Hannah didn't know how long she sat on the cold, scuffed ground, staring down at the turbulent river below.

The wind whipped the leaves up from the forest floor and launched themselves out into the open air of the abyss, like a flurry of soldiers joining a furious aerial battle. Across the treetops the wolf-song soared, howling out their loss in a beautiful, mournful chorus.

Her hair flew across her eyes, joining the fiery dance until the strands fell in wild tangles all across her face. She paid them no mind, her eyes searching the choppy waters where the three wolves had vanished so completely.

He was gone.

Slowly, the approaching winter chill began to seep through her clothes making her shiver and the numbness in her shoulder became a deep throb as her body finally registered its injury. The sensation grew and spread across her chest and down her arm until she was forced to keep her breathing as shallow as possible to avoid the worst of the pain.

perhaps it was broken after all? Or perhaps the pain in her heart had manifested itself into physical torture... what did it matter?

She loved him. And he was gone. Nothing else mattered.

So, when a wolf padded out from the depths of the forest, she spared it little more than an uninterested glance. A huge wolf, nearly as large as the Alpha, fur more silver than grey, matted in places by streaks of dried blood and dirt.

Picking it’s way over the uneven ground, it meandered towards her, a flurry of leaves kicking up from the forest floor. The wind caught them, tossing them out over the edge to join their companions.

Pausing at the very edge, it followed her gaze out over the escarpment and down into the rushing waters below with a vague curiosity, before turning to the red-head with a puzzled look in its tawny eyes.

Raw eyes were all she could offer it, her voice hoarse with screaming Blake's name over and over into the wind.

The wolf snorted softly and nudged at her shoulder. She let out a whimper of pain, but made no effort to move. It tilted its head, studying her tear streaked face, then sighed and placed one giant paw over her hand, forcing her to acknowledge it.

“Stop that,” she mumbled.

There was a deep familiarity about the wolf's features that cut through her impassivity and she brushed the tangled knots of hair out of her eyes, paying closer attention. Deep within the soft, tawny eyes, tiny flecks of emeralds glimmered. The mark of a Delta.

If the wolf’s head weren't currently pressed against her own as it continued its efforts to haul her to her feet, she would never have noticed the subtle difference.

“Asher?” she guessed tentatively.

Nodding, he resumed his efforts to cajole her to her feet.

She resisted. Her body hurt too much to consider moving. Asher paused, his ears flicking in irritation as two bickering voices suddenly floated towards them on the wind.

More rogues? Apparently not.

If wolves could roll their eyes, Asher would have done so and he nudged her again, firmer this time.

“Okay, Okay, I'm trying,” she muttered and made a valiant attempt to untangle herself, her legs stiff and uncooperative after sitting so long.

“It was my favourite knife – ” the strident complaint carried clearly on the stiff breeze.

“It's not my fault you thought you could shove it in a skull without –"

The rustling leaves cut off portions of the conversation, like a radio with terrible reception.

“How else was I supposed to – "

“Well I'm sorry. I was a tad busy staying alive – ”

“My favourite knife – " The voice took on a sulky edge and his companion responded with appropriate exasperation.

“Oh for Goddess sake, Alex! In the grand scheme of things – "

Alex?

Hannah increased her efforts to stand up, biting back a cry of pain as her shoulder protested the sudden movement.

Have they found him? Did they take his body to the encampment? Why aren't they –

Oh my Goddess!

She caught sight of them as they emerged from the tree line, and her eyes widened. Feigning a sudden intense interest in the horizon, she concentrated on controlling the fierce rush of colour that swept over her cheeks

They are naked. So very, very naked.

“Hannah!” Alex called to her, his voice a mix of relief and excitement, oblivious to his unclothed state. He jabbed his friend in the ribs. “See? I told you Asher would find her before us!”

“So you did,” Marcus agreed amiably. “Are you alright, Hannah?” he called as they made their way towards her.

Their cheerful tones jarred with her grief and she felt an unexpected flash of anger towards the Beta.

How could he be so upbeat at a time like this?

