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Lykos Chapter 6 (Vacation)

The Denver airport terminal was vast and sprawling, the ceiling made of milky white glass waves that broadcast the morning light in every direction. A vast fountain was situated in the center of the terminal, the water rising in dozens of tall columns before splashing down into the pools again. Marco stood near the fountain, slowly looking around. His brown eyes took in the raised food court, the escalators, the promenade. He remembered when he'd first come to the Denver airport to start his freshman year. It seemed like he walked off of the plane and into a piece of heaven, or at the very least limbo... but he hadn't expected how different it would seem as a werewolf.

Thanksgiving had brought the people out in force and the terminal was swamped with travelers. Marco could smell the perfume of every woman, the cologne of every man. He could smell sweat, he could smell anxiety, joy, excitement. He could smell hormones and pheromones, attraction and repulsion. He could smell a dozen types of food, every type of fabric and even some exotic, strange smells. His eyes followed those exhibiting the strange scents, watching them move toward the concourses, though some were stopped by security. Marco watched them for a moment before he realized that Udo was on point too. Marco turned, looking at his compatriots.

Yom stood behind Udo and Marco, wearing a thick tan coat with a fluffy fur lined collar that Marco felt only a Russian could truly pull off. Udo had dressed more conservatively for the trip, though he still wore all black in contrast with his light blond hair. Fletcher had ventured off several minutes earlier as they waited for their plane. Marco kept looking between Udo and the man getting patted down by security.

"Cocaine..." Yom said, breaking the silence, "That's what you're smelling."

"Cocaine?" Udo asked in surprise.

"Yeah." Yom said simply.

"So do a lot of our kind go on to be police officers? Work with canine units?" Marco asked curiously. Yom chuckled.

"Not as many as would like to. Not too many police departments give the full moon off." Yom replied. Marco smiled a bit at that, though he was still worried about the answer. Ever since he'd become a werewolf, he wasn't sure what trajectory to set his life on. Even Seamus had a plan for after college. They would graduate and take part in the larger werewolf world. Some stayed near the college but others spread out into the world. Marco knew Keepers had taken on positions as doctors and reporters and politicians, but what of the wolves? What did they do with the rest of their lives? It was just one more question leaving him feeling overwhelmed.

"There you guys are!" Fletch's voice echoed through the crowds. He sprinted over to his friends, moving out in front of them, "They had a special at the gift shop so I got you each something." Fletcher said.

"That's so sweet... Thank you Fletcher..." Udo said, his blue eyes wide in wonder. So few people had gotten him gifts before. Fletch unfurled one of the items in his arms, revealing a midnight blue t-shirt emblazoned with an alabaster white wolf standing on a rock peak, howling at the moon. The constellations were carefully spread out on the screen printed tee.

"For Udo, a white wolf." Fletcher said, handing it over before he unfurled a turquoise blue shirt with a black wolf standing in a lake of rippling water. He grinned, "For Marco a black wolf..." Fletch said, handing it to Marco before he held up the last shirt. Yom's brown eyes went huge as he saw the image printed to it. While it was another wolf shirt, the wolf was radiating every color of the spectrum. His fur had been dyed pink and purple, yellow and red, green and blue and hints of orange... and then glitter had been added, melted into the image. Fletcher grinned.

"Chto za huy?" Yom muttered in shock.

"C'mon, you know you like it... You're just so fabulous." Fletch grinned, reaching over to pinch Yom's ass. Yom blushed beneath his beard.

"You are so totally dead..." He replied. Above them there was a soft chime.

"Attention, Attention. Frontier Flight 189 for Seattle Washington is now boarding. Once again, Frontier Flight 189 for Seattle Washington is now boarding." Came the soft voice of a woman.

"This is so exciting..." Udo grinned.

"I still don't know why I got the rainbow wolf." Yom muttered.

"Maybe because you're so sexy in bed?" Fletch smirked.

"Play nice you two, we're heading to a wholesome family vacation..." Marco said. Yom shrugged a bit.

"I'm not sure how wholesome, my brothers can get pretty rowdy." Yom said.

"Well, I hope they won't mind three extra boys at the table." Fletch said.

"They're always happy to have company, especially ones that know what's going on." Yom said. Marco smiled a bit at that, feeling his stress diminish a bit. This was exactly what he needed. He needed to be somewhere he didn't have to keep his guard up. No rival packs, no keeping the secret. He needed a break, a vacation, a chance to adjust to everything that was going on. This vacation would be perfect for them all.

****

The soft, steady hum of recalculating air filled the cabin of the airplane, bringing with it a general calm. It was barely more than a three hour flight from Denver to Seattle, but Yom and Marco were out cold, slumped in their chairs. Fletcher sat awake, tugging on his bag of peanuts, trying to get the foil to give way. He twisted and pulled, tried to tear, but nothing seemed to work. Fletch brought the bag up to his teeth and bit down, pulling on it that way before he paused, seeing Udo's pale blue eyes and a soft smile.

"Whub?" Fletch murmured around the bag. Udo smirked and focused on his pointer finger, watching the black nail push out into a sharp claw. He reached over and brought it effortlessly through the foil of the bag, creating a slit. Fletch smiled and lowered the bag a bit before tearing the top off, smiling, "Thanks." He said.

Fletcher opened the bag the rest of the way and tipped it back, letting the salty nuts roll across his tongue, some of the powder from the bag sticking to his lips. He savored the tiny treat before he looked back, realizing Udo was nodding off as well. Fletch's eyebrow raised above his glasses for a moment before he leaned over.

"Why are you guys getting so sleepy?" Fletch asked. Udo opened one blue eye, looking over at Marco and Yom before looking back to Fletcher.

"The sound... The sound is so nice. It's like we're safe." Udo whispered. Fletcher looked surprised at that answer and he looked around before looking back at his travel companions. They all looked so at peace, so calm.

"I wish I could hear it like you do." Fletcher said softly. Udo reached over and put his hand around Fletch's head, pulling it down. Fletch was a little surprised but he didn't resist, letting his head come down to rest on Udo's shoulder.

