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Eleven years later, April 2056.

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~Researchers are still puzzled about the newly discovered mineral found after the minor eruption of the Yellowstone caldera. Some physicists are claiming that it may make faster than light travel possible, citing the mineral's reaction when high voltage current's applied to it.~

Reaching over, I turn off the radio as I pull off the highway and onto a four lane thoroughfare. Our destination? The Winnipeg provincial penitentiary, where Diane has spent the last eleven years of her life.

Patrick's hand gently touches mine on the steering wheel to stop my flash and blood hand from drumming it, our wedding rings clink together.

"You don't have to do this Jackie, hun. You can let the system take care of her since Anthony doesn't want to anymore." Shaking my head to cut him off, I smile at him.

Marui and Alpha are sitting next to Christine in the back seat, while all three of them are looking out of the windows. They've never been to this area of the country.

'It's because no one wants her that I feel I should, despite what she did to Christine and I. I consider her my step-sister and thus family. The only family that will still speak to her too.' Patrick's smile warms my heart as I shift in my seat, adjusting the seat-belt over my full belly.

At least they've stopped kicking.

'I may not like doing this Jackie, but I do reluctantly agree with you. I just hope she's changed since you last visited her.' With the light turning green, I'm able to get onto the two lane street, which will take us to the front gate.

I leave the radio off as we approach the guard post at the entrance, it will just be a distraction. A human male in a police uniform walks up to my window and gently knocks on it with a kncukle, I roll it down and turn to look at him.

"Identification please and reason for your visit?" Pulling my purse, ugg, from between Patrick's legs, as everyone else pulls out their wallets. I'm the last one to do so after fishing it out of my purse.

I hate the thing, but it's required since pants with pockets are too tight to wear when I'm pregnant with non-identical twins.

'We're here to pick up Diane Cobbler.' I hand over our collective id's. Mine, Christine's and Patrick's are genuine. Mauri's and Alpha's are fakes. No one has figured that out in the past decade, so I don't think this officer will.

He scans them and then hands them back. Getting to work entering information into a hand held tablet.

"Nice classic car, turn of the century?" Smiling with some pride at his question, I take the Id's back.

'Yea. Helped my husband here restore it while I was in High school. It was the car I learned on and because we got it done before the cut off date. So it was grandfathered past the internal combustion ban.' The guard whistles.

"Lucky lady. I wish I did something similar back then. I miss how the IC engines feel and how you have more control rather than just telling it where you want to go. Anyway, head to the visitors lot and enter through the visitors entrance. You can wait in the waiting room there for them to process her. Heads up though, they may ask you to remove your prosthetic arm." I hand everyone's id's back before putting mine back in my wallet, then the wallet in the purse, followed by placing the purse in the passenger foot well again.

It's the only place I can put the damn thing.

'Thank you sir, I know the procedure though. I was here to visit her four months ago.' The guard nods, then reaches into his station to hit a switch, raising the barrier and allowing us through.

Rolling up the window, I head over to the visitors lot and find an empty handicapped spot. A fringe benefit of being pregnant I guess. I put a pink card on the dash, so I don't get towed, as Christine opens the rear passenger side door, dashing over to mine.

Sighing, I watch as she opens the door with a smile.

'I can move around on my own Christine. My babies don't make me helpless.' I manage to get out of the car on my own before stretching my back and tail a bit while holding onto the car using my prosthetic arm.

The semi stock seats don't seem to have pregnant women in mind. Not that I've been able to find anyplace too comfortable since I started to show.

'Just humor me Jackie and enjoy the pampering.' Rolling my eyes as everyone else gets out of the car I step away and let Christine close the door for me. Patrick hands me my purse after he walks over and takes the opposite side of me from Christine.

"Do you need me to carry your purse hun?" Sighing again I give Patrick a playful glare as I shoulder it.

'Now don't you start too!' Laughing at that, Patrick along with Christine walks on either side of me, while Mauri and Alpha follow behind us as we make our way to the visitors entrance.

"You're about eight months in with twins, with one of them 'larger' than normal, making you waddle. I just don't want you to hurt yourself Jackie." Huffing once I look down at my distended belly then back at Patrick as we reach the entrance. I'm not 'that' big.

Mauri and Alpha quickly walk around the three of us and open the doors.

'I won't hurt myself from walking Patrick. As for waddling, you try walking normal with what feels like two football's stuck in between your stomach and bladder.' Luckily, there isn't much of a line at the security station.

And said babies are not using my bladder as a football.

Patrick and Mauri head through the one on the left, emptying their pockets, going through metal detectors and having metal detecting wands waved over them. Christine, Alpha, and I go through the right and are forced to do the same.

The only difference is that it's a woman doing it to us rather than a man, understandably. As expected, I have to take my arm off and place it on the x-ray scanner belt.

"How far along are you?" The redhead female guard smiles at me while waving the wand over my upper body, then she takes a look at the attachment plate.

Like I could fit anything in their anyway without being in pain.

'Just a week or so before the eighth month mark more or less.' Her face softens with a smile.

"Can I?" She motions to my belly. I don't get why people want to do it, but I learned to let them as I started to show. So I nod once.

'They're quiet now. They were kicking this morning but it seems the drive here calmed them down.' The female guard gently places a hand on my belly and gently rubs it.

"They?" She looks at me curiously.

'I'm having twins.' There's the hundred watt smile I've seen many times already. Plastered on the female guard's face.

"Well congratulations. Are these your first?" When I nod, her face gains a bit of sympathy. "You're going to have your hands full then, just don't fret or be too stressed out, I made that mistake when I had my son." Yup, there it is. It's always mothers who do this for some reason. Every, single, time.

'I have my husband and my pack to help me in that regard. So I don't think they'll be that hard to handle.' The red-head female guard smiles and nods, then hands me my arm back after giving me the all clear.

Of course, I wasn't hiding anything.

