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I quickly pulled up Jack's number on my phone and called him even as I pulled out a light harness and began checking things on it.

"Hello? Mark?" Came the young wolfs voice, it sounded like he was a bit busy, but whatever he was doing could wait.

"Jack, I want you outside of the Packhouse in an hour, come prepared for action." I growled, leaving him no room to object or question my order before I hung up and reached out to Olaf. *Olaf Mikel just killed a patrol of wolves out by Purden Lake, if I don't end this more are going to die by his hand.*

*Mark, you take care of him, and make sure that you come back here in one piece, I would be terribly cross with you if you end up dead too.* Was the reply I got back as I went to the bedroom where I retrieved my sword from its place over the bed before I shrugged into a toughened leather jacked and a equally durable pair of somewhat tight jeans.

"Mark, you..." Anna said coming into the room as I tied the laces of my tan combat boots.

"Anna Mikel had made his move, he's killing is way west." I told her with a short growl before I closed my eyes, hoping I could get through to my mom, or my dad. *Mom.*

I sensed that my parents were relaxing for the moment, though I could also sense that their bond was now much stronger than before, *Yes, what is it Mark?* my mom responded rather grumpily.

*Mom, I've made Sergey babysit his sister tonight, but if anything happens I want you to take good care of both of them.* I told her, my mental voice right now snapping off orders instead of requests.

*I will obey, but what the hell is going on Mark?* She asked and I could sense her own strength of character, she and dad weren't as dominant as I was, but they were still dominant enough.

*Mom the one who made me is killing his way towards me, for the sake of the local Were groups I have to end this before he gets to the city, the results wouldn't be pretty, and trying to keep a lid on as many bodies as he would leave behind would be almost impossible.* I told her before I closed the sending to carry on getting ready to leave. *Sergey, you are responsible for your sister today, if you need help talk to grandma or grandpa.* I sent as Anna and I headed downstairs towards the small garage attached to the House where I had parked the truck.

*Yes dad, take care, and please come back.* Was his reply as I climbed into the truck, checking the leather holster that I had mounted in a cross-draw position on the left side of my belt. Inside of the holster was Viktor's Luger, loaded with silver rounds along with a spare magazine which was also topped off with silver.

"Let's get the lead out Anna, the longer we delay the more likely it is that Mikel will cause yet more casualties among the wolves east of the city." I growled as she did up her seatbelt, she was also armed, with a shashka and what looked like an old Mauser C96 in 7.63x25.

She gave me a brief nod as I started the truck and headed out of the garage after the door opened, I wasn't driving in a manner than many would consider prudent, or safe, but I was easily able to handle it since I had the reflexes and talents to handle it.

As we drove up to the front gate at West Caledonia I could see one of their guards was armed, though he was doing his best not to reveal what he was carrying, though I suspected it was one of the legal Tavor models.

"Sir you will have to stop. Nobody is getting into our territory now, we are in lock-down." He told me as soon as I wound down my window.

I growled at him and closed my eyes. *Alpha Gustaf this is Assistant Guardian Mark of Blackwater, I need to pick up my friend Jack.*

I felt some degree of surprise from the Alpha at the contact before is sensed a growl from him before the gate guard stiffened for a moment before walking into the hut and activating the gate. "Got right on in sir, the Alpha is waiting for you." "Thank you," I growled kicking the truck back into gear sending a spray of snow from all four wheels as I accelerated down the road at a rather brisk pace causing the wolf to dodge to the side.

As soon as I pulled up in front of the Packhouse and Anna opened her door so that Jack could climb in and I could tell that my young friend was more than a little nervous. The Alpha approached my side and looked me in the eyes. "Mark, you take care of that young wolf, I would be very disappointed in you if he dies."

I looked over at the Alpha and I knew that my cat was definitely in my eyes when I replied, "Sir, you have my word that if Jack doesn't return... Anna and I will probably be not able to return either. Mikel will have to go through the two of us to get to Jack!" I almost growled, I wasn't in the mood for any kind of long conversation.

The Gustaf probably sensed that in my voice and stepped back as I punched the gas on the truck as soon as Anna had closed her door, causing the engine to growl and the vehicle to skid around in a tight circle before I headed for the gate.

As we approached the city I heard Jack clear his throat, "Mark, it says here that there's a winter storm warning east of the city... right where we're headed."

"Jack, I can handle weather, what I can't handle is the thought of that thing doing more harm than he's already done." I told him before asking Anna to dial the Alpha of the Purden Lake Pack. After a couple of rings somebody answered, and I could tell it wasn't the Alpha. "Put me through to your Alpha, this is urgent." I growled, trying my best to keep my cat from showing too much in my voice.

"Sir, who my I inquire is calling?" The female asked me pleasantly.

"I am Assistant Guardian Mark McEwan of Blackwater Pride and this is an urgent matter."

"Sir the Alpha is currently un..." She started to say.

"Make him available unless you want more of your packmates to die!" I almost shouted, the sound was harsh and ugly, and I couldn't keep my cat from my voice that time.

"Yes sir, will take a moment." Was her slightly cowed answer before a new voice took over the line.

"This is Alpha Francis of Purden Lake, what can I do for you Mark?" He asked, though I could hear that something was happening in the background.

"Alpha, for your own protection I would urge you to stay inside of your Packhouse for the duration of this emergency." I stated simply without preamble.

"I don't know what you think you have, but we can handle the situation." The wolf said confidently.

I laughed, it was a brutal ugly sound, before I softly stated, "Alpha if you have a death wish than by all means go out there to face him, but I would like to remind you that the one you are eager to face is a Class One Rogue, and he's no wolf. He could snap you in half without breaking a sweat. So, if you want to keep on breathing I would urge you to reconsider your position."

