Wolf Moon

Reid woke when the plane was coming in for its landing.  The team got organized and gathered themselves together, and were soon piling off of the plane and heading to their cars.

“I’m glad we don’t have to deal with that mess we left behind.”  Morgan sighed.

“What is the sheriff going to do with that village?”  JJ asked.

“I don’t know.”  Hotch responded.  “But we did our job.  The rest is up to the locals.”

“And…  what are you going to do?”  Rossi asked suddenly.

“What?”  Hotch asked, confused.

“You and Reid have your own issue here at home…”  Rossi clarified.  Hotch’s eyes hardened.

“I’m going to deal with her.”  He growled.

“Oh really?”  Rossi asked.  “I’d like to hear how…”

“I’d like to have DINNER.”  Morgan snorted.

“…  Dinner then.”  Hotch nodded.

“I’ll call Garcia.”  Morgan grinned.

“I want seafood.”  Said JJ.

“Seafood it is!”  Rossi nodded, and Reid followed Hotch to the car  with raised eyebrows.  Once they got INTO the car, Reid asked “and how ARE you going to deal with her?”

“That will depend on Noriko.”  Hotch growled in response.  Reid just sighed, hoping that everything could be resolved without  violence, but he had a sinking feeling that he was hoping for the impossible.  But either way, everything had to be resolved…  and soon.

---

 

 

Two young men watched the team load up into their cars from where they sat in their own vehicle.  One of them pulled out a cell and made a call.

“…  They’re back…  Okay.”  And he hung up, then looked at his companion, obviously his brother.  “She wants to be done with him.  We grab him as soon as we get an opportunity.”

“Good.”  Smirked his brother.

They followed the team all the way to their restaurant of choice, Joe’s Crab Shack and watched through the windows as they all sat down together.

“How will we get him?”  Asked the younger brother.

“Like we would hunt.  Wait for him to separate from the herd…  And when he’s alone, we move in…” 

“…  They came straight here from a flight.”  Sad the younger.  “How much do you want to bet that he’ll need to use the bathroom?”  He asked. “That’s right next to the side door to the patio…  and the parking lot is right there…”  The older brother blinked, then grinned and pulled the car around to the side door.  He parked and they stepped in, taking a place at the bar, where they could still watch the team…

 

---

“We’re going to start with two of the Classic Sampler appetizers.”  Rossi ordered, after they had all given their drink orders.  “And we’re ready to order our entrees, as well.”

“Alright.”  The waiter said, ready to take the orders.

 “…  I’ll have the Ragin’ Cajun Steampot.”  JJ told the waiter.

“Oh, THERE’S a big surprise.”  Emily drawled, making the table laugh.

“I’ll have the Lobster Daddy Feast.”  Rossi said. 

Emily glanced up at the waiter, swallowing her water quickly to order “The Great Barrier Steampot.”

“I’ll do the Joe’s Classic Steampot.”  Morgan ordered. 

Garcia stared at the menu, then closed her eyes, whirled her finger around and stabbed down, then opened her eyes and looked.  “…  The KJ Steampot!”  She announced, and everyone laughed.

“Crab Daddy Feast.”  Hotch said, closing his menu.  Everyone looked at Reid, now.

“I’ll have the East Coast Platter.”  He said.  The team stared.  “…  What?”

“Everyone’s getting a Steampot, Spence.”  JJ said, grinning.

“…  Is there one that doesn’t involve cracking or peeling crustaceans or shellfish?  Because that doesn’t turn out well with me.”

“Spencer…”  His alpha drawled, and Reid drooped.

“…  I  uh…  I’ll do the… Arctic Bay.”  Reid mumbled, and the team grinned.  The waiter nodded.

“Alright, I’ll be right back with your drinks and appetizers.”

“I’m going to the bathroom.”  Morgan announced, heading off to do just that.

