When Heinrich woke the next day, he didn't need to put on his glasses to realize that he wasn't in his own bed. The colors of the room and the feel of the bedding was different than what he had become accustomed to. As the lens of his glasses dropped over his eyes, clearing up the sight of the unfamiliar room, memories of the previous night came back to him and Heinrich felt his cheeks reddened as he looked around the room.

The Dark Lord wasn't in the bed and Heinrich didn't see him anywhere else in the room. He cast a quick charm and scrambled to his feet when he realized it was nearly lunchtime. The teen yelped as the sheets began to pile on the floor and he became very aware that he was stark naked.

"Libby," Heinrich called as he grabbed the sheets and wrapped it around his waist. The house elf appeared and Heinrich was let out a relieved sigh when she didn't give any acknowledgment to his current situation or his current whereabouts.

"Young sir is needing something?" Libby asked.

"Some clothes, please," Heinrich said. "I'll need them after a shower."

Libby's ears twitched nervously and Heinrich caught the action. "What?" he asked.

"If young sir is wanting to be on time to lunch, there is being no time for taking a shower," Libby stated. Heinrich sighed again.

"Just the clothes, then," he said, casting a cleaning charm on his body. He didn't like the itchy after-effects it had but it was useful in a pinch. The remnants of the night before disappeared from his abdomen and stomach and the green-eyed teen instantly felt better. When he looked up, Libby was setting out some clothes for him.

"Thanks," he muttered as he quickly began to dress. Libby disappeared as soon as she was done, sparing Heinrich further embarrassment.

When he reached the dining hall, Heinrich let out the breath he had been holding when he realized that he had made it in time. Narcissa and Lucius were just sitting down but they rose when he entered the room. The Dark Lord smirked when he saw Heinrich enter, the first time he had seen the boy all day. Truly he was surprised that the boy was present for their midday meal, as he hadn't expected that Heinrich would be up before lunch, since he hadn't let him fall asleep until dawn.

As the meal passed by, Heinrich became aware of a headache slowly growing. It had started as a simple throbbing behind his eyes but by the end of the meal, he could barely see straight. When he tried to focus, he needed to close his eyes to push away the prick of pain. If he didn't, he was sure he was going to be sick.

Everyone finished eating before he did and Heinrich was left at the table alone. After a few minutes of trying to force the remaining food on his plate down his throat, Heinrich gave up eating as a lost cause and stumbled to his feet. It was then that he realized that the pain wasn't just in his head. It had spread throughout his entire body. Every single bone and joint ached and Heinrich felt like a weight had been pressed against his body, a weight that he couldn't get rid of.

"Libby," he croaked as his head begin to spin. "I need a bucket or a trash can."

The female house elf appeared just in time. Heinrich grabbed the bucket from her and clenched his eyes closed as his recently eaten meal made a reappearance. When he was able to catch a breath, the teen groaned as a shiver rippled through his body. His heart was pounding inside his chest, protesting at the violent action. Heinrich groaned as the smell and sight of the vomit caused him to be sick even more until there was nothing left to come out of his stomach.

"Young sir should be going back to bed," Libby said quietly. Heinrich didn't protest as she began to lead him away from the dining hall. In a matter of moments, much quicker than he would have managed alone, he was settled in his own bed and Libby had fetched a glass of water to rinse out the taste of vomit from his mouth. Unfortunately, the liquid didn't settle in his stomach and was coming back up moments later.

"Is young sir needing a healer?" Libby asked. Heinrich shook his head. There was no healer for this type of sickness, he knew instinctively. "Then Libby will see if the potion the Master has ordered to be made for young sir has arrived yet."

"Potion?" Heinrich asked.

"The potion will be making tonight easier for the young sir," Libby explained. "So the moon isn't hurting the young sir as much."

Heinrich groaned as his headache gave a particularly vicious throb. He wasn't sure what type of potion Libby was trying to find but hoped that it would do something for the headache in particular.

Severus looked around as he waited for his audience with the Dark Lord. The Wolfsbane potion had been placed in a goblet and was steaming, causing the Potions master to hold back a grimace. The potion truly was one of the worst smelling ones he had ever encountered.

"Severus," the Dark Lord hissed when it was finally Severus's turn. "I trust that this is made to perfection?"

Severus Snape nodded. "No questions were asked about my brewing of the potion," he explained. The Dark Lord nodded and raised his hand. Severus resisted a flinch. The Dark Lord wouldn't risk him spilling the potion, so he knew that he wouldn't be punished for anything.