"So, if I may ask, who are you visiting today?" With a loud click I reattach my arm, twitching my tail at the sensation of the limited feeling from the hand. I turn to look at her as I work a kink out of my shoulder that re-attaching the arm always causes.

'It's my step-sister, Diane Cobbler. She's getting out on parole, so we're here to pick her up.' The smile red-head guard's vanishes and is replaced with a deep frown.

Yea I also expected this reaction too.

In the past eleven years since the raid, her role in it, and the revelation of how she was running her pack. She's become a hated figure among most of the Bio-Morph community, and some humans too.

"A piece of work that bitch is, in both terms. I feel sorry for you being related." Shrugging as I collect the rest of my belongings.

'It took me a few years, but I've forgiven her for what she did, I won't forget it though. Since she has no other family who'll deal with her, I feel this is the right thing to do. Besides, this is better than letting her be thrown into some halfway house that may or may not treat her properly.' The red-head guard shrugs, then nods at the last bit.

"I've heard stories from parole officers on the half-way houses. Anyway, you're a better person than I would be. I hope you have a nice day otherwise Ms. Stradder." Smiling back I waddle over to Patrick with Christine and Alpha in tow behind me.

Neither of the latter two needing as through inspection as I had to get due to my prosthetic arm.

From there it's down the hall and past a small check in station, where we have to write our names down, before we arrive at the visitors lounge. I can't help sighing when I sit down, drawing looks from everyone with me.

'What? I said I won't hurt myself waddling, not that it doesn't do a number on my feet! Digitgrade legs arn't made for this and you know it.' Christine and Alpha giggle, Patrick just shakes his head.

I just playfully glare at the two gigglers.

'I suspect you'll be like this Alpha after the next heat season, and Christine, the way you cling to your boyfriend, if you were human, you'd be like this already.' Playfully verbal jabbing at Alpha and Christine, both of them suddenly look away with the inside of their ears turning red.

"Quick complaining, you enjoyed every minute of it when I did it to you." Patrick chuckles as my ears blush from remembering that.

That was, a very enjoyable and memorable two days of lovemaking before it took and my heat ended last fall. Still, before they make this any worse, for me at least, I decide to change the subject.

'Okay, so we all understand what we have to do to take Diane in right?' Patrick gives me that look, the one that says he knows why I changed the subject, but he nods in agreement to my question nonetheless. Christine once she catches her breath from laughing at my earlier reaction yips out a yes.

Alpha and Mauri nod as well.

'In accordance with the parole conditions that I was informed of.' I dig out the folded sheet of paper from my purse. ' Diane has to submit to us, I haven't reached the limit of non blood related beta's, so I can do this. Yet, I don't think it would be a good idea to start her off as a beta, so we'll make her a Gamma. Because of that, everyone here will have to do the same dominance bite on her neck.' Everyone vocalizes their understanding.

Placing the paper back in the purse, I sigh.

Even though I want to do this, I'm still nervous about it.

'Kinda ironic isn't it Jackie?' Christine looks over at me. 'She tried to get us to submit to her back in high school, now she has to submit to us if she wants to get out of prison.' I nod to Christine.

'Doesn't mean we'll treat her badly Christine. In fact, as the Alpha female of this pack, I won't tolerate that.' Glancing over to my husband, Patrick nods once.

'Yes Alpha-Jackie... I mean Jackie.' Christine sighs and I instantly mentally kick myself for that phrasing. Christine hasn't slipped up like this for a while and what I said didn't help.

'It wasn't exactly an order Christine, more of an expectation, still, I should have phrased it differently.' Reaching over I gently pat her on the head. She relaxes instantly.

One of the doors on the other side of the room opens up, and a young Bio-Morph lioness in a suit holding a tablet exits.

'Jackie and Patrick Stradder, along with the Stradder pack?' She reads out and I Raise my hand before pushing myself up to my feet.

'That's us!' I call out.

Christine's instantly at my side to help, huffing at her once, I grumble, yet allow it. Patrick, Mauri and Alpha head over there first as I waddle behind them. I wonder who she is though, the only Bio-Morphs I've seen here are either inmates or visiting families.

Not one of the staff are Bio-Morphs.

'Donna Lackerson' She holds her hand out for each of us to shake once I join the others, then smiles at me upon seeing my belly. 'Congratulations.' I just smile back as I hold my belly in one hand, while using the other to hold onto Christine.

'Anyway, Mr. and Ms. Stradder, I've been assigned as Diane Cobbler's parole officer for the foreseeable future.' Donna leads us down a hallway and into conference room.

Sparsely furnished with just a basic long table and some fold out chairs, all chained to the floor, it doesn't look to comfortable, but any chair will do right now. Mauri and Alpha look curiously at the chains on the furniture, much to Donna's amusement if her tail is any judge.

'First time to a prison?' Mauri's ear with the hole in it twitches before he looks up at Donna.

'Yea. Why are the chairs chained to the floor?' Donna motions for everyone to sit. I'm glad to get off my feet and letting of a sigh as my rear and tail touch the thinly padded chair.

Patrick sits on one side of me, and Christine the other. Alpha then sits down next to Christine.

'It's so if we bring a prisoner in here, they can't use them as weapons against the officers or others.' Mauri stares, then nods in understanding taking the seat next to Alpha.

Donna sits down opposite of us and places the tablet down in front of herself.

'Okay, lets just go over the basics for the paperwork first. All whom are present are, Jackie Stradder, wife of Patrick Stradder. Said Patrick took Jackie's last name, his bachelor name is Tanner.' Patrick and I both nod as Donna points to us politely.

'Your pack's listed under your family name, Pack Stradder. Is that correct?' I nod with a smile.

'Out of the legal limit of five non-blood related, Beta's you have a total of two right now Jackie. Their names are Mauri and Alpha, no family name listed, is that correct?' I answer yes while both Mauri and Alpha nod.

'Also out five blood related Beta's Jackie, you have only one registered. Your sister, Christine Stradder.' Christine answers yes before I can nod.

