Two weeks later

"My sweet girl!" I nuzzled my face into Maeve's neck and she squealed, kicking at me as she giggled. I chuckled too as I pretended to nom on her neck and little jaw. "I'm gunna eat you!" She squealed with laughter, wiggling as I chuckled against her sticky skin.

"I mean, you have to admit this is much more comfortable." Mike's female, Dana, said it sweetly and I glanced up as Ariel gave a small nod. "We so love having her here." The females to my surprise, a good portion of them, had worked at convincing Ariel that my visitations should be done in the craft hall. Apparently they had been working at her saying that they needed to see Maeve, that having her sweet laughter and just her very presence made them feel better over the lost little ones.

I knew it was a stretch of the truth. The females were pushing back against Stenton how they could. They were giving me time with Maeve away from Getts. Yah Ariel was there but Getts wasn't allowed in the hall because he didn't have any females who were there. It definitely made me feel better and it had made Maeve feel better too. Without that ever present tension, both of us were more relaxed.

"Dada!" She squealed and I chuckled, lifting her above my head with a grin.

"Yes, my sweet girl! I'm your dada!" I brought her down, kissing the tip of her nose and she patted at my face, her tiny fingers shoved into her mouth. She had cut another tooth and I hated that I was missing it. This was a different sort of ache than when Menza and her were gone. This was worse. This was I could see her but I couldn't be around her. She was growing up without me because Stenton was throwing a fucking fit and trying to control me.

I was just glad that everyone now knew when I was to have my visitation with her and they were always watching. The males especially watched close. They had heard what I had said to Stenton, warning him about Maeve's safety. They were all on edge to begin with and I had a feeling most of them were wanting to ensure my word over my daughter was being followed.

All the males were pissed at Stenton over how he was handling the Menza situation. I wasn't able to say anything but Mike worked quickly. The males were now whispering about how I didn't talk about her because Stenton must have Commanded me. It wasn't quite the truth but it was enough to piss them off. Especially coupled with Stenton ranting and raving about how the standards were different for her than the rest. Which we all knew was bullshit. Me because I knew what Stenton really wanted and the males of the pack because they knew if Stenton could arbitrarily remove the right of protection from one female then the rest were unsafe.

I was glad to see that Regan was getting even more ostracized. Where it had just been the males with females to protect that had singled him out, now every male was doing it. There wasn't a place in the pack where he could go where someone wasn't watching him and updating the rest of us on his location and what he was doing. I liked that. I liked that he was being watched so intently. I looked at it as karma for him stalking Menza.

However I could see it wearing on him and he stuck to Stenton closely, which I knew pissed Stenton and Getts off. They didn't like him, none of us had liked him, we tolerated him and he was protected because he held the Delta claim, not because he was actually liked. I just liked to see him suffering. I wasn't allowed to do anything against him, which I knew the males were pissed at. I was just relieved they seemed to understand that it wasn't my choice, that Stenton had a huge hand in that.

It wasn't enough, not in my eyes. Not for any of it. I still couldn't be a male in charge of my own home. I was still tightly leashed and the extra eyes on me made that shame twist my belly even worse but I knew there was little I could do to correct that. I had to live with what I had allowed. The Commands forced me but at the core of it I felt like the lowest sort, a male who was defeated by nothing but words. Yah the Command did what I did but it didn't stop the shame.

"Da!" Maeve shrieked and I kissed her cheek, cuddling her close as I shook out of the thoughts. There was no need for me to get lost in them while I was spending time with her.

"Yes my sweet girl." I cuddled her close and she buried her sticky, pudgy little face into my neck and inhaled and exhaled aggressively, grabbing my shirt tightly with both hands. She gave the tiniest growl as she did so and I damn near melted. I chuckled, "So tough! My tough little pup!" I gave a playful growl that had her giving one in return as she pulled away from my neck. She growled again and I growled at her in turn and she giggled before growling again.

"She started that a few days ago." Ariel's voice was chipper but it put a bit of a damper on my excitement at the small, playful growling. "It's absolutely adorable!" I did my best to tune her out. I didn't want her reminding me that Maeve wasn't growing up with me, that I had to watch her from the outside while others got to see her growing up. It was different with Menza, she tried so hard to include me, taking videos and pictures. I had memorized all of them by now and I was so thankful for her for doing that. The two situations were completely different. Menza had no choice, Stenton did and I hated Stenton for it.

"It is! You know, I would just love to have her over for a playdate again. Amaya would be absolutely giddy to be able to play with her again. She does love babies and it's just been so hard since everything happened." Dana had been working on Ariel for a while, trying to get her and Stenton more comfortable with Maeve being outside of their house. As Mike told me, Stenton wouldn't expect a female to subvert his will. I knew they had a few playdates, only two or three but it was a start.

