Dakeyras watched with amusement as the two wolfs battled it out. 'They’re sloppy and predictable. Well at least they're of the larger blood.' He thought to himself as the fight continued. He knew he came in a bad time. This was the worst possible situation to come to a pack and he came with secretly marking one of their females. Yes the god has to be an old senile geezer. He stood there and decided not to shift back into the human form. He was used to this form and had much higher odds of surviving an attack than as a human. The one problem to him was Kiara. He could feel her tense on him as she watched the fight. It seemed she was cheering for the younger wolf, but he wasn’t certain. Also he did not know who used to be the alpha till now; neither did he know which of the two is a greater man.

He watched the fight till the end. As it ended two other men came into the frame. The one which kneeled to the dead dog seemed as an ill person to be around. For the other Dakeyras could sense no warnings or danger. As the winner wolf moved from the clearing, it was obvious that most of the pack didn’t agree with his deed. His concentration was broken as Kiara spoke, but it was a mere whisper, that even Dakeyras could hardly hear it in his wolf form. As she lay down to lean on him Dakeyras felt happy, proud and at peace. He was also relieved at the girls’ words. He turned around and slowly walked away, he could smell a car and some shifters scent in vicinity. He assumed it was a place where those few supporters of the winning wolf were waiting to take off. As he came around a corner, he found himself standing in front of the garage, and saw how the small group helped their champion into the car.

Sam frowned as Rhea seemingly broke down in the passenger side of the of the car,all while Jaii was being assisted into his seat and Kennedy followed behind closely. He quickly draped a spare shirt over Jaii's lap and nodded to him. "You ok? Yeah, you are fine, just keep the shirt. This car isn't a stick shift." He said while quickly darting around behind the car and opening the back passenger door and then he stood beside Rhea taking her hands softly in his own from behind her. He then guided her back down into the passenger seat and shook his head agreeably. "You are right, what on earth was I thinking. You have that test on Tuesday and if you fail that it is all over. I will give your brother a call and have him send everything to us, with any luck, he will stay and join us in our cozy new pad up on the Hill estates."

Sam's sarcasm was growing thin even to him, but he felt bad if he just went around blurting out monotone, factual words all the time, or stereotypical "It will be ok."-lines all the time. He turned his head a moment to the garage floor, but a moment later he perked it back up and leaned into her seat and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "I will get everything you need sent to us, my dear. Relax, sit back, and calm down. Rick won't touch you, or Jaii, or Vera, or anyone, understand?" He asked her while moving back to shut the door. He then turned to look out through the door.

He paused a moment to access everyone, everything, and the present atmosphere, but he had to stop and speak once more, this time to Vera. "You need to go, ok, right now." He instructed through Rhea's window. "I am going to grab anyone else who is ready leave, what few that may be." He added while turning to ensure Kennedy made it into the car alright. He then huffed and patted the top of the car and took off walking back out into the front of the yard.

When Kiara found herself in front of the garage, staring at those who were planning to leave, she began to panic. She wanted to leave yes, but there was no way she actually could right? Why had Dakeyras brought her anyway? Did he want her to leave? She’d thought he hadn’t wanted to join a pack, but isn’t that what he was going to do if they followed Jaii? Everything was too confusing. It also didn’t help that she could almost guarantee that not a single one of the people in that car knew one thing about her. The exception might be Jaii, because they’d grown up together as children, but even then he would probably only know her name.

Kiara suddenly dropped further into Dakeyras’s fur, trying to hide her face. “No… They’re not going to want us to go with them… Besides, I thought you wanted to leave?” she directed her quiet question to the wolf beneath her knowing he wouldn’t be able to answer. Her body tensed as Sam walked by and barely gave her a second glance. Would it be any different if she left? She still couldn’t speak to any of them, she was sure of that. What was the difference, and why was she the only one in the group that seemed to be having any doubts? “I… I can’t… they… they won’t accept either of us…” Even as she said it, she knew that it wasn’t true, but she was grabbing onto anything just so she wouldn’t have to be disappointed again.

