Hell's Fiery *Harsh content warning*

"I'm having nightmares the rest of my life after that..." Drake muttered as they stepped out of the second to the last hospital room. "Nothing brings to light the realization of just how sheltered of a life you've led until faced with true suffering."

"You're not wrong there." Giorgos said as he rubbed the knot that had formed in the muscles of the back of his neck. "I'm hugging and kissing the wife and kids the second I get home..."

"I can zap you home if you'd like." Poseidon said as he stretched deeply.

"If you don't mind... as soon as we hit this last room." Giorgos said. His gaze moved back into the room where Russ still sat in a chair leaning his elbow against the hospital bed. He was gripping the frail hand of the girl on the ventilator. "Dude, you alright?"

Russ nodded. "You're right... I spent most of the past sixteen years pouting. I was so mad just months ago... I was such a-"

"Fool? Spoiled brat?" Ry filled in as he pushed away from the wall across the hall. "The initial reports are in. Out of twenty girls that were brought in three have already passed, five are waiting for ICU rooms, two are still in surgery. He frowned as his eyes moved to the girl in the bed. "There are three girls like this one... the staff are waiting to see if they survive the night before moving forward with their care. Their bodies are too weak for surgery or transport."

"Ah son, I didn't expect to see you until we made it back to the palace." Poseidon remarked.

Ry shrugged. "I figured you guys would like to know, some of the scouts returned about thirty minutes ago. They still haven't found Fern. The bastard covered his tracks well apparently..."

"He may not be an alpha, but he is still a wolf. He and his loyal guards will know how to avoid detection." Giorgos gave a heavy sigh. "I hate the bastard, but you have to give credit where it's due... he's smart."

Russ pressed the girl's cold hand to his forehead as he said a silent prayer to any deity that was listening before pushing up from the chair. "There's one more room to stop by... then I'll hunt the bastard myself..." He shook the red tent from his vision as he made his way toward the door. As he pushed open the other door, his eyes moved rapidly from the nurse cleaning the room before shooting quickly to the now-empty bed. "Where's the girl that was in here?"

The nurse sent him a sad shake of the head, new tears beginning to build in her already red-rimmed eyes. "She didn't make it, hun... I'm sorry."

His eyes searched the room frantically. "Where's the girl that was with her? Her sister?!"

Teary eyes met his. "She... she left with a few of the others shortly after the little one passed..."

"FUCK!" Russ growled, not fighting the red tenting of his eyes this time as he turned out of the room quickly. "They've gone after him!" He didn't wait for the others as he stormed through the halls toward the main doors of the hospital.

"Who went where?" Drake asked as he hurried quickly behind.

"The girls... Fern!" Giorgos answered in stunned disbelief.

"Wait, where are you going?" Ry asked.

Russ ripped off his shirt and tossed it to him. "Have Rin track me! I'm going after them! I'm not letting them face off against that psychopath alone!"

Ry tossed the shirt to Poseidon. "No wait-" Angry, red eyes glared into his.

"I'll not wait! I'm bringing him down... Tonight!" Russ's voice was more of that of the hybrid alpha form than his own. Most of his body had already begun to shift.

Ry tugged his own shirt over his head. "I'm not asking you not to... I'm telling you to wait on me..." He quickly unfastened his jeans. "I can't talk in my shifted form, but it's faster and will be hell against wolves..." As the jeans hit the floor, a massive grizzly bear stood in Ry's place.

"Fucking shit!" Drake yelped as he jumped back. His eyes shot to Poseidon. "Does he still have the cognitive functioning of a man?" The roll of the bear's eyes as it made its way toward the door and Russ were enough of an answer.

Russ quickly shook the shock away. "Alright... well didn't expect... that..." His eyes moved to Giorgos. "You don't have to come if you don't want to... I know you're not much of a fighter-"

Giorgos shook his head as he tugged his own shirt over his head. "I'm your second, right? Let's do this shit!"

Russ sent him an approving nod as he turned his attention back to the door and fully shifting his own body.

Drake's wide eyes moved around the group. "I... How can I help?"

Poseidon patted him on the shoulder with his free hand as he watched the bear and two wolves leave the building. curious onlookers following them out. "Stay here, keep an eye on your brother and the remaining girls. Keep your phone nearby. I'll be staying with Shelly and the baby."

"You're not helping them?" Drake asked.