"You don't have to hear it, just feel it. Feel that you're safe with us, that everything is right with the world and we can have our well deserved break." Udo said. Fletcher smiled a bit at that, slowly closing his eyes. He snuggled against Udo's shoulder and soon he felt the goth boy's breathing slow, his body relaxing. Fletcher took a deep breath and exhaled. His hands moved up to pull his glasses from his face, folding them carefully and sliding them into his pocket. Before long he felt his own heart slowing, his breathing diminishing.

The worries of school started to slip away, even the worries of the moment. Fletcher felt his muscles relaxing as he let go of the stresses. He didn't have to worry about grades or tests or keepers or werewolves. In that moment he was there, resting, relaxing, growing peaceful - and he didn't want it to end. Fletcher wanted to sink down into that moment and feel that peace again, the peace he hadn't felt since that day in the alleyway... the moment after Yom had nearly killed him.

The weightlessness of the plane really struck Fletcher. He felt as if he was floating, floating in a warm pool of water, his limbs weightless. His mind began to drift, first through memories and then fantasies, the colors swirling together before it began to reshape into a swamp stretching around him. Trees sprouted up from the water and the ground alike, knitting together a thick canopy over head. Vines dangled from the limbs, though some were likely snakes.

The dream was congealing, firming, manifesting. It was so detailed, from every vein of every leaf to the way the insects moved. It was as if he was really there, in the middle of a swamp. Fletcher stood there, waist deep in the murk, looking around... before he realized something was looking back. Gleaming red eyes peered out from the darkness, looking at him, or looking into him. Fletcher felt fear, but he also felt something else... he felt as if he had succeeded, like he had found what he was looking for.

A shudder rippled through the plane, causing the over-head storage to rattle. The plastic doors clicked a bit and the chairs shimmied, but the turbulence leveled out again. Still, it was enough of a disturbance for Fletcher's brown eyes to snap open in surprise. His heart was skipping a few beats, racing again. Fletcher looked back at Udo's sleeping form and then over at Marco and Yom. He let out a soft sigh, realizing that he might never know the kind of peace they had flying in planes... but at least he had the comfort of the wolves themselves. Fletcher turned his head and looked out of the window, watching the rocky mountains disappear behind them, heading ever more toward the northwest.

****

The road noise outside of the Seatac airport was a bit jarring to the still sleepy werewolves as they moved out of the building. Marco yawned quite big, exposing slightly longer than usual canine teeth, but Fletcher seemed to be leading them all along. Fletch surveyed the people that had gathered outside of the terminal, watching reunions with families left and right. Some soldiers had returned from their tours of duty, there were other college students, and some had just arrived from back east. Still more were waiting for their reunions. Fletcher tried to guess which ones might be Yom's family before he stopped in place.

Two people were standing in front of a copper colored SUV. The man was six feet and five inches tall with broad shoulders, his dark brown hair showing streaks of gray and his long, full beard demonstrating the same. His knuckles were hairy, his shoes huge but his clothing refined. Standing by his side was a woman with luxurious brown hair, neatly done up into a tight bun. While only five foot eleven, she still towered over most of the women moving about the airport. She had on a sea foam green dress with a complex floral print. Both looked well off, but distinctly Russian.

Fletcher slowly turned, his eyes looking to Yom for the final confirmation. Despite Artyom's size, bravado and masculinity, he got the same sheepish smile on his face at seeing his parents that most did. The smile crossed his lips, shaping the carefully manicured beard around it. The woman at the truck threw her arms open wide and Yom moved forward into the hug.

"Artyom, it is so good to see you again!" She declared happily, giving Yom a very tight hug that lifted him off his feet. Fletcher and Marco's eyes went wide at that. Udo chuckled softly.

"And these must be your friends, yes?" The man asked with a thicker accent, looking at the other boys.

"Papa, Mama, this is Marco Iona, Rayne Fletcher, and Udo Hoen. These are my parents, Anatoli and Marya Yashin." Artyom introduced.

"A pleasure to meet you both... And thank you so much for extending your hospitality to us. The plane tickets alone..." Marco murmured. Anatoli threw up his large hand.

"Bah, it is only money... When it comes to family, nothing else could be more important... And it is good to hear that Artyom is finally putting down some roots. His mother and I have been worried about him." Anatoli smirked.

"Papa..." Yom whispered.

"It is true. It is not the way of the wolf to travel alone." Marya said before smiling, "But you aren't alone now so there is no need to get into this discussion again."

"I know your plane trips have been a bit long, is there anything you want to do before the drive to Black Diamond?" Anatoli asked.

"I think... we're good, right?" Marco asked, looking around at the others. Udo and Fletcher nodded, wanting to reach their destination.

"Then in we go." Anatoli said, moving to open the back doors of the SUV for them. Marco and Fletcher got into the back first with Udo squeezing in as well, leaving room for Yom in the center seat. As Yom moved forward, Marya patted him on the shoulder.

"He is very handsome, you were right." She commented. Yom blushed even more furiously at that, climbing up into the vehicle. Before long Anatoli and Marya were back in their seats and the vehicle was pulling away from the airport.

****

While the flight from Denver to Seattle had been utterly restful, the forty minute drive to Black Diamond had kept Marco's attention the entire way. After growing up in Hawaii, the pacific northwest seemed even more alien than Colorado had. There were so many trees everywhere, as far as the eye could see. The houses were spread out more and more and the yards got bigger... The scenery was so nice that Marco had nearly lost touch with the conversation going on, though he turned to look back, watching Anitoli drive and talk at the same time.

"...and that is, of course, how the town got its name... Named after the mining company that set up the first settlements." Anitoli explained.

"And they are still mining today?" Fletcher asked.

"Oh yes... Coal, graphite... and moonstone." Marya said with a faint twinkle in her eye.

"Moonstone? What's moonstone?" Udo asked. Anitoli chuckled.

"Your keepers have not been doing a very good job, have they?" Anitoli smirked.

"Where there is coal and graphite, sometimes there are diamonds... But sometimes there are stones that are far more rare and more important, stones that with a little coaxing can capture the moonlight and hold it... until it is needed." Anitoli said.

"Needed for what?" Fletcher asked softly.

"To release a primal wolf on any day or night of the year, or to access the advanced healing we have during the full moon." Yom replied.

"I bet they must go for a fortune..." Fletcher said.

