Outbreak

Matt roamed Orange County as wolf and man during the night. Self-hate drove his paws hard into the ground and had him snapping at limbs and bushes that snagged his coat. He had a mate that he would eat silver for but he had fucked Brian. He shifted to man and punched a tree. A stupid, thoughtless, and unnecessary mistake that was causing pain to the two wolves he loved most. He punched the tree again and began pacing. He had no one to blame but himself, it wasn’t the tree’s fault or Brian’s. The blame was his and he couldn’t stomach it. He could have told Brian no, could have left after James was secured and he sure as hell didn’t have to let his temper get hold of him and blurt it out to Zack. He had to find his mate, find some reason to give Zack and take whatever punishment the wolf wanted.

By the time he got back to Brian’s quiet house the sun was coming up and exhaustion was beginning to settle over him. He paced the bushes in the backyard arguing with himself over taking a nap or not. Zack was going to be angry, he was hoping not as livid as he had been the night before, but he was still going to be unforgiving and he wasn’t going to take any half-assed excuses or reasons. Snapping at the air Matt turned a tight circle and lay down under a flowering bush for a quick nap. Jimmy howled, the wild sound reaching for the coming daylight.

Hot sun on his black fur woke Matt. Stretching as he stepped out of the bushes he looked around Brian’s backyard confused until his tail and ears perked up. The sun was high in the sky, if Zack had spent any patience waiting for him to show in the morning it would be gone. Cursing, Matt shifted to human and grabbed his stash of clothes under another bush before hopping the fence and jogging to Zack’s car. He looked up at the sun reflective windows of Brian’s silent house and chewed his lip a second before he got into the car. Brian was an old wolf and he could fix himself while Matt tried to keep their pack together.

*~*~*

            “Zack? Zachary?” Matt called softly shutting the door behind him. From the kitchen doorway a hesitant gray muzzle poked out followed by one coffee brown eye and a fuzzy cinnamon shaded ear. “Johnny, where’s Zack?” Matt asked keeping his voice quiet and crouching down so he wouldn’t loom over the little wolf. Johnny sank down to his belly and put his head in his paws. Normally that meant he didn’t know, but Zack was too protective to leave him alone without giving him some idea of where he was going. Too little sleep and growing impatience to sort out things with his mate left his tolerance level for Johnny’s timidity low. “Tell me where he is, Jonathon.” Matt ordered. Johnny’s ears flattened against his skull and his body crunched into the smallest bundle possible. Matt growled the sound vibrating through his chest to the floor and Johnny sprang to his feet with a yelp running into the kitchen. Nails scrabbled on the tile as he tried to gain purchase and Matt shot to his feet surprised by the terrified reaction. He ran to the kitchen doorway and stopped when Johnny growled at him from under the table. Tail tucked, ears back, and flat on his belly Johnny’s shiny eyes glowed from the shadows, a brief flash of white teeth reinforced the fearful growl. Matt quelled the urge to flash his teeth back. The little wolf wasn’t going to be any help so he was on his own with finding his mate.

            Checking upstairs he found their bed made and Zack’s scent strong in the air but nothing to tell him where his mate had gone. He left the room and returned downstairs. Johnny was still under the table and probably wouldn’t move until Matt was out of the house. Ignoring him, Matt looked at the papers on the refrigerator and found nothing that hadn’t been there for three days. His eyes landed on the key hook when he turned around. Both his keys and Zack’s spare were still hanging up. He wouldn’t call someone for a ride if he had Matt’s keys, he may be mad at him but that was overkill, and Matt still had his car so his mate had walked somewhere. Jogging out of the house again and locking the door behind him to let Johnny know he was well and truly gone he sniffed the breeze hoping Zack hadn’t run around their territory like he had. Zack’s familiar scent led him down the sidewalk hard to follow because it was only his natural scent with no pungent cologne to make it stick. Matt sighed heavily, if Zack had skipped the cologne he was expecting Matt to look for him and he didn’t want to be found.

            He was sure he looked nuts as he roamed the streets, occasionally backtracking as he searched for his mate. It seemed like Zack was heading back to Brian’s house, which didn’t make sense. He passed an abandoned house for sale and lost the scent again. Biting back a curse he turned around and started backtracking again but Zack’s scent was strong and original not a piece of it blown by the wind or happenstance. He looked at the dark bricked one story and took a couple steps up the sidewalk. The lawn was overgrown so he was hoping there was no one inside calling the cops on the crazy guy sniffing the air like a bloodhound. Zack’s scent went up the walk and he followed it cautiously. Closer he could hear heavy footfalls and a high female voice echoing off the empty walls. Straightening his shoulders so he didn’t look like a serial killer trying to creep up on her he walked up the two sweeping front steps and took in another lungful of Zack’s scent before opening the door.

            Inside it smelled stale and hot and the woman’s voice was louder as she told someone about the benefits of having the laundry room by the back door. Shutting the door behind him quietly he breathed in the strong and fresh scent of Zack. Sinking to his knees with his ankles crossed behind him on the hardwood floor he called softly for his mate. His voice touched the walls but didn’t echo like the woman’s. Seconds later furious green eyes came around a corner with a very confused woman following.

            “Get. Out.” Zack snapped. Matt didn’t meet his eyes but tilted his head over his right shoulder exposing his neck, a subtle way for his wolf half to show concession and submission in his human form while Zack continued to glower at him.

            “How did you get in here? Do you know him?” The realtor asked with an if-you-don’t-answer-I’m-calling-the-cops tone. From the corner of his eye he watched Zack give a curt nod. “Get out, Matthias.” His voice was low, an inkling of a growl working its way in. Matt kept his eyes on the floor but straightened his neck out. “Let me talk to you, Zachary.” he pleaded.

            “There is nothing to talk about. Get out.” Zack hissed.

            “Zachary, please, I know you’re angry—”

            “Angry doesn’t begin to cover it you cheating bastard.” Zack snarled. Matt flinched back, “I lived a year without you, angel. I can’t do a lifetime.” He whispered. The sharp aching pain from Zack’s presumed death still woke him some nights. His mouth dried remembering the endless tracks his memories and thoughts had worn in to his brain. He couldn’t do that again, he would kill himself before he suffered that again. Zack was quiet for a long time and then asked the realtor softly if they could have a moment alone. Once the click of her heels faded to the kitchen area Zack’s Vans’ came into Matt’s line of site. It was like waiting for verdict on murder. He wouldn’t live without Zack, the little wolf was the only thing separating him from Brian’s madness.

            “I still think you’re a cheating bastard and I want to hate you.” Zack said softly. Matt closed his eyes, “Angelus,” he whispered. Zack’s calloused hand slid through his short hair and down his cheek tracing his jaw line. “But I’ve loved you eight lifetimes over and I still do. I don’t forgive you but I won’t hate you.” Fingers slid up behind his ears before stroking down the back of his head and neck. Matt raised his head and finally looked into Zack’s emerald eyes the heat in the house amplified his scent and the rough fingers tracing his face slowed his heart to its natural pace. His mate hadn’t forgiven him, but was still with him and that was what he needed.

