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Two weeks later, after I'd spent more time than I cared to imagine playing games and doing remote work for the pride on my laptop I heard my father stirring, though he'd been stirring for the better part of the last three days I knew that this time he was truly waking up.

"Morning dad how are you feeling?" I asked him, stepping away from the computer.

"Hungry, and weak as a kitten Mark." Came his acerbic response, though he did sound every single one of his 72 years old.

Though he sounded as old as he was, he didn't quite look it anymore. His beard which was something of a hallmark for him, thankfully was still present, though the roots weren't white, instead they were showing up a rich chestnut brown in colour and the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth weren't as obvious as they'd been before.

I was glad that he was up and about, since that meant that I could now leave the room, I'd gotten several disturbing reports in my custom email inbox relating to some disturbing incidents east of McBride BC. The pack in the area had reported that two of their enforcers had gone missing, under mysterious circumstances and that they were investigating.

If my suspicions were correct then soon I wouldn't be able to put off the encounter between myself and Mikel much longer, though I was now a lot more confident in my ability to defeat him, no matter what form he took.

"Mark is there something the matter?" My father asked as I helped him to his feet.

I shook my head slightly, "Nothing that you have to worry about dad, though I would advise you to stay near the houses of the Pride for the next little while."

"Why is that Mark?" He asked, and I could sense his concern.

"Because, dad there is a Class 1 Rogue in the region and I know that he only has one goal in mind, though to say that he has much of a mind is giving him more credit than he is probably due."

Dad looked a bit concerned and voiced that concern quickly, "Do you need any help with that Mark?"

"No dad, in your present condition you'd do little more than end up being somebody that I would have to protect." I told him, "Until your turn is complete in a few months you'd only prove to be a liability on the field dad, the same is true for mom as well, though I don't think she will be a warrior. I see her as a healer."

Dad nodded, though I could tell that he wasn't comfortable about the thought of not being permitted to come with. "I hope you will be okay out there Mark."

"Dad I will have Anna at my back, and there will also be a wolf from the pack that saved my life when I was first attacked by this rogue." I informed him as he got dressed, "Now let's get downstairs and get some food into you before you start looking to eat something that isn't edible."

He looked at and followed my lead as we headed down to the dining hall, I'd only stepped into the room when a familiar youngster tackled my legs and shouted in her high-pitched voice, "Kitty papa!"

I smiled bending down to pick her up and I laughed when I saw Anna looking at me with her head cocked. "Morning love, morning Katy-pup." I said with a smile, "I've missed you for the last little while."

Katy hugged me as tightly as she could and cuddled up with a happy smile and I could tell that the past two weeks of not seeing me had been a bit hard for my pup to handle.

"Morning dad," I heard as my other cub made his presence known by giving me a tight hug.

"Morning Sergey," I replied returning his hug with my free arm and looked over my own family with a smile.

These people were the reason I was here at the Pride, not out there as somebody to be hunted down like an animal.

After eating breakfast with my family, I let my dad go to spend some time with Yevgeny while I took some time to spend some time outside in the bitterly cold February morning with my family. We ended playing in the snow, and I watched as both Katy and Sergey chased some of the ever-present bunnies around, though the rabbits were more than capable of giving the two kids the slip. Sergey was a better hunter, though considering the fact that he was twelve years older might have had something to do with it. Regardless I knew that they weren't chasing the bunnies because they were hungry, instead it was simply a form of play for them and their animal sides.

When I decided to bring the session to a close I led them inside and got them to shift before getting dressed and heading upstairs for a much-needed nap. "Mark, at least this morning we don't have to worry about Katy having a messy bottom," Anna said to me, as I got her dressed.

"Please Anna, I don't need to be reminded every time that she does that in her diapers." I told her, releasing my pup before getting dressed myself.

"Mark, I didn't enjoy that part, though as you pointed out her absolute trust when you are doing that chore is a bit charming." She reminded me.

I gave Katy a gentle hug while I glared at my mate a bit. "Anna I too would like her to be beyond the point where I have to worry about these kind of things, but I don't want to hurt her by pushing too hard to make her train before she is ready."

Anna sighed a bit and shook her head. "I know Mark, but perhaps you do have to push her a little bit."

"I will, when the time is right Anna. Before I will consider pushing her I want to make sure that the one responsible for the deaths of her parents has paid the price for all of the hurt that he's caused." I replied firmly. "Once this chapter in our shared past is closed then perhaps we can start getting her to move forwards."