"Well, yes and no... They are so vital to our community that I try not to charge anything past what it cost to retrieve them. If work goes well in the Naica mine, that could get a lot easier." Anitoli said. Fletcher pulled out his iPhone and quickly searched for Naica and Stone. While there were no immediate results, it suggested crystal instead. Fletcher followed the link and was rewarded with a picture of a massive, superheated subterranean cave full of gigantic pillars of crystals heading in every direction.

"So that's what you do?" Marco asked.

"I manage the mines, keep things on track. Really, it is for my family. I'd be content to retire here but by keeping the job, I can keep track of how things are going for our kind." Anitoli said. Fletcher had been silent about one thing the whole way, a question that was nagging at him.

"So you are both werewolves too?" Fletcher asked. Marya smirked gently before nodding.

"Oh yes, it was how we met each other." Marya explained. Anitoli turned off the main road, heading down a side path.

"I thought I was this wild and brazen boy, sneaking out into the woods when my parents told me that it wasn't safe... Trying to prove that I was tough and could handle anything. When I laid eyes on that magnificent silver wolf, though, I didn't know what to do... But I had to see her again." Anitoli admitted.

"He tracked me every full moon for seven months... Not realizing what he was following. My family have been wolves for generations and this was not the first time they had dealt with people getting too close to the truth. Our keeper was very unhappy with Toli's curiosity."

"It was nearly a case of curiosity killing the boy." Anitoli said, gesturing with one hand to the sky.

"But he was so passionate and so dedicated... I knew there was only one thing I could do to stop them from ending him." Marya said affectionately.

"And the rest, as they say, is history." Anitoli smirked. Udo reached up to wipe his eye with his sleeve.

"That's so romantic..." he whispered.

"Well it is a bit more exciting than how Alexi met Marina..." Marya said.

"A medical conference... Sniffing each other out." Anitoli said as if the very simplicity of it all baffled him. Marco said nothing at that, looking over at Fletcher and Artyom. They had, oddly enough, become the loves of his life. The fact that he loved them both was still surprising, but it felt more and more right by the day. But what story would he have to share? Would anyone find it romantic that Yom had nearly died? That saving Yom's life had resulted in becoming a wolf? Was it romantic that Yom had nearly killed Fletcher to get to him? But it wasn't just that, it was the other side, the side that Matias had pointed out.

Yom had chased after him relentlessly, had planned a romantic date, had tried to win him over... and in the end, he was selfless enough to share that love with another. And Fletcher... Fletcher was so loyal and so devoted, bringing Marco hope whenever he needed it. Fletcher was what kept Marco together and he knew it. How they came together might not have been very romantic, but how they managed it certainly was. Marco smiled a bit, though his eyes drifted out of the front of the SUV as they turned onto a driveway. The path was long, almost a hundred feet but at the end of it was a house... and what a house it was.

The estate was large, the grounds heading out in every direction. The house itself was two and a half stories tall with many rooms. The pale yellow color contrasted with the greenery around, kept lush by the Washington rains. Small lamps glimmered on either side of the driveway and the front door and there were warm lights coming from every window.

As the SUV moved up the driveway, the garage door rumbled open revealing the spacious area within. A yellow Chevie truck sat off to one side along with a set of four dirt bikes. There was a Prius and a Camaro, all tucked away neatly. Marco and Fletcher both seemed rather stunned. Marco thought of his two room house back in Hawaii, the high living expenses and how the beach had been his living room. Fletcher, however, thought of his small New York apartment at street level, how he'd never had much of a yard in the first place.

"Oh my god, did Alexi buy a Prius?" Yom asked in disgust.

"He says it is good for nature, and we are a part of nature." Marya said.

"He also wants to shut down the mines even though they save our lives..." Yom replied. Anitoli let out a slight grunt.

"This is a vacation, save the fighting for the rest of the year." Anitoli reminded his son. Artyom said nothing, waiting for the SUV to come to a stop before he jumped out and moved to open Marco's door. Marco stepped out with Fletcher close behind and Udo in the back, all of the boys looking around in wonder. For the first time in their life, they understood what it might have been like to be truly comfortable.

****

The door to the house eased open as Anitoli led the way in, though the boys had barely made it over the step before they were hit with a wave of amazing smells. Even Fletcher, without the assistance of a werewolf olfactory sense was so inundated that the saliva started building up at once. They could smell turkey and ham and beef, carrots and onions, pumpkin spice, potatoes, gravy. It was every scent of Thanksgiving, every flavor that could be fathomed. Marco nearly fell to his knees.

"In, in boys... No use waiting around the garage." Marya smirked, all but pushing them through the doorway. Once inside, they saw a tall, lithe twenty eight year old standing at the stove with an apron on, working a whisk through thick home made gravy. Hs hair was darker than Artyom's and spiked up a bit and while his face was clean shaven, it seemed that his cheeks were betraying stubble trying desperately to grow back out.

A short distance away, leaning against the cutting board and immersed in the glowing screen of his android phone was a sixteen year old boy. His hair was a dishwater blond color, complimenting the marbled white and gray sweatshirt he wore. While not as hirsute as his older brothers, the teen had a faint bit of unibrow going on.

"Lexi, they have you doing the gravy?" Yom smirked.

"They have me doing everything since they went to pick you up." The older man smirked. Yom moved over, reaching to ruffle the hair of the blond.

"Yuri, as distractible as ever?" Yom asked.

"Oh, when did you get here?" he asked, looking up. His green eyes widened a bit as he saw the new guests. His nostrils flared a bit and he took a few sniffs, eyeing them down.

"Alexi, Yuri, this is Artyom's new pack. Marco, Fletcher, and Udo." Anitoli introduced.

"New pack?" Alexi asked, looking over his shoulder, "Isn't that a bit dangerous?"

"Screw dangerous... It's gotta be more cool than what you did." Yuri grinned.

"Boys, why don't you head to the living room. I can take over from here. How far are we, Lexi?" Marya asked.

"We have about an hour to go." Lexi replied, "Though if we eat your gravy we won't have quite as much time." Lexi smirked.

"So says the doctor, but modern medicine cannot interfere with traditional family values... What is the point of living if we can't enjoy the gravy?" Marya asked. Udo smiled at that exchange. He couldn't quite help himself. It felt so familial, so right... Gentle barbs at one another but they both wanted what was best. He felt so at home.

"The living room is this way. I'll take your bags to our room later." Yom said.