Poseidon shook his head. "As a god, I'm limited on how much help I can offer... even when it involves individuals under my protection. But don't worry Ry is strong regardless of his form." He patted the vampire's shoulder again. "Now if you'll excuse me..." Poseidon didn't waste any time zapping into Shelly's room. He tossed the shirts to Rin. "Can you track them with these?"

Rin glanced down at the shirts. "Yeah... but why..."

"The girls went after Fern." Poseidon said with a heavy frown.

Rin's eyes widened. "But they're too weak! Even the ones in better shape..."

Poseidon nodded sadly. "Yeah, Russ, Giorgos, and Ry have already shifted and went after them." He saw Rin's concerned eyes move to Shelly and the baby in her arms. They were both asleep now. "Don't worry, I'll stay with them."

Rin nodded. "Thanks..." He walked over to the bed and place kisses on both their heads. "If they wake can you get them to your palace?"

Poseidon nodded. "I can take them now if it will give you a better peace of mind."

Rin nodded again. "Yes, please. I Don't want them on this island right now. You know well enough what could happen with a pack of feral wolves out for blood against a pack that is running for their lives... Not to mention the fact Russ can't control his form for shit yet."

"I understand, there's no need to explain. Be safe and don't worry about them." He walked over and placed a hand on Shelly. "She and the baby will be safe in a familiar room of the palace. As soon as it's over simply message me and I come back for you."

"There's no need. I'll be able to teleport directly to her." Rin watched as Poseidon and the two people he cared most for in the world disappeared from the room. His brows knitted as his focus moved to the shirts in his hand. "Well... here goes nothing..." He gave fully into the pull of the tracking, letting his body shift to more of a luminous smoke than a human form. It didn't take him long to catch up with the odd trio.

Russ inhaled deeply as he followed the trail the girls had left behind. The surprising scent of Rin brought his gaze up to the luminous purple smoke streak trailing with superhuman speed overhead. {Well, that's new... I wonder if Shell's seen him in that form? I sure as shit haven't... Could he do it before he died?} He threw his head back and gave a loud howl as they weaved through the thick trees and underbrush. To his alarm, not only did Giorgos join in on the howl, but others sounded from farther away. {We're getting close!} The trail took a sharp turn as the trees began to thin out. The smell of blood hit his nose, first causing panic to radiate through his body. His eyes instantly began searching for its source until movement from the cliffs caught his attention. Several wolves battled each other in the wide expanse of the clearing. Six smaller wolves fought alongside a massive white wolf, but they were horribly outnumbered and outsized by the eleven wolves they fought against.

Rin's human form quickly materialized, his favorite sword in hand. "What do you want to do?" He asked Russ as his eyes darted back and forth between the brutal battle before them.

Russ shifted still trying to assess the situation. "Can you tell the difference between the girls and male guards?"

Rin's eyes frantically searched the group. "I..." He shook his head. "No man... sorry..."

Ry shifted beside them. "We'll follow your lead, kid. Use your alpha form and just start yeeting the bastards toward us. With luck, the girls will yield when they realize we're on their side."

"Alright." Russ nodded as he began to shift.

Ry caught his arm. "One more thing before we all dive in... Do you want to leave any of the guards alive?"

Russ frowned, "I... don't really know. Do you think I could trust them?" His eyes moved to Ry. "What would you do?"

"Kill them..." Ry answered simply.

Russ's questioning gaze moved to Rin, who also nodded, before looking down at the wolf beside him. When Giorgos nodded as well, he rolled his shoulders. "Alright... well, that settles it..." He shifted his body into the alpha form and let out a bloodcurdling howl as he darted forward, drawing most of the wolves' attention. His first target was three wolves teaming up on one, beautiful white wolf. {Jaden...} Russ leaped through the air, catching and flinging the closest wolf toward the massive grizzly barreling after him. He didn't take time to admire Ry's fighting skills as he rapidly shifted parts of his body to better maneuver the wolf, eventually running a hand with sharp claws through the wolf's chest and into its heart. Instead, he clamped his mouth down on the second wolf's throat not releasing it until the beat of a pulse could no longer be felt. To his surprise, a spray of blood shot across his face as the white wolf flung the third wolf into the air and the purple streak of glowing fog rapidly shifted into Rin long enough to sever the wolf's head before shifting once again and moving to Giorgos who had a guard that had one of the weakest girls pinned to the ground. Giorgos released its throat seconds before the sword plunged into the wolf's flesh.