Anna nodded slightly and gently bapped our son on the shoulder, since he'd only put on his shorts. "Come on hurry up slowpoke. Lunch won't wait for you too long."

"Sorry mom," Came Sergey's response before he completely blindsided my mate by hugging her tightly.

After lunch, I made time to go to the Pride House to bring myself up to speed on the current situation in the Pride. "Afternoon Mark how is your father doing?" Olaf asked me as I entered his office.

"He's doing well sir, eating like a starved cub, but otherwise fine." I answered as I sat down in a chair in front of his desk. "I received notice that McBride pack lost two of their Border Enforcers recently."

Olaf nodded, "What do you think is the cause Mark?" He asked me, though in his eyes I could tell that he'd already guessed what I was going to say.

"Sir, I think we both know who it is and where he's headed. If you are asking me for my personal recommendation I would have to say that I'd have the Pride stand to a higher state of alert and have the majority of our cats stay close to a place where they can take shelter in the event of an attack."

Olaf nodded, "You have a good understanding of what our job is Mark, and I agree with you, though my mate doesn't quite understand the gravity of the situation."

"Sir, if my reading is correct this is one of those situations where the Guardian can take precedence because this has to do with the safety of the Pride and its members." I reminded him, "I had a lot of time to read up on the rules and laws dealing with situations like this while my father was ill with the first part of the Turning."

"It appears that you've been paying attention." Olaf mused, "In this case I am going to agree with you." At that point I heard Olaf stretch out with his mind, *Everyone this is the Guardian, we are going to a Yellow Level Alert. I want all non-combat cats to remain close to a sheltered location. Protectors I want you to be alert and armed at all times. I repeat we are on a Yellow Level Alert, Section Leaders Report to my office as soon as you are available.*

As soon as he finished speaking I leaned back in the chair I was seated in. "Now sir how are we going to deal with him? Since I can't ask wolves to deal with a rogue who is one of our own."

"If you want Shanna and I can..." Olaf started to say.

I growled in anger, "I will deal with it sir, personally, if you permit it. However, before we do anything of that sort I need to be sure that my own mother is doing okay."

Olaf looked at me and then after a moment he nodded, "You are ready, that much I can tell. But, I have to warn you that as the person who turned you he will have a powerful mental draw on you."

I nodded, "I feel that my cat and I can resist it, and perhaps even do something to break what he holds over us." I told him. "We are stronger and more dominant that he is, my cat and I both know that, and we will be ready."

"You are aware that he will probably come at you in Were form?" Olaf asked with barely a pause.

"I am aware of that sir, but you've showed me a few techniques that should work against him even though I cannot become a Were yet, once he's dead then we shall see how long it takes for me to gain the ability to take a Were-Form of my own." I told him, and I could feel my cat growling in anticipation of the time when we could merge and become one being, at least for a time.

"I can see that now my young friend, and I do hope that you are ready. I will try and contact the Packs out that direction and see if they can provide any sort of assistance along the way. This matter needs to come to a swift conclusion." Olaf told me shaking his head. "There was a time when Mikel was a valued member of the Pride, back before the Second World War. His Uncle died fighting the Soviets in the area around St Petersburg Russia though he only got that information in 1946."

I looked up when I heard that and something in what Olaf was telling me resonated and a memory came to the front of my mind from my cat, the bitter cold of a Russian winter, the death, the despair, the misery of war. "Sir, I don't know how I know this but that awful place still resonates in my cat, he was there, he saw such things as you'd never want to see."

Olaf looked sombre for the moment, "When Viktor Berekov left in 1941 we all wondered where he'd gone, but we also knew that he wouldn't be back. All we got back was a death notification, in '46 and it only mentioned his unit, and where he died."

"What was his unit sir? I'd like to know." I asked, I wanted to verify with my cat some information, though I had a vague sense that I had been where Viktor had gone, to think that my cat was related to the family that had caused me so much trouble.

"He was a Hauptman in the 743rd Panzerjager-Abteilung, at least that is what the information I had led me to believe. He fought against the Reds, much as he did prior to our pride coming here. Indeed, that is why, I believe, he went to Germany in '41." Olaf answered my question with honesty and I could sense a slight shiver from my cat, and an image crossed my mind. Standing in the bitter cold of a Russian winter trying to sight a target in the distance through a pair of binocular telescopes that were almost iced over in the open superstructure of a Panzerjager Marder III Ausf H.