 

---

Noriko’s brothers had a drink and appetizer, pretending to watch the game on the television over the bar, while they watched the team, or more specifically, Reid.  The team conversed happily as Morgan returned and their appetizers were delivered.  They ate their appetizers, drank their drinks, and then Emily and Rossi went to the bathroom.  When they returned, they all put on their disposable bibs as their steampots were delivered, laughing and taking pictures of each other before digging in.  The laughter didn’t stop, however, as a few members of the team struggled to crack and peel lobsters, crabs and shrimp.  Hotch and JJ actually leaned in to help Reid with his food, while Garcia, Emily and Morgan laughed.  The conversation remained lively as they ate, laughing at Reid’s less than successful attempts to get his dinner OUT of their shells.  Hotch spent half of the meal helping Reid dig up his food, though he was grinning the entire time. 

Finally, they were finished and the table was clear.  They sat around, finishing off their drinks.  And finally…  Reid stood up and left the table, heading for the bathroom, Garcia by his side.  They chattered away, and then split up to their respective bathrooms. 

Noriko’s brothers stood and left the bar, leaving some cash on the top to pay for their drinks and appetizers, and moved to the doorway that led to the hallway that the bathrooms were in…

A moment later, Reid emerged.  The pair turned and grabbed his arms, steering him out of the side doors before he could do more than gasp.  And then they were outside and Reid felt a hand over his mouth and a knife against his belly.  He nearly swooned in fright when the scent of the wolves filled his nose.  He whimpered as he was marched off of the patio and into the parking lot…

 

---

“HOTCH!”

The team responded immediately to Garcia’s distressed call, leaping from the table.  “THEY HAVE REID!”  Immediately, patrons were crying out in shock as the large table of people sprang up, pulling guns and running towards the shouting woman.  Hotch burst through the door Garcia was pointing at.

“SPENCER!”  He roared, and Reid twisted around, locking eyes with Hotch for a split second before he was shoved into the back of the car.  The door slammed as Hotch, Emily and Morgan charged across the parking lot, but then the engine roared and the tires screamed as the car peeled out of the parking lot.  The three agents slowed to a stop, faces twisted in dismay.  But then a horn was blaring and Hotch leapt aside as Rossi’s car screeched to a stop.

“GET IN!”  Rossi commanded.  Hotch leapt into the passenger seat while Emily and Morgan threw themselves into the back seat, and Rossi was following the car as they struggled to untangle themselves and sit up, buckling their seat belts.

 

---

Reid sat in the back seat of the car, one of the brothers harshly clinging to his arm, still holding a knife to his abdomen.  The one in the front seat drove down the road, putting his phone to his ear.

“…  We got him.”  He said, his voice cold.  “…  You got it.”  And he hung up, glancing at Reid’s pale face in the rearview mirror.  “Hope you enjoyed your last supper.  Noriko will deal with you tonight…  personally.”

Reid swallowed thickly, bowing his head.  He didn’t speak.  He just sat in silence, heart in his throat as he wondered if he was indeed going to die tonight…

The drive seemed to last forever.  They moved from a paved road to one of gravel and dirt, far removed from anyone who might hear this final confrontation that was expected to end in death.  The car slowly pulled to a stop and Reid stared out the windshield at the crowd that was illuminated by the headlights, and there, front and center, was Noriko.  Her eyes were hard, glinting like steel, and her long straight hair fluttered in the wind…  She wore low hung jeans that were unzipped, and had already removed her shirt, and was standing there in her black sports bra.  She was obviously eager to make the change and sink her teeth into the flesh of her competition…

Reid grunted as he was roughly dragged from the car and forced across the forest floor towards Noriko and her supporters, and was then shoved to his knees before her.  Reid paused, then moved to stand.  But Noriko delivered a sharp kick to his stomach, and then pinned him to the ground with her bare foot.