            “Will you do something for me?” Zack murmured. Matt uncrossed his ankles and got to his feet so he could press a soft kiss to Zack’s cheek, “anything.” If Zack told him to jump off a bridge he would ask him if he wanted water or not. Zack turned his head away when Matt tried to press a kiss to his lips but allowed one on his jaw. “Help Brian.” Zack whispered. Matt rested his cheek against Zack’s and closed his eyes. It would be easier to stop a train. “I don’t know if I can.” Matt answered after a moment. Zack started to pull back and Matt wrapped his arms around his waist, “it’s not that I won’t, angel, I just…it’s complicated.” As in, the human realtor not-so-subtly dropping in on their conversation didn’t need to know about the insanity that tended to come with a couple thousand years of continuous life. Zack stopped trying to pull away and nodded slowly. “You can tell me about it on the way home.” He whispered. Matt started for the door and Zack caught his hand, “I didn’t say right now, I’ve only seen like three rooms.” He said loud enough for the eavesdropping realtor to hear and make her entrance. Matt stared at his mate confused, “We have a house.”

            “Mmhm. And I like this one, too.” Zack said tugging him away from the door. Matt followed still not understanding. “Why do we need to look at this house if we already have a house?” he said in a quieter voice as the realtor picked up her spiel again. Zack looked at the almost floor to ceiling arched windows that looked out into the wild backyard, “maybe I’ll make it a club house. Puppies Only.”

*~*~*

            Back at their actual house Zack walked in calling for Johnny. There was a thump upstairs and then a furry gray and brown rocket shot down the stairs and came to a skidding halt in front of Zack. Zack hefted the puppy into his arms nuzzling his thick fur and alternating between scolding him for running like Tau told him not to and asking if he was hungry. Wriggling around Johnny shifted to human but kept his arms around Zack’s neck and his head on his shoulder. Matt ran a hand over his shoulder and down his side feeling the prominent bones. “You lost a lot of weight.” He murmured.

            “He’s still hard to carry.” Zack’s muffled voice answered and Johnny snickered before letting go of his neck and dropping the four inches to the floor. Johnny, much slower, went back upstairs to get dressed while Zack walked over to the fridge and began rummaging through the contents. “Meh, we need to go to the store.” He said shutting the door and trying his luck on the freezer. Matt circled his arms around Zack’s waist while he pulled out two microwave pizzas. He wanted to say something, but every word and phrase that came to mind could easily be turned back on him and start the fight over so he kept his mouth shut and breathed in his mate’s scent. Johnny’s soft steps padded into the kitchen and Zack shrugged out of his mate’s embrace to cook the pizzas. Matt leaned against the counter and stared at the ceiling until the microwave dinged.

            “We need to check on Brian, puppy. We’ll be back before sunset.” Zack said as he set a plate down. Johnny made an unhappy sound and Zack kissed his temple. “We won’t be gone long, I promise.” He murmured. Johnny sighed but appetite won out over socialization and when the pizza was cool enough he busied himself with that instead of his alphas’ departure.

            In the car Matt kept only half his attention on the road, the rest of him lost in distressing and unhappy thoughts. Zack was quiet until they were a few blocks from their house. “What’s wrong with Brian?” he asked. Matt roused himself enough to answer his question coherently.

            “We…humans aren’t meant to live forever, Zachary.” He started softly staring out the windshield, his hand tightening inadvertently on the wheel. “Once you get to a certain age, time becomes a poison worse than silver. It’s a disease of the mind. It picks away little by little at everything you know. People you thought you would never forget begin to fade, slow at first. Hardly noticeable, but it gains speed. First you can’t remember their favorite things, then their clothes start to fade, voices, faces. It all disappears before you have a chance to reclaim it. Things, actions that felt like they were ingrained in your very soul are gone as if they’ve never been. Memory is finite and time is infinite. Sometimes…sometimes wolves, old wolves, memory breaks them.” He rubbed his forehead hardly aware of the turns he was making to get to Brian’s house, lost in thought. Zack was silent next to him.

            “Brian and I are over two thousand years old.” A hard shudder rippled down his spine when the number was said aloud. “Decades, centuries can pass without me noticing anymore. I can remember walking the streets of the Forum on the way to the slave market as clearly as the first time I saw a firearm or an automobile. I can remember watching Mt. Vesuvius destroy Pompeii with Brian as easily as seeing the very beginnings of The Great Wall rising from the ground, the Great London Fire, Chicago Fire, civil war, War of the Roses, the first use of a printing press, Chaucer, Shakespeare…it doesn’t end. It’s all there all mixed up.” He shuddered again, this time not so hard but his hand clamped down on the steering wheel again and he realized they were in Brian’s driveway. Zack’s warm fingers twined with his and Matt’s quivering muscles began to loosen a little at a time. He looked at his mate, he could feel age weighing on him again, threatening to press him into the ground. He hated time, he hated remembering, he hated what he couldn’t remember. Zack stroked the back of his hand and he took a breath, glad the windows were up so Zack’s subtle scent of forest and warmth could fill the car. “If Brian has lost himself in time, I don’t…I may not be able to get him back.” Matt said exhaustion heavy in his voice. Zack’s bright green eyes met his, “what does that mean?” he asked so soft the words didn’t disturb the air. Matt stared up at the dark windows of the silent house, “death,” he said, “would be the most merciful thing then.”

            Inside the house malodorous sickness stifled the air. Weighted silence hung over their heads as they looked over the untouched destruction of the lower level. Matt licked his dry lips and pulled every ounce of Roman stoicism out of his blood and straightened his spine. If Brian was lost in time there was nothing Matt could do for him. Zack started for the stairs and Matt gently caught his arm, “let me go first, angel, we don’t know where his mind is.” He whispered. Zack hesitated and then let Matt take the lead.

            Taking the stairs one at a time Matt ascended into the dark second floor muscles coiled and ready for anything. The house stayed silent and waiting. At the top of the stairs Matt paused and let his eyes adjust, “stay here.” He ordered softly. Zack came up next to him and scowled, “I’m not—”

            “Zachary, please.” Matt pleaded. “Let me find him first and then you can see him. He could be anywhere up here and if he’s still aggressive he’ll have plenty of places to ambush.” He needed his mate to listen to him, just this once. Zack’s headstrong nature under sweet shyness had caught his eye on their initial meeting, but like now, when following orders could keep him safe that nature made Matt want to throttle him. Zack relented with arms crossed across his chest and scowl still fixed on his face. Matt began making his way down the hall stepping around chunks of plaster and sifting through the scents to find the freshest.

            He came to Brian’s bedroom and paused, “Brian?” he called softly. There was the faint sound of someone shifting and Matt slid into the room keeping his back against the wall. A dark bundle on the opposite wall stirred and Brian’s pale face lifted. He looked around the room, “where am I?” his voice was raspy and low, the ancient Greek flowed like water from his lips. Matt crouched down so they were closer to eye level, “you’re home.” He answered in the same language. Brian’s face scrunched as he gave the room a more thorough look, his fingers slid across the once polished and now scarred wood floor. “No, where am I?” aggression began to buzz in the air. “Brian, what year is it?” Matt asked using his upbringing to keep his voice level. The aggression subsided, “Brian? Who is Brian? You’ve me confused with someone else.” Brian said his voice drifting. He shook his head as if dislodging a wayward thought and began getting to his feet and then stopped. He looked around the room again, “where am I?” he asked in English. Matt’s stomach churned and he blinked back tears, “You’re in America, my sweet wolf. You’re in your house.” His coarse voice huskier than usual. Brian stared at him and cocked his head to the side, “America, what is America?” he switched back to ancient Greek, “Rai is expecting me before nightfall.” He muttered. Matt closed his eyes, his chest tight and unable to breathe past the burning in his throat.