"Our room?" Marco asked a bit hesitantly, wondering if they should try separate rooms while in his parents' house. It certainly seemed large enough.

"I know you may be a bit shy to all this, but we're used to it. This isn't our first run through the park, if you get my drift." Alexi said as he followed them, popping a lid off a bottle of beer, tipping it back.

"Artyom, welcome back." Came a very deep, gravely voice from across the living room. Marco looked over quickly, seeing a rather muscled black man with short shaved hair, a neat goatee and curiously orange eyes.

"Abel!" Yom said, moving over to hug the man.

"Abel is our family Keeper. He's been with us since my mom was born." Yuri said, dropping down onto the couch, playing more games on his phone.

"Abel, this is Marco, Fletcher and Udo." Yom said, gesturing back to his friends. Abel's orange eyes drifted over to Fletch.

"Fletcher... Marco, Udo." He said, "Nice to meet you all." Abel replied. Fletcher was a little surprised he had been singled out first but he smiled.

"We've met a few Keepers, but never one that had been with a family for so long." Fletch said. Abel chuckled at that.

"Well, longer than you might imagine. My family and the Yashins have been together for generations. We grow up together, side by side and we have that emotional bond that Keepers need to protect their wolves. It goes back quite a ways." Abel said.

"Tell them the story about the blood wars!" Yuri said with excitement.

"I'll have plenty of time to weave my stories tonight as we feel the weight of that much stuffing... I'd much rather get to know you boys,,. Did I hear right, you formed your own pack?" Abel asked, moving to lower himself into a chair. Yom plopped himself down on the couch next to his brother while Udo sunk down into the soft creamy white carpeting, running his fingers back and forth through it in wonder. Marco hesitated a bit.

"I guess I didn't like the way things were being run, so I wanted to take my own path. I didn't think it would cause much of a stir, but things were a little rough before we left." Marco admitted.

"The campus alpha used Lotus to try and sway Marco." Yom said. Abel's eyes widened a bit.

"To resist a lotus vision, you must have had incredible strength." Abel said with wonder, though he was a bit concerned that things had taken such a drastic turn. Marco glanced over at Yom a bit briefly.

"I wasn't alone, it worked out." He said sheepishly.

"And you, Fletcher, it seems like you have a story to tell." Abel said hopefully. Rayne looked a bit surprised at that, turning away from the family portraits he was studying.

"Uh, well... I... got assigned a room with a guy who became a werewolf?" Fletcher said. Abel smirked.

"As far as stories go, that could use some elaboration, but it is a start." Abel said.

"I know a story that is perfectly detailed... The blood wars." Yuri said with a grin. Alexi groaned, picking up a pillow, throwing it at his younger brother.

"Enough with your Varos obsession." Lexi groaned.

"When did you get so much into dark lore?" Yom asked.

"What's a Varos?" Fletcher asked.

"The lycans weren't the only group to be punished by the gods throughout the ages. The Varos met a similar fate, but instead of wolves, they were turned into bats." Artyom explained.

"Bats... Blood Wars..." Fletcher whispered, his eyes widening, "Fucking vampires?!" he asked.

"And Yuri's been obsessed since one showed up at his school." Alexi replied.

"They're so rare, and so cool!" Yuri whined.

"And they are even more fiercely secretive than the wolves. Their keepers can be most relentless." Abel said, shuddering a bit at the thought.

"Vampires..." Marco whispered, sinking back onto the couch. Udo grimaced a bit at that, looking over at his alpha. Marco had been having a hard enough time adjusting to the hidden world of wolves. He wasn't sure that this new revelation would sit well.

"So Abel, what do you do when you aren't keeping the secrets?" Udo asked, hoping to redirect the conversation.

"I work with Anitoli at Evergreen Minerals. It is a natural fit since my specialty is with crystals and ores." Abel replied.

"Alexi! What did you do to my broth?!" Marya's voice echoed out from the kitchen. Alexi grimaced before he handed Artyom the bottle of beer and headed toward the kitchen. Artyom tipped the bottle back, taking several swigs before he offered the bottle to Marco. Marco shook his head, declining it.

"He's trying to make us eat healthier, but I think he's forgetting we're wolves." Yuri said.

"Even wolves can be harmed by bad habits, it is important not to forget that." Abel said. Yuri pretended not to hear, focused on his games. Marco thought about how disoriented Artyom had been when he met him on Halloween, wondering just what other things could send a wolf off kilter.

"Would it be alright it we looked around the property?" Fletcher asked. Marco looked up at that. Yuri looked a little confused before he shrugged.

"Sure, whatever... There's a creek and stuff out back." Yuri said.

"I'll show you around. It'd be my pleasure." Artyom said, standing up. He took Marco's hand in one of his and Fletcher's in the other, pausing by the doorway, "Udo, want a piggy back ride?" he asked. Udo's heart fluttered at the idea. He blushed a bit, but it was too hard to resist. He ran over and lunged, catching onto Yom's shoulders before hoisting himself up like a backpack wrapped around. Yom took heavy steps through the doorway, heading toward the back of the house, surrounded by giggling and smirking.

****

An hour had passed and stories had been shared, ranging from the mundane to the heavily supernatural. At one point Abel had even put in a video of Artyom and Alexi in choir performances, but the reflection of the past had come to an end with a bellow from Anitoli bringing them all into the kitchen. Marco rounded the corner with Fletcher right behind him, Yom and his brothers following after with Udo in tow. A massive dining room table had been extended to the limit, loaded down with a massive turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings. Everything was saturated with flavorful juices, glistening with succulence. Anitoli stood at the far end of the table and Alexi took up position at the other end. Marco moved to sit down near the middle, though Marya reached over, gently touching his wrist.

"You will sit next to me, yes?" she asked. Marco knew the request was not to be turned down. He settled into place next to Marya and one by one everyone had their seats. Alexi held out his hand and Yuri begrudgingly gave up his phone, focusing back on the rest of the family for the first time all night. Once everyone was seated, Anitoli began to trim the bird, cutting slices of light meat and then eventually dark meat. While he was occupied, Marya began dishing up sides onto plates and passing them around.

"This is all so amazing, I mean... You are geniuses at cooking and this is totally the best meal I've ever had... And I haven't even had it yet." Fletcher said. Anitoli chuckled.