A house elf appeared and took the goblet away from Severus before disappearing again.

"Return again tomorrow with the potion," Lord Voldemort ordered before gesturing for the spy to leave. Severus knew better than to hesitate, despite not having found out the information that Dumbledore required. The Dark Lord's actions signaled to him that Voldemort was preventing Snape from finding out who this mysterious werewolf was. Lupin had had no luck with Greyback's pack and it was now clear that Severus would have no luck as well.

Snape frowned as he passed Greyback on his way out. The wolf was looking worn but there was a glint in his eyes that gave him cause for concern.

"A potion delivery, my lord, or new information?" Fenrir asked as the door to the room swung shut and he was assured that no one outside of the room was able to hear the conversation.

"Take a guess, wolf. I trust that you have a reason for being here, when my patience with your presence is still limited."

"I merely have a simple request that will guarantee my newest wolf's presence among your ranks, even if he ever learns the truth."

Red eyes that had been drifting across the room now focused on Fenrir's face. After a moment, the expected question came. "And what is this request of yours?"

"Let him run with my pack, just for this one moon, completely uninhibited by certain potions."

"Explain."

"I received word last night that a new law has been passed by the Wizengamot, a pitiful effort to decrease the number of werewolves and therefore the number of your followers. Any werewolf that has tasted human blood, whether to add to our numbers or simply to feast, is to be put down. Their words, not mine. A pity, since I had planned a feast tonight to celebrate my pack's newest member and my new heir-provided that he was in attendance. Until you control the Ministry of Magic, those who have tasted human blood are dependent on the sanctuary you have offered and that I hope you will continue to offer."

"And after the Ministry is mine?"

"Until the law is completely repealed, he would still be dependent on your sanctuary. Even after a repeal and even if the truth would be found out...well, the moral ones always struggle when they know the blood of an innocent is on their hands."

"It's that type of mind that I'm willing to keep around, not just your brute force and your numbers. Remember that, Fenrir."

The pack leader kept his face straight as the wizard in front of him raised his hand. "Where's that potion that was just delivered?" Voldemort called out. Within a heartbeat, a house-elf had appeared carrying the still steaming goblet.

Slitted eyes regarded the werewolf in the room for a few seconds before the order was given. "The plants need watering. Use the potion for that."

Fenrir chuckled as the house-elf disappeared. "Are you in the mood for replacing some of the flowers, my lord? I doubt the ones being watered with that rancid creation will survive for very long now."

"Leave," Voldemort ordered. "Send the woman for the boy and make sure he comes back tomorrow once he regains consciousness."

Heinrich moaned as the door to his bedroom swung open. "Who is it?" he croaked.

"Laying in bed won't make the pain go away," a feminine voice said. Although the words were spoken in a whisper, Heinrich felt as if they had been shouted into his ear.

"Why are you here?" he asked Saskia as he forced himself to sit up. "Do you have the potion?"

Saskia's nose scrunched in disgust. "Of course not. You need to be on top of your game tonight. You're to meet the pack and there's to be a celebration hunt and feast."

"What's to celebrate?" Heinrich grumbled. "And I can leave?"

"For the night. Our alpha made the arrangements this afternoon, because he wants to truly recognize you joining our pack. Now get up and grab some robes. Sunset is approaching and the moon will come soon after that."

"I don't know if I can."

"You can!" Saskia snapped but her eyes softened as Heinrich twitched in pain at the increase in volume. "This is going to be the worst one, I promise. There will always be pain but as time goes by, you'll get used to it. You'll learn to work through it instead of being confined to bed. You have to, if you want to prove yourself as being capable of Fenrir's heir."

Heinrich frowned but he forced himself out of bed and into the robes that Libby brought to his waiting hand.

"So a hunt and feast?" he asked when he was ready to follow his mother. "What's on the menu?"

"The most difficult prey of all."

Saskia's eyes slid over to the werewolf beside her, taking in the near unnoticeable tremble spreading throughout his body. If she hadn't heard his heart beating faster minute by minute, she would have assumed it was the chilly night air causing him to shiver but the heartbeats revealed a deeper emotion.

Anxiety.

"Get ahold of yourself, lest you become the prey after the transformation. Most of them may not pick up on it now but once the moon takes hold, they'll smell your distress. It might not be fear, but it will still smell sweet," she hissed under her breath to Heinrich.