Donna taps a few places on the tablet before looking back up at us.

'Alright. Now for the new paperwork. Christine Stradder, since you're registered as having low level Pack Instinct Disorder, I need you and then Jackie to sign this form.' Donna turns the tablet around, then slides it and a stylus over to Christine first. Who picks up the stylus and signs, then hands both to me.

It more or less states that Christine's agreement to taking in Diane is of her own free will, that if I have coerced her into this in any way I face felony charges. Up to five years in prison, a ten thousand dollar fine, and the revocation of my Alpha license according to the Diane act.

Signing it, I slide both back to Donna, only for a surprised yip to escape my muzzle as one of my two babies inside me decides to wake up at this moment and kick me.

'Sorry about that, one of my babies kicked... Guess they woke up after falling asleep on the way here.' Donna smiles warmly at me. At least she doesn't want to rub my belly like every other woman I've come across.

'Okay. I'll have Patrick, Mauri, and Alpha sign another similar form later via the mail, stating about the same thing. That one doesn't have the legal teeth this one has and doesn't need to be done right now.' I swear I hear her mutter 'anything to reduce paperwork', but I don't say anything.

'So lets move on to the terms and conditions of Diane's parole and your responsibilities therein.' Donna taps a few places on the tablet, then looks back up to us.

'The terms are as follows; Diane cobbler will be placed under house arrest for a minimum of five years and a maximum of fifteen. All depending on her behavior. You, as her host pack will be monitoring this. She is banned for life from having Beta's and her Alpha status has been irrecoverably revoked.' Donna looks up at us. 'This means monitoring her online activity too, we would ban her from the internet, but it's considered a human right.' Donna looks back down to the tablet.

'During her time on house arrest, you, Jackie Stradder will be her representative payee. Her per-incarceration assets will be unfrozen and relinquished to you, minus court fines. You can tend to it in her name, as you see fit but cannot transfer any of it to your own accounts. This right will be restored to Diane upon successful completion of her house arrest, and a court mandated financial responsibility classes. She will also be registered as a felon and this will last for the rest of her natural life.' Donna looks each of us in the eyes.

'Do all of you understand the conditions that the state has laid out?' Not surprisingly, Alpha raises her hand.

'What's house arrest mean, and representative payee?' Donna looks at Alpha and then Mauri, for a split second I swear I see her have the look of understanding on her muzzle.

'Well, house arrest is when the provincial court's decided, that like in this case, as a price of being let out of jail. They're restricted to someone's property for a predetermined amount of time. In this case, it will be your Alpha female's house. To do this, Diane will be wearing a tracking collar. It's similar too, but not as barbaric as the new slave ones used in the states. These only have the gps tracker in them and are painted red.' Donna taps a couple of times on the tablet, then shows us a picture.

'That looks a lot like the ones they put on us in the cross border raid back in High-School...' Christine rubs her neck a little as Donna takes the tablet back.

'Well, they're made by the same company. Not that we have a choice in the matter. The older tracking bracelets are comically easy to bypass now due to the firmware leaking online years ago.' Alpha does frown a little at this.

'I don't like this, but I understand it now.' I can see why. House arrest is little more than imprisonment, just in a nicer setting.

Still, this is Diane's cost for what she did. I will make sure she doesn't break her parole.

'Good. A representative payee is simpler to understand, it just means the courts have decided Diane doesn't have a legal right to manage her own money. What she did while she was in high-school proved to the province she lacks the ability to. Still, Diane can regain that right if she completes her house arrest without incident and takes some lessons in financial management. In the meantime, your Alpha-female Jackie will be handling Diane's finances.' Donna looks over at me specifically.

'Yes, that does mean all the downsides, like doing her taxes too.' Can't help sighing at that.

My own are a pain in the tail with the electronics repair shop I've been trying to get going, add to that Patrick's income from taking over my father's store's. He handed ownership and his position in 'The Paw Mart' as a wedding gift to him.

It had been recently renamed and given a new mascot that looks a lot like Xin would if she was a cute cartoon character. Afterwards he retired, then moved with my mother to a nearby smaller house.

'So her punishment doesn't end when she leaves here?' Alpha tilts her head at Donna, who nods.

'It's the way this system works Ms. Alpha. Anyway, we're getting off-topic here.' Donna taps a few more places, then slides the tablet in front of me. It has a satellite picture of what's now Patrick's and my house.

The one I stayed in after I arrived in Canada with a moving dotted line around most of the border.

'Ms. Strader, please make sure the dotted line encompasses your entire property, be through. We're setting up the boundary at which Diane's collar will alert me that she has violated the house arrest part of her parole.' Studying the image further I find that the border misses one corner of the backyard. The land dips there and that might have confused the computer they used to do this.

I point this out and Donna corrects it.

'Alright. Last thing on the list you need to decide Ms. Jackie before we bring her in, so she can submit to all of you. At your discretion, Diane's allowed a period of sixty to ninety minutes a week as a pass for good behavior. This allows her to leave this boundary for the allowed duration and go anywhere as long as it's not out of the province. You can decide right now to reject this privilege, even lower the time if you want. Otherwise, sign here please.' Donna slides the tablet and stylus in front of me again.

Smiling at her I shake my head.

'I decided years ago even Diane deserves a little hope and redemption. I'll agree to allowing her this privilege.' Signing where I need to, Donna nods with a small smile. Then takes the tablet and stylus back, and tapping it in a few places.

'Diane cobbler will be here in a few minutes. She's being taken through the discharge process.' To my surprise, and the rest of my family and pack. Donna drops the professional attitude and body language as she temporarily shuts off the tablet.

'From a natural-born Bio-Morph to a couple of converts.' Donna nods to me and Christine. 'I thank you for taking in, and caring for a couple of natural-born runaways.' Donna nods to Mauri and Alpha.

In a panic I try to get up, as Mauri and Alpha instantly do so. Donna though moves much more quickly than I do, reaching over and grabbing my hands to keep me at the table.