Then she checked herself. He wouldn't be, of course he wouldn't. Then...

Her heart skipped a beat.

Maybe, just maybe, she was wrong? Could Blake have survived?

The wolf-song soared over the trees behind them, contradictory and painfully sorrowful. Despite her confusion, Hannah felt a small flicker of hope grow inside her.

“I'm fine!” she called back, raising her voice to project it over the growing winds. “I mean, my shoulder isn't, but that's – "

“You’re hurt?” Alex’s voice changed from jovial to deeply concerned and his stroll became a swift jog. “Let me see – ”

Hannah made the mistake of turning her head towards him, her eyes travelling involuntarily down his torso and – Woah. She turned quickly away, cheeks blazing.

“No!” she blurted out, holding her hand out to ward him off and, trying to focus on something that would cool her face down. “That’s okay, it’s not that bad, just... stay there!” The waters far below suddenly seemed irrationally cool and inviting.

Good Goddess! Why are they naked?

She risked a glance down at the silver wolf beside her and he offered her a look of extreme puzzlement in return. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he glanced between her burning face and the two naked lieutenants heading towards them, unconcernedly swinging in the wind.

The wolf's expression changed rapidly to amused understanding as he caught on and her face reddened further. If she hadn't been certain it would hurt her more than the grinning Alpha, she'd have punched him.

It's not funny!

“Are you... sure?” She could hear the confusion in Alex's voice as he slowed to a halt just metres away from her. “It should really be looked at --”

Hannah winced. It had been looked at quite enough for one day as far as she was concerned.

The silver wolf beside her chuckled.

Oh, shut up.

Asher must have communicated something over the link because Alex suddenly burst into laughter and Marcus stopped short, a sudden self-awareness crossing his honest features.

“Oh! Right.” He glanced down at himself, then back to Hannah with a bashful smile. “Yes, sorry about that. Not used to thinking about it. There are no caches for clothes outside the territory.” He shrugged his shoulders, the muscles in his chest rippling with the movement. “and we left all our supplies outside the camp.”

Careful to keep her gaze at head height, she reluctantly turned to face them. “Do you have to be in human form?” Hannah asked tightly, looking anywhere but down. “I mean, is it really necessary?”

“It’s practical. We heal quicker as humans,” Alex interjected, catching his breathing between bursts of laughter. “Our wolves can focus better on repairing any damage when they aren't simultaneously trying to hold their form.”

Marcus frowned slightly. “We can shift back if it makes you more comfortable, but then we wouldn’t be able to communicate.”

Damn it, she hadn't thought of that.

“Asher could shift!” Alex offered impulsively. “He's an Alpha so he still has clothes and – "

Another silent communication from the wolf cut him short.

“ – Ah. Of course, sorry I should have thought of that. He can't,” he explained apologetically. “He needs to stay in wolf form to keep contact with Blake, and – ”

“He's alive?” Hannah blurted out, cutting the startled Gamma off abruptly. The confusion returned to his face, and he shot a glance at Marcus who looked no less surprised. “Yes. A bit wet and cold but... otherwise unscathed. We assumed you – ”

“But... he fell,” she argued incredulously. “I saw him fall...”

“Yep!” Alex nodded happily, pleased she was up to date on all the details.

If she could have growled at him, she would have. “Over a cliff!” she reiterated, pointing out over the escarpment to emphasise her point. “They fought.” She struggled to make them understand the impossibility. “He fought and – and – they dragged him off a cliff!”

Alex nodded again. “He had a soft landing,” he replied with a grin. It faded quickly as she glared daggers at him, her anger overriding her embarrassment. “Okay, okay I'm sorry!” He held his hands up. “Asher's spoken to him, he survived the fall.”

He's alive, she rejoiced silently, thank the Goddess! Wait...

“If -- if he’s alive,” she asked. “Why does the pack howl?”

“Not everyone survived,” Marcus said. His expression didn't change but his voice held a hint of reproach.

Of course they hadn't. This was no fairy tale. How stupid of her to believe there would be no casualties. She flushed, a sudden shame washing over her.