Vera felt a pain in the pit of her stomach just by the look of Jaii. She’d never been around a lot of blood before, always avoided it, but she told herself she could handle it. She had to, they needed her to be strong right now and get them out.

"You need to go, ok, right now." He instructed through Rhea's window. "I am going to grab anyone else who is ready leave, what few that may be."

Sam really was taking care of Jaii. He probably had status in the pack, but the thought occurred to her that he would make a great Beta. “Right. I- I don’t know where we’ll go right now, but as soon as I figure it out I’ll have one of them call you.” She looked at the ones in the vehicle, frowning slightly. “I’m assuming at least one of you has your cell with his number?” she asked quickly. “If it comes down to it we’ll go to my pack, but- Sam, I don’t…” She couldn’t go back, not with things how they were. She needed to work out her story, get her father to understand…and accept it. She was not with Rick, and he would not have the power he thought he would get over the Claymore pack. Like it would have worked anyway, Luke thought he was getting power out of the deal too. They were both mental.

“Forget it, I can do whatever needs to be done. We’ll call you,” she promised, starting the car and putting it into drive. “Make sure you get out anyone who wants out. I don’t want a single person stuck in this pack, it isn’t fair,” she added softly, looking back at Jaii. Not that getting away would make things any easier…but she sure hoped it would.

Once Sam was clear and somewhat of a plan was worked out she peeled out, heading out of the garage within seconds. Things seemed a little calmer now that they were on the road, though she felt bad leaving so much to Sam. “Uhh…okay. Let me think,” she muttered, keeping her eyes on the road ahead of her. Where to go. Somewhere with land, somewhere with working facilities…they were shifters, not animals- she wasn’t going to have them living in a cave, even if it happened to be for a short time. “Hey. My dad, he has a ton of land.” It was for if and when he expanded the pack, but right then nobody was living on it. “There’s an old farm house surrounded by- well, farm land. It hasn’t been touched in a while, so it’ll need a little TLC, but it’ll work until we figure things out.” Little did she know the house might be a bit more permanent than she planned.

“Jaii, it’s about half an hour away. Think you can hold on until then, or do we need to stop and let Rhea work her magic?” she asked, looking back at him.

Sam passed the garage door for the final time, he stood once more mere feet away from Rick, his hold on the present moment grander then anyone could imagine. Sam broke down the possibilities at hand, what would happen, what could happen, and what should happen were all possibilities, but uncertainties. The teenager, of only nineteen, more of a man then most his age, stared down the man who stood beside the body of a monster, not a werewolf, but a true monster in any form. His eyes scanned those present, and Rick's body language, several times before he took his first action. He stripped himself barren of cloth a midst the few who lingered in the front of the property bearing witness to the scene that had previously unraveled, and now beginning to bear witness to the oncoming conclusion to it's consequences.

Sam shifted, his figure in a momentary pulse of pain that, within itself, shifted into a writhing pan along his skeletal system that gave way to his lupine form. His dark fur shook a moment as the inner beast stood with a ready body, in case any were to jump at the chance to fight, and while he never knew if one were to jump or not, he continued on as planned and hunkered himself low to the ground, almost as if to submit and cower to Rick, but he then quickly unleashed his body. The tightly packed, ground hugging, wolf jumped into a wide stance. His legs spread far and sturdy, his back elongated and held high, his muscles tightened and locked up, and the wolf's head was thrust straight up into the air. The stagnant silence int he air was broken by a call, a long eerie, but alluring call echoed throughout the property and it filled the ears of every wolf for at least a mile. The deep, but penetrating tone of the call was known by all shifters. This was the call of a dead Alpha, and a separating pack. It would pierce the ear, and the inner wolf, of every shifter and it would give way to those who were loyal to the monstrous man named Luke, and those who were fed up, and ready to leave the pack. Sam stood stalwart and waiting in the front yard for any and all shifters strong enough to admit their readiness to leave the Claymore pack.