'You're not in trouble Jackie! Everything is legit as far as the system's concerned. I only noticed it because I was five when my parents, both converts, tried to escape across the border with me in tow. They got deported back to the states, but Canada put me into foster care rather than deport me too. I can tell they're natural-born from the subtle body movements that I know 'I' do. I just wanted to thank you, Jackie, for giving them a chance no one gave my birth parents. Honestly, if you treat Diane Cobbler with as much love and respect as you're showing here. She'll be one of the easiest prole cases I ever had.' With that, Donna lets go of my hands and sits back down in her chair. Allowing me to sit back down as well.

Mauri and Alpha slowly do the same as I look over to them.

They're on edge, but seem to be calming down. Christine is gripping her seat while doing the breathing exercises she's been taught to calm herself down. Patrick relaxes as well.

'How long have you known?' I look back at Donna, she smiles back at me.

'More or less from the moment I saw you in the waiting room. I just had to get the professional stuff out of the way before I could talk to you personally.' Reaching into her pocket, she takes out an honest to god paper business card, scribbles something on the back and slides it over to me.

'That's my personal email Jackie. I know of a few support groups for natural-born Bio-Morphs. They help them integrate into society, I take it, it has been hard to teach them how to manage?' Nodding once, I slip it into my purse. Donna's professional demeanor returns a split second later as she turns the tablet back on, followed by the other door in the room opening after a loud series of clicks.

A Human female prison guard walks in, then stands to one side of the door before Diane Cobbler enters the room. Instead of the orange jumpsuit I've gotten used to seeing her in, when I visit her month every so often, she's wearing second, to third hand clothes taken from a donation bin.

They look about a hair's breath away from falling apart on her.

Like the last time I saw her, I am surprised at how prison has been for her. Obviously she can no longer hide the fact she's a mix breed Bio-Morph, so the malt colored splotches she used to bleach white are on full display, along with the darker fur under the shedding winter coat due to her arctic fox half. I feel her eyes roam over me, focusing on my belly for a moment, then look over to Patrick.

She still doesn't seem to believe Patrick is the father.

Diane's ears twitch, as she then gazes at Alpha and Mauri. The left one more so than the right due to it missing its tip. It was like that last time I saw her, but it was fresher then, and obvious it was bitten off rather than cut.

The scar across her muzzle and the small kink in her tail, that's new compared to the last time I saw her. Not to mention the prison fur tattoo on her arm, though to be fair the prison jumpsuit she was in earlier covered that area so it could have been there for years.

Donna motions to Diane to sit in an empty chair on her side of the table, Diane pulls her attention away from looking at us and strolls over to sit down.

'Somehow, after your last visit 'Jackie', I suspected it would be you who I would be placed with for my parole.' Donna glances at Diane as the prison guard leaves the same way she came in.

'If you want Ms. Cobbler, I can still get you placed in a halfway house instead of the Stradder pack?' Diane lowers her ears a little and shakes her head.

'No. Even if it is 'her', this is still better than what I've heard about a Halfway house.' Donna nods, then stands. She points the tablet's Camera pointing at all of us.

'This submission procedure will be recorded for the official record. As part of your parole Diane Cobbler, and under the laws your actions have spurred into creation. For you to be released, you will need to submit Mr. and Ms. Stradder. Jackie Stradder, as the listed Alpha-Female and head of the Stradder pack, you will go first. Before you do, please state for the record what will Diane Cobbler's rank be?' Donna focuses the camera at me as I stand while using the table.

'Diane's rank will be Gamma, this way my entire pack and family will take part in her rehabilitation as well as keep an eye on her.' Diane's ears go flat back for a moment before she obviously forces them back up.

Donna focuses the Camera onto Diane.

'This is the last point you can refuse Ms. Cobbler. Do you accept the rank of Gamma in the Stradder pack?' Diane sits there silently for several long moments, I half expect her to refuse.

'I'll accept that rank.' Giving a small nod to Donna.

'Then stand, lean over onto the table, and bare your neck submissively Diane Cobbler.' Slowly, Diane stands and walks over to the short side of the long rectangular table to lean over and bare her neck.

She doesn't hide the fact that her ears are flat and her teeth are on full display showing her real mood.

Wobbling over to Diane, Alpha and Mauri move out of the way to allow me through. Bending over is a bit hard with my two passengers, not to mention they protest this by kicking.

With my husband's and Christine's help though, I manage to get my jaws around Diane's throat, letting my instincts take over. I squeeze tightly, but not enough to break the skin while growling my words.

'Submit to me Diane as a Gamma.' Her first response is to return the growl, so I squeeze again. Diane Whines and then yips a loud yes out, so I release my hold. Mentally I feel her as part of my pack now and it's an odd feeling.

No longer a school yard bully, but now a non blood member of my family.

Patrick's next, and it is still funny seeing a human doing this and doesn't get any less so after seeing him do it with Christine, Mauri, and Alpha when we legally formed the Stradder pack.

As I watch, I'm led back to the chair by Christine to sit back down. Rubbing my belly to try to calm my babies down, so they can stop kicking me.

When Patrick finishes, Christine's next. Diane growls again, but Christine silences it like I did, still, it takes Diane a little longer to submit to her than she did me.

Alpha is next in line, and she goes a little farther than just a bite on the neck. She physically presses Diane into the table, casing it to strain against the chains holding it in place. Marui does the same thing and I can't help thinking back to when Marui forced me to submit after arriving at Mauri's.

Being lifted off my feet and shoved against the wall of the residential container is what he did to me. At the time I thought it was rough and barbaric, but now I realize he had no choice as I was fighting every new instinct in my being and refusing to submit.

When Mauri lets go, Diane stands back up. Drooping her tail a little and rubbing her neck as she lets out a huff.