            “Brian?” Zack’s soft voice called from the doorway. Matt’s eyes flew open and he looked at his mate fear, frustration, and love warring within. Brian jumped and looked at Zack with confusion. “Who’s Brian?” the plebian Latin Zack wouldn’t understand. His mate stepped further into the room, “Elijah?” he murmured. The black wolf cocked his head to the side and looked around the room. “Where am I?” the old English Zack would be more familiar with, it predated his birth language by a hundred years but the meaning would come across. Matt closed his eyes again.

            “You’re in California, Elijah. Do you know what year it is?” Zack’s voice passed Matt and he opened his eyes again to watch his mate and the black wolf. Brian didn’t seem to mind Zack’s approach as he looked over the destroyed room. “I need to get home, Rai is expecting me.” He said switching back to Greek. Zack looked at Matt over his shoulder and the alpha shook his head. “He’s gone Zachary.” He whispered. Unyielding determination flashed in those green depths and he returned his attention to the black wolf now pacing the room. “Elijah, my name is Zachary Baker. Do you remember when we met?” he asked. He was almost close enough to touch the wolf. Brian stopped moving and stared hard at Zack and then looked over his shoulder at Matt, “either change him or we need to leave, Roman.” He said crossing his arms. Zack reached out and brushed his fingers down his arm, “you smell like flowers.” He whispered. Brian froze, stillness that went deeper than body movement. His eyes locked on Matt but didn’t see him, Matt stared back watching a thousand memories whirl in those brown depths. Zack moved closer, close enough he could wrap his arms around Brian’s neck and press his nose against his skin. Matt slowly got to his feet hoping the unpredictable wolf wouldn’t take the movement as hostile and hurt Zack.

            “I met you in England in 1395. Do you remember?” he whispered. Brian’s stillness remained unbroken, his stare unwavering. Zack rubbed his cheek against his shoulder, “do you remember the first time we saw the moving pictures? Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Olive Borden.” His soft whisper loosened Matt’s muscles, the calmness in his voice soothing over the ache in his chest.

            “And then they added sound to the pictures. It was so wonderful, do you remember seeing The Jazz Singer, we saw it a dozen times at least. So many times we could quote it and Matt threatened to toss us out if we kept singing the songs.” There was a smile in his voice that pulled a sad smile from Matt, too. “We did the same thing with The Wizard of Oz, the color of life on screen. We sang the Lollipop Guild song to Johnny until he chased us around the park.”

            Brian’s eyes wavered and he shivered once and then again with more violence, “Zachary?” he rasped. Zack kissed his cheek and dropped his nose to his neck again breathing in the other wolf’s scent. Brian blinked and the recognition began to fade, “where am I? Where’s Rai?” he moved out of Zack’s embrace and his mate’s pain was tangible.

            “Zachary,” Matt whispered while Brian looked over the room. His mates green eyes flashed to him a second before returning to the black wolf. “I have something…it might, it could put things into place again.” Matt said. Zack left Brian’s side and pressed against Matt a shuddering sob rippling through him. Matt squeezed his mate against him feeling the ropey coils of muscles and unyielding bone press into his body. Zack’s teary face pressed against his neck and Matt rubbed a hand up and down his spine. “Rai is what started this, he may…he may sort himself if he can remember her.” Matt whispered. Zack sniffled and tightened his arms around his neck. “There’s a chest in the closet, top shelf in the back. Get it for me.” Matt murmured. Zack pulled away and looked his mate in the eye, “don’t hurt him.” Matt kissed a stray tear rolling down his cheek, “on my life angel, I’ll not hurt him.” He whispered. Zack nodded and looked over his shoulder again at the black wolf muttering in Greek and archaic French before taking the keys from Matt’s pocket and slipping out the door.

*~*~*

            Zack walked into his home rubbing away tears and Johnny who had sprawled out in front of the television darted to his side. “What’s wrong? Where’s Matt?” his head nudged under Zack’s chin and the red and white wolf wrapped him in a tight embrace. “We have to find, there’s a chest in the closet. We have to find it.” Zack sniffled. Johnny’s cheek rubbed against his, “What’s wrong, Zachary?”

            “Brian’s…sick. He’s, I don’t know, he’s sick. We have to find that chest.” Zack kept Johnny’s hand in a firm grip and led him upstairs.

            Finding something on the top shelf in their closet was easier said than done. Thanks to Zack’s clothing fetish the closet was the size of a guest room. Johnny followed him into the maze of shirts, shoes, and pants scanning the numerous shelves. “What are we looking for?” he asked. Zack shrugged, “Matt just said there was a chest in here. I guess we’ll know it when we see it, but…” he used a shoe shelf as a ladder to look on the top level of shelves where hats, bandannas, and non-clothing items were stashed. “I’ve never seen any chest before.” He said while he shoved things around. Johnny pulled the desk chair into the closet and still couldn’t quite see the top shelf. Resorting to hopping and looking he pointed to the far end of the closet, “would it be in the safe?” He got down and moved the chair closer to the shadowy outline of the built in safe. Zack cursed, Matt would put something in the safe only he could reach. Zack stood on the chair next to Johnny and stretched for the keypad, his fingertips only brushing. “Dammit. Here, move the chair closer and I can hold you up so you can punch in the code.” Zack said jumping off the chair. Johnny followed and in a few seconds the safe clicked open.

            “Is it in there?” Zack asked. Johnny stretched out more, “Yeah, I still can’t reach, it’s all the way in the back.” Zack hoisted him up a couple more inches and there was a soft scraping sound as the small wolf pulled the chest out. “Okay, it’s on the shelf now, you can put me down.” Johnny said. Zack set the puppy on the chair next to him and stared at the chest a moment. At least six inches deep and a foot long the walnut dark wood polished by time reflected the light bulbs’ steady glow as warm candlelight. Worn leather straps stained black were bolted to the chest with fat, tarnished brass buttons. There was no keyhole, but a leather strap like a belt keeping the chest secure, a dark brass T pin stuck in the second hole. The wood was silk under his fingers when Zack finally pulled the chest off the shelf and cradled it against his chest. Johnny was silent next to him staring at the chest with wide eyes.

            “We need to get this to Matt.” Zack murmured. Johnny nodded and backed out of the closet still staring at the chest. Walking out of the room Zack considered duct taping pillows around the chest. He opted instead to take every stair with extra care and handed the car keys to Johnny.

            The drive to Brian’s had never been longer, either because Johnny was actually driving the speed limit or because the precious cargo on Zack’s lap seemed to taunt disaster. “How old do you think it is?” Johnny whispered. Zack shrugged, careful not to jostle the chest. “How old is Matt?” he countered. Johnny shivered, “very old. Very, very old.” He turned onto Brian’s road. “What’s wrong with Brian?” he asked softly. Zack hugged the chest closer to his body, “he…Matt said he’s confused. He is confused. He can’t remember…he keeps forgetting where he is, it’s like he’s got amnesia or something.” Brian’s house came into view and a few seconds later Johnny pulled into his driveway.

            “Then how’s this going to help?” Johnny asked over the roof of the car. Zack began walking to the house, “it has to.” He whispered. “It has to work.”

            Inside Johnny stopped in the doorway, “what the hell? Did Jimmy get out?” he asked backing out of the door. Zack shook his head, “no puppy, he’s still in the basement. Brian did it.” He said softly. Johnny stepped cautiously inside and looked over the destruction again, “Brian did it? What exactly does Matt think he’s going to do with that chest?”