“Don’t move.”  She growled, glaring.  “Because the first thing you need to understand… is that THIS is your place.  BELOW us all, on your back in the dirt.”  And she eyed him in distaste, and then spat on him.  Reid winced as several of the other wolves followed her example.  Then her eyes narrowed, and she kicked Reid hard in the ribs.  Reid winced and grunted softly, but he had been kicked by stronger people.  And Noriko was… well…  tiny.  Only five feet tall, for heaven’s sake, but she was still vicious.

After a moment, he slowly forced himself to his feet, and stared down at her.

“He’s going to kill you for this.”

“Who?!”

“Aaron.”  Reid responded.

“With you gone, he and I can—“

“You’re delusional!”  Reid laughed, throwing his hands out to the side.  “He HATES you!”

“He and I got along fine before you came along!”

“He and you got along fine before you started trying to come between us!”   Reid corrected.  “What you don’t know, is that Hotch and I have been friends for over a year longer than you and he were, so technically, he and I got along fine until you came along, and then we got along even better and ended up mating.  DESPITE you.”

Noriko’s eyes flashed in anger and she slapped Reid across the face.  But Reid just turned and looked her in the eyes.

“I love him.  And I’m willing to die for him.  And if you hurt me, he’ll kill you for it.  And if you really think he’ll mate you if you kill me, then you’re insane…  But that doesn’t matter.  He and I have mated, I love him, and I won’t allow you to kill me…  because that will kill him.”  And he threw himself at her.  Noriko cried out as Reid literally mowed her down, threw a punch at the startled man in front of him, and then darted into the woods, pulling his revolver.

“CATCH HIM!!!  I WANT HIM ALIVE!!!”  Noriko was screaming at the top of her lungs.  One of her brothers was one him in an instant.  Reid yelped and twisted around and—

BLAM!!!

The report of the gun was deafening, and the wolves were all shouting in dismay.  Noriko’s brother stared at Reid, eyes wide in shock.  A moment later, blood trickled from his mouth.

“…  Silver?!”  He gasped in shock, then winced and collapsed to the side.  Reid stared for a moment, then turned and ran into the dark, hearing the howls of the wolves as they began to hunt him…

 

---

Rossi’s car skidded to a stop and the team jumped out, guns drawn.  Hotch ran over to the car that Reid had been taken away in. 

“He’s not here!”  Morgan shouted, needlessly.  Hotch turned, nostrils quivering.

“Noriko was here.  And so were others.  Nearly a dozen…  I smell…  blood.”  And he dashed into the woods, the others on his heels.  Several yards away, they came across the body.  “That’s one of Noriko’s brothers.”

Emily knelt, reaching out to the man on the ground, checking his pulse.  “He’s gone.”

“Reid shot him.”  Hotch said.  “I can smell the gunpowder…”

“He’s out there?”  Morgan asked, looking through the dark trees.

“He’s being hunted.”  Hotch murmured heart pounding as a cold, sickening dread pooled in his stomach…

Then, several gunshots were heard in the distance, followed by the angry howling of wolves.

“You’re all packing the silver bullets, right?”  Hotch asked, tense.  The team nodded.  “I’m going to ask you to go back to the car and get out of here…  but I know you won’t…”

“Damn straight, Hotch.”  Rossi snarled, ferociously. 

“Then stay alert.  Shoot first, ask questions later.”  Hotch said in a cold tone, ripping the tie from his neck and kicking off his shoes. 

“What?!”  Morgan blurted in horror.

“They can come in fast and with no warning.”  Hotch explained, jerking off the suit coat and then just ripping open his shirt, buttons flying everywhere.  “They will attack without hesitation.  One bite, and you’re as good as dead.”

“Won’t…  we just become werewolves, too?”  Emily asked, watching Hotch unbuckle his belt and undo his pants, the moon gleaming on the defined muscles of his back.