"You like this, you should see what Marya can do for Christmas. The Strawberry Rhubarb pie?" Anitoli trailed off, kissing his fingers at the thought of it.

"The trick is to not over-sweeten." Marya replied.

"That's a good trick in any situation." Came a smooth voice from across the dining room. A woman with long, flowing red hair moved over, the light playing across the freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were the most radiant shade of blue that Fletcher had ever seen. As she approached, Alexi stood up and pulled out the chair next to him.

"Marina, this is Marco, Fletcher and Udo. They are Artyom's pack mates." Alexi introduced.

"Nice to meet you." Fletcher said, extending his hand. Marina reached out and took it, though as her hand took Fletcher's, he felt sharpening nails press against the skin on his wrist. She tilted her head a bit, a soft quizzical smile crossing her lips.

"A keeper?" She asked.

"Not quite." Alexi replied. Marco stopped dishing up the potatoes, looking over at Alexi. Those words... Those words were plaguing him. Not quite, not yet. Not quite, not yet. They were everywhere. What was he on the edge of? What was about to happen? How did everyone else have a clue but him?

"Sorry I'm late, I had to help out with oncology." Marina said before seating herself.

"It's alright, we understand. Doctors as specialized as yourself are in high demand." Marya said. Once more Marco felt a twinge of hope.

"So Marina, you're a doctor? Do you have a specific field? I can see our senses helping in a lot of different cases." Marco said. Marina smiled a bit at that.

"It is true, it seems to be a natural fit. Canines and lycans can smell cancer cells, blood sugar abnormalities, hormone imbalances. Some can sense oncoming seizures. I specialize in cancer cases but they loan me to other departments." Marina said, "Do you have an interest in medicine?" she asked. Marco gave a weak smile.

"I'm trying to figure out what major would be best for me now, I'm not really sure." Marco admitted.

"Just be careful what classes you take, it can be too short and too expensive for many trajectory changes." Anitoli said. Marya reached over and swatted his arm.

"College is a very important time of life. It is about more than just classes and a career. Frankly I miss it." Marya said.

"You stayed long enough to get two bachelors and a masters..." Anitoli replied.

"Well, it isn't just family that is important." Marya replied.

"Most Keepers focus on science courses. Biology, mineralogy, natural sciences." Abel commented, his voice deep and resonating.

"Really? With all the magic and stuff?" Fletcher asked.

"Keepers possess more knowledge than most humans, knowledge that gives access to parts of our universe others have only dreamed of, but to get there they have to know how the universe works. Science and magic go hand in hand." Abel said.

"This is a lot better than my Thanksgiving meals were..." Udo said, "TV dinners and talk about wrestling." he said, though he started to pale as he realized how embarrassing that was. Yuri, however, was starting to grin ear to ear.

"Did Artyom tell you about what we do after dinner?" Yuri asked.

"What's after dinner?" Fletcher asked.

"Yom, you didn't tell them about the relay?" Alexi asked.

"Relay?" Marco asked.

"The Yashin relay... A good way to work off a large meal. A race, a swim, and then a climb." Anitoli said.

"I wish the swim came last, you boys always get so muddy." Marya said with a gentle smirk.

"Werewolf relay..." Fletcher said softly, realizing that he'd likely be left in the dust, get hypothermia in the water and lack the claws to climb the rock face. He gave a shy, weak smile, "Maybe I'll help with the dishes." he offered.

"Nonsense... Keepers serve a very important function in this." Abel said.

"And what's that?" Fletcher questioned.

"We keep score." Abel replied.

**** The holiday meal had been consumed and enjoyed with such fervor that few left overs remained, but as most families settled down to naps, the Yashin family emerged out onto the back porch overlooking the wilderness. Yuri pulled off his marbled sweatshirt and tossed it over the railing before he pulled off his shoes. Artyom, Alexi and Marina soon did the same. Not wanting to be left behind, Marco stripped down his layers and pulled off his shoes as well, looking over at Udo.

"Maybe I should just... watch?" Udo said nervously. Marco gave a soft smile.

"It's alright, it's new to me too... Even if we don't win, it'll be okay. We can see what it's like to be part of a werewolf family." Marco said. Udo felt reassured at that, taking a soft breath before he nodded. Leaning down, the blond boy untied his shoes and pulled them off, revealing that he hadn't been wearing socks. He was wearing a copper toe ring though, and like his hands, his toenails were painted black as well.

"The relay is in three parts. It is a run past the creek and to the river, a swim upstream to the large cliff, and then a climb up." Abel said, standing at the bottom of the porch steps. "I will judge the transition from running to swimming, and Fletcher will supervise the transition from swimming to climbing. Who wants which part of the relay?" Abel asked.

"Fletcher's going to be at the top of the rocks?" Marco asked, a slight grin crossing his face, "I'll do the climbing."

"As will I." Marina said.

"And I." Marya added. Everyone else looked surprised at that. Marya chuckled, "It is time I got out and stretched as well."

"And of the swimmers?" Abel asked.

"I'll do it." Artyom said. Alexi shook his head.

"Hope you don't mind when I beat you brother." Alexi said.

"Keep that sentiment in mind. I will take the first two thirds of the relay for my team." Anitoli chimed in. Once more his sons looked surprised.

"That does solve the teams being unequal." Fletcher murmured.

"And it leaves Udo and me to do the first part... along with dad... I guess." Yuri said. Abel nodded at that.

"Fletcher, the cliff is eight minute's walk in that direction, past the two fallen trees." Abel said. Fletcher nodded.

"So does it start when we get to our positions?" Fletch asked. Abel gave a half smile.

"Sort of. I'm already at my position." Abel said before he closed his eyes. His image seemed to dissolve into fog, the light that had been playing against it fading. Fletcher's jaw dropped at that but he was soon knocked out of his shock by a tap on the shoulder.

"Don't be late." Yom pointed out. Fletcher gave a vague nod and started moving, heading into the woods. Every so often he peeked over his shoulder back to where Abel had been moments before. Marco watched Fletcher go with a bit of fondness, thinking to his first full moon. Fletcher had been on the top of the box canyon and he had made it all the way to him... He was sure it would be proper motivation again.

"Come, I will show you where the cliffs are." Marya said, stepping down off the porch, heading for a shorter path down to the river front. Marco and Marina followed after.

