and not necessarily for the better. They would never be free of us.

Ever.

" I saved you. "

" That doesn’t matter. Saving me saved your pack. If I had been hit by the dart, my pack would have killed everyone. Concede and become a part of our pack, and no one will die. " I was desperate.

He wasn’t sure and I couldn’t blame him. Not knowing our rules had caused this much trouble, now I was asking him into our world permanently.

Nothing I could say or do would be able to stop my pack. " If you try to stop them from killing Gunn, they will all attack. " I thought I better tell him that too.

Angel was a picture of defeat. He wouldn’t risk a blood bath, especially when they were outnumbered. " I agree to your terms. "

~Part: 9~

" Why didn’t you say anything? " Joseph asked when he found me several hours later. I left the room not long after Angel agreed to join the pack. I left Kane to explain to them what it meant.

When we were there with them, Angel and his team would be with us. No fail. Our battles were theirs, and vice versa. They also had to obey pack law and not travel into outside territories, which meant even a holiday was out of the question without clearing it with me.

They would continue with life like they had been at the hotel. Working for the powers and whatever else they did, the only exception was two wolves would move into the hotel. If they were in any unreasonable amount of danger, they had to call us. And I meant unreasonable, like armies or other packs trying to get into the territory. Wesley was to move in with me, but Kane managed to make it look like it was because Angel lost him to us. They still didn’t know about his wolfiness.

Cordelia was taking it very well, actually, Gunn was the only one taking it badly and he shut up when Joseph told him what the other option was. Angel had tried several times to talk to me since the debacle, but I managed to avoid him. Unfortunately I couldn’t avoid Joseph.

Kane wasn’t stupid enough to come near me. I was still pissed about him suggesting Wesley as a prize.

" There’s nothing to say. "

" Gunn is lucky to be alive. " Joseph sat down on the bed next to me. " They’re taking it pretty well, Fred is a little skittish, but the others are ok. "

I nodded.

Joseph took my hand. " They would have killed him, Will. You know that. "

I leaned into Joseph. I missed him while I was away. Joseph and I were more alike than me and Kane, I think it had something to do with Joseph being my first wolf.

" I told Angel you were his alpha. "

I just bet he did….and loved every second of it. " Gee, thanks. "

Joseph grinned. " His face…god I loved it. "

I giggled. " You’re impossible. "

He kissed the top of my head. " Can I ask a question? "

Joseph hardly ever asked permission to talk to me, when we were alone, he could talk about whatever he wanted. " Sure. "

" Why didn’t you tell us you were this scared? "

Great. " When was that Joseph? Between Wesley being infected, you guys showing up…or maybe I should have told you while I was fighting Angel. "

" I just….I’m sorry. I don’t…." Joseph was stunned by my outburst.

I felt like a bitch. Joseph had worked out why I had chosen the option to save Gunn and initiate them into our pack. " I’m sorry Joseph, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want the pack to panic. "

Joseph understood. " But Will, what you did…..I mean…" He struggled to find the words but his emotion was clear. " What you did for us Will, was beyond the call of duty. I always thought you loved them more than us, but I was wrong. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling right now. "

" What I did was disgusting. Yes, saving Gunn’s life was important, but I have sentenced them to a life devoid of freedom. They will never be free. It’s bad enough that you guys can’t be free. " Being with Pack was for life….in Angel’s case it was going to be a long life. A sob escaped me, this was too much.

Joseph pulled me into his arms as I cried. " If you give me the option of being with you and the pack, or being free. I’d chose you Will. So would Kane, Regan and the rest of the pack. "

I cried even more.

" I know what you did was hard, but you have always protected us no matter what the cost and you did the same tonight. You saved Gunn’s life, and quite possibly ours. "

I wasn’t surprised by Joseph’s astuteness, he knew everything. . I was seriously weakened from the constant battles. The first and bloody one last night. The fight with Wes and I …then finally this most recent battle. It would take me at least a week to get back to full strength after so many battles close together, which was what Blake had been hoping for.

I was in damage control and when Gunn pointed the gun at me, I had my out. It was like the powers that be were helping me. It only took me a split second to take the option that had been open to me. Not even that, it wasn’t even a difficult decision. My pack had to live. So I made it bigger by getting Angel and his team.