"I don't see why we can't come over for a bit today. My Alpha said he would be busy till supper and to keep myself busy. I'm sure he wouldn't mind." She sounded somewhat uncertain of it and I knew Stenton would be pissed that she took the initiative but I wanted her to do it. Sure it wasn't like I hated her, she was doing Stenton's bidding, but I honestly couldn't bring myself to care about any repercussions she faced. What I cared about was ensuring I had a chance to take Maeve and run, that was it. I couldn't waste my time caring about Stenton's female. Sure she didn't have much of a choice but she was still complicit in holding my daughter hostage. That didn't inspire a lot of empathy.

I gave a low growl to Maeve and she giggled and gave one back. "So good! You are doing so well!" She gave another growl and I kissed her cheek with another soft chuckle. She patted my face with sticky fingers as she pressed a drool covered, open mouthed kiss to my face. "Oh thank you, I love that." I said it as seriously as I could and she giggled again.

I was glad she was more relaxed and I was especially glad to not have Getts staring at me like he did, all smug and arrogant. He knew how much power he had over me, how much power Stenton had over me. He liked it, enjoyed it. So having him unable to be around was great. He had to wait outside, he wasn't allowed to watch me with Maeve and I liked that.

He could pout outside and Stenton could get pissed but I loved being able to spend my time freely with Maeve. We helped paint furniture, some of the females loved having her put little hand prints in the back of drawers as a 'surprise'. We would go to the crafting area and do little things, the females helping me. It felt so much nicer. There was still a pall hanging over us. She still asked for Menza in that soft, sad little 'Sa', and I still thought about how much Menza was missing but it was better.

Ariel came over and I resisted the urge to bare my teeth at her. "Alright, time's up. We can do it tomorrow though. I can talk to my Alpha about it." She tried to seem friendly but it didn't help the agitation I had at Maeve being taken away from me.

I held her closer, tight to my chest. She fussed, as if sensing she was going to be taken. I hated it but I knew I couldn't do anything about it, at least not yet. I pressed kisses to her cheeks, nuzzling her close. I breathed in her scent, kissing her chubby cheeks again and then again.

Ariel stood there, her hands out and I resisted making a face as I hesitantly held Maeve out towards her. She scooped her up and Maeve fussed and reached for me. I hated that. "It's alright, baby girl." Ariel tried to snuggle her and Maeve gave a sharp cry, her little hands reaching for me. I hated seeing it and I wanted to grab her again, soothe her but I caught Mike's female's eye and she gave a small shake of her head. I wanted to argue but she stepped forward.

"Let's go to my place. She won't be fussin' with Amaya helping play with her." She grasped Maeve's little hand and smiled at Ariel. "Come, let's go have fun." I could see Ariel's indecision but I stood up and knew I needed to leave. If I stayed, I would try to take Maeve from her. It was easier if I left the hall so I couldn't hear Maeve's little fussing, wanting me.

I gave a half hearted wave to the females as they called out their goodbyes but I could see them all side-eyeing Ariel. They didn't like what was going on anymore than I did. I did feel a little better that the pack was stepping up behind me as best as they could. Everyone was watching Stenton and his female, especially after I had said what I had to him. Then everyone kept an eye on Regan and even Getts was getting looks. It was clear the pack was beyond shaky at this point, no one trusted the ranks and it was more than clear.

I knew Stenton was getting more and more agitated with each day that passed. He wanted control and he wasn't getting it, in fact he was losing control. He deserved it but I didn't want to see what would happen when he slipped up and went nuclear in his attempt to regain his control. It wouldn't be good for the pack, that was for sure.

I pushed out of the hall and ignored Getts as he immediately looked at me. Mike was already there and he lifted his hand. "Hey, do you mind coming with me? Nash and some of the younger males are contemplating becoming pack warriors. They wanted to talk to you about it." It was a good excuse, as good as any really. I knew Getts and Stenton didn't like how close Mike and I were getting but they didn't have any proof to keep us apart. It wasn't like with Jason where they knew Jason could tell me a lot of shit. they had no proof Mike knew anything, which meant they couldn't keep us separate.

They didn't like that but then again they didn't like me around anyone that wasn't them.

"Sure. They at your place?" I looked at Mike and he should his head, clapping me on the shoulder.

"Heading to yours. I figured that was the easiest." As he spoke I nodded, falling into step beside him. Getts' gaze seared into my back but I knew he wouldn't say anything, not that he could. I nodded at the few males I could see and they nodded back.