"And we'll go to the shore." Alexi said, elbowing Artyom. Artyom shot his brother a look before the two took off at a jog through the trees toward the river, disappearing. Udo watched everyone disappear into the various directions, feeling anxious and nervous. Artyom's family was so masculine, so focused and determined. They had as much confidence as they had money, neither of which was familiar to him... but Marco was right. This was their chance to feel like part of the family.

Udo turned to ask a question, but he realized that Yuri was in the process of wolfing out. The teenager was bearing his fangs, tilting his head to one side and then the other as wispy brownish blond hair pushed out along his cheeks, thickening up and creeping down to his jaw line. His ears stretched out taller and honed into points, his eyebrows got thicker and his skin tougher. Yuri flexed his fingers, feeling his claws extend and sharpen and his toenails soon did the same, scratching against the painted wood of the porch.

Several pops and crunches came from near by, drawing in Udo's attention. He turned, inhaling slowly as he saw Anitoli release his inner wolf. His full beard started to stretch out longer, draining of the darker colors and turning pure silver. His hair was growing longer and lightening as well. His eyes faded from brown to a light yellow and his mouth distended around thick fangs. His hands, used to hard work, grew larger and claws emerged, curving and honing in to sharp points. His back expanded, his rib cage parted and he seemed to simply grow in every direction at once. He was huge, far more powerful than even Seamus.

Udo blushed a bit in the presence of the two wolves. Udo turned and looked out across the forest. He could hear foot steps in the great distance, Artyom and Alexi reaching their positions. It was almost time to start the race. Udo closed his blue eyes and focused on Marco, on Fletcher and on Artyom. He focused on the pack he had joined, the people that he loved, the people that had accepted him. He thought of the trip they were on, the family they were becoming a part of... It all came so naturally to his mind, how everything was fitting together, but it caught him off guard. His change had always been spurned on before by fear or anger or lust... But this time was different.

The change caught him off guard, spreading out from his chest rather than his stomach. It was like a great spiritual air was filling his chest, puffing him up before the tingling spread outward. His fingernails throbbed, the black polish sinking into them as they spread out into claws. They extended with the ease of a box cutter, giving Udo no pain. His ears, likewise, extended without incident, fluidly shifting into their points.

Udo's breathing was soft, surprised and elated. His eyes remained closed as blond fur grew out across his cheeks, pushing out into puffy sideburns, honing down to points along his jaws. His teeth grew into fangs, his mouth muscles tightened, his biceps and triceps expanded and his leg muscles tightened. It was so different than any other change he had experienced, so much easier and gentler. Udo's eyes opened slowly, looking far less yellow than usual, almost tinged with a hint of turquoise.

The three wolves steadied themselves and prepared, though Udo wasn't sure for what... until a rippling of the air passed through the trees, moving outward like waves on a disturbed pond - and Yuri was off like a shot, his bare feet hitting the dirt, kicking up bits of bark dust and grasses. Udo propelled himself forward after his young competitor, not wanting to let Marco down. Anitoli, however, remained on the porch, watching them go, giving them a bit of a head start before he joined the fray.

The wind whipped against Yuri and Udo's faces as they ran, pushing through the trees, working up to their fastest speed. Yuri's hair whipped around harmlessly, but Udo's was longer and snapped him in the face. He reached up a clawed hand to brush it back, letting it flow past his head. Yuri flashed Udo a bright, fang filled grin.

"So what's it like to be in a pack of your own? It sounds so cool." Yuri said.

"The first pack I was in really sucked... Too big, not managed well, but this pack is just right." Udo replied.

"I wonder if I'll get my own pack when I go to college... Or if I'll... be like Artyom." Yuri said. What he excluded was as telling as what he said. Udo leapt over a fallen branch, skidding a bit before reclaiming his footing.

"When the time comes, do what feels natural. Doing anything else will make life harder for you." Udo said.

"I'll keep that in mind, even if my parents don't like it." Yuri smirked, "And thanks for the chat!" he added before he sped up, gaining ground. Udo panicked a bit, watching the teenager advance ahead of him. Udo bore down with his muscles, doing whatever he could to keep up.

****

The river shores were cold in the middle of winter, but from the look of Artyom and Alexi it would have been hard to tell. The two brothers stood at the water's edge in nothing but their pants. Alexi was lithe, trim and neat. His hair was short, his face clean, even his chest seemed somewhat hairless, though that was more form upkeep than genetics. Yom, however, had gone far more natural. His dark brown hair was just on the verge of being shaggy, his neat short beard was growing out a bit and his body was liberally dusted from head to toe with a fine haze of masculine hair.

Alexi stretched, flexing his shoulders and arms. It wasn't entirely necessary as going werewolf brought all the readiness one needed, but it was part of his mentality, part of being an athlete. Alexi looked over at his little brother with a bit of a faint smirk.

"I hope you won't get too pissed off when my team wins. It's just the way of things. Your time will come, its just the hierarchy of things." Alexi said. Yom shot back a snide smile.

"If I've learned anything while I've been in college, its that things don't always go the way you expect them to." Yom replied. Alexi started to lean down, stretching his fingers toward his toes.

"I started to gather that... I mean, I knew you were open to the idea of guys for a while, but I never expected you to be a beta..." Alexi said. Yom rolled his eyes.

"It isn't even like that, not with Marco. He respects us, he cares about us. It's so much different than I ever thought it could be." Yom said.

Alexi closed his eyes, his stretches seeming different. As his hands closed and opened, his claws stretched out. His arms began to bulge and hair started pushing out across his chest. Alexi's finely shaved cheeks grew fuzzy and his hair got a bit longer. Yellow eyes snapped open as his mouth filled with fangs.

"You can't serve two masters, a wolf pack is not a democracy. I don't want to see you get hurt." Alexi said. Yom growled gently, his teeth sharpening as his beard got thicker all over. His ears pushed up through his wild hair, taking on their points as his claws came in.

"I'm not going to be hurt... Marco saved me, he made me better. Fletcher, Udo, they're as much family to me as you and Yuri." Yom said.

"I hope so... Our family and our pack are all we have in this life. Just make sure you've chosen the right ones. To demonstrate, I'll show you what the right pack can be like." Alexi said, turning. As Yom turned around, he saw Yuri emerge from the trees as blinding speed. Yuri was huffing and puffing, heading toward the shore.