My pack weren’t mad, they were stunned. Joseph would have explained to all of them why I did what I did. I just hope Angel never found out. He would hate me if he did. He would never understand why I gave the option to save Gunn….because in the end, it was Angel who would save me.

I needed Angel’s power.

***

" Um, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this. " Fred repeated, looking around the room with a cross between fear and discomfort in her eyes.

It was bed time and my pack slept together. The room was wall to wall mattresses. Allowing us to sleep in rows.

Joseph was loving it, in fact, he had a bowl of popcorn watching this. Kane next to him, helping him empty the contents of the bowl. They were such children at times.

Actually, they were being silly in an attempt to make me smile. It was working.

" You can sleep between Wesley and Gunn. " She relaxed at my suggestion. Fred was already attracting a following of wolves, not because of her beauty, but because she was the weakest and needed the most protection. Within the pack we protected our weakest. " Cordy, you can sleep next to Joseph and then Wes can sleep on the mattress next to Cordy. "

Joseph spat out a piece of popcorn. Cordy scared him. HA!

Now, the only one that was left, was Angel. I didn’t say anything as people settled down for the night, Cordy and Joseph layed down on the mattress next to mine. Joseph taking his place next to me. He’d snuggle both me and Cordy. Wes, Gunn and Fred were next to Cordy. The four of them would be more comfortable near each other.

I motioned for Angel to lie next to me. He did without saying a word. Kane moved behind him.

" Hope you don’t snore. " Kane commented before wrapping his arms around Angel.

Joseph laughed till he cried.

They were trying to get to Angel, and it was working. " Kane…." One word and he loosened his hold on Angel. I settled down next to Angel. " Don’t fight it. We touch a lot, it’s not sexual. " I was talking about Kane holding him. Even though I knew Kane didn’t like Angel that much, he still craved to touch so he would do whatever he had to. Joseph had flatly refused to sleep near Angel and said if I didn’t sleep next to him, he would not be happy. So I got to be the middle in a Joseph and Angel sandwich. Two incredibly hot guys either side of me.

" Don’t you miss the privacy? " Cordelia asked, once the light was turned out.

We all usually talked until everyone fell asleep.

" No. " I replied honestly. " I miss them when they’re not around. "

Cordy thought about this. " So, we have to do this every time you’re in town? "

" Yep. " Kane replied. He was slowly getting used to Angel and his team. After some carefully chosen words, he agreed to try harder to get to know them. " We don’t travel as a pack much. Maybe one day Willow will invite you to the house. "

" House? " Angel’s voice boomed in my ear. I’d have to tell him about advanced hearing.

Kane shifted so he was sitting up. " We have a property out side of town. Most of us live there, six houses…possibly seven if Willow wins against Blake. Lots of land for us to hunt. It’s great. "

Great, just what Angel needed…" So, this Alpha battle, is it something similar to today? "

Joseph answered. " No. She’s being challenged for us. It’s a fight to the death. "

" Death? " Gunn repeated.

" Yeah, if she looses, we’ll belong to Blake. "

" Like hell. " One of the wolves in the room protested. " I’ll die before joining him. "

A few yea’s echoed his sentiment. My pack had their instructions if I ever died. " I won’t loose guys. " I assured them. I would have to bond with Angel tomorrow and then I might be ready to fight. My body was as healed as it was going to be and with the added bonus of another wolf from my direct line, I was going to be pretty powerful.

Angel slipped his arms around me, so did Joseph. " I won’t let you lose. " Angel told me.

He didn’t know the half of it.

" Well this is depressing. " Cordelia stated. " Can we talk about death in the morning? "

Joseph chuckled. " Sure. "

" Good." I heard Cordy snuggle down into her wolf blanket. " Oh, one more thing. Anyone humps my leg, and they’re a dead man. "

I roared with laughter.

~Part: 10~

" Do they know? " I’m not sure who asked that, my wolves were strewn all over the lobby of the hotel. We were having our first pack meeting since we all reunited. Usually I had wolves stationed in Sunnydale, but Joseph recalled them all when the attacks started. I’d already decided when this was all over, we were going to have a huge party.

The question had been about Wesley, who was sitting on the floor in front of me, leaning in a way that he was sitting between my legs against the lounge. I don’t know how he did it, but Wes managed to get all of Angel’s team out of the hotel so we could have this meeting. I wanted Wes to adjust to my wolves, which he was. Though, he still had that uncomfortable look to him. I was trying my best to keep touching to a minimum, but it wasn’t working. Right now, I was playing with his hair. Joseph was on my right, like always. He was playing with Wesley’s arm, just feather light touches. Kane strangely enough had chosen to sit away from Joseph and I.