            “I don’t know. But if this doesn’t work, if this doesn’t make him better, then…” he shook his head to clear the thought. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to their beta. “Come on, he’s upstairs.”

            “Matt?” Zack called at the top of the stairs, the floor was quiet until Matt’s soft voice called them into Brian’s bedroom. Johnny stuck close behind Zack as they entered but Matt shook his head, “he’s not violent.” He whispered motioning toward the dark bundle on the other side of the room. Zack held the chest out to him and Matt stared at it a second before taking it and setting it on the floor like it wasn’t a thousand years old.

            “Jesus Christ, be careful.” Zack yelped when the hard knock of wood against wood filled the house. Matt chuckled without humor, “this thing pre-dates Jesus Christ by several hundred years. Johnny, flip the lights.”

            The ceiling bulb survived only because Brian couldn’t reach high enough to tear at it, all the walls past the seven foot mark were unscathed and the ceiling pristine white. Matt pulled the pin out and stuck it in his pocket before opening the chest with more care than he’d set it down. “Elijah.” he called, “Elijah, I have something for you.” He pulled out a piece of vellum, gold with age and brown on the rough cut edges. Once the roll was removed there were several other things scattered on the dark wood bottom. An exquisite yellowed ivory comb. The handle carved into two wyverns meeting beak to beak with wings flared behind them and tiny patterns of diamonds and curlicues above the teeth. Scattered misshapen coins of varying sizes, hammered gold bracelets, rings and brooches inlaid with precious stones, and a thick gold necklace with dangling slivers of silver. Zack stared into the box, it felt like that gaping mouth had sucked all the air from the room.

            “Are those rubies?” Johnny asked breathlessly, “rubies and emeralds?” his shoulder bumped Zack’s as he leaned closer to get a better look jarring Zack’s brain back to the present. Matt stared into the box and shook himself some, “Elijah.” He called again. There was a soft rasp as the vellum unrolled, “I have Rai.”

            “Rai?” Brian’s soft voice wouldn’t have been heard by a normal human. He moved though, his head came up and he came out of his huddle. “Where’s Rai?” he asked louder. Zack looked over Matt’s shoulder at the faded inked image of a fairly pretty woman. Her wavy hair loose around her shoulders, dark eyes set a little too close together to be beautiful, and a dainty pointed nose above lush lips. “That’s Rai?” he murmured. Matt nodded, “as far as I know, I never met or saw her.” He got to his feet and walked the ancient drawing to the confused black wolf. Brian’s eyes locked on the image, “Rai. Theorai.” He murmured, he reached out a hand but pulled it back before he touched the picture. Matt knelt before him still holding the vellum, “you remember, Elijah?” he asked. Brian flinched and rubbed between his eyes as if in pain. “Elijah, do you know where you are?” his quiet voice was calm but his shoulders were tense and his posture rigid. Brian pressed his palms against his temples, “Mat-thias? Matt.” His eyes shut and he drew into his huddle again shuddering. Matt rolled the vellum again and set it to the side, “let yourself sleep, Elijah.” He murmured. He said something else that resembled what little Greek Zack knew and Brian dropped his hands when he gave a faint response and then curled up on the floor. Matt stayed next to him running a hand down his side until the black wolf’s breath was even with sleep.

            Picking up the scroll Matt came back to the chest but didn’t immediately set it inside again. Bitter pain covered his natural scent and Zack crouched next to him, “will he be okay?” he whispered watching the other wolf fidget in his sleep. “I don’t know, angel. We’ll find out when he wakes up, with luck his dreams will sort him out.” Matt said rubbing a hand over his eyes. The three were quiet, Zack still watching Brian’s troubled face with worry twisting his gut. They couldn’t lose Brian, the black wolf had been a constant in his life since he was changed and he realized after glancing in the chest again,  Matt’s only connection to anything close to his culture, his home.

            “What currency is that?” Johnny asked breaking the silence. Matt’s eyes focused on him and he cleared his throat, “Roman. It’s what I had on me at the time.” His voice was rougher than usual. Zack started to reach for a thick gold ring but pulled his hand back. The chest was personal to the point of sacredness. “It’s all right, Zack.” Matt said, “this thing has been through hell and high water, you can’t hurt it.” Zack hesitated a second longer and then reached in and took out the ring with a grip only firm enough he wouldn’t drop it. The ring was heavy, nothing like they made in present day, heavy gold made for a man’s finger. What he had thought to be a gem was actually a wax inset with what looked like a legionnaire helmet with a horse rearing from the top and a wolf profile across the bottom.

            “It was my father’s.” Matt said before Zack could ask. “The irony is not lost on me either.” A smile quirked his lips but his eyes were dark. Zack set the ring in the chest and wrapped his arms around his mate’s neck, rubbing his cheek against his shoulder. “I love you.” he murmured, “you drive me fucking crazy sometimes, but I will always love you.” his mate’s scent changed from painful to the hot dusty odor of a heater kicking on. Matt’s weight shifted, his solid body almost slumping into Zack’s. “I don’t like that smell.” he murmured trying to rub it away. Matt’s head raised and his chin rested on his shoulder, “what smell?” weariness that a decade of sleep couldn’t alleviate laced the words. Zack picked up the rough vellum roll and returned it to the chest before gently closing the lid. Matt’s scent didn’t change and Zack got his feet under him so he could drag Matt to his feet. “Come on, we can clean up a little and we need to check on Jimmy.” he said. Matt’s dark eyes met his, the usual fire and life in his hazel-gold eyes jaded and dead. Zack pressed a kiss to his lips, “let’s go, wolf. Dwelling will make it worse.” he whispered, Matt’s head slid to his shoulder and Zack found himself again supporting most of the old wolf’s weight. Johnny got up from the floor and padded to Brian’s side and stretched out on his stomach next to the black wolf. Brian made a soft sound but didn’t wake. Matt raised his head and watched the two for a moment before his legs took his weight and his hand slid to Zack’s and led him out of the room.

            “We need to check Jimmy first, Brian’s been gone for two days, he wouldn’t have remembered to give him water.” Matt said, his scent was still abnormal but his voice was closer to what it should be. Zack followed him downstairs, both silent. The house was a mausoleum; it felt like spirits peeked at him from every ragged hole. “Why does he respond to Elijah and not Brian?” Zack asked when they were in the kitchen. Matt had a large mixing stainless steel mixing bowl that had probably never been used. Setting the bowl in the sink to fill with lukewarm water Matt turned around and leaned against the counter. “Elijah is his real name.” he said softly. Zack cocked his head to the side and Matt’s eyes focused over his shoulder. “He calls it his human name. He decided a decade or so after his change that he needed a different name, they’ve changed over the years but he’s stuck with Brian for seven hundred years or so. Synyster is just another name change.”