“When you’re born a werewolf, you learn young how to allow the mind of the man to overcome the instincts of the wolf.  You learn to change at will…  Werewolves who are CREATED, especially in adulthood, cannot learn that.”  Hotch said firmly, dropping his pants and boxers and stepping forward, naked.  Emily just stared, mouth hanging open, at his buttocks.  “If you become a werewolf,” Hotch continued, “Once a month for three nights, you become a brutal, mindless killing machine.  You cannot stop the change, nor can you control yourself when you DO change.  You are a risk to everyone…  innocent people, werewolves, and yourself.  And when werewolves find you, they will know you, and they will kill you.”

“Oh…”  Emily said weakly, watching as black hair began to creep down Aaron Hotchner’s spine.  The hair on his arms and legs began to thicken, and in front where they couldn’t see, the hair between his legs thickened and began to creep up his belly, just as his stubble began to thicken.  He groaned in a bestial manner and stumbled forwards as his body changed, cracks and pops and groans audible to the team.  And then the man-wolf stood before them, a towering structure of black fur and hard muscles.  The thick mane rippled in the wind and the beast turned and looked at the team, who were staring at him in amazement.  If Reid was impressive in his half-form, Hotch looked like a hell hound…

His golden eyes blazed.  “You shoot first because if you don’t, one way or another, you WILL die.”  He rumbled.  “Stay close…”  And they moved off into the woods.

 

---

 

Reid crumpled to his knees with a soft gasp and sat there, trembling…  crying…  waiting…

‘For what?’ he asked himself, suddenly.  ‘For that bitch to come and slaughter you like a sacrificial lamb?  Why not just lie back and bare your throat for her, too?!’

He lifted his head and looked around.  The bright moon overhead lit the forest in an eerie manner, making the mist almost glow silver as it reflected its light.

“…  What am I doing?”  Reid suddenly breathed.  He shook his head and dashed his tears away with his fingers, breathing in the crisp air.  “No…  Not this time…”  He whispered to himself.  “You’re stronger than you know…  You’re stronger than THEY know…  than SHE knows…”  He fumbled at his pocket and pulled out his phone, scrolling through the contacts…  his finger hovered over “Bennington”. 

“No signal…”  He murmured, and lowered the phone.  And then he smiled and shook his head.  “Mom would tell me to fight.”  He announced, suddenly.  “Aaron would tell me to fight.  And Morgan.  And Rossi…  and…”  

He raised his eyes and looked at the moon, and then he moved to stand, hurling his coat away from his body and working on his belt with one hand and his tie with the other, soon jerking them both off and throwing them to the side before jerking off his sweater vest and unbuttoning his shirt, revealing white skin to the moon.  As he unbuttoned his pants, the fur was already creeping up his belly from his groin, and spreading from his arm pits down his sides and across his chest…  Stubble seemed to come in, but it didn’t stop, and hair began to sprout down his spine and thicken on his arms…  he kicked off his shoes and pushed down his pants and underwear, stumbling forward on the balls of his feet as his physiology began to change.

He groaned as his face lengthened and then bared his teeth in a snarl of defiance as his back popped and tail sprouted.  A few moments later and the man-wolf stood there, flexing his limbs and sniffing the air.  Golden eyes burned in rage.  He had his mate…  and he would not allow another to have him…  no…  not as long as he lived.  And he had no intention of dying, either.

For a moment he crouched down, entire body tense and trembling, but then he sucked in a deep breathe, stepped forward and straightened up again, throwing his head back and letting out a roaring howl.  This was no thin cry from his throat, singing to the moon…  This was a baying challenge that came all the way from his gut, full, loud and bestial, like no other noise he had ever made before, reverberating throughout his entire body and the forest around him…

 

---

 

A few miles away, Hotch stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide.  “…  No…  It can’t be…”  He gasped.

“Hotch?”  Morgan asked, watching the man-wolf’s hackles rise and his tail lash. 

“Huh?”

“What was that?”

“…  I…  It sounded like…  Spencer.”  Hotch admitted.  “But…   I’ve never heard him sound like THAT before…”

“Is he okay?!”