It was seven o’clock at night, we spent the day gathering weapons and talking plans, Angel and his team were scouting the parameter looking for signs of attack…….anything really.

They still had no idea about Wes being a wolf, at least Wes now knew he was mine. I told him a few hours ago, after we did a small ritual to make sure Kane and Joseph had been right. They were. I was his……. sire.

Funnily enough, he seemed happier about that. Guess you don’t want to be infected by a bad guy. " No. " I replied. " They don’t know about Wes and they won’t find out from us. Wesley will tell them in his own time. "

A murmur of understanding echoed through the room. Been there, done that. Most of us didn’t even tell our loved ones about being wolves. We simply left.

" So. " It was Regan who asked the question I had been waiting for, the Angel question. " Bonding with Angel, will that help you fight Blake? "

I nodded. " We all know Blake is stronger than me physically. In a standard fight, I’d have a damn good chance of winning. I’m weakened from too many battles. If he challenged me now, there was a good chance I’d lose. "

Kane disagreed. " I don’t think it’s wise, Willow. "

Really? " No discussion, Kane. As much as I would like to avoid taking this action, I have no choice. Pack comes first. " I sighed. " I would love to say to Angel and his team they are free to go, but they did break the law and I won’t let Gunn die. Not when there is another course of action. "

" Still, bonding with a vampire? How do you know it will increase your power base? "

Why was Kane arguing? " Angel has vampiric speed and strength, I’ll inherit that from the bonding. " He would inherit my skills too, which I think was Kane’s problem, it really had nothing to do with vampires and everything to do with Angel.

" What about the rest of his pack? " A voice called out from the back.

Oh yes, I’d been thinking about them all day. They would be members of our pack, but not bonded with me. Which left them as walking targets. Wesley had already bonded with me partially, he just needed the rest of the bonding ritual performed, but Cordy, Fred and Gunn were on their own.

They wouldn’t be able to draw on my strength if they were ever challenged and that’s what bothered me. We all knew that it was highly likely the humans would be wolves within a year. There was a reason I didn’t bond with humans, and that was because they were more likely to get a case of the wolfy than anyone else.

" I’ll give them the choice. They can bond with me, or not. It’s their decision. " It was the only way I thought I could do it, bonding with me was even more serious than being pack.

Joseph to my surprise, backed me up. He had as much reason to hate Angel as Kane. Angel had put me in this position by challenging me and Joseph saw that as unforgivable, the difference between Joseph and Kane was that Joseph would do something he didn’t agree with because it was the best for the pack……..or me. " They’ll be vulnerable otherwise, they deserve the chance. "

" Deserve? " Kane was outraged. " Gunn pointed a gun at you, Willow."

He just had to remind me of that. " Kane, they didn’t know the rules. It’s wrong to punish them as wolves. "

Kane glared at me. " How would you punish wolves? If I took, say Fred hostage, held a knife to her throat….how would you punish me? "

My heart slammed into my chest and Wesley stiffened at the question. My hand went from Wesley’s hair to his shoulder, so did Joseph’s. We both knew of the ex-watchers feelings for the genius. " I would kill you. "

He laughed. " Please Willow. You wouldn’t kill a fly unless you had to. That’s why we’re in this fucking mess to begin with. You’re too vulnerable. "

Hello? Was I in the right reality? What the fuck was with Kane. " I would kill you, Kane. " I reiterated.

He didn’t believe me.

I was beginning to get a bad feeling about this. Kane was challenging me, but not in an official way. Kane would not win against me, I’d kick his ass from here to Sunnydale and still have enough strength to torture him. He wasn’t that stupid. He was, however, pulling something. I just didn’t know what.

I leaned down and whispered into Wesley’s ear. " Did Fred go with Angel and his team? "

" Yes. "

I sat back. I don’t know what made me ask that, but I just had to be sure. I’m sure Kane would never hurt her……..well fairly sure. An hour ago I would have laughed if someone had said Kane would be acting like this.