Dakeyras Stood in silence as he watched things unravel in front of him. He felt how Kiara tried to dive into his fur, as she was battling her insecurities. He didn’t make a sound or moved, he didn’t know these people and it was clear this was not the happiest of their days. Since no one addressed him he walked closer to the garage, walking by the side so that the car could drive off. Moments later it did, but as soon as it started it stopped. The doors opened and the wounded man spoke to Dakeyras, inviting them to join the leaving group. Dakeyras liked the idea. Giving a small bark he ran to the car as to drop Kiara, for he disliked cars and preferred to run.

Rick stared at Sam with all the hatred he could muster. After a moment he looked around, wondering and actually afraid others would leave. “We’ve lost our alpha and you take this moment to act like you’re too good to stay around? Go on, leave. You’re just a dog with no home now. Our family is safe here, and will be safer without Jaii here to cause fights. We have a place to live, and more allies than you’ll ever have. We don’t need you as an enforcer, Sam.” Hopefully reminding others of the physical securities in the Claymore pack would help them stay. It was all he had at this point.

*****

The car halted to a stop as Vera slammed on the brakes, Jaii speaking to yet more people she didn’t know. “I thought Sam was staying behind to pick up anyone else, “she commented, turning around to face the others. The SUV was getting full. Hopefully nobody was leaving a car behind, because having more than one would be wise.

“A- a bone? No,” she said sternly, though Vera cracked a smile. This certainly was an odd group of shifters, she’d give them that. “Sam can take care of anything else or any other people that want to leave. We ready?” the female asked, looking back once more before the back wheels spun in her effort to leave quickly.

The drive felt long. Vera kept the window down, and eventually had someone text Sam the address. “If you want to listen to music or something, you’re welcome to it,” she told Rhea, not caring about the radio herself. All Vera wanted was time to think. She’d come to their pack to merge into their own, and now she was driving a small part of the pack, including the alpha’s son and their pack healer, away to untouched territory. She was still attached to her own pack, but how long would that stick? They may want to become a part of her family, but Vera would warn them against it. Her father didn’t seem much better than Jaii’s.

Eventually the pavement and city turned to fields and small houses, and finally a single, one way dirt road. It went past a white fence that once probably kept horses off the road. Anxiety filled Vera as they pulled up into a wide, open yard that had acres of land in every direction, a white house with blue shutters, a huge porch and a screen door in front of them. It had the main floor, an upstairs, and a concrete basement that was mainly used for storage back in the day. A few oak trees were planted on either side, but the flower bed around the house obviously needed tending. Dried leaves and dust would be everywhere, they would come to find out.

Vera parked at the side of the house, quickly shutting the engine off and jumping out. “Like I said, there will be furniture in here but it needs cleaning. The entire place does.” Even as she spoke, she noticed a broken window on the second floor. “Jaii, how are you holding up? Rhea, I’m sure there’s a couch right inside that you can lay him on.”

Inside the house would be a large foyer with an antique light fixture above. To the right was a large dining area and an old style kitchen. To the left was a large, roomy living room, the only thing missing being a television. If one walked straight they would find another doorway into the kitchen and a room that was probably for laundry and more food storage beneath the stairs Further down the hallway was a study, bathroom, and a couple bedrooms.

The beautiful wooden staircase that was just a few feet away from the front door they would call come in led up to more living space, including the a master bedroom, more spacious rooms, full bathrooms, and a library or playroom.

Kiara spent the entire awkward car ride wishing she was back on her wolf. Wait. Her wolf? What in the world was she thinking? He was not a wolf, and he was definitely not hers. Well, that last one was technically false. He was hers because he marked her, but he wasn't actually hers. She had not accepted him as her mate, her body did. That just didn't count. Right? She groaned internally and was so focused on her internal conflict that she barely noticed when they arrived. It wasn't until everyone began to tumble out of the car, and Rhea said something about Jaii that she actually paid any attention. She hadn't heard what he'd said, but she assumed it wasn't directed at her. Mostly because nothing was every directed at her. She was a specter, as if she didn't exist. Because of this, she went ahead and disobeyed whatever it was.