There was a pause on the other end, before he finally replied. "Mark, you know as well as I do that I have to respond to this threat to the safety of my wolves, to do any less would not do any credit to my position as an Alpha."

"Alpha, by all means go out, but please stay clear of him. My mate and I will personally handle the rogue. If he attacks, defend play for time, wear him down, like all cats his endurance isn't great but his power and strength are well above what you can manage." I instructed as I remembered what Francis was dealing with as an Alpha Wolf. His position obligated him to go out and deal with the threat to his pack even if it was above what he could handle.

"I understand Assistant Guardian. I will try and avoid confronting him, but we will be there to provide assistance should you require it, good hunting and may the Goddess smile on you." He replied before disconnecting the call.

"That went well," Anna told me as I sped through the city, heading east.

"As well as can be expected Anna, we have to remember that Lycan Alphas are obligated to respond to threats to the lives of their subordinate wolves." I reminded her. "I know more than a couple of Alphas and they are all similar in that respect."

Jack spoke up softly from where he was sitting, and I could sense his nerves. "Mark's right Anna, they can't help it, they have to do what they can to defend their pack. It is part of what makes them an Alpha."

I nodded and looked out the window as the snow outside started to get heavier. Even with the enhanced eyesight of a Were the snow wasn't easy to see through and I activated the auxiliary light bars on the front of the truck. They weren't really something that was considered street legal, but under the circumstances I needed the extra light to help me navigate.

"Mark, I've just put a call through to Taber Mountain Pack, they should also be informed of what is going on, since Purden Lake isn't all that far from their boundaries." Anna told me before the call was picked up.

"We need to speak to your Alpha if he's available." I said when the line was picked up.

"This is Alpha Toby Wolf-Wind speaking." The voice on the line said, and I could hear his native accent.

"Alpha, my name is Mark McEwan of Blackwater Pride, I am sure you are aware that there is a Class One Rogue in the region." I told him, though I was trying to be a bit more diplomatic than I had been with Purden Lake's Alpha.

"Yes, I am aware of the situation Mark, and we are doing everything that we can to ensure the safety of our pack." He replied. "I have contacts down south and have heard good things about you and your family. I will render whatever assistance I can if you require it." He said smoothly, from his voice I guessed that he was probably over a century old, he probably knew his ancient

"Thank you, Alpha," I told him, "For now, I would suggest that you keep clear of the area of the Highway corridor, he is liable to be traveling along that route and I would hate to have any of your wolves getting in his way as he has shown little regard for anyone."

"I understand, Mark." I heard him say as another voice in the background informed him that the pack was in full lock-down. "I understand, and we will do as you say. I know that one of your kind is beyond the resources of even some of our best Alphas to handle, and if this is a Class One Rogue, that makes him all the more dangerous."

"Thank you, Alpha." I replied, "My mate and I will handle the Rogue, we'd don't want anybody else to get in the midst of this mess and get themselves killed."

"I must thank you for the warning Mark, and I will pray to the Spirits to guide you to victory." The Alpha told me before he hung up, he had so much to deal with to ensure the safety of his own people, though I could easily see him being up to the task.

"That went better than the last time," Anna said when the connection went dead.

"You can say that again Anna, though I have a feeling that he's been an Alpha a bit longer than Francis has."

She nodded softly and let me keep my focus on the road as she switched the radio on and the first thing that came on was a winter storm warning, as well as advisory to stay off the highways if at all possible due to restricted visibility from heavy snowfall.

"Good grief, you think that something like this would happen when the weather is fair." Jack said from the back seat.

"Jack moving under the cover of a snow storm makes sense since, as the radio mentioned, visibility is restricted." I reminded him, keeping my concentration on the road as I navigated down the two-lane highway, trying to keep my speed at a reasonable level, though I'd had to reduce speed significantly due to the worsening conditions. I did have one way that I could easily tell that I was headed in the right direction and that was the buzzing in my mind from the ugly link that Mikel had formed with me when he'd bitten me.

"I know, but all the same I don't like it." He replied glumly. "I don't like the idea of being in the middle of a fight when I know that I don't have a hope in hell against my opponent."

"Jack if comes to that..." I softly said, "I want you to run, and don't stop till you get to a place where you know the Alphas or Pride Leaders can keep you safe."

"Yes Guardian," He answered, but I could tell he wasn't happy about that order.

"Jack, this isn't something I like doing, but I can't simply have you face a monster like that by yourself." I told him, "You're a good friend, but this is something that is beyond your capabilities."

"I understand Mark, I just don't like leaving a friend to face a monster like that all by himself." He replied.

"I won't be facing him alone Jack." I stated reaching over and gently touching my mate's hand.

"I will be by his side Jack, protecting his back, we will fight together, and he will pay for the damage he's done to our Pride, our reputation, and to all of those that he's hurt." Anna told Jack as she got me to return my hand to the wheel.

An hour later, at the prompting of my cat I pulled the truck to the side of the road, almost into the ditch since I didn't want some half-blind semi driver to obliterate my vehicle because he couldn't see in the virtual white-out conditions. Once I had the truck shut down I turned to Jack. "I want you to stay with the truck Jack and keep your eyes open. When this is over you will know it." I stated simply before climbing out into the blizzard of snow.

On crossing the highway, I stopped when I saw a set of skidmarks that led over the edge of the road and down the embankment. "Anna, I think he's caused another wreck, he has a habit of doing that... it's how Katy's parents died."

"I know love, and I agree with you." She agreed with me while pulling her sword free of its scabbard before shifting to Were as we went down the embankment. The car that had left the road was smashed up against a boulder like a discarded children's toy and I could smell singed plastics, shorted out wiring and the scent of death. I growled under my breath as I felt the mental taint of the rogue and gripped my sword even more firmly before a stunning pressure came to my mind.