Wolf Moon

AhmoseInarus

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, nor do I make any profit off of writing this.

SLASH WARNING! Hotch / Reid

Written for the Chit Chat on Author's Corner Halloween Horrors Challenge. The moderators supplied a number of titles of the novels of the Master of Horror himself, Stephen King. We were to pick any title and write a fic using that as the prompt. I chose, "Cycle of the Werewolf"

Chapter 34

The steaks were gone. There were only a few remains of the baked potatoes. Only a crumb covered plate remained of the cupcakes, and only the dregs were left of the beer. Nearly two dozen people sat around on Aaron Hotchner's back patio and lawn, watching the stars, the moon and the fire flies. Five of them were human; all the others were werewolves.

Ralph, the alpha wolf, threw his head back and downed the rest of his beer, before turning to the alpha man, David Rossi.

"So… can we trust you?" He asked.

Rossi smirked. "We can keep a secret."

"How do we know?" Ralph asked.

"You have no idea how many secrets this team keeps for the sake of national security."

"Such as?" Ralph asked. Rossi slowly regarded him.

"… I can't tell you." He stated, delicately. Ralph looked annoyed.

"Give them a few examples, Reid." Hotch said. "Without betraying anything… too telling."

"I've been to Guantanamo Bay to help interview a detainee, and I almost died from Anthrax." Reid said immediately.

"… You've been to Gitmo?" Rossi asked, looking surprised and impressed, while the wolves just stared. Reid and Emily both nodded. "We've all kept that Anthrax attack a secret…"

"I used to work for Interpol." Emily announced. "Undercover."

"Chicago PD. Deep undercover." Morgan added.

"Several of us," Hotch chimed in, "have actually been to CIA headquarters to root out a mole."

"I had access to the CIA's database." Garcia nodded.

"Yeah… and you used it to get Prince William's phone number." JJ drawled.

"I didn't get it!"

"Only because they booted you out before you could get your hands on a pen." JJ pointed out, and the entire gathering burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright…" Ralph finally relented. "Alright… I suppose your people are trustworthy, Aaron."

"I know." Hotch said with a nod. "You just wouldn't take my word for it."

"There's something that I want to know." Morgan suddenly announced, sounding serious and almost angry. Everyone turned to look at him. "What about the situation with the bitch who tried to kill Reid… Is she going to back off?"

"Apparently she hasn't…" Reid grumbled.

"She WILL." Ralph growled. "Or I will end her. She has been defeated properly in one on one combat. And she should thank her lucky stars that your Reid spared her life. But if she does not acknowledge and honor his victory, I will not be so generous…"

"… Good."

"MORGAN!" Reid howled.

"Reid, she's trying to kill you!"

"That's no reason to kill her!"

"What would you have us do, Spencer?" Hotch asked. "Arrest her? Throw her in prison? Tell them to ignore the wolf in her cell?"

"Surely there's something ELSE that we can do…"

"There is." Ralph nodded, and stood. "She's at the compound. Let's go." And the other wolves immediately rose and started heading to the cars. "Aaron… you and your mate should come with us."

"… Then we're coming, too." Rossi said firmly, standing. Ralph frowned and eyed Rossi but Rossi glared at him fiercely until Ralph lowered his eyes, once more acknowledging the man's dominance, and nodded.

"I am about to take you to my home. To my pack. If you ever betray us…" He said, carefully.

"Unless you start hurting innocent people, my friend," Rossi told him, sauntering into the house, "You have nothing to worry about. Everyone to the cars!"

Hotch sighed and Reid snickered, biting his knuckle when Ralph gave him a look.

Soon enough the caravan was on their way, the team squished into Morgan's truck; Morgan and Rossi in the front, and the three women in the back. Hotch and Reid rode in with Ralph and Bev. The drive to the compound was quiet, but their arrival was well noticed. All the wolves emerged from their homes to see what was going on. Reid noted the decrepit old man in a rocking chair on the porch of Ralph and Bev's house, and realized that this must be Bev's father, Abraham, the Old Alpha.

And then he spotted Noriko.

She was standing near the fire pit, and the blaze illuminated her; one arm was bandaged and in a sling, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Her brother stood beside her, looking much as she did; filled with grief and fury over the death of their brother, and starving for revenge. Their eyes lit up in triumph when they saw Reid get out of Ralph and Bev's car. But then the team was spotted, and murmuring arose from all the wolves.

The team moved to surround Hotch and Reid, but Hotch led them across the compound to stand across the fire pit from Noriko. He glared at her, his eyes hard as flint. He cross his arms over his chest and tilted his head back to emphasize that he was, indeed, looking down at her. Her nostrils flared and her eyes blazed in furious indignation at this. But then she looked beyond Hotch and to his team. Humans, all of them… and all of them, Alphas. And all of them looking down at her… looking ready to fall upon her and tear her apart. Merely human, yes, but she felt that Alpha Bitch within herself quaver under their eyes, especially of the older man with the beard. Now THERE was a true Alpha… only Aaron Hotchner could possibly match this man…

"Noriko Tanigawa." Ralph announced then, and she turned startled eyes onto the Pack Alpha. His own eyes were burning, and she felt her gut congeal. "You have broken the laws of the pack, and dismissed all common courtesy, and common sense! You tried to kill a mated wolf, simply to get at his mate. A wolf who had plainly rejected you and chosen another. You forced Spencer Reid into a mortal combat! You are fortunate to have been shown mercy…"

"He killed my brother!"