'For the record let me state Diane Cobbler has submitted to the members of the Stradder pack as their Gamma. As of the end of this recording, Diane Cobbler's parole will begin. The Stradder family and pack has twelve hours as of three sixteen pm April Thirteenth twenty fifty-six to transport Diane Cobbler to the residence and location of her house arrest, or they'll otherwise be in contempt of court.' When Donna sets down the tablet, the door we came through opens, allowing another prison guard in, this one male. Walking in carrying a bright florescent red tracking collar.

It's almost painful to look at in the harsh LED lights of the room.

Silently, he places it around Diane's neck, and like the ones used on Christine during the raid, it tightens around her neck. Not skin tight, but small enough Diane cannot slip it over her head.

'Time to take you home Diane.' Smiling at her as Christine, again, helps me to my feet. As we head for the door we entered through, Patrick takes my other side while Mauri and Alpha walk next to Diane behind us.

The guard who put the collar on Diane's neck leads us through another hallway that leads to a direct exit. We then head back to where we parked with Patrick leading the way as I shoo him off of me.

I take the driver's seat of course, and Patrick sits in the front passenger seat. Everyone else crams into the back seat, Diane sits in between Alpha and Mauri to keep her from Christine who still glances over at her.

Luckily there are enough belts for them even if they're all crammed shoulder to shoulder.

The drive out is faster than the drive in, we don't need to stop by the security guard is the main reason, he just waves us through. Soon we're back on the highway heading home.

Alright, time for the detour I planned, and to keep a promise.

'Since we have twelve hours before you have to be on my property Diane, I'm going to make a slight detour on our way back. There's something I need to show you.' Patrick looks at me, knowing exactly what I mean.

With his slight frown I know he doesn't like it, but he doesn't stop me because he also knows why.

'So where are we going, 'Alpha' Jackie?' I only twitch my ear at Diane's snark on the word Alpha. It triggers the instinct to demand she pays more respect. Except that I know not to act on it, so I push it away.

No one else seems to pay it any heed though, not even Christine.

'We're going to visit your mother Diane. She wanted to see you as soon as you were let out.' I see Diane's ears shoot up in the rearview mirror. If I told her where we are going exactly, she wouldn't believe me, so I have to show her.

It's cruel, but it's the only way.

An hour or so later I exit the highway three exits before the one we would use to go home. Then drive several miles through a few side streets into a semi rural area. Farms mixed in with large warehouses and apartment complexes with small strip mall's in between.

'Are mom and Dad are living in an apartment now?' Diane speaks up after an hour of silence from her, surprised about the scenery.

'Well, Not exactly...' There is an apartment complex on the opposite side of the street of the cemetery, as I drive into the parking lot of said cemetery. Pulling into a handicapped spot a moment or two before I get out, then Christine exits along with Mauri, Alpha, and Patrick. Finally, so does Diane, fearfully and hesitantly.

Diane's arrogance, her confidence, the defiance she's been non-verbally showing has vanished. Diane's ears are drooping and her tail is between her legs. Looking at her, I motion for her to follow as I waddle up the path leading to the plots behind the urn storage walls.

There's a two plot section, with one headstone, that's my destination sheltered partially by said wall. I come to a stop just behind Xin's headstone placing my hands on either side of the carved statue. It's nice, if a bit weird that Xin already had it picked out before her downturn. A roman column, two and a half feet tall made out of classic white marble. Topping it is an arctic fox sculpture with wings, made out of the same material. The fox is sitting there, with her tail wrapped around her feet looking down at the plot and a smile on her muzzle. It's wings are spread wide as if she's about to take off.

Leaning on it a little more to help my feet, I watch as Diane, visibly trembling, approaches it, then falls to her knees in front of it.

'Mommy?' Diane's voice is weak and child like. Her hand reaches up and rubs the bronze plaque bolted onto the front.

[Xin Cobbler. Born: September 1st 2005. Human. Died: August 18th 2054. Bio-Morph. My loving wife, an angel in the form of a Vixen. You are finally free.]

'Mommy? Mommy! Why! Why did you leave me!' I'm not made of stone, my heart breaks at this because I wish there was another way. It had to be done, but it still hurts. This will be the last time she'll be able to come here for a while and her allowed free time pass each week would be too short to do a proper visit.

By my estimation, only fifteen to twenty minutes, and then we'd have to rush back to make it, and that's if there is no traffic.

'It was cancer. Side effect of the heat suppressant chemical both the United States and China uses to prevent Bio-morphs from freely breeding.' I know it's coming. I can see the hand Diane doesn't have on the plaque dig into the ground, her legs tense up and her lips curl.

'How long have you known?' Steadying myself, I brace for Diane's pounce by holding onto the headstone.

'Since your sentencing date Diane. It was why she wasn't with us, Xin went to the doctor to investigate the source of severe abdominal cramps she was having. Never told us she suspected cancer till she came back with a positive result from her doctor. Even after that, Xin wouldn't let us tell you. She only admitted later it was because she didn't want to cause you to worry.' I don't move as Diane leaps up, grabbing me by the throat.

Her hands are tight, but, she's not choking me.

'WHY WASN'T I TOLD SHE DIED!' To my own amazement, I don't flinch at her screaming. Reaching up I gently place a hand on the side of her muzzle. Mentally making a note to ask about the scars I feel under her fur.

'Xin didn't want you to know. Not till you were out of prison because she somehow just knew you were having a hard time from her visits. I didn't like it, in fact, I hated the idea. Yet, considering the scars on the side of your face under your fur, it might've been the right choice after all. We did try to at least get you a day pass, the province denied it because you were convicted of too severe of a crime to be allowed out for her funeral. Said you were a flight risk.' The strength to remain standing instantly flees Diane, she collapses onto her knees in front of me the moment I mention we tried.

I try to the best of my ability considering my pregnant state, to help her down to the ground.

'Mom suffered so much and that long without me...' Grunting, I use the headstone to sit down in front of her.