Instead, Kiara went after him when it seemed that everyone else wasn't sure what to do. Now, she had complete faith in him even if he did look like he was dying on his feet. He was a shifter and now he was an alpha and she was positive that he could take care of himself. However, if he was going to go walking around outside, Kiara figured that he should probably be covered up. Thinking this, she pulled the cloak that she was wearing off and wrapped it around him before he had time to protest. If anything, this would show where her loyalties lied even if she couldn't quite voice it yet. She also hoped it would help Dakeyras, seeing as it was his cloak in the first place.

The problem? Without the cloak, the bite mark on her leg was easily seen. This was her dilemma. If she tried to cover herself then she would only draw even more attention to it. Kiara decided to just pretend like it didn't exist. Maybe if she did that, it really would go away. Looking back at Jaii once to make sure he was covered, she made her way back to the car. There really wasn't anywhere to go, and she supposed she should probably wait for her pretend mate.

Vera groaned, shoving the keys into her bag and rushing to stand in Jaii’s way. “Stop. What the hell are you talking about, you causing pain? Jaii, look behind you.” She turned him around, making him look at the girls coming out of the car. When Kiara gave him the cloak she thanked her, her tense shoulders relaxing. “Thanks…I ah, didn’t catch your name. You either,” she said, a bit embarrassed as she looked at Kennedy. “I’m Vera. You two are…?”

If they two introduced themselves she would smile and nod before turning her attention back to Jaii. He needed her right now, and he needed to be healed. “Look at all these people that followed you, that are looking at you to be a leader.” She sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder so he would look at her again. “I don’t know what’s happening here, and I don’t know what everyone wants, but one thing I know- you’re not a lone wolf. Jaii, you have what it takes to be an alpha. This…this could be the start of your own pack.” Vera shook her head with a shrug of her shoulders, her hand sliding down to take his hand. “But we can’t even talk about it until you heal these wounds. So stop sulking, get inside and lay down! You- you don’t get to be alone, they need you!” Seeing him like this was killing her, and though she would never admit it Vera was close to begging.

Dakeyras ran side by side with the car. Only he ran through the woods. 'Wait this isn't good' He thought as he looked behind. They could follow the car in an attempt to kill the wounded wolf. Dakeyras slowed his pace and stayed behind. If a strong team would attack they would wipe out everyone in the car. Dakeyras didn't care for the other, but keeping Kiara alive was important to him. And he would die to keep her safe. Running a couple of minutes behind the car, Dakeyras was on high alert. If someone would try to pass by him he would know or if someone wants to attack him he would welcome it. He knew that surviving would be impossible, but at least he could warn the others, giving them time to prepare.

As he came into the clearing he noticed Kiara instantly, but she was naked. 'I swear I gave her my cape' He thought, feeling uneasy that she was naked, the mark showing. He had no intention to get on someone's bad side at first day. Looking around he noticed the wounded man, who was wearing his cape, being yelled at for not going to lay down. This all seemed foolish to Dakeyras. Firstly why would the man be wearing his cape. The blood will set into leather and then the stench would never go away. Secondly why isn't anyone doing anything, they're all just standing and yelling at a wounded man. And thirdly, why in the name of an old senile pigg-bedder of a god, is the wounded guy doing outside standing. Running towards him Dakeyras came from the side. Couple of meters from the man Dakeyras shifted into his human form. Kneeling down he grabbed hold of the man's thighs topping the man over his shoulder. Dakeyras stood up and started to walk towards the house. With one hand he was holding the man in place on his shoulder with the other he gestured towards the house. "So shall we go inside?" He asked. "And don't you even think of fighting your way free. You're too messed up for that." Dakeyras said with a smile, his arm tightening around the man's waist. "Oh I almost forgot. My name is Dakeyras."

The car drove down the road, transitioning scenery as the ride progressed. Kennedy kept her vision out the window, watching the world pass by. Her brain was working hard, deep in thought. Retracing all the moments of the last hour. The fight. The split. The hurt. Everything. It all passed by in a blur, though at the time it took an eternity. Kennedy's thoughts moved to her personal items that were left behind in the rush of things. So much for my car... and clothes... and everything else I own. Rick will probably throw it all in a pile and burn it... she sighed, wondering if there was any way to salvage her personal belongings. Maybe she would return to the manor herself, at night perhaps, to grab all of her things and drive away in her car.

