"Wind Pack!"

An unfamiliar bark sounded from outside the hollow. Ranger jumped out of the hollow to see who it was and saw Torn was standing with his hackles raised, facing that Bullmastiff from Night Pack, Minerva. Her face was just as impassive as ever as she barked, "I've come to bring you news. The wolves have agreed to the packs' challenge. The fight will take place here on the meadow when the moon is three-quarters full."

"Excuse me?" Ranger stalked up to her, his lip curled. "When I said my pack would fight I don't recall volunteering our territory as the battleground!"

Minerva didn't seem to be even slightly ruffled by his display. "Logically, it's the best place," she said tonelessly. "If there is a problem you may take it up with Songan yourself. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to notify Lake Pack."

Ranger growled a curse under his breath. "Fine. Tell the other pack leaders to meet us at the rocky outcrop near the middle of the meadow. Now get out." He jerked his head in dismissal. Minerva nodded slightly then took off in the direction of the lake.

Desmond had everyone assemble in the hollow. Ranger stood in the middle, his head held high and his eyes fiery. "The fight of our lives is coming," he declared. "We have to be prepared to give our all. Can you promise me that you'll give everything in this battle?"

A loud, unified bark of agreement came in response. He smiled darkly. "Good. We have to prepare. We have only ten defenders, so the hunters need to focus on improving their fighting skills until the battle. I want everyone involved. That includes you, Xander." He gave a pointed glare to the omega, who simply sighed and raised his eyes to the sky. Ranger gave a growl of disgust. This fool doesn't even realize what we're in for.

"Actually, I don't mean everyone," he continued. "I want the healers to stay here in the hollow so that they'll be ready for after the battle."

"After the battle?" Eleazar asked skeptically. "Can we be sure that there will be an 'after the battle?'"

Ranger gave him a hard stare. "Yes, we can. We're going to win this. Those filthy wolves aren't going to take our home from us. No, I can't say with certainty that everyone's going to make it out. But if we give up, then the packs are dead before the battle even starts."

No one raised any more objections so Ranger gave a slight nod. "All right, then. Let's get to work."

~

Ranger sat at the foot of the rocky outcropping, the rest of Wind Pack assembled around him. Despite the dark threat facing them, he felt more alive than he had in ages. Being leader gave him such a sense of clarity, and it was so refreshing having a clear enemy to fight. He had one purpose: to protect his pack. And he would do that, even if it killed him.

Lake Pack arrived first and Ranger exchanged a polite greeting with Cassidy. Soon after Night Pack arrived, with Storm Pack on their heels. Aaron and Gannon joined their fellow alphas at the front.

Ranger could feel Gannon's eyes boring into him and he returned his stare with one just as intense. "I haven't forgiven you for killing my father," the Doberman growled.

"I never forgave him for killing my mother," Ranger replied flatly.

"Please," Cassidy said. "Today of all days, we need to put old grudges aside."

Gannon huffed and turned away while Aaron nodded. "This is a day we'll never forget," he said. "This may be the first time the packs have ever united like this. Maybe it will be the last."

"We have to entertain that possibility," growled Martin, who came up behind them as Frost Pack arrived. "I can't believe I agreed to this."

"They would have come for you eventually," Aaron said simply. "Better to face them now, with us."

Martin grumbled but said nothing more. After waiting for a while longer, Ranger growled, "Earth Pack doesn't seem to be coming." He knew what some dogs would say, that they couldn't be blamed for wanting to stay alive, but he couldn't bring himself to agree. This could be the end of the packs, and they were just going to hide?

At last, their opponents appeared on the horizon. Ranger narrowed his eyes as he scanned their numbers. He guessed they were about equal in number to the unified packs. He guessed they didn't follow any code of honor like the packs did, but that didn't matter. He certainly wasn't going to give them any courtesies.

Songan, the tall silver he-wolf that led the wolves, stepped forward until his voice could be heard. "This is your last chance, dog-chieftains," he called. "Leave or die."

Ranger strode forward, side by side with his fellow alphas. "If leaving means you desecrate the land of our forefathers, then I chose death," Gannon spat.

For once, we agree, Ranger thought. He bared his teeth at the wolves, his hackles raised and his tail and ears forward.

"As you wish." Songan bowed his head and then turned back to his pack, throwing his head back and letting out an ear-splitting howl that called for their attack.

As the wolves charged, Ranger felt his jaws open wide in a dark grin. The howl sounded like death calling his name, and he wasn't afraid to answer. The hole was yawning wider than ever, calling for blood to sate its hunger. As he collided with a wolf and the furious battle began to rage all around him, he felt darkness wash over his being and he gave in to his bloodlust.

There was a part of him that told him he would regret his actions, that he would wish he hadn't given into the darkness, that he had held on to that little bit of light that was still inside of him. But there was no honor here, no sense of chivalry which would urge him to restraint. Here there was nothing but kill or be killed. And he welcomed it.