            “His human name? We’re still human.” Zack said crossing his arms, he spent his first decade convincing himself he hadn’t sold his soul to the devil. Matt turned the water off but didn’t pull the bowl out of the sink, “we all deal with the change differently. Elijah’s way was to distance himself associated with his pre-change life and now it’s coming back to haunt him.” he finished under his breath. He picked up the bowl and headed for the basement. Zack held back his other questions, covering his mouth with his hand when the basement door opened and a putrid wave of sickness flooded the room. Matt shuddered and hesitated a second before descending the stairs. Zack’s wolf, normally more relaxed during the daylight hours, slammed against his consciousness and he took three steps back before he wrestled his other half into a stalemate. The wolf wouldn’t let him advance but his human half refused to back away. Matt came up the stairs a few minutes later with the empty bowl and shut the door behind him before leaning against it. Zack managed a few jerky steps forward but the wolf shied from the heavy ill scent. Matt’s lips quirked into a humorless smile, “don’t try to force him, Zachary.” he said pushing away from the door and coming to him. Zack made a frustrated sound deep in his throat, “he’s never done this before. He’s not listening to me.” he tried again to move but the only direction the wolf allowed was back. Matt’s hands rested on his waist, “you both have powerful instincts, it happens sometimes. The wolf knows the danger and it will fight to keep you both safe; Brian has a similar problem.”

            “It’s not very helpful.” Zack sulked. The wolf stood his ground and a headache began to brew at the back of his head. “Next time, bastard.” he muttered rubbing the sore spot. Matt’s hand found his again and he pulled him to the broken door. “Come on, let’s get some fresh air, my wolf is about to claw my head in two.”

            Warm California air blew away the strongest sickness smell from Matt’s clothes but it still clung to the fibers. Zack lifted the hem a few inches and Matt pulled the rank material off, tossing it in the grass. Skin clearer of sickness the hot dust odor lingered. The wolf sent a wave of sadness through him, it was not a good smell and he didn’t want it on his mate anymore. Matt rested his hands on his hips again before hesitatingly pulling him closer, waiting for signs of resistance. “What’s wrong, angel?” he asked. Zack rubbed his cheek against his shoulder, “I don’t like that smell. I don’t want you to smell like that anymore.”

            “I’ll go inside and take a shower.” he said loosening his arms and Zack shook his head, “no, not the sick. I can deal with that, this is worse, it’s bad.” no matter how hard he rubbed the scent stayed, no stronger and no lesser. The longer the scent lingered the more agitated the wolf got, pacing a groove in the back of Zack’s mind, whining, running in worried circles. Matt caught his head, pulling it away from his shoulder and tracing his fingers down his jaw. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, puppy.” he murmured, “calm down. What do you smell?”

            “I-I don’t know. Dust, hot dust, like that smell when you turn on the car’s heat for the first time.” the words tumbled out, his heart thudded in his chest loud enough for Matt to hear. His wolf was half mad with worry; he could feel it running in meaningless circles unable to do anything about the scent, fear trickled in. What if the scent didn’t go away? What would happen to Matt if the scent didn’t go away?

            “Zack!” Matt shook his shoulders a little, “focus, puppy. I won’t let anything hurt you.” in the dark twilight Matt’s eyes reflected bright gold in the shadows. “Calm down, please. You’ll have us both freaking out if you don’t.” warm lips pressed against the corner of his mouth and Zack turned his head to them. Matt kissed him until his heart slowed and his wolf settled, exhausted, in the back of his mind again. “I’m all right.” He said but didn’t pull away when Matt’s lips found his again.

            “We need to check Brian and Johnny.” Matt whispered, full dark in the backyard the moon’s full face polished everything silver. Zack wrapped his arms around his mate’s neck and breathed his wild scent. “Sleep outside tonight?” he asked against the warm skin of his shoulder. Matt’s arms tightened around him and he nodded before moving his hands to Zack’s hips and then dropping them so the small wolf could turn to the house.

            “Does Jimmy need more water?” Zack asked staring at the dark basement door. Matt chewed his lip a moment and nodded, “I’ll get it, check on the other two.” He made his way to the sink and began filling the same bowl with lukewarm water. Zack headed upstairs, crunching over plaster pieces.

            “Puppy?” Zack called softly stepping into the room, Johnny made a small sound and Zack followed the noise to the pair. Johnny’s sleepy brown eyes reflected pale yellow in the moon. Brian was still tucked against him but his face was no longer troubled. Zack pushed a few soft strands off his face and watched his shoulder rise and fall with slow breaths. “We’ll be in the backyard, puppy.” He whispered to Johnny, he pressed a kiss to his forehead and Johnny nodded before scrunching into a ball again and drifting into sleep.

            Downstairs Matt was again leaning against the basement door breathing deep. His eyes opened when Zack came down but his wolf refused to let him approach his mate. Matt pushed away from the door when Zack growled, “relax, angel. He’ll save your life some day.” Matt chuckled. After he set the bowl in the sink he headed for the back door and Zack followed him out into the cleaner night air.

“Brian and Johnny sleeping well?” Matt asked sprawling out in the grass and rubbing his shoulders on the greenery to dispel the lingering scent of sickness. Zack lay next to him and pressed his nose against his neck, “Brian’s more peaceful and Johnny hasn’t moved.” He whispered savoring the grassy and earthy scent strongest on Matt’s neck. “Is Jimmy…what are we going to do with him?” Zack asked turning his head enough to stare into the dark house. Matt was quiet for a moment, “he didn’t lunge when I brought him water. I don’t know if that’s because he’s dehydrated or if the sickness is killing him or if he’s actually getting better. We’ll know for sure in the next couple of days.” He sighed. Zack wrapped an arm over Matt’s chest and pressed close to him, exhaustion weighed on him. “I just want everyone better.” He whispered closing his eyes. Matt’s warm hand stroked down his spine, “I know, angel. I know.”

*~*~*

            Brian struggled from sleep, his dreams unsettling mixtures of past and present. Johnny’s scent of body wash and warm skin was heavy in his nose, the little wolf shifted in his sleep and Brian made out the outline of his body in the moonlight. Face too pale under her silvery glow he wrapped an arm around the little wolf’s waist and held him close. A headache raged behind his eyes, his stomach unsettled and his wolf staggered around his consciousness like a drunk. Closing his eyes again he breathed Johnny’s familiar scent until the pressure in his head subsided enough for him to move. Muscles and joints stiff he felt every one of his two thousand years. Johnny fidgeted in his sleep, brow furrowing to an unpleasant mask and he started to wake up. Brian knelt next to him again and did his best to soothe him into dreams again. The wolf lapsed back into sleep but the troubled expression didn’t leave. He could call Zack to come get him. Why was Johnny at his house anyway? He shook his head, he probably wanted to be closer to his mate. Getting to his feet again he shucked his clothes and shifted to his more familiar body and trotted out of the room sidestepping plaster and Matthias’ mother’s jewelry box. He couldn’t believe that thing was still intact after all these years. The leather had been replaced a time or two but the wood itself hardly had a scratch on it. They really didn’t make things like they used to.

            Downstairs the odor of sickness was strong and his wolf tried to freeze his body, tried to make him turn around. He battered the animal aside and headed to the kitchen. He was starving, but he was pretty sure he’d be hunting tonight, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to the store. Shifting back to human he pulled the fridge open and froze. He closed the door and stared at the claw marks down the front, spinning around holes gaped at him from all the walls. Plaster littered the floor, there was a flagstone lying in the middle of the floor and a breeze blew in from the ragged hole in the sliding door. Pressing his back against the refrigerator to keep upright Brian took in the damage and the heavy smell of sickness. Jimmy was loose. He had slipped his shackles somehow and Johnny was upstairs alone. The wolf didn’t want him to cross in front of the basement door again and if he could have he would’ve kicked the damn thing. Their puppy was upstairs asleep, oblivious to the danger. He ran past the door and up the stairs again crunching sharp bits of plaster under his feet. The upstairs hallway was a mess as well, why hadn’t he noticed? He ran into his bedroom and froze, the room was no different than the downstairs. Johnny curled in the mess sound asleep. He must have gotten Jimmy out, through the sliding glass door, that meant he was out in the world again. He checked the upstairs twice over to make sure the massive wolf wasn’t hiding in the dark and then went downstairs and did the same thing. Jimmy wasn’t in the house. He ran upstairs again and pulled his cell from his pants before going downstairs again.