" Kane, Fred is under my protection. You know that. "

He did, he didn’t seem to care though. " Willow, face it. You only want to bond with Angel for his power……that’s not reason enough. "

" You’re wrong. I want his body too. " I noticed Angel as soon as I said it. They must have come in and we didn’t notice them. Well this was great. That had meant to be a joke, to get Kane to lighten up. I should have known Angel would hear it.

His expression was unreadable. " What’s going on? "

" Pack business. " Kane spat at him.

Sweet. " Kane, they’re pack. I just……." How long had they been there? Did they hear the threat against Fred? I don’t think so, because Cordelia and Fred were grinning from ear to ear.

" No, they’re not pack. Just because you say it, doesn’t make it so. "

I noticed that no one else was agreeing with him. This was fast becoming a loyalty issue and my pack were taking sides. Not that you could tell just from looking at them. They hadn’t moved from where they had been sitting for the past hour, but if you had a link with them, you could feel it.

Their magic was being sent to me, they were telling me they were on my side. What bothered me the most was that Kane seemed to have cut me off completely. I couldn’t feel him through our bond.

I really hated when things happened in a blur, but that was how it happened. Kane was on his feet and running towards Fred before we even realised it. He knocked Angel and Gunn out of the way and grabbed Fred.

He had a knife.

I was on my feet yelling, Joseph was transforming into his wolf form as was most of my pack. Wesley was right beside me, I was shit scared he would transform just out of anger. It happened to me more than a few times when I was a young wolf.

" No one move. " Kane yelled.

Son of a bitch. He set me up, screwed me over. This was a sure way for Kane to get his way and stop the bonding from happening. Kane holding that knife to Fred’s face dissolved any prior agreements between Angel and I.

I was at Angel’s mercy.

Why the hell would he do that? Was he insane? Not only had I lost Angel, I had lost Kane. Why would he want that? The only thing that would come out of this, in the long run was my death.

There was my answer.

Kane, the fucking bastard, had betrayed me. How long had he been setting me up? It all made sense now. The attacks in places where it should have been impossible for a rival pack to access me. Even the attack on Wesley, he had ‘supposedly’ been protecting us but that one wolf that slipped through…….I’m guessing it hadn’t been an accident.

Anger flowed through me like a fire. " Let her go. "

Angel and his were being protected by a couple of wolves who had remained in human form. We were now loyal to him, not the other way around.

Kane shook his head. " So, Willow, are you going to kill me? "

" Yes."

" Willow……" Angel’s voice held warning.

I nodded. " Correction, I’ll hold you while Angel kills you. "

" Willow……" Joseph this time.

" Everyone wants to play. I’ll hold you while Angel and Joseph kill you. Then, I’ll let the pack eat the remains. " I knew that wasn’t what they had both meant when they had said my name, but I had to stay calm and give the impression that I was serious.

It wasn’t hard. I was serious. I had never wanted to kill someone more in my entire life. Not even Blake. I wanted to rip his heart from his……. ok, I was getting a little sidetracked.

He was waiting for me to give him what he wanted, and he knew damned well that I would. " Let her go, without a scratch and you can walk out of here. "

" How do I know you’re serious? "

He was really asking for it. " You have my word. " I took a calming breath. " You will have one day grace, before I send my pack to hunt you down and tear you to shreds. "

Something flashed in his eyes. Sadness? Anger? Fear? Did he think I would let him away with this? Maybe he though I wouldn’t figure it out so quickly.

It was taking every ounce of anger I had to keep the pain from reaching the surface. It was welling inside of me, the agony of losing someone. Not just a pack member, but a former lover, a friend who I had cherished like gold. My childe.

" Let Fred go. You won. Angel is free, he’s not pack. " Please, god, don’t let anything happen to Fred, her eyes were on me. So fearful, yet trusting. Instinctively she knew I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her, but still….. Kane would be able to kill her before I could stop him.

Kane kissed Fred on the cheek. " I’m going to let you go. You walk slowly to Willow, no one else. "

Bastard. He was ensuring I wouldn’t be able to follow him by sending Fred to me. " Wolves. " My voice boomed in the room. " Stand down, he will walk out of here unharmed. Stop the humans from retaliating. " I held tightly onto Wesley’s hand.

No one would move, we couldn’t risk Fred.

He let Fred go and she walked towards me. By the time she reached me, he was gone. I pulled her into my arms and held her close. Tears, that had threatened to spill, fell freely.

Fred ended up comforting me.

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