Alexi reached out and held his hand, waiting for the paw swipe from his brother. Abel wandered up the shore, his orange eyes watching as Yuri tagged Alexi. With that the eldest brother dove into the water. The splash was icy, the waters even worse, but Alexi was off, swimming quickly. Despite his dense muscle, his lung capacity and breast stroke pulled him up in the water, fighting the current, moving up stream. Yom watched Alexi go before turning back anxiously. He took a breath, then another, but then Udo came out from the trees. Udo's yellow eyes were a bit panicked. He was already letting his pack down, but apparently not by much. Udo scanned the shore and spotted Alexi. He gave it everything he could, picked up his speed and practically dove at Yom. As Yom caught the paw swipe, he turned and dove into the water as well.

Artyom's muscled body sliced into the water like a blade. The chill was a bit surprising, but the bracing cold was enough to inspire him. His heart was racing, his muscles throbbing. He went at it, pushing himself with very ounce of strength he had. When they had been kids it had been a race rather than a relay, and Yom was well prepared to fend off Alexi.

Stroke by stroke the brothers competed. Yom was starting to make ground, but Alexi wasn't going to give up his victory. The two fought the current, fought the cold and fought each other. They moved up stream, watching the trees thin out. The sandy shore fell away to a sheer rock face with just a small rock ledge at the very bottom. It was there that Marya, Marco and Marina waited. Sitting at the top, Fletcher dangled his legs off, his eyes widening as he saw the brothers advancing up the waters.

"There's my man..." Marina growled, feeling her teeth sharpen. Her already natural red hair seemed to grow a bit more intense, almost with an internal radiance as it got wider and fluffier. Faint strings of fuzz grew out down her cheek, less pronounced than in the men but still present. With a few more blinks, her eyes shifted yellow as her already long nails became even longer.

Marco was a bit taken aback by the she-wolf. Weeks before he would have sworn he was straight, that this should be turning him on, but after bonding with his pack there was no one else he'd rather see. He turned and watched Artyom and Alexi, neck in neck, the brothers struggling... struggling compared to the ease of the third competitor.

Taking an outside edge, there was another figure in the river. The silver hair was wet and soaked, but the muscled arms cut through the water like power houses. Anitoli was making up time with a vengeance. Yom and Alexi were both surprised as their father passed him, their strokes becoming less efficient. The three werewolves were making great time, practically matching Olympic records, though it looked like something out of a horror movie with the water soaked fur like hair, the fangs and the determined eyes. Alexi and Artyom were giving it everything they had, every ounce of strength, but Anitoli looked like he was practically taking his time, gliding past his sons before he reached the rock ledge.

Fletcher watched from the top of the cliff, looking down as Anitoli climbed out of the water, the droplets running down his muscled chest and arms, evaporating steadily from his body heat despite the cold outside. Anitoli passed Marco and Marina, moving to kiss Marya deeply on the lips. As she was embraced by her husband, Marya's own wolf traits began to emerge. Her brown hair gained streaks of silver, her teeth sharpened and her muscles expanded. Lingering in the kiss but for just a moment, she turned and lunged at the wall. Her claws cut into the stone like the blades of pick axes. She held her own before she pulled. Arm by arm, she began advancing up the cliff face.

Panting and winded, Yom and Alexi reached the shore at the same moment. Artyom moved to beach himself on the rock, climbing up but Alexi merely held out his arm, slapping his palm against Marina's. With that, the red wolf was off. Her hair whipped around before she sprung into the air, claws digging into the well used stone almost eight feet up. Yom looked hurt at the betrayal, having tried to do everything by the books. He grabbed Marco's hand and gave it a squeeze. Marco gave a nod and turned, beginning his ascent.

"There's no shame in losing, you know. This is my third year. You get an edge after a while." Marina said as she ascended, looking up at Fletcher, watching her mother in law navigating her way up.

"I'd like to think I've been practicing for this. Last full moon I climbed a hundred and seventy eight foot rock face." Marco said. Marina hesitated a bit as she did the math, looking a bit perplexed.

"Why would you even do that as a primal wolf?" Marina asked.

"Because he was up there." Marco said. Marina glanced up, meeting eyes with Fletcher. She had assumed the human had been his Keeper and nothing more, but as she tried to figure out just what Marco's pack was like, Marco pulled past her. Hand hold by hand hold, he ascended. He wasn't sure what was propelling him, what his motivation was. He could care less about what the others thought about him winning or losing, though it was rather irritating how they all seemed to assume he would... but that wasn't it. It was something more.

Artyom, Udo, Fletcher... They all needed a win, they needed a victory, and they needed to know their Alpha had their back. They had all done their part to get him there, to give him this chance. This was Marco's chance to serve his pack and make them proud. Marco got a feel for the rock, his paw pads scraping the stone. Despite the many years the rock face had been used, there were veins that were sturdier than others and the sheer stress of the rock wasn't all that different. Marco slowly grinned, picturing the diagrams from his geology class.

Ever so slowly, Marco came to a stop and let gravity pull him down, anchoring against his feet. He waited one breath, two breaths, and then he heard Marina starting to open her mouth to say something. With that he pushed off and propelled himself upwards. Fletcher fell backwards onto his ass before crawling to the edge to watch. As he peeked back over the edge, he saw that Marco was anchored with one hand, though the rock had crumbled beneath his right hand. Stones fell and landed on the rock face, forcing Yom and Alexi to back up, but they were both stunned that Marco had caught up to Marya. Marya turned her head and smiled gently, looking Marco over before nodding gently, then chuckling.

"You... You I like." She murmured.

"Let's go together." Marco replied. Marya tilted her head before her grin got even larger. With a nod, she began climbing again. Hand after hand, the two rose before they reached over the top at the same time.

"It's a tie!" Fletcher called out. Marco and Marya stood up and dusted themselves off. Marya shook her head a little, her wolf features fading back into normalcy as if it had been no large thing. Marco's changes took a few more moments to revert but he grinned a bit, feeling relieved that he hadn't let his pack down... and it was true, the large meal they had just eaten was digesting better. It seemed it had all worked out for the best after all.