"YOU brought that on your brother when you had him abduct Spencer Reid!" Ralph barked, silencing the black she-wolf before him. "You put Spencer into a situation where it was kill, or be killed! A situation in which someone HAD to die! You forced him into it and no matter what the outcome, it is on YOU. Your brother's death is on YOUR shoulders! Because you did not follow the laws of the pack and respect the sanctity of the Mated Pair! YOU instigated the attack! Spencer defended himself! YOU got your brother killed! YOU instigated the mortal combat!"

"HE issued the challenge!" She shrieked hysterically, pointing at Reid.

"You left him no choice! He had to stand and fight you one on one, or be hunted down by those with you! He did it out of self preservation, for his mate and his life! And he defeated you fair and square! And then he spared your life. You agreed to his conditions. But then you broke your word and came here, trying to influence ME into doing your dirty work!"

Ralph's voice was a dangerous roar now. "Noriko Tanigawa, you shame yourself, you shame the pack, and you are a snake! You are not welcome among us any longer!"

Noriko stood in stunned silence, as did her brother.

"You will BOTH leave DC and the surrounding area within the next 24 hours. You will be escorted home to pack the essentials and then escorted out of town. Should you fail to comply, or ever dare to return, I will lead this pack in the Hunt, with YOU the Prey. And you will be tracked down and slaughtered where you are found! Do you understand?!"

"But! It's the middle of the semester!" Noriko cried. "Law School, I—"

Hotch spoke up then, his voice rumbling in aggression, "Then you should have accepted Spencer's more than generous offer to finish the semester and then leave."

"I do not offer that." Ralph nodded. "You have proved yourself to be untrustworthy and without honor in your defeat." And he turned and pointed out several large, Alpha wolves. "You and you… you… you, you and you. You will see her to her home tonight. She will pack. And then by sundown tomorrow she is to be gone, or dead. Is that clear?!"

"Yes sir!" Barked the wolves and they moved towards Noriko, who looked like she was trying to decide between fighting and bursting into tears. Her brother just put an arm around her and guided her away, surrounded by the other wolves. They got into cars, and in a cloud of dust… they were gone.

"If she returns…" Ralph said, his tone low and ominous, "would YOU like the honors, Spencer?"

"… W-What?!" Reid blurted. "NO!"

"I do." Hotch rumbled, his eyes blazing gold and his canines bared, making Emily do a double-take.

"Oh wow… could you give some of the more asshole LEO's that look?" She asked, and Rossi chuckled. Ralph grinned in amusement, saying "oh, he'd better not." Bev cleared her throat then and Ralph looked at her, then followed her gaze and went silent. The entire group turned then, watching old Abraham slowly making his way over to them, leaning heavily on a gnarled old cane that had been carved from a tree branch.

"… This entire fiasco has shamed us all…" He said softly in his dry voice, thin and tired.

"You hold no blame in this." Hotch replied. "Nor does your pack. But thank you, for your pack stepping in when they did."

"This has shamed not our pack, but all of our kind." Abraham said, looking sadly at the team. After a moment, Rossi cleared his throat and stepped forward. The Old Alpha raised his head and met Rossi's gaze unwaveringly.

"The shame from her actions are hers, and hers alone." Rossi said with his trademark crooked smile. "Believe me, our interactions with your kind has led us to believe that you are just like mankind… There are those who are good, and bad. But the good outnumber the bad. Two of your kind are two men that I care for deeply." He turned and smiled at Hotch and Reid, before looking back at Abraham. "They're family. Thank you for protecting them."

Abraham stared at Rossi, then slowly nodded. And then, Rossi nodded back before lowering his eyes in deference to the Old Alpha. Ralph made a frustrated noise at that and Bev shushed him, murmuring "Some things just come with age… like wisdom." Abraham let out a wheezy chuckle at that and Rossi stepped forward, allowing the man to take his arm, happy to assist the aging old wolf back to his porch.

It was the end of the work day when the call came in. The team was gathered in the Bull Pen, all ready to leave, when Hotch emerged from his office, putting his cell phone back into his pocket.

"That was Amani." He announced, looking at Reid. "She's gone. And her brother with her."

"Where is she going?" Reid asked softly.

"She's dropped her classes, citing that in light of her brother's death, she will be returning home to Japan. Whether or not she will attempt to get a Student Visa again remains to be seen… Her brother is returning to his home in Wisconsin."

Reid nodded, and the others looked satisfied.

"It's over then." Garcia said with a smile, placing a hand on Reid's shoulder.

"Yeah… I guess so." Reid murmured, staring off into space. "… Now what?"

"Get back to our lives?" Morgan offered.

"Now… I have to introduce you to my childhood pack." Hotch said, walking over. Reid immediately looked like a deer in headlights, and Hotch chuckled. "Well… maybe not RIGHT away…"

"That's not funny, Aaron." Rossi scolded, scowling at the Alpha Wolf. Hotch just shrugged, smirking.