Russ hadn't taken his eyes of Jaden for more than a few seconds as he quickly surveyed the fight around them before she had disappeared. His eyes shot frantically around the surrounding area until a flash of white caught his eyes. The large white wolf was backing a black wolf toward the cliff's edge. The white wolf released a long, loud howl as she prowled forward. He sent a nervous glance back to the brawling group. The female wolves who were already free of the fight raced forward toward her. Rin and Ry worked with Giorgos making quick work of the remaining guards. {Good... but...} His attention shifted back to the cliffs. The white wolf was leading a slow assault, now creating a half-circle around the black wolf, Fern. Russ rushed after them shifting to the hybrid alpha form as he did.

Seeing his last possible chance out of the bloodthirsty grip of the bitches surrounding him, Fern quickly shifted to human form. "Russell... Nephew... Help your uncle!" Growls reverberated around the group of wolves as they closed in on him. His eyes darted back to Russ's hybrid form. "You have to help me, they'll kill me... then where will your justice be? You want me to pay, right?"

Russ struggled for control of the hybrid form as he moved carefully to the white wolf's side. He trained his glowing red eyes on his uncle. "Looks like justice is about to be served." The harsh gravely voice of the hybrid sounded foreign to him, but he pushed on. "Actually... I'd say you're getting off easy." His eyes moved around the pack of wolves. "What do you guys say? One life for all the ones he's taken?" When answering howls sounded out around him, he smiled wickedly toward Fern. "I wonder if this is at least the same area you pushed my grandfather from? You know my mom suspected you all along, right? She wrote it all down... and I've read it all." His lips curved upwards more. "And I'm not my father. I don't give a fuck about you." He nodded to the girls who were now snarling beside him. "I care more for them than I ever will you." He took several steps back not breaking eye contact. "I blame you for everything that's ever gone wrong in my life. I despise you." Russ's smile widened even more as a gush of purple smoke shoved Fern away from the edge and into the middle of the angry girls. "Die well asshole." Russ growled, his voice more of an animal than human. "Get your revenge, girls. I'll not stop you." His eyes held Jaden's glowing jade eyes. "Simply howl and I'll be here to help." With that, he stepped away.

Russ had barely stepped out of the way before the wolves were pouncing Fern. He watched as his uncle struggled against the many strong jaws that clamped down on various parts of his body. He even tried to shift but, it was pointless. Even the girls who had seemed weak moments ago were tearing at his flesh. Fern's screams rang out over the snarling and scuffling of the wolves. The sound of crushing bone echoed through the night air. One final crunch put an end to the screams as the white wolf bit through Fern's scull. It was followed by the sick splatter as limbs began pulling free of his body.

***

Jos couldn't help the nervous energy that coursed through her body as she paced the balcony. Thick arms wrapped around her waist, bringing her attention away from the horizon.

"Come back to bed, kitten. It's nearly daybreak." Arei whispered as he placed a kiss to her shoulder.

"I can't sleep... I'm too worried..." Jos muttered with a frown. "I know something's going on, I've heard several wolf howls in the distance."

He gently turned her in his arms, cupping one hand against her cheek. "Kitten, you've already talked to dad tonight. Shelly and the baby are safe with him, and Russ has more than enough backup."

Her worried eyes searched his. "What about the girls? What if even more of them die because of that psycho?"

"Ry and the others will see that they don't." He placed a light kiss on her lips. "If you're that worried, we could fly over there..."

Jos shook her head. "I'd just get in the way... I'm sure Russ can function a lot better without me around."

Arei nodded. "You're probably right about that. I know it's not the answer you wanted, but it's time you realize he's a man..."

Jos felt a blush creep up her neck. "I'm pretty sure I realized that some months ago..."

Arei chuckled. "Not what I meant... I mean it's time you stop trying so hard to protect him, sheltering him from pain... for life. The boy is already an incredibly strong alpha, and he's with a seasoned wolf, a super-charged gin, and Ry..."

"You really think they'll be ok?" Jos asked nestling against his thick, bare chest.

"Yes, I do... Now come back to bed. It's been an extremely taxing night for you." When she nodded against his chest, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to their bed. Climbing in with her, he wrapped her protectively in his arms, holding her tight. "Sleep tight, kitten. I love you." He kissed her forehead.

"I love you." Jos said, snuggling closer. "good night."