"Sir, he died fighting those who stole his home from him, he died defending his brothers in arms." I told Olaf softly. "The winter of '43 was brutal, but the Reds were even more brutal." I said with my head still down. "They didn't like taking prisoners, because of the atrocities that had been visited on their friends and family. They treated German PoWs badly, and to find a Russian fighting against them, his fate would have been worse than death."

Olaf nodded slowly, "I remember feeling that distant bond breaking and feeling sad for all members of that house to lose such a promising cat. He was the best of that house and to lose him to war, such a tragedy."

I nodded, and I felt an echo of the pain he felt at the distant memory of the loss of such a healthy and vibrant member of the Pride. "Sir I will do my best to stay alive, and I will treat this knowledge of the fate of your Pridemate with the honour and dignity that he deserves. No person should die so far from home like he did." In that moment, I felt a flash of a memory... this memory ended suddenly and sharply, and I knew that was how Viktor had died, at least he hadn't suffered.

Olaf nodded and then stood up and walked over, giving me a gentle hug before he reached into his desk and pulled out two items, one was an ancient manila envelope, and the other was a box. He handed me both and nodded for me to open the envelope first.

When I did and dumped the contents into my hand I was surprised to see four awards, one was a Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, the next was a Tank Battle Badge in Silver, the third award was a Tank Destruction Badge in Gold, and the final award was a Wound Badge in Silver.

Olaf looked at the awards and shuddered slightly at the insignia on them, the swastika which was a mark of Nazi Germany during that horrible war.

"Sir, I know that they did terrible things, but I think the Viktor was proud of these honours, which he earned by fighting with honour till the day of his death." I told him holding the knight's cross up by the ribbon. "To earn this award, you had to do something of special note. The Commonwealth equivalent medal is the Victoria Cross."

"I knew Viktor, and I would agree, he would never act without honour and consideration for those that served under him or those who faced him in combat." Olaf commented as I opened the box.

Inside the box, was something that I knew that I would treasure, it glimmered darkly from the box and I gently pulled it out and pulled the toggle up and to the rear. It was, a Parabellum P-08 pistol, more popularly known as the Luger after it's designer Georg Luger. After checking the weapon, for safety I put it down once more in the box and closed the lid.

"Now Mark you should head home and put those away, though I do know that you will probably display the medals in your office, you strike me as that sort of person." Olaf grumbled before turning back to his computer, growling about the machine, though he did have one of the few new machines that I'd recently purchased for the Pride through one of Adam's contacts.

"Very well sir, and yes, my cat and I want to show our achievements, even if it wasn't in this life." I told him as I stood and headed for the door to leave so that he could get back to his work on the computer.

Two days later when I was having breakfast I smiled when I looked up and saw my father stand and walk over to where Reginald was guiding my mother through the door. I quickly joined my father and helped her to a table before Sergey came over with a plate that was groaning with food. "Mom eat, please." I told her as I sat down beside her and watched as she began to eat.

After a few minutes of eating she looked over at me and I could already see the changes that becoming a Were were having on her. Subtle things like the disappearance of some of the wrinkles around her eyes, and the darkening of the roots of her grey hair. "Mark, that was probably the worst thing I've ever had to endure." She told me before having a sip of her orange juice.

Dad nodded in agreement, "You'll get no argument from me on that point." And I also concurred with their assessment.

"Mom I will agree with you on that point. Having that much pain inflicted on our bodies is a horrible thing, but at least you and dad asked for it. I wasn't given that choice, though if I had I probably would have jumped at the chance." I told both of them, pausing for a moment to softly rub my left arm. However, once you meet your cats I think that you will find that it makes it all worth the pain. I would never again want to live without my cat, I would feel hollow without him inside of me."

Mom nodded, and I could almost feel her cat inside impatiently wanting out. "Mark I am going to have to get used to the idea of sharing my mind with something wild such a tiger."

I laughed softly, "Mom, I don't really think that you are going to find it a huge difference from the way things are now, if anything you will feel more complete when she wakes up, though I don't think she will wait long for that time to come."

"What do you mean Mark?" Dad asked me as he watched mom eat.

"What I mean by that dad is that since she's already half-Were I don't think she will take that long at all before she starts to hear her cat" I closed my eyes and used my senses on my mom for a second. "If anything, I feel that her cat will emerge unusually quickly due to her nature as a half-breed." I turned to her father and nodded, "Now that she's over the initial stages of the Turn I guess you will be wanting to leave?"