"How can I not feel this way, when it's so painful already?" Heinrich whispered back. "What other option do I have?"

"What do you do when you're with the Dark Lord? You can't tell me that spending time with him doesn't result in pain."

"That's different."

Saskia gave Heinrich a flat look. "Don't look away," she hissed when the teenager attempted to do so. "Don't submit to anyone but Fenrir. You're his heir and should act like it."

"You're my mother. How else do I show I respect you?"

Saskia let a grim smile show on her lips while her stomach twisted. How was it that she had tried sparing both her sons this fate and they had both ended up like her? "By taking on the role of your position," she replied. "You're Fenrir's heir. You're on your way to becoming second only to the Dark Lord. Embrace those roles and don't show hesitation or fear. You show respect for me by becoming respected yourself."

Heinrich gave a small nod and let his eyes wander over the gathering pack members. He opened his mouth to voice another question but the transformation began then. He anticipated a scream to come from his open mouth but instead a howl erupted, soon joined by dozens more as the rest of the pack transformed.

As his bones snapped and regrew into those of a wolf's, he realized that everyone who talked about the transformation had gotten it wrong. It wasn't painful.

It was unbridled torture.

Even the Dark Lord's cruciatus curse couldn't hold a candle to the pain he was currently experiencing. Within the span of a moment, he was racked, he was drawn and quartered, he was stoned. His nails were ripped off, his head felt scalped, every inch of his body felt flayed.

And then it was over.

When a growl sounded next to him, Heinrich snapped his canine-like head around and snarled at the sight of a wolf charging him. Baring his teeth, he met the charge head on, aiming for the ruff around the neck to pull the other wolf off its feet. His tail was stiff and high as he clashed with his opponent, teeth digging into fur. The taste of blood nearly sent him out of his mind but he kept his focus on knocking the other wolf down to the ground. In a matter of seconds, he succeeded. On its back, his opponent tucked his tail and the snarls faded to growls mixed in with whimpers.

As the wolf cowered, Heinrich relaxed his upper lip so he was no longer snarling but he kept his tail and ears erect and his eyes focused on his packmate as it got to his feet, crouching and tail tucked to its belly. It whined once before a howl caught both his and Heinrich's attention.

The pack began to run and Heinrich felt himself being nudged forward and center until he was behind Fenrir. A few ears were pinned back as he took his place among the pack but no one confronted him again.

You're a natural.

The thought appeared in Heinrich's mind as Saskia caught up with him and pressed her side against his as they ran. She licked his muzzle a few times but the pace made it difficult to stay close for long.

It's easy to share your words but it takes a while to make them listen and to impose your will. You've gotten a start and I'm sure that you'll have mastered those abilities and the rest by the time you'll become alpha.

If it wouldn't have thrown off the entire pack, Heinrich would have skidded to a stop as he realized he was hearing his mother's words inside his mind. However he doubted that he could stop running until Fenrir decided that it was time to stop. Instead, Heinrich turned his head and caught a glimpse of a glimmer of pride in dull amber eyes at his side.

A sickly sweet smell drew Heinrich's attention away from Saskia and he sneezed. There were layers of unnatural smells that left a bitter taste on his tongue. Some were of food that he considered inedible. Some had a metallic undertone. There was one flowery smell that overpowered nearly everything else.

Under the unnatural smells were scents that made Heinrich's tail twitch. Weak territorial markings that had been covered up by the creatures that had made them. Cooked meat. Fire. Three individual scents. Fear.

Heinrich sniffed again. They were hunting other predators? He jumped as Saskia nudged his side with her nose.

The pack will separate them from each other. One will be Fenrir's, one will be yours, and one will be the pack's. Don't hesitate.

Hesitate? Why would he hesitate? The scent of fear was starting to become overwhelming and his tail twitched eagerly as the urge to hunt grew.

The puppy gets the puppy.

Heinrich's upper lip drew back in a silent snarl as the words entered his mind. His head snapped around to face the one who had dared comment but his snarl faded as he was confronted with a larger wolf that smelled of Aldrich. That was a fight he wasn't prepared for and they both knew it.

They were at the edge of a clearing now, where a round plastic and cloth contraption sat in the center. A fire burned low a few steps away from the unnatural object.

A few wolves trotted over to the flimsy shelter and started scratching at the ground around it, growling and yipping and chattering to the ones who helped. Heinrich stepped up to where Fenrir was waiting and stood a pace behind the alpha. Aldrich approached on Fenrir's other side, an action Heinrich heard more than saw.