“May I?” he gestured towards her shoulder. She nodded and he began carefully probing, seeking any signs it might be broken.

“We have about a dozen dead,” Alex added, his voice growing sober. “Twice as many seriously injured.”

Hannah paled, and not only because Marcus had just hit a particularly tender spot near her shoulder blade. Now that she knew Blake was alive, the full impact of the battle hit her in a rush.

Yes, they died because of her. To save her.

“It’s my fault,” she murmured. “They wouldn’t have been here if it wasn't for me.”

Before either of the lieutenants could protest, Asher growled, his gigantic head pushing forcefully at her uninjured arm and Marcus listened a moment, gently rotating her shoulder before replying.

“No,” he said eventually. “Your kidnap merely sped up an inevitable confrontation.” He lowered her arm gently and offered her a reassuring smile. “Asher seems to believe we would have been forced to deal with them eventually. The drug related experiments alone... exposure to the humans was becoming a really possibility.” He glanced down at the Alpha with a thoughtful expression. “I get the distinct impression Fenrik's been a thorn in the SIA's side for a while.”

“Did he survive?” Hannah asked with a frown. Her feelings towards the mercenary had grown complicated in the short time they'd spent together.

Marcus paused, his eyes glazed as he listened to the wolf beside her. “No,” he replied after a moments hesitation. “Asher says both the rogues died on impact. Blake was lucky, it seems they broke his fall.”

There was a pause as Hannah processed the new information. She was strangely saddened by Fenrik's death, she realised. As much as she knew he probably deserved it, she was forced to acknowledge that he had helped save her life.

“Your shoulder doesn't appear to be broken,” Marcus declared, shifting her focus. “Just very badly bruised. Your advanced healing has kicked in as well, how does it feel now?”

“Not quite as painful,” she admitted, carefully moving her arm around. “My chest still hurts though.”

Marcus nodded. “It will, for a while. You got your ribs pretty good. Come on, your uncle and Dylan are waiting for you back at the camp. We left them rounding up the stragglers.”

“Why can't Asher shift?” Hannah asked curiously, steadfastly ignoring Marcus's mention of her mate. “You don't need to be in wolf form to tap into the link.”

“No, but – ”

“Blake’s out of range,” Alex jumped in eagerly. “He got swept quite a way downstream, you know. Alpha's can reach out further than the rest of us in wolf form, especially with their bond as brothers connecting them together.”

“Blake will meet us at the camp as soon as he's dried out,” Marcus continued, leading her back into the forest. “He's headed our way as we speak.”

“Um... could I just say,” Alex added, sidling up to her, his face a picture of innocence, “ In my defence... it's rather cold out today...” He glanced down and Hannah blushed furiously, but couldn't control the giggle that slipped out.

The silver wolf pushed its way between them with a snort of disapproval which, for some reason, increased her desire to laugh.

“What did I do?” the Gamma protested as Asher nudged Hannah further up the trail.

“Alex,” Marcus reprimanded his friend with a rueful sigh. “We’re both pretty much healed and only one of us needs to be in human form. Might I suggest you shift until we locate some clothes?”

“At least I made her smile,” Alex muttered sulkily as he stomped into the bushes behind them.

*

Tearing through the evergreens and whipping up the leaves on the forest floor, Blake had to fight every step of the way as he braced himself against the gusty onslaught. He moved swiftly, ignoring the aerial assault as the leaves tried their hardest to batter his face – his mind focused only on returning to Hannah, and reassuring himself with his own eyes that she was unharmed.

He skirted around the vast trunk of an oak tree, one of the few that remained beyond his borders – a heavyweight compared to the thin trunks of the silver birch, Rowan and evergreens that surrounded it in all directions.

The wind forced the limber oak branches to creak and sway in a majestic but deadly dance, the leaves rustled like a thousand rattlesnakes as they fought the air around them and the scorched earth near the base marked all that remained of a recent fire.

He ran on, his nose wrinkling involuntarily at the arid smell, there would be multiple pyres burning before the sun went down.