"Let's get out of here!" Garcia blurted. "Let's get a drink!"

"Ooh, I'm in!" Emily gasped eagerly.

"… I'll call Will and let him know I'll be late." JJ nodded. "This is worth celebrating."

"Well, I guess that means my attendance is mandatory…" Reid muttered, grumbling when Morgan punched him in the shoulder and crowed "Hell YEAH, it is!"

"Come on, Spencer." Hotch said with a smile. "Just dinner and drinks. No bars and clubs."

"Awwww!" Chorused Emily, Morgan and Garcia.

"Maybe if it's a classy place like the ones Rossi goes to." JJ laughed, returning.

"There's always Karaoke!" Garcia offered.

"NO." Reid said firmly.

"Awww…" Chorused the same trio again.

"Let's go somewhere for STEAK." Hotch said, and Reid immediately seconded that. And an hour later, the team was watching Hotch and Reid ordering the largest, most expensive steaks on the menu, rare. The pieces of meat were delivered steaming, and the wolves cut into their steaks with relish, savoring each and every bite of the red-rare, dripping meat. The team enjoyed their own dinners, watching Hotch and Reid virtually get lost in the prime meat, not even glancing at their sides until the steaks had been devoured and the juices mopped up with bread.

"D'you ever eat things raw?" Morgan asked.

"I have. Spencer doesn't like it." Hotch answered calmly.

"… What have you eaten?" JJ asked, looking ready to regret asking the question.

"Rabbit, squirrel, deer mostly." Hotch replied. "Whatever we could catch and bring down with our teeth."

"Squirrel? Ewww…" Emily groaned.

"… Don't you get worms?" Garcia blurted, and Hotch had to spend the next few seconds whacking a choking Reid on the back; Rossi put a quick end to that conversation, and once the bill was paid the team ended up at one of Rossi's favorite haunts. They sat at a quiet table in the corner of the dark bar, where a lone artist sat perched on a stool on the small stage, playing a smoky tune on the saxophone. Then they just sat and listened, sipping on their drinks.

Garcia smiled as she stirred her Amaretto Sour, watching Reid leaning on Hotch with his head resting on the Alpha's shoulder, his mate running his fingers through his little omega's hair. Reid's eyes were drooping, and he seemed beyond relaxed and content where he was, cuddled into his mate and surrounded by his pseudo-pack.

"… Do I HAVE to meet your family?" He mumbled after a bit.

"Eventually." Hotch said gently, smiling as his lover's speech slurred, more from how sleepy he was than from the alcohol; after all, Reid just had a Disarono on the rocks. Emily just shared a smile with JJ over her red wine and Rossi lit up a cigar, taking a drag and leaning back, closing his eyes, lightly. Morgan finished his beer and stood, offering Garcia his hand. She smiled at took it and soon the pair were slow-dancing casually around the little dance floor, and Morgan appropriately refrained from the usual hip actions.

"Aaron?" Reid asked.

"Yeah, baby?"

"What if your family tries to break us up?"

"They won't." Hotch responded. "We're mate. There's nothing they can do."

"That's what you said about Noriko." Reid mumbled.

"Noriko was an exception to the rule…" Hotch snorted. "And I will officially sever my ties to my pack if they try… if I do that, they have no authority over me anymore. Don't worry, Spencer. I won't let anything or anyone threaten you again."

Reid just smiled and let his eyes closely lightly, and before Hotch knew it, Reid was dozing on his shoulder. Shooting apologetic looks to the team, who just grinned and nodded back, Hotch lay some cash down on the table, roused his mate and guided him out of the bar. He drove Reid home, gave him a bath and put him to bed, enjoying every moment of caring for his mate. He stood by the bed side for a very long time, just staring at his lover, before he finally went and showered.

When Hotch slipped into bed, Reid sighed softly and snuggled close, gently kissing over the man's chest, fingers teasing his thighs.

"Spencer?" Hotch asked.

"Please?" Reid murmured between licks, kisses and nuzzles, and then crooned in satisfaction when Hotch moved to hover over him, groping across the bedside table for the lube. Reid moaned and sighed through the gentle foreplay and preparation and hissed as he was breeched, arching his back as he savored the burn. Their lovemaking was slow and tender, and so Hotch was surprised when Reid pleaded softly, "Aaron… Lock me… please…"

"Nnnmmh…" Was his only response as he kissed his lover, and allowed the shiver to run down his spine as his knot began to swell...

And at the end of it all, the Alpha and Omega would rest.

Spencer Reid drifted off, finally content with who, and what, he was...

E N D

For many readers, this is the end. For SOME of you, there will be a sequel. Due to popular demand, I am intending to write a continuation where our favorite Alpha Wolf does, indeed, impregnate his Omega with a litter. So for those of you who enjoy Mpreg, there will be a sequel.

Thank you to everyone for reading this story and making it probably the MOST popular and reviewed fic I have EVER written! And make sure you visit adult fan fiction for the smut that had to be cut out!

~ Inarus