'Xin was an extremely strong woman. She faced ovarian cancer head on. Dealt with the surgery and the chemo, refusing our help in all but the hardest moments. For several years it looked like she'd won. Then, about two years before she died, we found out the cancer spread, and was only dormant. I know you know she started to look thinner and less healthy when you saw her. Do you want to know what kept her going? Even when she was too sick to visit you? Too sick to get out of bed?' Diane looks over at me making eye contact, hers are red and bloodshot. She'd be crying profusely, if she was more human.

I give her a loving smile.

'It was you Diane. The one thing she wanted, and what most likely kept her going that last year as the cancer took more and more from her, was the thought of seeing you outside the prison. A free woman again. She was actually more ashamed she failed you more than she was dying when we had to take her in to the hospital that last week. Doing this was what she made me promise to do, to take you to see her once you got out at her final resting place.' Diane looks away and gently removes my hand.

Shifting my position a little I sit against the column with a sigh to remove the weight from my aching feet. I love my little ones, but at a time like this, they're not helping.

'Take your time Diane. This is why I stopped here now, rather than tell you at the house.' Flicking my ear I mentally sigh, I almost forgot this. Digging through my purse I take out a locket. Well, it technically is one even though the size is closer to an old style pocket watch.

Gently, I hand it over to Diane who's just devoutly staring at the winged fox carving.

'What's this?' Diane's ears go flat back as some of her anger wells up. Only to instantly evaporate when I flick the locket open with my thumb. Diane uses the clothes she has on to clean her hands fervently, then reverently, she picks up the locket out of my outstretched hand.

I don't need to look at it to know what's in it. On one side, is a high quality and detailed picture of a six-year-old Diane, smiling and happy in the arms of a younger Xin. Both immaculately groomed and down right gorgeous in their full winter fur. Set on top of it is a pane of high quality Transparent aluminum. So the photo will never age, as the seal is vacuum tight.

In the other is a curled lock of Xin's fur, also behind a pane of Transparent aluminum with all the air vacuumed out.

'A gift from our father Diane. So you can have a piece of your mother, no matter where you go if you decide to move away after your parole. He, still loves you even if what you did disappointed and hurt him greatly.' I watch as Diane hesitantly rubs a finger over the photo with a small whine.

'He... He has a right to be. I'm a disappointment to myself... To mom...' I have to focus my ears at Diane to hear her quiet voice. Seeing this, she glares at me, her own ears fully forward.

'I know you heard me Jackie.' Smiling, I idly place a hand on my belly as a quiet breeze rolls through the cemetery. Telling both of us by scent alone that everyone else is behind the nearby urn storage wall listening in on us.

Still, it doesn't seem to bother Diane.

'Jackie... I thought Mom was weak and submissive. I was wrong.' Carefully Diane takes the locket, holding it close to her chest while whining loudly.

'I was also blind Jackie. When I was young, like I was in this photo dad took. I had no clue what the neighbors were saying, didn't understand the words. I didn't get what people said to mom as she ran errands while I went with her. Nor did I understand why everyone else in kindergarten or even throughout grade school avoided me and the few Bio-Morphs other than me who went to that school. What I did know, and saw every time it happened. Was the smile on my mother's face, the nod she would give to them. Or how she would calmly agree with what they said.' Carefully, Diane takes the chain and lowers it around her neck.

Taking care to make sure it goes under her GPS collar.

'What mom did baffled some, and me Jackie. It made others angry. In turn, it made me angry at Mom when I learned what the insults meant. It's the real reason we moved to fur town when I graduated from primary school, we couldn't stand our neighbors. In my blindness I thought mom agreed with them, that she wouldn't or couldn't stand up for herself. This only made me angrier. Why wasn't my mother, my Alpha-Female standing up for herself, her husband and mate, or me?' To my surprise, Diane sits next to me, bringing her knees up to her chest before moving her tail around her feet.

'So you decided to be the Alpha-Female that you thought your mother failed in being, right Diane?' Glancing over at her, Diane doesn't look back at me. She's staring into the sky, as if she'd see Xin up there.

'Not just that Jackie. An Alpha-Female that no one could question. Yet, looking back, I only became the same as the assholes that went after my mother. It took the shit getting kicked out of me, multiple times, in that hellhole to realize something. The smile Mom gave to them, wasn't to agree with them. It was to throw them for a loop. She showed her strength by politely agreeing with them, to show them that whatever they said, what ever they did. It wouldn't bother her or make her angry.' Tilting my head a little, I continue to stare at Diane, even though I can hear someone moving closer.

Possibly Christine taking a peek at us.

'Then why did you act so combative when they visited you? Or when I did several months ago?' Diane lets out a sigh, which trails out into a whine.

'Because I was still angry at you and them Jackie. I couldn't let go of it because for several years it was a constant companion even if I 'KNEW' I had no right to be. I knew nothing else. Not being angry at my mother was scary, and I was a coward because I clung to the bit of comfort it provided.' Lowering her head Diane glances at me, she then looks back up into the sky.

'That's what ticked me off about you back then Jackie, though I didn't realize it at the time. The way you moved, the way you acted, the way you spoke with others. You screamed a high class Alpha-Female who wasn't afraid. You didn't have to command respect, you got it, then returned it in spades. I was also jealous of you when I learned about your past.' Diane turns her attention to me while pointing to my leg, the one I was shot in while escaping to Canada.

It's better now, but on cold winter's nights it can become stiff. Or when I'm walking with two babies in me.

'Being stabbed was painful enough, I can't imagine being shot, then dragging yourself several miles through woodland just to put up with my bitch asshole attitude Jackie.' Sighing I idly rub the scar on said leg.

Of course talking about it reminds me about said stiffness due to the two passengers I'm carrying.

'Dealing with you was better than being a slave Diane, even if there was a moment or two I wanted to maul you.' Diane lets out a barking and yipping laugh.

'I would've deserved it Jackie. Speaking frankly, you probably should've. Might've knocked some sense into me without having to spend eleven years in prison.' Diane sighs.