Kennedy's thoughts were interrupted when the car pulled to a stop in front of an older looking house. Jaii had been resting on her shoulder during the drive, but he was now out of the car and attempting to walk around. Kennedy shook her head and shuffled out of the vehicle with the rest of the cramped group. It didn't take long for the ruckus to start again, and Kennedy wasn't able to do anything but stand there and watch as a few arguments took place in the yard of their supposed new home. After the tension had calmed once more, Vera turned to Kennedy and fellow pack member Kiara.

"Ah, yeah... sorry for the lack of formal introduction." She stuck her hand out for a brief shake, "I'm Kennedy." After the introduction, attention was turned back to Jaii, who seemed to be really out of it. As Vera spoke to Jaii, Kennedy took a couple steps forward. It was true, they were all here for a reason. Not only was it pack code that any wolf who challenges the alpha and wins shall become the new alpha, but Jaii had the true qualities of a leader. Kennedy could sense that, and she was sure the others could as well. She took this as an opportunity to speak up, "She's right Jaii. We're all here for a reason, we all followed you. This will be a better life for everyone, but in order for that to happen you need to quit being a stubborn ass and get some help." She offered a friendly smile, her eyes sincere.

Sam's attempt to call forth those who wished to leave, but none had answered. No one was willing to leave the Claymore pack, or at least brave enough to be truthful about whether they wanted to leave or not, and Sam was left standing a fool in front of all those who had pledged their allegiance to Luke and his foul intentions. Sam's head never lowered as he scanned the faces of the slowly growing crowd that scorned at him, and Rick was only growing angry with every passing moment that Sam stood before him. The silence after Sam's howl lasted for several minutes, before it was finally broke again by Rick yelling at Sam, about how he and the car full of misfits that left were all alone, and Sam grew angry as well, but he restricted himself from acting and simply released a hefty howl, this time a vocal signal. It was deep, and low, but carried so much weight as it filled the air. This was Sam's resignation and notice that he was more then happy to leave. His paws dug into the dirt as he turned and started walking away from Rick, and he lowered his head to latch his muzzle onto his pants, which were folded up with all of his clothes in them, but his shoes were left behind. He began walking down the garage's path to the gate with his clothes in his jaws and his dignity fully in tact.

When Dakeyras arrived, Kiara felt something in her relax. This in turn set her on high alert. This wasn't right. She'd just met the man, and why in the world was she still having internal battles about him. It should have been settled the minute she'd decided there was no way she could take him as a mate. She was glaring at the stupid mark when Jaii spoke to her. In surprise, she looked up, eyes wide before she even comprehended what he'd said. "He's not my mate!"

Kiara's hand flew to her mouth in surprise and shock. No only had she spoken like this to someone she considered an alpha, it wasn't very nice either. It also wasn't technically true. She tried to explain, but it came out as, "I-I-I mean..." and she could get no further. Instead, she just looked down at her feet, embarrassed and shuffled away. Instead of paying attention to the people, she closed her eyes and listened to the nature instead. She heard the song of the birds and the whistle of the wind. Almost involuntarily, her feet started to move before she caught herself and stopped.

So much for that. Instead, she turned back to the small group of shifters. Jaii, she had grown up with when she had actually run around like a child. Kennedy had come to the pack at a few years back, but they'd never talked. Rhea was the pack healer, but Kiara had never needed her services. This new girl was.... new girl. Kiara had already forgotten her name. She blamed this on being easily distracted. Then there was Dakeyras, her technical mate, also a stranger. Sam would be coming soon, but they also had never talked. Rubbing the back of her neck uncomfortably, she began to realize she may have gotten herself into a bad situation.

