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Chapter 6

Patricia Sparks sat in the lovely crystal chamber with two of her oldest friends. She looked haggard and tired, but her story was finally over. Beside her Susan Sims sat with her hand resting on Patricia's in a sign of concern and trust. Across from the women Greg sat with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed in concentration. "So let me get all this straight," he said after about five minutes of silence between the three adults.

"#1 Fred isn't Kyle's father... you only know that the man who he belongs to was a powerful super hero...

#2 Kyle sought out the pack to help him stop Gadstone from building a park across the street from your house... He became a member at that point, and is apparently a powerful member of the pack despite you not being able to tell us his name and rank...

#3 Ben was asked to join the pack so he could be with Kyle as a... a mate?" Patricia nodded at the term and Greg continued.

"#4 Ben is now both a powerful member of both the pack and a member of the mithril order...

#5: The pack is planning on attacking the vault to free Victor Fang, and you're afraid that if they discover Ben is both a pack member and a member of the order it will put us all at the mercy of the court?"

Patricia nodded again and tried to look as serious as she felt. She desperately hoped her friends could tell she wasn't lying. "Ben and Kyle are good kids," she said softly... "In fact you already saw them in action if what you told me about the forest is true," Patricia said and the two heroes shared a shocked look. "The lightning and Black Wolf's words! Of course! How did it escape me! Ben's electricity is always red! By the light he's the Red Wolf!"

"Kyle's is always blue," Patricia whispered.

"He must be the Blue Wolf then," Greg said softly.

A soft nod was all Patricia could manage. "You must not betray their secret though," she added swiftly.

"I can imagine the pack wouldn't be happy to hear that Ben is Electron," Susan said softly.

"No that's not it," Patricia said and shook her head. "Even if they knew it might give him even more power as a wolf. If they knew he could fly and use the powers of the light orb they would have already asked him to use it to help them destroy the vault! Don't you see? If they found out how powerful Ben is than they would go ahead and attack the vault right now!"

"That's a death trap! The only way they could free Victor is over the dead bodies of countless Enforcers and Judges. Not to mention the High Court itself, which is comprised of no less than six super heroes just like ourselves and much more powerful!"

"I've heard the fangs and thralls whispering about taking the Vault from the inside and out. They plan on freeing Victor and then fighting into the vault to meet him if the rumors are true. Meanwhile every pack member in the whole city is going to attack the outside of the vault. They're willing to die to get their leader out! I just don't want my little boy to get hurt. I still love him and Fred... even Tanner who is Fredric's mate now... I love them all!"

Susan and Greg exchanged a stern look. "What if you could help them Patricia... if Kyle had super powers then it's likely that you might have some too! If you do have some powers, even the slightest hint of them, we might be able to give you something better than our protection. You could join the mithril order!" Susan suggested triumphantly.

"But why?" Patricia asked. "I'm no fighter, and there's no time to learn how to use any powers I might possess."

"That's not it," Greg said seriously. "If you join the mithril order now it would mean that the High Court has issued an active execution order for a member of the order! That's a violation of their own laws! It would also be a betrayal of our agreement with the court! If they don't terminate their order to kill you it would be like declaring war on the mithril order," he explained.

"We could help the pack without breaking the law," Susan said and grabbed Patricia by the hand. "Tell me you'll at least touch the orb and try it out! Oh please Patsy, you must do this to protect our sons!"

"Well... I suppose there's nothing to lose," Patricia said and giggled. "I always did wonder what it was like to be a super hero!"

Before the three friends left the room Greg stopped them as he remembered something. "Before we do this though I might warn you about our leader and Ben," Greg said seriously.

"What about them?"

"You remember when we told you and Fred that we had Ben with a surrogate father?"

"I remember it now," Patricia said and nodded as the memory returned to her. It was ironic that they had sought out a surrogate father as a pair. Patricia had felt so guilty for cheating on Fred that after she had heard about Susan and Greg she had told her husband everything. He hadn't been upset at all, but she still didn't know the identity of the man she had slept with. It had all been arranged by a mysterious woman Patricia had known from her childhood.