'The real kick in the tail for me though is this visit to mom. Blindsiding me with this made me realize I have to let go of my anger. It cost me the strongest woman I knew, and kept me from her when I am 'sure' she must've called out for me in those final moments, wanting to see her daughter one last time. Something I'll never be able to correct no matter how much I wish I could right now.' Diane's ears droop as she looks back up to the sky.

'What about everything else Diane?' Diane Glances back over at me, if only for a moment. Only to look back at the sky again.

'You mean how I feel about being the lowest ranking member of your pack Jackie? Or?...' Sighing a little I adjust the way I'm sitting as my legs and tail are falling asleep again and my babies are kicking.

'All of the above, I guess. The last few times you talked to me before that attempted kidnapping you said some pretty harsh stuff Diane, as well as when I last visited you upon learning I was pregnant.' Diane doesn't respond, move or look at me for a few minutes.

She then silently reaches up and gently pets the head of the stone fox.

'I don't how to feel about being your pack's Gamma Jackie. I mean, I can feel that instinctual pull telling me you're my Alpha-Female now, if I focus on it. It's, weird to feel it towards someone...' Diane sighs.

'I was going to say not family, but that isn't true, is it? We may not be related by blood, but, we both have the same Father. You through biology, I'm just by adoption.' Diane lets out a yipping laugh, not a barking one.

'If I count the time you were a boy named Jack. You'd be my older sister by over a decade.' Diane drops her arm, then moves to sit against the column close enough to me that our shoulders touch.

I'm thankful it's the one on the right, rather than the prosthetic on the left.

'Do you still think I'm a sick freak Diane? That I'm a perverted guy getting 'his' kicks being able to enter female only spaces now?' Speaking without an ounce of malice in my voice.

'Did you know, I was so stupid and stubborn after I was converted. I spent several months denying 'everything' about my body. The way these breasts bounced, the feeling of emptiness between my legs. How my wider hips forced me to sway them back and forth. I had this idea in my head that it would all go away once I escaped. I'd get a pill or a shot and it would all go back to normal. I still have issues, even after I accepted being female, tolerating the unwanted sexual assault I would receive every day.' Diane sighs, looking over to me.

'Like what Jackie?' Making eye contact with her, we're interrupted by a small noise. Both of us turn to look in time to see a flash of Gray-fox fur that is Christine's head. Christine's continued concern about me just makes me smile as I look back at Diane.

She just looks back up to the sky.

'Well, I've been in therapy since high school graduation, it took that long to find a therapist. Go fig.' Looking down at my shoes. 'One problem is I can't stand being barefoot. The feeling of the cold ground or floor brings back memories of everything bad happening to me at Mauri's. Not to mention I obsess about having enough shoes to prevent it. Patrick and my therapist have made a deal with me as we work on the underlying issues, one pair a month. Only if I throw out an old pair.' Diane tilts her head.

'The borderline brothel I was sold to after being converted was named after Mauri, who started out as a pet and companion to Christopher when he was a kid. Christopher and his father owned the place.' Answering before Diane can ask the question I know she would've.

'Then there are the remains of the dam of denial I built up during all those months I was stubborn in admitting what I was.' Gently rubbing my belly and my children within. The feeling of life in me was something I'd never thought would feel like this.

'It's hard to explain why, I'm not sure my therapist's theories are right. What I do know is if I'm highly aroused, excited, or in the middle of my heat. My personality just, shifts. I become 'very' aggressive, determined, and demanding at and of everyone. My memories always feel like they're of someone else after I've calmed down. Because of this, I have clawed and bit Patrick, my husband more than once. Yet he's never blamed me.' I stop talking when I feel Diane's hand join mine on my belly, of course that's when one of my babies decides to kick me again, and in the same spot as earlier.

'Wow, they're lively Jackie...' Diane smiles and I vigorously nod.

'It's worse when they wake me up in the middle of the night...' Looking at Diane, she embarrassingly removes her hand.

'I'm sorry Jackie. It's still, I mean it's kinda weird to think what you went through can actually happen. They can take a human male, stick him in one of those conversion tubes, and they come out as a woman along with being a Bio-Morph. Because of how weird it was, I couldn't understand and I hated how you looked because of that.'Diane sighs.

'I don't know if I could understand without something similar happening to me. Yet, I believe you now, you're no longer a guy. You're a full-blooded vixen, and one who is about to become a mother, no guy would want to become pregnant... I wanted kids back then too, still do now. Yet, considering what I did, I don't know what guy will give me the time of day...' Gently placing my hand on her shoulder I smile at her.

'You still have time, If you follow the example of your mother. Acting like she did, you'll be able to find someone and may even be just as good of a mother. For the love of god though, tell your kids what's going on before they try to figure it out themselves like you did.' Diane laughs, but draws her knees closer to her chest while holding the locket tightly.

Then she goes quiet for several minutes looking at it, and the photo inside.

'So... Jackie... What happens now? I'm your Gamma, I'll be staying in your crowded house considering you; your mother, our father, your husband, all your beta's, and your husband's family are going to be under the same roof.' Letting out a grunt I work to pull myself up to my feet using the headstone. Only for Diane to jump to her feet and help me up, completely surprising me.

Considering the loud yip from behind the urn storage wall nearby, it surprised Christine.

'Well, first you can take as much time as you need to talk with your mother Diane. We still have roughly ten hours till you need to be on my property when your house arrest starts.' I pat the head of the statue gently.

'Second, I'm going to call my therapist and see if she can see you. She's more qualified to handle your anger issues better than I am. Third, mom along with our dad moved out to a nearby property. My husband's parents did the same, they couldn't stand seeing the room Flint stayed in while living there. Not after he was sentenced to life with the only possibility of parole when he's in his fifties if he is lucky.' Glancing at Diane, she shakes her head. Then smiles lovingly at the sculpture.

Her hand gently pats the head after mine leaves it.

'I think we've disturbed my mother's rest enough for one day Jackie.' Grasping the locket, Diane takes a few steps back down the path. Only to stop and look at me. Waiting for me to waddle past before following as we head for the urn storage wall.