            Neither Matt nor Zack picked up on their cells or at home. Cursing in Greek he dropped the phone on the counter and shifted back to wolf, the easiest way to find them would be to follow Jimmy’s scent. How long had he been asleep? Night air made it easier to track because the dew amplified the trail but if Jimmy had gotten out too long ago he was SOL until he could get a hold of one of his alphas. He stepped through the hole into the backyard and came up short. Why were Matt and Zack in his backyard, sleeping no less, when there was a mad wolf on the loose? He sniffed the air, no trace of Jimmy lingered. Maybe they had caught him again. That had to be it, Jimmy had gotten loose and they’d rounded him up again, Matt would never sleep outside with a rabid wolf running loose, not with Zack. The panic fluttering in his chest subsided. Crisis had been averted, he was hoping the stress of having a rabid wolf loose in the house hadn’t made him faint, he’d never forgive himself. Shaking his coat to dislodge the lingering doubts he had he padded past the sleeping pair and then took a running leap at the high stone wall. His muscles were sore and instead of landing on top of the wall as he usually did he had to scrabble up the side and then drop down with a groan on stiff forelegs. Jimmy had given him one hell of a run. Shaking himself again he stretched his legs out and headed for his favorite stretch of beach.

*~*~*

            Zack woke up when Brian’s muddled scent blew past followed by the sharp click of claws on stone. Matt didn’t stir next to him and Zack untangled himself before stripping down and shifting. If Brian was still out of his mind it would be dangerous for him running around. The busy roads were only a mile away, a wolf could run that in minutes. He rested his head on Matt’s shoulder for a second and then sized up the stone wall. He was going to need speed or, he looked over his shoulder, he could go out the gate like a sane person. The gate was a foot shorter than the rest of the wall and he cleared it easily and darted around the perimeter to find Brian’s scent.

            Brian wasn’t full out running but his pace was quick enough to get Zack’s muscles loose and his blood up. There was nothing like running through the trees under the first night of the full moon. He started to slow as they reached the edge of their territory but Brian’s scent went right past the scent marker and he began to worry again. Where was Brian going? There was a half mile buffer zone between their pack and the Los Angeles pack for the true wolves that roamed here but there was no reason for Brian to be in the buffer zone and if he wandered into the LA territory they were going to have some explaining to do. Brian’s trail turned though, running parallel to their territory and Zack began to breathe easier.

            After a few more miles he could hear the rhythmic crash of waves and began to slow, why would Brian come all the way out here for the beach? His house was only a mile away from sand and surf but he’d gone at least twenty out of the way. Zack slowed to a trot and stopped when a long low howl rose up. The note died away and another followed, the local wolf pack added backing vocals to the sad song. Zack started forward again, what was wrong with their beta? Did he still miss Rai? Creeping to the edge of the bushes he lay on his belly watching the black wolf sing. He didn’t want Brian to be so upset but if he was still a thousand years back he wouldn’t recognize Zack and could take a helpful advance as a sign of aggression.

Torn and wishing he had woken Matt he almost jumped out of his hiding place when another wolf joined Brian’s voice. Brian’s note cut off abruptly equally surprised by the newcomer, he turned down the beach and Zack stuck his muzzle further from the bushes to see who was coming. A misty form stepped out of the bushes, tail low and wagging, ears forward. Brian watched the smaller wolf approach ears and tail erect but more in question and curiosity than a signal of dominance. The ocean breeze blew a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, and a very distinct female scent to him. His ears pricked forward, twice as interested now. This wasn’t a true wolf, but another of their kind. What was she doing in the buffer zone and why had she answered Brian’s lament?

The she-wolf shifted to human and after a pause Brian did the same. The two were silent, Brian’s head cocked to the side and the female staring right back. “I missed your song, I was afraid something had happened to you.” The female said. Waves almost covered her voice but what little of it drifted to Zack was a pleasant flute-like tone.

“I didn’t realize I had an audience.” Brian countered. Zack rolled his eyes, Brian was close enough to normal he didn’t need a babysitter. Hopefully he would figure out on his own the female’s interest. Backing out of the bushes quiet as he came he headed back to Matt.

*~*~*

            Brian stared at the female, wary but intrigued. It wasn’t often a wolf so young had the balls to approach another of their kind, much less one as old as he. Dropping his hard-ass act he introduced himself and tried to breathe in her scent again. He’d caught a whiff of it but not enough to make a judgment. The girl pushed her long dark hair over her shoulder, moonlight washed her caramel skin silver and her eyes reflected white. “I’m Terasi.” She took a couple cautious steps forward and Brian took one to her to lessen her anxiety. Gaining more confidence she continued forward until they were only a foot apart. Closer now, he could see the slate gray of her eyes, brighter in moonlight. “Terasi?” he murmured. Her face scrunched into displeasure, “weird I know.” She sighed. Brian shook his head, “it’s derived from the Greek teras, it means wonderful, amazing.” He said softly. The displeased look dropped from her face, “really? No one’s ever told me that.” The clean scent of wind and ocean was stronger with her closer and fleetingly he wondered if his scent was as pleasant.

            “I really did miss your song, it’s so sad, but it’s become part of the night.” She said. Brian looked away from her gray eyes at the moon, “I had pack duties to tend to.” Not really a lie, Jimmy was pack and he did need to be taken care of. Terasi’s scent changed and she stepped back, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you ranked.” She whispered. Brian blinked in surprise and then shook it off. As far as packs went theirs was as hippie-liberal as it got. Anyone could look Matt or Zack in the eye and tell them if they had a stupid idea, disagree, interact as normal humans. Most packs valued the rank and file of their wolf sides and there could be punishment for stepping on the toes of superiors. “It’s fine, Terasi, rank has never mattered to me.” He said. Terasi raised her head again but there was a formality around her and he wished he had kept his mouth shut. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, please, forget I said it.” Her eyes glimmered as she appraised him again, eye’s tracing the demons clawing up his arm. “You’re a lot different from my pack.” She said. Brian’s lips quirked into a humorless smile, “we’re different from most packs.” He thought of Zack’s uncanny nose and saint-like compassion. Their sweet alpha was a breed apart from every other wolf he had met.

            Over the rush of waves a searching howl rose through the night. Terasi scowled and looked over her shoulder, “they freak if I’m gone more than ten minutes.” She shook her hair back and when she looked at him again her eyes glowed silver, “will you be here tomorrow night?”

            “Yes. I will, close to midnight.” He said, ducking his head in a bow. Terasi smiled, “that is so cliché.” And then a mist grey wolf was loping away from him howling an answer to the voices that called. Brian watched her go, waited until the voices faded and then looked at the moon again. “Bitch, you’ve dragged me through hell. Don’t take this from me.” He whispered. She stared down at him unblinking. Waves came in, wrapping around his ankles and tugging him to sea. He looked down the beach again where the she-wolf had disappeared and a smile touched his lips, the dull ache in his chest receding.