A figure standing on two legs emerged from the human invention, brandishing a large, thick stick in one hand. He aimed it at the wolves surrounding him and saliva started dripping from Heinrich's mouth as the scent of fear spiked.

After a few heartbeats, Fenrir darted forward. Heinrich nearly followed put Aldrich pushed him away and forced his gaze to the other side of the cloth and plastic structure where two forms were emerging. There was the prey they were to target.

Some of the closer wolves spotted the pair and loped after them, showing teeth and nipping air to get the prey to run. Once they did, Heinrich took the lead.

The puppy gets the puppy. The words rang in his head as he begun the chase. So the smaller figure was to be his. Prey was prey and this was his first hunt, but Heinrich started to long for something more challenging. The little one couldn't run as fast as the other and he barely had to expend any energy to keep up.

When his prey stumbled and fell, Heinrich knew that it was time to strike. He lunged and bit into the warm flesh, then bit deeper as a loud screech sounded next to his ears. Something started beating against his side and he snarled. Then his mind was lost at the first swallow of human blood.

Heinrich stirred when a heavy piece of cloth was draped over him. Slowly he opened his green eyes and wanted to scream when even that simple action was painful. He scowled up at Aldrich, who had covered him with a wool blanket.

"Don't give me that look," the man said when he spotted Heinrich's glare. "You're lucky I'm willing to cover you before the others wake up, especially after you stole my prey."

Heinrich frowned in confusion. He had? "What do you mean?" He started to sit up, inch by inch. The ground was cold and his bones would ache more if they lingered on the ground without any movement to warm his flesh up.

"The prey went after you when you attacked the young one. Unfortunately for her, her neck was in reach when you snapped at her to get away and she wasn't fast enough to avoid the teeth and the crushing jaws. I'd be angrier but at least you decided to share the meal."

Heinrich looked around. Some of the younger pack members were sprawled on the ground around him. A few meters away, the ground was damp and dark with bones and uneaten flesh scattered around.

The wizard gagged as he recognized it as the prey he had chased and killed. "They were human!"

Aldrich raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Just Muggles. There's millions of them. The world won't miss three."

Heinrich's stomach threatened to expel all of its contents. The pack's second rolled his eyes and gave a tiny shake of a his head. "What did you think we were going after? We're werewolves. Humans are our prey of choice. Something has to keep their population in check."

"We don't have to hunt humans," Heinrich protested. "There's werewolves out there that don't and they survive just fine." He frowned as the comment left his mouth. He was confident it was true but he didn't know where it came from.

"A wolf in captivity is still a wolf. Sooner or later, they'll return to hunting humans. It always happens." Aldrich's voice left no room for argument. "Now hurry up. The main pack is getting dressed and ready to head back. Fenrir will be proud when he learns that you took down two in one night with only two bites needed."

Heinrich's stomach attempted to rebel again but he forced the sensation away. He would get sick later, away from the pack. He had proven himself last night and he didn't need one action undoing all of that.

He caught the clothes Aldrich threw at him and slowly got dressed, careful not to move too fast. His bones protested even the slow movements. Green eyes glanced at the others around him and Aldrich. "What about them?"

"They'll catch up," the other werewolf said with a dismissive shrug. "Now that they've transformed back, the cold ground won't let them sleep for long. The bones have to be buried anyway. The job usually falls to the newest member of the pack but…" Aldrich gave Heinrich a meaningful stare. "In this case it's different," the man finished.

Heinrich followed the older werewolf back to the campsite, where the majority of the pack was awake and dressed. He cast looks back at the bones and blood until they were out of sight. The most difficult prey of all, Saskia had said before the hunt had started.

Humans.

Werewolves hunted humans.

And if he became pack leader, he would have to lead those hunts.

His stomach started to protest at the thought.

Let me just say that I'm really, really sorry that it took over two years to get this up. I hadn't realized it had been that long until I was updating word counts and post dates in my writing database. Mostly because kids. I don't have any of my own but just by working with them, time goes by a lot faster than I realize (my brain still thinks it's June right now).

I want to promise to all my readers that this story (and all my others) won't be abandoned unless I die. Updates may be slow for the next few years because I'll be in law school but I'm stubborn and I will finish these projects even if it takes a decade.

Anyways, let me know what you think. Reviews are always appreciated!