Sam's body jolted between the trees, his brown fur waving as he ran faster and faster, but came to an abrupt stop as he reached the border of the Claymore's land. A few of the guards stood before Sam, there muzzles high and snarling lightly. There paws dug into the ground as they took wider stances in attempt to prepare themselves. Sam never lowered his head, but he kept moving forward and then passed around them. The one snapped forward towards him in a greater attempt to scare him, but Sam snapped back, dropping his clothes, and then swung his right paw and then down on the wolf's muzzle to force it into the ground. He then let out a low growl and turned continuing on his way slowly as the one wolf kept his head lowered and the other two stood in case anything else was about to go down, though they only watched as Sam exited their sight and took off running once more. He trailed the scent of the car, the scent of his Mate was the most prominent in his nose, and it was the calling card that allowed him to track them.

His nose was kept moving, following her scent wherever it was taken. The smell was almost intoxicating, and it kept Sam running, no matter how far he had gone, he never tired. He kept his feet moving, his legs outstretched, and his head forward. His form was shadowed in the trees and the foliage. Hours passed as the Lupine Sam ran and sought out the location Vera had taken everyone. It seemed longer then it actually was to Sam, because Sam's mind filled with all manner of scenarios, it filled with good and bad possibilities that involved the group. His mind finally came to one conclusion, when he finally laid his eyes on the group, and on Rhea. He darted forward ot the car and to the standing group, taking a moment to mentally laugh at the fact Jaii was being hoisted up by a stranger, before coming to stop before Rhea. He looked up to her face with his muzzle and slightly turned his head before pressing his body up against her leg softly. He then stepped away and around to the rest of the group, and then sunk behind the one side of the car no one was standing on and shifted.

He stood over the car, stretching his arms over his head a moment while letting a low groan escape his throat before looking around at everyone. "Hey.." His voice was low, and kind of faint, almost as if he didn't want to talk. He stepped around and approached. He placed his hands on her shoulders and nodded to her a few times. "Thank you, thank you so much. These people needed to get away from Luke, Jaii most of all, and you helped make that happen." He Smiled faintly before parting her presence to return to Rhea. He smiled brighter now, wrapping his fingers over her cheeks with a soft caressing touch, before pulling her in close and lacing his lips with her own to passionately kiss her. He broke it a quick moment later and let his hands slide from her cheek, but his right hand slid down to softly grip her chin with a curled index finger and thumb before letting go of it and turning her so that he could wrap his right arm over her shoulder. "Come on, let's go inside, where are we by the way?" He asked her softly while leading her to the front of the building.

Dakeyras laughed inside his head as Jii asked Kiara for him being her mate. He found it soothing and comforting. But the answer took away Dakeyras happiness. He didn't show it. He simply locked his emotions and continued toasts the house.
Dakeyras tok Jii inside the house. He walked into the kitchen placing Jii on the table. "Don't move. Where the hell is the healer?"
Dakeyras said as he Looked around. He went to another room where he found some sort of a curtain. Talking it he wrapped himself in it.

Vera gasped when Jaii was picked up, but didn't protest. She needed help in convincing him to stay, and thankfully they were all willing to give her just that. "I- I think I can find some clothes around here. Maybe later the girls can go on a shopping trip," she added, hoping to bring a bit to calm in a time of stress. Having Sam there too helped; the more males the better. Vera wasn't sexist, she knew women could handle themselves, but when it came to Rick...well, having a few dominant males in their little group wasn't a bad thing.

She then went inside and upstairs to the largest bedroom where a few articles of clothing were kept. It only took a minute, but she was afraid the girl was a bit smaller than her.

"Kiara, right?" she asked, holding out a thin sundress. "Uh...it's probably a little long on you, but it's better than tripping on my jeans right? Dakeyras, I could only find you some pants. There's actually a lot of clothes upstairs, but you all are kind of big," Vera grinned, "In a good way, I promise." She held them out with a small shrug, feeling sorry for them despite Sam's words of encouragement.

"Uh- Sam? Who's SUV is that anyway? I thought if it was yours there more be more clothes in it," she muttered, hoping to make everyone comfortable quickly. Honestly, she just wanted to be near Jaii... So with a few casual side steps she ended up standing at his shoulders, her eyes falling to him. "Hey..."