That little bitch is hanging around the back of the craft hall, need some males to help chase him off. The push came from a pack warrior and I could feel the immediate agitation from the other males. They would ensure Regan was chased off properly. I did like it though, him being ostracized that heavily from the pack. I also liked the amount of utter disrespect they had too. No one ever called him Delta or Regan unless it was to his face. They had a lot of variations to call him. The bastard, the little bitch, the whiny smear, the asswipe, and on and on. It was great.

Mike and I made it to the trees and I could no longer feel Getts staring at me. "My female says she will get Stenton's female to come over with Maeve." Mike patted my back and I nodded.

"I'm glad. I can't thank her enough for doing that." They were good people, Mike and his female. They had taken in Menza and were helping me try to get Maeve safe. It meant the world to me.

"No problem. Once we get her safe, properly safe. I'm taking my family and we're leaving." He spoke low, as if afraid someone might hear him but I nodded. I agreed with that, the pack couldn't be trusted and I appreciated him hanging on for me, till my little female was safe.

"I appreciate it, Mike. All of it." I thumped his back in thanks and he nodded, giving me a small smile.

"Shit is getting harder. I have a feeling that if something doesn't give, Stenton will go nuclear. I can feel it whenever he is around. It's just this tension radiating out of him that feels seconds from snapping." Mike grimaced, clearly not a fan with Stenton's new found agitation but I understood it.

"I feel the same and I hope and pray that I and Maeve are good and gone when that happens. He will drag the pack down with him if he does." I honestly believed people would die, shit would explode so horrendously people would die and Stenton would justify it.

"Absolutely." He gave a slow nod, letting out a heavy sigh that I mirrored. This shit was getting bad, we needed to get this done and I needed to get Maeve out, that was my only goal. "Oh, by the way, Aunt Duffy said she wanted to you go play tag in traffic." At that I chuckled, that female was certainly spirited. I had 'demanded' updates on Menza. It wasn't any actual demand but we decided it made it look better if I had demanded for them. I knew the old female must have gotten the situation out of Menza because she was hostile towards me, aggressively so.

I didn't blame her for that, I felt the same towards myself. I was fucking weak and I should have been stronger, I was just amused at her creativity.

"One day she might get her wish. Who knows?" I shrugged and Mike chuckled, shaking his head.

"I tried telling her it wasn't nice but she told me off too. So you're on your own with that." He looked more than amused and I nodded. I was okay with that, it wasn't like it wasn't deserved, I definitely deserved the vitriol. After everything that happened, after my inaction, my weakness, everything that got piled onto Menza, I deserved to be hated. I really, really did.

"Brochan O'Neill." The unfamiliar voice was brusque and borderline impatient and crashed through my thoughts without warning. I felt my lip curl up in a silent snarl as I turned around defensively. A dark haired male, dressed in Hunter gear was walking towards us, his expression serious, a witch with salt and pepper hair was leisurely following behind him. I hadn't been warned Hunters would be on the territory. Mike stiffened beside me and the Hunter stopped in front of me and I stared at him, my eyes narrowing.

The Command Stenton had laid on us about not talking to the Hunters was still very much in place. I felt it tightening on my throat and I knew Mike was feeling it as well because he coughed, as if trying to clear the obstruction. "Are you Brochan O'Neill, Master of Arms of the Sublatus Pack?" His expression was turning irritated at my silence and I couldn't even explain to him why we couldn't speak.

"You two can stare at me all you want but it's not going to make me or Officer Elf disappear." His tone could not hide his irritation or agitation at my silence as he gestured to the witch behind him. She was staring at her nails, looking more than bored and I couldn't even shake my head. "Come on-"

"The report said the Alpha was abusin' his Alpha Command. Clearly they've been Commanded not t' talk t' Hunters." The witch had an almost heavy southern accent and the male didn't look all together convinced but she didn't even bother looking at us. "Can you nod?" She flicked her gaze to me and I attempted it and was able to give a stilted nod. It wasn't comfortable but it technically wasn't speaking.

"Have you been Commanded to not talk to Hunters?" The question was asked sharply from the male hunter and I gave another, slower nod and he cursed. "Can you do anything, Elf?" He turned his head to look at her and she shook her head.

The witch pointedly checked her nails not looking at the other officer. "I'm victim advocacy. I don't deal with Alpha Commands, yah need t' call in Muffin."

The name had the male shuddering as if he didn't like the mere mention of this 'Muffin'. "Fuck me. I don't like that. We will probably need the Council too but we need something concrete." He rubbed the back of his neck and Mike nudged me.