Greg nodded before he spoke. "Righteous Shield is his surrogate father. Biologically Ben is so much more than just an electricity using hero... if he learns to use his father's powers... as well as being both a hero and a wolf... he could well be the strongest hero alive today."

...

Ben didn't get home until well past morning. A very horny pair of wolves had kept him busy most of the night and through the next day. It had been early when he finally got some sleep. Surprisingly neither of his parents were home at all. Ben slipped on his power watch and turned it on. The device whirled to life and a message appeared on the device. "We know everything. Come to the fortress ASAP... Mom & Dad," it read.

A cold chill went down Ben's back as he read the message. Was he in trouble? What did they "know everything" about? Faster than lightning Ben powered up and shot out of his house. He was more concerned with what his parents had learned from Patricia than being spotted flying out of his window. Ben was sure he must have broken some sort of record for flying to the mithril fortress, and judging by the sound he made when he finally stopped he must have been close to breaking the sound barrier too. As the young hero landed his watch went off again, but this time it was Righteous Shield calling a meeting. Ben hurried to the council chamber and took his seat before anyone one else arrived.

About five minutes later Righteous Shield, along with Ben's mother and father, walked into the room followed by Patricia Sparks. Silver Striker and Neon Flash were late showing up, so the meeting room was uncomfortably silent for about ten minutes. Once the last two members were in attendance Righteous Shield started the meeting. "It has come to my attention that this woman is wanted for the crime of conspiring with the pack to bring down the High Court. She is innocent of this crime, and the orb of light has been used to illuminate the truth on the matter," Righteous Shield said and smiled as he offered Patricia his hand. She stood from the guest chair that had been placed at the table for her as Righteous Shield continued, "the orb has also sensed the presence of super powers within Patricia Sparks, and she has formally requested honorary membership in the mithril order to ensure her protection from the court."

"How dare the court accuse an innocent citizen of such a crime! What verdict was passed on this woman?" Neon Flash asked angrily.

"They tried to purge her and her family without a trial," Neutron quickly replied.

Everyone who didn't already know this gasped. Even Righteous Shield hadn't heard that part of their story. "This is an outrage!" Silver striker said and stood abruptly. "We should be beating down the vault doors and demanding to see the High Justice about this!"

"Patience Silver Striker," Righteous Shield said and looked around the table of concerned and angry faces. He continued to speak once everyone had calmed down, "I will initiate a vote for sanctuary and a vote for honorary membership. If you would cast your votes into the orb," he said and gestured to the orb in the center of the council table.

One at a time each member placed their hands on the orb and silently cast their votes into the mystical pool of light. When they were done Righteous Shield put his hand on the orb and received their decision.

"The vote for sanctuary and honorary membership are unanimous," he said when he opened his eyes. A slight smiled worked its way onto his face before he spoke, "there is one more vote we must make today my friends. It is not for me to speak of it though. I believe Electron has something to say about his report on the dealings of the pack, and perhaps about what has happened to Patricia this last night.

Ben stood and cleared his throat, giving his parents and Patricia a weary glance before he spoke. "I have completed my investigation into the pack, and from what I have found they are indeed planning an attack on the Vault." A few soft whispers were the only result of his announcement. "I am also aware that the Pack wishes no harm to our own organization and those of us who support the use of heroic powers to protect Angel City from those who would seek to exploit her and harm her citizens," Ben said before pausing to collect his thoughts. "That being said, in light of these current events I believe it is in the order's best interest to support the pack over the High Court."

Nobody dared speak as Ben sat and Righteous Shield continued his own speech. "Our last vote is one to move against the High Court, and to permanently cease our cooperation with their organization. In other words, this is as close to a declaration of war that a group of good heroes can make. Please vote now," he said and gestured to the orb. Again each member placed their hand on the orb and cast their vote. When it was over Righteous Shield put his hand on the orb to sense their decision. "The vote to oppose the High Court passes by unanimous consent."

"God help us," Patricia whispered softly and everyone looked up at her at that moment. She blushed at the attention, but realized her words couldn't have better phrased the feelings of those gathered in that room.