****

Night had fallen and the rains outside had grown even more intense. Thick rivulets came running down from the gutters, refracting the warm creamy yellow glow from the rooms inside. The dinner had been cleaned up, the kitchen returned to its immaculate status and everyone was winding down for bed. Fletcher and Abel had taken the first showers while there was still hot water while Artyom had gone last. He padded down the hallway wearing just basketball shorts, barely towel dried.

Moving into the bedroom they had been given, he smiled a bit, seeing that Fletcher and Udo had made up the king sized bed. Yom moved over and hooked one arm around Udo's waist and tackled him onto the bed, rolling with him. Udo smirked and pushed off of Yom's stomach, landing against the headboard with his back, chuckling. Fletch looked up from his luggage.

"What'd I miss?" Fletch asked quickly. Before he could answer, there was a knock at the open door. Yom looked up, seeing Alexi standing there, practically gnawing on a tooth brush. Artyom slowly sat up, looking at his brother.

"Good job out there, you guys... make a good team." Alexi said. Yom was a bit surprised but nodded.

"We do." He replied. Alexi smiled at that.

"Night brother." Alexi said before he turned, disappearing down the hallway again. Udo reached over and rubbed Yom's shoulder.

"You have a good family. A little competitive, but good." Udo said.

"Well, they're part yours now too." Artyom replied.

"It's going to be nice sleeping under one roof together... Once Marco gets up here." Artyom said, pausing, "Where is Marco?" he asked after a moment.

"I think he's talking with your dad." Fletcher replied.

****

The garage was cold with the rain outside, but it was peaceful. The cars were perfectly maintained in their slumber, the garage was clean. With the door open, what light was there spilled out into the driveway and the night beyond. Anitoli stood, lifting a small glass to his lips, tipping it back as the clear liquid ran over his tongue and down his throat. Marco stood next to him a little uncertainly. Anitoli had requested they talk before bed, but there hadn't been much talking... until Anitoli cleared his throat.

"You saved his life, yes?" Anitoli asked. Marco looked a bit surprised but nodded.

"Y... Yes, he was having an allergic reaction when I met him and I gave him CPR." Marco replied. Anitoli shook his head.

"Not just then... He became a fang, didn't he?" Anitoli asked. Marco looked even more nervous before he nodded gently.

"Yes, but... He was just confused. Everything worked out alright." Marco said.

"Everything worked out because you are no ordinary alpha. Twice... Twice he would be dead, if not for you being there, doing what needed to be done. One by accident, but one... The only worse fate than death is to be a fang." Anitoli took another drink, "To feel that pain over and over again rots your soul, destroys you. You saved my Artyom from hell, from being an empty husk. You gave him more than just his life again, you gave him his soul."

"I just did what anyone should..." Marco replied softly.

"What they should, but not what anyone would do." Anitoli said, "You were with the Keeper before, yes? And now you are all together? Even the boy?" he asked. Marco blushed more beneath his beard, feeling quite uncomfortable. At the same time, he liked how devoted Anitoli was as a father. Eventually he nodded.

"It was the only way to make things work, and while I never would have expected it... I feel damn lucky. I am surrounded by the best people I've ever known, and they all care about me as much as I care about them." Marco said. Anitoli smiled and nodded.

"Good... Good. That... That is the legacy I want for my son. Our family line is with Alexi, I have no fear of that, but I want my sons to be happy and fulfilled. For Artyom, I know that is with you now." Anitoli said. Marco nodded softly, lowering his head. He closed his eyes and thought back to all the chaos that had come before the vacation. After a long moment he lifted his head.

"Before I came here, the campus alpha slipped me Lotus and I had a vision. The alpha was trying to show me that I should follow in his footsteps, but... Artyom came to me in the vision. He looked different; different style, a touch older, his... his accent was weaker. He came to me and reminded me of who I am, who I should be." Marco said. Anitoli's eyebrows raised and he looked out into the rain.

"To send a message across time... That takes something extra special." Anitoli smiled gently before he reached into his pocket. Drawing his hand out, he held it to Marco. Marco looked surprised but reached to accept whatever it was. As Anitoli opened his hand, a small transparent stone the size of a marble fell into Marco's hand. Marco looked at it curiously before he looked back up.

"Is this a moon stone?" Marco asked. Anitoli nodded.

"During the next full moon, if you let it catch the moon rise and the moon set, it will hold the powers for whenever you need it, for whatever the reason. Use it to keep yourselves safe..." Anitoli said. Marco closed his hand around the stone, smiling warmly.

"Thank you, thank you very much sir." Marco said. Anitoli said nothing, simply smiling as he finished off his drink.

****

Once more the refreshing sounds of the plane cabin surrounded the wolves, reassuring them and lulling them into a deep restful sleep. Unlike the first time, Fletcher had passed out even deeper than his travel companions, his head resting on Artyom's shoulder, snoring quietly where he was slumped. Marco watched them sleep as best he could from his seat, unable to stop smiling. The weekend had come and gone too fast, but it had done exactly what Marco had been hoping for. It had been the perfect vacation.

Marco finally felt like he was at peace, more than that, he felt like he had direction again. Seamus didn't matter anymore. Even college was just one step. Marco knew he had to focus on his studies, graduate, and work toward a life to support his pack, his family. That was all that mattered. He'd keep them safe, happy, and healthy... and no matter what happened, he knew there was a place they'd be accepted. They had a family together already, thanks to the most unlikely of meetings in the fog. Marco took another breath and smiled even more.

"You look happy. I'm glad." Udo said sleepily. Marco turned, looking at the blond before he nodded.

"I am... I needed this." Marco said.

"I think I did too. I... I needed it for a lot longer than just when I became like this." Udo said. Marco reached over and rubbed his shoulder a bit.

"Well, you've got us now and that isn't going anywhere." Marco said. Udo nodded at that and leaned over, resting his head against Marco's chest. Marco reached up and gently pet Udo's blond hair, waiting for him to fall asleep. Before long he had slipped into sleep and Marco closed his eyes. As he felt his own sleepiness swelling up around him, he wondered just what had made it so relaxing on the plane. The perfect air circulation was one thing, but it was more than that... He heard the heart beats and breathing of his pack, harmonized and in sync. They really did feel connected and as one. Marco gave one last sigh, a sigh of contentment, as he slipped off into sleep himself. It was the perfect end to the perfect vacation.