As he approached the main clearing he shifted once again. In direct communication with Asher, he'd already passed on orders to begin the clean up; tending to and transporting injured pack-members back to Blackridge, separating and preparing the dead and searching the camp thoroughly for evidence that could be presented to the Elders.

He cast his eyes over the remains of the monastery. The crumbled arches looked like a natural collapse and, In a few days, members of his pack would return to dismantle and remove any trace of the camp and palisade from the forest, leaving the humans none the wiser that the ruins had ever been the site of such carnage.

As soon as he was spotted, his warriors bowed their heads in respect, their victory muted by their losses. He acknowledged them with a nod, his nose guiding him towards the breach in the wall.

His sharp eyes could already see the red tangle of Hannah's hair as she perched on a fallen rock near one of the wrecked tents on the other side. Much to his chagrin, Dylan sat as close as he dared, one hand wrapped tentatively around her waist, Asher hovering protectively nearby.

He shifted, his heart constricting painfully as his muscles tore and bones cracked, torn between relief at seeing her safe and well and the realisation that now, all he had to do was let her go.

Rothan whimpered.

“She was never ours,” he whispered firmly, though to remind himself or his wolf, he wasn't certain.

He would encourage them to leave tonight, he decided resolutely. He needed to do what was best for his pack, the Elders would never sanction their mating and he couldn't protect Hannah from the threats piling up against her, the last few days had proven that.

But, if she returns to Scotland she will be safe...

As he climbed over the rubble, he was accosted immediately by Hannah's uncle who had been hauling the bodies of the dead rogues into piles near the monastery walls. The red in his hair mingled with the blood streaked on his face, and a tuneless hum followed him around the encampment.

Blake bit back a sigh and braced himself for the inevitable feeling of irritation that came with every conversation he had with laird Macleiry.

“Are they dead, Alpha Blake?” Macleiry asked him eagerly.

“Yes,” Blake snapped, disliking the almost grotesque pleasure the Scotsman seemed to take in the carnage surrounding them.

“And Fenrik? Him too?” The man’s eyes swept the clearing in anticipation.

Blake narrowed his eyes. “Yes. Him too.”

“You're sure?”

“Very,” Blake said dryly. “I heard his neck snap.”

“I want to see the body,” Macleiry demanded, his ever-present ego once again forgetting for a second who he was talking to.

Marcus growled a warning from near the wall, and the Scotsman added an unconvincing “Please.”

“Not possible,” Blake said through gritted teeth. “It was swept downstream along with the other one. It might take a few days for my men to locate them – " he turned to his Beta and raised his voice. “ – I think we're going to want to make sure our kind find them. The modifications on the big one would take some explaining in a human morgue.”

“Absolutely,” Marcus agreed fervently. “I'll get on recovery as soon as we’ve finished burning this lot.”

“Why on earth would you want to see the body?” Alex was asking Macleiry.

“I wanted the pleasure of killing him myself,” the Scotsman explained as Blake moved swiftly away. “But I suppose I'll settle on seeing his face. Do you think he suffered?”

Macleiry's eagerness to deal with the man who'd kidnapped his niece was understandable; if the situation had been reversed, Blake would have felt the same way.

But, he thought to himself as he watched Hannah's uncle smile with self-satisfied indulgence, there's something about the man that gets under my skin. He's inherently unpleasant.

He approached Hannah cautiously, fighting every instinct he possessed not to rip her from Dylan's embrace.

Hannah’s eyes shone with happiness as soon as she laid eyes on him and she moved to stand, her arms already half-reaching towards him.

Dylan's arm tightened possessively around her waist and he held her back, his brow wrinkled with consternation. The young wolf had watched him approach warily and Blake had clearly seen the fear hidden behind his eyes. He knew Blake could take her from him, if he chose to.

“Dylan, let me go,” Hannah was protesting, her fingers attempting to pry loose his grip on her.

Dylan’s wolf growled, whether as a warning to the advancing Alpha or his struggling mate was unclear.