*~*~*

            Johnny pounced on Zack the next morning in a panic, “he’s gone, Zacky. He’s gone, I didn’t feel him leave.” He yelped before the alpha was properly awake. Matt sat up, pulling Zack up with him, “puppy, what are you talking about?” Matt asked rolling his neck. Fear seeped from Johnny as he fidgeted in the grass in front of them. “Brian, Brian’s gone. I don’t know when he left, I checked the house. I swear I didn’t feel him get up.” were he in his wolf form he would have been chasing his tail and tearing at his fur. Matt got to his feet inhaling the dew heavy air.

            “Both of you, relax. I know where he is, I followed him. He’s fine again Matthias.”

            “Who’s fine again?” Brian asked slipping through the gate. Leaves and burrs clung to his short hair and he began combing his fingers through the wild mess. Matt stared at the other wolf hardly breathing, “Elijah?” he whispered. Brian’s face fell into an annoyed scowl, “you know I don’t like that name.” his aloof expression turned into surprise and a yelp when Matt tackled him into a hug.

            “Jimmy isn’t the only mad dog here, what the hell are you doing? Get off, gods, will you act your age!” he snapped trying to get out of the embrace. Zack snickered and Johnny pressed against his side with a sigh of relief. “I was terrified when I couldn’t find him, PCH is only a couple miles away.” He whispered. Zack hugged the little wolf close, “sorry puppy, I would have told you, but I thought he’d be back before now.” Johnny nodded and crossed an arm over his stomach when growled. Zack snickered and called to his mate, “we need to feed our puppy.”

            Matt finally released the black wolf but didn’t move too far from his side. Synyster shook himself and retreated to his wolf form; ears back, tail stiff behind him, and fur bristling. Despite the warning signs Zack walked over and stroked the top of his head, “we’ve been worried, Brian.” he said to mollify the cranky wolf. Brian looked up and tilted his head to the side before chewing an itch on his paw. Johnny settled in the grass next to him and Synyster’s irritation faded. Returning to his human form, he draped an arm around Johnny and the little wolf curled against him, rubbing his cheek against his shoulder.

            “How do you feel, Eli—Brian?” Matt asked. Brian scowled up at him, “is that before or after you accosted me?” Johnny snorted and closed his eyes. Matt didn’t share his amusement, “I’m serious Brian, do you know what year it is?”

            “A roving mad dog isn’t going to terrify out of my senses, Matthias.” He snapped back. Matt’s shoulders went back, “what day is it?” he asked. Brian stared at him and then scowled, “Wednesday.” He rubbed his temple absently.

            “Saturday.” Matt said. Brian rested his head on Johnny’s and closed his eyes, “what’s happening Saturday? You know I hate your stupid games.” He sighed.

            “Today is Saturday, Brian. You’ve been lost in time for four days.” Matt said quietly. Sharp, walnut brown eyes focused on the alpha and when Johnny sat up nervously he got to his feet and stared hard at the shattered sliding door and the pockmarked walls beyond. Flinching, he rubbed his temple again and shook his head. “I don’t remember.” He finally whispered still holding his head. Matt came up behind him and pulled him against his chest, “probably for the best.” He murmured. Brian shivered as he continued to stare at the destruction, his expression torn between repulsion and fear. Zack walked over and stood next to him, “I’ll take Johnny home and we’ll bring back something to eat.” He said to Matt. The other alpha nodded and didn’t release the quiet black wolf, “will you take it back?” Matt asked softly. Zack nodded and pressed a kiss to his cheek and one to Brian’s shoulder. “Come on, puppy.” He called. Johnny got up and padded after Zack into the house.

            “Will he be okay?” Johnny whispered as they went upstairs, “he was fine until we told him what happened and now he’s being weird again.” His nervous energy was making Zack’s wolf twitchy. “I think he would have been more upset if we had kept it from him, and if we hadn’t asked we couldn’t know one hundred percent if he was okay. He could have been back two years still or something.” He answered walking in to the bedroom and picking up the chest with gentle hands. Johnny checked for the keys and they headed downstairs again, “I hope he’s okay, I’ve never seen a wolf like that.” His voice was thin and Zack looked over his shoulder at his pale face. “He’s all right, Johnny. You’ll be fine, too.” He said gently. Johnny blinked at him sheepishly, “kinda selfish to be worried about myself.” He said, opening the front door. Zack shook his head, “no, it’s human.” He looked down at the ancient box cradled in his arms, “no matter how old we get, Johnny, we’re still human.” Sunlight hit the top of the chest revealing hairline scratches and the grain of the wood, cracks in the leather and tarnish on the studs.

            “I can’t believe he still has all this, I had no idea.” Zack murmured when they were on the road. Johnny took one hand off the wheel and relaxed back in the seat, “wolves always keep something or other from their human lives.” He said, “I just didn’t think I’d actually see Roman Empire coin and jewelry outside of a museum.” Zack looked at him confused, “wolves always keep something? What are you talking about?” he hadn’t heard of that before. Johnny looked at him a second before focusing on the road again, “yeah, every wolf in my home pack had some little relic. It’s to remind us where we’re from or for bragging rights. If Matt wasn’t such a good guy he could flaunt that box every chance he got and put the fear of gods into some wolves that think they’re old at eight hundred years.” He smiled briefly but Zack’s face stayed troubled, “you have something, then?” he asked in a quiet voice. Johnny nodded, “a few of my mother’s recipes. She made the best herb bread.” He said drifting in thoughts. Zack stared down at the box.

            “I can’t believe I used to have them all memorized.” He laughed humorlessly, “I thought it was stupid when my alpha told me to do it, I never thought I’d forget them.” He shook his head with a heavy sigh, “stupid little wolf.” He muttered, “I should have written more down, I knew almost all of them but I only did enough to appease him, eight or nine. I probably knew close to two dozen.” He said louder, the melancholy in his voice pulled Zack out of his thoughts, Johnny had an arm propped on the window edge and held his head. His dark eyes focused on the road but not really seeing it. Zack thought about his own mother’s cooking, “my mother used to make venison stew,” he said softly, “that was her specialty but she could make dirt taste good.” He said it as a joke, but dim memories of hard times told him he wasn’t far off. Johnny smiled briefly, “mine too. What did you bring?” he asked shaking off his memories. Zack stared down at the box again, “nothing.” Why hadn’t Matt told him to grab something? They could have gone back after his change, instead they headed as far from his village as they could. Leather creaked as Johnny shifted, “nothing? You don’t have anything?” the high distressed notes in his voice made Zack raise his head again. “No, Matt never said anything and…I didn’t think about it. I guess I thought I’d always have memories.” The chest in his lap began to weigh more and more as he thought. Why hadn’t he thought to take anything, he was so sentimental it was out of character for him to walk away without taking something. He looked out the window at the trees blurring by, “puppy love, I guess.” He said softly. Johnny was still agitated, the twitchy energy and sharp odor of grief filled the car. Zack shook himself and looked at the puppy, “relax, Johnny. You didn’t do anything.” He said softly. Johnny made a small sound and his expression stayed stricken. “I could have helped, you weren’t old when you found me you would have remembered it. We could have written down your mother’s recipe.”

            “It’s all right, puppy.” Zack whispered. It actually lessoned the sting knowing Johnny cared so much about his absent history. “I’m sure I can remember something, once Jimmy’s better we’ll write it down then.” He said. Johnny didn’t look appeased but nodded.