As I expected. Christine, my husband, along with Alpha and Mauri are standing there. Of course,the moment we come into sight they all try to look like they're interested in something else rather than us. Rolling my eyes at them, I huff and motion for them to follow.

I'm not mad, rather I'm kinda touched they care for me like this. Still, this was a private moment between Diane and me.

'Christine, this isn't an order. It is a request, do you understand?' Christine just lets out a yip in acknowledgment as she takes a position walking next to me, opposite of Diane. Everyone else just falls in line behind me like a good pack should.

'Diane is going to be staying in my former bedroom Christine. Please keep an eye on her, help her if she needs it, please don't bother her though. Other than that, I'm sure you'll enjoy having your boyfriend when he comes over stay in your bedroom from now on.' I can almost hear Christine's blushing without looking at her as we make our way back to the car.

The way Christine and her boyfriend have become attached, I expect after next heat season she'll have her own kits on the way. Then I can dote on her with a playful smirk.

Christine and Patrick end up reaching the drivers side door at the same time, and settle on doing it together before helping me into my seat. Patrick takes the front passenger side again, not that I would want him to sit elsewhere. Then to my surprise, Christine allows Diane to sit next to her in the back row.

Starting the car, I back out of the parking spot.

'I have some simple house rules Diane. People's bedrooms are their own domain, knock then ask to come in. Please stay out of the basement, that's for things that would reflect badly on your parole. All I have to say about it is it's related to how your mother and I escaped from the united states and let's leave it at that. Lastly you may enter the garage, but please don't touch anything. That's where I have my repair and restoration business set up, when I'm not taking shifts for extra money at The Paw Mart.' Pulling up to the intersection to get back onto the highway, I wait for the light to change.

Diane's ears perk up at the mention of the Paw Mart.

'Dad... Mentioned he renamed the store chain he owned to that when he last visited me. So does he still run it?' A sigh escapes my muzzle as we merge onto the highway for the rest of the trip home.

'No. Our dad retired, and as a wedding gift to me and Patrick, gave him ownership. Said Patrick would need a more, legit, income for our kids. Anthony and my mother for some reason seemed to know Patrick and I would beat the odds and conceive. One to two percent chance, and that's with a human female and a bio-morph male.' Diane seems to collapse back into her seat a little and I know why.

Still, it was what she earned.

'Guess I should have expected him to do that. I did piss our father off royally the last time he visited me years ago. Otherwise, I had figured out he would pass ownership onto me when he retired...' I do the only thing I can do physically to comfort her while I'm driving, moving my tail to brush her legs.

'You still have time to make up with our father, Diane. Dad's in good health, Mom is keeping him that way now that they're friends again.' I let out a chuckling yip at the thought.

'And, he still loves you Diane. He just refuses to show it and makes a pitiful attempt to hide it. My personal advice, exceed the expectations of your parole officer and try to better yourself in any way you can in your free time. That will give me some leverage to talk him into visiting and rebuilding that bridge you torched.' Pulling off the highway, through an exit ramp and onto a thoroughfare, I make the short journey to fur town.

The only thing that has changed here in the last two years I was in high-school after the kidnapping attempt and Diane's eleven-year incarceration, is the memorial dedicated to those who were killed.

'Jackie, wait, stop... I want to look at this...' Diane suddenly speaks up and I just pull the car over and turn on the hazard lights.

Taking up a plot of land at the entrance of the neighborhood, right next to the light rail station is a row of white marble school room desks. Each with a full body sculpture of the deceased student sitting at it, their names have been forever carved into the desk with a small farewell inscription chosen by friends or family.

All in all, counting the two or so students killed in the auditorium after I escaped and the principal along with the head secretary. Fifteen people died that day, not counting the militia.

Most were gunned down in the hallways by Flint's classmates as they tried to escape like I did. It humbles me that I was the only one to get out. All it cost me is my left arm...

Our High School every year on the anniversary brings the student body here to remember and morn. I along with the surviving students of that fateful junior year attend too. Sad to say, many students who couldn't deal with the mental anguish from what they saw in the years following the incident, decided to take their own lives.

Leaving bigger holes to add to the ones left by the raid.

'You weren't directly responsible for their deaths Diane. Please don't put that weight on your shoulders.' Looking at her via the rearview mirror, Diane's ears fold back out of shame.

'No, but I did play enough of a part I should carry some of it for the rest of my life. Between getting the shit kicked out of me for what I did by the other incarcerated Bio-morphs, and then by human gangs because I am a Bio-Morph. I had a lot of time to think about what I did. I came to one conclusion Jackie, If I went to the cops rather than try to sell my former Beta's, none of this would've happened. I was too high on power to think like that and these people died.' I can't fault her logic, so I just frown and wait for her to have her fill of the memorial.

'Jackie. I'm sure the anniversary date will eventually fall on a weekend. If it does while I am still on house arrest, I want to request that I go with you to the service. Still, I can wait till that is over if it doesn't.' Christine looks over at her.

'That may not be a good idea Gamma Diane. A lot of those who still attend are your former Beta's, they may...' She pauses. 'They still do harbor a grudge towards you for what you forced them to do.' Diane only smiles, reaching up to take hold of her new pendant.

'I will accept all they throw at me and try to live up to the example my mother set then.' Diane then looks back at me via the rear-view mirror. 'Let's go Jackie, take me to my new home...' Nodding I turn of the hazards and continue on down the road.

From there it's only a couple minute drive before I'm parking the car in the driveway. Diane's collar lets out a loud beep once we arrive and I get a text message that by doing so, so begins Diane's house arrest. She only looks at me and smiles, before getting out of the car and heading inside to her new living arrangements.

Christine, Alpha, and Mauri go after her while Patrick helps me out of the car and into the house.

We all ignore the news site reporters that were waiting for us, though few. All to catch a glimpse of Diane. At least none of her former pack-mates were waiting for us, so maybe her infamy is waning, and she can get a second chance.