There were a few other minor matters to discuss, but mostly the meeting was over after that. Patricia was led away by Neutron, and after the meeting Proton stopped Electron and told him they needed to talk before he left the fortress. Ben found his parents in a room with Patricia who looked guilty when she saw Ben. "Before we talk," Ben said and took his watch off he made a show of pushing the off button on the device before placing it on the table in front of his parents. They followed his example with mixed emotions. Once the watches were off Ben concentrated on his heightened senses. When he was sure none of the other members were nearby, or trying to eavesdrop, he continued. "Righteous Shield can monitor our conversations through the watches," he said and frowned at the three adults. "Now what did you want to talk about?"

"Patricia told us everything," Susan said as tears came to her eyes. "Tell me it's not true son, tell me you didn't join the Pack!"

Ben shook his head and frowned at his mom. "It looks like none of us are good at keeping secrets," he said and shrugged. Instead of talking Ben just removed his clothes and stood unashamed of his naked state before his parents. Not only was his furry waist a give-away, but the tail hanging from his ass proved his point as well. Regardless he shifted before them, quickly turning from man to beast in a matter of moments. He couldn't stand up on his hind paws so he crouched before them in his beast form. "It's not so bad once you get used to it," he said in a gruff rumbling voice. "I'm mostly bullet proof now, and stronger than Righteous shield by a long shot," he said and tried not to sound too proud of that fact.

Susan cried softly, but Greg stood up and walked over to the hulking wolf monster that was his foster son. "By the light," he said and put his hand on Ben's furry arm. "You're as big as a truck!"

Ben chuckled. "Black Wolf finally outgrew me, but Kyle's still a runt compared to me," he said jovially and reached out to touch his mom's shoulder.

It was Patricia who soothed her though, "he's still Ben inside all that fur and muscle Susan," she said and helped guide the trembling woman's hand as she reached up to touch her son's huge paw.

When she felt his soft rust colored fur, and the warmth of his gentle touch, a bit of the terror inside subsided. She slowly stood and hugged the wolf beast. It wasn't easy to see past the monster, but she wanted to believe her son was still a good man, so she tried to picture him in her head as a human when she hugged him. A big hairy human with arms as big as his mother... but a human regardless.

Eventually Ben did change back and get dressed, but it looked like he would need to shave again if he didn't want to keep the short beard that had sprouted on his face. "There's one more thing," Susan said before they all left the small room. "I want you to know about your real father Ben... I think you have a right to know who he is..."

"But mom," Ben said and frowned, "I already know who my real father is."

...

Kyle frowned as he looked at the three wolves seated in the darkness of the room he shared with them. The four of them were all human, and one in particular was a HUGE surprise to Ben. It was Rodney! His childhood friend was Saber Wolf! Kyle felt so dense for not putting one and two together, but he had always known Rodney was rich, and his last name was Fang after all! It made sense when you thought about it... but what Rodney was talking about did nothing to ease the young wolf's mind. "... and then they burned down our entire mansion! I mean hell! Me and mother haven't seen my father's face in years and suddenly the High Court is burning our mansion to the ground?"

"They attacked my family too," Kyle offered, but Rodney didn't seem too impressed.

"Your parents aren't super heroes Kyle," Rodney said rudely earning a growl from Black Wolf.

"One of them is," Black Wolf said and put his furry black arm around Kyle's shoulders.

"Speaking of that," Rodney said and blanched at the sight of the acting alpha, "What's happening to you Black Wolf? You're looking more like a wolf and less like a human nowadays."

"It's got something to do with Blue Wolf here, but I don't quite understand what's going on with my body right now," Black Wolf said and pulled Kyle into a sloppy kiss.

Timber Wolf frowned at the pair, but Rodney looked on in obvious interest. "I have a theory about that actually," Timber said and tried not to watch the lewd display.

"Oh?" Black Wolf said and broke away from the steamy embrace of his cub's sexy bearded lips.

"When I was turned by Victor he absorbed a portion of my powers. Same with his oldest son and with you," Timber explained. "It was only after making us that he gained the power to turn into what we would call a 'wolf' today. After turning countless other humans he began to lose control of his powers and they started changing his human body. He couldn't let his identity as a human go though, and so he passed the mantle of alpha to his son, and led us through Saber Wolf. Victor was always more powerful when he bothered to transform, but over time his son began to act more and more like the alpha. Perhaps Victor was always in control of who the acting alpha was, but when Saber died that duty fell to you. Understandably the increasing power of the pack is changing your physical form to reflect your growing association with its power."