"Brochan, you know how you fixed the other issue you had by writing it down?" Mike didn't look once at the Hunters, his intention clear. He was trying to communicate with them by allowing them to hear our conversation.

"Yes, I do remember that." I nodded in an almost exaggerated fashion. I didn't care of Hunters, I doubted anyone in the pack did, but the Hunters could help us fix shit, they could definitely help me get my Maeve back.

"Maybe we can write some things down." Mike stressed the words and then grabbed my shoulder, keeping his gaze intent on me. "Let's go back to your place so we can write those things down or talk about them in a different room." He lifted his head, speaking louder and I nodded, completely understanding what he was doing. Mene was the male quick thinking. It really did make me appreciate him more than I already did.

"Absolutely. It helps to write things down for others to read or talk about them in a different place. Especially pertaining to certain things that can't be said in mixed company." I kept my voice even and when I finished, I flicked my gaze to the hunters and the male one was blinking slowly.

"Look at that, some of the dogs have a brain." At the thick accent the witch pushed the shoulder of the other hunter. "Let's go then. Lead on." She gestured to us and I glanced at Mike before he nodded at me.

With that, I turned and Mike and we started walking quickly. We needed to get the Hunters back to my place before Stenton realized they were there. We had to give them some information and get help, if we could get the Hunters to cause disruption, maybe even some chaos, I could take Maeve and run.

At that point I felt like jogging and I could hear the hunters behind us, they were discussing something in low tones and I ignored it. We just needed to give them information, that was it. Anything to help me out of this hole Stenton had thrown me into. I felt like my consciousness was floating a little too freely with the renewed Command on me and I grabbed my arm, digging a claw into the crook of my elbow. The pain centered me, made me breathe a little easier because I was more firm in my skin.

We reached my house and Mike and I took the stairs quickly and I shoved inside. "Let's sit down and have a chat, Mike." I moved over to the couch and sat down. Mike followed right behind me and right behind him were the hunters.

The male hunter cleared his throat. "Before you have any chat. Currently we are here to do a welfare check on one Menza Aristotle. She placed a bounty on your head and nothing pinged in our system as the hemi-lykos files are still done in paper copies and her case was designated closed due to her being mated to you, Brochan O'Neill." I couldn't help the look I got on my face as I slowly looked at the hunter. What the fuck? Who the hell did that? "Clearly by the look on your face, you have no clue what I'm talking about. Good to know. But we are here to do a welfare check on her so we need to see her."

"They get the point, let's go stare out the fuckin' window." The witch shoved him towards the kitchen and I glanced at Mike.

"Aunt Duffy gave me another report on Menza." Mike said it quickly, loudly, and I nodded.

"Your Aunt Duffy, the one who lives in Vis and who has graciously opened her home to help me?" I kept my voice loud, trying to give them all the inforation they needed in order to help us figure this out. I had a brief moment of remember that Jason said he would call the Hunters after a month, it seemed he had made good on his word. Also a welfare check on Menza was going to ensure everything Stenton was trying to prevent by killing Menza, happen. I was glad for it.

"Yes, the very same one who took Menza in after Delta Regan attacked her and we deemed it was unsafe to keep her on the territory." Mike leaned back against the couch and I nodded. "She is doing well in Vis with Duffy Grande," Mike raised his voice on the directions. "who lives on second street in a two story house."

"Yes, that is is where Duffy lives and had taken her in." I gave an exaggerated nod as I spoke.

"Looks like I'm goin' for a trip. Stay put." At the southern twang of the witch there was the sound of snapping fingers and then the overpowering scent of roses.

"Just going to say, you two are fucking smart. Clearly your Alpha has been Commanding you enough that you guys needed to make work arounds. It's smart. We appreciate it." The hunter spoke calmly, evenly, and I resisted the urge to look at him. My wolf was uneasy, every bit of this was uneasy.

"It's hard when you have an Alpha who Commanded you to speak ill on the females of your house and Commands you to give her to a male who had tortured and killed females before. It's hard when he Commanded you to never speak on it or tell anyone what happened. It's that right, Brochan?" Mike stared at me intently while he spoke and I appreciated it because I couldn't say anything at all. I hunched my shoulders though, digging my claw into the crook of my elbow again.

"Well fuck. We definitely need Muffin. Fuck me." The hunter let out a heavy sigh and I closed my eyes, digging the claw in deeper. I had a feeling shit was going to hit the fan even worse than Mike and I could have anticipated. When I opened my eyes I glanced at him and Mike looked half a second from getting up and walking out. It was clear he probably wanted to go secure his family, make it safe for them.

I didn't blame him for that. One of us still had the ability to protect their family and I wanted his family safe too. This shit was going to go sideways, I just knew it was.