“He…  He’s made the challenge.”

“Challenge?!”

“…  He’s challenging Noriko.”

“To WHAT?!”

“…  Mortal combat.”

“WHAT?!”  Morgan yelped, looking horrified.  But slowly, a look of amazement and pride overcame Hotch.

“He’s doing it.”

“What?!  Getting himself killed?”

“No…”  Hotch breathed, and changed his direction, now being drawn in the direction of his mate.  “He’s going into an Alpha Swing.  A full Alpha Swing…”

Another deep roar rolled over the forest as the lithe timber wolf re-issued his challenge…  And then the response came.  Noriko accepted the challenge, and Hotch knew that the pair were heading to face one another.

“Hotch!  Wait!  Alpha Swing?!  What does that mean?!”

“That means he could win!”  Hotch shouted back, and then he was gone, leaving the team in the dark.

They all looked at each other, and then turned and followed…

---

 

 

Reid moved through the woods, leaving his clothing and other belongings behind.  His entire body was vibrating with the force of the low growl that had not stopped since he had issued his challenge.  His hackles were up and his teeth were bared.  He heard another howl from the alpha bitch, daring him to face her.  He snorted, snarling at the air as his fur bristled in his rage. 

Several minutes later, he emerged into a large meadow in a clearing in the forest.  And there were the wolves.  He noticed immediately that Noriko was enraged…  Reid had killed her brother…  The other brother was trembling as he forced himself to hold his ground and not attack Reid on sight.  The grief was plain, and Reid had never wanted to cause that, but right now, he didn’t think about that.  All he could think about was putting that bitch in her place, and it was NOT above him.  His mate was HIS, and she would not have him.

“You are going to pay for what you have done…”  Noriko snarled, advancing on Reid.  He held his ground and held her gaze.

“You brought all of this upon yourself, you bitch.”  He rumbled in response.  “You started this, don’t you start whining when I finish it!”

“YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!”

“YOU’RE ALL TRYING TO KILL ME!!!”   Reid roared in response.  “If you try to kill me, don’t be surprised when I fight back!  Because I will, and if I go down, you can be damn sure I’m taking as many of you with me as I can!”  He raised a hand and pointed at Noriko.  “…  Starting with you…”

“You can try, you filthy dog…”  Noriko snapped, and the pair moved in to face one another.  “How do you want this?  I know you’re more human than wolf, so I’ll let you choose… just to give you a fighting chance.  Skin or pelt?”

“Like this.”  Reid hissed. Noriko looked startled at that…  battles were always fought as wolves…  not halfway between…  But she had already said she would let Reid choose the terms of the fight.  She had to stand by that, and so she made the change.  She stared up at the timber wolf, looking slightly uneasy.

Reid smirked.  Hotch had told him that many wolves found the halfway form to be award, and preferred the two ends of the spectrum of change, and not this middle range.  He may not be very skilled in this form, but neither was Noriko; he had taken that advantage from her.

Hotch burst out of the underbrush then, skidding to a stop, eyes on the pair circling one another.  They had all their focus on each other, not even noticing Hotch, or Morgan, Rossi and Emily as they stumbled into view, panting.  Their eyes fell on the two werewolves, and they froze.

“Hotch?!”  Morgan gasped, raising his gun.

“No.”  Hotch said softly, reaching out and placing a hand on the gun, forcing Morgan into lowering it.  “Spencer made the challenge and Noriko accepted.  This is a fight between them.  We cannot interfere.”

“But—“

“If we do,” Hotch interrupted Morgan, “Spencer automatically forfeits…  The battle, and his life…”

“What can we do?!”  Emily demanded to know.

“Nothing.”  Hotch said as the circling combatants suddenly stopped and stood still.

“Let us begin, then.” Noriko stated in a cold tone.

“Yes.”  Reid growled, crouching down and baring teeth and claws, Noriko doing the same.  “THIS ENDS TONIGHT!”