"What do you mean by that?" Black Wolf growled.

"What I mean is Victor is making you an alpha both in rank and body. He's letting you surpass him in power like he let his son; back when Saber Wolf was still alive," Timber explained.

"So the stronger the pack gets the stronger I get?" Black Wolf asked.

"In a way yes... adding more members to the pack makes us all stronger, but you gain a measure of those member's strengths when you turn them. Creating two new wolves in such a short time is clearly having a negative effect on your human body. If you turn any more supers you might cease to be human altogether," Timber suggested.

"You mean I could be like Saber Wolf was before they killed him?" Black Wolf asked quickly.

Blue and Saber both looked confused, so Timber Wolf explained for them, "Before the court killed him Saber Wolf was hardly even human anymore. He was a werewolf all the time, and when he transformed he was a monster like nothing we'd ever seen. More than half our acting members and most of the more powerful fangs and thralls in the vault belong to him. Even to this day those changed by him are changing others and making more thralls and fangs. If he were still alive he'd surely be the strongest wolf in Angel City, eclipsing even his own father from whom the curse originated."

"I thought Victor Fang was a super... what's this talk about a curse," Blue Wolf asked.

Timber laughed at the question. "You don't even know our history beyond what you read in comic books, eh kid," he asked and chuckled. "No matter though, old Timber Wolf is still here to tell it to young pups like yourself." Kyle almost thought he sounded condescending, but the elder wolf's scent said otherwise. "Back when Victor was just a super he could change his shape into anything he wanted, he also had some minor powers over arcane magic. Similar to what some supers call sorcery today. In particular Victor was good at summoning beings he called demons to this world."

"You mean demons... like in the bible?" Rodney got a stern glare for interrupting Timber Wolf's story.

"You can ask your father when he's free if you want," Timber said gruffly to indicate that he didn't know the answer. "As I was saying, Victor could summon and control demons, or beings of pure chaos, to do his bidding. They never lasted long without his powers to sustain them, but they were a sight to behold regardless," the elder wolf explained. "One day, when he was still a young man, Victor summoned a demon who was much more powerful than the others he had dealt with. Some pack members think it was one of the prim evils, but Victor himself is the only one who could possibly know that. He did tell me once that the demon offered to adjust his powers under the condition that Victor lose his humanity as a price for the blessing. For better or worse the curse was born, and Victor began to turn those around him into the beasts we all are today. The pack was born from his new powers, and Victor swore us all to secrecy. Back then we were never allowed to show our wolf forms to other humans or supers."

"But the pack is known all over now," Blue Wolf said and frowned. "When did he change his mind about that?"

"I don't know," Timber said flatly. "One day he just started telling us wolves to do things we'd never done before."

"Like criminal things... right?" Blue asked.

Timber shrugged before he spoke, "more than just criminal things... it's like the stronger we all got the more he grew to hate the human ideas like laws and rules. He even encouraged chaos in his own ranks!"

After the story telling was over the wolves discussed their plans for breaking Victor out of the vault. Timber was still convinced that they needed more power if they ever hoped to succeed. "What about what you said earlier," Black Wolf said and frowned.

"About Victor?" Timber asked and furrowed his brow.

"No, no," Black Wolf said," about getting stronger if I turn one more super."

"Wait... you aren't actually considering that are you?" Timber Wolf asked in shock.

"If it adds another super to our numbers, and gives me enough power to be like Saber Wolf, than hell yes I would consider it!" The elder wolf said gruffly and fixed Timber wolf with a stern glare.

Timber shook his head, "you've lost your mind, but if that's what it takes to free Victor then that's what it takes. Only one hitch in that plan Black Wolf; it would have to be an extremely strong super hero, and you would have to turn him willingly or the curse won't give you a portion of his powers like it did with Red Wolf and Blue here."

"But who could be strong enough for it to work?" Blue asked and looked at Black Wolf who shook his head.

The sound of the door opening and the arrival of a third young man distracted the four wolves. "I have just the person in mind," Red Wolf said and his eyes flashed a feral yellow in the dim light of the room.