Reginald nodded slightly, "My cat is already getting restless, but I know that the Pride is on a more or less lock-down footing right now, and I can't leave. However, once the lock-down is ended I am going to want to leave as soon as I can." He shivered, though the house was well heated and insulated. "This place is making me feel cold every time I look out a window. How can you deal with all of this damned snow?"

I chuckled and smiled. "Grandfather it's what we are. As much as you hate the snow we hate extreme heat, our bodies are too well insulated for us to tolerate heat well."

He gave me a soft growl and shook his head before walking over to get himself some food. "At least my Kathy is doing well now, my cat and I may have missed most of her past 66 years, but we are determined not to miss the next few hundred. She deserves that much."

I nodded in reply and smiled at my mom as she finished the plate of food and gave a rather unlady-like belch. "Excuse me," She apologized. "Didn't realize that I was that hungry."

"Mom, you'll find that as a Were you are going to have a much more robust appetite than you used to." I laughed at that statement since I'd always known that mom had a tendency to eat like a bird.

"Great, as long as I don't get fat." She grumbled, she'd always worked hard to maintain a trim and svelte figure, even into her fifties and sixties.

"Mom, in all of your time with the Pride have you ever once seen somebody that is overweight? We may all be large of frame and flesh, but I can practically guarantee you that not a single one of us is overweight with our metabolism we don't get a chance." I told mom.

She looked around the room before Sergey came over and dropped a small plate of high protein snacks in front of her. "Mark, I don't need more food," She complained.

"Mom, don't complain, you just finished the first stage of the turn and your body will be demanding sustenance on an almost continuous basis for the next little while." I instructed her, taking on the tone of one of her superior cats, which meant that as a junior pride member she would be compelled to obey me. I wasn't speaking to her as a son to a mother, but rather as an Assistant Guardian to a new Were-Tiger.

Yes, Assistant Guardian, she said softly, though I could see a flash of obstinate defiance in her blue eyes."

"Thank you, mom," I replied before standing up to return to my normal seat, where all of the members of the house could see me.

A week and a half later I was sitting down for lunch when I looked up and heard a slight commotion at the door.

"Mine!" I heard my mother's voice say, though I suspected that her cat had emerged in her mind, and when I saw who my mother was hugging fiercely I laughed. The man she was hugging tightly was none-other that my father. I knew that her cat would probably be a bit defensive of her mate for the moment, but I was also aware, that as her son, her cat would give me more room to maneuver than most others.

"Mom, I see your cat has decided to emerge today." I started, carefully staying back, so as not to threaten her.

She looked at me and I could see the yellow-gold flash of a Bengal Tigress in her eyes. "Mark?" She hissed softly.

"Yes mom," I answered carefully. I could see that her cat was a bit overwhelmed. "Please relax mom, your cat is a bit overwrought at the moment and we don't want to make her feel threatened."

Mom closed her eyes slightly and I looked to my father and was surprised to see a pale golden yellow in his eyes of a fairly dominant male Siberian Tiger. "Mark, my cat says that he's my mate." My mom said softly, trying her best to keep some control of the situation.

"Mom, I don't think dad will disagree, in fact his cat probably feels pretty much the same way about you." I told her softly before taking her arm gently and guiding her and dad from the room. "I think the two of you need to finish your bonds as mates, even though you are married. Your cats will know what to do." I informed them as I carefully made sure that they were in their room.

"That was definitely interesting." Anna told me as I returned to the dining hall. "I felt their bond as soon as they came in."

I laughed, "My dear Anna, I've known they were mates since I was a young boy. They've shared everything for the past thirty-seven years and a little more, though they've been married for that long."

She looked over at me and cocked her head, "What was it like growing up with those two as your parents?"

"I can tell you that it was never dull Anna." I laughed softly, "I don't think they understand that soon they will be in a position to have a cub again."

"Why is that funny Mark?" She asked me with a cocked head as both my phone, and my watch dinged at me.

I glanced down at my watch as I told her. "My mom has never really been all that good with kids Anna. I mean she tolerated me, but I don't think she was ever really comfortable with me being a kid. I only hope that her cat helps her on that issue." When I saw that message was to my custom email and that it was from Purden Lake Pack I immediately stood. "Love I need to head up to the office, I think this is important, and trying to read it on my phone wouldn't be easy."

I quickly got to my office, woke my computer and checked the email before growling, a patrol from the pack had managed to get a positive ID on Mikel, but had paid for that ID with their lives.