            They pulled up to the house and Zack stashed the box on the top shelf in front of the safe, Matt could put it back when he got home, right now though, his stomach was monopolizing his attention. He hopped off the chair and went downstairs where Johnny was making them some sandwiches.

            “You guys are seriously low on food.” The puppy said when he walked into the kitchen. Zack opened the fridge, “Aw, damn. I forgot we had to go to the store.” He closed the door again and felt for his wallet, “let’s scarf these down and then we can go to the store and grab stuff for Matt and Brian.”

            While grocery stores were an incredible achievement, the indignity of shoving a cart around to stuff with crap was just enough to keep it from being anything more than a great convenience.

            “I hate grocery shopping.” Johnny muttered, sidestepping a soccer mom weighing the pros and cons of two types of stuffing. “I don’t miss going out in the snow to search for game for hours on end, but gods, I just feel lazy.” He said when they turned down the next empty aisle. Zack nodded, “there’s nothing like a spring hunt.” He agreed grabbing a box of minute rice. He stared at the cardboard and shook his head, “maybe we’re just old-fashioned.” He smiled when Johnny giggled, the little wolf seemed to be dwelling on their car conversation and Zack was wishing he hadn’t opened his mouth or at least lied. There was no reason for Johnny to be so upset and he didn’t want him worrying over something so little when his mate was tied up in Brian’s basement fighting for survival.

            “Meat counter is the worst.” Johnny whispered to him. Zack perused the ground chuck and fat heavy logs of pork roast, “I do miss open fire roasting.” He said fondly. He shook his head, “couple of curmudgeons, that’s all we are.” He said loud enough the woman next to him glanced up and Johnny stifled a laugh. Selecting a package of hamburger his nose told him was the best, inspiration hit him like one of Zeus’ bolts. “We should do a cookout.” He said excitedly, dropping the package into the cart. Johnny looked up at him, “a cookout? We always do cookouts, why are you so excited?” he started to laugh again and Zack ruffled his hair. Johnny swatted at him and Zack dodged before retaliating with a poke. Johnny yelped and tried to poke him back. A man walking by with a basket stared at them as he passed and the game ended with Zack faking an adult composure. Once the man was past they started laughing again and headed down another aisle.

            “What I was saying, dickweed, until you interrupted,” he dodged Johnny’s poke, “is that we should do a real cookout this summer.” He poked the little wolf between the shoulders and blocked his swat with a box of popcorn. Johnny cocked his head to the side, interest sparking in his eyes, “like we used to, you know, to survive?” he giggled and caught the can of soup Zack chucked at him. “Are we already old enough to be reliving the “glory days.”” He said tossing the can back. Zack shrugged, “well, since you don’t want to—”

            “I didn’t say that.” Johnny interrupted bouncing a bag of bagels off Zack’s chest into the cart.

            “Wait ‘til we get to the produce, you’re getting a tomato to the face.” Zack said grabbing raisins. Johnny scurried to the end of the aisle and disappeared around the corner laughing.

*~*~*

            “Did you get lost?” Matt asked when they pulled up. His hands and clothes were covered in plaster dust and sweat amplified his natural scent, covering the light dusting of cologne. Zack pulled a couple grocery bags out of the car, “we had to go to the store.” He said handing the plastic to his mate, “how’s Brian?” he asked quieter.

            “Brian, is fine. I am not some senile dog, I can hear you talking about me.” Brian yelled from the porch. Zack raised an eyebrow, “only a senile dog would bite the hand that feeds it.” Zack retorted. Brian’s annoyed expression lifted and he sniffed the wind with interest. Johnny hopped up the steps and ran past him laughing before he could paw through the bag. Brian scowled and sat on the railing waiting for Matt and Zack to approach with their goodies. Matt handed him a bag and he pulled out beef tips, “my oven has a hole in it.” He said waving the package. Zack snagged the package, “Johnny and I are playing with our food tonight.” He said. Johnny came to the doorway and nodded in agreement. Brian rolled his eyes, “puppies.” He muttered. “You better find all the pieces, I don’t want to smell rotting meat for the next week.” He yelled as the puppies began working out the details of their hide-n-find game.

*~*~*

            The pack curled around him, probably the first night of a peaceful sleep any of them had had in days. Brian hesitated getting up, Johnny’s head rested on his chest, his boyish face pale in the moonlight and untroubled. Zack’s back pressed against his side and Matt held his mate close enough his breath faintly touched his shoulder. He was warm and his belly was full but he had promised Terasi he would show and he needed to see her again. She had been in his thoughts all day, he had watched the sun, checked his watch all day waiting for moonrise and then for his pack to drift asleep. Running a hand up and down Johnny’s back he tried to work out how to get up without waking all of them. He didn’t need their questions right now, he just needed out of the house.

            Turning so he was facing away from Zack he eased Johnny’s head off his chest, quietly shushing him back to sleep when he started to wake. Really, Zack was the only one he was concerned about; Johnny passed off rare moments of wakefulness as dream, Matt slept like the dead, he had slept through a firefight on the western front for gods’ sakes. Zack though, whether his wolf was just twitchy or it was residual from growing up with an abusive drunkard, woke easily and coherently. If he’d had more of Matt’s personality, the boy would have been a born warrior, but his sweet nature kept him out of fights and while that had annoyed Brian to no end a couple hundred years ago he was glad for it. Sometimes not even Matt could pick up on his mood but Zack did, he had been spending more time with him the last couple of weeks. Nothing he said or did indicated he knew what exactly was wrong with Brian but he had picked up on something and guessed correctly the wolf needed companionship.

            Johnny curled into a tight ball, which made it easier to move him against Zack’s back. That at least would trick the wolf for an hour or two. He would be back in the morning with an excuse. Hoping his joints would pop or crack he slowly stood and stripped his clothes off, folding them on the floor to appease the worry bound to happen when they found him missing. Shifting to wolf he headed for the door.

            He and Matt had picked up the plaster mess, but the entire house was going to need to be re-drywalled. He didn’t want to do it, but there was no reason to be hanging out in a house filled with gaping holes, especially if he wanted to show Terasi around. He shook his head, leave it to him to jump headlong into an unknown future. Gods, after two thousand years you’d think he had learned something. But the swell of excitement burning through him didn’t pay any attention to rational thought.

            The sliding door and appliances needed to be fixed sometime in the next week, he may not use the house that often but he didn’t want the natural world taking up residence and he did enjoy cooking his food on occasion. Maybe he’d put in a doggy door when the glass was replaced, the hole was quite convenient.

            “Brian.” Zack called softly, he froze, one paw up to go through the hole. He looked over his shoulder, how the hell had he known? Johnny must have jerked in his sleep or his scent changed in some little way when he shifted. He stared up at the alpha trying to decide if Terasi was worth a direct disorder.

            “Be back before sunrise if you don’t want Matt and Johnny on your case.” He whispered, “and be careful.” and then as silently as he appeared he faded into the shadows again. He continued staring into the darkness. He knew something. He knew this wasn’t any midnight run, but he wasn’t going to wake up the pack and question him. Brian unthawed and slipped into the night hoping the run to the beach would wipe away any lingering concerns about his alpha’s clairvoyant tendencies.

*~*~*

A/N: I do apologize for the lengthy wait. The next two chapters are going to be close in length to this one, so it will be another couple weeks probably before the next one is up. School is out though, so it won’t be a month long wait. Thank you, thank you for continuing to read and review, much love and many hugs <3